TIME IS MONEY The Mining Indaba is the most time-efficient way of gaining insight into African mining
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Considered the preferred deal-making platform for mining in Africa, the Investing in African Mining Indaba – scheduled to run from February 6 to 9, in Cape Town – offers invaluable networking opportunities and informative discussions and presentations, contributing to the success of African mining projects and industries, say previous attendees.
Dubbed Africa’s largest mining event, it attracts mining corporates, investors and government delegations, which engage and discuss new mining projects and available growth opportunities.
Former attendees note the evolution of the Mining Indaba over the past few years, highlighting that the event, hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, has adapted to better meet the changing needs of the African mining community.
South Africa’s largest individual gold producer Sibanye Gold investor relations senior VP James Wellsted echoes this, stating that “the focus of the Mining Indaba has shifted back to promoting meetings with investors within the venue and tackling issues pertinent to the industry”. Wellsted attributes Sibanye’s 2017 attendance to this refocus, adding that the company last participated in the Indaba in 2013.
The Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s investment management business Colonial First State Global Asset Management’s global resources head Dr Joanne Warner agrees, explaining that the new format takes the Mining Indaba back to its “earlier successful formula”, with a focus on mining companies and investors.
Warner, who will participate in the 2017 Indaba’s Bulls vs Bears panel discussion, on February 6, as well as judge the Investment Battlefield competition for emerging gold companies, is excited about returning to Africa to reassess the continent’s investment opportunities.
“Attending the Indaba is the most time-efficient way of putting your finger on the pulse of African mining,” says private equity vehicle Appian Natural Resources Fund founding partner Michael Scherb.
“We particularly enjoy meeting the next tier of discovery, project and management teams as we look to restock our pipeline of future investments,” he adds.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s Minerals Commission director Richard Kofi Afenu is looking forward to learning from other countries’ experiences and believes that African mining greatly benefits from this event, emphasising that “the investment situation may have been worse without the country presentations and exhibitions”, which form part of the Indaba.
Murray & Roberts Cementation’s MD and FD executive assistant Karen Mandy adds that attending the Mining Indaba does not immediately produce results or new work, but the “invaluable networking platform” lays the foundation for exploiting new opportunities. “Relationships with other institutions are often rekindled or created here, making it very important to be seen and to send the right message to key players in the market.”
Wellsted notes that the Indaba is a well-attended and respected conference, with Scherb adding that many corporates have recognised the strategic importance of the event, actively budgeting for the Indaba each year.
Attendance reportedly decreased this year, from 6700 in 2015 to about 6000. It is expected that the 2017 Mining Indaba will see a small increase in attendance, but more importantly, a significant increase in attendance from investors and mining corporates.