African business leaders say connectivity is the way forward for the continent

President Paul Kagame (R) at 4th annual global Business Forum on Africa (AGBF) in Dubai.

African countries have come a long way in terms of connectivity, by expanding digital infrastructure and opening up their economies to new growth opportunities, according to a number of Africa-based entrepreneurs who spoke at the Fourth Global Business Forum on Africa in Dubai. The high-profile forum, held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin […]

Nigeria imports $125m fishery products from Norway annually – Ambassador

Kjemprud Jens-Petter, Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria

Kjemprud Jens-Petter, Norwegian Ambassador to Nigeria, said Monday that the African country imports fishery products worth 125 million dollars (N45 billion) from Norway annually. The Ambassador told NAN in Lagos that the fishery imports from Norway included stockfish, mackerel, and salmon, saying, “annually, Norwegian fish exports to Nigeria stand at 125 million dollars and these include […]

Zimbabwean minister calls for diversification of exports, improve infrastructure in Africa

Ignatius Chomb, Zimbabwean Finance Minister

Ignatius Chomb, Zimbabwean Finance Minister said Thursday that Africa needs to diversify its exports through value addition to reduce vulnerability to commodity price shocks. Chombo made the call while declaring open the 23rd Session of the Inter-Governmental Committee of Experts of Southern Africa in Bulawayo, themed “Trade Facilitation in Southern Africa: Bridging the Infrastructure Gap”. He […]

South Africa signals rising debt as ratings downgrades loom

Malusi Gigaba, South African finance minister

South Africa forecast higher debt and wider fiscal deficits over the next three years, heightening the risk of further credit ratings downgrades as a fight for control of the ruling party limits policy choices. The nation’s currency and bonds weakened. Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba painted a bleak picture of the state of the country’s finances […]

South Africa’s retail sales rise 5.5% year-on-year in August

South African retail sales rose by 5.5 percent year-on-year in August, beating market expectations, after increasing by a revised 1.6 percent in July, data from the statistics office showed on Wednesday. Reuters analysts had forecasted a 2.3 percent year-on-year increase in retail sales in August. On a month-on-month basis, sales were up 2.4 percent and […]

ITFC signs $45m deal with The Gambia to finance energy sector

The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has signed a US$ 45 million Murabaha Financing Agreement with the government of The Gambia. Amadou Sanneh, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs of The Gambia (Governor of the Islamic Development Bank), and Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, Chief Executive […]

Zimbabwe to cut budget deficit by half in 2018 as economy slows down 3%

Minister of Finance Patrick Chinamasa

Zimbabwe expects to cut its budget deficit by half next year to 4 percent of the gross domestic product, while economic growth will slow down to 3 percent, according to a Treasury document seen by Reuters on Tuesday. The southern African nation has struggled to control runaway expenditure, especially on salaries, which accounted for more […]

Mugabe bans importation of fruit, vegetable into Zimbabwe as forex crunch deepens

Joseph Made, Zimbabwe agriculture minister said Tuesday that the country has banned the importation of fruit and vegetables with immediate effect to preserve scarce foreign exchange. The country which dumped its currency for the U.S. dollar in 2009 because it was wrecked by hyperinflation is now running short of dollars as well as quasi-currency “bond note” […]