Washington, United States | AFP | US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday accused China of seeking to build an “empire” by bribing leaders with investment and vowed to fight it “at every turn.” As tensions led by trade disputes soar between China and President Donald Trump’s administration, the …
Read More »From Twitter to hotels, Saudi’s sprawling business interests
Paris, France | AFP | Saudi Arabia’s global investment reach is impressive, stretching from stakes in Twitter and Uber to AccorHotels and Virgin Galactic — but the Khashoggi affair has thrown a harsh spotlight on its economic footprint. The following is a synopsis of the Kingdom’s investment portfolio. A 2017 …
Read More »‘Investments in distribution will cut electricity tariffs’
Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | Ziria Tibalwa Waako is the Chief Executive Officer of the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA). The Independent’s Julius Businge attended a media training workshop on March 6 where she responded to a number of questions. How would you describe Uganda’s electricity sector at the moment? Uganda’s …
Read More »Rwanda records US$1.67bn in investments in 2017
Over 38,261 jobs to be created in eight sectors Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Rwanda recorded a 30.7% growth in investment to US$1.675bn last year compared with the previous year, data from the country’s promotion agency, Rwanda Development Board (RDB) shows. According to the data, three sectors – construction and …
Read More »Qatar allows full ownership for foreign investors
Doha, Qatar | AFP | Qatar has approved legislation allowing 100-percent ownership for foreign investors in most sectors of the economy in a bid to boost non-energy revenues, the government said on Thursday. The move comes at a time of political crisis in the Gulf, with Qatar under an economic and …
Read More »Government offers licenses to 11 firms to operate in Free Zones
Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | Uganda’s balance of payment deficit has remained wide for some time now but there are signs that the gap will soon be reduced as the government issues licenses to developers in Free Zones. Free Zones are geographic areas where raw materials and goods may be …
Read More »China taps Africa at Morocco Silk Road investment forum
Marrakesh, Morocco | AFP | A two-day investment forum opened in Morocco’s Marrakesh on Monday as China seeks to revive ancient Silk Road trade routes from Asia to Europe and Africa. “The question is how to accelerate cooperation in the field of investment,” said Wang Yong, vice president of the …
Read More »UK Queen’s private estate invested in offshore funds: leaks
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Millions of pounds from the private estate of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II have been invested in offshore tax haven funds, a huge new leak of financial documents revealed on Sunday. Around £10 million ($13 million, €11.3 million) of the Queen’s private money was placed in …
Read More »Shell to invest $1billion in Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico | AFP | Royal Dutch Shell said Wednesday it would invest $1 billion in Mexico over the next decade, after the oil giant opened its first retail gas station in the country. The investment in the world’s fifth-biggest consumer of gasoline depends on market conditions continuing to …
Read More »For women CEOs, danger lurks atop the corporate ladder
New York, United States | AFP | In one recent 24-hour span, two women were pushed out of leadership roles at major US corporations, spotlighting how investor pressure can frustrate efforts to broaden diversity in the boardroom. Ellen Kullman, Meg Whitman, Mary Barra, Indra Nooyi, Marissa Mayer, Irene Rosenfeld, Sheri McCoy …
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