G20 to focus on multilaterals, commodity prices - Manuel

(Reuters) - The Group of 20 economic powers will this year focus on reform of the IMF and World Bank to help ensure more influence for poorer nations in the global institutions, South Africa's Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Thursday.

Manuel, who will chair the group at its annual meeting in November, said the G20 should work toward ensuring a more equal partnership between emerging and advanced economies on the global stage.


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S.Africa debt swap to save $46.7 mln a year - finmin

(Reuters) - A debt exchange in which South Africa issued a $1 billion 15-year global bond and retired short-term paper will save the government $46.7 million per year, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel said on Wednesday.

As part of the exchange, which the government described as a vote of confidence in the economy, South Africa repurchased an equivalent $1.217 billion worth of old dollar-denominated bonds maturing in 2009 and 2017 and euro-denominated notes due 2008.


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