Commonwealth Africa Summit 2016: Over 18 Heads Of State And Government Expected

Commonwealth Africa Summit 2016: Over 18 Heads Of State And Government Expected

Over 18 heads of State and Government, as well as 1,500 leaders from business and society are expected at the 3rd Commonwealth Africa Summit 2016 from the 14th – 16th March in London, United Kingdom under the theme: Shared Prosperity, Mutual Security.

Similarly, Baroness Flather, British-Indian Politician; Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament; H.E Mrs Onari Duke, Country Director – Empretec UNCTAD, Nigeria; Mr. Tonye Cole, Chief Executive Officer, Sahara Group; Clive Carpenter, Vice Chairman Business Council for Africa; Dr Caroline Harper OBE, CEO, Sightsavers Global among other Eminent African Business and Government leaders are expected at the summit as Guest Speakers and Panelists. Some of the other panelists include, Clive Harridge, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Association of Planners; Mr. Audu Ogbe, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture; Donald Duke, Former Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria; Mr. Ifie Sekibo, CEO/MD Heritage Bank Plc; Dr. Mrs. Mary Manzo, Public Speaker, Environmental Activist & Chief Executive Officer, Mary Elika Foundation; Michael Lake CBE, Director Royal Commonwealth Society, Tony McMahon, CEO, Rostra Consulting and many more.

The Commonwealth Africa Summit is a gathering of government and business leaders from various parts of the Commonwealth to discuss and debate on various issues ranging from trade and investment, entrepreneurship, leadership, counterterrorism, security, economic development in Africa. It is designed to provide a space for high level dialogue between business and government leaders from Commonwealth countries from Africa and their counterparts across the globe to provide a platform for Commonwealth nations from Africa to showcase investment opportunities to a wider business community while learning best practices on securing their homeland and borderlines.

Creating a platform that makes it easier for Commonwealth countries in Africa to do more business with member states from other parts of the world as well as provide a unique opportunity for companies in Africa and other Commonwealth countries to network and exchange views on intra-Commonwealth trade and investment is one of the core aims of the summit. CAS 2016 will also provide a valuable trade relations platform for Government and Business leaders’ community as it would provide opportunity for attraction of investments into Africa.

The Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Memorial Gate as a mark of respect to the fallen Africans who died in the two (2) World Wars will mark the opening of the summit. The Wreath laying ceremony is customarily attended by distinguished Commonwealth leaders and former Prime Minister John Major, among other dignitaries. Guests will later converged at the Westminster Abbey to attend the Commonwealth Day Observance Service in the presence of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Duke of Edinburgh, senior politicians, High Commissioners, Commonwealth dignitaries and over two hundred VIPs.

This year’s summit will feature an “Investment Pitching” session during which registered countries and States will be given the opportunity to make investment pitches of about 10-15 minutes to communicate metrics and aspirations to potential investors. Plenary sessions have been incorporated into the summit which will allow influential leaders to debate general issues of primary interest to participants with Speakers sharing their views and debate what efforts to be employed in unlocking the opportunities and achieve successful outputs for Africa.

Some of the Panel topics featured are:
? Powering Africa
? Meeting Africa’s Infrastructural Challenge
? Financing Development in Africa
? Leveraging our Shared Commonwealth Heritage
? Tackling Future Threat to Peace and Security in Africa and other parts of the Commonwealth
? Increasing Commonwealth Impact in Sub Saharan Africa
? From Victims to Agents of Change: Women and Girls as Stakeholders in Counter terrorism
? Increasing SME’s capacity to solve the continents food and employment challenge
? Making SDG a Reality in the Commonwealth