Africa Matters

Ruto urges African leaders to accelerate realisation of AfCFTA agreement

President William Ruto has called on African leaders to accelerate the realisation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement. The President said AfCFTA will increase intra-Africa trade thereby creating jobs and wealth for the people. President Ruto noted that Visa restrictions between African countries and tariffs are unnecessary hindrances to trade. “It is time we realise the…

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Türkiye, African businesspeople come together in Istanbul

OVER the years, Türkiye’s role in the African continent has increased consistently. This has been translated into stronger ties between Türkiye and Africa. Turkiye’s policies toward Africa evolve within the framework of a win-win policy and are mainly driven by economic, humanitarian, and security dimensions. Furthermore, Türkiye has emphasised the fact that the principles of equal partnership and mutual…

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Africa sets the foundation for an electric vehicle future

Emobility refers to electric vehicles, ideally powered by renewable energy sources Numerous South Africans facing daily challenges commuting to their workplaces via minibus taxis or cars on crowded highways might have difficulty accepting that an electric mobility revolution is on the horizon. However, several factors are pointing in that direction. Emobility refers to electric vehicles, ideally powered by renewable…

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AGRF Summit Shines Spotlight on Women in African Agriculture: VOWET Hails the New AASR Report

AGRF Summit, formerly known as the African Green Revolution Forum, brought forth illuminating insights into the state of agriculture across the African continent. With the release of the Africa Agriculture Status Report (AASR), the spotlight was firmly fixed on the role and significance of women in this essential sector. The AASR, an authoritative voice on the continent’s agricultural prospects,…

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Samia’s message on strengthened Brics-Africa links

She said Tanzania envisioned a Brics-Africa partnership that supports the continent’s endeavour to promote and strengthen regional value chains and help African producers to gain access to global export markets. Dar es Salaam. President Samia Suluhu Hassan said yesterday the Brics-Africa partnership needs to focus on unlocking the continent’s potential towards realisation of Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals and…

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Africa Offers New Frontier for Global Economic Growth – Yofi Grant

The global economy needs Africa to build back again from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Yofi Grant, has said. He said Africa offered the new frontier for global economic growth and recovery due to the impact of the coronavirus disease and the Russia-Ukraine…

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Africa Countries Should Walk the Talk on Continental Integration

Bereket Sisay The 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms, held in Nairobi from 13 to 16 July, adopted a resolution aimed at accelerating the continent’s integration, both politically and economically. In particular, due emphasis was placed on advancing the implementation of the African Union’s long-awaited flagship project – the African Continental…

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Africa needs to focus on agri-business — Forum

By Morkporkpor Anku Accra, May 29, GNA – The seventh African Leadership Forum (ALF) has ended in Accra with participants urging African countries to focus on agri-business rather than agriculture. The Forum said agri-business encompassed agriculture and required a multifaceted approach across multiple stakeholders, including ministries beyond that of agriculture. Climate change. Dr Emmanuel Maliti, an Economist, iReview Limited, presenting…

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Kenya revives push by African nations to ditch the dollar

Kenya’s President William Ruto has asked African leaders to take first steps towards ditching the globally-bullish US dollar by signing up to a pan-African payments system to facilitate trade within the continent. Ruto has urged his peers in Africa to mobilise central and commercial banks to join Pan-African Payments and Settlement System (PAPSS) which was launched in January 2022….

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AfDB to establish entrepreneurship banks for youth

Summary The President of AfDB, Dr Akinwumi Adesina said the banks will access the critical financial resources to income generation projects run by the youth. The African Development Bank (AfDB) is seeking to establish youth entrepreneurship investment banks across the continent. The proposed financial institutions will finance young people’s innovations in creating wealth. This was announced on the sidelines…

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Kikwete calls for repositioning agriculture to unlock Africa’s intra-trade

Accra. Delegates at the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) have urged African countries to refocus on how to build a stronger supply value chain for agriculture on the grounds that the sector occupies the best opportunity to grow the highly needed intra-trade. Leaders and other participants noted that Africa is endowed with adequate arable land to contribute substantially to the…

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Tanzania-US TRADE: Envoy touts mutual benefits

NEWLY appointed American Ambassador to Tanzania Michael Battle has listed his top priorities for promoting trade and investment between the two countries during his tenure in office. The former US Ambassador to the African Union said he would work with the government of Tanzania and its people to expand trade opportunities. According to him, all US ambassadors are responsible…

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Africa requires new strategy to optimise investment – Yofi Grant

Heads of African Investment Promotion Agencies, businessmen and women as well as academia will meet in Accra on Wednesday, January 25, to strategise on how African nations can add value to natural resources through Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to boost their economies and create jobs. The discussions will be held during the First Assembly of African Investment Promotion Agencies…

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EAC exports to Africa soar to $7.9 billion in 2021

Summary Top EAC exports to Africa included precious stones, coffee, tea, cement, animal fats, mineral oils and iron and steel. Exports from the East African Community (EAC) bloc to Africa soared to $7.9 billion in 2021 in spite of Covid-19 impact. They comprised 42 percent share of the region’s total exports of goods to the world which was $18.7…

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Africa’s resilience beyond the pandemic

The African continent has made steady progress over the last four decades – surviving high levels of poverty, various natural disasters (such as drought and floods), diseases, political instability and high levels of migration. And when the health pandemic struck, Africa’s resilience was tested yet again. COVID-19 pushed millions of households further into poverty due to its disruption of…

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China’s trade ties with Africa continue to strengthen

By Virusha SubbanPartner specialising in Customs and Trade, and Head of the Tax Practice, Baker McKenzie. Trade between China and Africa is growing. The General Administration of Customs of China recently noted that bilateral trade between China and Africa amounted to US$254.3 billion in 2021, an increase of 35.3% from 2020. In the first quarter of 2022, China’s Customs…

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South Africa is ready to launch its own satellite: minister

Communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says South Africa is ready to launch its first communications satellite as part of a growing push to expand internet connectivity. Speaking at the World Telecommunication Development Conference on Wednesday (8 June), Ntshavheni said the satellite will address both media and broadband connectivity objectives. It will also help entrench the country’s ‘technology and data sovereignty’,…

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