A good news story from Africa in Davos

[Joanne98]

By Ben Hirschler

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Friday was Africa day in Davos and the mood, for a change, was upbeat.

Although monumental problems such as fighting in Darfur and AIDS continue to dog the world's poorest continent, politicians and business leaders see real progress, and a growing number of investors are opening their wallets.

"I'm incredibly hopeful -- the breakthroughs are coming," Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates told a panel on Africa at the World Economic Forum.

"We can solve the health crisis and generate a rich continent."

It won't happen overnight but a combination of strong commodity prices, currency stability, debt relief and good growth are starting to yield results.
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?storyid=2007-01-26T213935Z_01_L26924324_RTRUKOC_0_UK-DAVOS-AFRICA.xml&type=worldNews&WTmodLoc=World-C3-More-2