Entries open for EMRC Project Incubator Award

"The AFIF2013 was a new world for me where I met several people I have not seen anywhere else. AFIF2013 enriched me and encouraged me to have faith in continuing my work," says Marie-Claire Matambawho, who set up Agrimat Gabon and who won the coveted prize at AFIF2013. She won due to her project's sustainable business approach, which created jobs and income for the local community.

AFIF2014, entitled 'Financing Business Opportunities', will take place at the DEG headquarters on 4 and 5 June 2014 in Cologne, Germany, in view of Germany's deep seated heritage as a world leading business, economic and financial hub. The forum will play host to the two hundred selected professionals and decision makers coming from Africa, Europe and beyond.

Finance to expand

The EMRC Project Incubator Award spotlights the forum's title, showcasing projects which have used financing to their advantage and in parallel require further access to finance to expand. Each nominated project will be presented to a panel of global experts who judge the presentation based on specific criteria.

Presenting in front of a gathering of international leaders and experts can change the course of a business. Six months after winning the award, Marie-Claire Matambawho has seen a marked progress in her business, opening the doors to various Ministries in Gabon who have spotlighted her business acumen as an example to follow for the rest of the country's small and medium enterprise sector.

B2B meetings

Prof. Monty Jones will be the chairman of AFIF2014, having been elected president of EMRC in January 2014. Prof. Jones was named one of the 100 most influential scientists in the world by Time Magazine in 2007, was the recipient of the 2004 World Food Prize and today is the special advisor to the president of Sierra Leone.

The forum will also provide an environment for B2B meetings. These meetings are tailor-made to ensure maximum business partnership success. For two entire afternoons, participants, speakers and partners can sit down for one-on-one meetings conducive for potential business partnerships. Last year's forum saw around 700 meetings taking place.

The forum will have simultaneous interpretation in English, French and Portuguese.