Trade
-
Transforming agricultural shows, trade fairs and competitions into genuine knowledge management platforms
Writes Charles Dhewa Who really benefits from expos such as agricultural shows, trade fairs, food festivals, cooking competitions, and several other bandwagons? How do those who benefit do so? Without clear methods for evaluating these events, it is difficult to get correct answers to such questions. There is a strong feeling among many people that…
-
Zimbabwe seeks to double internet penetration
Writes Hopewell Chibvongodze Harare, March 21, 2024 – Zimbabwe seeks to improve internet connectivity by doubling penetration from the current 70 percent to make e-commerce thrive, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister, Tatenda Mavetera has said. Mavetera made the remarks on Wednesday in Harare during the Zimbabwe e-trade preparedness assessment national multi-stakeholder consultations…
-
OLDN Rebranding Zimbabwe through International Organization Development Conferences
The 5th Edition of the Organization Leadership and Development Network (OLDN) International Organization Development and Change and Doctoral Consortium will be held in Gaborone, Botswana on August 29-30, 2024. This follows the successful 4th Edition that was held in Harare, Zimbabwe last year. “OLDN conferences are a convening of national, regional, and international practitioners and…
-
Conference Spotlights Empowerment and Elevation of Women Entrepreneurs, Trade and Innovation
Vessels of Virtue (VOV) yesterday successfully held a conference on the Empowerment and Elevation of Women Entrepreneurs, Trade, and Innovation at the Celebration International Church in Borrowdale, Harare. In her keynote address while officially opening the conference, the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Hon. Monica Mutsvangwa said the conference was…
-
Government urged to incorporate recommendations of MSMEs in 2024 revenue measures
The government has been urged to take into consideration the views of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) regards the recently introduced 2024 Revenue Measures announced by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. This came to the fore at a workshop in Harare that was presided over by Dr. Mavis Sibanda, the…
-
Shirah and Studendly offer pathways to Canada
Citizens intending to work and study abroad have been urged to make use of Shirah and Studently, platforms that offer pathways to Canada, a country that has opened its doors to 500,000 migrants across the globe. This was revealed by Bukky Wonda, Founder and CEO of Studendry, and Shirah who is also a Canadian Immigration…
-
African Parliamentary Union meeting tackles terrorism, economic challenges and trade
The 80th Session of the Executive Committee and the 45th Conference of Presidents of National Parliamentary Assemblies of African the Parliamentary Union (APU) take place from the 11th to the 15th of December 2023, in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) is focusing on combating insecurity and terrorism, factors of political instability and recession, and the development of…
-
COMESA advocates for enhanced ICT integration to boost intra-Africa trade
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) is seeking a downward review of mobile phone network roaming and interconnection charges in efforts to deepen regional integration, trade and growth of the ICT sector. To this effect, the COMESA Secretariat and the European Union (EU) have signed a Grant contribution agreement worth 8 million Euros for the Enhancement of…
-
FAO Food Outlook Predicts Declining International Trade in Some Basic Foodstuffs
Production prospects across most basic foodstuffs are favourable, but extreme weather events, rising geopolitical tensions, and sudden policy changes pose risks for global food production systems and could potentially tip delicate demand-supply balances and dampen prospects for trade and global food security, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United…
-
PAP in Gaborone for Conference on Free Movement of persons in Africa
A delegation of the Pan-African Parliament is taking part in a Conference on Bolstering Free Movement and Trade Nexus in AfCFTA under the theme: “Optimizing Benefits of Migration, Labour Migration for Development.” The conference is organised by the Pan-African Forum on Migration (PAFoM) to harness, harmonize, harvest knowledge and practice, and stimulate transformative dialogue on…
-
Accelerated implementation of CAADP to improve African food and nutrition security
There is an urgent need to accelerate the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), a continental framework for agricultural transformation and agriculture-led growth strategy to achieve ambitious targets on food and nutrition security as outlined in the Malabo Declaration. These were sentiments by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)’s Director of Agriculture,…
-
CAADP PP, ADFNS to promote intra-Africa agri-food trade and improved nutrition
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…
-
Botswana to Host the 8th Pan African Forum on Migration (PAFoM-8)
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…
-
Bulawayo Sneaker Expo demonstrates importance of MICE tourism: Tongai Mnangagwa
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…
-
AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Corporation to foster trade resilience
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…
-
ITC, African Union Commission partner to make African small business voice heard
(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,…
-
Afreximbank’s credit rating described as stable by GCR and JCR
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 and Zambia tourism agencies strengthening ties
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 poised to stimulate economic growth
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…
-
Workshop spotlights AfCFTA’s importance in Africa’s development agenda
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…
-
Afreximbank establishes Africa Trade Gateway
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…
-
Cairo named new venue for 3rd Intra-African Trade Fair
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,…
-
ITC and AUC sign agreement to empower small businesses to unlock intra-African trade
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…
-
AUDA-NEPAD, APET working on accelerating AfCFTA implementation with emerging technologies
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…
-
AfCFTA – Africa Controls its Destiny
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…
-
Destination Zimbabwe to increase market share at WTM
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…
-
Afreximbank’s TRADAR Club to transform African trade and investments
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…
-
Climate-smart agriculture increases food production, promotes regional trade and integration
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…
-
UN encourages women to run businesses
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…
-
All set for Africa Industrialisation Week And Extraordinary Session On AfCFTA
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…
-
ZIDA outlines Zimbabwe’s investment climate at Sanganai/Hlanganani
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…
-
ITC, UNCDF Partner to Unlock Financing for Women, Youth and Small Businesses
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…
-
African sub-sovereign government leaders urged to take ownership of the AfCFTA
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),…
-
Victoria Falls tourism market: Zambia drops visa requirements for listed countries
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…
-
Afreximbank Trade Payment Services (AfPAY) launched
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…
-
Tourism Innovation Challenge 2022: A transformative and job creation tool
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,…
-
Sanganai/Hlanganani Expo forum to unpack tourism investment opportunities
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…
-
Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo attracts Japanese market
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…
-
UN agencies empowering East Africa’s SMEs, women and youth within AfCFTA
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…
-
Removing cross-border trade barriers boosts African food security: IFPRI experts
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…
-
US increases trade partnership with Africa
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…
-
Customs officials trained in combating illegal trade of ozone depleting substances
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…
-
Food trade protectionism detrimental for the world
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…
-
Digital trade workshop builds innovative skills of women-owned MSMEs
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…
-
SADC has potential to address food insecurity, increase trade: Hichilema
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…