Evaluation of ‚Risk in Afrika 2012

Evaluation of the conference
‘Risk in Africa –
Managing political, business and security risk´
1st February 2012
BHF-BANK AG
Frankfurt am Main
Organised by
AVV Afrika-Verein Business Events
in cooperation with BHF-BANK AG
Drafted by:
Eva Klesse & Pieter Bouwer
Hamburg, 7.5.2012
Contents
i.
Executive summary ........................................................................................................... 3
1.
Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 4
2.
Background ....................................................................................................................... 4
3.
Programme and Speakers .................................................................................................. 4
4.
Participants ....................................................................................................................... 6
5.
Sponsors and partners ....................................................................................................... 6
6.
Marketing ......................................................................................................................... 7
7.
Media coverage................................................................................................................. 8
8.
Feedback .......................................................................................................................... 8
Annex A - Outline of conference concept ........................................................................................... 9
Annex B - Programme and speakers ................................................................................................. 11
Annex C - List of participants ............................................................................................................. 34
Annex D - Media coverage ................................................................................................................ 42
2
i.
Executive summary
The “Risk in Africa” conference was held in Frankfurt am Main on 1 February 2012. The conference
was organised by the AVV-Afrika Verein Business Events (AVV) in cooperation with BHF-BANK AG,
who provided the venue.
The aim of the one-day event was to provide insights into the main risks facing business in Africa and
to show participants how these risks can be managed effectively.
The programme consisted of four panel discussions covering the topics “Political and Economic Risk”,
“Business Risk”, “Safety, Security and Personal Risk” and “Preparing your company to deal with Risk
in Africa” respectively.
Besides BHF-BANK, the event was supported by the Result Group as Gold Sponsor, the DEG as Silver
Sponsor and Euler Hermes, White and Case, HanseMerkur Versicherung and the Economist
Intelligence Unit as Bronze Sponsors.
Other partners of the event included the Risk Management Association e.V., the Vereinigung für die
Sicherheit der Wirtschaft e.V., South African Airways, Alpha Armouring Panzerung, Engineering
News, Africa Confidential and TradeInvest Africa.
The feedback received from sponsors and participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many
references to the high quality of the speakers and the very good arrangements.
The 120 participants included a high percentage of decision-makers and senior managers, including
members of corporate boards and CEOs.
The conference received favourable media coverage in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the afrika
wirtschaft, the ExportManager magazine, the Nachrichten für den Außenhandel and in the
TradeInvest Africa newsletter.
Should the event be repeated, the format could be adapted to take account of some of the
suggestions received from participants and sponsors, such as a greater focus on workshops and case
studies.
There seems to be potential for attracting more participants from Africa and from other European
states. This could be achieved by timeous marketing to the target audience in Africa and via the
EBCAM network.
3
1.
Introduction
The ´Risk in Africa´ conference was held in Frankfurt am Main on 1 February 2012. The conference
was organised by the AVV - Afrika-Verein Business Events (AVV) in cooperation with BHF-BANK AG,
who provided the venue.
The aim of this document is to assess the conference and draw conclusions that could be used when
organising future events on this topic.
2.
Background
The idea behind the conference can be summarised as follows:
Africa’s growth offers many business opportunities. At the same time, the continent is
widely associated with risk. Modern risk management can help companies to minimise
negative outcomes, while embracing opportunity risk.
The conference therefore set out to:




provide insight into the main risks facing business in Africa
focus on the expertise and instruments that are available for managing risk
encourage companies to address risk in a pro-active manner
enable networking and a sharing of experience
By addressing all aspects of risk in one day, the conference aimed to encourage an integrated
approach to risk management.
The target group consisted mainly of German companies with business interests in Africa, particularly
members of the Mittelstand. However, it also included companies offering products and services
related to risk management, government departments active in Africa, foundations, NGOS and
African participants.
The
3.
original
outline
of
the
conference
concept
is
available
in
Annex
A.
Programme and Speakers
The following is a brief outline of the programme. The full programme, including profiles of the
speakers and sponsors, is available in Annex B.
Programme outline - Risk in Africa
Welcome
Beate Bischoff
Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking, BHF-BANK AG
Pieter Bouwer
Project Manager, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft
Keynote address
4
Ragnar Gerig
Director Africa, DEG
Panel 1 - Political and Economic Risk in Africa
Delegate, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria
André Rönne*
Dr. Andreas Mehler
Director, GIGA - Institute of African Affairs
Olivier Lambert
Regional Manager Europe, MIGA / World Bank
Philip Walker
Senior Editor / Economist, Economist Intelligence Unit
Matthew Shires
Group Executive Director, Political Risk, AON Corporation
Panel 2 - Business Risk in Africa
Dr. Thomas Duve*
Director “Africa Regional Programmes”, KfW Development Bank
Sylvia Sedlacek
Structured Export Finance, BHF-BANK AG
Paul Runge
Managing Director, Africa Project Access
Sissi Gerstenkorn
Head of Unit Africa, Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG
Albert Essien
Group Executive Director, Corporate Bank, Ecobank
Panel 3 - Safety, Security and Personal Risk in Africa
*Ralf Schönfeld
Managing Director, Vereinigung für die Sicherheit der Wirtschaft
Dr. David Zounmenou
Senior Researcher, African Conflicts Prevention Programme, Institute
for Security Studies
Nils Retkowski
Head of Maritime Services, Result Group
Peter Neuhoff
Chief Security Officer (CSO), GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
Dr. Gerhard M. Mueller Head of Operations - Medical, Health & Travel Assistance, AGA Service #
Panel 4 - Preparing your company to deal with Risk in Africa
Manuela Marques*
Head German Corporates / Development Programs Senior Director, DEG
Nina Lissen
Member of the Board, Risk Management Association e.V.
Hannah Edinger
Senior Manager and Head of Research, Frontier Advisory
Derek Warby
AON Corporation
Dr. Markus Burianski
Partner, White & Case LLP, Frankfurt
Closing remarks
Beate Bischoff
Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking, BHF-BANK AG
Hans W. Meier-Ewert
Executive Vice President, Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft
Networking reception
* Moderator # Withdrew on the day of the conference, due to illness
Each of the four panels lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes. Following a brief introduction of the topic and
the speakers by the moderator, each of the four panellists made a presentation of 8 to 10 minutes.
5
This was followed by a discussion among the panellists, after which the audience could pose
questions.
4.
Participants
The participants at the conference were of a high caliber and included a significant percentage of
senior managers and decision-makers, including members of corporate boards and CEOs.
Journalists from quality media like the FAZ, the Handelsblatt and the Financial Times Deutschland
attended the event.
It was noticeable that a very high percentage of participants (more than 70%) remained at the
conference until the end of the proceedings (the final session ended at 18:45 and was followed by a
reception).
The venue could accommodate a maximum of 120 people. Registrations were closed a week before
the event, when this number was reached.
The full list of registered participants is available in Annex C.
5.
Sponsors and partners
Besides providing the venue, BHF-BANK supplied the food and refreshments during the conference
and sponsored the evening reception.
The other sponsors of the event included:






Result Group, Gold
DEG, Silver
Economist Intelligence Unit, Bronze
Euler Hermes, Bronze
HanseMerkur, Bronze
White & Case, Bronze
The following companies and organisations supported the event as partners:




South African Airways
Alpha Armouring Panzerung
Risk Management Association e.V.
Vereinigung für die Sicherheit der Wirtschaft e.V.
As media partners, the AVV secured:



Engineering News
Frontier Intelligence, publishers of the TradeInvest Africa newsletter, among others
Africa Confidential
6
6.
Marketing
The conference was marketed by an announcement sent out by the AV three months before the
event - in German and in English - followed by two reminders. In addition, a dedicated event website
was set up - www.riskinafrica.de. The website was the main source of information about the event
and served as the portal for registrations.
In the same week of the initial announcement, an interview with P. Bouwer appeared in the
TradeInvest Africa newsletter. This led to the event being listed on several other websites and
reported on by African web-based news services.
The event was mentioned in several editions of the Afrika-Brief newsletter and the event
announcements were distributed at events of the Afrika-Verein.
BHF-BANK sent out invitations to its clients.
The conference was listed on the websites of the event´s media partners, namely Engineering News,
TradeInvest Africa and Africa Confidential. In addition, Africa Confidential did a mail shot to several
thousand contacts.
More than 100 companies and institutions were contacted directly through telephone calls and
emails, with the interaction often continuing over several months. This was mainly aimed at gaining
sponsors and speakers for the event, but of course served to market the conference as well.
