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tralac’s Daily News Selection
The selection: Friday, 16 September 2016
Featured trade law policy process: The South African government has published the Intellectual Property Rights Framework (pdf) for comment.
Featured commentary, by Gerhard Erasmus: ‘Regional competition Law: a COMESA perspective’: The promotion of competition and fair business practices is an essential aspect of market regulation and regional integration. This tralac Trade Brief provides an overview of the COMESA competition regime. It also mentions some of the challenges flowing from flaws in the design of the Regional Economic Communities.
Conference documentation, including discussion minutes: ‘The quality of growth in Sub-Saharan Africa’ – workshop of the JICA-IPD Task Force on Africa
IORA 20th anniversary conference ‘Learning from the past and charting the future’: updates
Blue economy concept recommended for IORA Summit (Antara News): The concept of a Blue Economy development will be highly recommended and discussed at the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s meeting in March 2017, a Foreign Ministry official said. The Chief of the Policy Assessment and Development at the Foreign Ministry Siswo Pramono made these remarks after the conclusion of IORA, which has come up with 11-point recommendations called the "Yogyakarta Message."
Toward people-driven cooperation (Jakarta Post): As the current chair of IORA, Indonesia also seeks to promote the people-to-people connectivity. Indonesia is known for its efforts to consolidate the IORA institution such as through the formulation of the IORA Concord and the plan to convene the IORA summit next year. Aside from that, engaging the people is also an integral element of Indonesia’s IORA chairmanship. The outcome documents will also be disseminated to IORA officials, so that it will contribute to their deliberation in strengthening the association. The Indian Ocean is an incredibly strategic waterway as it carries half of world’s container ships and two thirds of the world’s oil shipments. Furthermore, the Indian Ocean region also host a third of the global population. With its paramount importance, it is perplexing to witness how regionalism across the Indian Ocean still lags behind its peers in other oceans such as the Pacific. [Dimas Muhamad works in the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry’s policy analysis and development division] [World Bank Blog: Africa leads in the pursuit of a sustainable ocean economy]
All set for Dar, Lubumbashi trade forum next week (Daily News)
Over 25 companies from Tanzania will be at the first Tanzania and Democratic Republic of Congo Trade Forum to discuss growing trade, investment opportunities and collaboration between the two countries that will explore different opportunities to secure investment in the Tanzania-DRC economic corridor. The forum will take place in Lubumbashi next week. Forum Manager, Ms Naomi Godwin, told a press conference yesterday that over 100 key business players from Tanzania and the DRC, and decision makers, are expected to attend. “It shall also look into the significant potential for promoting the ease of doing business in order to create a conducive environment for entrepreneurs and attract investments in manufacturing industry and transportation services as trade is the backbone of every economy."
Standard Bank’s West Africa Trans-regional Conference next month (BizNis Africa)
Scheduled to take place on 3-5 October, the West Africa conference is aimed at Standard Bank’s commercial banking clients from across sub-Saharan Africa who are interested in expanding their operations or partnering with businesses in the West Africa region across a range of sectors such as retail, infrastructure, agriculture, construction, manufacturing and information technology. It will draw delegates from Ghana, Nigeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, China, South Africa as well as clients from southern and eastern Africa. Keynote speakers include Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, Ghana Minister of Trade and Industry and one of Africa’s pre-eminent public servants and an authority on mass communication; Dr Wenbin Wang, CEO of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Africa and Non-executive Director of Standard Bank Group; and Olusegun Awolowo, CEO of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.
Uganda risks losing AGOA deal over used clothes ban (Daily Monitor)
Uganda risks being phased out of African Growth and Opportunity Act deal if it bans the importation of used clothes, Daily Monitor has learnt. In a courtesy call to the Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga recently, the US ambassador to Uganda, Ms Deborah R Malac, discouraged the move to ban used clothes on the grounds that it could jeopardise free trade between the two countries. While clarifying on the matter, Mr Christopher Brown, the US embassy spokesperson, in an email said the ban could impact on creation of employment both here and in US. “The move will jeopardises the spirit of free market whose basis resulted into AGPOA,” Mr Brown said.
EAC states accused of withholding support in war on fakes (Daily Nation)
A panel session, moderated by Kenya Association of Manufacturers Chief Executive Phyllis Wakiaga, heard that EA governments hardly provide adequate security to anti-counterfeit inspectors during raids which makes it difficult to implement laws. Dr John Akoten, Kenya’s Anti-Counterfeit Agency Acting Chief Executive, noted that the multiple agencies dealing with counterfeit goods and services have created loopholes in the prosecution of suspects since it is difficult to line up witnesses from various agencies to tender evidence.
Malawi: Nice Trust embarks on popularizing SADC regional integration campaign (MNA)
The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust has expressed concern over failure by communities at the grassroots level to benefit from the agreements that are signed between countries in the SADC region. The development has forced NICE to embark on a campaign in the Lower Shire District where they are popularizing SADC regional Integration which would help the locals know the procedures they should follow to access the benefits in question.
