19/07/07

New Online Tool : The FDI Atlas

fDi Magazine has recently launched a new online tool designed to assist companies planning a cross border expansion/relocation - the fDi Atlas.
The Atlas has been developed over the past 9 months and will be updated regularly, with new additions over the coming months.  Having surveyed a number of SMEs in both the UK and Europe as well as some of our readership, it is apparent there is a need for this type of information to be readily available online and in one easily searchable place.  The fDi Atlas provides IPAs with a cost effective way to communicate the investment opportunities in their countries to investors around the world.  The fDi Atlas will be regularly promoted in the Financial Times Newspaper and fDi Magazine to ensure as many decision-makers are aware of this as possible.

Please take the time to visit the Atlas at http://www.fdiatlas.com. Now is a great opportunity to join the 45 other regions (countries, cities and special economic zones) who are already featured on this unique tool. 

For more information, please contact Oliver Wheatley - E: oliver.wheatley@ft.com Tel: +44 207 775 6324.

The WAIPA Study Tour Programme 2007 in Japan, 11-20 September 2007

• WAIPA’s popular study tour programme aims at enabling young professional staff of WAIPA member agencies to visit and learn from experienced IPAs worldwide. The study tours are scheduled for a period of up to two weeks and cover the whole range of IPA activities through hands-on experience and on-the-job training.
• Study tours are geared towards young professionals from WAIPA member agencies; the programme is designed to provide participants with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in investment promotion and investor targeting from successful IPAs. The training is free of charge for WAIPA members, the travel and accommodation costs for agencies from Small Pacific Islands and LDCs from Asia are borne by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
• Applicants must hold a university degree in Business, Economics, Law or a related field, and have a minimum of two years of work experience in investment promotion. Candidates must be fluent in English. After completing the study tour, the trainees are requested to submit a written evaluation report to the WAIPA Secretariat. Upon successful conclusion of their training, the participants receive a certificate of completion.

In 2007, investment promotion professionals from IPAs will be trained by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) in the period from 11 to 20 September 2007 .

For more information, please contact Mrs. Beatrice Abel, at: isa-beatrice.abel@waipa.org or at the following telephone number: +41 22 797 26 63, or see: www.waipa.org

Due to the high demand for placements, the WAIPA Secretariat encourages other member agencies to join this important initiative.

The third edition iPAD Central Africa takes place from the 9-12 October 2007 at the Grand Hotel, Kinshasa in the DRC.

This year, the event offers a two day infrastructure exhibition, an open conference and Executive Insider Briefings (an exclusive round-table forum) as well as a site-visit to the Inga hydropower project with SNEL, the host power utility.

Organised by Spintelligent Pty (Ltd) ( South Africa ) and sponsored by SNEL (DRC), Celtel (DRC), De Beers (DRC), the Development Bank of South Africa ( South Africa ) and ITS Telecomplus (DRC), iPAD Central Africa is the only business-to-business forum for investors looking for opportunities in the power, mining and infrastructure sectors in the DRC.

Open conference and exhibition
The office of the President will open the iPAD Central Africa conference on Tuesday, 9 October 2007 and the exhibition opens the same day. Local and international companies will showcase their products, services and technologies for the power, mining and infrastructure sectors.

Executive Insider Briefings
A round-table forum offering delegates the opportunity to meet with Government, public and private sector decision-makers in the DRC and the region to discuss economic issues and find solutions to infrastructure challenges.

Visit to the Inga dam
Hosted by SNEL, this visit takes delegates to view one of Africa ’s grandest infrastructure projects – the Inga dam project

Don’t miss this major event !

For more information, visit : www.ipad-africa.com/central.

To register, contact Rue Limekhaya: rue@spintelligent.com or telephone: +27 21 7003500 or fax : +27 21 7003501

The 12th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair, 18-21 October 2007, Macao of the People’s Republic of China

The 12 th Macao International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) organized by Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) and co-organized by eleven local, Hong-Kong and Mainland China commercial and trade promotion institutes will be held from 18 to 21 October 2007 at the Venetian Macao Convention and Exhibition Centre. Last year, 47 countries and regions with over 148 delegations participating in more than 500 business matching sessions congregated in Macao . The main theme of this year’s MIF is Showcasing Macao ’s New Dynamics, Advancing Opportunities of the Trade and Economic Co-operation Platform . Following Macao’s return to Mainland China, strong regional and global co-operation has been developed, in line with the launching of high ranking and large scale economic events, Macao is constantly strengthening its connections with trade promotion institutes on Mainland China, Portuguese speaking countries, the European Union, Asia and other countries around the world. In this year’s MIF, an International Trade and Investment Promotion pavilion will be established specially designed for renowned international Associations.

For more details, please contact Mr. Sam Lei, Senior Management of Promotional Activities Department of IPIM, at: samlei@ipim.gov.mo or at the following telephone number: +853-7989105 or fax: +853-28590309