Finance & Economics | WPN World People News

Slower growth in key markets like China and India is reducing momentum across the Australian economy, cutting into employment opportunities and putting more pressure on the government to ensure that public policy delivers optimal results for growth and job creation.

Greater export competitiveness and deeper regional integration could help propel South Africa towards faster-growing exports, allowing it to achieve higher, more inclusive, job-intensive growth as laid out in the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) 2030, according to the South Africa Economic Update released.

The World Bank Group and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport are reaching out to private and public sector investors for a public-private partnership aimed at enhancing the traffic capacity of National Road 13, a two-lane highway that serves as the main north-south thoroughfare in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The project aims to increase the volume of trade and tourism in the country and improve the lives of the people living along the route who will benefit from increased connectivity.

With loss and damages from disasters increasing globally, Japan and the World Bank launched a new program that will help improve disaster risk management in developing countries. Activities under this program will have a strong focus on strengthening resilience, including risk identification, risk reduction, preparedness and financial protection – connecting Japan’s knowledge with global expertise to support development planning and investment.

Having natural resources does not have to be a curse, it can be a blessing if the countries ensure proper management of revenues from natural resources, invest earnings in building up physical and human capital, and improve institutions, says the World Bank’s newly-released report “Diversified Development: Making the Most of Natural Resources in Eurasia”.

An International Monetary Fund mission (IMF), led by Ms. Judith Gold, visited St. Kitts and Nevis during January 20-31 to hold discussions on the 2014 Article IV Consultation and to conduct the seventh and eighth reviews under the three-year Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) arrangement. The program was approved on July 27, 2011 in a total amount equivalent to SDR 52.51 million (US$84 million).

U.S. President Barack Obama says economic inequality has deepened in America, even though the country has experienced four years of economic growth with 8 million new private sector jobs.

Speaking with investors today, Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden announced that the company would not attempt to drill in the Alaskan Arctic in 2014.

IKEA customers and co-workers have partnered with the IKEA Foundation on a $13.6 million (€10.1 million) gift for UNICEF and Save the Children projects to help realize every child's right to a quality education.