Submarine cables to help bring Africa into global economy

October 24, 2008, 10:53 AM —

Some governments in East Africa are stockpiling business capacity in anticipation of the four submarine cables that are expected to bring unprecedented connectivity options and related business opportunities to the region, according to a study by IDC.

"For example, Kenya is already subsidizing communications costs for business process outsourcing providers and establishing a BPO zone," said Francis Hook, IDC East Africa regional manager. "This ensures that there will be a supply of labor in place once cheaper and more reliable broadband arrives."

Governments in the region hope to use the new capacity to transform their economies, and land infrastructure projects abound as governments lay cable to bring capacity in from the coast, an especially important project for landlocked nations, Hook noted.

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Dow Jones Announces Partnership with Transparency International

Posted : Thu, 23 Oct 2008 08:01:25 GMT

LONDON and BERLIN, Oct. 23 DowJones-transparency


Dow Jones supports Transparency International's fight against corruption; Sponsors 13th International Anti-Corruption Conference, Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 in Athens, Greece



LONDON and BERLIN, Oct. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dow Jones has become an official global media partner to Transparency International for the next two years, the company announced today. As part of the agreement, Dow Jones will provide information resources to support Transparency International's research. Dow Jones will also support the organization's conferences and initiatives that provide a valuable forum for the private sector to share information in order to develop and implement more effective anti-corruption measures.

"Transparency International has been extraordinarily successful in highlighting the devastating consequences of bribery on ordinary people and the countries and industries most impacted by corruption. Increasing public awareness and greater understanding of the challenges associated with corruption is moving the focus toward enforcement of existing regulation and helping businesses manage the task of implementing effective processes and controls," said Clare Hart, President, Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group. "We welcome the opportunity to lend our products and support to assist Transparency in their mission."

Dow Jones will provide Transparency International's secretariat and approximately 90 national chapters with access to its leading global news and business information solutions, Dow Jones Factiva (www.factiva.com) and Dow Jones Watchlist (www.fis.dowjones.com/products/risk.html).

"Known for providing market-leading information services to businesses internationally and having strong connections with its clients, Dow Jones will be a valuable resource for both data gathering and media support in our global fight against corruption," said Cobus de Swardt, Managing Director at Transparency International.

"Since its inception in 1993, the organization has played a leading role in highlighting the damage caused by corruption and delivering important reference resources such as their global Corruption Perceptions Index. We look forward to helping the organization continue its success with its global initiatives," said Rupert de Ruig, Managing Director of Dow Jones Risk & Compliance.

Dow Jones will also sponsor the 13th International Anti-Corruption Conference, organized by Transparency International. The conference takes place Oct. 30 - Nov. 2 in Athens, Greece.

To learn more about Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, visit www.fis.dowjones.com/products/risk.html or contact Kim Gagliardi at (603) 864-8873 or kimberly.gagliardi@dowjones.com. For more information about Dow Jones Factiva products, visit www.factiva.com. For more information about the Dow Jones Enterprise Media Group, visit www.solutions.dowjones.com.

For information about Transparency International, visit www.transparency.org or contact Gypsy Guillen Kaiser at +49 30 3438 20662.



ABOUT DOW JONES

Dow Jones & Company (www.dowjones.com) is a News Corporation company (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NWS, NWSLV; www.newscorp.com). Dow Jones is a leading provider of global business news and information services. Its Consumer Media Group publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch and the Far Eastern Economic Review. Its Enterprise Media Group includes Dow Jones Newswires, Dow Jones Factiva, Dow Jones Client Solutions, Dow Jones Indexes and Dow Jones Financial Information Services. Its Local Media Group operates community-based information franchises. Dow Jones owns 50% of SmartMoney and 33% of STOXX Ltd. and provides news content to radio stations in the U.S.



About Transparency International

Transparency International is the global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption. Through more than 90 chapters worldwide and an international secretariat in Berlin, Germany, TI raises awareness of the damaging effects of corruption and works with partners in government, business and civil society to develop and implement effective measures to tackle it.



