African ingenuity blogwatch: lasers, a home made airplane, solar panels, wooden boats, and more
A question from Benin Mwangi: How Do African Businesses Get Start Up Capital? He also announces The Cheetah Index.
The Cheetah Index derives both its name and inspiration from Ghanaian economist Dr. George B.N. Ayittey, author of Africa Unchained. A central topic in this book is the new generation of young African professionals who look at Africa ’s problems from a different and revolutionary perspective. Dr. Ayittey believes that this group of professionals plays a central role in re-vitalizing African economies. This group of progressive, problem solving and action-oriented Africans are called the “Cheetah Generation”.
African Path will build the Cheetah Index into a leading online resource for Africa ’s current generation of decision makers. These will include managers, entrepreneurs, government officials, educationists and other people who influence Africa ’s development. The site will provide breaking business news, profiles on African entrepreneurs and industry news while making it easier for business people from Africa and other continents to connect and network.
“Law Must Lead African Progress”-Chinwe Uwandu.
The Zimbabwean fashion house Mushe.
Singer/dancer Kaissa, from Cameroon.
Cultures Collide: Soulja Boy African Remix.
One Man, an Airplane and a Hummer.
South Africa: Robust Economy Shrugs Off Rate Hikes (contradicting the warning of rate hike disaster that I linked yesterday).
ECONOMIC growth surged unexpectedly in the third quarter of this year, buoyed mainly by rapid expansion in the finance sector and giving the Reserve Bank ample scope to raise interest rates again at its meeting next week.
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“We believe the GDP data remove the last credible argument for the Bank to leave interest rates on hold next week,” Absa Capital said in a research note.
Not sure why Nedbank and Absa Capital seem to be arguing opposite sides of the fence on rate hikes. But Johannesburg just became the only African city to make the top 50 liston the Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index.
The Nigerian government is planning a $1 billion free trade zone.
An undersea cable will bring Africa “closer to reliable telecommunications and affordable Internet access.”
Rural areas in Mozambique which lack electricity will be receiving solar panels in 2008.
East African Community countries have signed an interim trade agreement with the European Economic Community.
Safaricom will have its IPO in December, according to bankelele.
Omar Basawad has some interesting facts on sub-Saharan Africa (Mauritius comes out looking pretty good).
Madagascar: Building a Wooden Boat.
Plans are already under way for TEDAfrica 2008.