Irvine Auditorium - Monterey Institute of International Studies

Presenters

1. Opening Remarks. Tony Livoti, President, Monterey Bay International Trade Association (MBITA)
2. James M. Kiiru, Commercial Attache', Embassy of Kenya, Washington D.C. Business Opportunities for U.S. Companies in Kenya. View presentation.
3. Michael J. Blakeley, Principal Associate, Enterprise & Industry Development, Nathan Associates Inc. Understanding AGOA and Where the Opportunities Are. View presentation.
4. Joseph Nganga, CEO, Africa Energy and Renewables. Renewable Energy Opportunities in Africa. View presentation.
5. Bamba Thiam, President, Afrisystems, Dakar Senegal. Mary (Molly) E. Uzoh, CEO/Principal Consultant ,Learning Right Technologies, LLC. Africa - Land of Opportunities. View presentation.
6. Dr. Judith A. Chambers, Agribusiness Advisor, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) President, Emerging Market Solutions. U.S. Investment in Africa = Opportunity for U.S. Business. View presentation.
7. Roderick A. Hirsch, Director, Oakland Export Assistance. Center, U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S.- Africa Trade Promotion through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). View presentation.
8. Richard A. F. Soyombo, Director, Bay Area Center for International Trade Development. Myths and Realities of Doing Business in Africa. View presentation.
9. Michael K. Durney, Partner, Ventana Funding Capital Resources. President, Mampeza Industrial, SARL, Benguela, Angola. Doing business in Angola, past and present based on 38 years experience within the country. View presentation.
10. Lerato D. Mataboge, Minister (Economic), Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Washington, D.C. South Africa’s trade performance under AGOA and business opportunities for US Corporations in South Africa. View presentation.
11. Ralph Le Roux, Principal/CEO, mADi GROUP, Inc. Integrated Sustainable Communities. View presentation.
12. Dr. Olivia Herriford, DM, Herriford Consulting L.L.C. and Nderitu Mahinda, Custom Africa Travel (C.A.T. Safaris) Raising Awareness of Kenya’s Opportunities. View presentation.

PRESENTATION DESCRIPTIONS

James M. Kiiru, Comemrcial Attache', Embassy of Kenya, Washington D.C.
Business Opportunities for U.S. Companies in Kenya.

Michael J. Blakeley, Principal Associate, Enterprise & Industry Development, Nathan Associates Inc.
Understanding AGOA and Where the Opportunities Are.

Mr. Blakeley will discuss technical points on the agreement, examples of the benefits and opportunities, some constraints to business in the region and a few success stories.

Joseph Nganga, CEO, Africa Energy and Renewables
Renewable Energy Opportunities in Africa

Kenya's current peak electricity demand is 1151MW projected to grow at 7% to 3011 by 2018. This growth is driven by the government's commitment to connect 1 million new customers in the next five years, economic and population growth as well as accelerated technology adoption including computers and cellphones. The Governments is fully committed to having the private sector play a key role in power generation and distribution. Opportunities for investors include transformer manufacturing, distribution infrastructure including smart meters, power plant construction including coal, natural gas, wind, solar, biomass, hydro and nuclear. Working in Africa, and Kenya in particular, comes with challenges that Americans looking to invest in Kenya must consider. These include corruption, limited experienced talent, some political risk and competition from south east Asia.

Bamba Thiam, President, Afrisystems, Dakar Senegal
Mary (Molly) E. Uzoh, Founder/CEO ,Learning Right Technologies, LLC
Africa - Land of Opportunities

Africa is filled with great business potential for investment and trade. Mr. Thiam will examine how Africa is ripe for business and how the continent as a whole is poised to enter an unprecedented stage of economic development and growth in specific industry sectors. Africa can be called "The Final Frontier" for investors and traders in the emerging markets. Mr. Thiam will also discuss specifics on Senegal and how its bountiful, natural and human resources present a host of opportunities for American business.

