Business leaders and supply chain experts will gather April 29-30 at the Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra, Ghana, for CARISCA’s second annual Supply Chain Business Forum and Exhibition. Over the two days, keynote speakers and panelists will lead discussions on the theme “Fueling Africa’s Growth: Supply Chain Innovation and Financing.”

The goal of the forum is to enhance supply chain management practices across the continent. The event is targeted to business and industry leaders and academics with strong business ties or who conduct applied research that can enhance supply chain management practices in Africa.

The inaugural event, held in July, attracted nearly 280 participants from six countries. Among attendees who completed a post-event survey, 94% said they would return next year.

The Business Forum will feature prominent entrepreneurs, business executives and academics as keynote speakers, panelists and session leaders. The event also will offer ample time for networking and exploring the exhibition space, where leading companies will showcase their products and services.

Attendees will gain abundant opportunities to learn about and discuss the best supply chain practices throughout Africa and how leading-edge university research can support African businesses.

Programme
The event’s opening keynote speaker will be Macdonald Vasnani, founder and CEO of Conship Group. After starting his career as a customs house agent, Vasnani founded Conship in 1996 and has since transformed it into a multifaceted logistics and transportation powerhouse.

He will speak on the topic “Fueling Africa’s Growth Through Collaborations and Partnerships via Shared Resources.” Following his presentation will be a panel discussion on “Unlocking Innovation: How Africa’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Can Transform Supply Chains.”

CARISCA Executive Director and Arizona State University Professor Dale Rogers will also be a keynote speaker at the forum. A 2021 inductee of the Supply Chain Hall of Fame, he is a leading researcher in the fields of reverse logistics, sustainable supply chain management, supply chain finance and secondary markets.

Rogers will talk about “Using the Supply Chain to Finance Your Company.” Following his keynote address, he will be part of a panel discussion on innovative supply chain financing models.

Cirrus Oil Services CEO Ivy Apea Owusu will be a third keynote speaker. A pioneer in the downstream oil and gas industry and an expert in energy-structured finance, Owusu has been recognized as one of the Top 20 Matriarchs in Corporate Ghana.

She will talk about “The Nexus between Supply Chain Innovation and Financing: the Case of Ghana’s Oil Sector.”

Rounding out the program will be a session on the Ghana Logistics Managers Index (LMI). The LMI is a tool CARISCA created in 2022 to support business decision makers. The quarterly index is a predictive indicator of the overall Ghanaian economy.

Registration
Early-bird pricing for the 2025 Business Forum and Exhibition is available until Feb.10. Groups of five or more from the same company can receive a discount on registration. Seats are limited, and we expect the event to sell out quickly.

Registration is limited to in-person attendees. While most CARISCA events are hybrid, the Business Forum is an exception so that participants and sponsors gain full advantage from the exhibition space and networking opportunities.

To register for the event or learn more about becoming a sponsor or exhibitor, visit cariscabusinessforum.com.