Ann Griffin
CaribDirect.com’s Publisher David F. Roberts managed to snatch one of the Directors of the African and Caribbean Business Experience, Ann Griffin at her busy Liverpool Street offices, a stone’s throw from the London 2012 Olympics, to discuss the progress of the much anticipated and publicised African and Caribbean Business Experience Expo scheduled for tomorrow Saturday 4th August 2012.
1. WHAT PROMPTED THE CREATION OF AACBE?
It was my long time colleague Em Ekong’s idea. She worked in business support and development for many years and her mission is to help Diaspora business grow and access funding, in the UK. With the west’s interest in emerging markets we thought it made sense to use the London 2012 Games as a great opportunity to promote the skills and knowledge of the Diaspora and help them to access emerging markets through their current links such as High Commissions, Embassies, Investment groups and so on. Basically we would bring these organisations together from Africa and Caribbean for networking and trade.
2. WHO ARE THE DIRECTORS IF DIFFERENT FROM FOUNDERS?
The AACBE comprises Em Ekong of urban Inclusion long track record for acquiring funding for Diaspora businesses, Regenfirst is a management consultancy regeneration company, economic development programs for local authorities, my company and the African and Caribbean Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise (ACCCE) run by Fola Kudehinbu. Needed business link to set up AACBE.
3. WHAT’S THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE ORGANISATION?
Ltd by shares and operates as a social enterprise. Set us as a special purpose vehicle to run the Business Expo with an ongoing legacy program for the development of African and Caribbean businesses. 60% of profits will be reinvested in young entrepreneurs from the Diaspora or social enterprises from both countries.
4. WHAT’S THE USP AND ETHOS OF AACBE?
Getting the UK government and business community to recognise the skills and talents of the diaspora community and to express the value of doing business with them to enable them to access finance and to use their skills and knowledge to trade with emerging markets.
Our objectives are to: ? Create a platform for the rebranding and visibility of Africa and promote both Africa and the Caribbean as great places to live and do business ? Provide selected industry sectors with a unique opportunity to engage with key UK, African and Caribbean buyers and sellers at sector specific events ? Support UK and diaspora businesses to overcome perceived barriers to entry into the fast-growing African markets, in particular concerns surrounding accountability, transparency and corporate governance ? Promote ‘South to South’ connections through showcasing the best goods and services designed for the emerging market consumer base ? Promote the best African and Caribbean innovators and entrepreneurs of the future ? Support African and Caribbean business to access expertise and training from the diaspora ? Support African, Caribbean and diaspora businesses to grow and export.
Em Ekong
5. WHO ARE YOUR GENERAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS, NOT RELATED TO THE EXPO?
We have managed to attract quite a few influential partners who bring value in unique ways such as KPMG, a well known UK accounting firm that provides diaspora business with FREE business health checks registered companies for the expo as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility program; UKTI who recognise the opportunities in the Diaspora and want to link with these businesses; London Business Network who supported our bid for European funding; Caribbean Enterprise Network (CENUK) who specialise in promoting Caribbean businesses to global markets, to name a few.
6. IS THIS EXPOSITION THE FIRST OF THE AACBE?
Yes this expo is the first as we started the AACBE only one year ago and decided to use the Olympics as the launch pad for bringing Diaspora businesses together for networking, conferencing and trade.
7. WHAT ARE THE IDEAL EXPECTATIONS FOR THE EVENT?
(a) Successful event with participants leaving feeling more knowledgeable and energised to transact business (b) Put down a marker to show the world that the AACBE expo was organised and run by the African and Caribbean community and that this collaboration is indeed a force to be reckoned with; (c) Leave a legacy of quality that the African and Caribbean community can be proud of while looking forward to similar events annually.
8. HOW HAS TAKE UP OF THE STALLS BEEN?
To be honest at one point we were particularly nervous about the rate at which the stalls were taken but the past few weeks has been crazy. My staff and I have been at the office at midnight many nights coordinating bookings and other arrangements. As a matter of fact there are only three stalls left.
9. WHO ARE THE OFFICIAL SPONSORS OF THE EXPO?
Well our main or Platinum Sponsor is a Nigerian company that has been with us from the onset, Courteville Business Solutions PLC. We have a significant partnership with the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) based in Barbados.
10. WHAT WAS THE MOST REWARDING ASPECT OF ESTABLISHING THE AACBE?
I think the level of community, corporate and public sector support has been overwhelming. No doubt the considerable personal and financial investment Em and I have made to bring this project to fruition has paid off, if only to establish the AACBE as a serious purveyor of quality African and Caribbean business facilitation and networking.
11. WHAT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGES OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE EXPO?
The biggest challenge for us and I mean Em and I was raising the cash to breathe life into this dream, the AACBE. Apart from providing the deposit for the coveted Grosvenor House venue, we both took a year off from our businesses to set up African and Caribbean road shows where we visited a number of countries promoting the concept to governments and influential private sector organisations. Judging from the commitments we are receiving, it was all well worth it!
12. WHAT CAN PATRONS EXPECT FROM THIS EVENT?
It’s an amazing line up of activities and events some of which include: DIASPORA TALKS – Accessing Emerging Markets; Reversing the Brain Drain – Connecting and Collaborating with Diaspora Organisations; Tomorrow’s Leaders and a CEDA produced Fashion Showcase among many other exciting events and seminars. Director Em Ekong speaks about the Expo:
13. WHAT OF MEDIA SUPPORT (LOCAL REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL) – HOW HAS THAT BEEN?
We have had and continue to benefit from vast media support such as the metro, GV Media, Voice of Africa, IC Publications, Colourful Radio and we have been informed that Bloomberg the world’s leading financial news organisation are coming.
14. WHY WAS GROSVENOR HOUSE SELECTED FOR THIS EVENT?
Grosvenor House
This was deliberate because we wanted to hold a quality event and felt the dignitaries and guests from the African and Caribbean nations should be treated to a first rate venue in the presence of many world Olympic officials who are resident there for the Games. For example we’ve got the Nigerian Stock Exchange coming with 20 listed companies and the Caribbean Export Development Agency coming with 250 delegates for their European wide investment forum as part of their ‘Best of the Caribbean’ initiative. We have received confirmation that representatives of the University of Technology (UTECH) in Jamaica, the organisation that has trained up Asafa Powell, Usain Bolt and many of the world’s fastest runners, are coming. Also we have managed to get the richest man in Africa and 36th richest man in the world, Aliko Dangote is coming so we believe the venue is appropriate.
15. PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
We intend to replicate this event in various sporting events around the United Kingdom and beyond to places like Rio de Janeiro, Glasgow and so on as we know sports is fast becoming a discipline for investment.
16. ANY PARTING WORDS?
I think following this expo, people will take notice of what we are doing to assist companies within the Diaspora to recognise and seize opportunities. We can help smooth the process of communication, negotiation through our various partners while having these businesses benefit from the UK’s strength in transparency, corporate governance and efficiency. I also want to recognise our Expo Patron Baroness Oona King who has been extremely supportive. We look forward to a great first event and hope CaribDirect.com readers will come down and sample the many activities and events on show.
This event is supported by the Caribbean Enterprise Network UK (CENUK).
