Standard Bank African Forum opens on Tuesday

The Standard Bank Africa Forum 2009 conference in Cape Town, South Africa is set to take place from October 27 – 29.

Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is also expected to update the delegates on the recent changes in the Nigerian banking system in a key note address.

Key themes to be explored include, “Prospects for Africa in the post crisis environment”, “Connecting Africa to the world”, “The role of Developmental Financial Institutions” and “Community banking”.

The conference is aimed at bringing together captains of industry from all parts of the world in the core sectors of Oil and Gas, Telecoms and Media, Power and Infrastructure, and Mining and Metals, to engage African policy makers and potential investors on opportunities in Africa.

Managing Director and Global Head – Client Coverage & Investment Banking at Standard Bank, Brad Koen, said, “The focus on Africa will be further concentrated on the sectors that we believe will be the most important drivers for growth over the next decade, namely oil, gas and renewables; power and infrastructure; mining and metals; telecoms and media; and local markets”, he said.

The 2009 Standard Bank African Forum, previously known as the Standard Bank Emerging Financial Markets Conference, is the 13th in the series and is themed specifically around Africa, due to the growing importance of the continent as an investment destination.