Africa: Record Levels of Foreign Direct Investment in 2005

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) World Investment report 2006 revealed that Africa received record high foreign direct investment in 2005. The Ethiopian Herald / http://allafrica.com

Africa: Continent Will Miss Millennium Goals – IMF

Most countries in sub-Saharan Africa are not on track to meet the millennium development goal of eradicating extreme poverty by 2015, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in its regional economic outlook for Africa, released in Dakar on Tuesday. UN Integrated Regional Information Networks / http://allafrica.com

Africa: UN Panel Focuses On African Devt Challenges

The crisis of development in African countries, including Nigeria yesterday came under scrutiny at the United Nations (UN) as the 2006 UN Panel Discussion on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) highlighted various institutional challenges confronting African countries in implementing NEPAD's action plans. This Day / http://allafrica.com

CBC Urges Germany Not to Let Africa Slip From G-8 Agenda

Representatives of Commonwealth business today urged the German Government not to let Africa slip from the agenda of the world's richest nations during their Presidency of the G-8 next year. Coming hard on the collapse of the WTO international trade negotiations, any downgrading of Africa in the G-8 work programme would be a double-whammy for a continent which has been making major strides and sacrifices to bring its economies into line with those of global partners. Commonwealth Business Council / http://allafrica.com

World Food Day 2006 Targets Public and Private Investment

"Recently there has been a significant revival in lending for agriculture. Debt forgiveness programmes, strengthened by the G8 decision in 2005, have begun to release national resources for investment in agriculture. But much still remains to be done," said FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf today. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: It's Official - Rwanda, Burundi Join East Africa Next Month

Rwanda and Burundi will join the East African Community next month. The East African / http://allafrica.com

Liberia: UN Calls On Liberia to Do More to Curb Conflict Diamonds But Praises Timber Reform

The United Nations today applauded further progress in Liberia's forestry sector but said more needs to be done to reform the diamond mining industry before the world body will lift sanctions against the country's export of rough diamonds, regarded as "blood diamonds" because they help finance conflict.  UN News Service  / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Don Tips On EU's 40 Percent Tax On Coffee

The Government should take a firm stand against the introduction of a 40% tax on processed coffee in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation (WTO), a Uganda Martyrs University don warned on Tuesday. New Vision / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: ‘Stop making business your enemy'

The ANC government should stop vilifying business and instead foster a climate to attract new enterprises, the Democratic Alliance said on Thursday. iAfrica.com

Botswana: Regulation Pushes SMEs to Non-Compliance

Many Small to Medium Enterprises (SME) become illegal because of excessive regulation, an expert with the South African-based Strategic, Business Partnerships for Growth in Africa said on Tuesday. Mmegi / The Reporter / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Inflation Down, Growth Prospects Up

Ghana's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BOG) on Monday kept the prime rate steady at 14.5 percent after announcing that headline inflation had dropped slightly in August and then again in September. Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Gov't Devotes $9.1 Million to Capital Market Development

The Government of Ghana has earmarked $9.1million out of a total of $37.8 million under the Economic Management and Capacity Building Project for the development of the capital market. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Product RED launched in USA

Part of profits from products sold by American Express, Apple, Converse/Nike, Gap, Giorgio Armani will benefit fight against AIDS in Africa.  Business and Human Rights Resource Centre

CDC Sets Up New $50 Million Fund to Buy Properties

A new venture company set up by the UK government's developing countries investment wing, Commonwealth Development Corporation, is targeting suitable properties in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana for foreign investors. The East Africa / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Johannesburg Stock Exchange Blasts Past 23,000 As Investors Take Heart

The JSE punched through the 23000 mark for the first time yesterday, closing at a record high as investors reacted to a rising gold price and last week's measured hike in interest rates. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Bayelsa, USAID, Shell to Raise $25 Million for N/Delta

Bayelsa State Government, United States Agency for International Development (USAID/Nigeria) and Shell Petroleum Development Company, would today launch a $25m partnership to improve living standard and social services in the Niger Delta region. This Day / http://allafrica.com

Botswana: Country 'Won't Sell Stake in De Beers'

Botswana's president has said that his country would not sell its 15 percent stake in the world's largest diamond mining company, even though this might be to the detriment of efforts aligned with diversifying the economy off the precious mineral. Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: SAA May Sell Off Equity Stake to Private Partner

In a surprise move, South African Airways (SAA) said yesterday it was con-sidering selling an equity stake in a private offering next year after finalising a R3,2bn-R4bn recapitalisation programme. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Celtel Plans to Build Network

Celtel International has said that it was intending to invest in Ghana and was currently conducting studies around the viability of constructing a network in the West African country. Business in Africa / http://allafrica.com

Cellphones help fight Aids, bird flu

Pilot projects are being carried out in Rwanda and Indonesia to develop a mobile phone software that can be used in the fight against HIV/Aids, avian flu and potential health pandemics, industry players said on Tuesday. iAfrica.com