President & CEO of Baywood Group, His Imperial Majesty Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe, has declared that the empowerment of African entrepreneurs by African Governments was an effective platform for achieving socio-economic development in Africa. Speaking at the 2015 UK-UGANDAN Trade & Investment Convention held recently at the Troxy, London, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe who delivered a paper titled “Intra-Africa trade: The key to unlocking Africa’s trade potential” called for economic, social and fiscal policies in African economies to enable African entrepreneurs compete favourably with their global counterparts.According to Emperor Ibe, “ It is imperative that African Presidents institute effective and business-beneficial policies such as the establishment of attractive tax regimes, elimination of barriers to inflow and outflow of African owned investment funds, encourage the development of requisite manpower through targeted capacity development initiatives, review of import policies which stifle local businesses and the creation of a pool of funds to be accessed by African entrepreneurs for in-country business startup and expansion”.
Speaking further, Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe said only a vibrant pool of empowered African entrepreneurs could significantly contribute to the development of the African continent especially in the priority sectors such as infrastructure development, Power & Energy, Health-care, Agriculture & Agri-business, Real Estate, financial markets, intra-regional trade and Diaspora issues.
Other speakers included Her Royal Highness Sylvia Nagginda Nnabagereka, Lord Sheikh, Dr. Louis Kasekende, Deputy Governor, Bank Of Uganda, Rt. Hon Baroness Sandy Verma (Parliamentary Under Secretary Of State Department of International Development), HE Professor Joyce Kikafunda, HE Nimisha Madhvani, H.E. Ambassador Mirjam Blaak Sow, Dr. Benon Mutambi, Nuradin Osman, MD, Africa & Middle East for AGCO ( Massey Ferguson), Dr. Eng. Frank Sebbowa, CEO-Uganda Investment Authority, Mr. Ismail Ahmed, the Founder and CEO of WorldRemit, Mr Ian Harrison, UK Trade & Investment-Regional Director and Hon. Aporu Christine, Minister for Teso Affairs, Hon. Ernest Kiiza, Minister of State for Bunyoro Affairs, Hon. Nekesa Barbara Oundo, Minister of state for Karamoja Affairs, Hon. Kataike Sarah Ndoboli, Minister of State for Luwero Triangle, and Mrs. Jennifer Musisi, Executive Director-KCCA.
The event was organized by the Ugandan Convention in partnership with Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) and is the largest Ugandan focused trade and investment forum in Europe attracting the largest gathering of investors, Ugandans in the Diaspora, government officials, business leaders and UK government officials.
Mr. Willy Mutenza, Chairman of the Ugandan Convention UK described Baywood Group which comprises one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous oil and Gas EPC Service Companies, Baywood Continental Ltd, Baywood Exploration, Tropical Artic Logistics Ltd (TAL) and Baywood Properties, specializing in exploration and production, air logistics (helicopter services), Real Estate, facility management, downstream operations and manpower supply as a major player in the African economy. He called on African leaders to heed the call of Emperor Chris Baywood Ibe and support African entrepreneurs for the benefit of the African continent.