Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Friday stressed that the African continent will need greater energy sources to build back better in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement was made by Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UNECA, speaking during a webinar …
Read More »AfCFTA: Implementing Africa’s free trade pact the best stimulus for post COVID-19 economies
Wamkele Mene was recently appointed Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. Due to the effects of COVID-19, free trading for countries that have ratified the agreement cannot begin on July 1, 2020 as was originally scheduled. He spoke to Kingsley Ighobor about the way forward. Describe …
Read More »UNDP working to help African countries recover from COVID-19
Ahunna Eziakonwa is the UN Assistant Secretary- General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa of the UNDP. She talks to Kingsley Ighobor on COVID-19 and its impact on African economies. What is the impact of COVID-19 on Africa so far? Well, it has become clear now that COVID-19 …
Read More »Postponing AfCFTA would be a mistake-African business leaders
But CSOs say carrying out negotiation virtually will defranchise majority of the stakeholders Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | African Business leaders across the continent have signed a joint letter calling for the ministers and heads of state to stick to the July 1 deadline for the free trade agreement …
Read More »Is Africa really ready for the AfCFTA?
Can the African Continental Free Trade Area succeed where previous free-trade initiatives have failed? Dianna Games weighs up the issues. Africa heads into a historic year in which the long-awaited African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) finally becomes a reality, with trading under the scheme scheduled to begin on 1 …
Read More »Roadshow to help Rwandan businesses tap into AfCFTA
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced a roadshow in Kigali to show the Rwandan private sector how it can become a primary beneficiary of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which will provide significant opportunities to access the largely untapped markets and …
Read More »I am optimistic about Africa’s future
Bience Gawanas is the special adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary-General. She spoke to the Africa Renewal’s Zipporah Musau on her role and priorities for 2020 What would you say are the three biggest challenges facing Africa today? I would rather talk about the opportunities in Africa. I want …
Read More »Tariffs and intra-Africa trade
Significant reduction or elimination of tariffs would boost intra-Africa trade to more than 50% COMMENT | DAMALI SSALI | There are several factors that influence the value and volume of trade. However, tariffs on tradeable goods and services are one of the most significant. International trade grew dramatically in the …
Read More »AfroChampions Initiative presents $1trn AfCFTA investment framework
The AfroChampions Initiative held its second conference on sustainable green growth and industrialisation in Kigali, Rwanda. Kigali, Rwanda | TOM COLLINS | The AfroChampions Initiative, a set of public-private partnerships designed to leverage resources and funds to create more multinational corporate champions in Africa, has proposed a $1trn investment framework …
Read More »COMMENT: Tariffs and Intra-Africa trade
Significant reduction or elimination of tariffs would boost intra-Africa trade to more than 50% COMMENT | Damali Ssali | There are several factors that influence the value and volume of trade. However, tariffs on tradeable goods and services are one of the most significant. International trade grew dramatically in the …
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