THE ACTIVITY IN BRIEF
On May 8, Export Québec and Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, in collaboration with the Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal’s team of international trade experts, the World Trade Centre Montréal, will be hosting a delegation of West African business people from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea, and Burkina Faso on a trade mission to Canada, and operating in a variety of sectors: energy, infrastructures, transportation, engineering, consumer goods, and mining.
You will have the opportunity to meet buyers and high-growth African companies.
FIRMS IN THE DELEGATION: TO BE ANNOUNCED
PRELIMINARY PROGRAM
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO…
- Meet with African firms visiting Montréal and seeking new business partners
- Assess the potential of developing your business in the nations of West Africa
- Learn how to get established and efficiently develop your business in the region
- Network with other Quebec companies targeting the African markets
- Take advantage of advice from experts and companies already active in West Africa
WHY WEST AFRICA?
The countries of West Africa offer countless business opportunities for Quebec companies. There is a succession of major energy infrastructure, mining, transportation, and communications network projects taking place. Most of the nations are enjoying sustained economic growth, notably through an inflow of investment brought on by an increase in the cost of raw materials, with which the region is very well endowed.
Since 2012, the Ivory Coast has been experiencing an annual economic growth of at least 8%. According to estimates, Guinea’s growth will be 5.2% in 2014, an increase compared to 2013. Growth in Burkina Faso has annually been over 5% since 2010, and Senegal’s is estimated to be 4.6% in 2014. Consequently, many West African entrepreneurs are actively seeking new business partners. This is a great opportunity for Quebec exporters to learn more about this region and to make themselves known there.
West Africa is a vast and complex geographic area, uniting fifteen countries that make up the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The region has been continuing the process of global economic integration it began in 1975: the harmonization of the trade policies of a great majority of the member countries is almost as advanced as in the European Union, which facilitates trade.
West Africa – facts and figures:
- A population base of 320 million inhabitants
- Two major regional economic alliances:
- The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), which brings together countries under French colonial influence that share the CFA franc as common currency (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo)
- The West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ), which brings together countries under British colonial influence (Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone)
- French or English is the official language in the majority of these countries
- Major economic centres like those in Dakar (Senegal), Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Conakry (Guinea), Lagos (Nigeria), Bamako (Mali), Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), Accra (Ghana), and Yaoundé (Cameroon)
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
- All firms seeking to develop their business in West Africa or wanting to learn more about this market.
- The activity will be of particular interest to businesses in the following sectors:
- Energy
- Transportation
- Infrastructures
- Consumer goods
- Engineering
Whether you are already established in West Africa or are simply looking to develop your business on the market, don’t miss out on this opportunity to build ties with business people from the region.