Developing World will Drive Global Growth

Mid-sized British firms with the ability to export are urged to seek new business in high-growth markets by the country’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Digby Jones. Stressing that Brazil, Russia, India and China are not the only rapidly emerging markets; Jones said that UK companies can benefit from high-growth markets, including South Africa. Emerging markets are crucial to the UK’s response to globalization, according to the Minister, with these markets offering a major source of both trade and foreign direct investment. UK Trade & Investment is transferring more than £5 million of its resources from mature developed markets to focus on the high-growth markets, he said.

Engineering Skills in High Demand in South Africa

According to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey conducted in South Africa, employers across all sectors of the South African labor market have optimistic expectations for the first quarter of 2008, although hiring expectations are 4 percentage points weaker than the fourth quarter of 2007. The Manpower Employment Outlook Survey was conducted by interviewing a representative sample of more than 750 employers in South Africa. First-quarter hiring expectations for 2008 are strongest in the Mining, Electricity, Gas and Water Supply, and Manufacturing industry sectors. Employers in the Mining industry sector specifically are reporting the strongest hiring expectations, with a Net Employment Outlook of +43%, a 4 percentage point improvement when compared to fourth quarter 2007. According to the organization behind the survey, the results indicate a very positive market trend and several sectors, such as the Construction and Finance/Insurance/Real Estate/Business Services sectors, continue to benefit from infrastructure development and the buildup to the 2010 World Cup. The survey also noted that engineering and project management skills within the Mining and Construction sectors are in high demand by employers.

Ghana to host UNCTAD on ICT4D

Ghana is to host the 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII) in April 2008, under the theme 'Science, Technology, Innovation (STI) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT)s for Development (ICT4D)'. UNCTAD's mission is to promote the development-friendly integration of developing countries into the world economy and has progressively evolved into an authoritative knowledge-based institution whose work is also to help shape current policy debates and thinking on development, with a particular focus on domestic policies and international action that are mutually supportive in bringing about sustainable development.

Secondary Schools Get ICT Boost

Secondary school students can now make use of computers and wireless connectivity for all types of class work, courtesy of the latest ICT development initiative that is expected to see to it that all schools have access to e-learning facilities. The programme has been launched by INTEL, a company that offers ICT solutions in Africa and Europe and puts Kenya in the list of two other African countries that would receive e-learning facilities in Secondary schools. The other two are South Africa and Nigeria. The project comes at a time when Kenyan Secondary schools had been craving for an internet-based style of learning. INTEL has already donated laptop computers to students, known as 'classmates'. With a teacher having his own laptop, students can then access his material from their own low cost-classmate laptops. The new project makes the use of blackboard irrelevant as they will now be replaced by a touch screen that enables the students to send their work to the teacher through wireless connectivity. This project puts Kenya at the forefront in e-learning solutions for secondary school students. INTEL, a development partner in ICT, supports schools in Africa to help the latter achieve quality and competitive education through the use of wireless-enabled computers.

Dramatool for Change

Launched in 2002, Dramatool is a web-based platform described as "an international meeting point for drama/theatre education". Available in Amharic, Chinese, English, French, Kiswahili, and Spanish, this website is an effort to empower drama and theatre practitioners through networking. Run by the Eastern Africa Theater Institute (EATI) and the Swedish National Organisation for Authorised Drama Pedagogues (RAD), the site serves as a meeting point for those who are interested in how drama/theatre can be used as a tool for change.

Swedish Funded Training Programme on Journalism and Democracy

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) requests applications for their 2008 programme in Journalism and Democracy to be held in Kalmar and Stockholm during 5 May – 23 May. The programme is set up as a process-oriented workshop consisting of lectures, discussions, group sessions, study visits, research and presentations both written and oral. Participants from Zimbabwe are particularly encouraged to apply. This is a fully funded programme. the deadline for applications is February 15, 2008.  http://tinyurl.com/3y5b98

Luanda Bay Project to Bring Approximately 2,000 Jobs to Angola

The rehabilitation project of Luanda Marginal Avenue is expected to cost an estimated US$ 2.13 billion. It will create approximately 2,000 jobs during the construction phase and another 1,200 permanent jobs upon completion. The project is being supervised by ANIP (National Agency for Private Investment), Angola Reserve Bank, as well as the ministries of Public Works, and Urbanization and Environment, and the Provincial Government of Luanda. The program began in November 2007, and is focused on building public and private infrastructure along 4 de Fevereiro Avenue, which covers a large part of the bay. The project will include the construction of new parking-lots; public leisure areas; two office buildings for trade and accommodations; as well as a hotel and convention center, among other infrastructures.

