The opening address by Dr Gannon very much set the tone for the conference – having set up a number of joint ventures with Southern Africa companies he spoke with passion of the similarities between the historical development of Ireland and that of South Africa.

He stressed how South Africa’s almost violence-free transition from a polarised situation has resulted in an economy that showed real growth and potential for investment. Of the opinion that Ireland was probably only half a generation ahead of South Africa in real business terms, he had in his own experience  found it very easy to do business in South Africa and likewise easy to establish contact with CEO’s.

He had in his own dealings found the IDC to be a very effective and efficient development organisation and with the low market entry costs coupled to a GDP of around 4% - setting up joint ventures with the IDC was ideal for those Irish companies looking for a gateway into Africa.

The IDC Executive and Strategic Business Unit presentations were very well received by the delegates and many probing questions were directed to the panel.

An IDC Conference:

In Association with:

Having hosted similar conferences in Amsterdam, Cologne and  Berlin over the past four months it became very obvious by comparison, as the Dublin conference progressed, that the Irish delegates were well informed as to the African potential and meaningfully wished to do business.

A number of very strong contacts were made and one-on-one meetings with the IDC team were held that afternoon, over breakfast and throughout the next day.

The weather was such that Dublin International Airport was closed down to all flights due to heavy snowfalls and this necessitated an additional day’s stay in Dublin – and a number of the SA contingent took this opportunity to take in the sights and visit the Guiness and Jameson Breweries, Trinity College, the Book of Kells and walk the Livesey.