African mining, De Beers, BEE – Oppenheimer speaks out

De Beers chairman Nicky Oppenheimer told a Washington audience Thursday that Africa has a bright future if its leaders embrace globalization and allow the private sector to flourish.  “Globalization is a huge force for good,” he said.  An open and accessible world economy is vital for African growth.

“Speaking as a proud South African,” the 65-year-old Oppenheimer told members of the Council on Foreign Relations that Africa needs leaders of character, “who learn from the past and do things differently.”