Health Sector Accord with Israel Approved

The Government of the Republic of Angola recently approved the cooperation agreement with Israel on health and medicines supply sector. The agreement was passed by the governments of Angola and Israel to increase cooperation in the social and economic development of the two countries. This accord will create favorable conditions and privileged relations between the two countries in the health and medicines supply sector. With this agreement, the two governments foresee a joint achievement of comprehension that the Republic of Angola and the State of Israel have in strengthening the cooperation ties that unite the two peoples.

Portuguese Insurance Company Boosts Presence in Market

Companhia de Seguros de Crédito de Portugal (COSEC) intends to strengthen its presence in Angola. In 2007, COSEC issued over 10 million Euros in risk guarantees for the Angolan market. In addition to its partnership with Banco de Fomento de Angola, the company will also increase its specialization in assessing and monitoring companies in Angola. This investment is essential to strengthening support to companies that sell on credit and invest in Angola.

German Airline Begins Angola Operation in April

The German airline Lufthansa will begin flying to Angola as of April 2008, connecting the cities of Luanda and Frankfurt. The company will operate an A340-300 Airbus with a 221-passenger capacity in the first, executive and economic classes. The route is intended to reinforce Lufthansa connections in Africa, one of the world’s most strategic markets of these days.

Angolan Travel Agencies Top US$2 million in Revenue

Angolan travel agencies brought in over US$ 2 million in business revenue last year, according to the Angolan Association of Travel Agencies (AAVOTA). In previous years, this figure had not surpassed US$ 1 million. The association currently has 30 member-agencies, which employ 250 people. They provide a variety of services, such as reservations, ticket sales, check-in, tourist packages, visas, shipping merchandise, and travel insurance sales.

2010 World Cup Volunteer Programme will Launch in 2008

South Africans will be able to get directly involved in the organisation of the 2010 Fifa World Cup through a volunteer programme set to be launched later this year. Under the programme thousands of volunteers will be recruited for the Fifa 2009 Confederations Cup and the World Cup the following year. There will be a worldwide launch of the programme in March or May 2008 when an application process will be opened, followed by comprehensive training. For the Preliminary Draw, 220 volunteers applied for the 25 media volunteer positions. The applicants were mostly professionals, students and unemployed youths. The LOC plans to recruit ordinary people and specialists in various fields to work as volunteers. There are also plans to use disabled people. The specialists will include medical practitioners, translators, people from the legal fraternity and information technology experts. General volunteers will fulfill important representative roles for the LOC in areas such as liaison, accreditation, spectator services, fan parks, transport, drivers, hospitality and logistics. According to the LOC, about 6 000 volunteers will be needed for the Confederations Cup and 15,000 for the World Cup. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old by March 2009 for the Confederations Cup and by March 2010 for the World Cup. Applicants must also live in the respective host city - Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, Pretoria, Nelspruit or Rustenburg. The volunteer programme is an opportunity for South Africans to participate in the World Cup by offering their time and services for free to the LOC. There will be no pay although a travel allowance will be provided. Volunteers will be drawn from South Africa and from the rest of the continent and the world.

World Bank GEP 2008 Report on Technology in the Developing World

Technology and technological progress are central to economic and social well-being. The creation and diffusion of goods and services are critical drivers of economic growth, rising incomes, social progress, and medical progress. Global Economic Prospects 2008: Technology Diffusion in the Developing World examines the state of technology in developing countries and the pace with which it has advanced since the early 1990s. It reveals both encouraging and cautionary trends. On the one hand, the pace of technological progress in developing countries has been much faster than in high-income countries—reflecting increased exposure to foreign technology as a result of linkages with high-skilled Diasporas and the opening of these countries to international trade and foreign direct investment. On the other hand, the technology gap remains large, and the domestic factors that determine how quickly technologies spread within developing countries often stymie progress, especially among low-income countries. This year’s Global Economic Prospects comes on the heels of an extended period of strong growth and a 15-year period of strong performance in much of the developing world that has contributed to substantial declines in global poverty. While high oil prices and heightened market volatility may signal a coming pause in this process, over the longer term continued technological progress should continue to push back poverty. An online companion to the prospects section of this report, including access to additional data and analysis not reported here, is available at  www.worldbank.org/globaloutlook.

