Ghana would play host to this year’s Pan African Procurement and Supply Conference and Exhibition slated for 21st - 22nd May 2013. This landmark gathering, organized by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), is expected to bring together corporate executives, financial controllers and directors, public sector decision makers as well as supply chain, logistics and procurement practitioners from all sectors of African economies. The Conference is under the theme: “The strategic role of professional procurement in the development of Africa”, and would feature an array of high-profile and widely sought-after African and international speakers and business leaders. The expected speakers and business leaders include Paula Gildert, Vice President, Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and Head of Development Strategic Sourcing, Novartis Pharma, Engr. Emeka Ezeh, Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement (Nigeria), and Engr. Chris Oanda, Chairman of Kenya Institute of Supplies Management, Head of Supplies Management at Kenya Airways. The rest are Prof. Benon Basheka, MCIPS Professor of Public Procurement & Head of Higher Degrees Uganda Management Institute (Uganda), Mr. Silas Mensah, CEO of the Public Procurement Authority, Ghana, Dr Douglas Boateng CEO of the PanAvest Partnership and Chairman of CIPS Advisory Board, Dr. TukiyaKankasa-Mabula, Deputy Governor (Administration) Bank of Zambia, and many renowned professionals. The regional wide multi-sectorial conference which is the first to be held in Ghana is expected to give the continents public and private sector executives and decision makers a real opportunity to gain insightful knowledge into professional procurement and its strategic link to long term economic development Commenting on the conference Mr. Andre Coetzee the Managing Director of CIPS Africa said; “The call for value adding professionalism from the procurement fraternity has never being greater. It is a fact that through well trained, qualified and fit for the job procurement professionals, organizations and society as a whole can sustainably achieve significant economic growth and development . He said members would pay $250 and non-members would pay $350 for admission, and each delegate would receive a CPD certificate of attendance, delegates pack and entrance to networking session, plus refreshments and lunch for the two days, adding that non-members would also have the rare opportunity to win a one year free CIPS membership. “There would also be an exhibition, which would run concurrently with the conference and companies or individuals wishing to exhibit to the Pan African audience would pay between $500 or $750 per exhibition stand to showcase their array of products and services to a continental wide audience,” Coetzee said.