Charlotte, N.C., will host an inaugural Africa business conference that organizers hope to take on the road, possibly to Atlanta.
The Charlotte Africa Business Conference from April 24-28 will feature Albert Essien, deputy CEO of Togo-based Ecobank, who will deliver the keynote speech on doing business in fast-growing Africa. Executives from Ernst & Young LLP‘s Ethiopia office and the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry will also speak.
The Charlotte Africa Initiative is to be launched at the event. The ongoing effort aims to keep the city’s business and civic leaders engaged with happenings on the continent for the benefit of the local community.
Lauri Elliott, director of Afribiz media, one of the event’s organizers, said it would make sense to start a similar project in Atlanta if there is sufficient interest.
“It’s really about the partnership, being able to get people involved,” Ms. Elliott told GlobalAtlanta by phone.
Strong participation from the University of North Carolina Charlotte, the host of the initial event, has helped get it off the ground, she said.
Along with a variety of other resources, Afribiz provides of information through Internet, radio and television platforms to help companies do business in Africa.
Visit www.afribiz.info for more information. For more on the conference or to register, visit www.afribiz.info/content/cabw2012.