Rural Development Program to cost US$ 30 Million

Angola’s Rural Development and Support for the Rural Woman Program, which began in 2007, is expected to require an investment of US$30 million this year. The first phase of the program, which began in 2007, involved drawing up projects and covered nine of the country’s 18 provinces. According to Filomena Delgado, the deputy minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, there was a need to set up a fund to provide a sustainable source of funding for the program because the state budget could not meet all of the project’s requirements. The program aims to reduce poverty in rural areas, thus making it easier for the population to gain access to power, water, telecommunications, education, health and other services. The project, which will drive wide-scale economic and social change in rural areas, is expected to promote research in the agro-farming sector and encourage the establishment of cooperatives, associations, and micro-industries for transformation of products in the countryside.

African Farmers’ Strategies for Coping with Climate Change Radio Scriptwriting Competition - Africa

Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (DCFRN) and Technical Center for Agricultural Cooperation (CTA) invite African scriptwriters to participate in the African Farmers’ Strategies for Coping with Climate Change scriptwriting competition. The competition is open to African radio organisations, including broadcasters, production organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with a radio project, and farmers’ associations with a radio show. Writers are invited to submit a radio script on one of the following themes related to climate change: water and soil management; cropping strategies emphasising drought-resistant plants; livestock management practices; fisheries and agroforestry; and other original topics related to coping with climate change and not listed above. To assist radio practitioners with producing the radio scripts, a climate change resource kit, guide to writing radio scripts, and coaching and mentoring on scriptwriting is available through the competition website. Participants can use any of the following script formats: interviews, spots, discussion between two hosts, drama (with different characters), or a story (told by one or two narrators). Examples of the different script formats can be found on the competition website. Participants are encouraged to include an audio file with their script; however, this is not a requirement. Edirol R-09 digital audio recorders will be awarded to the top 15 radio scriptwriters. The scripts will be reviewed by an international panel of judges. The top 15 entries will receive high quality digital audio recorders. The winners will be announced in May 2008 and will be profiled on the competition website. The winning scripts will be published and distributed by CTA and DCFRN. All entrants will receive feedback on their scripts. Entries must be received no later than March 15 2008.

Leaders in Development: Managing Political & Economic Change Course

To be run in June 2008, Leaders in Development is intended for political leaders, senior- level policy makers and managers, executives of political and public interest organizations, and leaders of non-governmental organizations from developing, newly industrialized, and transitional countries. Participants are selected to reflect a broad range of leadership positions from the public, private, and non-governmental sectors. They are united in sharing positions of leadership, challenging political and economic environments, and a desire to use their positions to promote equitable and sustainable change in their countries. http://ksgexecprogram.harvard.edu/program/lid/overview.aspx

Gauteng to Invest in Training for Building Industry

The Gauteng Master Builders Association (GMBA) will invest R3 million in training, to help address the critical skills shortage in the building industry. The R3 million training investment will be implemented through the GMBA’s Building Industries Learner Training (BILT). The section 21 company will manage the recruitment of potential learner artisans; training at registered and CETA accredited training providers; procure on-site training and employment; and eventual qualification. The duration of the training period is one year and includes up to 3 months of onsite training with one of GMBA’s member companies. All training costs, including allowances to learners, are carried by BILT. GMBA is currently identifying suitable and dedicated candidates of all ages for training in trades such as carpentry, bricklaying and plastering. For more information about the BILT training scheme, contact Pam Nelson or Francois Schlebusch on 011 805 6611. Interested candidates can send their CV’s and a copy of their ID’s to  pam@gmba.co.za or fax to 011 805 6718

Blair to Advise Government of Rwanda

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is to become an advisor to Rwanda, according to Dr David Himbara, the head of the Strategy and Policy unit in the Office of the President. He stated that Blair has expressed his interest in offering pro bono services as advisor to Rwanda. A team from Mr. Blair’s office reportedly recently visited Rwanda for a week to assess the challenges on the ground.

South Africa Investing for Major Tourism Year

South African Tourism has committed more than R160-million to a global advertising campaign and more than R18-million to further grow domestic tourism this year. There was a 9% increase in arrivals between September 2006 and September 2007, with particularly strong growth from North America (9%) and Asia (14%) which is above the current global average of 5.6%. This success, according to the organisation, can be attributed to numerous factors, including SA Tourism's joint marketing agreements with the global travel trade and a growing number of "Fundi" graduates, or destination South Africa specialists. Domestic tourism has also been a critical component of the industry and SA Tourism is to commit R18-million to growing this market over the next three years. Business Tourism was also a vital growth sector, contributing more foreign spend per tourist than leisure tourism. SA Tourism intends to increase the number of both international trade participants and exhibitors attending the show over the short to medium term, with the goal of making South Africa one of the top 10 global conference destinations by 2010.

