Round Table 5
Promoting Investment in Developing Countries (with special reference to Africa) - Challenges, Opportunities and Experiences
Round Table 5 - Wednesday, 3 December 2003, 09:00-11:00 CET Conference Room B
The fifth Round Table on Promoting Investment in Developing Countries gave special emphasis on the challenges faced in the area of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, in particular sub-Saharan Africa. The key role of investment (in machinery and equipment) in bringing about structural change in a poor economy cannot be overemphasized. FDI in particular brings in new ideas, new technologies and managerial know-how and leads to an improvement of the average skills and efficiency levels of industry. They cumulatively help in diversifying the economy while at the same time contributing to higher productivity and growth - essential conditions for the realization of the MDGs, particularly the eradication of poverty.
The Round Table addressed the question of highly asymmetrical patterns of global flows and stocks of FDI, examined the reasons for the almost complete marginalization of Africa in general and sub-Saharan Africa in particular from mainstream manufacturing and export-led FDI, identified the challenges faced by those and other developing and least developing countries in that area and deliberated on the responses to be crafted to meet the challenges.
| Opening Statement | |
|---|---|
| H.E. Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni | President of Uganda |
| Keynote Speaker | |
| Mr. Peter Buckley | Professor, Centre for International Business, University of Leeds |
| Panelists | |
| Mr. Dick Kramer | Chairman, Capital Alliance Nigeria (CAN) |
| Mr. Patrick Helson | Chief Operating Officer, CDC Capital Partners |
| Mr. Carlos Da Silva | Director of Operations IBM Central and Eastern Europe / Middle East / Africa Inc. |
| Mr. Bunmi Oni | CEO of Cadbury Nigeria |
| Ms. Maggie Kigozi | Executive Director, Uganda Investment Authority, Vice-President World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA) |
| Mr. François de Grivel | Chairman/Managing Director or Director of several export companies situated in Mauritius, former President of Mauritius Export Processing Zone Association, former President of the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
| Moderator | |
| Mr. Brian Caplen | Editor, FDI Magazine, Financial Times Group |
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