The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) is set to launch a new Africa Board next week, and is already in talks with a number of African companies about listing on the bourse.

Maureen Dlamini, JSE executive head of the Africa Board, said the aim was not for companies to delist on their local bourses, but instead consider a secondary listing on the Africa Board.

“We would like companies to retain their home listing. We do not want to take anything away from other stock exchanges,” said Dlamini.

The move is part of a wider effort by the JSE to work with other exchanges on the continent. Dlamini said the Africa Board expects listings from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Morocco, Ghana and Nigeria but added that companies from all other African countries are also welcome.

Dlamini also noted that the JSE is currently in discussions with a number of African companies operating in the telecommunications, agriculture, transport and financial sectors.

The Africa Board will be officially launched on February 19, with the first company also expected to list on the same day, and has set a target of listing five companies by 2010.