New Infrastructure Opportunities in Africa

 

SOUTH AFRICAN INDUSTRY HAS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE OPPORTUNITIES IN SUB-SAHARAN

AFRICA IF THEY TAKE LONG-TERM VIEW

16 th May 2016, JOHANNESBURG – In the face of growing international competition in Sub-

Saharan Africa, South African-based companies need to take a long-term strategic view

of the region and how best to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the

demographic, industrial and energy evolution that is taking place.

 

“Low commodity prices have tempered the desire of many companies to involve

themselves in Africa, but this is, arguably, the best time for those with longer-term

ambitions to integrate their operations into key development nodes,” says Duncan

Bonnett, director at Africa House, an Africa-focused consultancy tailored to assist

companies and governments develop their market entry strategies for Sub-Saharan

Africa.

 

“Many businesses think of countries or regions in Africa as single-driver opportunities,

which when buoyant, offer great short-term opportunities, but when depressed, signal

the time to leave. But Sub-Saharan Africa’s mining and energy belts that were initial

drivers of development have opened up support infrastructure opportunities that offer

growth prospects in the longer term,” says Bonnett.

 

In Tete, Mozambique, for example, coal and infrastructure projects have slowed, but

there are agri-industrial and support infrastructure opportunities. There is also a much

broader regional, national and sub-national opportunity that is unfolding from Southern to

East Africa, which is becoming an energy corridor.

 

Africa is urbanising at breakneck speeds, which means the need for infrastructure such

as bypasses, bridges, new highways and new technologies need to be deployed in

congested areas where traditional methods cannot work.

 

This evolution of infrastructure and the underlying drivers will be highlighted at the

Infrastructure Africa 2016 conference on 9 th and 10 th June 2016 at the Sandton

Convention Centre. With discussions on specific project development opportunities from

infrastructure players operating on the ground, the INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA offers

businesses the opportunity to set their regional strategies for long-term growth.

“Companies need to develop a local presence and integrate their strategies with the

evolving economies and underpinning infrastructure in the region. A local presence does

more than wave a flag: it demonstrates commitment to the future, it allows for in-country

intelligence gathering and goodwill (and ultimately contracts) from project developers

and government,” concludes Bonnett.

 

Duncan Bonnett and other infrastructure experts and project developers will be speaking

at the 5th annual Infrastructure Africa Business Forum.

 

More information about the 2016 Infrastructure Africa Business Forum

The fifth Infrastructure Africa Business Forum on the 9th and 10th June 2016 will bring

together prominent African infrastructure experts, government officials and business

leaders to accelerate the business of infrastructure development.

 

The 2-day conference and exhibition provides an opportunity for companies to focus on

the continent’s growth hotspots, discuss infrastructure trends, meet project developers

and relevant government authorities, whilst exploring infrastructure business

opportunities.

 

The event has the highest level of African and South African endorsement for an

infrastructure event on the continent, and provides the business platform for private and

public sector players seeking to meet the sector’s national and regional who’s who.

The event partners are the NEPAD Planning & Coordinating Agency (NPCA), the African

Development Bank (AfDB) and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). There

are many corporate sponsors on board.

 

For the first time ever, Infrastructure Africa is hosting the Africa Inclusive Infrastructure

Forum, a side event of the main conference with a key focus towards issues of gender in

infrastructure development across the continent.  The event will discuss financing for

women-owned businesses in the energy, transport, ICT & telecomms and water sectors

across Africa.

 

To register your attendance, please visit:

www.infrastructure-africa.com

For media enquiries:

To arrange media interviews with Duncan Bonnett or to speak to infrastructure experts,

please contact:

Julie@infrastructure-africa.com or call 083 295 0526

Liz@infrastructure-africa.com or 011 463 9184