Event organiser Mining Indaba recognises that one of the most critical functions of the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference is to create a platform that allows all those operating in the African mining sector to engage.

The annual Mining Indaba taking place from February 8 to 11 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre is “the primary global gathering for investing in the African mining value chain”, states the organiser.

With this in mind, Mining Indaba has again allocated specific times for networking over the course of the event to allow delegates to set up meetings and take advantage of the opportunity to meet new business contacts and build relationships with critical individuals to facilitate the future growth and development of their organisations.

This year’s Investing In African Mining Indaba is expected to gather more than 7 000 delegates representing nearly 2 100 international companies. They will interact with 400 sponsors and an anticipated 45 African and non-African government delegations.

Kicking off this year’s round of networking on February 7, the annual golf tournament will take place at the Rondebosch Golf Club ten minutes from Cape Town’s city centre.

Tournament players can look forward to a day of “world-class” golfing, wine tasting, food and a silent auction to support a notable cause – Els for Autism South Africa. For the last three years, a portion of the proceeds has been donated to the foundation, which was started by South African professional golfer Ernie Els in 2009.

The golf package includes luxury coach transportation to and from the Rondebosch Golf Club (coaches depart the Westin from 10:00 onwards), a welcome station with refreshments and a half-way meal, Mining Indaba commemorative golf caps, shared golf buggies, contests and prize giveaways and locker room facilities.

The golf tournament is followed by eight to ten roundtables from 11:30 to 13:30 on February 9 and 10, with each discussion allocated 40 minutes before delegates will be asked to rotate to a different table. Delegates will ideally participate in three different discussions, exchange business cards with at least 25 individuals and identify key people with whom they can establish further business opportunities.

A series of 30-minute speed- networking sessions are also available in a designated area on the exhibition floor in association with the main stage commodity panels.

Participants will be given two minutes to make introductions and exchange business cards before being asked to rotate, explains Mining Indaba. Speed-networking topics include phosphates, platinum-group metals and copper, which will be addressed on February 8. Rare earths, gold and minor metals will be broached on February 9 and coal and iron-ore on February 10.

Delegates are also able to take advantage of the Mining Indaba Business Matchmaking Programme, which is structured around the concept of matched referrals rooted in identifying opportunities, interests and delegates that should connect based on self-supplied data given at the time of conference registration, notes Mining Indaba.