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Themes & Schedules
The 2009 Gulf-Africa Strategy Forum will be divided into six sections, lasting in total for two half days. The first session will aim at defining the past and current relationship between the Gulf and Africa and make an assessment of where we are. Particular emphasis will be then be put on economic issues in the second and third sessions as questions related to primary commodity markets and investments will be addressed. Political and social issues will be discussed in the fourth and fifth sessions as they constitute a backbone to this relationship. Indeed, a political commitment and a desire to pledge more funds and attention to social issues in Africa are relevant of the importance of such relationship in the eyes of both regions. The conference will be wrapped up with a concluding session outlining the path forward and identifying the main areas were true beneficial cooperation can be achieved.
Individual presentations by representatives from both the Gulf and Africa will be followed by an open discussion and question and answer session. Far from being an academic exercise, the forum is constructed in such a way so as to come with a common vision for the regions and an accompanying action plan for policy implementation.
Session 1: Gulf-Africa Relations: Establishing a Roadmap
- Past and present of the Gulf-Africa relations
- What difficulties have these relations been facing?
- What are the challenges laying ahead for the two regions?
- What are the benefits of pursuing this relationship further?
Session 2: Gulf-Africa: Trading Partners
- What is the resource base for Africa and the Gulf and where do the
opportunities lie?
- Have some markets been left unexplored?
- What are the prospects for growing complementarity in resource supplies
moving between the two regions?
- What is the impact of the increased competition for energy resources?
Session 3: Africa: An Emerging Investments Hub
- What are the trends of investments?
- Why is the context favorable for investments?
- What sectors have been left unexplored?
- What are the challenges of investing in Africa?
- How can long-term sustainable investment be guaranteed?
Session 4: Gulf-Africa: The Need for a Regional Political Voice
- GCC-African Union: the Necessity for a Political Alliance in the International
Scene
- The Circle of Influence: US, EU, China, India and GCC Political Roles in
Africa
- The Gulf states political role in post-conflict reconstruction: The challenge
of bringing maintaining peace
Session 5: Gulf-Africa: Social Development Challenges
- What are the social development challenges still faced by Africa?
- What role should the Gulf States have in the future social development of
Africa?
- Will the influence of the Gulf States in the matter be limited or encouraged
by the other international actors present in Africa?
Session 6: Gulf- Africa: Exploring the Options
- What are the lessons learned from each of the views presented?
- What are the other dimensions of Gulf-Africa relations that require urgent
attention?
- Based on the different views expressed, what are the strategic areas that
require cooperation between the GCC and African States?
- What policy recommendations could be made to shape a stronger Gulf-
Africa relationship?
The Program:
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Monday, 23 February, 2009 |
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19:15 |
Meeting point for pick-up: Lobby of Westin Grand Hotel |
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19:30 |
Departure to Simon’s Restaurant – Groot Constantia |
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20:00 |
Welcome Drinks at Simon’s Restaurant |
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20:30 |
“Platinum Welcome Dinner” at Simon’s Restaurant |
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Tuesday, 24 February, 2009 |
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08:30 |
Meeting point for pick-up: Lobby of Table Bay Hotel and Capetonian Hotel |
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08:30 |
Registration: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) - Room 2.40 (2nd floor) |
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09:00 |
Opening and Welcoming Remarks
- Mr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center, United Arab Emirates
- Ms. Wendy Luhabe, Chairperson, International Marketing Council, South Africa |
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9:15 |
Keynote Speeches
· H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Arab Emirates (Recorded message)
· Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General, Organization of the Islamic Conference (Speech given on his behalf by H.E. Dr. Khalid M. Al-Sulaiman, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade)
· H.E. Tomás Salomão, Executive General, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)
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09:30 |
Session 1: Gulf-Africa Relations: Establishing a Roadmap
Chairperson: Mr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center, United Arab Emirates
