How Africa is Becoming the New Asia
China and India get all the headlines for their economic prowess, but there’s another global growth story that is easily overlooked: Africa. In 2007 and 2008, southern Africa, the Great Lakes region of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, and even the drought-stricken Horn of Africa had GDP growth rates on par with Asia’s two powerhouses. Last year, in the depths of global recession, the continent clocked almost 2 percent growth, roughly equal to the rates in the Middle East, and outperforming everywhere else but India and China. This year and in 2011, Africa will grow by 4.8 percent—the highest rate of growth outside Asia, and higher than even the oft-buzzed-about economies of Brazil, Russia, Mexico, and Eastern Europe, according to newly revised IMF estimates. In fact, on a per capita basis, Africans are already richer than Indians, and a dozen African states have higher gross national income per capita than China. Read more

Rice is nice but not for long
he organizers of a week-long African Rice Congress in Bamako, capital of Mali, say African countries can decrease hunger and save millions of dollars if they wean themselves off rice imports and increase local production, but experts favour a “drastic” move away from rice to native grains. Read more

Indians and Chinese worst environment regulation violators
INDIAN and Chinese investors are the worst violators of environmental regulations set by the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). NEMA chief Aryamanya Mugisha said developers from the two countries often do not follow the conditions set by NEMA when awarding them permits to operate in fragile eco-systems. Read more

Gaddafi says Nigeria should split into several states
He said Nigeria should follow the model of Yugoslavia, after previously saying it should be divided into two - along the lines of India and Pakistan. He recently said Nigeria should be split into a Muslim and a Christian country to end communal clashes. Read more

EU forgives Gaddafi, Africa still angered
Both the European Union (EU) and the US have issued humiliating apologies to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, thus normalising ties and securing further investments in Libya’s vast oil sector. Meanwhile, African leaders are still shocked by Mr Gaddafi’s proposals to split Nigeria. Read more

EAC steps up preparations for 3rd EAC investment conference / World Bank to launch report on doing business in the EAC at Conference

The Conference theme; EAC Common Market: The preferred Investment Destination for Expanded Opportunities, is a reflection of the trajectory the EAC integration project has taken, with the EAC Common Market Protocol set to come into effect in July this year. Read more

CHINA in AFRICA

Sinopec to buy Angola oil field stake for $2.46 billion
Asia’s top oil refiner, Sinopec, will buy a stake in an Angolan oil field for 16.77 billion yuan ($2.46 billion) to boost the company’s crude oil production, Sinopec announced March 29. Read more

China Exim values cooperation with Africa
The Export-Import Bank of China (China Exim), an international cooperation bank, highly values its commercial ties with Africa, bank governor Li Rougu has reaffirmed. The ties are developing in line with the Chinese foreign policy towards the continent and the development strategy of African countries, the bank chief told Xinhua in an interview this week.
"China Exim will continue to support the Chinese companies to participate in construction of infrastructure and basic industries which will eventually help to increase the capacity of African countries to develop," he pledged. Read more

China to support oil sector in Uganda
China is increasingly looking beyond Africa's established markets to tap into opportunities in Uganda, which is expected to become a crucial new frontier in the continent's oil industry. Read more

South Africa eyes Uganda’s oilfields
President Jacob Zuma said yesterday that Uganda’s recent discoveries of commercial oil reserves present new investment opportunities for South African companies already playing a key role in the country’s telecom, banking and beverages sector. Read more

Top Chinese political advisor makes proposal, meets Namibian leaders to strengthen ties
Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, said both countries should consolidate their long-standing friendship to deepen mutual political trust, and strengthen economic and trade cooperation to realize win-win results. Read more

China-Africa Development Fund opens office in Ethiopia
The China-Africa Development Fund (CADF) on Tuesday opened representative office in Addis Ababa, which aims at boosting China-Africa development cooperation. Read more

China and South Africa have great co-operation potential
China and South Africa, two influential developing countries, have great potential to develop bilateral cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Zhong Jianhua said. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Zhong said both countries attach great importance to developing bilateral ties and have obtained remarkable achievements in cooperation in politics, economy and trade, culture and education. Read more

