Last week over 1800 people across UK, USA, Canada and India joined a virtual webinar outlining opportunities from realising Africa’s potential.
The webinar hosted by the Lohana Community North London, through their business network group – LINK – featured Lord Dolar Popat, the Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy for Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo to give listeners an exclusive and informative presentation on what the African subcontinent has to offer.
The debate was chaired and moderated by Sanjay C Rughani and Jeet Rughani, and followed a panel discussion with leading African industrialist, Mayur Madhvani (Joint Managing Director of the Madhvani Group), Vimal Shah (CEO of Bidco) and Ken Giami (CEO and Editor of African Leadership Magazine). A number of African dignitaries attended the presentation including the Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Marie Ndejka. The aim of the presentation was to unleash and empower a new generation of entrepreneurs to invest in new emerging markets such as Africa.
Speaking during the presentation Lord Popat said, “now that we are finally free of the directives of Brussels, this is the time to engage with new markets as we venture out as a truly global Britain. Whilst Global Britain is a fine idea – it should not just be a slogan. We must behave like a business and create a new path.”
Mayur Madhvani’s Group has had a substantial presence in East Africa over 100 years and is one of the largest private sector businesses, contributing up to 9% of Uganda’s GDP. Mayur instilled confidence to the viewers on how to take up the many opportunities that the continent has to offer.
Vimal Shah – one of East Africa’s leading manufacturers of edible oils and food and beverage, stressed the need to change the perception of Africa, “When we talk about Africa…it means different things to different people. Perception is different, reality is different. Now is the time to wake up to Africa’s potential.”
Lord Popat outlined a number of Government schemes and initiatives available to support British people to invest and export to Africa. The presentation was well received by the community and has spurred on a new group of entrepreneurs to explore these new markets post Brexit. Following the success of the application, the Lohana Community hope to host seminar presentations in other emerging markets in the future.
