“Africa always knew its potential, but now, for the first time, I think Africa has confidence in itself because it has seen the beginning of a much faster and independent path towards growth”

September 15 will mark the three year anniversary of the now infamous collapse of Lehman Brothers. In its wake came a string of high profile bankruptcies and nationalisations across the developed world, with governments pumping as much as $1,000bn into financial markets to avoid a wholesale collapse of the global financial system. These actions, we are told, pulled the world back from the brink.

“You cannot stay completely silent if you see that your neighbour needs your help. The real motivation is the fact that we can and should help other countries in areas where they think we can help”

With south Africa’s membership of the Brics, the continent now has formal representation amongst the world’s leading emerging markets

Plans to create a “Grand Free Trade Area” covering half of Africa could mark an important step towards strengthening the continent’s international competitiveness, but some suggest it may be overambitious

The rise of the so called Brics group of major emerging markets is fundamentally reshaping the complexion of global economic and political power. Nowhere has the impact of this been more visible than Africa, a trend that could have profound implications for the continent

As food prices remain at all time highs, the link between phosphate rock production and global food security may play an important role in avoiding future food crises

Debate is raging about the volume of global phosphate rock reserves, with some arguing production could ‘peak’ within decades

An increasing number of businesses from the continent’s largest economy are seeking out new opportunities across Africa, but questions linger about whether policy makers in Pretoria are doing enough to encourage this trend

While many mobile operators are mulling strategies for rolling out third generation networks in Africa, some within the industry are asking whether LTE might offer a chance to leapfrog 3G entirely

“I would really like to see Sierra Leone as a country that has laid a solid basis for effective and sustainable transformation... I want to be remembered as the president that has laid this basis for a new Sierra Leone”

“Once small application vendors get encouraged to take the plunge, they will then demand more local content – and the ecosystem will emerge and develop. To put it differently, if you build highways, people will buy cars”

The proposed privatisation of Nigeria’s former telecommunications monopoly may have little to offer for investors

Africa’s increasingly vibrant economies and stronger ties with other developing regions are increasing demand for trade finance in the region

Brazil is actively sharing its experience in agriculture with Africa, and there are hopes that this might be a critical contribution towards realising the continent’s elusive ‘green revolution’