Department of Economics, Faculty of Management Sciences, Mangosuthu University, Umlazi 4031, South Africa Academic Editor: George R.G. Clarke Economies 2021, 9(4), 135; https://doi.org/10.3390/economies9040135 (registering DOI) Received: 7 July 2021 / Revised: 21 August 2021 / Accepted: 25 August 2021 / Published: 24 September 2021 Download PDF   Abstract Maritime transport remains the main gateway to the global marketplace. Ocean ports are a central and necessary component in facilitating trade. Ports are essentially a channel of integration into the global economic system. Resourceful and well-connected container ports empowered by regular and consistent shipping services are key to reducing trade costs, including transport costs, connecting supply chains and supporting global trade. Consequently, port performance is an important factor that can influence countries’ trade competitiveness. However, for Africa, the ports are dilapidated, lack essential infrastructure, are congested and perform poorly. Africa’s shipping and ports do not always match global trends and standards. In light of this, this study seeks to assess Africa’s current port performance and test the relationship between Africa’s port performance and trade performance. Very few studies have attempted to investigate the impact of port performance on trade. Hence, it was worthwhile to study the impact of port performance on Africa’s trade. The study used panel data that covering the period 2005–2018. An ARDL panel technique was used for estimation purposes. Results showed that port performance positively affects trade. This study argues that African ports require expensive infrastructure to be able to compete successfully. Africa needs to pursue an intensive course of infrastructure development...

Rwanda has set her eyes on putting in place instruments that remove barriers to trade and investment through increased collaborations with the private sector. Yves Bernard Ningabire, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, made the remarks on a panel discussing manufacturing and infrastructure development at the ongoing Concordia Summit. Ningabire was joined by Patience Mutesi Gatera, the Country Manager at Trade Mark East Africa, and Clarisse Iribagiza, CEO of HeHe Mart among others. Looking at the growth of Rwanda's manufacturing industry, Ningabire said, the sector's contribution to GDP grew from 14.5 per cent in 2016 to 19 per cent in 2019. “The sector is a key contributor to achieving Rwanda's 2050 targets,” he added. Boosting capacity Five days ago, trademark signed a deal with the AfCFTA, with an aim to collaborate on customs, transit and trade facilitation, harmonisation and mutual recognition of standards, said Mutesi. “We also want to work with the private sector to increase their capacity to trade by developing regional value chains to help firms increase their capacity to add value,” she asserted. Gatera shared similar views with Iribagiza who pointed out that her firm had embarked on a journey of increasing access to e-commerce tools and services for SMEs. “Our vision is to increase access to e-commerce tools and services for SMEs,” she added, “We want to use various infrastructure to enable Africa to aggregate its fragmented resources and make them more affordable and accessible.” After three days of high-ranked dialogues, the...

Addis Abeba, September 16/2021– The government of Ethiopia and Kenya yesterday signed the Moyale – Moyale One Stop Border Post (OSBP) operational procedure manual on a ceremony held in Addis Abeba.  Ethiopia through  the Ethiopia Customs Commission and the Border Control and Kenya through Operation Coordination Committee signed the operational procedure manual at an event attended by key private and public sector players from both countries. The Moyale – Moyale One Stop Border Post (OSBP)  was inaugurated in December last year.   One Stop Border Post (OSBP) started operations in June 2021.With the OSBP operations manual, border clearance processes will be easier, faster and cheaper for traders, transporters and travelers, while maintaining the border regulatory requirements of both counties through coordinated border management operations. The two governments discussed the opportunities available for traders to use the OSBP at a consultative workshop attended by representatives from various public and private sector organisations from both Ethiopia and Kenya. Kennedy Nyaiyo, Kenya’s head of delegation and the Secretary of Kenya’s Border Management Secretariat said, “The signing of the procedure manual will guarantee that all processes have been reviewed and harmonised . This will ensure that trading and cooperation between Kenya and Ethiopia is efficient and effectively facilitated.” His counterpart Debele Kabeta, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Customs Commission said, “Though the two countries have a long time friendly relations, trade connectivity between us has been quite insignificant compared to the potential we have for doing business.” Debele further explained that the volume and diversity...

