Second UK-Liberia Investment Forum 2012

On 14th September 2012, at Drapers' Hall, London, Developing Markets Associates in association with the Embassy of the Republic of Liberia in the UK, hosted the second UK-Liberia Investment Forum.

This highly successful event was attended by around 300 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sector.

Opening addresses were given by Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive of Developing Markets Associates; HE Wesley M Johnson, Liberian Ambassador to the UK and HE Joseph N Boakai, Vice President of the Government of the Republic of Liberia. The opening session provided an overview of Liberia's investment climate and included presentations from Hon O Natty B Davis, Chairman of the National Investment Commission; HE Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs; HE Amara Konneh, Minister of Finance; Frank Ajilore, Resident Representative for Liberia at the International Finance Corporation; Kola Adeleke, Managing Director of Ecobank Liberia and Joseph Mathews, Head of Government & Community Relations, Arcelor Mittal. The session was chaired by David Gordon-MacLeod, UK Charges d'Affaires to Liberia. The following sessions giving an overview of investment opportunities in Energy & Natural Resources and Key Industries were chaired by Roger Martin, Director for Africa at Developing Markets Associates and Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society. Presentations were given by HE Patrick Sendolo, Minister for Lands, Mines and Energy, Takhani Kromah, Country Director (Liberia) for African Petroleum; Robert McKendrick, Chief Executive of Mount Bele Resources; David Reading, Chief Executive of Aureus Mining; HE Dr Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture; Geoff Eyre, Chief Executive of AmLib Holdings Plc; David Rothschild Director of Golden Veroleum Liberia; Hon Matilda Parker, Managing Director of National Port Authority, Peder Sondergaard, Senior Vice President of APM Terminals; Samuel Thompson, Director of National Housing Authority and Binyah C Kesselly, Commissioner and Chief Executive of Liberia Maritime Authority.

Following the closing remarks given by HE Wesley M Johnson, Liberian Ambassador to the UK and David Gordon-MacLeod, UK Charges d'Affaires to Liberia a gala reception was held to close the conference.

PROGRAMME

8.00am – 9.00am
Registration and refreshments

9.00am – 9.10am
Welcome Addresses and Opening Comments
Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
HE Ambassador Wesley M Johnson, Liberian Ambassador to the UK

9.10am – 9.30am
Opening Address
HE Joseph N Boakai, Vice President, Government of the Republic of Liberia

9.30am – 11.00am
Session 1: Setting the Scene
Chair: David Gordon-MacLeod, UK Charge d’Affaires to Liberia
• Hon O Natty B Davis, Chairman, National Investment Commission
• HE Augustine Ngafuan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Liberia
• HE Amara Konneh, Minister of Finance, Government of Liberia
• Frank Ajilore, Resident Representative, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Kola Adeleke, Managing Director, Ecobank Liberia
• Joseph Mathews, Head of Government & Community Relations, Arcelor Mittal
Q & A session

11.00am – 11.30am
Refreshments break

11.30am – 1.00pm
Session 2: Investing in Energy and Natural Resources
Chair: Roger Martin, Director for Africa, Developing Markets Associates
• HE Patrick Sendolo, Minister of Lands, Mines and Energy, Government of Liberia
• Takhani Kromah, Country Director (Liberia) African Petroleum
• Robert McKendrick, Chief Executive, Mount Bele Resources
• David Reading, CEO, Aureus Mining
Q & A session

1.00pm – 2.30pm
Networking lunch

2.30pm – 4.00pm
Session 3: Investing in Key Industries
Chair – Richard Dowden, Director, Royal African Society
• HE Dr Florence Chenoweth, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Liberia
• Geoff Eyre, CEO, Amlib Holdings Plc
• David Rothschild, Director, Golden Veroleum Liberia
• Hon Matilda Parker, Managing Director, National Port Authority
• Peder Sondergaard, Senior Vice President, APM Terminals
• Samuel Thompson, Director, National Housing Authority
• Binyah C Kesselly, Commissioner and CEO, Liberia Maritime Authority
Q & A session

4.00pm – 4.15pm
Closing Remarks
HE Ambassador Wesley M Johnson, Liberian Ambassador to the UK
David Gordon-MacLeod, UK Charge d’Affaires to Liberia

Gala Reception