UK-Gabon Investment Forum 2012

On 29th November 2012, at The Sheraton Park Lane, London, Developing Markets Associates in association with Gabon's Agency for the Promotion of Investment and Exportation (APIEX), hosted the First UK-Gabon Investment Forum.

This highly successful event was attended by around 450 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sectors.

Opening addresses were given by Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive of Developing Markets Associates; Nina Abouna, Chief Executive, APIEX and Alderman Roger Gifford, Lord Mayor of the City of London. HE Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon then officially endorsed the conference with some inspiring words for the delegates.

The opening session provided an overview of Gabon's investment climate and included presentations from HE Luc Oyoubi, Minister of Economy, Employment and Sustainable Development, HE Magloire Ngambia, Minister of Investment Promotion, Public Works, Transport, Housing and Tourism, Pacome Moubelet-Boubeya, Secretary of Government, Walker Kimball, Senior Vice President, Bechtel, Brice Laccruche-Alihanga, Director General, BGFI Bank, Rolake Akinkugbe, Head, Oil and Gas Research, Ecobank; and Zouera Youssoufou, Country Manager for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, World Bank. The session was chaired by HE Bharat Joshi, UK Ambassador to Gabon.

There then followed sessions focusing on the work being done and investment opportunities in Industry, Mines and Energy, Infrastructural Development and Trade and Agriculture, Tourism and the Environment. These sessions included presentations from speakers such as HE Regis Immongault, Minister of Industry and Mines, Government of the Gabonese Republic; HE Etienne Ngoubou, Minister of Oil, Energy and Hydraulic Resources, Government of the Gabonese Republic; Steve Brown, Chief Executive, Setanta Energy; Martin Horgan, Chief Executive, Toro Gold; Henri Ohayon, Chief Executive, National Agency of Public Works, Government of the Gabonese Republic; Alain Ditona, General Manager, Deposits & Consignments Fund (CDC); Jean Baptiste Bikalou, CEO, Petro Gabon and Chairman, Chamber of Commerce; HE Julien Nkoghe Bekale, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock farming, Fisheries and Rural Development, Government of the Gabonese Republic; Professor Lee White, Director, Gabon National Parks Service; and Dr Adrian Drewett, Président Directeur Général, Shell Gabon.  The sector sessions were were chaired by Lord David Chidgey, Vice Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa, Richard Dowden, Director of the Royal African Society and Henry Bellingham MP, Former Minister of State for Africa, respectively.

The day included a Networking Lunch, sponsored by Mott MacDonald & Integrated Petroleum Services (IPS); a Round Table on SME financing; and was rounded off by a Drinks Reception, sponsored by Tullow Oil, and at which the conference was congratulated by HE Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Republic of Gabon.

PROGRAMME

8.00am –9.00am
Registration and refreshments

9.00am – 9.15am
Welcome Addresses and Opening Comments

Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
Nina Abouna, Chief Executive, Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Exports (APIEX)

9.15am – 9.30am
Opening Address

Alderman Roger Gifford, The Lord Mayor of the City of London
HE Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic   

9.30am – 11.00am
Session 1: Economic Outlook and Opportunity

Chair: HM Ambassador Bharat Joshi, UK Ambassador to Gabon
• HE Luc Oyoubi, Minister of Economy, Employment and Sustainable Development, Government of the Gabonese Republic
• HE Magloire Ngambia, Minister of Investment Promotion, Public Works, Transport, Housing and Tourism, Government of the Gabonese Republic
• Pacôme Moubelet-Boubeya, Secretary of Government, Government of the Republic of Gabon
• Walker Kimball, Senior Vice President, Bechtel
• Brice Laccruche-Alihanga, Director General, BGFI Bank
• Rolake Akeinkugbe, Head, Oil & Gas Research, Ecobank
• Zouera Youssoufou, Country Manager for Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, World Bank
Q & A session

11.00am – 11.30am
Refreshments break

11.30am – 1.00pm
Session 2: Investing in Industry, Mines and Energy

Chair: Lord Chidgey, Vice Chair, All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa
• HE Regis Immongault, Minister of Industry and Mines, Government of the Gabonese Republic
• HE Etienne Ngoubou, Minister of Oil, Energy and Hydraulic Resources, Government of the Gabonese Republic
• Fabrice Nze Bekale, Chief Executive, Gabon Mining
• Steve Brown, Chief Executive, Setanta Energy
• Brian Menell, Chief Executive, Kemet Group
• Martin Horgan, Chief Executive, Toro Gold
• Sanjay Dey, Country Head, Abhijeet Group Gabon
Q & A session

1.00pm – 2.00pm
Networking lunch – Sponsored by Mott MacDonald & Integrated Petroleum Services (IPS)

2.00pm – 3.15pm
Session 3: Infrastructural Development and Trade

Chair: Richard Dowden, Director, Royal African Society
• Henri Ohayon, Chief Executive, National Agency of Public Works, Government of the Gabonese Republic
• Rigobert Ikambouya, Chief Executive, Ports Authority (OPRAG)
• Oyaya Landry, General Manager, Fund for Road Maintenance (FER)
• Alain Ditona, General Manager, Deposits & Consignments Fund (CDC)
• Jean Baptiste Bikalou, CEO, Petro Gabon and Chairman, Chamber of Commerce
Q & A session

3.15pm – 3.45pm
Refreshments break

3.45pm – 5.15pm
Session 4: Investing in Agriculture, Tourism and the Environment

Chair: Henry Bellingham MP, Former Minister of State for Africa
• HE Julien Nkoghe Bekale, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock farming, Fisheries and Rural Development, Government of the Gabonese
• Professor Lee White, Director, Gabon National Parks Service
• Dr Adrian Drewett, Président Directeur Général, Shell Gabon
• Barrys Ogoula, General Manager, National Eco-Tourism Agency
• Serge Mikoto, Chief Executive Officer, National Fund for Investment
• Nina Abouna, Chief Executive, Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Exports (APIEX)
Q & A session

5.15pm – 5.30pm
Closing Remarks

HE Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of the Gabonese Republic

5.30pm – 6.30pm
Gala reception – Sponsored by Tullow Oil

Welcome Address
David Roux, Central & West Africa Business Unit Manager, Tullow Oil

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