The selection: Friday, 20 November

Made in Africa: some new thinking for Africa Industrialization Day (Brookings)

Today Friday, November 20 marks yet another “Africa Industrialization Day” by the United Nations. There have now been 25 such events, and they seem to have come and gone with relatively little notice. This year may be different: Africa’s failure to industrialize has come to the attention of a growing number of observers, including the venerable magazine, The Economist. The objective is clear - Africa needs more industry - but the path forward, at least in the eyes of The Economist remains “more a marathon than a sprint.” Some of us who study Africa and industrial development are not so pessimistic. Over the past five years the African Development Bank, Brookings and United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research have jointly sponsored a multi-year, multi-country research project designed to answer three questions: Why is there so little industry in Africa? Does it matter? And, what can be done about it? [The author: John Page]

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa: update

The objective of this meeting, 28-29 November, is to review the progress made so far on the implementation of the PMPA, identify challenges and opportunities to further advance the sector for improved access to much needed medical products on the continent and pave the way forward for the future of the pharmaceutical industry and related sectors. [Concept note]

Development assistance aspects of cotton: report by WTO Director-General

The world cotton market has registered major changes in respect of global production, planted area and trade over the last two seasons. In a difficult context, marked by dwindling cotton prices and compounded by the persistence of sluggish world economic growth, the cotton sector of several LDCs and, in particular, African cotton-producing countries, has managed to remain stable. Cotton production in Africa increased by 13% in 2014/15 in relation to last season, to reach 1.69 million tons, accounting for 6% of world output and 14% of the global cotton area. Conversely, due to weak overseas demand, exports from African countries decreased by 7% in the 2014/15 season, amounting to 1.22 million tons.

Overview of developments in the international trading environment: annual Report by the Director-General

Brazil, EU propose tighter WTO rules on agricultural export competition (ICTSD)

Regional parliamentary fora updates:

SADC PF 38th Plenary Assembly Session: This Plenary Assembly Session is being held under the theme: 'From Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals: towards a greater parliamentary role in the development agenda'

EALA sitting to resume: Two key Bills on the cards at the EALA meeting are the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Bill 2013 and the EAC Forestry Management Bill 2014. A special sitting is expected to be addressed by the President Paul Kagame.

ECOWAS, development partners renew commitment to implementation of priority programmes (ECOWAS)

The meeting identified emerging trends in the collaboration between ECOWAS and the Development Partners as well as the challenges in the implementation strategies currently employed. These include issues surrounding the CET, checkpoints, the need to have a good grasp of informal trade within the region, signing of the Economic Partnership Agreement by all member states, awareness (of community programmes) raising activities as well as the need for greater competitiveness. The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, said the parties recognised the need to strengthen partnership in order to meet the major sustainable development challenges that are taken into account in ECOWAS regional policies.

SADC domestic resource mobilization through taxation and oversight: SADC PF conference communique

Whereas the European Parliamentarians for Africa, the SADC Parliamentary Forum and the African Tax Administration Forum convened a Regional Parliamentary Seminar on SADC Domestic Resource Mobilization through Taxation and Oversight, on Tuesday, 10th of November 2015, at Sandton Sun Hotel, Johannesburg, South Africa. Finally, recommend that this Final Statement be presented to the Trade, Investment, Finance, Infrastructure and Integration Committee for further processing within the structures of the SADC Parliamentary Forum and beyond.

Malawi: New trade tools to help businesses export more and better (Intracen)

The international competitiveness of Malawi’s businesses has been given a boost by the launch of two new trade information systems: the Trade Map Malawi, and the Malawi Investment and Trade Centre Trade Information Portal. ITC Trade Map, which provides online access to one of the world’s largest trade databases, has been customised and embedded into the website of the National Statistical Office, allowing for multiple ways of displaying monthly, quarterly or yearly Malawi trade data in tables, graphs or maps. The Trade Information Portal which has been developed by ITC for MITC, serves as a hub for trade-related intelligence needed for exporters to gain access to new markets. The portal provides users with up-to-date information on market access conditions, business opportunities and trade incentives and agreements. It will also provide analytical data on production, consumption and trade flows.

ZimTrade urges govt ro review investment policies (The Chronicle)

ZimTrade has implored government to review investment and trade policies to support private sector initiatives in accessing export markets. While presenting the findings of the Namibia Market Survey, Africa Corporate Advisors director Malvern Rusike yesterday said there were market opportunities for Zimbabwean companies but a review of trade policies remains fundamental.

