Blog

Investment dispute resolution under the Amended Annex 1 of the SADC FIP

Effective dispute resolution is important for foreign investors. It guarantees legal certainty and predictability in markets and provides remedies when rights are violated. The resolution ... read more

MTN vs. Nigeria: on the perils of investment in Nigeria, or the arrogance of South African multinationals?

In late August this year, MTN was ordered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to return around US$8.1 billion alleged to have been illegally repatriated (to its South African parent compa... read more

South Africa to ratify Tripartite FTA and Continental Free Trade Area Agreements

The South African Parliament is in the process of ratifying the Tripartite FTA Agreement. South Africa signed the TFTA in July 2017. The aim behind this Agreement is eventually to bring 26... read more

Education in the 21st Century Digital World

In his 1995 best-selling book ‘The Road Ahead’, Microsoft founder Bill Gates said “the computer won’t dominate the learning experience, but it will effectively augment learning, es... read more

BREXIT: Where does it stand and what are the options?

If I were a business person in the United Kingdom (UK) or a concerned voter, I would be somewhat unhappy about the persistent uncertainty regarding the outcome of the Brexit process. There... read more

Brexit on Tour in Africa

Prime Minister Theresa May made a brief visit last week to South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. These are the large, anchor economies of Southern, East and West Africa. They are also all membe... read more

Trade Governance Support to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand became, on June 21 this year, only the second head of state to give birth in office, after late prime minister Bhutto of Pakistan. She is the y... read more

Women driving the Cosmetics Sector in Namibia

Like agriculture and textiles, the cosmetics sector in Namibia is largely driven by women. Namibia’s cosmetic industry is probably one of the fastest growing in the country at the moment... read more

Women, trade and financial inclusion in SADC

Financial inclusion is linked to both economic growth and poverty alleviation. It enables people to participate in the economy, and therefore to trade. It is necessary for business growth ... read more

A gender agenda: South Africa’s tourism trade

South Africa has a sophisticated framework for gender equality. Equality is enshrined in the constitution, and legal protections and institutions are in place. Despite this, gender inequal... read more

Promoting Women’s Participation in the AfCFTA

The recent signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area in Kigali on 21 March 2018 marked a momentous occasion in trade policy discourse in Africa. The Agreement seeks to create a si... read more

Identifying the role of civil society in the SADC EPA

The demand for civil society participation in the negotiation and implementation of trade agreements has recently intensified following the growing and progressive mainstreaming of sustain... read more

Does Rand Depreciation Help South Africa’s Exports?

In the 1930s, before the era of floating exchange rates, countries would try to gain a competitive advantage for their exports by means of ‘competitive devaluation’. This practice refe... read more

2018 SADC Summit – Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development

The 38th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will take place 17th to 18th August 2018 in Namibia. The occasion of the ... read more

AGOA Forum 2018 outcomes: where to for a future bilateral trade relationship between the United States and Africa?

Earlier in July 2018 the annual United States – Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (“AGOA Forum”) drew to a conclusion in Washington, D.C. This annual event, alt... read more

SADC EPA Trade Defense Mechanisms

The Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the European Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) EPA Group[1] is a WTO compatible Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for li... read more

The Settlement of Disputes under the SADC EPA

African states are not known for instituting formal dispute settlement proceedings about the violation of trade agreements. They never do so amongst themselves and very seldom vis-à-vis t... read more

Is Brexit now in the Emergency Ward?

Brexit is due to happen on 29 March 2019 but there is no agreement yet on how the future relationship between the UK and the EU (the UK’s most important trading partner) will work. The U... read more

Exceptions in the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement

Part IV of the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement contains certain General Exceptions to the non-discrimination principle in the MFN and national treatment rules. Exceptions are someti... read more

Implementing the AfCFTA: When and How?

The implementation of international agreements is about achieving the objectives agreed upon. For trade agreements implementation is ultimately about ensuring active private sector partici... read more