The AfCFTA seeks to significantly increase trade between African countries by reducing tariffs, eliminating trade barriers, and streamlining customs procedures. This single market is expected to benefit African businesses by providing access to a larger customer base, promoting competition, and encouraging innovation. Economic Integration By fostering closer economic ties between African nations, the AfCFTA aims to create a more integrated and resilient economic bloc. This integration is anticipated to attract foreign investment, stimulate economic growth, and create jobs across the continent. Moreover, it will enhance Africa’s collective bargaining power on the global stage. Progress and Challenges Since its inception, the AfCFTA has made considerable progress. Many member states have ratified the agreement and are actively working towards implementing its provisions. Infrastructure development, such as improved transport and communication networks, is also underway to support the increased trade activities. However, challenges remain. Ensuring the effective implementation of the agreement across diverse economies and regulatory environments is a complex task. Additionally, addressing non-tariff barriers, such as bureaucratic red tape and logistical inefficiencies, is crucial for the success of the AfCFTA. Positive Outlook Despite these challenges, the outlook for the AfCFTA remains overwhelmingly positive. Experts believe that the agreement has the potential to lift millions out of poverty and accelerate industrialization across Africa. The World Bank estimates that by 2035, the AfCFTA could boost Africa’s income by $450 billion and increase exports by $560 billion. A Unified Future The AfCFTA represents a significant step towards realizing the vision of a unified and economically...

NATIONAL trade development and promotion organisation, ZimTrade, says Lamu Port could open new logistical gateways for Zimbabwe to the thriving markets of the eastern seaboard. The port is a cornerstone of the Kenyan government's infrastructure development strategy, connecting the modern Port of Lamu to key inland towns, including Garissa, Isiolo, Maralal, Lodwar and Lokichogio. The port also extends to Moyale at the Ethiopian border, with a further link to the Southern Sudan border, positioning Kenya as a vital trade hub in the region. The project feeds into the African Continental Free Trade Area targets of developing supportive infrastructure that will facilitate cross border trade across the continent. “The state-of-the-art facilities will enable direct connections between Indian Ocean seaports and Africa's interior, reducing delays and costs,” ZimTrade said. “For landlocked countries like Zimbabwe, Lamu Port could open new logistical gateways to the thriving markets of the eastern seaboard. “As intra-African trade enters a new era of liberalisation, the crowds of cranes and container ships at Lamu symbolise the continent's collective aspirations for growth and integration through trade.” The organisation said the Lamu Port, as part of the Lamu Port South Sudan Ethiopia Transport Corridor project, will provide Zimbabwean traders access to new markets in Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia. Read original article

The Infrastructure Africa Business Forum, set to take place at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 16 – 17 July 2024, will delve into critical discussions on the development of Africa’s infrastructure, with a spotlight on the pivotal role of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs). This year’s forum aims to foster collaboration and innovation to accelerate the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). DFIs: Catalysts for Infrastructure Development Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are instrumental in financing and facilitating infrastructure projects across Africa. By providing long-term capital, risk mitigation, and technical expertise, DFIs enable the development of essential infrastructure, such as transportation networks, energy systems, and digital connectivity, which are vital for economic growth and regional integration. Enhancing Connectivity and Trade DFIs play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity between African countries, a key objective of the AfCFTA. By investing in cross-border infrastructure projects, DFIs help to reduce trade barriers and improve supply chain efficiency. These investments are essential for creating a seamless and competitive market, allowing African businesses to thrive and compete on a global scale. Supporting Sustainable and Inclusive Growth One of the core mandates of DFIs is to promote sustainable and inclusive development. DFIs ensure that infrastructure projects adhere to environmental and social standards, fostering sustainable growth that benefits all segments of society. By focusing on projects that provide access to essential services, such as clean energy and affordable transportation, DFIs contribute to poverty reduction and improved quality of life across the continent. Financing...

What you need to know:  The excessive rainfall decreased production during the avocados' flowering stage. Avocado farmers in Kirinyaga and Thika are hopeful that their fruit trees, which were destroyed by the recent heavy rains, will recover in the next few months. Mr Peter Kangangi, an avocado farmer in Kirinyaga County and the secretary at Ndia Avocado Farmers' Cooperative Society Limited, noted that the excessive rainfall decreased production during the avocados' flowering stage. "Before the rains, we had many avocados that were not yet mature. When it rained, they all fell from the trees, but we could not sell them. That reduced fruit yields. We have only delivered between four and five tonnes to the market this time round," said Mr Kangangi. He told Climate Action that before the rains, the cooperative, which has more than 50 members, used to produce between 10 and 15 tonnes for the export market. However, he is hopeful that they will have a better harvest in December following reduced rainfall across the country. The farmers say the fruit trees have started flowering. "We have told our farmers to start adding organic manure to their avocado farms to support their health growth so that the next season we can have good flowering and harvest more fruits," Mr Kangangi told Clime Action. Most farmers who grow the fruit on large scale water the avocados through irrigation, which allows them to regulate the amount of water the plants get. But this was not possible during the heavy...