Besides informing key organisations such as the DIHK, the BDI and SAFRI, information about the
conference was sent directly to most IHKs in Germany. Some of them passed the information on to
their members, mentioned the event in their own newsletters or listed it on their websites. In many
cases, the IHKs indicated that the information had reached them too late for inclusion in their own
internal publications and newsletters. Should the conference be repeated, the IHKs need to be
informed in good time, preferably more than 4 months before the event.
Potential participants in Africa were reached by the electronic announcements sent out by the
Afrika-Verein, as well as the interview in the TradeInvest newsletter and the various websites
mentioned above. Since the target market consisted mainly of German companies, no further
marketing was directed specifically at an African audience. However, based on responses received
from persons in Africa, it seems that there is potential for attracting more African participants to a
future event. This could be achieved by working more closely with the AV´s network in Africa,
including the various AHKs. It should be borne in mind that African participants need greater
advance warning of the event, i.a. because they may have to apply for visas.
Some expressions of interest were received from other European countries as well, including
Portugal, Italy and the United Kingdom. Should the event be repeated, it would be worthwhile to
use the EBCAM network to reach a wider audience in Europe.
7
7.
Media coverage
The conference received positive media coverage in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, the afrika
wirtschaft, the ExportManager magazine and the Nachrichten für den Außenhandel.
As part of the marketing prior to the event, an interview with Pieter Bouwer was published in the
TradeInvest Africa newsletter.
All articles and the interview are available in Annex D.
8.
Feedback
Participants were invited to provide feedback on a form handed out at the conference, by email or by
phone.
The feedback received from sponsors, speakers and other participants was overwhelmingly positive.
The general thrust was that the arrangements were very good and that the presentations were of a
very high standard.
Some participants felt that the entire programme was a little too long.
Some suggested that a future event should deal with practical matters in greater depth, e.g. through
workshops and case studies.
*****
8
Annex A - Outline of conference concept
(Note: original outline, dated 18.10.2011)
Outline of concept
One-day conference on Managing Risk in Africa
Title:
RISK IN AFRICA managing political, business and security risk
Date:
1 February 2012
Venue:
BHF-Bank, Frankfurt am Main
Capacity:
Maximum of 120 participants
Programme:
Draft attached as Annex A.
Language:
English
Organisers:
AVV Afrika-Verein Business Events
in cooperation with BHF-Bank
Participants:
Companies with business interests in Africa, including companies with
subsidiaries on the continent, exporters and companies that consider
entering the market
Companies (including African companies) offering products and
services related to risk management 1
Government departments active in Africa
Other institutions, including Foundations and NGOs
African participants / speakers, e.g. Chief Risk Officers from leading
African companies
1
insurance companies / brokers, banks, logistics companies, risk analysts, manufacturers of security products,
providers of security services, SHE consultants (i.e. consultants specialising in managing safety, health and
environmental risks), companies providing risk management software, quality control and certification
companies, emergency services, transport companies, protected vehicle manufacturers etc.
9
Key messages:
Africa´s growth offers many business opportunities2. At the same
time, the continent is widely associated with risk. Modern risk
management can help companies to minimise negative outcomes,
while embracing opportunity risk.
The conference will:

enable networking and a sharing of experience

focus on the expertise and instruments that are available for managing risk

give companies, government officials and other organisations insight into modern risk
management, highlighting best practice.
By addressing all aspects of risk in one day, the conference will
encourage an integrated approach to risk management.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, there has not been a similar event in Germany, i.e.
where all aspects of risk in Africa have been addressed in this way.
Three key factors suggest that there will be significant interest in the
conference:



Africa´s dynamic economic growth
The pervasiveness of risk in Africa
The importance of risk management (including legislative
requirements) to business, government and other institutions
Further details about the Afrika-Verein, BHF-Bank and the project
leader are contained in Annexes A to C.
The latest information on the conference is available on the event
website - www.riskinafrica.de.
Pieter Bouwer
Hamburg, 18 October 2011
[email protected]
Tel +49(0)151 1037 4094
2
To mention only one recent assessment, in this case by PwC (July 2011):
“Africa is an important frontier for economic growth. We believe the regional economy could double by 2020
to nearly US$3 trillion and we are getting a clear signal from our international clients that Africa is an
increasingly important market for them.”
10
Annex B - Programme and speakers
Organised by
In Cooperation with
Risk in Africa
Managing Political, Business & Security Risk
1st February, 2012
BHF-BANK AG, Frankfurt a.M.
Bockenheimer Landstraße 10
11
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
09:00 – 10:00
Registration & Welcome Coffee
10:00 – 10:25
Welcome Address
Beate Bischoff
Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking
BHF-BANK AG
Pieter Bouwer
Project Manager
Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft
10:25 – 10:45
Keynote Address
Ragnar Gerig
Director Africa
DEG- Deutsche Investitions- und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH
12
10:45 – 12:00
Panel 1:
Political and Economic Risk in Africa
Content: Political Risk, Economic
Risk, German Government Policy,
Cooperation between the
Government and the Private Sector
Moderator:
André Rönne
Delegate
Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in
Nigeria
________________________________________________
Dr. Andreas Mehler
Director
German Institute for Global and Area Studies Institute of African Affairs
Matthew Shires
Executive Director
Political Risk Department
AON Corporation
Olivier Lambert
Regional Manager Europe
MIGA
13
Philip Walker
Senior Editor / Economist
Economist Intelligence Unit
12:00 – 13:15
Networking Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:30
Panel 2:
Business Risk in Africa
Content: Main Business Risks in Africa,
Finding Suitable Partners
Moderator:
Dr. Thomas Duve
Director of the Department “Africa Regional Programmes”
KfW Development Bank
________________________________________________
Sylvia Sedlacek
Structured Export Finance
BHF-BANK AG
Paul Runge
Managing Director
Africa Project Access
Sissi Gerstenkorn
Head of Unit Africa
14
Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG
Albert Essien
Group Executive Director
Corporate Bank, Ecobank
14:30 – 15:15
Networking Coffee Break
15:15 – 16:30
Panel 3:
Safety, Security & Personal Risk in Africa
Content: Main Threats in Africa; Protecting
Staff, Assets and Interests; Contingency
Planning
Sponsored by
Moderator:
Ralf Schönfeld
Managing Director
Association for Business Security (VSW)
_________________________________________________________________________
Dr. David Zounmenou
Senior Researcher
African Conflicts Prevention Programme
15
Institute for Security Studies
Oliver Schneider
Director Corporate Security Solutions
Result Group GmbH
Peter Neuhoff
Chief Security Officer (CSO)
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft
Corporate Legal Department
Dr. Gerhard M. Mueller
Head of Operations - Medical, Health & Travel Assistance
AGA Service Deutschland GmbH
16:30 – 17:15
Networking Coffee Break
17:15 – 18:30
Panel 4:
Preparing your company to deal with
Risk in Africa
Content: International Risk Management Standards,
Best Practice, Taking Account of Local Conditions,
Dealing with Emergencies, Preparing Staff for
Deployments in Africa
Moderator:
Manuela Marques
16
Head German Corporates / Development Programs Senior Director
DEG- Deutsche Investitions- und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH
_________________________________________________________________________
Nina Lissen
Member of the Board
Risk Management Association e.V.
Derek Warby
Director - Business Development
Africa and the Middle East
AON Corporation
Hannah Edinger
Senior Manager and Head of Research
Frontier Advisory
Dr. Markus Burianski
Partner
White & Case LLP, Frankfurt
18:30 – 18:45
Closing Session
Beate Bischoff
Executive Vice President, Head of Corporate Banking
BHF-BANK AG
17
Hans W. Meier-Ewert
Executive Vice President
Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft
18:45
Reception & Networking Event
Speakers
Beate Bischoff
BHF-Bank AG
Executive Vice President,
Head of Corporate Banking
Ms Bischoff heads the Corporates division of BHF-BANK, Frankfurt, the unit that pools the bank’s
business with corporate and institutional clients. Ms Bischoff joined BHF-BANK in 1990 as a
management trainee. Prior to assuming her current position she had worked in several functions in
the bank’s international business division. Among others, she has been responsible for the bank’s
structured trade and export finance business. Ms Bischoff is a member of the supervisory board of
AKA-Ausfuhrkredit Gesellschaft.
18
Pieter Bouwer
Consultant
Afrika-Verein Veranstaltungs-GmbH
Pieter Bouwer is the initiator of the “Risk in Africa” conference and manages preparations on behalf
of the AVV - Afrika-Verein Business Events. Pieter served as a South African career diplomat from
1986 to 2009. After leaving the diplomatic corps, Pieter served as Senior Adviser to the GermanAfrican Business Association. In 2010, Pieter became an independent consultant, based in Hamburg,
with a focus on business in Africa.
