In 2017, Egypt has exported 4.8 million tons of agricultural products against 4.34 million tons in 2016. The figures have been revealed by Freshplaza which mentioned a report of the Egyptian minister of agriculture published on January 13, 2018.  During the period under review, citruses were the most exported product with 1.4 million tons (about 29% of the total...

On January 15, 2018, Perseus Mining which operates the Sissingué mine in Côte d’Ivoire said that it should produce its first gold bullion earlier than expected (by the end of this month). The company explained that on Saturday 13, 2018, it started stocking milled ore in the leaching plant. This indicates the imminent conclusion of the commissioning phase. “The introduction of milled ore in...

The banking groups BNP Paribas, Société Générale and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a division of World Bank in charge of the private sector, have granted nearly €65 million ($79.5 million) loan to Société Burkinabe des fibres textiles (SOFITEX). The loan which is a short-term one carries a 3.7% interest rate and, it will be repaid within 12...

On January 15, 2018, a day after he arrived in Libreville followed by a strong delegation of businessmen, Wang Yi, the Chinese Foreign minister, was granted an audience by Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabonese president. Even though this meeting has been an opportunity to review China-Gabon relations, it is obvious that it also falls in line with the parties’ determination to lift their relations...

As of today January 16, 2018, many sectors in Benin among which, the education and the public administration sectors will be on strike for 72 hours.  Announced earlier this year, this strike is in protest to the decision of the national assembly on December 28, 2017, to remove the right to strike from civil servants in the sectors of justice, health and security.  This could be the...

Private diversified investment group AOG, founded by Swiss entrepreneur Jean Claude Gandur (photo), celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2018. From its roots in 1987 as an oil trader in West Africa, AOG has earned a reputation as an entrepreneurial investor, with a talent for recognising and developing new opportunities, without compromising its principles and integrity. “We have come a long...

The Program for young politicians in Africa (PYPA) and Friedrich Naumann foundation has organized a training on land issues for the Ivorian youth. Under the theme “Comment réinventer le foncier en Côte d’Ivoire?” the conference-debate was held on January 11, 2018, in Abidjan. It follows the workshop previously organized in November 2017 by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the Réseau...

Société burkinabè des fibres textiles (SOFITEX) has been granted a CFA42.6 billion (€65 million) loan by an international banking pool of Société financière internationale (SFI), BNP Paribas and Société générale.    The loan, materialized by a funding agreement signed on January 12, 2018, in Paris, carries a 3.7% interest rate and, is repayable...

On January 11, 2018, after the ministerial council, the government of Benin has signed a decree asking for the approval of the national assembly to ratify Seoul protocol on the prohibition of illicit trade of tobacco products. Adopted on November 12, 2012, Benin adhered to the above-mentioned protocol on September 24, 2013, and it complements the framework convention of the World Health...

Togolese government raised only a modest part of its first fungible treasury bonds issued on WAEMU bond market in 2018. Out of the CFA15 billion solicited, with a 1-year maturity period, it only raised CFA5.13 billion. This is only 34.21% subscription rate.  This performance is rather weak compared to the last two bond issuance in November 2017. Indeed, the average subscription rate was...