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The Australian foreign minister will announce a $30 million initiative to promote mining development in Africa ahead of the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth

24 October 2011

According to the Australian Financial Review Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd will use his keynote address at this week's Commonwealth Business Forum to unveil a $30 million initiative to promote mining development in Africa. Such an initiative will see 300 officials brought to Australia from 40 African countries for training, as well as an increased expenditure on International Monetary Fund programs aimed at providing assistance on mining. According to the AFR Australia's overall current and prospective mining investment in Africa is worth $42 billion.

The Commonwealth Business Forum plans to highlight new global economic partnerships for trade and investment in key sectors across the Commonwealth and beyond and will be attended by 16 heads of government and 1200 delegates. The Forum is to be held immediately ahead of the 2011 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be hosted this year in Perth.

CHOGM is held every two years, when Commonwealth leaders meet to discuss global and Commonwealth issues, and to agree on collective policies and initiatives. At previous meetings, discussions and decisions have included majority rule and independence for Zimbabwe (Lusaka 1979); sanctions against South Africa and the encouragement of the end of apartheid (Nassau 1985, London 1986, Vancouver 1987, Kuala Lumpur 1989, Harare 1991); nuclear testing in the Pacific (Auckland 1995); and Zimbabwe’s suspension then departure from Commonwealth membership (Abuja 2003).

Excerpts from: The Australian Financial Review (www.afr.com), 24 October 2011. Commonwealth Business Forum (www.cbf2011.com)