Kigali, Rwanda, December 5, 2018 (ECA) - Africa’s growing and vibrant private sector can be a major driver of the regional integration across the continent, according to leading experts at the ongoing African Economic Conference (AEC) 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda. However, this will require more efforts by the public sector to improve the environment for doing business in Africa, including making additional investments in both soft and hard infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business, Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) as well as harmonising policies and standards. In addition, governments have to do more to facilitate building viable value chains for agriculture, commodities and services. “Governments have to play a catalytic role to attract private investment,” said Ms. Claire Akamanzi, the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Development Board during a high level panel under the theme; Leverage private sector for Africa’s integration. Ms. Akamanzi pointed out that the government of Rwanda has made deliberate efforts to support the private sector by implementing several reforms aimed at not only to easing doing business in the country but also to making its economy competitive. Rwanda is ranked the 2nd easiest place to do business in sub- Saharan Africa after Mauritius, the 1st in the East African region and the 41st globally out of the 190 economies assessed in this year’s World Bank Doing Business report. Public private partnerships, Ms. Akamanzi argued, remain a priority in promoting a private sector led economy in order to achieve all the set targets that will maintain Rwanda’s competitive...

Rodgers Mukwaya, an economist with United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said "as we talk about regional integration to promote intra-African trade, we should focus on creating a more effective industrial policy that can enhance export base." Africa's lack of effective and transformative industrial policy has hindered the growth of manufacturing exports, said Janvier Alofa, an economist of United Nations Development Programme. "Africa's industrial policy is poor compared to the rest of the world, that is why the majority of African economies largely depend on imports," said Alofa. The 13th edition of the annual conference, organized by the United Nations Development Programme and the ECA is held under the theme "Regional and Continental Integration for Africa's Development." in Rwandan capital city Kigali from Monday to Wednesday Source: Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation

The words ‘Blue Economy’ became the talk of town last month thanks to the just concluded Sustainable Blue Economy Conference held in Nairobi that attracted dignitaries from all over the world. The importance of the sector was clearly seen as various presidents and special envoys spoke passionately putting forward their views and ideas of how the Blue economy can be better utilized and managed. The World Bank describes Blue Economy as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem. It’s about the sustainable use and conservation of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and other water resources. Compared to other developed countries all over the world that have access to such resources, Kenya has been left behind in terms of utilization and conservation of its waters. Think about Rotterdam city in Netherlands, Miami in the US or Barcelona in Spain? You would think these are capital cities in the respective countries but they are not. A good example is Rotterdam. This is why. Rotterdam is the largest sea port in Europe and its strategic location has made it a vital organ in the economy of the Netherlands and the North-Western Europe as a whole. Rotterdam’s economy is mainly derived from shipping. The city is committed in keeping its sea clean to an extent that rain water is usually collected via their green roof system, cleaned of leaves and dirt then utilised for the city’s water needs and excess released...

A total of 44 African nations signed the landmark African Continental Free Trade agreement earlier this year, with only 12 out of the required 22 countries ratifying the accord, but policymakers say there is time enough and practical solutions to move the process ahead. The African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) area aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union. African countries could use the time in the run-up to March 2019, the deadline for ratification, to strengthen their capacity in the legislative and tariff instruments required for the process and other “low hanging fruit” measures, presenters at a panel session during the African Economic Conference, currently underway in Kigali Rwanda, told delegates. “We have learned a lot of lessons,” Dr. Trudi Hartzenberg, Executive Director of the Trade Law Centre said. “We have a window to build capacity most implementation is done at national level there is lot that existing (free-trade areas) can bring,” she said. The signing of AfCFTA, with its potential to create the largest free-trade area in the world uniting fifty-four African countries with a combined population of more than one billion people and a combined gross domestic product of more than US $3.4 trillion has also engendered much debate about the challenges of harmonizing disparate tax, fiscal and regulatory regimes as well as the varied socio-political make-up...

