GLOBAL AFRICA DIASPORA CONVENTION, nepad GLOBAL AFRICA DIASPORA CONVENTION THE GLOBAL AFRICA DIASPORA CONVENTION 2015 UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE AFRICAN UNION ​ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COUNCIL. The AU ECOSOCC - Global Africa Diaspora Program opens in Washington DC at an African Embassy on November 19, 2015 with a Welcome Reception for AU ECOSOCC and closes on November 22 at the Metropolitan AME, join a special service Interfaith Prayer Luncheon. On November 20 and 21: The General Assembly, Plenary and Roundtable Sessions. Musical Concert: Africa's Time, Treasures, Talents, and the Africa Ball and Ball will take place at the at Coppins State University, Baltimore, Md. The Global Africa Diaspora Convention 2015 is focused on the implementation of the African Union Global Summit in 2015 by identifying capacity for engagements. The Convention also sensitizes the African Union Agenda 2063 and shared values for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa driven by her people. It is also the historic milestone to welcome the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council to the Diaspora in collaborative efforts to engage stakeholders in opportunities and the development of Africa. The African Union declared 2015 as the Year of the African Women Empowerment and Development towards Agenda 2063. Through the times, African Women have demonstrated uncommon feats that stirred the soul of society and steered it toward new realization in the private and public sectors. The Brilliance and Resilience of the African Woman in all facets of development will be heralded with African Artists on the theme: Africa's Time, Treasures and Talents. The innovative program will pay tribute to the life of the late Professor Wangari Maathai, the first African women Nobel Prize winner for her contributions to the sustainable Professor Wangari Maathai's compelling life story is inextricably linked with the social and political changes that so much of Africa has been through since the idea of throwing off European colonialism began to gain traction shortly after World War II. Her unique insight was that the lives Africans and, by extension, of people in many other developing countries - would be made better if economic and social progress went hand in hand with environmental protection. She was also the first person to hold the post of Presiding Officer of the African Union Economic and Social Council. The program will honor other pioneering African Women and Black Mayors for maintaining enduring connections between people of African descent through public service. Africa Diaspora Participation in NEPAD Africa 2016 The NEPAD Africa Trade Fair 2015 Information Desk will be in operation on Friday, November 20, 2015 and Saturday, November, 21, 2015 from 12:30pm to 4:30pm. Business friendly multilingual volunteers will provide information and follow-up with sensitization outreach to Diaspora business communities. The coordinated outreach is helpful to provide AU-ECOSOCC with information that will assist organizers on the ground in making adequate preparation for Africa Diaspora participation. The NEPAD Africa Trade Fair indicates the prioritized the urgent need to diversify Africa’s economy, develop local contents, and enhance the competitiveness of Africa’s products in the international market. The program will create an indispensable one-stop market for African-made goods and services, and develop a standard of regulation for ensuring that only quality products are imported in, and exported from, Africa. The program provides a genuine platform to fast-tract the attainment of NEPAD’s economic development agenda for Africa and equally lends credence to the on-going advocacy for African countries to trade more with each other as a prerequisite to boost local economy, harness Africa’s abundant human resource potentials, achieve inclusive growth, and wealth creation in the continent. It also advances opportunities for Africa to forge a common trade front to break the decades long marginalization of African indigenous products and services. Among other enhancements, the events offer unique outlets to network, meet new people, and exchange ideas among business owners, investors, financiers, manufacturers, exporters and entrepreneurs through the Business and Investment Forum.