Africa investor awards.

The winners of the third annual Africa investor awards organised by the magazine of the same name will be announced at a special ceremony at Nairobis Safari Park Hotel on 9 November. The pan-African initiative aims to promote and award good business practices, economic achievements and investments on the continent, with prizes going to African and international companies for best infrastructure deal of the year, best initiative in support of the United Nations millennium development goals, best privatization programme of the year and sustainable investment in Africa award among other things.

Speaking at the launch in Nairobi recently, Gerhard Gray, managing director of mobile telephone provider Celtel Kenya, one of this years sponsors, said: For a long time, the financial relationship between Africa and the rich nations has been skewed more towards aid than investment. This is as a result of the image painted of an Africa that is war torn, famine ravaged and disease ridden. These awards however shift the emphasis from aid to investment by highlighting success stories which send the message that Africa is as good a place as any, if not better, to invest in.

Last years prize-winners included Virgin Nigeria, South Africas electricity utility Eskom and Standard Chartered Group.

Africa Investor is a London-based bi-monthly magazine with an international readership of 20,000. It also has a website at www.africa-investor.com. Previous award ceremonies have been held in Dakar (2004) and Johannesburg (2005). For information contact Helen Stanley on email awards@africa-investor.com