Wednesday, October 22, 2008

JOIN US FOR COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON GUEST OF HONOR - HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR PETER OBI OF NIGERIA


THE ALABAMA BENIN FORUM
CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO
JOIN US FOR A COMPLIMENTARY LUNCHEON
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23RD 2008
12:00 NOON
SPECIAL GUEST LUNCHEON SPEAKER

HIS EXCELLENCY PETER OBI
GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA
RENAISSANCE MONTGOMERY MARRIOTT HOTEL & SPA
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, AL 36106

THE ALABAMA BENIN FORUM
CONCLUDES THE
ALABAMA NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM 2008

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
and
PARTICIPATION
http://alabamabeninforum.blogspot.com
chairmanalabenin@aol.com
TO R.S.V.P. - 251 644 1976

Monday, October 20, 2008

CALLING ALL ALABAMA BUSINESS OWNERS


ALABAMA BUSINESS OWNERS
WE ARE L00KING FOR YOU!!!!

COME AND SHOWCASE
YOUR BUSINESS
AT THE
ALABAMA NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM

NETWORK & PARTNERSHIPS ARE THE KEY....
TO ECONOMIC GROWTH


INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
ALABAMA NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
OCTOBER 21, 2008, OCTOBER 22 & OCTOBER 24TH
Renaissance® Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104 USA
TO REGISTER (FREE FREE) CALL 251 644 1976

Sunday, October 19, 2008

THE ALABAMA BENIN FORUM WELCOMES "THE FRIENDSHIP NETWORK" FROM NIGERIA


Friendship Network
21 Opebi Road Ikeja
Lagos, Nigeria

Friendship Network Officers
Dr. Nosike Agokei – President
Mr. Clement Aguiyi- Secretary General
Dr. Dayo Olympio - Treasurer
Mr. Sylvester Ngini - Financial Secretary
Mr. Longley Evru - Public/Information Service
Barrister Andy Igbokwe – Legal Adviser



After hosting 5 trade and economic sessions between Benin, South Africa and the State of Alabama amongst others, Friendship Network International is organizing a trade and economic corporate forum in Montgomery, Alabama from Sept. 12 to Sept. 17, 2008 to assist sub-Saharan Africa nation realize the full potentials of African growth and opportunities.
The main objective of the maiden Nigeria - Alabama Business Investment forum is to further facilitate and consolidate on the gains of the long standing historical similarities between Alabama State and Nigeria that had not been fully exploited in the past. The forum will serve as a platform for both the public and private sectors of the two countries to avail themselves of the array of investment opportunities in both countries.
Other objectives aim to:
• Provide a platform for the presentations to US corporate leaders and senior policy makers of the array of investment opportunities in Nigeria.
• Create an avenue for the discussion of ways in which these opportunities can be realized and the balance of trade increased.
• Allow participants to meet their strategic interest by providing networking opportunities, and avenues for developing bilateral investment possibilities.
• Provide opportunities for face to face negotiations with potential investors and partners.

DR. FRED BUSH OF BUSH, LLC TO ATTEND ALABAMA NIGERIAN BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM

Dr. Fred Bush, Bush LLC
International Business Development
Fred.Bush@BushLLC.com
334 281 4310

Dr. Bush provides advice and assistance to individuals and companies seeking solutions to international business development challenges. He has lived and worked abroad as a diplomat and international business development consultant in Europe, Asia, and Africa for more than twenty years. His extensive high-level international experience includes negotiating with industry CEOs, heads of state, ambassadors, and top-level government officials to resolve critical political, security and commercial issues. He interacts regularly with U.S. Government agencies including Departments of State, Commerce and Defense, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, ExIm Bank, OPIC, and the World Bank.

Dr. Bush has been active in Africa since 2000. He resided in Abuja for 14 months in 2000-2001 as an advisor to the President on the return to democracy and has since been engaged in business development projects in more than a dozen African nations. Initiatives include the development of the Nigeria National Hangar project - first in Lagos and then in Akwa Ibom State, and providing logistic support for PEPFAR – the President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief.

