AFRICAN ACADEMIC, business and political leaders will be gathering in the Eastern Cape this October, in a ground breaking conference to explore the investment policies and challenges of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and its impact on the future of the people of Africa. NEPAD has been heralded as a major, achievable initiative that will propel Africa and its people into a new era of stability, growth, development and prosperity. This is largely dependent on getting the leadership and economic fundamentals in place, to attract significant investment in Africa. The African Renaissance International Investors Conference (ARIIC), happening 22 to 24 October 2003 on Port Elizabeth, is the first major assembly of leaders, investors and academics in the region to explore NEPAD and formulate workable and acceptable processes, best practices and opportunities that will gain the investment support of leading African corporations and their counterparts in developing countries across the globe. The conference is organised by Council for Scientific and Industrial Reasearch, the Port Elizabeth Technikon and the Port Elizabeth Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry and sponsored by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality. It is described as a comprehensive initiative that enjoys the endorsement, support and implementation of African leaders, civil society, and industrialised nations of the world, as well as the business communities of Africa. It is endorsed and will be attended by Prof. Wiseman Nkuhlu, NEPAD secretariat, and speakers will include Dr Demba Ba from the World Bank; South African Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe-Cassiburri; and CEO of Growth Africa, Kevin Wakeford,. ARIIC is a trade and investment conference that offers business practitioners and investors an entry point to engage in the NEPAD process and establish continental linkages with African business organisations, international policy makers, academic institutions and multi-lateral development organisations. It will be a vibrant platform to discuss, debate and develop workable programmes for the practical implementation of NEPAD with investors, corporate, political and academic leaders from Africa and the developed world. ARIIC enjoys the support of the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), local and international academic institutions such as the University of Port Elizabeth, Vista University, Vrije Universiteit, Godimo University, Milikin University, Saint Joseph's University, and the Potchefstroom University. Among the attendees to ARIIC will be international investors, African business leaders, government institutions, local, provincial and national government leaders, officials, parastatals, infra-structural planners and financiers, multi-national companies, development agencies, analysts and commentators on Africa. For more information contact Devin Flesch, Conference Secretary, on +27 41 50 3789.