African growth prospects improve

The economic prospects for Africa are improving, the OECD says, despite the problem of high oil prices. BBC

AGOA Report Shows Increase in U.S.-Africa Trade

Today, the U.S. Trade Representative submitted a report to Congress on the benefits of the U.S. trade program with respect to sub-Saharan Africa. United States Trade Representative / http://allafrica.com

Finance Ministers Must Hold Rich Nations to Their Commitments – Manuel

African finance ministers had to be vigilant in holding developed nations to their commitments to the continent, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said yesterday. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Lift Trade Barriers First, Kagame Urges Africa

Kagame, who was officially opening the 21st Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Council of Ministers meeting at Hotel Intercontinental, said that while Africa is keenly negotiating for a fairer international trade system, it had done little to open up its markets with conducive investment climates and policies. The New Times / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: Pay Attention to Regional Markets, Says Minister

Great Lakes countries should pay attention to regional markets alongside those of the developed world, Foreign Affairs minister Raphael Tuju has said. The East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Rand Dives As Emerging Markets Take Pounding

THE rand slid to five-month lows against the dollar yesterday, dragged down by international investors' rapidly cooling sentiment towards emerging markets, which also saw the JSE fall more than 3%. The rand lost as much as 3,2%, to R6,50 to the dollar, its lowest level since December. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Consumer Confidence Jumps to New High

Consumer confidence accelerated to two and a half year highs in the first few months of this year, buoyed by stable interest rates, higher economic growth rates and positive prospects regarding the outlook for the economy as a whole. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Red Tape 'Costs Businesses Growth Opportunities'

Regulation and red tape remains the greatest constraint to business growth in SA, according to advisory firm Grant Thornton's report released yesterday. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Country's GDP to Hit 6% 2006, Says Standard and Poors

Ghana's economic growth rate for 2006 is expected to hit 6%, Standard and Poors figures have revealed. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Mozambique: Government Determined 'To Serve Investors'

The Mozambican government "is committed to serving the business community, by creating an environment favourable to investment, free of corruption and bribery", declared Agriculture Minister Tomas Mandlate in Maputo on Wednesday. Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Country is a Good Place to Do Business, Says Chamber of Commerce

President of the European-Nigerian Chamber of Commerce and industry, (ENCCI), Mr Jean-Marie Coulbary , has described Nigeria as a good place to do business. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

Huge gains for Kenya power firm

Shares in African power firm KenGen quadruple as the firm makes its debut on the Kenyan stock market. BBC

Zimbabwe: Banks On Move to Avert Crisis

Zimbabwe’s biggest banks are demanding the central bank re-price all long-dated paper to avert imminent bankruptcies because of costly treasury bill (TB) portfolios, businessdigest established this week. Zimbabwe Independent / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Johannesburg Stock Exchange Looks Across Board in Africa

It's take two for the JSE's forays into Africa. Having courted some of the continent's larger exchanges unsuccessfully, the JSE has changed tack and decided to target companies that would benefit from a listing on the JSE rather than attempting to build a pan-African stock exchange for the continent. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Mobile Telecoms Up 39 Percent

Africa's mobile telecoms sector has grown by 39 percent annually since 2000, according to a report commissioned by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: SABMiller's Global Reach Starts to Pay Off

GLOBAL brewer SABMiller reported a 19% increase in lager volumes to 176-million hectolitres, and a 19% rise in revenue to $15,3bn for the year for the year ended March. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Kenya: Shell to Buy BP Kenya Business

The impending exit of a major oil marketer from Kenya is now a reality. Another multinational yesterday said it was acquiring its Kenyan assets. The Nation / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: Starbucks Plans to Buy More From East Africa

Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, the American coffee giant that has more than 11,000 outlets around the world, says it will turn to Africa this year in order to diversify the sources of its coffee. The East African / http://allafrica.com

Botswana: Debswana Breaks Record Again

Debswana Managing Director Blackie Marole last week revealed that the company has broken its production record yet again. The Voice / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: State Regulator Increases Telecoms Competition

Nigeria has awarded four new telecoms licenses to local firms in an effort to further open up the industry to force prices down, the country's telecoms regulator said on Monday.  Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com