China wants to evolve military cooperation with Angola
A high rank delegation from the chinese defense ministry arrived wednesday on a four day official visit to identify possible fields of cooperation with the angolan government. Read more

For Kenya, exports to China key to better relations
Despite its growing political and economic might, China has become the bashing boy for struggling businesses worldwide, especially in America and Europe, who feel they are being upstaged in almost everything by the Asian giant. In Kenya, much of the criticism against China comes from manufacturers who claim the country does little to stem the flow of counterfeit goods. Read more

China and South Africa pledge to upgrade strategic partnership
The pledge was made between China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin and Mninwa Mahlangu, the chairman of the National Council of Provinces of South Africa at Cape Town. Read more

Rwanda's RPF and China's CCP cement ties
A senior member of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Gao Shiqi, and the Secretary General of Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), François Ngarambe, yesterday signed an agreement aimed at taking the existing relations between the two parties to a higher level. Read more

Ugandan President’s new office block queried
Queries are being raised over the quality of the new Shs50 billion twin-tower office building to house the President and Prime Minister’s offices after it emerged that its construction has reached the sixth floor without supervision. Read more

The China storm: Tales of missed opportunities
China’s growing dominance in key infrastructure projects is hard to miss. The chief contractor in almost every major road project in Central Kenya and beyond is now Chinese. Read more

More Chinese investment heads to Luanshya, Zambia
CHINA Nonferrous Mining Group Corporation (CNMC) will inject US$300 million more into the operations of China Nonferrous Metal Company Luanshya Copper Mines (CLM) to expand production at the mine. CNMC president Luo Tao said in an interview upon arrival at Ndola International Airport yesterday that his company had always prioritised development in Zambia and that the injection of the $300 million into the Luanshya mine was aimed at expanding and improving production at the mine. Read more

INDIA in AFRICA

Afro nations seek farmers' help for food security
The African nations have invited Punjab's farmers and agri-industry to join hands to ensure food security and strengthen agriculture production by providing technical knowhow, expertise and investment flow in return for use of their land and mineral resources. Read more

India eyeing agri-business in Africa
A delegation of ambassadors and high commissioners from several African countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Mozambique is visiting Punjab. The delegation will attend a conference and business meeting in Patiala Saturday.
"Foundation for enhancing India-Africa relations was laid during the Africa-India Summit that was organized by the government of India in 2008. Since then we have improved the bilateral relations manifold," the minister said. Read more

IPL in South Africa did diplomatic wonders for India
The second edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) held in South Africa in April last year proved to be one of the biggest diplomatic exercises in that country, a senior diplomat said here on Monday. Read more

Africa's Fight Against Infant Mortality to be Inspired by India
A scheme that saw infant mortality reduced by 54% in Uttar Pradesh is all set to be replicated in Africa. The Saksham project in Shivgarh district of UP will be initiated in African countries like Malawi, according to Melinda Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Read more

Indian fellowships and teachers are playing a major role in spreading education in Ethiopia
With fellowships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, popularly known as ITEC, 'steadily increasing', a record number of 90 fellowships were given to Ethiopians last year. Read more

Africa looks up to Punjab for 'green revolution'
African countries are eyeing Indian technology and expertise, especially from Punjab, to bring in a green revolution that will help them ensure food security and even export food grains to other countries. Read more

Other Emerging News

Turkish President Wraps Up Successful African Tour
President Abdullah Gul returns home after signing bilateral agreements with his Cameroonian host, President Paul Biya. They include promises to cooperate more closely in agriculture and to permit visa exemptions for Cameroonians holding diplomatic and service passports. Read more

Japan's and China's rivalry leaves Kenya with contract billions
Kenya has become the latest beneficiary of the battle heating up between Japan and China for control of Africa’s economic landscape, raking in billions of shillings in new project finance and grant funds in the past two years. Read more

Developer Defends Ethiopian Hydro Project
Responding to complaints about the Gibe III hydroelectric dam project in Ethiopia, Salini Costruttori, the Italian hydropower developer behind the project, issued a statement late last week arguing that the project’s critics are opposed to Africa’s development. Read more