Dr. Markus Burianski, LL.M
Partner
White & Case LLP
Markus Burianski heads the international arbitration and cross-border litigation department
within White & Case Germany. He specializes in disputes relating to supply contracts, liability
issues and post M&A matters. Markus Burianski has acted as counsel in arbitration proceedings
governed by the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the German Institution of
Arbitration (DIS), the UNCITRAL, the ICSID, the DEL, the CAS, as well as in ad hoc arbitrations under
the German statutory rules.
19
Dr. Thomas Duve
Director of the Department “Africa Regional Programmes”
KfW Development Bank
Dr. Thomas Duve is Director of the Department “Africa Regional Programmes” within KfW
Development Bank, with a special focus on financial sector activities and infrastructure development.
He is chairman of the board of the “Africa Agriculture and Trade Investment Fund” (AATIF). From
2001 to 2010 he held various positions in KfW’s promotional activities in Germany. He acquired
working experience in Africa with KfW from 1995 to 2001 and with GIZ in rural projects in Ghana and
Burkina Faso (1991-1994).
Hannah Edinger
Senior Manager, Head of Research & Strategy
Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd
Hannah Edinger is Senior Manager and Head of Research & Strategy at Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd, a
leading advisory firm that specialises in emerging and frontier markets. Hannah works with corporate
and government leaders in providing timely information and analysis to assist clients to formulate
and implement strategies in these markets. She has headed various research and strategy projects
around China and India’s economic and commercial relations with Africa and has been advising South
African companies on their internationalisation strategies into Africa and Asia.
20
Ragnar Gerig
Director Africa
DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft
mbH
Ragnar Gerig (born 1969) is heading DEG’s Africa Department since October 2010. He has been
working for DEG since 1997, in his previous position as Vice President he set up DEG’s syndication
unit. Before that he was Senior Manager on a personnel exchange programme with SIEMENS
Financial Services in Munich and responsible for project and export finance in the telecommunication
sector. Prior to this he was Senior Investment Manager in the Manufacturing Industries and Services
Department of DEG.
Albert Essien
Group Executive Director
Corporate Bank, Ecobank
Albert Essien is currently the Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of the Ecobank Group. He is also
the Group Executive Director for Corporate Bank which includes the International Offices. Prior to
that, he was the Regional Head for the rest of Anglophone West Africa (excluding Nigeria, but
including Guinea, Conakry) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regions. As Regional Head for ESA
he had responsibility for Ecobank’s expansion into that region. He joined the Corporate Bank
department of Ecobank Ghana in 1990. In 1997, he became Country Risk Manager. He became
Managing Director in December 2002.
21
Sissi Gerstenkorn
Head of Unit Africa
Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG
Sissi Gerstenkorn is heading the official Export Credit Guarantee Scheme for Africa in the
Underwriting Department. With her team she is responsible for the application procedure and the
documentation process as well as consulting German banks and exporters related to Export Credit
Guarantees – known as “Hermes Cover". Since 1991 she has been working for
PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft gaining experience regarding medium
and long term transactions, especially focused on Iran and Africa.
Olivier J.L. Lambert
Regional Manager Europe
Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
As Regional Manager Europe, of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) - the political
risk insurance arm of the World Bank Group - Olivier Lambert leads regional strategy and business
development with European investors focusing primarily in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North
Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Before, Olivier spent two years as the Global Head for Finance and
Telecommunications in the Operations Department of MIGA. Before joining MIGA in 2009, Olivier
held various positions within the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and
the IFC.
22
Nina Lissen
Member of the Board
Risk Management Association e.V.
Nina is Member of the Board of the Risk Management Association which is the largest independent
risk manager network in the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria and Switzerland – with
members from international enterprises, medium sizes companies and from the public sector. Nina
has been working in the Risk Management and Revenue Assurance department of the third largest
German telecommunication provider, the E-Plus-Group in Düsseldorf, since 2005. She is responsible
for the project "Governance, Risk and Internal Control Processes" in the E-Plus group. Nina coordinates the E-Plus group risk management process.
Manuela Marques
Head German Corporates / Development Programs Senior Director
DEG – Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH
Since 2011, Manuela Marques has been heading the division German Corporates and Special
Programmes. After joining DEG in 2001, she worked as Senior Investment Manager, responsible for
Africa as well as Latin America. In 2004 she was appointed to the post of head of department
Portfolio Management Africa. Furthermore, she was entrusted with seats on the supervisory board
of various African companies. In 2010, she additionally became head of department Portfolio
Management Latin America. DEG, member of KfW Bankengruppe, finances investments of private
enterprises in developing and emerging-market countries.
23
Dr. Andreas Mehler
Director
German Institute for Global and Area Studies – Institute for African Affairs
Born 1963, political scientist, director of the GIGA Institute of African Affairs in Hamburg. Vicepresident of the Association for African studies in Germany (VAD); board member, Africa-Europe
Group for Interdisciplinary Studies (AEGIS); Co-Editor, Africa Spectrum and Africa Yearbook. Major
fields of expertise: Security, State and Statehood, Peace Processes in Africa South of the Sahara;
French Africa Policy. Recent publication: Why Security Forces Do Not Deliver Security: Evidence from
Liberia and the Central African Republic, in: Armed Forces and Society, 1 (2012) 38, 46-69.
Hans W. Meier-Ewert
Executive Vice President
Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft
Hans-W. Meier-Ewert is the Executive Vice President of Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft.
Afrika-Verein is the German business association for German companies and institutions with
business interests in African countries. For 75 years, the association has assisted its members by
providing up to date business information, creating business links and representing the interests of
its members in Germany, Europe and Africa. The more than 650 members include the major German
multinationals as well as many medium-sized companies with trade links with or investments in
African countries.
24
Dr. Gerhard M. Mueller
Head of Operations- Medical, Health & Travel Assistance
AGA Service Deutschland GmbH
Dr. Mueller is the Head of the Department for Medical, Travel & Health at ALLIANZ Global Assistance
Germany. He is a Medical Doctor for ICU, Travel and flight medicine and board member of the AGA/
MONDIAL – Group. Mr. Mueller is an expert for the Africa region. He is 57 years old.
Peter Neuhoff
Chief Security Officer (CSO)
GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, Corporate Legal Department
Organizationally integrated into the Corporate Legal Department, Peter Neuhoff is responsible for
the security management of the entire GEA Group with approx. 400 operating companies in over 40
countries. After many years of experience in global project management in large-scale plant Peter
Neuhoff gained extensive knowledge in security and safety management for construction sites and
manufacturing facilities, especially abroad, as well as in crisis management. Since 2007 in the role of
the CSO, he has formulated the security management for the GEA Group and introduced it into the
corporate organization.
25
André Rönne
Delegate
Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria
André Rönne is heading the German Delegation in Industry and Commerce based in Lagos since
2010. His working experience in West Africa counts 7 years, including postings in Abuja (Nigeria) and
Cotonou (Benin), where he was employed for the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the
German Development Service (DED) as an expert on private sector development and
decentralization. Besides his experience in international development agencies he worked in the
private sector as a consultant on public sector management in Africa for the GfA Consulting Group in
Hamburg. He studied in Germany, Austria an France and is a graduate of the University of Hamburg
(Political and Economic Sciences)
Paul Runge
Managing Director
Africa Project Access
Paul Runge is Managing Director of Africa Project Access, a consultancy that specializes in provision
of early alert of projects in southern Africa. He also monitors the major funding agencies operating in
Africa, such as the World Bank and African Development Bank. Paul Runge has direct experience in
Africa, having visited 32 African countries from 1982-present. He lived in Gabon for 2-years, and
worked intermittently for 3-years in the Cape Verde islands. He leads numerous business group visits
into Africa, and has lead business group visits to Washington, Tunis / Abidjan and Brussels. Paul
produces several publications including the Africa Project Newsletter, Africa Project Database, and
Africa Contact Database.
26
Oliver Schneider
Director Corporate Security Solutions
Result Group GmbH
Oliver Schneider is the Director of Corporate Security Solutions. His areas of responsibility are:
Elaboration of Integrated Corporate Security and Crisis Management Systems, Development and
Implementation of Corporate Security, Strategies, Guidelines and Processes, Realization of Risk
Assessments in High Risk Environments (et alii. Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan), Country Threat
Assessments, Security Management Programmes, Travel Risk Management Programmes (e.g.
Guidelines), Counter Piracy and Counter Terror Programs, and Kidnap for Ransom Negotiations.
Ralf Schönfeld
Managing Director
Association for Business Security (VSW)
Sylvia Sedlacek
Structured Export Finance
BHF-Bank AG
Sylvia’s prime responsibility is the origination and structuring of export financing facilities for projects
of BHF-BANK’s customers in Sub-Sahara Africa. Previously, she was involved in the structuring and
arranging of several export finance transactions for several German and European suppliers in
different industry sectors. Sylvia has an extensive experience in the field of export finance of approx.
twenty years. Prior to joining BHF-BANK in 1996, she was working at Bankgesellschaft Berlin, Berlin,
for six years within the Export Finance Department as relationship manager.
