Lusaka, Zambia
29 September 2025: Conference
30 September 2025: Members' Program
We are delighted to announce, thanks to the headline partnership of Hatch, that the 4th Canada-Africa Business Conference will take place in Zambia at the InterContinental Lusaka.
If you are a member, sponsor, or invited guest, please click here to register.
Register for the live broadcast here.
| 07:45 |
Arrival & Registration, including light breakfast served |
|
08:30
|
Opening ceremony, including invited official addresses from the Governments of the Republic of Zambia and Canada Call to order – Garreth Bloor, President, The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business Official Welcome from The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business – Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Special Envoy to the African Union's AfCFTA Secretariat Opening Welcome Remarks: Albert Halwampa, Director General at Zambia Development Agency Special Welcome Message to Canadian Companies - Harriet Mdala, Partner, May & Co Private Sector Address - Joe Lombard, Vice Chair, Hatch Official Address by the Government of Canada - H.E. Emily Burns, High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia Introduction of the President of the Republic of Zambia - Hon. Chipoka Mulenga, Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry of Zambia Official Welcome by the President of the Republic of Zambia, H.E. Hakainde Hichilema |
| 10:00 | Tea/Coffee Break |
| 10:30 |
Session 1 (Panel) Panelists include Moderator: Welekazi Cele, Regional Director, Mining & Metals, AIM, Hatch |
| 11:30 |
Session 2 (Panel) Panelists include Raubil Durowoju, Country Manager, African Development Bank Group Moderator: Giselle Commissiong, P.Eng, MBA. Senior Principal / Hatch Advisory |
|
12:15 |
Lunch |
|
13:30 |
Presentation by Mark Bristow, President & CEO of Barrick Mining |
|
14:00
|
Session 3 (Panel) Following the successes in mining, we will explore opportunities for other sectors across Zambia. Mark Haselau, Director of Projects, NMS Infrastructure Limited Moderator: Craig Simmer, Regional director of Infrastructure for Hatch's Africa, Europe, and Middle East region |
|
15:00
|
Session 4 (Presentations and Fireside Conversations) Vipul Agrawal, Country Manager and CEO, Dangote Cement Zambia Moderator: Garreth Bloor, President, The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business |
| 15:40 | Closing Address – Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Canada-Africa Chamber Special Envoy to the AU |
| 16:00 | End & Break for delegates to prepare for the Official Reception |
| 17:00 | Official VIP Reception till 19:00 |
*The program is subject to change and the latest program will be communicated to all registered delegates.
Day 2 will comprise an executive networking program for corporate members and sponsors, to deepen relationships and collaboration, facilitating trade and investment through another world-class networking and information-sharing event, under the Chatham House convention.
Chamber Headline Sponsor: Elephant Trade Services DRC
Join The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business
RSVP: zambia@canadaafrica.ca
Our previous Canada-Africa Business Conference took place in Zimbabwe and once again convened leading decision-makers to accelerate Canada-Africa trade and investment. Following our conference program on Day 1 at the Cresta Harare, members joined us on Day 2 for a site visit program focused on mining and energy at Zimplats in the Mashonaland West Province.
We thank our headline Chamber sponsor Elephant Trade-Services DRC, as well as the vitally important role of Hatch as a Headline Conference Sponsor, for the delivery of both the 3rd and 4th Canada-Africa Business Conferences.
Over two dozen Canadian companies joined the two-day program in Harare, pictured above with Zimbabwe's Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion, Hon. Mthuli Ncube
Access conference photos here and view the full proceedings:
Below: News coverage and interviews with Canadian companies
In addition to mining, energy and ICT, the Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency has identified tourism, manufacturing and agriculture as among the key opportunities. At the same time, Canadian institutions are also privileged to play a significant role as partners in higher education.
