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 […]
PRESIDENT TINUBU CALLS FOR STRONGER ECOWAS ECONOMIC INTEGRATION TO DRIVE REGIONAL TRANSFORMATION
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has called on ECOWAS member states to deepen economic ties and boost intra-regional trade, underscoring the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key driver for transformative change across West Africa. In remarks delivered on his behalf by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, […]
DESPITE PAUSE ON US TARIFFS, AFRICAN ECONOMIES FACE UNCERTAIN FUTURE
A temporary halt on the implementation of new US tariffs has offered a brief sigh of relief to African economies, but experts warn that the broader challenges facing the continent’s trade and industrialization ambitions remain unresolved. The United States recently announced a pause on additional tariffs targeting a range of imports from developing nations, including […]
AFRICA’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LIES IN TRADE NOT CHARITY
Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, made these remarks during his closing address at the session titled “The Africa Opportunity: Regional Collaboration and Trade Facilitation”, held at the 2025 Commonwealth Enterprises and Investment Summit in London. During the session, which centered on how Africa can harness its 1.3 billion-strong population to drive trade and […]
DOMESTICATION OF THE AfCFTA IN NIGERIA
The successful implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement depends, to a large extent, on the willingness of State Parties (parties to the Agreement) to domesticate its provisions . Each country needs to incorporate its provisions into their legal and economic framework, by taking the necessary executive and legislative steps. This action of […]
AfCFTA in 2024: Progress, Setbacks, and Strategic Goals for 2025
As we approach the close of 2024, it’s essential to reflect on the progress made under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative and acknowledge both the achievements and challenges that have defined the year. The AfCFTA is poised to reshape Africa’s economic landscape, yet as we near its second anniversary in 2025, it’s […]
Building Bridges Across Africa: Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Growth and Integration
Africa is at the forefront of an infrastructure revolution, with transformative projects reshaping the continent’s connectivity, economic dynamics, and social landscapes. Roads, railways, ports, and airports are not just physical links but lifelines for trade, economic growth, and poverty alleviation. This surge in development reflects a shared vision of enhancing intra-African trade, opening up economies, […]
Nigeria-China Trade Surge: VP Shettima Highlights Strong Partnership
The trade relationship between Nigeria and China has reached impressive new levels, establishing it as one of Africa’s highest. Vice President Kashim Shettima commended the ongoing growth of this trade partnership, noting its importance for both nations’ economic progress. Shettima made these remarks while hosting a Chinese delegation led by Zhang Qingwei, Vice Chairman of […]
IEA and COP29 Collaborate to Drive International Energy Transition Framework
As COP29 prepares for pivotal actions toward sustainable energy, the COP29 presidency, in partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA), has identified essential strategies to expedite the global shift to renewable energy. These strategies align with steps from the Global Stocktake (GST) and build on the ambitious energy targets set at COP28. Five key priorities […]
COP29 Opens with Key Developments in Global Carbon Markets
The UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) commenced on November 11, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking a historic moment with initial breakthroughs that could reshape global climate action. The first day of the conference set a positive tone as Parties reached a significant agreement on standards for carbon credits under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, […]