GTR Conference Proffers Solution to W/Africa’s Economic Growth

The Global Trade review’s West Africa Trade & Export Finance Conference 2016 held in Lagos recently had in attendance speakers discussing liquidity challenges, NNPC reforms and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the impact of changing global trade flows and specific industry case studies, according to the Insider.

Speaking on the need for West Africa to focus on the Cocoa industry in order to revive the economy, Mr. Edward George, head of research, Ecobank stated that “When West Africa will start pulling its weight with its 70% production of Cocoa, the natural brilliance of West Africans will then come to play and create dozens of products which is wanted locally it could be soft trade, cake, soap or what have you and boast that local demand so that they can have a viable running sector and a viable future.

“That to me is when validation comes in; validation comes when you create a local market because if we do not the Cocoa entering West Africa will always be wins of Western Institutes”

Other speakers at the conference focused on energy and the oil sector; Jason Barrass, head of Africa Trade, Barclays Africa Group moderated the discussion on Industrialising Africa through power, manufacturing and infrastructure projects; Dolapo Oni, Head of Oil &Gas Analysis desk Ecobank discussed Looking beyond NNPC’s reforms and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); Rolake Akinkugbe, Head of Energy & Natural Resources, FBN Quest focused on renewable, sustainability and funding platforms; What next for energy in West Africa.

Simon Bessant; Director Texel finance moderated the discussion on the growing need for trade credit and political risk insurance in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Despite the region enduring a challenging period due to a reduction in oil prices, many fundamentals remain within the Nigerian and wider West African economies, this conference brought together the people that really make a difference in the market to discuss new strategies, address industry opportunities and to strategically align their export policies with international financing standards,” confirmed Paul Greetham; producer of the programme.

Peter Gubbins, managing director of Global Trade Review (GTR) said “The annual West Africa trade and export finance conference has rightly become a flagship event within the GTR calendar. Many delegates and supporters return year after year and have helped develop this key industry gathering into a hotbed of contemporary discussion and unrivalled networking. We look forward to facilitating business in the region for many years to come.”
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In addition to a speaker line-up of the market’s primary decision-makers and trade finance specialists, the event also featured a number of dedicated networking sessions, evening drinks reception and numerous breaks allowing attendees to establish new working relationships and re-acquaint themselves with old contacts, all with the prospect of developing business across West Africa.