The fourth Annual African Ambassadors Interactive Forum (4th AAIF) incorporating the Africa Business & Investment showcase will take place at the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Town Hall, Hornton Street, London W8, on Wednesday and Thursday, the 28th – 29th of November 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The President of Nigeria, His Excellency Umar Yar’Adua is expected to officiate at the Forum, which will bring together African Ambassadors to the Court of St. James and the Africa Diaspora, including investment analysts and managers to explore ways by which a reasonable framework and level of cooperation and collaborative network can be established.

Under the theme, “African Ambassadors and the African Diaspora as Economic Gateways”, the 4th AAIF will provide a platform to meet with senior delegates, stakeholders and financiers who will be available to deliberate on the possibilities of building business linkages, partnership building and attracting International Capital investment to Africa, with the aim of bringing new investment to the Continent using the sustainable resource of the African Diaspora Community.

The 4th AAIF is being organised by INGO in collaboration with Diaspora and International development agencies which includes AfricaRecruit, Ben Television, ECOWAS Commission, Liberian Embassy in the UK, NEPAD Business Group, World Bank Group-IMF Africa Society, Africa Business Roundtable, African Development Forum, United Nations Office for International Partnerships, Christian Aid, World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Book Aid International among others. While Perryfield Promotions a leading UK firm is coordinating international participation, logistics, publicity, marketing, sponsorship, PR, media and press awareness of the event.

Expected attendees will include; Immediate past Secretary General of United Nations Kofi Annan, Dr Salim Ahmed Salim, Former Prime Minister of Tanzania, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Managing Director, World Bank Group, The Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Prof. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke, The Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr David Rogers, Phuthuma Nhleko, Group Chief Executive Officer, MTN South Africa among others.

The 4th AAIF will incorporate the African Achievement Award endorsed by the World Bank Group/IMF African Society to acknowledge, celebrate and reward the efforts of deserving Africans and friends of Africa.

Nominees for the 2007 African Achievement Awards include the Governor of the Bank of Sierra Leone, Dr David Rogers; Director General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Prof. Ndi Okereke Onyiuke; Group Chief Executive of MTN South Africa Phuthuma Nhleko and Managing Director of the Lusaka Stock Exchange Mrs Beatrice Nkanza, among others.

The African Achievement Award serves to raise awareness outside the African community of the outstanding achievements of hitherto unknown men and women who have served Africa in the drive towards sustainable development and poverty eradication. The Award will also recognise Africans who despite the odds have excelled in people centred initiatives, reforms and advocacy.

Previous recipients of the African Achievement Award include President John Kufour, President of Ghana; President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa; and Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, President of ECOWAS Commission.

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