tralac’s first newsletter of 2017 is posted: a message from the Executive Director, Trudi Hartzenberg (and more)

The 9th African Union gender pre-summit starts on Sunday: concept note (pdf)

Diarise: The Germany-Africa Business Forum (23 March, Frankfurt): official website. Two backgrounders: What you need to know about Africa-Germany business relations, African leaders give Germany’s Marshall Plan a ‘thumbs up’

China-Africa relations: political and economic engagement and media strategies (open access, African Studies Quarterly special issue)

Angola’s trade surplus increases in the 3rd quarter of 2016 (MacauHub)

Angola’s trade surplus in the third quarter of 2016 amounted to $5.451bn, a figure that compares with S$4.154bn recorded in the second quarter, reported the National Statistics Institute (INE). Data released by INE showed that between July and September Angola exported goods worth $8.468bn, a 14.5% increase over the amount determined in the previous quarter and imported goods worth $3.016bn. The main export partners in the third quarter were China (with 40%), India (7.7%), US (6.1%), Taiwan (4.8%) and France (4.2%). The main partners for imports were Portugal (14.8%), US (12.6%), China (12.4%), Norway (6%) and South Africa (5.8%).

Nigeria ratifies the Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO)

Nigeria has ratified the Trade Facilitation Agreement, making it the 107th WTO member to do so. Only three more ratifications from members are needed to bring the TFA into force. “Nigeria’s ratification of the Trade Facilitation Agreement is a reflection of our commitment to the WTO and a rules-based economy. It is evidence of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to rapidly implement his presidential initiative on the creation of an enabling environment for business,” Nigeria’s Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah said.

MTN may delay Nigeria listing (Business Report)

“It’s a work in progress and hopefully within the 12 to 18 month period we will be able to do it,’’ MTN Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer Phuthuma Nhleko said at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Regulatory issues need to be resolved, and the macro conditions need to have improved.”

Madagascar launches export of litchis to South Africa (COMESA)

The first consignment of 512 kilograms of fresh litchis is part of a 500 ton import permit of litchis to be exported by Quality Mad of Madagascar to Fresh Mark of South Africa. The first shipment of litchis is a culmination of a project technically supported by the COMESA Secretariat with funding from the European Union and USAID. Initially the project was funded by DFID through Trade Mark Southern Africa. The Secretary General of COMESA in his brief remarks observed that innovative approaches were deployed to assist the exporters in Madagascar to meet the SPS export requirements by bringing together importers and exporters to work closely with the respective SPS regulatory authorities on meeting the requirements of the South African market.

Zimbabwe special permits: SA minister says don’t rush me (NewsDay)

South African Home Affairs minister Malusi Gigaba on Wednesday said, at the appropriate moment, he will announce the fate of almost 200 000 Zimbabweans residing and working in the country on the basis of the Zimbabwe Special Permit (ZSP), which expires this year.

Miners decry Kenya govt’s giving China mapping tender (The EastAfrican)

Miners in Kenya have put the government on the spot for withdrawing $28.5m in public funding for a survey to map the country’s mineral resources in favour of financing from China. The Kenya Chamber of Mines fears dusting off a controversial pact signed in 2013, which gives China’s Geological Exploration Technology Institute exclusive rights to do the geophysical survey with funding from Beijing, amounted to ceding control of the country’s resources. “China will end up controlling the mining sector if they fund and carry out the survey because they will have raw data on the country’s mineral wealth,” Kenya Chambers of Mines chief executive officer Moses Njeru told The EastAfrican.

IGAD, Gulf Cooperation Council to enhance cooperation (IGAD)

The two regional blocs explored opportunities through which they can develop cooperation and coordination in areas of common interests. These areas include and are not limited to security, economic ties and relations (investment and trade), food security and nutrition, agricultural sector development, blue economy, marine corridor, infrastructure and connectivity, education, research and technology, health as well as youth and cultural, social and media outreach.

At Davos: UN chief Guterres calls businesses ‘best allies’ to curb climate change, poverty (UN)

“Without the private sector we will not have the necessary innovation, we will not have the necessary capacity to discover new markets, new products, new services and to be able to develop new areas in the economy,” Mr. Guterres said, adding also that only the private sector can create enough jobs to stabilize societies.

WEF 2017: What is in it for EAC region? (New Times)

At WEF, Dangote canvasses tackling power deficit to improve economy

Ministers call on G20 to aim for inclusive growth from WEF

Trump-Africa: In trade with Africa, US playing catch-up (VOA)

Peru, India to start free trade talks this quarter (The Wire)

The cabinet of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved a feasibility study on the proposed deal on Wednesday, clearing the way for the start of formal talks, Peru’s trade ministry said in a statement. Peru said an initial technical meeting in the first quarter would mark the first time that India, one of the world’s biggest and fastest-growing economies, negotiated a comprehensive trade deal with a Latin American country. Peru is a leading producer of copper, gold and fishmeal and was one of 12 signatories of the US-proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal that US president-elect Donald Trump has vowed to scrap.

Deep integration and UK-EU trade relations (World Bank)

Because of its membership, the UK’s services trade more than doubled, and the country’s backward and forward participation in global value chains increased by more than 30% each. The paper uses these estimates to evaluate the future of United Kingdom-European Union trade under different scenarios. The findings show that United Kingdom-European Union trade declines under all scenarios, ranging between 6 and 28 percent for trade in value added.

Benefits of global and regional financial integration in Latin America (IMF)

The timing is ripe to pursue greater regional financial integration in Latin America given the withdrawal of some global banks from the region and the weakening of growth prospects. Important initiatives are ongoing to foster financial integration. Failure to capitalize on this would represent a significant missed opportunity. [Related: How is the slowdown affecting households in Latin America and the Caribbean? (World Bank)]

Maya Forstater: ‘Aid in reverse: facts or fantasy?’ (CGD)

A comment piece published in the Guardian earlier this week argued that for every $1 of aid that developing countries receive, they lose $24 in net outflows. The piece, by Jason Hickel, which draws on a report by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) concluded that “poor countries don’t need charity. They need justice.” Rich countries, he argues, should act to stopthe massive flow of capital that the writer believes is being drained from poor countries. The 1 to 24 figure is shocking and morally compelling. But it isn’t true. To understand why, first it is helpful to get a sense of scale.

Today’s Quick Links:

Standard & Poor’s reduces Mozambique’s credit rating to the lowest level

EABC endorses Ambassador Amina Mohamed to chair the African Union Commission

Uganda: Special interest groups to be represented in EALA

Regional MPs raise concern over procurement flaws at EAC Secretariat

Bank of Tanzania governor: Kagera Sugar is a role model for industrialisation

The Gambia: full text of UNSC resolution