La Commission de la CEDEAO a conclu l'examen technique d'un projet de rapport intérimaire pour l'étude sur la facilitation du commerce et du transport dans le cadre du projet de développement du corridor routier Abidjan-Lagos et a conseillé aux consultants d'incorporer toutes les recommandations et de les soumettre à nouveau pour une évaluation plus approfondie et une validation ultérieure. L'atelier d'examen a réuni des représentants des États membres de divers secteurs, notamment les routes et autoroutes, l'immigration, la libre circulation, les douanes, le commerce, ainsi que d'autres institutions internationales et partenaires de développement intéressés par la libre circulation des biens, des services, des personnes et du transport. Elle a exploré une voie commune sur un cadre pour guider le mouvement du commerce, des personnes, des véhicules et des services le long du nouveau corridor routier Abidjan-Lagos sans créer d'obstacles injustifiés.  Le directeur de la libre circulation des personnes et des migrations de la CEDEAO, M. Albert Siaw-Boateng, a souligné l'importance du projet de corridor routier pour assurer la libre circulation des personnes, des biens, des services et des échanges au sein de la CEDEAO, et en particulier dans les pays membres du corridor. Il a déclaré que sa direction prenait plusieurs mesures, y compris ce qu'il a décrit comme le "Passager interétatique" et le projet "ECOVISA". "Nous faisons cela en préparation de l'achèvement du corridor routier Abidjan-Lagos afin d'améliorer la libre circulation des personnes et des biens, de faciliter les services commerciaux et de réduire les tracasseries le long du...

Le ministre du commerce et du développement industriel de Zanzibar, Omar Said Shaaban, a annoncé lundi la mise en place d'un système de guichet unique destiné à rationaliser les services pour les hommes d'affaires. S'exprimant lors de l'ouverture de la 48e Foire commerciale internationale de Dar es Salaam (DITF), M. Shaaban a souligné que 30 des 60 institutions gouvernementales se sont déjà enregistrées sur le système, qui a officiellement débuté au cours de l'exercice financier 2024/2025. "Le système réduira la chaîne de procédures qui retardait auparavant les opérations commerciales. Les institutions décisionnelles ont déjà intégré le système", a expliqué M. Shaaban. Il a ajouté : "la mise en place du système de guichet unique stimulera les activités d'investissement et la croissance des entreprises dans le pays". Il a déclaré que les ministères du commerce et de l'industrie de Zanzibar et de Tanzanie Mailand continueront à améliorer l'environnement des affaires et à attirer davantage d'investissements dans le pays. Selon M. Shaaban, le gouvernement encourage les gens à utiliser toutes les opportunités commerciales disponibles sur les marchés régionaux, y compris l'accord sur la zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (AfCFTA), dont la Tanzanie est signataire. Le ministre a déclaré que onze entreprises tanzaniennes ont vendu avec succès leurs produits dans divers pays africains grâce à l'accord AfCFTA "Nous avons ici des bénéficiaires de l'AfCFTA. Ils sont ici pour encourager d'autres entreprises et hommes d'affaires à saisir les opportunités offertes par l'AfCFTA. Ils sont ici pour éduquer les gens sur les avantages généraux du...

Le ministre ivoirien du commerce et de l'industrie, Souleymane Diarrassouba, a signé un protocole d'accord avec TradeMark Africa (TMA) afin de promouvoir le commerce en Côte d'Ivoire et en Afrique de l'Ouest. L'objectif est d'améliorer l'infrastructure commerciale le long des corridors stratégiques Abidjan-Lagos, Abidjan-Dakar et Abidjan-Ouagadougou. Ce partenariat stratégique vise à améliorer la facilitation du commerce dans la région et à promouvoir un environnement compétitif pour faire des affaires en Côte d'Ivoire. TMA était représentée par Anthe Vrijlandt, directrice de la stratégie et des partenariats. Le ministre Diarrassouba a noté que l'ambition commune du pays peut se résumer à la promotion économique du secteur privé, à l'encouragement de l'intégration économique régionale et à l'amélioration de la facilitation du commerce intra-africain, comme le préconisent le gouvernement et nos partenaires tels que la Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO) et l'Union africaine (UA). Il a ajouté que la promotion de la numérisation des services commerciaux et du commerce électronique, ainsi que le renforcement de la compétitivité des entreprises, constituent une matrice importante pour le mémorandum. Convaincu que le partenariat avec TradeMark Africa ouvrira de nouvelles perspectives pour le commerce en Côte d'Ivoire, le Ministre a rassuré de l'engagement du Gouvernement à promouvoir une coopération efficace et dynamique pour la promotion de l'économie nationale avec les opérateurs économiques. Pour sa part, Mme Vrijlandt a noté que la signature de ce partenariat fait partie des étapes importantes dans la mise en œuvre de l'AfCFTA, une initiative pour l'intégration économique de l'Afrique....

