While attending the 23rd Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) meeting as a private sector and youth participant, one topic that inspired me was “Faster implementation of AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area) for job creation for the youth”. The theme of the meeting organised by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (Uneca) in Asmara, Eritrea, was “Leveraging new opportunities for regional integration in East Africa”. There are many ways African youth and women can benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area. Besides market linkages and increased intra-African exports, crucially, it is estimated that the bloc will create almost two million jobs. Africa has a very high youth unemployment rate and countries should equip their young people for the jobs. In the white-collar segment, for instance, mismatch between education and the labour market is a leading causes of unemployment. FOOD SECURITY Credentials from African universities should be acceptable all over and outdated education curricula banned. Improved demand for products means increased supply, hence the need to expand the workforce to deliver orders on time and with quality goods and/or services. Africa imports more than $500 billion food annually yet it is favoured in both geographical and demographic factors to be the world’s food basket. Sadly, the average age of an African farmer is 60 years yet the youth can feed the world by ensuring food security and value addition of agricultural produce. Agriculture is the backbone of most African countries. Therefore, agriculture/agribusiness should be the largest...

ANKARA Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni said Monday improvement in road infrastructure with DR Congo was a step to boost bilateral trade and social ties and to enhance security cooperation between the two states, local media reported. Museveni’s remarks came after a two-day visit of DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi to Uganda started on Saturday, during which the two leaders witnessed signing of memoranda of understanding on infrastructure, security and tourism, according to Uganda’s State House. The visit’s agenda also included Tshisekedi’s attendance to the first ever Uganda-DRC Business Forum hosted by Uganda, according to The East African website. “We are going to improve road infrastructure including the Mpondwe-Beni, Goli-Bunia, Bunagana-Rutshuru-Goma roads and the bridge across river Semuliki to Bunya. This will improve trade, social issues and will guarantee security,” Museveni was quoted by the Kampala Post as saying apparently in reference to the agreement between the two countries to develop road networks. “It is clear that he understands where prosperity of the people comes from. Modern prosperity comes from business. If we have factories, we sell more, expand and also provide goods and services for the population,” Museveni added. In turn, Tshisekedi thanked Museveni, expressing his hope for “a long relationship between the peoples of Uganda and D.R. Congo,” according to the Kampala Post. “I thank my elder, President Museveni, from the bottom of my heart. I know who he is, his vision for the region and for Africa. I am aware of his other vision of integration and prosperity...

Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture has begun cementing its foothold on horticulture activities across Tanzania. The ministry has just concluded a meeting with horticultural farmers and products exporters, to address taxing and policy drawbacks related to the sub-sector. The meeting catapulted rather vital issues for the development of the sector, particularly converging Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) players, but also, gave a path to the possibility of ushering a three-year plan that will be associated with a special managing body. According to the ministry, the meeting attracted vital players from crucial ministries, including—finance and planning, industry and trade, ports authority and farmers. Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Ministry of Agriculture, Hussein Bashe, stressed that the meeting root agenda was to highlight various challenges affecting the sub-sector and respective measures to address them. Per Tanzania’s National Bureau of Statistics, second-quarter report—the agricultural sector growth rate stood at 4 per cent, while the Bank of Tanzania, quarterly economic report, showed that value of non-traditional exports increased to USD 894.3 million from USD 799.4 million in the quarter ending June 2018, with all major export categories improving except horticulture. “We met with various horticulture stakeholders, they aired out challenges they face openly, and we have agreed to set up a minor-team, that will come up with recommendations to be worked upon in one month by the government,” Deputy Minister said According to the deputy Minister, the main aim of the meeting was to strike cooperation, which will erase present underlying challenges...

