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Trade, Industry and Competition on Continental Free Trade Area ushering significant milestone journeying towards Economic Integration in Africa (South African Government)
The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) ushers in a significant milestone in our collective journey towards establishing a unified African market, promoting trade, and propelling sustainable and inclusive growth across the continent. This was said by the Director of Africa Bilateral Economic Relations at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Mr Calvin Phume, during the AfCFTA awareness workshop which took place in Johannesburg.
The workshop was part of a series that the dtic is rolling out nationally from May-July 2023. The inaugural workshop took place in KwaZulu-Natal last week and was a rousing success. Businesspeople who attended the session welcomed the progress and benefits that the AfCFTA will afford their respective businesses once implemented.
“The AfCFTA strives to ensure inclusivity, particularly for women, youth, and those residing in rural areas, while focusing on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and overall industrialisation of Africa. As a flagship project of Agenda 2063, the AfCFTA aims to establish a unified African market for goods and services, facilitated by the free movement of individuals, capital, and investments. This integration will further promote sustainable and inclusive socio-economic development, gender equality, industrialisation, agricultural advancement, food security, and structural transformation,” he stated.
“By fostering awareness and understanding, we aim to empower participants to seize the abundant opportunities and benefits that the AfCFTA offers. The workshop showcased the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that all regions and communities are well-informed and actively participate in this landmark initiative,” said Phume.
Namibia’s trade deficit down almost 41 pct in April (Xinhua)
Namibia’s trade deficit fell in April to 1.3 billion Namibian dollars (about 87 million U.S. dollars), down 40.9 percent from the 2.2 billion Namibian dollars (about 148 million U.S. dollars) recorded in March, according to the latest figures released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA).
In the year ending in April, Namibia’s monthly trade deficit averaged 2.4 billion Namibian dollars (about 161 million U.S. dollars), according to the NSA.
“For April 2023, Namibia’s export earnings decreased by 26.2 percent on a monthly basis, while the import bill decreased by 28.7 percent,” NSA Statistician General Alex Shimuafeni said, adding that the deficit was reflected in copper ores and concentrates and petroleum oils.
“South Africa emerged in the first position as Namibia’s export destination with a percentage share of 21.2 percent, while Botswana came second with a share of 16.2 percent, and China in the third position with a share of 11.4 percent,” Shimuafeni said.
In terms of imports, South Africa occupied the first position with a percentage share of 46.7 percent, followed by China with a share of 14.9 percent, and India in the third position with a share of 4.1 percent, he said.
Trade exchange between Egypt, South African countries up 6.5% YoY in 2022 (ZAWYA)
Trade exchange between Egypt and South African countries rose 6.5% year on year (YoY) in 2022 to $381.9 million, compared to $358.6 million, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported on June 7th, citing data by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS).
The country’s trade with Mozambique reached $30 million last year, up 85.8% from $16.1 million in 2021. Meanwhile, trade exchange between Egypt and Angola surged by 13% YoY in 2022 to $23 million from $20.4 million. Additionally, the Egyptian-Zambian trade reached $328.9 million last year, marking a 2.1% annual increase from $322.1 million in the year prior.
Trade exchange between Egypt, COMESA countries increases to $5.3bln in 2022: CAPMAS (ZAWYA)
The Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) has revealed that the value of trade exchange between Egypt and the COMESA countries increased to $5.3bn in 2022, compared to $4.4b in 2021, an increase of 20.4%.
The agency indicated that the value of Egyptian exports to the COMESA countries increased to $3.4bn in 2022, compared to $3.1bn in 2021, an increase of 10.9%, while the value of Egyptian imports from the COMESA countries amounted to $1.9bn during 2022 compared to $1.3bn in 2021, with an increase of 42.4%.
Regarding the most important commodity groups that Egypt exported to the COMESA countries in 2022, the agency clarified that chemical products and plastics came in first place with a value of $1.1bn, then animal and plant products with a value of $782.3m, then marble, stones, ceramics and glass with a value of $267.7mi, then fuel and petroleum products with a value of $208.6m, then metal products with a value of $207.6m.
Nigeria, Netherlands modify treaty to strengthen economic cooperation (Daily Nigerian)
The Federal Government and the Kingdom of Netherlands have engaged in an Economic Consultation to modernize the existing bilateral investment treaty between both countries to strengthen economic interest and opportunities.
“This gathering of professionals would foster productive dialogue on Nigeria-Netherlands Economic Cooperation, the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA), Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement (ADTA), and other legal frameworks.
“During this Economic Consultation, Nigeria is willing to explore further, areas of economic cooperation with the Netherlands in Agricultural value chain, secular economy, renewable energy, waterways management and water scarcity.
“Other areas are Oil and Gas, Special Economic Zones, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Trade facilitation in Western Africa, Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) Education and Health
New guidelines: Firms to bear biggest responsibility for pollution from their industries (The Standard)
The government is developing new guidelines that will see producers of waste bear the biggest responsibility for pollution caused by their activities.
Environment and Climate Change PS Festus Ng’eno said the guidelines will implement the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation that will see manufacturers finance the management of waste from their industries during the entire life cycle of products they introduce to the market.
“They will also be expected to put measures in place to prevent pollution from their products while mitigating their environmental impacts. This will include collection and recycling of waste,” said Ng’eno who spoke in Nairobi at the three-day Africa Waste is Wealth that started on Tuesday.
EAC Partner States resolve 10 Non-Tariff Barriers as new ones emerge (EAC)
East African Community Partner States resolved a total of 10 Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) as four (4) new ones emerged. The 42nd Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) that was held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania was informed that eight (8) NTBs remained outstanding and were at different levels of resolution.
Among the resolved NTBs were a 25% excise duty imposed by Kenya on Ugandan table eggs and 25% Kenyan excise duty on onions, potatoes, potato crisps and chips from Uganda that became effective 1st July, 2022.
Also resolved was an import ban and denial of market access by Kenya through non-issuance of import permits for powdered milk from Uganda as a means of cushioning the surplus production and low producer prices in Kenya.
Another resolved NTB was that of 13 roadblocks between Nimule and Juba with Ugandan traders losing more than 150,000 South Sudanese pounds each. South Sudan reported that she had already complied with a SCTIFI directive to remove all roadblocks, adding that there are now only two roadblocks from Nimule to Juba.
Among the new NTBs is a complaint by Kenya that Uganda was denying market access to EAC Partner States under preferential treatment by charging full Common External Tariff of 35% to juices originating from Kenya.
16th COMESA Business Forum Kicks Off in Zambia (COMESA)
The 16th edition of the COMESA Business Forum kicked off today in Lusaka, Zambia with over 500 regional and international businesses participating the in the one-day event preceding the COMESA Summit.
The forum is a multisectoral platform for the promotion of quality products and services that are currently breaking ground in terms of high value and high demand in regional and international markets, with a focus on the COMESA market. The Forum and exhibition have been organised by the COMESA Business Council.
Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Mr Chipoka Mulenga opened the forum. He described it as most ideal for enabling the private sector to be more effective drivers of industrialization, economic diversification, trade and investment in the region.
“We need to ensure that our policies and strategies are coherent, consistent and complementary to support the overall goal of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own people,” he said.
In her statement, Secretary General of COMESA, Ms. Chileshe Kapwepwe stressed the need for Public-Private Sector partnership in increase intra-COMESA Trade to spur the economic growth which has declined from 5.9% in 2021 to 4.8% in 2022.
Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Mr. Wamkele Mene said with the global Covid-19 pandemic now practically behind, it is time for African countries to reset, socially and economically.
Egypt president urges COMESA states to enhance regional integration to address current challenges (Ahram Online)
El Sisi’s remarks came at the 22nd COMESA Heads of State and Governments Summit in the Zambian capital Lusaka, held on Thursday. Egypt handed over the two-year presidency of the continental 21-member-state bloc to Zambia.
El-Sisi highlighted Egypt’s priorities during its chairmanship, which focused on advancing economic integration rates to enhance the level of well-being of our people and promote the capabilities of peace and security in our countries.
“However, despite the successes that have been achieved, we still have much to do to enable our regional integration to face the current challenges,” he said.
President El-Sisi stated that intra-COMESA trade rose to $13 billion in 2022, the highest value since establishing the free trade zone within the framework of the COMESA in 2000.
El-Sisi indicated that Egypt, in its capacity as COMESA chair, has focused on activating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost economic growth, adding that the volume of trade exchange between Egypt and the COMESA countries reached $ 4.3 billion in 2022 – the highest amount since Egypt joined the bloc.
The country was also keen on achieving harmony between Egypt and the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area through specific measures to urge member states to implement customs exemptions and facilitate the movement of trade exchange among them, he said.
African Trade Accord Hugely Significant For Continent – UN Small Business Group Head (allAfrica.com)
The African Continental Free Trade Area accord is one of the most critical developments in African trade and integration, says the executive director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UN agency supporting small business.
Pamela Coke-Hamilton, who began her career in Jamaica’s foreign ministry and now heads the ITC, recently met journalists at the centre’s base in Geneva, where she spoke about “strategic re-globalization” as a major trend.
Coke-Hamilton described strategic re-globalization as “the new search for global corridors for trade routes” as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war and post-Covid changes.
She said the disruption of supply channels and a recognition that dependence on China is immense has led to the world looking for “near-shoring” and new supply routes.
The task of trade groups was now to assess new trends and address how strategic re-globalization is going to impact how countries engage with one another, Coke-Hamilton added. She said that “the AfCFTA is also a whole new open arena” in which the focus would be on regional value chains within Africa and “how those are going to impact new arenas of trade”.
The ITC has identified several important future regional value chains. “Those are automotive, pharmaceuticals, baby food, textiles and clothing. And there’s already discussion taking place on a regional value chain for electric batteries,” said Coke-Hamilton.
AU emphasizes streamlining border crossing points to accelerate AfCFTA implementation (News Ghana)
The African Union (AU) on Wednesday called on African countries to streamline border crossing points so as to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
The call was made by Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, on the occasion of the celebration of the 13th edition of African Border Day, which is annually commemorated on June 7.
“The rapid, safe and expeditious processing of the flow of people, goods and vehicles at border crossing points is indeed a guarantee of the acceleration of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Adeoye said in a statement.
Adeoye said significant progress is being made in Africa, notably with the signature of bilateral framework agreements between neighboring African states, agreements between decentralized structures, the creation and establishment of cross-border bodies, and the development and implementation of cross-border cooperation initiatives, among others.
“This encouraging dynamic must be sustained and amplified in all the cross-border areas of the continent. It must support and galvanize the acceleration of the implementation of the AfCFTA,” he said.
‘Allocate 10% of the Budget to Agriculture,’ CAADP Actors Urged Gov’t (Liberian Observer)
The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) Non State Actors Coalition in Liberia has called for strict adherence to the 10 percent budget for agriculture by the government.
The non-state actors’ coalition, comprising farmers, producer organizations, agribusiness owners, civil society organizations, and the media, said the government’s adherence to the 10 percent budget for agriculture will reduce unemployment and solve the problem of food insecurity.
According to members of the coalition, they will remain resolute or committed to engaging the government to see reason to prioritize the 10 percent public funding for the agricultural sector.
The CAADP Malabo calls for every African government to allot 10 percent of its total national budget annually for agriculture in order to reduce poverty, create jobs, and to improve food security in members’ countries.
Africa needs a unified air transport market to boost tourism & trade: COMESA official (Ahram Online)
COMESA’s Support to Air Transport Sector Development (SATSD) programme Team Leader Adikiny Olwenge’s remarks came during his participation in a recent workshop hosted in Egypt from 29-31 May to advocate for the development of an institutional framework for the environmental operation of communications and air transport under the COMESA and the Indian Ocean Region Programme.
The team leader explained that the SATSD programme aims to develop the air transport sector by activating the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), improving the efficiency of air navigation, and strengthening the regulatory and institutional capacity of civil aviation institutions within the COMESA grouping and Indian Ocean Region Programme.
To achieve these goals, he noted, the SATSD received an eight million euro grant from the European Commission in 2021 to support the efforts of the SATSD programme in the Eastern Africa, Southern Africa, and Indian Ocean Region Programme.
The goal here is achieving more regional and continental integration, he said.
Gender-Smart Investing Key for Women Economic Empowerment and Stronger Growth in North Africa (UNECA)
The ECA Office for North Africa and Oxford Economics Africa held on Wednesday 7 June a joint online workshop on “Gender-Smart Investing for Inclusive Growth in North Africa.” The event was an opportunity for ECA and Oxford Economics Africa to present the preliminary findings of a joint report on this topic to North African policymakers, academics, private sector, and development partners.
“The report underscores that female entrepreneurship and women-led SMEs tend to create more jobs for women. They are thus key for bringing North African women into the labour market and helping reduce the large gender gaps in employment in the region,” said Amal Elbeshbishi, an economist at the ECA Office for North Africa.
“By enhancing the economic opportunities for women, gender-smart investing also supports social, educational, and health outcomes. This in turn buoys sustainable development, job creation, and resilience during times of economic crisis,”said Cobus de Hart, Director of Consulting at Oxford Economics Africa.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed to supporting East African countries to accelerate structural transformation, reinforce resilience, and create more decent jobs. This ambition is encapsulated in the Bank’s East Africa Regional Integration Strategy Paper (EA RISP) 2023-2027.
The strategy paper, approved by the Bank’s Board of Directors on 08 May, sets out two priority areas to achieve its main objective, namely: (1) Improve regional infrastructure; and (2) Support regional value chains development and trade facilitation.
Under the first priority area, the Bank will invest in cross-border electricity interconnections to strengthen connectivity and increase cross-border trade in electricity.
The African Development Bank will also commit financial resources to multimodal transport systems for roads, railways, air transport and inland waterways while continuing to strengthen transport management institutions’ capacity and regional corridors. Particular emphasis will be placed on the main corridors and feeder roads that link production centres to major markets and promote intra- and inter-regional connectivity.
Under the second priority area, the Bank will support the development of regional value chains, particularly agro-industry, manufacturing (textiles and clothing) and mining. The Regional Integration Strategy Paper aims to contribute to an increase in manufacturing value added in the region from 9% in 2020 to 11% in 2027 as a result of support to upstream interventions.
Retreat on African Union Institutional Reforms and Agenda 2063 (AU)
The African Union is convening a retreat to discuss the Institutional Reforms and the second decade of Agenda 2063.
The retreat will discuss the Institutional Reforms and the processes underway to reposition the organization to ensure it has the requisite institutional capacity to deliver on the economic, political, and social vision of the continent as encapsulated Agenda 2063. The reform agenda emphasizes on the need to focus on key priorities with a continental scope; realigning AU institutions to deliver on its objectives; operational efficiency, and sustainable self-financing the Union.
The retreat will also discuss the second ten-year plan of Agenda 2063 spans 2024 to 2033. Agenda 2063 was adopted by the 24th Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa in January 2015. The Agenda embodies the aspirations of the African people, framed in a collective ambition thus: “The Africa We Want in 2063”. The Agenda is operationalized through 5 ten-year implementation plans, with the first plan straddling 2014 to 2023. The second decade of Agenda 2063 implementation is one of acceleration, building on the first that focused on convergence.
ECOWAS Vision 2050 at the Heart of the Ecowas 48th Anniversary Celebration in the Republic of Guinea (ECOWAS)
he ECOWAS Permanent Representation in the Republic of Guinea, as part of ECOWAS 48th anniversary celebration and in accordance with its programme of activities, organised a series of activities to mark this historic date, 28 May 1975, when ECOWAS was established in Lagos, Nigeria. The celebration was launched by a message to the nation read out on national television on 29 May 2023 by the honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Guineans Living Abroad, Dr. Morissanda Kouyaté.
On 3 June 2023, a conference on ECOWAS Vision 2050 was held on three (3) themes, namely:
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“ECOWAS Vision 2050, ECOWAS of the People, Peace and Prosperity for all; a Factor for Regional Integration”.
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“Challenges of the Free Movement of People and Goods within the ECOWAS region”.
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“The Role of ECOWAS Permanent Representations in the Promotion of Democracy and Good Governance in Member States”.
From Aid to Enterprise: Rethinking Development Strategies in Africa (The Tony Elumelu Foundation)
Africa, with its immense potential and untapped resources, has long been a focal point of international development efforts. Traditionally, aid has been the primary approach to addressing the continent’s socio-economic challenges. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition that aid alone cannot sustainably transform Africa’s fortunes. The Tony Elumelu Foundation advocates for a paradigm shift, from aid dependency to a focus on entrepreneurship and enterprise development, as a more effective strategy for unlocking Africa’s true potential. By empowering African entrepreneurs and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship, we can lay the foundation for sustainable, inclusive, and home-grown development across the continent. Based on key findings from our years of research and engagement in the African entrepreneurship ecosystem, we have narrowed down the key approaches that the world can adopt to transform its engagement with Africa.
While aid has played a crucial role in addressing immediate humanitarian crises and providing essential services, it often falls short in creating self-sufficiency and sustained long-term development. Aid flows can be unpredictable and subject to geopolitical shifts, creating dependency and inhibiting local agency. Moreover, aid can inadvertently undermine local industries, discourage innovation, and perpetuate a cycle of dependency. It is time to challenge the status quo and explore alternative approaches that empower Africans to take charge of their own destiny.
Collaboration and regional integration are critical for maximizing the impact of entrepreneurship in Africa. By encouraging intra-African trade, harmonizing policies, and promoting cross-border cooperation, we can unlock the potential of regional markets and create economies of scale. Collaborative initiatives, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), provide a framework for deeper integration and increased trade, enabling entrepreneurs to access larger markets and expand their businesses across borders.
The shift from aid to enterprise represents a bold and necessary step towards a sustainable and prosperous Africa.
Financing Climate-Resilient Infrastructure in Africa (Observer Research Foundation)
Amidst rapidly escalating climate crises, there is an urgent need to enable African countries to remodel existing financial infrastructure with the aim of strengthening climate resilience and developing green infrastructure. As the world scrambles towards decarbonisation, the G20 nations, which represent the largest source of wealth, with 85 percent of global GDP, are well equipped to support vulnerable countries.
This Policy Brief proposes three mechanisms whereby the G20 can support African countries: providing grant funding and technical assistance to the Programme for Infrastructure Development for Africa (PIDA) to increase the number of high-quality bankable projects and mobilise financiers; strengthening the coordination of climate financing from the G20 countries to the continent; and unlocking financial technology and entrepreneurship to mobilise financing for bankable projects. This Brief further recommends that the G20 should use its technical capacity, financial muscle, and convening power to put African countries on the path towards climate resilience.
Civil Society Engagement At Core Of US-African Relations In Multipolar World (Eurasia Review)
United States has held its 8th annual civil society forum to review progress, examine challenges and renew interest in forging ways to strengthen relations with Africa. United States has the largest African diaspora which has close-knitted business, educational and cultural links with African countries. This helps to support official efforts in promoting relations with Africa.
In December 2022, the African Union Ministers of Trade from the AGOA-eligible countries met in Washington, DC, at the request of Ambassador Katherine Tai, USTR, “to have a full and frank exchange of views on how to work together to improve the utilization rates under AGOA and ensure that the program can be an effective tool for development.”
At those high-level engagements, there was consensus that there is a need to extend AGOA beyond 2025. The recommendation has been tabled before the US Administration.
During the meeting, Ambassador Tai, the African Ministers, and the Africa Group of Ambassadors also underscored the following: • An extension of AGOA for at least ten years with the inclusion of ALL African countries • The importance of Africa speaking with One Voice in all US-Africa trade and investment engagements; and, • Enhanced commercial diplomacy between the US and Africa. There was also agreement that South Africa would host the next AGOA Forum in August/September this year.
Patel again expresses optimism that South Africa will retain Agoa status (Engineering News)
rade, Competition and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel has again expressed optimism that South Africa will be able to convince the US Congress to extend South Africa‘s designation as an African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) beneficiary beyond 2025, when the unilateral trade programme is due to expire.
South Africa‘s continued designation as an Agoa beneficiary has come into question in recent months, owing to diplomatic tensions over an alleged sale of arms to Russia by South Africa in December.
South Africa is the continent’s largest non-oil beneficiary of Agoa, exporting a wide range of products, including automobiles, mining and chemical products, as well as agricultural goods such as citrus, wine and macadamia nuts.
“We are working closely with a number of African countries to have it [Agoa] renewed and extended again,” Patel said, noting that South Africa also faced difficult negotiations ahead of the previous expiry date of 2015 when the US objected to protection South Africa had extended to its poultry industry.
First-ever official data on illicit financial flows now available (UNCTAD)
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, Ecuador, Maldives, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal and Peru have produced the first-ever national estimates of illicit financial flows (IFFs) related to drug trafficking, trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants with the support of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The estimates are published on the UN’s Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Indicators Database. And a recent UNCTAD infographic report showcases preliminary estimates and findings on tax and commercial IFFs from 11 African countries.
Significantly reducing IFFs by 2030 is one of the priorities under the UN’s SDG 16. UNCTAD and UNODC are co-custodians of SDG indicator 16.4.1, which measures the total value of inward and outward IFFs in current US dollars.
“Such statistics are needed to shed light on the activities, sectors and channels most prone to illicit financial flows, pointing to where actions should be undertaken as a priority to curb these flows,” said Anu Peltola, who heads UNCTAD’s statistics work.
Why the World Still Needs Trade (Foreign Affairs)
Since 1990, the share of the world’s population living in extreme poverty has fallen by three-quarters. At the center of this great leap in human well-being was a 20-fold increase in international trade volumes, which helped lift per capita incomes by a factor of 27 over the last six decades.
This economic vision is now under attack, and its achievements are in danger. A series of shocks in the space of 15 years – first the global financial crisis, then the COVID-19 pandemic, and now the war in Ukraine – have created an alternative narrative about globalization. Far from making countries economically stronger, this new line of thinking goes, globalization exposes them to excessive risks. Economic interdependence is no longer seen as a virtue; it is seen as a vice. The new mantra is that what countries need is not interdependence but independence, with integration limited at best to a small circle of friendly nations.
But dismantling economic globalization and the structures that support it would be a mistake. That is because, despite persistent rhetoric to the contrary, countries and people rely on trade more than ever in this age of “polycrisis.” Moreover, international cooperation, including on trade, is necessary to meet challenges to the global commons, such as climate change, inequality, and pandemics. Globalization is not over, nor should anyone wish for it to be. But it needs to be improved and reimagined for the age ahead.
World Oceans Day underscores need to protect ‘the foundation of life’ (UN News)
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for greater action to protect oceans in his message to mark World Oceans Day on Thursday. “The ocean is the foundation of life. It supplies the air we breathe and food we eat. It regulates our climate and weather. The ocean is our planet’s greatest reservoir of biodiversity,” he said.
Besides these benefits, the ocean also produces resources that sustain communities, prosperity and health. Worldwide, more than a billion people alone rely on fish as their main source of protein.
The UN chief said human-induced climate change is heating the planet, disrupting weather patterns and ocean currents, and altering marine ecosystems and the species living there.
Marine biodiversity is also under attack from overfishing, over-exploitation and ocean acidification, fish stocks are being depleted, and coastal waters have been polluted with chemicals, plastics and human wastes.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) joins the global fraternity to commemorate this year’s World Ocean Day with a call for our region to enhance the conservation of oceans, including coastal areas, and their resources. The state of our oceans call for SADC Member States and partners to implement policies and programmes that will reduce plastic pollution, expand protection of marine areas, enhance tackling of illegal fishing and promote responsible fishing practices.
I appeal to develop effective monitoring and mechanisms to ensure compliance with existing regulations as outlined in the SADC Protocols for Fisheries, and Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement, and also in existing Regional Strategies on Biodiversity, Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance, Green Economy and Climate Change. To complement existing policy instruments and frameworks, the SADC region is finalising the development of Regional Strategies on Blue Economy, Circular Economy and Action Plan to Combat Marine Pollution to adequately conserve oceans in order to secure sustainable development of our countries and livelihoods of local communities.
It is my hope that Member States in our region, and all stakeholders will collaborate in promoting sustainable development in the ocean or blue economy, through investments in renewable energy, marine tourism and sustainable aquaculture as key drivers of economic growth.
World off track for reaching key goal on sustainable energy by 2030 (UN News)
Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report, from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that current efforts are not enough to achieve the SDG 7 on time.
There has been some progress on specific elements of the drive to reach SDG 7 – for example, the increased rate of using renewables in the power sector – but progress is insufficient to reach the targets set forth, in time for the 2030 deadline.
SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. The goal includes reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix, said the report.
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IMF Executive Board Concludes 2023 Article IV Consultation with South Africa
South Africa’s strong economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic is petering out. Growth moderated from 4.9 percent in 2021 to 2.0 percent in 2022 as the country was buffeted by Russia’s war in Ukraine, global monetary policy tightening, severe floods, and an unprecedented domestic energy crisis. Inflation rose above the target band though inflation expectations remained anchored. The current account moved back into a deficit after a temporary commodity-price driven surplus.
Externally, downside risks stem from slower trading partners’ growth, especially in China, further weakening of commodity prices, the impact of the FATF grey listing on capital flows, and tighter global financial conditions. More persistent high global fuel and food prices could de-anchor inflation expectations, and further raise risk premia. Systemic financial instability in advanced economies could cause adverse spillovers. Deepening geo-economic fragmentation could lower medium-term growth outlook, including through lower trade and financial flows, technology diffusion, and a fracturing of the international monetary and financial systems. On the upside, external demand for coal and precious metals could remain strong, strengthening South Africa’s relative position in the EM asset class (Annex I).
Deeper regional trade integration would benefit South Africa. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a good opportunity for South Africa to build on its industrialized economy, exploit economies of scale, and improve productivity and growth.24 Efforts to remove trade barriers, especially non-tariff barriers, will help boost intra-regional trade and help develop regional supply chains. Industrial policies, where desirable, should address specific market failures to promote competition and exports in concerned industries and technological advancement.25 They should also avoid discriminatory contents that violate international trade rules or accentuate trade tensions.
South Africa has diversified commodity and export markets, which help mitigate global shocks. South Africa has diversified its export destinations, with 34 percent of its exports going to advanced economies, 30 percent to emerging and developing Asia and 23 percent to sub-Saharan Africa (Figure AI.3, Panel 4). The key export products are coal, iron, precious metals (such as gold, palladium, platinum, and rhodium), and manufacturing goods, including cars. This composition of trade has served the country well since, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, strong demand for and high prices of coal boosted the current account despite prices for precious metals coming down from the pandemic peaks.
SA’s GDP grows by 0.4% in first quarter (SAnews)
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) announced on Tuesday that the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2023. Data show that the manufacturing and finance industries were major drivers of growth on the supply side of the economy.
“The demand side was lifted by exports, with smaller positive contributions for household, government and investment spending,” Stats SA said in a statement. According to Stats SA, eight out of 10 industries recorded growth in the first three months of the year, with manufacturing and finance, real estate and business services the largest positive contributors. Manufacturing output increased by 1.5%, adding 0.2 of a percentage point to GDP growth.
“Air transport, transport support services and communications also witnessed stronger economic activity, contributing to the industry’s positive reading.”
“Exports increased by 4.1% in Q1:2023. The rise was largely influenced by increased trade in metals; vegetable products; prepared foodstuffs, beverages & tobacco, and machinery & electrical equipment,” said Stats SA.
Kenya’s Economy is Recovering from the Polycrisis, But Challenges Remain (World Bank)
With a GDP growth at 4.8 percent in 2022, economic performance softened after the strong rebound from the COVID-19 crisis at 7.5 percent in 2021. The growth rate, however, has remained in line with Kenya’s long-term growth trajectory, even though the economy faced challenging global financial conditions, fuel, and food price shocks coupled with the elections, and a historic drought that affected the economy, especially in the second half of 2022.
The growth momentum was driven by the service sector which contributed about 80 percent of the increase in total GDP. Financial services, tourism, and transport sectors performed especially strongly. According to the latest Kenya Economic Update (KEU), Kenya’s GDP growth outpaced that of Sub-Saharan Africa which is estimated to have grown at 3.6 percent in 2022.
Kenya’s medium-term growth outlook remains strong as the economy continues to recover from the multiple crises. GDP growth over the medium term is expected to remain at around 5 percent, broadly in line with the pre-pandemic trend and Kenya’s estimated potential GDP growth rate. Real per capita incomes are expected to grow at around 3 percent in the medium term, and poverty is expected to resume its pre-pandemic downward trend.
The outlook, however, is subject to elevated risks. External risks include weaker than anticipated growth in Europe, elevated global commodity prices that can increase Kenya’s import bill and increase the cost of reducing inflation, and further tightening of financial conditions in advanced economies. Domestic risks are mostly linked to spending pressures to reduce the high cost of living and a slowdown in tax efforts.
Kenya’s trade surplus with Africa hits record levels (Business Daily)
Kenya’s goods trade surplus with Africa reached record levels in the first three months of the year driven by the fastest growth in exports for 12 years and a first fall in expenditure on imports in three years, official data shows.
Traders sold goods worth Sh98.85 billion to African countries in the January-March 2023 period against an import bill of Sh61.72 billion, according to provisional data collated by the Central Bank of Kenya.Earnings from exports in the period were 23.33 percent higher than the previous year, the strongest growth since 2011, while imports fell 6.02 percent year-on-year from Sh65.67 billion in 2022.This resulted in a merchandise trade surplus of Sh37.14 billion for the review period, a 156.45 percent climb over the same period last year.
Services sector will create 85m jobs in Nigeria, others by 2030 – McKinsey (Businessday)
The services sector is projected to create at least 85 million net new jobs across Africa by 2030, a new report has said. The report, titled ‘Reimagining economic growth in Africa: Turning diversity into opportunity’ by McKinsey & Company, said Africa will be home to the world’s largest working-age population by 2040, and smart deployment of its labor force in highly productive jobs will spur economic growth.
“By 2030, the services sector on its current trajectory will create at least 85 million net new jobs across the continent, enough to absorb half of new labor market entrants in highly productivity work,” it said. It said the number of new services jobs would almost triple if Africa matched the productivity of Asia’s strongest services hub, which would add $1.4 trillion to the continent’s economy.
“Services have secured their place as the major driver of the continent’s economic output, contributing 56 percent in 2019 compared to 50 percent in 2000. The sector presents significant opportunities for African countries to boost economic output and job creation—but only if productivity improves,” it said.
TBS urges producers to use free standards verification services (IPPMedia)
TBS Northern Zone manager, Engineer Joseph Mwaipaja said made a call while briefing to journalists who visited the bureau’s pavilion at ongoing 10th TCCIA-Tanga Trade and Tourism Exhibition which is taking place at Mwahako grounds in Tanga city.
He said that, product classification is vital into devising a marketing strategy that helps to create effective customer - centric marketing strategies.
He explained that Tanga had recently became international trades gateway region after the government implement numerous strategic mega projects like improvement of Tanga Port and East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline(EACOP), by pointing out that the projects will be a game changer by bringing other entails opportunities by increasing high demands of goods henceforth those entrepreneurs issued with certificate standards will pave the way to them to have vast chances to compete and sell more in East African markets.
He further explained that according to available data, until end of July this year, about 30 producers and business people of Tanga region will be offered certificates of standards verification by TBS.
“These are great developments and give hopes and we TBS pledge to continue implementing programs of educating entrepreneurs on the importance of possess TBS verification certificates that will boost them to conduct their business competitively,” he said.
Morocco fruit & veg supply secured as court rules against trade lawsuit (The Grocer)
Supply of Moroccan fruit & veg has been safeguarded, as a legal suit against trade between the Northern African nation and the UK has been rejected.
Campaigners had taken the government to the High Court over a post-Brexit trade agreement with Morocco, arguing it was negotiated without the consent of people from the Western Sahara territory, a heavily disputed region of the country. But a judge has now permanently ruled that the case against the UK Morocco Association Agreement, a deal first concluded in 2019, cannot be further appealed.
The ruling has removed a potential risk of disruption to the import of Moroccan goods, which UK supermarkets heavily rely on.
Recent trade figures showed the UK imported more than £400m of fruit and vegetables from Morocco, making up a third of all imports from the African nation. Trade between the two countries grew almost 50% year on year to Q4 2022.
“We are now entering a new era of relations for the UK and Morocco that will drive prosperity to the benefit of all parties,” said Chakib Alj, president of Morocco’s leading business group, the General Confederation of Enterprises in Morocco (CGEM).
The Gambia’s Economy Shows Resilience Amid Global Challenges (World Bank)
The report highlights that the weak growth in the services sector, particularly in tourism, has restrained The Gambia’s economic progress. Although there was an increase in the number of tourist arrivals, it was not sufficient to offset the sluggish growth in other subsectors. Furthermore, trade disruptions and negative terms of trade have weighed on the economy, as the country is a net oil and commodity (food) importer and recorded negative terms of trade in 2022.
The Gambia’s economy has displayed remarkable resilience in the face of global economic challenges, according to the Third Gambia Economic Update. Despite a sluggish global environment, the country’s real GDP grew by 4.3 % in 2022, signaling a continued recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Looking ahead, the economic outlook for The Gambia remains favorable, with GDP projected to grow by 5.5 % over the period of 2023-2025. Growth will be supported by increased economic activity across sectors, particularly in industry and services. However, risks such as a prolonged war in Ukraine, fiscal slippages, climate change, and political uncertainty pose downside risks to the country’s economic prospects, exacerbating existing structural constraints to the economy.
“It is crucial for the government to implement policies that accelerate financial inclusion, which will enhance access to financial services and support the country’s economic growth,” said Ephrem Niyongabo, World Bank Economist and Author of report
Libya’s Economy Shows Resilience and Potential for Prosperity Amid Challenges (World Bank)
Libya’s economy shows resilience despite facing low and volatile economic growth. The World Bank estimates a 1.2 percent contraction in Libya’s economy for 2022, primarily attributed to a decline in oil production during the first quarter of the year. High unemployment rates of 19.6 percent persist, with over 85 percent of the working population engaged in the public and informal sectors.
Libya’s challenging transition process has been affecting the economy and society; the country experienced a 50 percent decline in GDP per capita between 2011 and 2020. Absent the conflict, the economy could have witnessed, on the contrary, a high positive growth of 68 percent over the ten years growth, a possibility that remains attainable and highlights the country’s enormous potential.
Despite facing significant challenges, Libya has a high potential for economic reconstruction and diversification, backed by considerable financial resources. This potential resides on four pillars: i) achieving a sustainable political agreement for Libya’s future, ii) devising a shared vision for economic and social advancement, iii) creating a modern public financial management system for equitable wealth distribution and transparent fiscal policies, iv) and developing a comprehensive social policy that facilitates public administration reform and differentiates between social transfers and public wages. These elements will set the foundation for Libya’s prosperous future.
EAC states to charge 10 US dollars road toll (Tanzania Daily News)
The East African Community (EAC) member states have agreed to charge 10 US dollars per 100 kilometres as a road toll for cargo trucks to strengthen provision of customs services at the borders. The agreement was reached at the 42nd meeting of the Ministers of Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) held at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha at the weekend.
Speaking after the meeting, the Minister for Investment, Industry and Trade Dr Ashatu Kijaji and Minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba said the rate is for vehicles from one country to another within the community instead of each country having its own toll rates.
“We have agreed to charge 10 US dollars per 100 kilometres as roads user charges for cargo trucks to the member countries instead of each country charging its charges as well as strengthening the provision of customs services at the border of Kenya and Tanzania which will reduce congestion of trucks and stimulate business growth,” said Dr Kijaji.
In addition, the sectoral council agreed to abolish the cost of visas for their citizens who want to travel from one country to another (within EAC) for various activities including business to promote relations among the residents of the community as well as stimulate the growth of business and the economy of the respective country.
New push for households to have own grain reserves (The Standard)
Households should have their own grain reserves as one of the solutions to food insecurity, a regional private sector body has suggested. This would be in addition to the national strategic food reserve, where millers would buy grains when there is a shortage at subsidised prices.
The East African Business Council (EABC) in a report that analyses the effect of food inflation in the region, also wants East African Community (EAC) partner states to allow for emergency exports in times of shortage.
The Impact of Global Crises on Food Security in East African Community report looks into the member states’ cereal imports, exports, and affordability. It details interventions that if implemented can be of benefit to the countries.
The report released last month covers the seven EAC member states. It shows the gaps in the production value chain and calls for increased trade within the region to expand the capacity of farmers to produce more. It details the deficiencies in food security using food imports over total merchandise exports, particularly cereal dependency.
“In the EAC region, Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda had the highest import dependencyratios,” the report says. “This could be due to their staple foods mainly being cereals, which are not adequately produced in their respective countries.” Uganda and Tanzania, on the other hand, seem to import less of the food, possibly because they are able to meet their local needs as cereals also constitute some of their staple foods.
greater regional trade integration and resilient transport infrastructure will enable sales of one country’s bumper harvests to its neighbours facing shortages. “Tariff reduction and regional alignment of agricultural and product market laws and regulations, especially with respect to water, seeds, and fertiliser will all be elemental,” the report adds. “Expansion of producer organisations can facilitate the adoption of new technologies, scale up food production and distribution, and support price stability.”
COMESA Summit and Business Forum to Focus on Economic Integration (263Chat)
The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) will hold its 22nd Summit and a high-level Business Forum in Lusaka, Zambia, from June 6-8, 2023. The summit, held under the theme “Economic Integration for a Thriving COMESA Anchored on Green Investment, Value Addition and Tourism” will also see Zambia assume the leadership of the bloc.
In a statement, COMESA said the theme was motivated by the need to address the current regional and global economic and trade dynamics, including the effects of COVID-19, which especially affected tourism-dependent economies.
The summit will be preceded by the 16th COMESA Business Forum on June 7. The Business Forum will focus on engaging public and private stakeholders on solutions that will propel and transform COMESA into competitive and sustainable growing economies for regional and global trade and investment expansion post COVID-19.
AfCFTA’s promising future: Boosting African trade amidst obstacles (Business Insider Africa)
“Only a few hundred kilometers separate Lagos, Nigeria, from Accra in Ghana but for the thousands of traders who ply this route, the journey through these routes can take a full day. Customs officials and police at roadblocks will make you unload and unpack every little package in order to delay you for hours,” Lucia Quachey, the secretary-general of the African Federation of Women Entrepreneurs, stated.
She also pushed for the construction of infrastructure to facilitate commerce and for the removal of several tariffs and non-tariff obstacles.
Maersk (Maersk) today discussed and presented papers on ‘Logistics 4.0: Accelerating Africa’s Digital Revolution’ at a closed-door session with some of the top CEOs from Africa.
To participate in global trade, it is extremely important to be competitive at all levels – be it in terms of costs or ease of doing business. Several complexities in the African supply chains have limited the Logistics Performance Index for African countries in the past. However, a lot of these complexities can be overcome with the use of technology and digital solutions.
Digitalisation is crucial in reducing logistics cost and supply chain complexities, which will in turn improve the Logistics Performance Index in Africa. Enhanced visibility, streamlined procurement processes and data-driven decision-making will drive competitiveness in Africa’s logistics, said Darryl Judd, Regional Head for Integration and Business Growth, Maersk Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (IMEA)
Measuring informal cross-border trade is key to monitoring intra-African Trade (UNECA)
Despite its importance to the livelihoods of millions of Africans, informal trade is not well understood on the continent. As a result, the African Union Commission (AUC) with support from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Afreximbank established a Task Force on developing a harmonized methodology for Informal Cross-Border Trade Data Collection.
Opening a two-day hybrid meeting to review and validate the Continental Methodology for Informal Cross-Border Trade Data Collection in Africa, Stephen Karingi, the Director of Regional Integration and Trade at the ECA said informal cross-border trade is a key feature of Africa’s trade landscape.
“Despite its significant contribution to the economy, ICBT remains largely undocumented,” Mr. Karingi said, noting that current efforts to collect data on ICBT within the continent, were largely fragmented and unsystematic.
“The challenges related to ICBT data collection notwithstanding, understanding the ICBT landscape is important for policy design as well as the development of the relevant initiatives targeted at the major trade corridors within our countries and regions,” Zambia Statistics Agency Interim Statistician General, Mulenga Musepa said, highlighting that National Statistical Offices need to conduct timely ICBT data collection which should be institutionalized at the country level to ensure its sustainability.
Value addition will rev up Africa’s economic growth (Business Daily)
Africa is home to abundant mineral resources, including 30 percent of the world’s reserves, such as oil, natural gas, gold, and valuable metals like chromium and platinum. The Continent also holds the largest reserves of cobalt globally, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) alone accounting for nearly half of the total global cobalt reserves of 8.3 million metric tonnes.
However, despite this resource abundance, Africa has predominantly relied on commodity production and exports, with limited value addition and weak linkages to other sectors of the economy. Without immediate action, Africa’s manufacturing industry is likely to remain small in the coming years.
African countries can leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost value addition. AfCFTA, established in 2021, creates a single market for goods and services, allowing free movement across the continent. By eliminating tariff barriers and expanding market access, African countries can diversify their economies and enhance their value-addition capacity.
The success of the AfCFTA and EAC efforts depends on establishing a robust pan-African logistics framework that facilitates smooth cargo flow and boosts trade across the continent, as well as linking Africa’s value-added goods to global consumer markets.
Africa possesses significant mineral reserves, but its heavy reliance on commodity production and exports limits its value-addition potential. However, initiatives like the EAC and AfCFTA provide opportunities to promote industrialisation, diversify economies, and enhance value addition.
WTO Chief urges African governments to increase trade, agric investment (Citi Business News)
The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called on African countries to create trading opportunities and increase investment in agriculture to address food security in Africa.
In a speech read on her behalf at the 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW8) in Durban, Dr Okonjo-Iweala noted that one-fifth of Africa’s population continues to face hunger despite being “a continent with the world’s largest reserved arable land.”
explained that various governments need to take steps “to reinforce the provision of public goods”. This can be done by “improving the availability of extension and advisory services, investing in research, promoting access to technology, science and innovation, and improving infrastructure in rural areas,” she noted.
Highlighting the need for trade integration through AfCFTA, she said that “trade can connect producers and consumers across the [African] continent and beyond. It can also help to improve agricultural productivity and create jobs in rural areas”.
Where does southern African sit in the global trade scenario? (Seatrade Maritime)
With about 90% of cargoes brought to Western Europe coming from the Far East (Asia), the need to reassure clients and end-users becomes ever more pressing as we navigate through a new era where global supply chains are challenged by unpredictability.
Whether caused by Covid-related lockdowns and congestion, or the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, supply chains are in need to diversification if they are to stay resilient against another potential shock in the future. The search for resilience has, therefore, led to several manufacturers to consider reshoring as a possibility – and in some cases, the term evolves to “friendly-shoring”. While transpacific trade has dominated the scene in recent decades, shipping lanes and supply chains connecting Europe and Asia are faced with more options, not just in terms of trade corridors but also for manufacturing, which places the African continent on the spotlight.
if the continent – and especially the southern African region – is to become an attractive production alternative for global supply chains, it needs to improve its port, inland and manufacturing infrastructure. Significant milestones have taken place in this regard, such as recent commission of 750,000 TEUs that Namports (Namibian Ports Authority) have commissioned for Walvis Way, to which TiL Group has been appointed, the Port of Maputo in Mozambique, where DP World operates, leading to the Maputo corridor, and the recent investment in port and railway networks across the region.
DP World partners Standard Bank to expand trade finance in Africa (African Review)
African companies looking for trade finance will now be able to seamlessly access working capital from Standard Bank via the DP World Trade Finance platform. DP World Trade Finance connects business with financial institutions as a fintech platform while also directly offering trade finance facilities on its own. It offers businesses a single window to access trade finance solutions.
Access to finance is one of the biggest barriers for businesses seeking global trade opportunities, evidenced by the struggle that many businesses face in securing the upfront funds required to move cargo. By bringing Standard Bank onto the platform, DP World Trade Finance now offers an array of financing solutions to African businesses, which face an ever-growing need for logistics and financial support to connect to global trade routes.
Afreximbank and Fiducia join forces to promote factoring and supply chain finance in Africa (Afreximbank)
In a move that is set to change the face of supply chain and SME financing in Africa, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the supply chain financing company, Fiducia, have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote factoring across the continent and help reduce the supply chain finance gap.
Mrs. Awani, the Afreximbank Executive Vice President, said that the partnership with Fiducia was another step forward in Afreximbank’s ongoing developmental initiative of promoting factoring across the African continent as a means to reduce the trade finance gap which was most acutely felt by SMEs.
