Leon Gerber, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Public Law and Programme Coordinator of the LLM in Extractive Industry Law in Africa, recently participated in an ad hoc Expert Group Meeting hosted by the Capacity Development Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

The Group Meeting, held in Johannesburg (South Africa) on 12 and 13 April 2016, brought together eminent African commentators to critically examine a study on minerals and industrialisation in South Africa.  The aim was to investigate relevant factors in South Africa’s own mineral value chain, in order to draw lessons for the development of domestic beneficiation and value addition in African mineral sectors.

In deliberating on the obstacles to these mineral value chains, Mr Gerber highlighted the negative impact of regulatory uncertainty and regulatory burden on foreign direct investment. He further discussed the consequences of domestic labour market instability, and argued the importance of cultivating government capacity in certain ‘soft skills’, including law and social sciences, to complement the traditional focus on STEM skills development programmes.

The Group Meeting concluded on 13 April 2016, with valuable contributions gained in realising the full potential of the continents extensive mineral endowments.