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tralac’s Daily News Selection
The selection: Thursday, 17 March 2016
Starting today, in Lilongwe, the 22nd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts. The theme: ‘Financing the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap’.
Launching today, in Luanda: the Angola-China Chamber of Commerce
Today, in Cape Town: a briefing on the post-Nairobi work programme, by Minister Rob Davies and WTO DG Roberto Azevedo
Roberto Azevêdo: 'WTO’s record boosts its hand in talks' (Business Day)
Members have decided to reflect on how these differences might be overcome and how we might move the WTO agenda forward. The good news is that all members support the notion that we need to continue work on the Doha issues — agriculture, manufactured goods, services and fishery subsidies among them. And all members have again committed to maintaining development at the very heart of the WTO’s work. This is an opportunity to ensure that the future path of global trade talks serves SA’s development goals. I am visiting SA this week to discuss these issues.[Roberto Azevêdo: 'WTO is delivering for Lesotho' (WTO)]
Illegal fishing hurting continent’s fisheries (The EastAfrican)
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation estimates the global marine fishing industry produces some 67 million tonnes of fish annually worth between $100 billion and $200 billion. Africa’s coastal waters produce only 4.6 million tonnes of fish annually, valued at $4.9 billion. However, 52% of the fish stock is fully exploited, 8% is depleted, 19% overexploited while 1% is recovering from depletion, data from both the FAO and the AU-IBAR shows. Key to the near collapse of the continent’s fisheries is the illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, which costs the continent billions of dollars in lost revenue. The World Bank’s Africa Programme for Fisheries reports that some 11-26 million tonnes of sea food is caught illegally every year, worth between $10 billion and $23.5 billion. The West African coast is said to be the most affected by illegal fishing, with 40% of total catches falling in that category. [Improving Africa's maritime policies (ISS)]
Breaking out of enclaves: leveraging opportunities from regional integration in Africa to promote resource-driven diversification (CCSI)
This report explores the relationships between extractive resources, regional integration, and economic diversification. It looks at how regional approaches can increase the local employment and production effects of extractive resources projects. It discusses the regulatory, institutional, and political economy barriers facing African policymakers in achieving regional cooperation. The analysis makes frequent reference to three case studies of efforts to create trans-boundary transport corridors, including the Nacala corridor in southern Africa, proposals for the exploitation of iron ore in Guinea and Liberia, and the LAPSSET corridor in East Africa to ship oil and gas from South Sudan to ports on the Indian Ocean. [Download] [The authors: Gözde Isik, Kennedy O. Opalo, Perrine Toledano]
Corridors, clusters, and spatial development initiatives in African agriculture: workshop report (ECDPM)
The workshop brought together some of the key institutions and researchers that are active on this topic both from within and outside the CGIAR, with the objectives of understanding the current state of thinking in research and policy circles, and to help define how best the ISPC might contribute through its strategic study on corridors and spatial development initiatives in African Agriculture.
Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda to start joint electronic cargo tracking in June (Business Daily)
“By June 2016, goods moving along the northern corridor (Mombasa-Kigali) will be monitored in real time, curbing dumping, theft and other vices,” Uganda Revenue Authority said in an update. Kenya and Uganda have successfully piloted the ECTS while Rwanda has commenced trials and targets to fully adopt the system by mid this year. South Sudan is also expected to come on board soon following in the wake of its recent admission as the sixth member of the East African Community (EAC). “The southern corridor (Dar-es-Salaam-Bujumbura) is expected to be monitored by a similar system,” said URA's Mr Kateshumbwa. [How ICT-driven concept can boost Africa’s trade ranking (Leadership)]
Mining investment and governance review (World Bank)
By June 2016, MInGov will have completed and published assessments of nine countries using a consistent, measurable, comparable and actionable methodology. These country assessments will include seven in Africa, one in Latin America and one in Asia. Through the collection and analysis of a unique and comprehensive dataset, the Mining Investment and Governance Review (MInGov) presents an objective assessment of the mining sector of several countries. It offers actionable avenues for reform, supports transparency, and informs investment decision-making and debate among interested stakeholders. [From resource curse to rent curse in the MENA region (AfDB)]
ZimTrade calls for trade balance with SA (The Herald)
Zimtrade said yesterday South Africa must increase access to its markets by Zimbabwean companies to improve trade between the two neighbouring countries. Zimtrade chief executive Sithembile Pilime told participants at the Zimbabwe-South Africa trade and investment conference that this should be done to realise a fair trade balance. At present, the trade balance is heavily skewed in South Africa’s favour. In 2012 South Africa enacted the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act which stipulates that 75% of procurement should be local in an effort to protect South African manufacturers. The measure by South Africa, which is Zimbabwe’s largest trading partner, has severely impacted on local firms which are struggling to recover from a decade long economic meltdown.
