Home> Activities> Conferences> Asia-Pacific Regional Conference     AFRICAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN (BPW) COTONOU 2007 "African women economic leadership" Cotonou at Palais des Congrès on August, 9-11 2007   Presentation Welcome Message from BPW Cotonou's President Introduction Draft Programme Accommodations INTRODUCTION African Regional Congress BPW International Cotonou the Beautiful wishes her guests « Kwabo! »… From 09 to 11 August 2007, Cotonou, the financial capital of Benin will host the African Regional Congress of BPW International. Members of BPW-Cotonou Club are preparing for this great meeting for exchange and share. "Women Economical Leadership in Africa" is the theme of all the debates and exchanges during the Congress. It is a very appropriate theme if we consider that 90 % of women in Benin participate in the Economy of the country. They are the lever of Benin economy and they are indispensable. During this Congress of Business and Professional Women of the World, Benin would be able to negotiate its new business opportunities according to government’s development program of President Boni YAYI. A capital event in BPW Cotonou history as it is the first time that a Western French speaking African country hosts such a regional congress. In the black continent, Ghana and Egypt have already had the privilege of hosting one. For the encounter next August, over a hundred foreign participants are expected. Some members of the executive have announced their participation. The vigil… For Benin, it is time for vigil; BPW-Cotonou Club is not well known by the population. Therefore, a media plan has been made to popularize its actions. In this context, on Mai 25, BPW-Cotonou invited about 20 media directors to a press lunch in order to explain part of BPW objectives and to inform them about the Congress next August. All these media directors attended the lunch. They were impressed and exchanged a few questions and concerns with the members of BPW-Cotonou. Some expressed their wish to become members and others in spite of being men promised to help BPW-Cotonou with the communication during Congress. For June, we will also have some sessions to present BPW-Cotonou to other women associations and to congress partners. Since 12 months ago, the Coordinator of the Congress, Mrs. Yvette Aplogan, tries to work in close cooperation with President of BPW-Cotonou and the six congress organization commissions; they listen to each other very carefully in order to win this challenge. The Intelligence Commission, lead by Mrs Huguette Akplogan Dossa, tireless, she seeks to succeed in all her enterprises. The Sponsoring Commission, Stand and Rewards, is brightly lead by the talented Raïssa Gbédji, vice president of BPW- Cotonou. Thanks to her devotement, nothing resists her contacts and negotiation. Meanwhile, Mrs Mylène Aïzansi, in charge of the Lodging, Meals and Decoration, Commission is using all her business relationships and friends to find the best prices, and best conditions for lodging and meals for the participants to the Congress in Cotonou. About the Coordinator of Transport and Tourism Commission, Edwige Tella Bello, she’s doing her best so that all goes smoothly during the three days of Congress. The Health and Security Commission is lead by Glèlè Langanfin who’s making sure that all the security and insurances at all levels are in place so that our dear guests come and return safely to their countries. The Press, Communication, Translation and Internet Commission, is in charge of the communication and publicity strategy,. Aline Assankpon is the Coordinator of this commission and she asks herself every day if she’ll be capable of succeeding in reaching a good level of communication. Luckily she can count on the availability of the Organization Committee to win this challenge. Maryse Affognon, the Internet genius, is working everyday on BPW Cotonu site: www.bpw-cotonou.com in order to give visibility to the club and its members. Our leitmotiv: succeeding the Congress … Two months from the great event, these different commissions are striving day after day to coordinate their activities so that this Regional Congress of August 2007 may leave a golden mark in the souvenir of all the Benin people and the participants. We have arranged an interesting program: from the welcoming of the delegates and foreign participants, through the visits of Benin, communications, presentations, workshops, BPW meetings, and the lunches and dinners that will amuse our guests’ stay. The highlight will be the Gala Evening where the participants will enjoy a cocktail of different music from Benin (modern and traditional) with some sketches and rewards for the sponsors, foreign clubs