African Business articles from December 2005

African Business archives from December 2005

The new China: a new role in Africa and the world.(THIS MONTH'S PRIZE LETTER)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... China has grown tremendously during the past quarter-century to become a major player on the world stage. There is no doubt about this fact. There are many reasons for this phenomenal growth, but that is an issue for another forum. While...

Women in leadership: the CIA's figures.(THIS MONTH'S PRIZE LETTER)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... Your story 'Daughters of Africa step forward' (African Business June 2005) made interesting reading and I thought your readers might be interested in a public database, kept by the US' Central Intelligence Agency and updated weekly, that finds...

Science is our heritage: let's exploit our own resources.(THIS MONTH'S PRIZE LETTER)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2005... I was delighted to read that Africa is to launch new science and technology institutes ('Africa's science revolution begins'--African Business, November 2005 issue) and I share Dr Fofack's hopes that their success will transform sub-Saharan...

Prize letter: win a free annual subscription!(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... African Business will award a free one year subscription to the reader whose letter is chosen as the Prize Letter for that month. (Existing subscribers will receive a free annual renewal). Your views on Africa and matters affecting Africa are...

Regional integration: Madagascar joins the club.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Southern African Development Community (SADC) heads of state have welcomed the entry of Madagascar as the regional economic bloc's 14th member. The Indian Ocean island replaces Seychelles that had earlier left the organisation, mainly because...

Trade tensions: Chinese textile imports cost the jobs of 250,000 workers.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... More than 1m people in Africa are without income security after 250,000 workers in the textile and footwear industry lost their jobs in the face of cheap Chinese imports, trade union representatives at a meeting of the African region's...

Resource policy: go-ahead for Nigeria's gas PPP.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The Nigerian government's National Council on Privatisation has approved the long-awaited National Gas Policy, an important milestone in the history of natural resource management, reports financial services company Ernst & Young. It is the...

Cyber dealing: NSE goes electronic.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Nairobi Stock Exchange)
December 1, 2005... Robust growth since 2002 of Kenya's Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) has led to the introduction of electronic trading, ending over 50 years of open outcry and 'eyeball-to-eyeball' dealing on one of sub-Saharan Africa's busiest bourses. "Open...

Dam plan: feasibility underway for next stage of Lesotho water project.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Lesotho Highlands Water Project)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Lesotho and South Africa have agreed to a two-year feasibility study into Phase Two of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. The first phase, to pump water from the purpose-built Katse and Mohale dams high in the Maluti Mountains to Gauteng...

Contingency measures: Zambia imports maize to avert shortages, price hikes.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Facing a wide maize-production gap, Zambia has lifting its ban on imports of the staple grain and allowed the importation of 200,000t to avert food shortages. "There is no food crisis," said Agriculture Minister Mundia Sikatana. "This is just a...

Global strategy: Namibia's "quality goods" export thrust.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... A new Namibian national export promotion strategy will be in operation next year to more aggressively position the country's products in the global market. According to Namibia's ministry of trade and industry, the strategy will focus on...

Maritime menace: Somalia calls for help against pirates.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)
December 1, 2005... After a third freighter carrying relief food was seized by pirates, the Somali prime minister has appealed to neighbouring African countries to help patrol the nation's coastal waters to ensure emergency supplies are delivered. Ali Mohamed Gedi...

Fit for consumption: food safety prioritised for Africa.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Africa has moved to assure continent-wide food security with the adoption of its first ever Food Safety Action Plan for Africa. The programme was approved at a four-day conference in Harare organised by the United Nations Food and Agriculture...

Energy partnership: S. Africa-US team bids for Algeria plant.(BUSINESS BRIEFS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... African-US petrochemicals partnership, Sasol Chevron, has submitted a technical proposal to build a GTL (gas to liquid) plant in Algeria capable of producing 34,000 barrels of fuel a day. The plant will be sited at Arzew, using gas from the...

AB guide to African currencies.(Illustration)
December 1, 2005... AB Guide to African Currencies COUNTRY CURRENCY [pounds sterling]STG ALGERIA (Dinar) 128.20 ANGOLA (New Kwanza) 142.45 BENIN (CFA) ...