Related: South Africa minister urges Zim businesses to use rands (NewsDay), SA pumps R20bn into Zimbabwe (Chronicle)
Zimbabwe expecting IMF loan in 3rd quarter (The Herald), SADC endorses candidature of Zimbabwean minister for UNWTO post (StarAfrica), Zimbabwe facing worst malnutrition rates in 15 years (UNICEF)
Banning ‘mitumba’ will certainly not revive the local textile industry (Daily Nation)
The textile industry in Kenya failed because it did not adapt to changing circumstances. Serious questions beg answers. For example, why do the export processing zones in Kenya produce high quality clothing for export under the African Growth and Opportunity Act framework only? If East Africa was to give similar tax exemptions for local clothing sold locally, would the benefit of job creation be greater than the foregone tax? Why do khanga (leso) factories in Morogoro, Tanzania, continue to survive despite the onslaught from mitumba and China? Why does the leading shoe producer in Kenya import shoes from India and brand them for local sale?
Ghana: Govt to restrict cement imports from Nigeria, China (Daily Trust)
Africa's leading cement manufacturer, Dangote Company and other cement importers are in for tougher times in Ghana, following plans by government to restrict cement imports into the country. To this end, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, has proposed to the parliament, the enactment of an Act "to propose a ceiling on the annual importation of cement into Ghana." Ghana has a production capacity of about 9 million metric tonnes per year, while national consumption is below 6 million; thus leaving an excess of about 3 million metric tonnes per annum. [We can’t let China destroy Nigeria’s economy - President of Manufacturing Association (CNBCAfrica)]
Portugal exports less to Angola in 2015 (MacauHub)
Portuguese financial newspaper Diário Económico cited figures from the National Statistics Institute to show that Portuguese exports to Angola fell by 45% year on year in January 2016. Although there have been political problems and devaluation of the currency in Mozambique, 2015 was not a bad year, and Portuguese exports increased from 318 million euros to 356 million euros, or almost 12% more.
Consumer market outlook in Africa ‘still positive’ (Business Day)
Despite the decline in growth, Africa’s long-term outlook as a consumer market remains positive, says an inaugural report on retail and consumer businesses by professional services network PwC. The report, released on Tuesday, analysed 10 African economies offering appealing opportunities for retail and consumer businesses looking to expand in Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia.
Ethiopia: South African companies keen to invest (Ethiopian Herald)
Opening the Ethio-South African Business Forum organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly with the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations and the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa here yesterday, Industry State Minister Dr. Mebrahtu Meles said that the nation has already created enabling business environment which attracts foreign investment and the variety of agro-ecological zones, abundant natural resources and labor could be utilized as an input for wealth creation.
Magufuli orders ban on any more dubious power deals (IPPMedia)
Eddie B. Mugarura: 'The EAC bureaucracy vs the people' (New Times)
Timely SA-Saudi trade boost for local economy (Cape Times)
SA trade and investment mission to Brazil (dti)
Business leaders, UN Member States and civil society agree: gender equality critical to economic development (UN Global Compact)
Liner shipping: is there a way for more competition? (UNCTAD)
Kenya: Mobile payments up 21% in 2015 (Daily Nation)
Transport companies promise not to ‘knowingly facilitate’ illegal wildlife trade (Container Management)
Nigeria: UNIDO officially opens an investment and technology promotion office
The top 8 active researchers in developing countries according to RePEc (World Bank Blogs)
Imposing, aggressive and unwilling to listen: how South Africans are perceived in Africa (Daily Maverick)
South Africa: Department of Home Affairs overview of 2015 asylum trends (PMG)
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