The need for infrastructure development in emerging markets is critical.

In most African countries, particularly the lower-income countries, infrastructure emerges as a major constraint on doing business. The cost of addressing Africa's infrastructure needs is around $93-billion a year, according to the World Bank.

The number of CEOs committed to speaking at this business forum, demonstrates the importance and growth potential of infrastructure development across the continent.

The yearly Infrastructure Africa Business Forum hosted by the NEPAD Business Foundation and the NEPAD Planning & Coordination Agency, in partnership with Siyenza Management will present stakeholders with an opportunity to unpack the enormous growth potential in addressing Africa's infrastructure needs. Africa, with a population exceeding one-billion people is well placed as an emerging market, keen for investment and growth, and has successfully maintained an average growth rate of 4% as a continent for the past few years.

The conference will provide both public and private sector stakeholders the opportunity to explore partnerships that will build this key sector of the economy and maximise economic growth, not only in South Africa, but across the continent and will address the policy and regulatory framework to boost investor confidence and find a way speed up the pace of infrastructure developments at ground level. New potential areas to provide financial assistance as well as access to finance to the infrastructure players will also be explored.

Key sectors to be featured at the 2012 event include: Power, Information and Communication Technology, Transport, Water and Agriculture. The conference will provide delegates with an opportunity to meet leading CEOs in the Africa infrastructure arena.

The following conference speakers are confirmed:

• Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD Planning & Coordination Agency
• Futhi Mtoba, board chairperson, Deloitte
• Mteto Nyati, MD, Microsoft South Africa
• Brian Statham, chairperson, South African National Energy Association
• Stanley Subramoney, deputy CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Alex Rugamba, trade director for regional Integration and trade, African Development Bank
• Shaun Nel, director and founder, BDO Consulting Services
• Paul Runge, MD, Africa Project Access
• William Mzimba, CEO, Accenture
• Peter Sullivan, CEO, Landelahni Group
• Professor Wiseman Lumkile Nkuhlu, chancellor, University of Pretoria

It is aimed at providing delegates with practical strategies and measurable outcomes through its interactive workshop-style format.

The event will allow delegates the platform to unlock new business opportunities for their company by understanding Africa’s new infrastructure projects and establishing valuable business linkages.

Registration is still open and delegates can register to attend by visiting the event website on www.infrastructure-africa.com.