27
Matthew Shires
Executive Director
AON Corporation, Political Risk Department
Philip Walker
Senior Editor/ Economist
Economist Intelligence Unit
Philip Walker joined the Economist Intelligence Unit’s Sub-Saharan Africa team in 2004. During the
past eight years he has covered much of the region, including the East African Community (EAC)
countries, as well as West Africa, notably Nigeria and Ghana, and Southern Africa, including
Zimbabwe and Zambia. He is also the regional manager of the company’s Country Risk Service, a
comparative summary of credit risk ratings for 20 Sub-Saharan African countries. Mr Walker has
been interviewed many times on radio, television and the Internet. Earlier in his career, he worked
for the Government Economic Service.
Derek Warby
Director – Business Development,
Africa and the Middle East
AON Corporation
28
Dr. David Zounmenou
African Conflicts Prevention Programme
Institute for Security Studies
Dr. David Zounmenou was appointed as senior researcher in the African Security Analysis Programme
at the ISS Tshwane (Pretoria) office in July 2007. David is a graduate from the Ecole Nationale
d’Administration Benin in Diplomacy and International Relations. He joined Wits University where he
completed his postgraduate studies in International Relations. His areas of interest include Foreign
Policy Analysis, Contemporary Development Issues, Democracy and Good Governance, Armed
Conflicts and Human Security. David tutored at Wits University and lectured at Walter Sisulu
University before joining the ISS
29
We would like to thank the following companies and organisations for their generous support of
the event “Risk in Africa – Managing Political, Business & Security Risk”:
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsors
Mobility Partner
Partner Airline
Supported by
Media Partners
Gold Sponsor
Result Group is one of the world‘s leading risk and crisis management consultancies with 10 offices
around the world. More than 60 highly experienced consultants advise national governments,
international organisations and multinational companies, including many of the world’s TOP 500, in
the neutralization of criminal attacks, 24 hours a day, worldwide.
31
Silver Sponsor
DEG, member of KfW Bankengruppe, is one of the largest European development finance institutions
for long-term project and company financing. For almost 50 years, DEG has been financing and
structuring the investments of private companies in developing and transition countries. DEG invests
in profitable projects that contribute to sustainable development in all sectors of the economy, from
agriculture to infrastructure and manufacturing to services. We also focus on investments in the
financial sector in order to facilitate reliable access to capital locally. To date, we have worked
together with more than 1,600 companies and our own financing commitments of more than 11
billion euros have contributed to providing an investment volume of 70 billion euros. Our aim is to
establish and expand private enterprise structures in developing and transition countries, and thus
create the basis for sustainable growth and a lasting improvement in the living conditions of the local
population.
Bronze Sponsors
Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs-AG and PricewaterhouseCoopers Aktiengesellschaft
Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft manage the official export credit guarantee scheme on behalf and
for account of the Federal Republic of Germany. Euler Hermes acts as leading partner in this
consortium, which explains why these guarantees are widely known as "Hermes Cover" in the
business world. Guarantees are an essential element of risk management and facilitate foreign
market access. Since 1949 the Federal Export Credit Guarantees (Hermes Cover) have been an
important instrument of state export promotion in Germany.
White & Case is a leading global law firm with lawyers in 38 offices in 26 countries. With 250 lawyers,
including tax consultants and certified public accountants, in five offices throughout Germany we are
32
never far away wherever our client’s offices are located. In each location, experienced and motivated
experts provide consistently high-quality advice. We pursue one goal: to find the best individual
solution in close collaboration with each client. Our client relationships are characterized by trust,
partnership and integrity. We have worked together with many of them for decades.
HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG is recognized as international insurer for more than 30 years
accross all areas of travel insurance and is a business entity of the HanseMerkur Insurance Group
based in Hamburg. HanseMerkur offers optimal and tailor-made insurance cover for both, small to
medium sized companies, or large DAX-listed corporations with subsidiaries abroad.
HanseMerkur Reiseversicherung AG
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20354 Hamburg
The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) is the business information and research arm of The Economist
Group. The EIU is the world's leading provider in country intelligence (forecasts, risk analysis,
industry reports etc.), offering its service in electronic form either through a wide range of products
or through customized research.
33
Annex C - List of participants
Ahrens
Jörg
Managing Director
Convena GmbH
Amrhein
Birgit
Vice President - Product
Specialist Trade Finance
Deutsche Bank AG
Assembe
Laurent
Director Business
Development & Sales
Aerodata AG
Assmann
Sigrid
Manager Syndication
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Becker
Dieter G.
Consultant
PROMAN GmbH
Bilkis
George
Representative
SkyVision
Bischoff
Beate
Executive Vice President,
Head of Corporate Banking
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Bouwer
Pieter
Project Manager
AVV- Afrika-Verein
Business Events
Bullinger
Axel
Chief Executive Officer
Elba-Werk MaschinenGesellschaft mbH
Bunge
Norbert
General Manager
Peter Cremer GmbH
Burger
Bernd
Chief Operating Officer
ALGIZ UG DEUTSCHLAND
Burianski
Markus
Lawyer
White & Case LLP
Capt
Jean-Gyl
Managing Director
Endress+Hauser
Instruments International
AG
Dabil
Nevres
Business Development
Manager new markets
juwi Solar GmbH
Dentler
Nicole
Manager Business
Development
Monier Group Services
GmbH
Donkels
Antje
Deputy Head Region LAM
Bayer AG
34
Maleki
Dr. Nader
Chairmann & Chief
Executive Officer
Maleki Group
Dreyhaupt
Dr. Stephan
Representative / Advisor Investment Climate
Department
Multilateral Investment
Guarantee Agency / World
Bank Group
Dunker
Lutz
Commercial Foreign
Business
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Duve
Dr. Thomas
Director
KfW-Bankengruppe
Edinger
Hannah
Senior Manager; Head of
Research & Strategy
Frontier Advisory (Pty) Ltd
Engelmann
Walter
Deputy Managing Director,
International Business
Industrie- und
Handelskammer Frankfurt
am Main
Engouindi
Jacques
General Manager
Synergies & Compétences
Services ( SCS )
Essien
Albert
Deputy Group Chief
Executive Officer, Ecobank
Group
Ecobank Transnational
Incorporated
Fischer-Petry
Matthias
Finance
SMS Meer GmbH
Gassner
Holger
Manager Markets &
Political Affairs
RWE Innogy GmbH
Gerig
Ragnar
Director Africa
Deutsche Investitions- und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft
mbH, DEG
Gerstenkorn
Sissi
Head of Unit Africa
Euler Hermes
Kreditversicherungs-AG
Govender
Dion
Head of E T ST SPOA
Siemens AG
Gucia
Oliver
Diplomatic Military Sales
Alpha Armouring
Panzerung GmbH
Hable
Manuel
Security Consultant
Result Group GmbH
35
Hanich
Karsten
Structured Finance
Nokia Siemens Network
Harms
Michael
Director Finance &
Administration
MPC Münchmeyer
Petersen Marine GmbH
Hartmann
Klaus-Dieter
Commercial Foreign
Business
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Hecker
Michael
Head of Sales - Africa
Joseph Vögele AG
Heinze
Birgitta
Head of Structured Export
Finance
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Herber
Andreas
Head of Corporate
Development
Südzucker AG
Mannheim/Ochsenfurt
Höhn
Hannes
Vice President
Government Affairs
Siemens AG
Hoppe
Till
Foreign Reporter
Handelsblatt
Icke
Doris
Team Head / Deputy Head
of Business Development
AKA AusfuhrkreditGesellschaft mbH
Jochem
Fabian
Head Off-Grid Energy
Supply
Juwi Solar GmbH
Juko
MelanieSolange
Sales Manager
K+S KALI GmbH
Kastner
Nicole
Business Development
Manager
Economist Intelligence
Unit
Kayser
Dr. Michael
Representative
Alpha Armouring
Panzerung GmbH
Klasen
Richard
Account Manager
SGS Germany GmbH
Kleemann
Benjamin
Editor
Martin Brückner Medien
MBM GmbH
Konietz
Roland
Head of Sales - Africa
AWAS International GmbH
Kose
Joachim R.
Production Libya
RWE Service GmbH
36
Kratz-Haag
Karin
Manager Internal Sales
Elba-Werk MaschinenGesellschaft mbH
Lambert
Olivier
Manager, Regional Office,
Europe, Middle East and
Africa
MIGA - World Bank Group
Lange
Andreas
Co-Founder ABL-Group
African Development
Corporation (ADC)
Lenz
Wolfgang
Chief Executive Officer
LENZ Finance Management
KG
Lieber
Tina
Business Development
Manager
Economist Intelligence
Unit
Lissen
Nina
Member of the Board
Risk Management
Association e.V.
