Accra, Sept. 20, GNA -The Ghana Stock Exchange will play host to an international conference of the African Securities and Exchanges Association (ASEA) between October 28 and 31.

The 11th ASEA Conference on the theme; " African Capital Markets: The Next Investment Frontier, " will focus on issues affecting African capital markets, tap from the specific experiences of different emerging markets to assist in accelerating economic growth through greater and quality investments on the continent. ¨

Global fund managers, issuers, market operators and regulators will use the four days to explore ways of attracting the necessary investment to aid the rapid development of African markets.

President John Agyekum Kufuor is scheduled to address the opening session of the conference.

Briefing the media on the conference in Accra on Thursday, Mr Kofi Yamoah, Managing Director of the Ghana Stock Exchange, said the conference would provide a forum to further give impetus to the move to integrate the stock exchanges across the region.

In this connection a whole session is being devoted to discussions on how to implement integration of the exchanges on the continent and assess the status of efforts to integrate the markets from North Africa, South Africa, East Africa and West Africa.

Mr. Yamoah said managers of the stock exchanges will also use the opportunity to strategise in order to play a more useful role in the economic development of the various countries.

He said apart from operators in the market, special invitations would be extended to members of Parliament and key decision makers to enable them to appreciate the issues better in making decisions that advance the cause of the development of the countries.

Ms Abena Amoah, Council Member of the Ghana Stock Exchange, who launched the conference, described it as a landmark in the history of the country.

She said it was time Africa opened up its markets to attract investors, especially at a time there was renewed interest in the continent.

The African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) was incorporated in 1993 in the Republic of Kenya. ASEA's aim is to provide a formal framework for the mutual co-operation of stock exchanges in the African region. Its functions include the exchange of information and assistance in the development of member exchanges.

Other objectives include exchanges of information materials and provision of mutual assistance and joint programmes between members, assist members in the establishment of Stock Exchanges, the development of financial instruments and promotion of stockbrokers and dealers and develop and establish standards of training and professionalism amongst stockbrokers and dealers and personnel associated with members. The Association currently has 18 members.

Some of the topics lined up for discussion include Recent developments in African Capital Markets, regulation and market development and corporate governance. 20 Sept. 07