“SMEs contribute the majority of economic output and employment generation in Africa. Greater access to bank financing will, therefore, enhance the growth of this vital segment. The involvement of emerging factors in the financing arrangement will also build factoring capacity across the continent in furtherance of Afreximbank’s vision of Transforming Africa’s Trade,” commented Mrs. Awani.
Blog: Sustainable Production and Trade – Perspectives from the Commonwealth (The Commonwealth)
International trade can be a driver of inclusive economic growth and a means to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To promote sustainability across the economic, social and environmental dimensions, trade policies have been evolving at the domestic and international levels.
On the occasion of the second Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting on 5-6 June 2023, a new book by the Commonwealth Secretariat, Sustainable Production and Trade: Perspectives from the Commonwealth, examines sustainable production and trade practices and governance arrangements in four sectors: cocoa, fisheries, forestry, and textiles and garments. This blog explores some of the sustainability challenges in each sector and highlights measures to address these across the Commonwealth.
These sectors hold significant importance to Commonwealth members, as reflected in their average export share from 2019 to 2021: 16% for fisheries, about 20% for forestry, nearly 16% for cocoa, and 14.5% for textiles and garments. All four sectors are labour intensive, making them crucial to the economic growth and job creation in developing countries, particularly in least developed countries (LDCs) and small states. The importance of these sectors is also highlighted by their high trade reliance in various geographical regions of the Commonwealth
Moving fast with frontier technologies (UNCTAD)
In the last two decades, the use of frontier technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of things and energy from renewable sources has undergone significant growth, and this trend is expected to continue. However, there is still considerable concentration in these markets.
The leading frontier technology providers are mostly firms from China, the United States of America and a few other developed countries, with little participation from developing countries. The same pattern is observed with regard to knowledge generation and trade.
Governments of developing countries should take proactive action to increase preparedness to use, adopt and adapt such technologies and to take up the economic opportunities linked to them. Some of the challenges associated with the adoption of new technologies in developing countries are addressed in this policy brief, and some policy recommendations are proposed.
Global economic outlook improving, albeit to a low growth recovery (OECD)
The global economy has begun to improve, but the recovery will be weak, according to the OECD’s latest Economic Outlook. The Economic Outlook projects a moderation of global GDP growth from 3.3% in 2022 to 2.7% in 2023, followed by a pick-up to 2.9% in 2024. Lower energy prices are easing the strain on household budgets, business and consumer sentiment are recovering, albeit from low levels, and the re-opening of China has provided a boost to global activity.
The Outlook lays out a series of policy recommendations, underlining that the need to lower inflation, adjust fiscal policy and promote sustainable growth entails significant challenges for policy makers.
Monetary policy should remain restrictive until there are clear signs that underlying inflationary pressures are durably reduced. Fiscal support, which has played a vital role in helping the global economy through the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, should be scaled back, becoming more targeted and calibrated toward future needs. Broad energy-related support should be withdrawn as energy prices fall and minimum wages and welfare benefits are being increased to take account of past inflation in many countries.
“Fiscal policy should prioritise productivity-enhancing public investments, including those driving the green transition and boosting labour supply and skills,” OECD Chief Economist Clare Lombardelli said. “Renewed reform efforts to reduce constraints in labour and product markets and to reignite private investment and productivity growth would improve sustainable living standards and strengthen the recovery from the current low growth outlook.”
The Outlook includes a special chapter dedicated to women’s economic empowerment, setting out policy recommendations, including on expanding flexible work arrangements, addressing tax and benefit disincentives and improving access to childcare. It highlights that removing structural barriers and discrimination to realise gender equality, must be a high priority to boost long-term economic well-being and prosperity.
Global Economy on Precarious Footing Amid High Interest Rates (World Bank)
Global growth to slow to 2.1% in 2023, with prospects clouded by financial risks, according to the World Bank’s latest Global Economic Prospects report.
“The world economy is in a precarious position,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank Group’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President. “Outside of East and South Asia, it is a long way from the dynamism needed to eliminate poverty, counter climate change, and replenish human capital. In 2023, trade will grow at less than a third of its pace in the years before the pandemic. In emerging markets and developing economies, debt pressures are growing due to higher interest rates. Fiscal weaknesses have already tipped many low-income countries into debt distress. Meanwhile, the financing needs to achieve the sustainable development goals are far greater than even the most optimistic projections of private investment.”
“Many developing economies are struggling to cope with weak growth, persistently high inflation, and record debt levels. Yet new hazards—such as the possibility of more widespread spillovers from renewed financial stress in advanced economies—could make matters even worse for them,” said Ayhan Kose, Deputy Chief Economist of the World Bank Group. “Policy makers in these economies should act promptly to prevent financial contagion and reduce near-term domestic vulnerabilities.”
DG Okonjo-Iweala: E-commerce has emerged as major force in global economic output, trade (WTO)
The workshop provided an opportunity for WTO members to exchange views with international organisations on cross-cutting issues under the Work Programme identified by members in the past few months. In particular, the workshop looked at work carried out at the international level on consumer protection, the digital divide, the moratorium on imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions and legal, regulatory frameworks on e-commerce.
DG Okonjo-Iweala noted that members are engaging substantively on broad e-commerce-related issues with a development focus. “These discussions are important to better understand the challenges and opportunities of digital trade,” she said.
DG Okonjo-Iweala noted the dramatic growth in services delivered across borders via digital networks. The WTO estimates that global exports of digitally delivered services grew by 8.1% per year between 2005 and 2022, much higher than the 5.6% growth registered for goods exports.
The DG said: “In 2022, the value of exports of these services, which cover everything from streaming games to consulting services provided by video, reached USD 3.82 trillion — worth 12% of total goods and services trade, up from 8% a decade earlier. With the comparatively slow recovery of tourism and other services requiring cross-border movement of people, digitally delivered services have increased their footprint in global services trade. Last year represented 54% of total global services exports.”
Private sector shares views on trading goods in digital era, post-pandemic changes (WTO)
The event, moderated by Suja Rishikesh Mavroidis, Director of the Market Access Division, highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns compelled businesses and organisations to move many of their functions online and to accelerate their digital transformations. These included processes related to the movement of goods across borders and dealing with customs issues. Participants also looked at how this digital transformation has affected trade in goods and discussed whether trade has become as a result more efficient, safe and sustainable.
From a significant reliance upon paper and manual processes that slowed down trade during COVID-19, countries and companies transitioned to updated digital-based operating models to handle modern post-pandemic world trade. Further digitalizing process and incorporating modern technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) machine learning will reduce risks in trade and will allow better targeting to reduce intentional and unintentional fraud. The reality is humans can no longer process the amount of data generated in international trade, said Mr John Bescec, Director of Customs and Trade Affairs at Microsoft and Chair of the Global Customs and Trade Facilitation Commission at the ICC.
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South Africa: African Continental Free Trade Area Awareness Workshop Goes to Gauteng (The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition)
The Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition (the dtic) and the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA) are pleased to announce the upcoming workshop on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The event is scheduled to take place at Constitutional Hill in Gauteng on Monday, 5 June 2023, as part of a nationwide series of workshops.
Following the successful inaugural workshop in KwaZulu-Natal last week, this workshop aims to engage with the private sector, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), women-owned businesses, and youth-owned export ready businesses.
Angola to Accelerate Job Creation and Growth in Private Enterprise, with Focus on Lobito Corridor (World Bank)
Angola aims to accelerate economic diversification, private investment, and jobs by creating more favorable business conditions for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with support from the World Bank. Approved this week by the World Bank Group Board of Directors, the $300 million Accelerating Economic Diversification and Job Creation Project will benefit an estimated 12,000 firms, creating direct and indirect jobs as a result of project activities, and help Angola transition from an oil-driven and state-led development model to a private sector-led model that is also inclusive and climate resilient.
The project aims to increase private investment and climate-resilient growth of MSMEs in non-oil value chains, particularly in the Lobito corridor which has the potential to play a central role in Angola’s economic diversification and transformation.
Govt in push to grow manufacturing, President Ruto announces (Capital News)
The government will focus on select value chains to grow manufacturing to create jobs, President William Ruto has said. The President said the identified value chains have significant untapped industrial potential and will create thousands of jobs. “We see leather, pyrethrum, cotton, textiles and apparel, pharmaceutical, edible oils as value chains whose industrialisation will hasten the attainment of our vision for national economic growth and transformation,” the President said.
ECOWAS is working with four areas to industrialize – Dr Ojoku (Ghana Business News)
To industrialize and strengthen intra-African trade, Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS) is working around four thematic areas, Dr Kenji Ojoku, has announced. He said the 40-year plan, which began in 2010 to 2030 is also geared towards reducing importation of goods outside the sub-region.
Dr Ojoku who stated this in a two-day seventh Ghana International Trade and Finance conference (GITFiC) in Senchi in the Eastern Region on zoom said the plan if well executed could reduce import bills of member countries.
Speaking on Trade and healthy investment on the theme: “Actualising Africa’s Industrialization agenda in the era of AfCFTA: The role of Africa’s Small and Medium scale enterprises:The ECOWAS perspective, Dr Ojoku named the four areas as: Agro-Industry and Agro-business, Constructional Industry, Automotive Industry and ICT.
Reimagining economic growth in Africa: Turning diversity into opportunity (McKinsey & Company)
Africa is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population, burgeoning cities, and bold innovations in everything from fintech to clean energy. With its population expected to nearly double to 2.5 billion people by 2050, the continent presents myriad opportunities for robust, inclusive growth that harness its rich natural resources and abundant human potential to increase prosperity not only in Africa but around the world.
Improving and increasing the productivity of all sectors must power Africa’s economic growth going forward. The continent is blessed with a young and vibrant population, rich natural resources, thriving cities, and emerging innovations, all assets that can be enlisted to enhance output and add value. Increasing digitization, developing talent, collaborating more regionally, supporting more business champions, and building green businesses are just some of the ways Africa can increase productivity.
The world needs a thriving Africa to make the transition to net zero, lessen the emerging impact of demographic decline, and give the continent its rightful place in global commerce and trade. Achieving sustainable growth from a foundation of strong productivity will increase African resilience and spread well-being and prosperity across the continent.
What Africa needs to achieve its digital economy potential (The Citizen)
Africa’s digital economy is expected to be worth $712 billion by 2050. However, for this to happen, the continent must invest more in digital infrastructure, business-friendly settings, education and youth motivation.
Currently, Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is $3.1 trillion, with digital contributing approximately $200 billion, but stakeholders believe the continent has enormous potential to become the heart of the digital economy in the future years. Agritech, manufacturing, fintech, logistics, e-commerce, and automation through the use of artificial intelligence across all economic activities appear to be fuelling that rise.
During the inauguration of Africa’s largest tech and start-up exhibition (Gitex Africa), Moroccan Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch said Africa is a continent with a lot of young people, and its economy can be developed through the use of digital technology.
“Africa is a continent with the potential to be a leader in benefiting from the digital economy. We have a lot of talent and enough resources; what we need is to make sure our young people are well skilled, well incubated, and care about them, along with making good use of our natural resources,” said Mr Akhannouch.
He said infrastructure is the key to development, and in that case, the digital economy needs suitable infrastructure and the promotion of innovation, as well as a friendly business environment to attract more investors.
Can African countries collaborate on an e-car? (Quartz)
Africa’s key auto hubs, South Africa and Morocco, have hinted at mega and giga factories in their electric cars bid to remain relevant and tap a fast-rising global market. Mineral-rich countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, and Mozambique are also eyeing the market with big intentions of becoming major suppliers of electric vehicle batteries.
For these countries to competitively bid for a major stake in the global electric vehicle market, industry experts say they should form regional value chains to cut cross-border trade costs and barriers to investments.
Cliffe Dekker Hofmyer corporate and commercial practice director, Margo-Ann Werner says there is a full appreciation that Africa is a mineral-rich continent and that the e-mobility sector could rely on the various diverse types of minerals accessible within Africa. Establishing manufacturing nodes across the continent and leveraging on the AfCFTA, she said could result in a range of benefits including cost-effectiveness in the production of electric car batteries.
“So, it’s about establishing those sort of regional relationships between countries to achieve a collective benefit for all,” said Werner during the webinar on What we need to do to make e-mobility a reality in Africa.
Kenya commits to becoming Africa’s gateway to free trade (The Star)
Kenya has committed to becoming the preferred gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking during the Kenya International Investment Conference on the prospects of unlocking the continent’s gateway, state department for Investment promotion PS Abubakar Hassan said the country is well positioned and focused on becoming more investor-centric.
“In terms of investor package, Kenya has an attractive package that is robust, youthful, affordable, well-educated, highly skilled and creative,” Hassan said. He added that last year, the country was ranked as the most innovative nation in the continent by the World Economic Forum, a remedy to a positive impact on business and society at large.
“We need local and regional supply chains hubbed by a country with diversified capabilities. In Africa, Kenya suits that bill. Kenya has the best logistic and infrastructure development support,” Equity Bank Group Managing Director and Group CEO James Mwangi said.
He added that Nairobi has an international diversity of communities making it a rainbow when it comes to doing business. Due to this diversified business landscape, he notes that Kenya serves as an excellent gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Involving civil society actors in the implementation of the AfCFTA in Burkina Faso (UNECA)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) organized a national consultations workshop for civil society actors on the content of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) strategy, in Ouagadougou from May 31 to June 1. The objective of this meeting with civil society actors was to inform them on the key orientations of the National Strategy for the implementation of the Agreement in Burkina Faso, and in particular the flagship actions of the action plan.
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the workshop, Souleymane Ouédraogo, Director of Trade at the General Directorate of Commerce in Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Industrial Development, Trade, Handicrafts and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises, asserted that “Civil society players are in a way the citadel for giving advice, to ensure that public interventions in particular can meet the needs and expectations of consumers, of the population quite simply”.
“These actors are essential, and it’s really important that we involve them so that the implementation of the AfCFTA is inclusive, taking into account our reality and the diversity of our populations,” he said.
New payment platform for Africa (Advanced Television)
African pay-TV operator MultiChoice Group, payments platform specialist Rapyd and venture capital firm General Catalyst have unveiled a joint venture aimed at developing an integrated payment platform for Africa. The joint venture will operate under a new company, called Moment.
Moment will offer expanded payment infrastructure for businesses across Africa to help them collect and make payments easier, quicker, and more affordable in any manner that their buyers or suppliers prefer. The aim is to transform the African payments landscape by making digital payments more accessible and reliable for domestic, cross-border and global payments.
The long-term plan is to provide the infrastructure for pan-African payments for the 44 million small businesses operating on the continent. It is also to turn the 90 per cent of retail transactions that are currently taking place in cash, into digital payments. Moment aims to make digital transactions more accessible to the 350 million consumers that are underbanked or not banked at all.
Africa warned against ‘ditch the dollar’ calls (The Citizen)
African countries have been cautioned about a suggestion by President William Ruto of Kenya, urging them to ditch the US dollar. Analysts say that although the idea was good, it was hardly practicable given the current level of economic development on the continent.
“Before we jump on that train, we have to develop our economies,” said a business consultant. He said the suggestion by the Kenyan leader came at a time when African countries relied heavily on transacting business in the US currency.
Early this week, President Ruto asked the African leaders to take the first steps towards ditching the globally bullish US dollar. This, he said, can be done by signing up to a pan African payments system to facilitate trade within the continent; technically ditching the dollar. But Mr Kashamba said the suggestion will have to wait until African economies are freed from the grip of major economic giants like the US.
Mr John Bosco Kalisa, the executive secretary of the East African Business Council (EABC), emphatically said the suggestion was long overdue. “Our currencies (in Africa) have lost value because they are not supported by productivity,” he said when reached out for comment. However, he cautioned that before Africa begins a journey to a single currency, “we need to enhance our level of productivity and investments within our economies.”
The African Development Bank’s Gender Equality Trust Fund will provide a $950,000 grant to the Africa Small and Medium Enterprise Business Linkages Program in Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The grant, which will supplement an earlier $3.9 million financing grant from the Bank’s Transition Support Facility, is expected to bolster 1,400 women-led enterprises and contribute to the region’s economic resilience and social cohesion.
“We are excited to extend the impact of the program that will reach more than a thousand women entrepreneurs across the Sahel region,” said Malado Kaba, the Bank’s Director for Gender, Women and Civil Society. “We believe one key to building resilient African societies is the inclusion of women in economic development. The program’s wide range of business-related training and coaching – in addition to increasing access to finance - will go a long way toward reaching that goal,” she added.
Experts call for strong approach to understanding blue economy (Tanzania Daily News)
A call has been made to have a strong scientific approach to understanding the Blue Economy so as to ensure long-term prosperity for all Tanzanians. The call was made over the weekend at the stakeholders’ workshop here in Dodoma ahead of the UN World Oceans Day this week.
Available statistics show that sectors related with Blue Economy contributed a total of 7.7 billion US dollars to Mainland Tanzania’s gross value added (GVA) in 2020.
The workshop was meant to discuss research results of the project “Socio-Economic and Ecological Assessment of the Blue Economy in Tanzania 2022: Application of UNECA’S Blue Economy Valuation Toolkit”.
World Environment Day brings solutions to plastic pollution into focus (UN Environment)
Individuals, communities, civil society, businesses and governments around the world today marked World Environment Day with a focus on solutions to plastic pollution, with official celebrations held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, with the support of the Netherlands. The focus on solutions to plastic pollution this World Environment Day is particularly timely, following the recent conclusion of a second round of negotiations on a global agreement to end plastic pollution in France.
“Plastic is made from fossil fuels – the more plastic we produce, the more fossil fuel we burn, and the worse we make the climate crisis. But we have solutions,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his World Environment Day message. “We must work as one – governments, companies, and consumers alike – to break our addiction to plastics, champion zero waste, and build a truly circular economy.”
Humanity produces over 430 million tonnes of plastic annually, two-thirds of which are short-lived products that soon become waste. While the social and economic costs of plastic pollution range between $US300 to US$600 billion per year.
According to a recent UNEP report, Turning off the Tap, plastic pollution could reduce by 80 percent by 2040 if countries and companies make deep policy and market shifts using existing technologies.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) joins in the commemoration of this year’s International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing which falls on 5 June 2023, with a call for urgent actions to address IUU fishing in the SADC region to be taken/implemented. This includes better monitoring and control measures, such as tracking vessels, implementing stronger regulations, and increasing collaboration between governments and other stakeholders.
FAO Food Price Index declines in May (FAO)
The benchmark index of international food commodity prices declined in May amid significant drops in quotations for most cereals, vegetable oils and dairy products, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported.
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 124.3 points in May, down 2.6 percent from April and as much as 22.1 percent below the all-time high reached in March 2022.
World trade in cereals in the 2023/24 marketing season is forecast at 472 million tonnes, near the 2022/23 level, as increased traded volumes of coarse grains and rice (January-December 2024 trade for rice) are foreseen to offset an expected decline in global wheat trade.
At a time when food systems in Eastern and Southern Africa continue to be battered by multiple shocks, the World Bank is expanding its support for food security and food systems resilience to benefit an additional 2.8 million people. The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors approved $903 million in International Development Association (IDA) financing for Comoros ($40 million), Kenya ($150 million), Malawi ($250 million), Somalia ($150 million), Tanzania ($300 million) and the African Union Commission ($13 million) as part of the second and third phases of the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) for Eastern and Southern Africa.
“The addition of five countries responds to the ongoing demand for long-term solutions offered by the Food Systems Resilience Program. Studies demonstrate that proactive investments in building resilience not only pay off but also minimize the costs of disaster relief and recovery. As more countries are expected to join, we’re grateful that our board has agreed to increase the overall envelope for the entire FSRP program from $2.3 billion to $2.75 billion,” said Victoria Kwakwa, World Bank Vice President for Eastern and Southern Africa.
How Africa’s food systems forum 2023 will unleash economic opportunities, investment potential (Tanzania Daily News)
Tanzania is set to host the highly anticipated Africa’s Food Systems Forum 2023 Summit in Dar es Salaam this September. This prestigious event will not only position Tanzania as a hub for agricultural innovation and sustainable food systems but it will also unleash significant economic opportunities and attract valuable investments.
The Africa’s Food Systems Forum 2023 Summit will emphasise the importance of value addition and agro-processing in promoting sustainable food systems. Tanzania, with its vast agricultural resources, can leverage this opportunity to develop and expand its agro-processing industries.
Value addition initiatives, such as food processing, packaging, and preservation, will not only enhance the value of agricultural produce but also create a robust agribusiness ecosystem and contribute to export diversification.
The Africa’s Food Systems Forum 2023 Summit will highlight the role of technology and innovation in transforming agriculture and promoting sustainable food systems. Tanzania, with its growing digital landscape and emerging technology startups, can seize this opportunity to showcase its innovative solutions in precision agriculture, farm management systems, market linkage platforms, and data-driven decision-making. This will not only attract investments in agri-tech but also accelerate the adoption of modern practices and improve productivity in the sector.
Africa has the necessary partnerships and technologies to eradicate hunger, said African Development Bank President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina.
What is needed is action including robust financing, Adesina said Monday during the opening session of the 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW) in Durban, South Africa. “We must pull together the best of science, technology, and innovations to drive a more productive, efficient, and more competitive agricultural system,” Adesina told an audience of stakeholders in agriculture and agribusiness research and innovation in Africa.
Africa needs to leverage its potential, including science, and be proactive rather than reactive to shocks, she said. She urged the continent to take advantage of its youthful population and immense natural capital. “Let us unlock the potential we have… We should feed Africans and we should feed the world,” AUC Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko said.
Adesina said African food systems have the potential to unleash $1 trillion in value over the next seven years.
Agricultural Market Information System: detail (AMIS)
While agricultural prices have declined over the past 12 months, food price inflation remains high. FAO's food price index, a measure of the monthly change in international prices of a basket of food commodities, is down 20 percent from year-ago levels. Yet, double-digit food inflation rates are reported in many countries around the world. Food inflation remains elevated in part because of the strong US dollar, which has kept commodity prices high in local currencies, and because post-farmgate costs such as energy, transportation, and food manufacturing costs, which account for a large share of the retail price, remain high due to core inflationary pressures. The poor suffer the most from high food prices as they spend high shares of their incomes on food and have weak capacity to cope with price shocks.
Trade relations between the US and Africa have centred on Congress’s ‘Africa Growth and Opportunities Act’ (AGOA) since 2000, designed to foster the continent’s economic development and prosperity via preferential access to American markets. Yet in the last decade African trade with the United States has stagnated at much the same levels as it was when the Act was passed.
Though no public announcement has yet been issued, and policy could change, US trade policymakers hinted at a US-Africa summit in December 2022 that AGOA will be renewed before it expires in 2025.
A more discerning critic, able to overlook the fact that most of the fall in US-Africa trade is from the displacement of African oil imports with US shale oil since 2011, might still critique the capacity of AGOA to ‘diversify sources of growth in sub-Saharan Africa’. ‘Economic diversification’ is one of the priority areas of the African Union Agenda 2063 and is perceived by many African countries to be critical to their sustainable development. Non-mineral fuel exports from Africa to the US have grown since 2001 but, at around $10 billion annually, are only about equivalent to annual US aid-for-trade disbursements to the continent.
New UN reports aim to avert continued social, economic and environmental ‘breakdown’ (UN News)
Reforming the global financial system, moving beyond Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as a measure of economic progress, and addressing technology challenges are crucial to achieving a more just and equitable future for all, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday.
He was speaking at UN Headquarters in New York, where he presented three new policy briefs on these themes to Member States.
“They touch on some of the most serious challenges we face – challenges that may determine whether we are able to achieve the vision of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, or whether we continue towards a future of continued social, financial, political and environmental breakdown,” he said.
The briefs are intended to inform discussions ahead of the crunch SDG Summit in September, marking the midpoint towards achieving the Goals, and the related Summit of the Future next year.
Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meet to Foster Cooperation for Resilient, Inclusive, Green and Digital Economies (The Commonwealth)
The 2023 Commonwealth Trade Ministers Meeting (CTMM) opened today at Marlborough House in London. The meeting, being held on the 5th and 6th of June, brings together trade ministers from across the Commonwealth to discuss and deliberate on key issues related to trade and investment.
The theme for this year’s CTMM is ‘Delivering a Common Future: Cooperation for Resilient, Inclusive, Green and Digital Economies.’
In her opening speech, Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC welcomed the Trade Ministers and highlighted the significance of their gathering. “We are here because we share a common vision: to achieve US$2 trillion in intra-Commonwealth trade by 2030. We gather in a time of change and challenge. All of us are tightly bound by a tangled knot of crises spanning global systems: A world living with the social, political and economic consequences of COVID-19, crippling debt, rising inflation and high interest rates, spiralling costs for food and energy, tremors of instability and conflict and the increasingly harsh impacts of climate change. In isolation, each of these challenges is grave and serious, but they interconnect, entwine, and worsen one another, threatening our collective well-being.”
India: BRICS Now An Established Part Of Global Geopolitics & Trade (Silk Road Briefing)
The BRICS group of nations is no longer an alternative to other international associations, but a bulwark of global politics, External Affairs Minister of India Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated on Friday (June 2).
“BRICS is no longer an ‘alternative,’ it is an established feature of the global landscape. The message of reform that BRICS embodies must permeate the world of multilateralism,” Jaishanker said, adding that “The Friends of BRICS strongly support UNSC reform. BRICS is not only an expression of multipolarity but of the many and diverse ways of meeting international challenges.”
The BRICS group of nations seeks to build “a fairer, inclusive and open international architecture with sustainable development at its core,” he stated. “Creating resilient and reliable supply chains are central to ensuring that no one is left behind,” the foreign minister stressed.
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Eswatini Air flights boost tourism, trade ties with SA (CAJ News Africa)
THE resumption of flights by Eswatini Air to South Africa is anticipated to boost trade between the two countries. The direct flight to Durban was opened early in May, with a maximum capacity of 50 passengers operated by an Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft. It operates flights on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. There are plans to increase frequencies to seven times a week from this month, based on demand.
“Eswatini is one of the key regional tourism markets and shares strong historical and cultural ties with the province of KwaZulu-Natal,” Member of Executive Committee (MEC) for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Siboniso Duma, said.
Pre-pandemic, tourist arrivals from Eswatini averaged 290 000 per annum and in 2022 tourist arrivals demonstrated a strong recovery of 89 percent. “This presents an exciting opportunity for Eswatini Air to grow as a partner in accelerating the recovery of tourism between the two destinations,” Duma said.
Rwanda steps up policy efforts to spur e-commerce growth (UNCTAD)
As a landlocked economy undergoing massive transformation, Rwanda is increasingly gaining international attention for its forward-looking digital policies. Such policies, in part, aim at boosting the country’s emerging digital economy through a coordinated “whole-of-government” approach, and could be strengthened by a national e-commerce strategy as outlined in a report recently published by UNCTAD.
“E-commerce growth is a unique opportunity to open access to international and local markets for our small and medium-sized enterprises. It can help strengthen the private sector’s contribution to national growth,” says Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Rwanda’s minister of trade and industry, in the report’s foreword.
The UNCTAD report outlines a five-year strategic plan to foster an enabling e-commerce environment in Rwanda, with detailed frameworks for governance, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
Another key aspect of the strategy is enabling more Rwandan women – particularly those living in rural areas – to benefit from the digital economy.
This would require reducing telecommunication costs, while making it more affordable for women to use and own devices such as smartphones and computers to ease e-commerce.
Other initiatives featured in the report aim to improve women’s digital skills and knowledge, as well as access to financial services to help grow their businesses.
Single digital market crucial for Africa to navigate economic challenges: GITEX Africa 2023 (Ahram Online)
The inaugural event of GITEX AFRICA 2023, which concludes on Friday, is being held in Marrakech, Morocco. It is the biggest event on the continent gathering investors, startups and innovators seeking to advance digital transformation in Africa and showcasing the newest in all tech-based solutions.
Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s minister of state for artificial intelligence, said that the global tech market is expected to jump to $712 billion by 2030, up from $115 billion. This increase provides a golden chance for Africa with its large young population to accelerate the process of digital transformation for the benefit of the continent’s economies and people.
“Private sector and governments have to work hand in hand to push forward the digital transition process, and to support the small and medium-sized enterprises in this regard,” Trixie Lohmirman, the CEO of GITEX Africa organiser UAE-based KAOUN, said.
Africa Month: African youths optimistic over AfCFTA – Report (Vanguard)
The Ichikowitz Family Foundation’s African Youth Survey reports have revealed that 46 per cent of young Africans had limited knowledge of the African Continental Free Trade Area, AfCFTA, which was brokered by the African Union, AU, in 2018.
The foundation, which conducted an expansive study of Africans between the ages of 18 and 24, also disclosed that among those who were aware of AfCFTA, the majority (55 per cent) of respondents said the free trade area would have a positive impact on their country.
According to the foundation, a little more than one-in-five young Africans (22 per cent) indicated that they were familiar with AfCFTA, one-in-five were skeptical about AfCFTA making a difference in their country’s economic situation, while 15 per cent noted that it would worsen the situation.
AfCFTA: African ministers adopt ban on trade of second-hand clothes (The New Times)
African ministers, on June 1, adopted the protocol that prevents trading second-hand clothes across the continent under the preferences of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The decision was taken during the second Ministerial Retreat of the Council of Ministers on the AfCFTA, held in Nairobi, Kenya, to assess the progress and address critical aspects of the agreement’s implementation.
Held under the theme “The Role of the Private Sector in the Implementation of the AfCFTA: Own and Drive AfCFTA,” they discussed the outstanding Rules of Origin on Auto, Textiles and Clothing, estimated tariff revenue losses and the adjustment facility allocations, as well as proposals on front-loading liberalisation of trade in basic agricultural products.
Manufacturing industry a catalyst for economic growth – Adeyemi (Businessday)
The manufacturing industry serves as a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement; it adds value to the economy and fosters innovation and productivity, according to Tumi Adeyemi, founder and CEO, ZenoLynk Technologies Limited.
This was disclosed recently at the third Equipment and Manufacturing West Africa (EMWA) Expo in Lagos themed, ‘Reigniting Manufacturing to Drive Growth and Development’.
In his address, Adeyemi noted that although Nigeria’s manufacturing sector is faced with obstacles such as inadequate infrastructure, unreliable power supply, bureaucratic bottlenecks, etc, it possesses immense potential for growth and development.
According to him, “By capitalising on this vast market of 1.3 billion people and eliminating trade barriers, Nigerian manufacturers can expand their reach, tap into new markets, and bolster export-oriented production. This agreement calls for strategic planning, increased competitiveness, and product diversification to position our manufacturing sector as a regional powerhouse.”
Africa must work together to guarantee food, economic security – Akufo-Addo (Ghana Business News)
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on African leaders to foster intra-trade partnerships to ensure sustainable economic growth for the continent. He said it was imperative that the countries took advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to guarantee food and economic security. The President made the call when he addressed the opening of the Seventh African Leadership Forum (ALF) in Accra on Thursday.
Ghana is hosting this year’s ALF on the theme: “Promoting Intra-Africa Trade to Unlock Agricultural Potential in Africa.” It aims to highlight the continent’s agricultural potentials and opportunities emerging from climate change, discuss the obstacles, as well as practical and realistic requirements for implementing the AfCFTA. The agenda is to identify priorities and a roadmap for implementing the agricultural trade perspective under the Agreement to realise its transformative economic objective.
The President said the time had come for the continent to define its own narratives in respect of producing enough to feed its people. This was achievable given the continent’s vast arable land and natural resources, he noted.
Establishing food security, the President noted, was important for millions of people facing hunger in Africa, and crucial for sustainable economic development and the long-term prosperity of the continent.
The African Union has concluded a three-day meeting of the Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration- Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows under the theme “Tax in Africa: contemporary issues affecting the continent” and adopted recommendations that ensure African interests are protected in the design and implementation of the global tax rules, and ways to improve domestic resource mobilization for Africa’s development.
The meeting discussed parameters of the African position on the Promotion of inclusive and effective tax cooperation at the United Nations and on the consideration of the enactment of a Domestic Minimum Top-up tax for tax base protection ahead of the incoming global tax rules; adopted recommendations to use the VAT toolkit by ATAF for improved revenue collection on cross-border supplies; and identified areas where future legislative action or coordination would benefit Member States, the African Union and relevant partners, in regard to addressing the issue of wasteful tax incentives, stemming of Illicit Financial Flows respectively, and improving continental domestic resource mobilization necessary for the development of the continent.
Amb. Albert Muchanga, African Union Commissioner for Economic development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals, noted that to effectively operationalize the UN Convention on International Tax Cooperation, the process must be inclusive in incorporating the views of existing African structures and leverage the work of the UN Committee of Experts on International Tax Cooperation. Further, the Member State-led intergovernmental body ought to have a well-resourced technical structure to focus on specific pain points in developing countries not addressed by previous initiatives to address gaps in tax cooperation. “At the continent level, the core issue is how Africa can develop tax administrations to increase investments from the current level of 20% of GDP to 40%. By incorporating the views of existing African structures, the operationalization process of the Convention will ensure accountability and full ownership by the Member States.”
Regional bodies meet in Madagascar to discuss domestic financing (Africa Science News)
The African Union (AU) Commission, in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Member States, is convening experts on Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) programming for a regional meeting to discuss mobilising domestic resources and strengthening programs to combat NTDs in the Eastern and Central African regions from 31 May to 02 June in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
NTDs regularly occur within an area or community (endemic) in 49 AU Member States. They affect more than 600 million people, accounting for about 42% of the global burden of NTDs. Socioeconomic factors such as poverty, heightened exposure to vectors, unsafe food and water, reservoir hosts and climate and other poor living conditions exacerbate the spread of NTDs. In some regions of the African continent, socio-political conflicts and internal civil unrest continue to aggravate the spread of NTDs and hamper effective interventions to control and /or eliminate these diseases.
The leaders called for the containment and reversal of other major infectious diseases as part of the continental agenda to promote poverty reduction, sustainable development and political security. The Abuja call is reinforced by the AU Agenda 2063: “The Africa We Want”, which envisions healthy and well-nourished African citizens free of all diseases, including NTDs.
“The African Union (AU) Commission is committed to attaining Aspiration One, Goal three of Agenda 2063, of well-nourished and healthy citizens. The AU Continental Framework and Common African Position on NTDs recommend strong strategies to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Africa. Our collective task moving forward is a mandate to increase investment, action and collaboration towards successfully implementing the recommendations. We are committed to collaborating with partners to progress the elimination of NTDs on the African Continent,”- Prof. Julio Rakotonirina, Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs, Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development African Union Commission
EAC Secretariat given greenlight to commence negotiations with Somalia (The New Times)
Regional leaders on Wednesday, May 31, directed the East African Community Secretariat and the Council of Ministers to “with immediate effect” commence negotiations with Somalia as regards the latter’s request to join the seven-member bloc.
That was after the Heads of State deliberated on and adopted the report of the verification of the application of Somalia to join the EAC – earlier circulated to the partner states – during their 21st Extraordinary EAC Heads of State Summit.
Somalia’s Presidential Special Envoy to the EAC, Abdusalam Omer, on Thursday, June 1, told The New Times that “This is a major milestone for Somalia’s accession to the EAC and the acceptance of its application. It is a testament that Somalia has met the necessary requirements to join the EAC. I am sure the negotiations will be successful.”
EABC: EAC taxmen should facilitate trade not only tax (Tanzania Daily News)
THE East African Business Council (EABC) has advised the East African revenue authorities to focus on trade facilitation and not only to dwell on tax issues. The EABC Executive Director, Mr John-Bosco Kalisa, said on Tuesday that the governments should provide incentives and measures to build businesses better and more resilient amid global crises.
“Revenue authorities should focus on trade facilitation,” Mr Kalisa said during the senior executives’ tax seminar aiming at gaining valuable insights from tax experts and experiences in East Africa. “The EAC partner states should harmonise their monetary and fiscal policies to remove tax distortions.”
Last July, EAC partner states started applying a 4-band EAC Common External Tariff Structure of 0 per cent, 10 per cent, 25 per cent, and 35 per cent. The new tariff structure maintained the sensitive items that attract tariff rates of 50 per cent to 100 per cent.
UNCTAD tool improves service trade data in West Africa (UNCTAD)
Statistics on trade in services are crucial to supporting negotiations and monitoring the impact of relevant trade agreements. But getting comprehensive, high-quality statistics in this area remains a challenge for many developing countries.
UNCTAD’s trade in services statistics (TiSSTAT) information system developed at the request of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, known by its French acronym UEMOA, is helping countries in the region to tackle this issue.
Trade in services is conceptually difficult to measure, as it takes varying forms from transport and construction to business services. By their very nature, such services are often produced and consumed at the same time, and their trade is not captured by customs systems.
The TiSSTAT software developed under an UNCTAD-UEMOA project helps strengthen and streamline the collection and processing of statistics on international trade in services.
West African states urged to make a start on ‘daunting’ $15bn highway (Global Construction Review)
The governments of five West African states held more talks last month about a long-discussed $15bn highway connecting Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, taking in Benin, Togo, and Ghana along the Gulf of Guinea coast.
The 1,028 km road would form the spine of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor, a major economic development project.
Ghanaian vice president Mahamudu Bawumia said the prompt execution of the project was critical for the economic development of the region, particularly in the wake of the implementation of the Africa Continent Free Trade Area.
He said most of the preparatory work, such as feasibility and preliminary design studies, had been completed, and that the time had come for the five countries to be “more committed to the commencement of this daunting project”.
West African sub-regional actors mobilize for sustainable development of the sub-region (UNECA)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), through its Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, in partnership with the Senegalese Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Cooperation, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Comité Inter Etats de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel (CILSS) and the World Food Programme (WFP), is organizing in Dakar a Regional meeting of Intergovernmental Organizations in West Africa: “Promoting Regional Value chains and food security for strengthening regional integration and sustainable development in West Africa”.
The specific objectives of the meeting are: Review the progress on the regional integration, Review and discuss the findings of the ECA’s study on the Opportunities for Regional Value Chains in West Africa within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Assess the recent subregional macro-economic and food security trends;
EU spends £32 million to boost energy in Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Mali others (The Guardian Nigeria)
The European Union is expending the sum of £32 million euros as part of ongoing effort to boost the energy sector in Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries. The AGoSE-AO program which seeks to Improve governance of the energy sector in West Africa was commissioned through the 11th European Development Funds is to be implemented between May 2022 to April 2024.
Officials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in conjunction with the European Union (EU) and other development partners held talks in Abuja yesterday aimed at boosting the energy sector in Nigeria and other countries in the west African sub-region.
Mr Bayaornibe Dabire, Directeur of Energy and Mines of ECOWAS and chairman of the meeting urges all stakeholders within the energy sector to continue to work together and to forge a path towards enhanced governance, transparency, and accountability in the energy sector, hence paving the way for sustainable development and alleviating poverty in West Africa.
Gender, Poverty and Environmental Indicators on African Countries 2023 (AfDB)
This volume is divided into three main parts. Part I highlights the progress being made by African countries towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Part II presents comparative cross-country data on gender (section 1), poverty (section 2), and the environment (section 3). Part III provides more detailed data on each of these three themes across each of the 54 African countries.
BRICS Ministers reflect on Russia-Ukraine war, Sudan conflict (SAnews)
“The Ministers recalled their national positions concerning the situation in and around Ukraine, as expressed at the appropriate fora, including the UNSC [United Nations Security Council] and UNGA [United Nations General Assembly],” a joint statement from the Ministers on Thursday read. “They reiterated their commitment to enhancing and improving global governance by promoting a more agile, effective, efficient, representative and accountable international and multilateral system,” the statement said.
BRICS pitches for using local currencies in international trade (Devdiscourse)
The BRICS nations on Friday underlined the need for using local currencies in international trade and financial transactions besides committing themselves to supporting rule-based open and transparent global trade. A joint statement issued at the end of the meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, also pressed for a robust Global Financial Safety Net with a quota-based and adequately resourced International Monetary Fund (IMF) at its centre.
The joint statement titled ‘The Cape of Good Hope’, said ministers expressed their support for a free, open, transparent, inclusive, equitable, non-discriminatory and rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, with special and differential treatment (S&DT) for developing countries, including Least Developed Countries.
‘‘They stressed their support to work towards positive and meaningful outcomes on the issues at the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13). They committed to engage constructively to pursue the necessary WTO reform with a view to presenting concrete deliverables to MC13. They called for the restoration of a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024, and the selection of new Appellate Body Members without further delay,’’ it said.
WTO flags poor utilisation of India scheme for least developed countries (Business Standard)
About 85 per cent of about 11,000 products offered at zero tariff by India to least developed countries (LDCs) under the duty-free quota free (DFQF) scheme of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) remains unutilised, according to a report by the LDC Group at the multilateral trade body.
The decision to provide duty free quota free (DFQF) access for LDCs was first taken at the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial Meeting in 2005. The decision requires all developed and developing country members declaring themselves in a position to do so, to provide preferential market access for all products originating from all LDCs.
“There is a significant variation between the beneficiary LDCs, and the two countries (Guinea and Bangladesh) showing the highest amount of eligible imports simultaneously have very low utilisation rates (8 per cent for Guinea and 0 per cent in the case of Bangladesh). Benin on the other hand, reports a utilisation rate of 98 per cent, which is the highest of all beneficiary countries,” the report pointed out.
Beyond Trade and GDP: Exploring the Wealth of the Commonwealth (The Commonwealth)
Together, the 56 Commonwealth countries possess approximately US$150 trillion of wealth. This is 10 times greater than the value of their combined GDP (US$14.5 trillion) and 30 times more significant than the value of their global exports of goods and services ($4.8 trillion).
Three key components of this multidimensional measure of the wealth are physical capital (such as infrastructure and buildings), human capital (such as education and skills of the workforce), natural resources (both renewables and non-renewables).
Commonwealth countries’ wealth has grown by more than 108 percent between 1995 and 2018, surpassing the growth in global wealth (90 percent) in the same period. It has raised per capita wealth in the Commonwealth from US$42,700 to $59,800 despite the rapid rise in population from 1.7 billion to 2.5 billion. The primary driver of this increase has been the expansion of human resources and produced capital stocks, which saw an extraordinary increase, particularly in Asia and Africa
The ongoing restructuring of regional and global value chains offers numerous opportunities for Commonwealth members to leverage their abundant natural wealth to promote sustainable production and trade. Commonwealth countries possess abundant natural resources and renewable assets. With the growing focus on environmental concerns, Commonwealth countries are well-positioned to provide a wide range of environmental goods and services.
Commonwealth countries also hold a substantial stock of critical minerals required for the clean energy transition and digitalisation. This creates numerous opportunities to attract investment in emerging sectors, such as climate adaptation and digital technologies. Countries can facilitate investment in these emerging sectors by streamlining their regulatory environment.
DG Okonjo-Iweala: Trade key to ensuring food security in a time of crisis (WTO)
The jump in food and energy prices triggered by the war “has brought a complete new spotlight” on the issue of food security, the Director-General told participants. “Many of our developing country members, particularly the least developed countries, are on the receiving end of the crises that are happening in the world. This is something they did not cause but they are the ones who are suffering the most from the lack of access to food, from the lack of access to fertilizer, and from high prices resulting from the exchange rate movements and depreciation of currencies.”
With one in five calories traded internationally, “imagine how important the role of trade is now in order to help us solve this problem of access, of building resilience and of managing the volatility of food prices and energy prices,” she said. So “the first and best thing is keeping an open, predictable and stable international multilateral trading system. Trade has been absolutely central on the food front, and keeping a predictable, stable and fair system is key.”
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African Continental Free Trade Area Awareness Workshop Goes to Limpopo (The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition)
The Limpopo private sector will be exposed to export opportunities that are presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This will happen during the Limpopo leg of the awareness workshop on the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
This is part of a series of workshops that the department is rolling out throughout the country from May-July 2023. The inaugural workshop took place in KwaZulu-Natal last week and was a success. Businesspeople who attended the KZN session welcomed the progress and benefits that the AfCFTA will afford their respective businesses once implemented.
According to the Chief Director of Africa Multilateral Economic Relations at the dtic, Mr Sandile Tyini, the workshop seeks to communicate and engage with the private sector, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as women and youth-owned export ready businesses on the status of the implementation of the AfCFTA, including opportunities for South African companies to participate in preferential trade beyond the Southern African region.
“The six sector master plans targeted for these workshops are steel and metal fabrication; agriculture and agro-processing; retail-clothing, textiles, footwear and leather (R-CTFL) value chain; automotive industry; sugar value chain; and forestry. Limpopo workshop will focus on agriculture and agro-processing; sugar value chain; forestry; as well as retail-clothing, textiles, footwear and leather (R-CTFL) value chain,” adds Tyini.