President Yoweri Museveni and his DRC Felix Tshisekedi counterpart signed signed a raft of bilateral agreements but importantly stressed the need to improve the trade relations between Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo. The two leaders signed memorandums of understanding on security, infrastructure, transport and tourism. The two presidents agreed to improve road infrastructure including the Mpondwe-Beni, Goli-Bunia, Bunagana-Rutshuru-Goma roads and the bridge across river Semuliki to Bunya. These will improve trade, social issues and will guarantee security. H.E Felix Tshisekedi with delegation of 117 was over the weekend in Uganda for a two day state visit. ‘‘The visit of President Felix Tshisekedi is very important because it goes to the heart of Africa’s future. Modern prosperity comes from business. If we have factories, we sell more and expand and also provide goods and services for the population. Africa imports a lot from China, Japan and India. Such goods should be made here.’’ president Museveni said during a joint press conference held at State House Entebbe shortly after bilateral talks He added: When we produce, we supply goods and services to the population, create jobs for our youth and generate taxes for governments to build roads, hospitals and provide security. Without business, there can be no prosperity, no jobs, no infrastructure and no security. I am happy to see that President Tshisekedi is clear on these issues President Tshisekedi thanked his host for the warm welcome. He explained that he is travelling across the region consulting elders on how his...

The government is banking on infrastructure projects in the coastal region to provide jobs and boost regional trade. The Ministry of Transport sees the construction of Dongo Kundu bypass, which will link the Northern Corridor, Port of Mombasa, the Moi International Airport and the newly-refurbished Kipevu Container Terminal, as a game changer. Now on its second phase, the project is being implemented by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica). The first phase was built at a cost of Sh11 billion with the second phase projected to cost Sh24 billion. President Uhuru Kenyatta launched construction of the second phase on October 19. It involves building two bridges at Mwache and Mteza, measuring 900 metres and about 1.4 kilometres, respectively. There will be an 8.9km dual carriageway between Mwache junction and Mteza to connect to Kibundani (6.9km) and link the highway with Likoni-Lunga Lunga Road. A sightseeing bay will also be built and 88 hectares of mangroves planted. Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia said the Dongo Kundu link will improve the port’s cargo-handling capacity to serve Kenya’s growing economy and position the facility as the port of choice for neighbouring countries. “Through the project, we are also developing the requisite infrastructure to support the upcoming Likoni Special Economic Zones and the Dongo Kundu Free Port. This will ensure economic prosperity for Kenya and the region,” Mr Macharia said in a statement. FOREIGN INVESTMENT It’s designed to be a multi-sectoral facility, comprising industrial parks, free...

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, and his Congolese counterpart, Felix Tshisekedi, have agreed to boost trade between the two countries. Tshisekedi, who is on a three-day visit to Uganda during which he will attend the first ever Uganda-Congo Trade Forum, said he was backing Museveni’s vision to have an integrated Africa. The two leaders jointly addressed a press conference in Kampala over the weekend where they revealed plans to construct roads linking the two countries to enable the transportation of goods across the border. “One road we want to work on is from Goli to Mahagi, Bunia, that’s one road. Then the other road would be from Mpondwe to Beni and the other from Bunagana to Rutshuru to Goma,” said Museveni. Ministers from the two countries also signed memorandums of understanding on security, infrastructure, transport and tourism. The border region between Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen years of violence, with militia groups from both countries based in the area. Source: Channel Africa

Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign agreements to work on key road networks within 24 months, connecting the two countries to ease business. However, security concerns on the routes remain key for business. Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement to increase trade and investment between the two Great Lakes Region countries. Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and President Felix Tshisekedi of the DRC noted that there are numerous trade restricting measures and infrastructure obstacles that raise the cost of doing business in the region. Museveni noted that both Uganda and the DRC now import many products from China, Japan and India, instead of manufacturing them at home. The total distance of the three key road networks will be 1,182 kilometers within 24 months after the respective ministers have agreed on implementation details. “One road we want to work on is from Goli to Mahagi-Bunia. Then the other road would be from Mpondwe to Beni. The other road would be from Bunagana to Rutshuru to Goma. So, when you produce, you supply goods, you supply services. But you also create jobs for the youth,” said Museveni. There have been expressions of fear among business about the militias operating in the eastern D.R.C. that may destabilize trade between the two countries. However, Tshisekedi reassured them that the two countries will ensure there is peace to promote business and development. “We intend to develop or build infrastructure so we can carry out economic activity to lead...

