The movers and shakers of the international lighting industry will converge in Ghana for a three day conference from May 6 to 8, 2008 for the Lighting Africa 2008 conference.

The event, the first ever global business conference for off-grid lighting conference in Africa is part of the World Bank Group’s Lighting Africa programme.

The aim of the conference is to mobilize the private sector to provide modern off-grid lighting for the continent. Off-grid lighting is the provision of electricity from sources other than hydro and thermal. The other sources are solar and wind or what is known as light emitting diodes (LEDs) and compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs).

And the target is to provide off-grid lighting for more than 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

The conference provides a forum for international and local lighting industry entrepreneurs to learn more about the emerging off-grid lighting market in Sub-Saharan Africa and innovations in the field, while also developing strategic business partnerships.

During the conference, there will be a Development Marketplace grant competition for the most innovative off-grid lighting solutions and business models, and companies will compete for about 20 awards of up to $200,000 each.

The World Bank Group will also unveil a pilot market research in Ghana and Kenya that will provide critical market and consumer information to entrepreneurs and investors in the industry.

As part of the conference, a trade fair where more than 50 lighting businesses will exhibit their innovative products will be held.

Lead sponsors of the conference include the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program, the Global Environment Facility, and the Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility.

Other supporters include Good Energies Inc.; the governments of
Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, and the United Kingdom; the European Commission; and the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership.


By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi