With South Africa’s economy flirting with a recession, private sector companies and investors – both local and continental – are looking at alternative destinations for business growth and infrastructure investment is an area of keen interest.
“Everyone is looking for African project opportunities, but it is difficult to understand which ones are real and which ones are still ideas,” says Liz Hart, Managing Director at Siyenza, the organisers of the annual Infrastructure Africa Business Forum (IABF).
The 2014 IABF will be hosting senior project managers from a host of African nations who will be presenting actual projects with the opportunity for investments and partnerships. The organisers have spent considerable time and money travelling in Africa, meeting project owners and developers and inviting them to South Africa to participate at the 2014 Business Forum.
“With all the events Siyenza hosts, we know that the private sector is looking for networking opportunities, to learn and to find out what infrastructure projects are out there whereby they can secure business”, explains Hart. “To date participation has been secured from Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, Mozambique, Mauritius, South Africa, Gabon and Tanzania.”
“We are encouraged by the desire for African project owners to discuss their respective investment opportunities at the IABF and this will provide all participants with added value through their attendance. Projects showcased will be those providing a real return,” affirms Hart.
The third Infrastructure Africa Business Forum takes place on the 21 – 22 July 2014, playing host to two full days of renowned, thought-provoking content for its distinguished community. Africa’s most influential businesses and policy leaders are expected at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg to engage in intense, collaborative sessions and to draw a road map identifying key factors for growth and the opportunity for business participation in Africa’s infrastructure development.
Delegates can expect to explore new trading opportunities, establish and strengthen business networks, develop and form partnerships and plan a way forward to address some of the continent’s infrastructure project requirements. Expert advice and input on the current state of infrastructure in Africa and the anticipated impact of future development will also be presented.
The forum will host various discussions and some of the topics include:
Financing infrastructure development in Africa
Transport in Africa
ICT & Telecommunications
Energy in Africa
Trans-boundary water in Africa
To ensure delegates have the opportunity to network and meet these project owners and developers, the IABF will be implementing a formal Business Matchmaking Programme whereby delegates request meetings with other delegates and speakers in attendance in advance and have the meetings on site during the event. This service is complimentary to all registered delegates.
ENDS
Issued by: Siyenza Tel: 011 463-9184
Mbali Ndaba – 083 388 6465
Email: mbali@infrastructure-africa.com
Lizette Stokes – 082 322 5162
Email: lizette@infrastructure-africa.com
www.infrastructure-africa.com
