The ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), organized the 2nd virtual Regional Workshop on the African Trade Observatory (ATO) on 8 September 2021 for Experts from Ministries of Trade and National Statistics Agencies, as well as representatives of Customs Authorities to review status of development of the Observatory. The African Trade Observatory, is one of the five African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) operational instruments along with the rules of origin; the online negotiating forum; the monitoring and elimination of non-tariff barriers; and the digital payment system, that was launched at the African Union 12th Extraordinary Summit held in July 2019 in Niamey – Niger. In his opening remarks, Mr. Kolawole SOFOLA, Acting Director of Trade, on behalf of H.E. Jean Claude KassiBrou, President of the ECOWAS Commission, and Tei KNOZI, Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement, recalled the importance of the AfCFTA in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 and deepening the regional integration agenda. Before he declared the meeting open, he highlighted the expected benefits of the ATO for the ECOWAS region which include increased competitiveness, market opportunities for traders, and development of regional value chains and new sectors. This second regional meeting on the African Trade Observatory provided an update on the operational development of the observatory. During the meeting, ITC provided participants with an overview of the observatory, including its main features and how national experts can engage with the platform. The African Trade Observatory seeks to...

SUMMARY The theme for this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) to be held in Nairobi from September 6-10 is ‘Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems’. AGRA has been funded to date by governments and major international donors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to “transform African agriculture from a subsistence model to strong businesses that improve the livelihoods. The theme for this year’s African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) to be held in Nairobi from September 6-10 is ‘Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems’. Yet 15 years after its convener, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) was founded in 2006, questions remain about the viability of its high inputs model in addressing Africa’s food insecurity. AGRA has been funded to date by governments and major international donors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to “transform African agriculture from a subsistence model to strong businesses that improve the livelihoods of the continent’s farming households”. However, some of the countries where AGRA has focused its efforts have seen continued poverty. African civil society, faith leaders and supporting organisations across Africa have raised concerns about the industrial farming initiatives in a letter to the Gates Foundation. Our view is that we do not need farming ‘solutions’ but rather support to locally appropriate solutions, working in partnership with small-scale farmers in ways that increase climate resilience. TOP-DOWN APPROACHES As can be seen from other top-down approaches that have failed in Africa, such as UNFCCC REDD+...

The Africa World Trade Network (AWTN) has partnered the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to accelerate intra-regional trade and investment through exhibitions, meetings and events. The partnership seeks to mobilise private sector actors across Africa to drive the attainment of strategic objectives that underpin the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement. The partnership between AWTN and the AfCFTA Secretariat is meant to work towards three common objectives that support continental trade and investment promotions across Africa and promote the overall objectives of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement: To co-organise and host forums that support continental trade and investment promotions in Africa and promote the overall objectives of the AfCFTA Agreement To support the growth and development of Africa’s commercial community; and To collaborate on matters of common interest, in the pursuance of enhancing intra-trade in the Continent Speaking at the signing ceremony, Board Chair of AWTN, Otwasuom Osae Nyampong VI, said: “Intra-regional trade promises a real win for Africa, and the AfCFTA Secretariat is at the forefront of this significant progress in the continent’s history; it is a second Pan-African victory after Independence. AWTN on its part has recognised this watershed moment and will act as a catalyst to boost trade relations among member states and businesses across the continent.” Otwasuom Osae Nyampong VI emphasised: “Like the AfCFTA Secretariat, AWTN is headquartered in Accra, which has been recognised as a beacon for transformative development in the sub-region. In this partnership, AWTN commits to initiate and escalate...

The strike by truck drivers from Uganda and other countries in the region entered the third week on Monday, as a shortage of essential goods hit South Sudan over the weekend. Most of the drivers are from Uganda and Kenya. In the latest development on Monday, South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation wrote to the embassies of Uganda and South Sudan pledging their commitment to providing security along the Juba-Nimule road. Hundreds of trucks remain parked at the Elegu border town in Uganda, as drivers continued to protest the killing of their colleagues along the highways inside South Sudan. Following a meeting between representatives of the truck drivers and South Sudan government officials at the weekend, the government agreed that it will provide security to the trucks from Nimule to Juba. They were also promised an end to other non-tariff barriers, including the many checkpoints along the roads, where unofficial sums of money are usually demanded from them. “The South Sudan government will provide truckers with a permanent escort unit to every 15 trucks to and from the border, remove all unnecessary checkpoints and leave one tax clearance office,” said a statement from the country’s foreign affairs ministry. The escort will be provided by the South Sudan People’s Defense Force and South Sudan National Police Service. The ministry also responded to concerns by the drivers that previous offers of escorts were usually abandoned, leaving the drivers exposed. On the other hand, truck drivers have also been accused...

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the world's leading shipping organization, accounting for about 80 per cent of global merchant tonnage. An ICS study published in March this year titled Protectionism in Maritime Economies found that reducing restrictive trade policies could boost Africa's post-COVID-19 economic recovery by billions of dollars. For Africa Renewal, Finbarr Toesland interviewed ICS Secretary-General Guy Platten on a range of shipping and trade-related issues, including how the organisation can support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The interview was edited for brevity. Africa Renewal: Let's talk about the ICS' recent study. What were its most striking findings, particularly those relating to trade? What we found in the report is that non-tariff barriers have a disproportionate effect on GDP and getting rid of them could make a considerable difference in terms of actually increasing a country's wealth. We know that African nations could boost their prospects of a post-COVID-19 economic recovery by removing some of these restrictive maritime trade policies. Currently, the global maritime trade is worth $14 trillion. Africa has a lot of potentials to become a maritime trade hub. We are suggesting that if members of the African Union were to just halve their trade restrictions, that could lead to a 1 per cent increase in GDP for an average African economy. What are some of the measures that countries can take to improve trade? Protectionist measures really hinder free trade. There are many administrative hurdles to overcome in many countries just...

