EAIF chairman speaks at fdi Global Forum in London
David White, the chair of the Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund (EAIF), was a member of a distinguished panel of global business leaders at the fdi magazine’s Global Forum held in London on 24th September. The Forum hears from world class speakers on the latest trends and key issues in foreign direct investment, including geopolitics and economics, finance, technology, property, human resources, education and skills development.
Mr White, who has forty years of investment banking experience in Africa and internationally, talked about the vital role of infrastructure in economic development. He outlined the success EAIF has had in supporting nearly 60 projects across eight sectors in sub-Saharan Africa and said that EAIF’s track record made it a model of public/private partnership.
“EAIF has been immensely successful and is a model of wholly productive use of development budgets. The positive impact of the infrastructure we help finance can last for many decades and help transform economies and lives.”
EAIF is often able to look at innovative ways of financing infrastructure projects. It has the flexibility and capability to not only provide debt finance but also to structure and arrange total finance packages. Infrastructure project promotors value the expertise, experience, commitment and tenacity EAIF brings to projects.
Commenting after the conference, David White said,
“It was an excellent conference made particularly important because at the same time the world’s leaders were gathering at the UN in New York to launch the new global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). EAIF’s objective is to facilitate economic development that directly and indirectly contributes to the alleviation of poverty. What we do makes important contributions to helping the world achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “
James King, Africa and Middle East Editor of The Banker, was the session moderator. The Banker and fdi Magazine are published by the Financial Times.
Speaking alongside David White at the fdi Forum were Michael Ansah, vice president global real estate and facilities at Dell, the IT company; Peter Norman, senior vice president, acquisitions and development at Hyatt, the global hotel business and Catherine Woo, investment director, UK and Europe at the Government of Victoria, Australia.