March 15, 2022 | Dubai, UAE
Powering Southern Africa’s Recovery: Creating a Sustainable Future
There has been a growing, urgent demand for countries and companies to invest in a more sustainable future. This is true of Southern Africa, a region that is home to some of the world’s largest reserves of oil and gas, metals, minerals and coal. These industries make sizable contributions to the region’s GDP but cause significant damage to the environment and our climate.
The time has come for Southern African nations to diversify their economies and move away from oil and other fossil fuels. Sustainable investing can reduce price volatility in the energy sector and reinstate the region’s competitive position in the global market of agricultural products, hence reducing food imports.
We look at how sustainability and economic growth can go hand in hand in Africa. How do we get international investors to embrace a wider definition of ESG – one that focuses as much on the E and G as it does on sustainability – a move that will benefit citizens, communities and investors in the long run. However, significant barriers still exist that could result in missed opportunities, reduced ESG investment and lower FDI flowing into projects in Africa.
We’ll bring together Southern Africa’s FDI stakeholders, corporate leaders, policy makers and thinkers to brainstorm ways to increase the flow of finance to the region, which will benefit businesses and clients, improve infrastructure, increase returns on asset classes and bring about real change – environmentally, financially and socially, creating a sustainable future for Southern Africa.
March 15 - Tuesday
Powering Southern Africa’s Recovery: Creating a Sustainable Future
10:00 AM GST – Welcome Remarks, Bloomberg Host
Host: Mallika Kapur, Deputy Global Editor, Bloomberg Live
10:05 AM GST – Push Into Sustainability: The Government Perspective
We speak with a government representative to learn about the region’s plans to diversify its economy away from oil and other fossil fuels. What specific projects are they working on to ensure that other key sectors of the economy begin contributing to economic growth and development?
- Carlos Borges, Secretary of State for the Civil Maritime and Port Aviation Sectors, Republic of Angola
- Moderator: Yousef Gamal El-Din, Anchor, Bloomberg Television
10:25 AM GST – Scaling Up Renewable Energy Usage
Increasingly, many African economies are embracing renewable energy to accelerate their journey towards a greener future. This panel will discuss how Southern African nations are finding sustainable ways to meet their expanding energy demands. What steps are being taken to reduce the region’s dependence on fossil fuels and can it transform its global reputation as an oil economy?
- Sebastian W. Graewert, Senior Executive Officer, The Mauritius Commercial Bank (DIFC Branch)
- Gilles Vaes, CEO, InfraCo Africa, Part of the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG)
- Liz Pfeiffer, Chief of Party, USAID Southern Africa Energy Program; Senior Manager, Deloitte Consulting
- Moderator: Mallika Kapur, Deputy Global Editor, Bloomberg Live
10:55 AM GST – Integrating ESG
The challenge for investors in the mainly commodity-dependent economies in Southern Africa is to maximise the investment value by combining good intentions with business objectives. How are governments complying with ESG metrics and international standards? Which sectors will have specific projects that can attract ESG investment? Would investing in the farming sector achieve what oil and diamond exports failed to do – lift millions out of poverty? Could privatization programs in the region provide a valuable opportunity for governments to improve their ESG metrics for investors?
- Antonio da Silva, Chairman, Angola’s Private Investment and Export Promotion Agency
- Polo Leteka, Chairman & Founder, IDF Capital; Managing Partner & Co-Founder, Alithea IDF
- Moderator: David Malingha, East Africa Bureau Chief, Bloomberg
11:15 AM GST – Sustainable Investment Into Infrastructure and Logistics
Poor infrastructure continues to cripple growth in Southern Africa. Many roads, ports, railway lines and airports are in need of urgent repair. Access to reliable electricity is more important than ever due to a growing reliance on technology for work, education and e-commerce. What is this region doing to improve its infrastructure and logistics network? How can Southern Africa close its infrastructure gap and will infrastructure projects – from those in the pipeline to the ones under construction – comply with ESG metrics?
- Erik Becker, Senior Manager, Global Infrastructure – Middle East, North Africa, International Finance Corporation
- Felix Hermes, Head of Private Equity & Sustainable Infrastructure, Member of the Executive Management, BlueOrchard Finance Ltd
- Moderator: Mallika Kapur, Deputy Global Editor, Bloomberg Live
11:40 AM GST – Closing Remarks and Event Concludes
Host: Mallika Kapur, Deputy Global Editor, Bloomberg Live