PROGRAMME

Please continue to check the website for any updates to the programme.

Day 1: Tuesday 20th October

08:00 – 09:00

REGISTRATION AND WELCOME COFFEE

First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title

09:00 – 09:10

Cultural Session

First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title

09:10 – 09:25

WELCOME ADDRESS

  • Steve Gray OBE, Head – West & Central Africa, UK Export Finance
  • Atam Sandhu, CEO, DMA Invest

09:25 – 09:45

UK MINISTERIAL ADDRESS

The UK Growth Partnership with Francophone Africa

  • Lead Minister, HM Government

09:45 – 09:55

Cultural Intermission

09:55 – 10:15

GUINEA HOST ADDRESS

National Transformation and Regional Ambition

Panelists:

  • HE Ismaël Nabé, Minister of Planning & International Co-operation, The Republic of Guinea

10:15 – 10:35

PRESIDENTIAL OPENING CEREMONY

From Ambition to Transformation

  • H.E. General Mamadi Doumbouya, President, the Republic of Guinea
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title

10:35 – 10:45

OFFICIAL OPENING OF EXHIBITION HALL

From Ambition to Transformation

First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title

10:45 – 11:15

NETWORKING BREAK

From Ambition to Transformation

First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title
First & Last Name
Organisation
Job Title

11:15 – 11:45

GUINEA — Host Country Focus: From Simandou to National Transformation

Opening Remarks: HE Ambassador Aly Diallo, Ambassador to United Kingdom Steven Gray OBE, UK Export Finance – Moderator

  • Steven Gray OBE, UK Export Finance – Moderator
  • Ismael Nabe, Minister the Republic of Guinea
  • HMA Daniel Shepherd, HM Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea
  • Guinea Development Board
  • CCIAG (Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Artisanat de Guinée)

11:45 – 12:15

HIGH-LEVEL MINISTERIAL PLENARY

Five Years of UK-Francophone Africa Partnership

Chair: Ben Coleman MP, UK Trade Envoy to Francophone West Africa, UK Government

  • Lead Representative, Government of the Republic of Guinea
  • Lead Representative, Government of the Republic of Benin
  • Lead Representative, Government of the Republic of Cameroon
  • Lead Representative, Government of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
  • Lead Representative, Government of the Republic of Gabon
  • Lead Representative, Government of the Togolese Republic
  • Lead Representative, Government of the Republic of Senegal

12:15 – 12:45

COUNTRY AMBITION ROLL-CALL

The Next Five years

Chair: Dr Mabouba Diagne

Lead Representatives from Mauritania, Central Africa Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo

12:45 – 13:15

THE UK AND AFRICAN PRIVATE-SECTOR OFFER:

Matching UK Capability to African Demand

Chair: Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, DMA Invest

  • Alastair Long, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa
  • Tim Reid, CEO, UK Export Finance
  • Slyvia Monthe, British International Investment (BII)
  • African Private-Sector Leader
  • UK Private-Sector Leader

13:15 – 14:45

NETWORKING LUNCH

14:50 – 15:50

CAMEROON — Central African Infrastructure and Resource Corridors

  • Minister for Planning, the Republic of Cameroon
  • Michael Kimbi Tchenga, Country Director for Cameroon, UK Department for Business and Trade
  • William Lancaster / UK Export Finance
  • CIPA / API (Cameroon Investment Promotion Agency /Agence de Promotion des Investissements)
  • CCIMA (Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie, des Mines et de l’Artisanat)
  • Cameroonian Private Sector
  • Beko Capital
  • UK-Cameroon Chamber of Commerce

14:50 – 15:50

TRANSFORMATION LAB: POWER, WATER AND CLIMATE-RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Lead Representatives, Participating Governments 
  • Victoria D’Silva
  • Aladji Fode Kaba, Director General, Service National des Points d’Eau (SNAPE), Government of Guinea
  • Philip Foster, CEO, Aqua Africa 
  • CMS
  • KDAW

14:50 – 15:50

TOGO — Coastal West Africa Growth Markets

  • Minister Arthur Trimua, Lead Minister, the Togolese Republic
  • HMHC John Marshall, HM non-resident HC to the Togolese Republic
  • Robert Wright UK Export Finance
  • API-ZF (Agence de Promotion des Investissements et de la Zone Franche)
  • CCI-Togo (Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie du Togo) 
  • Togolese Private Sector
  • Hitech Construction Ltd

