The Philippines' decision to join China's multilateral development bank marks Manila's renewed effort to befriend Beijing via “economic diplomacy” despite the South China Sea dispute, an analyst said.

The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the United States' government development finance institution, said it has approved funding for a $400 million solar farm in South Africa as part of new energy projects in emerging markets. [...] The company said the initiative was part of President Barack Obama's $7 billion plan to "Power Africa". Launched in 2013, the plan aims to boost electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa.

"The Australian fashion industry is the exemplar of our creative economy. 220,000 jobs in Australia, $12 billion contributed to our economy each and every year. I have embraced 'fashion diplomacy' as coming under the umbrella of 'economic diplomacy', a pillar of our foreign policy," she [Julie Bishop] said.

Less than a week after the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers was signed on Tuesday, a German delegation of top energy and other industry officials is scheduled to visit Iran, an Iranian news agency reported on Friday.

A FULLY fledged academy that will train officials in economic diplomacy was on track to being realised, International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Thursday while delivering her budget vote speech in Parliament. As per the National Development Plan (NDP), the department would train all its officials in economic diplomacy through the academy as a core competency for their work abroad.

President Mamnoon Hussain told diplomats that while acquainting themselves with challenges of the day, they should be ready to face the breaking news culture. He was speaking at the graduation ceremony of the 34th Specialised Diplomatic Course at the Foreign Services Academy (FSA), on Monday. While giving details of the ceremony, a spokesperson said that the president was of the view that diplomats should also show their capability in public and economic diplomacy besides in international law and politics.