Business

The African Development Bank has approved its 2010-2014 agricultural sector strategy. The strategy seeks to position the bank to contribute more effectively to agriculture.

It is expected to enhance the continent's food security and reduce poverty levels while promoting conservation of natural resources.

Russian efforts to acquire oil and gas fields in Africa and prospect for minerals on the resource-rich continent have yielded little success over the past decade due to lack of a coherent national strategy, experts say.

Kenya has overtaken Sri Lanka to become the number one tea exporter in the world.

Latest figures provided by the Tea Board of Kenya shows the country exported 342 million kilogrammes to 47 world markets, accounting for 22 per cent of the world tea exports.

Lobbying on the status of international trade in ivory has intensified ahead of next month's 15th Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Doha, Qatar.

The shaky inclusive government is facing renewed danger of collapse after ongoing inter-party negotiations yielded a stalemate over contentious issues confronting the three rival parties currently running the country.

GOVERNMENT yesterday shelved the auction of 300 000 carats of diamonds by Mbada Diamonds to ensure that all requirements of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme are followed.

Besides the need to have an external Kimberley monitor present, there were also national requirements that had to be met before the diamonds could be sold.

SA planned to strengthen trade ties next year with other dynamic industrialising economies such as China, India, and Brazil, which united in a common front at this month's climate change talks in Copenhagen.

US President Barack Obama has handed local exporters a New Year gift by extending trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa), allowing them a chance to continue tapping into opportunities in the vast American market in 2010.

The United States has condemned the Sudanese ruling party for introducing last-minute unilateral changes to the law under which southern Sudanese will vote on whether they want independence.

Malagasy leader Andry Rajoelina, who seized power in March, has repudiated internationally-brokered mechanisms agreed with his opponents as a way of restoring constitutional rule in the country.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's refusal to let go the Joint Operations Command (JOC), a state security organisation that is only accountable to the veteran ruler, has emerged as the single biggest threat to Harare's shaky coalition government.

The Ijaw National Congress (INC) and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has opposed any attempt to recommence fresh hostilities in the Niger-Delta region, saying the era of armed struggle was over and the armed fighters should quit the state for intellectual agitators.

Botswana could soon have a new diamond mine if African Diamonds develop the AK 6 discovery near Letlhakane.

IN November, I was nominated by the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and invited by the African Development Bank to present a paper, at the 2nd Africa Water Week in Johannesburg, South Africa. This continental meeting was convened by Africa Ministers Conference on Water and the government of South Africa in partnership with various United Nations Agencies.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has banned cheque payment for any amount above N10 million, even as it explained the huge losses posted by banks in their nine months operating results.