Technology Conferences

The year 2015 will be a busy one for African business conferences.

We’re highlighting opportunities in sub-Saharan African transportation, infrastructure, investment and banking, healthcare and technology.

The following list of conferences is broken up into business sector categories to help you quickly find events that fit your interests in Africa, U.S. and U.K.

Also watch for AFKInsider‘s features on 2015 Africa Electric Power Conferences and 2015 Africa Oil, Gas and Mining Conferences lists.

South Africa Industry and Technology Fair (May 20-22, Johannesburg) The “umbrella event for African industry,” this event is a mix of 10 smaller conferences and workshops targeting manufacturing, engineering, water, petrochemical, plastics and the energy sectors. Representative companies include Pumps Valves & Pipes Africa; Watertec Africa; Petrotex Africa; Intermac Africa; Manutec Africa; Smart Automation Africa; Afriplast Expo; Energex Africa; IndustrialGreenTec Africa; and Empowertec Africa.

Technology, Media and Telecoms Africa Conference 2015 (Aug.19-20, Lagos, Nigeria) This conference will address issues concerning IT systems management, big data and analytics, innovation and technology from startups to multi-million dollar businesses. Expect to see a diverse group of participants, including government officials, information management officers, investors, telecom and cyber security experts, IT engineers, marketing professionals and entrepreneurs.

Transportation Conferences

Breakbulk Africa 2015 (Feb. 16-19, Johannesburg) This conference offers the chance to investigate cargo transportation industry opportunities available in Africa. According to organizers, “the diversity of delegate titles, companies, cargoes and geographies that attend Breakbulk events creates a unique transactional environment not found at any other event.”

Africa Jet Fuel & Aviation Conference 2015(Feb. 26-27, Johannesburg) This event provides strategy sharing and business networking opportunities, attracting attendees from leading aviation fuel producers and suppliers, aircraft and engine manufacturers, airport operators and airlines. Some of the issues to be tackled include expansion opportunities at African airports and improving African airline profitability.

7th Africa Transportation Technology Transfer Conference (May 11-15, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe) The International Road Federation partners with the Technology Transfer Center in Botswana to offer participants a chance to explore issues grouped around six themes: improving accessibility and transport services; new technology; road safety; pavement design and construction material specifications; and financing of transport infrastructure.

Africa Rail 2015 (June 30 – July 1, Johannesburg) African rail operators and heavy haul cargo owners meet to discuss infrastructure, efficiency, rolling stock procurement and operations issues that save time and money.

TransAfrica Exhibition and Conference (October 2015, Johannesburg – no date yet) This event unites all sectors of the transport industry — road, rail, pipeline, sea and air transport — to explore development and investment opportunities that drive regional growth, including new project opportunities, funding models and the modernization and maintenance of existing transport infrastructure.

13th Intermodal Africa 2015 Exhibition and Conference (Oct. 29-30, Lusaka, Zambia) The biggest annual container ports and terminal operations exhibition and conference in Africa, this event will feature 30 speakers addressing issues and challenges of global transportation. In attendance will be harbor masters, port engineers, maintenance supervisors and procurement decision makers together with the region’s leading shippers, cargo owners, importers/exporters, shipping lines, terminal and railway operators, and port equipment suppliers.

Investing and Financing Conferences

Ethiopia Summit (Feb. 4-5, Addis, Ethiopia) The Summit will draw more than 150 senior experts from a variety of industry sectors to discuss growth opportunities and challenges in Ethiopia. Panelists will discuss issues including: Is the state-led development model sustainable? What are the challenges faced by the private sector? Can the country avoid the pitfalls of other countries?

2015 SAVCA Private Equity Industry Conference (Feb. 12-13, Stellenbosch, South Africa) Hosted by the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA), the theme is “Investing for Growth, Investing for Good.” This conference brings together private equity players, business leaders, institutional investors and advisors from the Southern African region and beyond. The conference will explore opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Bonds & Loans Africa 2015 (March 27-30, Cape Town) Focusing on the full range of debt products offered by African governments, banks and companies, this conference draws more than 450 local and international banks, borrowers, investors and financial service providers from across the continent to network and secure new investment.