CHAIRMAN'S RECEPTION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19TH AT THE RENAISSANCE MONTGOMERY MARRIOTT - 6:00 PM - ALL WELCOME


THE ALABAMA BENIN FORUM

CORDIALLY INVITES YOU. . .

To the

CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME RECEPTION

IN HONOR OF THE

“FRIENDSHIP NETWORK” & Guests

THE DELEGATION FROM NIGERIA

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19TH 2008
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104
6:00 PM

Come Meet & Greet
Our
INTERNATIONAL GUESTS

COMPLIMENTARY REFRESHMENTS SERVED

See full International Business Conference Week Schedule at:
http://alabamabeninforum.blogspot.com
For more information call 404-414-9032

Mr. George E. Williams, Alabama Benin Forum, Chairman

Friday, October 17, 2008

FRANCES SMILEY SET TO WELCOME DELEGATION FROM NIGERIA TO MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA


Frances Harris Smiley, CTIS, TMP

Ms. Frances Harris Smiley is Alabama's Welcome Centers Manager. On Monday, October 20th she will officially welcome the Friendship Network Group. The Network is part of a large delegation who will arrive in Montgomery, Alabama from Nigeria for the International Business Symposium. The symposium will be held at the Renaissance Marriott Hotel & Spa located downtown Montgomery, 201 Tallapoosa Street from Oct 20 - 23. The Business Conference is being hosted by George Williams, Chairman of the Alabama Benin Trade & Economic Forum. Frances Smiley, CTIS, TMP, is a 33 year career Alabama State Employee and is the Supervisor of the eight Alabama Welcome Centers. She serves as the Coordinator of the State’s Heritage Tourism Program. She is a Certified Travel Industry Specialist and Certified Tourism Marketing Professional.

Throughout her Tourism Career she has worked in group tour marketing, served as a meeting planner, coordinated matching and special grants, and developed the nation’s first statewide Black heritage tourism brochure.

In 1994, she received the Phoenix Award from the American Society of Travel Writers, a delegate to the Nation's First White House Conference on Travel and Tourism in 1995 and a delegate appointed by Gov. Riley to the 2005 US Cultural & Heritage Tourism Summit. In August 1997, she received the Nation's first "Trailblazer Pioneer Award for Multicultural Tourism", from the Multicultural Tourism Conference, and the award is henceforth named, "The Frances Smiley Trailblazer Award."

She has participated in tourism conferences and programs, historic preservation, professional development, heritage tourism development and diversity marketing projects and programs throughout North America.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

CHAIRMAN GEORGE WILLIAMS WELCOMES INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS DELEGATION FROM NIGERIA TO ALABAMA



Alabama Benin Trade & Economic Forum Chairman, George Williams welcomes Nigerian Delegation from Nigeria for the organization's first
ALABAMA NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM


