Geneva — The African Continental Free Trade Area accord is one of the most critical developments in African trade and integration, says the executive director of the International Trade Centre (ITC), the UN agency supporting small business. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, who began her career in Jamaica’s foreign ministry and now heads the ITC, recently met journalists at the centre’s base in Geneva, where she spoke about “strategic re-globalization” as a major trend. The AfCFTA was established in 2018, and by 2023 all 54 members of the African Union had signed it, making it the largest free-trade area after the World Trade Organization (WTO) judged by the number of its member states. Coke-Hamilton described strategic re-globalization as “the new search for global corridors for trade routes” as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war and post-Covid changes. She said the disruption of supply channels and a recognition that dependence on China is immense has led to the world looking for “near-shoring” and new supply routes. Mandated to UN and WTO The ITC has a joint mandate with the WTO and the United Nations through the UN Conference on Trade and Development, and much of its work focuses on Africa. The task of trade groups was now to assess new trends and address how strategic re-globalization is going to impact how countries engage with one another, Coke-Hamilton added. She said that “the AfCFTA is also a whole new open arena” in which the focus would be on regional value chains within Africa and “how those are...

The African Union Commission (AUC), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Afreximbank, have jointly established a task force to develop a harmonised methodology for informal cross-border trade data collection. According to them, timely data collection on informal cross-border trade is key to informing intra-African trade on the back of the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade (AfCFTA) and despite its importance to the livelihoods of millions of Africans, informal trade is still not well understood. Speaking at an online meeting to review and validate the Continental Methodology for Informal Cross-Border Trade Data Collection in Africa, Director, Regional Integration and Trade, ECA, Stephen Karingi, said informal cross-border trade is a key feature of Africa’s trade landscape. Findings show ICBT to be equivalent to between seven and 16 per cent of all formal intra-African trade flows and between 30 and 72 per cent of formal trade between neighbouring countries. He noted that current efforts to collect data on ICBT within the continent remain largely fragmented and unsystematic, emphasising that the dearth of reliable and regular data on ICBT has contributed to minimal recognition of its important role in policy frameworks. Trade Policy Officer for the AUC, Tapiwa Cheuka, speaking on behalf of the Director of Economic Development, Tourism, Trade, Industry and Mining Department, AUC, Djamel Ghrib, said that the validated ICBT methodology will be presented to the Specialised Technical Committees (STCs) on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration next month with the anticipation for its adoption by the Heads...

In addition, they agreed on the establishment of a civilian head of mission to coordinate all political-related matters of the East African Regional Force (EACRF). The East African heads of state have directed the EAC Secretariat and the council to commence negotiations with Somalia with immediate effect and report to the next ordinary summit of the EAC heads of state. According to a communique on the 21st Extra-Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi, dated May 31, 2023, the heads of state deliberated on and adopted the report of the verification of the application of the Federal Republic of Somalia to join the EAC. The communique noted that Somalia had earlier circulated a report to the EAC partner states. Summit resolutions During the summit, the heads of state accepted a request from President Museveni to hold a follow-up meeting in Nairobi to be hosted by Kenya’s President Willian Ruto. The summit appreciated the financial contributions of Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan for their commitment to contribute towards peace and security. The summit also directed the EAC secretary general to intensify efforts to mobilize resources from the regional and international partners to support the EAC-Led Nairobi Process. In addition, the summit urged all the partners to support initiatives including the demobilisation of combatants of armed groups and their reinsertion and reintegration into civilian groups. DRC Conflict The heads of state reiterated that the security in the eastern region of DRC can only be sustainably resolved through...