Mades
Uwe
CDM Project Acquisition
RWE Power AG
Maier
Georg
Head: Economic Affairs
and Development
Cooperation
VDMA
Makur
Theobald
Production Engineer/
Factory Planner
Liebherr-Werk Biberach
GmbH
Marques
Manuela
Head German Corporates /
Development Programs
Senior Director
Deutsche Investitions- und
Entwicklungsgesellschaft
mbH, DEG
Matereke
Kudakwashe
Manager Trade Finance
and Branches
African Export-Import Bank
Matuschek
Susann
Underwriting & Risk
Management
Euler Hermes
Kreditversicherungs-AG
Maurer
Gerhard
Government Solutions
Mühlbauer AG
Mehler
Prof. Dr.
Andreas
Director
GIGA Institute of African
Affairs
Mehr
Sia H.
Regional Manager FI Africa
BHF-BANK
37
Aktiengesellschaft
Meier-Ewert
Hans W.
Executive Vice President
Afrika-Verein der
deutschen Wirtschaft e.V.
Mella
Ricardo
Manager
SCHWENK Zement KG
Mewoekpor
Caroline
Commercial Sales and
Project Manager
ABB AG
Modise
Sisi
Founder
SAIMS Consulting
Möller
Torsten
Chief Operating Officer
SCHMOLZ + BICKENBACH
International GmbH
Monnerjahn
Michael
Manager Public Relations
German-African Business
Association
Müller
Dr. Gerhard
Head of OperationsMedical, Health & Travel
Assistance
AGA Service Deutschland
GmbH
Neuhoff
Peter
Chief Security Officer
(CSO), Corporate Legal
Department
GEA Group
Aktiengesellschaft
Neumann
Constanze
Commercial Foreign
Business
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Nwugo
Humphrey
Manager - Specialised
Funding Unit
African Export Import Bank
O'Connor
Tara
Managing Director
Africa Risk Consulting
Petersen
Lara
Project Manager
Afrika-Verein der
deutschen Wirtschaft
Polenz
Franz J. H.
Security Consultant
Siemens AG
Ramm
Christian
Key Account Corporate
Manager
South African Airways
38
Reese
Jürgen
Board of Directors
Revivo Deutschland AG
Retkowski
Nils
Head of Maritime Services
Result Group GmbH
Ritterhoff
Nils
Regional Director MED
KAEFER
Röhrig
Sylvia
Editor, Country and Rating
Services, Export Manager
F.A.Z.-Institut für
Management-, Markt- und
Medieninformationen
GmbH
Romàn
Alexandra
Market Analyst
Younicos
Rönne
André
Delegate
Delegation der deutschen
Wirtschaft in Nigeria
Royer
Ilse
Finance Manager
Andritz Hydro GmbH
Runge
Paul
Managing Director
Africa Project Access
Rütter
Astrid
Chief Financial Officer
Partec GmbH
Sahl
Rainer
Head of Sales
Brückner Maschinenbau
GmbH & Co. KG
Salehi
Farid
Director Sales Africa
Humboldt Wedag GmbH
Schäfer
Peter
Service Director
MAFI Transport-Systeme
GmbH
Schiller
Frank
VP Global Trade Finance
Group
ABC International Bank plc
Schön
Wolfgang
Vice President
KfW
Schönfeld
Ralf
General Manager
Vereinigung für die
Sicherheit der Wirtschaft
e.V.
Schuessler
Steffen
Security Advisor
ALGIZ UG
Schumacher
Thomas
Security and Business
Continuity Manager
RWE Dea AG
39
Schwarz
Maik
Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Schwoerer
Lena
Project Manager
Afrika-Verein der
deutschen Wirtschaft
Sedlacek
Sylvia
Vice President Structured
Export Finance
BHF-BANK
Shires
Matthew
Executive Director, Political
Risk Department
AON Corporation
Siemens
Oltmann
Former Representative of
the World Bank Group
(WB, IFC, MIGA)
Rechtsanwalt
Steiger
Claudia
Specialist Foreign Trade
Financing
Claudia Steiger
Stolz
Wolfram
Export Manager Africa
Alfred Kärcher GmbH & Co.
KG
Thelen
Liv
Junior Project Manager
Maleki Group
Tischtau
Regina
Regional Sales Manager
Africa (engl. / port.)
Denk Pharma GmbH & Co.
KG
Tuchnitz
Ingo D.
Regional Manager FI Africa
BHF-BANK
Aktiengesellschaft
Uhl
Markus
Key-Account-Manager
Corporate Travel
HanseMerkur
Versicherungsgruppe
von der Locht
Roy
General Manager
Simgen GmbH
von Ramdohr
Ingo
Head of International
Business Development
Construction
Rehau AG & Co.
Voss
Anneke
Market Manager Truck
Sales Africa
Daimler AG
Walker
Philip
Senior Editor/ Economist;
Deputy, Country Risk
Service
Economist Intelligence
Unit
40
Warby
Derek
Director Business
Development (Africa and
The Middle East)
Aon
Weissfloch
Dirk
Head of Trade Finance
Société Générale SA,
Frankfurt
Welteke
Ernst
Chairman of the Board
Banco Kwanza
Investimento, S.A.
Wengrzik
Marck
Member of the Board
AKA AusfuhrkreditGesellschaft mbH
Witte
Christoph
Director Germany
Delcredere NV German
Branch
Wöhrmann
Monika
Head of Relationship
Management
Europe/CIS/Arica
Landesbank BadenWürttemberg
Zapf
Marina
Journalist
Financial Times
Zeitz
Anika
Sales Support
Mühlbauer AG
Ziemski
Tom
Partner
PIA
Zounmenou
Dr. David
Senior Researcher, African
Conflicts Prevention
Programme
Institute for Security
Studies
41
Annex D - Media coverage
i)
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , 06.02.2012, page 13
Kein höheres Risiko in Afrika Sicherheitslage für Unternehmen hat sich sogar verbessert
hlr. FRANKFURT, 5. Februar. Ungeachtet der Unruhen in Nigeria oder Ägypten sind die Risiken für
Unternehmer in Afrika nicht gestiegen. Dies ist das Ergebnis der Konferenz „Risiko in Afrika“, die der
Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft bei der BHF-Bank in Frankfurt ausgerichtet hatte. „Wir haben
im vergangenen Jahr nur ein Land herabgestuft“, sagte Matthew Shires, Leiter der Abteilung
Politische Risiken der Aon Corporation, einer Unternehmensberatung, die auf die Analyse politischer
Risiken spezialisiert ist. So habe Aon nur Guinea-Bissau herabgestuft, und zwar auf die Stufe „hohes
Risiko“. Als Hochrisikoländer sieht Aon auch die Demokratische Republik Kongo, Sudan, Simbabwe
und Somalia an.
Auch bei der Weltbank werden die Afrika-Risiken nicht als höher eingeschätzt. Nur für wenige Länder
des Kontinents bietet die Weltbank über die Multilaterale Investitionsgarantie-Agentur (Miga) keine
Investitionsversicherungen an. Dies sind laut dem Leiter Europa der Miga, Olivier Lambert,
Zimbabwe, Nord- und Südsudan sowie Madagaskar. Somit sichert die Miga, umgekehrt, selbst in
Ländern wie Kongo, die Aon als hochriskant einstuft, ausländische Direktinvestitionen gegen
nichtkommerzielle Risiken ab. In Afrika habe aber das Risikobewusstsein zugenommen. „Die Welt ist
risikoaverser geworden, Afrika auch“, sagte Lambert.
Das größte Risiko für Afrika wäre laut Philip Walker von der Economist Intelligence Unit ein
Zerbrechen der Europäischen Währungsunion. „Die unmittelbaren Folgen wären ein Absturz der
Außennachfrage, ein Preissturz auf den Rohstoffmärkten und, besonders in den Währungsräumen
des Franc CFA, ein Kollaps der Devisenmärkte.“ Auch die Möglichkeit eines „Afrikanischen Frühlings“,
nach dem Vorbild des „Arabischen Frühlings“ im vergangenen Jahr, solle laut Walker nicht
unterschätzt werden. Denn auch in Afrika gebe es in vielen Ländern greise Diktaturen, die sich mit
aller Gewalt an der Macht festklammerten. „Allerdings weist Afrika jede Menge Unterschiede zur
arabischen Welt auf“, sagte Walker weiter.
