LUSAKA, ZAMBIA – The 14th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) Commemoration and the 19th Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme Partnership Platform (CAADP PP) running from the 30th of October to the 2nd of November 2023 in Lusaka, Zambia will ensure cross-fertilization and provide a platform for sharing experiences and lessons and discussing…
Writes Baboloki Semele Botswana is gearing up to host the 8th Pan African Forum on Migration, scheduled to take place from October 31st to November 2nd, 2023. This momentous event, known as PAFoM-8, will revolve around the theme “Bolstering Free Movement and Trade Nexus in AfCFTA: Optimizing Benefits of Migration, Labor Migration, and Development.” Among…
The Bulawayo Sneaker Expo signals the potential that exists in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) phenomenon, Hon Tongai Mnangagwa, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, has said. “It has been a pleasure to join Bulawayo at this year’s edition, which is the 3rd edition of the Bulawayo Sneaker Expo, an annual…
Following the mandate by the African Union (AU) Summit of Heads of State and Government and the AfCFTA Council of Ministers responsible for Trade, Afreximbank and the AfCFTA Secretariat was mandated to establish and operationalise the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund through a General Partnership – the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Corporation – with operations of the Fund…
(Addis Ababa/Geneva) – The African Union Commission (AUC) and The International Trade Centre (ITC), a United Nations Agency, unite to advance the priorities of African micro, small, and medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) at the 2nd annual African Union MSME Forum. Over 150 participating MSMEs from across the continent and a range of sectors (such as agriculture,…
GCR Ratings (GCR), has affirmed Afreximbank’s international scale long and short-term issuer ratings of A and A2 respectively, citing its assessment of the Bank’s strong Preferred Creditor Treatment (PCT) track record in its member countries, as well as the Bank’s growing systemic relevance to the continent. The ratings also reflect Afreximbank’s strong capitalisation, sound risk…
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Zambia Tourism Agency met for a series bilateral meetings over the last two days under the Joint Tourism Facilitation Committee (JTFC), in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The JTFC was co-chaired by the ZTA Chief Executive, Ms. Winnie Muchanyuka, and her Zambia Tourism Agency CEO, Mr. Matongo Matamwandi, in fulfillment of tenets of…
Digital trade is poised to stimulate economic growth, a training workshop for journalists on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has established. This was revealed by John Stuart, an associate of the Trade Law Centre (Tralac) during a 2-day training for media practitioners in Cape Town, that ran from the 6th to the 7th…
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been described as the continent’s most ambitious integration initiative and a necessary ingredient for sustainable development. Trudi Hartzenberg, the Executive Director of Trade Law Centre (TRALAC) in her address yesterday to journalists attending a 2-day training on the AfCFTA in Cape Town running from 6-7 July, said…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has established the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) meant to accelerate the implementation of intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). This digital trade window was launched during the Afreximbank Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ghana. It combines five digital platforms merged into a single window to enhance…
The Egyptian capital city of Cairo has been announced as the new host of the third Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2023) which will now take place from 9 to 15 November 2023. The IATF2023 Advisory Council said in Cairo that the decision to change the venue and dates of the continental event, originally scheduled for Abidjan,…
The African Union Commission (AUC) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to mark the next chapter of an ongoing partnership. Together, the organizations will foster inclusive trade in Africa by incorporating small enterprises into the regional economy, and promote the…
The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the AU High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) are working on accelerating the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation with emerging technologies. This emerged at the 8th Calestous Juma Executive Dialogue (CJED) that took place in Harare, Zimbabwe, from 17th – 19th May under the theme, “Harnessing…
By Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, CEO of AUDA-NEPAD As the global economy faces unprecedented challenges amid trade wars, disruptions in worldwide transport and logistics systems, shocks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, geo-political tensions on the continent, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and its impact on the price of oil and food security as well as the growing…
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is set to lead a high-level delegation of tourism players to this year’s World Travel Market (WTM) Africa fair to be held in Cape Town, South Africa from 3-5 April 2023. Fairs of WTM Africa’s magnitude present Zimbabwe with an opportunity to network with international buyers, regional and international tourism…