Mozambique to Submit Its Tariff Offer to AfCFTA By June (AIM)
Mozambique must submit its tariff offer to the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (AfCFTA) by June of the current year. The tariff offer was ratified in 2022 by the Mozambican parliament, the Assembly of the Republic.
According to the Minister of Industry and Trade, Silvino Moreno, who was addressing the press during the launch of Africa Week Celebrations, the tariff offer is compulsory for Mozambique’s effective adherence to the continental free market.
“This document contains relevant information about the products that Mozambique will place in the continental market and those that will be free from customs tariffs. The work is concluded and we will present our tariff offer to the AfCFTA by June 30’, the minister said.
“We have a major agricultural capacity. We can offer cashew nuts, cotton and other products that are currently exported to Europe and Asia’, he said, adding that the country has a lengthy coastline, ideal for offering logistical services to some countries that do not have access to the sea.
After the tariff offer submission, he explained, there will follow the disclosure of the national private sector commitments, since Mozambican companies are the main actors of the market.
AfCFTA reviews opportunities in four products (Tanzania Daily News)
THE African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is currently reviewing the existing opportunities in value chains of cotton, meat, coffee and cereals across the continent to understand how they contribute to intra-African trade. The four products are main cash streams in Tanzania.
AfCFTA SG said that the organisation is undertaking a review of the opportunities in those value chains of the four crops to help the member states to understand the full potentials of the produce in contributing to intra-African trade and the broader AfCFTA objectives.
“This is part of our collective efforts to create a policy environment for boosting regional investment in agricultural value chains for enhanced intra African trade in agricultural commodities and services and creating a new business dynamic in the agriculture trade arena,” the Secretary- General stressed.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (2019), sub-Saharan Africa’s food import bill was 48.7 billion US dollars in 2019 compared to 46.9 billion US dollars in 2018.
The food import bill for the whole of Africa was about 80 billion US dollars per year in 2015–2017. From 2020 to 2022, the bill per year increased to 84 billion US dollars while intra Africa trade in agricultural food products was 11.4 billion US dollars, representing only 14 per cent of value of agricultural food products imported by Africa from other parts of the world.
“There is, therefore, an imperative need to accelerate agricultural production to reduce the food import bills, revive the rural economies, slow down rural to urban migration, expand foreign exchange earnings and create jobs, especially for young Africans and women,” he said.
USTR Releases Summaries from U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership Negotiations (United States Trade Representative)
Consistent with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to the highest levels of transparency in trade agreement negotiations, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) today released summaries of texts proposed by the U.S. side during the first negotiating round of the United States-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP), which was held in Nairobi, Kenya from April 17-20, 2023.
The goal of the Partnership is to increase investment; promote sustainable and inclusive economic growth; benefit workers, consumers, and businesses (including micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises); and support African regional economic integration. The summaries detail the negotiating proposals from the U.S. side for the following chapters: agriculture; anticorruption; micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises; and services domestic regulation.
Buhari: Border Closure Aimed at Stimulating Local Consumption (This Day Live)
President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday insisted that his 2019 closure of the country’s land borders was due to his administration’s conscious efforts to encourage Nigerians to eat what they produce locally, particularly the rice commodity.
Speaking while inaugurating the new Administrative Headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in Maitama, Abuja, he claimed the border closure was consequently appreciated by Nigerians – apparently due to the revolution in local rice production which was occasioned by the positive impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) which provides unprecedented financing to smallholder farmers.
Buhari said he closed the borders deliberately to check rice smuggling from neighbouring countries – a situation which grossly undermined Nigeria’s food security agenda and put the economy at risk.
Morocco trade deficit widens by 2.6% year on year (ZAWYA)
Morocco’s trade deficit widened by 2.6% to 91.3 billion dirhams ($9.13 billion) in the first four months of this year despite a fall in some commodity prices, data from the foreign exchange regulator showed. Imports rose by 3.2% from the prior-year figure to 237 billion dirhams, despite a fall in some commodity prices that lowered the energy bill by 1.7% to 43 billion dirhams, according to the data. Exports meanwhile increased by 3.6% to 145.7 billion dirhams, the regulator said in its monthly report, led by the automotive sector where growing demand drove a 40% increase to 45 billion dirhams of exports.
African trade and integration
Ecobank Launches Single Market Trade Hub (Africa Global Funds)
Ecobank Group has unveiled its Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub with over 300 businesses from 22 countries having signed onto the digital platform so far. The Trade Hub connects traders across Africa, within the 1.4 billion people single market framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub is a digital platform, which serves as an exchange and information repository, designed to respond to the evolving trading needs of SMEs and corporates within Africa’s single market.
The Trade Hub reduces the asymmetry in trade information and in this connection, leverages Ecobank’s wide client base and network advantage, through its presence in 35 African markets.
Jeremy Awori, CEO, Ecobank Group, said: “AfCFTA has created an immense opportunity for African businesses. As the pan-African bank with the most extensive coverage of Africa, Ecobank is perfectly placed to provide trade, information and payment solutions to support SMEs and corporates seeking to capitalize on the single market.”
AfCFTA ‘will fail to reach its potential’ unless governments act (Supply Management)
Lobby group the African Business Council (AfBC) has called for the continent’s governments to ensure that 40% of public-sector contracts go to African companies rather than overseas competitors.
AfBC president Amany Asfour said the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement would depend on the continent growing its private sector. Asfour urged the region’s governments to push for legislation in their respective parliaments that would prioritise African businesses in public-sector procurement. Her remarks came at a workshop titled “Accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area: The Strategic Significance of the Pan-African Parliament”, organised by the Pan-African Parliament to help accelerate the implementation of the agreement.
Governments also need to build the capacity of their domestic industries in areas such as pharmaceuticals or garments to ensure suppliers are available within the continent, Asfour added. It is urgent to ensure that Africa has manufacturing industries to leverage the continent’s mineral wealth, she said.
Nigeria bourse plans commodities growth in seven African nations (Moneyweb)
Nigeria’s first private licensed commodities bourse plans to open offices in seven new African markets as it looks to take advantage of growing trade across the continent.
AFEX Commodities Exchange will expand to Ivory Coast this year and Ghana in 2024, before setting up in Benin, Togo, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Zambia, Chief Executive Officer Ayodeji Balogun said in a telephone interview. Founded in 2014, the firm already trades in nine commodities — including corn, wheat, sorghum and cocoa — in Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has curbed shipments of essential food commodities to Africa, compounding obstacles to trade. AFEX plans to raise 30 billion naira ($65 million) of debt this year to help fund an expansion that includes boosting storage capacity to 1 million tons by 2025, obtaining more commodities exchange licenses, while adding gold and derivatives to its trading portfolio, the CEO said.
The elimination of trade barriers under the African Continental Free Trade Area, will “unlock significant value” in AFEX’s spot and exchange traded contracts, fixed income products and derivatives, according to Balogun. Daily transactions currently total about 2 billion naira.
SADC Development Finance network forum set for Swakopmund (Namibia Economist)
Local development finance institutions (DFI), namely, Agribank, Development Bank of Namibia, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, and the National Housing Enterprise, are set to host the 2023 SADC-DFIs network forum meetings, under the SADC Development Finance Resource Centre (SADC-DFRC).
The engagements are scheduled to be held from 6 to 9 June 2023, in Swakopmund, under the theme “Balancing DFI developmental mandate with sustainability.”
The objective of the forum is to discuss and share experiences on how DFIs have been able to mobilise appropriately priced (low-cost) capital to meet their developmental mandates and close existing market gaps, particularly in such sectors as SMMEs and infrastructure development that, due to several factors such as high risk and long project gestation periods, have traditionally been shunned by commercial banks.
Thus, the forum will discuss available resources to DFIs on the domestic and international capital markets, nature, conditions of access, and climate change financing institutions such as the Green Climate Fund among others.
West African Heads of State and ministers affirmed their commitment to accelerate investments and reforms to make fertilizers more accessible and affordable during the high-level roundtable jointly organized by the Togolese government, the World Bank, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
“Without vision, without strategy, fertilizers can quickly turn from a promise of soil restoration to the cause of deterioration,” said the President of the Republic of Togo, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé. “As we need to find a proper balance, planning and state involvement are essential. I therefore support a regional approach. As exemplified by the roadmap presented today, our vision should primarily be sub-regional.”
During the event, industry leaders and development partners from the Economic Community of West Africa Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) reaffirmed their commitments to the development of an innovative and integrated approach for sustainable soil fertility management.
Financial technology—fintech—is enhancing and streamlining the ways in which Africans produce food, transact business and build savings, paving the way for more sustainable models of growth, said expert panelists at an event at the African Development Bank’s Annual Meetings.
There was consensus on the need for close collaboration among regulators, development institutions, businesses and investors in order to harness the potential of fintech. Panelists stressed the centrality of data—collecting it and widening access to it—to the fintech transformation. The participants agreed on the need for governments and development partners to be involved in the development of fintech.
The Bank recognizes the key role fintech can play in driving innovation and more inclusive development. The sector is viewed as providing pathways to offer financial services to the unbanked and lowering transaction costs.
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group has approved an equity investment of $20 million in the Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund I, in support of its target to mobilize private capital for infrastructure across the continent.
The Africa50 Infrastructure Acceleration Fund I is a pan-African infrastructure private equity fund that is mobilizing up to $500 million for investment and value creation in strategic infrastructure sectors. These include power, energy, digital and social infrastructure, transportation, logistics, and water and sanitation.
The mobilization of private capital is critical to closing the infrastructure financing gap in Africa, especially given the limited fiscal space of African governments which currently provide the largest source of infrastructure funding on the continent.
AU, ECA Unveil $2.5m Project to Tackle Migration Barriers within Africa (Ethiopian Monitor)
African Union Commission (AUC) unveiled a joint project aimed at shaping a positive narrative and eliminating barriers to safe migration within the continent. The AUC launched the $2.5 project jointly with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
“The majority of Africans migrate within the continent, and hence the need to focus migration initiatives like those in the joint migration project,” ECA’s Deputy Secretary Hanan Morsy noted. In her remarks, Commissioner Cessouma noted “the need to tap on migration potential to drive the continental agenda with respect to its development, transformation and integration.”
The two-year project, entitled ‘International Migration in Africa: Shaping a Positive Narrative and Removing Barriers to Mobility,’ is funded by the government of Italy.
AU Commission, ATAF collaborate on tax mobilisation matters (The Chronicle)
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF) have extended their cooperation by officially signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which is aimed at amplifying the continent’s voice on global tax engagements.
Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry, Mining at the AUC, Ambassador Albert Muchanga, and ATAF executive secretary Mr Logan Wort, signed the MoU during the 2nd meeting of the specialised technical committee (STC) on finance, monetary affairs, economic planning and integration sub-committee on tax at the AU Headquarters on Wednesday, 31 May 2023.
The signing of the MoU marks a significant step in strengthening the cooperation on tax policy and improving tax administration – all aimed at mobilising domestic resources in Africa and achieving Agenda 2063. In addition, the two organisations will also work on rolling out the work plans of strategies to combat illicit financial flows (IFFs) and bringing the African voice on tax matters to global discussions.
Equally, Amb Muchanga said the objectives of revenue mobilisation on the continent would be realized with a coordinated effort. As a matter of urgency, ATAF and the AUC will be convening a meeting to discuss the going global tax discussions to inform and update member states on the evolution of the UN Tax Convention and the upcoming OECD Inclusive Framework Meeting in July 2023.
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has called for an inclusive international tax system and an overhaul of the global financial system as part of a global deal to secure the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and enable African countries to focus their resources on sustainable and inclusive development.
Speaking at a meeting of the Second Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning, and Integration of African Union whose Sub-Committee on Tax and Illicit Financial Flows is in session, Acting Executive Secretary Antonio Pedro made this call while highlighting the challenges facing African countries in generating domestic resources for economic, social, and environmental investment. According to Pedro, “the fiscal deficit in Africa is estimated at 5% of GDP in 2022 and expected to remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.”
Pedro stressed the need to raise additional resources as African countries face multi-faceted challenges, adding that a double-digit growth rate is needed to rescue the SDGs and accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063. However, the question remains, where does this growth rate come from?
Global economy
BRICS Strive to Counter US With Expansion, Shared Currency (Yahoo)
The BRICS group of emerging markets is ramping up its bid for greater global influence and to challenge the US, sensing a moment to capitalize on a splintering world order to build out its ranks beyond Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Foreign ministers from BRICS nations meeting over two days in Cape Town starting Thursday will be joined by counterparts from countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Kazakhstan. On the agenda is expansion, with as many as 19 countries aspiring to join, and the potential establishment of a common currency.
“BRICS has acquired a very important stature in the world, with many countries across various continents of our world seeking to be part of it,” South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told lawmakers in Cape Town on Wednesday. Naledi Pandor, the foreign minister and meeting host, said last month the bloc could be “transformative,” representing those nations “that wish to play a role in world affairs, ensuring benefit to the Global South.”
High-growth emerging trade corridors set to outpace west, Standard Chartered finds (Global Trade Review)
Trade corridors in Africa, Asia and the Middle East are expected to grow faster than the global average, as momentum moves away from mature western corridors and high-growth routes emerge, research finds.
Exports from the three regions are tipped to grow from US$9tn in 2021 to US$14.4tn by 2030, outpacing global trade growth by nearly 4%, according to a paper published today by Standard Chartered.
Rapid industrialisation is set to establish strong export markets in South and South East Asia, while growing demand, stronger purchasing power and population growth will drive demand for imports across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, it says.
“International trade is projected to move away from the west, shifting southward and outward,” the London-headquartered lender says.
Other drivers for trade growth include the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, a 15-member agreement that UN researchers believe will redirect trade away from markets in the Americas and Europe, as well as the impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
World trade can still drive prosperity (IMF Finance & Development)
Rising from the ashes of three disastrous decades of deglobalization, extremism, and world war, our two institutions were built on the idea that thriving international trade goes hand in hand with global prosperity and stability. On balance, the post–World War II record has been impressive. Today fewer than 1 in 10 of the world’s people are poor, a fourfold reduction since 1990, as low- and middle-income countries have doubled their share of global trade.
Yet the tide is turning against economic interdependence and international trade. Trade restrictions and subsidies increased after the global financial crisis, and tensions escalated further as governments responded to the pandemic and Russia’s war in Ukraine by scrambling to secure strategic supply chains and rushing into trade-distorting policies. Taken too far, these measures may open the door to alliance-oriented policies that reduce economic efficiency and fragment the global trading system. They could backfire if short supply chains end up more vulnerable to localized shocks. Foreign direct investment is already increasingly concentrated among geopolitically aligned countries.
WTO members explore ways of strengthening LDC economies (WTO)
“Strengthening the productive capacity in LDCs is an important priority for the international community. It has been recognized in the Doha Programme of Action for LDCs for the next decade,” said Ambassador Erik Brøgger Rasmussen, chair of the LDC Sub-Committee. The purpose of the meeting, he added, is to “look at some of the ongoing efforts aimed at strengthening productive capacity in LDCs and how some of the good practices can be scaled up.”
Supporting economic diversification and strengthening trade institutions in LDCs featured prominently in the discussions, with several speakers stressing that trade policy and trade facilitation reforms are among the private sector’s top recommendations.
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Trade statistics for April 2023 (South African Revenue Service)
South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R3.5 billion in April 2023. This surplus is attributable to exports of R163.8 billion and imports of R160.3 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).
The year-to-date (01 January to 30 April 2023) preliminary trade balance deficit of R3.5 billion is a deterioration from the R78 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2022. On a year-on-year basis, export flows for April 2023 were R163.8 billion, which were 7.4% higher compared to R152.6 billion for April 2022. Import flows were 17.8% higher having increased from R136.1 billion in April 2022 to R160.3 billion in the current period.
The trade data excluding BELN for April 2023 recorded a preliminary trade balance deficit of R5.6 billion, with export flows at R149.9 billion and import flows at R155.5 billion.
Without AGOA South African citrus loses its edge in the US (FreshPlaza)
South Africa’s citrus exports to the United States have over recent years grown to a value of almost R1.7 billion (close to 808 million euros), a consistent performer during the past few turbulent seasons – but it is at risk if the United States decides not to extend their free trade agreement with South Africa due to the latter’s recent closeness to President Putin.
“The current US tariff on citrus for countries without any trade arrangement is within the range between $1.5/kg to $2.5/kg. That would be approximately between R30 and R50 per kg but of course, currently South African citrus does not face those tariffs in the United States,” Dr Mmatlou Kalaba of the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy says.
“South Africa is in a more advantageous position than other AGOA beneficiaries in the sense that we are able to produce and export a whole range of products, close to 50 different products plus processed products like cheese which gives the country the benefit of scale.”
South Africa’s participation in AGOA – due to be extended (or not) in 2025 – is under discussion because last year South Africa hosted Russian vessels currently under UN embargo at South African ports for reasons the South African government has not been willing to divulge.
Pressure mounts on Kenya to end row over Uganda’s milk imports (The Standard)
Pressure is mounting on Kenya to review non-tariff barriers involving Ugandan milk products entering the local market. Sources in the government have confided that the Kenya Dairy Board (KDB) is committed to resolving the matter in the next few days.
Uganda dairy exporters have raised the alarm over a move by the Kenyan dairy regulator to stop issuing permits for Ugandan dairy products in the KenTrade system from last March. The suspension of the issuance of permits was implemented despite the State Department for Livestock Development rescinding a notice banning dairy imports issued by KDB.
Dairy Development Authority (DDA) Executive Director Samson Akankiza told journalists that Nairobi is only issuing about 20 per cent of entry papers to exporters of its powdered milk. Sources within the industry in Kenya are, however, optimistic that the matter of export permits for Uganda firms will be amicably addressed in the next few days. “There is a lot going on within both the diplomatic and trade circles. Very soon, this matter will be amicably resolved as Kenya also needs its neighbours in its trade agenda,” a source privy to the matter said on condition of anonymity.
Kenya and Russia to sign trade pact, President Ruto says (TimesLIVE)
Kenya will sign a trade pact with Russia aimed at boosting co-operation between businesses, President William Ruto’s office said on Monday, after hosting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Nairobi.
Russia has stepped up its drive to boost economic ties with Africa to help offset a big chill in relations with the West prompted by its invasion of Ukraine, and plans to hold an Africa-Russia summit in St Petersburg in July.
Kenya’s presidency said in a statement that bilateral trade with Russia was still low despite the potential and the pact would give business the “necessary impetus”. It did not say when the pact might be sealed or give details on what it might encompass. Russia currently sells mostly grain and fertilisers to Kenya.
Kenya to scrap visa fees for Africa traders (The East African)
President William Ruto has announced plans to remove visa requirements for African nationals travelling to Kenya for business as a first major step to remove barriers to intra-Africa trade.
The announcement was a continuation of Kenya’s policy for the integration of Africa, which began gathering steam during the reign of immediate former president Uhuru Kenyatta.
“For my fellow Africans, the free movement of people on our continent has always been a cornerstone of Pan-African brotherhood and fraternity. The freer we are to travel and live with one another, the more integrated and appreciative of our diversity we will become,” said Kenyatta on November 27, 2017.
Nairobi has for years been championing the removal of trade barriers amongst African countries to ease the movement of goods, services and labour through the integration of regional trading blocs.
Kenya was among the countries selected to participate in the pilot phase of the AfCFTA Initiative on Guided Trade last year as part of the efforts to encourage the movement of goods under preferential trading launched on January 1, 2021.
Africa’s under-developed transport networks have been blamed for raising cost of goods and services as much as 40 percent, rendering intra-African trade uncompetitive compared with trade with developed continents such as Europe.
Dar turns up the heat on Kenya in race for EAC dominance (The Standard)
Kenyans have always looked at Tanzanians as slow and courteous. A somewhat condescending view compared to their perceived abrasive nature and go-getter attitude. Kenya’s tag as the region’s biggest economy by foreign corporations and aid organisations has fed into the ego of Kenyans so much so that they do not regard Tanzania as a formidable rival in the race for regional dominance.
But in recent years, Tanzania has made remarkable progress, threatening to topple Kenya as the regional economic giant. The signs are all over, from Tanzania tripling its exports to Kenya in the four years to 2022 and its ports toppling the Port of Mombasa as the preferred route for regional importers to mega infrastructure projects that dwarf Kenya’s and a well-thought-out Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) that will seamlessly connect to its neighbours.
The recent World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) is perhaps the most recent pointer that Tanzania could be a giant awakening. The survey ranked the Port of Mombasa at position 326 globally ahead of the Dar es Salaam port at position 312 in 2022.
And last week, manufacturers warned of how unfriendly Kenya has become to businesses. They noted that unlike in the past when local manufacturers would opt to close down as they did not have the muscle to move to Asia or Egypt like their multinational counterparts, today they can easily move their operations across the border.
Make Agriculture a business sector – AfDB Boss (Voice of Nigeria)
The President of, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has tasked the incoming administration to make agriculture a business sector. Akinwumi stated this while delivering his speech at the inaugural lecture for the new president of Nigeria on Saturday, May 27th, 2023, in Abuja. He also urged them to focus on fixing the country’s current insecurities bedevilling her economy against the backdrop of an industry amidst global challenging factors.
Speaking on inclusive development, he urged that Nigeria must completely revive its rural areas through agriculture transmission and reformation.
“The AfDB is currently working with Central banks all across Africa to design and support the establishment of Youth entrepreneurship investment banks which will be run by young professionals, highly competent and expert bankers who will develop and deploy new financial products and services for businesses and ventures of young people.” “Several African countries have agreed to set up this initiative. Hence, there is a need for Nigeria to tap into this initiative”, Adesina said.
The AfDB boss added that Nigeria’s economy needs to soar and must shift away from just import substitution to export-focused industrialization as this will unlock the bottlenecks hampering 85 per cent of its economy. “The solution, therefore, is to unlock the bottlenecks that are hampering 85 per cent of the economy. These include; low productivity, poor infrastructure and logistics, epileptic power supply, and inadequate access to finance by SMEs. Nigeria must shift away from just import substitution to export-focused industrialization. This is how our economy can thrive”, Adesina said.
Ghana remains competitive but losing ground in FDI to Senegal and Ivory-Coast (Ghana Business News)
The Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council (GNBCC), and the European Chamber of Commerce have affirmed Ghana’s position as the leading destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and trade with the highest competitiveness score in West Africa. These organisations, however, noted that Senegal and Ivory Coast were fast gaining ground and Ghana had to redouble her efforts to remain competitive.
Mr. Tjalling Wiarda, General Manager of the Ghana Netherlands Business and Culture Council, and Mr. Nicholas Gebara, Executive Director of the European Chamber of Commerce were speaking during an expert panel webinar to mark European Union Day held at the Institute of International Affairs, Ghana (GhIIA.org).
Mr. Gebara said, “What any European company is looking for is ease of access to large markets in Africa. So, if I can trade with Ghana, and through that gain access to the 300 million ECOWAS market as well, it will be attractive.”
FG adopts Strategy for Direct Investment Promotion (Premium Times Nigeria)
To mobilise direct investment at all levels, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment has held a retreat and workshop to unveil its new policy, the Federal-State Investment Strategy (FSIPS).
To be implemented by federal and state governments, their ministries, departments, and agencies, FSIPS was authored by renowned global Investment strategy expert, Nicky Okoye.
The policy, designed and developed over the last three years, forms an integral part of his work on the “National Investment Strategy”, which has been implemented by several African Countries and sub-national authorities.
He noted that the drive by the Ministry to expand its collaboration with stakeholders for repositioning Nigeria’s direct investment landscape is yielding positive results, especially as is evident by its current partnership with the African Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Institute founded by Mr Okoye.
Guided Trade Initiative: Inside CS Kuria’s Agreement With 6 Countries (Kenyans.co.ke)
Trade Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria on Monday, May 30, explained how a new deal known as Guided Trade Initiative (GTI) had impacted export businesses between Kenya and six other African nations.
“The Guided Trade Initiative acts as a springboard to promote trade under the AfCFTA, creating a multiplier effect, more opportunities for SMEs, youth, and women in trade, and ultimately achieving inclusive & sustainable economic development,” Moses Kuria stated.
Speaking while addressing a delegation at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Nairobi, Kuria noted that the seven countries that make up the Guided Trade Initiative had agreed to remove non-tariff barriers that had previously caused a lot of delays in the movement of goods and people.
“The GTI also aims to increase opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), youth and women in trade,” Kuria told AfCFTA delegates.
Kuria noted that the Guided Trade Initiative can help to reduce the cost of doing business by simplifying customs procedures and providing technical assistance to businesses.
“Guided Trade Initiative helped to increase trade by creating a more predictable and stable trading environment. It can help to promote economic development by creating jobs and stimulating investment,” Kuria noted.
It was noted Guided Trade Initiative is a new initiative, and it is too early to tell what its full impact will be. However, it has the potential to make a significant contribution to the development of intra-African trade and to the economic development of the continent.
National consultations for Drafting the Constitution for the proposed East African Community (EAC) Political Confederation concluded in Machakos County, Kenya over the weekend.
The 20-day consultations launched in Mombasa on 9th May, 2023 saw the Committee of Constitutional Experts for Drafting the EAC Political Federation Constitution hold consultations with civil society, local leaders, opinion leaders and the business community, among other stakeholders, to seek their views on what kind of a Political Confederation they would desire for the EAC.
Kenya was the third Partner State where national consultations were conducted after Burundi in January 2020 and Uganda in April 2021.
Speaking during a media briefing held after the conclusion of the consultations, EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr) Peter Mathuki said the views gathered during the consultations will not only form the basis of drafting and promulgating the Constitution for the EAC Confederation, but also lend credibility and legitimacy to the process and the Constitution itself.
Dr. Mathuki said that some of the issues recommended by the different stakeholders during the consultations to be included in the proposed Political Confederation were: the elimination of borders to allow complete free movement, residency and trade; a common EAC identity document, and; the Confederation to create structures to handle cross-border security.
AfCFTA investment protocol a potential game changer for the continent (The Herald)
On 19 February 2023, the African Union Heads of State adopted the Protocol on Investment (“Protocol”) to the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
Investment protection on the continent is regulated by a web of instruments on a national, bilateral, and regional level. Of the 852 bilateral investment treaties concluded involving African states, 515 are currently in force, and 173 are intra-African. These bilateral instruments, alongside national investment laws and regional initiatives, regulate foreign investment across the continent.
The Protocol will govern investment in the free trade area and define the rights and obligations of investors and Member States. The draft protocol however notes that it will not apply to certain matters such as lawful taxation measures and property acquired for non-business purposes (Article 3.4).
Its stated objectives include the protection of sustainable investment, balancing of investor and state interests, protection of indigenous communities, and efficient dispute resolution (Article 2).
Notably, the draft protocol seeks to replace bilateral investment instruments between Member States and requires that Member States align all regional instruments with the Protocol (Article 49).
SACU focuses on free trade opportunities (New Era)
The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Secretariat, in collaboration with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will host an information sharing workshop on the AfCFTA and a regional dialogue on emerging market opportunities for the SACU region. This initiative follows collaboration between the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Team Europe Technical Assistance Facility (EU-TAF) to support the AfCFTA and Continental Economic Integration.
The two-day event is scheduled to take place on 1 and 2 June 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The event aims to disseminate information to relevant stakeholders within the SACU region, thereby creating synergies for the effective implementation of the AfCFTA. The outcomes of this seminar will also be used as insight for the ongoing work of sensitising the business community on the trade agreements concluded by SACU.
SACU regards the AfCFTA as a strategic continental instrument; hence, the implementation and leveraging of the AfCFTA has been prioritised as one of the pillars that underpin the recently approved SACU Strategic Plan for 2022–2027.
SACU members sign mutual recognition arrangement (South African Revenue Service)
Accredited traders in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa will benefit from lower trade costs and quicker turn-around times for imports and exports, because of a Mutual Recognition Arrangement signed today by the five Member States of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).
The Heads of Revenue Administrations in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa, have agreed to recognise each other’s importers and exporters who have been granted the status of an Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Traders who are AEOs across the SACU region will benefit from fast-tracked controls and reduced administration costs for customs clearance.
Experts urge removal of barriers to AfCFTA (The Guardian Nigeria)
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (AIEDP) and ambassadors of the African diplomatic corps have called for speedy implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), urging member countries to show more commitment to removing barriers in the implementation of both projects.
They spoke at a high-level roundtable on the status, challenges and prospects of AfCFTA and SAATM, under the theme, ‘The Year of the AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.’
Both parties said they aim to generate a greater political commitment to trade as a development agenda for Africa, with a view to building linkages with member states, African Union (AU) organs, private sector actors, development partners and other stakeholders, who have important roles to play in accelerating AfCFTA’s implementation.
Africa needs to digitalise its borders to stimulate intra continental trade and travel (Engineering News)
International air transport industry-owned multinational information technology company SITA (not to be confused with South Africa’s State Information Technology Agency) senior VP: SITA at Borders Jeremy Springall has urged African countries to digitalise their border management systems. This would make it easier for people and goods to cross their borders while allowing them to protect themselves from crime, trafficking, terrorism and pandemics, yet preserving the data privacy of travellers.
“Africa’s immense potential to become a global powerhouse is undeniable,” he highlighted. “It has all the ingredients including a market of 1.2-billion consumers (rising to 1.7-billion by 2030) and a combined [gross domestic product] worth $2.5-trillion.”
Yet, despite African countries all having recognised the benefits of the African Union’s flagship African Continental Free Trade Area, Single African Air Transport Market and Free Movement of Persons Protocol programmes, these all remained far from full implementation. He reported that, at the recent SITA Borders Management Africa Summit, in Nairobi, Kenya, speakers and delegates highlighted that the biggest single hindrance to truly implementing these programmes was the lack of efficient intra-African borders to allow people and goods to move frictionlessly from country to country.
African E-Trade Group Says Working To Enhance Digital Intra, Inter Trade in Africa (ENA)
The African E-Trade Group ((Ae Trade) is working to enhance intra-and inter-trade in Africa. The African E-Trade Group (AeTrade) is a multi-stakeholder group of African professionals and business people with a vision to develop and implement e-empowerment program that will enhance intra-and inter-African trade. AeTrade Group organized a sensitization forum on Africa job creation today at the UNECA, under the theme ‘Accelerating Job Creation, Digital and Financial Inclusion in the implementation of the AfCFTA’.
Speaking on the occasion, AeTrade CEO, Mulualem Syoum, said the group brings together the public and private sector partners to develop projects that leverage the power of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the benefit of Africa’s present and future entrepreneurs.
Following the AU decision to accelerate digital and financial inclusions and work together with all stakeholders, the Africa diaspora initiative is helping to create one Africa market, he said.
Trade is going to be knowledge based in the near future, he said, adding its platform will create enabling environment for SMEs where they can be able to know about the place of the surplus, and the shortage.
East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline will transform trade in the region (Monitor)
The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) is a critical infrastructure project that is set to transform the national, regional, and global trade landscape. The EACOP project will enable the transportation of crude oil from Uganda’s oil fields to the Tanzania port of Tanga, where it will be exported to international markets.
The project is expected to stimulate foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region, as it creates a favorable environment for investors looking to capitalize on the growing oil and gas industry.
The project’s completion will open up new local business opportunities, particularly in the telecommunications, transport, and service sectors. This project is expected to have a significant impact on the economies of Tanzania and Uganda, as well as the greater East African region.
Let’s tap the private sector to change the “Horn of Africa narrative” say Finance Ministers (AfDB)
Finance ministers from six Horn of Africa countries gathered for the 17th Ministerial Roundtable of the Horn of Africa Initiative on the side-lines of the African Development Bank’s 2023 Annual Meetings and expressed strong consensus on the need for greater private investment and closer trade integration to increase resilience in the region.
“Regionally, we will need to focus on how the private sector can contribute to trade integration and the financing and resource gaps to support regional infrastructure without compromising debt sustainability,” said Ethiopia’s Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, who chaired the meeting.
In her opening remarks, Akin-Olugbade commended the initiative’s progress in the face of many challenges. The region has been hard hit in recent years by political instability, locust swarms and persistent drought. These compound wider constraints, including high levels of debt, and food and fuel price spikes.
The Roundtable also witnessed the signing of a $72 million financing agreement for the Djibouti-Somalia Corridor project, which the African Development Bank is supporting.
Africa should be manufacturing hub, source of ingredients – Ruto (The Star)
President William Ruto has said the African continent has a greater potential in being a source of all ingredients. Speaking during the African Private Sector Dialogue Conference on Free Trade Area, the head of state said the ambition should be realised to cut down the cost of medicines and address our quality of healthcare.
“Africa should be a hub for manufacturing. For example, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), which are the main inputs for drugs and medicine, are plenty in our continent. Africa can be the source for all APIs,” he said.
Ruto also noted that leaders should proactively seek a resolution to the disparities in currencies and the consequential impediments it poses to intra-African trade.
“Trade cannot take place without efficient and unified payment systems. Although there has been the introduction of several regional payment infrastructures in the continent, we lack a single system that seamlessly facilitates trade among our nations, eliminating the obstacles posed by varying currencies,” he noted.
“Lack of efficient transport networks increases the price of goods traded among African countries by 30% to 40%, rendering Africa effectively uncompetitive.”
EU programme falls short in promotion of export farming (Nation)
The European Commission is adopting intermediate proposals in its international climate policy, outlined in the European Green Deal that provides a road map for a socioecological transition to a low-carbon future and building blocks for a green economic growth strategy to address climate change, energy and biodiversity.
However, the implications of the EU Green Deal (EU GD) for Africa are multifaceted. Most prominently, the stringent policies outlined in the Farm to Fork (F2F) and Chemical Sustainability Strategies will greatly affect global trade in agricultural inputs and outputs, and by extension the economies of African countries that greatly depend on agriculture.
Implementing this EU GD comes will increase costs on overburdened farmers who are buying inputs at an all-time high price precipitated by the Russian-Ukraine war and high inflation rates, which have not only impacted farm productivity and profitability but increased other costs like freight and local logistics.
Economic evaluations show an introduction of a unique array of “sustainability” requirements whose compliance costs will be borne by the farmers as implementation gets underway.
Do not leave us behind, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), plead (UNECA)
Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) need global support to turn around their social and economic fortunes to achieve sustainable development in line with the goals of the Vienna Programme of Action (VPoA).
A High-level Africa Regional Review of the Vienna Programme of Action for the Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014–2024 which ended in Gaborone, Botswana, concluded that African LLDCs should not be left behind in attaining sustainable development.
Botswana’s Acting Minister of Trade, Mabuse Pule said LLDCs should be part of an inclusive and sustainable future. He urged that current partnerships between LLDCs and transit countries should be further strengthened.
“I implore the transit countries, development partners, relevant UN agencies and other organizations to continue this pact in the lead up to the 3rd UN Conference on LLDCs. We really need to join forces to ensure that no LLDCs are left behind as we strive towards a future that is inclusive, sustainable and prosperous for all in the next decade,” said Mr. Pule.
The two-day meeting held under the theme, “From Vienna to Kigali: towards a new decade of partnerships for a transformative Programme of Action for LLDCs’ reviewed the implementation of the Vienna Programme of Action in Africa. It discussed achievements, constraints, emerging challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable development and SDGs and Agenda 2063 in LLDCs.
Call for accelerated action to support structural transformation of Landlocked Developing Countries
The digital economy has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few decades, transforming the global economic landscape and reshaping the way businesses and individuals interact. This phenomenon has been driven by rapid advancements in technology, widespread internet access, and the increasing penetration of smartphones and other digital devices. This includes increased consumption of digital goods and services, such as streaming platforms, e-commerce, and online advertising. The application of traditional tax principles (Nexus rules) for income tax and in the context of Value Added Tax (VAT).
These developments impact Africa’s ability to mobilize revenues while influencing tax policies and the protection of tax bases. As a result, Africa’s position in the global tax debate requires a renewed approach to tax policy initiatives, including the United Nations Resolution for a Tax Convention and the incoming international tax rules proposed by the OECD Inclusive Framework’s Two-Pillar solution. At a practical level, countries will also be confronted with the collection of revenue from digital sales of goods and services and the allocation of taxing rights on a global minimum effective tax rate.
As African countries continue to grapple with low tax collection and ever-increasing revenue demands, particularly building back from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to address these issues and ensure that the African interest is protected in the design and implementation of the global tax rules. It ought not to be the case that the highly profitable large businesses keep profits that belong to countries – and their people.
The key to better trade with Africa after Brexit (LSE)
The high-income countries of the Asia-Pacific region were the UK’s primary target since trade deals with the US and China, the world’s largest and second largest economies, are not immediately possible. For the US, the Biden Administration is not making new trade deals as it manages the tricky politics of trade pessimism. For China, current geopolitics are not conducive. By the spring of 2023, the UK had concluded bilateral deals with Australia and New Zealand and acceded to the regional Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a free trade area of 11 Pacific rim countries that includes Japan, the world’s third largest economy.
For trade with some 70 developing countries mainly in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific, the UK replicated pre-existing EU trading arrangements. In Africa, specifically, UK versions of the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements, which are in essence free trade deals, were concluded with 29 African countries. In 2021, the UK announced a framework for concessional trade similar to the EU’s Generalised System of Preferences in the form of the UK’s Developing Country Trading Scheme. This embodies measures for partial or full removal of customs duties on the UK’s imports from developing countries and contain important improvements over the EU’s scheme.
There is now an opportunity for the UK to improve the structure of its trade engagement with developing countries.
BRICS expanding opportunities to influence global governance (Asia Times)
This week, the five foreign ministers of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will meet in Cape Town. On the second day of their meet they will be joined by 15 other foreign ministers representing Africa, the Global South, and “Friends of BRICS” nations. Among other things these deliberations will seek to firm up the agenda for the BRICS Summit to be held during August 22-24 this year.
Expanding intra-BRICS trade has been the primary tool for strengthening the forum. This has lately seen increasing focus on exploring alternatives to reduce their dependence on the US dollar, and creation of a BRICS currency is expected to be on top of their agenda this week.
BRICS is seen today as the most formidable voice for the Global South on the high table of major powers of the post-World War II US-led world order. With the Ukraine war widening that bipolarity, BRICS will have to tread with care.
For BRICS to overcome its internal disjunctions and harness its historic opportunities will require not just strong mutual understanding and trust but everyday diplomatic finesse and foresight for bold initiatives. And this will remain a work in progress, as an expanded BRICS will only makes consensus that much harder to achieve.
New Global Trade Data Portal offers real-time access to trade data (WTO)
The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent crisis in Ukraine have put supply chains to the test, raising serious concerns of possible supply chain disruptions and risks to food security. Disruptions are expected to become even more frequent in the future. In parallel, the complexity of global value chains requires more detailed monitoring of trade flows.
Responding to disruptions in a timely manner and better understanding the functioning of complex value chains requires timely and detailed data, which are now more accessible thanks to new information and communication technologies. The Global Trade Data Portal can be accessed here.
“Data are the foundation of informed decision making,” said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in welcoming the launch of the Portal. “We need timely data to support timely policy action and rulemaking.”
Continuation of the Black Sea Initiative (UNCTAD)
The Black Sea Initiative, signed in Istanbul on 22 July 2022 to resume vital food and fertilizer exports from designated Ukrainian seaports, will continue for 60 days. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the news on 17 May at the UN daily press briefing in New York, following the confirmation by the Russian Federation to continue its participation in the initiative for another 60 days.
He said the importance of the initiative – and the parallel Memorandum of Understanding between the UN and the Russian Federation on promoting Russian food products and fertilizers to world markets – is clear. “These agreements matter for global food security. Ukrainian and Russian products feed the world.” Under the initiative, more than 30 million tons of grain and foodstuffs have been exported.
Over the last year, the agreements have helped stabilize markets and reduce volatility. Global food prices have fallen by 20% from the all-time high reached in March 2022.
Goods barometer stabilizes, indicating possible turning point for trade (WTO)
The value of the barometer index rose to 95.6 in the latest reading — up from 92.2 in March — but remained well below the baseline value of 100, suggesting a below-trend stabilization and the beginnings of an upturn in merchandise trade volumes. Mixed signals in the barometer’s component indices nevertheless suggest that the road to trade recovery may be bumpy.
The volume of merchandise trade in the fourth quarter of 2022 was down 2.4% compared to the previous quarter and 0.8% compared to the same period in the previous year. The Q4 slump was driven by several related factors, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, stubbornly high inflation in advanced economies, and tighter monetary policy globally.
Economic woes dash job prospects in low income countries: ILO (UN News)
In its new Monitor on the World of Work report, ILO shows that while in high-income countries, only 8.2 per cent of people willing to work are jobless, that number rises to over 21 per cent in low-income countries - or one in every five people.
Low-income countries in debt distress are worst affected, with more than one in four people who want to work unable to secure employment. The UN agency further indicated that Africa’s labour market had been hit the hardest during the pandemic, which explained the slow pace of recovery on the continent.
Unlike wealthy nations, debt distress across the continent and a very limited fiscal and policy space, meant that few countries in Africa could put in place the kind of comprehensive stimulus packages they needed to spur economic recovery, ILO explained.
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Announcement of Protection for R1,7 Billion Cut-Flower Export Industry (The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition)
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel, today announced that the application submitted by Cape Flora SA to protect the name “Cape Flora” and its logo has been approved and has been published in the Government Gazette. The next step will be for Cape Flora SA to apply for a Geographical Indication (GI), and the industry is considering this.
GIs are signs or logos identifying goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess a given quality, reputation or other characteristic that is essentially attributable to that origin. Rooibos, Honeybush and Karoo Lamb all are registered GIs and are subject to international protection.
South Africa is currently the third-largest exporter of cut flowers on the African continent with exports of over R1,7 billion in 2021. Cape Flora SA, the fynbos cut-flower association, says South African flower exports are dominated by the indigenous flora (proteas, pincushions, greens), most of which are cultivated in the Western and Eastern Cape, but also sustainably harvested from the veld. The Cape Floristic Region is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and therefore contains incredible species diversity.
the dtic to Host AfCFTA Provincial Awareness Workshops Across South Africa (The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition)
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host a series of awareness workshops on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) throughout the country starting at the Pavilion Hotel in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, 25 May 2023.
The aim of the Provincial Awareness Workshops is to communicate and engage private sector, Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as women and youth-owned business on the implementation of the AfCFTA, including the opportunities for South Africa to participate in preferential trade beyond the Southern Africa region
According to the Deputy Director-General of Exports at the dtic, Ms Lerato Mataboge, the objective of these workshops is also to identify companies, within the provinces, in the targeted sector masterplans, as well as other priority sectors to export to the rest of the continent.
She adds that the inaugural AfCFTA Business Forum hosted in Cape Town last month created a platform where both the private and public sector from across the continent were encouraged to work together in the implementation of the AfCFTA.
“African economies were urged to prioritise closing the infrastructure gap in order to increase intra-Africa trade by over 30% in order to fully realise the potential of the AfCFTA. For instance, it was noted that transportation infrastructure alone has the potential to double the transportation of goods by air from 2.3 million tons to 4.5 million tons,” says Mataboge.
DR Congo Leader to Visit China This Week, Minerals Trade Deal Signing Expected (VOA)
The president of minerals-rich Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, will visit China from May 24 to 29 and is expected to meet President Xi Jinping to review and sign several key trade deals.
A meeting would pave the way for the two countries to formally overhaul and seal a $6 billion infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese investors. The visit was announced by the Chinese foreign ministry on Monday.
During the visit to China, the two heads of state will hold talks and attend the signing ceremony of cooperation documents together, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
“Both sides have always supported each other on issues related to each other’s core interests and major concerns. In recent years, political mutual trust between China and the Democratic Republic of Congo has been continuously deepening, and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results,” Mao added.
Kenya begins shipping fruits, flowers by sea (The East African)
Kenya has last week began transporting horticultural produce by sea in a move officials say will reduce the carbon footprint and improve earnings. This follows a pact with the European Union, one of Kenya’s major export destinations, to transport fresh produce via sea after Mombasa port complied with requirements.
It means all verification of perishable goods by regulatory agencies will be done at the point of loading and permit approvals granted at the single window system to facilitate track-and-tracing. With the installation of the reefers, Kenya intends to use Mombasa to end dependency on air freight for horticulture produce.
Consumers, especially in Europe, are on the frontline of this push for a radical decarbonisation of value chains that deliver fresh produce to their supermarket shelves and dining tables.
Several companies have started to use sea freight for export of flowers, vegetables and fruits but the sector is now aiming for a transformative and larger shift in the push for climate change action.
