US Congress scraps cotton subsidy

US cotton subsidies are scrapped by Congress, in a move that could help African producers. BBC

African Producers Set to Confront UK Over Cocoa Prices

President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday said African cocoa producing nations are set to confront the United Kingdom over the pricing of cocoa in the international market. This Day / http://allafrica.com

Infrastructure Key to Africa's Success – WEF

The world's top business and civil society leaders say the solution to Africa's quest to embark on a sustainable growth path rests on infrastructural dev

elopment, levelling of the playing field in global trade matters and long-term investment in education. South African News Features / http://allafrica.com
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South Africa wants higher growth to reduce poverty - Mbeki

South Africa's government should make the necessary intervention in the first or mainstream sector of the economy to ensure it achieves its 6 percent growth rate target by 2010, President Thabo Mbeki said on Friday. Reuters

South Africa: Stock Markets Break Old Records

On Wednesday, the Allshare index on the Johannesburg Securities Exchange (JSE) broke the 20000 mark for the first time in the bourse's existence of around 130 years.  Namibia Economist / http://allafrica.com
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Nigeria: Fitch Assigns Nigeria 'BB-' Rating

Nigeria received its first ever credit rating yesterday as Fitch Ratings, a leading global rating agency, assigns a 'BB-' (BB minus) long term credit status on the country and projected a stable outlook based on ongoing economic reforms and October 2005 deal with the Paris Club of creditor nations whereby $18 billion in debt is written-off. This Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Highest Return On Investment In The World

The second Economist Conferences Roundtable ended in Abuja, yesterday, with international investors identifying Nigeria's 35 per cent return on investment, highest in the world and, therefore, called on the Federal Government to pursue an aggressive positive image campaign across the globe in its efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment into the country. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Ghana Needs GDP Growth Rate of Above 8% Says the President

With all macro-economic indicators pointing in the right direction, President John Agyekum Kufuor, said yesterday that the challenge facing the economy now is for the economy to launch towards the path of growth beyond 8%. Ghanaian Chronicle / http://allafrica.com

Ghana: Minister Says the Future of the Private Sector in Ghana Is 'Beautiful'

Ghana's Minister for Private Sector Development and the President's Special Initiatives, Kwamena Bartels, discusses the role and importance of the private sector to Ghana's economy as well as the support that his ministry offers to entrepreneurs in this interview with AllAfrica's Gaddiel Baah. allAfrica.com

Uganda: Survey Ranks Uganda Last in Business Confidence

Ugandan business leaders are the most pessimistic about business prospects according to a new economic survey done in the last quarter of 2005. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

SA business leaders upbeat

Business leaders and economists are very upbeat in their expectations for the country's general economic prospects in years to come, a report says. iAfrica.com

SA among most corrupt nations

South Africa has been mentioned amongst the world's top countries in terms of corruption, according to a Transparency International report. iAfrica.com

Nigeria: Nigeria 'Welcomes Telkom Bid for Nitel'

Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala says her country is addressing the "problems" that caused Telkom to pull out of bidding for 51% of Nigerian fixed-line telephone company Nitel in December. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Nitel''l Be Privatised in June – Obasanjo

President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday assured that the Nigerian Telecommunication Plc(NITEL) would be privatised by June this year, describing the inability of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to sell the national carrier at two attempts as a nightmare. This Day/ http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Militants Free Foreign Oil Workers But Vow More Attacks

Four foreign oil workers were released on Monday after being held hostage for 19 days by ethnic Ijaw militants in Nigeria's turbulent Niger Delta. UN Integrated Regional Information Networks / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Barclays Faces Hurdle in Africa Leg of Absa Deal

UK bank Barclays faces a major hurdle in the planned "second phase" of its takeover of Absa, as banking registrar Errol Kruger has indicated for the first time that he may not approve Absa's purchase of Barclays' African operations. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: SA's Star Companies Set US Stock Markets Alight

The 10 South African companies listed in New York gave glittering returns to US investors, who bought $20bn in their shares on the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange last year. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Foreign Investors Find a Way Through SA's BEE Challenge

Foreign investors have put £35m forward to help fund empowerment deals in a signal that foreigners are growing increasingly comfortable with investing in SA and in empowerment financing. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: High Taxes Hit Mobile Usage in Uganda

Uganda's telecommunications industry shrugged off a sharp rise in energy costs and taxes to report buoyant growth in subscriber numbers in 2005, The East African / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: Does the Private Sector in East Africa Care About Aids?

The private sector in East Africa is making limited and uneven efforts to help its employees avoid contracting the virus that causes Aids, according to a new study by a Washington based think tank. The East African / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: How Oil Industry Will Generate 12,000 Jobs in Five Years

NO fewer than 12,000 jobs are expected to be created in the petroleum industry in the next five years under an integrated approach adopted to put the implementation of the Nigerian local content policy on fast track. Daily Champion / http://allafrica.com