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Nqobizitha Dhlamini Business Reporter
LOCAL pension funds are set to establish long- term strategic collaboration with related funds in southern Africa as the organisations aim to strengthen the funds regionally.In an interview with Sunday Business, MN Capital chief executive officer Mr Michael Ndinisa said this objective would be fulfilled at an Africa Investment Funds and Asset Management forum to be held in Victoria Falls.
The meeting, which is set for 25-26 March is expected to convene an exclusive network of pension funds, insurance companies as well as social security funds from various countries in the region focused on the intersection of macroeconomic developments.
“Having successfully delivered this series in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Namibia, Tanzania and London, we have realised the importance of strengthening local pension funds on a regional specific approach before engaging in African dialogues,” said Mr Ndinisa.
He said the approach was designed to gather all the important aspects around pension funds management and investments in each of the countries falling within a specific region before convening in Mauritius for the main event where key stakeholders from across the globe would hold dialogues meant to pave way for economic development in Africa.
Mr Ndinisa said one of the key focus areas for the forum was to allow the establishment of long-term strategic collaboration between active stakeholders in Southern Africa to advance development in the industry.
He said the continent was fast becoming an economic hub and an investment destination for both indigenous and foreign investors despite the tradition of scepticism generated by a spate of negative reporting on Africa.
“Among the momentum boosters for this rapid economic transition is the continued growth of local pension funds as well as a trail of existing investment opportunities that attract both local and external investors,” Mr Ndinisa said.
Mr Ndinisa said they hoped to explore and identify what it would take to make significant advances in understanding integration and implementation of country specific best practices in the management, implementation and investment of pensions, retirements and social security funds.
“We aim to bring together leaders from various sectors to discuss legal regulatory and framework, fund investment strategies, environmental, social governance consideration, judiciary and other contemporary issues impacting the Southern Africa pension fund industry.
We also intend to focus on long-term strategic collaboration with active stakeholders in the continent to advance developments in the industry,” he said.
According to pension fund experts there was a need for the region to incorporate input and evaluate practical case studies from international and indigenous markets with the aim of benchmarking on developments, opportunities and challenges as this was a vital aspect the region was lacking.
MN Capital is a leading international emerging investment communication and research firm which employs a network of specialists in delivering discretionary services to institutional investors, asset owners, corporate institutions and sovereigns.
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