17th August 2010 - Nepad Business Foundation Project Finance Conference

This is the 3rd Project Finance Conference taking place 17 - 18 August, Michelangelo Hotel, Sandton, Gauteng. An insight into both Africa and SA infrastructure funding. This year will be the first year that Arab Funding Organisations will be speaking and addressing Funding in Africa! If you are interested in booking please go to www.fairconsultants.com.

IPFA members will get 15% discount, and are asked to tick the IPFA box on the booking form.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) approved 186 loans and grants valued at $11.7-billion in 2009. These included infrastructure development worth over $6-billion; multi-sector development worth $3.4-billion; and, the finance sector at $1.2-billion. In April, a Committee of Governors representing shareholders of The AfDB recommended a 200% increase in its general capital from the current $33-billion to $100-billion allowing it to continue providing urgent financial support to African countries.

The Project Finance 2010 conference will provide conference delegates with insights into the changing world of project finance in Africa and practically assist them in moving project initiatives forward.

Recent years have seen significant increases in the number and nature of the role-players involved in project development; Public Private Partnerships in infrastructure, the increase in specialised infrastructure funds, renewed involvement of China and increasing Arab participation in African infrastructure projects are just some examples of important developments for our continent.

"There is a need for Project operators and implementers to know the growing number of sources of project finance and better understand their methodologies," adds Runge. "There are the traditional donors such as the World Bank, but there has been an emergence of equity funds, sovereign wealth funds, Arab funding agencies and a growing role from export credit agencies. The conference brings all these players together in one place and one time."

"There is also a great divide between financial agencies and the operators or project sponsors. They speak two different languages. A technical expert may emphasise technical aspects instead of following the criteria set by the funders. An inherent problem is that many project proposers don't know how to formulate a practical business plan that meets the criteria of the funding agencies."

The ultimate result would be a great deal and project flow arising out of the networking at the conference. Delegates will have a better idea of who to approach and work with and not waste time when the criteria are not met.

Topics to be addressed during the two-day conference include:

? Overview of Commercial and PPP Project Financing Trends in Africa

? Growing role of the Development Bank of Southern Africa as Lead Financier

? South Africa Infrastructure Funding

? Guidelines for Packaging Project Proposals for Submission to funding institutions

? Guidelines on Innovative Financing Methods for PPPs

? Arab funding in Africa (new in this year's programme)

? Involvement in BRIC (Brazil, Russia, Indian, China) countries in Sub-Saharan African projects

? Update on the North-South Corridor and its cross-sector implications

Sectors covered include transport infrastructure, agriculture, telecommunications, ICT, mining/oil and gas, power/water and sanitation, hotels and commercial property.

For more information on the conference, contact Heather Hook of Fair Consultants. Tel: 011 803 9362. E-mail heather@fairconsultants.com . Website: www.fairconsultants.com