Ireland Provides Grant for Housing in South Africa

A grant by the Irish government has been announced by the Prime Minister. The Irish government has approved a €5-million grant for building township houses in South Africa and its Irish government's development agency, Irish Aid, will give the money to the Niall Mellon Township Trust, created by Irish philanthropist Niall Mellon to build homes for impoverished South Africans. So far, 239 families have moved out of ramshackle homes in the area into their new brick houses, with the Niall Mellon Townships Initiative aiming to complete 450 homes in the impoverished part of the huge township. The house-building charity has also homes elsewhere in cape Town, and is already well known by the Imizamo Yethu community of Hout Bay in Cape Town for providing many families there with decent homes. This year, the Niall Mellon Township Trust aims to recruit 2 008 volunteers from Ireland to come and spend a week in the area in November and build more homes, and will be chartering seven aircraft to bring them over from Ireland. Already, 3000 volunteers - drawn from almost every village on the small island of Ireland - have been to South Africa to contribute towards the government's objective of providing decent homes for all South Africa. Since its inception in 2002, the charity has built more than 5 000 houses for shack-dwellers, and now provides employment for almost 2,000 people in South Africa, most of them from the townships in which it is working.

World Bank Report Applauds Uganda

A World Bank report has applauded Uganda for embracing new technologies in her development process. The report 'Global Economic Prospects 2008: Technology Diffusion in the Developing World' examines the state of technology in developing countries and the pace with which it has advanced since the early 1990s. According to the Bank, the report reveals both encouraging and cautionary trends. On the one hand, the pace of technological progress in developing countries has been much faster than in high-income countries - reflecting increased exposure to foreign technology as a result of linkages with high-skilled diasporas and the opening of these countries to international trade and foreign direct investment. On the other hand, the technology gap remains large, and the domestic factors that determine how quickly technologies spread within developing countries often stymie progress, especially among low-income countries. The report gives an insight on how Uganda is using ICT4D to enhance sustainable development with some examples such as the country's ability to introduce a smart card that uses existing mobile phone technology to provide low-cost, electronic banking services that include savings and payments for low income customers by Remote Transaction Systems (RTS). The Report also says that out of the surveyed including Uganda, between 7-47 percent of the unbanked population has access to mobile phones including shared access and this number is rising. The report also applauds the country's success story of deploying ICTs in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Cape Town Harbour Upgrade in Progress

Work has started on the R4.2-billion upgrade to the Port of Cape Town's container terminal, according to Transnet, South Africa’s state-owned transport company. The five-year project will almost double the capacity of the facility, the country’s second-largest container terminal after Durban. The expansion is expected to relieve mounting pressure at the country's ports by enabling the terminal to improve from the current 740 000 TEUs (standard length containers) per annum to 1.4 million TEUs by the end of 2012," Transnet Port Terminals said in a statement. The initial construction work will entail refurbishing the quay and deepening the berth and the harbour will also be dredged to allow bigger vessels to enter.

PepsiCo Announces Initiatives with the Earth Institute and H2O Africa to Drive Sustainable Water Practices

PepsiCo has announced a major new grant by the PepsiCo Foundation to the Earth Institute at Columbia University, one of the world's premier institutions dedicated to global sustainable development. In addition, the company announced a partnership with H2O Africa, a foundation focused on clean water initiatives in Africa. Both initiatives are targeted to drive sustainable water practices as part of PepsiCo's ongoing commitment to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The initiative led by the Earth Institute and supported by the PepsiCo Foundation involves identifying a series of high-impact, community-based activities and practical solutions across water, agriculture and climate. The effort is focused on improving water access, increasing water productivity and recommending innovative methods to deliver "more crop per drop," among other goals. The Earth Institute, directed by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, will receive $6 million during a three-year period directed at projects in India, Brazil, China and Africa based on annual progress in these markets. The PepsiCo partnership with H2O Africa, the charitable organization founded by Matt Damon, involves on-the-ground clean water projects in Niger, Mali, Senegal and other countries in Africa. H2O Africa will receive $2.5 million over the next 12 months.