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and TradeMark EastAfrica (TMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that is set to boost trade in Africa. AfCFTA and TMA are now aiming at increasing prosperity in the African continent through the liberalization of trade. Barriers to trade The deal which was signed in Lome, Togo, by Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, and Frank Matsaert, Chief Executive Officer at TMA will now see the organizations embark on working to reduce barriers to trade across Africa. This will be achieved by supporting engagement with the continent’s private sector on trade and economic development issues. Digitizing key trade processes These include digitizing key trade processes at a national level followed by linking these at a regional level and supporting policies to promote e-commerce across the Continent. Also in the agreement is developing regional value chains and investment; and developing Africa’s cross-border trade with a focus on women traders, youth, and MSMEs. Share of costs The agreement will allow the two organizations to share costs and support each other in logistical challenges as they seek to implement programs to develop trade across Africa. “The MoU will further allow TMA to carry out the necessary reforms needed to fully implement AfCFTA’s trade agreement, unlocking the Continent’s trade potential and increasing market competition. This will, in turn, translate into much-needed jobs within the target sectors,” said Mene. “We thank the AfCFTA Secretariat for the strong partnership forged and we look forward to jointly generating impact for...

In Summary The MoU was signed in Lome, Togo, by Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, and Frank Matsaert, Chief Executive Officer at TMA. The MoU represents the next logical step for the two organisations as they work to reduce barriers to trade across Africa. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and TradeMark EastAfrica (TMA) have signed an agreement aimed at collaborating to boost trade in Africa. The AfCFTA Secretariat and TMA are now united in their shared goal of increasing prosperity in the continent through the liberalisation of trade. The MoU was signed in Lome, Togo, by Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, and Frank Matsaert, Chief Executive Officer at TMA. The MoU represents the next logical step for the two organisations as they work to reduce barriers to trade across Africa by supporting engagement with the continent’s private sector on trade and economic development issues. These include digitising key trade processes at a national level followed by linking these at a regional level and supporting policies to promote e-commerce across the Continent. Also in the agreement is developing regional value chains and investment; and developing Africa’s cross-border trade with a focus on women traders, youth and MSMEs. The agreement will allow the two organisations to share costs and support each other in logistical challenges as they seek to implement programmes to develop trade in across Africa. “The MoU will further allow TMA to carry out the necessary reforms needed to fully implement AfCFTA’s trade agreement, unlocking...

Malawi is vying in the category of 70 developing nations earmarked for preferential trade treatment through the United Kingdom (UK)’s new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP). Following Brexit, an interim framework has guided trade between the UK and developing countries since January 1 2021. But a UK GSP Consultations Report by Chancellor college-based economist Ronald Mangani shows that moving beyond the interim arrangement, the UK is preparing its own more permanent trading framework with developing countries including Malawi. The overall key policy proposals include maintaining zero-tariff on UK imports, simplifying rules of origin requirements, amending the approach to goods graduation and amending the conditions and reporting requirements that enable partners to benefit from more generous provisions through the enhanced framework. “From the UK’s perspective, more access to imports from developing countries will increase choice for UK consumers and industries. The current interim scheme implies that UK importers pay lower (often zero) tariffs on goods from 70 developing countries,” reads the report. Lately, the Ministry of Trade through the Trademark East Africa Malawi Country Programme has been consulting the local industry and creating awareness on how to leverage on the available UK market. The government feels the schemes are fundamental broadening market base for local products. Deputy Director responsible for Foreign Trade in the Ministry of Trade Mufa Munthali said in an interview recently that the government considers the proposal by the UK as a tremendous opportunity for Malawi. “This provides a window of opportunity for Malawi to understand what the...

