“This was one of the best Africa related conferences that I have been to. All the topics and panel discussions were engaging and the panel members were people who offered valuable insight into deal specific relevant issues.”
“Excellent selection of panel topics! The speakers were well qualified and provided candid perspectives and assessments; credit to the moderators.”
“Excellent choices, topical issues and great speakers.”
“The topics and the panel of speakers were well experienced in their respective fields and gave a good insight into the different topics of discussions as well as insight into actual workings on the ground.”
“[The panels were] very well chosen and presented.”
Hosted by:
DATE:
27th November, 2014
VENUE:
The Palace, Downtown Dubai
PANELISTS:
42 PANELISTS
ALN is an independent alliance of leading law firms in Africa. It is the largest and only grouping of its kind in Africa, with close working relationships across its members and an established network of “Best Friends” across the continent. ALN’s firms are committed to working together to provide extensive coverage and on-the-ground experience.
Africa is now home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies and offers the highest risk-adjusted returns on foreign direct investment among emerging economies. While mining and oil remain big businesses, infrastructure and investment and the consumer market are major growth areas. Telecom, mobile banking, retail and hospitality are also sectors that are showing great promise. As worldwide investors vie for a piece of the action, the expectations of African stakeholders have risen. To succeed, investors will have to look beyond dazzling returns and one-off projects, and sign on as participating partners in Africa’s long-term growth and development.
At our annual members' conference in 2014, ALN decided to bring together a select part of its client base, together with its members, to discuss the above and more, exploring what sectors and regions in Africa provide the greatest opportunities for foreign investors, while analysing the legal and regulatory implications. The 2014 conference was held in Dubai with the aim that general counsel, investors, developers, financiers, management and company directors would interact, exchange ideas and share notes on matters of great importance in the new African business landscape.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan is United Arab Emirates' Minister for Culture, Youth, and Social Development. He was formerly the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. He is also Chancellor to two of the UAE's three government-sponsored institutions of higher learning: United Arab Emirates University and the Higher Colleges of Technology. Previously, he was the Chairman of several ministerial committees, including the Ministerial Committee for Education and the National Committee for Workforce Planning.
Atiq is a Master of Laws graduate from Jesus College, University of Cambridge, having obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Hull. Atiq is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and practised for over eight years with leading City of London firms, Slaughter and May and CMS Cameron McKenna. Atiq has over 25 years of practice experience and focuses principally on infrastructure projects, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, banking and capital markets. He has also been involved in projects in various sectors including transport, energy and telecommunications.
Click on each speaker to show details (click again to hide details)
Time | Activity | Speaker | ||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8:00 – 9:15 | Registration | |||||||||||||||||
9:15 – 9:35 | Opening Remarks & Welcome Speech | Mr Atiq S Anjarwalla, Managing Partner, Anjarwalla, Collins & Haidermota, Dubai His Excellency Mohamed Abdi Gello, Kenyan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates |
||||||||||||||||
9:35 – 10:35 | Panel Discussion: Africa's opportunities and challenges |
|
||||||||||||||||
10:35 - 11:35 | Panel Discussion: Banking & Finance - Challenges and Opportunities for the Future |
|
||||||||||||||||
11:35 – 12:00 | Coffee Break | |||||||||||||||||
12:00 - 12:15 | Key Note Address | Guest of Honour His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan |
||||||||||||||||
12:15 - 12:30 | Key Note Address | Dr Cheick Modibo Diarra, Chairman ALN, (Former Prime Minister, Republic of Mali) | ||||||||||||||||
12:30 - 13:00 | Signing of the Memorandum of Guidance between the DIFC Courts and The Supreme Court of Kenya Presentation to Guest of Honour |
In the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
|
||||||||||||||||
13:00 - 13:15 | Key Note Address: Why Kenya? | Anne Kirima-Muchoki, Kenya Investment Authority | ||||||||||||||||
13:15 - 14:30 | Networking Luncheon at Ewaan | |||||||||||||||||
14:30 - 15:30 | Discourse on the Hospitality Sector in Africa (The Royale A Suite) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Opportunities in Africa’s Oil & Gas Boom (The Royale B Suite) |
|
|||||||||||||||||
15:30 - 16:30 | Panel Discussion: African Future Cities - Commercial Property in Africa (The Royale A Suite) |
|
||||||||||||||||
Panel Discussion: Dubai – Africa Energy Session: How to invest in Africa. (The Royale B Suite) |
|
|||||||||||||||||
16:30 - 17:00 | Coffee Break | |||||||||||||||||
17:00 - 18:00 | Panel Discussion: Exploring Current Trends in the Private Equity Sector |
|
||||||||||||||||
18:00 - 18:15 | Closing remarks | Dr. Michael Gera, ALN |