World Bank Agency Finds Its Africa Projects Are Lagging

An internal evaluation of the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group’s private-sector arm, found that projects in Africa had performed below average. nytimes.com

$32.5. Million for Undersea Cable to Link 21 Countries

The East African Submarine Cable System is to link sub-Saharan Africa to Internet and telecommunications services, giving development a boost. nytimes.com

Finance Ministers discuss IDA replenishment

The "African Caucus" of finance ministers and central bank governors, meeting in Maputo, stressed the need to ensure success in the 15th replenishment of the International Development Association (IDA), the arm of the World Bank that provides soft loans for developing countries. Africa Guide / http://humandevelopmentprogram.org

Aids and poverty focus for Brown

UK PM Gordon Brown is expected to call for greater efforts to fight Aids and poverty in a UN speech. bbc.co.uk

IMF urges Africa to fight graft, improve governance

African governments, especially those rich in natural resources, should do more to battle corruption and strengthen financial governance, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday. africa.reuters.com

EU will not cover Chinese loans to Africa

The European Union warned China on Monday of the dangers of lending money to Africa and said it was not willing to write off any unrepaid debt to Beijing from Europe's former colonial backyard. africa.reuters.com

Libya economy committee backs free market reforms

Libya said on Saturday it was looking at relaxing restrictions on foreign and domestic trade, part of investor-friendly reforms which long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi has said are inevitable in the modern world. africa.reuters.com

Kenyan agriculture drives economy to new heights

Boosted by positive growth in agriculture, manufacturing, hotels and restaurants, transport and communication and financial sectors; the Kenyan economy has registered a 6.3 per cent growth for the first quarter ended March 31. The Standard / http://humanitariandevelopmentprogram.org

Kenyan Farmers’ Fate Caught Up in U.S. Aid Rules

A small change in American legislation could allow the U.S. to buy food in Africa to feed the famished there. nytimes.com

Manufacturers 'must up their game'

South Africa must export more manufactured goods, and the sector must produce more goods, President Thabo Mbeki said, while a number of high tariffs on imports could be lowered. iafrica.com

East Africa: Non-Tarriff Barrier 'Embedded'

Non tariff barriers (NTBs) remain an impediment to intra-regional trade in East Africa, a survey done by the East African Business Council (EABC) shows. East African / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: Country to Earn $2 Bn From Exports to SADC

Zambia projects to earn US$2 billion in exports to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries this year, Parliament heard yesterday. The Times of Zambia / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Energy Sector to Receive U.S.$210 Million From World Bank

Sector management, efficiency, reliability, sustainability, access and alternative sources targeted The World Bank Board of Executive Directors and the Global Environment Facility today approved US$95.5 million in financing of the Energy Development and Access project to increase electricity access, supply, and reliability in Ghana, where rolling blackouts and inaccessibility continue to impede economic growth. Public Agenda / http://allafrica.com

Sudan, China to build $630 mln Mauritania railway

Sudan's Danfodio Holding and China's Transtech Engineering have signed an agreement to build a 460 million euro railway linking Mauritania's capital Nouakchott with southern phosphate deposits at Bofal. africa.reuters.com

Niger seeks Chinese aid to raise uranium, oil profit

Niger wants to break effective French control of its mining sector and enlist Chinese aid in extracting more wealth from uranium and oil reserves in its remote northern desert. africa.reuters.com

Nigeria: 'Costliest Place for Business'

Nigeria has been described as the costliest place for business, with investors investing almost double of what is required in other countries within the region. This Day / http://allafrica.com

Mugabe approves surveillance law

Zimbabwe's president approves a new law allowing communications to be intercepted. bbc.co.uk

European Company Close to Reaching Libyan Arms Deal

E.A.D.S., Europe’s largest aerospace company, said that it was close to agreement with the government of Libya on arms contracts worth $405 million. nytimes.com

New AngloGold Ashanti CEO to tackle mine deaths

The incoming chief executive at the world's third biggest gold producer, AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, wants to cut the firm's mine fatalities as a top priority, he said on Friday. africa.reuters.com

S.Africa banks raise $75 mln for Namibia's Cell One

South African banks, Investec and a unit of Nedbank concluded the raising of 535 million rand for the roll-out of operations for Namibia's second mobile operator, Cell One, the firms said on Thursday. africa.reuters.com