China urges firms to create more jobs in Africa

Chinese firms investing in Africa should offer better pay and job opportunities, to counter concern that its competitive companies are damaging local economies, a vice commerce minister said on Tuesday. africa.reuters.com

Continent Surfaces As New Frontier for Biofuels

2007 might as well be called "the year of climate change and biofuels." As the U.S. and EU ramp up their ethanol production and Brazil sets the stage for leadership in the field, sub-Saharan Africa plays an increasingly important role. Many sub-Saharan African countries, primarily South Africa, Angola, and Mozambique might soon become leading biofuel and carbon credit suppliers to world markets. Africa Journal / http://allafrica.com

US returns to Doha talks with renewed optimism

The Bush administration returns to world trade talks next week with renewed optimism, but even the most ardent supporters of the Doha round see formidable hurdles to clinching a deal. africa.reuters.com

Continent Needs Tough Anti-Laundering Laws

African governments have been urged to implement stringent laws to combat money laundering and terrorism on the continent. Mmegi/TheReporter / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Old customs laws stifling regional trade, says expert

Pwc with an organisation in the UK called Business Action for Africa is working on an initiative aimed at modernising customs laws and practices. newvision.co.ug

Sudan prospering despite a decade of US sanctions - China investment, oil exports have eased the pain

Ten years after the United States imposed an economic boycott against what is territorially Africa's largest country, it's hard to see much effect on the streets of Khartoum, the capital. Los Angeles Times / business-humanrights.org

Zambia and China to spend $28 mln in power project

Zambia and China will invest $28 million to supply power to Chinese firms which set up operations in the African country's mineral-rich Copper Belt region, a senior industry official said on Friday. africa.reuters.com

Mozambique unveils $550 million bio-fuels project

State-owned Mozambican Petroleum Co. (PETROMOC) on Thursday unveiled a $550 million bio-fuels project aimed at easing an energy crunch in the fast-growing southern African nation. africa.reuters.com

South Africa: Import Tariff Cuts Will Hit Neighbours

Plans to ease import tariffs under its recently launched industry policy framework could put SA on a collision course with its neighbours in the Southern African Customs Union (Sacu). Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: South Africa to Exercise Caution On Tariffs

Government's initial response to a proposal that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) adopt a common external tariff was to advise caution, Deputy Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said yesterday. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: SADC Plans to Boost Integration, End Poverty

SADC has committed to embark on radical measures to strengthen infrastructure development and speed up the process of implementing its regional integration programme. Southern Africa News Features / http://allafrica.com

Mugabe bans pay and price rises

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe bans all pay and price rises in a new bid to curb the country's runaway inflation. bbc.co.uk

SA leads 'clean coal' drive

South Africa is at the forefront of research into so-called clean coal technology, aimed at reducing the huge volumes of greenhouse gasses emitted by its power stations, but more needs to be done. iafrica.com

Senegal: Finding Opportunities Through Cheap Chinese Goods

Allées du Centenaire, a neighbourhood in the heart of Senegal's capital Dakar, may be lacking the trademark red lanterns but in the eyes of locals it is fast becoming the city's unofficial Chinatown. Inter Press Service / http://allafrica.com

Shell Foundation releases new report

In “Down to Business: New solutions to old problems,” the Shell Foundation explains their enterprise-based approach to solving poverty and environmental challenges. shellfoundation.org

South Africa: HP's Alternative Empowerment Accepted

Technology company Hewlett-Packard (HP) has become the first multinational to win government approval for investments that spare it from having to sell an empowerment stake in its local operations. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Fueling Social Entrepreneurs

As part of its global corporate identity programme, fuel giant Shell recently launched a linked multimedia campaign in order to raise the profile of social entrepreneurs in South Africa and provide a platform for them to share best practices. Biz-Community / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: State Oil Company Goes Public

Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) is going public next Tuesday following final regulatory approval by the Securities Exchange Commission. Accra Mail / http://allafrica.com

New Study to Bridge Finance Gap of Small Business

Caught in a limbo between larger firms with access to traditional banking-sector finance and micro-credit initiatives designed to help the small enterprises of the very poor, African businesses in the middle have historically been on the wrong side of both extremes when it comes to accessing finance. Inter Press Service / http://allafrica.com

Celtel Plans 'One Network' for Continent

Celtel International, one of the leading pan-African mobile telecommunications companies, plans to link the whole of Africa to its One Network by 2010. East African / http://allafrica.com