*****
42
ii)
“afrika wirtschaft” 2/2012; page 10-12
Risk in Africa
Februar 2012, Frankfurt am Main
“Wir können alle auf die Chance warten, die zu 100 Prozent passt. Aber die wird nicht kommen. Es
wird immer Risiken geben“, sagte Derek Warby, Direktor für Business Development der
amerikanischen AON Corporation auf der ersten „Risk in Africa“. Bei der vom Afrika-Verein der
deutschen Wirtschaft organisierten Konferenz mit dem Schwerpunkt Risikomanagement kamen am
1. Februar 2012 in Frankfurt am Main 120 Teilnehmer zusammen, um sich über das Thema
auszutauschen. „Risiko und Afrika ist seit Jahrzehnten eng miteinander verbunden. Was lange als
Risiko wahrgenommen wurde, wird jetzt auch als Chance wahrgenommen“, sagte Beate Bischoff,
Executive Vice President der
BHF Bank AG, in deren Räumlichkeiten die Veranstaltung stattfand, zur Eröffnung der Konferenz. Der
Auseinandersetzung mit Afrika fehlt häufig eine realistische Auseinandersetzung mit den Chancen
und Risiken auf dem Kontinent, war der Eindruck vieler Teilnehmer. Während in den letzten
Jahrzehnten besonders die Risiken im Mittelpunkt standen, gibt es derzeit einen verstärkten
Afrikaoptimismus, bei dem eventuell der Blick auf die Chancen wiederum die Risiken außer acht
lassen könnte. „Risk in Africa“ zeigte die Instrumente auf, die Risiken in Afrika zu managen bzw. zu
minimieren. Dabei ging es um die Behandlung von politischen und wirtschaftlichen Risiken,
unternehmerische Risiken, persönliche Risiken und schließlich die aktive Auseinandersetzung eines
Unternehmens mit den einzelnen Risiken im Rahmen eines Risikokonzepts.
Vom Risiko zur Chance
„Wahrnehmung von Afrika hat sich verändert“, sagte Ragnar Gerik, Afrikadirektor der Deutschen
Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH (DEG) zu Beginn der Veranstaltung. „Sechs der zehn
am schnellsten wachsenden Volkswirtschaften waren in Afrika. Gerik zeigt die Chancen des
Kontinents auf, warnte aber zugleich vor zuviel Euphorie. „Wo viel Licht ist, das ist auch Schatte.
Afrika braucht noch immer tiefgreifende Reformen. Es gibt einen ewigen Kampf gegen Korruption
und es gibt noch immer eine Anzahl von fragilen Staaten, die auch im nächsten Jahrzehnt noch nicht
Teil der positiven Entwicklung sind. Möglichkeiten und Risiken sind Seiten der gleichen Münze in
Afrika“, zeigte sich Gerik überzeugt. „Die Idee der Konferenz ist, die Instrumente aufzuzeigen, welche
zum Angehen von Risiken existieren“, sagte Pieter Bouwer, Senior Adviser des Afrika-Vereins in
43
seinen einleitenden Worten. „Das Schöne an Afrika sind die Möglichkeiten. Auch wenn wir es „Risk in
Africa“ nennen, dann ist jedem klar, dass es um die Möglichkeiten geht“, sagt er.
Politische Risiken unterschiedlich verteilt
Die negative Wahrnehmung Afrikas steht vor allem in Verbindung mit den gewaltsamen politischen
Auseinandersetzungen in der Vergangenheit. Bürgerkriege, zwischenstaatliche Kriege und Putsche
schienen in Afrika noch häufiger als in Asien und Lateinamerika die Wirtschaf zu beeinträchtigen.
„Längerfristige Effekte sind interessant. Innerhalb der letzten 20 Jahre hatten 75 Prozent der
afrikanischen Staaten einen Konflikt“, machte Andreas Mehler, Leiter des Instituts für Afrika-Studien
am German Institute for Global and Area Studies auf das noch immer hohe Konfliktpotential Afrikas
aufmerksam. „Ich werde oft gefragt, ob ich ein Optimist oder ein Pessimist bin. Ich antworte: Ich bin
ein Realist“, so Mehler. „Es gibt noch immer eine hohe Anzahl von Staaten, rund 75 Prozent, die als
gefährdet von uns eingestuft werden“, warnte Mehler vor zuviel Optimismus. Zugleich wies er jedoch
darauf hin, dass die Risiken innerhalb eines Landes nicht überall gleich verteilt sind. „Es gibt große
Länder, wo es starke Unterschiede zwischen einzelnen Regionen gibt, wie z.B. die Kivu-Region in der
DR Kongo und deren Hauptstadt Kinshasa“, sagte Mehler. Während in der Kivu-Region teilweise noch
bewaffnete Konflikte ausgetragen werden, ist es in Kinshasa und auch in der Bergbauregion
Lubumbashi relativ stabil. Grundsätzlich hat die Stabilität in den beiden letzten Jahrzehnten in Afrika
zugenommen und auch die Demokratie ist langsam auf dem Vormarsch. „Es ist ein sehr
durchwachsenes Bild“, schilderte Philip Walker, Senior Editor der Economist Intelligence Unit die
derzeitige Lage in Afrika. Der Trend sei zwar positiv, aber es gäbe auch immer wieder Rückschläge
und Gefahren. Risiken sieht Walker aktuell durch einen eventuellen Rückgang der Rohstoffpreise.
Dieses spezielle Risiko ist jedoch nicht sehr hoch einzuschätzen, wie im zweiten Panel über die
wirtschaftlichen Risiken in Afrika deutlich wurde.
„Eine Vielzahl von Projekten wie derzeit habe ich noch gesehen. In Mosambik trifft man Brasilianer
sowie Südafrikaner und Chinesen findet man praktisch in fast jedem afrikanischen Land. Es ist der
dritte „Scramble of Africa“ nach 1880 und 1960“, ist Paul Runge, Managing Director von Africa
Project Access überzeugt. „Die Chinesen kommen nicht, weil Sie uns lieben, sondern weil wir haben,
was sie wollen“, richtete er den Blick auf die starke Rohstoffnachfrage in Afrika. Für eine erfolgreiche
Tätigkeit in Afrika braucht man vor allem Kontakte und Leidenschaft, meint der Südafrikaner Runge.
Neben dem Rohstoffboom sieht er auch eine Telekommunikationsrevolution. Der um Superlative
nicht verlegene Runge sieht die Europäer in einer entscheidenden Situation. „Die alten
44
Kolonialmächte müssen vor allem ihre Finanzmodelle überdenken“, machte er auf einen wichtigen
Aspekt aufmerksam. „Die Chinesen sind erfolgreich, weil sie ihre Institutionen koordinieren. Die
Franzosen können das in Ansätzen auch. Ich bin mir sicher, dass das auch die Deutschen können“,
versuchte er den deutschen Unternehmern Mut für ihr Engagement in Afrika zu machen. Zwei
deutsche Finanzinstitutionen, welche auch gemeinsam ihre Dienste für deutsche Unternehmen
anbieten, sind die BHF Bank AG und die Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG. „Euler Hermes deckt
etwa 3 Prozent der deutschen Exporte. In Entwicklungsländer decken wir jedoch 20 Prozent ab“,
verwies Siss Gerstenkorn, Leiterin der Afrikaabteilung der Euler Hermes Kreditversicherungs AG auf
die Bedeutung des Kreditversicherers. Als aktuelle Beispiele nannte sie Getränkeabfüllanlagen in
Kenia und Tansania oder Ambulanzfahrzeuge in Ghana. Über viel Erfahrung im Afrikageschäft verfügt
auch die Bhf Bank AG. „Wir haben bisher keine Verluste in Afrika erlebt“, sagte Sylvia Sedlacek,
zuständig für Structured Export Finance bei der BHF-BANK AG. „Eines der zentralen Risiken ist die
Auswahl des falschen Geschäftspartners. Nutzen Sie die deutsche Business-Community in den
jeweiligen Ländern und auch die Deutschen Botschaften. Es ist sinnvoll sie früh einzubinden“,
empfahl sie den Unternehmen. Die Bedeutung persönlicher Kontakte betonte auch Albert Essien,
Group Executive Director der Ecobank. „In Afrika müssen Sie Beziehungen mit den Menschen
aufbauen. Wenn Sie sehr gute lokale Partner haben, dann arbeiten diese auch als ein lokales
Frühwarnsystem“, so die Ansicht von Essien.
Neben finanzieller Risiken herrschen in einigen Ländern Afrikas aber auch unmittelbar persönliche
Gefahren. „Nur weil es keinen Krieg gibt, heißt es allerdings auch nicht, dass es Frieden gibt.