4th Africa Insurance & Reinsurance Conference (June 23-24, Nairobi) This event will keep you up to date with the latest industry developments, marketing strategies, new technologies and product innovations relevant to the African insurance market.

BankingTech Africa 2015 (July 7-8, Johannesburg) BankingTech returns to Johannesburg to bring Africa’s banks together with leading technology vendors from around the world and offers opportunities to discuss new approaches and business models to Africa banking.

Nigeria Investment Forum 2015 (July 7-8, Abuja, Nigeria) This forum will provide local and international investors, companies, entrepreneurs, business leaders and policy makers an opportunity to access investment insights, share market analytics and learn about current project development opportunities for Nigeria.

Africa Business, Economic & Finance Conference 2015 (Dec. 2-3, Abuja, Nigeria) Targeting the financial sector in Africa, this annual conference is where financial practitioners, business leaders, government officials, investors and entrepreneurs will gather for interactive sessions and panels to share perspectives and strategies for developing and investing in Nigeria’s continuing growth.

Healthcare Conferences

3rd annual Africa Healthcare Summit 2015 (Feb. 26-27, London) With the Ebola crisis affecting the entire world, this European-based healthcare conference is especially relevant. An expected 300 ministers of health are expected to participate, along with senior hospital directors and healthcare professionals coming to network with international healthcare experts, investors and companies looking to enter the African health sector.

Infrastructure Conferences

East Africa Energy Infrastructure Security Forum (Feb. 4-5, Nairobi) Recent security threats to the booming oil and gas industry of East Africa are the focus of this conference where delegates can share intelligence with relevant governmental bodies on how to secure ports and offshore assets, prevent pipeline sabotage and select security systems to match their particular needs.

Africa-Australia Infrastructure Conference 2015 (March 5-6, Victoria, Australia) This conference will highlight the emerging infrastructure development and business opportunities in Africa’s energy, ICT and telecoms, mining infrastructure, agribusiness, water and sanitation technology and transport sectors to the Australian business community. The event attracts key stakeholders such as Macquarie Bank, Worley Parsons, Engineers Australia, Cardno, Johnstaff, Snowy Mountains Engineering Corp., and Export Council of Australia.

Zambia International Water & Infrastructure Conference and Exhibition (March 19-20, Lusaka, Zambia) This conference will address the challenges of water resource management and infrastructure development in Zambia and explore how public and private finance can be harnessed by bringing together manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, installers and water and waste management private and public professionals.

Africa Infrastructure, Transport & Real Estate Conference 2015 (Oct. 21-22, Abuja, Nigeria) This conference on infrastructure and real estate development in Africa will create a platform for sharing insights, perspectives and leading practices amongst participants, allowing them to discuss key growth opportunities and challenges affecting industries and businesses in the region.

Trade and Economic Development Conferences

Meetings Africa (Feb. 23-25, Johannesburg) Hosted by the South Africa National Convention Bureau, this conference allows African associations and African meetings industry professionals to meet with international and local buyers in the business events industry, including Sun International, the Blue Train, CSIR International Convention Centre, Botswana Tourism Organization, Kempinski Kenya, Kenyatta International Convention Centre and Mozambique Tourism.

17th Africa Business Conference at Harvard Business School (Feb. 27 – March 1, Boston) The event and gala dinner is the world’s largest student-run conference focused on business in Africa, bringing together speakers, expert panelists, and nearly 1,500 passionate students and professionals from across the globe to discuss and debate important African business and leadership topics. This year’s theme, “A More Inclusive Africa: the Pursuit of Progress for All,” seeks to inspire conversations that drive actions and identify opportunities and innovative solutions.

Corporate Social Responsibility Mozambique Conference and Exhibition (March 19-20, Maputo, Mozambique) The inaugural Corporate Social Responsibility Mozambique Conference and Exhibition is the first event dedicated to analyzing corporate social responsibility (CSR) and a first step towards building a thriving CSR culture in Mozambique, which still faces challenges of poverty, healthcare and development of rural areas despite an average economic growth rate of 7 percent over the past 10 years.

Shaping Our Future Conference, Zambia 2015 (March 30-31, Lusaka, Zambia) This annual conference is designed for entrepreneurs and businesses leaders to address sustainable economic development in Zambia that will facilitate financial growth and create employment opportunities.

