Chirac Opens Franco-African Summit

French President Jacques Chirac on Thursday singled out the crisis in the war-torn Sudanese region of Darfur as the major political challenge facing Africa. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com

Buy African flowers - UK minister

Romantics in the UK should woo their loved ones with flowers imported from Africa rather than Europe, a minister says. bbc.co.uk

Continent Asks for More Time in EU Trade Talks

African countries have asked the European Union (EU) to extend the on-going Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) talks by another one year. The East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

Berlin proposes Africa micro-credit fund

Germany is to press other Group of Eight industrial nations to create a micro-credit fund for African entrepreneurs as part of efforts to promote investment in the continent, according to Germany’s development minister. The Financial Times

Mozambique: Country Strengthens Links With China

Mozambique and China have strengthened economic, political and historical links by signing various cooperation agreements during Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Maputo. Southern African News Features / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Investment Destination: Brazil and Ghana Draw Closer

Brazil has chosen Ghana as a key investment destination in Africa and an investment team would be in the country after the 50th anniversary celebrations to explore areas of interest, Mr. Luis Fernando Serba, Brazilian Ambassador to Ghana has said. Accra Mail / http://allafrica.com

Kenya: Kibaki Allays Investment Fears for Multinationals

Multinational firms operating in Kenya will continue to be accorded the necessary investment protection required for their profitable long terms operations, president Mwai Kibaki has assured. Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Believe Begin Become 2007 Launched

Ghana's National Business Plan Competition for this year, dubbed "Believe Begin Become 2007" has been launched in Accra. The Google Foundation and Ghana's private sector are co- funding this national entrepreneurship development programme being managed by TechnoServe. Public Agenda / http://allafrica.com

US cancels Liberia's $391m debt

Condoleezza Rice kicks off a conference for donors to Liberia by announcing the cancellation of its $391m debt to the US. bbc.co.uk

US guru sings SA's praises

US investment expert John Mauldin is singing South Africa's praises after visiting the country last week. In his weekly newsletter, he tells of a world class, energetic, optimistic country that does not make as much news as it should, and advises the US to invest in SA. iafrica.com

South Africa: Revised Codes 'A Fillip for Small Business'

Small and micro enterprises have come out the big winners in government's black economic empowerment codes of good practice, gazetted last week. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

CEOs in SA more confident

South African CEOs are more confident than their global counterparts about revenue growth in the short- and medium-term, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers' 10th Annual Global CEO Survey. iafrica.com

Lack of entrepreneurs spells trouble

Too few South Africans are involved in entrepreneurial activities — and with even fewer starting up businesses in 2006 than in 2001, there's trouble ahead for SA's economy, a new study has shown. iafrica.com

Ghana: Boost for Rice Production in Ghana: Japan Donates US$3.3m Worth of Machinery

The Acting Japanese Ambassador in Ghana, Mr. Yutaka Nakamura has announced a 'Master Plan' being undertaken by the Japanese government to improve rice production in Ghana and cut down on the country's rice imports. Accra Mail / http://allafrica.com

Rwanda: Rwanda, U.S. Sign Joint Technology Agreement

Rwanda and the United States February 12 signed a joint declaration, aimed at sharing experiences in science and technology. The Joint Declaration of Understanding was signed by the Minister of Technology in the President's Office Prof. Romain Murenzi, while the Assistant Secretary for Oceans, Environment and Science Ms Claudia A. McMurray signed on behalf the United States. The New Times / http://allafrica.com

Investor’s Guide to Liberia

This Guide provides a 43 page overview of Liberia as a location for foreign direct investment. It also lists the main areas of investment opportunities in Liberia, along with the incentives offered by the government, and it describes the operating environment for business and offers an overview of the tax system and the legal framework for investors. Columbia Program on International Investment

Starbucks in African coffee moves

US giant Starbucks plans to double purchases of East African coffee in the next two years. bbc.co.uk

Oil Company to Pay $200 Million in Toxic Dumping in Ivory Coast

Trafigura, a company that had been accused of illegally dumping petrochemical waste, said the payment was not an admission of fault. The New York Times

South Africa: De Beers Settles Row Over Pre-1994 Sales

Government has resolved a long-running dispute with diamond producer and marketer De Beers over suspicions raised about a shipment of diamonds sent from SA to London ahead of the country's first democratic elections in 1994. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Celtel to Inject $40m

MTC Group, the leading mobile telecommunications company in the Middle East that bought Celtel International, is to step up its investment in Africa from $8 billion to $10.5 billion this year, a top official has said. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com