Dar port’s $357m upgrade bears fruit, topples Mombasa from perch (The East African)
The $357 million Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project (DMGP) seems to be bearing fruit: The World Bank has put Dar above its main regional competitor, Mombasa, in a new port efficiency ranking.
The Port of Dar es Salaam rose to position 312 in the 2022 Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) against Mombasa’s position 326 in the survey of 348 ports globally, making it the preferred facility by East African shippers. Djibouti ranked at 26 and the port of Berbera (Somalia) at 144.
Dar port managers attribute the noted success to infrastructure improvements and capacity building, which have helped address operational and physical constraints at the facility.
Tanzania and India explore local currency trade to reduce dependency on dollars (Business Insider Africa)
Following the recent declaration that both nations will start trading in their own indigenous currencies, they talked about the ramifications of the Rupee Nostro Account System. The debate emphasized several major benefits, one of which was the decrease in dependence on hard currency.
The system has enormous potential for corporate organizations, which can efficiently manage their foreign exchange balances and avoid exchange risks associated with fluctuating global currencies, according to Mr. Antaryami Sarangi, managing director of Bank of India in Tanzania.
The system’s potential to reduce the need for ongoing currency conversions and dependence on foreign exchange reserves encouraged stakeholders.
“The banking sector also stands to gain from implementing this system. Banks could facilitate importers by providing them with increased flexibility and reduced dependencies on hard currencies. This would streamline trade processes and enhance the overall efficiency of cross-border transactions,” he said.
Kenya, Uganda signal recovery on coffee front (The East African)
Kenya and Uganda are expected to increase their coffee exports in the marketing year 2023/24, as government efforts to increase production come to fruition. According to a forecast by the Global Agricultural Information Network-Gains, Uganda’s production will reach a record high of 6.85 million 60 kilogramme bags, a 4 percent increase attributed to good rainfall and the maturation of new high-yielding Robusta variety planted between 2017 and 2019.
Kenya’s production is forecast to increase 6.7 percent to 800,000 bags due to recovery from drought conditions and higher fertiliser application.
While Kenya’s total area harvested is expected to remain flat, at 105,000 hectares, due to a shortage of planting materials and losses associated with conversion of coffee plantations to real estate, in Uganda the acreage under coffee is increasing.
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2023 Article IV Consultation with Mali (IMF)
Mali’s economy has been hit by multiple shocks since 2020 but remained resilient in 2022 amid high inflation. Real GDP growth increased from 3.1 percent in 2021 to 3.7 percent in 2022, despite elevated security and socio-political challenges, regional sanctions in the first half of 2022 and a high incidence of food insecurity. Growth is projected to rebound to over 5 percent in 2023 and 2024, assuming strong agricultural and gold output. However, the economic outlook is subject to significant downside risks. They include a worsening security situation, potential election delays, volatile international commodity prices, tighter global financial conditions, and climate risks.
Mali’s current account deficit improved slightly in 2022, down to 6.9 percent of GDP from 7.5 percent in 2021, on account of higher gold exports and lower capital goods imports. In the medium term, the current account deficit will fall to below 4 percent due to strong gold and agricultural exports.
Kingdom of Lesotho: Staff Concluding Statement of the 2023 Article IV Mission (IMF)
While the COVID-19 health crisis has largely abated, Lesotho’s structural challenges and capacity constraints have reasserted themselves as severe obstacles to growth. The secular decline of key sectors continues to weigh on the economy with growth largely dependent on infrastructure mega-projects and developments in South Africa. While growth averages 2.1 percent over the medium term, it is expected to decline once phase II of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project has passed its construction peak. The war in Ukraine raised prices to the benefit of the mining sector but eroded living standards and food security. Inflation is expected to have peaked in FY22/23 and subside gradually over the medium term to just under 5 percent as global food and energy prices ease.
While recent transfers from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) (over 20 percent of GDP) present an opportunity—if well-managed—to finance fiscal adjustment and alleviate financing constraints, the fiscal outlook is highly sensitive to changes in revenue and expenditure should reform momentum slip, with implications for debt and the external position.
The growth outlook remains subdued and contingent on undertaking fiscal consolidation and structural reforms in tandem, alongside external developments .
Angola casts net wider to scale up fish exports (UNCTAD)
Angola boasts a vast coastline, ample labour in the fisheries sector and good trading relations with major fish importers in Europe and Asia. With the fish traded globally expected to rise from 187 million tons in 2018 to 250 million tons by 2030, Angola stands to benefit from this opportunity.
Angola overly depends on crude oil, which represents 93% of its exports. Low productivity and meagre opportunities in other economic sectors have left a third of the population below the poverty line. Fluctuating oil prices underscore the need to diversify the country’s economy and exports.
“The fisheries and aquaculture sector can help Angola diversify its economy and move closer to achieving its development goals,” said Paul Akiwumi, director of UNCTAD’s division for Africa and least developed countries.
He said Angola can create more jobs, trade opportunities, boost food security, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty by tapping more into the blue economy – the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth.
Rwanda sets out strategy to spur e-commerce growth (UNCTAD)
As a landlocked economy undergoing massive transformation, Rwanda is increasingly gaining international attention for its forward-looking digital policies.
Such policies, in part, aim at boosting the country’s emerging digital economy through a coordinated “whole-of-government” approach, backed by a national e-commerce strategy recently published by UNCTAD.
“The national e-commerce strategy of Rwanda marks an important milestone in strengthening the country’s policy framework for easing digital trade,” said Shamika N. Sirimanne, UNCTAD’s director of technology and logistics.
Rwanda, one of the most densely populated nations in sub-Saharan Africa, has made progress towards graduating from the UN’s category of least developed countries, where it has been since 1971.
With the new strategy, experts are optimistic that Rwanda will better capitalize on e-commerce for the benefit of businesses and consumers, as well as optimize the delivery of government services.
“E-commerce growth is a unique opportunity to open access to international and local markets for our small and medium-sized enterprises,” said Jean Chrysostome Ngabitsinze, Rwanda’s minister of trade and industry.
Trade Policy Review: Liberia (WTO)
Liberia is a natural resource-based economy exporting mainly iron ore, gold, and natural rubber (together accounting for about 80% of merchandise exports), as well as palm oil, timber, and diamonds. It has the second-largest shipping registry in the world after Panama. However, the per capita income of Liberia’s 5.2 million people was approximately USD 673 in 2021, which is less than USD 2 a day, and about half of the population remains in poverty. Net remittances (about 7% of GDP in 2020) and foreign aid (about 19% of GDP) are important to the economy. Key factors holding back Liberia’s economic development include poor infrastructure, inadequate investment in human capital, and corruption.
Trade plays an important role in the economy. Trade in goods and services was equivalent to about 72% of GDP in 2021, and trade taxes collected at the border contributed over 40% of tax revenues. The Government’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development 2018-2023 aims to promote exports to other ECOWAS countries, which currently are marginal. Liberia lacks reliable and up-to-date trade data. Based on available information, most of its exports are destined for the European Union, followed by Switzerland and the United States. Imports come mainly from India, followed by ECOWAS countries, China, and the United States. Liberia is a net importer of food and relies entirely on imported petroleum products.
African trade and integration
African free trade area could spur sustainable growth: UN chief (UN News)
Mr. Guterres was speaking on the final day of the annual Africa Dialogue Series in New York, where the focus this year was on accelerating implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – set to be the largest in the world. He said the pandemic brought high food and energy prices, made worse by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, exacerbating poverty, inequalities, and food insecurity.
Governments have also faced rising interest rates, increasing the potential for debt, while climate change has created deadly floods and drought, contributing to the risk of hunger.
“Guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, we must ramp up our efforts and harness the full potential of trade and industrialization to advance sustainable, inclusive growth,” the UN chief told participants.
He said the AfCFTA is set to be an engine of that growth. The Secretary-General stressed that realizing the AfCFTA promise calls for action across four critical areas, starting with boosting access to financial resources and investment.
The ECA’s Country Business Index – a tool to enhance private sector’s role in AfCFTA implementation (UNECA)
To better understand how African businesses are approaching the AfCFTA and how it can best support the private sector through trade, ECA developed the AfCFTA Country Business Index (ACBI) with the financial support of the European Union (EU). The Index enables relevant policymakers to identify bottlenecks in intra-African trade at a country level, which identifies the barriers impeding effective AfCFTA implementation from the perspective of the private sector.
Recently, the ECA held an Expert Group Meeting (EGM) to present the methodology and findings of the Index to inform the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Opening the meeting, ECA Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist, Ms. Hanan Morsy said, “The ACBI is the first comprehensive tool based on robust methodological framework for data collection and analysis through which businesses can voice their views on the implementation of the AfCFTA. The ACBI findings make a significant contribution to Africa’s development Agenda by identifying bottlenecks in trade regimes that need to be addressed to ensure a more inclusive trade under the AfCFTA.”
African Trade Policy Center Director, Melaku Desta, emphasized that the success of the AfCFTA depends on its implementation and the participation of the private sector, which needs to understand, own, and drive it and aim to take advantage of the opportunities the Agreement offers. “Through the ACBI, we are contributing to make sure that business communities are in the driving seat in the implementation of AfCFTA,” he added.
Keys to Unlocking the Full Potential of the AfCFTA – A Case Study for Central Africa (UNECA)
Free trade under the AfCFTA Agreement officially started on 1 January 2021. In response, Central African governments began developing national AfCFTA implementation strategies with the support of the ECA and its partners. A sub-regional AfCFTA strategy for Central Africa is also under development. The AfCFTA is a key opportunity for Central African governments to build upon regional integration strategies, aligning their national trade strategies as well as industrial strategies, to enhance intra-regional trade as well as trade with continental partners. Trade strategies are linked to the productive capacity of each country, and therefore the development of trade strategies re-quires direct linkages with the National Industrialization Plans which, for Central Africa, advocate industrialization based on natural resources and driven by trade, in line with the Douala Consensus. At the sub-regional level, the two regional economic communities (ECCAS and CEMAC) stressed the urgency of developing a Master Plan for Industrial Development and Economic Diversification of Central Africa (PDIDE-CA) in the context of the AfCFTA.
Preliminary results show that liberalizing tariffs within the African continent would lead to overall increases in trade among member countries of the ECCAS across all products, except for extraction products which decrease. Trade between ECCAS members and the rest of the continent increases across all products. Extra-continental trade decreases. The most important increases in trade for ECCAS as a subregion occur for heavy and light manufacturing as well as processed food. While the largest current increases in trade for the ECCAS subregion represent import substitution (rest of world imports replaced by rest of Africa imports), simulations illustrating the implementation of economic diversification and industrialization plans are anticipated to increase trade within the ECCAS subregion as well as boost exports to the rest of the continent.
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planning, in collaboration with the ambassadors of the African group of the diplomatic corps accredited to Senegal, organized a High-level round table on The status, challenges and prospects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) on Wednesday 24 May 2023.
This round table is a IDEP contribution to the celebration of Africa Day, celebrated on May 25, and that coincides this year with the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), under the slogan “Our Africa, Our Future”. It is also during this year 2023 that UNIDEP celebrates its 60th anniversary.
This year, the theme chosen is in line with the African Union’s 2023 theme of “The Year of the AfCFTA: Accelerating the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area”. The theme aims to generate greater political commitment to trade as a development agenda for Africa. It will serve to mobilize solutions and solidarity to turn this vision into reality, with a view to building linkages with member states, AU organs, private sector actors, development partners and other stakeholders, who have important roles to play in accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA.
“Both projects, AfCFTA and SAATM, are linked and reinforced each other. The AfCFTA has amongst other specific objectives to contribute to the movement of capital and people and facilitate investments. An effective functioning of the SAATM, on its turn, would allow residents of the region gain in comfort and choice of airlines, reduced flight times, business opportunities, and strengthened cultural ties through the progressive development of business and leisure tourism” highlighted Karima Bounemra Ben Soltane, IDEP Director.
Collective action can “move mountains” for Africa (UNECA)
Deputy Executive Secretary and Chief Economist of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Hanan Morsy, has called for continued collective action in support of the Africa High-level Working Group on Global Financial Architecture (HLWG). “Our key objective is to build African consensus on what needs to be done and amplify the continent’s voice on the global stage,” said Ms. Morsy, adding, “The work of this group (HLWG) shows that when we come together, we can move mountains.”
“Debt service composes 22% of revenue” in Africa, limiting countries’ ability to make essential investments in health, education, and infrastructure to help operationalize the AfCFTA.” Ms. Morsy underscored the urgent need to fix the global debt architecture so that countries in debt distress can obtain swift and effective debt restructuring.
Trade has been at the core of life in developing and developed countries alike for many centuries and remains the life-blood of Basotho to-date. Over the years we have added our footprint in the flow of ideas, people, and goods & services, by innovating our trade facilitation processes. As we highlight the importance of the AEO Programme we must not lose sight of the bigger picture in the international trade facilitation programmes. The Authorized Economic Operator is one of those facilitative programmes that can enhance efficiencies in international trade as a way to quicken the drive for trade competitiveness.
in the context of rising global trade issues, regional trade facilitation mechanisms are a key strategy to boost existing and emerging trade arrangements, reducing costs to trade, and fueling inclusive growth. Such a mechanism can also make a difference in our ability to face the long-term challenges confronted by our region by facilitating market access, strengthening value chains, and boosting our regional economy.
The Authorized Economic Operator Programme directly complements the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement’s Article 7.8, which is in relation to Expedited Shipments. The implementation of this provision is especially important at a time of escalating costs in terms of transportation of goods. Despite the surge in international shipping costs, it is my belief that developments in streamlining trade facilitation could partially suppress such an increase in cost of trading across borders. Whilst undertaking various reforms to implement. The TFA in respective countries, fostering regional cooperation is critical to tackling vulnerabilities of regional value chains. There is a wealth of distinct experiences and institutional frameworks across countries, and this underscores the importance of mutual learning and experience sharing. Together we can continuously agree on a set of key measures, where collective action can reduce the time and cost of trading across borders.
SADC and Member States step up efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investment (SADC)
The SADC Secretarial held the SADC Regional Focus Forum at the 12th Edition of AIM Global 2023 to attract FDI under the theme ”Infrastructure Development in Support of Industrialisation and Regional Integration”. The SADC Regional Focus Forum hosted two High-Level Panel discussions on Coordination and Investment Opportunities for Unlocking the Development of Regional Infrastructure Projects; and on Industrial and Value Chains Development.
In her opening remarks at the Forum, Ms Stella Chimwemwe Ng’oma, Director Investment Promotion and Facilitation, Malawi Investment and Trade Centre, said SADC desires to discuss good practice in public-private investment partnerships and create a mechanism to develop cross-cutting networks involving Member States, investors, bankers, development partners in order to re-engineer investment plans of Member States to be more catalytic and dynamic tools of investment attraction for sectoral development.
She said Member States recognise that despite SADC having made significant progress in regional infrastructure development, the economic transformation of the Region will require adequate and functioning infrastructure that will guide it towards front-loading industrialisation in the context of evolving technologies. This means that the Infrastructure Development in support of Regional Integration will aim towards interconnected, integrated, and quality seamless infrastructure and networks, including cross-border infrastructure, which will be pivotal in facilitating the movement of people, goods, services, and knowledge.
SADC convenes its Annual Financial Inclusion Forum (SADC)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, through the European Union-funded Support to Improving the Investment and Business Environment in the SADC Region (SIBE) Programme, in conjunction with its partners FinMark Trust, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), and the SADC Banking Association, convened its Annual Financial Inclusion Forum to discuss, among others, the proposed new five-year SADC Strategy on Financial Inclusion and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) access to finance, in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 18th to 19th May 2023.
Financial inclusion means that individuals and businesses have access to useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs – transactions, payments, savings, credit and insurance – delivered in a responsible and sustainable way. Several SADC Member States have developed strategies on financial inclusion in order to improve access, uptake, and utilisation of quality financial services and products for consumers and SMEs for effective participation in the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap.
In his keynote address at the opening of the Forum on 18th May 2023, Honourable Karabo Gare, the Minister of Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Botswana, underscored the importance of Financial Inclusion in many African countries, where the informal sector relies heavily on remittances, savings groups, and credit associations. Financial inclusion plays a significant role in improving livelihoods, contributing to sustainable economic growth, promoting stability, and can support industrialisation, which is core to SADC.
However, achieving meaningful Financial Inclusion is not without its challenges as there are several barriers that hinder access to financial services, particularly for marginalised and vulnerable populations. These barriers include inadequate infrastructure, limited financial literacy, high transaction costs, rigid regulations, and discriminatory practices. Addressing these barriers requires a comprehensive approach involving governments, financial institutions, regulators, and civil society organisations.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers responsible for Agriculture, Food Security, Fisheries and Aquaculture met through videoconferencing on 19 May 2023, to review progress in the implementation of the SADC relevant sectoral programmes, projects, and related strategies under the Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), in line with the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) (2020-2030).
During her welcoming remarks, the Deputy Executive Secretary highlighted that the region experienced numerous challenges in recent times, including severe droughts and floods which adversely affected the agricultural sectors and food security. As a result, this led to the loss of, lives, revenue, jobs, and livelihoods. She added that overfishing led to a depletion of fish stocks, thereby affecting the livelihoods of many citizens in the coastal towns, hence the need for sustainable solutions to improve food security.
EAC Partner States’ commitments key to implementation of Common Market Protocol (EAC)
East African Community (EAC) Partner States’ commitments to the free movement of capital, services and goods is the bedrock of trade integration in East Africa, EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, has said.
Dr. Mathuki said that the commitment of Partner States was especially critical in the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers and the harmonisation of standards. Dr. Mathuki said trade integration was crucial particularly now that the Community is on a trajectory of expansion with the admission last year of the Democratic Republic of Congo even as the Federal Republic of Somalia awaits her turn to join the bloc.
The Secretary General said that the Community was looking towards not just a borderless East Africa but a borderless continent to spur intra-regional and intra-continental trade as is happening in Europe and other parts of the world.
The Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) and the East African Community Competition Authority (EACCA) have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to ensure execution of their respective mandates enhances regional integration and cross-border trade and investment.
The MoU lays out modalities through which the agencies will mitigate competition infringements with cross-border effects, as well as foster transparency and predictability with regard to multijurisdictional merger notifications in order to reduce transaction costs for businesses.
Further, the agreement facilitates information sharing particularly during joint investigations, market inquiries and studies, which shall be prioritized so as to safeguard the competition process and protect consumers in the region, while respecting our respective laws and policies.
President Ruto urges the Committee of Experts Drafting the Constitution for the EAC Political Confederation to have the first draft by June 2024 as he pledges US$1 million to support the process.
President Ruto said that East Africans wanted to live together and do business regardless of national boundaries and urged EAC Partner States should therefore endeavour to catch up with them and actualise the Political Confederation as fast as possible,” said President Ruto.
Dr. Ruto cited prosperity for the region, strategic economy and security and the fact that East Africans were peoples of the same origins as the major reasons why the region needs to integrate and embrace the unity of the region.
President Ruto said that a borderless Africa would benefit from the prosperity that comes with integration, noting that integration would provide for a bigger market for the goods and services produced by the people of the region.
Botswana will host High-Level Africa Regional Review Meeting of the Vienna Programme of Action to address challenges facing LLDCs. The meeting will be held under the theme, “From Vienna to Kigali: towards a new decade of partnerships for a transformative Programme of Action for LLDCs” in Gaborone, Botswana from 29-30 May 2023.
LLDCs are countries without territorial access to the sea as a result isolation from world markets and high transit costs impose serious constraints on their overall socio-economic development. For LLDCs, their seaborne trade almost always must transit through other countries, mostly also developing countries—a process which involves dealing with cumbersome border-crossing procedures and inadequate transit transport infrastructure. Thus, although LLDCs already face other development challenges, they also face substantially increased costs for trade and transport because of their geographic location.
The African Development Bank Group’s 2023 Annual Meetings officially opened on Tuesday, with a clarion call by African leaders, together with the Bank’s President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, to ramp up financing to meet Africa’s urgent climate action goals.
In his welcome remarks, Adesina drew attention to the vast gap in resources for climate action. He said while Africa’s cumulative climate financing needs had been estimated at $2.7 trillion between 2020 and 2030, climate financing resources were only flowing to Africa in trickles. “Africa receives only 3% of global climate finance, of which 14% is from the private sector, the lowest in the world,” Adesina said.
In his opening remarks, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said the complex challenges facing countries around the world, and especially those in Africa, needed what he described as creative solutions. “This requires non-traditional ideas to explore financing options, to contribute to pushing the wheel of much-needed projects, particularly in the fields of addressing climate change challenges and sustainable development,” President El-Sisi said.
I heard that we should have a just and fair energy transition, and assure that we have energy access, affordability, and security for Africa. That Africa needs to use its natural gas for solving its energy challenge, including gas to power, liquified natural gas for cooking to save the lives of millions of women, who die every single year using dirty fuels, charcoal, and firewood; and there are children that die with them for just trying to make what we take for granted – making a decent meal for their families.
We heard about the reform of the global financial architecture, and how critical this is, and the reforms should strengthen, not diminish, the roles of the multilateral development banks that are in the regions like ourselves; because it’s not just the global public goods that matter; global public goods land in regions, in countries, in communities; and the regional multilateral development banks know their regions, are present in their regions, have strategies for their regions, are trusted by their regions and deploy policy instruments in dialogue with their regions better than anybody else can do because they are trusted in those regions.
Africa is set to be the second-fastest growing region in the world after Asia in 2023-24, demonstrating the resilience of its economy despite dealing with multiple global shocks. But the projected growth will depend on global conditions and the continent’s ability to bolster its economic resilience, the African Development Bank’s 2023 African Economic Outlook report has found.
The report, launched on Wednesday, forecasts that Africa will consolidate its post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery to 4.3% GDP growth in 2024 from 3.8% in 2022. Some 22 countries will record growth rates above 5%, it says. It recommends robust policy actions, including incentivizing green industries and providing guarantees at scale to de-risk private sector investments in managing natural capital across the continent.
In its latest annual report released on 25 May 2023, the African Development Bank Group highlights its critical contributions to the continent’s development and the wellbeing of its people in 2022.
Against the backdrop of a continent still grappling with the residual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2023 edition of the Annual Development Effectiveness Review, titled ‘Enhancing Africa’s Resilience’, reflects on the impact of multiple shocks to the continent.
In 2022, the Bank’s bold response to the challenging operating environment saw it leveraging its resources, technical expertise and role as partner of choice among African countries, to deliver tangible development results across the High 5s. The result: 12.3 million people gained access to new or improved water and sanitation services while another 4 million people benefited from the Bank’s private sector investee operations. To support the continent’s economic development and connectivity, the Bank also facilitated the construction or rehabilitation of 833 kilometres of roads.
Another milestone in the report shows investments in 2022 reaching $8.2 billion, signalling a return to pre-pandemic levels.
DP World And Standard Bank Partner To Expand Trade Finance In Africa (Africa.com)
The continent’s largest bank becomes the first African bank to partner with DP World Trade Finance. African companies looking for trade finance will now be able to seamlessly access working capital from Standard Bank via the DP World Trade Finance platform.
DP World Trade Finance connects business with financial institutions as a fintech platform while also directly offering trade finance facilities on its own. It offers businesses a single window to access trade finance solutions – customers can simply apply for credit on the digital platform, which will present them with the best options from global financiers who may otherwise be out of their reach. Access to finance is one of the biggest barriers for businesses seeking global trade opportunities, evidenced by the struggle that many businesses face in securing the upfront funds required to move cargo.
The President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union (AU), President Azali Assoumani has pledged support for the realisation of the mandate of the Pan-African Parliament as the legislative arm of the AU. He was speaking as a Guest of Honour at the opening of the Second Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament, which is currently underway in Midrand, South Africa, under the AU theme for 2023, “Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”.
H.E. Assoumani further encouraged African legislators to help establish appropriate conditions to promote socio-economic development in the continent.
“Our continent is indeed full of many natural resources with the potential to become one of the largest markets in the world in the years to come, if we create, right now, the appropriate conditions, to promote socio-economic development for a sustainable economy. We have succeeded to set up the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and it has become our continental priority. The Assembly of Heads of State and Government of our Union gave me the mandate to prioritise mechanisms to accelerate the implementation of this important free trade agreement,” he added.
Muddled priorities continue to plague EU-Africa trade policy (EUROPP)
As geographical neighbours, Africa and Europe have a long trade history. But the current trade policy priorities of the two neighbours are in a muddle. This is due to the balkanising effect of the EU’s patchwork of trade agreements across the African continent at a time when African countries are pursuing an ambitious economic integration reform agenda through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). As shown in a new edited volume, fixing this misalignment in trade policy priorities requires a reset.
The EU is Africa’s most important trading partner. As a source of imports, the EU accounts for 26 percent of all imports in terms of value into African countries, followed by China (16 percent), and intra-African imports (15 percent), on average between 2018 and 2020, according to IMF data. Other partners such as the US (5 percent) and the UK (2 percent) are important, but much less significant sources of imports into African countries.
The destination of Africa’s exports closely mirrors, in order of economic importance, Africa’s imports. The EU is Africa’s most important destination for exports – also accounting for 26 percent of all African exports in terms of value, followed by intra-African exports (18 per cent) and China (15 percent) between 2018 and 2020. India (6 per cent) the US (5 percent), Turkey, Brazil, UK, Japan, and Russia (each under 3 percent) are smaller export destinations.
The economic impact of EU’s Green Deal on farmers in Eastern Africa (The East African)
The European Commission is adopting intermediate proposals in its international climate policy as outlined in the European Green Deal.The Green Deal provides a road map for a socioecological transition to a low-carbon future and the building blocks for a green economic growth strategy to address climate change, energy, and biodiversity. However, the implications of the EU Green Deal (EU GD) for Africa are multifaceted.
Most prominently, the stringent policies outlined in the Farm to Fork (F2F) and Chemical Sustainability Strategies will greatly affect global trade in agricultural inputs and outputs and, by extension, the economies of African countries that greatly depend on agriculture.
Economic evaluations show an introduction of a unique array of “sustainability” requirements whose compliance costs will be borne by the farmers as implementation gets underway.
The new additional requirements threaten the livelihoods of many small producers and may significantly reduce the export earnings of East African countries such as Uganda, which is the second largest horticulture exporter in the region.
Horticultural exports from East Africa to the EU are valued at more than $2.3 billion, with smallholder farmers contributing up to 70 percent of the export volumes. The study revealed that farmers would be overburdened by the new regulations because substantial costs will be introduced with the new specifications on standards, certifications, logistics, and carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM).
Bumper US$3 billion trade boost in Hunan bid to become China-Africa hub (South China Morning Post)
Efforts by Hunan province to position itself as a hub for China-Africa trade are bearing fruit, with a record 90.4 per cent trading increase to US$3.14 billion in the first four months of 2023 on the same period last year.
Private enterprises are driving the boost, with 1,471 companies accounting for 20 billion yuan (US$2.8 billion) – more than 90 per cent of Hunan’s African trade total – over the period, according to Changsha Customs data.
The number of Hunan companies trading with Africa so far this year is also on the rise, increasing by 18 per cent to 1,558 compared to the first four months of last year.
China woos Horn of Africa by fragmenting diplomatic engagements, investments & trade (Republic World)
The People’s Republic of China has been fragmenting diplomatic engagement with the Horn of Africa (HoA) to cement its foothold in the conflict-ridden region. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s administration has been shifting the dynamics of its geopolitical influence in sub-Saharan Africa as the United States and its European allies made an exit, including the ex-colonial ruler France which was asked to pull out its troops from insurgency-hit Burkina Faso. The Horn of Africa comprises six states— Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and the self-governing state of Somaliland—of whom five are sovereign states and one is de facto, where China is now expanding its footprint.
On Thursday, May 25, China announced that it is stepping up its cooperation with the African countries by sending more emergency food aid to the Horn of Africa. China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang said in Beijing on Thursday that PRC will fund the reconstruction of Ethiopian infrastructure destroyed in the year-long Tigray war, according to the Beijing-based newspaper South China Morning Post.
China has been weaponising investment on foreign soils as a part of its ’debt-trap diplomacy’ to fulfil agendas of economic and military expansionism abroad. In 2022, Beijing sponsored the first-ever Horn of Africa Peace, Good Governance, and Development Conference in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, which China’s ruling Communist Party touted as a “model country” under its $126 billion Belt and Road initiative.
G7 Summit: Africa seeks new role as nations eye its resources (BBC News)
Africa will not accept that it “should just continue to be a source of raw materials” for the rest of the world, the African Union’s Trade Commissioner has told the BBC. Albert Muchanga says instead his continent wants a future of “genuine and mutually beneficial relationships” with its trade partners.
It comes as the AU’s chair has been invited to the G7 summit in Japan amid intensifying competition with China for Africa’s natural resources.
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique at the start of this month as he sought to bolster African support for his efforts to counter Chinese and Russian influence on the continent, as well as in regards to Taiwan and Ukraine.
Speaking in Maputo on 4 May he said: “Many countries of the so-called Global South are hurt and suffering from high food and energy prices. The cause of this issue should be traced to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”
Mr Muchanga welcomes the recognition of Africa’s problems. He says the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic is also to blame for problems that are “multi-dimensional”.
Global economy news
State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2023 (World Bank)
Direct carbon pricing instruments, key policy to decarbonization, now cover almost a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new World Bank report. This is despite the challenging context for governments facing high inflation, fiscal pressures, and energy crises.
“Carbon pricing can be an effective way to incorporate the costs of climate change into economic decision making, thereby incentivizing climate action.” said Jennifer Sara, Global Director for Climate Change at the World Bank. “The good news from this report is that even in difficult economic times, governments are prioritizing direct carbon pricing policies to reduce emissions. But to really drive change at the scale needed, we will need to see big advances both in terms of coverage and price.”
How markets and consumers can drive sustainability (UNCTAD)
Ensuring responsible consumption and production patterns – as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12 – requires minimizing environmental impacts, enhancing resource efficiency and reducing waste. In this regard, experts point out that competition and consumer protection policies are uniquely placed to help.
“Competition and consumer protection policies are conducive to improving the efficiency and fairness of markets and are therefore well placed to serve public policy goals,” said Teresa Moreira, head of competition and consumer policies at UNCTAD, while opening a high-level session of the UN Trade Forum 2023 on 9 May.
Their conversations revolved around a new UNCTAD report, which examines connections among sustainability, consumer protection and competition policies.
What women in developing countries need to thrive in e-commerce (UNCTAD)
To make e-commerce a greater driver of shared prosperity, the world must urgently tackle the challenges facing women small business owners in developing countries. That was the message from experts at a meeting held during the UN Trade Forum 2023 on 9 May, where UNCTAD launched a new policy review of e-commerce through a gender lens.
The policy review examines the opportunities for women – particularly those living in developing countries – to harness digital trade for economic empowerment, and the challenges they face.
The report cautions that the shift to digitalization, if not strategically managed, can reinforce pre-existing development and socioeconomic inequalities. It urges stronger policy action to create enabling conditions for all.
“Overcoming existing North−South disparities and addressing gender inequalities in society and the economy is vital, if e-commerce is to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Simonetta Zarrilli, head of UNCTAD’s trade, gender and development programme.
All OECD countries need to step up efforts to boost gender equality (OECD)
Despite progress in recent years, more work needs to be done, across all OECD countries, to secure gender equality, with women and girls still facing inappropriate disadvantages and barriers in most spheres of social and economic life, according to a new OECD report.
The report Joining Forces for Gender Equality: What is Holding us Back? shows progress in some policy areas, such as paternity leave, pay transparency, flexible work opportunities and higher representation of women in leadership roles. However, major challenges remain, including the need to boost girls’ participation in educational fields promising better job opportunities, lower wages for women than men, barriers to entrepreneurship and self-employment for women, gender gaps in lifetime earnings and pension income, women’s disproportionate share of unpaid care and housework and women’s underrepresentation in politics and government leadership positions.
International trade statistics: trends in first quarter 2023 (OECD)
Following two consecutive quarters of decline, G20 merchandise exports rebounded in value terms in Q1 2023, as measured in current US dollars (Figure 1 and 2). Compared to Q4 2022, exports increased by 2.2%, driven partly by the revival of economic activity in China. G20 merchandise imports contracted by 1.2%, largely reflecting easing energy prices. Growth in G20 services exports and imports are estimated at around 2.4% and 4.9% in Q1 2023, respectively, compared to the previous quarter and measured in current US dollars.
E-commerce negotiations maintain positive momentum, focus on key issues (WTO)
In his opening remarks, Ambassador George Mina encouraged WTO members to lift the rate of progress in the work of the small groups so that more articles can be “parked”. He underlined the importance of the e-commerce negotiations for the future of rulemaking and the digital economy.
Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki urged members to achieve as much convergence as possible in the small groups before the summer break and asked members to show the necessary flexibility.
On the development aspect of the negotiations, Ambassador Yamazaki said: “We are seeking a balanced and inclusive outcome.” He noted that members should consider how they could achieve outcomes that are beneficial to both developing and developed members so that all participating members can benefit from e-commerce in an exclusive manner.
Members, partner organizations stress importance of boosting Aid for Trade disbursements (WTO)
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported to the Committee that preliminary data it collected showed total Aid-for-Trade disbursements suffered a year-on-year fall of 4.7 per cent in real terms in 2021 for a total of USD 47.7 billion, a decline mainly due to inflation.
Nearly all the disbursed amounts (97 per cent) went towards building productive capacity and economic infrastructure, with Africa receiving 40 per cent of this assistance. In terms of project commitments, the decline in 2021 was 22 per cent. The OECD described this as significant compared to the substantial growth in commitments registered in previous years. The OECD added that it expects to find further fluctuations in Aid-for-Trade flows in 2022 due to the impact of the war in Ukraine.
The Least-Developed Countries Group of WTO members also noted a drop in Aid-for-Trade disbursements to its members and other low-income countries, from USD 15.6 billion in 2020 to USD 13.5 billion in 2021, which it said was regrettable.
Other news from the WTO
Cotton meetings urge progress before MC13, discuss World Cotton Day 2023, FIFA-WTO work
Members share customs valuation experiences and practices since start of the pandemic
Members advance work on online notification portal, import licensing database
WTO members review ways to facilitate digital trade and electronic transactions
International organizations launch platform to promote access to subsidy information
New report looks at WTO technical assistance activities in post-pandemic era
Related News
tralac Daily News
Eswatini has shown resilience to multiple economic shocks. Real GDP contracted by a comparatively modest 1.6 percent in 2020 but surged by 7.9 percent in 2021 as manufacturing rebounded on the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and strengthened external demand. Real GDP growth declined in 2022 due in part to base effects but also as construction projects slowed in response to government cash constraints, and sugar cultivation and processing were affected by excessive rainfall, high fertilizer and pesticide costs, and arson. Inflation rose in the wake of surging international food and fuel prices but appears to have peaked in 2022.
The trade balance worsened in 2022 with the rising cost of food and fuel imports—driving the external current account into deficit for the first time in over ten years. Together lower SACU receipts and weakening foreign direct investment, central bank foreign exchange reserves fell to about $449 million by end-2022 (2.3 months of import cover). The external position is assessed as broadly in line with the level implied by economic fundamentals and desirable policies.
Uganda, DRC Plan to Share Oil and Gas Infrastructure (ChimpReports)
Uganda is seeking regional partnerships in the development of its multi-billion dollar oil and gas sector, the Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa has revealed.
“In developing the oil and gas project, Uganda has adopted a regional outlook, taking into account what the region can achieve by working together,” said Nankabirwa on Tuesday during the 10th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition in Kampala.
“Uganda has extended invitations to the EAC Partner States to join in the development of the refinery which will go a long way in guaranteeing petroleum products security for the region,” she added.
Malawi takes critical step towards the validation of a successor Industrial Policy (UNECA)
“Industrialisation is central to the Government agenda of structural transformation of the economy. It is envisaged that industrialisation will transform Malawi from a predominantly consuming and importing country to a predominantly producing and exporting country, thereby reducing the overriding trade deficit” says Ms. Sphiwe Mauwa, Director of Administration, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI).
Ms. Olayinka Bandele, Chief, Inclusive Industrialization ECA, speaking on behalf of ECA SRO-SA Director, said that this important step Malawi is taking is vital as it plays a pivotal role in driving economic growth, promoting diversification, generating employment, adding value to exports, fostering technology transfer and innovation, facilitating regional integration, advancing sustainable development, and improving social welfare.
Republic of Chad: IMF Staff Completes the 2023 Article IV Consultation (IMF)
Economic policy discussions focused on measures to strengthen public finances. Staff noted the progress achieved in domestic revenue mobilization, which will need to continue. It also called for a better control and increased efficiency of budget spending, in particular of the wage bill, and for a prioritization of social expenditures. It is also important that budgetary procedures are followed more rigorously and that the use of emergency expenditure procedures (DAOs) is limited to emergencies. Given the high volatility of oil prices, it is also necessary that part of the oil revenues is used to rebuild liquidity reserves and reduce the stock of expensive treasury securities.
How Naira redesign and its aftermath affect free trade in Nigeria (Businessday)
During the first quarter of 2023, Nigerians experienced cash circulation shortages due to the naira redesign policy. This policy negatively impacted several informal sector businesses, such as local retail shops, artisans, and commercial bus drivers.
Trading activities for small-scale manufacturers were also affected. The impacts of the naira redesign policy show a need to revive the cashless policy for small businesses to address cash scarcity. Promoting strategic monetary approaches that complement the naira redesign policy will boost free trade in Nigeria.
The rejection of old notes by banks, motorists, and other traders caused significant challenges for Nigeria’s informal economy. Also, the country’s high percentage of unbanked individuals underscores financial inclusion.
The implementation of the naira redesign policy also revealed Nigeria’s economic vulnerability. Due to limited access to physical cash, many Nigerians could not pay for basic needs and engage in trading activities. Some bank customers closed their bank accounts in protest of the cash crunch. The CBN must address financial access and reduce reliance on physical cash.
First Tanzanian gets certificate of origin to trade on AfCFTA (The Citizen)
The first Tanzanian received a certificate of origin yesterday to trade in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Presenting the certificate yesterday, the acting vice president of the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Agriculture (TCCIA), Mr Vicent Minja said the certificate will allow the businessman to get a reduction in customs duty from 35 percent to 12 percent.
“We have been educating traders about the benefits of exporting goods using certificates of origin under the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement, and today we handed over the certificate of origin to the first trader,” said Mr Minja.
Mr Minja urged more businessmen to take advantage of the opportunities available in the free market by accessing certificates of origin.
EA business body calls for empowerment of women, youth in AfCFTA implementation (News Ghana)
The East African Business Council (EABC) has called for the empowerment of women and youth in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the business body said in a statement on Monday.
EABC chief executive officer John Bosco Kalisa said in the statement that the AfCFTA agreement has stepped up to ensure the full inclusion of women and youth who are key components of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
The statement said Kalisa made the remarks during the East African Civil Society Summit that was held in Tanzania’s northern city of Arusha on May 3-5.
He encouraged women and youth entrepreneurs to utilize digital tools available to take part in regional and continental trade and called for capacity-building and sharing of information, and elimination of VAT in digital tools and platforms to empower women and youth to engage in cross-border trade.
Agoa jobs in Kenya at 66,000 ahead of trade pact expiry (Business Daily)
The number of jobs created by the two-decade-old Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) agreement between Kenya and America has hit 66,260 ahead of the expiry of the trade deal.
The latest data shows the value of apparels exported from Kenya via Export Processing Zones (EPZ) under the pact hit a new high of Sh54.1 billion last year, translating to a 10.8 percent rise from the Sh41.6 billion realised in 2018.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) during the 12 months to December last year also show that capital investments injected in the sub-sector increased to Sh24.9 billion from Sh16.1 billion in 2018 with the number of employees engaged rising to 66,260 up from 46,248 half a decade ago.
Kenyan manufacturers through their lobby association had in March appealed to the Trade ministry to forward a request to the Joe Biden-led administration seeking an extension of the deal for another 15 years arguing that uncertainty in its fate was costing the country billions of shillings in potential investments.
In a time of energy transition and rising demand for metals and minerals, resource-rich governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have an opportunity to better leverage their resources to finance their public programs, diversify their economy, and expand energy access.
Africa’s Resource Future, a World Bank report launched today, finds that on average countries capture only about 40% of the revenue they could potentially collect from natural resources. In other words, at a time when countries are burdened by slow growth and high debt, governments could more than double revenues from natural resources such as minerals, oil, and gas by adopting a better set of policies, implementing reforms, and investing in better fiscal administration and promoting good governance. Full taxation of natural resources is also important to charge the full cost of environmental and social impacts not always fully covered by producers, including petroleum resources. Failing to do so can act as an implicit production subsidy and raise carbon emissions.
“Maximizing government revenues in the form of royalties and taxes paid by private natural resource industries, alongside attracting new investment, would offer a double dividend for people and planet by increasing fiscal space and removing implicit production subsidies,” said James Cust, Senior Economist in the World Bank Africa Region and co-editor of the report. The prospect of higher revenues is particularly welcome in countries that find themselves unable to make badly needed development investments because of high borrowing and debt service costs.
IMO, AAMA regret non-inclusion of maritime in national devt action plans (The Guardian Nigeria)
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA) have decried the non-inclusion of the maritime industry in African countries’ national development action plans.
According to the organisations, this has posed a huge barrier to investing in projects such as green ports and national single window systems, which are key in cutting carbon emissions for the shipping sector.
AAMA also contended that the lack of defined maritime policies is locking out some African ports from accessing climate resilience financing from multilateral lenders.
According to a study by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Africa requires 126 vessels for bulk cargo and 15 boxships by 2030 for full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). They noted that if business remains as usual, the existing carrying capacity of African vessels would only handle less than 10 per cent of the cargo shipped in and out of the continent.
Africa needs $700bn of finance for green energy and metals (Engineering News)
Africa will need more than $700-billion in finance over the next decade to develop renewable power and mines to extract the metals required for the green energy transition, according to Standard Bank Group.
The continent’s financial institutions won’t be able to provide even half of that and most of the money will need to come from investors from elsewhere, Kenny Fihla, chief executive officer of Standard Bank’s corporate and investment banking unit, said.
African governments are under pressure to extend power supply to the 600-million people — about half of the continent’s population — who currently don’t have access to electricity. At the same time, copper and cobalt deposits in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia, lithium reserves in Zimbabwe and platinum and manganese seams in South Africa are seen as key to providing the materials needed for everything from solar panels to electric vehicle batteries.
Japanese investors say they want more business with Africa (AfDB)
There is growing interest in Japan by the government, parliamentarians, mega companies and startups to invest more in Africa.
One of the largest investors in Africa, Mitsui & co Ltd, announced plans to resume the construction of the multibillion-dollar Mozambique LNG project which was stopped in 2021 following an insurgent attack on the facility in the country’s northern region of Cabo Delgado.
Toyota Tshusho Corporation is one of the front-runners among Japanese companies doing business in Africa. It is present in all 54 countries with businesses covering automobile, pharmaceutical, beverages and energy. Across the continent it employs about 22,000 people.
The company is present in 11 countries in Africa: Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa. Tanzania and Tunisia. Since entering the African market in 1954, Mitsubishi Corporation has spread its investment wings mineral and metal resources, automotive & mobility, natural gas, food industry and power solutions.
It’s Senior Vice President Tetsuya Shinohara, said the company had limited activities on the continent. “Africa is a tough region,” he said, “We are figuring out areas to invest in, in the future. We are asking for suggestions about the way to follow.”
EU’s CBAM could have concerning economic outcomes for Africa (ESI-Africa)
A newly released study on the implications of the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) raises concern about the economic ramifications of the mechanism as it will hit the competitiveness of African exports.
The study, released by the African Climate Foundation (AFC) and the Firoz Lalji Institute for Africa at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), says this is of particular concern for industrial exports if product coverage expands over time.
Given the impact of the CBAM on Africa, African-led measures to tackle the negative impact on trade and industrialisation measures will increasingly become pressing.
The report, Implications for African countries of a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism in the EU, also notes that the mechanism process will introduce administrative hurdles to market access by African countries, which historically struggle to access the European market.
China’s Hunan reports robust foreign trade growth with Africa in Q1 (China Daily)
Central China’s Hunan province registered robust foreign trade growth with African countries in the first three months of the year, with the trading volume reaching 14.47 billion yuan ($2 billion), according to the customs of the provincial capital Changsha.
The figure represented a leap of 82.9 percent year-on-year. Hunan is the long-term host of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo. The third session of the expo, scheduled in June, is expected to further promote the growth of bilateral trade.