Nigeria Business Conference 2015 (April 15-16, Lagos, Nigeria) This is a gathering where business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, government officials and companies will discuss creating jobs, enhancing industrial competitiveness and accessing financing while fostering private sector development and growth in Nigeria.

14th London Business School Africa Business Summit (April 25, London) Now in its 14th year, the Africa Business Summit has become a leading forum in Europe for discussing doing business in Africa. Each year it brings together 300 delegates with an active interest in Africa, providing an excellent opportunity to network with like-minded professionals.

Nigeria National Business & Enterprise Conference (May 6-7, Abuja, Nigeria) This two-day conference is a forum for government representatives, entrepreneurs, companies, institutional investors and business leaders to debate ideas on how to drive competitiveness and foster sustainable economic growth in the region.

World Economic Forum on Africa 2015 (June 3-5, Cape Town) In 2015, the World Economic Forum on Africa will mark 25 years in Africa. Under the theme, “Then and Now: Re-imagining Africa’s Future,” the Forum on Africa will convene regional and global leaders from business, government and civil society to share innovative approaches to accelerate inclusive growth and sustainable development.

U.S. Commerce Dept. Trade Winds-Africa (Sept. 16-18, Johannesburg) The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Service is offering U.S. companies the opportunity to explore eight markets in Sub-Saharan Africa starting with a business forum in South Africa. This trade mission will feature region and industry-specific conference sessions as well as pre-arranged consultations with U.S. diplomats representing commercial markets in 19 countries. There will also be multiple trade mission stops where participants can conduct business-to-business meetings with pre-screened firms in Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania, and 13 U.S. Embassies in Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Swaziland, Uganda, and Zambia.

Nigeria Annual Enterprise Conference & Awards (Nov. 19-20, Abuja, Nigeria) The 2015 Nigeria Annual Enterprise Conference and Awards will focus on the economic, financing, operational excellence and market factors driving Nigerian enterprises, small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Source: By D.A. Barber AFKI OriginalPublished: December 31, 2014, 1:57 pm 

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“Agriculture value chains pays, if you do it following best Practices”

PROMO:::Agriculture Pays, Do it Strategically: Meet the Youth in Agriculture Role Models

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Upcoming learning events and Business Linkage Forums

 TGFA is pleased to announce its forthcoming organized events which will be facilitated in collaboration with other stakeholders with in an Outside Tanzania. All these events are the continuation of the previous efforts to promote entrepreneurship in Agriculture and agriculture related value chains. Starting November 2014 to February 2015 there will be;

1.   Youth in Agriculture Forum and Business Linkage

Target all stakeholders  are youth led enterprises and Organizations along the agriculture and agriculture related value chains.

Include agro entrepreneurs, youth activists, public agencies and authorities, development partners, processors, transporters, researchers, consumer organizations and key decision makers.

• Advocate in action for youth decent jobs along the chains
• Promote graduate agro entrepreneurship
• Embarrassing youth in agriculture chains by recognizing and share achievements
• Young farmers and agro entrepreneurs cocktails

This event will be followed by Youth in agriculture consultation workshop which will be geared towards collaboration and partnerships in Organizing, implementing and coordination of youth in Agriculture initiatives in Tanzania. November 2014

2. Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunity

i.) Targeting public relation, communication and community practitioners

ii.) Researchers and marketing managers to improve their efficiency, effectiveness and reach of their work.

Major aim is to empower development professionals to recognize the potential of social media to make innovative use of tools to contribute to the enhancement of the institutional image of their organizations.

WHEN: December 2014, Only shortlisted applicants will be invited.

3. Training on Modern Agriculture techniques

To be Followed by “Young agro entrepreneurs cocktail Cock tail”

• Learn by practicing with professional doers in drip irrigation, Green house farming,Mushroom production, Aquaponic, fish farming, Poultry

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Rwanda: Grain farmers excited as banks move to disburse EAX loans

Tanzania Graduate Farmers OFFICIAL Blog Chama cha Wakulima Wahitimu Tanzania

The deal between the East African Exchange (EAX) and selected banks to offer grain farmers low interest loans has started to bear fruit as the first batch of beneficiaries prepare to receive funding from Ecobank.

