Montreal, September 20, 2011 – This year for its fifth edition, business summit FORUM AFRICA once again lived up to expectations by providing economic operators with a quality platform.

Organized by Afrique Expansion Magazine in collaboration with the African Business RoundTable (ABR) and the Canadian Council on Africa (CCAfrica), the biennial gathering hosted some 300 participants, entrepreneurs, political figures and executives from the private and public sectors, who took part in various panels and activities under the theme Investment and Partnership for Sustainable Development in Africa.

The principal achievement of Forum Africa 2011 was the record participation of the African contingent: one hundred businesspeople and public sector representatives made the journey to Montreal. Encouraging news for Afrique Expansion and its partners in their mission to get even more African businesspeople to present their countries’ business opportunities to the North American business community and so find quality partners.

Forum Africa 2011 welcomed a broad selection of guests, among them Tim Turner, Director of Private Sector Development for the African Development Bank (AfDB). As keynote speaker at the conference lunch held September 6, Mr. Turner expounded on the opportunities available to Canadian businesspeople for doing business in Africa.

Mr. Turner views Africa as a reliable business partner. And while the African continent may have been considered a high-risk region some years ago, it is today the part of the world that offers the best return on investment.

During his lecture, Mr. Turner explained that not only were Africa’s economic indicators positive, but that both the business and political climate were conducive to investment in a number of sectors.

This was borne out to a great extent by the matchmaking sessions which also set a new record for participation: nearly 150 exchanges took place between African and Canadian businesspeople. Productive encounters expected to lead to at least 10 firm agreements in the short term, according to organizers.

On another note, acknowledgement must be made of the AfDB’s important and invaluable support for Forum Africa 2011. In addition to contributing to the event’s organization, the AfDB helped establish networks and facilitated dialogue with Canadian decision-makers and African promoters.

Gala and Awards of Excellence

A gala evening brought the event to a colourful close, with musical entertainment and fine food serving as a backdrop to an awards ceremony honouring those businesses and organizations having distinguished themselves through their respective activities in Africa and having contributed to sustainable development. The recipients of the 2011 Awards of Excellence are:

- Africa-Canada Partnership: Fondation BDA &PharmAfrican

- Support for Women’s Entrepreneurship: ZorahBioscosmétiques

- Import Trade: Direct Terroir Canada Inc.

- Export Trade: Aviation Zenith Inc.

- Business Development in Africa: Afreximbank

Finally, consulting engineering firm SNC Lavalin was given special recognition for its work in Africa spanning several decades. Similarly, a Certificate of Meritas was awarded to Mr. Camille Mouté à Bidias, Director of the National Employment Fund of Cameroon, in recognition of his contribution to human resources development in Africa.

The next edition of Forum Africa will be held in 2013.

Contact / Inquiries : Diane St-Onge, responsable des communications / Communications Officer

Tél./ Tel. : 514-393.8059 - Courriel / E-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Site Web : www.forumafricanada.com

Montreal, August 17, 2011 – The organizers of the 5th edition of FORUM AFRICA are pleased to confirm the participation of several delegations from Africa in the event, to be held this coming September 5 through 8.

The non-exhaustive list of countries that will be represented in Montreal includes Benin, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville), Gabon, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.

The African delegations will include representatives of boards of trade, public utilities officials, and businesspeople from different backgrounds. Their activities cover a broad range of sectors: mining, communications, public works, transportation, energy, agro-industry, sustainable development, biotechnology, tourism, and project development and financing. All fields in which Canadian expertise and know-how are much sought after.

Confirmation of the attendance of these delegations follows the previous announcements of the participation of senior officials from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), including Mr. Tim Turner, Director of Private Sector Development for the AfDB, and of Mr. Chalimba C. Phiri, chairman of COMESA’s Regional Investment Agency.  COMESA, or the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, boasts 400 million potential consumers in 19 countries and promotes regional integration through the development of trade and investment.

Finally, rounding off the list of participants are Jean-Louis Ekra, President of the African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK), and Albert Yuma Mulimbi, President of the Fédération des Entreprises Congolaises (association of Congolese business leaders) and Chairman of the Board of GECAMINES, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s largest mining company.

These illustrious guests will be joined by numerous African and Canadian officials. All will contribute to the central themes of FORUM AFRICA 2011, namely Sustainable Development and Private Investment in Africa.

Organized by Afrique Expansion in collaboration with the African Business RoundTable (ABR) and the Canadian Council on Africa (CCAfrica), Forum Africa 2011 is an international biennial gathering whose mission is to provide investors and entrepreneurs with up-to-date information on opportunities and conditions for private investment in Africa, as well as to promote such investment on the continent.

In addition to conferences and workshops, the Forum will feature a grand gala dinner September 6, during which awards of excellence will be handed out by Afrique Expansion to those businesses and individuals having made exceptional contributions to Africa’s development over the past two years.

FORUM AFRICA 2011 will take place at Montreal’s Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel September 5 through 8, 2011.

About Afrique Expansion

Founded in 1995, Afrique Expansion Inc. is a consulting agency specialized in international marketing. Its chief mission is to promote business partnerships in Africa. The group also publishes an international business review, Afrique Expansion Magazine, which has in time established itself as an authoritative source of economic information on Africa for North American investors and entrepreneurs as well as for African decision makers.

Montreal, August 4, 2011 – The organizers of the 5th edition of FORUM AFRICA, which will take place in Montreal this coming September 5 through 8, are immensely pleased to announce the participation of senior officials from the African Development Bank Group, including Mr. Tim Turner, Director of Private Sector Development for the AfDB.

Montreal, July 12, 2011 – The organizers of the 5th edition of FORUM AFRICA, which will take place in Montreal this coming September 5 through 8, are immensely pleased to announce the participation of Mr. Chalimba C. Phiri, chairman of COMESA’s Regional Investment Agency. COMESA, or the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, boasts 400 million potential consumers in 19 countries and promotes regional integration through the development of trade and investment.

Montreal, January 24, 2011 – Sustainable development and private investment in Africa will be the central themes of the upcoming FORUM AFRICA 2011, to be held at Montreal’s prestigious Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel September 5 to 7, 2011.

Montreal, October 8, 2009 – Once again, FORUM AFRICA lived up to expectations with a 4th edition that proved a most rewarding business gathering! Organized by Afrique Expansion Magazine in collaboration with the African Business Roundtable (ABR) and the Canadian Council on Africa (CCAfrica), the biennial event drew some 300 participants, including entrepreneurs, political figures and private- and public-sector CEOs, who participated in various panels and activities under the theme “Investment and Partnership for Sustainable Development in Africa.”

Sustainable development and private investment in Africa will be the central themes of the upcoming FORUM AFRICA 2011, to be held at Montreal’s prestigious Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth hotel September 5 to 7, 2011.