04/08/09

Upcoming Events

WAIPA Events

Infrastructure and services for trade and investment - key elements of competitiveness.

EXPORTA El Salvador is a member of the Red Iberoamericana de Organizaciones de Promoción del Comercio Exterior (Ibero-American Network of Organizations for the Promotion of Foreign Trade). This Network, established in 1997, has as main objectives the strengthening of relations among member organizations, the discussion of technical issues of common interest and the exchange of experiences and successful trade promotion tools. In this sense, the last Network meeting was held in San José, Costa Rica in June 24, 25 and 27, 2008. EXPORTA El Salvador proposed that the meetings of the Trade and Investment Promotion Agencies of Latin America and the Caribbean, which are eminently meetings to discuss the issues of strategic interest for the region, with an objective to increase inter-regional trade, linking closely with Network activities as an integral part of it. In this context, under the new presidency of the Red Iberoamericana de Organizaciones de Promoción del Comercio Exterior (Ibero-American Network of Organizations for the Promotion of Foreign Trade) that in 2008-2009 is with PROMEXICO, EXPORTA El Salvador proposed that the 2nd Meeting of Trade and Investment Promotion Agencies In Latin America and the Caribbean was established as a forum for discussions on the problems, challenges and opportunities presented to us by the current situation in the region with regard to the infrastructure and services for trade facilitation, to which also will be invited trade promotion organizations from other regions, primarily organizations of the Caribbean countries. In addition, PROESA is a member of WAIPA, World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies, which unites the agencies of the region that either promote altogether investment and exports or are exclusively dedicated to investments, which is the case of PROESA.

Trade and Investment Promotion Agencies are indirect users and promoters of infrastructure and services for trade. In other words, clients of our agencies, which are exporters, foreign investors or both, are those who benefit or are affected by good or bad services and infrastructure to facilitate trade.

The result of the 1st meeting, was the belief in the necessity to strengthen inter-regional trade. The second meeting needs to be converted into a call to action. We should foster production so that we have more goods and services to be sold or with regard to the business climate and competitive environment in order to boost exports and attract investment.

In the second meeting, we propose to analyze and establish concrete actions to improve the competitive business environment, especially in infrastructure and services for trade.

Other Events

Power Indaba 2009, 19-21 May 2009, Cape Town, South Africa

Power Indaba 2009 is an annual unique, executive two day meeting forum for ministerial delegations, high-level power executives, policymakers and international financiers. The conference will consist of four case study presentations and interactive panel discussions. Sessions are regionally focused on SADC; West and North Africa; East and Central Africa, to provide you with access to African decision makers and investment opportunities. The discussion panels for the regional discussions will be made up of ministers and CEOs from a variety of ministries and utilities across Africa.

The penultimate conference session will focus on accessing investment, from the perspective of the investor, and discussions will centre on aspects such as risk management and innovative solutions to investment challenges.

Event highlights: Network with Africa’s movers and shakers; Peer-to-peer networking opportunities not to be missed; Hear about the latest requirements, trends and insights from over 30 industry-expert speakers; Benchmark economic and investment policies for the power sector; Understand investors’ needs; Develop continental cooperation; Gain in-depth industry perspectives by meeting ministers and high-level government representatives at:

• Access Breakfasts: DRC and Nigeria
• Access Africa sessions: Central & East Africa, West & North Africa and SADC
• Access Investment session

The conference programme will feature over 30 industry-elite speakers including: Brian Dames, Chief Officer, Generation Business, Eskom, South Africa; Minister Wiliam Ngeleja, Tanzanian Ministry of Energy and Minerals; Minister Eugene H Shannon, Ministry of Lands,Mines & Energy, Liberia; Bello Suleiman, Executive Vice Chairman, Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Housing and accommodation bookings for Power Indaba will be done by Incentives for Winners (Pty) Ltd. For any queries regarding bookings, please contact Maritha Kasner, Group Manager on Phone: +27 21 4195544, fax+27 21 421 0321, by email at maritha@winnerstours.co.za or register online at www.powerindaba.com

Report on past events

WAIPA Regional Workshop for Africa on “Promoting and Retaining Investment in Times of Economic Crisis”, 1-3 April 2009, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

This East African Regional Work Shop hosted by WAIPA Vice-President Mr. Emmanuel Ole-Naiko, Head of the Tanzanian Investment Center (TIC) in Dar Es Salaam exceeded the expectations of the joint-organizers, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) and the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA). The event took place at the convention facilities of the Kunduchi Hotel, outside of Dar Es Salaam, from the 1st to the 3rd of April, and counted on the presence of a total of 18 IPAs among which the East African agencies of Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Zanzibar and Tanzania, the host, the Central African’s Democratic Republic of Congo’s ANAPI, the West African countries of Senegal, Sierra Leone and Gambia were also present along with representatives from South African sub-national IPAs and Lesotho’s LNDC. A representative from SAGIA (Saudi Arabia) also participated. The event covered hands-on training by FDI Intelligence and Unctad and presentations from the Investment Climate Facility for Africa the East African Community (EAC) and the WAIPA Secretariat. The importance of this WAIPA East African event and the timeliness of the issues addressed in the trainings and the speeches were highlighted by WAIPA Vice-President in the local press. There was extensive local media coverage in both Swahili and English.

