Southern Africa Investor Trips

In 2018 and 2019 the African Investments team joined our affiliated event, the Botswana Resource Sector Conference (BRSC), in Gaborone, Botswana.  The BRSC is now in its 15^th year and well established as the most successful resource networking event in Botswana.  The new the expanded programme includes presentations and panel discussions on issues and opportunities in the resources, power generation and infrastructure sectors.

We also visited Lusaka, Zambia bringing together a broad range of investors, local company executives, entrepreneurs, government representatives and agencies, financial institutions, advisory groups and representatives from the local stock exchanges.

***NOTE that the 2020 Investor Trip series has been postponed until 2021 due to the Covid-19 situation

Lusaka, Zambia

In June 2019, the African Investments team partnered with Stockbrokers Zambia and the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LSE) to present an investor event with a special focus on the LSE which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. A range of LSE-listed companies gave presentations on their businesses including Zambia Sugar, ZSIC (planned listing), Zanaco and Copperbelt Energy Corporation. Executives from the LSE, IFC, the Securities and Exchange Commission Zambia, local investment banks, pension funds and local asset managers provided insights into local capital market development and support for private investment.

A consortium of agri-businesses from the Mukusi region discussed challenges for the sector and highlighted significant investment opportunities through inclusive, community-based projects. Networking sessions provided opportunities for these businesses to consult with local capital market experts develop strategies for accessing new capital.

An overlapping back-to-back session with Waterpreneurs showcased a selection of the country’s top start-ups that are supported through business incubators/enablers Impact Capital, Musangu Foundation and 4IP Group.  Short pitches from these groups were interspersed with commentary on the key considerations for access to capital from impact and venture capital investors.

Joint networking sessions with the Waterpreneurs WASH-sector delegation provided opportunities for building new business connections across the local investment community.

Gaborone, Botswana

Investors joined the BRSC Conference, an affiliated group conference, in Gaborone in June 2019. Now in its 15th year, the BRSC showcases local mining, infrastructure and energy companies and includes a full exhibition space and B2B networking.

Strengthening commodity prices, growing interest in renewable energy solutions in Africa and the strong investment credentials of Botswana ensured a positive and vibrant event.

Lusaka, Zambia

Private equity, impact investors and financial institutions from US, Europe, South Africa, Botswana and Zambia were presented with projects across agribusiness including bioplastics from cassava, renewable energy including biofuels and geothermal energy, infrastructure including eco-housing, transport, logistics and warehousing and gold mining. Projects sought both debt and equity and deal sizes ranged from USD 300k to USD 200M.

4IP Group, a Swiss-based leading Alternative Investment and Financial Advisory Boutique, presented the afternoon Entrepreneurs’ Showcase with pitch decks from a selection of start-up projects across Zambia and Sub-Saharan Africa and Ernst Young Zimbabwe discussed the reasons behind growing investor optimism for investment in Zimbabwe.