Change the point of view.(EDITORIAL)
December 1, 2005... Perception is everything. Perception is how others see you, not how you see yourself. Since the perception of someone or something is the image you have formed in your mind and since you are more likely to believe yourself than others, it...

Africa battles for trade justice.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... The outcome of the World Trade Organisation's ministerial meeting in Hong Kong this month will be crucial for the success or failure of the bid by the developing world to trade its way out of poverty. The developing world wants agriculture to...

Free trade is key to poverty reduction: a decisive WTO ministerial meeting in Hong Kong could help set the medium-term agenda for improving welfare and growth prospects of developing countries, especially low-income ones argues Moin Siddiqi.
December 1, 2005... Trade ministers and officials from the WTO's 148 member countries (or 149 countries if, as expected, Saudi Arabia membership is ratified in time) will again try to devise a common strategy for promoting 'freer trade' between the developed and...

Africa to fight for cotton rights: the scene is set for a final showdown in Hong Kong from 13 December, where African countries will fight tooth and nail for a deal that will inject an element of fairness into one of the most lopsided industries in the world--cotton. This report is by Katrina Mason and James Knight.
December 1, 2005... The clock is ticking. "For the Doha round to be successful, that conference (Hong Kong) must take us two thirds of the way. If it does not accomplish that target, we may miss the end-2006 deadline that we had set for these negotiations," said...

Africa loses out to Asia in textile battle: as a recent International Labour Organisation (ILO) report has demonstrated, Africa has generally lost out to Asia as a result of the ending of the Multi-Fibre Agreement. Neil Ford argues that Africa can compete against Asia in this sector.
December 1, 2005... The Multi-Fibre Agreement, which ran out on 1 January this year, was designed to protect North American and European textile manufacturers from cheaper foreign imports; without this protection, as predicted, they have lost market share to their...

Tripoli draws up grand strategy: Libya is set to greatly step up oil exploration by foreign firms and the state oil company in an effort to make the most of its re-entry into the family of nations.(national oil corporation)
December 1, 2005... Libya's first licensing round after its re-admittance to the international community resulted in the award of almost all concessions to US companies. Now, however, Tripoli is attempting to develop a long term strategy for the development of its...

Who will gain from East African community customs union? The East African Community's (EAC) customs union protocol became effective in January this year. But how does the union work and who is likely to benefit from it? Dr Heinz-Michael Stahl* from the German development agency, GTZ provides some intriguing answers.
December 1, 2005... As part of an overarching plan to create a full-blown East African common market, the three countries involved, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda signed a Customs Union (CU) treaty which came into effect on 1st January 2005. The aim is to...

Botswana: building on success.(Brief Article)
December 1, 2005... Year after year, Botswana continues to produce shining performances in terms of competitiveness, transparency and growth. It is now redoubling its efforts to diversify its economy and build on the sound foundations afforded to it by the mining...

Play as a team--Mogae: President Festus Mogae spoke straight from the shoulder in November when he told the nation that accelerated diversification was crucial to tackle unemployment and called for the country to work as a team.(State of the nation)
December 1, 2005... Addressing parliament in November, President Festus Mogae put the future of his country on the line. There must be accelerated diversification of the economy to arrest seemingly intractable unemployment, improved financial management, more...

Focus is on value addition: despite strenuous efforts to diversify its economy, diamonds and other minerals still form the bedrock of Botswana's economy. But the focus now is on adding value locally, thus generating more revenues and providing the all important jobs.
December 1, 2005... In the February 2005 budget, Baledzi Gaolathe, the finance minister, made no bones about the failure so far of efforts to diversify the economy away from an overwhelming reliance on diamonds. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Attempts to bolster...

Watershed years for tourism: the visitors' list includes presidents and royalty. Britain's Princesses Margaret and Alexandra, former United States President Bill Clinton and his wife Hilary have visited. The British Royal princes are regular visitors. Botswana's tourist hotspots shine as brightly as any of its diamonds.
December 1, 2005... Tourism has been identified as the major driver of Botswana's efforts to diversify its economy and create jobs. The government is funding primary development, but has thrown the industry wide open to investors to develop lodges, hotels and...

