Team Members

AGENDA

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Minnesota Africans United, in partnership with Power Africa, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Global Minnesota, Prosper Africa, US Commercial Services, Bountifield International, Asia Direct Resource and LEMA Company, we will discuss the different forms of energy and how they improve lives for Africans in the sectors of agriculture, healthcare and education in Minnesota and Africa. We will also discuss economic and investment opportunities for solar power in Africa, specifically in Cameroon and Malawi. Keynote speakers for the webinar include the former President of Malawi, Prosper Africa, Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, and panelists from successful energy companies doing businesses in Minnesota and in Africa.

Event: Opportunities of Trade and Investment with the Energy Sector in Africa

Theme:  Improving lives through electric production in Cameroon and Malawi

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Date: Friday, January 28, 2022

Time: 9:00am -11:30am CST, 10:00am-12:30pm EST, 4:00pm-6:30pm Cameroon Time, 5:00pm-7:30pm Malawi Time

9:00am-9:05am: Basil Ajuo, Chief Executive Officer of Minnesota Africans United to give a welcome and introduces Chair of the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission, Katie Sieben.

9:05am-9:15am: Katie Sieben, Commissioner for Department of Public Utilities to give a welcome and present on her work around the energy sector.

9:15am-9:18am: Mark Ritchie, President of Global Minnesota to introduce Keynote Speaker, former President of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda

9:18am-9:38am: Keynote Speaker, form President of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda presents

9:38am-9:53am: Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Resident, University of Minnesota, to moderate Q&A for Dr. Joyce Banda

9:53am-9:56am: Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Resident, University of Minnesota, to introduce Keynote Speaker, Abbie Laugtug, Private Sector Lead with Power Africa.

9:56am-10:11am: Keynote Speaker, Abbie Laugtug, Private Sector Lead with Power Africa presents

10:11am-10:31am: Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Resident, University of Minnesota, to introduce and moderate a finance panel who will discuss financing the development of energy in Africa: Jeremy Faber, Prosper Africa and David Edmiston, Export-Import Bank of the United States (Exim)

10:31am-10:36am: Tom Hanson, Diplomat in Resident, University of Minnesota to moderate Q&A for panelists

10:36am-11:16am: Mark Ritchie, President of Global Minnesota, to introduce and moderate a panel of Minnesota-based renewal energy companies active in Africa: Ted Christopher, Verterra Energy; Brian Plourde, LEMA Company; Larry Mahoney, Asia Direct Resource; Alexandra Spieldoch, Bountifield International

11:16am-11:26am: Mark Ritchie, President of Global Minnesota, to moderate Q&A for panelists

11:26am-11:30am: Mark Ritchie, President of Global Minnesota, to give closing remarks