The minerals industry is key to unlocking natural capital in Africa and the full monetisation of the continent’s resource bounty, says independent management adviser Global Pacific & Partners CEO Dr Duncan Clarke.

He will address mining- resource corporates and investors at this year’s Investing in African Mining Indaba, to be held from February 4 to 7 in Cape Town and, following his presentation, he expects parties to have a better understanding of the complexities of Africa than the simplistic, widely prevalent notions of ‘Africa rising’ and the idea that long-term economic growth will be unconstrained or without a possible reversion to cyclical downsides.

At the 2013 Mining Indaba, Clarke will discuss sub-Saharan Africa’s economics and strategy, based on his 40 years of experience in economics, business, the oil and gas sector and the wider resources industry in Africa.

He will also analyse the current and future key challenges of the region, which are discussed in his latest book, Africa’s Future: Darkness to Destiny.

He explains that the book examines the economic evolution of the continent over 2 000 years and the related economic cycles, and focuses on the potential growth rate to 2050 and the socioeconomic fundamentals driving Africa.

Clarke believes that his presentation at the Indaba will inform companies, investors and governments of the broader and deeper economic forces at work inside Africa, including the risks and opportunities emerging in natural resources and the wider socioeconomic milieu.

Governments should take advantage of such opportunities and tackle challenges to increase investment and capital inflows for enhanced growth rates.

“Resource nationalism is evident and promises to negatively impact on unlocking Africa’s mineral wealth, while undermining long-term growth rates by impacting on incoming foreign direct investment, investment-at-large and potential net benefits to the respective economies, outside the narrow boundaries of the State’s fiscal take,” Clarke says.

His presentation focuses on sub-Saharan African countries and their strategies to attract investors – which includes geopolitics – in the search for country entry.

He notes that the Mining Indaba is a highly significant event in Africa and its resource sphere and he looks forward to engaging with the industry and senior executives.