L'accord de partenariat économique (APE) entre l'UE et le Kenya est entré en vigueur le 1er juillet 2024, ce qui représente une étape clé du partenariat stratégique entre l'UE et le Kenya. L'accord stimulera le commerce bilatéral de marchandises, augmentera les flux d'investissement, renforcera les liens entre des partenaires fiables et facilitera des relations économiques mutuellement avantageuses de manière durable, en stimulant la création d'emplois et la croissance économique. L'APE UE-Kenya est l'accord le plus ambitieux négocié avec un pays africain en termes de durabilité et peut servir de modèle pour d'autres accords commerciaux durables. Ces engagements comprennent des dispositions contraignantes en matière de travail, d'égalité des sexes, d'environnement et de lutte contre le changement climatique. Le Kenya est le principal centre économique de l'Afrique de l'Est et les relations commerciales entre l'UE et le Kenya ont un potentiel de croissance considérable. L'accord ouvrira de nouvelles perspectives économiques, l'UE étant la première destination des exportations du Kenya et son deuxième partenaire commercial. Le total des échanges entre l'UE et le Kenya atteindra 3 milliards d'euros en 2023, soit une augmentation de 16 % par rapport à 2018. L'APE permettra également de créer davantage d'opportunités pour les entreprises et les exportateurs kényans, car il ouvrira totalement le marché de l'UE aux produits kényans et encouragera les investissements de l'UE au Kenya grâce à une sécurité juridique et à une stabilité accrues. Contexte L'accord de partenariat économique entre l'UE et le Kenya a été conclu en juin 2023 et signé par les...

The ECOWAS Commission has concluded a three-day technical review of a draft Interim report for the Trade and Transport Facilitation Study of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project and advised the consultants to incorporate all recommendations and resubmit for further evaluation and subsequent validation. The three (3)- day review workshop which brought together representatives of Member States from various sectors including Roads and Highways, Immigration, Free Movement, Customs, Trade and other international stakeholder institutions and Development partners who are interested in free movement of goods, services, persons and transport, aims to agree on a framework that will guide the movement of trade, persons, vehicles and services along the new Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway without creating unjustified impediments. Consultants commissioned by the ECOWAS Commission to undertake the trade and transport facilitation study on the corridor presented their interim report, highlighting some current situations on the corridor that are hampering trade and transport facilitation on the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and made some recommendations on how to ensure that such is drastically reduced or entirely eliminated upon the construction of the Corridor Highway. Acting Director of Transport for ECOWAS, Mr. Chris Appiah, said “When the Heads of States signed the agreement, they put in place a technical committee, so the people gathered here are made up of project directors from all five (5) Corridor Member Countries and colleagues from Trade, Customs, immigration, and free movement directorates of ECOWAS as well as other Development Partners to make sure that all the recommendations the consultant will be...

TANZANIA: IN a groundbreaking move set to transform Tanzania’s horticultural landscape, a leading industry player has rolled out a strategic initiative that will boost crops’ exports to the United Kingdom. This is aimed at further pumping a great amount of foreign currency into the economy, especially by positioning the horticultural exporters at a level, where their business will flourish. In implementation, Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) in partnership with the Tanzania High Commission in the UK, with support from Trademark Africa (TMA) has launched the initiative dubbed, “Horticulture Exports Accelerator Programme.” Making the revelation during the launch in Dar es Salaam over the weekend, TAHA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Jacqueline Mkindi further said the premier exports is strategically crafted to assist both emerging and established businesses in the business. She added that it will ensure adherence to international standards while facilitating seamless market access to the UK and Europe at large. “This ambitious initiative is geared to not only complement the government’s efforts in acquiring foreign currency, but it will significantly boost the horticultural exports to roomy UK market” said Dr Mkindi. It is understood, the programme is part of TAHA’s scheme to reinforce the government’s campaign of stimulating horticultural exports to be able to fetch significant foreign currency to the economy. In March 17, 2023, President Samia Suluhu Hassan appointed Dr Mkindi as among the members of the Presidential Food and Agriculture Delivery Council (PFADC), where among others, she was tasked to spur horticultural exports to boost the country foreign currency...