In the first quarter, Hunan’s exports to Africa reached 11.19 billion yuan, an increase of 131.2 percent year-on-year, and the imports surged 6.8 percent to hit 3.28 billion yuan.
Hunan’s foreign trade with South Africa accounted for 19.1 percent of the province’s total trade with Africa in the first quarter, which was 2.77 billion yuan, an increase of 8.3 percent year-on-year.
Logistics plays major role in international trade says World Bank (The Africa Logistics)
The World Bank has released its 2023 Logistics Performance Index report, a measure of countries’ ability to move goods across borders with speed and reliability.
“Logistics are the lifeblood of international trade, and trade in turn is a powerful force for economic growth and poverty reduction,” said Mona Haddad, Global Director for Trade, Investment, and Competitiveness at the World Bank. “The Logistics Performance Index helps developing countries identify where improvements can be made to boost competitiveness.”
On average across all potential trade routes, 44 days elapse from the time a container enters the port of the exporting country until it leaves the destination port, with a standard deviation of 10.5 days. That span represents 60 percent of the time it takes to trade goods internationally.
According to LPI 2023, end-to-end supply chain digitalization, especially in emerging economies, is allowing countries to shorten port delays by up to 70% compared to those in developed countries. Moreover, demand for green logistics is rising, with 75 percent of shippers looking for environmentally friendly options when exporting to high income countries.
“While most time is spent in shipping, the biggest delays occur at seaports, airports, and multimodal facilities. Policies targeting these facilities can help improve reliability,” said Christina Wiederer, Senior Economist with the World Bank Group’s Macroeconomics, Trade & Investment Global Practice and the report’s co-author.
South Africa Urges Careful Debate on Option of Introducing BRICS Common Currency (Bloomberg)
The BRICS group of nations will discuss the feasibility of introducing a common currency and shouldn’t rush any decision, according to South Africa’s foreign minister.
US interest-rate hikes and geopolitical conflicts have pushed up the value of the American currency and all the commodities priced in it, to the detriment of most emerging markets. That’s spurred calls for alternatives to using the greenback as the global trading currency and one option that’s been flighted is for the BRICS bloc — which comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — to adopt their own unit. The issue is likely be on the agenda of an Aug. 22 summit of its leaders in Johannesburg.
Employment and Labour on second BRICS Employment Working Group meeting (South African Government)
There was a pressing need for BRICS countries to trade more with each other than with the rest of the world, a meeting was told at the second Employment Working Group (EWG) in Port Alfred on Wednesday.
Mr Jens Dyring Christensen, Senior Specialist: Enterprise Development and Management at the International Labour Organisation (ILO), was speaking on the topic: BRICS Productivity Ecosystems.
“What we find is that trade with the United States is six times higher that within BRICS member states. What is needed is to expand inter-BRICS trade,” he said.
“If BRICS countries trade more among themselves it will boost economic growth among member states. They could do this by identifying within their countries where there is mutual interest such as beef,” he said.
UNCTAD calls for balanced global approach to manage digital data (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan has reiterated the organization’s call for a more balanced approach to global data governance for the benefit of people and the planet.
The world currently has a global data governance system split in three, with some countries relying on the private sector for data management, others on citizens and others on the state itself. Ms. Grynspan said global efforts towards a more balanced approach should “enable data to flow as freely as necessary and possible, while being able to address various development objectives.”
To ensure an inclusive process with representation of all developing countries, she said the United Nations needs to play a key role in the process, which should be “multilateral, multisectoral and multi-stakeholder.”
“And these are still early days in the data-driven digital economy,” she said. With the spread of 5G, the growing number of Internet of Things devices and greater use of artificial intelligence (AI), data and data flows will continue expanding rapidly.
But as captured by UNCTAD’s latest Digital Economy Report, data flows are deepening already existing digital divides.
Many developing countries remain mostly providers of raw data to global digital platforms, while having to pay for the digital intelligence generated from their data.
DDG Paugam urges ministers to harness WTO potential for advancing agricultural innovation (WTO)
The WTO offers a very good framework to support innovation in sustainable agriculture. We manage a trade policy toolbox that can be leveraged to foster innovation worldwide.
The first tool is creating and enhancing access to the global market: It is the most classical one of them all: tariffs. Decreasing tariffs is directly relevant to enhancing access to technology, accelerating the dissemination of innovation, and achieving economies of scale that would incentivise investment. And this is not just theoretical. We know that we have a global problem of disconnect between tariffs and the climate: several research studies show that tariffs are biased in favour of carbon intensive products, meaning they are lower for “brown” products and technologies as compared to “green” products and technologies. Take alternatives to plastics for example: they are usually taxed with higher tariffs. The reason for that, of course, is that they are derived from agricultural products which are themselves taxed higher. So, decreasing tariffs is the first thing to consider when thinking about how trade can help.
The second tool is about finance.
The third tool is about regulation.
But overall, we lack consensus on all these issues at the WTO. One of the main reasons is that we have so much unfinished business from the past, including trade distorting domestic subsidies. And this has prevented our members from tackling the critical issues impacting agriculture today and into the future — such as climate change and climate smart agriculture.
Today we have one emerging topic that could help us bridge the gap and that is food security: food security is obviously at the heart of the conundrum between production, trade, and climate change. The United States amongst other recently presented an interesting contribution to the WTO on that topic. So, I hope that it may build the needed bridge between the past and the future. My message today to Ministers of Agriculture is, please push together with your trade counterparts for the WTO to deliver what it should be delivering in support of your climate smart agricultural policies.
Closing the ‘great finance divide’ for the SDGs (UNDP)
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are in emergency mode. Halfway to the 2030 deadline, progress is eroding before our eyes.
The overlapping food, health, energy and economic shocks of the past few years have pushed tens of millions of people into poverty.
During the pandemic, rich countries could afford to invest in recovery and got back on pre-pandemic growth paths. Their recovery spending was 30 times higher than for developing countries, and 610 times higher for least developed countries, which could only afford US$20 per person.
The global financial system has failed to protect developing countries in this time of unprecedented crises, in part because it was never designed with their interests in mind in the first place. The ‘great finance divide’ risks becoming a lasting sustainable development divergence.
With just seven years to go until the SDG deadline, the United Nations is calling for revolutionary financial and industrial transformation to meet the Goals and close the widening gaps between rich and poor. It is called the SDGs Stimulus Plan. The 2023 Financing for Sustainable Development Report lays out what it will cost and how we can get there.
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Mining explorations breach N$1.3 bln (New Era)
Exploration in 2022 continued with its upward trajectory, breaching N$1.3 billion in real terms. This was shared by the Chamber of Mines 2022 report, shared by Hilifa Mbako as the outgoing president.
Mbako, during the chamber’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, added that after many interruptions and delays during Covid-19, the chamber was able to provide their input in the Minerals Bill.
The mining sector continued to uphold its commitment to supporting local suppliers and spend approximately N$16.823 billion on goods and services from Namibian registered businesses. As a proportion of total procurement spent by the sector, 74% was spent on local businesses.
SA agri products gain foothold abroad (SAnews)
Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister, Thoko Didiza, says efforts to improve market access for South African products on the international markets are bearing fruit.
Presenting the department’s R17 254 348 billion budget for the 2023/2024 financial year on Tuesday, Didiza said in June 2022, the country signed the Protocol of Phytosanitary Requirements for the export of soybean from South Africa to China.
In August last year, SA also successfully negotiated the lifting of a ban on South Africa’s wool and other cloven-hoofed animals’ skin products with China.
SITA looking to bolster digitalisation of borders, travel in Africa (Engineering News)
Border management agency SITA sees considerable potential for South Africa and Africa to leapfrog legacy deployments and adopt digital solutions at borders to streamline travel and transport in the region; however, there are some constraints as it looks to engender this.
This was indicated by SITA government and industry relations director Andy Smith, speaking during a SITA borders management media briefing and roundtable discussion, in Johannesburg, on May 9.
Smith indicated that efforts to deepen the company’s reach in the region came as flagship initiatives in the region progressed, including the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Free Movement of Persons Protocol.
In terms of the former, Smith outlined that this presented an opportunity to reach upwards of two-billion consumers. Moreover, AfCFTA was projected to lead to a 25%, or $36-billion, growth in intra-Africa trade between now and 2040.
Moreover, Smith said that there was also an opportunity to increase intra-African travel and cargo, with this openness of free movement to be grounded in security.
“The only way we’re going to do that is through digitalisation and technology. Technology can help sway the process, it can help combat certain elements of corruption, which is obviously a challenge of certain borders as well. We’re excited to work with Africa on this,” he highlighted.
Imports from China, India surge as cash-strapped consumers seek cheaper cars (Engineering News)
The domestic new-vehicle market saw a surge in imports from India and China last year, with buyers increasingly opting for cheaper imported cars than those made in South Africa. India led the import market in 2019, with 106 000 units coming to South Africa, with China at number six, at 11 443 units.
Nine of the biggest-selling cars and light commercial vehicles in South Africa were made locally in 2019.
The newly released 2023 Automotive Export Manual, published by the Automotive Industry Export Council (AIEC), shows that imports from India surged to 165 910 units last year, ensuring it remains in the top spot as South Africa‘s biggest vehicle import market by volume.
The FDI landscape in Kenya in 2023 (Investment Monitor)
Over the past few years, Kenya’s foreign direct investment (FDI) landscape has been darkened by the inauspicious clouds of Covid-19, political unrest, uncompetitive returns and comparatively high perceived levels of public sector corruption. More recently there have been reports of nationwide protests and demonstrations, led by former Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Raila Odinga, which have disrupted the country’s economy and caused social unrest. Spurred by mounting frustrations about the high cost of living and poor employment prospects, and fortified by a historic distrust of the country’s democratic institutions, Odinga has alleged that Kenya’s general election in August 2022 – in which he was narrowly beaten by President William Ruto – was blighted by irregularities.
The country’s dwindling FDI profile appears to reflect its unstable political and economic climate. According to UNCTAD’s Investment Report 2022, between 2019 and 2021, Kenya’s flow of inward FDI decreased year on year from $1.1bn (Ks150.36bn) in 2019 to $717m in 2020 to $448m in 2021, continuing a general pattern of decline since 2010. The number of greenfield investments also shrunk by nearly 60% over the same three-year period, from 95 in 2019 to 39 in 2021. This decline in foreign investment deals bucks a trend seen elsewhere in east Africa, where average FDI inflows increased by 35% between 2019 and 2021, to a total of $8.2bn.
Value of Kenya exports to Tanzania tops EAC growth (The Citizen)
Kenya’s total exports to Tanzania posted the biggest growth among all East Africa Community(EAC) destinations in terms of absolute value last year, underlining the gains of a reset in the relations between the two countries.
Data by the newly released Economic Survey 2023 shows that Kenya exported goods worth TSh1.14 tillion to Tanzania last year compared to TSh911 billion in 2021— a Sh236 billion jump which was the highest among all other EAC destinations.
“Exports to Tanzania grew by 25.9 percent to TSh1.14 trillion in 2022 on account of increased exports of iron and non-alloy steel,” the survey said.
Kenyan manufacturers had in recent years protested “discriminative” duties and non-tariff barriers such as double inspection of goods for standards by Tanzania, which had made supplies such as meat, milk, and related products to the neighbouring country uncompetitive.
Kenya’s sugar retail prices remain high despite duty-free imports (The East African)
Duty-free sugar imports, which were allowed into Kenya from January, have failed to cool off high retail prices.
Data from the Sugar Directorate indicates that the volumes imported between January and March were 93,000 tonnes against 46,000 in a similar period last year. The sharp increase in import volumes was on the back of the waiver on duty to allow the shipping of cheap commodities to address a shortage that has kept prices high.
Duty-free import of sugar is part of a wider government plan to lower the high cost of goods.
Locally, production has been inhibited by diminishing cane supply on the farms. The shortage of cane has seen millers grapple with the little available, pushing the price of a tonne of the commodity from Ksh4,584 ($33.58), which is the recommended price by the sugar directorate, to Ksh5,250 ($38.46).
The diminishing supply of cane to factories, which has cut down on production activities, saw the total sugar bagged in the review period decline by 26 percent to 49,761 tonnes. The decline in production will compel consumption due to low supply in the market.
Rwanda Horticulture Products Exhibited In Sweden (Taarifa Rwanda)
Rwanda is showcasing an assortment of made in Rwanda horticulture products at the ongoing # SWEACC23 Business & Investment Forum in Sweden.
According to NAEB, last week (Apr, 29 – May, 5) Rwanda horticulture export volume was worth 338.5MT that fetched U$ 630,636 with major destinations including; DRC, UAE, UK, Netherlands, Germany, and Nigeria.
The country is looking to expand its horticulture products export footprint through tapping in opportunities at the Swedish-East African Chamber of Commerce Business & Investment Forum in Stockholm.
Spain ready to strengthen trade with Tunisia (ZAWYA)
Spanish Secretary of State in charge of Trade, Xiana Mendez, underlined, on Monday, her country’s willingness to intensify the volume of trade between the two countries.
In a statement granted to TAP, she recalled that the volume of trade between Tunisia and Spain has recorded, in 2022, a record figure, reaching 1.9 billion euros. The objective is to exceed this volume and diversify bilateral trade, Mendez said.
The Minister stressed the importance of developing tripartite cooperation between Tunisia, Spain and the African and Maghreb markets (Libya, Algeria, and Sub-Saharan Africa).
Ben Rejeb also stressed the importance of developing cooperation relations between the two ministries in charge of trade, which can be concretized through a bilateral cooperation agreement allowing to benefit from the Spanish competencies in several fields.
Priority for Guinea: Improving the Status of Women and Girls (World Bank)
Women and girls in Guinea face significant barriers to accessing the same opportunities as men, according to a new World Bank report, Unlocking Women’s and Girls’ Potential: The Status of Women and Girls Relative to Men and Boys in Guinea”
Guinea, ranked 182 out of 191 in the United Nations Development Program’s Gender Inequality Index in 2021, is one of the most unequal countries in the world in terms of gender. The economic consequences of this inequality are all the more alarming given that almost half of the rural population remains below the poverty line.
The lack of investment in human capital increases the risks of poverty among women. Overall female labor force participation in Guinea remains below the Sub-Saharan African average, with women’s employment characterized as informal and vulnerable. Women also appear to be disadvantaged in terms of access to and ownership of productive assets and finance.
Cabo Verde: IMF Staff Completes 2023 Article IV Consultation (IMF)
“Cabo Verde’s performance under the program is solid. The economy rebounded strongly in 2022 growing 17.7 percent, the primary deficit narrowed to 1.9 percent of GDP, the debt-to-GDP ratio declined, the current account improved, and international reserves were adequate to protect the currency peg. The authorities used monetary and fiscal policy to support the recovery and cushion the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable.
“Real GDP growth is projected to moderate to 4.4 percent in 2023 as export growth normalizes. Inflation is projected at 5.2 percent in 2023, as fuel and food prices decline. The current account deficit is expected to widen in 2023 as exports of goods and services, tourism, remittances, and foreign direct investment slowdown from levels recorded in 2022.
“Despite the challenging global economic environment, Cabo Verde continues to make good progress in its objective to protect vulnerable groups and foster higher and inclusive growth.”
Reform needed to fund biodiversity in developing nations (SAnews)
Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Creecy has called for significant reform of the global financial system and of multilateral development banks to fund developing countries’ biodiversity and climate change initiatives.
Addressing the 5th Global Conference on Biodiversity Finance in Cape Town, the Minister said South Africa’s biodiversity is not only a national and cultural asset but is also a source of economic prosperity through the sustainable use of a wide variety of plants and wildlife.
“Mechanisms such as debt for biodiversity swaps, payment for ecosystem services, as well as greater availability of grant financing and concessional loans must be considered in the context of achieving sustainable financing mechanisms for developing countries. Neither our biodiversity nor our climate change objectives can be achieved by Global Environmental Facility (GEF) funding or by further loans to developing countries, the majority of which are already heavily indebted,” Creecy said on Tuesday.
According to research conducted in 2017 (and updated in 2022), some of the many ecosystem services provided by natural ecosystems in South Africa could be valued at R275 billion per year (R325 billion in 2022).
African Trade And Investment (Africa.com)
Africa is gearing up for a new era of trade and investment, with a focus on collaboration, creativity, and the digital economy. Representatives from three World Trade Center (WTC) locations including WTC Cairo, WTC Addis Ababa, and WTC Abuja, highlight the trade prospects and challenges facing Egypt, Ethiopia, and Nigeria in 2023.
Mr. Farag El Mahrouky, Head of Marketing and Customer Service Department at WTC Cairo points out that Egypt is looking to focus on collaboration and communications in 2023, with a keen emphasis on improving trade services.
At the end of 2022, Egypt successfully concluded its first trade agreement under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), thanks to a collective effort by stakeholders to eliminate export barriers. This landmark deal facilitated the export of food products from Egypt to Ghana and laid the foundation for future trade exchange activities in the region.
As a signatory of the AfCFTA, Mr. Rateneh Fassil, CEO and Managing Director of WTC Addis Ababa, sees the continued growth of regional and continental trade integration as a major opportunity for growth and recovery, especially in the areas of infrastructure, education, and health.
He points out that the story of abundant opportunities for growth, prosperity, and decreased trade deficit is not obvious when looking at the current number of intra-African trade dwindling at only 14%. However, the comparative advantages of the various economies across the borderless AfCFTA market bodes well for this story to be developed.
According to Ms. Wuraola Onigbogi, Trade Services Manager at WTC Abuja, Nigeria is taking a holistic approach to 2023, recognising the importance of creativity, digital trade, and maintaining relationships with clients.
The country’s revised 2023-2027 trade policy places a strong emphasis on e-commerce and digital payments, and Nigeria is eager to take advantage of the increased access to cheaper goods and services offered by the AfCFTA.
Afreximbank has to leverage AfCFTA to transform Africa by 2050 – Moghalu (TheNiche)
Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof Kingsley Moghalu, has said that the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) must zero in on the various aspects of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) so that, combined with its role and operations, it can bring about the needed continental transformation by 2050.
He described the establishment of AFCFTA by member states of the African Union as “a watershed development in Africa’s contemporary and future positioning in world trade.” Moghalu noted that going forward he believes the continental trade agreement would provide an enabling environment for the work of Afreximbank that would be far more powerful than was the case in the past 30 years of the bank, without prejudice to the bank’s significant achievements.
National consultations for the drafting of the Constitution of the East African Community (EAC) Political Confederation resumed in Mombasa, Kenya with the launch of 20-day long public hearing sessions across the country.
Speaking at the launch, the Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands and Regional Development, Ms. Rebecca Miano, said that national stakeholders’ consultations on the Political Confederation was a crucial engagement in the context of the Community’s efforts towards promoting popular participation, which in turn, will inform the policy decision to be made.
South-South trade agreement holds key to more sustainable and inclusive growth (UNCTAD)
At the end of 2022, Brazil ratified commitments under the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP), rekindling international interest in the trade agreement, now just one ratification away from entering into force. The GSTP’s 42 members from Africa, Asia and Latin America are home to 4 billion people and represent a combined market of $16 trillion – about 20% of global merchandise imports.
“There is now a window of opportunity for the GSTP,” UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno said on 8 May at the opening session of the UN Trade Forum 2023, which focused on the agreement.
The GSTP promotes trade among developing countries – also known as South-South trade – by cutting tariffs on the goods they import from each other. Such cuts reduce a product’s final price for consumers, making it more competitive. UNCTAD estimates that if GSTP members implement the tariff cut commitments of the latest round of negotiations – known as the “São Paulo Round Protocol” – they could boost their collective prosperity by about $14 billion.
“South-South trade – for a long time just an aspiration – has become one of the main forces responsible for growth and development over the last two decades,” said Rubens Ricupero, a Brazilian economist and former UNCTAD secretary-general.
Trade between developing countries has increased by an average annual rate of 9.8% since 2000, hitting $5.3 trillion in 2021. During the same period, world trade grew at a slower 5.5%. Mr. Moreno highlighted that strong results were also seen for products with high added value. In 2021, he said, South-South trade accounted for nearly 60% of developing countries’ high-tech exports.
European Parliament supports duty-free trade with Ukraine for another year (Ukrinform)
At a plenary session in Strasbourg, the European Parliament voted by a majority in the first reading to extend duty-free trade with Ukraine for another year, starting June 6, 2023.
The European Commission has proposed to extend trade liberalization measures for another year, starting on June 6, 2023. Such an extension of economic support for Ukraine is necessary in view of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the fact that in June 2022 Ukraine was granted candidate country status.
The EU further deepened the rules for trade liberalization with Ukraine under the bilateral Association Agreement and approved regulatory rules on temporary preferential trade regime on May 30, 2022. These regulatory rules entered into force on June 4, 2022, and will remain in force until June 5, 2023.
The trade liberalization measures, which were extended for another year, starting from June 6, 2023, by the European Parliament today, provide for the temporary abolition of all customs duties, in accordance with Article IV of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and in accordance with the rules of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. These rules apply to two categories of products: fruits and vegetables, which are subject to the system of entry price control, and agro-industrial goods and agricultural products subject to tariff quotas.
The number of people experiencing acute food insecurity and requiring urgent food, nutrition and livelihood assistance increased for the fourth consecutive year in 2022, with over a quarter of a billion facing acute hunger and people in seven countries on the brink of starvation, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC).
The report finds that around 258 million people in 58 countries and territories faced acute food insecurity at crisis or worse levels (IPC/CH Phase 3-5) in 2022, up from 193 million people in 53 countries and territories in 2021. This is the highest number in the seven-year history of the report. However, much of this growth reflects an increase in the population analysed. In 2022, the severity of acute food insecurity increased to 22.7 percent, from 21.3 percent in 2021, but remains unacceptably high and underscores a deteriorating trend in global acute food insecurity.
Economic shocks have surpassed conflict as the primary driver of acute food insecurity and malnutrition in several major food crises. Cumulative global economic shocks, including soaring food prices and severe disruptions to markets, undermine countries’ resilience and capacity to respond to food shocks.
The measure of world food prices rose in April for first time in a year (FAO)
The benchmark index of international food commodity prices rose in April for the first time in a year, amid increases in world quotations for sugar, meat and rice, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported today.
The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities, averaged 127.2 points in April 2023, up 0.6 percent from March. At that level, the Index was 19.7 percent below its level in April 2022, but still 5.2 percent higher than in April 2021.
“It is important that we continue to track very closely the evolution of prices and the reasons for increases in prices. As economies recover from significant slowdowns, demand will increase, exerting upward pressure on food prices,” said FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.
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Why Nigeria must join BRICS (TheCable)
About five years ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria and China entered into a currency exchange agreement. The transaction, which was valued at Renminbi (RMB) 16 billion or N720 billion was aimed at providing adequate local currency liquidity to Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and other businesses, thereby, reducing difficulties encountered in the search for the United States Dollar. The swap was also designed to improve the speed, convenience and volume of transactions between the two countries.
While other nations are making arrangements to promote their local currencies, the federal government has continued to dollarise the Nigerian economy. Just recently, the Kenyan government signed an agreement with Saudi Aramco to supply fuel and diesel for the next six months, while Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) will deliver three cargoes of super petrol every month. The deal permits local oil companies to pay for oil imported on credit through a government-to-government deal in Shillings to ease pressure on the local currency. Before the deal, Kenya was paying $500 million for the importation of petroleum products per month.
Kenya seeking a 5% share of the African pharmaceuticals market (Engineering News)
Kenyan Roads and Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has highlighted the recently announced policy of President William Ruto to make the country East Africa‘s pharmaceutical manufacturing hub by 2030, and export pharmaceuticals across the whole of the continent. Murkomen was delivering the keynote address at the ceremony for the awarding of the International Air Transport Association’s Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators Pharma certification to Kenya Airways Cargo.
Currently, the Kenyan pharmaceutical industry holds only a 30% share of the country’s domestic pharmaceuticals market, which has a total value of 100-billion shillings (about $732-million), he noted. Although Kenya exports pharmaceutics to the East Africa Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and elsewhere in Africa, these exports are currently worth only 6.4-billion shillings (a little under $47-million).
South Africa: Increased quota for United States frozen bone-in chicken (Global Compliance News)
The annual quota for frozen bone-in cuts of the species Gallus Domesticus originating in, or imported from, the United States (US) has been increased from 71,290 tonnes to 71,632 tonnes, with retrospective effect from 1 April 2022.
The decision to again increase the quota of frozen chicken that is allowed to be imported into South Africa from the US may be seen by some to be a compromise that must be made for South Africa to continue to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) program.
However, it will hopefully also assist in bringing the price of chicken down for poverty-stricken households. It is also hoped that the South African Customs Union, and South Africa in particular, will soon be able to conclude a reciprocal, mutually beneficial trade agreement with the US that further addresses the challenges around this issue, especially considering that AGOA’s preferential stipulations are set to expire again in 2025.
Tanzania’s coal exports rise seven-fold to hit $224m (The East African)
Europe’s energy crisis caused by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia has seen Tanzania coal exports record seven-fold jump in the year to March due to high demand, latest central bank data shows.
Tanzania, which has 1.9 billion coal reserves of which 25 percent are proven, saw its exports of the fossil fuel surge to $223.8 million.
“Exports of coal edged up to $223.8 million from $31.9 million, induced by rising demand for alternative energy, amid supply challenges caused by the war in Ukraine,” the Bank of Tanzania (BoT) says in its Monthly Economic Review for April 2023.
The resurgent coal demand has also seen the once sleepy port of Mtwara enjoying unprecedented operations and government collecting sizeable revenues from the exports.
RwandaAir launches new African hub with Qatar Airways Cargo, Cargo Hub (International Airport Review)
The new Kigali Cargo Hub is part of a long-term strategic plan for the cargo division of RwandAir, which has seen cargo carried rise by nearly 26% in the last five years. The initiative will help RwandAir develop Kigali into a regional cargo powerhouse, boosting exports and imports around Africa and strengthening links with key overseas markets.
The partnership saw Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) provide consultancy support to RwandAir Cargo to help improve its already highly successful cargo handling performance.
Yvonne Makolo, CEO of RwandAir, said: “We are very proud to partner with Qatar Airways Cargo to launch today the brand-new Kigali Cargo Hub, which will open up new cargo opportunities across Africa. ”Africa is home to a hugely diverse economy, with businesses and entrepreneurs looking for better connections to create new markets and expand inward investment. Together have created a fantastic new facility to meet this growing demand across Africa.”
With the launch of the new cargo hub, RwandAir will continue to offer customers reliable, high-quality cargo services across Africa. It is supported by the entry into service of its first dedicated freighter aircraft – a Boeing 737 – 800- and enabled the launch of new freighter services to the airline’s key destinations across Africa and the Middle East.
Report lauds Tanzania on Malabo Declaration goals (The Citizen)
Tanzania is largely on track in implementing its commitments under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), known as Malabo goals. The country scored higher points than its partners in the bloc in the benchmark on its commitment to cut by half the share of its population that is poor.
“Tanzania and Rwanda stayed on track,” said Mr Furaha Marwa, the principal agricultural economist with the East African Community (EAC). He revealed this here when he tabled a report on the performance of the seven nation bloc on the Malabo commitments aimed to enhance agricultural production. The commitments included, among others, enhancing finance in agriculture, ending hunger by 2025 and halving poverty also by 2025. The others are boosting intra-African trade, resilience to climate risks, mutual accountability and re-commitment to CAADP itself.
Allocate more funding for Agric, EAC partner states told (Tanzania Daily News)
Partner States within the East African Community (EAC) have been challenged to allocate more funds on agriculture. This is in a bid to cushion the sector from the pangs of persistent drought caused by climate change.
Speaking on the sidelines of the sixth EAC Budget Summit hosted by the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF) here midweek, the forum’s chairperson Hakim Baliraine noted that it was high time the partner states started allocating sufficient budget on agriculture in the spirit of Malabo Declaration.
The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Eswatini, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) held a Validation Workshop for the Kingdom of Eswatini’s National AfCFTA Implementation Strategy on 4th May 2023.
Officiating at the meeting, the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo emphasised Eswatini’s need to develop a practical and effective strategy and action plan for the private sector, including MSMEs, “to be better positioned to take advantage of the available market access opportunities presented by the AfCFTA.”
He notes that for Eswatini, one of the objectives of the National Strategy is to leverage deeper integration within the framework of the AfCFTA to facilitate an increase of Eswatini’s trade and investment within the African continent.
Minister Khumalo: “It is also to support structural transformation and foster economic growth and sustainable development, as well as create employment opportunities for all emaSwati, particularly women and the youth, including people with disabilities with the ultimate aim of reducing poverty in the country.”
AfCFTA: Effective implementation and reforms to boost growth – IMF report (Africanews)
A successful African free trade area implementation could unlock major benefits for Africa in terms of income, jobs among other things, a report by IMF staff said.
The departmental paper published Friday (May 5) examined the prospects for African trade integration in the context of a changing world amid the climate crisis, risks of geopolitical fragmentation, technological progress, and the continent’s prospective demographic growth.
The 64-page document found that comprehensive reforms combined with the AfCFTA implementation could increase the median merchandise trade flow between African countries by 53 percent and with the rest of the world by 15%. This would consequently raise the real per capita GDP of the median African country by over 10 percent.
Financial literacy critical to success of AfCFTA – Desmond Bredu (Starr Fm)
The Head of Client Coverage at Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS), Desmond Bredu, has underscored the importance of financial literacy, particularly for the youth, in realizing the full benefit of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at the ‘Women Lead Forum’ in Accra on the topic ‘Implementing the AfCFTA, Africa’s youth as catalysts for action and its success’, Desmond Bredu said financial literacy was crucial to ensure that the Ghanaian youth are empowered to drive the growth of AfCFTA.
He mentioned that, “There is a lot of potential in our youth to do great things. They have the potential to push the AfCFTA program and create the development in Africa that we all want to see. Unfortunately, all these initiatives and projects will be meaningless to them if they do not have the requisite knowledge and skill needed to sustain and benefit from these programs. Therefore, it is imperative that we provide them with financial literacy that will help them make sense of this project and drive them to develop new and innovative ways to even make it better.”
AfCFTA State Parties currently negotiating Protocol on Digital Trade (Namibia Economist)
The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa provided researchers with a platform last week to discuss the findings and policy recommendations for AfCFTA State Parties to consider when negotiating potential rules on cross-border data flows.
Against the backdrop of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariat recently announcing that the Digital Trade Protocol is expected to be concluded in July 2023, Franziska Sucker from the University of the Witwatersrand and another co-author has written a paper titled ‘Regulating cross-border data flows under the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade: The what, why, how, where, and when’, which is currently undergoing peer review for publication in the Manchester Journal of International Economic Law.
It seems likely that negotiators will at least be considering whether to include rules on cross-border data flows (CBDFs) in the Protocol. The researchers’ tack is that negotiators must try to answer five key questions when negotiating rules of this kind.
Top 10 African countries with the best environment for trade (Business Insider Africa)
Some countries tend to create more favorable business ecosystems than others, and often times this single factor is the difference between an economically prosperous region and a struggling one.
While there are other economic components to becoming a thriving nation such as industrialization, exportation, and development of natural and human resources, a fail-safe economy is typically bolstered by its local and foreign direct investment.
To this effect, businesses all across the globe are in constant search of business-enabling economies, particularly in a region such as Africa which is considered the fastest-growing economy of any continent on the globe.
Africa’s largest bank, Standard Bank, recently released its Africa Trade Barometer report, where African countries are ranked based on their business ecosystem. This report is one of the most comprehensive research reports on the state of trade on the African continent as experienced on the ground by real African businesses. It offers a comparative view of the enablers and challenges to facilitating trade across 10 key African markets.
Scholz: We support African-led efforts to build trade and security (The East African)
Visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to Aggrey Mutambo about East Africa’s place in Berlin’s foreign policy.
Q: How can Africa boost exports to Germany and how can bilateral trade increase?
A: “Africa has some of the fastest growing economies in the world, with enormous potential for trade with Germany. Germany produces technologies that are very important for transitioning to carbon-free economies, which African countries could use to benefit from the enormous renewable energy resources that this continent has to offer also to European customers. We should see this as a win-win situation and make the most of it. In 2017 Germany initiated the G20 Compact with Africa, an investment initiative within this group of the most important economies. Kenya is most welcome to participate in this. Germany also strongly supports the African Continental Free Trade Area. This visionary project could raise incomes in Africa substantially and lift some 50 million people out of extreme poverty. Our long-term vision is a continent-to-continent free trade agreement between Africa and Europe.”
Achieving food security will require revamping our production and consumption patterns (UNECA)
In partnership with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Tunisia and the ECA Office in North Africa, the UN-Habitat Office in Tunisia held a dissemination workshop on the project “Uncovering the effects of the Russo-Ukrainian war: How to anticipate and prepare for the repercussions of the Russo-Ukrainian war on food security in Tunisia?” on Thursday 4 May 2023, at the Movenpick Hotel in Tunis.
By 2050, about two-thirds of the world’s population will live in urban areas. This will lead to a distinct set of challenges and opportunities in urban development and food chains. Rapid urbanization challenges include growing vulnerability to climate change, spatial inequalities, migratory pressures and conflicts, as well as difficulties in promoting inclusive prosperity and economic development. In Tunisia, the urban population will reach 70%, hence the need to think about actions, solutions, and strategies for more sustainable, inclusive and healthy food systems that are resilient to shocks, said Aida Robbana, Director of the UN-Habitat Office in Tunisia.
African Maritime Leaders Debate their Role in Decarbonizing Shipping (The Maritime Executive)
Last week, the IMO (International Maritime Organization) and the umbrella body of African maritime regulators AAMA (Association of African Maritime Administrations) held deliberations aimed at accelerating shipping decarbonization in Africa. While green shipping is a complex matter globally, developing nations face a bigger challenge due to limited fiscal space to support maritime decarbonization.
Additionally, some African countries are yet to include the maritime industry in their national development action plans. This is a huge barrier in investing in projects such as green ports and national single window systems, which are key in cutting carbon emissions for the shipping sector.
“Maritime administrations in Africa must act as enablers to facilitate growth of the shipping industry. We must also come out in large numbers at IMO deliberations to ensure our needs are catered for at the global level,” implored Shadrack Mwandime, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Shipping and Maritime Affairs.
“To raise intra-African trade from the current 15 percent, more cargo ought to be carried on African owned vessels. There is already enough regional cargo to support commercial operation of national and pan-African shipping lines,” highlighted Folorunso Olufunmilayo, the Secretary General of African Shipowners Association.
Inclusive growth and sustainable development in Africa: a major task for regional development banks (AfDB)
The average annual GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth in Africa was 3.4% between 2010 and 2021, according to African Development Bank data. This is well below the targeted yearly average growth of 7%. Combined with population growth, GDP per inhabitant has barely changed.
At the same time, average purchasing power in Africa has deteriorated due to inflation, which has accelerated over the last 10 years. As well as the challenges of governance, the reality of African economies means that periods of optimism have often been disrupted by external shocks such as Covid-19, and the Russian war in Ukraine, resulting in lower GDP growth rates over the last few years.
Women’s Empowerment and Women in Power, Essential Benefit from the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Africa (African Union)
H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, highlighted the need to advocate for more women in power to participate in the fourth industrial revolution. The remark was made during the celebration of Girls in ICT at the Transform Africa Summit held from 26th -28th April 2023, in Victoria Falls, the Republic of Zimbabwe.
Noting that only 16 percent of ICT Ministers in Africa are women yet they constitute more than half of the population, they called for investment in pro-women and girls policies to empower them to take up decision making positions.
Commissioner Abou-Zeid seized the opportunity to highlight that digital literacy for girls is of high importance and it is in line with AU policy on gender mainstreaming in tech sectors. “Improving the lives and opportunities of women and girls is an explicit objective of the African Union and this is well reflected in Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa and the AU Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE),” said Commissioner Abou-Zeid.
DG Okonjo-Iweala: Delivering meaningful development outcomes key to successful MC13 (WTO)
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on members to renew momentum in the discussions on development issues in the run-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), to be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024. Speaking at the General Council on 8 May, the Director-General urged members to continue efforts to build convergence and engage more in frank conversations that would allow the WTO to move forward its agenda.
DG Okonjo-Iweala reported on her recent trip to Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya, where she addressed how to strengthen the WTO’s partnership with the region and better help African members take advantage of the opportunities offered by re-globalisation.
“The eyes of Africa are on us, specifically on special and differential treatment. … I therefore encourage you all to work hard and speed up this area of work to constructively engage in line with paragraph two of the MC12 outcome document,” she said.
Global ‘Blue Deal’ urgently needed to protect and invest in our ocean (UNCTAD)
The ocean holds vast opportunities for developing countries to build more innovative and resilient economies. But climate change, pollution and overfishing threaten those opportunities and the livelihoods of about 3 billion people who rely on the ocean for food and income.
UNCTAD’s Trade and Environment Review 2023, published on 8 May, analyzes the world’s ocean economy – worth an estimated $3-6 trillion – and assesses how human activity and multiple global crises have significantly affected different sectors, including fishing, seafood, shipping and coastal tourism.
The report, presented at the 3rd UN Trade Forum, calls for a global trade, investment and innovation “Blue Deal” to sustainably use our ocean, home to 80% of all life. It builds on the recommendations from the 4th UN Oceans Forum and the 2nd UN Ocean Conference held in 2022.
“The ocean economy offers many opportunities. We must strike the right balance between benefitting from the ocean and protecting its resources,” UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno said.
Investment facilitation negotiators welcome substantive progress in Draft Agreement (WTO)
At a plenary meeting on 4 May following two days of consultations, WTO members participating in the negotiations on investment facilitation for development (IFD) commended the substantive progress made in the Draft Agreement since the start of this year. The co-coordinators of the talks, Ambassador Sofía Boza of Chile and Jung Sung Park of the Republic of Korea, introduced the latest revision of the draft text, which reflects solid progress towards the objective of finalizing the negotiations by mid-2023.
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SA has capacity to produce its own pharmaceutical products – President’s advisor (SAnews)
Special Advisor to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Professor Olive Shisana, says South Africa faces challenges in medical products, vaccines and technologies in terms of supply chain management and procurement, despite having the capacity to produce therapeutic goods.
According to Shisana, the country has a well-developed pharmaceutical industry and access to a range of medical products and technologies. “However, access to these is often limited to the private sector due to their high cost.”
“The recent example of issuing a tender to a non-South African supplier instead of a local pharmaceutical state-owned company is an example of policy misalignment that is currently been addressed.
“It would be good for the Department of Trade and Industry to expedite the preferential procurement policy Bill by tabling it in parliament to strengthen the Department of Health’s ability to invoke preferential procurement provisions in law and purchase local products even if they come at a premium because, in the end, this would benefit the economy,” she explained.
Automotive trade performing strong after pandemic (Engineering News)
Although the domestic automotive industry’s recovery to prepandemic levels continued in 2022, it was at a slower pace than in 2021, with many key performance indicators still remaining below the prepandemic levels, the 2023 Automotive Export Manual publication released by the Automotive Industry Export Council (AIEC) on May 5, shows. The manual states that, in terms of trade, however, the industry reflected a sound performance.
The export value of vehicles and automotive components increased by R19.8-billion, or 9.5%, from R207.5-billion in 2021 to a record R227.3-billion in 2022, comprising 12.4% of total South African exports.
IMF Chief Calls Kenya ‘Innocent Bystander’ in World’s Debt Shock (BNN Bloomberg)
The International Monetary Fund’s chief capped a visit to Kenya with an enthusiastic endorsement of its economic management and expressed confidence that the cash-strapped nation would keep servicing its debts. Kristalina Georgieva said that in the IMF’s assessment, Kenya’s debt is sustainable and the administration of President William Ruto is moving swiftly to improve its fiscal position. The remarks come at a sensitive time for the East African nation, with some investors dumping its bonds and questioning its ability to make a $2 billion payment next year.
Kenya is one of several African countries facing growing investor concern about debt and access to funding, with Ghana and Zambia already declaring default and entering into restructuring talks. As of Friday, the African continent as a whole was trading as a “distressed” credit, according to a JPMorgan index, with an average yield of more than 1,000 basis points above the US benchmark.
“Countries that are at the point of needing debt restructuring are still a relatively small group. Kenya is definitely not among them,” Georgieva said in a briefing with reporters on Wednesday in Nairobi. “We think Kenya is a case of innocent bystander. It has been hit by external shocks.”
The $2 billion Rwandan airport that could help African aviation take off (CNN)
Some 40 kilometers south of the Rwandan capital of Kigali in the Bugesera District, construction vehicles and high-visibility vests swarm across an arid expanse of land.
Here, two strips of tarmac are the cornerstone of a $2 billion airport, whose developers want it to be the jewel in the crown of Africa’s aviation industry.
Slated for completion in 2026, the new facility will boast a 130,000-square-meter main terminal building capable of accommodating 8 million passengers a year, a figure expected to rise to over 14 million in the following decades. Adjacent will be a dedicated cargo terminal, capable of accommodating 150,000 tons of cargo a year.
Yet benefits could spread far beyond Rwanda’s borders. The arrival of the new airport will help chip away at the critical problem of a fragmented network of routes that means passengers often have to travel via Europe or the Middle East when flying between African countries.
Jules Ndenga, CEO of Aviation Travel and Logistics Holding, said: “What what’s making it more challenging is the conditions of operating within the African continent. The cost of operations is so much more, whether it’s airport fees, whether it’s ground handling, parking, overflight (flying from one country’s airspace to another’s) – everything is much more expensive. Sometimes up to 50% more than in the Middle East and Europe, which makes the ticket prices even more expensive and makes (some) routes unviable.”
But solutions are touching down, starting with the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). First proposed in 2018, if implemented the policy would create a single market for African aviation, facilitating the free movement of people, goods, and services. The continent currently operates under bilateral air service agreements, a highly restrictive policy that makes it difficult to open new routes.
“Liberalization is not an easy subject – even in other regions, it took a lot of time. So, we are working on it. What is missing is the willingness of states to really implement it.”
The UK must seize the big trading opportunities Africa has to offer (Politics Home)
With Africa’s potential as an economic powerhouse, the continent presents an opportunity for investors and trade partners to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships. The UK, with its long history of ties with Africa, is one such partner, and a renewed focus on a trading relationship between the two regions could unlock tremendous opportunities for both.
It was not that long ago that UK’s share of trade with Africa was 30 per cent and now it is less than 4 per cent. Now that we have left the European Union, we are able to engage with Africa on our own terms and are starting to make progress. The UK currently has nine trade agreements with 18 countries across Africa; six Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) in sub-Sahara Africa, and three Association Agreements (AAs) in North Africa. However, we need to do more to break down the barriers of trade and work to engage with Africa.
What Africa should learn from Brexit (African Business)
A long-standing commercial truth is that it’s optimal to trade with those closest to you. It’s common sense really – the costs of moving goods are lower, synergies are better, the economies of scale kick in and so on. Africa, for example, is banking a great deal on the benefits that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement will bring to growth and prosperity.
Covid-19, rocketing transport costs and security of supply issues – such as in May 2021, when a single giant ship containing vital manufacturing parts became grounded in the Suez canal for six days – have undermined the age of hyper-globalisation where supply-parts were outsourced to the cheapest places, however far away.
Countries are increasingly seeking to re-source global supply chains to friendly neighbours. The UK faces multiple crises, which can only be overcome in cooperation with our immediate European neighbours: these include catastrophic climate change, the Ukraine war, economic decline
UK ‘obvious choice’ as Morocco seeks to diversify trade (Al-Monitor)
In recent years, trade ties between the two countries have been growing. A trade deal in 2019 was one of the first since the UK voted to leave the European Union in June 2016. Since then, the countries have been signing a spate of partnerships across multiple sectors, including education, transport and renewable energy.
Intissar Fakir, senior fellow and director of the North Africa and Sahel Program at the Middle East Institute, told Al-Monitor: “I think the volume of trade [between the two countries] has increased something like 50% over the past couple of years,” mostly in aviation, automotive and renewable energy.
“For both countries, there’s a lot of advantages to increasing that collaboration,” she added. “In the post-Brexit situation, it makes sense for the UK to reach out to Morocco.” And Morocco, she said, wants to diversify its economic partnerships beyond the EU.
Zimbabwe commits to COMESA regional integration agenda (ZBC News)
ZIMBABWE has pledged its allegiance to the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) regional trade agenda, which calls for the refining of competition regulations to reduce monopolies and protect consumer interests.
The COMESA Competition Commission’s 10th year anniversary in Malawi has created a platform for member states to assess the effects of competition in stimulating industrial growth.