Malawi and Tanzania have launched an electronic data exchange system interface to enable verification of quantities, valuation, origin and tariffs of goods exported and transiting between the two countries. The system interface, to be managed by Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), was launched on Monday at Kasumulu Border Post in Mbeya, Tanzania. Before the system, data was being exchanged manually, leading to delays and movement of contrabands from Malawi to Tanzania or vice versa without detection. In his presentation, MRA custom systems and procedures manager Andrew Mtukuleni said the collaboration will promote trade facilitation, enhance revenue collection, and secure the movement of goods under imports, exports and transit regimes. “We now anticipate advance exchange of trade data for risk management purposes and increased detection of contraband leading to secure supply chains,” he said. MRA corporate services executive director Agnes Katsonga-Phiri said the system will enable the institution to know how much revenue would be collected. She said: “Having the system can be an achievement on its own, but if the human capital does not change mindset, we will not achieve much. “We expect honesty and those traders should not stand for too long before being assisted.” TRA deputy commissioner general Mcha Hassan Mcha said smuggling remains a major challenge. “We think that with this system interface, we will reduce the malpractice because it simplifies the procedure as most traders will be using it rather than going to unofficial routes,” he said. The system interface has been...

The Kenyan government has announced plans to decongest trucks at its Malaba border with Uganda within three weeks. The development was announced by the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Francis Kipchumba Morukomen, during an intergovernmental meeting at the newly constructed Kenya Railways In-land Container Terminal in Malaba. While addressing the press on Saturday, Kipchumba noted that “congestion of trucks at the Malaba one stop border point interrupts business along the great North Corridor.” To avoid that, the Kenyan government is now considering establishment of a border committee that will be responsible for quick response to future bottlenecks and addressing non-tariff barriers to reduce on the cost of business. Kenya will also increase on the number of scanners, storage facilities as well as widen the trailer parking yard to accommodate the increasing volumes of trucks on transit through the Malaba border in a bid to overcome several challenges. "We hope the measures will address the bottlenecks. Some measures will include expediting completion of roads currently causing the delay in scanning of goods," Kipchumba said. Kipchumba’s remarks come at a time when the Ugandan government has recorded an increase in empty trucks that build a stretch of over 15 kilometers, pending clearance at the Malaba border Point along the Malaba-Jinja Highway. Meanwhile, Uganda’s state minister of works Musa Ecweru assured the gathering that government is determined to partner with the East African Community to ensure smooth running of business across the region. According to him, Uganda has renewed commitments that include construction...

Hon. Ing. Yaw Osafo Marfo, Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Ghana, has emphasized the significance of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway in achieving the benefits associated with the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area in a key note address on behalf of the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo. The Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Ghana commended the Ministers of Roads Infrastructure of the five (5) Corridor Member Countries namely, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and the ECOWAS Commission for their sustained effort to the corridor highway project and strong collaboration to seeing it materialized. The former Finance Minister of the Republic of Ghana recalled discussions in 2003 during his tenure as Finance Minister of Ghana on ways to improve development in the ECOWAS region to include the development of a common payment system and the need to develop a regional road infrastructure. “The first idea was to look at a common payment system within ECOWAS and secondly everyone in the room agreed that we should look for money to do road infrastructure in the sub-region because at the end of the day, movement of goods and people will require the needed infrastructure.” Hon. Yaw Osafo Marfo recalled. He expressed excitement over the assurance of AfDB to raise the required funds for the highway construction. “I was so happy to hear from AfDB that raising funds is their business, they are good at...

May 23, 2023 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada The Government of Canada is committed to increasing and diversifying trade and investment opportunities with African partners as part of Canada’s overall export diversification strategy and to benefit both Africans and Canadians. Today, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, announced the launch of public consultations on the Canada-Africa Economic Cooperation Strategy (CA-ECS). These consultations are aimed at ensuring that the CA-ECS will create sustainable, inclusive and long-term trade and economic partnerships between Canada and the African continent. Canadians and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to join the discussion until July 31, 2023. Quotes “Work has been underway to deepen Canada’s relationship with Africa, and the launch of today’s public consultations takes this progress another step further. Your feedback will ensure the Canada-Africa Economic Cooperation Strategy supports the creation of meaningful commercial opportunities across our continents and equips Canadian entrepreneurs with the tools they need to diversify and grow.” - Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development Quick facts Africa’s is home to 5 of the top 10 fastest-growing economies in the world, and once fully implemented, the African Continental Free Trade Area will be equivalent to the world’s fifth-largest economy, with the potential for a combined GDP of more than $4.6 trillion. The first Canada-African Union Commission Trade Policy Dialogue, held on May 17, 2023, offered opportunities to discuss trade policy issues of mutual interest and will contribute...

