CAIRO 2004 
CAIRO 2004
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Monday & Tuesday 26th & 27th April
WFZC Speakers, Delegates and Staff much enjoyed the warm hospitality of the team from our Egyptian partners GAFI (General Authority for Investment & Free Zones) and the Gold Sponsor Sokhna Port at the splendid Grand Hyatt Hotel on the banks of the River Nile. Delegations from many countries attended including a group from COMESA (Common Market for East & Southern Africa) headed by Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Secretary-General. Some 300 delegates participated in the conference coming from countries which included Albania, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Costa Rica, Cuba, Eritrea, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Malta, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Serbia & Montenegro, South Africa, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, UK, USA, Yemen, Zambia and Egypt. The Conference programme offered new information and ideas to a wide audience of Zone and Inward Investment Authorities as well as Operators, Investing Companies and Location Intermediaries. Interest from within Egypt was high with considerable television and press coverage not only for the inauguration ceremony but also for the specialist individual speakers from around the world. Two Days of Training Course/Workshop expertly led by International Location Advisory Services (Ernst & Young) Belgium, followed on from the Conference plus a full day's visit to companies operating in some of Egypt's most recent and innovative Free Zones. Of particular interest were the visits to Leoni Wiring Systems and Oriental Weavers. A list of texts and powerpoint presentations from the Conference will be posted in the Library within the next few days. The WFZC Team would like to thank Dr. El-Ghamrawy, Mr. Abd El Rahim Nour El-Din and all the GAFI staff in addition to the speakers who travelled to Egypt and those based there. It was a memorable occasion for us all.
A splendid dinner on the Nile was sponsored by the South African delegation. During the course of the evening Mr. Graham Mather, Chairman and Dr. Mahlape Mohale, Chief Executive of The Enterprise Organisation Department of Trade & Industry announced that the
GOLD SPONSOR Cairo 2004
WFZC Courses & Training
Trainees 'Fired Up' by Investment Promotion Training in Cairo
More than forty trainees attended the two days of Investment Promotion training held after the main WFZC conference in Cairo. Attendees came from free zones and government agencies in a number of countries, including Bahrain, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Syria, Tanzania and Togo.
Expert trainers, Walter De Roo and Professor Marcel De Meirleir from Ernst & Young ILAS (International Location Advisory Service), lead the trainees through an intensive course which aimed to teach best practice in how to find, attract and retain FDI.
A particular theme was 'Reverse Location Methodology'. This highly effective approach teaches investment-hungry agencies to understand and respond to the main factors that drive prospective investors when they decide which locations to consider, and most importantly, which locations to invest in.
Towards the end of the two days, trainees applied what they had learnt by considering and discussing several real-world free zone case studies. The energetic and lively debate that took place during these sessions gave an excellent indication of the lessons learned and ready for application by the trainees who attended this valuable course.
Contact info@freezones.org for more information.
Karen Oram
, WFZC Courses & Training Director