The selection: Monday, 25 May

Africa and the New Global Landscape: AfDB 2015 Annual Meetings start today in Abidjan

Bank Governors, usually Finance and Economy Ministers or Central Bank Governors representing the Group’s 80 member countries, will lead over 2,500 delegates and confirmed participants at the meetings which are taking place on the central theme, “Africa and the New Global Landscape.” The gathering will review the Bank’s 2014 operations and its 2015 development funding portfolio, as well as challenges facing the African region in key areas such as climate change, infrastructure, private sector and governance.

Just launched: The African Economic Outlook 2015 and 54 country notes is posted

@AfDB_Dominic: Big week coming up for @AfDB_Group as it chooses a new President at its Annual Meeting in Abidjan, follow hashtags  #afdbdecides #AFDBAM2015

Sakala carries SADC's hopes (The Standard) 

Why you should care who’s in line to run Africa’s development bank (Quartz)

Oil slump, slow growth greets new African Development Bank Chief (Bloomberg) 

How much has African Development Bank impacted on Africa’s economies? (Daily Monitor) 

Establishment of a natural resources management centre: concept note (AfDB)

The Bank has been working with countries in the management of natural resources to find paths to development that ease pressure on natural assets while better managing environmental, social and economic risks. Given the existing demand, for the Bank to play this role effectively and meet the expectations of RMCs, there is it needs to scale up its work on NRM. This paper outlines the challenges in NR management, the role of the Bank and a proposal for the establishment of a Natural Resource Centre as a way to consolidate and reinvigorate the support to the sector.

Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma: ‘Africa is world’s biggest exporter of jobs’ (IOL) 

Accounting for natural resources, green economy key for Africa’s devt (New Times) 

Adan Mohamed: 'Why Kenya textile sector needs new and expanded AGOA trade pact' (Business Daily)

Finally, the ongoing US-Kenya private sector engagement is now more robust than before, something that we must aggressively take advantage of to create an inclusive growth agenda in trade and investments. Kenya is committed to make major policy shifts, including strides made in reducing the cost of doing business, mitigation of non-tariff barriers and development of value chains, key to seizing the opportunity. [The author is the Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization, Enterprise and Development]

South Africa and the United States push for resolution of the chicken issue (the dti)

Simon Freemantle: 'Trade patterns underline Africa’s shifting role' (Business Day) 

We have known for some time that Africa’s commercial relationship with the world is changing. Two correlated features explain this.  [Standard Bank: Africa's re-pivoting trade portrait: 2014]

Trade ministers to meet next month in Paris on WTO (Zee News)

Trade ministers of about 15 countries including India, the US, EU, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and China are expected to attend this crucial meeting. India will present its views on bringing back issues related to the long-stalled Doha Round including agriculture (export subsidies, cotton and fishery subsidies), market access and services, the official said. The ministers will finalise the agenda for the Ministerial Conference, which is the highest decision making body of the World Trade Organisation, scheduled from December 15-18 in Nairobi, Kenya.

EIF steering committee endorses the scope and modalities for 2016-2022 second phase

"The second phase of the EIF Programme will produce a more dynamic and result-driven EIF, demonstrating increased efficiency, effectiveness, sustainability and value for money," said Ambassador Yvette Stevens of Sierra Leone and Chair of the EIF Board. The new measures will ensure the success of the EIF as a unique global trade partnership for LDCs, as was highlighted by Supriya Kumar Kundu on behalf of Bangladesh as the LDC Coordinator:

Kampala–Juba–Addis Ababa–Djibouti Corridor: trade and transport facilitation study

Part of the grant is intended to cover the Consultancy Services for Trade and Transport Facilitation Study which comprises (i) trade and transport facilitation study for the Kampala–Juba–Addis Ababa-Djibouti Road Corridor, (ii) feasibility studies, architectural and detailed engineering design and preparation of bidding documents for one stop border posts at the South Sudan–Ethiopia order and Ethiopia–Djibouti border. The scope of services included under this project among others are:

Djibouti dreams of being ‘new Dubai’ (Daily Nation) 

Uganda: SGR project to start next month (Daily Monitor)

Construction of the Standard Gauge Railway in Uganda is set to commence next month in Kampala, Works minister John Byabagambi has revealed. He said construction of the railway line, which will connect Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and South Sudan, is expected to be complete in 36 months. The project will commence with the Kampala-Tororo axis.

Kenya, AfDB ink Sh10.4bn deal for dual carriageway for Mombasa-Mariakani road

South Africa: competition issues in liner shipping (OECD)

Most of the abovementioned exemption and cartel investigations seem to have mainly been triggered by exemptions granted in other jurisdictions such as Europe. The Competition Commission has also received and considered mergers in the liner shipping industry. This paper therefore reflects the experience of the Commission and highlights the challenges it has encountered in its approach to the liner shipping industry from the different enforcement and merger cases it has handled.