What a wonderful time to live and work in the State of Alabama. Every resident of this great state should be “Alabama Proud”. We had a record breaking year in 2007. 2008 and the years to come seem even more promising. Our state has had $6.8 billion in capital investments from industrial projects, the highest recorded in the state’s annual records. The influx of new businesses to Alabama has created 10,172 announced new jobs while the existing industry reports a creation of 14,072.
County after county is experiencing this resurgent economic climate while Mobile County recently won one of the largest industrial projects in America. ThyssenKrupp, a 3.7 billion dollar steel and stainless steel processing facility plant located in North Mobile County is one of the most sophisticated carbon and stainless steel processing facilities anywhere.
Alabamians are hard workers and our strong work ethic is one of the reasons we have attracted so many new businesses. Since 2006 Alabama had the biggest decrease in unemployment of any state in the Southeast over the past year. For three consecutive years, Alabama has been named "State of the Year" by Southern Business and Development magazine for its record of industry expansion and job creation. Companies from all over the world are beginning to learn what Alabamians have known for years: when given the opportunity, our state’s productivity is rivaled by few. Companies are investing billions adding high paying and stable jobs to our economy. From automobiles to aerospace, and from health care to biotechnology, Alabama is diversifying and attracting new industries.
13 years ago, Mercedes-Benz opened a plant in Vance, the German automaker’s first assembly plant in the United States. The move caused other manufacturers to take notice of Alabama’s workforce’s productivity. Since then, Hyundai, Honda and Toyota have all opened plants in Alabama and created nearly 10,000 jobs as well as billions in investments.
As Chairman of the Alabama Benin Forum, an organization that was created by Alabama Legislation and signed by the Honorable Governor Bob Riley. The purpose of the organization is to establish dialogue on trade and investment between the State of Alabama and certain Sub-Saharan African countries as defined by the federal African Growth and Opportunity Act; to establish a trade, investment, and development demonstration pilot project between the Republic of Benin and the State of Alabama; to establish the Alabama-Benin Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum; and to provide access to Alabama’s credit institutions, technical expertise and markets.
Just as an economic boom has energized the economy in our state, oil and mineral rich West Africa has experienced a new economic wind of change as well. Nigeria, the largest country in Africa, its membership of the World Bank's Multi-lateral Investment Guarantee Agency (M.I.G.A) as well as the operation of the bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (I.P.P.A) between Nigeria and any interested party country, make for adequate protection of foreign investment in Nigeria.
On October 18th the FRIENDSHIP NETWORK, an organization of 100+ Nigerian businessmen with strong and diverse portfolios will arrive Montgomery, Alabama. They are coming prepared to invest, partner, network and create business initiatives with the Alabama business community. Agriculture, textiles, education, biofuels, microbiology, farming, industrial, import/export, aeronautics, automobile industry, banking, health and technology are just some of the areas the group is seeking to explore opportunities thorough associations and partnerships with representatives from the State of Alabama.
The International Business Symposium will commence on Monday, October 20th and conclude Thursday, October 23rd. It will be held at the beautiful Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. The Alabama Benin Forum is also excited to have the support from the Honorable Bob Riley and the ADO office on board with us.


BRIEF ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GEORGE WILLIAMS

Alabama Benin Forum, Chairman
Alabama Republican Council, Chairman
Alabama Republican Diversity Council, Chairman
Professional Mediators
Broward County Mediators; Fraternal Order of Police
The Int’l Chiefs of Police Assoc.;
National Assoc. of Black Law Enforcement Executives
Veterans of Foreign War
Disabled American Veteran’s
Masonic Temple
U.S. Army Reserves Officers

THE ALABAMA NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AGENDA




THE ALABAMA NIGERIAN
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
THE ALABAMA NIGERIAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM AGENDA
THE 2008 ALABAMA NIGERIAN




ALABAMA NIGERIAN
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2008


9:00 AM Conference Opens – Day 2


Invocation – Friendship Network Representative
Morning Briefing/Acknowledgement of Guests
Pledges of Allegiance – America/Nigeria
Nigerian National Anthem
American National Anthem

Chairman George Williams

MORNING CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

9:15 - Lula Bridges, Educator

TBA_____________________________________________

TBA_____________________________________________

10:30 am - John Curry Key, Director of Alabama of Agriculture & Industries

11:00 - Taylor Williams, Project Manager/Montgomery Chamber

TBA__________________________________________________


12:00 NOON BREAK FOR LUNCH


2:00 PM AFTERNOON SESSION BEGINS

OFFICIAL WELCOME TO NIGERIAN DELEGATION ARRIVING TODAY - SELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

AFTERNOON CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

______Chidi Agbapu, MD Emerging Capitals Emerging Business and Investment Opportunities in the Nigeria Stock Exchange Market

TBA___________________________________________

______Clem Dalyn Aguiyi, President CEO Defense Contractors and Security Systems Ltd. Topic: Security Challenges of Living and Doing Business in Nigeria

_____Barrister Andy Igboekwe, Managing Partner Law Office of Andy Igboekwe and Co. Topic: Doing Business in Nigeria as a Foreigner , Legal Requirement

15 MINUTE BREAK

_____His Royal Highness: Igwe Rick Acholonu, the Traditional Regent of Orlu Imos State, Topic: Culture as a Tool for National Development - The Nigeria Experience.

