GHANACHINA Political storm over Chinese gas contracts 30th October 2012 GHANA Elmina: Small boy and a large vulture on the beach. Sven Torfinn/Panos Image courtesy of Panos Pictures Opposition parties and anti-corruption activists call for investigations into and a renegotiation of Beijing’s energy and telecoms deals with Accra Leading opposition presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo and his New Patriotic Party are stepping up criticism about the financing of Chinese projects in the energy and telecommunications sector. Akufo-Addo and the pro-NPP Alliance for Accountable Government (AFAG) have criticised the terms of the finance as damaging to Ghana. AFAG says that China’s Huawei secured US$43 million in tax exemption in return for contributions to the ruling National Democratic Congress. On 18 October, the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas (CSPOG) called for an investigation into transfer pricing and inflated costs for the gas infrastructure being built by China’s Sinopec in Ghana’s Western region.
GHANACHINA Call me, maybe 30th October 2012 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site The influence of Chinese money on Ghana’s heated politics has crossed a legal red line, say activists who accuse telecoms company Huawei of bribing officials of the ruling National...
SOUTH AFRICACHINA Calls for protection against Beijing’s exports 30th October 2012 Image courtesy of Panos Pictures View site The government wants to improve trade terms with China as new studies show how cheap imports are damaging local industries and costing jobs South Africa’s Trade Minister Rob Davies gave a list of trade concerns to Beijing officials in October during his tour of East Asia. Davies’s government wants to reduce the damage ...
SOUTH KOREAAFRICA More summits, more funds 30th October 2012 The South Korean government is making more commitments to back its economic expansion in Africa and to promote industrialisation and trade The third Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Forum took place in Seoul from 15-18 October, marking a stronger engagement from the South Korean government. Foreign Minister Kim Sung-...
ALGERIACHINABRIEFING Alger, la Chinoise 30th October 2012 Chinese companies are displacing European powers in African countries where ties were considered to be strongest, and China is set to become Algeria’s largest trading partner ahea...
CONGO-KINSHASAASIABRIEFING Asian builders get close to Inga billions 30th October 2012 The Kinshasa government plans to begin discussions in November with three consortiums that are interested in the construction of a third hydroelectric dam capable of producing seve...
MADAGASCARCHINABRIEFING Rosewood scandal hits more Chinese companies 30th October 2012 In October, Chinese companies were once again the target of Madagascar’s environmental groups for their role in illegal rosewood exploitation. Environmental umbrella group Alliance...
NIGERCHINABRIEFING Refinery causes more government headaches 30th October 2012 Faced with difficult negotiations with its Chinese partners and the seemingly implacable demands of the population, the Nigerien government admitted in mid-October that the Chinese...
CHINA Yu Yong 30th October 2012 Chairman, Cathay Fortune Corporation, China Shanghai billionaire Yu Yong has directed his private equity firm, Cathay Fortune Corporation, to mount a hostile bid for Australian mining company Discovery Metals. At stake are D...
SOUTH KOREA Bahk Jae-Wan 30th October 2012 Strategy and Finance Minister, South Korea At the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation Conference (KOAFEC), held in Seoul from 15-18 October, South Korea announced US$590 million in aid and loans over the next two years. Bahk...
SOUTH AFRICA Rob Davies 30th October 2012 Trade and Industry Minister, South Africa Rob Davies’s recent tour led to the strengthened economic relations with Indonesia and China. On 17 October in Jakarta, South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry co-chaired ...
ETHIOPIA Lee Jang-Gyu 30th October 2012 President, Adama Science and Technology University, Ethiopia Following an invitation from the late Premier Meles Zenawi, Lee Jang-gyu went to Ethiopia to take the reins of Adama Science and Technology University in October 2011. Freshly r...