The African Continental Free Trade Area is expected to boost regional trade and industrialisation by 50 per cent if implemented in March 2018. The agreement, which was signed last March in Kigali by 49 countries, has only been ratified by 12 countries and is seeking 22 more countries in order to go into force and subsequently unleash the potential of the region. Analysis by United Nations Economic Commission of Africa notes that smaller countries will get the largest increase in intra-African exports – up to 68 per cent. Andrew Mold, Ag Director of the UNECA in Eastern Africa says that the AfCFTA will enable the regional states increase their exports of manufactured goods across Africa. “Currently East African countries are trading amongst themselves at only half their potential, and the growing local demand is met by imports from outside the continent rather than by local production,” he said during the UNECA’s annual meeting held in Kigali to deliberate on the implementation of the AfCFTA. David Luke, Coordinator of the African Trade Policy Centre at UNECA insists: “The more ambitious the liberalisation, the higher will be the gains in terms of increase in GDP and exports. However, we still need to win the hearts and minds of the private sector and civil society, who will be the true implementers of the AfCFTA.” Rwanda’s Finance Minister Uzziel Ndagijimana called on Africa to speedily ratify the continental free trade agreement as it is very crucial to Africa’s inclusive growth and prosperity. “The AfCFTA...

A good transport system is a crucial ingredient for a thriving manufacturing sector owing to its function in the supply chain that impacts on quality and cost of production. It catalyses export business by ensuring timely and quality delivery to the global market, thereby generating Foreign Direct Investments and additional sources of revenue for the country. Kenya has, in the recent past, seen several infrastructure projects initiated especially in the transport sub-sectors including road, rail, maritime and non-motorized transport, all intended to improve logistics and supply chain efficiency. Notable infrastructure developments include completion and operationalization of phase one of the Second Container Terminal at Mombasa Port and the completion of the expansion of the Inland Container Depot Nairobi (ICDN). Additionally, we had the construction of the first three berths of the Lamu Port, expansion of gates and yard capacity, installation of the Integrated Port Security System and the successful completion of the first Phase of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). Though well intended, these new developments have had teething problems in their implementation that have inevitably doubled, and in some cases, tripled the cost of logistics and transportation. Such implementation challenges are not unusual in large projects and their occurrence should not overshadow the bigger picture. However, these challenges must be acknowledged for solutions and short-term impactful measures to be created in collaboration with stakeholders, so as to get back on track towards making Kenya a competitive environment with world-class infrastructure. The development and operationalization of SGR Phase one was expected...

The current Chinese investment in Africa, most especially in infrastructure development, is good for the continent to achieve economic and social transformation on the continent, an official of African Development Bank (AfDB) said here Monday. "Chinese investments are highly welcome to Africa," Gabriel Negatu, director general of AfDB East Africa regional development and business delivery office, told Xinhua in an interview on the sidelines of the ongoing African Economic Conference that opened on Monday. Private investment from China, especially in transport, energy and industrial development, would help Africa to speed up the implementation of a continental free trade area, said Negatu. "China has become Africa's great development partner, because the Chinese government has been able to support heavy infrastructure projects like the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway, among others," he said. "It is us Africans who need to decide what it is that we want China to invest in. Today the west is not able to support that kind of big infrastructure developments in Africa," he added. The 13th edition of the annual conference, organized by the United Nations Development Program and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is held under the theme "Regional and Continental Integration for Africa's Development." The conference that runs to Wednesday, focuses, among others, on initiatives for accelerating progress in infrastructure integration, including the removal of barriers for movement of people and goods and services across borders. Source: Global Times

