Seminar's presentations
1. Exploring business opportunities with Multilateral Development Banks
Craig Steffenson
North American Representative, Washington, DC
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
2. The distinctive elements of the AfDB
Valérie Robert
Principal Procurement Specialist
African Development Bank (AfDB)
3. Procurement policies
Valérie Robert
Principal Procurement Specialist
African Development Bank (AfDB)
4. The distinctive elements of EBRD
Martin Ehrenberg
Head of Stakeholder Relations
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
5. Business opportunities with EBRD
Martin Ehrenberg
Head of Stakeholder Relations
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
6. The distinctive elements of the IADB
Roberto Aiello
Energy Specialist
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
7. Business opportunities in LAC
Roberto Aiello
Energy Specialist
Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)
8. The distinctive elements of the World Bank
Monyl Toga
Energy Specialist, Energy Climate Finance
World Bank (WB)
9. Procurement policies
Monyl Toga
Energy Specialist, Energy Climate Finance
World Bank (WB)
10. How to successfully bid on contracts with MDBs
Eric Gagnon
Principal Procurement Specialist
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
11. How to increase your competitiveness when bidding on MDB tenders
Sergiu Casu
Director of Business Development
DevelopmentAid
12. Successfully working with MDBs
Guillaume Genin
Vice President, Business Development
Canarail
The activity in brief
On October 19, the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal and its team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montreal—a member of the international PSLO (Private Sector Liaison Officers) network for the multilateral development banks—, invite you to a seminar followed by a luncheon and individual meetings with key stakeholders working with the multilateral development banks. Come assess the potential of these markets for your business.
This seminar is an event intended for companies, institutions, and independent consultants seeking to collaborate on projects with the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank Group, the Inter-American Development Bank, the African Development Bank, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Participants will have a chance to learn about upcoming business opportunities, hear testimonials from Quebec companies that have found success on these markets, and get the information they need to increase their competitiveness. This will also serve as a great occasion to network with correspondents of the various multilateral development banks and with provincial and federal commercial agents.
Preliminary program
A unique opportunity to…
- Assess the potential of broadening your activities within the framework of projects funded by the development banks
- Learn about business opportunities and upcoming major projects in these regions of the world
- Understand the buying and procurement processes of these international financial institutions
- Network with other firms interested in development projects in these regions
- Understand the challenges and issues for Quebec companies.
Why take an interest in projects funded by the development banks?
The multilateral development banks are challenged with reducing poverty and underdevelopment in certain regions by investing in projects in these areas. They share the common goal of fostering economic and social progress in emerging nations through their funding activities and their support of investment and the creation of capital.
These projects are a source of business opportunities for our companies, as their calls for tender are open to bids from suppliers of products and services the world over. Many Canadian companies have in fact already benefitted from the very transparent and supervised procurement system for development projects financed by the multilateral banks.
The World Bank Group has set two ambitious goals: ending extreme poverty within a single generation, and promoting shared prosperity. These two objectives respectively aim to:
• decrease the percentage of people living on less than $1.90 a day to no more than 3% by 2030
• foster the income growth of the bottom 40% in every country.
The World Bank Group is a vital source of financial and technical assistance to developing countries around the world. It is not a bank in the ordinary sense of the word but a unique partnership dedicated to reducing poverty and supporting development.
(SOURCE: http://www.worldbank.org/en/about/what-we-do)
It is within this context that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has—for over 45 years—supported the economic and social development of countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It provides them with technical assistance, and, above all, finances development projects that are implemented by governments and the private sector in beneficiary countries. Projects launched by the ADB in 2014 have reached a value of $22.93 billion USD in loans and grants. Canadian firms won a total of $18.32 million USD in contracts for the year, placing Canada in 9th position among non-member countries participating in ADB projects. Since the creation of the ADB, the value of contracts won by Canadian companies is over $835 million USD.
As for the Inter-American Development Bank, it is the main source of multilateral development funding in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is currently undergoing a reform to broaden its activities in the private sector and thereby ensure greater synergy with those relating to the public sector. In this regard, it approved $13.8 billion USD in new funding in 2014, $22.6 million USD of which went to Canadian companies for consulting services.
The African Development Bank is a multinational development financial institution established to support the development and social progress of African countries. It is made up of three groups: the African Development Bank, the African Development Fund, and the Nigeria Trust Fund. Its principal mission is to fight poverty and to improve living conditions on the continent by promoting the investment of public and private capital in certain projects, as well as through the establishment of programs that can contribute to economic and social development in the region. The Bank is a financial provider for a great number of African nations and private companies that invest in regional member countries.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) operates in 35 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. Its mandate is to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and to promote the private sector and entrepreneurship in countries committed to and applying the principles of multiparty democracy, pluralism, and market economics. The EBRD provides financing in the form of loans, guarantees, and equity to banks, industries, and businesses. To that end, it works with both new and existing ventures in the private sector.
The EBRD consists of sixty-four member countries and two intergovernmental organizations, the European Union and the European Investment Bank. Canada is a founding member of the EBRD, as well as its eighth-largest shareholder. The EBRD is a key partner for Canada in pursuing joint solutions to various challenges that countries face as they transition to market economies in Eastern Europe, particularly in the Ukraine. Canada continues to support the EBRD's efforts to promote sustainable economic growth, private sector development, and enhanced trade regulations. SOURCE: GLOBAL AFFAIRS CANADA
TWho should take part?
This activity will be of particular interest to:
- International development consultants and advisors
- Companies interested in collaborating on projects with the multilateral development banks
- Universities, colleges, and other institutions of higher learning
- Engineering firms.