The African Development Bank held its 2022 virtual business opportunities seminar Spring edition from 12-13 April to provide an overview of its policies, operations, procurement rules and country activities.
The business opportunities seminar (BOS) offers companies, civil contractors, manufacturers, consultants, and suppliers from the Bank Group's regional and non-regional members a one-stop-shop of information on how to provide goods and services to Bank-funded projects, how to partner with the Bank Group and on financing opportunities available for private sector projects.
The event took place over two days to accommodate participants in different time zones. Day one was for participants in Africa, Europe and the Americas; while day two was for attendees from Asian countries.
Over 300 entities participated, representing countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, North America and Latin America. Participants represented the public and private sector, including individual consultants, contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers interested in providing goods and services for the Bank's projects in Africa.
Departing slightly from its usual format, the webinar featured pre-recorded presentations on specific sectors as well as live sessions about the Bank's strategy, procurement, and integrity and anti-corruption departments. On both days, the program closed with virtual roundtable meetings on energy and climate change, infrastructure, transport and urban development; small and medium enterprises, industries and trade, gender, agriculture, health, and education. These offered participants an opportunity to engage directly with Bank experts.
Participants commended the webinars for being informative and insightful sessions and expressed interest in doing business with the Bank.
Led by the Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department (FIRM), Business opportunity seminars enable the Bank to grow a pool of high-quality suppliers and service providers to compete for its projects, boosting its own service delivery and achievement of its overall development initiatives.
Since 2017 and until the onset of Covid-19, the Bank held two in-person business opportunity seminars each year - in Abidjan (headquarters) and in a regional member country. Approximately 5500 delegates have attended the seminars, with an average of 75% of delegates coming from non-regional member countries, and 90% from the private sector, representing 55 countries.
In his closing remarks, Roderic Norman, FIRM's acting manager said "we have enjoyed sharing opportunities for a range of firms and individuals to partner with the Bank. During the two days, we have also had the chance to learn, from the participants, ways that we can improve our outreach and partnership. We look forward to bringing more innovations in future BOS sessions."
