Heads of Government and top business leaders will join together in Abuja, Nigeria, on 2-4 December for the Commonwealth Business Forum – the biggest international conference on sustainable development since the World Summit in Johannesburg.

The event will take place ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and will bring together over 600 business leaders and eight Heads of Government from throughout the world.

The theme for the Forum is ‘Achieving Sustainable Development – Challenges for Business and Governments’. The Forum will address all aspects of sustainable development as they relate to specific business sectors and economies. Its practical policy suggestions will form the basis of a framework for corporate citizenship, which will be presented for endorsement at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting commencing in Abuja on 5th December.

President Olusegun Obasanjo will address the opening session of the Business Forum on Tuesday 2 December. Ahead of the conference, the President stated that:

“We look forward to welcoming leaders and senior business executives from across the Commonwealth. Economic growth and development will require the active involvement of the private sector in partnership with governments… The Commonwealth Business Forum provides an ideal opportunity to build and cement those partnerships.”

The Forum has been organised by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is the first time Nigeria has hosted the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

“Momentum is steadily building for what we believe will be a uniquely successful event,” said Dr Mohan Kaul, CEO of CBC. “Above all, this Forum aims to be outcomes-driven. It will build on all that was achieved in Johannesburg in 2002 and drive forward the sustainable development agenda.”

Bringing together business and government leaders from around the world to discuss practical ways to enhance trade and investment in the world’s second largest trading bloc, the Commonwealth Business Forum is an unparalleled major international business event. This year’s Forum will build on successful dialogues held at previous events, and break new ground by articulating private sector views on how to make globalisation work in a way that balances economic advance with social accountability.

Nine major private sector companies are joining the Commonwealth Business Forum as corporate partners. The sponsors include Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, Econet Wireless, MTN, First Bank, Union Bank, Zenith Bank, Diamondbank, Guinness and Coscharis Group Ltd.

Note to Editors

1) Confirmed heads of government at the Commonwealth Business Forum include: HE Mr Festus G Mogae, President of Botswana; The Rt Hon Jean Chretien, Prime Minister of Canada; HE Joaquim Chissano, President of Mozambique; HE Sam Nujoma, President of Namibia; HE Olusegun Obasanjo, President of Nigeria; HE Tejan Kabbah, President of Sierra Leone; HE Patrick Manning, Prime Minister of Trinidad and HE Mr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, President of Zambia.

2) Confirmed private sector speakers at the Commonwealth Business Forum include: The Rt Hon The Earl Cairns, Chairman, CDC Capital Partners UK; Baroness Lynda Chalker, Advisory Director, Unilver plc; Mr Bjorn Stigson, CEO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development; Mr Pascal Dozie, Chairman, Diamondbank Nigeria; Mr Hugh Morgan, CEO First Charmock Australia; Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, Chairman, Millennium Consolidated Investments South Africa; Mr André Parker, Managing Director SAB Miller Africa and Asia; Mr Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Econet Wireless Nigeria; Mr Peter Sullivan, CEO Africa, Standard Chartered Bank; Mr Stuart Brocklehurst, Senior President, Visa International; Ms Georgina Evans, Vice-President GlaxoSmithKline PLC, UK; Mr Chris Finlayson, Chief Executive Officer, Shell Petroleum Development Corporation, Nigeria; Mr Keith Richards, Managing Director, Guinness, Nigeria; Mr Godwin Oboh, Managing Director, Union Bank, Nigeria; Mr Jim Ovia, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Zenith Bank ltd, Nigeria; Mr Nick Hales, Managing Director, British American Tobacco, Nigeria; Mr Jacobs Ajekigbe, Managing Director, First Bank, Nigeria; Mr Adrian Wood, Chief Executive MTN, Nigeria and Mr Khaya Ngqula, President/CEO, IDC, South Africa.

3) For full programme details:
http://www.cbcglobelink.org/cbcglobelink/events/CBF03/Index.htm

4) The event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.
Ladi Kwali Conference Centre, Ladi Kwali Way, Maitama, PMB 143

Monday 1 December 2.00pm – 7.00pm: Registration
Tuesday 2 December 9.00am – Programme begins

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