The Africa Sustainable Investment Forum (AfricaSIF) was launched yesterday at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. AfricaSIF is an independent pan-African not-for-profit network, knowledgebase and advocate promoting sustainable investment across the continent. The network aims to achieve its objectives by attracting investment in the public, private and philanthropy sectors across asset classes, countries and stakeholders. Speakers at the launch included Jay Naidoo, Chair of both Development Bank of South Africa and GAIN (Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition); Judge Mervyn King, Chair of the Global Reporting Initiative and King Commission; Simon Harford from Actis; African Development Bank Director, Tim Turner, Corli le Roux, Legal Counsel for the JSE; Wanjiru Kirima, chairperson of the Principal Officers’ Association; and SAVCA’s JP Fourie. In his welcoming address, AfricaSIF co-founder Graham Sinclair said that AfricaSIF is a strategic new step in facilitating investment in Africa that purposefully integrates environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. ‘Africa needs capital, but it does not benefit from capital that does not develop our continent sustainably. AfricaSIF aims to attract new capital in new ways to Africa and help to grow sustainable investment on the continent by taking a long-term interest in Africa’s economic development. 2010 is set to be a landmark year for Africa. With the world’s eyes on the FIFA World Cup kicking off in SA in just two days’ time, massive infrastructure development is taking place and the knock-on effects for the economy and business are immense. Africa has about the same number of potential consumers as India or China. After 40 years of sub-par growth, Africa’s GDP grew at 5% for five straight years from 2002, putting Africa back on the global investment radar,’ says Sinclair. More…

Source: AfricaSIF