In its report on the world economic outlook, World Bank indicates that the economy in sub-Saharan Africa should grow by 3.2% in 2018, while in 2017, it was 2.4%. Ghana (8.3%), Ethiopia (8.2%), and Côte d’Ivoire (7.2%) should drive this growth with a boost in investments, especially in infrastructure sector. As for major hydrocarbon and mining products’ exporters in the region, the Bretton...

According to a statement by Siandou Fofana (picture), the Ivorian minister of tourism, Côte d’Ivoire wants to invest about CFA3, 000 billion ($5.5 billion) to boost tourism in the country. This investment will be made through two funds, expected to be operational this year. The first fund (CFA500 billion) should allow the construction of new major infrastructures thanks to the vast...

In the first review under the Extended credit Facility, published on December 15, 2017, IMF praised Niger government because they have placed demographic and gender issues on the forefront of their political agenda. “Implementation for results on the ground will now be key, to avoid rapid population growth undermining progress toward development objectives”, the report indicates. IMF is...

Côte d’Ivoire will set an agency for the development of the rice sector (ADERIZ). This has been announced on January 10, 2018, at the end of a ministerial council by the executive which revealed the adoption of a decree on the agency. This measure should accompany the country’s strategy for the development of rice production (Stratégie Nationale de Développement de la Riziculture-SNDR)...

The government of Togo, in order to reinvigorate the Togolese Bank Union (TBU), proceeded to a shuffling within the lender’s management. In this framework, Patrick Mestrallet, who was TBU’s head since July 2016 was replaced by Zakari Darou-Salim. The latter was previously the director of the former Banque Togolaise de Developpement. The outgoing manager is now member of the bank’s...

AVIC’s officials, a Chinese aviation company revealed in a statement that the model MA60 is now used in 7 Central African countries with 14 aircrafts which provide regional links. In a statement published by Chine Nouvelle,Tan Ruisong (picture), AVIC’s head, said: “Aviation is a high-end industry and a key component of cooperation between countries, along the Belt and Road, to...

Developers of the Malicounda thermal power plant and Senelec, Senegal’s power utility, signed an agreement for the purchase of electricity produced by the plant. “The signing of this agreement is an important step forward in the production plan through the development of a 120 MW combined-cycle plant in Malicounda”, said Mouhamadou Makhtar Cissé (photo), Senelec’s head. The...

Malian government will provide universities students a first lot of digital tablets for 2017-2018 academic year. The company YATTCO is in charge of this supply of 13,000 tablets for a total cost of CFA3, 000,835,650. The operation should be carried out within 45 days, thus not later than mid-February 2018. Universal Access’s fund management agency is the sponsor of this contract on behalf of...

The University of Lomé will soon be equipped with a mining information center. The center’s establishment falls under a project to rehabilitate buildings and practice rooms at the departments of chemistry and geology of the faculty of sciences of Lomé. The center’s establishment will be financed with a loan that the Togolese government secured from the International Development Association...

After guavas, it is the turn of Egypt’s strawberries to be banned from access to the Saudi market, due to the non-conformity of the fruits to pesticide maximum residue levels (MRL). The ban will come into effect on Jan 18, 2018. The information was disclosed by the General Organization Committee for Import and Export Control (GOEIC), an agency of the Egyptian Minister of trade. It is the...