Nigeria Signs Intra-African Trade Fair 2027 Host Agreement; Gears Up For Africa’s Biggest Marketplace
24th March 2026 Nigeria has officially signed the host agreement for the fifth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2027), scheduled to take place in Lagos from 5 to 11 November 2027. Taking over from Algeria, which hosted the fourth edition that generated US$49.94 billion in trade and investment deals, Nigeria’s hosting underscores its central role in advancing intra-African trade and […]
Mauritania Signs $1B ITFC Trade Finance Agreement
24th March 2026 The Mauritania ITFC trade finance agreement, valued at $1 billion and spanning five years (2026–2030), represents a significant milestone in strengthening Mauritania’s access to structured trade financing and supporting long-term economic development. Signed between the Government of Mauritania and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), a member of the Islamic Development Bank […]
Seychelles Signs MoU with AfCFTA to Boost Digital Trade and Economy
23rd March 2026 The AfCFTA Secretariat, in partnership with Quest Ghana Limited and the Government of the Republic of Seychelles, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening Seychelles’ digital economy and enhancing its participation in Africa’s growing digital trade ecosystem. The agreement underscores Seychelles’ commitment to leveraging the AfCFTA framework to expand trade opportunities […]
Togo approves bill updating environmental law and introducing carbon tax
23rd March 2026 Togo’s National Assembly has approved, at first reading, a bill amending the country’s May 30, 2008 environmental framework law, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening climate and environmental governance. The text, passed on March 5, 2026, during the third plenary sitting of the year’s first extraordinary session, seeks to modernize the legal framework in response to […]
National Assembly Moves to Domesticate AfCFTA Agreement
23rd March 2026 The National Assembly has pledged decisive legislative action and stronger oversight to ensure Nigeria fully harnesses the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement. Speaking at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop in Abuja, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said international treaties would remain ineffective without deliberate […]
Africa Agrees Common Trade Position for WTO Ministerial in Yaoundé
23rd March 2026 African trade ministers have adopted a unified continental negotiating position ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), scheduled to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, later this month. The move underscores Africa’s effort to strengthen its collective voice in global trade negotiations. The position was agreed […]
Nigeria worth $104b in climate-smart investment opportunity
20th March 2026 The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, Afam Victor Ogene, has said Nigeria holds an estimated $104 billion climate-smart investment opportunity by 2030, stressing that unlocking the potential will require innovative and specialised financing structures. Speaking at a press conference at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, Ogene made […]
AfDB, PAPSS promote policy alignment, cheaper payments across Africa
20th March 2026 Dr Kennedy Mbekeani, Director-General for Southern Africa at the African Development Bank (AfDB), has called for stronger policy alignment and private capital mobilisation to unlock Africa’s trade potential under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Speaking at the 2026 Africa Trade Conference in South Africa, Mbekeani emphasised that Africa possesses the […]
China–Africa trade route hit with new $600 shipping surcharge for containers
20th March 2026 Global shipping giant CMA CGM has announced a $600 peak season surcharge on container shipments from China to Nigeria and several West and Central African countries, including Angola, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and Gabon. The surcharge, which takes effect on 15 March 2026, applies to all container […]
WTO members review five Regional Trade Agreements, discuss transparency issues
9th March 2026 At a meeting on 3 March, the World Trade Organization’s Committee on Regional Trade Agreements reviewed five trade pacts involving members from Africa, Europe and Asia, while raising concerns about delays in notifying agreements that are already in force. The Committee examined the accession of Comoros to the Interim […]
EAPP And SAPP Sign MoU To Boost Cross-Border Power Trade In Africa
6th March 2026 A major step toward regional energy integration in Africa has been realized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Independent Regulatory Board of the Eastern Africa Power Pool (EAPP) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). The agreement, signed in late February 2026 in Harare, Zimbabwe, marks a new […]
WCO Publishes New Guide to the ECCAS Rules of Origin
6th March 2026 The World Customs Organization (WCO) today released its “Guide to the ECCAS Rules of Origin”, aimed at supporting customs administrations and economic operators in implementing revised rules adopted in October 2024 by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The updated rules apply within the ECCAS Free Trade Area, launched in January […]
From Compliance to Impact: Making Enquiry Points Work Better for Trade Facilitation
6th March 2026 The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) is urging countries to strengthen trade transparency mechanisms, warning that when information on trade procedures is difficult to access, smaller traders and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) bear the greatest burden. In a new study, UNCTAD examines how to turn trade […]
Resolutions of the East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo 2026
4th March 2026 The East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo 2026 (EABIS 2026), organized by the East African Business Council in partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and the East African Community Secretariat, was held on 24–25 February 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. Convening over 450 delegates from government, industry, finance, and development […]
Cutting Carbon Emissions Requires Green Industrialization
4th March 2026 Commitments made at the COP 30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil, last year offer tangible opportunities for Africa, a senior official from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said this week. Karin Reiss, UNIDO programme manager, was speaking during a panel discussion at Africa Energy Indaba 2026, held […]
New 5-year plan blueprint for future China – Africa relations