TBA________________________________________________

TBA________________________________________________

Note * The delegation is taking a bus trip Wednesday, October 22nd. We will return approximately 6:00 pm. We will resume our conference at 9:00 on Thursday at the Renaissance Montgomery Marriott.
FOR MORE INFORMATION – 251 644 1976
SUGGESTED CONFERENCE DONATION - $35.00
PLEASE PAY AT REGISTRATION TABLE & PICK UP CONFERENCE PACK
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: ALABAMA BENIN FORUM



THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE HELD AT THE RENAISSANCE MARRIOTT IN MONTGOMERY

Coming from out of town?

Make your reservations at this georgeous facility in downtown, Montgomery.
Renaissance® Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104 USA

To Make Reservations: 1-877-545-0311 Toll Free
Fax : 1-334-481-5005


Discover the newest downtown Montgomery hotel, boasting stunning architecture highlighted by modern amenities at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. Perfectly positioned in historic downtown, this magnificent hotel has over 140,000 square feet of exhibit, meeting, and pre-function space under one roof, as well as a state-of-the-art Performing Arts Centre. Comfort reigns supreme in each Montgomery hotel room, offering the latest technological enhancements, such as LCD TVs with an abundance of high definition channels, a wireless phone with touch screen, and a connectivity panel to integrate all your electronic devices. Indulge in the lavish 9,000 square foot European Spa and enjoy delectable Southern cuisine at The House after mingling at The Exchange, the new social gathering place at this chic Montgomery, Alabama hotel. Corporate/social gatherings come to life in the elegance of the Renaissance Hotel Montgomery, Alabama.

THE ALABAMA BENIN FORUM PLAYS HOST TO INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM OCT. 20 - 23 IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA


GOVERNOR PETER OBI & OF NIGERIA TO DELIVER CLOSING ADDRESS DURING HISTORIC ALABAMA INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CONFERENCE



On Monday October 20th 2008, the Alabama Benin Economic & Cooperative Forum will make history. Their premiere International Business Symposium will be held in Montgomery, Alabama at the Renaissance Marriott Hotel for four days. Energized by the economic boom of job creation and the recent influx of businesses and industry to Alabama, they are anticipating over 100 delegates from Nigeria to attend. The delegates will represent the legislative, economic, medical, journalistic, educational, agricultural, technology, medical, legal, alternative fuels & energy expertise in the West African country.

With tremendous response across the state, the A-list of Alabama leaders scheduled to address the group include the Honorable Governor Bob Riley, Congressman Jo Bonner, AGI Commissioner Ron Sparks, AGI Director John Key, Mayor of the City of Mobile, Sam Jones, Mayor Ron Davis of the City of Prichard and many others. Alabama Benin Forum Chairman, George Williams, believes “the hearty response received from the legislative, economic and business sector speak volumes for the positive economic initiatives that have come to Alabama under the Riley administration.”

Governor Riley will open the conference on Monday at 9:30am with welcoming remarks to the group. His Excellency, Governor Peter Obi, Executive Governor of Anambra State in Nigeria is scheduled to deliver closing remarks on Thursday during the evening dinner. Dr. Nosike Agokei President of the Friendship Network International Association will bring greetings from the West African NGO as well.

Dr. Uchenna Elike of the Association of Nigerians in Northern Alabama, will lead a delegation from the Huntsville area. Hilda C. Lockhart, Director for International Trade for the Alabama Development Office is the liaison assisting with planning from the Governor’s office. Governor Riley signed the Alabama Benin Forum into law in 2004. The organization is the brainchild of the late, former Mayor of Prichard, Alabama, John H. Smith.

251 644-1976
For room reservations at the Marriott Renaissance Montgomery – 877-545-0311


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