As West Africa continues to be active in infrastructure projects’ development, the region is still facing challenges with regards to raising domestic and international financings.
Several structuring infrastructure projects are initiated in country but not lead to financial close. The whole communities (not only internal but international) are suffering from this catch 22 situation where, on one hand, the West African countries need infrastructures’ development to enable a greater GDP reach but, on the other hand, there’s no such financings’ options available to sustain such growth.
As the pressure from the populations on the political representatives is growing when it comes to getting access to basic infrastructure equipment, there’s some innovative financing routes that need to be explored including the potential for local capital markets to finance infrastructure projects.
To discuss these issues and possible innovative solutions, we will have the pleasure to host a Senegalese Delegation led by the Senegalese Ambassador in France, his Excellency Bassirou Sene. Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (the debt finance institution providing long-term debt and mezzanine finance on commercial terms) and GuarantCo (which provides credit guarantees that enable infrastructure projects to raise debt finance) will also be represented at this event. They will provide a snapshot on the Plan Senegal Emergent, views of the current local market and thoughts on what needs to be done to ensure a better partnership between the international and domestic economic, social and financial communities.
Attendees will gain valuable insights from government representatives, developers and financiers.
The agenda is outlined below.
4.30pm Registration
5.00pm Welcome and Introduction by the Host
Karim Maalioun and Philippa Chadwick, Squire Patton Boggs
5.10pm Keynote Address
Mr Bassirou Sene, Ambassador of Senegal in France and his economic delegation
5.40pm Perceptions of FMFM, Fund Manager of EAIF, on Recent Trends in and Affecting Infrastructure Finance in Sub Saharan Africa
Roland Janssens, Managing Director, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund
5.50pm Guarantees to Support Infrastructure Financing in Local Currency
Jules Samain, Director for Francophone West and Central Africa at Frontier Markets Fund Managers, GuarantCo
6.00pm Panel Discussion
Moderated by: Karim Maalioun and Philippa Chadwick, Squire Patton Boggs
Mr Bassirou Sene, Ambassador of Senegal in France
Roland Janssens, Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund
Jules Samain, GuarantCo.
Julien Touati, Corporate Development Director and Board member of Africa Investment Committee, Meridiam
6.45pm Closing Remarks
Karim Maalioun and Philippa Chadwick, Squire Patton Boggs
6.50pm Networking Drinks Reception kindly hosted by Squire Patton Boggs
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT WILL BE HELD IN FRENCH.
no jeans will be permitted. A jacket and tie are mandatory for men. No cell phones allowed in the common parts of the premises.
For more information, please contact Laura Cafora e: lcafora@ipfa.org