Accra, Feb. 5, GNA - Accra will host investors and government leaders from over 30 countries at the Africa Investment Forum on February 8-10, an official statement said on Friday. It said the Forum would provide a platform for countries to profile investment opportunities in sectors including energy, agriculture infrastructure and manufacturing to an international audience of 500 business leaders, just as the contin ent prepares for renewed growth in the wake of the global downturn. President John Atta Mills, who will open the Forum, has described it as "one of the longest standing Business Events on the Continent" with a reputation for making "practical contributions to the economic development of many countries".

Dr Mohan Kaul, Director General of the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC), said: "I am delighted that the 7th Africa Investment Forum is to be held in Ghana for the first time. As Africa's latest oil and gas producer the international focus on the country has intensified over the last year, and I believe this Forum will help turn the excitement and interest into new partnerships and business deals." The Forum, organised by the CBC and the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), will focus on the theme, "Accelerating Intra-African Trade and Investment".

Presenters would include investment promotion agencies from Ghana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Togo and South Africa, each of whom will bring projects and have people on hand throughout the Forum to meet with potential investors.

Keynote speakers include Hifikepunye Pohamba, President of Namibia, Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Group Managing Director, Access Bank, Mr Pascal Dozie, Chairman, Commonwealth Business Council/Chairman, MTN Nigeria, Lord Cairns, Chairman, Zain Africa, Mr Mahmoud Mohieldin, Minster of Investment, Egypt, Mr Richard Laing, Chief Executive Officer, CDC Plc, Mr Alexander Erwin, Chairman, Emerging African Private Equity Fund, Mr Pierre Duhaime, President and CEO, SNC Lavalin, Mr Colin Coleman, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs, Mr Kofi Bucknor, Managing Partner, Kingdom Zephyr African Management and Razia Khan, Regional Head of Research Africa, Standard Chartered.

The Forum is sponsored by Access Bank, African Capacity Building Foundation, Anglogold Ashanti, Business Call to Action, Chevron, SNC Lavalin, Standard Chartered, Tullow Oil, Transnet, Zain Ghana, Agricultural Development Bank, Houlihan Smith & Company Inc and PZ Cussons.