Canada-Africa Business Conference Program
|
07:15 |
Arrival of Delegates & Light Breakfast |
|
08:00
|
Opening Ceremony, including Official Addresses from the Governments of Zimbabwe and Canada, including: Garreth Bloor, President of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business His Excellency Adler Aristilde, Ambassador of Canada to the Republic of Zimbabwe and Canada’s Representative to the Southern African Development Community Hon. Mthuli Ncube, Minister of Finance, the Republic of Zimbabwe Paula Caldwell St-Onge, Chair of the Board of Directors, The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business Mike Morgan, CEO at Southern Africa-Canada Chamber of Commerce Private Sector Keynote Address – Joe Lombard, Vice Chairman, Hatch |
|
09:15 |
Presentation: Investing in Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) by Tafadzwa Chinamo, CEO |
|
09:45
|
Panel 1: Natural Resource Development: A Catalyst for Growth Including: |
|
10:30 |
Tea/Coffee Break |
|
11:00
|
Panel 2: Champions of Private Sector Growth: The roles of Energy & Infrastructure Including: |
|
11:45 |
Private Sector Keynote Address: Dr Stanley Segula, Managing Director, Zimplats |
|
12:30 |
Luncheon |
|
13:30
|
Pan-African Prosperity Outlook Session: The Potential of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA): The Vital Importance of the SADC and the Prospects for Zimbabwe Panel 3 Tich Mushayandebvu | UNIDO Country Representative | GLO/RFO/AFR/ZIM In Conversation: Accelerating a Pan-African Education Agenda In Conversation: Agriculture in Action - Insights for Business Success TED Talk: Anayah De Andrade, Founder and CEO, DRILLIT Energy & Mining |
|
15:00
|
Panel 4: Zimbabwe’s Global Success Stories – Insights on leadership and worldwide impact Panelists include Brian Dodo, Founder, BMDodo Strategic Design & MAPP Africa; Vipul Agarwal, Country Manager and CEO, Dangote Cement Zambia |
|
15:30 |
Closing Address: Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Global Managing Director, DaMina Advisors & Special Envoy to the AfCFTA at The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business |
|
16:00 |
Break for delegates to refresh and travel to the Ambassadorial Reception |
|
17:00 |
Official Reception hosted at the Official Residence of the Ambassador of Canada to Zimbabwe and Canada’s Representative to the Southern African Development Community, His Excellency Adler Aristilde |
Day 2: Site Visit Program for Members and Sponsors to Zimplats
Among the success stories under the spotlight was Zimplats and the successful collaboration with one of Canada's leading global companies, Hatch. Zimplats is a leading mining company specializing in platinum group metals and was the focus of our Day 2 Site Visit Program.
The tour included the impressive solar farm and new smelter, showcasing Hatch's work with Zimplats as a model for Canada-Africa collaboration in Zimbabwe. 
''Hatch has a long history of working in Africa; we are committed to creating positive change by supporting local communities, fostering economic development, and protecting the environment. As a proud partner of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business, and a sponsor of the Canada-Africa Business Conference, we look forward to showcasing our expertise and capabilities at the conference, and to exploring new opportunities for collaboration and innovation with all our stakeholders.''
- Joe Lombard, Vice Chairman, Hatch
“Zimbabwe was well-represented at PDAC this year, through the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). The invitation to do business in Zimbabwe is wide open and I am excited, as a Canadian company, to respond to this call and participate in the 3rd Canada-Africa Business Conference as a sponsor of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business”
– Wayne Floreani, President and Co-Founder, MineAfrica Inc.
If you are not a member, click here for details on how to join The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.
Above photo; the 2nd Canada-Africa Business Conference took place in February this year in Nairobi
"The Canada-Africa Business Conference has reaffirmed the benefits of continuing to foster connections between Canadian and African communities... Our growing economic ties will provide even more opportunities to drive prosperity and innovation across our borders."
- Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development
Previous Zimbabwe Program:
Zimbabwe is Open for Business (June 2021)
-Mr. Sebastian Spio-Garbrah, Fmr. Chair of the Board
‘The challenges Zimbabwe has faced are not unique to Zimbabwe. With proven reforms we've researched, there is no reason Zimbabwe could not become one of the most economically free and prosperous nations on earth. I look forward to our scheduled engagement through the Chamber with leaders in this wonderful country.'
- Fred McMahon, Director: Economic Freedom of the World, Fraser Institute