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tralac’s Daily News Selection
The selection: Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Featured tweet, @AUTradeIndustry: 5th AUC Industry Stakeholders Strategic retreat & AU SME Strategy & Master plan 2017-2021 workshop validation kicked off in Nairobi.
This week is ‘Africa Week’ at the UN: Africa Week 2016 will highlight some of Africa’s strategic partnerships, including partnerships that are well-established, such as with the USA, the European Union and Japan as well as partnerships with new and emerging partners, such as Brazil, China, Republic of Korea, India and Turkey, who held Summits in recent years to strengthen their relations with Africa. Africa’s strategic partners continue to invest heavily in supporting a range of Africa’s aspirations and goals, including in peace and security, democracy, good governance, human rights, human development, agricultural development, infrastructure development, humanitarian assistance, and the promotion of resilient and quality health systems, among others. [Programme]
The economic impact of the SADC EPA Group-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (European Commission)
Based on the simulation results, SADC EPA countries’ GDP will be positively affected by the agreement, albeit to a small extent: Individual countries see their GDP grow by between 0.01% and 1.18%, whereas the weighted average GDP increase, which is strongly dominated by South Africa, is about 0.03% (Importantly, all results refer to the situation in 2035 compared to a situation without the EPA). The variation between countries reflects the extent to which the EPA and the baseline differ: [Update: Entry into force of the SADC-EU Economic Partnership Agreement]
Zimbabwe gazettes iEPA trade guidelines (The Herald)
Government has enacted legislation exempting or prescribing customs and exercise duties applicable to products from 27 European countries under the interim Economic Partnership Agreement with Eastern and Southern Africa states.
EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko: overview of priorities, activities (EAC)
As the new Secretary General, I would like to take this opportunity to share with you my Vision and priorities for the Community in the next 5 years. For my tenure in office I will focus on fewer priorities that will deliver quick results. I want to focus on areas that will touch on the lives of East Africans and address the basic needs such as food, health, education and improved incomes. I will therefore ensure that a big percentage of the EAC resources are directed to sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Education, and Employment creation. To achieve this I will strive to establish strategic partnerships with the development partners, the private sector and also the civil society organisations and of course the members of the fourth Estate. In line with this we have listed a few priorities as follows:
EALA holds session in Zanzibar: The Assembly (10-21 October) is expected to dispense with three key Bills, the EAC Trafficking in Persons Bill 2016, the EAC Polythene Materials Control Bill 2016 and the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill 2016.
South Africa must open market to African investors – Ghana’s trade minister (Graphic)
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has called on African countries and their companies to put emphasis on inter-country partnerships within Africa in order to deepen trading and investments on the continent. He said boosting intra-regional trade and investments would not just happen by rhetorics but by deliberate investment decisions to work closely with the private sector and governments of the continent to harness opportunities and add value to raw materials and natural resources. Addressing newsmen at the Standard Bank Group’s second inter-Africa trade and business conference in Accra, Dr Spio-Garbrah said South Africa, for instance turned to be a more protected economy, but [should] take a cue from Ghana’s liberalised environment which had welcomed a lot of South African interests and other foreign investors, and open up its market to other investors from Africa. “I think it is in South Africa’s own interest to open up and allow competition from other parts of the continent, just as we also allow them to compete here in Ghana. They don’t easily license banks, for example. It has about four to three mainstream banks in South Africa, whereas there are 30 in Ghana. So as we have allowed Stanbic to operate here, if a uniBank or Zenith wants to open in South Africa, they will have a hard time,” the minister, Pan Africanist and diplomat said.
Tanzania: Gas bonanza hits snag (IPPMedia)
According to the Natural Gas Utilisation Master Plan (2016-2045) (pdf), unveiled last week by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals, this is the chosen strategy to help catapult economic growth and transform Tanzania into a major gas exporter. "Tanzania is strategically located close to markets where most of the demand growth is expected. Therefore, the expected potential markets for Tanzania LNG could include Japan, China, South Korea and India," says the document. But the plan also warns that an oversupply in natural gas in the world market could slash the demand outlook for Tanzania’s targeted customers, forcing the country to consider gas exports to neighbouring countries through pipelines. "With the declining oil price globally, it is possible that pipeline export into the regional markets can be a better option to monetise Tanzanian natural gas," says the master plan. According to the 81-page document, the government plans to consider regional gas supply pipeline projects to connect Tanzania with the EAC, SADC and other African partner states.
WIPO Harare workshop: African states must compile, publicize IP statistics (IPW)
According to WIPO, only 25 out of the 54 African countries have been consistently availing their data to the international body. ARIPO is comprised of 19 member states. Mosahid Khan, head of the IP Statistics Section at WIPO, revealed that in many instances, IP offices are not aware of the importance of IP data. Reliable IP statistics are an important tool in understanding trends in policy, business, and technology worldwide. During the workshop (pdf), it was resolved that had all African states been providing their statistical data to international and regional bodies, the gloomy picture of Africa’s contribution to global intellectual property transactions would be significantly different.
Carlos Lopes: ‘Maritime safety, security and development in Africa’ (UNECA)
Africa’s maritime economy currently is linked to about 70% of the continent’s GDP, generating about three quarters of government’s fiscal revenues. With Africa’s expanding economies coupled with rapid population growth and urbanization, we can expect increased pressure on coasts and marine resources. Port throughput on the continent is expected to rise from 265 million tons in 2009 to more than 2 billion tons in 2040. Safer and more efficient ports could strengthen regional integration in the continent and could also play a crucial role in the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area.