2nd Regional Meeting of South American IPAs, Medellin, Colombia

The 2nd WAIPA Regional Meeting of South American IPAs recently took place in Medellin, Colombia, following the 1st WAIPA Regional Meeting of South America of August 28, 2008. This event was held on March 25th and 26th prior to yet another great summit the city then held: the 50th General Assembly of the Inter American Development Bank (IBD). The event was organized by Agencia de Cooperacion y Inversiones de Medellin y Area Metropolitana (ACI) and under the responsibility of WAIPA Regional Director for South America, ProsperAr, presided by Dr. Beatriz Nofal.

The event took place at the convention facilities of the Medellin Botanical Gardens and gathered 18 IPAs from South America and one representative from the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands Investment Bureau. This 2nd WAIPA Regional Meeting of South America was the ideal space to achieve a promotion strategy for South America as a foreign direct investment destination. WAIPA President Alessandro Teixeira was present for the final session of the debate of the document Why South America, a joint effort of ProsperAr, Argentina, ApexBrasil and Pro-Export of Colombia.

On Wednesday March 25 the Medellin Municipality shared their experience in terms of image building and social policies that have helped put Medellin back into the investment map. ACI as one WAIPA sub-national members from Colombia represents nowadays a valuable and replicable model for its Latin American sub-national IPA peers. By sharing its experience ACI contributed to WAIPA’s objective of “knowledge sharing” and “exchange of best practices”. On Thursday March 26 a specialized work day was conducted by Henry Loewendahl of FDI Intelligence. The greatest objective this event achieved, however, was to establish a strategy that one hopes should allowed the increase flow of investments to the whole South American region and the preparation, consolidation of a promotional document never before attempted. Dr. Beatriz Nofal, WAIPA Regional Director for South America is to be credited for revealing the strengths and attractiveness of the region as a whole and the systematic gathering of relevant information contained in the soon to be published Why South America guide. The event got extensive coverage in the local Colombian press.

Additional information on the event may be obtained from ACI at comunicaciones@acimedellin.org

2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition: 2009 MIECF, 2-4 April 2009, Macao

Hosted by the Macao SAR Government, the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition with the theme "Global Warming", focusing on three tracks: "Energy Saving, Emission Reduction and Carbon Trading", "Natural Disaster Management" and "Green Business Co-operation and Finance" was held from 2nd to 4th April 2009 at The Venetian Macao, Convention & Exhibition Center.

This is a government-led event with forum, exhibition and "Business Matching Services", conducted as a capacity building platform promoting greater local and international co-operation as well as business opportunities for the latest green technologies and solutions for critical environmental issues.

In order to attract and encourage those who are seeking for green business opportunities and co-operation, MIECF has especially designed a series of activities and very attractive incentive schemes, which includes: Individual Delegate Registration with only USD 200.00 enrollment fee, the Full Delegate Pass and 3 hotel room nights in Macao will be included; Trade Visitors Incentive Registration with only USD 100.00 enrollment fee, the exhibition entry pass and 2 hotel room nights in Macao was included; Business Matching to meet with your business partners for FREE; Green Business Co-operation Day - Green Business Co-operation Day was co-organized by Macao Investment and Trade Institute, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and various international chambers of commerce, under the theme of "Gathering Unlimited Green Business Opportunities", the Green Business Co-operation Day comprises of the "Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium", "Enterprise Green Business Summit", and the "Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception" & "Signing Ceremony", aiming at assisting enterprises to seize the co-operation opportunities in the environmental industry; About 2009MIECF - Another spotlight of 2009MIECF is the 3-day Green Showcase (2-4/04/2009) was feature an exhibition area of over 8,000 square meters showcasing around 180 exhibitors. The exhibition was comprised of various themed exhibition areas/pavilions and several renowned cross-national enterprises like Suez from France, Siemens from Germany, Jardine from England, Lamor from Finland and EDP from Portugal had their environmental state-of-the-art and techniques displayed in the exhibition.

Should you need more details, please feel free to contact: 2009MIECF Co-ordinator, Tel: 853-87989675, Fax: 853-28727123, E-mail: miecf2009@ipim.gov.mo

For further information, please refer to the website: www.macaomiecf.com

Publications

UNCTAD-WAIPA survey on Agricultural Production, February–March 2009

In the context of the World Investment Report 2009, UNCTAD and WAIPA are conducting a joint survey to investigate the extent to which investment promotion agencies target the agricultural sector. An on-line survey was distributed to all WAIPA members on 24 February and all IPAs are kindly requested to respond by 8 April by following the web link.

Please kindly note that also if your IPA does not target agriculture we would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to answer the relevant questions.

For more information, please contact Mr. Thomas van Giffen at e-mail: thomas.van.giffen@unctad.org , or tel.: +41 22 917 5499.