The agricultural success-story that Côte d’Ivoire is currently experiencing attracts the interest of agricultural implements manufacturers for this market. Most recently, Japanese Satake and Kubota have indicated following a work visit on Ivorian soil that their companies would soon launch big projects in the country. The top management of these companies is looking at the possibility of...

The Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) will provide a financing of USD 170 million for the construction of two new universities in Benin, the Office of the President of Benin announced on 10 August. "The head of state had discussions on Friday 7 August with a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank about new universities established in our country. ISDB promises to support this initiative with...

The Ivorian head of state will visit Libreville, from 27 to 29 August 2015, according to a communiqué from the Office of the President. During this trip, the head of state will participate in the 4th edition of the New York Forum Africa (NYFA), on the central theme of "Investing in the Energy of the continent". "The President will have discussions with participants on the on the key role of...

The Tunisia parliament passed on 6 August, a law on the recapitalisation of two public banks, namely Société Tunisienne de Banque (STB) and Banque de l’Habitat (BH) for 867 million dinars (about USD 440 million). The recapitalisation plan was approved by 109 votes for, 10 against and 8 abstentions. The state should inject 757 million dinars in STB and 110 million dinars in BH. The Tunisian...

Following the request of the Ethics Council of the Stocks and Shares Market (CDVM), trading of shares in the Moroccan public limited liability oil and gas company (SAMIR) on the Casablanca Stock Exchange have been suspended this 6 August, «pending the publication of important information», we learn from an official source. The situation appears to be another notch in the difficulties detected...

Congo and Angola will produce the first oil barrels on their common project on the offshore Lianzi deposit starting from October, according to Les dépêches de Brazzaville. The Angolan minister of Oil Jose Maria Botelho de Vasconcelos and his Congolese counterpart André Raphaël Loemba confirmed, on 31 July, this timeline, following the 24th meeting of the interstate operational committee of...

The mobile operators Airtel Congo and MTN Congo have again been penalised for bad quality of service. This time, the term of their 2G and 3G telecom licence, set for 15 years, has been reduced by a year. This sanction, according to the Congo Posts and Electronic communications Regulatory Agency (ARPCE), stems from the failure of the two operators to supply a service of satisfactory quality...

Angola has formed a monetary agreement with China which makes the Yuan the second legal tender in the second top African producer of crude oil, announced the Angolan minister of Trade, Rosa Paca, on 3 August. The Kwanza will also be accepted in China, according to this agreement which will allow Angola to import more Chinese goods and to be less dependent on the dollar. The new agreement is...

Indian company Kirloskar Brothers Ltd will provide funds for agricultural development in Guinea Bissau. The group signed an agreement with the government of Guinea Bissau for US$ 10 million to support rice growing, horticulture and cattle breeding in the country. According to the terms and conditions of the agreement, KBL’s financing will be used to support the government's efforts to achieve...

Genel Energy plc, an oil and gas company headquartered in Jersey and listed in London, reiterated on 6 August, in its unaudited account for the six-month period ending 30 June, its intention of releasing its 37.5% shares in the Juby Maritime licence, in offshore Morocco. Negotiations are currently ongoing with the Moroccan authorities and follow the completion of the results’ analysis from the...