The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) is making progress in building interest among business leaders to invest in the continent, according to Nepad's steering committee chairperson Wiseman Nkuhlu.

He told delegates on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum's (WEF) Africa Economic summit in Durban yesterday some businesses were acknowledging the efforts made to end conflicts on the continent.

The finalisation of a comprehensive document detailing the criteria for Nepad's crucial peer review mechanism, in March, had been an important development as was the move to set up an African peacekeeping force.

"I believe the document is in a class of its own ... for me it was a major step forward, it showed we are serious about making Nepad work".

Nkuhlu said about 30% of the short-term projects planned for Nepad were being implemented, and significant in those was a programme to help alleviate food shortages across the continent.

Details of the plan should be unveiled after next month's African Union summit.

Patrice Motsepe, the executive chairman of South African-based African Rainbow Minerals (ARMgold) and a co-chair of the three-day WEF summit, said Africa's problems would not be addressed overnight, but some progress was being made.

"There is still a strong feeling of Afro-pessimism... and there is a long way to go, but there is some recognition that significant progress has been made".

He said there would be failures along the way and some countries were not totally in line with the spirit of Nepad.

Those countries would simply be left behind, Motsepe said.

Addressing journalists at the opening press briefing, WEF Africa director Haiko Alfeld dismissed suggestions that the poor turnout by African heads-of-state at the meeting signalled declining interest in Nepad.

WEF had been happy with the business, political and civil society participation at the annual conference.

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki, Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano and Marc Ravolamanana of Madagascar are due to join about 600 delegates at the summit. – Sapa.