Experts set to discuss investment

Kampala
Investors from the East African region will between May 18 and 19 meet in Nairobi, Kenya to discuss investment opportunities in Africa’s private equity.

In a press statement released by the Common Wealth Secretariat yesterday, the two-day meeting will bring together representatives from pension funds, insurance companies and other investors across Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda.

The meeting seeks to introduce participants to private equity as an asset class, familiarise them with the private equity industry in Africa and provide participants with the opportunity to meet fund managers, investors and other stakeholders.

The meeting will also provide participants with an understanding of the structure of private equity funds, operations and governance.

The Nairobi meeting is organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat, African Development Bank, African Venture Capital Association and Aureos Capital.
Mr David Ashiagbor, the economic advisor at the Commonwealth Secretariat said fundraising activity by private equity fund managers in Sub-Saharan Africa tripled from Shs1.7 trillion in 2005 to over Shs4.6 trillion in 2008, and to Shs20 trillion in the first half of 2009.

Equity growth
Mr Martin Poulsen, the chief private equity officer at African Development Bank noted that growth in fundraising has been driven by development finance institutions, international commercial banks, pension funds and private investors.

He said the raising funding from African institutional investor companies, which has remained a challenge will be addressed by the meeting to unlock the untapped potential from African investors.

Speakers will include; experts from The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Washington DC, CDC Capital Partners, London, South Suez Capital, Johannesburg and, other Emerging Markets.