Trade with Africa will be the focus of a conference this month at Monterey Institute of International Studies sponsored by the nonprofit Monterey Bay International Trade Association.

The Trade and Investment with the AGOA (African Growth and Opportunity Act) Countries in Africa Conference is scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday in the institute's Irvine Auditorium. Among the participants will be James Kiiru, commercial attache of the Embassy of Kenya, and Lerato D. Mataboge, economic minister of the Embassy of South Africa, in Washington, D.C.

Kiiru will speak about opportunities for American companies in bilateral trade and investment in Kenya.

Other speakers include:

· Michael J. Blakeley, principal associate for enterprise and industry development, Nathan Associates Inc., on "Understanding AGOA and Where the Opportunities Are."

· Roderick A. Hirsch, director of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Oakland Export Assistance Center, on "U.S.-Africa Trade Promotion through the African Growth and Opportunity Act."

· Judith A. Chambers, agribusiness adviser with Millennium Change Corporation and president of Emerging Market Solutions on "U.S. Investment in Africa = Opportunity for U.S. Business."

· Bamba Thiam, president of Afrisystems, Dakar, Senegal, on "Africa — Land of Opportunities."

· Michael K. Durney, partner with Ventana Funding Capital Resources and president of Mampeza Industrial, SARL, Benguela, Angola,on "Doing business in Angola, past and present based on 38 years experience within the country."

· Richard A.F. Soyombo, director of the Bay Area Center for International Trade Development on "Myths and Realities of Doing Business in Africa."

· Joseph Nganga, CEO of Africa Energy and Renewables on "Renewable Energy Opportunities in Africa."

· Ralph Le Roux, principal and CEO of mADi GROUP, Inc., on "Integrated Sustainable Communities."

· Olivia Herriford of Herriford Consulting L.L.C. and Nderitu Mahinda, Custom Africa Travel, on "Raising Awareness of Kenyan Business Opportunities."

The conference will cover an overview of challenges American companies face in establishing a successful business relationship with African partners and their governments, and highlight methods to reach out to the African private sector through private enterprise, investment capital, technology transfer and management.

AGOA was signed into law in 2000 with the main objectives of providing tangible incentives for American companies to conduct bilateral trade and investment with African countries that continue their efforts to open their economies and build free markets.

For information, see www.mbita.org/africa/conference.html.