Kenya’s new Shipping and Maritime Affairs Department: a Q&A with PS Nancy Karigithu (The Star)
Because maritime activities are generally interconnected, the clusters must innovate, improve productivity, improve access to employees, suppliers and information, exploit complementarities, give birth to new businesses, and engage the local citizens. The biggest challenge we have as a country is failing to take account of the inter-connectedness of industries and human activities centered on the sea. The Integrated Maritime Policy development process now underway will help address some of these gaps and concerns.
Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe: food standards workshop (FAO)
A food chain approach coupled with intersectoral collaboration is crucial to address and prevent food safety threats. Addressing food safety problems paves the way for increased international trade as more markets open up to animal and plant products meeting international standards. Through a 12 month project funded by FAO, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, worked with FAO/WHO Codex Coordinating Committee for Africa (CC-AFRICA) to strengthen their institutional capacities to address food safety through adherence to CODEX Alimentarius also known as the food code. While all countries in the SADC region are members of the CODEX, their participation in relevant CODEX standard-setting bodies was limited mainly because of resource constraints.
Zambia: Traders improvement in product compliance cheers ZABS (Daily Mail)
The Zambia Bureau of Standards has commended traders for improvement in the levels of product compliance to standards on imported products. According to a statement availed to the Daily Mail last week, statistics indicate that in August 2016, a total of 197 samples were received from the border offices and submitted to the testing laboratories at the bureau. “We are pleased to note that the results available showed that 60.2% of the sampled products were compliant to Zambian standards,” the statement reads.
Zimbabwe: SADC’s Tourism Satellite Account proposal (The Chronicle)
Meanwhile, Minister Mzembi has urged the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and tour operators to be aggressive and market regional tourism products as part of the local product in the context of the ‘regional integrated tourism products’ policy which the region is pushing for. There have been complaints from some sections that South Africa, in particular, has been promoting the Victoria Falls as a South African tourism product and as such accruing revenues that should be benefiting Zimbabwe, and to some extent Zambia. He said the Tourism Satellite Account, which SADC is presently developing, will help to ensure that Zimbabwe gets its fair share of revenue from such a regional focus.
Nigerian-German bilateral trade dropped by 50% in 2015 (TODAY)
The volume of bilateral trade between Nigeria and Germany has decreased from 5.4 billion Euros in 2014 to 2.9 billion Euros in 2015, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said. Steinmeier announced this on Monday at the end of Bi-National Commission between the German delegation and Nigerian counterparts. According to Steinmeier, to this end German Government offers an Export Credit Guaranteed Scheme as a means of providing support for German export transactions with private buyers in Nigeria. He added that the scheme offered investment guarantees for German investment in Nigeria.
New ICC global survey finds worsening global shortage of trade finance (ICC)
The increasing engagement of African economies and businesses in international trade is also a key focus of this year’s Global Survey. While intra-African trade has shown signs of significant growth - accounting for nearly 18% of the region’s total trade in 2014, an upward trend from 10% in 2010 - intra-African investment accounts for only 12% of the total value of investment in Africa, in comparison to 33% in Asia. In addition, 66% of businesses find access to finance a significant obstacle to trade in Africa. "Africa has a trade finance shortage estimated at between US$110 to US$120 billion - a range far higher than the previous estimate of US$25 billion," said Vincent O’Brien, a member of the ICC Banking Commission Executive Committee. [Africa’s trade finance market: facts and challenges]
AfDB to launch an Africa Investment Forum (AfDB)
According to Senior Vice President, Dr Frannie Leautier: “The AIF will coordinate with other Africa investment fora and work to strengthen collaborative efforts to crowd-in necessary investment, and attract social impact financing to Africa. It will support AfDB regional member countries and potential investors through the provision of rigorous, authoritative and robust, business intelligence and analytical work on African’s competitiveness.”
BRICS members to sign pact to reduce non-tariff barriers (Livemint)
BRICS trade ministers will meet in New Delhi on Thursday ahead of the 8th BRICS Summit meeting in Goa on Saturday and Sunday to discuss global economic trends and their influence on BRICS trade and investment. A commerce ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that agreements on developing a portal for small and medium enterprises as well as one on non-tariff measures are expected to be signed in Goa. The official said the ministry’s proposal to come out with a travel card for easier visas for businessmen and tourists among the Brics nations did not take off as the Union home ministry is not very keen on it.
The 19 countries with the highest international trade tariffs
Nigeria’s new Development Bank: update
Uhuru urges Tanzania, Burundi to effect work permit fees waiver (Daily Nation)
COMESA, USAID sign $77m, five-year partnership agreement
Western Cape Government conducts trade and investment mission to USA
Economy Watch Namibia: September 2016
Malawi Investment Forum: update
Nigeria Economic Summit (NES 22): Adedoyin Salami
27 African countries adopt Marrakesh Declaration on Adaptation of African Agriculture
Zimbabwe to import 100 000t of maize from Tanzania
China offers $600m in aid, loans to Portuguese-speaking countries in Asia, Africa
China to engage in infrastructure development in Mozambique: Premier Li
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