A competition and tariffs law consultant based in Zimbabwe, Mr Alexander Kububa revealed on the sidelines of the celebrations in Malawi this Thursday that commitment by Zimbabwe to focus on increased competition will boost quality of goods and services.
“There is that aspect which we need to focus on that is on identifying competition needs and rectifying challenges so that the competition law is modelled along regional market expectation,” noted Dr Alexander Kububa.
The agreed position is that Zimbabwe should not lag behind in facilitating a competitive climate for local industry by continuously reviewing laws governing company mergers and unfair trading practices.
Association Laments Over Economic Crisis, Calls for Economy Improvement (Voice of Nigeria)
The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) and the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) have called on governments at all levels to urgently work in synergy with relevant stakeholders in fashioning appropriate strategies to improve and stabilize the economy.
They lamented the deplorable state of the economy, stressing that virtually all the sectors are seriously struggling to remain afloat.
Specifically speaking at the second quarter media briefing of the year on socio-economic issues in Lagos state, the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ide John Udeagbala, said that economy instability in the country has become a worrisome situation.
“It will also address the impact of fuel subsidy removal without adding additional debt burden on the nation. Besides, our ability to provide some basic raw materials internally will help our industries compete better to benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA),” he said.
Calling on the Federal Government to urgently fix the country’s four refineries, which have remained in comatose for almost two decades to end petroleum products importation into the country, he said this would help generate employment opportunities for the youths.
Africa trade pact could boost economic growth, IMF says (BusinessLIVE)
Africa’s continent-wide free-trade area if successfully implemented could significantly boost economic growth and improve living standards at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and climate change, the International Monetary Fund said in a study.
“Greater trade openness would help countries adapt to climate change and to strengthen food security, including by improving the availability and affordability of food supplies,” the IMF said in its Trade Integration in Africa — Unleashing the Continent’s Potential in a Changing World report. “More diversified and broad-based trade would reduce the impact of disruptions in specific markets and products that could result from shifts in global trade patterns.”
To obtain the full benefits of AfCFTA, which could be the world’s biggest free-trade zone by area when the treaty becomes fully operational by 2030, large cuts in tariff and nontariff trade barriers among African nations will be needed, the IMF said in the report.
The IMF also found that comprehensive reforms along with the AfCFTA implementation could increase the median merchandise trade flow between African countries by 53% and the rest of the world by 15%. That could raise the median per-capita GDP in Africa by more than 10% and lift as many as 50-million people in the world’s poorest continent from extreme poverty by 2035, it said.
WTO: Africa to Benefit from Ocean Sustainability If Fisheries Subsidies Agreement is Secured (This Day)
Africa stands to gain greatly from strengthened ocean sustainability if the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreement on fisheries subsidies and further outcomes from the second wave of negotiations are secured by the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the global trade body expected to hold in February 2024.
The Deputy Director-General, WTO, Angela Ellard, who made the remarks at a workshop on fisheries subsidies organised by the WTO for English-speaking African countries held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, highlighted the urgency of improving the sustainability of marine fisheries and the importance of collective action by all governments.
She noted that with over 12 million people in Africa depending directly and indirectly on the marine fishing industry for their livelihoods, it, “is crucial that we work together toward sustainable management of our ocean resources.”
Experts from Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) involved in the process of achieving a Digital Africa were sensitized on the Digital Transformation Strategy (DTS) for Africa, and the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework (MELF) 2022-2030 from 26-28 April 2023 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Addressing the opening session of the workshop, Mrs Mihret Woodmatas, Senior Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Expert of the African Union Commission (AUC), recalled that the DTS 2020-2030 aims to create an integrated and inclusive digital society and economy in Africa, driven by digital technologies and innovation to promote continental integration, inclusive broad-based economic growth, boost job creation, bridge the digital divide and eradicate poverty.
She was followed by Mrs Marie Ndé Sène Ahouantchédé, who spoke on behalf of Mr Sédiko Douka, Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation. Mrs Ndé Sène Ahouantchédé reiterated the commitment of the ECOWAS Commission to serve as an intermediary and to provide unfailing support at the regional level for any action aimed at coordinating digital transformation in line with the region’s ambitions for socio-economic development and integration.
She also recalled the coordination dynamics of the digital transformation launched by ECOWAS and manifested through the organisation of the first Experts’ Forum on e-Governance on 28 and 1 March, and a workshop on the Internet of Things and Emerging Disruptive Technologies held on 29 and 30 March 2023, to leverage the potential of digital technology and thus help tackle the challenges and meet the ambitions of the region, including the 4×4 Strategic Objectives 2022-2026 of the ECOWAS Management.
Addressing the opening of the third African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) Steering Committee Meeting (SCM) in Accra, Ghana, Mr. Karingi said while celebrating the AfCFTA, Africa is now mulling its next steps towards a customs union and a common market. Thanks to the AfCFTA, Mr Karingi added, the continent was no longer a helpless bystander as developed countries pursued their own strategic interests at Africa’s expense.
Stephen Karingi, Director of Regional Integration and Trade Division at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), called on African countries to expedite the reform of their domestic policy and institutional landscape to boost intra-African trade and accelerate economic transformation through effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The AfCFTA now offers the perfect platform for Africa to pursue policies of strategic autonomy just like everyone else is doing,” Mr. Karingi told participants, underlining that the AfCFTA was a development tool that can help Africa tackle many challenges such as food insecurity, joblessness, marginalization and health insecurity.
“The AfCFTA can help Africa fix its macroeconomic challenges, address food insecurity, overcome the predicament of jobless growth, and serve as a tool for inclusive and sustainable development. All this is possible, but only if we fully implement the AfCFTA and unleash its potential to the full,” said Mr. Karingi.
Why Africa consumes what they do not produce (Monitor)
Recently, the East African Community (EAC) started moving towards harmonising trade among its member countries where it hopes to have one test, one standard and one certificate. However, while trade harmonising among African trade blocs has been going on, ensuring member countries can trade among themselves, trade amongst African countries is yet to happen. Therefore, the next step, according to Mr David Livingstone Ebiru, the executive director of Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), is to create a harmonised trade among African countries.
“While there is 1.3 billion people in Africa, there is only 16 percent trade among African countries. The irony is that while many African countries are drawn to trade with other trade blocs, these have rejected our goods on grounds of product quality. Additionally, several trade blocs have also used the issue of standards against Africa,” he says.
Mr Odrek Rwabogo, the presidential advisor on export and industrial development points out that our major exports are horticulture products and European standards keep getting tighter to protect their population but also limit our sales.
“If the importers detect something that goes against their standards, the destruction is done for the whole consignment and at the importer’s cost. We lose between $100m and $180m in interceptions. While all that affects our revenue, it also destroys our reputation as we are looked at as those with wanting standards. We need to be smarter with the standards that are regularly updated.
Africa’s $1trn agribusiness pot open to investors by 2030 (Businessamlive)
Africa’s agribusiness sector is predicted to grow to become a $1 trillion business by 2030. Already, leaders of the continent’s top agribusiness companies, while sharing their thoughts on the future of the industry, believe that agribusiness will become the ‘new oil’ on the continent.
“By transforming Africa’s agriculture sector, it will become the engine that drives Africa’s economic transformation through increased income, better jobs higher on the value chain, improved nutrition, and so on,” Blanke said in a remark at an Africa Investment Forum (AIF) session titled, Agribusiness: Investment Conversation with Industry Leaders.
Jennifer Blanke, vice president for agriculture, human and social development at the African Development Bank (AfDB), says agriculture is a key priority for the pan-African multilateral development bank through its Feed Africa strategy.
German chancellor, on ‘charm offensive’ in East Africa, backs G20 seat for AU (The North Africa Post)
Germany supports the inclusion of the African Union (AU) in the G20 group of nations, the country’s Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said on Thursday, May 4, as he arrived in Kenya on a three-day trip in East Africa, that will also take him to Kenya. The visits are meant to advance talks on trade and co-operation pacts with the two countries.
Scholz’s tour is widely seen as part of a European effort to make inroads with countries of the so-called Global South and push back against Russian and Chinese influence. Berlin — much like Washington — is convinced that Western democratic nations can make better partners with Africa than can China that has faced criticism for its so-called ‘debt-trap diplomacy.’
Beijing has been accused of using its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as part of a manipulative global strategy, funding major infrastructure projects especially across Africa, which has turned it into the world’s largest government creditor to developing nations, with poorer borrowers struggling to manage their debt loads. Hence the EU and the US have touted their own alternatives to the BRI, but both schemes rely on private lenders, making their prospects uncertain.
Intergovernmental Group of Experts on E-commerce and the Digital Economy, sixth session (UNCTAD)
This Intergovernmental Group of Experts aims to strengthen the work of UNCTAD on information and communications technologies, e-commerce and the digital economy for development, so as to enhance its ability to support developing countries to engage in and benefit from the evolving digital economy, and reduce the digital divide, for the creation of more inclusive knowledge societies.
18 May is on the agenda of all observers of international trade. On that date (small delay is possible), we will know if the Black Sea Grain Initiative is extended. Until now, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has been key to moderate global prices of grains (see first graph below). Indeed, according to official figures of the United Nations, 56% of exported commodities via the agreement are destined for developing countries.
However, for the moment, Russia indicated that it would not renew the deal if sanctions against Russia were not lifted beforehand. In the event the agreement is not renewed, the risk for ship owners will be too high and they would stop shipping Ukrainian agricultural products. Consequently, a non-renewal would put a lot of pressure on Ukrainian farmers, who are stuck with high stocks of cereals, while the rest of the world – mainly developing countries – would face an umpteenth food shortage combined with higher grain prices.
Bridging the SDG’s financing gap (Observer Research Foundation)
India’s G20 Presidency coincides with the rapidly increasing dangers posed by climate change, rising inequality, and the looming threat of an economic recession. Nonetheless, it offers New Delhi a unique opportunity to shape the post-pandemic development narratives, and to delineate and advance a new global development discourse from the perspective of the Global South.
The Decade of Action is quickly approaching its deadline, as progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) falls perilously behind in many parts of the world. One of the most significant concerns for the countries of the Global South is the massive shortfall in financing required to achieve the goals. It is estimated that developing countries face an annual deficit of US$ 1.7 trillion in SDG financing, while more than US$ 4 trillion accounts for the annual gap in closing the SDGs for the world. It is the least developed countries that face the biggest hurdles. Table 1 illustrates that GDP growth in these countries would need to reach heights—seemingly insurmountable given current trends—to meet the required financial investments for achieving SDG targets 8.1, 1.1, and 9.2 by 2030.
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SA: Private renewable energy procurement landscape is changing (ESI-Africa.com)
While investment opportunities into renewable energy used to concentrate on the large-scale project side through the REIPPP programme, the tables have turned as private procurement of new generation capacity is growing exponentially.
The potential size of the private procurement market was approximated by the IRP2019 as around 500MW a year by 2030. However, this has already been exceeded in 2022. The mining sector alone has reported a pipeline of renewable energy projects estimated at more than 2GW to be brought on stream in 2022 to 2023, with an estimated cost between R30 billion and R40bn.
The 2023 Large-Scale Renewable Energy Market Intelligence Report (MIR) points out: “Public procurement of new generation capacity is mainly guided by the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019. It has the greatest growth potential and relatively low entry barriers due to the IPPO’s established REIPPPP procurement framework. However, no new bid rounds have been announced following BW6.”
Tanzania plans largest bridge in Africa to boost trade (Supply Management)
Tanzania has unveiled ambitious plans to construct what would be by far the largest bridge in Africa, a 50km structure connecting the mainland to the Zanzibar islands to boost trade. The country has been looking to diversify the economy of the Zanzibar islands, home to 1.6m people, which depends mainly on tourism.
Deputy works and transport minister Godfrey Kasekenya said the government was talking to prospective Chinese investors about plans to finance a 50km bridge between the coastal city of Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.
Currently Egypt boasts Africa’s longest bridge, the 6th October Bridge in Cairo, which spans 20.5km, but the new project would be more than double that length.
South Africa’s agriculture sector is growing jobs (ESI-Africa.com)
South Africa’s agriculture sector continues to show growth with opportunities for further expansion through, among others, renewable energy applications.
GreenCape’s 2023 Sustainable Agriculture Market Intelligence Report said the agriculture sector has continued to be “one of the few sectors of the South African economy that has experienced continued expansion over the past two years (14.9% y/y in 2020 and 8.8% in 2021).
The MIR on agriculture said the number of jobs in the sector has also grown, up by 1% y/y with a total of 874,000 people working in primary agriculture by the end of 2021. “This is significant, especially when juxtaposed against other sectors, which have experienced significant job losses in the last two years. The indicators for confidence in the agriculture sector are also positive, aided by weather forecasts predicting good rains for the next planting season.
“This has led to strong machinery sales figures, indicating that farmers are confident enough in the sector to make long-term investments in movable assets,” reads the MIR.
Nigeria-Uganda discuss investment opportunities (New Vision)
Nigeria and Uganda have held the first-ever business forum to discuss investment opportunities on the optimization of existing investment and trade opportunities in the two naturally endowed African countries.
According to the Minister of Trade and Industries and Cooperatives, Francis Mwebesa, the forum will find a harmonious ground in tackling the bottlenecks and the cost of doing business that hinder exports of the two countries’ competitiveness.
“Trade between Uganda and Nigeria is still very low and there is a need to promote intra-Africa agenda. We were both very active during the negotiations of the African Continental Free Tarde Area (AfCFTA) and I am quite sure that both countries will remain steadfast during the implementation of the AfCFTA protocols,” he explained.
Mwebesa noted that Uganda is committed to improving the business environment and has taken a strategic direction to embrace the liberal trade policy and continue to drive the economy in different spheres like a computerized land registry, quick access to licenses and registration, introduction of electronic single window system under the cross borders trade initiatives establishment of a one-stop border point.
There is also automation of customs procedures, an improvement in transit flow through the elimination of existing non-tariff barriers, and expansion of market access opportunities through the East African Community (EAC), COMESA, and Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among others which Mwebesa said are a positive move for private sector players to do business in Uganda to expand regional markets.
Ruto urges swift removal of EAC trade restrictions (The Citizen)
President William Ruto of Kenya is appealing for the swift removal of barriers hampering trade in East Africa. He said in Nairobi on Tuesday that barriers at border lines were impeding the movement of people, goods, and services.
“Removal of such barriers is necessary for sustainable growth and development in the East and Horn of Africa regions,” he said. The Kenyan leader criticised political boundaries as “old-fashioned and divisive” and urged the region to work together to build bridges of friendship. “We must not give credibility to the artificial boundaries that exist in our region,” he said when he launched a flagship report on migration in the EA and Horn of Africa blocs.
Related: EAC ponders harmony gross vehicle weight (IPPMedia)
Used clothing imports to Africa strain local ecosystems, waste management (National Catholic Reporter)
There is an increasing need for inexpensive clothing in the African region. Yet at the same time, secondhand clothing imports are contributing significantly to problems of plastic waste and waste management across the continent.
A new report published in February — “Trashion: The Stealth Export of Waste plastic clothes to Kenya” — has provided insight into the impact of secondhand clothing imports to Africa. From Kenya to Madagascar, Uganda to Nigeria and Zimbabwe to Mozambique, secondhand clothing imports are causing strain on natural ecosystems because the supply far outpaces the demand.
Problems are worsened by poor capacity to process waste and decongest landfills that have themselves become health and environmental hazards.
While trade in secondhand clothing imports from the United States, Europe and other western markets is legal in some African countries, it has gone underground in other countries such as Zimbabwe, where the trade is banned.
The value chain for imported secondhand clothing, most of which is synthetic plastic, is brisk business in many African countries where new clothing is beyond the reach of many. Inflation and other economic difficulties have been driving up costs, stretching disposable incomes and leaving many households unable to afford new clothing and shoes.
Africa is establishing its own oil bank to reduce dependence on foreign financiers (Business Insider Africa)
African nations that are members of the Petroleum Producers’ Organisation will collaborate with the African Export-Import Bank to launch an energy bank by the year’s end, according to Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, the APPO general secretary.
The secretary-general stated in a goodwill message delivered at the sixth edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES) held recently in Abuja, Nigeria, that the process of creating the bank, and cooperation between APPO and Afreximbank, had reached an advanced level. He also stated that a decision on the site of its headquarters and a launch date will be made soon.
Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, “This is going to focus essentially on funding oil and gas projects on the African continent because the funds have dried.” He also noted that the World Bank, and other international financing institutions that typically finance oil and gas projects in Africa are shutting down their financing channels in addition to having”stringent conditions, which doesn’t make a lot of sense” compared to 20 or 30 years ago.
Africa projected to outpace Asia as world’s fastest-growing region - Mo Ibrahim report (Business Insider Africa)
Africa’s ready market of more than 1.4 billion people under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has surpassed the European Union (EU) single market, US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) combined, the report states. The report, based on the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), highlights that Africa is the world’s youngest continent, and is projected to be the only region whose population will grow significantly from 2060.
The report also notes that there is no green global economy without Africa’s natural resources, which account for 30 per cent of the world’s mineral reserves, many of which are critical to renewable and low-carbon technologies. The Congo Basin is listed as the world’s first carbon sink, absorbing more carbon than the Amazon. It absorbs 4 per cent of global carbon emissions annually, offsetting more than the whole continent’s emissions.
While Africa’s trading has shifted mainly towards the Middle East and Asia, the raw materials export model has remained the same. Since 2000, the EU’s share of Africa’s export market has dropped by a quarter, while China’s share has increased five-fold. Asia now represents almost 42 per cent of Africa’s exports and over 45 per cent of its imports, above Europe in both cases.
The report highlights that the future looks bright for Africa; however, the current global financial system does not meet Africa’s needs. More than a third or 40.4 per cent of Africa’s public external debt is owed to the private sector, with multilateral lenders (38per cent) such as the World Bank (16.4per cent), International Monetary Fund (8.2 per cent) and the African Development Bank (6.1 per cent) being owed the next most.
The Role Of Blockchain In Promoting Cross-border Trade In Africa (Blockbuild.africa)
Cross-border trade and commerce in Africa is an important part of the region’s economy, with room for expansion. However, addressing the barriers to cross-border trade in Africa, such as inadequate infrastructure and high transportation costs, is critical to realizing the region’s full potential and driving economic growth and development.
In Africa, cross-border trade and commerce face a number of challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, high transportation costs, limited access to finance, and trade barriers. These obstacles have stifled Africa’s cross-border trade growth, making it difficult for businesses to expand their markets and reach new customers and blockchain is the best for this job.
Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize commerce in Africa by providing a transaction platform that is efficient, secure, and transparent. Here are some ways that blockchain can help Africa’s cross-border trade and commerce:
Members review latest safeguard actions, address WTO reform discussions (WTO)
At the biannual meeting of the Committee on Safeguards on 1 May, WTO members reviewed safeguard actions taken by fellow members and discussed the way forward in improving the functioning of the committee.
Japan, Australia and China reiterated their general concern regarding issues such as misuse of the safeguard instrument, insufficient information provided, and the numerous extensions to existing safeguard measures.
The committee reviewed notifications of new or amended SG legislation or regulations from El Salvador, the United States and Liberia. It also continued its review of the legislative notifications of the United Kingdom, Cameroon, Ghana and Zimbabwe.
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Big boost for trade in South Africa (Business Tech)
South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R6.9 billion in March 2023, according to the South African Revenue Service (SARS). When including trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN), exports totalled R192.2 billion while imports totalled R185.3 billion.
SARS said that the increase in export flows in March was driven by gold, while the increase in the value of imports was due to higher importation of crude and petroleum oils.
China was South Africa’s biggest trade partner for March, making up 10.5% of total exports and 18.5% of imports. The United States (7.5%) was South Africa’s second-biggest export market, with Germany (6.5%), Japan (6.2%), and the Netherlands (4.8%) completing the top 5.
South Africa imported the second-largest amount of goods from Germany (8.0%). The United States (7.6%), India (6.9%), and Nigeria (4.3%) were also part of the top 5 countries that South Africa imported from.
Comments sought on draft policy for SMME funding (SAnews)
The Department of Small Business Development has reminded the public to submit comments on the Draft South African Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) and Co-operatives Funding Policy, as the deadline approaches.
The draft policy proposes 17 critical interventions that will enable the estimated 3.2 million SMMEs and 43 000 cooperatives in the country to thrive.
These interventions include addressing fragmented financial support mechanisms, consolidating a database of small businesses, improving access to start-up capital and increasing business development support.
Kenya’s economic growth slowed to 4.8pc in 2022, KNBS says (The East African)
Kenya’s economy grew by 4.8 percent in 2022, a slower pace than 7.6 percent recorded the previous year, the statistics office has said. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) released the Economic Survey 2022 Wednesday, detailing how various sectors and jobs market performed. Most sectors recorded decelerated growth compared to 2021, with agriculture and manufacturing contracting in the period.
“2022 was marked by many negative shocks from the supply side. The persistent shocks which are still present, created permanent negative effects impacting economic activity and the cost of living,” Kenya’s Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u said.
“The economic survey will inform a raft of measures on policy reforms to support economic activity and address the cost-of-living concerns,” he added.
Nigerian govt to explore alternative funding model for oil, gas industry – NUPRC (Daily Nigerian)
The Nigerian Upstream Downstream Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, says the Federal Government has concluded plans to explore alternative funding models for the development of the country’s oil and gas resources.
Mr Komolafe said that the need to develop the country’s hydrocarbon resources required huge funding, hence the decision of the commission to develop alternative funding model for the industry. According to him, Nigeria will not be left behind in the energy conversation discussion as the country is a place where needs meet opportunities. “Africa and by extension Nigeria is well positioned because it has all it takes to bridge the energy gap in the light of energy transition.
Kenya Not Yet Fully Open to Ugandan Milk Products (Nile Post)
On March 14th, 2023, Kenya’s Agriculture and Livestock Development Permanent Secretary Harry Kimtai announced the suspension of the ban on the milk powder imports from Uganda.
However, Uganda’s milk industry players continue to grapple with non issuance of export permits and sometimes delays in issuance of the same by the Kenya Dairy Board.
Sources are indicating that some processors are not getting the permits at all questioning the criteria Kenya dairy daily board is using to award the permits. Musafari Hamidu, a truck driver of one of the leading milk companies in Uganda says that initially, each milk processor would get permits for 5 trucks a day through the Kenyan border although right now, only a few trucks can be cleared for an entire week.
According to the Dairy Development Authority (DDA) of Uganda, Milk production is estimated to have increased from 2.08 billion litres in 2015 to 2.64 billion litres in 2020. By the end of 2021 milk production was estimated to reach 2.81 billion short of the target of 3.0 billion litres. Dairy exports in the country reached a record high of 358.6 billion UGX in the last four years and nearly doubled compared to last FY 2019/20 with dairy equipment valued at 18.9 billion UGX being imported in the country to support the growing trade. This implies that milk production in Uganda is on the increase with massive investments by dairy producers and farmers.
Central African Republic: 2023 Article IV Consultation (IMF)
CAR is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis with acute food insecurity and access to health care drastically impaired. Social tensions have ratcheted up, including strikes in various sectors, on the back of a cost-of-living crisis triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Political tensions have also escalated from the President’s plans of a third mandate requiring revisions to the constitution.
The 2021 suspension of budget support—which deprived the government of 5 percent of GDP in financing—is now constraining, following the erosion of buffers, including the 2021 SDR allocation. The protracted balance of payment need is preventing the authorities from delivering basic public services to an already afflicted population. Against this backdrop, the authorities have requested Fund financing assistance.
ECA supports Benin in the formulation process of its AfCFTA National Strategy (UNECA)
The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), through its Sub-Regional Office for West Africa, is supporting Benin in its drive to make the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) operational. Through this support, the Ministry of Industry and Trade launched Thursday in Cotonou the process of formulating a national AfCFTA strategy that will serve as a framework for its implementation.
In his speech at the opening ceremony of the workshop, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr. Salami Amzath Bissiriou, said that “It is about constructing an economic zone where our country necessarily has a role to play, a stone to contribute to the consolidation of the common edifice.
As for the Country Coordinator of the United Nations System in Benin, Salvator Niyonzima, he recalled the benefits of this great inter-African market in relation to the objectives of the workshop. According to him, the reason for the presence of civil society organizations, executives from sectoral ministries and the private sector at this meeting is attributable to their willingness to engage in a dialogue that, in the near future, will lead to an AfCFTA strategy for Benin.
Angolan Infrastructure Poised to Spur Growth and Diversification (Energy Capital & Power)
As such, Angola’s Energy Sector Efficiency and Expansion Program Phase I will serve to connect the country’s three grid systems – the northern, central, and southern systems – through the construction of a 16,340km-long 400 kV North-Central-South transmission line by 2025. The interconnection system will evacuate approximately 1,000 MW of low-cost hydropower from the Kwanza River basin to the country’s capital and other population centers in the southern part of Angola.
This project is being implemented through a collaboration between the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Power Africa initiative and multilateral development financial institution, the African Development Bank (AfDB), as part of efforts to improve electricity distribution and strengthen the financial viability of the power market. The project will be overseen by Angola’s Ministry of Energy and Water and will involve a $530 million investment from the AfDB.
With the country’s national budget dedicated to the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity having increased from $482 million in 2021 to $490 million in 2022, Government support to promote the successful implementation of projects led by the private sector will be imperative towards supporting Angola’s power distribution capabilities. As such, major opportunities for foreign investors and strategic partners to participate in the transformation of Angola’s energy sector exist to improve the regulatory environment within the country; develop energy regulation, planning, and procurement; and enable regional harmonization and cross border trade.
Kenya can be a hub for USA to enhance trade, investment relationship with Africa through AfCFTA (Medafrica Times)
During the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, Kenya can be used by the United States as the hub for reaching the 1.3 plus billion African market, Kenya’s senior government official has said as Washington has been trying to strengthen its the trade partnership with Africa.
During his recent visit to Washington, DC, the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Alfred Mutua, told the American government that Kenya is open for business and encouraged American investors to invest in the country. Mutua also said the US is setting up a framework to allow Kenyans to apply for jobs and to get work visas on time and encouraged them to use this opportunity. While attending a bilateral session for negotiations on the Kenya-US Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP), Mutua welcomed the fact that the two countries have agreed to partner in the areas of trade and investment for job creation and visas for youth empowerment, health, food security, climate change, regional peace and security.
Gabon, Sierra Leone Accede to Establishment Agreement of Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) (Afreximbank)
The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the development impact-focused subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced the accession of the Gabonese Republic and the Republic of Sierra Leone to the Fund through their recent respective signing of the FEDA Establishment Agreement.
FEDA described the accession by the two countries as a significant milestone, which will strengthen its ability to provide crucial support to African economies and achieve its objectives effectively. The new memberships expand the reach of FEDA’s interventions and reflect the Fund’s unwavering commitment to its mandate of providing long-term capital to African economies with a focus on industrialization, intra-African trade and value-added exports.
Technological Innovations in Logistics Support the Surge of Global Commerce (Engineering News)
As trade grows, particularly in Africa, constant technological innovation ensures that logistics providers keep pace, writes Natasha Parmanand - Managing Director of FedEx Express Sub-Saharan Africa Operations.
Africa already imports R676 billion (approximately USD37 billion) in freight and logistics goods every year, and the World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts that AfCFTA ratification will boost demand for intra-African freight by 28% by 2030.
Logistics networks are the backbone for trade growth, and it will take rapid and ongoing technological innovation to ensure that logistics providers keep pace with this growth. Fortunately, the logistics industry has a long history of technology-driven innovation, and this is likely to accelerate in the future.
In the future, the most successful logistics organizations will be those that are most agile and can quickly adapt to their customers’ needs. E-commerce customers are moving rapidly towards mobile online shopping – what’s known as m-commerce. Therefore, future online retail platforms will have to be optimized for mobile and must meet consumers where they are – not just on online retail sites, but on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and in metaverse-based social and gaming environments.
The ECOWAS Commission through the Private Sector Directorate organized a technical meeting with private sector actors and the UEMOA Commission to review implementation of the 2015–2020 Regional Private Sector Development Strategy and to provide guidance for the development of the new strategy to cover a ten-year period, 2023–2033.
The meeting which was held in Abuja, Nigeria from 25-27 April 2023, also discussed the draft terms of reference for the development of the Regional Strategy for the Promotion of Start-Ups and digital enterprises.
Commissioner Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Madam Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, represented by the Acting Director Private Sector, Dr. Tony Luka ELUMELU said “some of these issues are enshrined in the ECOWAS 2050 vision, the Community Strategic Framework (CSF) Priorities and key relevant policies of ECOWAS like the 2022-2032 Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME) Charter, the 2021 Public-Private Partnerships Policy and Guidelines. Others she said, built-in the values of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR)/digitization including the emergence of digital enterprises or startups, digital currencies and blockchain technology and the growing importance of regional value chains vis-à-vis global value chains and globalization.
“The commencement of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, the UN SDGs (agenda 2030) and the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET) are other important emerging issues that the new strategies should consider” Mrs TOURE-LITSE, stressed.
ITC and partners to propel ‘Made in Africa’ label and boost trade under AfCFTA (New Ghana)
The Nairobi-based African Organisation for Standardisation (ARSO) and the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to contribute to continent-wide efforts to establish a ‘Made in Africa’ label and boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The agreement renews a working commitment between the two organizations for five years until 2028, with an updated cooperation framework reflecting developments in Africa’s regional integration efforts, underpinned by the AfCFTA, and a growing global shift towards the use of sustainability standards to demonstrate commitment to good environmental, social, ethical and food safety practices.
At the signing ceremony, ARSO Secretary General Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana said: ‘This MOU will generate greater commitment between our organizations and boost intra-Africa trade, particularly through diversified production of value-added industrial products, across all priority sectors of Africa’s economy. Together, we will accelerate standardization activities to increase the competitiveness of African enterprises, strengthen regional value chains and pave the way for Made in Africa goods and services.’
African countries must join forces to diversify energy mix through AfCFTA – Kyari (Newsdiaryonline)
Mr Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL), has called on African countries to take advantage of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
Kyari said this would help to diversify their energy sources into a sustainable and low-carbon energy mix, and ensure sustainability of the energy sector in the continent.
Kyari was represented by the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Mr Adokiye Tombomieye, while delivering a keynote address at a luncheon and panel session organised by Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, United States.
He reiterated the need for African Union to adopt the African common position on energy access and equitable transition, which is a comprehensive approach that charts Africa’s short, medium, and long-term energy development pathways to accelerate universal energy access.
Lead participation, advocacy for AfCFTA – Sosu urges Africa’s youth (MyJoyOnline)
The Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has urged the Youth of Africa to lead participation and advocacy for the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Sosu said: “If the AfCFTA is to work, then the Youth must be at the forefront by way of participation and advocacy to make demands, insist on them, and drive home same for the attention of policy makers. If Africa’s Youth across the Continent decide that enough is enough and this is the way we want to go, then various Heads of States and Governments will have no choice but to provide political support and show strong commitment towards implementing the objects of the AfCFTA Agreement.”
Economic Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa Could Permanently Decline if Geopolitical Tensions Escalate (IMF)
Sub-Saharan Africa could stand to lose the most if the world were split into two isolated trading blocs centered around China or the United States and the European Union. In this severe scenario, sub-Saharan African economies could experience a permanent decline of up to 4 percent of real gross domestic product after 10 years according to our estimates—losses larger than what many countries experienced during the Global Financial Crisis.
Economic and trade alliances with new economic partners, predominantly China, have benefited the region but have also made countries reliant on imports of food and energy more susceptible to global shocks, including disruptions from the surge in trade restrictions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. If geopolitical tensions were to escalate, countries could be hit by higher import prices or even lose access to key export markets—about half of the region’s value of international trade could be impacted.
The losses could be compounded if capital flows between trade blocs were cut off due to geopolitical tensions. The region could lose an estimated $10 billion of foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance inflows, which is about half a percent of GDP a year (based on an average 2017–19 estimate). The reduction in FDI in the long run could also hinder much-needed technology transfer.
The ECOWAS Commission organized the 3rd Joint Meeting of the ECOWAS Ministers of Trade and Industry (ECOMOTI) in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire from 27th – 28th of April 2023, to consider, approve and recommend key trade policy instruments to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers for adoption. The Meeting featured a round table with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to discuss the outcomes of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) and preparations for the MC13.
The Meeting approved and recommended to the ECOWAS Council of Ministers for adoption, the ECOWAS E-Commerce Strategy and Implementation Plan (2023 – 2027), the ECOWAS Implementation Strategy for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Directive of Consumer Protection. Furthermore, the meeting commended the ECOWAS Commission for the progress made in the development of ECOWAS Common Trade Policy; ECOWAS Trade & Investment Promotion Strategy; and Regional Trade & Transport Facilitation Strategy. The Ministers took note of the implementation of the Informal Trade Regulation Support Programme (ITRSP) and discussed issues related to trade in Donkeys and Donkey products, gold trade, illegal trade in cash crops, as well as food insecurity.
African infrastructure is bankable, says Africa50 CEO Alain Ebobissé (African Business)
Africa50’s mandate is to help close that infrastructure gap by channelling direct public and private investment towards that purpose. Its focus is on medium to large scale projects that have the potential to deliver good returns for investors.
“The gap is huge but we are making progress,” Ebobissé says. While there are a lot of bankable projects on the continent and a wealth of capital that is seeking exactly those projects, a lot depends on how the projects are structured.
“Sometimes, when you have risks that the private sector is unable or unwilling to take, you need to have risk mitigation instruments so that you have a bankable project,” he says.
“There are differences in terms of the investment climate in different African countries,” Ebobissé accepts, “but there are a lot of success stories on the ground – some of which we have been involved in. We have to talk about those success stories; those projects that are delivering good impact and decent returns,” he urges.
Digital technologies key to inclusive growth in Africa - African Union Commissioner (AfDB)
Digital technologies could offer Africa a great chance to unlock new pathways for rapid, inclusive economic growth and job creation, according to Ambassador Albert Muchanga, the African Union’s Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals.
In an address to the recent 55th Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Muchanga said the continent needed to raise the requisite funding to develop its digital knowledge base to achieve growth.
“Mobilization of domestic resources should be prioritized with a particular emphasis on fighting illicit financial flows, which deprive the continent of approximately $90 billion annually,” he said at the conference organized by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
President Ruto calls for removal of barrier to the movement of people to boost regional integration (EAC)
The President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. William Samoei Ruto, has called on the members states of the East African Community (EAC) and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to remove barriers to the free movement of people, goods and services in order to enhance regional integration in Eastern Africa.
President Ruto said the free movement of people, goods and services was necessary for sustainable growth and development of the East and Horn of African region. The President said it is the responsibility of the member states in the region to eliminate national boundaries that have since become roadblocks and impediments to the movement of people and commodities across the region.
President Ruto was speaking during the launch of a flagship report titled ‘The State of Migration in the East and Horn of Africa’ at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. The report is the product of collaboration between the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), IGAD and EAC.
Economists divided about global economic recovery this year (Engineering News)
The continuing uncertainty of the global economic outlook is reflected in the striking spread of responses to international organisation the World Economic Forum (WEF) ‘Chief Economists Outlook’ survey, in which experts are evenly divided on the prospects for the global economy, with equal shares of 45% saying that a global recession this year is likely or unlikely.
Further, on the economic policy front, 72% predict proactive industrial policy to become an increasingly widespread phenomenon over the next three years, the WEF notes.
Meanwhile, the chief economists were unanimous in anticipating further changes in the structure of global supply chains, the WEF points out.
Respondents were, however, divided on whether industrial policy will act as an engine of innovation, but they highlighted several potential concerns, including 91% noting a deepening of geo-economic tensions, 70% pointing to the stifling of competition and 68% highlighting a problematic increase in sovereign debt levels.
Botswana President: Inclusive, sustainable trade will allow Africa to realize full potential (WTO)
The WTO should work towards creating a more inclusive trading system that ensures all members of society can benefit from the opportunities that trade provides, H.E. Dr Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi, President of Botswana, said on 2 May at an event held at the WTO as part of the Presidential Lecture Series. In the run-up to the 13th Ministerial Conference to be held in February 2024, President Masisi called on WTO members to ensure that the concerns and interests of all developing countries, particularly those in Africa, are adequately addressed.
DG Okonjo-Iweala noted that Botswana — like most African countries — still faces serious challenges in terms of export diversification, creating jobs, improving skills for new generations and achieving growth that is both socially equitable and environmentally sustainable.
“President Masisi’s government has already started to answer these questions with its reset agenda, promoting digital technology and job creation for young people, especially through value chain development in key sectors, such as mining, tourism, agriculture and education,” she said.
DDG Ellard highlights importance of WTO work on fisheries subsidies for Africa (WTO)
Africa stands to gain greatly from strengthened ocean sustainability if the entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and further outcomes from the second wave of negotiations can be secured by the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in February 2024, Deputy Director-General Angela Ellard said on 2 May. DDG Ellard made the remarks at a workshop on fisheries subsidies organized by the WTO for English-speaking African countries held in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
“As a continent surrounded by oceans and home to numerous fisheries, Africa is responsible for the management and conservation of a significant portion of the world’s marine resources,” DDG Ellard said. “With over 12 million people in Africa depending directly and indirectly on the marine fishing industry for their livelihoods, it is crucial that we work together toward sustainable management of our ocean resources,” she noted.
Global forum spotlights actions to make trade more sustainable and inclusive (UNCTAD)
UNCTAD will host the third UN Trade Forum on 8 and 9 May 2023 to identify trade policies that can help countries grow their economies while tackling pressing global challenges and accelerating progress towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
The forum will give particular attention to developing countries, which have been hit hardest by multiple global crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the climate emergency.
“A cascade of global crises has disrupted international trade, including for essential foods, and revealed the trading system’s vulnerabilities and imbalances,” UNCTAD Deputy Secretary-General Pedro Manuel Moreno said ahead of the forum.
“But trade remains a very powerful engine for sustainable and inclusive growth,” Mr. Moreno said. “And UNCTAD remains committed to providing the data and analysis policymakers need to take informed decisions and ensure trade growth benefits all people and the planet.”
Higher global wheat price looms as UN, Russia deal uncertain (The East African)
Kenya is staring at elevated wheat prices in the coming months should Russia fail to renew a United Nations-brokered deal on grain passage along the Black Sea this month (May).
Russia said it would not renew the Grain Initiative deal, first reached last year if the US and European Union did not lift the sanctions they have slapped on Moscow.
The current deal, which allows grain from Ukraine to pass through the Black Sea Channel, is due to expire on May 18.But Russia has repeatedly said it will not permit the deal to be extended unless the West removes obstacles to Russian grain and fertiliser exports.
Kenya, which imports up to 75 percent of the annual wheat requirement, has exhausted the local stocks and is currently relying on imports to meet the growing demand for the grain in the country.
Russia and Ukraine account for over a third of the world’s total wheat with any disruption in supply having serious ramifications on countries that rely on imports to bridge their deficit.
Regional integration is key to economic growth. Here’s why (WEF)
Against a backdrop of global fragmentation, inflationary pressure and geopolitical unrest, many countries are pursuing efforts to deepen regional economic integration.
Regional integration was a major topic of the World Economic Forum’s Growth Summit 2023, which took place at the Forum’s headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, between 2-3 May.
In a session titled Regional Trade and Cooperation in a Fragmenting World, top business and trade officials discussed how best to foster regional trade and explored how regional cooperation can bolster the global economy. For panellists, the message was clear: to avoid a lost decade, economies must preserve and expand international trade.
South African business community expects BRICS summit to enhance trade (Xinhua)
BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are expected to discuss measures to relax some trade hindrances, increase trade among member states and promote post-pandemic economic recovery, said Ayanda Ntsaluba, an official from the South African Chapter of BRICS Business Council, Tuesday.
Ntsaluba told Xinhua in an interview that they have been engaging with business councils from other BRICS countries on the ideas, and have invited leaders from regional economic communities to meet with the BRICS leaders to discuss business.
Bilateral trade between South Africa and China as well as that between South Africa and India have shown impressive growth, he noted, adding that they would like to further strengthen relatively low trade with Russia and Brazil.
Ntsaluba said they would like to explore how to increase the export of South African beef, grapes and wines to China and other BRICS countries.
Rich nations to meet overdue $100bn climate pledge this year (Engineering News)
Wealthy nations are on track this year to meet their overdue $100-billion (about R1.8-trillion) climate finance pledge to developing countries, three years later than promised, Germany’s foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said on Tuesday.
Baerbock said donor countries met on Monday to discuss progress towards their pledge, made back in 2009, to transfer $100-billion per year from 2020 to vulnerable states hit by increasingly severe climate change impacts.
Uncertainty in Preferential Trade Agreements: Impact of AGOA Suspensions on Exports (World Bank)
This study examines the impact of the abrupt suspension of African Growth and Opportunity Act benefits on exports from eligible African countries. The study uses a triple difference-in-differences estimation that controls for both country- and product-level export changes. The results suggest that the suspension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act has had a considerable negative impact on the level of exports to the United States. The impact appears to be bigger for countries with a high African Growth and Opportunity Act utilization rate.
The suspension is associated with a 39 percent decline in exports to the United States. At the product level, the suspension hurt apparel and textile exports, leading to a decline of their exports by about 88 percent. Understanding the impact of withdrawing access to a nonreciprocal trade agreement is particularly important now, as the European Union began negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements with African countries, as a sign of a shift to reciprocity; the United States is considering a similar path of negotiating free trade agreements with individual African countries. These developments underscore the need to prepare for a post–African Growth and Opportunity Act period with more reciprocity, as trade uncertainty is becoming rampant.
Air Cargo Declines Moderate in March (IATA)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for March 2023 global air cargo markets showing a continued decline against previous year’s demand performance. This trend began in March 2022.
“Air cargo had a volatile first quarter. In March, overall demand slipped back below pre-COVID-19 levels and most of the indicators for the fundamental drivers of air cargo demand are weak or weakening. While the trading environment is tough, there is some good news. Airlines are getting help in managing through the volatility with yields that have remained high and fuel prices that have moderated from exceptionally high levels. Looking ahead, with inflation reducing in G7 countries policy makers are expected to ease economic cooling measures and that would stimulate demand,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.
African airlines saw cargo volumes decrease by 6.2% in March 2023 compared to March 2022. This was an improvement in performance compared to the previous month (-7.4%). Notably, Africa to Asia routes experienced significant cargo demand growth in March.
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Trade Statistics for March 2023 | South African Revenue Service
South Africa recorded a preliminary trade balance surplus of R6.9 billion in March 2023. This surplus is attributable to exports of R192.2 billion and imports of R185.3 billion, inclusive of trade with Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and Namibia (BELN).
The year-to-date (01 January to 31 March 2023) preliminary trade balance deficit of R6.2 billion is a deterioration from the R61.9 billion trade balance surplus for the comparable period in 2022. Export flows for March 2023, at R192.2 billion, were 3.2% higher compared to March 2022 (R186.3bn) whilst import flows were 30.9% higher having increased from R141.5 billion in March 2022 to R185.3 billion in the current period.
Tunisia: Textile and apparel exports post 16.78% rise in Q1 2023 (ZAWYA)
Textile and apparel exports grew 16.78% during the first quarter of 2023, to TND 2,626.6 million, the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy said on Wednesday. In euro terms, the growth of exports in this sector reached 14.61% compared to the same period of 2022, to €788.3 million, or an estimated coverage rate of 145%.
These results exceeded the value of exports achieved in the same period of 2019 (before the COVID-19 pandemic), by 22.11% in dinars (TND 2,151.1 million) and 26.64% in euros (€622.5 million).
Exports went up by 16.72% to 926.4 million dinars in March 2023. In euros, the increase reached 14.38% to €278.2 million.
Africa can be solution to world’s net zero ambition, says Osinbajo (TheCable)
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says Africa has the potential to become the solution to the net zero ambition of the world.
Speaking on Sunday, in Nairobi, Kenya at a meeting tagged ‘Africa-Europe Earthshot: 2023 Milestone Map’, Osinbajo said he endorses the idea of setting the agenda for the Africa-Europe cooperation on just energy future.
The theme of the meeting was “Unlocking Investment for a Just Energy Future.’’
“I think that agenda is important — the climate positive growth agenda — that we have heard. And I think in the past couple of days, it has been exciting to hear President William Ruto speak so eloquently and so articulately,” Osinbajo said.
Indonesia and Kenya set to recover their lost trade revenue (Business Insider Africa)
This comes after its commerce with Kenya decreased in value in 2022 from $560 million (76.2 billion sh) to $501 million (Sh68.2 billion). The Indonesian Embassy claims to diversify its shipments into the Kenyan Market from conventional palm oil to increase these earnings.
