SADC Media Statement on the SADC Energy Investment Conference in Germany

source: Republic of Botswana (14/3/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 4 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"

C15) 3/3/10: SADC MEDIA STATEMENT ON THE SADC ENERGY INVESTMENT CONFERENCE IN GERMANY

A two-day SADC Energy Investment Conference takes place in Frankfurt, Germany on March 04 and 05 in an effort to address the prevailing power shortfalls in the SADC Region and the adverse impact it has on socio economic growth.

Organised by Ambassadors of SADC Member States to Germany in collaboration with the SADC Secretariat and the Southern African Initiative of German Business over the last eighteen months, the Conference is also a follow up to the visit to the SADC Secretariat by the German President, His Excellency Horst Kohler, who was hosted by the SADC Executive Secretary in May, 2006, at which SADC made a case for investment by German Business.

The Conference seeks to afford SADC an opportunity to promote investment in the power sector as well as other renewable sources of energy within SADC Region through direct engagement with German investors under the umbrella of the German Chamber of Commerce with the following as part of its key objectives:

* Creating awareness within the German business community on the prevailing power shortfalls within the SADC Region as well as the investment opportunities obtaining in the SADC region;
* Creating an opportunity for the SADC Region to present bankable and other projects to the German business community and ensuing engagement between investors and SADC Member States/utilities;
* Identifying modalities for financing power sector projects in SADC; and
* Creating opportunities and avenues of negotiations on investment in SADC power sector projects with German investors.

The Conference shall also deliver a Way Forward Document, on the basis of which follow up on investment dialogue and sealed deals shall be firmed up by the Member States and German Business.

The Conference shall be addressed by the German Federal Minister of Economic Affairs, Southern African Initiative of German Business (SAFRI), the Chair of the SADC Group of Ambassadors in Germany, the Executive Secretary of SADC, the Chairpersons of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and the SADC Regional Electricity Regulators Association (RERA), KFW, representatives of the African Development Bank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank and many other dignitaries and experts in investment and project finance in the energy sector. About 12 SADC Ministers and Ambassadors are expected to make interventions at the Conference and elaborate on specific projects within their Member States during a Special Ministerial Session. SADC Ministers shall be accompanied by their national power utilities, regulators and experts in renewable energy.

The Conference is sponsored by Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW) (Gold Sponsor), Southern Africa Initiative of German Business (Silver Sponsor) SADC Secretariat, Emirates Airlines, BDI (the Voice of German Industry), DIHK and Afrika Verein. A number of media partners have been engaged for the occasion, and these include, Africa-Asia Confidential, Africa Confidential, Ecoselect, Engineering News, Petroleum Africa, among others.