African experts, policymakers and business and political leaders will come together in Bahrain next week to examine new economic and geopolitical opportunities for African nations.

"The Geo-economics of Resources and Conflict" conference is taking place from Sunday to Tuesday and is being organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), according to a report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"Africa is an increasingly important trading partner for the Middle East and there are clear economic, political and social dynamics that can be shared and learnt from by all parties," said Transportation Minister and Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) acting chief executive Kamal Ahmed.

"I am delighted that Bahrain is hosting such an important and relevant event, and thank the IISS for bringing together such a high calibre of participants."

The conference will assess the balance between business opportunity and political risk in Africa.

"Not only is there heightened international interest in Africa's future, but there is also the conviction that an IISS conference in Bahrain will add real value to current thinking on the geo-economics and geo-politics of Africa's rise," said IISS Middle East geo-economics and strategy director Dr Sanjaya Baru. – TradeArabia News Service