Online Seminar: “Investment and Technology Promotion for Industrial Development in Africa under AfCFTA” (22 November)

UNIDO will organize a seminar titled “Investment and Technology Promotion for Industrial Development in Africa under AfCFTA”, on 22 November 2021.

The seminar will be held as a side event of the AU Summit on Industrialization and Economic Diversification where UNIDO is one of the co-organizers.

This online side event will discuss how to facilitate and promote investment and technology transfer, in particular from Japan, for industrial development in Africa under AfCFTA.

Outline

Date/Time: November 22nd, 2021 (Monday) 18:00-19:30 (JST)/10:00-11:30(CET)
Venue: 　　 Zoom
Organizer: 　United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
Partners: 　 AUC
Language: 　English (Simultaneous interpretation into French)
Registration: Please fill the form to register.*URL to join the seminar will be sent to the registered e-mail address.

Programme (Tentative)

(JST/CET)
18:00/10:00　　 Opening Remarks
H.E. Mr. Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade Industry and Mining

18:05/10:05　　Keynote Presentations
Dr. Katsumi Hirano, Executive Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO)
　”Japan as a investor: Japan’s Africa business in a new era”
Prof. Izumi Ohno, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
　”Enhancing Industrial Capability in the era of AfCFTA”
Mr. Mansur Ahmed, Executive Director at Dangote Group & President Pan Africa Manufacturers Association
　”Deepening Partnerships for Africa’s Industrialisation / Trade under AfCFTA”

18:40/10:40　　 Panel: Investment and Technology Promotion for Industrial Development in Africa under AfCFTA
Moderator: Mr. Yuko Yasunaga, Head, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo
Panelists:
Mr. Ryuichi Kato, Vice President, JICA
Ms. Solange Amichia, Director General, Centre de Promotion des Investissements de Côte d’Ivoire (CEPICI)
Dr. Katsumi Hirano, Executive Senior Research Fellow, IDE-JETRO
Prof. Izumi Ohno, Professor, GRIPS
Mr. David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner, AB&David, AfroChampions Initiative
Mr. Toshikazu Otani, Managing Executive Officer, Chief Executive for Africa, ITOCHU Corporation
Mr. Mansur Ahmed, Executive Director at Dangote Group & President Pan Africa Manufacturers Association
Dr. Katsumi Hirano, Executive Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO)
Prof. Izumi Ohno, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)

19:25/11:25　　 Closing remarks
Mr. Victor Djemba, Chief, Regional Coordination Division – Africa, UNIDO

Contact for inquiries

　Ms. Imazu/ Ms. Onozaki, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo
　 E-mail: itpo.tokyo@unido.org

Speakers and panelists (information will be updated)

