The Africa Business Confidence Index (ABCI) for November shows expansion in both the index for manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors in Africa.

The difference compared to October in the manufacturing index is a plus of 3.7 percentage points, and in the non-manufacturing index a decrease of 4.0 percentage points. The index measures business confidence in the manufacturing and non-manufacturing private sector throughout Africa. Results are published on a monthly basis.

The November indicate confidence and growth with an index of 53.4 and 52.9 for the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors respectively.

By E.K. Bensah Jr in Accra, Ghana. As West African leaders got together for a series of important meetings last week at ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja, I could not help but wonder how many of our Ghanaian journalists were monitoring the meetings. According to the ECOWAS website, many of the meetings centred on ECOWAS getting serious on the ratification of its protocols, including that of free movement; as well as strengthening the ECOWAS Parliament to move from an advisory role to a legislative one.

Given the furore in the country of the unavailability of gas, I could not help but wonder how many Ghanaian journalists were equally monitoring what our policy-makers were saying about the necessity of the ECOWAS-backed West Africa Gas Pipeline coming on board as quickly as possible to help alleviate the gas shortage supply.

 By Ahunna Eziakonwa-Onochie. While much has been made of the political tensions that are said to divide the country, quiet mediation and dialogue over recent months signals tangible progress of which all Basotho can be proud.

Over the last eighteen months, the Heads of Churches (a non-partisan coalition made up of the leaders of all the major Christian denominations in Lesotho), have worked as impartial mediators with diligent dedication to bridge the gap between the political parties and bring the nations’ politicians closer together.

By Isaac Twumasi-Quantus in Accra. Quiet recently I read a report about fostering industrial development in Africa in the new global environment delivered by Milasoa Chérel-Robson, Economic Affairs Officer at the (UNCTAD) where he noted that African economies must diversify and not become reliant on agriculture.

Reading through and again it was clear that Africa has enjoyed good levels of economic growth despite the global financial crisis and is attracting increasing interest from the international business community. However, concerns exist around the sustainability of these levels of growth if African economies do not undergo a process of structural transformation.

This week Africa Business Communities meet with Ettienne Myburgh, CEO of CastleHill Group, on companies investing in their employees in South Africa.

Growth in credit demand by SA's private sector was less than expected at 5,52% year-on-year in October from a slightly revised 5,42% rise in September, SA ReserveBank data showed on Tuesday.

But growth in the broadly defined M3 measure of money supply quickened to 7,26% year-on-year compared with 6,8% in September.

By Adewale T Akande in Spain. This is the time to re-organise a blessed land with a repeatitive leaders of selfish motives. It is undemocratic and detrimental for leaders to think more about themselves as individuals or about their small families, clans or tribes and do not think at all about the people they are representing.

Humanism means proper regard and compassion for people.We just have to do something to bring the country back to its feet. We have all witnessed the remnants of the long fruitless military regimes that failed to lay good and solid foundations to the development of this great country.

The Ecobank Group was delighted to have the opportunity recently to highlight the trade and investment potential of Guinea-Bissau to UK industry representatives and institutional investors. Working in close cooperation with the UK AllParty Parliamentary Group for Guinea-Bissau ("APPG"), Ecobank also helped to facilitate the first ever high-level talks between the governments of the two countries.

The Telegraph reports that, in a move that is expected to attract intense criticism at a time when the UK economy is struggling to recover from recession, Chris Huhne, UK Energy and Climate Change secretary, will announce details of a foreign aid package ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP17) in Durban.

International research initiated by Human Resource and labour experts confirms that the welfare of staff is a growing priority in the workplace.

An online report, published on www.peoplemanagement.co.uk reported the findings of a UK-focused Workplace Wellness Survey, jointly conducted by a health solutions provider and a London university - vielife and London South Bank University.

By Anushuya Gounden in Johannesburg. The word, Africa, and especially travelling in Africa, conjures up a number of images in one's mind. One thinks of Out of Africa and Karen Blixen, in her white linens, hat...

African visionary and international designer, Ozwald Boateng, in collaboration with Nigerian businessman, Kola Aluko, and Nigerian oil and gas company, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Limited, has agreed to establish a multi-million dollar charitable organisation, Made In Africa Foundation, to focus on first-stage funding of infrastructure projects in Africa.

China has entered into an agreement with the East African Community on economy, trade, investment and technical co-operation.

East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has received a Sh19.5 billion loan from majority shareholder, Diageo to finance the repurchase of its subsidiary, Kenya Breweries (KBL) from international beermaker SABMiller.

Angola LNG is on track to deliver its first liquefied natural gas exports in early 2012 and is looking to sell its LNG to non-U.S. buyers after prices there plummeted due to an increase in domestic gas production, a company executive said on Monday.

IHS, an African telecoms infrastructure company, has approached investment groups to raise more than $200m to double the size of its business across western African states in the next year.

Africa-focused telecom companies are sure that next generation long-term evolution (LTE) technology will drive broadbandpenetration in the world's least developed and fastest growing internet market.

Transport networks are being constructed to speed up business and boost efficiency.

Africa Business Communities launches Windhoek BusinessClub

Africa Business Communities launches BusinessClub Kigali

Africa Business Communities launches Clube de negócios de Maputo