Kidnapping ist z.B. ein Problem. Ein Grund dafür ist die Aussicht auf das schnelle Geld und ein zweiter
Grund ist die Öffentlichkeitswirksamkeit“, sagte Dr. David Zounmenou, Senior Researcher vom
renommierten südafrikanischen Institute for Security Studies. Die Ursachen sieht der Wissenschaftler
vor allem in einer Jugend, die keine Perspektive hat. „Wenn wir nicht die Jugend in den Griff
bekommen, dann besteht auch eine Gefahr für das Wachstum“, meint Zounmenou. Ein
Unternehmen, dass sich um die persönliche Sicherheit ihrer Kunden kümmert ist die Result Group
GmbH aus München. „Ist es bei Ihnen im Unternehmen organisiert, wen Sie im Krisenfall anrufen
sollen?“, stellte Nils Retkowski, Head of Maritime Services der Result Group eine der einfachen und
zugleich wichtigen Fragen, die sich ein Unternehmen stellen sollte. Die Gefahren für die persönliche
Sicherheit können schon im Vorfeld durch Trainings, Verfahrenspläne und die richtige
Risikoeinschätzung des Ziellandes deutlich reduziert werden.
45
„Es geht darum im Vorfeld einen Plan zu erstellen“, zeigte sich auch Derek Warby, Direktor für
Business Development der amerikanischen AON Corporation überzeugt. Damit das möglich ist, muss
es dafür überhaupt erst einmal Kapazitäten in einem Unternehmen geben. „Risikomanagement muss
ein Teil des Entscheidungsprozesses der Führungsebene sein“, sagte Nina Lissen, Vorstandsmitglied
der Risk Management Association. Die erste Konferenz „Risk in Africa“ zeigte, dass sich viele
deutsche Unternehmen der Herausforderung stellen, die Risiken offensiv anzugehen. Wer die
bestehenden Instrumente des Risiko-Managements einsetzt, die Absicherungsmöglichkeiten nutzt
und auf die Zusammenarbeit mit bewährten Partnern setzt, kann sich in Afrika im zweiten Schritt vor
allem auf die Chancen konzentrieren und das enorme Marktpotential des Nachbarkontinents nutzen,
so dass Fazit der Konferenz.
Michael Monnerjahn
*****
46
iii)
Nachrichten für den Außenhandel, 02.02.2012, Seite 13
Afrika / Investitionen
Konferenz: Instabilität schreckt am meisten ab
Frankfurt (NfA) – Afrika wird meist mit Bürgerkriegen und Naturkatastrophen assoziiert – Risiken, die
keinem Unternehmer ein Engagement schmackhaft machen. So zieht der Kontinent derzeit auch nur
etwa 5% der globalen Auslandsinvestitionen an. „Zugleich liegen jedoch sechs der zehn weltweit am
schnellsten wachsenden Volkswirtschaften in Afrika“, erklärte Ragnar Gerig, Leiter der Afrika
Abteilung der Deutschen Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), am Mittwoch auf der
Konferenz „Risk in Africa“ in Frankfurt. Von den Turbulenzen um den Euro ist auf der anderen Seite
des Mittelmeers bisher kaum etwas zu spüren. Auch für dieses Jahr wird ein Wirtschaftswachstum
von rund 6% erwartet. Die durchschnittlichen Wachstumsraten könnten schon bald jene Asien
überflügeln. Die Mittelklasse wächst jedes Jahr um etwa 5 Mio Menschen an. Das Potenzial ist
enorm, darin waren sich die Teilnehmer der von der BHF-Bank und dem Afrika Verein der deutschen
Wirtschaft veranstalteten Konferenz einig.
Um diesen Möglichkeiten jedoch in einen Geschäftserfolg zu verwandeln, sollten auch die
umfangreichen Risiken erkannt, minimiert und abgesichert werden. Neben den enormen Defizienten
der Infrastruktur, der Energieknappheit und einem unterentwickelten Bankensystem, schreckt die
politische Instabilität in vielen Regionen ausländische Investoren ab. „Auch in instabilen Ländern lässt
sich Geld verdienen, aber für langfristige Investitionen ist das eine schlechte Ausgangslage“, sagte
Andreas Mehler, Leiter der Afrika Abteilung des German Institute for Global and Area Studies. Dabei
gelten der Kongo und der Nordsudan neben Somalia und Simbabwe als besonders risikoreich. Bei der
Analyse und der Absicherung von Risiken bei Investitionen hilft neben staatlichen Institutionen in
Deutschland sowie privaten Versicherern auch die zur Weltbankgruppe gehörende Multilateral
Investment Guarantee Agency. Die in fast allen der 54 afrikanischen Staaten vor Ort vertreten ist.
Bkl/NfA/2.2.2012
*****
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iv)
ExportManager Magazin
Ausgabe 1/2012
Den Schritt nach Afrika wagen
Obwohl gute Geschäftschancen locken, halten sich deutsche Unternehmen mit einem Engagement in
Afrika zurück. Der Grund: Sie scheuen sich vor den hohen politischen und wirtschaftlichen Risiken
sowie der mangelnden Sicherheit vor Ort. Wie Unternehmen sich vor Risiken schützen und erfolgreich
Geschäfte in Afrika machen können, war das Thema von „Risk in Africa – Managing Political, Business
and Security Risk“, einer Tagung des Afrika-Vereins in den Räumen der BHF-BANK in Frankfurt am 1.
Februar 2012.
Von Sylvia Röhrig, Redakteurin ExportManager, F.A.Z.-Institut
Der afrikanische Kontinent befinde sich in einem profunden Wandel. Viele Länder verzeichneten
hohe Wachstumsraten und versprächen exzellente Geschäftschancen mit hohen Renditen, die es
stärker zu nutzen gelte, auch wenn die Risiken höher als in anderen Ländern seien, sagte die
Gastgeberin der Tagung, Beate Bischoff, Geschäftsbereichsleiterin Financial Markets and Corporates,
BHF-BANK, in ihrer Eröffnungsansprache. Auch aus Bankensicht sei das Geschäft in Afrika stärker mit
einem persönlichen Engagement verbunden als in anderen Ländern der Welt.
Doch Ziel der Tagung sei es nicht, allein die Risiken in Afrika aufzuzeichnen, sondern vielmehr den
Unternehmen Instrumente an die Hand zu geben, um die Risiken besser zu erkennen, zu beherrschen
und zu minimieren, ergänzte Pieter Bouwer, Projektmanager des Afrika-Vereins und Initiator der
Tagung.
Der Tenor, dass sich deutsche Unternehmen stärker in Afrika engagieren sollten, zog sich durch die
gesamte Veranstaltung. Manuela Marques, Bereichsleiterin Deutsche Unternehmen der Deutschen
Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG), stellte fest, dass die deutsche Wirtschaft zwar
führend sei hinsichtlich Exporte und Investitionen in den BRIC-Ländern, in Afrika ihr aber die BRICLänder, insbesondere China und Brasilien, den Rang abliefen. Auch Paul Runge, Managing Director
der südafrikanischen Unternehmensberatung Africa Project Access, forderte die deutschen
Unternehmen auf, die zahlreichen Instrumente der Absicherung und des Risikomanagements, die der
Staat und die Privatwirtschaft zur Verfügung stellten, in Anspruch zu nehmen und den Schritt nach
Afrika zu wagen. China und Frankreich nutzten längst ihre Förderinstrumente intensiv und hätten die
Nase weit vorne.
Afrika werde voraussichtlich auch 2012 – ähnlich wie im Vorjahr – um 6% wachsen. Denn sechs der
zehn am schnellsten wachsenden Volkswirtschaften weltweit befänden sind auf dem Kontinent. Etwa
ein Viertel dieses Wachstums sei rohstoffgetrieben; Handel und Telekommunikation seien andere
bedeutende Wachstumsbranchen, erläuterte Ragnar Gerig, Leiter der Afrika-Abteilung der DEG, in
seiner Keynote. Während das chinesische Engagement teilweise umstritten sei, würden kleine,
asiatisch geführte Unternehmen die Entwicklung positiv vorantreiben. Die Mittelschicht wachse
beständig, Jährlich kämen fünf Millionen neue Haushalte hinzu. In einzelnen Ländern führten
wirtschaftliche Stabilität und mikroökonomische Reformen zu deutlich besseren
Rahmenbedingungen. Ein positives Beispiel sei Ruanda, das inzwischen im Länderranking der
Weltbank hinsichtlich des Geschäftsumfelds auf Rang 45 liege. Weitere Zukunftsmärkte seien u.a.
Mosambik, Sambia, Uganda, Tansania, Guinea, Ghana, Luanda und Liberia.
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Angesichts der zahlreichen Risiken, die in afrikanischen Ländern auftreten können – von
Bürgerkriegen, Kriminalität und Mangel an Sicherheit über unzulängliche gesetzliche
Rahmenbedingungen und Korruption bis hin zu einer schlecht ausgebauten Infrastruktur,
Energieknappheit und unterentwickelten Banken –, seien Unternehmen vor der Markterschließung
gut beraten, sich genau über die jeweiligen Risiken im Zielland zu informieren. Dabei könnten sie
sowohl für die Risikoanalyse als auch für die Risikoabsicherung auf die Dienstleistungen staatlicher
sowie privater Anbieter zurückgreifen.