Zimbabwe to develop new mining fiscal regime (The Herald)

Government is working with the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the World Bank to develop a new Mining Fiscal Regime network which will create an efficient transparent and productive tax system.  Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa told delegates at the Chamber of Mines 76th annual general meeting last week that the current mining fiscal regime had its challenges which have created a host of distortions and administrative challenges.

Rwanda: Forum seeks to enhance supply of professional services to EAC (New Times)

Policymakers and professionals will Tuesday meet at a consultative forum in Kigali to review the state of matters in regard to regulation of professional services committed by Rwanda under the EAC Common Market Protocol. The meeting will look into challenges encountered in the process, as well as assess the rate of cross-border practice by Rwandan professionals.

Barclays win over KRA saves banks hefty tax demand (Business Daily)

Barclays Kenya has won a protracted legal battle with the Kenya Revenue Authority, which was demanding tax payments on fees remitted to Visa, Mastercard and American Express for electronic money transfer services. Justice George Odunga last week ruled that the taxman’s classification of withholding tax on the royalty fees is vague and cannot be used to demand levies from the bank. There are 12,552,312 debit cards in the country, according to statistics released by the Financial Sector Deepening in February, and the number is likely to continue increasing. Currently, 27% of retail transactions are done electronically.

Let market forces determine sugar imports: Wassira (The Citizen)

Requesting the National Assembly to endorse Sh353.14 billion for his ministry during the 2015/2016 financial year, Mr Wassira said Tanzania produces an average of 300,000 tonnes of sugar for domestic use annually. The country’s demand stands at 420,000 tonnes of sugar for domestic consumption plus other 170,000 tonnes of sugar for industrial use yearly.

Botswana: Local businesses seek opportunities at Namibian dry port (Mmegi)

The Botswana Investment and Trade Centre will [this week] take 15 local business people to Namibia, on a trade mission to expose them to opportunities that exist at the recently opened Dry Port in Walvis Bay.

BOCCIM changes name to ‘Business Botswana’ (Mmegi) 

Zambia: IMF concludes 2015 Article IV Consultation (IMF)

Key risks to the outlook are delayed fiscal adjustment in the lead-up to general elections in 2016, persistent low copper prices, and policy uncertainties that could undermine investment in the economy. On the upside, steps taken by the government to resolve mining taxation problems by easing documentation for VAT refund claims by exporters and the decision to rescind the new fiscal regime for mining introduced in January 2015 could lead to higher copper production and growth.

Roberto Azevedo: 'For global cities, the global trading system works best' (Straits Times)

Some have suggested that the proliferation of regional agreements may, in some way, constitute a threat to the WTO and the multilateral trading system. I disagree. Trade liberalisation is contagious, and when countries agree to open markets in a regional setting, they are more inclined to do so globally as well.

Out of African opportunities (Sydney Morning Herald)

Australian businesses are continuously being informed of the opportunities in neighboring Asia but we have a neighbor to the West that is equally worthy of our attention. Australia's bilateral merchandise trade with Africa grew to almost $12 billion in 2013, more than double the value in 2009, which is indicative of the positive changes taking place in the region and the growing opportunities for trade and investment. So where do the opportunities exist for Australian small businesses in Africa? [The author, Stacey Mills-Smith, is the trade policy and research manager for the Export Council of Australia]

The Coming Financial Climate (UNEP)

Harnessing the global financial system to deliver climate security, reduce the risks of high carbon assets, and scale up capital for the low carbon transition is possible, but will only happen with a comprehensive, system-wide approach to financing - including the $37 trillion of energy infrastructure - in the next two decades.  Drawing from an array of policy innovations, some of which are already taking place at the country level, 'The Coming Financial Climate', a new report by UNEP, identifies measures that can make climate security an integral part of a sustainable financial system.

Malusi Gigaba: 'Africa is central to SA's future' (IOL)

Perceptions that bog down EAC integration (Business Daily)

What treaty? Anger, delay at EA borders (Daily Nation) 

Citizens wait on Buhari as Nigeria’s economy shuts down (BusinessDay)

ECA and UMA assess progress made in joint cooperation (UNECA)

EALA wants speedy implementation of peace and security decisions (EALA)

Kenya punching below its weight in battle for FDI (Business Daily)

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This post has been sourced on behalf of tralac and disseminated to enhance trade policy knowledge and debate. It is distributed to over 300 recipients across Africa and internationally, serving in the AU, RECS, national government trade departments and research and development agencies. Your feedback is most welcome. Any suggestions that our recipients might have of items for inclusion are most welcome. Richard Humphries (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Twitter: @richardhumphri1)