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tralac’s Daily News Selection
The selection: Friday, 1 April 2016
The 2016 Conference of Ministers conference: a guide to selected report launches taking place this weekend
On Saturday, 2nd April:
Measuring corruption in Africa: the international dimension matters (9:00-11:00)
The forthcoming Africa Governance Report IV raises the problem of credibility and reliability with existing predominantly perception-based measures of corruption. Such measures focus on country rankings or naming and shaming, but offer minimal policy insights and practical recommendations to inform policy reforms. The report calls upon African countries and partners to avoid perception-based measures of corruption and adopt approaches that are fact-based, objective and quantitative in criteria, to build robust economic governance institutions for sustainable development and structural transformation.
Assessing Regional Integration in Africa VII: Africa Regional Integration Index (10.30-12.00)
The report examines the nexus between regional integration, innovation and competitiveness in the broader context of development policy and strategy in Africa. Developed jointly by the African Development Bank, the African Union Commission and ECA, the Africa Regional Integration Index is the first systematic, continent-wide instrument for measuring the progress made by all 54 African countries in implementing the continent’s regional integration frameworks.
On Sunday, 3 April:
Economic Report on Africa (13.30-16.00)
The 2016 edition of the Economic Report on Africa, entitled 'Greening Africa’s industrialization', sets the tone for the future that Africa wants in its current wave of industrialization. It prescribes an inclusive path oriented to create jobs, generate income and wealth, lift millions out of poverty and improve human welfare. It seeks to cut down on wasteful consumption, resource depletion and environmental degradation. Ultimately, a greener future holds the key to making good of Africa’s long-term development plans. In addition, the side event will see the launch of a book by renowned economist Dr. Ha-Joon Chang, entitled 'Smart industrial policy for Africa in the 21st century', which was commissioned by ECA.
Revenue statistics in Africa (14.00-16.00)
The report presents detailed, internationally comparable data on both tax and non-tax revenues for eight African countries. The report examines changes in the level of both tax and non-tax revenues as a percentage of GDP and the structure of these revenue streams between 1990 and 2014.
AUC ACBF Ministerial Roundtable: 'Addressing the impact of drought, floods and declining commodity prices in Africa - what coping strategies and capacities are required?'
A full listing of policy discussions, other launches can be accessed here.
The Specialised Technical Committee met yesterday to prepare for the ministerial component. Three updates: Africa pushes to stand on its own feet again: but the continent just doesn’t do things the easy way (M&G Africa), Growth set to increase but progress could be hindered by lurking risks (UNECA), African Development Week: calls for green industrialization (UNECA)
Rwanda: Govt, civil society in joint regional integration drive (New Times)
Government and civil society officials have agreed to organise regular platforms where the Ministry of East African Community Affairs and civil society groups can meet to enhance a people-centered regional integration approach. This was recommended, yesterday, during the first such gathering in Kigali. The Minister for East African Community Affairs, Ambassador Valentine Rugwabiza, said: “But it should not simply be about meeting to talk only as it should also be a forum for accountability, so that we look at the progress of things we had agreed on earlier.”
So much in store: a review of SSA's retail and consumer goods sector (PwC)
PwC’s inaugural publication entitled ‘So much in store’, is an in-depth study into the make-up of SSA’s retail and consumer goods industries, and provides an outlook for the coming five years by focusing on 10 African economies that we believe offer some of the most compelling opportunities for retail and consumer businesses looking to expand into Africa: Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Côte d’ Ivore, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. Trends shaping the retail and consumer sector in SSA: [Download] [DHL optimistic over Africa]
South Africa trade missions yet to benefit Zimbabwe (Financial Gazette)
Martin Moyo, the Bulawayo mayor, told the Financial Gazette’s Companies & Markets that despite Bulawayo’s proximity to South Africa, and the city’s twinning arrangements with Durban and Polokwane, it was yet to receive meaningful investment from the country. “Unfortunately, I would say there is no tangible investment from South Africa that has taken place in the city,” he said.Moyo said since he came into office in 2013, his office has hosted a number of business delegations from the neighbouring country, but that has not translated into investment on the ground. Harare mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni, however said some companies in the capital had signed agreements with South African firms over the years. But he could not mention any significant investment that had come into the country as a result of the South African investment and trade missions. [Buy Zim condemns govt’s move to shut down foreign-owned companies (NewsDay)]
Kenya: COMESA launches garment making factory for SMEs
Kisumu National Polytechnic received funding from the Technical Cooperation Facility for the formation of a Garment Making Cluster and establishment of a textile and garment incubation centre in Kisumu as part of Implementation of the COMESA Cluster Initiative Programme. The TCF is a facility funded by the European Union and managed by the COMESA Secretariat to provide member States with the necessary technical and financial resources to assist them in implementation the commitments made under the COMESA regional integration agenda. The project targets 430 small and medium enterprises at a cost of $200000. [DP Ruto calls for review of policies that hinder trade]
MCC: This is what Tanzania must do to lift aid suspension (IPPMedia)
“I think we’ve been very clear about what the situation was that led to the (aid) suspension,” said Beth Tritter, MCC’s vice-president for policy and evaluation, in an interview with Devex, a media platform for the global development community. "If Tanzania’s government wants to re-enter into partnership with MCC, it must take the lead, with a plan to address those specific concerns," Tritter added. She said Tanzania has to guarantee political inclusivity if it wants MCC aid money suspended largely due to the March 20 polls going ahead despite a boycott by Zanzibar’s main opposition party, the Civic United Front (CUF).