Dr. Judith A. Chambers, Agribusiness Advisor, Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)
President, Emerging Market Solutions
U.S. Investment in Africa = Opportunity for U.S. Business

MCC, a U.S government agency, is carrying out an innovative program of foreign assistance for “qualifying” countries around the world. Only those countries which adopt sound, market-oriented economic policies create positive enabling climates for business, demonstrate good governance and aggressively deal with corruption are eligible for MCC funding. As a result, the MCC “eligible” countries are generally those which become good targets for trade, investments and business on the part of American companies.

To date, MCC has approved more than $5.5 billion for agriculture-related investments in 16 countries (in Latin America, Africa, and Central and Eastern Europe). Since MCC’s development mandate is “economic growth”, the agriculture sector and agribusiness is a major focus of its funding. An anticipated benefit of MCC programs is ultimately the removal of constraints for American agribusiness, offering opportunities to expand operations and investments in these countries. In some cases, MCC efforts will also lead to opportunities for the sale and contract of American agribusiness goods and services.

As a relatively new government agency, MCC is not well known to the U.S. agribusiness community. Our guest speaker, Dr. Judith Chambers, Agribusiness Advisor for MCC, will provide an overview of MCC goals and objectives, its funding process, and the investments it currently supports in the agriculture value chain in eligible countries. Chambers, who is currently working with MCC on outreach to the agribusiness community, has had extensive experience in the facilitation of public-private sector programs for the development of mutually beneficial business relationships in Africa.

Roderick A. Hirsch, Director, Oakland Export Assistance
Center, U.S. Department of Commerce

U.S.- Africa Trade Promotion through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Mr. Hirsch will discuss the basic principals/goals and eligibility requirements of the African Growth & Opportunity Act. In addition, he will cover his agency's, the U.S. Commercial Service, role in promoting exports and other federal government agencies involved in bilateral trade with and investment in Sub Saharan Africa.

Richard A. F. Soyombo, Director, Bay Area Center for International Trade Development
Myths and Realities of Doing Business in Africa

Trade and Investment in Africa can be a challenge, even to the seasoned. This presentation will take you through the myths and realities of doing business in the African continent, as well as, highlight the necessary tools required for a successful venture.

Michael K. Durney, Partner, Ventana Funding Capital Resources
President, Mampeza Industrial, SARL, Benguela, Angola.
Doing Business in Angola, past and present based on 38 years experience within the country.

This presentation will emphasize current opportunities offered small to medium size US Companies within the current, vibrant Angolan economy.

“Angola offers more opportunity than virtually all other Sub-Saharan countries due to enormous mineral wealth, natural resources, favorable economic and governmental climate.

Lerato D. Mataboge, Minister (Economic), Embassy of the Republic of South Africa, Washington, D.C.

South Africa’s trade performance under AGOA and business opportunities for US Corporations in South Africa.

Ralph Le Roux, Principal/CEO, mADi GROUP, Inc.
Integrated Sustainable Communities

Mr. LeRoux will provide a perspective on the challenges of sustainable planning, building design and construction in South Africa, including a comparison of Green building rating systems in the USA: LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design by the Green Building Rating System™), and the Green Star SA rating tools of the emerging Green Building Council of South Africa.

Dr. Olivia Herriford, DM, Herriford Consulting, LLC. and Nderitu Mahinda, Custom Africa Travel (C.A.T. Safaris)
Raising Awareness of Kenya’s Opportunities

Kenya is a country that is rich in resources and opportunities to develop relationships in the business, social and public sectors. A small delegation of comprised of private business people, public servants and educators, led by Dr. Edward J. Valeau and Nderitu Mahinda, has recently returned from a tour of Kenya with the purpose of getting to know more about the country and developing symbiotic relationships with leaders with common experience and interests.  This presentation will focus on our observation of Kenya’s opportunities as we traveled throughout the country, our interactions with business people, social leaders, and the media. Dr. Olivia Herriford, a member of the delegation, will be presenting on behalf of Dr. Valeau, joined by Mr. Mahinda who will discuss how he integrates business introductions and luxury tours of Kenya’s most beautiful game lands.