FOUBLA’s First Networking Event Held on September 25, 2011.
The Foundation for a Unified Business Law in Africa (FOUBLA) held its first networking event on Sunday, September 25, 2011. The event took place in Midtown Manhattan, at the restaurant Le Pain Quotidien, on 708 Third Avenue at 44th Street, New York City.
This was the first official public event of the Foundation. It provided young professionals and businesspeople from different venues a direct contact with the FOUBLA’s team, and gave the guests an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Foundation’s activities and objectives. It also was an opportunity for the attendees to talk about the instruments, rules and the key goals of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA), all in a delightful environment. The event was also meant to help raise the FOUBLA’s profile as a non-profit devoted to promoting the harmonization process of business laws throughout Africa.
In her opening remarks, the FOUBLA’s president, Ms. Nady Mayifuila Dina welcomed the guests, introduced the Foundation’s team and provided the agenda for the event. The FOUBLA’s corporate secretary, Mr. Felix Leno, explained to the audience the path that had led to the creation of OHADA in 1993 by 14 West and Central African countries, soon joined by two other countries. He told the audience that despite the challenges, the way forward for the OHADA region is bright, and it is important: it covers an emerging market of more than 215 million people including the Democratic Republic of the Congo which is currently undergoing the accession process.
Dr. Jean Alain Penda, one of the FOUBLA’s Directors, then spoke about the current legislative framework of the OHADA Uniform Acts and their effect on the business climate and the economic integration of the region.
Thereafter, the Vice-President, Ms. Kekeli Kodjo described the purposes, the raisons d’être of the FOUBLA, and its role in the United States. The Treasurer of the Foundation, Ms. Francine Prewitt, spoke next on the state of the Foundation’s finances and listed the up-coming projects, including an English publication of the OHADA code, also know as the « Green Code ».
The head of the Fundraising Committee, Mr. Andry Olivier Zinsou followed in presenting the fundraising efforts of the Foundation and thanked our partners, UNIDA-US Chapter, and the Law Firm of Emery Mukendi Wafwana & Associates, P.C, a DRC-based law firm, which contributed to make this event possible.
The event brought together people eager to learn about the FOUBLA, and about OHADA’s unique and sophisticated harmonization process designed to improve Africa’s business environment. This makes the evening a great success. Indeed, several of the attendees expressed their interest in joining the Foundation to support its efforts.
Pictures of First Networking Event
For more information about the FOUBLA, please visit our website at www.fubla.org or contact us at contact@fubla.org
The FOUBLA’s Team