In Summary Burundi ratified the AfCFTA on June 17, while Tanzania endorsed on September 9. Other EAC Partner States that have ratified the agreement are Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. East African Community Secretary General Peter Mathuki has hailed Burundi and Tanzania for ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). Burundi ratified the AfCFTA on June 17,  while Tanzania endorsed on September 9. So far, 42 countries have ratified the AfCFTA that seeks to boost intra-African trade. Mathuki said that the AfCFTA would allow East Africans to access a large continental market and increase EAC’s exports to African countries outside the bloc. “It will also improve movement of people across Africa, advance trade and development aspirations and ultimately put the region in a better position to trade more with the rest of the world,” said Mathuki. He further disclosed that the EAC had initiated a number of steps towards the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, adding that the ratification by Burundi and Tanzania would expedite the implementation of the agreement. Other EAC Partner States that have ratified the agreement are Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda. South Sudan has signed the AfCFTA but is yet to ratify it. Mathuki said that the bloc had almost finalised the submission of its tariff offers, which conform to the agreed modalities in addition to the schedules of liberalization of trade in services. “We have also prepared a draft strategy for the implementation of the Agreement, which takes into account the need for capacity building....

The Kigali-based East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP) will on Wednesday, September 15, launch a three-month campaign dubbed "Tembea Nyumbani", in four East African Community (EAC) partner states – Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, in a new bid to spur regional tourism. Tembea Nyumbani, Swahili for Visit Home, is a call to EAC citizens to visit each other's countries — in an effort to promote domestic and regional tourism business in the four countries. Yves Ngenzi, the EATP Coordinator, on Monday told The New Times that the campaign is “long overdue” and it comes to try address the challenges faced due to the impact of the pandemic on international travel. Ngenzi said: “In a big way, ours are tourism-dependent countries. We are, therefore, compelled to find new and creative solutions to this unpredictable crisis. And since international travellers are unable to visit en-masse as they used before the pandemic, we are focusing on domestic and or regional tourists.” Undertaken in partnership with stakeholders, the campaign will promote different tourist packages within the region. It aims to spur tourism business in the region by showcasing the “many hidden gems” as well as affordable and exciting holiday packages that can be explored in what “the world has come to know as Africa’s magical destinations.” According to the EATP, it is expected that an increase in interest to travel within the region will revive the tourism industry which is a lifeline for millions of people. Jeannette Rugero Murekatete, a Rwandan tour guide and...

The new action will increase access to health, water and sanitation services and improve the health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Doka town, Um Rakouba village and Um Rakouba Refugee Camps. The EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme launched a new action today in Gedarif, Sudan to support the host communities and refugees in the area through increased essential health, water and sanitation services. The programme will rehabilitate and expand two hospitals in Doka to ensure greater access to health services for all, improve access to water in Um Rakouba village and Doka town, and improve sanitation services in Um Rakouba Refugee Camp. This action will contribute to the overall COVID-19 response in the area. The action is being launched by the European Union, UNOPS, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). It was marked by the State Government’s official endorsement today at the Office of the State Governor. This work is part of the European Union efforts to mitigate the health and socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the programme in 7 countries across the IGAD region - Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda. The programme focuses on critical cross border areas in these countries and aims to enhance IGAD’s coordination capacity, increase access to health and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, combat gender-based violence, improve community engagement, ensure borders are safe for trade and promote digital health solutions. The programme particularly supports vulnerable groups, including migrants, refugees, internally...

Representatives of Kenya and the United States agreed to deepen trade engagement to promote the interests of both countries. Kenya is seeking to negotiate and conclude a trade agreement with the United States. In a statement Tuesday, Industrialization and Trade CS Betty Maina said officials agreed to deepen trade engagement to promote the interests of the two countries. Maina held virtual consultations Monday evening with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai. According to the SC, Ambassador Tai observed that the United States was interested in a work-centered approach to trade policy that fits into the Biden-Harris administration's overall trade policy... For his part, CS Maina expressed Kenya's desire to conclude a trade deal that gives confidence to investors while preserving the country's commitments under its regional, continental and multilateral trade agreements. It comes weeks after Kenya and the UK agreed to use blockchain technology to unlock trade logistics. This was done through the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Institute of Export and International Trade and Trade Mark East Africa at the Kenya High Commission in London. The MoU provides a framework for collaboration to implement a digital trade corridor between the UK and Kenya. The UK-Kenya Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP) aims to eliminate paperwork and introduce a digital process that increases visibility upstream and downstream of supply chains. The system uses blockchain technology to connect all actors in the supply chain, thus seeking to enable rapid logistics clearance and easier trade. Speaking at the reception hosted by...