Zimbabwean contractors cry foul over awarding of tenders to foreign firms (The Chronicle)

Understanding Mozambique’s growth experience through an employment lens (UNU-Wider)

Over the past twenty years, Mozambique has achieved remarkable progress in promoting macroeconomic growth and stability. Nonetheless, poverty rates remain high and labour market activity is dominated by smallholder farming. We use recent household survey data to dig into these trends and provide an updated analysis of transformation in the labour market. We find that movement of labour out of agriculture has contributed to aggregate growth. But, this trend is slowing and is leading to a saturation of the services sector. Moreover, productivity growth is weakening within more labour-intensive sectors. We conclude by reflecting on policy challenges, including demographic trends. [The authors: Sam Jones, Finn Tarp]

Chinamasa walks tight rope (Zimbabwe Independent)

Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa is walking on a tight rope as he finalises his 2016 National Budget, due for presentation on Thursday next week, at a time revenues continue to dwindle. His task is no stroll in the park and his biggest headache, according to analysts, is making good on a promise to clear US$1,8 billon the country owes to multilateral creditors by mid-2016 and institute reforms that can convince cynical lenders and investors there is some form fiscal discipline.

Rwanda: Govt to create new agency to spearhead implementation of ICT master plan (New Times)

The government is set to create a new agency to spearhead the implementation of the recently adopted Smart Rwanda Master Plan. The master plan, adopted by Cabinet earlier this month, outlines a five-year plan for the ICT sector in the country and takes effect beginning 2016. It focuses on digitising the economy and positioning ICT as one of the key exports of the country.

Tanzania shilling slides 24% in ten months (Daily News)

The shilling has gone down by 24% since the beginning of this year, as demand from importers continued to outpace foreign currencies inflow. The Bank of Tanzania data showed that the shilling depreciated from 1,723/25 in January to 2,142/65 in mid November. The shilling in the first week of this month, started to appreciate hence returning hopes to importers that the trend would continue.

Kenya: Flower firms shifting base to Ethiopia over taxes (Business Daily)

Four Kenya-based flower firms have shifted to Ethiopia as a result of punitive taxes that are making the horticulture industry uncompetitive in the global market, industry players have said. Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that earnings in the flower sector dropped by 3% to Sh40bn in the first eight months of the year compared to Sh41.5bn the same period in 2014. Jane Ngigi, the chief executive of the Kenya Flower Council, says multiple taxation by the governments is negatively affecting the sector and is likely to pose an existential threat in the coming years if not reviewed.

Infrastructure-driven regional integration: updates

Abidjan-Lagos road corridor update: The Abidjan–Lagos Corridor is a PIDA flagship project. The 1028km road, under construction, connects Abidjan, Accra, Cotonou, Lagos and Lome, considered to be West Africa’s largest and most economically dynamic cities, with a combined population of more than 35m people. The six-lane corridor also links vibrant sea ports, serving all the region’s landlocked countries, thus facilitating intra and inter regional trade. “The corridor is one of the most important developments in the region; it accounts for about 75 percent of trade in the ECOWAS region”, said Edy Anthony, a transport expert with Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organisation.

Headway in Kazungula bridge construction – Mabeo: The Minister of Transport and Communications, Tshenolo Mabeo told journalists this week the P1.4bn project is on course and will be delivered by December 2018. However, Mabeo indicated that the contractor, Daewoo Engineering Company had assured the ministry that it has put in place remedial measures or a catch-up plan to mitigate the time lost and to make sure that the project will be delivered within the agreed time. He asserted that they are not anticipating an extension of time nor will there be request for extra funding, emphasising on the need for the contractor to complete works on the bridge on time.

Plans to widen motorway linking Mozambique to South Africa: The Mozambican government on Tuesday approved the widening of the Maputo-South Africa motorway at its most critically congested point. In sections 19 and 20 of the road, which are in Matola municipality, the motorway will be widened from four lanes to six, in an attempt to ease the traffic jams that have come to characterize these stretches at rush hour. A critical problem is overloading. Studies undertaken by TRAC on one stretch of the road between October 2011 and March 2012 showed that 19% of trucks on the motorway were overloaded, which is why the road surface has deteriorated so quickly. Hence the addendum also envisages more weighbridges to check vehicles for overloading.

African Development Fund: 13th replenishment (AfDB)

A number of key issues were discussed, including the findings of an independent evaluation of the ADF-12 and ADF-13 commitments, the Fund’s operational priorities, and the Bank Group’s institutional effectiveness. The meeting discussed progress on the fragility and transition support agendas. It noted with satisfaction that the Fund has made significant progress in mainstreaming gender in its operations, achieving decisive outcomes for women’s empowerment in areas including transport, agriculture, water and sanitation. Participants also commended the Bank’s action in countries facing fragile situations. [The Mid-Term Review report]

East Africa: EOI for establishment of a PPP advisory hub (AfDB)

Mombasa eyes mass rail system in talks with JICA (Business Daily)

DRC traders urge JPM to help boost Dar port (The Citizen)

Kenya gets nod to export farm fish to European market (Daily Nation)

Somalia exports 5000 livestock to UAE (The East African)

SADC Food Security Early Warning System: update for the 2015-2016 season

Charles Chukwuma Soludo: ‘Can a new Buharinomics save Nigeria?’ (Premium Times)

---

tralac’s Daily News archive

Catch up on tralac’s daily news selections by following this link ».

---

SUBSCRIBE

To receive the link to tralac’s Daily News Selection via email, click here to subscribe.

---

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)