Three-day African Business and Trade Conference/Exhibition to take place in London from 29 to 31 July 2005

Africa Week Conferences and Africa Initiative UK are to organise a three-day African Business and Trade exhibition in London from July 29 to 31 2005 as part of efforts to engage the Diaspora in Africa?s development.

The event, which will include conferences on banking and finance, the importance of the remittance industry, housing market, mining, construction, aviation and the overall contribution of the Diaspora community to the development of the African market will take place at the Excel in London.

It is expected that more than 1000 exhibitors will attend the event. Thousands more are expected to attend the conferences as delegates. The annual African Excellence Awards will also be launched. The awards will honour people who have made immense contributions to Africa?s development.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said this year, ?2005 promises to be an important year for Africa? and he has made Africa a priority when the UK takes on the leadership of the G8 and also the European Union.

? We call this event an Anglo-African event as we see it as Africa?s own support of Prime Minister Blair?s Commission for Africa initiative to help Africa. We believe that the large numbers of people expected to attend will serve as a valuable endorsement of the prime minister?s initiative towards reversing the continent?s negative development trend. Under the theme: Africa, untapped reserve for trade and investment opportunities, we hope to stimulate debate and contribute to Africa?s development through dialogue and networking?, Bernard Otabil, Deputy Editor of Africa Week magazine and the Director for Communications and Public Affairs of the organising committee said.

?We see the timing of this event as crucial. The ECO, the single currency for the West African sub-region is to be introduced on July 1st, and even though real notes will be issued a few years later, it is still important that the Diaspora shares its experiences with those business men living in Africa about the importance of integration. July will also mark the 20th Anniversary of Live Aid and in September, the United Nations will assess progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were agreed at the Millennium Summit in 2000. Africans need to have an input into all this, so the event will serve as the catalyst to addressing some of the known problems?, Otabil added.

More than 2000 exhibitors and delegates are expected to attend the event.

Note to editors:

Africa Week magazine is the leading weekly English language magazine to cover African politics, business and social affairs. Managed by the editors of West Africa magazine, the weekly online and monthly print magazine is recognised as an authority on Africa. The magazine is respected for its independence, insight and understanding of the salient issues that affect Africa and the rest of the world. It has established itself as probably the most authoritative journal on Africa and has become a principal reference point for academics, businesses and governments.

Africa Initiative UK is an exhibitions and conference management team which focuses on development issues in Africa. The company works in collaboration with leading organisations and experts on Africa.

To find out more information about the event, visit www.africanexhibitions.co.uk. To speak to a member of the organising committee, call +44 207 424 0911 All media enquiries should be directed to Bernard Otabil, Director, Communications and Public Affairs on +442082851675 or +447745194009 Email: conferences@africaweekmagazine.com