The decline in trade value was ascribed to COVID-19, which paralyzed shipping and transportation. According to Rendra Kusumawardana, the Secretary of Economic Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy, the Asian nation will seek to boost its exports in the food and beverage sector.
There was more good news for the successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement in December 2022, when a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the United States (US) Trade Representative and the AfCFTA Secretariat at the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit (Summit) in Washington DC. The MoU covers expanded engagement between the two regions and intends to “promote equitable, sustainable, and inclusive trade; boost competitiveness; and attract investment to the continent.”
It was also announced at the Summit that US intended to invest USD 55 billion in Africa over the next three years, and that USD 15 billion would be deployed in “two-way trade and investment commitments, deals, and partnerships that advance key priorities, including sustainable energy, health systems, agribusiness, digital connectivity, infrastructure, and finance.”
The trade partnership between the US and Africa has been strengthening for some time. In July 2021, the Biden Administration announced that it would renew the US Prosper Africa initiative, started in 2019, with a focus on increasing reciprocal trade and investment between the US and African countries. At the time, the US said that the initiative would focus on improving trade and investment in sectors such as infrastructure, energy and climate solutions, healthcare and technology. Seventeen US government agencies working as part of this initiative were given a mandate to, among other things, empower African businesses, offer deal support and connect investors from the US with those in Africa. The renewed Prosper Africa initiative also focuses on projects that support women, and small and medium enterprises in Africa. It was further announced at the December 2022 Summit that, through the Prosper Africa initiative, plans were being made to boost African exports to the US by USD 1 billion through investments and partnerships, and to mobilise an additional USD 1 billion in US investment in Africa.
Ports are key to Africa’s global trade promise (Semafor)
South Africa was the only African country to rank among the Top 20 countries on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, which is dominated by European countries, the United States and China.’
The ports at Africa’s most advanced economy compared favorably with some wealthier countries where the average dwell time for containers between May and October 2022 was three days for India and Singapore and four for the United Arab Emirates and South Africa but seven for the United States and 10 for Germany.
On average it about 5.3 days (including processing time) to get a container through a South African port according to the report. It takes fewer days in Mauritius (4.3 days) but South Africa does better overall on the index because of superior infrastructure, customs processes, and logistics processes. HighlightTrack This PhraseMute This PhraseSearch FeedlyTweet (327 chars)Post to WordPressClip to EvernoteSave to OneNoteSearch Google38 duplicates removed
PAPSS and ASEA forge strategic partnership to revolutionize cross-border payment of Stock Exchanges in Africa (Afreximbank)
The Pan African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) and the African Stock Exchanges Association (ASEA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance collaboration and cooperation in promoting cross-border payments of Capital Markets infrastructure in Africa. The MoU was signed on 14 April 2023 during the ASEA 2023 Building African Financial Markets Seminar held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, which brought together Stock Exchanges and capital markets stakeholders from across Africa to discuss ways to deepen integration and connectivity of African capital markets.
For a long time, investors doing business in Africa have struggled with making and settling cross-border payments. Payments take a long time to complete, are expensive since the existing environment necessitates the use of correspondent banks outside of the continent, and are done in foreign currencies (USD or Euro). Because of this, African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat developed PAPSS, which enables instant cross-border payment in local currency.
Experts move for improved local manufacturing of drugs (The Guardian Nigeria)
Experts have called for boost in local production of drugs to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mahmuda Mamman, led the call at the launch of Nigerian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Quality Improvement and Capacity Building, a World Health Organisation (WHO) Pre-Qualification programme, in Lagos.
Mamman advised pharmaceutical manufacturers to leverage the project to increase their capacities for local manufacturing, thereby, strengthening the health system for better epidemic preparedness and response.
Measuring the value of E-commerce (UNCTAD)
Producing statistics on the digital economy and society is an increasingly important component of the work programme of national statistical organizations. The demand for such statistics continuously rises as more countries seek to design, monitor and review national policies and strategies to take advantage of information and communications technologies (ICTs).
One area in which there is very limited information available concerns the monetary value of e-commerce transactions. Measuring this has become increasingly important, not least as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic during which a shift to making online purchases supported economic resilience.
Better statistics on the value of e-commerce are needed to understand its economic role and contributions to GDP, employment and development, as well as for evidence-based policymaking. Because of this, UNCTAD member states have indicated that developing guidance and support on measuring e-commerce is a key priority.
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United Republic of Tanzania; 2023 Article IV Consultation IMF)
Spillovers from the war in Ukraine and shortfalls in rainfall stalled Tanzania’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite fuel and fertilizer subsidies, inflation has picked up in recent months, approaching the Bank of Tanzania’s target. External balances deteriorated significantly last year due in large part to spillovers from the war in Ukraine.
US partners with Kenya in Trade, Investment (Capital News)
Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Dr. Alfred Mutua has encouraged Kenyans to apply for jobs in the United States of America (USA). Dr. Mutua said the US is setting up a framework to allow Kenyans to apply for jobs and to get work visas on time.
“The United States is working on modalities to speed up visa processing at the Nairobi embassy to reduce the long waiting times,” he said. The CS is in Washington DC in United States of America attending a bilateral session for negotiations on the Kenya-United States of America Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership accompanied by the Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry Moses Kuria and other senior government officials.
He said the two countries have agreed to partner in the areas of trade and investment for job creation and visas for youth empowerment, health, food security, climate change, regional peace and security.
Kagame in Tanzania in effort to improve trade ties (The Citizen)
Tanzania and Rwanda are on the move to push forward new trading strategies as both countries’ leaders agree that the current value and volume don’t reflect the scope of resources available.
Tanzania is among Rwanda’s top importers at $154.93 million, behind only China, whose imports were valued at $197.58 million as of 2021, according to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda. The value of goods and services re-exported from Rwanda to Tanzania as of 2021 was tabled at only $1.58 million at the end of 2021.
“We have agreed to improve the communication and transport networks, such as the ports of Dar es Salaam and Tanga, where Rwanda is among the major customers,” she said.
Federal Govt Raises Import Tariff On Rice, Wheat (Leadership News)
The Federal Government has revised Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) for Implementation of ECOW CET (2022-2026), raising tariffs on importation of rice as well as wheat. The 2023 revised document, raised tariff on rice packing of more than 5kg or in bulk and in packing of 5kg or less to 60 per cent from 50 per cent.
Similarly, importation of wheat or meslin flour now attracts 70 percent tariffs as against 50 in 2022-2026 ECOWAS CET. This was stated in a document by the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed.
The document titled ‘Revised Import Adjustment Tax (IAT) for Implementation of ECOW CET (2022-2026), 2023 fiscal policy measures, according to reported by BusinessDay.
Nigerians q1 non oil export hits 1 345b (The Nation Online)
The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) said put the country’s non-oil exports in the first quarter (Q1) of this year at S$1.345billion. Its Executive Director/CEO, Dr Ezra Yakusak disclosed this at the presentation of the Q1 progress report on the non-oil export performance for this year in Abuja, stating that a total of 167 products were exported during the period under review.
Yakusak said products exported ranged from manufactured, semi-processed, solid minerals and raw agricultural commodities adding that just like last year, Q1 also showed that Nigerian products are gradually shifting from its traditional export of raw agricultural commodities to the export of semi-processed and manufactured goods.
He noted that in the 2022 non-oil export performance which was presented in January 2023, the Council recorded the highest export value since it was established 47 years ago. The sector recorded a significant milestone as the non-oil export trade worth $4.820 billion was recorded for the year, representing an increase of 39.91per cent over 2021 export value.
Africa Trade barometer report shows promising growth in trade – Stanbic IBTC (The Nation Online)
Stanbic IBTC Holdings, a member of Standard Bank Group has shared some of its latest findings from the Africa Trade Barometer report 2022 released recently. The report, which assesses key economic indicators in Africa highlights several noteworthy developments across 10 African countries.
According to the report, Nigeria is placed eighth out of the ten countries on the Africa Trade Barometer (ATB) after dropping one position (sixth to seventh place) on the Qualitative Trade Barometer (QTB) rankings and gaining two places (10th to eighth position) on Survey Trade Barometer (STB), which was driven mainly by directional improvements in the trader’s financial behaviour.
Nigeria’s economic growth has largely recovered after the 2020 recession (primarily brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic). The projected economic growth (3.2% in 2022-2024) is average.
The report also identified an increased trade openness across the continent. Various regional and multilateral agreements have facilitated this positive trend, reducing trade barriers and improving market access. Nigerian firms have become more optimistic about prospects for importing and exporting, a significant increase in importing and a directional increase in exporting.
“The Africa Trade Barometer report 2022 identifies several positive developments, challenges, and how to scale up a business in Nigeria’s trade sector. These developments demonstrate the country’s resilience and potential for growth and should encourage investors to explore opportunities in the region,” Head, Business and Commercial Clients, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Remy Osuagwu, added.
Africa CDC hosts the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) Forum (Africa CDC)
Her Excellency the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa opened the Partnerships for African Vaccines Manufacturing (PAVM) Forum at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) was established by the African Union (AU), under the Africa CDC, in 2021 to deliver a bold goal: enable the African vaccine manufacturing industry to develop, produce, and supply over 60 percent of the total vaccine doses required on the continent by 2040, up from less than 1 percent. The Continental Framework for Action (FFA) was developed and endorsed during the 40th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council and lays out the key interventions required to enable the development of a sustainable vaccine manufacturing industry in Africa.
The PAVM Forum saw the participation of the African Union Member States, African Manufacturers, National Regulatory Agencies (NRAs), Partners and donors with an objective of providing updates on the Progress achieved under the PAVM Initiative, a thorough review of the eight bold programs, highlight new priorities, outline areas for continued collaboration and support, and interact with member states, manufacturers, funders, and other partners on their priorities.
Informal cross border trade in Africa is known to be large and an important contributor to the livelihoods of millions of Africans but there are no agreed methods to accurately measure it, experts said at the first physical meeting of the Task Force on developing a harmonized methodology for Informal Cross-Border Trade Data Collection.
“Understanding the scale, magnitude and characteristics of Informal Cross-Border Trade (ICBT) will be instrumental in accurately monitoring intra-African trade, as well as the development of appropriate economic policy,” said Melaku Geboye Desta, Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) at the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), at the opening of the meeting of the Task Force in Kampala, Uganda.
EAC grain traders meet (Kenya News Agency)
Stakeholders trading on cereals in the East African Community region have converged in Kenya for a two day meeting to brainstorm on issues affecting the sector in the wake of acute deficit of the commodity.
The meeting that has brought governments officials, farmers and the business community from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi , Botswana, Zambia and DRC are set to propose ways of unlocking the bottlenecks and come up with interventions that will promote seamless grain food trade across the re to spur development.
Speaking during the forum ,East African Grain Council (EAGC) Gerald Masila said that trading in the region is mostly informal with approximately two-thirds of food trade done through informal channels.
Zambia to Host the 22nd COMESA Summit in June (COMESA)
The Government of the Republic of Zambia has announced that it will this year host the 22nd COMESA Heads of State and Governments Summit on 8 June in the capital Lusaka. The Summit will be preceded by the Meeting of the Committee of Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 6 June and the COMESA Business Forum and Exhibition on 7 June 2023.
The Summit follows the COMESA Policy Organs meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee and Council of Ministers which were held in Lusaka in December 2022.
Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Hon. Chipoka Mulenga and Secretary General Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe revealed this on Tuesday 25 April 2023 in Lusaka during the signing ceremony of the Agreement for the Hosting of the COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit. The meetings shall be held at the Kenneth Kaunda wing of the Mulungushi International Conference centre.
On the occasion of its Annual Meetings, to be held from 22 to 26 May 2023 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, the African Development Bank Group plans to highlight the role that multilateral development banks could play in building a new development architecture beyond the financial.
The importance of this subject stems from the fact that multilateralism is currently facing significant challenges, including in responding to climate change, conflict, social fragility, and pandemics. International organizations should maximize their resources by engaging governments, the private sector, and other stakeholders to bring about meaningful change. If this is not done, less-developed economies could become more vulnerable.
From a development-financing perspective, a vital issue to be addressed at the Annual Meetings is reducing the current level of concentration of policy instruments and promoting inclusion and better coordination among multilateral development banks.
Harness diaspora resources for development, Buhari urges African countries (Tribune Online)
President Muhammadu Buhari has urged African countries to harness human and material resources of the DiasporaThis, he said, would enable them to become forces to be reckoned with in regards to sustainable development of their homelands, regional bodies, and national governments.
Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo made call in his keynote address at the Global African Diaspora Symposium (GADS) which was held in Abuja.”This could be done through remittances, medical missions, educational visits, tourism, investments and enterprises, among others.
Commodity Prices to Register Sharpest Drop Since the Pandemic (World Bank)
Global commodity prices are expected to decline this year at the fastest clip since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, clouding the growth prospects of almost two-thirds of developing economies that depend on commodity exports, according to the World Bank’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook report.
The drop in prices, however, is expected to bring little relief to the nearly 350 million people across the world who face food insecurity. Although food prices are expected to fall by 8% in 2023, they will be at the second-highest level since 1975. Moreover, as of February this year, annual food price inflation is at 20% globally, the highest level over the past two decades.
“The surge in food and energy prices after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has largely passed due to slowing economic growth, a moderate winter, and reallocations in the commodity trade,” said Indermit Gill, the World Bank’s Chief Economist and Senior Vice President for Development Economics. “But this is of little comfort to consumers in many countries. In real terms, food prices will remain at one of the highest levels of the past five decades. Governments should avoid trade restrictions and protect their poorest citizens using targeted income-support programs rather than price controls.”
Small business group appoints new coordinator, discusses digitalisation, finance and standards (WTO)
The Informal Working Group on Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) on 26 April discussed the benefits of digitalisation for small business, the role of intellectual property rights in facilitating small business access to finance, and how MSMEs deal with sustainability standards.
The Group on the G20’s work on MSMEs’ access to information, finance and markets.
The Group appointed Ambassador Matthew Wilson of Barbados as its new coordinator. The outgoing coordinator, Ambassador José Luís Cancela (Uruguay), drew attention to the achievements of the Group, particularly the 2020 package of recommendations aimed at helping small businesses trade internationally.
He also highlighted the establishment of databases of MSME provisions in trade agreements and in trade policy reviews and the Trade4MSMEs platform, which provides a gateway to MSME trade information. “This is an impressive number of deliverables and I know that the Group will continue to explore new areas of work and to think outside of the box on what it can do going forward,” he said. “The MSME Group is now at 98 members, covering roughly 90 per cent of global trade, and I know that the spirit of inclusivity and openness will bring others on board,” he added.
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala urges ECOWAS to harness trade for sustainable growth (WTO)
Dr Abas Jalo, Minister of Trade and Industry of Guinea Bissau and Chair of the meeting, stressed the need for ECOWAS member countries and the WTO to focus on implementing the outcomes of the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) and to engage in a dialogue on how African member countries can best contribute to the success of the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) to be held in Abu Dhabi in February 2024.
The Director-General highlighted the potential for West Africa to benefit from reglobalization and the diversification of global supply chains. The war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted risks linked to excessive concentration in global supply networks. This could provide opportunities for supply chain investment in West Africa, she added.
WTO members praise value of capturing lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic (WTO)
At a meeting of the Committee on Market Access on 26-27 April, WTO members adopted a document reflecting lessons learned from trade in COVID-19 related goods and indicating practices members might want to consider in the event of future emergencies. Members were updated on the notification of quantitative restrictions (QRs) and addressed a high number of trade concerns.
The Committee document on lessons learned ( G/MA/409 ) is the result of the six experience-sharing sessions held since March 2022 where members exchanged information and practices on the measures they implemented on trade in COVID-19 related goods within the mandate of the Committee. The Chair of the Committee, Kenya Uehara, echoed “the general sentiment that the Committee on Market Access (CMA) experience-sharing sessions on trade in COVID-19 related goods have been very useful for members to better understand how we have collectively reacted during this unprecedented situation and also how we could do better in the future.”
DDG Ellard urges parliamentarians to deepen support for WTO, ratify Fisheries Agreement (WTO)
The second strand of ongoing work on fisheries is continuing negotiations to resolve the outstanding issues that could not be agreed at MC12, which include disciplining subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, along with appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least-developed Members. To the contrary, now that the Agreement is concluded, WTO Members are engaged in two parallel processes to carry the work forward.
More members will expand BRICS’ influence (Chinadaily.cn)
The appeal of the BRICS organization is more evident than ever before. Reportedly, 19 countries from around the world have expressed an interest in joining the group as members or observers.
Over the past 10 years, BRICS has grown in success and its influence has been widely recognized. Joining it means more opportunities for development.
The multilateral development bank established by the BRICS members, the New Development Bank, headquartered in Shanghai, is a meaningful platform for BRICS and other countries to make better use of their financial resources to address development deficits, reducing their dependence on the US dollar and providing them more financial autonomy.
As such, an expanded BRICS means greater international influence and a bigger say in global rule-making for developing countries.
It is projected that the BRICS countries will collectively contribute about 32.1 percent of the world’s economic growth this year, compared with the G7’s 29.9 percent. The International Monetary Fund predicts that the two figures will become 33.6 percent and 27.8 percent respectively by 2028 when BRICS’ share in the world’s gross domestic product will reach about 35-40 percent and that of the G7 about 27.8 percent.
These are the world’s biggest trading blocs (WEF)
Rising levels of world trade have been a powerful means for countries to promote economic growth, development and poverty reduction, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“Policies that make an economy open to trade and investment with the rest of the world are needed for sustained economic growth. The evidence on this is clear,” the IMF says. “No country in recent decades has achieved economic success, in terms of substantial increases in living standards for its people, without being open to the rest of the world.”
However, trade has been dented by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic aftershocks.
“There is a widening chasm between the prospects of advanced economies and developing and emerging economies that had previously counted on globalization-enabled growth,” says the overview for the World Economic Forum’s 2023 Growth Summit.
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SA Committed to Speedily Finalising Electric Vehicle Policy – Deputy Minister Gina (the dtic)
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina says government is committed to finalising with speed, the development of South Africa’s Electric Vehicle Policy, working with all critical industry players.
She was speaking at the grand opening of the Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) headquarters in Centurion, Pretoria. The 11 hectare newly refurbished campus not only serves as headquarters, but accommodates a training centre, used and new vehicle retail facilities, in addition to a fully fledge dedicated Daimler Truck Financial Services company.
The new premises came as a result of R190 million pledge made by the company at the 4th South African Investment Conference in 2022. The investment amount was split between Centurion Campus and improvements at the company’s East London plant.
“Our approach of working with the industry associations like the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (NAAMSA) on this policy framework will continue to the end. We all feel the pressure to move with speed so that we are not overtaken by other markets still at their foundation phase, like us. We all agree that the maturity of our South African automotive sector locates it at a vantage point to be part of the leaders in EVs, including component manufacturers. We therefore appeal for partnership and cooperation as we increase our speed to finalise strategic policy areas,” she said.
South Africa expects post-Covid increase in emissions, following 20-year decline to 2020 (Engineering News)
South Africa‘s net greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions decreased marginally by about 0.8% between 2000 and 2020, the eighth National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report (NIR), released by Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Barbara Creecy on April 26, shows.
Net GHG emissions in carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent were 446-million tonnes in 2000 and declined to 442-million tonnes in 2020.
However, in the period between 2017 and 2020, net GHG emissions declined by 5.9%, primarily as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Power generation; transport; industrial fuel use; fugitive emissions from processing of fuels; livestock and waste management are the biggest sources of GHG emissions in South Africa.
Egyptian-African trade exchange hit $2.117bln in Q1 2023 (ZAWYA)
Trade exchange between Egypt and the markets of the African continent amounted to about $2.117 billion during the first quarter (Q1) of this year, MENA News Agency reported on April 26th, citing the Egyptian Trade and Industry Minister Ahmed Samir. The minister added that Egyptian exports to African markets reached $1.611 billion, while imports amounted to $506 million.
Samir said that the ministry is currently working to achieve economic integration among the countries of the African continent to overcome obstacles that may hinder joint trade movement.
Namibia: Locals to fund most of current year’s deficit (The Namibian)
The government this year intends to borrow over 70% of its N$10,08 billion funding requirement from the domestic market, which will largely be sourced from pension funds and the banking industry.
The Bank of Namibia late last week released the borrowing calendar and strategy for the country for the 2023/24 fiscal year, which shows that the year’s funding requirement will be sourced through a combination of domestic market funding (N$7,37 billion) through different debt instruments covering the short, medium and long term.
The 2023/24 fiscal strategy estimated a budget deficit balance of N$9,1 billion, which is further expanded by N$937 million. The remainder (N$2,70 billion) will be financed by external borrowing through external lenders.
Kenya, Botswana explore ways of deepening relations for mutual benefit (KBC)
Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua Monday held bilateral engagements with the President of the Republic of Botswana Dr Eric Mokgweetsi Masisi at the Office of the President in Gaborone.During their meeting, the two parties discussed a number of issues aimed at deepening relations for mutual benefit of their people.
Key among the issues was inter-state agreements to increase trade volumes under the frameworks of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AFCFTA), Tripartite Free Trade Area Agreement, among others.
Zimbabwe: US$101m investment jump starts industry (The Herald)
At least US$101 million was invested into Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector, with companies expanding their capacities by up to 30 percent in 2022, a Cabinet minister has said.
This saw capacity utilisation increasing to 63 percent from 56 percent in 2021 while shelf occupancy of locally manufactured goods has increased to about 80 percent, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Sekai Nzenza said while addressing the International Business Conference Session at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
The conference was held under the theme “Glocalisation: Celebrating Zimbabwe’s Success and Unlocking Economic Growth Opportunities”. Zimbabwe’s context of ‘glocalisation’ strategy entails combining ‘globalisation’ and ‘localisation’. Export of manufactured goods increased by 12,9 percent from US$324 million in 2021 to US$366 million in 2022.
The African Development Bank has signed a $525,000 grant agreement with Africa Fintech Network (AFN) for the setup of the Africa Fintech Hub, an online portal that will serve as a one-stop shop for all fintech activities in Africa. The agreement was signed on 4 April 2023.
The Africa Digital Financial Inclusion Facility (ADFI) will provide funding and technical assistance to the Africa Fintech Network to host and manage the African Fintech Hub. The hub is a digital platform that will enable fintech associations across Africa to pool resources and knowledge, strengthen relationships and partnerships, as well as showcase the work of fintech on the continent, including those which are female-led or owned.
Egypt’s exports to Sudan increase by 12.4% in 2022 despite economic challenges: FEDCOC (ZAWYA)
Chairperson of Supply and Internal Trade Committee at the Federation of Chambers of Commerce Matta Bishai said that Egypt is keen on stabilizing the situation in Sudan, added that Egypt’s exports to Sudan have increased by 12.4% over the past year on an annual basis, according to data issued by the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics.
Bishai noted that the Egypt’s exports to Sudan amounted to approximately $929.2m in 2022, compared to $826.8m in 2021, explaining that there is an opportunity for Egypt to enhance its exports to Sudan and African countries, especially in light of road infrastructure that Egypt has developed to link and enhance its trade with countries of the African continent.
Malawi minister calls for enhanced regional integration to address energy hurdles (Capital Radio Malawi)
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola is challenging African countries to trust in their own human capital such as engineers when addressing challenges affecting the sector. Speaking at the 9th edition of Mozambique Mining and Energy Conference and Exhibition, Matola hinted that it is time to encourage regional integration while also focusing on developing local solutions within member countries .
“Such collaborative efforts are necessary since common problems cannot be resolved independently without proper cooperation among African countries,” Matola said.
The Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has commended Ghana’s robust and visionary efforts to digitalise broad aspects of the country’s economy and the entire E-commerce architecture describing it as the future of trade.
Describing digital trade as the “wave of the future”, DG Okonjo-Iweala, said such vibrant activism by countries like Ghana has informed the WTO to begin negotiating an E-commerce agreement that will decide the rules of digital trade.
Interacting with the President, Dr Ikonjo-Iweala said, “total global trade is about 31 trillion dollars. Of that, goods/merchandise trade is 25 trillion and services at 7 trillion. Within that services, digital services trade is growing the fastest, at about half of it, which is 4 trillion. And it’s growing rapidly at 8 percent per annum compared to the goods trade.”
As a result of this encouraging trend, she continued, “we are thinking that this is an area where our countries can benefit, and when we look, Ghana, as we mentioned to the Hon Minister in the morning, seems to be doing well providing some digitally traded services and professional services in business outsourcing.”
How EAC member states lost $79 billion to Covid-19 pandemic (The Citizen)
The East African Community (EAC) bloc lost between $37 billion to $79 billion in revenue due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been revealed.
The pandemic led to reductions in household income and disruptions of supply chains of tradable goods and services, a senior EAC secretariat official has said. Most affected areas were the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries, whose value chains were rendered dysfunctional.
“The Covid-19 pandemic hit the region hard,” said the EAC director of Social Sector Dr Irene Isaka at the end of a technical meeting on disease control. The pandemic, she said, also highlighted several structural and health systems challenges which called for strengthening of the key pillars of regional health systems.
CEMAC suffered a 17.9% drop in the prices of energy exports in Q1 2023 (Business in Cameroon)
The prices of energy products exported by Cemac countries during the first quarter of 2023 fell by 17.9% QoQ, the Composite Commodity Price Index (ICCPB) published by the Central Bank Beac showed.
The decline, Beac points out, is due to a rather gloomy global oil and gas market. “The price of an oil barrel fell by 7.3% over the period reviewed, after an 11.6% reduction in the previous quarter. In addition, the prices of natural gas shrunk by 37.6%, compared with 29.1% previously. Between Q4 2022 and Q1 2023, oil prices fell from $85.3 to $79 per barrel and gas prices from $28.6 to $17.9 per MMBtu of gas.
Beac found many reasons behind this price drop. They include the abundance of global supply, coupled with the strong dynamic of Russian exports, and the tightening of monetary policies in many countries, which is weighing on demand and exerting downward pressure on prices since the end of 2022.
Population dividend primes Africa for digital economy (The Chronicle)
AFRICA must leverage its huge population dividend to advance digitalisation and boost Intra-African trade, a vital component for economic growth, Smart Africa director general and chief executive officer, Mr Lacina Koné, said yesterday.
He said a wide range of international organisations and partners such as the Africa Union, the World Bank, the United Nations, the International Telecommunications Union and Smart Africa are positioned to support the development of digitalisation in Africa, but African integration remains so far limited.
“Intra-African exports are merely 16,6 percent of total exports, compared with 68,1 percent in European Union, 59,4 percent in Asia and 55,0 percent in America. “Additionally, Africa is the continent with the lowest internet penetration rate at 39 percent of the population, compared to a global average of nearly 60 percent. “What’s good about a digital market size of 1,4 billion people, if half of this market does not have access to the internet? It becomes a digital market of 700 million people,” he said.
Communication MoU to spur Africa’s digital growth (The Chronicle)
THE Smart Africa and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) secretariats today signed a memorandum of agreement in Victoria Falls that seeks to enhance collaboration in information, communication and technology to develop a Single Digital Market for Africa under the AfCFTA.
Smart Africa Director General and chief executive officer, Mr Lacina Koné and Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA Secretariat Wamkele Mene signed on behalf of the two institutions.
The agreement will see them cooperate mainly in the areas of technical support to the development and implementation of the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade, cooperation in work related to digital transformation and promotion of digital financial inclusion.
Connect Africa Symposium roars to life at ZITF (The Chronicle)
ALL is set for the Connect Africa Symposium being held today on the sidelines of the 63rd edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo. African Continental Free Trade Area secretary general His Excellency Wamkele Mene is expected to deliver the keynote address.
The symposium is running under the theme: Unlocking Africa’s Potential: Innovation, Competitiveness and Sustainable Development.
The symposium will also cover issues to do with collaborations, a sustainable approach to development aid where Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka is expected to present.
EABC urges EAC states to reduce cost of digital tax stamps (The Independent Uganda)
The East African Business Council (EABC) has called for a review and reduction in the cost of the Digital Tax Stamp system, which has been implemented in the region to improve revenue collection on excisable goods. The regional body is urging the East African Community states, through the revenue authorities, to take quick action to reduce Digital DTS costs by reviewing existing DTS contracts with a view to reducing the high excise stamp fees imposed on manufacturers.
This follows a recent EABC analysis that showed that despite the solution provider of DTS being the same across the region, the cost of the stamp differs significantly in each country.
The stamp fee is an additional to the excise duty tax payable under the country’s respective Excise Act – which EAC claims is equivalent to double taxation for manufacturers.
Boosting international trade – How SWIFT payments empower SMEs for AfCFTA (MyJoyOnline)
In today’s globalised world, the need for swift and secure payments of goods and services has become more important than ever. SWIFT payments have emerged as a reliable and efficient way to make payments within and across borders, and they have become a preferred option for many consumers and businesses alike.
SWIFT stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication and is a network that connects banks and other financial institutions across the world. The network provides a secure and reliable platform for the transfer of funds between banks, making it a popular choice for international payments for goods and services. SWIFT payments, therefore, refers to an international messaging system used by banks and other financial institutions to securely exchange sensitive payment instructions related to international trade and money transfers.
Payments made through the SWIFT network typically take only a few hours to complete, depending on the banks involved and the time zones. This is significantly faster than traditional methods of making payments across borders, which could take several days or even weeks to complete. The speed SWIFT payments come with is a sure way to enable our local SMEs receive and send money quickly for goods and services and increase trade volumes, free up time previously lost while waiting to confirm payments.
This can be crucial for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) that operate in fast-paced environments where quick access to capital can be the difference between success and failure. For instance, a shoe manufacturing house in Accra was to buy raw materials from a leather manufacturer in Kenya, it would be able to make payment for the leather instantly on the SWIFT platform. The leather manufacturer in Kenya would receive payment into its bank account, thereby skirting currently common delays – freeing up time to respond quickly to the order from Accra.
The World Food Forum today officially unveiled its theme for 2023: “Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action” and launched its activities for the year culminating in a series of global events, competitions and actions taking place from 16-20 October at the Rome headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
“Last year, one in ten people went to bed hungry, while nearly 3.1 billion people survived on starchy staples because they could not afford fruits and vegetables. Two in three children do not have enough nutrition to grow to their full potential. Countries can take concerted action to reverse these grim trends by transforming their agrifood systems harnessing its immense potential for positive impact reducing poverty, hunger and inequalities. At the same time they can choose pathways of transformation of their agrifood systems that minimize the trade-offs to our environment, biodiversity and climate,” said Máximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist and Chair of the FAO Youth Committee, in his opening remarks. He emphasized that transforming agrifood systems is a central part of the global climate solution, and young people are the heart of it as they act “as the inheritors of these challenges, but also as innovators and advocates for change.”
Climate change is impacting on the global challenge to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Currently, agrifood systems account for one-third of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, 90 percent of global deforestation and 70 percent of water use globally, and are the single greatest cause of terrestrial biodiversity loss, putting pressure on food value chains. Food is also the single largest category of material placed in municipal landfills and we lose or waste enough food to feed 1.3 billion hungry people every year.
More Objective Credit Ratings Could Save Billions for African Countries’ Development (UNDP)
African ministers, development actors and research institutes gathered on 14 April in Washington DC, on the margins of the 2023 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings, to discuss the impact of credit ratings on the cost of development finance in Africa. At this meeting, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Africa Growth Initiative at the Brookings Institution and AfriCatalyst, they raised the need to review international financing systems and particularly the determination of sovereign credit ratings for African countries, where data is often missing or of poor quality.
The event was centered around a new study by UNDP which shows that African countries could save up to US$ 74.5 billion if credit ratings were based on less subjective assessments. This, in turn, would enable them to repay the principal of their domestic and foreign debt and free up funds for investments in human capital and infrastructure development.
Better Migration Policies Can Help Boost Prosperity in All Countries (World Bank)
Populations across the globe are aging at an unprecedented pace, making many countries increasingly reliant on migration to realize their long-term growth potential, according to a new report from the World Bank.
The World Development Report 2023: Migrants, Refugees, and Societies, identifies this trend as a unique opportunity to make migration work better for economies and people. Wealthy countries as well as a growing number of middle-income countries—traditionally among the main sources of migrants—face diminishing populations, intensifying the global competition for workers and talent. Meanwhile, most low-income countries are expected to see rapid population growth, putting them under pressure to create more jobs for young people.
“Migration can be a powerful force for prosperity and development,” said World Bank Senior Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg. ”When it is managed properly, it provides benefits for all people — in origin and destination societies.”
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National Development Agency signs Development Cooperation Agreement with German Cooperative Raiffeisen Confederation (South African Government)
South Africa is the latest Southern African Development Community (SADC) partner country to enter into an international development cooperation agreement with the German Cooperative Raiffeisen Confederation (abbreviated DGRV in German), an Apex Cooperatives Body in Germany with over 20 million members. GCRC has ties with more than 30 other countries, to provide consultancy and aid to develop cooperative systems and structures aiming at a sustainable development of the cooperative sector.
The agreement will be implemented through a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Development Agency (NDA), an agency of government tasked with contributing towards the eradication of poverty and its causes in South Africa.
R21.4 billion infrastructure projects completed (SAnews)
As part of government’s commitment to grow the economy through infrastructure delivery, projects worth about R21.4 billion that mainly comprise of roads and human settlement have been completed.
These projects are part of the Infrastructure Investment Plan, which articulates the country’s need for an infrastructure-led economic growth and recovery. The plan was approved by Cabinet in May 2020 and it outlines pipeline of projects from all three spheres of government, state-owned entities and the private sector.
Addressing members of the media on Tuesday in Pretoria, Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, said the total value of projects currently in construction is R313.5 billion.
Tunisia: Legal procedures for application of AfCFTA agreement finalised (ZAWYA)
Necessary legal procedures and technical conditions for the application of the provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement were finalised by the General Directorate of Customs on April 6.
The Ministry of Trade and Export Development said all economic actors - exporters, importers, distributors and all those operators interested in the African market- who wish to carry out foreign trade operations within the framework of this continental agreement can use the specimen of the AfCFTA agreement certificate of origin.
The certificate, a key element of the free trade agreement negotiations, can be issued by the chambers of commerce and industry.
Mobile money transfers beat other digital payment platforms (The East African)
Mobile money transactions defied the competition last year, hitting a new record high globally despite the emergence of alternative digital payment platforms.
The latest mobile money industry report by the Global Systems for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) shows that global daily transaction value in 2022 surpassed forecasts to hit $3.45 billion, as the total value transacted on mobile money platforms grew by 22 percent to hit $1.26 trillion.
In East Africa, 41 million new mobile money accounts were registered last year, growing the number of transactions by 18 percent to 28 billion, worth about $491 billion. This is 23 percent higher than in 2021.
Debt payments surpass State running expenses (Business Daily)
Debt repayments for the first nine months of the current financial year overtook the national government’s recurrent spending on items like civil servant salaries for the first time, underlining the burden of mounting State borrowing.
Kenya spent Sh815.35 billion on debt repayments between July 2022 and March, up from Sh740.69 billion in the same period a year earlier.
This marks the first time in Kenya’s history that debt costs have surpassed the recurrent expenditure that stood at Sh814.7 over the period, Treasury data show.
Zimbabwe: Transform Africa IT Summit kicks off with $1.5m project to enhance digital trade (The Africa Report)
Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga introduced Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa, Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi), Faure Gnassingbé (Togo), Hakainde Hichilema (Zambia), and Paul Kagame (Rwanda) to the three-day summit on Wednesday.
The special project will create harmonised e-payment policies across 10 countries to enhance digital trade and encourage e-commerce.
Cross border e-payments through the Digital Payments and e-Commerce Policies for Cross-Border Trade Project (IDECT) will be facilitated for governments, the private sector and small and medium-sized enterprises. The use of technology in day-to-day government projects and how investment in digital technology can create more efficient services and encourage economic growth.
Oil trade routes that take at least 5 times as long after war will likely result in more pollution (Anadolu Ajansı)
While Europe shifted away from Russian suppliers and toward those in West Africa, Latin America, and the US, Russia shifted 90% of its crude exports, which were originally destined for European markets, to those in India and China. Before the war, the voyage of a Russian oil ship from the Baltic ports of Ust-Luga and Primorsk to European ports in the Netherlands, France, and Belgium took five to six days because Europe was Russia’s main oil export destination.
Sudan fighting likely to affect supply chains, disrupt regional trade - analysts (The North Africa Post)
As fierce battles between armed forces loyal to two rival generals continue raging and with Sudanese counting their losses, the wider region is already reeling from the impact of the one-week conflict due to Khartoum’s economic importance in Northeast Africa, according to analysts.
Khartoum’s economic importance to its neighbors have already been felt and, as the conflict continues unabated, the wider region should brace for more losses, analysts warn.
“Sudan also plays a key role in preventing infiltration of terror merchants, or illegal weapons, who may be hiding in troubled Libya,” says Claire Amuhaya of Rudn University in Moscow. “It connects important transportation routes for aviation, oil and other stuff. It needs to be in stable hands to sustain this flow,” she adds.
Technical Assistance Coordination Group reviews Comoros, Timor-Leste post-accession needs (WTO)
Now that the accessions of Comoros and Timor-Leste are progressing rapidly towards conclusion, with the terms of their WTO membership starting to emerge, it is important to start looking at the support these two LDCs would need to implement their future commitments and obligations.
“Based on the experience from past accessions, the implementation of WTO commitments can be as challenging and demanding as negotiating them, if not more so,” WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang said.
Investment Policy Review of Togo (UNCTAD)
Togo’s IPR, commissioned by the government, includes an analysis of development policies, the business climate and institutions with a role in investment. Two fact-finding missions, in May and July 2022, completed the desk research. A workshop to present the draft report to stakeholders was held online on 17-18 January 2023.
UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Reviews (IPRs) help countries to improve their investment policies in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They also help to familiarize governments and the private sector with the investment climate in these countries.
ECA’s Antonio Pedro urges Africa to cooperate for sustainable development (UNECA)
United Nations agencies should cooperate and coordinate their work to help member countries achieve sustainable development, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Acting Executive Secretary, Antonio Pedro, has urged.
Addressing a United Nations Country Team (UNCT) retreat in Mozambique, Mr. Pedro, lamented that African countries were not collaborating effectively to deploy their national competencies to attract investment and boost trade among themselves.
“It is not really because of lack of strategies, visions or plans that Africa is not moving, it is because we do not connect the dots,” Mr. Pedro said, urging the UN agencies to take time to understand complementarity between their specific areas of specialization and competence.
Trade Minister advocates for reform at WTO to benefit developing countries (GhanaWeb)
Ghana’s Minister for Trade and Industry, Kobina Tahir Hammond, is calling for an enhanced capacity for developing countries to enable them to participate effectively in WTO negotiations and thereby benefit from the Multilateral Trading System.
The Minister also wants the restoration of a fully functional two-tier dispute settlement mechanism i.e. Panels and the Appellate Body to give the multilateral trading system (MTS) the needed predictability and certainty.
Additionally, he is pressing for improving the transparency of governments’ trade measures, especially as it pertains to export prohibitions and restrictions as witnessed during the height of the COVID crisis.
In December 2022, in Tangier, Morocco, on the occasion of the 16th replenishment of the African Development Fund (ADF), the African Development Bank and its development partners created a Climate Action Window for low-income countries. The window covers 37 member countries of the ADF, which are also among the world’s most fragile and vulnerable to climate change.
The recently published report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2023) confirms that West Africa, East Africa, and Central Africa are among the world’s hotspots for human vulnerability to climate change. According to the latest climate vulnerability index released in 2022 by the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, USA, nine out of 10 countries most vulnerable to climate change are in Africa. They are the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Niger, Sudan and Zimbabwe.
Africa, which suffers the most from the effects of climate change – while polluting the least, accounting for just 2.8% of world greenhouse gas emissions – is the continent that receives the least climate finance: less than 3% of total global climate finance.
In response to this urgent need to boost climate finance flow to support Africa’s development and promote a resilient and low-carbon development pathway, the African Development Fund and its partners have committed a total package of $ 8.9 billion to its 2023 to 2025 financing cycle. Of this package, which represents a 14.24% increase over the previous replenishment of $7.4 billion, $429 million is earmarked as seed money for the new Climate Action Window to reach up to $13 billion from traditional and non-traditional partners, as well as state and non-state, including the private sector.
The African Development Fund and Smart Africa Alliance have jointly launched a $1.5 million project to streamline digital trade and e-commerce policies across 10 African countries.
The Institutional Support for Digital Payments and e-Commerce Policies for Cross-Border Trade Project (IDECT) will evaluate policy gaps in the digital trade and e-commerce ecosystems of Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Ghana, Liberia, Uganda, South Sudan, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The project will see to the implementation of regional training and capacity-building programs focusing on cross-border e-payment and e-commerce for governments, private sectors, and Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). These programs are expected to reach 600 participants, with 60% being women and youth. Additionally, a certified gender-sensitive e-learning training program addressing the unique challenges faced by women in digital trade and e-commerce, will be developed and disseminated to 2,500 participants, of whom 60% will be women.
“This initiative will bolster the development of harmonized e-payment policies, capacity building, and gender-sensitive frameworks, ultimately fostering a digital trade ecosystem that generates employment opportunities across the continent,” African Development Bank Director General for Southern Africa Region Leïla Mokaddem said.
Facilitating trade and transit in developing countries (UNCTAD)
Helping trade flow as freely as possible across borders requires stronger cooperation, globally and regionally. That’s the message from an UNCTAD event held at UN headquarters in New York on 20 April. The event, gathering over 200 participants, concluded a month-long intensive training for 61 transit coordinators from 12 countries across Africa and Latin America.
The landmark Trade Facilitation Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) encourages countries to appoint a national coordinator to facilitate the movement of goods in transit while respecting specific regulations, documentation and customs requirements. But as of April 2023, only three WTO members had officially nominated such a coordinator.
“It’s in countries’ interest to appoint coordinators and then let others know about them for better cross-border coordination,” said Jan Hoffmann, head of UNCTAD’s trade logistics branch. UNCTAD works to raise awareness of the key role transit coordinators play, while promoting regional cooperation to help countries benefit from transit facilitation measures.
Tough Challenges, Tougher Choices: Parliamentarians show resolve in the face of overlapping crises (World Bank)
The Global Parliamentary Forum (GPF) returned to an in-person format following COVID-19, convening 160 parliamentarians from 62 countries in Washington, D.C. on April 10-11, 2023 around the theme “Tough Challenges, Tougher Choices.”
The flagship Spring Meetings event, organized jointly by the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Parliamentary Network on the World Bank and IMF, provides a platform for lawmakers to dialogue directly with World Bank Group and IMF senior leadership and experts, as well as their peers, on the most pressing development challenges.
This year’s GPF took place at a moment when the development landscape is being reshaped by an onslaught of crises, from climate change and surging debt to deepening conflicts and widening gaps in human capital, that are devastating the world and lives of the poor and vulnerable. Many parliamentarians are concerned about how to deliver results to their people in the face of these challenges, but remain committed to finding solutions.
Workshop promotes understanding of quantitative restrictions, notification requirements (WTO)
Quantitative restrictions are, generally speaking, prohibitions or restrictions other than tariffs and other taxes that are imposed on imports or exports, which can be implemented through several policy measures. While QRs are generally prohibited, they are allowed by the WTO in exceptional circumstances and many WTO members use them to fulfil certain legitimate objectives, such as the protection of the environment or human, plant and animal health.
The chair of the Committee, Kenya Uehara of Japan, highlighted that 2022 marked the 10th anniversary of the Council for Trade in Goods decision on notification procedures for quantitative restrictions, establishing an obligation for members to inform the WTO of their trade prohibitions and restrictions on a biennial basis.
New data reveals regional variations in digitally delivered services trade (WTO)
The recently released WTO-OECD Balanced Trade in Services dataset reveals digitally delivered services traded within Asia reached 43.2% of the region’s total trade in these services in 2021, up from 39.2% in 2019 (see Figure 1). Telecommunications, computer and information services as well as business, professional and technical services drove this rapid growth. In North America, the share of intra-regional trade in digitally delivered services rose to 18.2%, up from 15.8% in 2019.
However, the share of Africa’s exports of digitally delivered services to Asia rose from 20.3% in 2019 to 22.0% in 2021. Flows from South and Central America and the Caribbean to North America and to Asia were also on the rise. In 2021, 37.5% of the region’s exports of digitally delivered services went to North American countries, up from 34.5% before the pandemic.