Call for submissions for the SEED Awards 2008

Do you have an entrepreneurial or innovative idea that is locally-driven and has great potential to contribute to sustainable development in developing countries? Are you finding new ways of simultaneously improving incomes and strengthening livelihoods; tackling poverty and marginalisation; and managing and conserving natural resources and ecosystems? Are you developing a new concept that brings together people and organizations from different backgrounds - a project that challenges partners to pool their human, financial, and natural resources? The SEED Initiative is seeking submissions for "The 2008 SEED Awards for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development". We welcome innovative ideas from any group in a developing country, which is working in partnership with others to generate environmental and social benefits in an entrepreneurial way. SEED Award Winners receive a tailored package of support services to help them to become established and to increase their impact. This includes access to relevant expertise and technical assistance, meeting new partners and building networks, developing business plans and identifying sources of finance. The Award is not a cash prize - but the services offered have a value of US$25,000. The call is open until the 16th March 2008. www.seedinit.org

Sierra Leone to Protect Gola Rainforest

Sierra Leone is to protect the Gola rainforest with the help of a £3 million conservation grant from the European Commission. The money will help compensate 100,000 locals who will lose income from former royalties linked to logging and diamond mining.

Eskom to spend R150 Billion in power supply Upgrade

Eskom is to accelerate the implementation of its capacity programmes and will invest R150 billion over the next five years in upgrading the country's power supply infrastructure. The biggest percentage of expenditure will go towards improving the state utility's generation capacity through building a new power station. Money will also be spent on re-opening three mothballed power stations while 26 percent of the budget will be spent on a transmission and distribution system. However, before the upgrades are completed, South Africans are likely to continue experiencing load shedding as the electricity demand has outpaced existing supply, with the growth in demand currently at four percent annually.

Mucavele Departs NEPAD for Return to Mozambique

The NEPAD Secretariat has confirmed that effective January 21, 2008, Professor Firmino Mucavele, who had been Chief Executive of the NEPAD Secretariat since 2005, was released from his duties at the NEPAD Secretariat and has been recalled by the Government of the Republic of Mozambique.

Cameroon aligns Action Plan to NEPAD Environment Strategy

Environmental experts met in Mbalmayo, Cameroon, in January 2008 to discuss and endorse the proposed Cameroon environment action plan, fine-tuned to NEPAD’s environmental component. Cameroon is the first pilot country to carry out the exercise which is intended to prepare national environment action plans to ensure sustainability in environmental management. NEPAD, a vision and strategic framework for Africa’s renewal, is designed to address the current challenges facing the African continent, such as escalating poverty levels, underdevelopment and the continued marginalisation of Africa. Environment is a key NEPAD programme. Cameroon is one of the five pilot countries together with Mozambique, Ethiopia, Ghana and Libya to undergo the process of fine-tuning their environment action plans to that of NEPAD under a programme supported by the Regional Office for Africa of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Lessons learnt from this exercise will feed into the roll-out to other African countries. The Cameroon action plan aims to: fight against soil degradation, drought and desertification; conserve humid zones; prevent, control and manage invading exotic species; conserve and use marine and coastal resources; fight against climate change in Africa and conserve and manage trans-border natural resources. The Minister said the plan would also handle issues related to health and environment, transfer of ecologically rational technology, evaluation of a natural catastrophe monitoring system, and the NEPAD environmental programme.

CODESRIA National Working Groups Call for Proposals for 2008

One of the most important vehicles by which CODESRIA has sought to mobilise national-level research capacities and to channel these into organised reflections has been the National Working Groups (NWGs) which it has encouraged African researchers to organise autonomously on priority themes of their choice. The Council invites proposals for the constitution of NWGs under the 2008 competition for the research grants that are available. NWGs have been supported by the Council in over forty African countries and have resulted in some of the most interesting studies on politics, economy and society in contemporary Africa. Within the framework of the new CODESRIA strategic plan for the period 2007 - 2011, it has been decided to retain this vehicle as an important instrument for promoting research into and publications about different national-level experiences pertinent to the pre-occupations of African scholars active in the Social Sciences and Humanities. There is no fixed amount for the grants that are awarded for the constitution of NWGs, although, for indicative purposes only, applicants may wish to note that in the past, awards of between US$7,500 and US$20,000 have been made by the Council. Proposals for consideration for possible funding within the framework of the 2008 competition should be sent to CODESRIA by 31 May, 2008 at the latest. All proposals received will undergo an independent review process the outcome of which will be announced by 1 July, 2008.  http://www.codesria.org

