News
tralac’s Daily News selection: 19 October 2015
The selection: Monday, 19 October
The 133rd IPU Assembly is underway in Geneva. Two profiled documents: Promoting child nutrition in the SADC region, Steering committee of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO
Starting, tomorrow: 2nd International Conference on Tax in Africa
This year the ATAF membership will meet under the theme 'Tax compliance and limiting illicit financial flows'. The conference will bring together Heads and Senior Officials of African Tax Administrations and Ministries of Finance, representatives of international and continental organisations, development partners, the private sector as well as academics.
Trade ministers to meet on Oct 23 ahead of India-Africa Summit (Mint)
Trade ministers of 53 countries have been extended invitations to participate in the 4th IATMM, along with the Commissioner for Trade and Industry, African Union Commission, and Secretary Generals/Heads of 8 Regional Economic Communities in Africa which includes Arab Maghreb Union, Southern Africa Development Community and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and Economic Community of West African States.
Why new order beckons in Africa, Middle East trade and investment ties (Business Daily)
When leaders and policymakers converge in Dubai next month for the third Africa Global Summit, top on the agenda will be how to sustain growth momentum in the wake of dwindling commodity prices. The Gulf is suffering the same fate as other resource-intensive economies like Angola, Africa second-largest oil producer, Botswana which mines diamond, gold and copper, and Nigeria whose oil accounts for 95% of exports. This dilemma over fluctuating commodity prices provides a common ground for Africa and member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council ahead of the two-day summit in Dubai. Both sides are keen on finding long-term solutions to cutting dependence on commodities such as oil as the main drivers of their economies.
East Africa: What a troubled supermarket teaches us about integration (New Times)
The thing is, Uchumi has been limping both home and away and now the whole region is feeling the pinch. Stores have been closed, jobs lost, suppliers are counting losses, expansion put on hold and I am sure the shares have suffered as well given that it is listed on regional bourses. If there is ever a case for us to pay more attention to what happens in the region, then Uchumi is a classic lesson. [The author: Allan Brian Ssenyonga]
Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit: selected updates
DR Congo joins Northern Corridor initiative projects (New Times)
The Democratic Republic of Congo has officially joined the Northern Corridor Integration Projects Initiative during the just concluded eleventh heads of state summit that was held in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, yesterday. DR Congo’s Minister of Transport Justin Kalumba Mwana-Ngongo who attended the summit in Nairobi announced that his country was joining the hitherto, four-member alliance consisting of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan. Monique Mukaruliza, Rwanda’s coordinator of the NCIP, confirmed the development in a statement to Sunday Times yesterday. “DRC has communicated that it has officially joined NCIP and will start with {being part of} the Standard Gauge Railway and other projects will follow,” Mukaruliza said in a statement.
East African leaders resolve to speed up infrastructure projects (Global Post), Private sector eyes 40% stake in multi-billion regional tenders (The Standard), Uganda: Government denies abandoning Kenya’s pipeline route (Daily Monitor), Regional power play in tussle over new route of Uganda oil pipeline (The East African)
New rail lifts Chinese exports to Kenya by 50% (Business Daily)
The building of the new railway has helped increase China’s exports to Kenya in the eight months to August by Sh69.8 billion as the appetite for US and India made goods dropped. Official data shows that Kenya's imports from China grew from Sh140 billion between January and August last year to Sh209.8 billion same period this year — accounting for a fifth of Kenya’s total imports. This marks a 49.8 per cent jump in Chinese exports to Kenya. Imports from the US dropped to Sh60.5 billion from Sh106 billion in the period to August, coming a distant third after India whose exports fell to Sh162.7 billion from Sh174.3 billion. [Economic Indicators August 2015]
DRC: High priority reopening and maintenance project: implementation status results report (World Bank)
The objective is to re-establish lasting access between provincial capitals and districts and territories in four provinces (Province Orientale, Katanga, Sud Kivu, and Equateur) in a way that is sustainable for people and the natural environment in the area of influence of the project.
