Tuesday, July 6, 2010

We've been reading...

The East African common market
Africa Business Pages -- In a major development in East Africa, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania decided to join hands and form a trade bloc called East African Community (EAC) in 2001. The new trade bloc aims to work towards economic policies that are pro-market, pro-private sector and pro-liberalisation. By pooling in their resources and promoting free trade within the region, the East African Community aims to emerge as a leading trade entity in East Africa. In a simple ceremony held in Arusha, Tanzania, Kenya's former President Daniel arap Moi, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania's Benjamin Mkapa, formalised the EAC treaty to pave way for an economic and, ultimately, political union of the three countries...

African countries top list of countries making most progress on MDGs
UN Millennium Campaign, ODI* -- As G8 and G20 leaders prepare to gather in Canada, new analysis issued by the Overseas Development Institute and the United Nations Millennium Campaign finds that, in absolute terms, many of the world’s poorest countries are making the most overall progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals – the set of promises world leaders made to significantly reduce extreme poverty, illiteracy and disease by 2015. Particularly relevant for G8 countries are the findings which underline the importance of open trade and effective and timely aid in driving this success. For poor countries, political leadership, accountability and adequate budgetary allocations for the Goals are cited as key criteria to drive sustained progress...
*Overseas Development Institute


Satya Capital to invest $200 million in Africa this year
Reuters -- Satya Capital, a London-based private equity fund owned by Sudanese Mo Ibrahim, plans to invest some $200 million in Africa this year, Ibrahim said late on Thursday. Known for making a fortune from the mobile phone business and funding a major prize in support of leadership, Ibrahim said the continent offered high returns on investments. "I would not be investing in Africa if I'm not bullish about Africa," he told Reuters on the sidelines of a media conference. He said the global financial crisis had showed risks to investments abounded in any region of the world and bolstered Africa's position as an investment destination.

Afghan women jailed for 'bad character'
BBC --
Meet Sorarya and you meet "attitude". It has something to do with the way she wears her red tunic and trousers, her short cropped black leather jacket, and the way she chews gum and rolls her eyes. "What are you here for?" I ask as we sit in a makeshift beauty parlour, surrounded by a group of Afghan women in less flamboyant attire. "Should I tell her?" she asks the other women with a mischievous grin. "Bad character," she says after a moment's hesitation. She suppresses a giggle then doubles over with laughter...


Lites
Equatorial Guinea president pledges reforms
Liberia's $4.9 Billion Debt Cleared
Africa 'winning the war on AIDS'
UN to set up agency promoting women's rights


Well done Black Stars!!!

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