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In Trade and Foreign Investment

Africa: World Customs Organization publishes Guide on AfCFTA Rules of Origin

by , and 6 Mins Read

The main objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement are to create a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of business persons and investments, and thus to pave the way to accelerate the establishment of a customs union in the future.
The AfCFTA agreement has the ultimate goal of increasing the ease of trade and investment across African borders as well as eliminating tariffs on intra-African trade, reducing unemployment, increasing infrastructure development and creating a more competitive and sustainable environment for cross-border trade.
The AfCFTA entered into force on 30 May 2019, and trade under the AfCFTA started on 1 January 2021.

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In Trade and Foreign Investment

Africa: The impact of the African Continental Free Trade Area on the continent’s mining sector

by 6 Mins Read

As a top producer of numerous critical mineral commodities, Africa is set to benefit from the rapid increase in the rate of global energy transition, with the continent’s mining industry playing a role in sourcing and supplying these critical minerals for use in clean energy initiatives. Exporting these critical minerals as raw materials, however, reduces Africa’s trading position to one of price takers, and the current disruptions in global supply chains are hampering the trade of these commodities in Africa, with mining companies subject to long delays and higher costs. The African Continental Free-Trade Area, implemented in 2021, acts as a strong impetus for African governments to address their infrastructure gaps, streamline their supply chains, boost their manufacturing capacity and overhaul regulation relating to trade, cross-border initiatives, investment-friendly policies and capital flows.

In Trade and Foreign Investment

Africa and United States: Increased engagement regarding trade creating opportunities in the African free trade area

by 4 Mins Read

The strengthening partnership between the United States and Africa is having a positive impact on the myriad of trade and investment opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area. At the recent US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington, DC in December 2022, a number of exciting initiatives and investments were announced by the US to boost two-way trade and investment between the two regions.

In Trade and Foreign Investment

United States and Africa: Building strong partnerships

by 8 Mins Read

The strengthening partnerships between the United States and African countries is evident in recently announced initiatives that focus on sustainability and community empowerment and that provide reciprocal benefits for the citizens of both regions. Such initiatives include, for example, increased US support for climate, clean energy and infrastructure development projects in Africa, and programs that boost reciprocal trade and investment between the two regions.

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In Environment

Africa: Climate finance was a key focus at “Africa’s COP”

by 1 Min Read

The availability of climate financing to assist developing countries, the most vulnerable in the world to climate change, with the transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future was one of the key topics under discussion COP 27. There were numerous funding and climate action announcements focusing on Africa at “Africa’s COP”. It is hoped African countries will soon be able to access some of the financing required to fortify the continent against the impact of climate change. Achieving this is essential, not only to address urgent climate change adaption and mitigation challenges, but also to unlock the great potential of the continent.

In Trade and Foreign Investment

Africa: An update on free trade – the Guided Trade Initiative

by 5 Mins Read

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) recently launched the Guided Trade Initiative to test meaningful, continuous trade under AfCFTA and to assist in the development of shorter, regional value chains that will allow for more climate-resilient, sustainable trade across the continent. But for Africa to make the most of free trade, it is essential that large gaps in continent-wide infrastructure and manufacturing be developed in a sustainable way.

In ESG

Africa: The impact of the G7’s multi-billion dollar plan on the continent’s infrastructure gap

by 6 Mins Read

The Partnership for Global Infrastructure Initiative (PGII) was launched in June 2022 at the G7 Summit in Germany. The PGII is a USD 600 billion lending initiative to fund infrastructure projects in the developing world, with a particular focus on Africa. One of the aims of the initiative is to help address the massive infrastructure investment gap in Africa.

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In Africa region

Africa: China’s trade ties with the continent continue to strengthen

by 6 Mins Read

Bilateral trade between China and Africa is increasing year on year. While COVID lockdowns have resulted in logistics bottlenecks, trade between the two regions has not been severely impacted, especially in terms of exports from Africa into China. China has continued to import African agricultural goods and raw materials, with food security and materials needed for the energy transition considered to be a priority. The ties between these two regions continue to strengthen, and are expected to be further bolstered as free trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area takes hold.