Africa

SA-SWAZILAND RAILWAY LINK (FINALLY) GETS THE GREEN LIGHT   By Antonio Guerrero   Transnet, South Africa's state-owned transit and logistics company, and Swaziland Railway have joined forces to complete a $2.2 billion railway linking their two countries, a plan under ...

TURNING POINT   By Michael Shari   One of Africa's most vibrant economies is in the midst of a high-stakes political transition that will determine whether it continues on a path of reform or contends with the type of backlash that shook ...

EXPANDING PRODUCT LINES AT ZAMBEEF   By Gordon Platt   Zambeef Products of Zambia is one of the largest agribusinesses in Africa, with more than 4,000 employees. In June 2011, it became the first Zambian company to list on the London ...

LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES   By Dan Keeler   The improving economic and investment environment makes Angola a tempting target for foreign direct investors. But changes aimed at improving the business environment and building infrastructure must move forward before the country ...

Global Finance announces a half-yearly update World’s 50 Safest Banks: April 2012 NEW YORK, March 1, 2012 – Bank stability is an ever-more pressing concern for the world’s corporations and investors. It is within this context that Global Finance announces ...

NEWSMAKERS: MOROCCO   By Michael Shari   Minister until recently in the reigning government's cabinet in Morocco, Salaheddine Mezouar is now the official leader of the opposition party in the country's parliament.   Making his vote count: As opposition leader, ...

NIGERIA BUILDS BIOFUEL CAPACITY AS ZIMBABWE BRACES FOR ENERGY SHORTAGE   By Antonio Guerrero   The Nigerian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with Global Biofuels, a Nigerian biofuels producer, for the construction of 15 integrated biofuels refineries at ...

MILESTONES: NIGERIA   By Michael Shari   The government of Nigeria took a calculated political risk when it removed gasoline subsidies on January 1.   Paying at the pump: Nigeria ends gasoline subsidies The sudden move more than doubled local ...

NEWSMAKERS: NIGERIA   By Anita Hawser   Nigerian central bank governor Lamido Sanusi believes the likelihood of European banks going into a major crisis is quite high, and is concerned over the impact on Nigerian oil exports.   Sanusi looks to Asia ...

NIGERIAN INBOUND INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK IMPROVING   By Antonio Guerrero   Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan says his administration is reviewing industrial policies to encourage foreign companies exporting finished goods to Nigeria to instead manufacture them locally.   New policies encourage local assembly ...

SOUTH AFRICA EASES RULES ON FOREIGN OWNERSHIP   By Antonio Guerrero   South Africa’s National Treasury is studying a plan to allow offshore companies traded on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), known as inward-listed companies, to be regarded as domestic ...

  AT A CROSSROADS By Jonathan Gregson Africa is at the cusp of major change. Whether that change involves greater economic growth and an improved standard of living depends on both internal and external events over the next few years. ...

BOOSTING SME AGRICULTURE INVESTMENT   By Antonio Guerrero   The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered with several non-profit organizations to launch the African Agricultural Capital Fund (AACF).   New fund will stimulate agriculture sector The fund ...

Global Finance names the Safest Emerging Market Banks 2011 in Sub-Saharan Africa NEW YORK, November 3, 2011 — Global Finance magazine ( GFmag.com ) has named the top 5 “Safest Emerging Market Banks in Sub-Saharan Africa” in an exclusive survey ...

PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO FINANCE INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES   By Antonio Guerrero   Tanzania plans to invest $742 million by the end of 2012 to tackle its crippling energy deficit.   African energy projects to get PPP boost Under an emergency power rescue ...

CLOUDY HORIZONS   By Antonio Guerrero   While South Africa is attempting to get out from under its recession, countries in sub-Saharan Africa are dealing with the impact of volatile global oil markets and decreased investment from their neighbor to ...

NEWSMAKERS: NIGERIA   By Antonio Guerrero   Nigeria’s new economic chief, former World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, says she will focus much of her efforts on diversifying her nation’s economy away from overdependence on oil and gas revenues.   ...

MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA Angola José de Lima Massano Grade: B The performance of Angola’s economy depends more on oil prices than on monetary policy. José de Lima Massano, former CEO of Banco Africano de Investimentos, was appointed central bank ...

Global Finance ranks the 50 Biggest Banks China Breaks Into The Top 10 NEW YORK, September 7, 2011— Global Finance reveals its annual ranking of the World’s 50 Biggest Banks , as measured by total assets. The world’s biggest banks ...

CHINESE INVESTMENT BOOSTS SIERRA LEONE IRON ORE SECTOR   By Antonio Guerrero   China’s Shandong Iron & Steel Group (SISG) takes a 25% stake in Britain’s African Minerals.   Sierra Leone’s iron ore output is becoming the country’s key export ...