POLICY REFORM TO EXPAND MINING INVESTMENT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Despite recent trends in mineral prices which provide possible grounds for optimism the level of investment for financing mineral exploration and expanding or rehabilitating mines in the subSaharan African region falls considerably short of requirements. The bleak economic conditions make the task even more onerous. The paper discusses the policy reforms that will be required in the region to create an environment for injecting new investment. These include strengthening the institutional structure and promoting investor confidence as well as reorientating the management strategy of state owned mineral enterprises to enable them to operate as commercially oriented concerns.