Lobito Corridor IPA Welcomes Patson Malisa as New Director General
On May 28, 2024, the Lobito Corridor Investment Promotion Authority (“LCIPA” or the “IPA”) announced Patson Malisa as the Director General of the LCIPA.
The LCIPA is confident that Patson Malisa’s leadership will significantly advance the goals and potential of the Lobito Corridor.
“The Lobito Corridor has unlimited potential to safely acquire, transport, and secure the minerals essential to providing the clean energy on which the world increasingly runs; to spur healthy economic development of the region and beyond; and to improve the lives of millions of people living along its route,” said John Causey, Chairman of the Lobito Corridor IPA Advisory Board.
“I can think of no one better positioned than Patson Malisa to help unlock and maximize those positive outcomes.
Patson’s experience in the international investment, financing, diplomatic, and poverty-reduction realms uniquely positions him to assess and address the challenges and opportunities inherent to the Lobito Corridor’s development. We have to do this right, and Patson’s leadership will help ensure that we do.”
The Parties
The Lobito Corridor Investment Promotion Authority (“LCIPA” or “the IPA”) is the permanent multi-stakeholder engagement agency tasked to link all public and private entities interested in advancing and participating in the Lobito Corridor.
Its main goals are to maximize and promote trade, investment, and economic integration among and between the three African nations of Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Zambia.
The IPA was founded in 2023 by a group of experienced African experts with decades of experience doing business, promoting trade, and advising governments, DFIs, and multinationals operating in Africa.
It further houses an advisory body of stakeholders that is comprised of individuals in national governments, private sector investors, and civil society organizations.
Patson Malisa, prior to being appointed the Director General of the Lobito Corridor Investment Promotion Authority, was a Diplomat and Development Executive.
He has previously served in leadership roles in local, regional and international organisations over the course of his career.
Mr. Malisa served two terms as Deputy Presiding Officer of the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (“ECOSOCC”), the youngest to be elected to the position.
He was also Secretary and Head of Strategic Planning and Partnerships for the Infrastructure and Energy Cluster of the same organ.
He has experience as President of the Organisation of African Youth, Chairman for South Africa at the International Youth Council, and the Vice President of the United Nations Association of South Africa (“UNASA”).
He has also served on the Civil Society Steering Group, and as a member of the Investors Group of the Global Finance Facility where he was responsible for the production and inception of the Global Youth Engagement Strategy.
Mr. Malisa completed undergraduate studies in Public Accountability & Administration at Stellenbosch University, along with earning a Micromasters program credential in Data, Economics & Design of Policy:
International Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”). He was featured in the Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans list of 2015 in the Politics and Governance category.
John Causey is an experienced emerging market financier, businessman, attorney, and advisor with twenty-two years of professional experience, mostly in the emerging markets.
His interest in emerging markets began as a Peace Corps volunteer on the Cameroon-Nigeria border. An American by birth, John has lived in several countries in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
In 2012, John focused his career on emerging markets, leaving Morgan Stanley to earn a Master’s in Finance from the University of Cape Town. His thesis on syndicated private equity transactions in Africa earned a distinction.
John has advised on over $500 million in projects across sectors like media, technology, and mining, and facilitated $4.6 million in seed capital for tech start-ups in Africa.
He has also led the development of four commercial real estate projects totaling 695,000 ft², with costs of $123 million.
Three of the projects were grocery-anchored shopping malls, and the fourth the Standard Chartered Bank head office for Zambia.
The projects were equity-funded through a private equity vehicle which had mostly pension fund LPs. The debt for the real estate projects came from regional banks, the IFC, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
John holds a certificate from MIT in Commercial Real Estate Finance and Development, a Master’s in Finance from the University of Cape Town, an MBA, a Bachelor’s in Psychology, and a law degree. He is licensed to practice law in two U.S. states.
SOURCE:lobitocorridor.org
