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Gold prices soar but Africa loses out

Africa is not cashing in enough from its large gold resources, despite the spiralling price of the precious metal over recent years.
Africa’s annual average gold production is 480 metric tons, or 20 percent of the total average annual global output of 2,400 metric tons.
Chinese Investments and Employment Creation in Algeria and Egypt

China’s presence in North African economies is expanding rapidly, as both an important trading partner, and increasingly as an investor. Chinese involvement can be readily seen in North African sectors like energy, infrastructure development, retail trade and, increasingly, in manufacturing.
East African small and medium-sized enterprises ‘a strategic priority’ for banks

SME segment is a strategic priority for the banks in East Africa. SMEs are considered a profitable business prospect and provide an important opportunity for cross-selling. The banks view the lending market to SMEs as large, not saturated and with a very positive outlook.
Banks have learned to adapt to their environment and have adapted through innovation and differentiation.
Easing border bottlenecks will boost intra-African trade

The One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Chirundu, introduced in December 2009: Now, northbound trucks are checked and cleared only on the Zambian side, and southbound lorries are processed on the Zimbabwean side.

The results have been impressive. A truck now crosses the border in just two hours instead of two or three days. The fast-track pre-clearance process takes only 15 minutes.