Europe and Africa Work to Smooth Divisions

Leaders from Africa and Europe struggled to find common ground for a new strategic partnership at a summit marred by disagreements over future trade ties. nytimes.com

Africa says "no" to Europe on new trade deals

Most African leaders on Sunday rejected new trade deals demanded by the European Union, dealing a blow to efforts to forge a new economic partnership at the first EU-Africa summit in seven years. africa.reuters.com

U.S. Agency’s Slow Pace Endangers Foreign Aid

The Millennium Challenge Corporation, a federal agency set up almost four years ago to reinvent foreign aid, has taken longer than expected to help poor, well-governed countries. nytimes.com

Africa says big enough to cope with China courtship

Africa is mature enough to cope with China's investment offensive on the continent, African leaders said on Sunday, brushing aside Western concerns that the Chinese courtship ignores human rights and good governance. africa.reuters.com

Gates gives $34 mln grant for insurance for poor

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing a $34 million grant that should help at least 25 million poor people have access to insurance coverage by 2012, the International Labour Organisation said on Thursday. africa.reuters.com

UK panel urges moves by rich states to save trade talks

Rich countries must make unilateral concessions to spur on marathon world trade talks or call a halt to the negotiations if they are going nowhere, British legislators said on Tuesday. africa.reuters.com

Zambia: 'Country Attractive for Investors'

The World Bank and international business community have listed Zambia as an attractive country for foreign investors and its economy is now one of the fastest growing in the world. The Times of Zambia / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Deutsche Bank Applauds Country's Economy

Deutsche Bank Group analyst Marion Muhlberger wrote on Friday that this year Ghana has witnessed one joyous occasion after the other: on March 5 the country was the first former British colony in Africa to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence; in June a major oilfield was discovered off its coast; and - to round things off - at the end of September, that is following the outbreak of turbulence on the financial markets, Ghana successfully placed a debut bond issue. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

SA mulls signing trade pact with EU

South Africa said on Tuesday it would not sign a new trade pact with the European Union until its concerns over possible "detrimental impacts" new accords could have on Africa had been addressed. iafrica.com

Chinese reaching out to Angola

In Angola, tens of thousands of Chinese workers have come to rebuild a country devastated by a long civil war. bbc.co.uk

Zambia to slash mining tax incentives, raise taxes

Zambia will no longer sign development agreements which contain huge tax incentives with foreign investors and plans to introduce increased mining taxes next month, finance minister Ng'andu Magande said on Wednesday. africa.reuters.com

Mauritius signs trade deal with Europe

Mauritius has signed an interim trade deal with Europe, getting duty free access on exports to Europe and a five-year moratorium before dismantling tariffs on imports, a senior trade official said on Thursday. africa.reuters.com

Brown calls on Google to help world's poor

Gordon Brown plans to harness at least 20 of the world's biggest multinational companies, including Google and Vodafone, to tackle a "development emergency" in the world's poorest countries and put the international community back on course to achieve seven UN development goals by 2015. guardian.co.uk

AIDS and the Private Sector – The Case of South Africa

This Briefing Paper provides a snapshot of MNC programmes that focus on AIDS outside the workplace. It explores the ‘business case’ for the MNC response to the epidemic and highlights some of the debates about the role of businesses in a national response. While the Briefing Paper is focused on South Africa, it offers lessons that may be appropriate for businesses responding to AIDS in other countries. odi.org.uk / http://business-humanrights.org

Great potential for Microsoft in Africa - regional head

Africa's lack of education and technology may hamper economic growth but its exploding population means the world's poorest continent has great potential for companies like Microsoft, the Chairman of Microsoft Africa said. africa.reuters.com

Nigeria suspends Siemens dealings

Nigeria cancels a contract and suspends dealings with Siemens, pending a probe into bribery allegations. bbc.co.uk

Total seals $1.5 bln petrochemical deal in Algeria

Total said on Tuesday it would invest $1.5 billion in a petrochemical project in Arzew, Algeria, after it agreed on Tuesday to develop the $3 billion project with Algeria's oil and gas group Sonatrach. africa.reuters.com

Samsung to Boost Investments

Korean mobile phone and electronic goods manufacturer, Samsung Electronics, says it will increase investments in sub-Sahara Africa. The East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

Mozambique: M-Cel Plans to Cover 90 Per Cent of the Population

M-Cel, which is still 100 per cent publicly owned, intends to ensure that 90 per cent of the Mozambican population are within reach of its network by 2009. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Celtel, Chevron Sign Strategic Telecom Service Deal

After what seemed an endless postponement, Celtel Nigeria and American oil giant, Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL), have finally sealed a multimillion-dollar strategic business partnership deal which entails the mobile operator providing telecom infrastructure and communication support at the oil company's locations throughout the country. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com