RBI International Business Conference

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RBI International Business Conference





RBI International Business Conference Program: September 12-14, 2007 1


1
st
RBI International Business Conference

University of Pretoria Conference Centre: 12-14 September, 2007

PROGRAM

Mr. Gideon M. Phiri: Program Director & Moderator

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2007

07:30 – 08:30 Registration, Tea & Coffee

08:30 – 09:00 Welcome Address and Greetings:
Prof. Ronel Rensburg: Acting Dean and Chairperson: School
of Management Sciences - Faculty of Economic and
Management Sciences, University of Pretoria
Dr. Irene M. Duhaime: Associate Dean, J Mack Robinson
College of Business, Georgia State University, USA

09:00 – 09:10 Introduction of Keynote Speaker:
Ms. Joyce Nyandoro: The Ronald H Brown Institute for Sub-
Saharan Africa

09:10 – 10:30 Keynote address:
Mr. John James – Project Director, SAIBL Program: ECI
Africa, South Africa

10:30 – 11:00 Tea & Coffee Break


11:00 – 12:30 SESSION 1: Entrepreneurship and Human Capital Development

Session Chair: Mr. T. Mazwai: Chief Executive Officer - Mafube Publishing,
South Africa

Paper Presentations:

1. Regional Integration: Challenges and opportunities for Small and
Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Mr. G. Phiri -Regional Integration
Private Sector Advisor

12:30 – 14:00 Lunch Break






RBI International Business Conference Program: September 12-14, 2007 2


14.00 – 16:30 SESSION 1: Entrepreneurship and Human Capital Development
(continued)

Session Chair: Dr. Irene M. Duhaime: Associate Dean - J Mack Robinson College of
Business, Georgia State University, USA

1. Entrepreneurship Environment Comparison: South Africa vs. Nigeria
Prof Jurie van Vuuren – Chair – Entrepreneurship, Business
Management, University of Pretoria, South Africa


Session Chair Mr. R.V. Lechesa: Chief Executive Officer - Basotho Enterprises Dev.
Corporation

3. Experience of creating a Business Incubator and Entrepreneurship
Development Centre targeting at historically disadvantaged
communities in South Africa: Prof. T M Khomo, University of Kwa-
Zulu Natal and Prof. A Bhattacharaya – Institute of Management:
Nirma University, India

18:00 – 20:00 Welcoming Cocktail


DAY TWO: THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2007


08:30 – 12:30 SESSION 2: Entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation and
development

Session Chair: Mr. Dunwell Eku, BDS Advisor, Support Programme for Enterprise
Empowerment and Development (SPEED) - Ghana

Paper Presentations:

4. Entrepreneurship: A key to poverty reduction and social-economic
development: Messrs Stanislous Zindiye and Tafadzwa Mwangolela,
University of Fort Hare

5. The competitiveness and viability of cluster based cottage industries:
The case of the handloom sector in Ethiopia:
Ms. Merima Abdella, Ethiopian Development Research Institute(EDRI)







RBI International Business Conference Program: September 12-14, 2007 3


SESSION 3: Regulation and reform (i.e. structure changes in the
business enabling environment and investment climate: financial
systems, market access, customs, tax systems)

Session Chair: Mr. M. Kahari, Managing Partner, Turnaround Partners, South Africa

Paper Presentations:

6. Annual Tax compliance costs for small business: A survey amongst
Tax practitioners in South Africa:
Ms. Sharon Smulders & Prof. M Stiglingh: University of Pretoria

12:30 – 13:30 Lunch Break

13:30 – 16:30 SESSION 3: Regulation and reform (cont’d) (i.e. structure changes
in the business enabling environment and investment climate: financial
systems, market access, customs, tax systems)

Session Chair: Mr. M. Kahari, Managing Partner, Turnaround Partners, South Africa

7. An investigation into the impact of debt financing on the profitability
of small manufacturing firms in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe:
Mr. O. Matarirano, University of Fort Hare


SESSION 4: Business and Community Linkages

Session Chair: Dr. Edwin Ijeoma, School of Public Policy and Management,
University of Pretoria, South Africa

Paper Presentations:

8. New Directions in Entrepreneurship Research, Teaching and
Entrepreneurship Development at University of Kwa-Zulu Natal:
Prof. T M Khomo, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal













RBI International Business Conference Program: September 12-14, 2007 4


DAY THREE: FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2007


08:30 – 11:30 SESSION 4: Business and Community Linkages (cont’d)

Session Chair: Mr. Rindai Jaravaza, Managing Partner, Turnaround Partners,
Pretoria, South Africa

Paper Presentation:

9. BDS Market Development “developing BDS Markets for the poor”
concentrating on understanding the tourism sector in Ghana:
Mr. Dunwell Eku, BDS Advisor, Support Programme for Enterprise
Empowerment and Development- Ghana

10. Entrepreneurship is a key to unlocking potential: The case study
of Gauteng Universities:
Dr. Lekhotla Mafisa, Vaal University of Technology

11:30 – 12:30 Way forward and Closing


12:30 – 13:30 Lunch


doc_251942356.pdf
 

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