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has accredited 14 companies as Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs) at regional and national level respectively. Comfoam Ltd, Jaffer Freight Ltd, Blow Plastics (U) Ltd, Unistrong Investments Ltd, Tian Tang Group Ltd, Uganda Tobacco Services Ltd, Nile Roofings Ltd,Hong Hai Wood (U) Ltd, Luuka Plastics Ltd, Ada’s Enterprises, Mandela Millers Ltd, Flit Links International Ltd, Chickways (U) Ltd and Geroma among others. The AEO is a trade facilitation programme which customs department in URA is under taking to facilitate trade and promote security of international trade. Under this arrangement, businesses which comply with custom laws and regulations benefit from customs preferential treatments such as fast clearances of their goods through simplified procedures and reduced inspection. “These are people who on their own declare their taxes and pay them without any enforcement action. We want to appreciate and congratulate the members who have been enrolled today and we want to encourage them to continue leading by example,” URA Commissioner General (CG) John Musinguzi said at the launch of AEOs at Skyz Hotel Naguru on Friday. Musinguzi says declaring and paying own taxes reduces the cost of doing business through eliminating delays but also enables companies to offer better services due to the simplified clearance processes. Abel Kagumire, the Commissioner Customs says that the accredited companies have supported URA in making sure that they spread the message of compliance in addition to supporting the national agenda of development. “Our enforcement activities are now geared towards noncompliance. If we...

KAMPALA – President Yoweri Museveni has on Sunday held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali who is in Uganda on a one-day working visit. The two leaders, according to sources discussed various issues and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in bilateral, regional and international issues of common interest. Ethiopia and Uganda have been cooperating in various peace processes in the region. The meeting was attended by the Ethiopian Minister – Head of Prosperity Party Main Office Binalf Anduwalem, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Redwan Hussain and Alemtsehay Meseret, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary to Uganda. The meeting was also attended by Uganda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen. Jeje Odongo and Uganda’s High Commissioner to Addis Ababa Rebecca Amuge Otengo. Read original article

.Lauds JPM for keeping economy open amid Covid-19 THE East African Business Council (EABC) has called for a deeper collaboration between the Public and Private sectors to boost East African Community (EAC) intra-trade. Also, the council has lauded President John Magufuli for a job well done, especially in spearheading major economic reforms in the country. Amid the global economic disruptions caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, EAC private sector wants to steer better relations as a strategy to boost trade and investment in the region. The leaders noted that the decision by President Magufuli to keep the economy open, offered the private sector a major relief in terms of business resilience as it also strengthened local supply chains. EABC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Peter Mathuki said that is the spirit for the region - both public and private sector to move forward and business to prosper. It came about after consultations of CEOs at a roundtable meeting organized by the EABC in collaboration with German Development Agency (GIZ) with a theme 'Creating Perspectives Project', convening companies' CEOs with an aim of deliberating on approaches that the private sector can explore to revamp businesses amid the pandemic. Tanzania took absolutely a different approach in dealing with Covid-19, by President Magufuli who seeks a second term in office led the nation in style, by ruling out lockdown, letting business go on but with taking reasonable protective measures and it paid handsomely. In spite of the situation in the bloc, Africa and world...

In Summary Traders from both sides of the border cross over to buy and sell grains and fruits, defying Covid-19 restrictions. Many Ugandans trading in Malaba said Kenya is their primary market and they have no option but make the short trip across. Small-scale grocery and fruit traders from Kenya and Uganda have returned to business in Malaba despite a ban on cross-border movement. Traders from both sides of the border cross over to buy and sell grains and fruits, defying Covid-19 restrictions to make ends meet. Many Ugandans trading in Malaba said Kenya is their primary market and they have no option but make the short trip across. Richard Maasai, a Ugandan a wholesaler of ripe bananas in Malaba, Kenya said business has been badly hit by the border closure. “Since the border was shut, we have not been selling our stock. We have been forced to cross the border because we need money. Taking care of our families has been difficult.” Maasai said local prices for the fruit have skyrocketed due to restrictions on the Ugandan side of the border. He buys the bananas from Mbale in eastern Uganda and ferries them using friendly cargo truck drivers. Maasai sends the money to drivers to bring the goods. Once delivered, he crosses the border into Kenya where he sells during the day and returns home to Uganda in the evening. “We are appealing to the Kenyan and Ugandan governments to reopen the border. Our businesses are dying. We will...

With three of the eight candidates to become the next leader of the World Trade Organization (WTO) coming from Africa, BBC Africa business editor Zawadi Mudibo looks at what difference having one of them at the helm would make for the continent. There is a growing feeling among African diplomats that someone from the continent should be at the helm of one of the world's top economic institutions. Whereas an American has always led the World Bank and a European has always been at the head of the International Monetary Fund, an African has never taken an equivalent position. But if one from Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Kenya's Amina Mohamed or Egypt's Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh emerges from the long selection process as the WTO's next director-general, the continent can feel that it is playing in the same league as the rest of the world. image captionGarment factories, like this one in Kenya, could benefit if trade opened up The WTO sets the rules for global trade and adjudicates in trade disputes between nations. It is also, according to its website, supposed to "open trade for the benefit of all". The Geneva-based organisation's ability to get global agreements of basic principles that every country signs up to has been hamstrung in recent years but the WTO leader has influence and a bully pulpit. The director-general attends G7 and G20 meeting and can broker disputes between world leaders. But is there more to be gained for the continent aside from the diplomatic profile? 'Trade...