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New MasterCard Research Ranks 65 Cities in Emerging Markets Poised to Drive Long-Term Global Economic Growth

PURCHASE, N.Y., Oct 22, 2008 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- With global economic growth expected to be driven primarily by emerging economies at an unprecedented rate of 12 to 1 compared to rich-world economies (according to the International Monetary Fund), emerging markets are becoming increasingly important investment and business centers. Responding to this reality and providing guidance in today's economic environment is a new study from MasterCard Worldwide, the Worldwide Centers of Commerce(TM): Emerging Markets Index.
The Index provides valuable insights into the 65 leading cities driving growth within more than 30 emerging markets. Cities are generally considered to be leading indicators for national economies, making the study an important barometer of larger global economic trends and growth potential over time.
"Given the current economic climate, MasterCard is focused on providing valuable insights that assist our customers in identifying new market opportunities for the future. The Emerging Markets Index is key to that commitment," said Walt Macnee, President, Global Markets, MasterCard Worldwide. "By evaluating 65 emerging market cities and their increasingly important roles in global commerce, the Index offers companies a roadmap for where commerce is headed next."
The Index evaluates 65 cities on eight dimensions related to their business climate, political environment, economic growth, commercial connectivity, quality of life and other areas, and explores the compelling global and regional economic trends that distinguish these cities as future development hubs.
Some key findings from the study include:
-- China led the Emerging Markets Index ranking overall, with 15 of the top
30 cities. Shanghai and Beijing held the number one and two spots
respectively.
-- Budapest ranked third overall, helped by its heritage as one of the
first eastern European countries to initiate trading with the West
following the Cold War.
-- South Africa had more cities on the list than any nation outside of
Brazil, Russia, India and China (the BRIC nations), suggesting that
Africa may be entering an era of growth in the global market.
-- Latin American cities held two of the top ten spots, and five Brazilian
cities placed among the top 50.


"As the current financial environment shows, globalization is a part of today's economic reality -- capital, talent, technology and even intellectual property now move seamlessly across borders and nations," said Dr. Michael Goldberg, Program Director, MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce. "Emerging market cities will play an increasingly important role in global commerce and may provide unique market opportunities for businesses in the face of changing economic times."
The Index, developed by a panel of nine independent experts in economics, sociology and urban studies, is part of the broader MasterCard Worldwide Centers of Commerce(TM) program -- a global initiative to examine the role of cities in performing critical functions that connect markets and commerce around the world.
The full report and ranking are available at www.mastercardworldwide.com/insights.
Key Findings
Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa
Chinese Cities Dominate the Index. With 15 cities ranked in the top 30 and four in the top ten including #1 Shanghai, #2 Beijing, #6 Guangzhou and #10 Shenzhen, China outshone all other countries in the Index. Chinese cities placed among the top ten within the Index in measures relating to their commercial climate, economic growth and business connectivity, and held all top ten spots in the area related to education and IT connectivity. China's national economy played a key role in its city rankings, as has the visionary leadership of Shanghai, an important global commercial center.
Outsourcing Engine India Second Only to China. Led by Mumbai, the number one city in a critical dimension related to financial markets, eight Indian cities appeared in the Index, more than any country other than China. Scoring well in measures related to security and risk and connectivity, this showing reflects the leadership of cities like Chennai, a global center for automotive and film production.
South Africa a Gateway to a Continent. With the most cities in the Index outside the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China), South Africa's strong showing may reflect the ongoing opening of Africa to Western products, services and companies. It is clearly a place to watch carefully for new business opportunities.

Tanzania, Iran seek stronger relations

By Citizen Reporter

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has said his country is set to strengthen ties with Tanzania in agriculture and other economic activities.

"Iran's relations with Tanzania are very friendly, and historical�we welcome the expansion of ties with you," Tehran Times quoted Mr Ahmadinejad as telling Foreign minister Bernard Membe yesterday.
Mr Membe, on his part, called for stronger relations between Iran and Tanzania.

"Tanzania is determined to deepen its relations with Iran and would support the Islamic Republic in international forums," he said.
He said Iran's scientific developments showed that the sanctions against the country had been ineffective.

The sanctions had taught Iranians to stand on their own feet and Iran had defeated the supporters of sanctions through making progress, Mr Membe stated.

In a separate meeting with Mr Membe, Iranian Foreign minister Manuchehr Mottaki said Tanzania was an important target in Iran�s plan to develop ties with African states.

