Nairobi, Kenya | XINHUA | The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could boost the continent’s income by 450 billion U.S. dollars if fully implemented, says a World Bank report released on Monday evening. According to the report, the pan African trade pact would significantly boost continental trade, particularly intraregional …
Read More »China’s participation key to success of Africa’s free trade pact: experts
Accra, Ghana | XINHUA | China’s participation will be one of the key ingredients to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, some experts have said. Speaking with Xinhua, international trade expert Francis Kofi Korankye-Sakyi said the critical role China has played in Africa’s economic and …
Read More »Africa free trade area to create new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation: expert
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | XINHUA | The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will create new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation, an Ethiopian expert said on Tuesday. Speaking to Xinhua, Gedion Jalata, a senior advisor to the UNDP South- South Cooperation and a former consultant to UNECA-Capacity Development Division, said the …
Read More »UNECA chief says Africa needs greater energy source to power COVID-19 recovery
Kampala, Uganda | XINHUA | The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on Friday stressed that the African continent will need greater energy sources to build back better in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The statement was made by Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the UNECA, speaking during a webinar …
Read More »AfCFTA: Implementing Africa’s free trade pact the best stimulus for post COVID-19 economies
Wamkele Mene was recently appointed Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat. Due to the effects of COVID-19, free trading for countries that have ratified the agreement cannot begin on July 1, 2020 as was originally scheduled. He spoke to Kingsley Ighobor about the way forward. Describe …
Read More »UNDP working to help African countries recover from COVID-19
Ahunna Eziakonwa is the UN Assistant Secretary- General and Director of the Regional Bureau for Africa of the UNDP. She talks to Kingsley Ighobor on COVID-19 and its impact on African economies. What is the impact of COVID-19 on Africa so far? Well, it has become clear now that COVID-19 …
Read More »Postponing AfCFTA would be a mistake-African business leaders
But CSOs say carrying out negotiation virtually will defranchise majority of the stakeholders Kampala, Uganda | ISAAC KHISA | African Business leaders across the continent have signed a joint letter calling for the ministers and heads of state to stick to the July 1 deadline for the free trade agreement …
Read More »Is Africa really ready for the AfCFTA?
Can the African Continental Free Trade Area succeed where previous free-trade initiatives have failed? Dianna Games weighs up the issues. Africa heads into a historic year in which the long-awaited African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) finally becomes a reality, with trading under the scheme scheduled to begin on 1 …
Read More »Roadshow to help Rwandan businesses tap into AfCFTA
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced a roadshow in Kigali to show the Rwandan private sector how it can become a primary beneficiary of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which will provide significant opportunities to access the largely untapped markets and …
Read More »I am optimistic about Africa’s future
Bience Gawanas is the special adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary-General. She spoke to the Africa Renewal’s Zipporah Musau on her role and priorities for 2020 What would you say are the three biggest challenges facing Africa today? I would rather talk about the opportunities in Africa. I want …
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