Emerging Powers News Round-up

Emerging Powers News Round-up
A. Trade, Investment and Aid
1. World Bank hails investment in Ugandan farming
World Bank President Robert Zoellick visited Tilda rice processing plant in rural Uganda near the Kenyan border where Indian investors are providing a livelihood and market for more than 1,000 farmers who sell their crops for cash to the mill to assess how the country move toward commercial farming and greater food security.
2. Nigeria turns on India Inc
India Inc's hot new investment destination is Nigeria. And leading the investment push are the ONGC-Mittal combine, the Indo Rama group, Essar group and SREI. Besides, NTPC, Punj Lloyd and Simplex are entering the West African market
3. India gains access to Namibian uranium
In a bid to keep up with nations like China and Japan in the race to secure uranium supplies for nuclear energy, India has been busy forming ties with uranium producing countries.
4. Experiences of China's African investment
China's economic expansion abroad can give rise to resentment in the countries it targets -- risks that are likely to increase as China channels more foreign exchange reserves in overseas investments.
5. China's direct investment in Africa up 81% in H1
China's direct investment in Africa rose 81 percent in the first half year from the same period last year to US$552 million, according to a report released by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).
6. Alrosa to invest $500 mln in Angola building sector
Russia's Alrosa, one of the world's biggest mining companies will invest $500 million to build homes, schools and dams in Angola in the next few years.

7. Congo to downsize Chinese deal in debt relief bid
The Democratic Republic of Congo announced it would downsize a controversial infrastructure-for-minerals deal with China, winning IMF assurances it could be in line for swift debt relief.
8. Kenya woos Chinese investments in infrastructure, energy sectors
The Kenyan government for more Chinese investment especially in the areas of infrastructure and energy.
9. Chinese equity firm eye Mmamabula
The China-Africa Development Fund (CADF) says it is keeping a close watch on developments at the Mmamabula Energy Project (MEP) with a view to snapping up a stake.
10. Chinese hungry for Africa projects
A CHINESE government initiative to support business partnerships between Chinese and African entrepreneurs is battling to find suitable infrastructure development projects and business in Africa.
11. China supports infrastructure development in Cape Verde
China is to support infrastructure development projects in Cape Verde, particularly for social housing, energy, cement production and the restoration of Cabnave shipyards, to the tune of over US$240 million.
12. China's CDB launches $5.1 bln investment arm-paper
State-owned China Development Bank has set up an investment arm with 35 billion yuan ($5.1 billion) in registered capital as it will focus on private equity deals.
13. India, Namibia boost bilateral trade, defence ties
India and Namibia strengthened bilateral relations on Monday by signing agreements that would boost investments in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, services, energy, communications and mining.
14. China's Sinohydro has deal for Cameroon dam project
Chinese construction company Sinohydro has reached a preliminary agreement to take over the 200 Megawatt Memve'ele hydropower station in southern Cameroon.
15. WB Chief: China's policy to aid int'l recovery
World Bank Group President Robert B. Zoellick China's decision to pursue proactive fiscal and moderately easy monetary policies would benefit the economic recovery of both China and the world.
B. Special Features
1. China buys the world
Aljazeera news agency has put together a special coverage on China’s increasing global expansion as put the of the news agency ongoing reporting on China’s rise.
2. Africa Energy intelligence
A round-up of African energy contracts and investments.
3. Building on Progress? Chinese Engagement in Ethiopia
China’s economic engagement in Ethiopia focuses mainly on infrastructure development and tapping into the consumer base. Overarching judgements as to whether China’s engagement is a blessing or a curse for the country are still unclear.
4. Brazil, India, South Africa to Broaden "Voice of the South"
The sixth ministerial meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) forum agreed to strengthen the dialogue between the three emerging powers in order to establish common positions on regional and international matters and boost South-South cooperation.
5. Brazil - MFA - 6th Ministerial Meeting of the IBSA Forum - Brasilia, August 31 and September 1, 2009 - Joint Communiqué
6. Thirst for African Oil -- Asian National Oil Companies in Nigeria and Angola
The Report provides a comparative study of the impact of Asian companies on the two leading oil producing countries in sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria and Angola.
7. Forbes India: The Siege of Africa
The newest frontier for global business. A fusion of tempting opportunity and formidable risk. A China-India battleground. Come, watch the potboiler called Africa.
C. Agriculture and Land Issues
1. International agricultural land deals award Ethiopian virgin lands to foreign companies
During the last one year, the international media have reported with noticeable frequency on international agricultural land deals in Ethiopia. Experts worry about negative consequences.
2. China slow to invest in expensive LatAm farmland
Resource-hungry China has so far passed over investing in high-priced farmlands of South America in favor of Africa, with its less developed commodities markets, greater need for financing and open labor laws.
3. Tanzania expects more Chinese investment in agriculture sector
In an interview with Xinhua, Tanzanian Minister of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives Stephen Masatu Wasira, hailed the good cooperation and the smooth implementation of bilateral cooperation projects in agriculture industry.
4. Land Grabs: A direct infringement on Land Rights
The land grabbing has become very sophisticated and the poor are bound to suffer. While we continue lobbying government for policy change, we need to sensitize and assist the poor access and legally own land.
D. Rivalries and Tensions
1. New Scramble For Africa
As the scramble goes on, African countries must wake up and put their houses in order so that these high profile visits can be meaningful and beneficial to all Africans.
2. India in race with China for tapping African biz opportunity

Unlike China’s push driven by its government, the Indian march to Africa has been led by the private sector.
3. Out of Africa and into China, emigres struggle
Just as mass Chinese immigration abroad has fanned recent social tensions in Africa and other places, the influx of large numbers of foreigners, particularly Africans, into China is altering the social fabric of cities like Guangzhou and proving a headache to authorities
4. India eyes Maldives to counter China in Indian Ocean
In a bid to enlarge India’s footprint in the Indian Ocean region and counter China’s influence, Defence Minister A.K. Antony made a three day visit to the island nation of Maldives, where a pact for greater defence cooperation between the two sides is expected to be signed.
5. India has to learn to compete better: Venu Srinivasan
China’s way of competing is different from India’s. It may get the greater slice of the pie, but India needs to get an adequate piece too! How do we internally reform to make ourselves competitive? That’s India’s problem.
E. Company News
1. Continental Shift
Since the end of apartheid South Africa has become a world economic powerhouse.
2. What Sells in India, Goes Down Well in Africa
Many companies from India want to globalise. The question is where should they go? Either they can go to the developed world or the developing world. Here, the largest market after India and China is really Africa.
3. SAT clears hurdle to Bharti-MTN match
The Securities Appellate Tribunal, or SAT, today dismissed a petition filed by a Bharti Airtel shareholder opposing an informal guidance by the Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) exempting South African telecom major MTN Group from having to make an open offer to Bharti shareholders in the event of a merger of the two.

4. CNPC Says ‘Nothing to Disclose at Moment’ on Repsol
China National Petroleum Corp. said the country’s biggest oil producer has nothing to disclose at the moment on whether it’s in talks to acquire a stake in Repsol YPF SA’s Argentine unit.
5. S.Africa govt support makes MTN-Bharti deal likelier
South Africa declared support for a proposed tie-up between domestic telecoms operator MTN and India's Bharti Airtel on Tuesday, making the complex cash-and-shares deal more likely to succeed.