Mbeki warns on China-Africa ties

Africa must guard against a "colonial relationship" with China, South African President Thabo Mbeki warns. bbc.co.uk

World Bank Predicts Betterment, in a Way

By 2030, 1.2 billion people in developing countries will belong to a global middle class, up from 400 million today. The increase in wealth will make income inequality and environmental pressures more acute, predicts the World Bank in a report on 'Managing the Next Wave of Globalisation'. Inter Press Service / http://allafrica.com

US moves to tackle malaria

More African countries join America's billion dollar programme to fight malaria, President Bush announces. bbc.co.uk

U.S. Claims Strides in Reducing Trade in Conflict Diamonds

The US State Department said last week that international reforms since 2003 have greatly reduced the traffic in so-called "conflict diamonds," which fuelled African wars in the 1990s. Mmegi/The Reporter / http://allafrica.com

New Inquiry into Fair Trade and Development

The International Development Committee is to begin an inquiry into fair trade and development. While agreement on a development round in the WTO may be the most important gain for developing countries, the inquiry will examine how effective fair trade is in reducing poverty and how donors – in particular the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) – can support fair trade in their development assistance. Please see the events calendar for submission details.

Angola will join Opec in March

Angola has won the backing of existing Opec members to join the organisation and will become a member on 1 March, ministers said on Thursday. iafrica.com

East Africa: Now Oil-Rich Country to Join Comesa FTA

Oil-rich Libya is to become the second North African country after Egypt to join the Free Trade Area of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa). The implication is that exports from this oil-rich country will now have duty-free access to 13 other Comesa member-states that have so far signed on to the Free Trade Area arrangement. The East African / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: SADC Eyes Economic Boom

Southern African countries are optimistic that a booming regional economy and political stability are the right ingredients for increased inflows of foreign direct investment and deeper regional integration. Buoyed by prospects of a 6 percent economic growth in 2006, Sadc member states have moved to strengthen the region's competitiveness as an investment destination. The Herald / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: EAC Market Expands to Cover 100 Million People

Business people have welcomed the entry of Burundi and Rwanda into the East African Community, saying the move would enlarge the regional market and make it more competitive. Arusha Times / http://allafrica.com

West Africa: Ghana to Revalue Currency As West African Single Currency Begins Dec 2009

In line with the desire of the ECOWAS member countries to ensure single currency for the sub-region, the government of Ghana has commenced move to revalue its currency under the West Africa monetary union convergence programme. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

Angola: BDA to Help Restructure National Economy

The creation of the Angola Development Bank (BDA), inaugurated Thursday in Luanda by president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, will significantly contribute to the restructuring of the economy and enable a major coordination of the country's productive cycle, in this crucial phase of the national reconstruction process. Angola Press Agency / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: PSFU, DFCU Sign Pact

DFCU Group Limited and the Private Sector Foundation of Uganda have signed a memorandum of understanding for implementation of the Better Business Behaviour Award Scheme, a grant scheme aimed at recognising and rewarding best practices by micro small and medium enterprises. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Poverty Levels Reduce

Poverty has considerably reduced countrywide, the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2005/06 indicates. The survey conducted by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), reveals that the countrywide poverty rate has reduced to 31% from 39%. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: IFC Extends $15m Support to Two Ghanaian Banks

The International Finance Corporation, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, Wednesday that Merchant Bank of Ghana Limited and The Trust Bank Limited became the first issuing banks in Ghana to join IFC's Global Trade Finance Program. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Africa's communication powerhouse

Africa can now boast its first powerhouse of corporate and government communications solutions serving all nations across the continent. This follows from the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Tshirundu Communications — SA’s largest 100 percent black-owned integrated marketing communications company, and Global Media Alliance — a West African integrated communications company, based in Ghana. iafrica.com

The economic impact of Heineken in Sierra Leone quantified

Every dollar spent by the Heineken brewery in Sierra Leone has a five times larger economic effect. And each job provided by this brewery supports 40 jobs in agriculture and distribution. These are some outcomes of an Economic Impact Assessment that considers both the direct economic effects (cash spending and jobs provided) and indirect economic effects (cash re-spending and jobs generated). Business in Development Network

South Africa: Multinationals Get Clarity On BEE Codes

Multinationals will be able to claim ownership points on the empowerment scorecard based on so-called equity equivalent programmes, according to the final broad based black economic empowerment codes of good practice. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Mtel, Motorola in $75m GSM expansion deal

Telecommunications giant, Motorola has announced that it has signed a $75 million GSM network expansion contract with Mtel, a mobile communications operator in Nigeria. The expansion will enable Mtel to expand its coverage across Nigeria. Daily Trust / http://allafrica.com

Stanchart Wins 10 Awards

Standard Chartered Bank has become the first bank to win a total of 10 banking awards in one year - including the top award for Global Bank of the Year and Best Regional Bank in Africa. The bank won two key regional awards (Asia Pacific and Africa), six country awards and the award for Best Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Bank. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Dairy Corporation Triples Output

President Yoweri Museveni has hailed Dairy Corporation for tripling output within six months. He said Uganda can produce enough fruits, food and milk to satisfy the widening market in Europe and China. New Vision / http://allafrica.com