Event Name:
Responding to the Economic Crisis: Impact on Africa

Where:
UPDATE: Horizon Ballroom, Ground Level, The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC

When:
April 23, 2009

Event Description
A free, interactive town hall meeting, designed to elicit candid, constructive brainstorming to enhance Africa’s sustainability.

As recent studies and statistics reveal from the recently concluded IMF conference in Tanzania and the G-20 Summit in London, the "real" effects of the Global Economic Crisis are yet to be felt in Africa. This meeting provides the forum for Africans to band together to engage international policy makers in discussions to deliberate, develop, and disseminate an Africa-sensitive solution on a global platform. What better back drop to hold this meeting than preceding the annual spring meetings of the World Bank. Our goal is to develop Africa-centric response that can be inserted into US legislation or World Bank Directives. By the end of this meeting, we would have discussed the challenges, the opportunities, and the "practical" way out.

Sponsors :
WITA, Rinsom Associates, BCDG, African Business Roundtable, Bank of Industry, The US Chamber of Commerce, The Guardian

Event Speakers
Congressman Gregory MEEKS, Chair, U.S. House Sub-Committee on International Monetary Policy and Trade; Congressman Bobby RUSH, Chair, U.S. House Sub-Committee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection; Edith Grace SSEMPALA, Vice President, World Bank; Linah MOHOLO, Governor, Central Bank of Botswana; His Excellency, Ikedi OHAKIM, Executive Governor of Imo State, Nigeria; Congressman Donald PAYNE, Chair, U.S. House Sub-Committee on Africa and Global Health.

* Additional speakers to be confirmed for some panels. * For the full schedule of speakers and topics, see the COMPLETE AGENDA under 'Additional Event Information' below.

Additional Event Information
This is Free event, however, Pre-registration is required. If you have problems registering via the WITA website, pls email us at: events@wita.org

Reminder: Ronald Reagan Building requires Photo ID.

Complete Agenda below Directions.

To the Horizon Ballroom: The easiest way to the Horizon Ballroom is to enter the Reagan Building at Ground Level via the Pennsylvania Avenue entrance (North Tower entrance, across from Freedom Plaza). After passing through security, go right. Go through the double doors, turn left, and enter the Horizon Ballroom at the 2nd entrance on the left. --From METRO CENTER: Use 13th St. exit, come straight down 13th St. toward the Reagan Building, and follow directions to Horizon ballroom above. --PARKING is available at the Reagan building. Enter parking garage from Penn. Ave, or 14th St.

COMPLETE AGENDA

8:15am Registration and Coffee Hour.

9:00am Call to Order by Organizers: Ufo Eric-Atuanya, Managing Partner, Rimsom Associates; Claude Fontheim, Chairman, Council for Global Business Development.

9:05am Remarks from the African Business Roundtable, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Chairman, ABR. 9:15am FIRST DISCUSSION. Understanding the Global Economic Crisis: A Session with International Strategists. Discussants: Dr. Lisa Cook, Economist, Harvard University; Mr. David Chavern, Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer, US Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Willene Johnson, Adjunct Professor of Applied Economics, Cornell University and Former VP of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Mr. Wayne Curtis, Managing Partner, Curtis Concepts, LLC. 10:00am Open Dialogue.

10.30am Remarks from Congressman Gregory MEEKS, Chair, U.S House Sub- Committee on International Monetary Policy and Trade.

10.40am Remarks from Congressman Bobby RUSH, Chair, US Sub-Committee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

10.50am Open Dialogue.

11:10am SECOND DISCUSSION. The Global Credit Crunch and Consequences of Unexpected Events –Catching the Flu. Discussants: African Finance Minister; Dr. Steve Radelet, Senior Fellow, Center for Global Development and Economic Adviser to the President of Liberia; Ms. Linah Moholo, Governor, Central Bank of Botswana; Ms. Edith Grace Ssempala, Vice President, World Bank.

12:00 noon Open Dialogue.

1:15pm LUNCH SESSION. International Responses: Has Africa’s Interests been Considered? Guests: His Excellency, Ikedi Ohakim, Executive Governor of Imo State, Nigeria; Congressman Donald Payne, Chair U.S. House Sub- Committee on Africa and Global Health; Ms. Mimi Alemayehou, Executive Director, African Development Bank. 2:30pm RECONCILIATION. Identifying Opportunities, Building Partnerships and Developing Capacity: Exploring Survival Antidotes. Discussants: His Excellency, Arc. Namadi Sambo, Executive Governor, Kaduna State; Mr. Claude Fontheim, Chairman, Business Council for Global Development; Ms. Evelyn Oputu, Managing Director/CEO, Bank of Industry; Eva Bakonyi, Head, Partnerships and Donor Relations, International Finance Corporation; Katrina Kuhlman, President, Trade, Aid, and Security Coalition.

4:30pm PRESENTATION OF REPORT.

5:00pm CLOSURE.

5.30om Reception Hosted By The US Chamber of Commerce.

Contact phone * :
202-312-1600

Contact Email * :
events@wita.org

Event Type
WITA Event