and deserving members. Well served stands will also be installed to show Benin made goods. Meanwhile, we wish you, dear participants: «Welcome, Bienvenues, " Mi kwabo", "Ekabô", "Mia wézon", " Na Kayo" » to Cotonou in some of the must spoken languages in Benin. Aline Agathe Assankpon BPW Cotonou Frame – I- Three questions to the Congress Coordinator, Mrs Yvette Aplogan Next August, Cotonou will welcome the Regional Congress of BPW International. What does this important event represent to you? BPW International Regional Congress that will take place in Cotonou, next August 9-11, 2007 means very much to me. Indeed, Cotonou 2007 seeks to offer all those women, from all the activity areas, a frame for exchanges, to reinforce their capacities and opportunities for businesses in order to reach a greater participation to development in the Continent. In this context, financial institutions, formal structures of sustain for the economic sector and human resources will provide with their expertise. What advantages will women from Benin have from all areas of activities in this Regional Congress? Let’s explain that, in an individual level, this Congress will allow participants to gain knowledge and appropriate strategies for the harmonious development of their activities and to access new opportunities of businesses; in an associative level, to consolidate the engagement of women leaders in order to enlarge business and professional women’s network in Africa ; and last, in the economical level, a better participation of women in the economical growth of their respective country and of African continent. What do you expect? That the aims of Cotonou Congress that I have just mentioned be reached. That the participants can size the various opportunities that will be offered to them to enlarge their economical power and capitalize their capacities for a better contribution to national, regional and international development. By Aline A. Assankpon WOMEN ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP IN AFRICA CONTEXT The experiences of many specialised structures show that women access to credit, technology, information and training induces an improvement of their life conditions and give way to their rising within the society. Till now, very few of them succeed in taking profit from the different opportunities to increase their economic power. Globally these women work in the informal sector and don’t capitalize their experience and skill to a better contribution in the national, regional, and international development. Cotonou 2007 is proposing to offer these women whatever their sector of activity be, an exchange framework, building capacity and business opportunities. Funding institutions, formal structures supporting economic sector, resource persons worldwide will bring their knowledge. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONGRESS The African region congress been organized in Cotonou, 9-11 2007 after Accra 2004 and Egypt 2006, will stress on : economic capacity building of African women managers, of liberal carrier, professional and commercial for a greater participation in the development of the Continent. AWAITED RESULTS The congress will allow participants: a- individually to acquire knowledge and appropriated strategies for an harmonious improvement of their activities to access new business opportunities b- in the associative scale: to consolidate women leaders’ involvement in order to enlarge the network of women Managers, of liberal and commercial professions in Africa. c- in the economic scale a better participation of women in the economic growth of their respective country and the continent WHO ARE THE PARTICPANTS? BPW from Africa, Europe, Asia and America. Business women and liberal professions Women willing to do business or interested by the topic of the congress. DRAFT PROGRAM Date/Time Program Thursday 9 August 2007 8:00 – 9:00 Registration   Part I : Organization Review and Reform 9:00 – 9:15 Opening Ceremony Welcome speech : Mme. Huguette Akplogan Dossa, President of BPW Cotonou, Benin Dr. Amany Asfour Africa Regional Coordinator, BPW International Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, President, BPW International 9:15– 10:00 Keynote Speech Take the Lead : The Challenges in Reforming BPW Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, President of BPW International. 