IT IS OFFICIAL! I am pleased to announce my formal appointment as full time CEO of the NEPAD Business Foundation, as I was previously seconded by Hewlett-Packard to this role and spent half my time with HP and half with the Foundation. I am thrilled to be able to contribute all my efforts to the development of this critical business organisation to further the private sector's involvement and reaching the NEPAD objectives.

We have furthermore, reached another major milestone with our partners, by hosting the recent NEPAD Projects Conference held on the 8-9 October 2007 at the Sandton Convention Centre. This provided the ideal platform at which varying levels of interest and support were expressed from both the private and public sectors towards the objectives of the Foundation. In this regard, I would like to thank our partners - the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the NEPAD Secretariat for their great support and teamwork in constructing this conference where substantial input and views were provided by senior level speakers on the progress of NEPAD projects. As I have always believed, the success of NEPAD will be measured on the effective delivery of projects that have a far-reaching impact in improving the lives of all Africans.

The year so far has proven to be extremely successful and we are firmly mobilized to provide deliverables to companies to allow them maximum participation within the various NEPAD Projects. Africa is open for business and opportunities abound for the private sector to participate in the economic and social development of Africa.

Coupled to this, it is important to mention the graduation of our first "Class of 2007" African Leadership Programme - which is a course designed in partnership with Wits Business School, to develop a new generation of African leaders. Having personally participated in the course, I can see the massive impact this course has had in expanding our perspectives on Africa in the global context. It has been an incredible experience on a personal level as well as being witness to the transformation of each participant in realizing their own leadership capabilities. These emerging African leaders have taken on the responsibility to carve our future for this continent. Applications for the 2008 course have opened and the NBF would encourage participants from both the private and public sectors to enroll for the course. The closing date for applications is Thursday, 17 January 2008 and the classes for the 2008 course will commence from 02 March -11 September 2008. See end of this newsletter for further information.

In the words of our NBF Chairman, Dr. Reuel Khoza, it is indeed time to "Let Africa Lead."