New Emerging Markets in Africa
Understanding potentials for Danish companies in new emerging markets in Africa
(preliminary program, changes may occur)
Emergence of West Africa as destination for investments creates opportunities for seeking future markets. European, Chinese and American companies have spotted these opportunities and are moving massively into in the Western coastal area of Africa - unlike Danish firms. Why is that? History, scarce political and economic relations, language issues and restricted firm resources for entering new markets might be some of the reasons why Danish firms tend to disregard this region. However, such factors have not held back Danish firms from entering emergent markets in the BRICS countries. Therefore, it raises the questions whether the Western coastal area of Africa actually offers opportunities for Danish companies to exploit, or whether they are simply unable to see these openings.
The seminar will address these questions from three different angles:
- An African perspective on the region (by our keynote speakers)
- An “on-the field” perspective from successful companies entering these new emerging markets (i.e. Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, etc...)
- A business agent’s perspective
The afternoon’s aim is to address those things we routinely take for granted, by leveraging a blend of hands-on experiences and critical reflections, while offering a unique networking opportunity.
Time: Thursday October 23, 13:30 - 18:00
Venue: CBS Executive - Råvarebygningen, Porcelænshaven 22, Frederiksberg
Program
13:30 - 13:45
Welcome
- Dorte Salskov-Iversen, Vice President for International Affairs CBS
- Bolette Christensen, CEO at BØRNEFONDEN
- Facilitator: Edgar Ikombo, Managing Partner, Ikompani
1. Where is Africa today? Which opportunities and challenges in West-Africa?
13:45 - 14:20
An African perspective
- Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor at Open Society Foundations, former Vice-President, Africa Region, World Bank, former minister the federal government of Nigeria as Minister of Nigeria
14:20 - 14:40
A Moroccan perspective: A bridge between Europe and West Africa
- Michael Lund Jeppesen, Danish Ambassador to Morocco
14:40 - 15:20
2. Potentialities and challenges for Danish companies
2.1 Perspectives from successful Danish companies
- Falck: Cooperation between Private Companies and NGOs, Jakob Schmidt, Senior Vice President
- Cultural and linguistic experiences and challenges for Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Frédéric Jacob Hamburger, Export manager sub-Saharan Africa, Arla
15:20
Coffe/tea break
15:45 - 16:25
- Approaching African Markets through Co-Creation – A New Way of Doing Green Business Internationally, Anne Bollerup-Jensen, Project Development Manager, Clean
- Tenak Africa: Challenges of financing product development in collaboration with local partners, Søren Hansen, Business Manager, TENAK AFRICA
16:25 - 16:55
2.2 A scholarly perspective on lessons leant
- Eric Hahonou, Associate professor, RUC
- Sudhanshu Rai, Associate professor CBS
Break (15 min)
17:10 - 18:00
3. Round table with business agents: Where are the potentials today? How to exploit these?
- Obiageli Ezekwesili, Senior Economic Advisor at Open Society Foundations
- Michael Lund Jeppesen, Danish Ambassador to Morocco
- Peter Blom, CEO, Blom Trading.
- Mette Holst-Andersen, Partner in Nordekon, Africa Innovation Network
- Cinthia Thomsen, The African Chamber Of Commerce
- Closing remarks by Mette Zølner, Associate Professor, CBS
18:00
Reception
The Seminar is organized by the CBS Competitiveness Platform, BØRNEfonden and Ikompani.
BØRNEfonden is the biggest Danish private development organization working in five West African countries in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo and Cape Verde. We work to enhance the opportunities for children and youth in the most deprived areas to a healthier and safer upbringing and a brighter future. BØRNEfonden works in four key intervention areas: Education, Health, Income Generating Activities and Children and Development. BØRNEfonden also works together with a variety of companies in West Africa.
Ikompani is a Business Advisory Services company which focuses on linking both public and private enterprises with opportunities between Denmark, USA and West & Central Africa(principally,) through its vast network of influential and broad relationships, built on trust. We create synergistic, not easily apparent, strategic solutions given our vast knowledge of countries, governments, business disciplines and people in this geographical sphere. We mitigate risks of expanding into new markets by ensuring that our clients speak directly with the decision makers in an efficient and trouble-free manner by leveraging our hard to come by relationships.
Key note speaker: Dr. (Mrs.) Obiageli (Oby) Ezekwesili (Biography)