GHANA is to host the second Africa Regional Conference of the international Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

The two-day conference, which takes off on October 25, is under the theme "Working Together for Investment Policies and Actions in Africa.”

About 500 delegates from both developed and developing countries are expected to participate in the conference, which is expected to provide a platform for regional and international policy-makers and the business community to hold in-depth discussions on trade, investment and regional priorities.

Discussions will focus on how African governments can best work with businesses to improve regulatory framework to enhance Africa's competitiveness as a destination for foreign investment.

Returns on investments in some African countries are higher than in most countries in the developing world. It is in recognition of the vast investment potentials in Africa that the International Chamber of Commerce has started focusing its activities on the continent.

Under an agreement with the United Nations, ICC is working with other agencies to make more information available on investment prospects in Africa and encouraging private sector development.

Consequently, the ICC, through its Nigeria National Chapter, organised the first Africa Regional Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, in November 2000.

Topics to be treated at the 2nd Africa Regional Conference include Global Trade and Investment Policy, Qualifying the Protection of Doing Business in Africa, Financing African Business, IT Convergence in the Media Industry: Opportunities, Threats,” Economic Commerce/M-Commerce" and Arbitration’s a Driver for Investment and Development".

Prominent speakers will include ICC Secretary General, Maria Livanos Cattaui; Ishmael Yamson, Chairman, ICC Ghana; Adebayo Alade-laba, Director, Global Energy and Project Finance, Credit Suisse, USA; Dr Nii Quarnor, Executive Chairman, Network Computer Systems, and Hon Nana Akufo-Addo, Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

The ICC is the only representative body that speaks with authority on behalf of private business from all sectors in every part of the world.

It also provides essential services, foremost among them being the ICC International Court of Arbitration, the world’s leading institution of its kind.

The ICC groups member companies and associations from over 130 countries. They are the source of ICC’s expertise in all aspects of international business.

The overriding task of ICC today is its members meeting the demands of an integrated global economy. It speaks for no special interest group within business. Companies increasingly look to ICC as they adjust to a world in which the state’s role in the economy is no longer pre-eminent.

ICC members are instrumental in drawing up rules that businesses use everyday to reduce costs and uncertainties- on arbitration, banking and commercial contracts. In the process, they gain unique insight into the vital areas of trade facilitation.