The World Bank has disclosed that in a time of energy transition and rising demand for metals and minerals, resource-rich governments in Sub-Saharan Africa have an opportunity to better leverage their resources to finance their public programmes, diversify their economy, and expand energy access. This is contained in Africa’s Resource Future, a World Bank report launched on Wednesday, which finds that on average countries capture only about 40 percent of the revenue they could potentially collect from natural resources. “In other words, at a time when countries are burdened by slow growth and high debt, governments could more than double revenues from natural resources such as minerals, oil, and gas by adopting a better set of policies, implementing reforms, and investing in better fiscal administration and promoting good governance,” the World Bank said. It added that full taxation of natural resources is also important to charge the full cost of environmental and social impacts not always fully covered by producers, including petroleum resources, warning that “failing to do so can act as an implicit production subsidy and raise carbon emissions.” James Cust, Senior Economist in the World Bank Africa Region and co-editor of the report said, “Maximising government revenues in the form of royalties and taxes paid by private natural resource industries, alongside attracting new investment, would offer a double dividend for people and planet by increasing fiscal space and removing implicit production subsidies.” The Bank noted that the prospect of higher revenues is particularly welcome in countries that find...

The European Union (EU) has invested GH¢75 million (€6.2 million) to help boost the competitiveness of the country's exports on the international market. The investment, made in the last four years, focused on three main value chains which included cassava, fruits (mango and pineapple), cosmetics and personal care products. It was a contribution to the West Africa Competitiveness Programme (WACOMP), a partnership initiative between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the EU. The programme seeks to strengthen the competitiveness of West African products and to enhance the integration of ECOWAS countries into the regional and international trading system, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) The EU Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaaly, who made this known at WACOMP Ghana SMEs Product Exhibition in Accra yesterday, observed that the investment would help Ghanaian businesses to build  better access  and become more competitive in regional and international markets. “The EU has contributed around GH¢75 million to the programme, with the aim to boost the competitiveness of Ghanaian exports and support sustainable production and processing. “We are focusing on three main value chains: cassava, fruits (mango and pineapple), cosmetics and personal care products,” he said. The exhibition was held by WACOMP in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) for more than 50 EU-supported SMEs of fruits, cassava and shea butter products. Some of the firms that showcased their products included Unique Solution Farms, Ghana Home Foods, NyCa Pro Beauty, Leam Shea Products, Agape Cosmetics, Exotic and...

What you need to know: Our wide-ranging activities have helped galvanize support from local and international organizations to assist women entrepreneurs overcome enormous challenges. Additionally, we have carried out strong advocacy for enactment of enabling legislation and policies. We have also established networks and marketing linkages in support of women traders. Uganda occupies a unique position within the expanded East African Community (EAC)– and so do its women. No other country has the singular honour of being completely surrounded by EAC members. This geographical truth gives Uganda the distinction of being at the centre of the region’s cultural and business agenda, presenting numerous opportunities for the country’s women entrepreneurs. Indeed, Kampala is already a bustling trade hub of sorts for the region. It serves not only as a transit point for trucks transiting to the farthest points of the EAC, but is itself an attractive source of textiles, agricultural products, and other goods for traders from Kenya, South Sudan, and elsewhere. Yet, even with these natural advantages, it is never smooth sailing with the vast majority of our women traders. Patriarchal, misogynistic attitudes and traditions consign our women to the bottom ranks when it comes to property ownership, perceived creditworthiness, bookkeeping skills, and as serious contenders for tenders and business opportunities. It is such circumstances that led to the founding of the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Ltd (UWEAL). In the years since its formation in 1987, it has helped in breaking down the walls and barriers that prevented women from...