Event Date/Time: Sep 16, 2010 | End Date/Time: Sep 16, 2010 |
Registration Date: Sep 16, 2010 | |
Early Registration Date: Jul 23, 2010 |
Description
When will the country be ready for a real recovery? Will Zimbabwe be a business hotspot in five years’ time, or will it take far longer? What are the prospects for reversing the brain drain?
This high-level, one-day conference will offer a frank assessment from business leaders, Economist Group analysts, representatives of diaspora organisations and diplomats from a range of different viewpoints.
08.30: Registration and refreshments
09.00: Chairman’s welcome
Adam Roberts, News Editor, The Economist
09.05: The Economist Group briefing: scenarios for Zimbabwe
Xan Smiley, Middle East and Africa Editor, The Economist
Pratibha Thaker, Africa Director, The Economist Intelligence Unit
- The future of the power-sharing government
- What current policies are likely to mean for future economic development
- Key players: the roles of South Africa, China and the UK
- When will Zimbabwe be rebuilt? How long will the brain drain last?
- The structure of the economy and the potential for future development
- Are there relevant case studies from elsewhere in Africa?
09.45: Keynote address
10.45: Refreshment break
11.05: The long-term outlook for Zimbabwe: reconstruction and risks
- What is the timeline for economic recovery?
- Assessing the country's reconstruction needs
- Potential in key sectors: mining, agriculture, tourism
- When will there be significant new FDI beyond the mining sector?
- Zimbabwe's future role in the southern African economy
Panellists include:
July Ndlovu, Chairperson Unki & Executive Head Processing, Anglo Platinum
Admassu Tadesse, Executive Vice President, Development Bank of Southern Africa
12.05: Human capital and the brain drain
- How severe has the brain drain been and is there any realistic prospect of reversal?
- What role can the Zimbabwean diaspora play in rebuilding the country and developing local capacities?
- Will foreign investment help to develop Zimbabwe's human resources—and when is the right time?
Panellists include:
John Legat, Managing Director, Imara Asset Management
13.00: Lunch
14.00: Agriculture and food security
- Repairing the agricultural sector; what needs to change?
- Balancing urban and rural food provision; the roles of aid agencies and the private sector
- The future of land policy and property rights
- Dealing with drought and climate change
- How could Zimbabwe become a breadbasket again?
- Should Zimbabwe grow GM crops for export to markets like Brazil and China?
Panellists include:
Carlman Moyo, Regional Director SSA, DuPont de Nemours International
Professor Sam Moyo, African Institute for Agrarian Studies
15.00: South Africa's relations with Zimbabwe
- How are relations changing under President Jacob Zuma?
- Does South Africa benefit from Zimbabwe's problems?
- South African investment in Zimbabwe: trends, impact and challenges
- Assessing the impact of Zimbabwean migrants on South Africa's economy—and what this means for bilateral relations
- Farm seizures and the implications for the bilateral investment treaty
Panellists include:
Heidi Holland, Journalist and author of Dinner with Mugabe
Sabelo Ndlovu, Analyst, South African Institute of International Affairs, Witwatersrand University
16.00: Refreshment break
16.20: The ethics of investment: is it the time right to invest in Zimbabwe?
- What are the ethical issues around investing in Zimbabwe?
- Are foreign businesses doing more harm than good?
- Do targeted sanctions have any impact on the economy or is this just a red herring?
- Reputational risk, corruption and compliance
Panellists include:
Tawanda Nyambirai, Group Chief Executive, TN Holdings
17.20: Q&A with Zimbabwean Government Ministers
Elton Mangoma, Minister of Economic Planning
18.30: Chairman's closing remarks
Please note that the programme is subject to speaker, session and timing changes. Please continue to check The Economist Conferences website for the latest agenda - Thank you.