Latest Edition: Emerging Powers News Roundup

1. China in Africa

China ‘ready to fight counterfeit products’
China says it is prepared to cooperate with other countries in order to stem the increase of counterfeit products.The country's envoy to Tanzania, Mr Liu Xinsheng, said in Arusha on Friday that his government was aware of complaints that substandard goods from his country had flooded markets in various parts of the world. He made the remarks after presenting his credentials to the newly appointed East African Community (EAC) secretary general, Dr Richard Sezibera. He said China has taken measures on the proliferation of substandard goods in the East African region, adding that measures have been taken to ensure that Chinese exports into the region were of high quality.
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Zimbabwe program would give farmland to Chinese investors
While white farmers in Zimbabwe have had their land violently seized, the government will be giving away farmland to Chinese investors under a proposed program aimed at helping new black farmers. The “twinning” program, reported by Zimbabwe state media on Wednesday, would pair new black farmers in Mashonaland East province, one of the country’s most fertile areas, with investors from China’s Hubei province. The farmers will give part of their land to the Chinese, and in return will get funding and the Chinese will buy their produce.
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Congo Republic launches Chinese-funded hydro power plant
The oil-producing central African state of Congo Republic inaugurated a 120-MW Chinese-funded hydroelectric power station late on Saturday aimed at bridging the gap in its energy needs. The $377-million Imboulou plant, 150 km (90 miles) north of the capital Brazzaville is 85 percent-funded with soft loans by China and was built by China National Machinery & Equipment Import & Export Corporation. Terms of the financing have not been released.
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China, World Bank launch Congo rail revamp
China and the World Bank launched a $600 million plan with Congo on Thursday to revamp hundreds of kilometres (miles) of dilapidated rail network, including within the central African country's mining belt. The World Bank said it was the first time it had tried such a joint financing deal with China in Africa, with Beijing set to provide $200 million as part of a broader $6 billion "minerals for infrastructure" agreement it struck with Congo in 2009.
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Sundance May Sell Half of $4.7 Billion Ore Project to China
Sundance Resources Ltd., seeking to develop a $4.7 billion iron ore mine, port and railroad in West Africa, may sell as much as half of the project to a Chinese partner to help fund construction. "We are targeting to have a strategic partner selected by the end of June, so we can then move towards a final investment decision towards the end of September," Giulio Casello, chief executive officer of the Perth-based company, said in an interview. "We are getting very strongly focused towards China."
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China auto firm to establish an assembly plant in Zambia
A Chinese auto mobile manufacturing company is set to establish an assembly plant in Zambia to service the Southern African region. Higer China’s top Bus manufacturing company which has an annual production of twenty two thousand buses wants to set up the plant to ease import pressure for the local firms.
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SA-China trade will change says Davies
The trade gap between SA and China is narrowing as the pattern of trade shifts slowly from commodities to value-added products, says Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies . He was participating in a panel discussion on China’s relationship with Africa at the World Economic Forum on Africa last week. This is characterised by the import of African minerals such as copper, platinum and oil to feed its high economic growth rate and the export to the continent of manufactured products.
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Large Chinese business delegation expected to attend trade forum
MORE than 100 Chinese business delegates from 45 companies will be in SA next week to participate in a three-day trade and investment forum in Johannesburg. The event takes place three weeks after SA joined the Brazil, Russia, India and China (Brics) bloc of emerging economies.
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2. India in Africa

Indian venture to empower unemployed youth of Africa
In a step that will strengthen the growing India-Africa partnership, the National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) of India will build vocational training institutes in 10 African countries to help empower unemployed youth in the continent. The NSIC will also construct three other institutes on the lines of its Rapid Incubation Centres to prepare youth to set up their own small enterprises, a senior official has said. The NSIC, which facilitates the growth of small enterprises, has made a name for itself in Africa for its expertise in small and micro industries.
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Not competing with China for Africa, says India
With China making deep inroads through business and investment in Africa, India has said it was not in competition with Beijing in furthering economic interests there, but would play a complementary role. "India is not in competition with China and I do believe the description is accurate. In many cases, India and china complement each other," Vivek Katju, secretary (west) in the external affairs ministry, said.
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Kenya Affected by Somalian Piracy, Wants Indian Cooperation
Kenya, which is suffering due to piracy emanating in Somalia with which it shares a 680-km long, porous border in east Africa, is keen on greater regional cooperation with India, says a senior strategic affairs expert. "Kenya recognises the advantages of a common approach to the Indian Ocean region. The security aspect has made it a more immediate and important issue for us," said Muiruri Kimani, senior researcher at the Nairobi-based Institute of Security Studies.
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India's outsourcing firm to venture into Africa
Intense competition in India's business process outsourcing (BPO) industry has forced technology firm Spanco Ltd to expand to Africa where it expects to earn nearly half of its profits within two years. Pravin Kumar, chief executive officer of Spanco BPO Services, told Reuters on Tuesday his company sees Africa as a solid opportunity for the firm due to its proximity and almost similar time difference to the firm's major source markets -- Europe and the United States -- compared with India.
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Nigeria-India Trade Value Hits $12bn
Foreign Minister Odien Ajumogobia said the value of trade between Nigeria and India is now $12 billion, with the two countries seeking to grow the value. He disclosed this Tuesday in his office during a visit by the Indian envoy in Nigeria. The minister said, "Nigeria relationship with India is good and is improving because it is the second largest trading partner of Nigeria and their economy is a shining one which developing countries can learn from. "I believe we have a lot of lessons to learn from India with trade volume of $12 billion and still believe we can improve because the dominant part of the trade is in oil because Nigeria has much more than oil and hope that by working together. we could attain that"
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Malawians Keen to Build Trade Ties with India
Building on historical relationships, Malawians have set their sights on strengthening trade and investment relations with India in sectors as diverse as agriculture, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals. Malawi’s interest in investment from India comes at a time when Africa’s regional economic giant, South Africa, is also strengthening its relations with the Asian country through the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) dialogue forum. IBSA is a trilateral development initiative aimed at promoting South-South cooperation and exchange.
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3. In Other Emerging Powers News

China helps least developed countries with concrete actions
China said here on Wednesday that the least developed countries have become its priority in providing foreign aid, while providing them with assistance without political preconditions. The statement was made by Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying at the 5-day UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, which started in Istanbul from Monday till Friday. Fu said that the share of China's aid to LDCs in its total foreign aid stood at 40 percent in 2009 and exceeded 50 percent in 2010.
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4. Blogs, Opinions, Presentations and Publications

Brazil's Social Grants System and Its Relevance for South Africa
The social grant is a wager with time. Its aim is to catch the indigent - those who have no chance of ever finding a job - within a social welfare net to soften the blow of poverty. For others, it’s a respite during hard times. It lifts the spirits of those waiting for their fortunes to change. Well planned and executed social grants should also help break inter-generational cycles of poverty. The thought that social grants create “dependency” is largely dictated by what happens in an economy. As the Brazilian example shows, the urge for social upliftment is far greater than the desire to be dependent. However, conditions for entry into the mainstream economy as well as general economic growth are key factors that drive rates of employment both formally and informally.
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Africa Makes Its India Pitch
Although the first summit, which took place in New Delhi in 2008, wasn’t groundbreaking, it was the first step toward establishing a framework for cooperation between India and African countries on areas ranging from business, to humanitarian assistance to security. One of the things that came out of it was India’s pledge to grant preferential market access to least developed countries, of which many are African. This year’s summit is likely to look at what has been achieved so far, follow through on those steps and place an even greater emphasis on commercial ties.
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