Mr Mottaki said time was ripe for closer ties between the two countries, adding that Iran had used its friendly relations with African states to help end conflicts in Africa.

Tehran has mediated peace talks between Chad and Sudan, Mr Mottaki explained. Mr Membe said Tanzania wanted to learn from Iran�s experience in industrial, agricultural, and health spheres.

Motlanthe seeks stronger voice for Africa at IMF

October 22, 2008, 21:15

President Kgalema Motlanthe says developing countries and Africa, in particular, should be allowed to take an active role in the governance of international financial institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Motlanthe has joined other African leaders in Uganda's capital, Kampala, where they are attending a summit of the continent's three trading economic blocs – the Southern African Development Community, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and East African Economic Community. The summit is aimed at strengthening economic and political integration on the continent.

Motlanthe has urged his fellow African leaders to agitate for a greater say in the global financial discourse. He also stressed the significance of social unity in Africa.

Zimbabwe: Corruption fears over £300m UN aid

Zimbabwe is set to receive almost $500 million (£307 million) of aid for its health system, with the money going through President Robert Mugabe's Reserve Bank, raising fears that his regime will benefit.


By Sebastien Berger in Johannesburg and Peta Thornycroft in Harare


The Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, administered by the United Nations and funded by Britain, America and other critics of the Harare regime, has agreed in principle to Zimbabwe’s request for help. Jon Liden, its communications director, confirmed that Zimbabwe had applied for almost $300 million to fight Aids, $58 million to combat tuberculosis, almost $60 million for malaria and $83 million for its health service in general. This application had cleared the most important hurdle by gaining approval from the “technical review panel”.

All that remains is for the Global Fund’s board to agree to release the funds at its meeting in New Delhi next month. Mr Mugabe’s regime has already described this as a “foregone conclusion”.

But Zimbabwean law states that all foreign exchange must be deposited with the Reserve Bank. Gideon Gono, its governor and one of Mr Mugabe’s closest allies, routinely delays releasing any funds.

The Reserve Bank held on to $600,000 for one aid programme for several months. A senior official with one donor organisation in Harare said that some funds had actually gone missing after arriving at the Reserve Bank.

“The next round of money is desperately needed in Zimbabwe, but no one will feel good about any going into the RBZ [Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe],” he said.

Dr Greg Powell, a human rights campaigner in Harare, said that large sums of donor money in foreign currency had been taken from the accounts of local aid agencies during this year’s bitterly contested presidential election, which is yet to be resolved as Mr Mugabe clings to power. “During the election period, foreign money from a number of NGOs [non-governmental organisations] disappeared from their bank accounts,” he said.

“They were told they could be paid out at the official rate of exchange in Zimbabwe dollars - at a very low rate of exchange at that time, or that they will get it back some time in the future.”

Event eyes ICT Innovation with Open Source & Mobile Content

By Brenda Zulu, IDG News Service, 10/22/08

The Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre of Excellence in ICT is using its third annual Innovation Week, taking place in Accra, to educate African entrepreneurs on FOSS (free and open-source software), said Dorothy Gordon, the center's director.

The theme of this year's conference is "ICT INNOVATION with Open Source & Mobile Content."

"We are bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs, or those who are still in the early stages of their business careers, and bringing them to link in with successful FOSS entrepreneurs so that they learn about the business models and what it takes to make success happen," Gordon said.

Many people are confused by the term "free," which refers to freedom of use, modification, redistribution and publication, as opposed to the idea that there is no payment required, Gordon explained. Many IT entrepreneurs imagine that they could never make money if they use FOSS, she added.

"We should focus on gaining market share using business models such as those adopted by Firefox and other well-known open-source businesses," she said.

The main aim of Innovation Week, Gordon said, is to give IT innovators a platform on which to exhibit their products and ideas.

"The important thing is to publicize successful innovation and support those with the brain power to create and innovate to take their product or process successfully to market," she said.

"The 'I-Week' also showcases global innovation as an inspiration, all with a view to moving Africa from being in a situation where we consume technologies designed to provide solutions for other people's problems to a situation where we actually create and produce technologies designed for our own contexts and in response to our own markets," Gordon added.

The main players in this year's Innovation Week are the Advanced Information Technology Institute, the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa, and Rancard, a mobile platform company.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.