The partnership between China and Africa continues to provide a strong foundation for collaboration among countries in the Global South. China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, endorsed at the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, reinforces long-term planning, institutional coordination, and high-quality development. For African nations, the plan offers a model for linking national strategies with […]
Ghana Commits to Championing Sustainable Climate Action Across Africa
Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment, as Chair of the Africa Group of Negotiators (AGN), to promote a unified African climate position aimed at advancing resilience and sustainable development across the continent. Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources Kenneth Gilbert Adjei said sustained coordination and collective action are essential to shaping Africa’s future in an equitable, development-oriented, […]
WTO members review five regional trade agreements, discuss transparency issues
At the WTO Committee on Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) meeting held on 2 December, members reviewed five RTAs involving countries including China, Ecuador, Israel, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Türkiye, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting also addressed broader topics under the Transparency Mechanism for RTAs. Ambassador José Valencia of Ecuador, […]
South African firms encouraged to expand into global markets through UAE partnership
A recent high-level investment briefing in South Africa, hosted by Creative Zone by Encor in partnership with Azanyah Trade Hub and the UAE Embassy in South Africa, outlined clear pathways for South African businesses to expand into the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The event positioned the UAE as a strategic global gateway, highlighting its business-friendly policies such as 100% foreign […]
FG, GenCos seal N4trn Power Sector Debt Payment Agreement
The Federal Government of Nigeria has finalized the implementation framework for a ₦4 trillion government-backed bond to settle verified arrears owed to power Generation Companies (GenCos) and gas suppliers. The initiative, known as the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Plan, was approved by President Bola Tinubu and endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in August 2025. The plan aims […]
African Parliamentary Leaders Applaud Progress in AfCFTA Implementation
The 2025 Conference of Speakers of National and Regional Parliaments held from 29th – 30th September 2025, underscored growing confidence in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a driver of continental integration and industrial transformation. Speakers from across Africa commended the AfCFTA Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Wamkele Mene, for its tangible progress in operationalizing […]
Navigating Trade Challenges: South Africa’s Economic Future Post-AGOA
The latest trade statistics from the South African Revenue Service (SARS), released on 30 September 2025, reflect both strength and vulnerability in South Africa’s economic landscape. Despite recording a R4.0 billion trade surplus, exports fell by 6.8% while imports grew by 1.9%, highlighting the fragility of the current trade balance. The decline in major export […]
WTO warns Africa to bridge Digital gap or miss AI-driven trade boom
The World Trade Organization’s 2025 World Trade Report and its companion study Trading with Intelligence emphasize that artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a defining force in global commerce. While AI could boost world trade by up to 14 percentage points by 2040 under universal adoption and productivity growth, the report warns that uneven uptake may cut potential gains […]
Togo surpasses South Africa as Nigeria’s top African trading partner in Q2 2025
Nigeria’s trade landscape within Africa experienced a major shift in Q2 2025, as Togo surpassed South Africa to become the country’s top African trading partner, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Nigerian exports to Togo rose dramatically from N134.8 billion in Q1 to N811.97 billion in Q2, with non-crude goods (N698.7 billion) making up […]
Nigeria, others to unlock $2.1 billion in digital trade through DCO Membership
Nigeria’s participation in the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) positions it to benefit from the recently launched Model Digital Economy Agreement (MDEA), an interoperable rulebook designed to harmonize digital trade across member states. The MDEA covers 12 core policy areas, such as trade facilitation, cross-border data flows, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, electronic transactions, payments, and SME inclusion. Once […]
Nigeria champions regional energy integration to tackle $120bn Import Bill at Africa Oil Week 2025
At the Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2025 Ministerial and CEO Leadership Forum, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership in advancing Africa’s energy security while advocating for deeper regional integration. He stressed that harmonized policies, shared infrastructure, and technical expertise are essential to address Africa’s energy poverty and […]
IATF2025 ends on high note with record $48.3 billion in deals signed by participants
The fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), held in Algiers, Algeria from September 4–10, 2025, concluded with remarkable success, recording US$48.3 billion in trade and investment deals. Organized by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the AfCFTA Secretariat, the event drew over 112,000 visitors from 132 countries, with 2,148 exhibitors and 958 […]
Nigeria launches Air corridor to cut export costs
Nigeria has officially inaugurated a new AfCFTA air corridor aimed at boosting exports to key African markets, including Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. The initiative is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs for Nigerian exporters by 50% to 75%, thereby enhancing the competitiveness of Nigerian goods across the continent. On Africa Day, the Minister of […]
Sanwo-Olu Hails AfCFTA Hackathon, Puts Youth Tech in the Spotlight
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has praised the organizers of the ongoing AfCFTA Hackathon 2025, describing the initiative as a transformative innovation that aligns with the state’s economic development objectives. The commendation was made on Thursday at the 2025 Science of Trade (SOT) Conference in Lagos, which included the AfCFTA Hackathon as a key […]
Nigeria’s Carbon Market Policy Set to Unlock $2.5 Billion in Investments by 2030
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced that Nigeria’s newly finalized Carbon Market Activation Policy is poised to unlock up to $2.5 billion in high-integrity carbon credits and related investments by 2030, positioning Nigeria as a leading hub for climate-smart finance in Africa. The President made this known on Wednesday through a statement by his […]