http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/Latest entriesen-gbTue, 20 Oct 2009 14:20:005Southern Africa Direct The fruit of the mighty baobab is to be processed and exported to US food markets, bringing in better incomes for rural African farmers. The tree’s fruit and leaves are both edible, and the baobab fruit is particularly nourishing and rich in vitamins and antioxidants. Now, the benefits of baobab (Adansonia spp.) are to be experienced by millions of overseas consumers, with the September 2009 announcement that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the importation of baobab powder, made from the pulp of the fruit, into the US. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-10-20/baobab-export-coup-for-african-farmers.html Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:20:00 Faster broadband, e-commerce and the rise of social media networking has revolutionized the tourism business. Add to this the global interest in Africa for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, and it becomes critical that tourism companies across Africa take advantage of online marketing opportunities.   http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-10-07/e-tourism-africa-hosts-travel-technology-exhibition-in-johannesburg.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:46:00 The third Hospitality Investment Conference Africa will be held in Johannesburg South Africa from 4 – 6 November 2009. This has now become an annual event on the local and international hospitality and investment calendar. The Hospitality Investment Conference Africa is hosted by the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), in association with the conference’s founding partners, the Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism of South Africa and the Pam Golding Hospitality Group. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-10-07/3rd-hospitality-investment-conference-africa-to-be-held-in-south-africa.html Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:52:00 South Africa's newest supercomputer, a Sun Microsystems hybrid, went online in Cape Town earlier this month, providing the local and regional research community with a powerful tool for tackling problems of climate change, energy security and human health. With a peak performance of 31-trillion calculations per second, the hybrid supercomputer is the fastest in Africa and ranks among the top 500 in the world. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-09-29/africas-fastest-computer-will-help-with-climate-change.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:09:00 Plans to establish a R1.5-billion, purpose-built "telecommunications city" in Kuils River to the north of Cape Town in South Africa has secured the support of the city government and local business-led organisations, and construction is currently planned for early 2010. Stellendale Park, to be developed by Cape Town-based Visual International, will comprise buildings designed to host business process outsourcing (BPO) and contact centre operators, telecoms infrastructure to service the facility and surrounding areas, and data centres. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-09-29/telecoms-city-targetted-at-bpo-to-open-near-cape-town.html Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:02:00 Standard Chartered Bank (Zimbabwe), the primary agent for Visa in Zimbabwe, announced the return of Visa this week, noting that it had started issuing bank customers with the cards on request. “With the Standard Chartered Bank Visa International Gold Card you do not need to carry cash. You can use your card locally and internationally at all outlets displaying the Visa logo,” the bank said, indicating to customers that the cards could also be used abroad to withdraw cash on ATMs displaying the Visa sign. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-09-28/visa-makes-accessing-cash-in-zimbabwe-easier.html Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:01:00 Kenyan Tourism Minister Najib Balala and his South African counterpart, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, signed a tourism agreement in Nairobi late last month (August 2009).  Kenya and South Africa have signed a bilateral agreement to encourage tourism investment in both countries. The memorandum of understanding (MOU), which will last for a period of five years, also seeks to educate citizens of the two countries in tourism, share information on market trends and exchange culture. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-09-08/kenya-and-south-africa-sign-tourism-pact.html Tue, 08 Sep 2009 09:36:00 September’s sunny skies and magnificent scenery don’t only mean springtime in South Africa – they also herald the start of a 30-day drive to boost domestic tourism in the country. Kicking off the campaign in Newtown, Johannesburg, on 27 August 2009, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism Marthinus van Schalkwyk said, “By travelling at home, South Africans contribute meaningfully to the tourism industry and its competitiveness, as well as to local economic growth and job creation. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-09-07/tourism-month-kicks-off-in-sa.html Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:29:00 Africa's population has reached one billion, says a report published jointly by the Washington-based Population Reference Bureau and US government aid agency USAID. The report, a companion to the Population Reference Bureau's 2009 world population Data Sheet, provides data and analysis on world population trends, youth, gender and the environment. According to the report, the world's population is on track to reach seven billion in 2011, just 12 years after reaching six billion in 1999. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-09-04/africas-population-reaches-one-billion.html Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:49:00 BBC World News has launched the Africa Business Report, a new show focussed on the benefits and challenges of doing business on the continent. The programme will aim to capture some of the energy and diversity of business life in Africa. Presenter Komla Dumor, former Joy FM Super Morning Show host, will travel the continent meeting entrepreneurs and businessmen shaping the African economic landscape. http://www.southernafricadirect.com/news/entries/2009-08-22/bbc-launches-africa-business-report.html Sat, 22 Aug 2009 11:59:00