.jpg)
“Agribusiness in Africa needs to undergo a profound structural transformation and technological upgrading during the next 20 years to generate jobs and income urgently needed by Africa’s growing population,” UNIDO Director-General Kandeh K. Yumkella on plan to generate employment, income and food security across the continent through agribusiness.
AFRICAN POLITICS
Jos: 49 face murder charge – The Vanguard (NG)
11 March 2010
The police said, yesterday, that 49 people are to be charged with murder after communal violence left scores of villagers dead. Full Story
Rwanda to send 140 peacekeepers to Haiti – The New Times (RW)
11 March 2010
A group of Rwanda National Police officers are currently being trained prior to deployment to Haiti, the Central American island that was recently devastated by an earthquake. Full Story
Libya accepts U.S. apology over comments on Libyan leader – Xinhua News (CHN)
11 March 2010
The Libyan Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accepted an apology from the U.S. State Department over its spokesman's comments on Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Full Story
Sudan and Jem talks set to begin - Al Jazeera (QA)
10 March 2010
Direct peace talks between the Sudanese government and the opposition Justice and Equality Movement (Jem) are set to begin in Qatar, according to Jem. Full Story
Somalia Food Aid Bypasses Needy, U.N. Study Says – NY Times (US)
10 March 2010
As much as half the food aid sent to Somalia is diverted from needy people to a web of corrupt contractors, radical Islamist militants and local United Nations staff members, according to a new Security Council report. Full Story
AFRICAN ECONOMY
Chinese visit pays off for Zambia – Times of Zambia (ZAM)
11 March 2010
Zamia has secured a concessional loan of US$ 1 billion from the government of China for investment in development projects in hydro power, housing, road infrastructure and other sectors. Full Story
SA has some leeway on inflation – Strauss-Kahn – Engineering News (SA)
10 March 2010
South Africa's government is right to set inflation targets but has leeway for some flexibility as the country looks to emerge from recession, International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn said. Full Story
Zone designates over 300, 000 sqm land for investment – Walta Information (ETH)
10 March 2010
The South Wollo Zone Investment Coordination Office disclosed that it has designated more than 300, 000 square meters of land for investment in eight woredas of the zone. Full Story
AFRICAN BUSINESS
Banking and Finance
Afriland buys IBC stake – Times of Zambia (ZAM)
11 March 2010
Cameroun bank, Afriland First Bank Group has acquired 80 per cent stake in Intermarket Banking Corporation (IBC) and taken over control from Sabre Capital, which bought the bank two years. Full Story
Local banks face stiff penalties – The Namibian (NAM)
11 March 2010
Commercial banks could be fined up to N$100 000 by the Bank of Namibia (BoN) if they don’t comply with the proposed laws in the Payment Systems’ Management Bill which, amongst others, will regulate banking fees and charges. Full Story
Cooperative Bank of Kenya Full-Year Profit Climbs 24% - Bloomberg (US)
11 March 2010
Cooperative Bank of Kenya Ltd., the country’s fourth-biggest lender by assets, posted a 24 percent increase in full-year profit as its customer base nearly doubled, Chief Executive Officer Gideon Muriuki said. Full Story
Oil and Energy
Tullow Oil loses control over Kudu – The Namibian (NAM)
11 March 2010
Russian gas giant Gazprom and Namcor have partnered up to muscle out Tullow Oil as the main shareholder in the Kudu gas field, securing 54 per cent of the interest in the multibillion-dollar offshore energy project. Full Story
Finnish investors eye Nigeria's energy sector – The Guardian (NG)
11 March 2010
Investors from the Republic of Finland are to invest in the energy sector in Nigeria, as part of efforts to assist the country boost its power base and jumpstart industrialisation in the country, according to the Finnish Minister of Foreign Trade … Full Story
Angola-China project in Luanda to improve electricity supply – Macau Hub (MAC)
11 March 2010
Three new electricity sub-stations are due to be built this year in the municipality of Viana, in Luanda, as part of the fourth phase of the Angola-China project said Carlos Ferreira from electricity distribution company, EDEL. Full Story
More homes set to access power as KPLC steps up grid – Business Daily (KEN)
11 March 2010
The Kenya Power and Lighting Company plans to massively scale up electricity transmission and distribution to wire up a larger proportion of the country to the national power grid. Full Story
Metals and Mining
State will not grant winelands mining approval – Business Day (SA)
11 March 2010
The Department of Mineral Resources would not approve the controversial application by state-owned mining company African Exploration Mining and Finance Corporation to prospect and possibly mine in the Western Cape winelands. Full Story
