Business
Nigeria embarks on vast free trade zone with China
Thursday, 02 September 2010
Nigeria is building a multi-billion dollar free trade zone with Chinese investors on the edge of its commercial capital Lagos to try to develop a local manufacturing base and help reduce its import dependence.
African agricultural finance under the spotlight
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Africa is turning into a fashionable post-crisis investment destination as investors regain their confidence and start to focus on the continent's lack of direct involvement with the global market's volatility drivers and trouble hotspots.
Ghana to reach 1 mln tonnes cocoa output next season
Wednesday, 01 September 2010
Ghana, the world's second-largest cocoa grower, could reach its target of producing 1 million tonnes of the main ingredient in chocolate next season - a year ahead of schedule - a senior official said on Tuesday.
IFC sub Saharan Africa 2010 investments up a third
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
The World Bank's investment arm on Tuesday said its investments in sub Saharan Africa rose by a third to $2.4 billion in its 2010 fiscal year and forecast further growth this year.
Standard Bank plans $100 mln farmers' funding
Monday, 30 August 2010
Standard Bank will provide $100 million to farmers in four African countries in the next three years to help boost agricultural production and economic growth, CEO for Africa Clive Tasker said on Friday.
Rwanda investments double to $1.6 billion in 2009: government
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Investment in Rwanda doubled to $1.6 billion in 2009, a year after the tiny central African country was named top global business reformer by the World Bank, a government official said on Monday.
Africa considers a continent-wide space agency
Monday, 23 August 2010
Africa is a step closer to setting up its own space agency, with the approval of a planned feasibility study by the 53 member states of the African Union earlier this month.
Mauritius gets 30 mln euro EU grant to aid growth
Monday, 23 August 2010
The European Union (EU) on Monday said it had handed Mauritius a 30.2 million euro grant in direct budgetary assistance to help the Indian Ocean island's reforms towards becoming a high growth economy.
Special Economic Zone to make Gabon competitive, provide jobs
Monday, 23 August 2010
A special adviser to Gabon's leader told VOA the construction of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) forms part of President Ali Ben Bongo Ondimba's plan to make the country competitive and provide jobs to thousands of Gabonese.
Ivory Coast eyes position as top cocoa grinder
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Ivory Coast is on track to become the world's top cocoa grinder in the next few years as the West African state seeks more value from its raw materials exports.
Egypt sees increase in non-oil exports
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Egypt's non-oil exports rose 20 percent to 29 billion Egyptian pounds in the second quarter of 2010 compared to a year earlier, the trade ministry said on Thursday.
Nairobi Exchange to set up small-, mid-cap segment
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Kenya's Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) plans a segment for small- and mid-capital companies within the next year and targets admitting 100 new firms to the bourse by 2015, an exchange executive said on Tuesday.
Nano 'tea bag' purifies water
Friday, 13 August 2010
Scientists have reversed the action of the humble herbal tea bag to purify water on a small scale. Instead of infusing water with flavour, a sachet sucks up toxic contamination when fitted into the neck of a water bottle.
West Africa beckons as gold price hold shine
Thursday, 12 August 2010
Junior gold miners with assets in West Africa are becoming more alluring acquisition targets for their larger rivals as near-record high bullion prices fire up a race within the industry to expand.
Zambia sees bright future for copper mining
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Zambia, Africa's leading copper producer, said on Tuesday that it expects a strong performance by the mines over the long-term due to rising metals prices and has urged mineworkers' unions to support new investors.
Japan sponsors rice research hub in East Africa
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Uganda hopes to become the region's leader in rice research with the opening later this year of a US$6 million centre at its crop research institute.
India signs $42 mln loan with Congo following debt relief
Friday, 06 August 2010
India has signed a deal with Democratic Republic of Congo to extend a $42 million credit line for building a hydroelectric plant, Congolese and Indian officials said on Thursday.
World Bank unit leads big funds into Africa
Thursday, 05 August 2010
The private-sector lending arm of the World Bank is leading large government-owned wealth and state pension groups into frontier markets in Africa and elsewhere where few big investors have sought to venture.
Ivory Coast to triple gold output by 2015
Monday, 02 August 2010
Ivory Coast will triple gold output by 2015 to about 20 tonnes per year as three new mines start up, including Randgold Resources' Tongon development, a government official told Reuters.
GM bananas could cut blindness, anaemia in East Africa
Monday, 02 August 2010
Bio-fortified bananas that could reduce blindness, diarrhoea and anaemia are a step closer, according to the preliminary results of a joint research project between Ugandan and Australian scientists.
East Africa looks towards single currency by 2012
Friday, 30 July 2010
With the East African Community Common Market Protocol now in effect, the region is looking to launch a single currency by 2012. Many hope the integration will break down economic barriers across the region.
Nutrient-rich algae can boost Chadian women's incomes and tackle malnutrition
Friday, 30 July 2010
A local variety of the nutrient-rich, blue-green algae known as spirulina could boost incomes for women in Chad who harvest the product as well as help fight nutrition, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization reported today.
Chalco, Rio Tinto formalise Guinea iron ore venture
Thursday, 29 July 2010
Aluminum Corp of China Ltd (Chalco) has agreed to invest $1.35 billion in a Guinea joint venture that partner Rio Tinto claims is the world's largest undeveloped iron ore deposit.
Nigeria embarks on vast free trade zone with China
African agricultural finance under the spotlight
Ghana to reach 1 mln tonnes cocoa output next season
South Africa plans new high speed rail projects
Financiers bid to handle Nigeria power privatisation
Railway to boost Malawi, Zambia trade