Minisitiri w’Ubucuruzi n’Inganda, Hakuzumuremyi Soraya, atangaza ko ibikorerwa mu Rwanda byinjiza hafi 70% by’umusaruro mbumbe w’igihugu. Hakuziyaremye avuga ko ibikorerwa mu Rwanda byinjije amadolari y’Amerika 945 asaga Miliyari 846 y’Amafaranga y’u Rwanda mu myaka itatu ishize. Yabitangaje ubwo yafunguraga imurikagurisha ry’ibikorerwa mu Rwanda bizwi nka Made in Rwanda ririmo kuba ku nshuro yaryo ya 4, kuri uyu wa 30 Ugushyingo 2018. Minisitiri yavuze ko icyo Leta ishyize imbere ari ugufasha abakora ibikorerwa mu Rwanda kubona inguzanyo z’amabanki no gucuruza hanze y’igihugu. Ati: “Gahunda ya Made in Rwanda yateje imbere inganda z’u Rwanda, yatumye umusaruro mbumbe w’igihugu wiyongera hafi 70% ndetse ikaba imaze kwinjiza miliyoni 945 z’amadolari y’Amerika.” Yasabye Abanyarwanda kurushaho kugura ibyakorewe mu Rwanda kuko ngo n’inzego za Leta zatangiye gukoresha ibikorerwa mu Rwanda, aho 15% by’ibikoreshwa n’inzego za Leta bikorerwa mu Rwanda. Yasabye kandi abanyenganda gukora ibikoresho byiza bishobora guhangana ku masoko y’imbere mu gihugu no hanze yacyo kugira ngo birusheho kugira agaciro no kuzamura ibendera y’u Rwanda mu mahanga. Umuyobozi Mukuru w’Urugaga rw’abikorera PSF, Ruzibiza Steven yagaragaje ko imurikagurisha rya Made in Rwanda ryatangijwe mu mwaka wa 2015, rikaba ribaye ku nshuro yaryo ya 4. Yavuze ko ibicuruzwa bya ‘Made in Rwanda’ byagiye byiyongera mu myaka ine ishize kuko mu imurikagurisha ryabanje hamuritswe ibicuruzwa 260, iryakurikiyeho n’iry’inyuma ya ryo rimurika ibikoresho 427 naho muri uyu mwaka ibicuruzwa bya ‘Made in Rwanda’ byamuritswe ni 460. Ati “Biragaragara ko ibicuruzwa bya ‘Made in Rwanda’ bimurikwa byagiye byiyongera uko imyaka yakurikiranye, bikaba bigeze kuri 460 bivuye kuri 260.” Yavuze ko hari...

PRESIDENT John Magufuli and his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta are scheduled to inaugurate the newly built One Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Namanga tomorrow as the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit starts here today. The 20th Ordinary Meeting of the six EAC Heads of State that takes place at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) was preceded by the 38th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers that ran from November 25 through November 28, 2018 at the same venue. Among the items on the provisional agenda of the summit are the status of ratification of various protocols; the status of resolution of long outstanding non-tariff barriers and the progress report on the adoption of Political Confederation as a Transitional Model to East African Political Federation. EAC Secretariat Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department Owora Othieno said here that other items on the agenda include the roadmap for the accelerated integration of South Sudan into the EAC and verification exercise for the admission of Somalia into the community. The summit will also consider reports on modalities for promotion of Motor Vehicle Assemblies in East Africa to reduce importation of used vehicles and the review of textile and leather sectors with the view of developing strong and competitive domestic sectors that give consumers better choices than imported textile and footwear. The summit is expected to assent to various Bills passed by the East Legislative Assembly—the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill, 2016; the Administration of the East...

Be it border hassles, lack of road or air routes linking key cities, or the frustrations of being refused entry to a country because of visas, the end result is to curtail the free movement of people, viewed by the African Development Bank as one of the pillars of regional integration. That freedom of movement is inextricably tied to the Bank’s vision to create the next global market in Africa. As the Africa Economic Conference opens in Rwanda’s capital Kigali, the theme this year: Regional and continental integration for Africa’s development,” also aligns with another major Bank priority – placing infrastructure development at the centre of Africa’s regional integration efforts. Host nation Rwanda has taken bold leadership steps to champion regional integration, announcing at the beginning of this year an entry visa on arrival for travellers from all African countries. The third edition of the Bank’s Visa Openess Index, to be launched on day two of the meeting, will be an important opportunity to measure which countries are making improvements that support free movement of people across Africa. “The Index has helped raise awareness and drive visa policy reforms across the continent to ease movement of people, unlocking opportunities for intra-African tourism, trade and investment. In so doing, the Bank is directly contributing to the objectives of the AU initiative for a Single African passport,” Gabriel Negatu, Bank Director General, East Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Office said in his remarks during the opening plenary. Speaking on behalf of...