The world expects a record cocoa output this year. This was revealed by Jonathan Parkman who is in charge of agriculture at Marex Spectron. Experts mainly count on better rains -as a result of La Nina weather phenomenon- to see these expectations met. According to the US weather agency, there is a 70% chance that La Nina will come. Trusting the forecast, long term contracts on cocoa for...

Lychees exports in Madagascar this season could start than in the last one, since the current season began earlier than expected, Freshplaza said. According to the nation’s officials, volumes exported should stand at 18,000 tons. According to technicians, the fruits have good features and loading this year should beat last year’s. Though date to commence export is yet to be set, officials...

During the council of ministers organized on October 12, 2016, the government of Benin has decided to aggressively tackle the land management issue. It will develop a complete, modern and reliable national land register. “Land insecurity is a major issue in our nation. Many reforms have been initiated to boost land tenure. However, modern and performing management tools for land management...

West Africa-focused oil and gas exploration and production company, Lekoil, has announced that it has raised gross proceeds of about $12.4 million through the placing of 48.33 million new ordinary shares to finance the final amount of expenditure to bring the Otakikpo into commercial production. According to the company, the Otakikpo project is expected to begin production in the coming...

As part of moves to meet Nigeria’s energy demands, the management of Dangote Industries Limited has completed the acquisition of a gas company in Netherland. According to the company in a statement, Twister BV, the company in question is a provider of robust solutions in natural gas processing and separation to the upstream and midstream oil and gas sector. “This was an important...

Digital Afrique Telecom (DAT) has launched DigiPay, a transaction processing platform that enables service providers to deliver mobile financial products and services to their customers in Africa. Simplice Anoh, Founder and CEO of DAT unveiled the new service at the second annual conference L’Afrique Digitale, in Paris. DigiPay is available for use by mobile network operators, banks and other...

Africa’s five most attractive countries for foreign investors are Ethiopia, Ghana, South Sudan, Morocco and DR Congo, Land Matrix said in a report it recently released. Entitled “Land Matrix Analytical Report II: International Land Deals for Agriculture,” the report which was published on October 11 and studies the 2000-2016 period states that Africa is the continent most impacted by land...

Coca-Cola will re-acquire shares of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) in Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), Africa’s leading soft drinks bottler. The operation is possible for the Atlanta-based firm since SABMiller bought AB InBev. According to information released by Coca-Cola, talks will be initiated soon and should end smoothly in the coming months. The giant will negotiate with various...

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Investment Bank granted €35 million to the Banque Marocaine de Commerce Exterieur (BMCE). Led by the EBRD, the program which will benefit from the financing will support energy efficiency projects and small scale renewable energy projects. Small and medium enterprises, major...

“China supports and will keep supporting Togo’s efforts for development but also to boost maritime safety and security,” China’s Ambassador to Togo said on October 12, 2016, on the sidelines of the extraordinary summit of the African Union on Maritime Security. “China is the Africa’s first trade partner; we therefore care a lot about these issues,” the diplomat said while...