Zimbabwe: Beitbridge residents want share of border revenue (The Chronicle)
Beitbridge residents have called on the Government to start allocating part of the proceeds of revenue collected at the border post towards funding capital projects in the town. They told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Finance and Economic Development on Wednesday that the town was not receiving anything from the national budget despite playing a critical role in facilitating international trade. The Committee chaired by Mutoko South MP, Cde David Chapfika, is on a countrywide tour collecting input from the people on what they wish to be included in the 2017 national budget. Beitbridge town secretary, Mr Loud Ramakgapola, said most of their infrastructure and other amenities were affected by the large volume of both cargo and human traffic which passed through the town daily. According to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, an average of 500 haulage trucks pass through Beitbridge going either side of the border daily.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe: 2016 Mid-Term Monetary Policy Statement
Merchandise Trade Developments: The economy has continued to be affected by sustained mismatches between export receipts and imports as evidenced by the disproportionate import absorption relative to exports especially for the period 2008-2015; a sign of weak economic fundamentals and over liberalisation of current and capital accounts. Figure 3 (p16) shows the Zimbabwe’s merchandise exports, imports and real GDP growth over the period 1990-2015. The graph also shows the sensitiveness of the economy to various shocks and vagaries, including droughts. [Foreign Trade and Investment Guidelines 2016 (pdf)]
Tanzania: BoT’s Prof Benno Ndulu explains ‘cash crunch’ (IPPMedia)
The governor of the Bank of Tanzania, Prof Benno Ndulu, yesterday sought to calm concerns about the state of the national economy, saying the cash squeeze being experienced by many Tanzanians is the result of the government’s extensive war on corruption and ongoing crackdown on tax evasion. Speaking at a news conference in Dar es Salaam, Ndulu said the country is undergoing a legitimate ‘redistribution’ of wealth away from those who were used to spending illegal proceeds and back into government hands for public sector investment. "There is no money that has vanished from circulation...this is what we call redistribution," he said, adding: "From an economic perspective, (it means) the money that was previously falling into illegal hands has now been diverted by the government to (help fund) public sector activities." Meanwhile, according to Prof Ndulu, Tanzania’s economy is on track to expand by 7.2% this year, up from 7% in 2015, boosted by construction, the government’s anti-corruption drive, and better management of public resources.
Tanzania: The People’s President? Citizens’ assessment and expectations of the fifth phase government (Twaweza)
When citizens were asked to name actions by President Magufuli’s that they approve of, more than six out of ten mentioned the removal of ghost workers (69%), free education (67%) and the dismissal of public servants (61%). When asked to name actions that they disapprove of, three out of ten (32%) mentioned the sugar import ban and price directive. However six out of ten citizens (58%) say that they do not disapprove of any of his actions. Overall approval ratings for President Magufuli are at 96%. These findings were released by Twaweza in a research brief based on data from Sauti za Wananchi, Africa’s first nationally representative high-frequency mobile phone survey. The findings are based on data collected from 1,813 respondents across Mainland Tanzania (Zanzibar is not covered in these results) between 4 and 20 June 2016.
Mombasa port posts marginal rise in cleared cargo (Business Daily)
Overall cargo cleared at the Mombasa port for the six months to June rose marginally by 1.4% even as the container traffic handled dropped. Kenya Ports Authority managing director Catherine Mturi-Wairi said a total of 13.4 million tonnes were handled at the port, up from 13.2 million tonnes in the six months to June 2015. But the container traffic dropped by 0.6% bucking a growth trend that has seen Kenya pour billions of shillings to expand the capacity. A total of 527,523 twenty foot equivalent units (TEUs) was registered in the six months compared to 530,608 TEUs for a similar period last year.
Ebrima Sall (CODESRIA Executive Secretary): China-Africa cooperation must be mutually beneficial (allAfrica)
Q: What will be the role of African think tanks in this new dynamic, in order to enable the continent to make the most of it? A: It is to take part in the reflection and provide input in discussions on how these relations could be managed, so as to be truly beneficial to Africa and China. But also, we Africans have to be more confident in the fact that we have made large contributions to these relations. We don’t only have raw materials to put on the table. When we are talking about common development, we should not see only what China brings, but also what Africa’s input is, and its contribution to these efforts. I believe that Africa has much to contribute, and the think tanks can help bring this out. What are the assets? What does it put on the table that is beneficial to China, and would also help this continent achieve its own objectives? The other thing is the monitoring, follow-up, evaluation and watchdog role.
India’s exports shrink 0.3% to $21.5bn in August (LiveMint)
India’s merchandise exports contracted by 0.3% to $21.5bn in August for the second consecutive month after expanding for the first time in 19 months in June. Growth in shipments by labour-intensive sectors such as gems and jewellery, ready-made garments and engineering goods prevented a steeper fall in August. A sharp drop in gold imports led to a narrowing of the trade deficit. Data released by the commerce ministry (pdf) showed imports shrank 14.1% to $29.2bn in August, leaving a trade gap of $7.7bn in the month. The overall trade balance, including merchandise and services trade, in April to August improved with a combined trade deficit at $13.1bn - 63.6% lower than the same period a year ago. [RBI releases July 2016 data on India’s international trade in services]
International regulatory co-operation and international organisations: the case of the Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Health Organization (pdf). These reports are part of an OECD project on International Regulatory Cooperation which will be launched on 2 November in Paris.
Politicians in Africa’s key economies take aim at central banks
Transforming Liberia, truckload by truckload
Mozambique: IMF statement
A delicate balance: Mozambique’s Nyusi in Washington
Abebe Aemro Selassie to head IMF’s African Department
Kenneth Rogoff: It’s time to phase out paper currency
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