Alfah Kadri, the EAX chief executive officer, said over six farmers are awaiting credit from the bank under the arrangement.

EAX signed the deal with the bank last year to provide finance under the warehouse receipt system.

In an interview with The New Times, Kadri said the bank was evaluating the applications and would soon give out loans to the first batch of farmers.

The deal will benefit farmers belonging to co-operatives that store their grains at EAX warehouses.

When farmers deposit their produce at EAX warehouses, they are issued receipts, which they can use as collateral under the warehouse receipt system to acquire loans.

“We have already submitted the farmers’ warehouse receipts to…

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Rwanda: Grain farmers excited as banks move to disburse EAX loans

The deal between the East African Exchange (EAX) and selected banks to offer grain farmers low interest loans has started to bear fruit as the first batch of beneficiaries prepare to receive funding from Ecobank.

Alfah Kadri, the EAX chief executive officer, said over six farmers are awaiting credit from the bank under the arrangement.

EAX signed the deal with the bank last year to provide finance under the warehouse receipt system.

In an interview with The New Times, Kadri said the bank was evaluating the applications and would soon give out loans to the first batch of farmers.

The deal will benefit farmers belonging to co-operatives that store their grains at EAX warehouses.

When farmers deposit their produce at EAX warehouses, they are issued receipts, which they can use as collateral under the warehouse receipt system to acquire loans.

“We have already submitted the farmers’ warehouse receipts to Ecobank…However, since this is the first time they are handling these kinds of applications, it has taken long to process the farmers loans,” he said.

Last year, the exchange signed memoranda of understanding with Ecobank and Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) to give farmers, who trade their grain through EAX, loans of up to 70 per cent of the total grain value of their produce.

The loans will attract interest rates of between eight and 20 per cent, according to Kadri.

The credit will offer the farmers a much-needed financial lifeline as most commercial banks do not lend to the agriculture sector, arguing that it is risky.

Under the warehouse receipt system, farmers can deposit their grains with EAX warehouses in different parts of the country. They are issued receipts, which they also use to trade their produce through the Nasdaq trading platform any time of the year.

Kadri noted that EAX is able to offer farmers better prices because they only deal with clients who offer good prices.

Lending to the agriculture sector is currently below five per cent of the total loans in the Rwandan economy.

Commercial banks rejected an estimated 58 per cent of agriculture loan applications in 2014, according to central bank figures.

But with initiatives like EAX’s, the situation could soon change.

Kadri said farmers are gradually buying into this alternative way to access financing.

Meanwhile, he projected that maize prices could go up by about 30 per cent in the next three months as supply reduces, an opportunity he said farmers who store grain with EAX will exploit to earn more from their produce.

By Ben Gasore, The New Times

You are what they eat: The importance of animal feed for public health

You are what they eat

Wewe ni wanachokula wanyama, ndege n.k

 

In the global health arena, biological threats are most commonly associated with viruses, bacteria or other microbes affecting humans, animals and even the environment. These pathogens can cause sickness and death for people, livestock, plants and much more as they tax the veterinary, public and ecohealth systems struggling to control them.

However, an equally important threat puts global health, and especially human health, at risk: unsafe and poor quality animal feed. More and more people rely on livestock and animal products for consumption and livelihoods than ever before, and livestock production is growing fast, especially in developing countries, to meet rising demand of a growing global population. This is putting increasing pressure on feed producers, including on farm mixers as they boost their capacity to provide quality feed with the correct nutritional content and free from contaminants.

Microbiological agents such as E. coli O157, Listeria, Salmonella, endoparasites, or the toxins produced by agents such as Aspergillus and Fusarium can sometimes find their way into feed, and subsequently into the animal organisms that humans rely on for their own health and wellbeing. Other industrial and environmental contaminants such as dioxin, dibenzofurans, dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, heavy metals and natural plant toxins such as alkaloids, di- and tri-terpenes can also enter food chains through feeds. Without proper controls, skills, resources and awareness, there is a risk that unsafe animal feed will find its way in the system, animals and eventually people.