Mozambique-Malawi Nacala rail and port project Summary of consolidated resettlement reports, ESIA summary (AfDB)
COMESA to collaborate with Japan Association of Corporate Executives
COMESA is set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Japan Association of Corporate Executives referred to as Keizai Dyukai. This follows a meeting between the Chairman of the Keizai Dyukai Mr Mamoru Sekiyama and Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya on the margins of the Africa Week at the UN Headquarters in New York. They agreed to embark on formalizing the cooperation through the signing of an MOU between COMESA Business Council and to prepare an Action Plan thereafter.
EALA concludes sitting in Nairobi (EAC)
EALA adjourned debate on the Forest Management and Protection Bill, 2015. The adjournment at Committee stage followed the successful Motion for the same tabled by the Chair of EAC Council of Ministers, Hon Dr Harrison Mwakyembe, seeking for more time to enable the United Republic of Tanzania to make input. Hon Dr Mwakyembe informed the House that the United Republic of Tanzania would go to the polls in the next few days and said it was necessary that the debate be put on hold until such time the incoming Government is in place to effectively enable the Partner State to make input. Though majority of Members rose up to support the Motion for adjournment, they however noted that the practice should not be encouraged.
General Assembly praises African Union’s Agenda 2063 (UN)
Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, NEPAD’s Chief Executive Officer, agreed, calling the Review Mechanism the “epicentre for deepening democracy” and the dissemination of best practices of African Union Member States. South Africa’s representative, speaking on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries and China, said there was a need for developed countries to fulfil commitments related to official development assistance, and also to provide genuine debt relief to least developed countries. Several speakers discussed their economic and trade partnerships with Africa.
Reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the UNGA debate: Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa, New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support
Poverty in a rising Africa (World Bank)
World Bank estimates show that the rate of extreme poverty fell in the region from 56% in 1990 to 43% in 2012. The continent’s population, however, increased at a fast pace, so there are actually more people – an estimated 63 million more – living in extreme poverty in Africa today than in 1990, as population growth outpaced the impressive economic and social forces that reduce extreme poverty. A new World Bank report, Poverty in a Rising Africa, shows that these numbers don’t tell the whole story of a region that has seen strong economic growth in the last couple of decades and made great progress despite many challenges. The report focuses on the quality of data to track well-being – finding that poverty might have fallen even below 43% by 2011 when data quality and comparability is taken into account. Data is sparse and inconsistent across the region and globally – 21 countries in Africa did not have at least two surveys with which to track poverty. [Downloads available]
Sharp increase in ratifications for Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO)
The number of ratifications for the new Trade Facilitation Agreement has increased sharply since the middle of the year, WTO members were told 13 October at the final 2015 meeting of the Preparatory Committee on Trade Facilitation. Since the PCTF last met on 11 June, the number of acceptance instruments received has tripled, the WTO secretariat informed members. Taking account the fact that one of the ratifications – that of the European Union – covers 28 members, the total number of ratifications received now covers 49 WTO members, or around 45 per cent of the total needed to bring the TFA into force. Especially encouraging are the number of least developed countries that have now submitted their ratification instruments. [A repository of trade facilitation bodies (UNCTAD)]
Why expanding Africa’s port infrastructure is just a small part of the solution (Brookings)
Africa remains dark continent in eyes of NZ businesses (NZ Herald)
Services driving growth in Africa — and economists are worried (The East African)
Sub-Saharan Africa debt issuance down a third so far this year (Reuters)
What comes after the Atlanta deal on the Trans-Pacific Partnership? (East Asia Forum)
The effects of TTIP on developing countries (Cato Institute)
Jeffrey Sachs: 'The Japan syndrome could happen to China' (Korea Herald)
India warns of ‘endless’ legal challenges at WTO for pharma patent law regime (Mint)
South Africa – United Kingdom Bilateral Forum (GCIS)
South Africa - DRC Binational Commission communique (GCIS)
Nyusi off to South Africa on Wednesday (Club of Mozambique)
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This post has been sourced on behalf of tralac and disseminated to enhance trade policy knowledge and debate. It is distributed to over 300 recipients across Africa and internationally, serving in the AU, RECS, national government trade departments and research and development agencies. Your feedback is most welcome. Any suggestions that our recipients might have of items for inclusion are most welcome. Richard Humphries (Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Twitter: @richardhumphri1)