Ghana receives World Emerging Economy Award

Thomson Financial’s International Financing Review (IFR) has given a prestigious award to Ghana as the most emerging economy in the world for the year 2007. Ghana emerged as the winner following a year of intense scrutiny and monitoring of the emerging global economic activities by Thomson IFR’s independent, global team of expert reporters and analysts. The IFR award represents the key industry benchmark of global capital markets and national economic excellence. The Award was presented in London at the 13th IFR Annual Awards Gala Dinner attended by over 1,500 senior investment bankers, economists and representatives of governments from around the globe in January. Thomson Financial’s International Financing Review (IFR) is the world’s leading source of international capital markets and national economies intelligence. Matthew Davies, Editor of Thomson Financial’s IFR, noted that Ghana’s economic performance in 2007 was remarkable. "Against a background of unprecedented difficulties in world trade and political instability in certain parts of the world especially on the African continent, which saw enormous write downs across the many economies ousted, Ghana’s economy was able to grow." He added. He said the lessons on Ghana’s economic progress were very relevant to other countries especially those in Africa and third world countries.

Mandela Fund Provides Scholarships in UK

The Mandela Scholarship Fund has invited South African students, who want to undertake postgraduate studies at Sussex University, to send in their applications for scholarships. Through the fund, students will get an opportunity to study at the University of Sussex, one of the United Kingdom's leading research universities, located in the vibrant city of Brighton. The scholarships are aimed particularly at students who wish to study a development-related discipline, or to take a course that is unavailable in their own country. They are open to students who have demonstrable ties with, and a commitment to, South Africa. It is intended that the scholars will gain knowledge and skills that they can use constructively on their return home. The university offers a range of stimulating, practical and highly relevant courses, and has strong historical links to South Africa. According to the Mandela Scholarship Fund site, the graduates are well-placed in leading South African institutions including government, universities, non-governmental organisations and private sector. The fund was set up in 1973 as an initiative of the Sussex Student Union and staff. Its purpose was to provide higher education to South African students who were unable to study at university level because of discriminatory apartheid laws. Applicants should apply simultaneously to the University of Sussex Post-graduate Office, for the course of their choice, and to the Mandela Scholarship Fund for financial help. The closing date for applications is 14 March 2008.  http://www.ussu.net/mandela/

United Nations Meets Web 2.0 – 25 March - New Media, New Entrepreneurs and New ICT Opportunities in Emerging Markets

The Global Alliance for ICT and Development of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA-GAID) will organize an event, entitled "United Nations Meets Web 2.0 - New Media, New Entrepreneurs and New ICT Opportunities in Emerging Markets", on 25-26 March 2008, in Conference Room IV of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This event is second in a series of intimate, interactive and action-oriented meetings organized by UNDESA-GAID with ICT leaders, who create new and innovative technologies. In February 2007, the Global Alliance organized "United Nations Meets Silicon Valley" in Santa Clara, California, which explored how the technology industry and business community in Silicon Valley can bolster development. "UN Meets Web 2.0" is a follow up to the meeting in Silicon Valley and will be held in New York City, a bastion for global finance, and staged at the United Nations, which serves as a gateway to encourage technology and investment to flow into the world’s developing communities. The event will consist of a series of policy dialogues and panel sessions on the first day, showcasing a variety of perspectives on key issues, including the use of technology to drive development; understanding what is in the mind of ICT entrepreneurs; and how the new media and content are shaping the landscapes of business and economics in developing countries. The second day will include an Investors Forum, showcasing emerging business and investment opportunities in information and communication technologies in developing nations, including ICT initiatives from countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, the Pacific, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. The event will be attended by representatives of governments, business and industry, academia and professional institutions, non-governmental organizations and media. http://www.un-gaid.org/en/node/1347

China Lends Gabon $83 Million for Hydro Dam

China is to lend Gabon 37.2 billion CFA francs on concessionary terms to part-fund a hydroelectric dam scheme, according to the central African country's presidency. The "Grand Poubara" hydro scheme is linked to a $3 billion Chinese-led project to mine iron ore at Belinga, which is a key plank in government efforts to wean Gabon's middle-income economy away from dependence on declining oil production. The loan deal provided for a loan bearing 3% interest over a 20-year term, including a grace period of seven years. Gabon held its debut $1 billion 10-year global bond issue last month with a coupon of 8.20 percent to raise funds to buy back old debts to the Paris club of sovereign creditors. The country is rated BB-minus by Fitch and Standard & Poor's. Gabon is one of China's smaller suppliers of crude oil, but the central African country increased its crude shipments to the Asian country by 10.5 percent to nearly 887,000 tonnes in 2007 compared to the previous year, Chinese customs data show.