Programme

Africa Ireland Economic Forum 2022

“Prospering Post-Pandemic: Towards a Sustainable, Greener Future”

09:00 – 09:10

Welcome – Alan Gibbons, Africa Director, Department of Foreign Affairs

09:10 – 09:30

Opening Address – Simon Coveney, T.D., Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence

09:35 – 09:50

Keynote Address – Ambassador Mariam Katagum, Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria

09:55 – 11:15

Session One: Trends and Opportunities for regional integration, trade and investment in Africa

Opening Remarks: Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director, International Trade Centre

-          Jane Feehan, Head of West Africa representation, European Investment Bank

-          Allen Asiimwe, Deputy CEO and Chief of Programmes, TradeMark East Africa

-          Leo Clancy, CEO, Enterprise Ireland

Moderator: Ruairí De Búrca, Director General, Development Cooperation and Africa Division, Department of Foreign Affairs

11:45 – 13:00

Session Two: Green growth for food, agriculture, infrastructure and energy: Sustainable development in emerging markets

-          Shane Hamill, Interim Director of Global Business Development, Bord Bia

-          Barry Newman, Regional Head – Africa, Ornua  

-          David O’Halloran, Managing Director, africaJUICE, Ethiopia, and Power Ventures Africa

-          Michel Davitt, Director, International Development, Nicholas O’Dwyer Ltd

Moderator: Sinéad McPhillips, Assistant Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

14:30 – 15:50

Session Three: Women’s economic empowerment – Women transforming the economic, trade and investment relationship between Africa and Ireland

Opening Remarks: Pippa Hackett, Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A recorded message from Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

-          Josephine Sepeku, Project Manager, Dar Teknohama Business Incubator; former Ireland-Africa fellow

-          Jo Ryan, CEO, TruTrade Africa; Chair, Business Ireland Kenya

-          Carole Kariuki, CEO, Kenya Private Sector Alliance

-          Rawia Mansour, Chairperson, RAMSCO, Egypt

Moderator: Fionnuala Quinlan, Ambassador of Ireland, Kenya

15:50 – 16:10

Keynote Address – Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group

16:10 – 17.20

Session Four: Leveraging technology, innovation and entrepreneurship for Africa’s growth

Presentation: Armin Lalui, Director, Vanguard Economics, Rwanda

-          Chioma Agwuegbo, Executive Director, TechHerNG, Nigeria

-          Stuart Forrest, CEO, Triggerfish Animation, South Africa/ Galway

-          Andy Kerr, UK and Ireland Lead, EIT Climate-KIC

-          Mukundi Lambani, CEO, Ambani, South Africa; Winner, Irish Tech Challenge South Africa

Moderator: Síle Maguire, Ambassador of Ireland, Nigeria

17:20 – 17:30

Closing address – Colm Brophy, T.D., Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora