EBCAM at Invest Africa's event - The Africa Debate 2022, London 06 July 2022
EBCAM had the pleasure of attendding Invest Africa's event The Africa Debate 2022 on 06 July, London’s leading investment summit focused on Africa,hosting global businesses, private and public investment bodies, thought leaders and policy makers, who shared their perspectives on how to mobilise finance, people and resources towards sustainable economic development.
More than 500 investors, market leaders and senior decision-makers from across energy, finance, PE funds, professional services, government agencies, logistics, technology, infrastructure, retail, real estate, construction and leisure are met to:
Engage directly with thought leaders, industry experts and entrepreneurs
Gain invaluable insights into the future of business and investment in Africa
Connect with delegates and speakers
Share perspectives, expertise and experience with other investors and market leaders.
It was a very big thank you to Invest Africa for the great organisation, the interesting topics and the networking opportunities they offered to see old friends, meet new people and support private sector for a sustainable development of Africa.
EBCAM at NABC's Flagship event - Africa Works 2022: Innovation for Resilient Growth
EBCAM had the pleasure of attendding NABC's flagship event Africa Works 2022 on 28 June in The Hague with this year's focus being on innovation for resilient growth.
Africa Works! Conference is the flagship conference of the Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC). The NABC is the leading organisation for trade and investment facilitation for Africa in the Netherlands. The NABC's purpose is to inform, inspire, catalyse and connect businesses with Africa's opportunities and to assist businesses in making confident decisions about when, where and how to do business in Africa. The NABC today leads a network of nearly 250 engaged and diverse members and has access to a community of over 10,000 African and European businesses, institutes, government entities and others interested in doing business in Africa.
The event kicked off with keynote speeches by high-level speakers, including by Rosmarijn Fens, Managing Director of NABC, and was followed by workshops on a sector-specific topics, country focus sessions, an investor session and finally a networking reception to finish the day.
EBCAM at CIAN's Flagship Event - Forum Afrique 2022 - Second Hybrid Edition
EBCAM had the pleasure of attending CIAN's flagship event in Paris on 23 June - the Forum Afrique 2022. EBCAM's President Etienne Giros, also President of CIAN, spoke at the opening and closing of the high-level event as well as conducting face-to-face interviews with invited guests during sessions.
After a successful first edition marked by the presence of many African and French personalities, the French Council of Investors in Africa (CIAN) and l'Opinion were once again able to join forces to defend an ambitious and dynamic vision of the continent.
The African continent is back on the path of growth in 2021 and faces opportunities and challenges. At the heart of this Africa Forum lay the rise of new cities, digital and fintech industries, the financing of innovation ecosystems, the development of industrialisation and many other topics that were tackled during presentations by the panellists and keynote speakers.
EBCAM at the European Development Days (EDD) 2022
Last week EBCAM took part in the European Development Days (EDD) 2022, held in Brussels, 21-22 June. The EDD is Europe’s leading forum on international partnerships and this year, as in previous editions, brought together partners to share ideas and experiences that will shape the future of development. It offered the private sector a unique opportunity for involvement with other key stakeholders. The five core topics included energy, transport, education and research, health and energy.
Over the two days, about 4000 people visited the in-person event, with another 3500 joining us online. The event included 79 sessions, with speakers from all over the world – totaling more than 59 hours. 83 stands brought the 5 themes to life in our Global Village and 9 exhibitions added to the experience.
If you were attending in person or were following the event digitally but missed a session or want to go back to the one you took part in, you will find everything on the EDD website. Sessions from Day 1 and Day 2 of the EDD have already been uploaded to their website. There you will find the photo gallery, video gallery and notes and drawings that sum up the brainstorming sessions.
If you want to relive the EDD 2022 experience in a couple of minutes, you might like to check out the wrap-up video, which we hope you will agree captures the spirit of a fun-packed, informative two days.
EBCAM Secretary General attends Afrika-Verein discussion with the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen in Berlin on 19 May 2022
EBCAM Secretary General attended EBCAM member Afrika-Verein discussion with the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen in Berlin on 19 May about the implementation of the Global Gateway initiative and the role of the European private sector.
