adminTWENTY-THREE African countries, eight of them from Comesa, are taking part in the annual “African Downunder” conference hosted by the State of Western Australia. The annual event is aimed at attracting sustainable mining investments in African states.
The event, which began yesterday ending on Friday in the city of Perth brought together ministers, business leaders and executives from the mining services industries to discuss investment opportunities, value addition and minerals beneficiations in Africa. Western Australia premier Colin Barnett opened the conference.
In his address, the premier said Australia has 240 mining companies operating in 33 countries in Africa making it one of the largest investors in the industry on the continent.
He said Australia’s partnership with Africa was aimed at ensuring fair return from mining for the respective countries.
He said Australia was keen to support African states to improve safety in mining and environmental management, ensure security of tenure of mining companies and laws governing the industry among others.
Comesa Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya led eight ministers of mining from member states, among them Kenya, Malawi, Ethiopia, Comoros, Zambia, Seychelles, Sudan and Madagascar at the conference. This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Comesa and Western Australia in January 2014.
Comesa aims at attracting partnerships and investment to the region in the sectors of mining, petroleum, agriculture, vocational training and capacity building.
The conference aims at enabling Africa and Australia to take advantage of the positive changing face of the African continent which is continuing to attract the lion’s share of global exploration, minerals riches untapped arable land as well as low capacity and investments in agriculture.
In his keynote address, Zambia Minister for Mines, Energy and Water Christopher Yaluma whose mining industry contribution to the economy is 11 percent said his country was revising its laws and adopting a clearer policy on mining to attract more investors to the country.
“The revision of the legal framework and alignment with the policy is aimed at improving on transparency in the industry and generating more benefits to the community”, the Minister said.
Comesa states ministers in the conference include Abdou Nassur Madi (Comoros), Tewodros Gebre-Egziabher Redda, (Ethiopia), Najib Balala (Kenya), Joeli Lalaharisaina, (Madagascar), Atupele Muluzi, (Malawi), Eddy Belle (Seychelles) and Osheak Ahmed Tahir (Sudan). — Comesa website.
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