Friday 22nd March 2010
Quote of the Day:
"There is a need for us to have vibrant, positive relations with political leadership and the civil society, and a free media would play a crucial role in promoting national cohesion and development" The Nation Media Chief Executive, Linus Gitahi speaking at the closing ceremonies of the Africa Media Conference in Nairobi.
African Politics
US sees food security as next big Africa push - Mail & Guardian (SA)
22 March 2010
The Obama administration will put food security at the heart of its Africa policy, as it seeks to enhance ongoing US efforts on trade, investment and HIV/Aids on the continent, a top United States diplomat said. Full Story
Zambia, Congo Seek Funds to Mark Border – Wall Street Journal (US)
22 March 2010
Zambia and Congo are seeking funds to resurvey and demarcate their common border in a bid to improve security and end border disputes in the mineral-rich region, the Zambia-Congo joint permanent commission said Monday. Full Story
Djibouti president hints at third term – Reuters (UK)
22 March 2010
The president of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh signalled in an interview that he was prepared to run for a third six-year term if lawmakers amend the constitution in the small Horn of Africa nation. Full Story
African Economy
East Africa: Impatient EU Pushes for Progress on EPA Trade Deal – Inter Press Service (IT)
22 March 2010
The European Commission (EC) is increasing the pressure on the East African Community (EAC) to sign the free trade deal known as an economic partnership agreement with the EU. Full Story
Ethiopia May Start Regular T-Bill Auctions, Capital Reports – Bloomberg (US)
22 March 2010
Ethiopia is considering starting fortnightly treasury bill auctions in an effort to stem monetary growth in the Horn of Africa nation, Capital said. Full Story
Why coal is the best way to power South Africa's growth – Pravin Gordhan, South Africa's Finance Minister -Washington Post (US)
22 March 2010
Today, the South African economy is two-thirds larger than it was in 1994, when Nelson Mandela took office as the country's first democratically elected president. With this growth has come strong new demand for electricity. Millions of previously marginalized South Africans are now on the grid. Unfortunately, as in other major emerging economies, supply has not kept pace. Full Story
African Business
Banking and Finance
Small businesses in Angola to benefit from US$20 million credit – African Manager (TUN)
22 March 2010
Small businesses in Angola will this year benefit from US$20 million micro credit package made available by Sol Bank. Full Story
Oil and Energy
Zanzibar to invest over $150 million in power projects – Africa Investor (SA)
22 March 2010
The semi-autonomous Zanzibar islands will invest more than $150 million over the next two years in power projects to alleviate frequent electricity outages, President Amani Abeid Karume said. Full Story
PIB: How oil communities can enjoy 10% equity, by FG – Vanguard (NG)
22 March 2010
The Federal Government has said the condition for oil communities in the Niger Delta to enjoy the proposed ten percent equity in the Petroleum Industry Bill was for them to ensure safety of oil installations in their areas. Full Story
Metals and Mining
African Barrick Gold raises £581m in London IPO – Mining Weekly (SA)
22 March 2010
African Barrick Gold (ABG), a spin-off company for TSX-listed Barrick Gold’s African assets, on Friday raised £581,2-million in an initial public offering (IPO) on the London-bourse. Full Story
Technology and Communications
Bharti Arranges Zain Financing; Debt May Damp Earnings (Update1) – Bloomberg (US)
22 March 2010
Bharti Airtel Ltd.moved a step closer to its proposed $9 billion acquisition of Zain’s African assets after it arranged funding for 90 percent of the bid, a level of debt that may drag on earnings for the next year. Full Story
East African Undersea Cable Lands in Kenya Ahead of Schedule – Bloomberg (US)
22 March 2010
The East African Submarine System, a fiber-optic cable linking 20 African countries, landed at the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa today, two weeks ahead of schedule, James Wekesa, the chief commercial officer of the West Indian Ocean Cable Co., said. Full Story
Biometric passports, middlemen not needed, GIS Officer - Ghana Web (GH)
22 March 2010
GNA - The services of middlemen are not needed to process the biometric passports, Mr Frank Nunoo, Assistant Superintendent Officer (ASO) of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at Sekondi has reiterated. Full Story
Transport and Infrastructure
New R6,7bn King Shaka airport gets set for takeoff – Engineering News (SA)
22 March 2010
With about six weeks to go, developers of South Africa’s second-largest transport infrastructural project, after the Gautrain, the R6,7-billion greenfield King Shaka International Airport, in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), insist that the project will be ready for ‘takeoff’ on May 1. Full Story
Athi River of Kenya plans bond sale to fund new cement plant – Africa Investor (SA)
19 March 2010
Athi River Mining Ltd., a Kenyan cement manufacturer, plans to sell 1.6 billion shillings ($20.8 million) worth of bonds in April or May to help fund the building of a new cement plant and a clinker unit in Tanzania. Full Story
$18bn African Investment - but can the Middle East take the call? – Africa Investor (SA)
19 March 2010
Since 2001, Investment into the African telecommunications sector has hit $18bn, however Africa has missed many opportunities to deploy cable infrastructure to the same extent as its competitive continents such as the Middle East and Asia. Full Story
Agriculture
Oil tycoon brews up Africa tea project to help poor – Herald Scotland (UK)
22 March 2010
Sir Ian Wood is launching a £6 million project in Tanzania by helping 31,000 smallholders double their tea production. Full Story
Cameroon’s Cocoa Exports Dropped 37% in January, Council Says – Bloomberg (US)
22 March 2010
Cameroon, the world’s fifth-biggest cocoa producer, shipped 37 percent fewer beans in January than a year earlier, the Cocoa and Coffee Interprofessional Council said. Full Story
Other
Angolan government to decree reduction in price of land - Macau Hub (MAC)
22 March 2010
The Angolan government is preparing a decree that will set the cost of land across the country in order to allow real estate promoters to offer lower prices, the Minister for Urbanism and Construction said Saturday in Luanda. Full Story
Rwanda Village at World Cup inaugurated – New Times (RW)
22 March 2010
Prime Minister Bernard Makuza, yesterday officially launched Rwanda Village, an illustration of the country’s past and present cultural heritage. Rwanda Village which contains Rwandan manufactured products, Kigali city Master Plan, ICT, art and craft, cultural dances, as the backbone of the country’s tradition will be showcased in the World Cup hosting cities of Durban and Tswane. Full Story
African Environment
Gabon's green ambition for Africa – President Ali Bongo of Gabon - Guardian (UK)
20 March 2010
This month Gabon holds the presidency of the UN security council. It has given me cause to reflect on the state of peace and security in the world today. The more I have thought about it, the more prominent I view the position of Africa within the global community. Full Story
African nations at loggerheads over auction of ivory stockpiles – Guardian (UK)
20 March 2010
It is the most divisive environmental issue in Africa. Last week the temperature in the already heated debate over whether to allow ivory sales rose sharply as Tanzania and Zambia sought permission to sell their stockpiles to Japan and China. Full Story
Africa can feed itself - Kofi Annan - Business Day (SA)
22 March 2010
Today’s celebration of World Water Day is a call for action over one of the greatest challenges we face – ensuring a growing population has access to clean and sufficient water so that it can feed itself. Increased pressure on already scarce water supplies in many parts of the world is a prime cause of famine, disease and, increasingly, conflict. Full Story
"There is a need for us to have vibrant, positive relations with political leadership and the civil society, and a free media would play a crucial role in promoting national cohesion and development" The Nation Media Chief Executive, Linus Gitahi speaking at the closing ceremonies of the Africa Media Conference in Nairobi.
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