UNIDO ITPO Tokyo supported the online seminar “Partnering with DFIs for Africa’s Development – Session 4: Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA)” organized by the Association of African Economy and Development Japan (AFRECO) on 25 February 2021.

Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is a bank owned by the South African government which was established in 1983, delivering developmental infrastructure in South Africa and the rest of the African continent.

Mr. Mohan Vivekanandan, Group Executive of DBSA, outlined its functions and mandates, and emphasized that development is key to growing African countries and to improve the quality of people’s lives. DBSA is focusing especially on the development of infrastructure such as transport and logistics, energy, ICT, water and sanitation, and education.

Providing examples of DBSA infrastructure projects in South Africa, DBSA officers introduced the renewable energy projects including solar photovoltaics, and student housing infrastructure program aimed to provide enough accommodations for students in universities and technical and vocational colleges. In addition, they presented their projects in other African countries which aimed to secure the stable delivery of energy and promote the economic activities in the African continent. They also highlighted the projects of rehabilitation and expansion of ports with the support from JICA and JBIC, as well as an LNG offshore facility project with foreign investors including a Japanese private company, and a partnership with local banks in different African countries.

DBSA increased total disbursements under the negative impact of COVID-19, including the project to donate test kits to neighboring countries such as Mozambique and Zambia. DBSA has a post COVID-19 strategy to utilize the South African government’s fund for improving infrastructure in Africa, to boost transportation and logistic systems in coordination with local governments, to support black female investors in order to provide equal opportunities, and to promote transition from natural resources to renewable energy.

The seminar was concluded by Mr. Vivekanandan, Group Executive, by encouraging the partnership with the Japanese government and private companies for the development of Africa.

 

Outline

Date/Time:	25 February 2021 at 15:30 – 17:00  *On a live stream
Organizer:	The Association of African Economy and Development Japan (AFRECO)
Co-organizer:	Southern African Development Community – Development Finance Resources Center (SADC-DFRC)
Supporters:	UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, JETRO, JICA, and JBIC
Language:	English

 

Programme

Contact for inquiries

The Association of African Economy and Development Japan (AFRECO)
Tel: 03-3511-8911
E-mail: info@afreco.jp