2013 Mining Indaba™ registers a 10% growth on the number of attendees

Johannesburg 11 February 2013 – A record 7 700 delegates attended the 2013 Mining Indaba, from 100 countries and 6 continents, last year the conference was attended by 7000 people. There was a distinct African flavour at this year’s indaba with 57% of delegates being from the continent, 5% from Asia, 18 and 12% from Europe and Australia respectively and the rest from the Americas, truly living up to its description: ‘This is where the world connects with African Mining.’

This year there has been a marked increase from Asian delegates, which has increased from 3% of the total number of delegates in 2012 to 5% in 2013. The greater majority of the Asian contingent was mainly from China and Japan. This year the Chinese delegation numbered 104 including government officials. 

The Mining Indaba is the world’s largest gathering of the most influential stakeholders in African mining. They include financiers, investors, mining professionals and government officials. Government representation at the mining indaba was also predominantly African, with 36 African governments in attendance.

The conference is a platform for connecting with investors and key decision-makers in an atmosphere created for doing business and for reflecting on the industry-wide challenges and opportunities. Maria Palombini, Marketing Director, Mining Indaba LLC said: “We provide the platform for investing in African mining, the industry chooses the messaging.” The messaging this year was distinctly about sustainability, with a vast number of presentations focusing on this theme. “It is significant that global investors want to see and hear more on this topic”, said Palombini.     

 The CEO of the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Rashid Toefy said: “The CTICC is proud to be the host of Mining Indaba in its tenth year at the centre. The successful partnership between the Mining Indaba LLC and the CTICC has resulted in a winning formula, which has grown this event in stature. This is evident in the growth we’ve seen in the number of attendees. Mining Indaba is a key driver of economic growth in the province and this year’s event resulted in an economic spinoff for the region of just over R 111 million and contributed to the creation of over 700 direct and indirect jobs in South Africa.

Not only is it making a significant contribution towards the CTICC’s mission of raising the profile of Cape Town and the Western Cape as a premier global events destination, but it is helping to transform and develop the meetings and business events landscape across the country.

Toefy’s sentiments echoed the statements made by the Mayor of the City of Cape Town, Patricia De Lille who said: “Over the past 5 years, R336 million has been injected into the City of Cape Town due to the Mining Indaba, 3000 direct and indirect jobs have been created along with 20 000 hotel room nights for the City.”

“It was a rush.” “Impressive.” “It’s an extraordinary conference.” These are just some of the terms used by attendees and media representatives to describe the 19^th Investing in African Mining Indaba™ at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. “I’ve been attending the Mining Indaba for 3 years now and it just keeps getting better,” said Chris Bishop, Managing Editor of Forbes Africa.

Mineweb’s Geoff Candy said: “The challenges took centre stage. Challenges that present foreign investors are with a clear choice: to stay the course, or to go, quickly.”

Tim Cohen of Business Day said: “The mining indaba is an amazing symbol of the increasing importance of mining on the African continent. Governments are encouraging the industry and the social aspects are being dealt with.”

Gunther Deutsch of the South African Broadcasting Corporation said: “There is a sense that mining leadership is taking sustainability seriously,” whilst Andrew Moody of China Daily said: “It was my first time at Indaba and I found the scale of it very impressive. It was possible to do a wide range of interviews from industry experts, African leaders and Chinese businesses.”

Delegates also lauded the organisation of the Mining Indaba, calling the conference efficient and the content of great quality.