	H.E. Mr. Albert Muchanga, AU Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade Industry and Mining H.E. Mr. Muchanga, born on May 21, 1959, a Zambian national was elected as the new commissioner for Trade and Industry of the African Union Commission. Mr. Muchanga was the Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office in charge of Parliamentary Affairs in Zambia. H.E. Muchanga was also a former Ambassador to Ethiopia with extra accreditation to the African Union. He has both at home and abroad dealt with issues broadly related to international economic policy analysis and implementation as well as regional integration, foreign policy analysis and implementation.
	Dr. Katsumi Hirano, Executive Senior Research Fellow, IDE-JETRO Dr. Hirano is Executive Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Developing Economies (IDE-JETRO). His specialization includes Africa Studies and Development Economics. former Vice President of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) during 2015-2019 in charge of African affairs, conducting JETRO events at TICAD 6 and TICAD 7.
	Prof. Izumi OHNO, Professor, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies Izumi Ohno is Professor of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), in Japan. She is also Senior Research Advisor to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Ogata Research Institute for Peace and Development. She specializes in international development policy, industrial development cooperation, and business and development. Prior to joining GRIPS in 2002, she worked at JICA, the World Bank, and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). During Oct. 2018-Sept. 2020, she also served as Director of the JICA Ogata Research Institute. Her recent co-edited books include Industrial Human Resource Development in Developing Countries: Knowledge and Skills in the Era of SDGs (with S. Yamada, 2021, Nippon Hyoron Sha).
	Mr. Mansur Ahmed, Executive Director at Dangote Group Engineer Ahmed is a Group Executive Director at Dangote Group, Africa’s largest conglomerate with operations in over 14 Countries and still expanding. He is also the current President of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the interim Chairman of the Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA) As well as the Vice President of the Africa Business Council. In his capacity as the President, MAN, he provides strategic leadership as Chairman of the National Council of the Association, which represents over 3000 Nigerian Manufacturers across all sectors.
	Mr. Yuko YASUNAGA, Head, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo Mr. Yasunaga has had an extensive career with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), with expertise in the areas of natural resources and industrial science/technology development. From 2015 to 2017, Mr. Yasunaga was Vice-President of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) after working as Deputy Director-General responsible for the Ministry’s innovation policy. Mr. Yasunaga holds a M.Eng. in Resource Development Engineering from the University of Tokyo, a M.Sc. in Mineral Economics, from the Colorado School of Mines, USA, and a Ph.D., from the University of Tokyo.
	Mr. Ryuichi KATO, Vice President, JICA Since joining JICA in 1987, Mr. Kato has served in various positions, including the Planning Department and the General Affairs Department, and before assuming his current post in 2020, he was Director General of the Africa Department. He has extensive working experience in Francophone Africa, including his tenure as Deputy Resident Representative in the Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal Office (2002-2006), and as Chief Representative in the Senegal Office (2012-2016). As a reward for his dedication, he was awarded ‘Officier de l’Ordre National du Lion’ from the Government of Senegal in 2016. He is passionate about running and has so far completed over 20 full marathons.
	Ms. Solange Amichia, Director General, CEPICI Ms, Solange Amichia is Director General at CEPICI, Investment Promotion Agency of Côte d’Ivoire, where she leads Promotion and attraction of Investments and Improving business environment through reforms. She has over 20 years of experience in Investment banking, Management, Project Management, Governance and Information System. Ms. Amichia visited Japan and conducted meetings with Japanese companies under the Delegate Programme hosted by UNIDO ITPO Tokyo in 2014.
	Mr. David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner, AB&David David Ofosu-Dorte has worked in both the public and private sector for a period spanning over twenty-five (25) years. He has immense transaction experience and has led several assignments. David is experienced in handling high-end projects and financings. Sources describe him as a pioneering lawyer in the field of public-private partnerships, and say he is “highly regarded” (IFLR 1000, 2020) and ”… a highly esteemed figure … who earns recognition for his diverse commercial practice.” (Chambers Global 2020).
	Mr. Toshikazu OTANI, Executive Officer, ITOCHU Corporation Mr. Otani, Executive Officer, Chief Executive for Africa of ITOCHU Corporation, draws over 30 years of a successful career and experience in one of the largest Japanese trading and investment companies. Previously, he serves concurrently General Manager of Johannesburg Branch of ITOCHU Corporation and Managing Director of ITOCHU Nigeria Ltd. In Africa. He also assumed various posts such as General Manager of Marine Products Department in Tokyo, President of PT. ANEKA TUNA INDONESIA , Manager of Planning & administration Section, Fresh Food Division in Tokyo.
	Mr. Victor Djemba, Chief, Regional Coordination Division – Africa, UNIDO Mr. Victor DIWANDJA DJEMBA is Chief of Regional Coordination Division – Africa. Prior to his current appointment, Mr. Djemba served as the UNIDO Representative in Senegal, covering Cabo-Verde, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania. Mr. Djemba is a graduate in Electromechanical engineering from the “Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique (ENSP)” of Yaoundé, Cameroon, and holds a Master’s in Industrial systems engineering and a Postgraduate Research Degree (DEA) in Industrial systems and innovation management from the “Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine (INPL)”, France.