Netherlands to Contribute 15 Million Euro to Improve Business Climate

Netherlands will, over the next three years contribute 15 million Euros for the Investment Climate Facility for Africa (ICF),the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The Daily Monitor / http://allafrica.com

World Bank President Says Africa Must Remain Bank's Top Priority

Even though Africa is moving toward greater economic growth and development, it must remain the first priority of the World Bank if it is to fully prosper long-term, said World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. United States Department of State / http://allafrica.com

African infrastructure receives boost

A special fund for infrastructure development in Africa is expected to have secured commitments totalling $1-billion (about R6.6-billion) from government and private pension rfunds on the continent by the fiscal year-end. iAfrica.com

Continent Requires $250 Billion for Basic Infrastructure in 10 Years

The African Union (AU) Commission needs a $ 250 billion investment on basic infrastructure in the coming 10 years, a senior AU official said addressing INPUT 2006, a regional conference which started at the ECA Conference center here yesterday. The Daily Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Leaders And Donors in Plan to End Hunger

African leaders and international donors launched an ambitious attempt today to foster a "Green Revolution" in farming, based on increased fertiliser use, that would help end hunger in the continent. The Nation / http://allafrica.com

U.S. Private Investment Vital to African Trade

Creating and sustaining private-sector partnerships is essential for African economies to thrive, said a panel of American economists and business leaders June 5 at the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Washington. United States Department of State / http://allafrica.com

China defends Africa policy

A top diplomat defends China's growing economic role in Africa, including Zimbabwe and Sudan. BBC

Trade Key to Growth, WEF Hears

Good governance and better intra-regional trade are key to helping Africa unlock its potential and take economic growth to higher levels. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

G8 'failing to meet aid pledges'

UK charity Oxfam says G8 countries are not meeting their promises to increase development aid to Africa. BBC

South Africa: You Were Warned, Says Mboweni As Rates Rise

Reserve Bank governor Tito Mboweni did yesterday what he has been itching to do for months, hiking interest rates and effectively calling an end to the party in which consumers have racked up record levels of debt. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Obasanjo Tasks Private Sector On Corruption

President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said the challenge posed by corruption remained a formidable foe which could only be successfully tackled with the cooperation of the organised private sector. This Day / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: Investor Confidence Drops

The current energy crisis and recent political uncertainty have conspired for the second time in a row to keep Uganda at the bottom of selected African countries in business leaders' confidence. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Economic Growth Slow - Central Bank

The Central Bank (CBN), yesterday, released the 2006 first quarter Economic Report which indicated that Gross Domestic Product growth rate fell in the period under review when compared with the annual performance of the previous year. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

Zimbabwe: Firms Feel Pinch As Consumers Get Price-Sensitive

Local companies are experiencing a decline in volumes as consumers become more price-sensitive, a set of financial results released recently has revealed. Zimbabwe Independent / http://allafrica.com

Kenya: Govt in 1,000 Percent Fixed Line Increase

The Kenyan government targets to increase the country's fixed line tele-density by over 1,000% in urban areas. East African Business Weekly / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: JSE lists on its own boards

Johannesburg's Stock Exchange (JSE Ltd) was listed as a public company on its own boards on Monday. iAfrica.com

Nigeria: Econet Fights Celtel for V-Mobile

Econet today resumes its legal battle in the Nigerian courts to win the right to purchase a controlling stake in Nigeria's third largest mobile network operator, V-Mobile, a company in which Celtel International last week announced it had acquired a 65% stake for just over US$1 billion. Zimbabwe Indendpent / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Expansion Into Africa Too Costly – Vodacom

Cellular operator Vodacom has conceded that it may never manage to expand into more countries, forcing a shift in strategy away from growth towards fancier services including mobile television. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

New Foundation Will Help Africans Set Their Own Agenda for Development

Based on a deeply-held conviction that the search for solutions to Africa's development challenges must be led by Africans, the Ford Foundation today formally launched an independent philanthropic foundation for the continent, based here and managed by an experienced and diverse board of African leaders. TrustAfrica / http://allafrica.com

American Firm Offers Free Software for HIV/Aids Clinics

In what could become a landmark achievement for clinics involved in fighting the HIV/AIDS scourge in Africa, the Rocky Mountain Technology Group (RMTG) has said it will supply its ARVims software free of charge to any clinic involved in fighting HIV/AIDS in Africa. East African Business Network / http://allafrica.com