Recently added articles from African Business:
Can Africa survive? The massive and unprecedented intervention by many governments around the world appears to have halted the financial meltdown just in the nick of time. But while global banks were crashing all around it, the industry in Africa remained firm. Is it really stable or are there so far invisible tremors building up? Tom Nevin reports.(COVER STORY)
Nov 01, 2008; ... Two months ago, sub-Saharan Africa's financial markets, led by the banks and corroborated by institutional experts, were confidently stating that they would escape the worst effects of the current global credit crash-now they're not so sure. World Bank's International Finance Corporation ...
Private equity flocking to Africa; The growth of private equity funds in Africa is now on a par with Latin America and Russia and is expected to triple in size over the medium term, making it the fastest-growing asset class. Why has Africa suddenly become a magnet for international funds?(VIEW FROM THE CITY)
Nov 01, 2008; ... The credit crunch and global asset repricing in Western markets have led yield-hungry investors further afield for higher returns and diversification. Look no further than sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which exhibits low correlation to other emerging and developed markets. The brave could ...
Gambia shining brightly.(Power)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2008; ... As the graphic in Africa's Progress Report (African Business July 2008 issue) covers the period 2004-07, an update would have been helpful as the power supply situation in some African countries has dramatically changed--much to the worse in South Africa and Senegal, but to an incredible ...
A troubling development.(Zimbabwe)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2008; ... I read your report on the situation in Zimbabwe and the frantic efforts to broker an agreement between Zanu-PF and the MDC with a sinking feeling (Last Chance Saloon--African Business August/September 2008). Am I the only reader who fears that this type of power sharing compromise ...
A ground-breaking initiative.(It must be FATE)
Oct 01, 2008; ... I have just come across a truly groundbreaking initiative and would like to share this information with your readers, especially those youths in Nigeria who might benefit from it. The FATE Foundation is a non-profit, private sector led organisation created in 2000 with the ...
Not just in South Africa.(Greedy Banks?)(Letter to the editor)
Oct 01, 2008; ... I read your Countryfile article from South Africa, Greedy banks under spotlight, (African Business August/September 2008) with some interest. Here in the UK, similar issues been raised with British banks. A recent investigation by the UK's Office of Fair Trading published its finding in a ...
What to do about trade.(Business Action)
Oct 01, 2008; ... You might be interested to learn that Business Action for Africa, an international network of over 200 businesses, business organisations and development partners, has called on global leaders, in business and in government alike, to respond to the collapse of world trade talks by urgently ...
Walking tall.(journeys to inspire)(management of chess player Amon Simutowe)
Oct 01, 2008; ... Backed into a tactical corner, and staring down the barrel of defeat in the most critical game of his career, Amon Simutowe was on the ropes. With twenty two seconds on the clock remaining, few would have predicted the remarkable sequence of events that were to follow. In a fluid execution ...
Massive solar tower mooted for Namibia.(Power)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Still on the drawing board and rapidly attracting interest is a gigantic conceptual solar energy tower 3,000m tall and 280m wide-bigger than two soccer fields back-to-back-designed to soak up the sun's rays and convert them into electricity for the whole of the Namibian capital. ...
SAA managers paid millions to stay put.(Management)(South African Airways)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... A dearth of top level black management skills is forcing South African government parastatals to pay fat "retention bonus" to keep managers at their desks. Government owned South African Airways, for instance, will pay 17 executives a total of R24m ($3.4m) a year until the scheme expires ...
Tanzania-Kenya road upgrade.(Infrastructure)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... The China Geo Engineering of Beijing has won a $60m tender to reconstruct the 110km Arusha-Namanga road in northern Tanzania. Construction on the three-year project was due to start in September with funding from the Africa Development Bank (AfDB). The road upgrade is part of extensive ...
Africa to spruce up for 2010.(Public Relations)(African Public Relations Association)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Africa's spin-doctors are set to roll out an image-polishing campaign ahead of the 2010 World cup finals in South Africa. The programme, organised by the African Public Relations Association (Apra), will showcase Africa's achievements in such key areas as wildlife and environment ...
Malawi rewarded for economic reforms.(Funding)(African Development Bank )(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... The African Development Bank (AfDB) has more than doubled to $200m its development funding to Malawi under its two-year soft loan lending cycle. According to AfDB president Donald Kaberuka the bank decided to increase the allocation for Malawi because it was impressed by the economic ...
Mozambique's coal export drive.(Minerals)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Mozambique is set to become a coal exporter within two years, after completing the reconstruction of a railroad from the country's second port of Beira. In response to international demand for minerals, particularly coal, big mining companies are flocking into Mozambique's Moatize and Tete ...
Afriqiyah continues expansion.(Aviation)(Airbus S.A.S.)(Afriqiyah Airways)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Afriqiyah Airways, the Libyan-based airline, has taken delivery of two new Airbus 319 aircraft, part of a 26 aircraft order the airline placed with Airbus last year. Afriqiyah Airways plans to operate the new planes in a two-cabin configuration, offering 16 seats in business class and 96 ...
Tanzania drives EA conservation management skills.(Wildlife)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... East African countries will from next year benefit from a graduation flow of young men and women skilled in environmental and wildlife conservation with the launch of a modernised course in wildlife tourism. The one-year course at Tanzania's Mweka College of African Wildlife Management is ...
Record spend by China, India on African projects.(Investment)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... Investment commitments in sub-Saharan Africa by such emerging financiers as China, India, and a few Middle Eastern Gulf nations have jumped from less than $1bn a year before 2004 to $13bn in 2006/07, says a new World Bank report. The new money signals a growing trend in south-south ...
WB calls for new HIV/Aids dynamics.(Health)(World Bank)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... The World Bank says health authorities should be concerned that the rate of the HIV/Aids epidemic and environment are evolving and emphasises the need for a localised, evidence-informed response to HIV/Aids. A new report, The Changing HIV/Aids Landscape, explores a wide range ...
New WTO deal could favour emerging nations.(Trade)(World Trade Organization)(Brief article)
Oct 01, 2008 ... A breakthrough in the deadlocked WTO talks could mean a new global free-trade pact being agreed. If the deal is signed, it could mean poor countries finally enjoying the fruits of freer global trade. The process, dubbed the Doha Round of trade liberalisation, has been stagnating for the ...
Strong regulators are vital.(growth of banking sector in Africa)(Editorial)
Oct 01, 2008; ... The rise and rise of Africa's banking sector continues to astonish even seasoned Africa observers like us. Ever since we began our annual rankings five years ago, the assets and profitability of African banks have only moved steeply upwards. Our 2008 rankings in this issue show another ...