1. China in Africa

Tanzania China sign deal to improve trade
The government has signed a memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) in a bid to improve trade and investment between the to countries. The signing of the MoU was one of the outcomes of the Tanzania-Zhejiang Business Forum held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. The two parties said the agreement seeks to improve business and investment relationship between Tanzania and China’s Zhejiang Province for the mutual benefit of both sides.
Read More

ECOWAS-China Business Forum opens in Accra
Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday opened the second ECOWAS-China Business Forum with the hope that a strong partnership would emerge to enhance production capacities, address supply side constraints and boost intra-West Africa trade.
Read More

2. India in Africa

India, Africa set trade target of $90 billion by 2015
India and Africa have decided to revise bilateral trade upwards to $90 billion in the next three years, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma said. Earlier, both the sides had set a target of $70 billion to be achieved by 2015. It had stood at $62 billion in 2011.
Read More

Central African Republic woos Indian investment
The Central African Republic Monday sought Indian investment in the country's road, rail, hydro-power and uranium mining projects. "Being a landlocked country, Central African Republic requires transportation network which includes train, road and air networks. We are here to invite Indian companies to look at opportunities in developing these infrastructure," said Anicet Parfait Mbay, transport minister.
Read More

‘SA and India cement cordial ties’
The cordial and mutually beneficial political and economic relations between SA and India are yielding positive results, the SA High Commissioner to India, Reverend Harris Majeke, said on Monday. He was speaking at a business seminar hosted by the Department of Trade and industry (the dti) at the Taj Coromendal Hotel in Chennai, India.
Read More

Sunil Mittal appointed co-chair of India Africa Business Council
The India-Africa Business Council (IABC), which was announced by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the India-Africa Forum Summit in May 2011 with an aim to provide an institutional platform to strengthen economic ties between business communities of Indian and the African continent, will hold its inaugural meeting on March 17, 2012 in New Delhi.
Read More

Projects worth $30 billion discussed at India-Africa conclave
More than 200 projects worth almost $30 billion in sectors like infrastructure, mining, agriculture, telecom and healthcare was discussed at the 8th edition of the India-Africa conclave that concluded Tuesday. Over 1,100 delegates, including 36 ministers from India and several African countries, participated in the three-day India-Africa Project Partnership conclave, its organiser said.
Read More

3. In Other Emerging Powers News

Trade with Brazil Hits U.S.$6 Billion
Trade between Nigeria and Brazil has reached $6 billion, according to the Ambassador of Nigeria to Brazil, Mr. Vincent Okoedion Okoedion. He said this during an investment forum in Sao Paulo, Brazil yesterday. Although the trade was in favour of Nigeria, it was basically from oil export as Nigeria remained the biggest exporter of oil to Brazil, a statement from the ministry of Trade and investment said.
Read More

South Africa trade mission to Brazil
The South African delegation on a trade mission to Brazil was receptioned in the city of Curitiba this past week by the local trade association (ACP) in partnership with the Federation of Industries in the State of Paraná (FIEP). The mission received the support of the consulate general of South Africa in São Paulo and the Department of Trade and Industry of South Africa, and was composed by delegates from the wine industry, energy, civil engineering, architecture and tourism sectors.
Read More

BRICS about global governance, says China
Global governance and sustainable development will be the two items of focus at the upcoming 4th BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in New Delhi, China said on Tuesday. The aim for the BRICS countries is to come together to form economic, social and financial bonds during the summit, Ma Zhaoxu, vice-minister for foreign minister told a press conference on Tuesday.
Read More

Better coordination needed among Brics nations on international political issues
The fourth summit of the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) group of countries in New Delhi on March 29, represents a high-water mark in South-South cooperation. It signifies the will of the five nations to act jointly in global economic and political spheres to further expedite the move away from domination of the planet by erstwhile colonial powers.
Read More

4. Blogs, Opinions, Presentations and Publications

Chinese foreign minister on Beijing’s firm foothold in Africa
China’s burgeoning influence around the world has reshaped global affairs, not least, the economic and political issues. In a recent interview with more than 500 journalists at the Great Hall of the People, China’s Foreign Affairs minister Yang Jiechi spoke on a wide range of issues and underlined his country’s foreign policy and external relations.
Read More