Manufacturing is the key: how do you win over potential investors? Give them a cultural treat. Show them how they'll be able to enjoy life in Botswana, what the people they would live and work with are really like. The facts and figures are important, but so will be your neighbours, says Botswana's investment chief.
December 1, 2005... Expecting the usual stands and displays, visitors to a Botswana-US investment exhibition in November were treated to a taste of African culture as traditional dancers swirled and stamped the turf to the beat of African drums. The display was...

A bridge into Africa: the Botswana International Financial Services Centre is broadening its activity base and expects to become, among other things, the bridge between international companies wishing to do business with nations north of the Limpopo and the countries themselves.
December 1, 2005... Botswana's International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) chief executive Alan Boshwaen wants to broaden the hitherto limited remit of the centre to include more services. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "This is the strategy I now want to...

Taking the e-Road to the future: Botswana is unrolling an ambitious ICT programme that will, in slightly over a decade, place most of the government's functions, including the provision of healthcare, online. The economic impact is expected to be spectacular.(Telecommunications)
December 1, 2005... The rollout of Botswana's 'Maitlamo'--a one billion pula policy to put all government services online over the next seven years--will unleash significant potential to foster economic diversification through a more intensive application of...

Follow that dream: in our Guest column this month, Dr. Hippolyte Fofack* argues that Africa's greatest pitfall is not poverty or lack of development but the loss of vision and ideals.(GUEST COLUMN)
December 1, 2005... Today, sub-Saharan Africa is perceived as the poorest and most hopeless region in the world. This perception is entertained in most donor countries, but also, increasingly in many developing countries in other parts of the world. ...

Low-cost airlines increase market share: cheap airlines are proving to be as popular and successful in Africa as they have been elsewhere in the world. Now budget airlines are beginning to fly cross-border routes. Neil Ford assesses what this will mean to business travel in Africa.(AVIATION)
December 1, 2005... First Kulula.com revolutionised air travel in South Africa and Flamingo Airlines attempted to replicate its success in Kenya, as the first low-cost airlines (LCAs) set up for business in Africa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now, in line with...

New London--Douala service begins: African Business editor Anver Versi was invited to visit Cameroon by a new airline, owned by Africans, operating from London to Douala. Here is his report.(AVIATION)
December 1, 2005... Given the fact that flights from the UK to African destinations are relatively expensive, especially during peak seasons, the announcement of a new airline offering inexpensive flights to West Africa was very welcome. It became even more...

The Iron Lady takes over: barring unforeseeable circumstances, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has been elected as the first female head of state in Africa. But, as Neil Ford points out in his report, her victory in the Liberian elections owed nothing to gender and everything to politics.
December 1, 2005... Although some results from outlying districts have not yet been collated and the National Elections Commission (NEC) is to hold an investigation into fraud allegations, it appears that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf is to become the first female African...

A seafood hub in the making: Mauritius is not a country that believes in sitting still; no sooner has its income from sugar and textiles begun to decline than it has set about creating new economic ventures. One such is to turn Mauritius into a seafood hub in the Indian ocean. Nasseem Ackbarally has the details.
December 1, 2005... Despite over two million kilometres of exclusive economic zone (EEZ) seaboard--about a thousand times bigger than the land area of Mauritius--rich in pelagic and deepsea fish species, this natural resource has been exploited very timidly, so...

'Sensible deal' gives blacks slice of De Beers: the disposal of a significant slice of De Beers diamond mining company to black South Africans is being acclaimed as South Africa's most sensible and far-reaching black economic empowerment deal yet. Tom Nevin reports.(SOUTH AFRICA)
December 1, 2005... De Beers, the world's biggest diamond mining group, sold 26% of its mining operations to a black empowerment firm in a transaction that represents the biggest change to its ownership since its foundation in 1888. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] The...

