News Round-up from the Commonwealth - 7 April 2014
/Asia and the Pacific News
1. Japan, Australia reach agreement on free-trade deal, Channel News Asia
Japan and Australia on Monday said they had reached "substantive agreement" on a long-awaited free-trade deal, in a rare opening of Japan's protected markets.
2. William and Kate arrive in New Zealand with Prince George, BBC News
It is the first official tour for the eight-month-old prince, who was awake in his mother's arms as the trio were greeted at Wellington airport by Prime Minister John Key and waiting media.
3. World Bank optimistic about Bangladesh’s future, bdnews24.com
Visiting World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region, Philippe Le Houérou, has said that he is optimistic about Bangladesh’s prospects of ending poverty and achieving shared prosperity.
4. Why India is so good at organising elections, The Economist
India’s general election is a massive affair. From April 7th to May 12th, across seven phases, 815m people will be eligible to cast votes in the biggest democratic exercise on Earth.
5. 11 things to know about world's biggest election, CNN
The 11 things you need to know about the world's biggest election.
Africa and Europe News
1. Nigeria becomes Africa’s top economy, The Globe and Mail
In a dramatic boost for African economic confidence, Nigeria has announced a huge rise in its estimated GDP, making it the biggest economy on the continent and the 26th biggest in the world.
2. Rwanda: Rising from the ashes, Africa Renewal
As the world marks the 20th anniversary of the genocide this year, Rwanda has moved on, economically, socially and politically. It has one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, averaging 8% per year over the past decade, according to the International Monetary Fund. The World Bank says Rwanda is the third best place to start a business in Africa, behind Mauritius and South Africa.
3. EU criticised for failure to transfer technology, SciDev.Net
European countries contribute less to global technological development than other developed nations, and are pursuing intellectual property policies that are not “development friendly”, according to a study.
4. Africa strives to rebuild its domestic industries, Africa Renewal
Across Africa, most countries face the problem that Mauritius once did: they produce and export mainly unprocessed crops or minerals, even though such raw materials are fetching lower and lower prices on world markets. In response, some are seeking to follow the example of Mauritius, to consciously and more energetically build up their manufacturing industries.
5. 'Nigeria's Mark Zuckerberg' puts tech into higher learning, CNN
At 23, many people around the world are still at university - at that age, Gossy Ukanwoke had already started one. The young entrepreneur is the founder of Beni American University (BAU), Nigeria's first private online university.
The Caribbean and the Americas
1. Canada created 43,000 jobs in March, CBC News
Canada's economy added 43,000 jobs in March as young people found work, Statistics Canada said today.
2. St Lucia considers economic citizenship to boost investment, Caribbean360
The initiative could attract “the brightest and wealthiest people” to a country for the purpose of investment, while at the same time highlighting the need for safeguards.
3. Trinidad experiencing robust growth - IMF, Jamaica Observer
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Trinidad and Tobago is experiencing more robust growth after several years of “sub-par performance.”
4. Small enterprises considered key to a sustainable Caribbean economy, St Lucian News Online
The Commonwealth Secretariat co-hosted, in collaboration with the Government of Saint Lucia, the third Global Biennial Conference on Small States... small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs)... should be at the centre of an economic growth strategy for Caribbean states.
5. Bahamas 'remarkable' as offshore center, The Nassau Guardian
The founder of a global private banking group, EFG International, has launched a new private bank in The Bahamas, arguing that this country's financial services sector has continued opportunities to grow notwithstanding ever-evolving global regulatory standards.
