OREANDA-NEWS. From February 7-11, 2016, the African Development Bank (AfDB) will join Ministers of Mining from 16 African countries, industry leaders and an estimated 7,000 participants in Cape Town, South Africa, for the one of the world’s largest mining conferences, Mining Indaba. As patron of the African Minister’s Forum, and a principal sponsor of the conference, the AfDB will help African countries compete for investment in mining.

The AfDB will convene a panel discussion on a local content policy toolkit designed by the Bank’s African Natural Resources Center (ANRC). Sir Paul Collier, Chair of Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Governance, will deliver a keynote address. Other panelists include Andile Sangqu, CEO of AngloAmerican Corporation, and Matthew Bliss, Strategic Partnerships, Cordaid. The ANRC toolkit will help governments design policies that balance benefits to African economies with fair returns to investors. It also provides a guide for formulating effective local content policies.

The Bank will also host a special session on “Indaba Sustainability Day” to advocate transparent engagement with communities affected by mining operations and discuss policies to ensure economic diversification. His Majesty Kgosi Leruo Molotlegi, King of the Bafokeng nation, located in the platinum-producing region of South Africa, will deliver the opening remarks.

A panel moderated by ANRC Director Sheila Khama will include Kojo Busia, Senior Mineral Sector Governance Advisor, African Mineral Development Centre, UNECA; Tim Carstens, Managing Director of Base Resources; and Gillian Davidson, Head of Mining and Metals Industries for the World Economic Forum.

“The Indaba conference is the mining industry’s flagship event and represents an opportunity for the Bank to demonstrate regional development leadership,” said Khama.

The African Natural Resources Center was established by the African Development Bank to advise African countries on natural resources management, policy formulation and implementation. The goal is to enable countries to secure greater social and economic value from resources development, including minerals. The ANRC’s activities include extractive industries and minerals, non-renewable resources (gas, oil) and renewable resources (forestry, water, fishery, land).

Investing in African Mining Indaba is an annual conference dedicated to the capitalization and development of mining interests in Africa. The conference is expected to attract the participation of around 2,300 international companies.

For more information on the conference, visit: http://www.miningindaba.com