Latest edition: emerging powers news roundup

1. General

Inga hydro project on Congo river too risky – AfDB
Current plans to develop the stalled $8-billion to $10-billion Inga 3 hydropower project on the Congo river may be too risky because of costs and time, a senior African Development Bank (AfDB) official said on Wednesday. The bank is financing a study for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government to optimize development of the Congo river's immense hydropower potential, with a pre-feasibility study expected in September.
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Tanzania plans to lease land to foreign investors
Tanzania plans to provide over 1.6-million hectares of land for lease by foreign investors to set up manufacturing plants, and plans to create free trade zones to boost exports, the Prime Minister said. East Africa's second largest economy – which expects to grow by 7.2% in 2012 – depends largely on tourism, mining and agriculture but is hoping to expand its manufacturing, telecommunications, energy, financial services and transport sectors.
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2. China in Africa

Hu reassures Sudan over continuing investment
Sudan won pledges from China and its state-owned energy firm yesterday that they will continue investing in the country after its resource-rich southern region becomes independent next month. Sudan's Foreign Minister Ali Ahmed Karti said yesterday President Omar al-Bashir was visiting Beijing hoping to hear China would continue to invest in northern Sudan's oil, agriculture and mining sectors.
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China says Libya rebel leader to visit
A leader of the Libyan rebel group leading the fight to oust Muammar Gaddafi will visit China, Beijing said on Monday in another step in its efforts to expand ties with opposition forces in the war-divided north African country.
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Expert regrets China’s hold on terms of development
MULTI-Facility Economic Zones are going to increase resentment and worsen strained relations between the Chinese and local people if they are not properly managed, says an expert at Sino-Africa relationship. Nitesh Dullabh of the Johannesburg-based Beijing Axis said it was regrettable that China at the moment was dictating the terms of development of industrial parks – the Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs).
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China accused of jamming TV, websites in Ethiopia
The Chinese government is facing accusations that it has helped block news websites in Ethiopia and jammed Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) and other broadcasters, including the Voice of America and German's Deutsche Welle Amharic services. The Chinese government is facing accusations that it has helped block news websites in Ethiopia and jammed Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) and other broadcasters, including the Voice of America and German's Deutsche Welle Amharic services.
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China woos ecowas with $525m for projects
A Joint delegation of officials of the ECOWAS Commission and some member states, began talks on Monday with Chinese leaders and Public-Private sector actors on ways to strengthen economic and trade relations between the Peoples’ Republic of China, the ECOWAS Commission and its member states. A statement issued at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja yesterday, revealed that an initial $525 million Chinese funding support for projects in Ghana and Sierra Leone is part of the discussions between ECOWAS leaders and senior Chinese officials.
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Tanzania seeks $700 mln China loan for power plant
Tanzania is seeking a $700 million loan from the Export-Import Bank of China to fund a power plant aimed at plugging a chronic power shortage in east Africa's second largest economy, a senior official said on Wednesday. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, David Jairo, said the loan would help state utility Tanzania Electric Supply Company build a 300 megawatt gas-fired power plant in southern Tanzania.
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Chinese plan taxi factory in South Africa
Chinese automobile manufacturer CMC is to build a vehicle factory in the Eastern Free State town of Harrismith at a cost of R1bn. CMC's best-known South African products are the Amandla and the Ses' Buyile taxis. This distributor of Chinese minibus taxis, Plutus and Tigo bakkies and the Lifan passenger vehicle plans not only to manufacture cars for the local market, but also to export.
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Mozambique may become China's second-largest trading partner in Africa
Mozambique is likely to become China’s second-largest trading partner in Africa over the next five to 10 years with development of cooperation in sectors such as energy, the deputy secretary-general of Forum Macau told Portuguese news agency Lusa.
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3. India in Africa

India pushes to review Mauritius tax treaty amid revenue leaks
India and Mauritius will soon review a three-decade-old taxation treaty, misused by many Indian and multinational companies to avoid paying tax or to route illicit funds, an Indian official and a Mauritius government source said on Monday. The Indian government has been under pressure from opposition parties to renegotiate a treaty blamed for huge revenue losses, as Indian investors ship their money to Mauritius and then funnel it back untaxed.
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State Bank of India shows interest in Ghana
The State Bank of India (SBI) has indicated it wants to start banking business in Ghana. The bank’s officials say it is planning to build subsidiaries in Ghana, Australia as well South Africa in some few years to come.
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African Press Organisation Opens office in India
The African Press Organization (APO), a global leader in media relations related to Africa, on Wednesday opened offices in Mumbai, India, according to a statement received in Accra. The statement noted that India had been actively promoting trade with Africa over the past few years with trade relations between India and Africa hitting 31 billion dollars in 2009 and 2010.
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India asks UN to make African Union effective partner
Citing its own example of institutionalising ties with Africa, India has asked the United Nations to heed the views of the African Union in dealing with the 53-nation continent. This would make AU ‘a more effective and capable partner of the UN system,’ Vinay Kumar, counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission, said Tuesday at a UN Security Council briefing on the UN Office to African Union (UNOAU).
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4. In Other Emerging Powers News

Zuma calls on African funds for development
South African President Jacob Zuma called on African nations Wednesday to contribute resources to sustain continental development, amid funding concerns prompted by the Arab uprising. Africa is moving in the right direction with a focus on economic growth, but needs funds to maintain the momentum, Zuma told delegates in Equatorial Guinea ahead of an African Union summit opening Thursday.
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Angola points out parliamentary cooperation with Russia
Angola wants to establish a parliamentary cooperation with Russia, mainly in political and administrative areas, wishing that the level of parliamentary relations attains the same stage as in the partnership between both countries’ Governments. This desire was stressed this Monday, in Luanda, by the Angolan first parliament speaker, João Lourenço, during a meeting between parliamentary delegations of Angola and Russia.
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5. Blogs, Opinions, Presentations and Publications

India’s economic engagement with Africa
The feasibility of India giving credit worth billions to other nations was unthinkable a decade ago, but thanks to a resurgent economy, India has recently moved from being a recipient to a benefactor. This differs from the earlier ‘protectionist’ approach. Encouraged by a confident government, but also seeing opportunities on its own, the Indian private sector is getting involved in foreign investment and pushing the government to engage with Africa more consistently and to expand its network. Like investors from other emerging economies, India sees Africa as an important supplier and customer to drive growth. As India generates and absorbs hi-tech, it is ready to transfer intermediate technology more suited to developing economies, and invest, even though returns are not going to be large or fast.
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T S Vishwanath: The 'grand' key to Africa
It is referred to as the “Grand Free Trade Area” or the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement, and true to its name it will be one of the largest free trade areas in the developing world when it becomes a reality. The 26-nation free trade area encompassing countries from Egypt to South Africa and three existing free trade blocs will be a very important platform for countries to engage and invest.
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