Tech, not natural resources, dominating Finance Indaba

The ongoing Finance Indaba in Johannesburg demonstrates that there remains significant interest in investment in Africa beyond the mining and natural resources sectors that would traditionally have attracted attention, says Ogier Partner Simon Dinning, who is attending the event.

Delegates at the event taking place today and tomorrow are considering a vast array of asset classes, including tech, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure and real estate all with a focus of working smarter.

There are expected to be more than 5,000 delegates to the conference, which is billed as the biggest annual expo and conference for finance professionals in Africa.

Simon, said: "Utilising current fintech, blockchain, Bitcoin, mobile solutions and payment systems it is clear that the advisory community in the African continent see huge potential to employ technology in a significant number of sectors to enhance investor appetite.

"The event is showcasing a theme of tech solutions running through finance activity in Africa.

"Investment interest remains high from traditional sources and, in addition, there is increased interest from family offices (particularly in the Middle East) and fresh interest from the Japanese market who have seen China invest heavily in the continent."