FAO has been working with governments to promote safe and quality animal feed for many years and FAO expertise works hand in hand not only with national authorities but also private sector partners. As a result, more animals receive the quality feed they require to lead healthy lives, and more animal production systems benefit from higher quality animals and resulting products. Healthier animals lead not only to higher quality animal products, but also to higher yields from livestock production.

One way FAO works toward this result is by enhancing the dialogue between all stakeholders, through the organization of regular international and regional meetings jointly with the International Feed Industry Association (IFIF). FAO has also been providing support for the implementation of the Codex Alimentarius standards and guidelines related to feed, for instance with the production of a manual on Good Practices for the Feed Industry, jointly with the same IFIF.

Since 2008, FAO together with IFIF, has also organized eight International Feed Regulators Meetings to bring together feed industry representatives and government officials from around the world to discuss key issues for the feed and food chain. These include feed safety management, product registration and capacity development.

Another way FAO works toward this result is by developing capacities of national food and feed analysis laboratories – the entities that perform the testing and quality assurance on animal feed and related products. For example, in Bangladesh, FAO has provided technical assistance to the Government to build, set up and operationalize the National Food Safety Laboratory in Dhaka (NFSL). Inaugurated in October 2012, this laboratory within the Institute of Public Health is a state of the art facility for chemical and microbiological analysis of food and feed.  With funding from the European Union and the Netherlands, FAO has helped equip the laboratory and train its staff to develop capabilities required for testing for pesticide residues, heavy metals, additives, formaldehyde, mycotoxins, veterinary drug residues and much more – all of which can find their way into feed, and subsequently into animals and human food chain. The establishment of the NFSL has been well timed as Bangladesh is now implementing new legislation, the Food Safety Act, 2013 from February this year. Validated analytical methods and trained human resources are in position to keep pace with the upgraded regulations. This is expected to lead to higher standards of health for the people who i) consume livestock meat, milk and eggs for nutrition; and ii) use animal-based textiles and hides for clothing and shelter.

In addition, FAO jointly with International Analytic Group in Vienna, Austria has been organizing Proficiency test (also called Ring tests) for feed analysis laboratories. In 2014, 85 laboratories from developing countries and 45 from developed countries participated in the test. The Proficiency test monitors the quality of analytical results and identify assays that need improvement through for example staff training, proper use of equipment, suitability of methods, among others.

Also since 2013, FAO jointly with Texas A&M, USA, has organized a distant learning on-line e-course on ‘Laboratory quality systems’ for laboratory managers and quality control officers. The course focuses on developing and implementing laboratory quality systems and covers a wide range of topics including method development, laboratory accreditation, chain of custody and international laboratory standards. The focus of the course is to provide laboratory professionals with the necessary tools to produce and analyze data, document traceability, and calculate the uncertainty in reported data.  A total of 55 laboratory personnel from 35 developing countries have been trained so far. This year also FAO will organize the Proficiency test and the e-learning course. FAO has also produced a number of manuals to enhance quality systems in feed analysis laboratories and feed industries. Furthermore, FAO is in the process of developing a tool for distant  auditing of feed analysis laboratories. These manuals and tools guide the feed analysis laboratories to integrate quality control systems and good management practices in feed analysis laboratories and feed manufacturing units.

These efforts are contributing to enhancing skill of laboratory personnel, resulting in generation of reliable data on feed quality and safety parameters. Laboratory quality assurance and quality improvement programmes play a vital role in producing sound and defensible analytical results. The implementation of a laboratory quality system is the key to ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, gaining consumer confidence and maintaining competitiveness in both domestic and global markets.

FAO is now launching a Multi-stakeholder Partnership Programme for Capacity Development for Feed Safety which will be a forum to support capacity building, exchange information and coordinate activities to enhance feed safety both globally and locally.
FAO’s efforts are playing an important role towards strengthening a ‘feed-food safety nexus’ and enhancing public and eco-system health.

Source: FAO http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/home/en/news_archive/2015_You_are_what_they_eat.html

Daniela Battaglia
Livestock Production
Officer
FAO HQ, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
Rome, 00153, Italy
daniela.battaglia@fao.org

• Harinder Makkar
  Animal Production Officer
  FAO HQ, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
  Rome, 00153, Italy
  Harinder.makkar@fao.org