Africa > West Africa > Guinea-bissau

Guinea-bissau

Capital: Bissau; GDP grouth (annual %) 2016 : 5.6%

Africa’s economic growth in 2016 was driven by East Africa

While the continent’s major economies were hit by the fall in commodity prices in 2016, Africa retained its position as the second-fastest growing continent globally recording an average of 2.2% GDP increase, behind only South Asia, according to the African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Much of Africa’s increase in 2016, AfDB says, was driven by East Africa where several nations recorded “strong performances.” In general, of the continent’s sub-regions, East Africa posted the highest increase rate with 5.3%, led by Ethiopia.
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Africa property offers rich pickings for the brave

Some property pundits believe there are major opportunities for investors or companies on the continent.

While most pundits will acknowledge that the saying “Africa is not for sissies” rings authentic at the same time as it comes to property investment , some commentators believe that there are major opportunities for investors on the continent.
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Bill Gates sees US likely to maintain aid levels for Africa

The US will probably maintain its current levels of aid to Africa despite President Donald Trump’s proposals to slash funding, according to Bill Gates, the world’s richest man.

Trump said in May his government would no longer allocate funding for family planning, a move that has the potential to undermine aid programs in the poorest nations in the world. However, with Congress in control of the budget, it’s unlikely that all cuts proposed by the Trump government will go ahead next year, Gates said in an interview in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s commercial capital.
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Key Facts: Full name: The Republic of Guinea-Bissau
Population: 1.5 million (UN, 2011)
Area: 36,125 sq km (13,948 sq miles)
Major languages: Portuguese, Crioulo, African languages
Major religions: Indigenous beliefs, Islam, Christianity
Life expectancy: 47 years (men), 50 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 CFA = 100 centimes
Main exports: Cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn timber
GNI per capita: US $590 (World Bank, 2010)
Internet domain: .gw
International dialling code: +245

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Africa's Relationship With China Is Ancient History
2017/07/02
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.

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Climate change laws around the world
2017/05/14
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.

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Classroom at the rural primary school Ecole Keur Madaro near Thies, Senegal.
2016/05/28
Over the last 15 years, West African governments and the international community have been successful at expanding access to primary schooling and from presently on, a ground-breaking regional learning assessment has revealed that the quality of education has remained elusive. The majority of children surveyed were not acquiring the basic literacy and math skills that are crucial for building human capital in the region.

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Africa: Making Things Happen at the Bank - 'Not a Talk Shop' - Akin Adesina
2017/07/02
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.

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Alberto Ndong Obiang Lima, Managing Director at port administrator APGE
2015/09/18

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Outlook for 2013-14
2013/10/09
The country (Guinea-Bissau) is situated in Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal.
It has borders with Guinea for 386km and Senegal for 338km.
Land in Guinea-Bissau is mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east.
The climate is tropical, generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds, dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds.

Outlook for 2013-14
- The military will retain significant influence over political affairs, thus undermining stability and preventing a swift return to constitutional order.
- Restoring a measure of political stability, inclunding support from development partners, will depend on the holding of free and equitable elections, and reinforcing civilian control over the military.
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