Africa exports to US hit $1 billion, says US official

Lagos - The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which enables the continent's manufacturers and business operators to export selected products to the United States duty-free, has generated income worth $1bn, said visiting Africa regional director of the US Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank). Business in Africa

Economic Commission for Africa Says Governance Improving But Challenges Remain

A new ECA report concludes that overall governance is improving in Africa but stresses that major challenges still remain. United Nations Economic Commission for Africa / http://allafrica.com

EU Delegate Backs EPA Talks With 16 Countries

The European Union has defended the on-going Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) negotiations with 16 east and southern African countries. The East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

UN Berates Developed Nations, Frowns At $300bn Agric Support

The United Nations (UN) has said that the most trade distorting policies are in the agricultural sector of the economy, even as European Union (EU) ranks amongst the worst offenders, supporting its domestic farmers with $300 billion annually. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

More Efficiency in Utility Services Urged

The proper regulation of utility services would invite more investment to the continent to expand existing infrastructure and services, which currently reach very few. The Namibian / http://allafrica.com

African internet cable warning

Campaigners fear that the new fibre optic cable to be built around East Africa could be a missed opportunity to speed up internet access in the region. BBC

South Africa: Business Confidence Nears 24-Year High

The current favourable economic environment in SA drove business confidence close to a 24-year high in the first quarter of this year, reversing the previous quarter's decline. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Botswana: Inflation Soars to All Time High

The level of inflation for the month of February has ballooned to a 13-year record high, the central statistics office (CSO) has revealed. The month under review saw general consumer prices rise by 0.4 percent to reach 17 percent - the highest figure ever recorded in more than a decade. Mmegi / The Reporter / http://allafrica.com

Malawi: 'Business Climate Good'

The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) says it expects businesses to perform better this year than last year due to improvements in fiscal management by government. The Chronicle Newspaper / http://allafrica.com

Malawi: Growth and Development Strategy to Reduce Poverty By 8 Percent

The Malawi Growth and Development Strategy (MGDS) will reduce poverty levels by 8% through economic growth and development by the expiry of its life span - 2011, government has said. The Chronicle Newspaper / http://allafrica.com

Kenya: IFC Project Takes Fight Against Aids to Boardrooms

By 2001, a local hotel chain had lost 35 workers to HIV/Aids in five years. Though the top managers knew what was wrong, they assumed that the problem would go away, as it was health-related and health workers were adequately addressing it. The East African Standard / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: East Africa Set to Benefit From G8 Cash Boost

The eight richest countries - the G8 - have agreed to spend Sh50 billion to improve infrastructure in the Eastern African region, the Nation has learnt. New Vision / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Public-Private Partnerships Vital to Bridge Digital Divide

Government is looking towards public-private partnerships to eventually equip all of South Africa's 26 000 schools with adequate infrastructure for information communication technologies (ICT). BuaNews / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: WB Pulls Out of Country's Privatisation

Uganda's divestiture programmes have suffered a setback after the World Bank declined to extend its technical support to the Privatisation Unit. The East African / http://allafrica.com

East Africa: Free Movement Protocol Underway

The draft protocol on the free movement of persons, labour and services should be on top of the agenda of the East African community (EAC) council of ministers. New Vision / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: JSE to List in June If Black Shares Top 9%

The JSE has finally confirmed it will list on its own exchange on June 5, provided it pulls together an innovative empowerment deal to increase the level of black shareholders in the bourse from the present 9%. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Virgin Mobile Seeks 10% Market Share

Fourth cellular network operator Virgin Mobile planned to win a 10% share of the market within five years by creaming off the most lucrative clients who were discontented with the existing players, its CEO said yesterday. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

South Africa: Sasol Takes BEE Plunge in R1,4bn Eyesizwe Deal

SA's largest fuel maker, Sasol, and Eyesizwe Coal have established a joint coal mining export business worth R1,4bn in what Sasol said was the first step in an empowerment strategy for its mining division. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Mittal in hot water over pricing

The Competition Tribunal is hearing a case against the biggest steel producer in Africa, Mittal Steel, following complaints of overpricing by two gold mining companies. iAfrica.com

Kenya: Nation Media Group in $14m Pre Tax Profit

NBD has moved from breaking even to making a positive contribution to the group bottom line for the first time. The East African / http://allafrica.com