Tanzania for greater openness in mining – IPP Media (TZ)
11 March 2010
Tanzania has officially joined the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiatives (EITI), which seeks to ensure that all government revenue from mining and natural gas exploitation and all payments made by mining companies are made public. Full Story
Technology and Communications
MTN reports 28% increase in subscribers – Business Day (SA)
11 March 2010
Local Mobile Phone Company MTN reports it’s increased it’s subscription base by 28% to 116 million users at the end of December 2009. Full Story
Zain Africa sale raises stakes for India’s Bharti – Business Daily (KEN)
10 March 2010
For several months, the principal shareholders of the Zain Group of Kuwait, one of the region’s largest telecom service providers, have been looking for a buyer for the company’s assets in Africa. Full Story
Transport and Infrastructure
Mozambican airline LAM starts flights to Portugal in October – Macau Hub (MAC)
11 March 2010
Mozambique’s flagship airline, Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique (LAM) is due to launch a scheduled flight from Maputo to Lisbon in the last week of October, a source from the company told Macauhub Wednesday in Berlin. Full Story
Japan grants loan to Mozambique to repair Nampula-Cuamba road – Macau Hub (MAC)
11 March 2010
Japan has granted Mozambique a loan of US$60 million to fund work to repair the Nampula-Cuamba road, which links the provinces of Nampula and Niassa, with the respective contract signed Wednesday in Maputo, according to a report in Mozambican newspaper, Notícias. Full Story
Agriculture
NSE to launch farm produce market by June - Business Daily (KEN)
11 March 2010
The Nairobi bourse is set to launch a commodities exchange by mid this year, offering farmers a new safety net against the price turbulence that has diminished their earnings and left tonnes of agricultural produce to go waste. Full Story
Grains body pleads for Rukwa farmers – IPP Media (TZ)
11 March 2010
The Eastern Africa Grain Council has urged regional leaders to persuade Tanzania to allow Rukwa Region to sell its surplus food to the neighbouring countries. Full Story
African leaders support agribusiness plan at UN-backed conference – UN News Centre
10 March 2010
High-level representatives from 44 African countries wrapped up a United Nations-backed conference in Nigeria today with the approval of an ambitious plan to generate employment, income and food security across the continent through agribusiness. Full story.
Other
Nakumatt in an expansion drive in Rwanda – The New Times (RW)
11 March 2010
Having made its foray into Rwanda through the buyout of another operator, City Supermarket, through a $3 million deal, Nakumatt Rwanda is set to consolidate it presence in Rwanda by opening three other branches. Full Story
Unilever donates to Bududa victims – Daily Monitor (UG)
11 March 2010
Budada District landslide victims have received relief worth Shs10 million from Unilever Uganda. The products that included blue band, soap and loaves of bread were handed over to Uganda Red Cross yesterday at Unilever offices in Kampala. Full Story
NFF to set up $8m World Cup Village in Durban – The Guardian (NG)
10 March 2010
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has concluded plans to set up Nigerian fans' village in Durban, South Africa, where the Super Eagles would camp for the FIFA 2010 World Cup. Full Story
Final call for entries for Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards – NEXT (NG)
11 March 2010
Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, is closing its annual Africa Business Reporting Awards in less than three weeks, on March 26. Initiated by Diageo in 2004, the awards encourage better business reporting about Africa. Full story.
AFRICAN ENVIRONMENT
Japan gives Gabon 1.2 billion FCFA to protect coast – Afrique en Ligne (FR)
11 March 2010
Gabon and Japan on Wednesday signed an agreement for 1.2 billion FCFA (US$2.465 million) in Libreville for the protection of Gabon's 8 00 km long coastal region. Full Story
Another landslide disaster looms in Bududa – Daily Monitor (UG)
11 March 2010
Another landslide is reportedly looming in Bududda as the crack in one of the hills overlooking Nametsi village, where more than 300 people died last week continues to widen, an official has said. Full Story
Film about Gorongosa Park in Mozambique expected to receive prize at Berlin tourism fair - Macau Hub (MAC)
11 March 2010
The film entitled, “Africa’s Lost Eden” produced by National Geographic is expected to be announced Friday in Berlin as one of the winners of a competition with 102 participating films from 32 countries, Macauhub learned Wednesday in Berlin. Full Story
DR Congo ring may be giant 'impact crater' – BBC (UK)
10 March 2010
Deforestation has revealed what could be a giant impact crater in Central Africa, scientists say. Full Story
.jpg){kind=small}
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment