News
tralac’s Daily News Selection
The selection: Tuesday, 19 April 2016
Featured infographic: African states where over 80% of electricity is renewable
AMCEN: 'Agenda 2030 and Paris Agreement: from policy to implementation in Africa'
The need to sustainably harness Africa's vast reserves of natural capital will be among the top issues discussed by the ministers of the environment and high level officials from more than 40 African countries at a major conference on the environment this week in Cairo. In particular, the ministers will focus on the Africa Adaptation Initiative, which provides means for African countries to build resilience to the impacts of climate change, and the Africa Renewable Energy Initiative, which seeks to foster renewable energy capacity on the continent by 2020. In addition, ministers will look at how Africa can benefit from the finance, adaptation, and loss and damage provisions agreed upon in Paris. The meeting is also expected to produce strategies for tackling key issues facing the continent, such as the illegal trade in wildlife. It is estimated that the loss of elephants - a key tourist attraction - costs Africa up to $1.9bn annually.
ILO Africa: 'How to strategically engage fragile states in Africa'
The ILO's regional strategic meeting, concluding today in Dakar, examines the modalities of the Africa Region’s Engagement Strategy for Fragile States. The strategy for Africa places employment and livelihoods creation explicitly at the core of ILO engagement in fragile states and promotes social protection and strengthening of South-South cooperation. Participants of the Dakar Meeting are expected to provide concrete recommendations on the implementation process of the Africa Strategy for fragile states, design a resource mobilization plan for partnerships and clearly identify and mitigate risks. [Downloads available]
Taxing tobacco and the new vision for financing development (World Bank Blogs)
As part of the 2016 World Bank Group-International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings, a fascinating panel discussion 'A new vision for financing development', took place. MOderated by Michelle Fleury, BBC's New York business correspondent, it included President Jim Yong Kim, Bill Gates, Justine Greening (UK Secretary of State for International Development), Raghuram Rajan (Governor of the Reserve Bank of India), and Seth Terkper (Minister for Finance and Economic Planning of Ghana). The time has arrived to make tobacco taxation an important source of domestic resource mobilization that has the potential to generate substantial health and social welfare dividends across the world. [Bill Gates: ‘game-changers’ in financing development]
Open forum on Financing for Development follow-up (ECOSOC)
As the forum began its general debate, ministers and other high-ranking officials from Governments around the globe underscored the important role of the meeting, as well as the Addis Agenda itself, in financing the next era of sustainable development. Many called for increased capacity-building and the creation of enabling environments to assist developing countries in achieving the aims of the 2030 Agenda. Unfair trade rules were only one obstacle to sustainable development, said the representative of Uganda, speaking on behalf of the African Group. Others included inadequate resources exacerbated by illicit financial flows and unmet official development assistance commitments. Highlighting the importance of national ownership in sustainable development, he said the Group was committed to take the lead in formulating policies that would facilitate the integration of the Addis Agenda and the 2030 Agenda into its national plans and priorities. [Debate summary]
China-Africa trade and investment: Lin Songtian's address at 5th China-Africa Think Tanks Forum (FOCAC)
African countries differ in the level of productivity, development conditions and business environment. China will kick off pioneering work in some countries, and pool strength and resources to build some countries into role models in China-Africa production capacity cooperation and industrial alignment. In those 'demonstration countries', we will focus on developing cooperation demonstration zones, and use the successful development practice to guide industrial alignment and capacity cooperation between China and Africa. On the basis of comprehensive research, China has listed Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and the Republic of Congo as the demonstration and pioneering countries for such cooperation. South Africa shall work as the locomotive in Africa's industrialization efforts. Egypt, Angola and Mozambique will be the priority partners for production capacity cooperation.
The UK’s Africa Free Trade Initiative inquiry: commentary by Darlington Mwape, Peter Lilley (Bridges Africa/ICTSD)
This inquiry can contribute to building on AFTi’s successes and creating a greater, more sustainable impact in Africa in the future. The report will be published and presented to the UK Prime Minister and Ministers from the Department of International Development, Foreign & Commonwealth Office, and Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in the summer of 2016. The findings will then be discussed with African governments, secretariats of Regional Economic Communities, the African Union, and other key policy making bodies.
Facing mega-regionals: what implications for Africa? (Bridges Africa)
The impacts that these mega-deals are expected to have on third countries remain fairly uncertain as all provisions of the agreements are not fully known, except for the TPP. However, it is apparent that African countries, which are not part of any of the three main mega-regional initiatives, are likely to be impacted by increased competition and preference erosion in MRTA markets. From a trade perspective, it is therefore essential to explore possible strategies that African countries could adopt to mitigate possible negative effects which could result from the formation of mega-regionals.
Dakar-Abidjan corridor highway project: ministerial declaration (ECOWAS)
The meeting was convened by the ECOWAS Commission to introduce the Dakar-Abidjan Corridor Highway Project and agree with Member States on the modalities for its implementation. The proceedings of the Ministerial meeting covered the following issues: programme context, lessons and components; report of the technical experts meeting; draft implementation work plan.