Great Lakes: UNSC Presidential Statement (UN)
The Security Council is gravely concerned that the continued illicit exploitation of and trade in natural resources in the eastern DRC. The Council urges the signatory states of the PSC Framework, regional organizations and the international community to coordinate their efforts to undercut the economic lifelines of armed groups that benefit from the illegal exploitation of and trade in natural resources, and prevent the exploitation of women and children in the trade of these resources.
The Security Council further stresses that the momentum generated by the Private Sector Investment Conference should be built upon through the operationalization of the ICGLR Private Sector Forum to realize investments, stimulate job creation and livelihood opportunities as effective tools for conflict prevention and the consolidation of peace and security in the Great Lakes region.
The Security Council underscores that solutions to the prevailing situation in the Great Lakes region should come within a regional perspective, by addressing the root causes of conflicts, many of which are regional in nature, with cross-border issues linked to the eastern DRC assuming crucial significance, due to the large flows of natural resources and migrants and refugees, and activities of armed groups and criminal networks across the borders.
Nigeria: 2016 Article IV consultation completed (IMF)
The Nigerian economy is facing substantial challenges. While the non-oil sector accounts for 90% of GDP, the oil sector plays a central role in the economy. Lower oil prices have significantly affected the fiscal and external accounts, decimating government revenues to just 7.8% of GDP and resulting in the doubling of the general government deficit to about 3.7% of GDP in 2015. Exports dropped about 40% in 2015, pushing the current account from a surplus of 0.2% of GDP to a deficit projected at 2.4% of GDP. With foreign portfolio inflows slowing significantly, reserves fell to $28.3bn at end-2015. Exchange restrictions introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria to protect reserves have impacted significantly segments of the private sector that depend on an adequate supply of foreign currencies.
Nigeria-US Bi-National Commission: communiqué
The BNC established a Working Group on Economic Growth and Development and directed that it meet within six months to review progress on joint goals. The BNC noted the Governments' pledge to work together to ensure maximum utilization of current programs to promote trade and investment, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act and the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement.
Partnerships held the key to implementing the world’s new vision of sustainable development and could help root out the poverty that had spawned many of today’s global crises, said speakers at the Economic and Social Council today as the organ held its annual Partnership Forum. The representative of South Africa said the United Nations was in a unique position to strengthen cooperation in the context of the 2030 Agenda. Multi-stakeholder partnerships should recognize the plight of developing countries, especially African countries and least developed countries. North-South cooperation still lay at the heart of cooperation for development, while South-South and triangular cooperation could complement it. [Lengthy summary of the debate] [Downloads]
Financial integration in Latin America (IMF)
India, EU agree on framework to boost investments (Livemint)
India-European Union boost strategic partnership as free trade talks flounder (The Hindu)
US-Brazil agreement on trade and economic cooperation: third meeting update (USTR)
Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries: update (Macauhub)
China’s factories scent hint of Spring (IOL)
Peterson Institute assessments of the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Volume 1 (Market Access and Sectoral Issues), Volume 2 (Innovations in Trading Rules)
Emerging trends in mainstreaming climate resilience in large scale, multi-sector infrastructure PPPs (World Bank)
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