· H.E. Mr. Mohammed Obeid Al-Mazrooei, Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs, GCC Secretariat General, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· H.E. Mr. Abdullah Bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Trade, United Arab Emirates
· Dr. Fahad Saleh Al Sultan, Secretary General, Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· Hon. Mary Nagu, Minister, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing, Tanzania
· Mr. Shaheel Meer, Divisional Executive Industrial Sector, Industrial Development Corporation, South Africa
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11:00 |
Break - Room 2.40 |
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11:15 |
Session 2: Gulf-Africa: Trading Partners
Chairperson: Ms. Wendy Luhabe, Chairperson, International Marketing Council, South Africa
· H.E. Mr. Antonio Fernando, Minister, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Mozambique
· Mr. Said Omar Moussa, President, Djibouti Chamber of Commerce and COMESA Business Council, Djibouti
· H.E. Mr. Abdullah bin Abdulrahman Al-Hamoudi, Under-Secretary for Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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12:45 |
Break - Room 2.40 |
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13:00 |
Session 3: Africa: An Emerging Investments Hub
Chairperson: Dr. John Sfakaniakis, Chief Economist, Saudi British Bank, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· Mr. Paul Fortin, CEO, GECAMINES, Democratic Republic of Congo
· H.E. Jaime Aguilnado, Chairman, National Agency for Private Investment, Angola
· Mr. Emanuel Ole-Naiko, Chairman, Tanzania Investment Centre
· Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh, Dean of King Abdullah Research and Consulting Institute, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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14:30 |
Luncheon Break - Roof Terrace - CTICC |
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16:00 |
End of Day Proceedings |
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18:45 |
Meeting point for pick-up: Lobby of Westin Grand Hotel and Capetonian Hotel |
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19:00 |
Meeting point for pick-up: Lobby of Table Bay Hotel |
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19:00 |
Departure to Moyo Restaurant, Stellenbosch |
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20:00 |
Dinner at Moyo Restaurant, Stellenbosch |
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Wednesday, 25 February, 2009 |
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08:45 |
Meeting point for pick-up: Lobby of Table Bay Hotel and Capetonian Hotel |
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09:15 |
Session 4: Gulf-Africa: The Need for a Regional Political Voice
Chairperson: Dr. Christian Koch, Director of International Studies Department, Gulf Research Center, United Arab Emirates
· Hon. Phandu T.C. Skelemani, Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Republic of Botswana
· H.E. Karim Al-Shakar, Ambassador At Large, Embassy of Bahrain to Algeria, Algeria
· H.E. Ismail Obaid Al Ali, Ambassador, Embassy of UAE to South Africa, South Africa
· H.E. Dr. Bashir Al-Shirawi, Ambassador, Embassy of Qatar to South Africa, South Africa |
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10:30 |
Break - Room 2.40 |
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10:45 |
Session 5: Gulf-Africa: Social Development Challenges
Chairperson: Dr. Abdullah Baabood, Director Gulf Research Center Cambridge, United Kingdom
· Mr. Gilles Peltier, Advisor to the Director General, Agence Francaise de Developpement, France
· Mr. Gilles Genre-Grandpierre, Head of Department, Agence Francaise de Developpement, France
· H.E. Dr. Erieka Bennett, Head of Mission, African Union Diaspora African Forum, Ghana
· Dr. Peter Croll, Director, Bonn International Center for Conversion, Germany
· Prof. Dr. Manfred Dietrich, Vice-Chairman, Scientific Advisory Board (Honorary) for San. Corps, Germany
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12:15 |
Break - Room 2.40 |
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12:30 |
Session 6: Gulf- Africa: Exploring the Options
Chairperson: Dr. Abdullah Al-Shayji, Professor of International Relations and Chairman of the American Studies, Kuwait University, Kuwait
· H.E. Abdullah bin Ahmed Zaynal Ali Reza, Minister, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
· Hon. Mary Nagu, Minister, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Marketing, Tanzania
· H.E. Ahmed Salah Noah, Arab League Resident Representative to African Union, Ethiopia
· H.E. Juma Mwapachu, Secretary-General, East African Community, Ethiopia
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14:00 |
Luncheon Break - Roof Terrace - CTICC |
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16:00 |
End of Conference |
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19:30 |
Meeting point for pick-up: Lobby of Westin Grand Hotel and Capetonian Hotel |
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19:45 |
Departure to The Table Bay Hotel |
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20:00 |
Gala Dinner at the Table Bay Hotel, Ballroom |
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