2 October 2006

The Africa Investment Forum 2006, a high-profile gathering of political and and business leaders, will discuss how the continent can benefit from the 2010 Fifa World Cup when it meets in Johannesburg from 9 to 11 October.

The forum is a partnership between the South African Department of Trade and Industry, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) and the Commonwealth Business Council.

It forms part of the Africa Investment Series, a unique private-public programme on business and investment, launched by the CBC in 2002, which has helped mobilise investment in 11 African countries.

The forum's 2006 meeting will be addressed by South African Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile, Namibian Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Bernhard Esau, and Naledi Moyo, vice-president of the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies.

Also expected at the forum are South African Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa, Nepad Secretariat chief executive Firmino Mucavele, and Coca Cola Africa communications director Yvonne Muthien.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), leading companies that are already major investors in Africa will participate, providing a "positive and realistic" assessment of doing business in Africa.

This year the forum will focus on creating opportunities for public-private sector partnerships and the challenges of urban renewal, rural development and human resource development in Africa.

It will examine how African and international businesses view the progress made by the G8, the African Union and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

FDI and 'diaspora remittances'
It will also examine the importance of African capital and changes in capital flows on the continent.

According to the DTI, "diaspora remittances" now exceed foreign direct investment (FDI) in Africa, "African FDI" from South Africa and Nigeria is becoming an increasing force in many economies on the continent, and some of Africa's biggest companies are now listed on global exchanges.

Delegates "will discuss if capital and equity markets are adjusting, and if treasury management is facilitating investment in Africa," the DTI said.

This session of the forum will be addressed by JSE Limited CEO Russell Loubser and Goldman Sachs International executive director Chiel Ruiter.

Topics to be discussed in other sessions include information and communication technology, which has sparked dramatic growth in Africa's small business sector, and the African film industry as a vehicle for continental integration.

Source: BuaNews

	Gallery: Fifa 2010 World Cup SA 'Make 2010 an African brand' SA 2010: frequent questions Africa 'one step closer': AU report 'Come home to Africa in 2010' Harnessing Africa's vast potential Annan praises African progress PIC's African infrastructure fund Africa: going for higher growth $100m boost for business in Africa SA, UK boost for African farmers EU, SADC in joint investment drive The Africa you never see

	AIF 2006  Commonwealth Business Council  Nepad  African Union  Department of Trade and Industry

2010 Fifa World Cup SA - We've hosted major international events, but the Football World Cup is in a class of its own. Come June 2010, the eyes of millions of visitors and billions of TV viewers will be focused on the southern tip of Africa. We don't aim to disappoint.

Gateway to Africa News, features and information on South Africa's relations with the continent.