16:00 – 17:00

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO — Country Transformation Dialogue

  • Minister of External Trade Lead Minister, Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • HMA Zoe Ware, HM Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Isaac Kahara, UK Export Finance
  • ANAPI (Agence Nationale pour la Promotion des Investissements)
  • CCCII – DRC (Congolaise Chamber of Commerce International and Industry)
  • Inter-Oriental Builders
  • Dints International

16:00 – 17:00

BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR REGIONAL GROWTH

Chair: Aichatou Gueye, DBIST

  • Thomas Chambers, FCDO – Policy and Market Approach
  • Tess Phippen FCDO UK Trade in Region
  • CAMPEA ( The Central Africa Markets Venture
  • Capital & Private Equity Association) 
  • Intertek
  • UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce

16:00 – 17:00

CÔTE D’IVOIRE — Industrialisation, Education and Infrastructure

  • Minister for Planning, the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
  • HMA John Marshall, HM Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire
  • Dimitri Koffi, UK Export Finance
  • CEPICI (Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d’Ivoire)
  • UK Private sector TBC 
  • Infragroup

20:00 – 22:30

VVIP DINNER (By Invitation Only)

SPONSORED BY HITECH CONSTRUCTION LIMITED

Day 2: Wednesday 21st October

Venue:

09:00 – 10:00

REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Connectivity, Resilience and Frontier Delivery

  • Lead Minister, Government of the Republic of Congo 
  • HMA Zoe Ware, HM Non-Resident Ambassador to the Republic of Congo
  • Steven Gray OBE UK Export Finance
  • API-CONGO (Agence de Promotion des Investissements du Congo)
  • CCIAM-B (Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie, d’Agriculture et des Métiers de Brazzaville) 
  • Congolese Private Sector
  • Arabian Construction Company (ACC)

09:00 – 10:00

RISK MITIGATION AND INSURANCE:
MAKING COMPLEX MARKETS & PROJECTS BANKABLE & WHAT BANKS AND CREDIT INSURERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND

  • Sunita Koch, UK Export Finance
  • ARIA
  • Private Credit & Political Risk Insurance Market 
  • BII
  • Thiam&Associates
  • Deustche Bank

09:15 – 10:30

BENIN – Coastal West Africa Growth Markets

  • Lead Minister, Government of the Republic of Benin
  • HMA John Marshall, non-resident HM Ambassador to the Republic of Benin
  • Representative, International/Regional Development Finance Institution/ UK Export Finance
  • Representative, Beninese Private Sector
  • Representative, UK Private Sector, Roads / Water / Power / Advisory

10:30 – 11:00

NETWORKING BREAK

11:00 – 12:00

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC – Connectivity, Resilience and Frontier Delivery

  • Lead Minister, Government of the Central African Republic
  • HMA Zoe Ware, HM Non-Resident Ambassador to the Central AfricanRepublic
  • Representative, International/Regional Development Finance Institution /UK Export Finance
  • Representative, Central African Private Sector
  • Representative, UK Private Sector, Roads / Power / Water / Governance Advisory

11:00 – 12:00

GABON – Central African Infrastructure and Resource Corridors

  • Lead Minister, Government of Gabon
  • Francois Pannetier UK Export Finance
  • ANPI-GABON (Agence Nationale de Promotion des Investissements du Gabon)
  • CCIAMA-GABON (Chambre de Commerce, d’Agriculture, d’Industrie, des Mines et de l’Artisanat du Gabon)
  • Gabonese Private Sector
  • Industrial Parks & Investment 
  • SkyKapital

11:00 – 12:00

UK SUPPLY CHAIN AND SME MOBILISATION CLINIC

Chair: Victoria D’Sylva, UKEF

  • GPC
  • Sunita Koch, UK Export Finance
  • Dints International
  • UK-Cameroon Chamber of Commerce
  • Rio Tinto

12:00 – 13:00

NETWORKING LUNCH

13:15 – 14:15

SENEGAL — Atlantic and Sahel Gateway Economies

  • Lead Minister, the Republic of Senegal
  • HMA Carine Robarts, HM Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal
  • Simon Bunckenburg, UK Export Finance
  • APIX (Agence Nationale chargée de la Promotion des Investissements et des Grands Travaux) 
  • Manufacturing Africa
  • Dar (Sidara)
  • UK-Senegal Chamber of Commerce