International trade: what you need to know this month (World Economic Forum)
This monthly roundup brings you a selection of the latest news and updates on global trade. Top international trade stories: WTO predicts slower global trade growth in 2023; UK strikes its biggest trade deal since Brexit; EU bans imports of goods linked to deforestation.
Guterres urges countries to recommit to achieving SDGs by 2030 deadline (UN News)
Launching a special edition of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) progress report, he warned that their collective promise made in 2015 of a more green, just and equitable global future, is in peril.
The report reveals that just 12 per cent of the 169 SDG targets are on track, while progress on 50 per cent is weak and insufficient. Worst of all, he said is the fact that progress has either stalled or even reversed on more than 30 per cent of the goals.
The UN chief noted that many developing countries cannot invest in the SDGs because of burdensome debt, while climate finance is far below commitments. Richer nations have not yet delivered on the $100 billion promised annually in support, he recalled, among other climate pledges.
“The 2030 Agenda is an agenda of justice and equality, of inclusive, sustainable development, and human rights and dignity for all. It requires fundamental changes to the way the global economy is organized,” he said. “The SDGs are the path to bridge both economic and geopolitical divides; to restore trust and rebuild solidarity,” he added. “Let’s be clear: no country can afford to see them fail.”
Mr. Guterres has appealed for an SDG Stimulus plan of at least $500 billion a year, and for deep reforms to the international financial architecture, both key recommendations in the report.
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Made in Nigeria Tiles gain traction among developers as preference shifts from China made Tiles (Nairametrics)
Rising demand and limited access to forex to facilitate imports are some of the factors driving the rise in local tile manufacturing. This is according to market research conducted by Nairametrics.
Some industry experts who spoke to Nairametrics opined that the country is no longer wholly dependent on imports to meet local demand for tiles. That’s because the product is currently being manufactured locally at a scale and quality good enough to meet local demands.
Agriculture and port issues discussed in South African-Namibian trade talks (Fruitnet)
The South African and Namibian fruit export sectors have for many years argued that the development of port infrastructure in Namibia and regular shipping opportunities from those ports would go a long way to resolving export logistics challenges in Southern Africa.
Relations between the governing South African party and that of Namibia go back to the so-called independence war in Namibia in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, South Africa has become Namibia’s most important trading partner. As for exports, Namibia’s meat and fish products are sought after internationally, and since 2000 it has developed a growing and thriving table grape export business.
These industries require good export infrastructure – which includes good export facilities for fresh produce, deep-frozen products and a decent road system to the main port of Walvis Bay.
Bitter Battle: S.Africa Slams ‘Unfair’ EU Citrus Trade Rule (Barron’s)
President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the EU Tuesday for restrictions on citrus exports from South Africa to prevent the importation of non-indigenous moths which stranded tonnes of fruit at sea when introduced last year.
Ramaphosa said he was “disappointed at the (EU’s) acts of... protectionism against” the country’s agricultural products, “most recently against our citrus”. The rules, which seek to combat the spread of a pest called the false codling moth, require South African farmers to apply extreme cold treatment to all Europe-bound oranges.
“We are now the world’s second largest exporter of citrus and believe recent decisions by the EU are unfair,” Ramaphosa said while co-hosting a business roundtable with visiting President of Finland Sauli Niinisto in Pretoria.
SA, Finland lay foundations for improved trade and investment relations (SAnews)
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he and his Finnish counterpart President Sauli Niinistö are looking forward to engaging with businesses from both Finland and South Africa on how to improve trade and investment flows between the two countries.
“A great deal of work is already happening in this regard… It is our collective wish to see the bilateral relationship thrive and improve, especially with regards to reciprocal trade and investment,” President Ramaphosa said.
Tanzania prepares new list of tax-free goods (Daily News)
The government is currently listing and verifying products and equipment eligible for tax exemptions. The lawmakers have been informed in Dodoma on Tuesday that the aim of the exercise is to ensure that citizens are benefiting from the exemptions.
Export agency targets blue economy sector to upscale Kenya’s export earnings (Capital Business)
The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) has embarked on developing a common strategy for sustainable exploitation and maximization of the Blue Economy sector that is poised to be the new frontier for Kenya’s economic growth for the export market.
On Friday, KEPROBA held a consultative meeting with Blue Economy stakeholders from Mombasa and Kwale counties with the agency’s Director of Research and Innovation Peter Ochieng noting that through single-point failure analysis, the agency was slowly sealing the weaknesses for a more robust export of marine and aquatic resources.
Kenya’s total fish exports in 2021 were valued at USD 32.4 million; representing 0.005 per cent of the total export to the world, ranking Kenya as the 108th lead exporter.
Kenya’s volume of exported fish was estimated at 10,875.3 tons in 2021. The percentage contribution of aquaculture to GDP in the year was 0.7 per cent.
Natural capital, an option for African governments to finance Sustainable Development Goals (AfDB)
Africa must use all its comparative advantages to mobilize the resources it needs to finance its sustainable development ambitions. Since 2010, official development assistance has declined, falling to its lowest level of $34 billion in 2022, according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates. Access to international capital markets remains constrained and costly due to investors’ perceptions of high risk.
Investing in Africa is profitable, African Development Bank President tells Japanese investors (AfDB)
The president of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, has called for a significant increase in Japanese investment in Africa, saying the continent is the world’s best investment destination now and in the future.
Delivering a lecture at the Japan-Africa Investment Ecosystem Co-Creation Forum in the capital, Tokyo, Adesina said Africa offers enormous investment opportunities and gave examples of Japanese companies that have been running profitable businesses on the continent for many years.
Adesina pointed out that Japan’s foreign direct investment in Africa declined from $10 billion in 2016 to just $4.7 billion in 2020 during Covid-19 but recovered to $6 billion in 2021. Africa accounts for only 0.003% of Japan’s $2 trillion global foreign direct investments.
In terms of trade, the volume of exports and imports between Africa and Japan remains lower than 2%.
Africa: Climate finance facing global macroeconomic challenges; time for private sector support (AfDB)
Africa, the continent that pollutes the planet the least, is today one of the world’s most vulnerable to climate risks. While nations across the continent grapple with financing constraints, resources from the international private sector, including multilateral development financiers such as the African Development Bank, are helping to catalyze climate action and green growth.
For the African Development Bank, greater involvement of the private sector is crucial to closing the gap in climate finance flows into Africa, which until recently, was dominated by non-private actors.
Africa will soon take its rightful place in global trade — Bawumia (Modern Ghana)
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia says Africa is open for business and committed to creating a more integrated, dynamic and prosperous continent through trade partnerships and investments. He, therefore, urged African governments and businesses to work together to promote this unique potential to attract foreign investment and create sustainable partnerships that would benefit the continent and its international partners.
“Ghana is proud of being at the forefront in this network and we look forward to working amongst partners worldwide to create a more equitable and sustainable future,” he said. Vice President Bawumia said this in a keynote address at the opening of the 53rd General Assembly of the World Trade Centres Association (WTCA) in Accra on Monday. “Towards African Economic Integration and Enhanced Global Presence” is the theme for the five-day conference.
A BRICS Currency Could Shake the Dollar’s Dominance (Foreign Policy)
Talk of de-dollarization is in the air. Last month, in New Delhi, Alexander Babakov, deputy chairman of Russia’s State Duma, said that Russia is now spearheading the development of a new currency. It is to be used for cross-border trade by the BRICS nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Weeks later, in Beijing, Brazil’s president, Luiz Inàcio Lula da Silva, chimed in. “Every night,” he said, he asks himself “why all countries have to base their trade on the dollar.”
World Bank Ranks South Africa, Egypt, Benin Republic, Others Ahead of Nigeria in Global Logistics Performance Index (Arise News)
South Africa, Egypt, Benin Republic, Botswana, Namibia, Djibouti and Rwanda are better rated than Nigeria in the latest global Logistics Performance Index (LPI) released by the World Bank.
The LPI report, titled “Connecting to Compete 2023: Trade Logistics in an Uncertain Global Economy,” provides a measure of countries’ ability to move goods across borders with speed and reliability, the report is coming after three years of unprecedented supply chain disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, with soaring delivery times.
The report which is based on a maximum score of 5.0, adjudged South Africa as the best in Africa and 19th in the world with a score of 3.4 per cent, followed by Botswana and Egypt which scored 3.1 per cent each to place a joint 57th position globally.
Making the European Green Deal Work for People: The Role of Human Development in the Green Transition (World Bank)
The damage to the environment caused by human activity in recent decades is an issue that involves people and entities across borders, and addressing this challenge requires the commitment and buy-in of all. Green transition represents a massive effort to adopt more environmentally sustainable practices in Europe at a scale that can make a difference for current and future generations.
A human-centered approach will be essential to achieving a just transition to the more sustainable environment envisioned under the European Green Deal (EGD). This report discusses how human development policies will play a key role in achieving this goal.
A digital euro: widely available and easy to use (European Central Bank)
We are now entering the final stage of the investigation phase of the project. The ECB’s Governing Council recently endorsed a third set of design options for the digital euro – design options that we have also discussed in previous hearings. Today we are thus publishing a report setting out the Eurosystem’s views on how people could access, hold and start to use the digital euro. The report also examines how the digital euro could be distributed by intermediaries as well as the services and features it could offer.
Joint Statement on the Third U.S.-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue (US Department of State)
The Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Kenya held the third iteration of the U.S.-Kenya Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C. on April 24, 2023. The U.S.-Kenya Strategic Partnership is grounded in mutual cooperation, respect, and a common vision for sustainable development. The U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Alfred Mutua discussed strengthening the bilateral relationship across all five pillars of the Strategic Partnership and advancing peace and prosperity in Kenya, Africa, and beyond through the following actions:
Pillar One – Economic Prosperity, Trade, and Investment
The United States and Kenya commit to further increase two-way trade and investment cooperation through the Kenya-U.S. Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership and by prioritizing economic and commercial programs. Through these joint efforts, the United States and Kenya seek to work to create at least one million new jobs per year in Kenya and greatly reduce food insecurity over the next five years.
Today’s dialogue builds on key milestones, including a successful second round of U.S.-Kenya Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership talks, President William Ruto’s announcement of critical economic reforms at the March 29 to 30 American Chamber of Commerce Summit in Nairobi, and several new U.S.-linked investments in Kenya’s health, agriculture, and energy sectors. Kenya requests continued technical support and assistance in ICT, agro-processing, apparel, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Dr. Alfred Mutua At a Joint Press Availability (US Department of State)
Data Show Private Infrastructure Investment Continues to Improve Following Pandemic Slump (World Bank)
New World Bank data finds that infrastructure investments in low- and middle-income countries continued to rebound in 2022. Private participation in infrastructure (PPI) commitments reached $91.7 billion across 263 projects, marking a 23% increase from 2021. The total number of projects, however, was still below pre-pandemic levels.
“As the world is staggering out of multiple crises, we are pleased to see that early signs of investment recovery continue to hold,” said Imad Fakhoury, the World Bank’s Global Director for Infrastructure Finance, PPPs & Guarantees. “At a time of tightening public budgets, the world has no choice but to mobilize the private sector to invest in green, resilient, inclusive and climate-smart quality infrastructure. Doing so is crucial to support the transition to net-zero carbon economies and fulfillment of SDGs as well as protect societies from mounting climate-related risks, and achieve universal access to basic services for millions of households who remain excluded.”
DDG González: A stronger WTO is good for people, planet and prosperity (WTO)
Noting that international trade has been remarkably robust despite continuous shocks, not least the war in Ukraine, stubborn inflation and supply chain disruptions, DDG González said that “trade has played a key role in supporting economic recovery and averting shortages by bringing food and other critical supplies to where they are needed.”
“Globalization is not going away, but it is changing,” she said, adding that “businesses will need to adapt to a world of geopolitical tensions, heightened trade policy uncertainty and possibly an increasingly fragmented global economy.”
El Salvador minister calls on WTO members to take action on promoting gender equality (WTO)
“The gap in economic opportunities continues to broaden and this hampers the potential for economic growth in our countries,” said Ms Hayem Brevé to members of the Informal Working Group. She called on all stakeholders involved in gender equality issues to work together, stressing that “government officials, bilateral donors and multilateral banks need to work in a coordinated manner”.
Here’s How Supply Chains Are Being Reshaped for a New Era of Global Trade (The Wall Street Journal)
When a measure of strains on global supply chains fell earlier this year to levels last seen before the Covid-19 pandemic, it signaled to some that the product shortages, port bottlenecks and shipping disruptions of the past three years were over and that a new era of stability was on the horizon.
But industry experts say a “return to normal,” as the Federal Reserve Bank of New York described its Global Supply Chain Pressure Index in February, hardly means that companies are going back to conventional, some would say complacent, supply chains.
The changes on the surface include less reliance on Asia, particularly China, and the use of more automation technology to keep assembly lines and warehouse operations running.
But there are more enduring changes, experts say, that will more broadly affect how companies get their raw materials and parts, where they produce goods and how they ship finished products to consumers.
Air Cargo Priorities: Sustainability, Digitalization & Safety (IATA)
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) highlighted three priorities to enable the air cargo industry to maintain momentum against the backdrop of a challenging operating environment.
“Air cargo is a different industry than the one that entered the pandemic. Revenues are greater than they were pre-pandemic. Yields are higher. The world learned how critical supply chains are. And the contribution of air cargo to the bottom line of airlines is more evident than ever. Yet, we are still linked to the business cycle and global events. So, the war in Ukraine, uncertainty over where critical economic factors like interest rates, exchange rates and jobs growth are concerns that are real to the industry today. As we navigate the current situation, air cargo’s priorities have not changed, we need to continue to focus on sustainability, digitalization, and safety,” said Brendan Sullivan, IATA’s Global Head of Cargo.
A fair share of resilience finance for Small Island Developing States (ODI)
SIDS have long argued that their unique condition, including their small populations and geographic location, makes them especially vulnerable to multiple climate impacts that they have had a negligible role in generating. Yet this vulnerability is barely accounted for in the allocation of development or climate finance, and only partially embedded in international organisations (IOs), including across the UN system, World Bank, and World Trade Organisation. This vulnerability will only increase, with climate change and disaster impacts driving higher and higher debt levels, which in turn undermine SIDS’ resilience and adaptation potential. Yet investments can and do increase SIDS’ ability to cope with external shocks, and to adapt and build resilience to future climate change impacts.
This paper analyses finance flows for 38 SIDS between 2013-20 to quantify the gap between vulnerability and allocation of finance.
With most of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) still far from being achieved at this mid-point of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, over 2,000 data experts from 140 countries are gathering in Hangzhou, China in person — almost 20,000 people will participate virtually — at the 2023 UN World Data Forum from 24 to 27 April to find solutions for equitable and open access to data. Better data is central to accelerating progress towards the SDGs and addressing the multiple crises that are threatening poverty eradication, food security, the environment and peace and security.
“We can’t carve out effective solutions to the problems we’re facing if we don’t fully understand the who, what, when, where, and why of the sources and the impacts. We need robust data that can give us the insights we need,” said Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, and head of the Forum secretariat. “By convening such a diverse range of practitioners across the global data and statistics landscape, this Forum can help generate the solutions, partnerships and pathways that we need to better leverage data for decision-making and bring the world closer to achieving the SDGs.”
WMO annual report highlights continuous advance of climate change (World Meteorological Organization)
From mountain peaks to ocean depths, climate change continued its advance in 2022, according to the annual report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Droughts, floods and heatwaves affected communities on every continent and cost many billions of dollars. Antarctic sea ice fell to its lowest extent on record and the melting of some European glaciers was, literally, off the charts.
The State of the Global Climate 2022 shows the planetary scale changes on land, in the ocean and in the atmosphere caused by record levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases. For global temperature, the years 2015-2022 were the eight warmest on record despite the cooling impact of a La Niña event for the past three years. Melting of glaciers and sea level rise - which again reached record levels in 2022 - will continue to up to thousands of years.
“While greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise and the climate continues to change, populations worldwide continue to be gravely impacted by extreme weather and climate events. For example, in 2022, continuous drought in East Africa, record breaking rainfall in Pakistan and record-breaking heatwaves in China and Europe affected tens of millions, drove food insecurity, boosted mass migration, and cost billions of dollars in loss and damage,” said WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas.
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While it is the mandate of government to promote the establishment of small businesses, it is equally important to stress that government wants those businesses to develop into sustainable entities that will compete against traditional corporations and multinational companies. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ms Nomalungelo Gina, during the business forum which took place in Ga-Segonyana, Kuruman in the Northern Cape.
Gina acknowledged that while Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMMEs) may be categorised at that scale, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) has the vision to see them grow into bigger businesses and create more employment.
She further urged participants to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them and to utilise the information shared at the forum to improve their businesses. She expressed the dti’s commitment to supporting entrepreneurs and ensuring their growth and success.
New plans set to stimulate the revitalisation of industrial parks in SA (the dtic)
A new National Industrial Parks Implementation Framework will be developed, to support the revitalisation of industrial parks across all spheres of government.
This is one of the key resolutions coming out of the two day National Industrial Parks Summit held at the Centre for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. A technical task team comprising key stakeholders will therefore be put in place to develop the new implementation framework.
The Director of Regional Industrial Development at the dtic, Mr Thami Klaasen, says delegates have agreed in the main that industrial parks can no longer operate uncoordinated manner, it is important that they are transformed into dynamic sites which provide enhanced services.
“Some critical measures needed to revitalise the parks include integrating eco-industrial development, resilience approaches, stewardship and 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR) modalities designed to improve business operations and provide a more attractive environment for investment,” he said.
In addition, Klaasen says other key resolutions taken at the summit include the establishment of a rapid response team to urgently resolve bottlenecks confronting high priority parks, and to also assess future development areas.
Energy crisis and climate change must be tackled together (SAnews)
In his weekly newsletter, President Cyril Ramaphosa says government is determined to tackle both the energy crisis and climate change together.
“The country is faced with both an electricity crisis and a climate crisis, which we must tackle together. Our position is clear and principled: it is possible for us to prioritise our immediate energy needs without jeopardising our climate commitments, and we are determined to do so.
“In fact, we must accelerate the pace of investment in new renewable electricity generation as an important part of the plan to overcome load shedding,” the President said on Monday.
South Africa set up for record oilseed exports (World-Grain.com)
South Africa is reaching the limit of local oilseeds crushing capacity as its soybean plantings continue to surge, leading to the US Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) to project a record 800,000 tonnes of oilseeds (soybean and sunflower) exports in its latest Global Agricultural Information Network report.
South Africa has experienced an upsurge in oilseed plantings over the past 20 years with a near nine-fold expansion in soybean area. FAS Post Pretoria sees this growth trend in soybean plantings continuing in marketing year 2023-24 with area and total oilseed production reaching a historically high level of 1.8 million hectares and nearly 3.6 million tonnes, respectively.
Soybean production is projected to reach 2.76 million tonnes from 1.18 million hectares planted, while the sunflower seed harvest could reach 810,000 tonnes from 600,000 hectares. The country is expected to ship 750,000 tonnes of soybeans and 50,000 tonnes of sunflower seeds overseas.
“In the past, South Africa’s trade in oilseeds was generally limited, as the bulk of production was destined for local crushing and trade was directed to oils and meals,” the FAS said. “However, with the surge in the local production of oilseeds leading production to exceed crushing capacity, South Africa has become a net exporter of oilseeds.”
SA, UK Ministers to share expertise in infrastructure projects (SAnews)
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Sihle Zikalala, together with United Kingdom Trade Envoy Andrew Selous, have met to cement relations between the two countries.
The two countries are expected to share experience, expertise and best practices in the prioritisation, financing, procurement and management of infrastructure projects.
The UK Trade Envoy and his delegation met with Zikalala and Deputy Minister Bernice Swarts on Friday to extend the already existing partnerships that will see the two countries ramp up infrastructure development trade relations.
“The renewal and consolidation of these trade relations, which are detailed in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two countries, will contribute towards improving South Africa’s capacity to deliver infrastructure projects and to attract investments.
Congo’s landlocked oil lacks options as Total says pipeline full (Engineering News)
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC’s) vision of earning billions of dollars in revenue from dozens of landlocked oil blocks will remain distant without a connection to a lone export route to be operated by TotalEnergies.
Over the last decade, Congo has watched eastern neighbor Uganda discover and develop significant oil fields while some of its own most promising resources were left untouched. Now, the country risks missing out on the best chance to bolster its petroleum industry if it can’t secure access to the planned East African Crude Oil Pipeline that will connect landlocked reservoirs to global markets.
FG seeks removal of Nigerian products from Chinese Protocol Lists to boost exports (Nairametrics)
The Nigerian Government on Sunday officially requested the removal of Nigerian agricultural produce from the Chinese Protocol Lists in order to increase Nigeria’s non-oil exports and boost Nigeria’s trade with China. This was disclosed by Ezra Yakusak, the MD/CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on Sunday. The Chinese Government officials revealed that Nigeria is now designated a “Country of Honour” by China.
Yakuzak said he appreciates the new designation for Nigeria and called for the reconsideration of the ban of some Nigerian products from China into Nigeria, in the collaboration which is exported to boost non-oil earnings and develop technology transfer between both countries, adding:
“We are aware that some goods have been placed on protocol lists here in China, goods from Nigeria, specifically, chilli pepper, peanut and other products. “We are urging you to reconsider removing those goods from the protocol list so that we would have the opportunity of exporting the goods with China.”
Global competitiveness: Over 30 taxes choke industries in Nigeria as FG plans 18 more (Vanguard)
Manufacturers have lamented that the multiplicity of taxes, levies and fees have continued to hamper the competitiveness of the Nigerian manufacturing sector in the global space.
Against the backdrop of the advent of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), this even puts Nigerian manufacturers at a disadvantage with their African counterparts, with the nation’s corporate tax rate at over 30 per cent well above the global average at 23.37 per cent and African average at 27.6 per cent.
A continental workshop organised by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the European Union (EU)-funded Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP) is being held in Johannesburg, South Africa, to examine the harmonisation of Africa’s road transport regulatory frameworks.
The workshop, which began on the 18th and will end on 21st April 2023, is intended to assess progress on the harmonisation and implementation of Vehicle Load Management (VLM) in Africa, exchanging best practices on policies and standards while soliciting realistic proposals for a continental VLM strategy.
“Road transport facilitates roughly 80% of trade on the continent, and demand is expected to rise significantly in the coming years, aided by AfCFTA, which is why we need to increase the efficiency and capacity of transportation infrastructure and services for the movement of goods and people within and beyond borders,” he said.
This, in turn, will stimulate economies by allowing African enterprises to expand and enter new markets, increase productivity, generate jobs, accelerate industrialisation, and contribute to the achievement of Agenda 2063 aspirations, goals, and objectives.
WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala to visit Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya (WTO)
In Côte d’Ivoire, the Director-General will meet with President Alassane Ouattara and members of the government. She will also take part in the ECOWAS Ministerial Round Table on the theme “Implementation of the results of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, and success for MC13 - the role of ECOWAS WTO member countries”.
“I am very much looking forward to my visit to Africa. Africa is a vital part of the membership of the WTO. I look forward to strengthening our partnership with countries in the region,” the Director-General said ahead of her trip. “African economies have taken major steps towards economic integration over the last few years at a time when the global trade landscape is changing rapidly. We must make sure we all work together to help our members in Africa take advantage of the opportunities offered by re-globalisation.”
EAC commends African Development Bank for the financial support on COVID-19 response in the region (EAC)
The East African Community has commended the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the support extended to the region that facilitated the bloc’s regional COVID-19 response efforts. The AfDB support was directed towards the set up of coordination systems for testing; test results verification; training of health workers and procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), test kits and laboratory consumables.
Speaking on behalf of the EAC Secretary General, Hon. (Dr) Peter Mutuku Mathuki during a workshop of Technical Working Group on Communicable and non-communicable diseases held in Moshi, Tanzania, EAC Director Social Sectors, Dr. Irene Isaka acknowledged the contribution of the AfDB as a game changer in the implementation of the EAC COVID-19 Regional Recovery Plan.
She disclosed that the COVID-19 pandemic hit the region hard, with an estimated output loss of between US$37 and US$79 billion. This led to reductions in household income and business disruption of supply chains for tradable goods and services especially in the aviation, tourism and hospitality industries, where entire sector value-chains were rendered dysfunctional, added Director.
Regional businesses hurting in Sudan fight as situation worsens (The East African)
Sudan was already a delicate case, living through a stalled transition and a bad economy. But at least business was running and the country was still connected to the outside world, with its borders open, and airspace a popular air route.
But all this may go up in smoke, depending on how the warring parties, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary unit, Rapid Support Forces (RSF) see it.
The security and stability of Sudan is important for business, lying between Suez Canal and Bab el Mandeb, it also borders North Africa, the Sahel and Central Africa. A busy shipping lane in the Red Sea and Port Sudan’s play a huge role as a corridor for trade for countries like Chad and South Sudan.
For Sudan, it is not just the port of business with the outside world that matters. Its airspace is among the largest aviation territories on the continent, making it a useful route when going to or from Europe.
“The ongoing unrest has forced Kenya Airways to suspend its flights to and from Khartoum, a further blow to the loss-making airline. The violence could also have a spill-over effect on Kenyan businesses operating in South Sudan, given that the country exports its oil via Port Sudan,” said Dr Peter Mwencha, a senior regional adviser at CUTS International.
AfCFTA: Remove visas, reduce customs process to ease logistics (The East African)
The umbrella bodies of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) private sector have called for the removal of visas and reduction of custom processes to ease movement of goods within the African continent.
The African Business Council (AfBC) that brings together regional economic communities (RECs) decried inconsistent and inadequate freight and logistics at the borders saying they have long hindered intra-African trade.
African countries are facing high custom delay periods due to visa challenges, shortages of paved roads upon which freight can be transported and a higher loss of goods due to limited cold chains compared to other regions globally.
“This is an opportunity for our continent to leapfrog as we recover from the ravages of the Covid-19 pandemic and the geo-politics. It is equally an opportune moment to galvanize the continent from the extra-continent dynamics and start looking for home-grown solutions,” said Dr Nsanzabaganwa.
“As we say, goods move with people. This idea of taking more than three days waiting for a visa application at the border is killing intra-trade. As members of the African Business Council, we want African countries to eliminate visa applications at the border and reduce the amount of time it takes to fill in custom paperwork,” said John Kalisa, the chief executive officer at the East African Business Council, a member of the ABC representing the East African Community (EAC).
Private sector crucial to overcoming Africa’s critical investment gaps – African Development Bank (AfDB)
The African Development Bank Group’s governors will address three strategic challenges when they meet next month for the group’s Annual meetings, the group’s Secretary General Vincent Nhemielle said during a news conference held on April 20.
The challenges confronting Africa in the coming year are: financing a low carbon development path that delivers growth and inclusivity and the continent’s climate goals; placing climate adaptation at the heart of economic policies; and unleashing Africa’s potential to address food insecurity and feed itself, he said.
The conference took place to give participants an idea of the agenda of the Annual meetings, which will be held in Egypt, from 23-26 May.
Implementation committees are moving the African free trade area from talks to action (WEF)
A fully implemented African Continental Free Trade Area would transform economies, raise African gross domestic product by 9% and reduce poverty by 50 million. It could also be a catalyst for further changes and attract investment from within Africa and beyond. However, these benefits depend on finalising the negotiations, which, compared with the case for other trade agreements, have gained much momentum – and, crucially, on the full implementation of all the provisions and associated instruments.
There are roles for both the public and the private sectors. We first discuss the role of the African public sector in implementing the AfCFTA through the formation and operation of National Implementation Committees (NICs), based on a new AfCFTA–ODI paper. We will then discuss the role of private sector action to support the AfCFTA, following recent WEF meetings and publications on the AfCFTA. There is much scope for aligned action to make a change in implementation this year.
African govt’s should crack down on illicit trade to increase tax revenue – study (The North Africa Post)
As 93% of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the Global South are “drowning in debt, according to a new research from ActionAid, experts warn that illicit trade greatly exacerbates this budgetary disaster, which in turn robs governments of massive amounts of tax revenue while undermining medical, environmental and economic health.
In a recently published report, SICPA West Africa exposes the scale of the illicit trade plaguing the health, energy, and food sectors, concluding that anti-fraud traceability systems are essential “in building an economy of trust,” that Africa needs to achieve its inclusive and sustainable development transitions.
Aside from food, the African sector most critical for the continent’s sustainable development, energy, is also gravely impacted by the scourge of illicit trading. According to the SICPA report, $133 billion worth of fuels is either stolen, illegally refined and imported or otherwise falsified globally, with Africa on the frontlines. Tackling rampant illicit trading in Africa’s health, food and energy sectors is thus an urgent priority.
Develop Own Market For Oil, Gas, APPO Charges African Countries (Leadership News)
As the global push for energy transition away from fossil fuels gather momentum, the African Petroleum Organization (APPO) has re-emphasised the need for the continent to develop the market for it’s oil and gas resources in order to address the prevalent energy poverty
APPO secretary general, Omar Farouk Ibrahim, said the future of the African petroleum industry lies in the hands of Africans and so must develop its own market.
“On the challenge of markets, for our oil and gas., we believe that the coming into effect of, AFCFTA. provides an excellent opportunity to work on developing cross-border and interregional energy infrastructure.” He revealed that the organization will soon launch its African Energy Bank.
UK commits £4m to address lack of cold chain in Africa (Engineering News)
The UK has committed to providing developing countries with £4-million to drive down harmful emissions from outdated air conditioning units, cooling refrigeration and cold supply chains.
In sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers contribute 80% of food produced. About 37% of all food is lost between production and consumption, and almost 50% of fruits and vegetables are lost mainly owing to improper cold chain management.
“This funding will help developing countries play their part in tackling climate change and communities across the world with storing food and medicines more efficiently, as well as support farmers to increase their productivity,” said UK Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey.
Hungary will sign EU’s Africa-Pacific trade deal after amendments, says minister (Reuters)
Hungary will sign a trade and development deal between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific states after it was promised amendments it sought, the Central European country’s foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday. Hungary’s green light allows for the ratification of the accord with 79 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries which was agreed by EU negotiators in December 2020 to set up a legal framework for cooperation on trade, aid and migration.
Hungary has been blocking the resolution on the deal since May 2021 saying it could increase migration and “force gender ideology” on the country.
Szijjarto said Hungary had now received assurances that issues such as education, sexual rights and labour market regulation will remain under national authority.
WTO members deepen discussion on e-commerce moratorium (WTO)
WTO members on 20 April shared perspectives on the current practice of not imposing customs duties on electronic transmissions. In the fourth of a series of dedicated discussions held this year under the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce, members highlighted the need for more exchanges on issue of the e-commerce moratorium, focusing in particular on its definition, scope, and implications on developing countries.
Expressing grave concern over recent shocks that are threatening sustainable development worldwide, the Economic and Social Council concluded its Financing for Development Forum today with the adoption of an outcome document aimed at reforming the international financial architecture in order to adapt to global economic changes and expedite progress towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Adopting the text — titled “Follow-up and review of the financing for development outcomes and the means of implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” (document E/FFDF/2023/L.1) — by consensus, delegates said that it has laid a constructive foundation for further action.
“In the face of the multiple and interlinked global crises, we must meet the moment and embrace change by taking immediate measures to scale up efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda”, Heads of State and Government stated through the outcome document. Recognizing the crucial role of inclusive and sustainable industrial and business development, and reiterating the importance of international cooperation, they reaffirmed the need to promote quality infrastructure in developing countries and explore innovative approaches to coordinate, scale up and channel public and private finance.
Further acknowledging that domestic resources are generated by economic growth and an enabling environment, world leaders recommitted to strengthen revenue-administration capacities through modernized, transparent and progressive tax systems and policies.
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Ramaphosa reports constructive engagement with steel sector to grow industry (Engineering News)
President Cyril Ramaphosa met with business leaders in the steel and engineering industries on April 18 to discuss measures that government, the industry and other social partners will take together to grow the sector and ensure its future sustainability. The purpose of the meeting was to deepen engagement between government and this strategic sector of the economy. Ramaphosa welcomed the constructive engagement with the sector, the presidency said in a statement.
Poultry sector urged to agree on heat treatment protocol (Engineering News)
Frozen foods importer, exporter and distributor Hume International said South Africa urgently needs to agree on a heat treatment protocol for mechanically deboned meat (MDM), such as the protocol currently in place for pork sourced from approved markets abroad, in case of a bird flu outbreak. While the presence of bird flu typically does not impact the safety of poultry for human consumption, having such a protocol in place could simultaneously safeguard MDM supply chains while setting consumers’ minds at ease, said Hume International MD Fred Hume.
Citrus organisation in urgent appeal to government over EU FCM regulations (Engineering News)
On the eve of the start of the 2023 citrus season, industry body the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) has written to Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Ebrahim Patel and Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Thoko Didiza requesting an urgent update about the government’s interventions to help resolve the current impasse between South Africa and the European Union (EU) concerning the new False Coddling Moth (FCM) regime governing the importation of South Africa oranges to the region.
“Despite months of consultations between both parties at a World Trade Organisation (WTO) level, it appears very limited progress has been achieved to avert the crisis that will face the industry should growers have to implement these new regulations when oranges start being shipped to European markets in less than two weeks’ time,” the CGA states.
SA, Namibia resolve to deepen trade and investment (SAnews)
President Cyril Ramaphosa says Namibia and South Africa will deepen trade and investment ties with a Bi-National Commission (BNC) expected to be held between the countries later this year. The President was speaking during a media briefing during the Official State Visit by Namibian President Hage Geingob and several of that country’s Ministers on Thursday.
President Ramaphosa said progress has already been made in various sectors of mutual interests with new agreements signed in order to “further expand our formal scope of cooperation”.
“Our ministers responsible for trade and industry will convene a Business Forum later this year to be attended by business people from both countries. We also agreed that the ministers of trade of the two countries should put in place a mechanism to protect investments in our respective countries.
UAE and South Africa look to boost trade and investment opportunities (Arabian Business)
The UAE and South Africa held high level meetings on Wednesday to enhance bilateral trade and investment opportunities. The two sides also explored avenues to promote development in key sectors such as logistics, food production, tourism and energy.
“Amid global challenges, the UAE is taking bold steps to reimagine our economy, and trade is central to our ambitions to accelerate economic diversification, create long-term, sustainable growth and attract new forms of investment.
“We are also at the forefront of a new era of global trade, championing multilateralism and pioneering the use of technology to drive new efficiencies and enhance access to the global trading system,” Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, said.
Kenya, Uganda join hands to fight counterfeits (Monitor)
In an effort to fight counterfeits in the East African region, the Anti-Counterfeit Authority of Kenya (ACA) and Uganda’s Anti-Counterfeit Network (ACN Africa) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement signed on April 20, 2023, in Kenya’s capital Nairobi aims at strengthening strategic collaboration on matters pertaining elimination of fake goods in East Africa.
Worldwide, the World Economic Forum estimates that illicit trade presently deprives the global economy of $2.2 trillion annually, accounting for nearly three per cent of global gross domestic product (GDP).
ACA Executive Director Dr Robi Mbugua Njoroge Thursday said “the MoU represents a statement of mutual intentions between our two institutions- focusing on developing and strengthening a robust Intellectual Property (IP) system in the region.”
Export agency meets EU to discuss market opportunities (Capital Business)
The Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) met with the European Union (EU) Trade Counsellors in Nairobi today as it sought market opportunities for Kenyan products in the EU. State Department for Trade Principal Secretary Alfred K’Ombundo said the government is rethinking export strategies to ensure SMEs reap big from the export business.
“Kenya is working towards being a 21st century exporter. It is not just about how we export and trade, we need to provide leadership in terms of the green economy,” K’Ombundo said. “We need to adhere to our international commitments especially in efficient energy resources use in our production processes. We want to have more products sold at premium terms in markets across the world,” he added.
Angola rises five positions in Global Innovation Index (Angop)
Angola has risen five places in the Global Development Index, from 132 in 2021 to 127 in 2022, the Higher Education, Science and Technology Minister Maria do Rosário Bragança said Wednesday.
According to the minister, the improvement in position is still unsatisfactory, pointing to the need to focus more on education, science, information technology, engineering and mathematics. The focus on these areas, the minister said, also aims to improve the business environment and the diversification of the economy in the country.
DRC and Zambia to establish SEZs for electric vehicle production (The Independent Uganda)
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) have signed a framework agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia for the establishment of special economic zones for the production of electric vehicles and batteries as the continent looks to add value to surging demand for its critical minerals.
Both countries have major reserves of some of the critical minerals needed to produce batteries for electric vehicles and other technologies key to the green energy transition: the DRC accounts for approximately 70% of global cobalt supply and 88% of cobalt exports, and the two countries collectively contribute 11% of all copper supply globally. Both countries also possess reserves of lithium, a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries. But until now both nations been relegated to the role of suppliers of unprocessed critical minerals to foreign manufacturers.
In order to ensure that the countries move higher up in the value chain, Afreximbank and ECA will lead the establishment of an operating company in consortium with public and private investors and Afreximbank’s impact fund subsidiary, the Fund for Export Development in Africa. The new company will develop special economic zones (SEZs) dedicated to the production of battery precursors, batteries, and electric vehicles, in both nations.
Zim strengthens global ties to boost trade (The Herald)
ZIMBABWE will continue to strengthen its relations with the global community as part of strategies to grow international trade and open up new markets, a Cabinet minister said. This was said by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister, Dr David Musabayana at the tripartite inward trade mission for Kenya, Malawi, and Equatorial Guinea markets held by the national trade development and promotion organization, ZimTrade.
“In pursuit of trade and investment cooperation, I would like to urge you to consider collaborative efforts, particularly in the areas of innovation, technology transfer, and sustainable development, which are critical to our shared future. “These are part of the building blocks for sustainable industrialisation for the African continent,” said Deputy Minister Musabayana.
COVID-19, Agricultural Growth, and Food Insecurity in Africa (AfDB)
Paradoxically, while agriculture appears to be a buffer sector during the COVID-19 crisis in several Sub-Saharan African countries with agricultural production, food insecurity in Africa seems to be increasing. The negative effect of COVID-19 in addition to border disruptions and anti-COVID-19 policy measures have impacted all stages of agricultural value chains, from input supply to production, distribution logistics, and consumption, elevating the risks of food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition. All pillars of food security (availability, access, utilization, stability) have suffered from COVID-19-induced disturbances in the global food system. With global food exports barely affected, it was expected that developing economies, particularly those in Africa that rely on food imports, would suffer the worst effects. Rising food prices due to import shortages of certain grains, such as rice, were expected to pose a particular challenge to food access and availability.
EAC Adopts Self-Regulatory Chain Strategy for Coffee and Fruit and Vegetables (RegionWeek)
The East African Community (EAC) private sector is taking steps to adopt a self-regulatory framework for food safety and quality standards for coffee, fresh fruits, and vegetables as required by national, regional, continental, and global markets, reads a statement from a high-level stakeholder workshop held on April 18, 2023, in Tanzania.
This framework aims to influence value chain stakeholders to observe safety and standards that make their goods competitive in international and regional markets and safe for consumers and to improve the quality and safety of fresh fruits and vegetables in the region.
On her part, Estella Aryada, the GIZ MARKUP Program Coordinator, pointed out that the respective Partner States should support the Private Sector in implementing the Framework. “The benefits of reduced certification costs and delays can create an environment of trust among consumers in both local and international markets”.
AFGRI highlights turnaround success (Engineering News)
Following a “tumultuous and challenging” period, agricultural services company AFGRI Group has entered its centennial year “restructured, refocused and re-aligned”, it says in a statement.
Over the last 24 months, a far-reaching and extensive turnaround programme has been successfully implemented to realign the group around its core focus of partnering meaningfully with those involved in the South African agribusiness industry by delivering tangible value to its clients, the company highlights.
China backs Africa in pursuing independent path for development: Xi (Anadolu Agency)
China said on Wednesday that Beijing strongly supports Africa in pursuing “a unique and independent development path.” “China and Africa need to strengthen solidarity and cooperation more than ever,” President Xi Jinping told his Gabonese counterpart Ali Bongo Ondimba who is on a state visit to China.
“China firmly supports Africa in pursuing a unique and independent development path,” Xi added. His comments on Beijing’s relations comes as bilateral trade between China and Africa surged last year to a record $282 billion, which is an 11% rise year-on-year. Chinese exports to Africa were recorded at around $164.49 billion, which posted an increase of 11.2% last year while imports from the African continent rose to $117.51 billion last year.
DDG Paugam: Trade is essential in responding to food security crisis (WTO)
We are living through a dramatic moment for global food security: international trade can help respond to it in both the short and long term; China is a key player on international markets that can provide leadership in this response. These are the key messages that I’d like to convey today.
First, WTO members must continue avoiding unjustified restrictions on food trade, to alleviate price pressure and volatility. Second, WTO members, in coordination with other organisations, should address the needs of vulnerable people in net food importing developing countries and Least Developed Countries. Third and most importantly, WTO members must improve global food security by revitalizing negotiations on agricultural trade reform, including issues such as domestic support to the farm sector, and the question of public food stockholding.
DG Okonjo-Iweala: WTO must contribute solutions to economic challenges the world is facing (WTO)
WTO members need to do more to boost global trade growth by investing in multilateral cooperation and contributing solutions to the economic challenges the world is facing, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on 19 April.
In remarks delivered to a meeting of the WTO’s Trade Negotiations Committee, which she chairs, the Director-General noted that the slowdown in global trade which WTO economists projected in their recent annual forecast “should be a cause for concern for all of us.”
WTO economists said on 5 April that the volume of world merchandise trade is expected to grow by 1.7% this year following 2.7% growth in 2022. “Slower economic growth will, over the long-term, mean lower living standards and opportunities for people around the world,” she told members. “It is important to internalize digital trade as a new source of growth and ensure we’re providing the enabling environment, the level playing ground and the rules for this to thrive.”
WTO, World Bank, WEF launch joint effort to provide tailored trade and climate analysis (WTO)
The World Trade Organization, the World Bank Group and the World Economic Forum on 20 April launched “Action on Climate and Trade” (ACT), a new initiative that aims to help participating developing economies, including least-developed countries, use trade to meet their climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. The new initiative, which starts with a pilot phase, will focus on working with participating developing economies to develop climate-related analysis specific to their trade circumstances.
ACT will provide participating developing economies with tailored insights so that they can plan for the impacts of climate change on trade, leverage opportunities for climate action and trade growth, and define areas of collaboration with trade partners.
World economic outlook shows economies facing high uncertainty (IMF Blog)
Our latest World Economic Outlook forecasts that growth will slow from 3.4 percent last year to 2.8 percent this year. Growth is then expected to accelerate to 3 percent next year.
Risks to the outlook are heavily skewed to the downside, with heightened chances of a hard landing. In a plausible alternative scenario with further financial sector stress, global growth would decelerate to about 2.5 percent in 2023.
Looking further ahead, growth is expected to remain around 3 percent over the next five years. This baseline forecast of 3 percent five years ahead for 2028 makes it the lowest medium-term growth projection since 1990, and well below the average of 3.8 percent from the past two decades.
The anemic outlook reflects the tight policy stances needed to bring down inflation, the fallout from the recent deterioration in financial conditions, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and growing geoeconomic fragmentation.
IMF to consider debt restructuring for countries facing insolvency (The East African)
The International Monetary Fund will address the debt crisis country by country, and for countries facing insolvency, debt restructuring might be necessary. The Fund made the call during the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC this past week as civil society and pressure groups called for debt forgiveness.
A number of countries including Zambia, Ghana have defaulted in debt repayment and Kenya is facing a potential crunch point in June 2024 when a 10-year Eurobond worth $2 billion will be due, unless a yield retreat allows for refinancing.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has called for debt restructuring for countries facing insolvency and debt stress, admitting that the lending landscape has changed drastically while debt resolution mechanisms have not.
“We take it upon us to support a more inclusive and more effective debt resolution. If we create a fair inclusive atmosphere for discussion as we have done now then the part of the resolution is clear. We will address the debt resolution country by country basis,” she said.
Current climate polices ‘a death sentence’ for the world, warns Guterres (UN News)
Antonio Guterres was addressing via videolink, the fourth meeting of the Major Economies Forum, convened by the United States President Joe Biden, which is designed to galvanize efforts to keep the global temperature rise of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, within reach – in line with the Paris Agreement.
“You are the major economies – but also the major emitters. And our world has a major climate challenge before us”, said the Secretary-General in his remarks to world leaders. “Today’s policies would make our world 2.8 degrees hotter by the end of the century. And this is a death sentence.”