On 14th June 2012, at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Westminster, London, Developing Markets Associates in association with the UK Niger Consulate, hosted the first UK/USA-Niger Investment Forum.
This landmark event was attended by well over 200 delegates, including key stakeholders in Niger and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors, including a delegation from the Government of Niger led by the President of the Republic himself, HE Mahamadou Issoufou.
The forum was officially opened by Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates, Muhammadu Dikko Ladan, Honorary Consul of Niger in the UK and Ambassador Bisa Williams, US Ambassador to Niger; then, following welcoming remarks from Rt Hon Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary of State for International Development, DFID, the conference was addressed by HE Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger.
Thereafter there followed sessions on Niger's Economic Outlook and Opportunity, Investing in Gas, Mines and Energy, and Investing in Key Sectors. The day's sessions included presentations from senior ministers of the Government of Niger such as HE Mohamed Bazoum, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and of the Nigeriens Abroad; HE M Amadou Boubacar Cisse, Minister of State of Planning, Territory, Physical Planning and Community Development; HE Foumakoye Gado, Minister of Oil and Energy; HE Omar Tchiana, Minister of State of Mining and Industrial Development; and HE Saley Seydou, Minister of Trade and Industry. The day also included presentations from members of the development community such as Nestor Coffi, Country Manager in Niger, World Bank; and Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Executive Secretary, NEPAD; and from the private sector presentations were given by Stephen G. Roman, Founder, Chairman, President & CEO, Global Atomic Fuels Corporation; Maadiou Diallo, CEO & Selim Boudis, Director of Organisation & Development, Niger Energie Services; Mohamed Mehdi Ziam, Head of Operations, Niamey, Persoil; Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman and Founder, GoviEx Uranium; and Stefano Borghi, Director Capital Markets and Partnership, Drill Masters Africa, amongst others. Following the last session a drinks reception was held in the Locarno Suite at the FCO.
The First UK/USA-Niger Investment Forum
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Westminster, London
PROGRAMME
8.00am – 9.00am
Registration and refreshments
9.00am – 9.15am
Official opening of the Forum
Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
Muhammadu Dikko Ladan, Honorary Consul of Niger in the UK
Ambassador Bisa Williams, US Ambassador to Niger
9.15am – 9.20am
Welcome Address
Rt Hon Stephen O’Brien, Under-Secretary of State for International Development, DFID
9.20am – 9.30am
Opening Address
HE Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger
9.30am – 11.00am
Session 1: Economic Outlook and Opportunity
Chair: Richard Austen, British Chargé d’Affaires, Mali and Niger
• HE Mohamed Bazoum, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and of the Nigeriens Abroad, Government of Niger
• HE M. Amadou Boubacar Cisse, Minister of State of Planning, Territory, Physical Planning and Community Development, Government of Niger
• Nestor Coffi, Country Manager in Niger, World Bank
• Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Executive Secretary, NEPAD
• Mohamed Mehdi Ziam, Head of Operations, Niamey, Persoil
• Stephen G. Roman, Founder, Chairman, President & CEO, Global Atomic Fuels Corporation
Q & A session
11.00am – 11.30am
Refreshments break
11.30am – 1.00pm
Session 2: Investing in Gas, Mines and Energy
Chair: Dr Rilwanu Lukman, Former Secretary General, OPEC
• HE Foumakoye Gado, Minister of Oil and Energy, Government of Niger
• HE Omar Tchiana, Minister of State of Mining and Industrial Development, Government of Niger
• Benoit La Salle, President & CEO, SEMAFO Inc
• Moussa Guedel, President, Nigerien Society of Petrol Products
• Govind Friedland, Executive Chairman and Founder, GoviEx Uranium
• Stephane Brabant, Partner, Energy & Infrastructure, Herbert Smith
• Stefano Borghi, Director Capital Markets and Partnership, Drill Masters Africa
Q & A session
1.00pm – 2.00pm
Networking lunch
2.00pm – 3.15pm
Session 3: Investing in Key Sectors
Chair: Ambassador Bisa Williams, US Ambassador to Niger
• HE Saley Seydou, Minister of Trade and Industry, Government of Niger
• HE Oua Seydou, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Niger
• Mahaman El Hadji Ousmane, Minister of Livestock, Government of Niger
• Maadiou Diallo, CEO & Selim Boudis, Director of Organisation and Development, Niger Energie Services
• Majekodunmi Oyetunji, CEO, YMCA Consultants
• Moussa Mohammed, Permanent Secretary for PPP’s, Office of the Prime Minister, Government of Niger
• Ibrahim Idi Ango, President, Niger Chamber of Commerce
Q & A session
3.30pm – 4.30pm
Networking Reception
For event pictures, view the gallery here
