Growing a business through networking fora

Business networking fora usually provide excellent opportunities for business owners to grow their businesses. Entrepreneurs that need to grow their businesses beyond the country’s borders often explore these opportunities by attending international fora held within and outside the country.

To meet these needs of entrepreneurs as well as provide other stakeholders in the public and private sectors-serving businesses in one capacity or the other the opportunity to network, the European Marketing Research Centre (EMRC) is one of the many organisations that regularly organise such fora.

The Africa Finance and Investment Forum (AFIF) is an annual business networking event organised in the framework of EMRC international’s activities, aimed at strengthening the private sector in Africa, encouraging entrepreneurship and attracting investment in the African continent.

The 2014 edition of AFIF will be hosted and organised by Belgium-based EMRC in collaboration with Deutsche Investitions (DEG), and will take place for the first time in Germany from June 4 to 5, at DEG headquarters (Cologne). The forum will be preceded by a two-day training on June 2 and 3, on “Sources of Funding” for businesses across international borders.

Founded in 1962 in Germany, DEG has been working for more than 50 years on improving the living conditions of the people in its partner countries. According to a statement released by Prody Mwemena Mumba, EMRC communications officer, DEG offers advice and finance to private companies promising private sector investments. This is done almost entirely with DEG’s own funds.

DEG invests in profitable projects that contribute to sustainable development in all sectors of the economy, from agriculture to infrastructure and manufacturing to services. It also focuses on investments in the financial sector of a country in order to facilitate reliable access to capital locally. Figures released by DEG show it has worked together with more than 1,700 companies worldwide. With its new commitments of about 1.3 billion euros in 2012, DEG contributes to facilitating entrepreneurial investments.

According to the statement by EMRC, this year’s Africa Finance and Investment Forum will have in attendance – international financial institutions, development financial institutions, commercial banks, microfinance institutions and other financing institutions. Other organisations expected are insurance and guarantee funds, private equity and venture capital, development institutions, foundations and NGOs, entrepreneurs and project developers from various industries, agriculture and service sectors, multinationals investing or prospecting to invest in Africa, research institutes, government officials, public sector representatives, chambers of commerce, trade associations, and so on.

Apart from the two-day pre-forum training, presentations and panel discussions, there would also be pre-arranged B2B meetings as requested by participants to provide a platform for forging of partnerships.

The EMRC statement also states that there would be networking with leading financial global experts such as the Africa Export Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), so entrepreneurs could grab the opportunity to grow their businesses.

High-profile speakers are expected at this event to present papers on various topical issues.

OLUYINKA ALAWODE