Friday, April 26

Africa

Africa's $824Bn Debt
  • AfDB asks policymakers to put in place an orderly and predictable way of dealing with Africa’s $824Bn debt pile.
  • According to AfDB, Africa’s ballooning external debt reached $824 billion in 2021.
  • AfDB president says there is urgent need for increased concessional financing, particularly for low-income countries. 

Africa’s immense economic potential is being undermined by non-transparent resource-backed loans that complicate debt resolution and compromise countries’ future growth, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr Akinwumi Adesina has said.

Adesina at the Semafor Africa Summit taking place on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank 2024 Spring Meetings, highlighted the challenges posed by Africa’s ballooning external debt, which reached $824 billion in 2021, with countries dedicating 65 per cent of their GDP to servicing these obligations.

He said the continent would pay $74 billion in debt service payments this year alone, a sharp increase from $17 billion in 2010. “I …

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AmCham Business Summit 2024
  • Meg Whitman, US Ambassador to Kenya, highlights key investment opportunities in Kenya, particularly in the creative industry and clean energy.
  • She noted that Kenya has the potential to become the Singapore of Africa through vertical business integration, job creation, innovation, and foreign direct investment.
  • AmCham Business Summit 2024 seeks to strengthen bilateral trade and investment between the US, Kenya, and East Africa.

The fourth edition of the regional American Chamber of Commerce Kenya (AmCham) Business Summit, has officially kicked off in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme, ‘Catalyzing The Future of US-East Africa Trade and Investment’.

This year’s forum underscores AmCham Business Summit as the premier platform for strengthening bilateral trade and investment between the United States, Kenya, and East Africa.

Hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), the two-day Summit has brought together delegates from the United States of America, East and Sub-Saharan Africa in efforts to deliberate and …

UK-Rwanda asylum treaty
  • UN faults UK-Rwanda asylum treaty citing concerns on potentially harmful impact on global responsibility-sharing, human rights, and refugee protection.
  • Spearheaded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the legislation mandates judges to deem Rwanda as a safe third country.
  • With deportation flights slated to start in July, the move is sparking weighty debates over the ethical implications of outsourcing asylum responsibilities.

This week’s passage of the “Safety of Rwanda” Bill by the UK Parliament has triggered alarm bells within the United Nations (UN), with two prominent leaders, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, raising concerns over its potentially harmful impact on global responsibility-sharing, human rights, and refugee protection.

Spearheaded by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the legislation mandates judges to deem Rwanda as a safe third country, paving the way for the deportation of thousands of migrants who have sought refuge …

Oil and Gas in Angola

As the country seeks an industry revival, Angola Oil & Gas 2021 will serve as the official meeting place and investment destination for industry stakeholders.

Angola, as the second-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa, holds approximately 8.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. Contributing to 50% of gross domestic product and nearly 90% of national exports, oil represents an invaluable resource to the domestic economy. The country also holds the fourth-largest proven natural gas reserves in Africa – approximately 343 billion cubic meters – along with significant renewable potential in solar and wind. In a bid to offset declining hydrocarbon production, the Angolan Government has implemented several key initiatives focused on spurring new exploration activities, increasing foreign direct investment and incentivizing local participation within the industry. Accordingly, Angola is set to become a prime investment destination in 2021, as it seeks a year of revival for its prolific oil and …

Africa's luxury market

A few months ago, Zimbabwe lost a prominent young businessman Genius Kadungure popularly known as Ginimbi. His fame came not from his business endeavors but rather his larger than life lifestyle. In his rural home of Domboshava, he built a mansion that could easily be confused for a hotel. His fleet of cars comprised of several Rolls Royce models, a few Bentley’s, Lamborghini Aventador S Coupe a Ferrari 488 Spider, a few Mercs, and a couple of  Range Rover models. He certainly had an affinity for the finer things in life.

He was not alone. In May 2020, South African Thabiso Ndlovu caused a furor on Twitter when he posted a video of 5 luxury vehicles he purchased at one go including three porches,  a Jeep, and a Lamborghini Iris SUV. 

Kenyan Chris Kirubis is another business mogul who made the headlines on several occasions for his preference for luxury

AFRICA

What should East Africa and Africa in general expect under a Biden led US administration? Well not to be called shitholes, that is for sure.

Africa can expect a more respectful business minded approach, and granted the move to this positive relation started pre-US 2020 elections.

Back in October 16 2020, US National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien said “America’s goal in [Africa] is to support locally led problem-solving for enterprise-driven growth, inclusive societies, and transparent, accountable governance.”…

African continent

African continent is making strides towards the realization of Agenda 2063. One of the key steps, the free trade agreement, was successfully launched on the 1st of January 2021 after having been delayed by Covid-19.

The trade agreement has hit the ground running. Already recording its first trade under the terms of the free trade treaty. 

Ae Trade Group and Ethiopian airlines partnered for the transportation of momentous parcels- handmade trophies from the Kingdom of Eswatini to invoke the AfCTA trade. This trade marks the beginning of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Ethiopian Airlines -DHL is a logistics operation born from a 2008 partnership between the two entities which operate across Africa. 

The first shipment of parcels was received in Ethiopia at the Addis Ababa Bole International Airport on the 1st of January amid pomp and fanfare with a ceremony organized to applaud the start of the

ecommerce trading

Africa’s tech habitude is on the rise. Internet usage has risen significantly on the continent. On top of that, the advent of the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the prospect of growth in the digital sphere. E-commerce is one such opportunity that affords businesses access to broader market opportunities in every arena. According to McKinsey, a worldwide consulting firm, the e-commerce industry in Africa is expected to grow to a $75 billion industry by 2025.

E-commerce is growing. It is accelerated by a growing and youthful population that is increasingly exposed and has an appetite for greater efficiency and improvement of business to first-world standards. The African diaspora has also contributed to this growing demand as people have become more exposed to what is going on around the world. Technology itself dissolves existing borders and opens up trade regionally and internationally.…

receiving food aid

Over $50 billion worth of aid is poured into Africa every year. Most of it is targeted towards poverty reduction, hunger, and achieving sustainable development goals. Yet Africa remains among the poorest of the poor. The level of disease still continues to stay high and mortality rates remain high. Unemployment levels are soaring and the standard of living remains very poor. 

Lack of access to electricity and clean drinking water coupled with lack of food in some areas is very much a reality. 85% of Africans are surviving on an income less than $5.50 per day. In trying to take stock of the situation an assessment of the efficacy of aid is a necessity. 

Given the amounts of aid that have flowed in, there are questions as to why the state of the continent continues to be pitiful. Does aid stifle economic growth? Does aid have the transformative power

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