NEW YORK, January 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Her Excellency, Susan Shabangu, will officially welcome a global audience of more than 6,500 professionals to the 18th annual Mining Indaba.

Investing in African Mining Indaba is honoured to have Susan Shabangu, Minister of Mineral Resources of the Republic of South Africa, will welcome delegates to the world's largest mining investment event, to be held from 6 - 9 February 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa, http://www.MiningIndaba.com

Minister Shabangu will officially open the Mining Indaba on Tuesday 7 February 2012 at 08h05 ZA time; during her address the minister will provide an update on the country's mining policies and other related initiatives. The audience, made up of financiers, investors, government delegations and mining professionals, will be the largest in the event's history.

"We are honoured to have Her Excellency return and address the delegation at the 18th annual Mining Indaba. We greatly appreciate Her continued support to accommodate the official welcome of our global audience into Her busy schedule. We very much look forward to hearing Her insights," says Jonathan Moore, Managing Director, Mining Indaba, LLC.

The 2012 Mining Indaba will feature more than 90 educational sessions, focusing on leading supply and demand expertise on specific minerals and other market trends (Commodities Review & Outlook Forum). 40 African government delegations will be providing public policy intelligence; and non-African government delegations, presenting on what foreign governments are doing to improve Africa's investment climate.

In addition, there will be presentations by mining exploration and services companies; and sessions hosted by the world's largest securities exchanges: ASX, TSX, LSE and HKEx. The International Council on Mining and Metals will host sessions on sustainable development featuring a keynote presentation from Dr. Mamphela Ramphela, chairperson of Gold Fields.  

The conference will also be addressed by distinguished leaders in mining and macro-economic issues:

• Tom Butler, Global Head of Mining, International Finance Corporation (IFC)
• Dr. Barry Eichengreen, International Monetary Historian; Professor of Economics and Political Science; Author of "Exorbitant Privilege"
• Dr. David Evans, Mathematician and Engineer, President of  Science Speaks
• Robert M. Friedland, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ivanhoe Mines
• David Hale, Founding Chairman, David Hale Global Economics
• Kobus van der Wath, Founder & Group Managing Director, The Beijing Axis

The 2012 Mining Indaba's premier sponsors include: Earthstone (Official Platinum), Anglo American, Austrade, BHP Billiton, BNP Paribas, Caterpillar, Nedbank Capital, Norlisk Nickel, and Standard Bank and South African Airways (official airline partner).

All delegates must be registered and require a badge to access any of Mining Indaba's activities. Please see http://www.MiningIndaba.com for full conference and registration details.

About Investing in African Mining Indaba

This is Where the World Connects with African Mining. Investing in African Mining Indaba is organised by Mining Indaba, LLC. Mining Indaba LLC has partnered with South Africa and other African nations for more than 18 years to channel billions of dollars of foreign investment into African mining.  This is the world's largest mining investment event with the industry's most influential stakeholders and decision-makers - financiers, investors, government delegations, and mining professionals - vested in the African mining value chain. For more information visit http://www.MiningIndaba.com.

SOURCE Investing in African Mining Indaba