Evvan's Ancor Update (Cultural Week)

It seems that we only hear about the bad stuff in Africa but here are
some of the good stuff
• Africa's economies grew by more than 5 percent last year - their
biggest expansion in eight years. Central Africa's oil boom spurred
14.4 percent growth for that region.
• Ghana's stock exchange is regularly one of the highest-performing
markets in the world; in 2003, it was No. 1, gaining 144 percent,
according to one analysis.
• Exports to the US from 37 African nations jumped 88 percent last
year, to $26.6 billion. Jeans made in Lesotho are sold in US stores.
Also, flowers from Kenya and vegetables from Senegal are regularly
available in European shops.
• Use of cell phones and the Internet are growing faster in Africa
than anywhere else, according to the United Nations.
These and other statistics are getting more focus amid efforts to
boost Africa's image - along with the world's willingness to invest in
the continent.






China promised on Tuesday to do more to strengthen Africa's economy
but ran into suspicions that, while sincere in its desire to help the
world's poorest continent, it is acting primarily out of
self-interest. China may only want to take some of the natural
resources that Africa has to offer. The big question is whether or
not the gain will be better than the loss.