March 2023
Dear Members and Friends,
It has been a busy month of events and opportunities to accelerate Canada-Africa trade and investment, largely centred around PDAC. March is synonymous with the largest mining gathering in the world, during which we were pleased to have hosted the largest Africa-focused mining event in North America, alongside MineAfrica.
Over 50 speakers and 500 attendees were welcomed to the Chamber's 24th Annual African Mining Breakfast & MineAfrica’s 21st Annual Investing in African Mining seminar on March 7. Read more
Industry leaders addressed hundreds of delegates at the 24th Annual African Mining Breakfast
Download the Program and African Directory which details all partner and speaker profiles – a who’s who of African and Canadian mining leaders and a great resource for doing business in Africa’s mining industry.
DRC Reception: Canada and the Democratic Republic of Congo in prime position for private sector collaboration [Français]
The ARSP, the DRC’s Regulatory Authority for Subcontracting in the Private Sector, underscored major opportunities for market-solutions, driven by Canada's private sector, at the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business VIP reception, held during PDAC.
DRC leaders underscored the trade and investment case for the Democratic Republic of Congo
Presidential representatives and DRC business leaders were welcomed by Canadian executives and investors. The case for the DRC was set out by Mr. Rock Bashala Kubindia of the Business Climate Unit in the Presidency as well as President Félix Tshisekedi's newly-appointed Director General of the Congolese Council for Battery, Denis Lecouturier. Read More
Chamber Board Chair addresses Franco-Mine 2023 during PDAC
Chair of the Board, Paula Caldwell St-Onge, addressed Franco-Mine this year at which both the Chamber and MineAfrica Inc were delighted to be a part.
During the event, the Chair recognized Chamber country members in particular for their active involvement in the organization: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, the Republic of Gabon, the Republic of Ghana, the Republic of Kenya, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Republic of Namibia, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Republic of Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Zimbabwe.
The program was hosted at the Toronto Stock Exchange. Read More
Franco-Mine delegates during the live broadcast closing of the Toronto Stock Exchange
Africa Accelerating 2023 - 10 to 12 October [Français]
All roads lead to Toronto for Africa Accelerating this year, following last year's 3-day program on African soil in Johannesburg. We anticipate heads of governments, companies and leading decision-makers once again to gather.
We are delighted to welcome our newest Diamond Sponsor, Elephant Trade, who deliver professional technical support for major projects in engineering, construction and maintenance.
We are also pleased to have met with B2Gold this week and had a very productive discussion on Canadian investment in Africa - with a company that is the largest Canadian investor in Namibia and one of the largest Canadian investors in Mali. B2Gold has been a strong supporter of the Chamber’s activities.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among those who addressed the event last October, joined by government heads, African Union leaders, corporate executives and entrepreneurs. Read More
Neil Reeder (VP, B2Gold) with Chamber members and associates during last month’s Mining Indaba, including Karima-Catherine Goundiam (founder of B2bee Match), Ateau Zola (Chamber Business Development), Garreth Bloor (Chamber President) and Wayne Floreani (President, MineAfrica Inc)
Exploring Free Trade Opportunities - The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
The Significance of AfCFTA for African Youth and Diaspora: Maximizing Opportunities in Trade and Investment
On March 3, 2023, the first session in the AfCFTA Series with AfriVate Hub Ltd, welcomed topic experts. Among many noted takeaways was the case that made that AfCFTA’s implementation puts Africa’s young people and women in prime position to become the drivers of a competitive and beneficial economy - through business investment and trade opportunities.
''Its implementation would create opportunities for millions of young Africans, youth and women especially, as a result of the creation of a single African market that is far larger than the current total economic share of the global economy'' says Toye Abioye (Chamber Head of Membership) who played a key role in the forum. Read More
Media Corner: Chamber Events, Leaders and Members in the Press
Canada and the Democratic Republic of Congo in prime position for private sector collaboration [African Mining Market]
The biggest African mining event in North America showcases major successes in Canada-Africa mining collaboration [ZAWYA]
The Fraser Institute’s Briefing on their Annual Survey of Mining Companies underscores insights for African excellence [MineAfrica Inc / APO Group Africa Newsroom]
Franco-Mine PDAC Delegation Closes the Market [Yahoo Finance]
Join The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business!
Chamber membership is a valuable way to join our efforts to accelerate Canada-Africa trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing events.
You will find our membership form here to sign up today. Membership provides numerous opportunities and benefits for our members as we are positioned to assist companies seeking to strategically market their goods and services.
Our corporate members receive on average of USD 2 million in PR value each year, in addition to our events and the reach of 12 500 on our database. Our member benefits are in place at a massively subsidized rate of between $2500 and $5000 to ensure Canada-Africa trade and investment is accelerated, driven by private sector leaders and companies. Two popular member benefits include an annual media release through the APO Group – with average hit rate across 300 publications in African markets - and access to the 6ix investor platform, otherwise accessible to clients at $120 000 per year.
We are proud to ensure your market-driven solutions as a company are well-known and profiled in African markets and across Canada.
The Chamber's network spans Canada and Africa. We are an independent, non-profit organization, enjoying strong working links with both Canadian and African businesses and governments. Our membership rates are provided thanks to the generous support of several existing private sector members who sponsor the Chamber.
We do not receive government grant funding and thank our generous supporters for ensuring we can deliver our mission - as a proudly independent, Not-for-Profit organization, dedicated to accelerating trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing events.
We applaud our sponsors who make it all happen: Ivanhoe Mines, 6ix, APO Group, ARSP, Ausenco, B2Gold, Elephant Trade, Ethiopian Airlines, Lucara Diamond, Goodmans, Hatch, MEC Capital, MineAfrica and SDF Consulting. Our sponsors are essential to the Chamber's success.
Visit the Q&A to learn more about the Chamber and membership, or email members@canadaafrica.ca
Check out our Recent Member Events - View the full list here
This week’s Chamber planning meeting with members of the Ottawa team, following engagements with Africa Accelerating sponsors, partners and new corporate members - on the road to the 2023 conference. Garreth Bloor (Chamber President), Ateau Zola (Business Development), and Susan Namulindwa (Chamber Vice President, Canada) joined the conversation.
Partner Event: East African Trade Mission to Nairobi - May 2023
Africa Trade Desk is a one-stop boutique consulting firm for Canadian and international companies, investors, and entrepreneurs that want to do business in Africa and vice versa. In May 2023, Africa Trade Desk is hosting its inaugural East African Trade Mission to Nairobi, Kenya. Read More
Best wishes from all of us!
Garreth Bloor (President), Samantha Mandigora (Head of Operations), Toye Abioye (Business Development and Partnerships)
Susan Namulindwa (Vice President, Canada), Jacques NdoutouMve (Vice President, Africa)
Ateau Zola and Kweku Essien (Business Development)
About Us
President, Operations, Membership, Vice Presidents and Associates
Chamber Fellows & McGill Mastercard Interns
Think Tank Perspectives and Free Trade Unit
For more information, please contact:
The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business
55 Bloor Street West, RTO Manulife Building, PO Box 19553
Toronto, Ontario M4W 3T9 Tel: 647-667-1223 Email: members@canadaafrica.ca