African leaders agree to study continental union

African leaders have vowed to speed up the economic and political integration of their continent to pursue the goal of a United States of Africa, but they also agreed to study more closely how to achieve it. africa.reuters.com

Doha trade talks may go into deep freeze: WTO chief

World Trade Organisation (WTO) chief Pascal Lamy said on Monday the Doha Round on cutting tariffs and subsidies risks heading into a "deep freeze" but could be saved if key countries made small concessions. africa.reuters.com

Trade With China Hit Record High in 2006

Africa reaped the fruits of a "new silk road" as its trade with China grew to $10 billion in 2000, up from $12 million in the 1980s. East African / http://allafrica.com

China Launches $1b African Trade Fund

Chinese enterprises and projects in Uganda are to benefit from $1 billion (Shs1,650 billion) African Trade and Investment fund. The fund is part of Chinese aid and loans to Africa promised by President Hu Jintao at a November meeting with dozens of African leaders in Beijing. It is also part of efforts to nurture commercial ties with the resource-rich continent. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

European leaders urge cooperation with Africa

European Union leaders on Tuesday urged closer cooperation with Africa on tough issues like immigration and development, saying an EU-Africa summit later this year should mark a turning point in their relations. africa.reuters.com

Africa must capitalise on coffee demand surge

Surging demand for African coffee is a unique opportunity for producers, but they must not let quality slip or assume processing is the best way to capitalise on it, a coffee official said on Thursday. africa.reuters.com

Millennium targets at risk without new funds - UN

The world will struggle to meet the Millennium Development Goals on eradicating extreme poverty unless rich countries boost their international aid budgets, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Monday. africa.reuters.com

AfDB Group Tops Billion Dollar Mark in Annual Private Sector Investments

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has made over a billion dollars in annual private sector investments in Africa for the first time since its founding in 1964. African Development Bank / http://allafrica.com

Ghana redenominates its cedi currency

Ghana's cedi currency was redenominated on Tuesday, shedding four zeros, in a move intended to make life easier for shoppers and business people fed up of carrying large bundles of cash that make them easy prey for thieves. africa.reuters.com

East Africa: Comesa to Form Customs Union - Official

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a 10 member regional trade block is marching towards a Customs Union, in a major step that will ensure integration, a senior government official said on Tuesday. Daily Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Anti-Inflation Curbs on Prices Create Havoc for Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s week-old campaign to quell its rampant inflation by forcing merchants to lower prices is edging the nation close to chaos, some economists and merchants say. nytimes.com

Zimbabwe: Region Drafts Rescue Plan for Economy

A dramatic rescue plan for the Zimbabwe economy will use the rand to prop up that country's worthless currency. Cape Argus / http://allafrica.com

Kenya: UK War Against Kenya's Horticulture Still On

Even before the dust settles over the controversial 'food miles' debate sparked by British supermarkets a few months ago, Kenya's booming horticulture industry faces another hurdle from one of the most powerful lobby groups in the UK, the British Soil Association. East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Government Plans to Boost SME Supply Chains

The government has earmarked 10 products for procurement from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as part of a strategy to assist this sector to build supply chains. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Ivorian entrepreneur sets sights on tropical wine

A Italian-based vintner from Ivory Coast hopes to make the West African state's first wine if grapevine cuttings planted as an experiment in the tropical country's soil can produce fruit. africa.reuters.com

Rwanda: Country Leading Africa in ICT Revolution

Less than fifteen years after the genocide that destroyed much of Rwanda's human capital, infrastructure, and socio-economic fabric, the country is set to become sub-Saharan Africa's hub for information and communications technology (ICT).

South Africa: ICTs Key to Service Delivery, Economic Growth

Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been identified as key to service delivery and one of the essential factors in promoting economic growth in the South African economy. BuaNews / http://allafrica.com

Botswana: Thrill Over Coal Prompts Call for National Strategy On Mining

With huge interest expected to trigger unparallel exploitation of Botswana's estimated 300 billion tonnes of coal resources, Government has been urged to formulate a national strategy to guide investors and other stakeholders on coal development. Mmegi/TheReporter / http://allafrica.com

Top executives seek to bolster UN business pact

Top executives from some of the world's biggest companies sought on Thursday to bolster a U.N. corporate responsibility pact, saying their firms would benefit from stricter rules on corruption and the environment. africa.reuters.com

South Africa: Responsible Business: The workers decide what they need

In the town of Fort Beaufort...South Africa...a group of farm workers gathers in a small building on a citrus-growing co-operative...to learn to read and write. The literacy programme is funded by the Waitrose Foundation, an innovative ethical supply chain partnership...set up to improve the lives of the South African farm workers who grow and pick Waitrose fruit. ft.com / http://business-humanrights.org