EU to Increase Trade Support

The European Union (EU) will increase trade assistance to developing countries by Sh95 billion in the next three years. East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

Forum seeks ways to boost African trade

Africa is seeing its strongest economic growth since the 1970s, but this is largely driven by booming commodity prices and the continent needs targeted help to expand trade, a regional forum heard on Monday. africa.reuters.com

Competition for the Design and Delivery of Innovative Lighting Products

The World Bank Group recently launched an initiative to provide modern lighting to the 250 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa who have no access to electricity. Jointly managed by the World Bank and IFC, Lighting Africa aims to develop market conditions for the supply and distribution of new, non-fossil fuel lighting products, such as fluorescent light bulbs and light emitting diodes, in rural and urban areas of the region that are not connected to the electricity grid. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Ex-Finance Minister to World Bank Post

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a corruption-fighting finance minister until she was stripped of much of her authority last year and resigned from the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, will join the senior management team of the World Bank’s new president, Robert B. Zoellick, as a managing director. Ms. Okonjo-Iweala, an M.I.T.-trained economist and former World Bank vice president, will have responsibility for Africa, South Asia, Europe and Central Asia. She is now a fellow at the Brookings Institution. nytimes.com

Aid for Trade helps Kenya's flowers bloom - WTO

The success of Kenya's flower export industry shows how relatively small investments and technical assistance from donors can bring huge rewards, an African trade forum heard on Tuesday. africa.reuters.com

UK's Rutley unlocks Africa for property investors

European property investors have crossed many borders in a global hunt for yield, but few have taken full advantage of opportunities in Africa, according to real estate private equity firm Rutley Capital Partners. africa.reuters.com

South Africa: Responsible Investing 'Not a Big Issue in Country'

The state of responsible investment in SA is rather dismal, according to a new study. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Libya says wants to invest in US stock markets

Libya wants to enter U.S. markets and invest in its bourses in an attempt to ease ties with the world's super power after three decades of rupture, the Libyan foreign minister said in remarks published on Thursday. africa.reuters.com

JSE Launches New-Look Africa Stock Index

With R300m in seed capital already in the fund, the JSE yesterday launched Africa's first fundamental index. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

SA manufacturing hits 'rough patch'

Manufacturing business continues to suffer, with manufacturing output contracting for the first time since early 2006, while the sector is also currently shedding jobs, according to Investec's Purchasing Managers Index. iafrica.com

Moves to ease Zimbabwe crisis

Zimbabwe's central bank governor unveils a raft of measures aimed at easing the country's economic crisis. bbc.co.uk

Liberia: Govt Plans to Outsource Customs And Excise Bureau

The NEWS has credibly learnt that the government, through the Ministry of Finance, is planning to outsource the Bureau of Customs and Excise and that a "strategic paper" has been developed to that effect. The NEWS / http://allafrica.com

Zambia: Country on Economic Take-Off, Says Levy

President Mwanawasa has said the country is on the move to economic prosperity, saying what Zambia now needs is to attract many investors. The Times of Zambia

IMF worried over China's $5 bln loan to DRCongo

The International Monetary Fund warned Congo on Wednesday to beware of the macroeconomic effects of a planned $5 billion loan from China to modernise the vast African country's decrepit infrastructure and mining industry. africa.reuters.com

Liberia: President Johnson-Sirleaf Reiterates 'One China' Policy

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf says Liberia remains steadfast on the 'One China Policy' and will resist any person or group trying to undermine that policy. The Analyst

Doing Business 2008

As countries reform their business regulation, more businesses are starting up. Eastern Europe has witnessed a boom in new business entry that rivals the rapid growth in East Asia in the past. Large emerging markets such as India, China, Egypt, Turkey, and Indonesia, are reforming fast and investors are taking notice. This year Egypt is the top reforming country worldwide, while Singapore is #1 on the ease of doing business for the second consecutive year. doingbusiness.org

The role of the private sector in international development

Kurt Hoffman from the Shell Foundation says we should celebrate the growing acceptance that the private sector has a key role to play in international development - but says there is still a long way to go. egovmonitor.com

South Africa Closes Mine That Trapped 3,200

South African officials said that they had closed the huge Elandsrand mine for up to six weeks to determine the cause of the mishap. nytimes.com

MTN gets $2 bln loan for Nigeria network expansion

Sub-Saharan Africa's largest mobile operator MTN on Wednesday said it had received a $2 billion loan to fund the expansion of its Nigerian network infrastructure. africa.reuters.com