Africa: Continent Courts Asian Money

Nairobi — Top African policymakers and businessmen descended on Singapore this week to convince their counterparts in Southeast Asia that the resource-rich continent is the "last frontier" for investment opportunities.
African cabinet ministers and bankers pitched the potential of deals in infrastructure, agribusiness and utilities to expanding regional companies such as commodity trader Olam, water treatment firm Hyflux and Singapore state investor Temasek .

Africa, increasingly courted by China to feed its demand for resources, is looking to diversify investment from fast-growing Asia and is seeking expertise from a region that is a leading producer of commodities such as palm oil, rice and rubber.
"While Africa is trying to build a relationship with Asia, it tends to focus on China," said Arnold Ekpe, CEO of pan-African bank Ecobank Transnational Inc, which was a main sponsor of the Africa and Southeast Asia Business Forum in Singapore. "But Asia doesn't have only China," he told Reuters.
Asia is leading a world recovery and Southeast Asian economies are seen growing by up to 5.6 per cent this year, much stronger than Europe or the United States, but still slower than China, according to a report by regional body ASEAN on Tuesday.
African policymakers told the conference that bad publicity from civil wars and natural disasters were overshadowing the continent's successes of robust economic growth and a growing middle-class.

The IMF said last month it might upgrade its assessment of Africa's economic growth prospects.

AFRICA: THE GROWTH CONTINENT “A Key Business Destination for Emerging Market Players” APRIL 26-28, 2010 TORONTO, CANADA

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AFRICA: THE GROWTH CONTINENT “A Key Business Destination for Emerging Market Players” APRIL 26-28, 2010 TORONTO, CANADA This CCAFRICA Forum profiles the business and investment environment in Africa for international operators, public and private organizations and financial institutions currently or considering business or trade opportunities in Africa or involved in policy matters related to Africa. The Forum provides a networking environment for the Canadian, international, and Africa business community to build partnerships, profiles specific investment opportunities at the Deal Forum, and will support Africa initiatives ahead of the G8/G20 Summit to be held in Toronto June 25-27, 2010. Many African countries have generated amongst the highest rates of GDP growth, private foreign direct investment, and return on investment in the past 5 years within the emerging markets.  The continent as a whole is a major contributor to the world economy and resources with 30% of the world’s mineral reserves and 14% of the global population. Increasingly the continent is characterized by solid economic fundamentals, increased emphasis on strong corporate governance, supported by a dynamic private sector, the growth in funds and capital markets, and infrastructure investment requirements of $93bn per annum.  Almost 40% of emerging market private equity investors surveyed by EMPEA currently invest in Africa (vs. 4% in 2006). Complimentary or Free Registration for Qualifying LP