> Chamber and MineAfrica Get Great Coverage

INT'L CONVENTION 2006
Annual Convention & Trade Show
March 5-8 Toronto
Financial Sense's
"Roving Reporter"
Rob Kirby

Daily Report


Financial Sense Home Precious Metals Rob's Report Home

"OUT OF AFRICA... INTO PDAC"
Saturday, March 4

The 74th annual PDAC [Prospectors & Developers Assoc. of Canada] Convention officially begins on Sunday March 5, 2006 and runs till Wednesday March 8, but the multitudes of international guests and dignitaries had already begun to descend on Toronto when Rob Kirby  Financial Senses roving PDAC reporter  stopped in to catch the non-PDAC MineAfrica reception at the Toronto Convention Center on Friday, March 3rd to serve as a kick off to this years PDAC coverage.

The MinesAfrica Group is an assemblage of interested parties bound by their mutual interests in advocacy of investing in African mining. The evening was designed specially to promote pre-convention networking and festivities were graciously hosted by Mr. Bruce Shapiro  President of the Canada  South Africa Chamber of Business.

MineAfrica Group members will be conducting a seminar on Tuesday morning, March 7th during the convention  aimed at building awareness as to mining and investment opportunities in Africa. Tuesdays lineup of speakers includes a whos who of African mining and is preceded by the 7th Annual Mining Breakfast.

With the dramatic resurgence of commodities  everything from base metals copper and zinc to the precious varieties  gold, silver and platinum; I was stuck with the notion that mining prospects in Africa have perhaps not looked so good for a very long time. After chatting with Mr. Lojomon K. Biwott  Commissioner of Mines and Geology, Kenya  he seemed to confirm that notion.

PICTURE MISSING

Ms. Joyce Misoi  Pres. Canada Kenya Chamber of Commerce with
Mr. Lojomon K. Biwott  Commissioner of Mines and Geology, Kenya

Mr. Biwott informed me that Kenya was sending an official delegation to PDAC for only the second time in their history  the first being more than 10 years ago at PDAC '95. He explained to me that his country has experienced a noticeable pick up in enquiries and activity related to the mining sector over the past year  which no doubt had some bearing on Kenyas decision to send an official delegation to PDAC 06.

Attendees at
MineAfrica Reception

With commodities recently coming out of a 20-year bear market, which saw their prices sink to levels that promoted high grading and discouraged the attraction new money in the areas of prospecting for new reserves  Africa, with its vast mineral wealth, now seems poised to benefit from what is surely shaping up to be a race to replace reserves on the part of the majors.



The Whole World In Their Hands

Its probably not a stretch to say that much of Africas future rests in exogenous events  like the worlds [read China and India] thirst for raw materials that nature has so graciously endowed the African continent with. Much of the management of this potential growth, or opportunity if you will, is going to be managed or steered by many of the individuals right here - present at PDAC 2006.

PICTURE MISSING

L to R: Mr. Marc Couse  Hon. Consul of South Africa, Ms. Lulu Xingwana  South African Deputy Minister of Minerals & Energy, Mr. Nogolide F. Nojozi  Consul General of South Africa, Mr. Bruce Shapiro  Pres. Canada  South Africa Chamber of Business, Ms. Esperanca Laurinda Bias  Minister of Natural Resources  Mozambique, Mrs. Maureen Bartolucci with The Honourable Rick Bartolucci  Minister  Ministry of Northern Development and Mines Canada, Ms. Oby Ezekwesili  Minister  Ministry of Solid Minerals Development Nigeria, Hon. Erkki Nghimetina  Minister of Mines and Energy Namibia


This years PDAC convention promises to be the best ever. According to Ms. Saley Lawton  Media Coordinator for PDAC, registration is tracking ahead of last year and that the number of media covering the convention appears to be heading in the same direction. The convention looks as if it will break all previous records.

PDAC Media Coordinator: Ms. Saley Lawton

On that note, its no small wonder that when PDAC 06 begins on Sunday, March 5th  it does so against a backdrop of buoyancy in the metals markets  in fact, twenty some odd year high water marks for most  quite possibly on the way to all time records.





The calm before the storm. Convention Hall two days before the event begins.




Rob Kirby
Your Roving Reporter for Financial Sense at PDAC 2006
Saturday, March 4, 2006

Report Home Page l Back to Top


Home l Broadcast l WrapUp l Storm Watch l Perspectives l Sitemap l About Us l Contact Us

Copyright © James J. Puplava Financial Sense" is a Registered Trademark
P. O. Box 503147 San Diego, CA 92150-3147 USA 858.487.3939