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on 15 December 2022 in Cairo operationally launched the Afreximbank TRADAR Club, a prestigious member-driven network aimed at empowering international businesses and executives to transform trade and investments in Africa through trusted trade intelligence and advisory services. According to Afreximbank, TRADAR Club will deliver innovative digital tools and networking opportunities, helping members to discover…
Mr. Pardon Njerere, a Value Chain Expert under the COMESA’s European Union-funded Regional Enterprise Competitiveness and Access to Market Programme (RECAMP), commended the role of Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives in catapulting production gains of food systems to promote regional trade and integration. He made the remarks during the COMESA Regional Dissemination Meeting on Climate-smart Agriculture…
By Hillary Munedzi The United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) secretariat is working on providing opportunities for women in business in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking during the UNGM procurement seminar held in conjunction with Zimtrade at a local Hotel in Harare recently, Mr. Balakrishnan Amirthalingam, the Chief of the Global Procurement Support Section of…
By Samuel Agyemang The African Union Commission, Regional Economic Communities and partners are to convene an extraordinary session of the assembly Of the Heads of State and Government on industrialization, economic diversification and on the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and also observe an African industrialization week in the month of November 2022 under…
The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency (ZIDA) has come up with a One-Stop Investment Services Centre (OSISC) to streamline and simplify overall investment processes by local, diaspora, and foreign investors. This came to the fore in a presentation by Bethani Marwa, the ZIDA Regional Manager for Bulawayo during an investment conference organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism…
The International Trade Centre (ITC) and UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to unlock financing for small businesses, with a focus on women’s economic empowerment, youth entrepreneurship and supportive business ecosystems. (Geneva) The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) today strengthened their partnership to promote…
The second edition of the African Sub-sovereign Governments Network (AfSNET) conference, held on 30 September 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria, unanimously called on African sub-nationals to play their full role in facilitating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Organised by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF),…
Zambia has dropped visa requirements for listed countries as it markets the Mighty Victoria Falls that it shares with its neighbour Zimbabwe. The Zambia Tourism Agency revealed that effective from 1 October 2022, citizens of the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, China, Norway, Japan, South Korea, Gulf States, and the European…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) today announced the commercial launch of Afreximbank Trade Payment Services – or “AfPAY” – an intervention designed to facilitate the settlement of international trade on open account terms on behalf of identified African financial institutions and their clients. Afreximbank developed the product specifically to address the banking challenges confronting African…
The Tourism Innovation Challenge is a launchpad for transforming the sector through creative projects that have the potential to create employment for young people. The competition augurs the government’s thrust on innovation in which the government has been visibly intentional in having the youth at the core of the country’s innovation programmes. Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu,…
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will hold a Tourism Investment Forum on the sidelines of the upcoming Sanganai/ Hlanganani World Tourism Expo on 14 October 2022 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre koBulawayo. The Forum will run under the theme: “Thinking Investment – Explore Zimbabwe Tourism Opportunities”. The ZTA Chief Executive, Ms Winnie Muchanyuka outlined the…
As preparations for the 15th Edition of the Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo hit pitch fever, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is delighted with the interest in Destination Zimbabwe by the Japanese market at the Tourism Japan Expo in Tokyo. ZTA’s Marketing Manager responsible for Asia and the Pacific markets, Eniel Senderayi says the inquiries…
Actors in the East African business ecosystem stressed the need to include small business owners in AfCFTA negotiations on the Protocol for Women and Youth. The International Trade Centre, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Women, collaborate with the East African Business Council to engage business support organizations in the region on the…
Pursuing continental self-sufficiency may not be an appropriate remedy for Africa’s weak position in agricultural supply chains, experts at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) have warned. African countries must improve their transnational transport infrastructure or risk remaining vulnerable to shocks in global food supply chains, the team of experts has warned following the…
