(Posted 16th February 2023)
CCA IN THE NEWS
Taking stock of America’s flagship trade programme for Africa
The Economist
Pankaj Bedi strides through his factory on the edge of Nairobi, past clattering sewing machines, bustling workers and boxes of jeans. None of this would be here, he says, were it not for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (agoa). The landmark trade policy was introduced by Bill Clinton in 2000, granting duty-free access for more than 6,000 products from sub-Saharan Africa. Two years later, Mr Bedi opened United Aryan, his clothing business in Kenya. He now employs 14,000 people…. Read more>>
Summit to Strengthening US Botswana Trade Relations
Daily News
Botswana will host the 15th US/Africa Business Summit is expected to strengthen the country’s investment and trade relations with the US. Speaking during a media briefing session on Thursday, Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr Mmusi Kgafela said the summit would serve as a platform for US and African private sector and government representatives to network with key private and government decision makers and explore new business opportunities… Read more>>
Stakeholders Briefing Session-US-Africa Business Summit
News Invasion
In building up towards the upcoming US – AFRICA Business Summit, this morning, the Ministry of Trade and Investment (MIT), in conjunction with the Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), hosted a Stakeholder Briefing Session at BITC Head Office in Gaborone. The purpose of the briefing was to engage key stakeholders on the Summit and dialogue on expectations from Government and the private sector… Read more>>
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
US must try to bridge divide between Africa’s economic innovators and its political class
The Hill
It is said that character is revealed by how one responds to adversity — that it is life’s setbacks that create the opportunity for renewal, and in other cases, and unfortunately, an excuse for retreat. I found this especially true observing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa… Read more>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
African Union financial independence key to forging stronger international partnerships
Daily Maverick
In a rapidly shifting global order and with continued threats to Africa’s security, the African Union (AU) must strengthen ties with multilateral bodies and governments outside the continent. So far, it has struggled to extend engagements beyond its traditional partners — the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU), United States (US) and China… Read more>>
Ruto adopts Uhuru’s draft trade deal with America
Business Daily
The Ruto administration has adopted the key areas of cooperation agreed upon by the previous regime in the proposed trade deal with the US, setting the stage for the negotiations to progress ahead of 2025 deadline….. Read more>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Unlock the impact potential of agricultural SMEs in Africa, experts urge at Dakar 2 Food Summit
African Development Bank Group
Global experts meeting during a panel session at the second international summit on food production in Dakar called for accelerated avenues to close the financial gap in agriculture and address barriers to the growing finance market for agricultural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)…. Read more>>
South Africa: Synercore to acquire two agribusiness firms
Ecofin Agency
Last week, South African food ingredients producer Synercore Holdings secured ZAR80 million (US$4.5 million) in convertible debt financing from Norwegian development finance institution Norfund. The funding will support Synercore’s expansion and the acquisition of two local agribusiness firms, Impilo and Sizwe namely…. Read more>>
ENERGY
Africa gears up to keep more profits from lithium boom
Reuters
Lithium-rich African countries, including Zimbabwe and Namibia, are trying to develop processing and refining industries to capture more of the profits of global demand for the battery material…. Read more>>
Botswana warns of dangers in dash for African minerals
News23
African governments must be wary of the risks created by rising global competition for the continent’s minerals, Botswana’s mines minister said, as world powers seek new sources of metals needed for the transition to a lower carbon economy…. Read more>>
Africa’s share of global gas supply will almost double by 2050
Quartz
Africa’s gas share in the global market will increase to over 11% of all gas supplies by 2050, according to a report by Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), from 6% in 2021…. Read more>>
HEALTH
Sudan’s tropical disease spike reflects poor health system
The Washington Post
The two Sudanese women thought they had malaria and were taking their medication, but things took a dire turn. Both complained of a splitting headache and fever that didn’t respond to the anti-malaria treatment…. Read more>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
South Sudan abandons US dollar for local currency
The East African
South Sudan’s government has suspended the use of the US dollar and instead directed all transactions be executed in the local currency, the South Sudanese pound (SSP), in a move feared to stifle economic activity in the war-ravaged economy…. Read more>>
‘We want a bigger share’: Botswana, De Beers row over diamond profits
Africa News
Botswana’s President Mokgweetsi Masisi warned Sunday that his country could sever ties with South African diamond giant De Beers if talks to renegotiate a sales agreement prove unfavorable for his country. The 2011 sales agreement governing the terms of marketing diamonds produced by Debswana – a 50-50 joint venture between the government and De Beers – expired in 2021…. Read more>>
Tanzania: Mining license expropriations cloud Samia’s buiness-friendly credentials
The Africa Report
Lack of progress on cases filed with a World Bank arbitration mechanism concerning the expropriation of mining exploration licences under late President John Magufuli cast a shadow over the claims of successor Samia Suluhu Hassan to have ushered in a more business-friendly environment…. Read more>>
ICT
Ethiopia’s social media blocked amid church split tensions
AP News
Widespread tensions caused by a rift within Ethiopia’s Orthodox Christian church have resulted in the suspension of access to social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook and Telegram…. Read more>>
Technology firm Cisco is helping countries like South Africa plug the digital skills gap
Mail & Guardian
The Covid-19 pandemic turbocharged digitisation across industries, such as transport, healthcare, energy and education, and now technology company Cisco is now working on optimising the hybrid working system… Read more>>