13:15 – 14:15

NIGER, MALI & BURKINA FASO — Partnerships and Regional Corridors

  • Angus McKee HMA Ambassador to Mali and Burkina Faso
  • Lead Minister/Representative, Republic of Niger (TBC) 
  • Lead Minister/Representative, Republic of Mali (TBC) 
  • Lead Minister/Representative, Burkina Faso (TBC)
  • National Investment Promotion Agencies (Niger / Mali / Burkina Faso)
  • Sahel Private Sector / Chambers of Commerce

13:15 – 14:30

MAURITANIA – Atlantic and Sahel Gateway Economies

  • Lead Minister, Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
  • HMA Guy Harrison, HM Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania
  • Victoria D’Silva UK Export Finance
  • APIM (Agence de Promotion des Investissements en Mauritanie)
  • CCIAM (Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de Mauritanie) 
  • Mauritanian Private Sector 
  • Elecnor

14:30 – 15:30

TRANSFORMATION LAB: MINING, INDUSTRIALISATION, EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Chair: Francois Panniter, UKEF

  • Government of Mauritania
  • Government of DRC 
  • Government of CAR 
  • British Steel
  • Rio Tinto
  • Manufacturing Africa

14:30 – 15:30

TRANSFORMATION LAB: TRANSPORT, PORTS, ROADS, RAIL, and REGIONAL CORRIDORS

  • Chair: Meriem Bennai, UK Export Finance
  • Hitech Construction Ltd.
  • PIDG
  • Togo Government
  • Cameroon Government 
  • Propav

14:30 – 15:30

GO FAR, GO TOGETHER

  • Chair: Steve Gray OBE, Head – West & Central Africa, UK Export Finance
  • Ismael Nabe, Government of Guinea 
  • Tim Ried CEO UK Export Finance
  • BADEA
  • EBID
  • AFDB
  • Saudi Funds

15:30 – 17:00

NETWORKING BREAK

15:30 – 16:00

FROM MEETINGS TO MOMENTUM — Two Days in Review

Chair: Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, DMA Invest

  • Lead Minister(s), Participating Government(s) — (TBC, pending deals signed) 
  • Private-Sector Signatory(ies) — (TBC, pending deals signed)
  • PM Trade Envoy Ben Coleman
  • Alastair Long HM Trade Commissioner for Africa
  • Ismael Nabe, Government of Guinea
  • Minister, HM Government

16:00 – 16:15

CLOSING REMARKS

16:30 – 18:00

The Third Annual Awards for Excellence in Francophone Africa

Award Categories:

  • The Catalyst Award (Financial Innovation Beyond Banking) : Honouring institutions redefining access to finance and unlocking new economic ecosystems
  • The Backbone Builder Award (Transformative Infrastructure Investment) : Recognising projects turning connectivity into opportunity and regions into growth engines
  • The Legacy Impact Award (Sustainable Development Excellence) : For initiatives creating measurable, lasting change for communities and future generations
  • The Disruptor Award (Innovation & Technology Leadership) : Celebrating bold thinkers leveraging technology to leapfrog traditional barriers
  • The Inclusion Vanguard Award (Economic Empowerment & Social Equity) : For champions expanding opportunity, equity, and participation across society
  • The Bridge Builder Award (Trade & Investment Leadership) : Recognising leaders strengthening regional and global economic bridges
  • The Green Growth Award (Agribusiness Transformation) : For pioneers revolutionising agriculture into a driver of sustainability and prosperity
  • The Purpose-Driven Enterprise Award (CSR & Shared Value) : Honouring organisations embedding impact at the heart of business strategy
  • The Market Shaper Award (Business Excellence & Competitiveness) : For companies redefining industries and setting new standards of excellence
  • The Financial Ecosystem Award (Regional Banking Excellence) : Recognising banks enabling growth through innovation, resilience, and inclusion
  • The Trailblazer Award (New Entrant with Transformative Impact) : For bold newcomers disrupting markets and accelerating change
  • The Next Generation Transformer Award (Young Leader / Ambassador of Change) : Celebrating emerging leaders driving Africa’s transformation story forward
  • The Grand Transformation Prize : Awarded to the organisation or individual demonstrating the most profound,measurable transformation through collaboration

18:00 – 19:00

Closing Drinks Reception