On 14 September 2022, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs passed by voice vote a resolution introduced by Africa Subcommittee Chair Karen Bass (D-CA) and Ranking Member Chris Smith (R-NJ) reaffirming the significance of the African Union as a strategic international partner to the United States and expressing strong support for partnerships that cultivate intra-African…
Staff Writer Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry, Hon Mangaliso Ndlovu, has said the government through his ministry has partnered with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority in equipping customs officials in combating the illegal trade of banned ozone-depleting substances (ODS). In his speech to commemorate World Ozone Day, Hon Ndlovu said he was grateful…
After banning wheat exports in May, India has now banned exports of broken rice, while imposing a 20 percent tariff on exports of unmilled rice, husked brown rice, semi-milled rice, and wholly milled rice, effective from Sept 9. At a time when the Black Sea “food corridor” has just restarted, easing the global food crisis…
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Cameroon and the Commonwealth Secretariat, organized a digital boot camp to build the capacity of women-owned MSMEs in the areas of digital trade and e-commerce/online sales. Capacity-building…
President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia has said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has great potential to address food insecurity and increase trade in pursuit of attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs). He made the remarks in his maiden speech during the 42nd Ordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government held in the…
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, has a protocol for women and youth to encourage these previously excluded groups to participate meaningfully in trading. According to AfCFTA Article 27 on Technical Assistance, Capacity Building, and Cooperation, State Parties recognise the importance of technical assistance, capacity…
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has announced that facilitated and guided trade will commence soon with huge rewards expected among traders. The announcement of the “Launch of trade” was made on 1 Jan 2021 (Decision of 13th Extraordinary Session of AU Assembly – 5 Dec 2020) – under an ‘interim arrangement’ – (trade…
Zimbabwe will host a Logistics 4.0 and Supply Chain Finance Summit that is an important opportunity to learn about the latest trends, ideas, and developments transforming working capital and supply chain management. Slated for Thursday 29 September 2022 at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, the in-depth event tracks the transformation of supply chain finance,…
The Trade Law Centre (TRALAC) has laid bare the facts about the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is widely considered the continent’s gamechanger as far as trading is concerned. Spiked Online Media engaged Trudi Hartzenberg, the Executive Director of TRALAC for responses to frequently asked questions (FAQs), and the publication shares the responses…
Darryl Pietersen, Head of Southern Africa, WorldRemit Harare, Zimbabwe…Like many countries in the world, Zimbabwe has over the last two-and-a-half years suffered the worsening effects of the Covid pandemic, which has adversely affected economies through border closures and limitations on trade activities. Zimbabwe’s economy is driven by agriculture, and while Covid pandemic restrictions have…
Zimbabwe is participating in the Meetings Show London in the United Kingdom which runs from 28 to 30 June 2022. This follows the successful launch of the MICE Campaign – MeetInZim, the destination is geared to engage with UK MICE Agents to bring their business delegates to Meet in Zimbabwe. The newly appointed Chief Executive…
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) was part of the Zimbabwe delegation that attended the 2022 Edition of the Commonwealth Business Forum in Kigali, Rwanda held on 21 – 23 June 2022. The Zimbabwe delegation was led by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable David Musabayana who was supported by his counter Deputy Minister of…
The Great Zimbabwe cultural heritage site plays a pivotal role in the revival of the country’s tourism sector post-CoVID-19 and beyond, the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) reckons. Mr. Lovemore Mandima, the Regional Director for NMMZ Southern Region in an interview with Spiked Online Media, said Great Zimbabwe is indeed great as the…
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) today in Cairo announced the appointment of Kanayo Awani to the position of Executive Vice President of the Intra-African Trade Bank (INAT) with effect from 1 July 2022. The appointment follows a decision by Afreximbank’s Board of Directors on 13 June 2022 to approve a recommendation by Bank President Prof. Benedict…
More than 20 months since India and South Africa first proposed a landmark intellectual property (IP) waiver to lift IP monopolies on COVID-19 medical tools, World Trade Organization (WTO) members reached a decision today at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva. The problematic version of the waiver that was adopted will essentially only waive certain IP on COVID-19…
Draft ministerial decision on intellectual property waiver woefully inadequate Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and more than 150 civil society organizations—including People’s Vaccine Alliance, Oxfam, and Section27 of South Africa—called yesterday on trade ministers at the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva to not accept the current draft of the ministerial…