Corruption losing ground: the Nigerian government is putting much effort into fighting corruption and, according to Transparency International's latest Corruption Perception Index, posting some successes. Neil Ford reports.(NIGERIA)
December 1, 2005... When President Olusegun Obasanjo came to power in 1999, he had so many priorities that it was difficult to know where to start. Reducing the country's dependence on oil revenues, addressing the massive national debt and overhauling the...

Salva Kiir faces monumental tasks: last August, Salva Kiir Mayardit became southern Sudan's leader, replacing John Garang who was killed in a helicopter crash. Tristan McConnell examines the huge challenges and many frustrations facing the new leader.(SUDAN)
December 1, 2005... A man little known outside his rebel group has become the first vice-president and southern leader of Africa's largest country. Now Salva Kiir Mayardit has to swap battlefield know-how for cutthroat politics if he is to hold southern Sudan, and...

Fast-track treatment over land redistribution: the Namibian government, faced with a similar land situation as Zimbabwe, is fast-tracking land redistribution but has promised an orderly hand-over of land assets. Neil Ford reports.(NAMIBIA)
December 1, 2005... After a long struggle for self determination, Namibia has established itself as a stable state since independence in 1990. The country has one of Africa's more successful economies and it is playing a full role in strengthening the Southern...

Surviving the catastrophes: two crises, renewable solutions.
December 1, 2005... Half Gone Oil, Gas, Hot Air and the Global Energy Crisis [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Jeremy Leggett [pounds sterling]12.99 Portobello ISBN 1-84627-004-9 There have been a number of books published in recent years that...

The African Venture Capital 2005 Yearbook.
December 1, 2005... The African Venture Capital 2005 Yearbook [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Various authors [euro]200 AVCA ISBN: 0-9551648-0-X The African Venture Capital Association (AVCA) 2005 Yearbook, published to coincide with the...

Enduring Passion: The Story of the Mercedes-Benz Brand.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Enduring Passion: The Story of the Mercedes-Benz Brand [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Leslie Butterfield [pounds sterling]25.00 Wiley ISBN: 0-470-01802-X With its legendary performance and quality, Mercedes-Benz is one of the...

African Voices of the Atlantic Slave Trade: Beyond the Silence and Shame.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... African Voices of the Atlantic Slave Trade Beyond the Silence and Shame [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Anne C Bailey $26 Beacon Press (USA) ISBN 0-8070-5512-3 The story of the Atlantic slave trade has largely been filtered...

The Spice Route: A History.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... The Spice Route A History [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By John Keay [pounds sterling]12.99 John Murray ISBN 0-7195-6805-6 Aromatic spices and exotic trade routes mingle headily in this lush, evocative history. An exotic...

Fair Trade: Market-Driven Ethical Consumption.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Fair Trade Market-Driven Ethical Consumption [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Alex Nicholls & Charlotte Opal [pounds sterling]21.99 Sage Publications ISBN 1-4129-0105-7 Fair Trade is at a crucial moment in its evolution from...

The Next Gulf.(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... The Next Gulf [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Andy Rowell, James Marriot & Lorne Stockman [pounds sterling]8.99 Constable ISBN 1-84529-259-6 On 10th November 1995 the Nigerian government executed activist and author Ken...

Communicating National Integration: Empowering Development in African Countries.(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Communicating National Integration Empowering Development in African Countries [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Osabuohien P Amienyi [pounds sterling]50 Ashgate ISBN 0-7546-4425-1 This book addresses the negative impact of...

Ecological Debt: The Health of the Planet & the Wealth of Nations.(Brief Article)(Book Review)
December 1, 2005... Ecological Debt The Health of the Planet & the Wealth of Nations [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] By Andrew Simms [pounds sterling]40 Pluto Press ISBN 0-7453-2405-3 Imagine opening a bank letter at breakfast to find that...

A bountiful feast: Nigerian music.
December 1, 2005... Lagos All-Routes & Chop-Up [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Various Artists Honest Jon's Records Cat: HJRCD15 + 17 These two albums, compiled and released by a small, UK-based, independent label, are a seminal collection of...