UK-Djibouti Trade & Investment Forum 2013

On May 8th, at Drapers' Hall, London, Developing Markets Associates (DMA) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in association with the Government of the Republic of Djibouti hosted the first UK-Djibouti Trade and Investment Forum.



This very well-received event was attended by over 300 delegates including key stakeholders and high level representatives from both the public and private sector.

Opening addresses were given by Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive of Developing Markets Associates, HMA Greg Dorey, UK Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti and HE Rachad Farah, Djibouti Ambassador to the UK.



The opening session, chaired by Henry Bellingham MP, Non- Executive Director of Developing Markets Associates, provided an overview of the investment climate in Djibouti and included presentations from HE Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs, HE Ilyas Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance, Said Omar Moussa, President of the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce, Ahmed Osman Ali, Governor of the Central Bank of Djibouti and Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority.



The following sessions provided an overview of investment opportunities in Energy and Natural Resources, Infrastructure and Logistics and Key Industries were chaired by Leon Isaacs, Managing Director of Developing Markets Associates, Mark Pritchard MP, Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa and James Duddridge MP, Executive Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa respectively. Presentations given in these sessions were from HE Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Djama Ali Guelleh, Director General of Djibouti Electricity Company, Mahdi Obsieh, Director General of National Investment Promotion Agency, David Hall, Executive Director of Stratex International, Michael Sedge, President of Michael Bruno, Marcello Mezzedimi of Mezz Group, HE Hassan Ahmed Boulaleh, Minister in charge of Trade, Abdourahman Mohamed Hassan, Director of Djibouti Telecom, Dawit Michael Gebre-Ab, Representative of Ministry of Tourism and Abdi Abdullahi, Regional Manager of Dahabshiil.

HE Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti addressed the forum, followed by the Rt Hon Mark Simmonds MP, Minister for Africa before chairing a private sector financial round table.

The First UK – Djibouti Trade & Investment Forum 2013
London, 8th May 2013

8.00am – 9.30am
Registration and Refreshments

9.30am – 9.45am
Welcome Addresses and Opening Remarks
Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive, Developing Markets Associates
HMA Greg Dorey, UK Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti
HE Ambassador Rachad Farah, Djibouti Ambassador to the UK

9.45am – 11.00am
Session 1: Economic Outlook and Opportunity
Chair: Henry Bellingham MP, Director, Developing Markets Associates
• HE Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Djibouti
• HE Ilyas Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance, Government of Djibouti
• Said Omar Moussa, Honorary Chairman, The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Business Council and President
• Ahmed Osman Ali, Governor, Central Bank of Djibouti
• Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman, Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority
Q & A session

11.00am – 11.30am
Refreshments break

11.45am – 12.45pm
Session 2: Investing in Energy and Natural Resources
Chair: Leon Isaacs, Managing Director, Developing Markets Associates
• HE Mohamed Ahmed Awaleh, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Government of Djibouti
• Djama Ali Guelleh, Director General, Djibouti Electricity Company
• Mahdi Obsieh, Director General, National Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA)
• David Hall, Executive Director, Stratex International Plc
Q & A session

11.45pm – 12.45pm
Private Sector Financial Round Table co-chaired by HE Ilyas Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance, Government of Djibouti and Rt Hon Mark Simmonds MP, Minister for Africa

12.45pm-1.00pm
Remarks
HE Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti
Rt Hon Mark Simmonds MP, Minister for Africa

1.00pm – 2.00pm
Networking lunch

2.00pm – 3.15pm
Session 3: Investing in Infrastructure and Logistics
Chair: Mark Pritchard MP, Vice Chairman, All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa
• Aboubaker Omar Hadi, Chairman, Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority
• Mahdi Obsieh, Director General, National Investment Promotion Agency (NIPA)
• Michael Sedge, President, Michael Bruno LLC
• Marcello Mezzedimi, Mezz Group
Q & A session

3.15pm – 3.45pm
Refreshments break

3.45pm – 4.45pm
Session 4: Investing in Key Industries
Chair: James Duddridge MP, Executive Member, All Party Parliamentary Group for Africa
• HE IIyas Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance, Government of Djibouti
• HE Hassan Ahmed Boulaleh, Minister in charge of Trade, Government of Djibouti
• Abdourahman Mohamed Hassan, Director, Djibouti Telecom
• Dawit Michael Gebre-Ab, Representative, Ministry of Tourism
• Abdi Abdullahi, Regional Manager, Dahabshiil
Q & A session

4.45pm – 5.00pm
Closing Remarks
HMA Greg Dorey, UK Ambassador to Ethiopia and Djibouti
HE Ilyas Dawaleh, Minister of Economy and Finance, Government of the Republic of Djibouti

5.00pm – 6.15pm
Gala Reception