South Africa expects delayed returns on World Cup
The government and private entrepreneurs have spent millions renovating airports and building roads, bus and rail systems, hotels and stadiums for the monthlong tournament. In the short-term, the World Cup is a money-losing proposition, but South Africans are hoping for a payoff in the future. Read more

Temasek, Seeking Mining Assets, Invests $100 Million in Platmin
Temasek Holdings Pte agreed to buy $100 million of convertible debt in Platmin Ltd., the South Africa-based platinum miner controlled by Brian Gilbertson’s Pallinghurst Resources Ltd. The Singapore state-owned investment company, through its Ridgewood Investments (Mauritius) Pte unit, agreed to buy the convertible debenture from Platmin. Read more

Uganda's oil industry
South Africa's President Jacob Zuma visited Uganda this week with a business delegation, some of whom, according to a Ugandan official are keen to invest in the east African country's budding oil sector. Read more

Nigeria: Mobile penetration, less than 50%
Although Nigeria is known today as the largest mobile market on the African continent, it still has a mobile penetration level of less than 50%, suggesting that there is ample room for market expansion, this according to a recent study conducted by Canadian research firm Technology Strategies International, in partnership with BroadGroup TMT Ventures. The report, titled “Investment Opportunities in the ICT Sector in Nigeria: 2010”, also suggests that there is massive opportunity to improve fixed line and internet penetration in the country. Read more

EVENTS

IST-Africa 2010 Conference & Exhibition, 19 - 21 May 2010, Durban, South Africa
IST-Africa 2010 will focus on the Role of ICT for Africa's Development and specifically on Applied ICT research topics addressing major societal and economic challenges, which is part of the European Commission's Information Communications Technologies (ICT) Theme of FP7. The Conference Programme combines strategic keynote presentations, technical and policy papers, case studies, workshops, an exhibition and social activities.
Online payment registration is open with Presenter registration due by 05 March and Early Bird registration available up to 12 March 2010. The Call for Exhibitors is open with a deadline of 05 March. Read more

5th International Conference on on ICT for Development, Education and Training, 26-28 May 2010, Lusaka, Zambia
This year’s eLearning Africa, the fifth in the highly successful series of pan-African gatherings, will take place in Zambia under the patronage of the Zambian Minister of Education, the Honourable Ms Dora Siliya. From May 26th – 28th, 2010, the Continent’s largest annual assembly of eLearning and education professionals from Africa and beyond will convene in the capital, Lusaka. Read more

Common Market for East and Southern Africa States (Comesa) will hold an investment forum in April
The two-day forum, which is expected to equip investors and business leaders with a clear understanding of the opportunities and benefits of working and investing in Comesa member states, will take place in Egypt between April 12 to 13. Read more

Whitman School hosts ‘Entrepreneurship in Africa’ Conference April 2-3
he Africa Business Program, part of the Kiebach Center for International Business in the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, will host the inaugural “Entrepreneurship in Africa” conference April 2-3 with scholars from across the globe leading discussions on entrepreneurship as it relates to business and investment opportunities on the continent. Through paper presentations, panel discussions and keynotes addresses, the conference will seek to create an understanding of the pivotal role of entrepreneurship in Africa’s economic development. Read more

Opinion

Top African Countries to do Business
Most African business venture are now in the process of business transformation. Some failed, and some are still striving. Generally speaking, African region has evolved from a risky business place to a very profitable one. Most African countries are hailed as more competitive nations in the entire globe. Investment in Africa was foreseen as the most alluring trend in every foreign economy. Read more

Africa is destination next for India Inc (Comment by Sushma Ramachandran )
The move by India's top telecom player Bharti Airtel to acquire the African assets of Kuwait's Zain marks the biggest foray of a domestic company into the continent. The landmark deal, estimated at $10.7 billion, raises the level of Indian investments in Africa to $16.7 billion. Read more

BROUGHT TO YOU BY PAMBAZUKA NEWS

* Compiled by Anna Lena Wachter, intern based with the Emerging Powers in Africa programme.