Trade and Investment Africa Project focuses on Central Africa
The event was the first of the Regional Country Focus Seminars being hosted by Thebe Exhibitions and Projects as a build up to the 2009 Trade and Investment Africa Exhibition which will take place from 3 - 6 November, 2009.
The Central African Seminar was chaired by Humphrey Wattanga with keynote speakers:
- Phiwe Marumo, senior account manager, Africa Unit, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
- John Rocha, senior project manager: NEPAD Business Foundation (NBF)
- Arlene Wilson-Max, project director: Trade and Investment Africa
- Serge Kanda, consultant, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Thami Ngwenya, director: Central and East Africa, the International Trade and Economic Development Division of the Department of Trade and Industry, RSA
The seminar aimed to help traders and investors who have a vested interest in Africa to identify the various investment and trade opportunities in that region of the continent.
Even though the mining industry in the mineral rich Central African region was a dominant topic of discussion, it was indicated that whilst the mining industry attracted most of the attention continentally and globally, other sub-industries, that support mining such as food security, infrastructure development and tourism, have not been exploited, despite the obvious demand.
Amongst the areas explored were Central Africa's proven oil and gas reserves which are concentrated in Angola, Cameroon, Republic of Congo and Gabon with the minerals being gold and silver, chrome, platinum and nickel, copper, lead and zinc, iron and manganese, tin and uranium. Central Africa also has significant agricultural and forestry potential. The other potential areas for investment were on food security, the need for infrastructure development (electrical grid, ports, road networks, railway, gas pipelines, power plants etc.), there is a demand for transport, agriculture, electricity, fishing and aquaculture, and tourism.
Central Africa's short- to medium-term potential lies in its comparative advantage in resource and resource-based industries. This provides a competitive platform for finished products in the longer term, and immediate market for resource inputs industries.
The remaining four African country seminars will focus on North Africa, West Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa respectively and will be held on dates stipulated below.
The 2009 Trade and Investment Africa Exhibition and Congress targets international, regional and local visitors / buyers and investors who have a vested interest in Africa. The event aims to afford African governments, businesses and brands with access to a platform where they are able to display their countries best attributes to business counterparts, international investors, buyers and governments, worldwide.
The Trade and Investment Africa Exhibition and Congress is an industry networking, information gathering and exchange platform. For information regarding exhibition stands, the Congress and Regional African Country Focus Seminars, contact Carla Massman on 011 549 8300 or email .