10:00– 10:15 Networking & Refreshment Break Session I: BPW Finance Strategy 10:10 – 11:00 Review & Proposed Financial Strategy Reform for BPW Chonchanok Viravan, BPW International President 11:00 – 12:00 Brainstorming Session on BPW Financial Strategies 11:20 – 12:30 Brainstorming Session on BPW Financial Strategies 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Session II: BPW Network 13:30 – 14:20 Review and Propose Reform of BPW International Network Chonchanok Viravan, President 14:20 – 14:40 • Membership Development Liz Benham, 2nd Vice President and Membership Chair 14:40 – 15:00 Brainstorming Session on BPW Network 15:00 – 15:15 Networking & Refreshment Break 15:15 - 16:00 Brainstorming Session on BPW Network Session III: BPW Management 16:00 – 16:45 Review and Propose Reform of BPW International Management Chonchanok Viravan, BPW International President 16:45 – 17:30 Brainstorming Session on BPW Management 17:30 - 18:30 The meeting adjourns 18:30 - 20:00 Opening Reception / Ceremony Welcome Speech of: Dr. Huguette Akplogan Dossa, President of BPW Cotonou, Benin Dr. Amany Asfour Africa Regional Coordinator, BPW International Dr. Chonchanok Viravan, President, BPW International   Musical interlude : National Ballet Conference by official sponsor: Permanent Representative of UNDP Mrs. Edith GASANA Conference of Representative of Open Society Initiative for West Africa Conference of Congress Main sponsor: President of Republic or Financing Minister Family photo Visit to stands and cocktail Friday 10 August 2007 Part II : Business Session 9:00 – 10:00 Business Session I : Africa Regional Coordinator Report Amany Asfour, Africa Regional Coordinator Friends and Fellow of BPW International Liz Benham, 2nd Vice President and Friends and Fellows Taskforce Chair Country Reports 10:00 – 10:15 Networking & Refreshment Break 10:15 – 12:00 Business Session II: Business and Membership page Gabriella Canonica, European Regional Coordinator Country Reports Nomination of candidate for Africa Regional Coordinator 12:00 – 13:00 Lunch Part III : “African Women Economic Leadership” 13:00 – 13:40 Session I : New Dimensions of Leadership   Antoinette Ruegg, Immediate Past President - Questions and Answers 13:40 – 15:00 Session II : Wealth Creation in Africa and Women Leadership   “How women economical leadership can contribute to the creation of wealth in Africa: Investment Botton capital – risk for SMEs” Ms Thenjiwe Sibanda UNDP Consultant - Questions and Answers 15:00 - 15:15 Networking and Refreshment 15:15 - 17:00 Session III : Outstanding Women Business Leaders in Africa Honorine Damiba CEO SOTRACO in Burkina Faso Islamia ADJIBI CEO AROMAS Benin Tinuade A Ihama President BPW Nigeria   Free Evening Saturday 11 August 2007 Part IV : African Women Economic Leadership 9:00 – 10:30 Session IV : African Women Economic Leadership New business opportunities in Benin Ministry of Development Agreements for economical partnership: issues for Women CEOs in Africa. Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Consultant ) Impact of economical reform on African Women Leadership Open Society of West Africa (Consultant) 10:30 – 10:45 Networking & Refreshment Break WORKSHOPS 10:45– 12:30 Workshop 1 : Women and productive investments : Investment Botton capital – risk project Facilitator - UNDP Consultant Workshop 2 : New business opportunities in Benin Facilitator - MDEF Representative Workshop 3 : Impact of economical reform on African Women Leadership Open Society of West Africa (Consultant) 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch WORKSHOPS 13:30 - 16:00 Workshop 4 : Agreements for economical partnership : issues for Women CEOs in Africa. Friedrich Ebert Foundation (Consultant ) Workshop 5 : Individual Development Program (PDI) Developing Leadership Qualities Facilitator - Dr. Antoinette Ruegg Workshop 6 : Strategies for Development of Young BPW in Africa. Facilitator - Young BPW Representative in Africa 16 :00 – 16 :15 Networking and Refreshment Break 16:15 – 16:30 Presentation on XXVI BPW International Congress in Mexico, 2008 16:30 – 16:50 Report from Reporters 16:50 – 17:30 Closing Ceremony 19:00 – 22:00 Gala Dinner ** **Attire: Cocktail Dress     HOTEL ACCOMMODATION Please mark appropriate square Hotel Single Double Suite Novotel ORISHA Hotel (5 stars) 100 Euros 150 Euros 200 Euros SUN Beach Hotel (4 stars) 70 Euros 90 Euros 150 Euros Les Résidences Céline 50 Euros 75 Euros 125 Euros **Above rates include services charge, governmental taxes and breakfast. More Information : BPW-COTONOU C/489 Jéricho, rue de la station Dovonou 02 BP 937 Cotonou Tél. (00229) : 95 95 90 28 – 97 13 05 75 – 95 95 22 70 E-mail : bpwcotonou@yahoo.com     Download   Programme   Introduction   Registration Form   Hotel Reservation Request Links   BPW Cotonou   Accommodations Home | BPW International Newsletters | BPW Business Pages | BPW Roster Online | BPW Online | Projects | Calendar | Site Map BPW International International Federation of Business and Professional Women Contact : member.services@bpw-international.org Copyright © BPW International. All rights reserved.