Huge spend urged on African water

African water systems need billions of dollars invested per year for drinking, farming and power, a UN report urges. BBC

State 'must meet water needs'

Governments, not private companies, must be responsible for water services, a new report argues. BBC

China's Great Leap Into the Continent

Providing cheap goods to African consumers is one way China is making inroads into the continent, but on a more fundamental level China is also engaged in a scramble for African resources to feed a roaring economy, expected to overtake Britain's as the fourth largest in the world by the end of 2006. UN Integrated Regional Information Networks / http://allafrica.com

Is Africa the next oil giant?

The Director General (DG) of the country's Department of Minerals and Energy, Sandile Nogxina, has called for increasing investment in energy resources on the African continent and the creation of an intra-African energy trading market. iAfrica.com

Aids Will Hit Firms Harder in Five Years, Says Report

The threat of HIV/Aids on the global economy in the next five years is likely to cause severe losses, the World Economic Forum Report 2006 has said. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

World Bank Trade Strategy Has Not Adequately Helped the Poor

One month ahead of the World Bank's annual meeting, Friends of the Earth International draws attention to a key study critical of the Bank's work on trade liberalization. Friends of the Earth

Nigeria fears keep oil price high

Oil prices hit a high of $64 a barrel amid concerns over attacks on Nigerian pipelines, before slightly falling later in the day. BBC

Uganda: Economy to Boom Despite Power Crisis

Despite the current power crisis, Uganda's export sector is expected to sustain its current momentum, earning the country an estimated $1.4 billion in the financial year 2006/07, a review of the economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reveals. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Namibia: NCC to Open Wireless Communications Market

The Namibian Communications Commission (NCC) will soon invite companies or individuals to apply for licences to operate wireless telecommunications networks. Namibia Economist / http://allafrica.com

Southern Africa: South Africa Asks for Single SADC-EU Trade Deal

SA, together with its counterparts in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has asked the European Union (EU) commission for a single trade deal to govern all trade between the two regions. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: President Obasanjo Inspects 'One-Stop-Shop' Investment Centre

Nigeria has opened a One-Stop-Shop Investment Centre, bringing to functional reality a key policy vision of the Obasanjo administration. Nigeria First / http://allafrica.com

Kenyan crime puts off investors

Crime in Nairobi is now more of a disincentive to overseas investment than corruption, says a United Nations official. BBC

SABMiller jumps on Foster's talk

The share price of SABMiller was up 3.8 percent or 4.61 rand in afternoon trade on Monday as markets focused on talk that the brewer, one of the world's top three by volume, could be a prime candidate to buy up rival Foster's portfolio of breweries in emerging markets. iAfrica.com

BHP Billiton pumps money into SA

Resources giant BHP Billiton has announced plans to invest R4.4-bilion to expand two coal mines in South Africa. iAfrica.com

2006 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards Launched

Six awards recognising excellence in reporting on business in Africa Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business has launched the 2006 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, a set of international journalism awards that recognise excellence in reporting on business in Africa. Accra Daily Mail

South Africa: Andisa, Credit Suisse to Merge

Standard Bank plans to merge its institutional agency stockbroking business, Andisa Securities, with Swiss bank Credit Suisse to give it access to Credit Suisse's global research and equity distribution. Business Day / http://allafrica.com

Nigeria: Shell Outlines Imperatives for Nigerian Content Development

Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCO), a subsidiary of the Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) has outlined the imperatives of Nigerian Content development noting that the company has led the industry in this initiative. Vanguard / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Vanilla Exporters Go for Value Addition

Ugandan vanilla processors are looking to value addition as a way of increasing earnings from exports which have been badly hit by the current oversupply of vanilla in the world market. The East African / http://allafrica.com

Uganda: Companies Scale-Up Aids Campaigns

Under their social corporate responsibility programmes, several companies have embarked on campaigns to fight the scourge. The campaigns mainly focus on sensitising staff about Aids prevalence, discouraging stigma and promoting positive living amongst the staff. The Monitor / http://allafrica.com

Zimbabwe Coca-Cola stocks dry up

Zimbabwe runs out of locally manufactured Coca-Cola as factories are hit by the foreign exchange crisis. BBC