Africa's Relationship With China Is Ancient History

In 2002 South Africa's Parliament unveiled a digital reproduction of a map - of China, the Middle East and Africa - that some speculated could be the initial map of the African continent. The Da Ming Hun Yi Tu - the Comprehensive Map of the Great Ming Empire - was drawn up around 1389 during the Ming Dynasty, according to historian Hyunhee Park.

Economic Outlook Egypt A balancing act

Egypt

A balancing act

Climate change laws around the world

There has been a 20-fold increase in the number of global climate change laws since 1997, according to the most comprehensive database of relevant policy and legislation.

The database, produced by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the Sabin Center on Climate Change Law, includes more than 1,200 relevant policies across 164 countries, which account for 95% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Algeria Hydrocarbons, a blessing or a curse?

Algeria

Hydrocarbons, a blessing or a curse?

Japan in Africa Japan looks to grow its presence across Africa

Between 2016 and 2018, Japan has pledged to invest $30 billion in Africa’s development, as it bids to join the likes of China and the US in the battle for influence on the continent.

Competition in Africa is heating up, with Japan aiming to increase its presence and influence on the continent as it looks to make up ground lost to China since the turn of the century.

Japan launched the Tokyo International Conference on African Improvment(TICAD) back in 1993, and since again has invested around $50 billion in Africa, a meagre sum at the same time as compared to China and the US.

Egypt Year in Review 2016

The acceleration of a long-awaited reform programme and continued economic recovery, particularly in the retail and energy sectors, made 2016 a transitional year for Egypt.

Funding approval

On the back of the government making evolution on economic reforms, inclunding allowing the Egyptian pound to trade freely, in mid-November the IMF approved a $12bn bailout package.

A mouth-watering array of African foods

African cuisine is as diverse as the hundreds of different cultures and groups that inhabit the continent. This diversity is reflected in the many local culinary traditions in terms of choice of ingredients, style of preparation and cooking techniques. Many of the dishes are also affected by the subsistence nature of living in many parts of the continent – you find farmers, herdsmen and fishermen everywhere. The crops they grow or the animals they keep thus affect the popular dishes in their regions.

Six reasons to invest in Africa

The conversation about Africa is shifting from one of “deficits” and “gaps” to one about opportunities, prospects, ventures and creativity. That’s not news to companies that have paid close attention to the continent and invested there. The fast growing youth populations, the urbanization expected to drive over 50% of Africans to cities by 2050, and Africa’s formalising economy are all well known. These trends and other developments have driven a half century or additional of increase in Africa, and will continue to do so.

Top 10 most competitive Sub-Saharan African economies

 A ten-year decline in the openness of economies at all stages of development poses a risk to countries’ ability to grow and innovate, according to The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-2017, which is published today.

Ali Bouazizi stands beside a stone monument to his cousin, Mohamed Bouazizi, in Sidi Bouzid

Around noon on December 17, 2010, Ali Bouazizi's phone rang. It was his uncle Salah.

"Grab your camera and come film," Salah told him. "Someone has set himself on fire in front of the provincial government building."

At the time, Ali, presently 43, was active in the opposition against former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. "Through our newspaper and website, we seized each opportunity to expose the government," he told Al Jazeera in an interview five years next the uprising.

Morocco Year in Review 2014

Morocco’s economy is estimated to have expanded by around 3% in 2014 on the back of automotive and electronics exports increasing by additional than a quarter in the initial 11 months of the year and the government reining in public spending. However, poor weather conditions weakened agricultural output, increasing the importance of food imports.

Egypt Year in Review 2014

With investor confidence growing, Egypt is looking forward to a sizeable boost to its economic performance in 2015.

A peaceful conclusion to presidential elections in June, along with slowing inflationary pressures, a slew of crucial fiscal reforms and rallies on both the EGX and in the tourism sector, have helped pave the way for reasonably robust expansion over the coming 12 months.

Algeria struggles to adapt

With oil and gas output diminishing, Algeria is desperate to diversify its economy and avoid a continued slide towards unsustainable fiscal deficits. The country’s political stability hinges on whether or not it succeeds.

Algeria is one of the world’s gas powerhouses. It ranks 10th globally for both reserves and production, and its output is the highest in Africa. It is as well the continent’s third major oil producer.

Parliamentary and presidential elections are drawing to a close in Tunisia,

Parliamentary and presidential elections are drawing to a close in Tunisia, marking significant democratic reforms. However while the country is changing politically, residues of the old authoritarian regime are still visible in the economy, stifling increase.

Morocco offers oasis of calm in north Africa

With a lot of north African nations in political and economic turmoil, Morocco’s stability and strong increase are proving attractive for Gulf-based investors looking to access the north African market.

Egypt aims to boost wheat self-sufficiency

With only limited opportunity to improve wheat yields due to shortages of arable land and water, Egypt is looking to tightening up the storage and logistics links in its grain supply chain to reduce import costs and bolster food security.

The EU tightens control over imported Moroccan fruits and vegetables

A new entry price system for imported fruit and vegetables to the EU has sparked concern part Moroccan producers and policymakers in recent months.

Africa: Making Things Happen at the Bank - 'Not a Talk Shop' - Akin Adesina

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina is focusing on five areas to achieve the African and world goals for a prosperous continent since becoming president of the African Development Bank - Africa's major public financial institution in September 2015. He was a keynote speaker at this month's Corporate Council on Africa's U.S.- Africa Business Summit in Washington D.C. and moderated a lively panel with five African government ministers. He as well received the Gene White Lifetime Succcess Award from the World Child Nutrition Foundation. This week, he was named the 2017 recipient of the World Food Prize, a prestigious honor that includes a $250,000 award. In an interview in Washington, DC, Adesina discussed the Development Bank's ambitious schedule and his vision for attracting the increase capital Africa needs. Posting questions for AllAfrica was Noluthando Crockett-Ntonga.

Lydia Lariba Bawa, Commissioner, National Insurance Commission (NIC), on strengthening and expanding the market

To what extent is consolidation needed in the country’s insurance sector?

Palm Hills Developments Egypt’s insatiable demand for real estate makes developers hot property

The clamor for property in Egypt shows no signs of abating and the resilient sector is ripe for foreign investment , as the current rate of supply is barely covering a quarter of request. Tarek Abdel-Rahman, Co-CEO of one of the country’s leading property developers, Palm Hills Developments, discusses the company’s current projects, building a rock-solid reputation, and why foreign direct investment is set to rise.

Fredrik Jejdling, Head of Region for sub-Saharan Africa, Ericsson

Full of brains, highly energetic Fredrik Jejdling has held his current position since April 2013. He joined Ericsson in 2006 next having before been Director and Chief of Managed Capacity, Vice-president and Chief of Sales and Finance for Business Unit World Services.

Mo Ibrahim is chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Being an optimist about Africa’s economic prospects was once a pretty lonely cause. But I am thrilled to presently find myself in a very crowded field.

The continent’s strong and sustained increase – evolution amount the additional remarkable given the severe problems in the world economy– has been one of the success stories of the last decade.

Bornman du Toit, MTN Group’s General Manager for Products, Services and Innovation

There is no doubt that Africa is a hot bed for Mobile Banking and Mobile Money. In this issue, glObserver catches up with Bornman du Toit, MTN Group’s General Manager for Products, Services and Innovation, to get a lowdown on mobile telecom industry in Africa.

Isam Bayazidi is the CEO of ikoo,

Isam Bayazidi is the CEO of ikoo, an integrated digital marketing solution provider with the major reach in the Middle East and North Africa, combining additional than 120 websites of leading publishers in the fields of sports, women, news, business, automotive, and additional.