Dr. Andreas Mehler, Leiter der Afrika-Abteilung des German Institute for Global and Area Studies
(GIGA), erläuterte die Vorgehensweise seines Instituts bei der Ermittlung von Risikoindikatoren in
Afrika in einem Gemeinschaftsprojekt mit dem Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche
Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ). Doch über die Risikobewertung eines Landes hinaus seien
auch spezifische lokale Aspekte zu beachten, die in der Gesamteinschätzung eines Landes nicht
immer zum Ausdruck kämen. So gäbe es z.B. in Kenia und in Nigeria einige Gebiete, in die man sich
auf keinen Fall begeben sollte, da sie sich der Kontrolle des Staates entzögen. Matthew Shires, Leiter
des Political Risk Department des Versicherungsunternehmens AON, identifizierte auf seiner
Risikokarte den Sudan, die Demokratische Republik Kongo, Somalia und Simbabwe als besonders
risikoreiche Länder.
Kurzfristige Forderungsabsicherungen (L/Cs) sowie langfristige Hermes-gedeckte Finanzierungen
würden in vielen Ländern Afrikas von der BHF-BANK angeboten, wobei die Handhabung sicherlich
einfacher in den politisch stabilen Ländern als in den Krisenländern sei, gab Sylvia Sedlacek, Vice
President Strukturierte Außenhandelsfinanzierung, BHF-BANK, zu bedenken.
Das Volumen staatlicher Deckungen sei in den vergangenen Jahren in Einklang mit den wachsenden
Exporten gestiegen, bestätigte Sissi Gerstenkorn, Leiterin Afrika, Euler Hermes KreditversicherungsAG. Schwerpunktmärkte für Hermesabsicherungen seien Südafrika mit einem Absicherungsvolumen
von 408 Mio EUR im Jahr 2010, Gabun (111 Mio EUR), Kenia (93 Mio EUR), Nigeria (57 Mio EUR) und
Ghana (54 Mio EUR). Sie wünsche sich mehr Deckungen in Zusammenarbeit mit den
panafrikanischen Finanzinstituten Afreximbank und African Trade Insurance. In vielen Ländern
Zentralafrikas stelle der staatliche Exportkreditversicherer wegen des hohen Risikos und der
fehlenden Zahlungserfahrungen keine Deckungen zur Verfügung. In diese Lücke würde allerdings die
zur Weltbankgruppe gehörende Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) einspringen, die
in fast allen 54 afrikanischen Staaten vor Ort vertreten sei, erläuterte Olivier J.L. Lambert, Regional
Manager für Europa bei der MIGA. Sie habe Absicherungsinstrumente entwickelt, um die deutsche
Wirtschaft zu unterstützen. Sie sichere seit neuestem auch bereits existierende Investitionen ab und
decke Risiken in Nordafrika ab.
Ein weiterer wichtiger Baustein zur Risikominimierung in Afrika sei die Auswahl des richtigen
Geschäftspartners, so Sylvia Sedlacek. Bei der Suche eines zuverlässigen Geschäftspartners könne
man sich meistens auf das hilfreiche Netzwerk der deutschen Gemeinschaft vor Ort stützen.
Unterstützung bei der Geschäftspartnersuche gäben darüber hinaus auch private
Beratungsunternehmen, wie z.B. Frontier Advisory Ltd. in Südafrika. Für den Geschäftserfolg sei
zudem sehr wichtig, dass man die Geschäftskultur seines Partners kenne und die Landessprache
spreche. So seien z.B. in Angola für die Markterschließung und den Abschluss von Geschäften gute
Portugiesischkenntnisse eine wichtige Voraussetzung.
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Wie Unternehmen für die Sicherheit ihrer Mitarbeiter in gefährlichen Ländern sorgen können, zeigte
Peter Neuhoff, Chief Security Officer des internationalen Technologiekonzerns GEA.
GEA habe ein eigenes Überwachungssystem der Länderrisiken (Risk Map) entwickelt und verfüge
über ein Travel-Tracking-System. Mitarbeitern, die in gefährlichen Ländern reisten, stehe zudem eine
Reise-Hotline mit einem Beratungsteam für Sicherheitsfragen zur Verfügung.
Nils Retkowski, Head of Marine Service der Result Group GmbH, eines führenden
Beratungsunternehmens für Risiko- und Krisenmanagement, würdigte, dass die Veranstaltung zu
einer notwendigen Sensibilisierung für Sicherheitsfragen beitrüge. Wenn Mitarbeiter, die in
Risikoländer reisten, mit Hilfe von Verhaltenstraining richtig vorbereitet würden, könnten viele
Gefahren abgewehrt werden.
Kontakt: s.roehrig[at]faz-institut.de
*****
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v)
TradeInvest Africa Newsletter - published by Frontier Market Intelligence
http://www.tradeinvestafrica.com/news/1076420.htm
Risk in Africa - managing political, business and security risk
Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:15
Pieter Bouwer, project coordinator at Afrika-Verein
The Risk in Africa conference will be held in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on 1 February 2012. The
conference is organised by the German-African Business Association (Afrika-Verein der deutschen
Wirtschaft) in cooperation with BHF-Bank. TradeInvestAfrica interviewed project coordinator, Pieter
Bouwer, on the objectives of the conference.
What is the aim of the conference?
We wish to show businesses how risk in Africa can be managed effectively, thereby allowing them to
take full advantage of the many opportunities that exist in Africa. The complete title of the
conference is “Risk in Africa - managing political, business and security risk”.
Isn’t it rather ambitious for the conference to try and address all aspects of risk on the whole
continent, and in one day?
Of course it is, given that the nature of risk varies from country to country. We will be adopting a
different approach, which will be focusing on networking and sharing of experiences, while
highlighting the expertise and instruments that are available for managing risk. We wish to give
companies, government officials and other organisations insight into modern risk management by
encouraging an integrated approach that is in line with best practice.
Small and medium-sized German companies (the Mittelstand) are known to be risk-averse. Is there
an interest now to engage with Africa?
There is no doubt that Africa´s problems receive prominent coverage in Germany. However, the
continent´s bright economic prospects are increasingly interesting German companies. Positive
assessments by leading professional consultants such as McKinsey & Co have helped to change
perceptions. Companies pay attention when PricewaterhouseCoopers, for example, says and I
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quote, “Africa is an important frontier for economic growth. We believe the regional economy could
double by 2020 to nearly US$3-trillion and we are getting a clear signal from our international clients
that Africa is an increasingly important market for them.”
The attention that Africa receives from China and other dynamic economies has not been lost on
German companies. The German-African Business Association continues to see strong growth in its
membership, a clear sign that small and medium-sized German companies are discovering Africa, or
planning to expand their presence.
Who will be attending the conference?
The event is relevant to all companies, government departments and other institutions that operate
or are planning to expand in Africa. Besides The conference will provide a platform to all service
providers in the field of risk management, including insurance companies, risk analysts,
manufacturers of security products, and providers of security services, SHE consultants, and
companies providing risk management software, emergency services, protected vehicle
manufacturers, and many others.
Is the conference open to African participants?
African participants add enormous value to events of this kind, since personal contact remains at the
heart of doing business. Some of the main speakers will be from Africa, including Dr. David
Zounmenou of the Institute for Security Studies and Paul Runge of Africa Project Access. We would
obviously be delighted to welcome further participants from Africa. The conference should be
particularly interesting to service providers in risk-related fields that wish to offer their services to
German companies. The conference will be held in English.
This will be the first “Risk in Africa” conference. What is the response so far?
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, confirming the relevance of the topic. Besides BHFBank as partner, we have secured the Result Group - a leading risk management company with
strong African expertise –, White & Case - the international law firm - and Euler Hermes as sponsors.
Euler Hermes manages the official export credit guarantee scheme on behalf of the German
government.
South African Airways is the partner airline of the conference. To my knowledge, there has not been
a similar event in Germany where all aspects of risk in Africa have been addressed in this way. Our
aim is to establish this as an annual event, which will create a forum for a German-African exchange
on the topic of risk.
Further information is available on the conference website: www.riskinafrica.de (in German and in
English)
Pieter Bouwer is the initiator of the “Risk in Africa” conference and manages preparations on behalf
of the AVV - Afrika-Verein Business Events. He served as a South African career diplomat from 1986
to 2009, and is currently an independent consultant based in Hamburg. Pieter assists companies to
establish themselves in South Africa and to participate in African trade fairs.
*****
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