The 2016 Borderless Alliance Conference (18-20 May, Cotonou): Download the concept note.
South Africa: Investors pawns in political power play (Business Day)
When President Jacob Zuma arrived in Abuja last month, for what Parliament termed a "rapprochement" between Africa’s two largest economies, many hoped he might tackle the growing apprehension that Nigeria is no longer hospitable towards South African investments. But the visit raises a bigger question: can South African companies count on their government to protect their best interests abroad?
Betty Maina: 'East Africa needs a regional competition authority' (Business Daily Africa)
In fulfilment of the requirements of the EAC Competitions Act, 2016, and in preparation for the anticipated launch of the authority by July, the Council of Ministers directed the EAC Secretariat to commence recruitment of staff for key offices within the authority. To ensure uniformity and enhance cooperation between the individual partner states and the regional authority, the council further directed partner states to hasten formation of national competition authorities. This is geared towards ensuring that enforcement of the mandate of the regional authority goes in tandem with the rules and regulations guarding competition in the individual partner states. Kenya and Tanzania have already established fully operational competition authorities, with the other partner states also working on the establishment of the authority in their respective countries in line with the council directive. [The author is Principal Secretary, State Department of East African Affairs, Kenya]
Tanzania: Confirmed - TPDC opened 3 escrow accounts at Stanbic (IPPMedia)
The state-run Tanzania Petroleum Development Corporation confirmed yesterday that it opened three separate escrow accounts with Stanbic Bank Tanzania Limited as a condition for securing large Chinese loans for the $1.225bn Mtwara-Dar es Salaam natural gas pipeline project. "I will not respond to questions on TPDC’s financial matters. Ask TPDC," Ndulu responded curtly when approached by The Guardian to comment about the accounts.
Mozambique denies IMF allegations of loan concealment (EWN)
Mozambique objected to the International Monetary Fund’s accusation that officials concealed additional loans from Russia VTB Bank and Credit Suisse for defense spending, according to Reuters. The IMF cancelled a trip to Mozambique on Friday in wake of the alleged undeclared loans, but Finance Minister, Adriano Maleiane, stated that the accusation is misguided and stems from confusion. [IMF halts Mozambique aid after finding undisclosed debts of $1bn (FT)]
IGAD: Strengthening livestock policy hubs in members states
Incomplete works delaying East Africa power trading project (The EastAfrican)
Fighting the hidden tariff: global trade without corruption (OECD)
The 2016 edition of the OECD Integrity Forum (19-20 April) will put the spotlight on this hidden tariff. It will bring stakeholders to the table to develop a long-term vision for clean trade. The Integrity Forum fosters dialogue for policy actions and cooperative integrity efforts to prevent corruption in customs and to protect supply chains. In addition, new evidence and insights will be shared for countering illicit trade. [Downloads available]
Trade in counterfeit and pirated goods: mapping the economic impact (OECD/EUIPO)
In search of cross-border e-commerce trade data: technical note (UNCTAD)
This report explores possible sources of data for gauging cross-border e-commerce. Business-to-Business (B2B) e-commerce accounts for the dominant share of global e-commerce and is therefore also likely to be the most important component of cross-border sales online. However, as data on B2B e-commerce are generally scarce, attention is also given to consumer-oriented shopping (i.e.Business to Consumer (B2C) and Consumer-to-Consumer (C2C). In general, there is scant information on cross-border e-commerce.
Data protection regulations and international data flows: implications for trade and development (UNCTAD)
As the global economy shifts further into a connected information space, the relevance of data protection and privacy will further increase. Understanding different approaches to, and potential avenues for, establishing more compatible legal frameworks at national, regional and multilateral levels is important for facilitating international trade and online commerce. The rules surrounding data protection and cross-border flows of data affect individuals, businesses and governments alike, making it essential to find approaches that address the concerns of all stakeholders in a balanced manner. This study seeks to contribute to this end.
Managing sudden stops (World Bank)
The recent reversal of capital flows to emerging markets has pointed up the continuing relevance of the sudden stop problem. This paper analyzes the sudden stops in capital flows to emerging markets since 1991. [The authors: Barry Eichengreen, Poonam Gupta]
Nigeria's Emefiele: Why Yuan currency swap will reduce pressure on forex market (ThisDay)
Domestic beneficiation and value addition in the mineral sector in Africa: SA case study update (UNECA)
India’s trade deficit at a record low of $5bn in March (Livemint)
OECD DAC’s contribution to the World Humanitarian Summit
tralac’s Daily News archive
Catch up on tralac’s daily news selections by following this link ».
SUBSCRIBE
To receive the link to tralac’s Daily News Selection via email, click here to subscribe.
This post has been sourced on behalf of tralac and disseminated to enhance trade policy knowledge and debate. It is distributed to over 350 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.