During the meeting, the private sector had the chance to express its concerns, needs and perspectives in the context of the public-private partnership dialogue, a fruitful process where EBCAM plays an importatn role representing the European private sector that invest in the future and development of the African continent.
EBCAM representation in the Tunisia Africa Business Council conference "Financing Investment and trade in Africa" in Tunisia
EBCAM and CIAN President Étienne Giros and Eivind Fjeldstad, CEO of EBCAM member Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA); represented the European private sector as panelists at Tunisia Africa Business Council conference "Financing Investment and trade in Africa" in Tunisia on 25 May 2022.
EBCAM President Etienne Giros awarded French National Order of Merit
EBCAM President Etienne Giros awarded Officer of the French National Order of Merit
On Wednesday 9 March 2022 EBCAM President Etienne Giros was awarded the honor of Officer of the French National Order of Merit by Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Ministre délégué auprès du ministre de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères, chargé du Tourisme, des Français de l'étranger et de la Francophonie et auprès du ministre de l’Économie, des Finances et de la Relance, chargé des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises.
Etienne Giros was bestowed this award for his venerable achievements during a long and distinguished career in French and international business.
Memorandum of Understanding European Business Council for Africa and the Mediterranean (EBCAM) - The Spanish Exporters and Investors Club
Memorandum of Understanding
European Business Council for Africa and the Mediterranean (EBCAM) - The Spanish Exporters and Investors Club
Brussels, 31 December 2021
The European Business Council for Africa and the Mediterranean (EBCAM) announces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Spanish Exporters and Investors Club.
The Spanish Exporters and Investors Club has been in existence since 1997 and is a multisectorial, non-profit, independent, business association whose objective is to represent and defend the interests of the members in their international activity. They have consolidated their position as a leader of internationalisation in Spain and are a recognized liaison before the Spanish Administration, as well as before public and private institutions, international organisations and the media. The joint turnover of their members is equivalent to 20% of Spanish GDP, employing 800 000 people and their overseas investment projects constituting 50% of total Spanish international investment.
EBCAM participates with presentation by the Secretary General Dr. Spachis at the EPP Hearing with External Experts WG External Policies 12/01/2021
The EPP Group in the European Parliament held a hearing with external experts to address common EU-Africa challenges on 12 January, 2022, in Brussels (with remote participation). EBCAM was selected to represent the private sector with a presentation by the Secretary General Dr. Alexandros Spachis on investments in Africa.
Other prominent speakers included: representative from the African Continental Free Trade Area), Dr Vera Songwe (United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa).
The hearing gathered Members of the EPP Group, namely from the committees on Foreign Affairs, Development, and Trade, to address common challenges and opportunities in relation to trade, investment and job creation, peace and security, education, climate change, development cooperation, as well as agriculture and food (in)security.
High Level Launch Event for the EABF22 – the 7th EU-Africa Business Forum
On Friday the 26th of November the African Union Commission for Trade and Industry and the European Commission for International Partnerships hosted an online High Level Launch Event for the EABF22 – the 7th EU-Africa Business Forum. The EABF22 will take place in a hybrid format in Brussels on the 16th and 17th of February 2022, back-to-back with the EU-Africa Summit which is to be held on the 17th and 18th of February, also in Brussels. The meeting was moderated by Ms. Tamsin Rose, a Senior Fellow at the Africa-Europe Foundation, and the introductory presentation was made by H.E. Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Trade and Industry.
Mr. Etienne Giros, the President of the European Business Council for Africa was invited as a speaker to give valuable insights into the role of European investment on the African continent. Drawing attention to the over €100 billion in turnover generated in Africa by the 5000 companies represented by EBCAM’s member associations, he encouraged attendance at the EABF22 as it presents an invaluable networking opportunity, a great occasion to hear business leaders and experts and, finally, a chance to obtain answers to substantial questions such as the EU financing system.