Fitch says South Africa’s budget highlights deficit challenges

Fitch says South Africa’s budget highlights deficit challenges

Fitch director for sovereigns Carmen Altenkirch said the rating agency had previously highlighted that weak economic growth and a failure to boost potential growth were a negative rating trigger. The outlook for public finances would form an important part of Fitch’s next scheduled review of SA’s sovereign ratings on June 5, the agency said on Thursday. Ms Altenkirch said Fitch’s sovereign credit rating for SA of BBB with a negative outlook recognised economic growth and…

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As Foreign Direct Investment continues to rise growth looks certain for Africa

As Foreign Direct Investment continues to rise growth looks certain for Africa

Achieving Africa’s growth Agenda – CNBC Africa Panel Speakers discuss Africa’s attractiveness to Foreign Investors. Even though threats still remain economic diversification and integration are major factors contributing to Africa’s growth. These factors, along with Infrastructure and Agriculture, were the key growth indicators discussed recently at “Achieving Africa’s growth Agenda” a World Economic Forum session developed in partnership with CNBC Africa and featuring prominent speakers Sunhil Bharti Mittal, Jacob G Zuma, Paul Kagame, Bronwyn Nielsen,…

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The Davos Challenge: bikes for school children in SA

The Davos Challenge: bikes for school children in SA

When was the last time you walked 6km to work or school? Did you know that this is the average daily distance to school for half a million students in South Africa? This past week, participants at the World Economic Forum took part in “The Davos Challenge: Walk for Education” by having their steps tracked with electronic pedometers. For every 6km walked, UBS and the UBS Optimus Foundation donated a bicycle for school children in…

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The Resilience that African Economies Have Built Over the Past 15 Years is Real

The Resilience that African Economies Have Built Over the Past 15 Years is Real

Donald Kaberuka, president, African Development Bank At the dawn of 2015, the question being asked frequently is: Are the good times over for much of Africa? Can the decade-long momentum be sustained, given the Ebola epidemic; the chronic crises in Central African Republic; South Sudan; the sharp fall in commodity prices; and a slowdown in the emerging markets, etc? In a sense it is déjà vu. The same question was asked in the aftermath of…

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DAVOS: Energy high on the agenda of African policy makers

DAVOS: Energy high on the agenda of African policy makers

The world economic forum is creating a working group of African leaders to build political momentum for a sustainable energy transition in Africa. Members of the group –to be known as AFRICAN ENERGY LEADERS GROUP, will come together to share insights and to enhance the overall capacity to build public-private partnerships, leverage political support and mobilize funds for sustainable energy and development initiatives on the continent.The Group noted at the inaugural Press Conference, the importance of…

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Who Gains and Who Loses from Plunging Oil Prices?

Who Gains and Who Loses from Plunging Oil Prices?

Judging by the futures market, where the price of oil for delivery in August 2015 is US$56 per barrel, there is little optimism about a recovery in oil prices. With cheap oil looking like it is here to stay, the latest Quarterly Economic Bulletin offers a breakdown by country of the potential regional consequences. Here are the highlights: Gulf Cooperation Council (Loss) oil and gas revenues in 2013 accounted for over half of the Gulf economies’ GDP and 75%…

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