Anglo American chief executive, Cynthia Carroll, is positive about Africa's future role in the mining industry.

Speaking at the Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town last week, Carroll said there is no doubt that the continent will become increasingly important for the mining industry in the coming decades.

Carroll said, "Africa's gross domestic product (GDP) remained positive in spite of the collapse of world activity and is expected to rise by more than 4% in 2010, double the rates of advanced economies."

She attributed this achievement largely to stronger African leadership.

"Today, more than 20 African countries are democracies, that is up from just three in the 1980s," she commented.

Carroll told the audience that mining countries such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana and Tanzania are continually improving the governance of their industries.

According to Carroll, modern companies will be willing to invest in countries where there is political stability, a sound judicial system, an educated workforce, regulatory systems, and an economic regime that welcomes private industry.