Vera Songwe, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), on Tuesday last week opened the 23rd meeting of the intergovernmental committee of senior officials and experts from 14 eastern African countries in Asmara, Eritrea insisting on the importance of increasing regional trade and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Leveraging new opportunities for regional integration was the theme of the ECA annual meeting. In the eastern trading Africa bloc, she said, the implementation of the continental free trade agreement could result in $1.8 billion welfare gains and creation of 2 million new jobs. The New Times’ James Karuhanga caught up with Songwe to talk about, among others, why the historic agreement is not just another trade agreement, what the meeting’s host country – which was hosting the meeting for the very first time – has to offer, and the importance of the continent’s aspirations for peace and harmony. Excerpts: In the discussions on leveraging new opportunities for regional integration in eastern Africa, the AfCFTA keeps coming up again and you particularly emphasised that this is not just another trade agreement. Why? Like I said, this is not just another agreement because it actually is, if it is taken right, a stepping stone for huge investment compact for the continent. The Continental Free Trade Area Agreement is, on paper, a policy statement but I think when you translate that policy statement into actuality, it means that we need to create industries, develop infrastructure, build roads, make our airlines...

Nyabihu Tea Factory majorly owned by Rwanda Mountain Tea Ltd, fetched a record price of US$7.22 (about Rwf6,624.89) per kilogramme for its processed tea at the Mombasa auction this month. The Mombasa trading is the second-largest black tea auction centre in the world after Colombo, Sri-Lanka where a dozen producers from the region sell their tea. At the 45th auction of the East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), the company’s ‘BP1 grade’ – the highest quality – earned the highest bid two times in a row, reports New Times Rwanda. Thushara Pinidiya, the Director of Nyabihu Tea Factory said, “We follow basic, but best principles of manufacturing. Farmers also play a big role because they supply us with tea leaves whose quality determines the quality of tea we produce.” The recent highest bid in October last month at the Mombasa auction was earned by the same tea processing company at US$6.64 (about Rwf6,096) per kilo. Last month, the Rwandan teas were sold to UK, Pakistani, Egyptian, Kazakhstani, Afghanistan and Middle East markets among others. Last year, the company sold 1.5 million kilos of tea with Pinidiya saying that they anticipate to sell 1.8 million kilos and 2 million kilos this year and 2020, respectively. Nyabihu Tea Factory is based in the Nyabihu District, Western Province with tea plantation covering at 1,043.54 hectares. According to the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), last month Rwanda sold 1,968,267 kilos of tea at an average price of US$3.07 per kilo at the Mombasa tea...

PRESIDENT John Magufuli has invited investors from Nordic and African countries to seize investment opportunities in Tanzania, describing the country as an ideal place to put capitals. President Magufuli said Tanzania has taken various measures to improve investment climate with the target of attracting more investors. Speaking in Dar es Salaam at the official opening of the 18th Africa-Nordic Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Dr Magufuli said it was important for African nations to create enabling environment to attract more capitals and trade. He said Tanzania has reviewed various legislations and investment regulations as well as enacting new laws to attract and protect serious investors in various sectors. “We have the special ministry under the Prime Minister, dealing with investment related issues, the aim is to facilitate investment coordination in the country,” he said. President Magufuli further noted that the government was currently executing the blueprint for regulatory reforms to improve business environment in the country. Other efforts include allocation of special industrial zones, export and processing zones as well as special economic zones. He said through recognition of infrastructure as the business and investment catalyst, the government is currently constructing and rehabilitating transport and transportation infrastructure, including railways, roads, marine and aviation. “We are constructing the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), we have revived our national airline and installed radars in our airports to enhance airspace security. We are also improving our ports in Dar es Salaam, Mtwara and Tanga,” he said. The president further said in efforts to minimise production costs,...