The bustling Kenyan city of Nairobi will host yet another important business event, the Convergence Africa summit. The event will take place at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre on 8 December 2011 and will be a platform for investors, entrepreneurs, policy makers and business people to discuss ways of accelerating Africa’s growth in the world economy.
The conference aims to give a platform to entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers and businesspeople whose aim it is to increase and accelerate Africa’s growth in the world’s economy. The agenda for the day includes keynote addresses, master classes, and face-to-face interaction between delegates, as well as a special guests appearance by Virgin founder and business guru and mogul, Sir Richard Branson, who has also agreed to participate in a live Q&A session at the event.
Discussions taking place include Building Businesses Across African Borders, led by Tony O Elumelu of Heirs Holdings, Understanding The Legal Framework As Your Business Grows, led by Jacqueline Muna Musiitwa of Hoja Law Group, and Executing On That Big Idea, led by Magatte Wade of Adina & Tiossano, among others. The summit is also aimed at gearing delegates with tools that they can return home with to use to educate others in their communities and enterprises so that they will in turn be able to better their own business dealings as well as improve their standards of living.
Taking place will also be a two-hour “speed dating” session where investors such as Actis, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, Development Partners International and various other enterprises will hear more than 30 pre-qualified entrepreneurs pitch for funding for their enterprises, with the hopes that they will be given the financial assistance that they require to make their business dreams become reality.
The Africa Awards For Entrepreneurship gala event will take place after the conference, and the programme will recognise and reward business leaders who have proven that they have the entrepreneurial talents and spirit that are vital to the success of any business. The grand prizewinner will receive US $100 000, and there will be five more awards of US $50 000 each to the runners up in the awards.
