• The tussle comes at a time that the harvesting period for mature macadamia nuts in Kenya has just started since 1st March, 2025.
• Lobby MACNUT and macadamia farmers have called for the regulation of selling prices across the nation.
• However, the Nut Traders Association of Kenya (NUTAK) contends that an onging ban disproportionately favours processors.

Kenya’s macadamia sector is in turmoil following a ban on raw macadamia imports, ripening nuts, and ongoing disputes over the industry’s future. Stakeholders are at a crossroads, with two rival lobbies clashing over export policies. While the government enforces the ban to boost local processing, industry players remain divided on its impact.

Macadamia Nut Association (MACNUT) declared support for the government’s ban on exporting unprocessed nuts, while The Nut Traders Association of Kenya (NUTAK) contends that the ban disproportionately favours processors.

According to MACNUT the move to stop raw imports could inject over $80 million …

• African countries undermine their economic growth by prioritising trade with Europe and the United States over regional markets.
• How do we ensure that African countries trade among themselves? asks Dr. Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations.
• “We [Botswana] have high-quality beef in Botswana and the North West province, we export it to the European Union, yet Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo buy their beef from Brazil. Does that make sense? It doesn’t,” says Dr. Butale.

Despite its vast resources and production capacity, regional trade in Africa remains low with many economies relying heavily on overseas markets. This state of affairs has prompted Botswana to raise the alarm about low levels of intra-African trade.

“It’s disheartening that Africa is still unable to realise trade among its countries,” said Dr Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, delivering a lecture in honour of the late South African Deputy …

• Kenyan women lead region in entrepreneurship spirit, with older women leading the younger pack.
• Women (49%) are more likely than men (37%) to be uncertain about how to protect their business from cyberattacks.
• Among women founders in Kenya, 45 per cent started their business to follow their dream.

Kenyan women are outshining their regional peers in entrepreneurial spirit, with nine out of 10 considering starting or running their own businesses, a new survey by Mastercard has shown. Compared to the region, 93 per cent of Kenyan women consider starting or running their own business, way above the Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EEMEA) average of 51 per cent.

According to the survey, older generations in Kenya, including Baby Boomers (93 per cent) and Gen X (90 per cent), are slightly more likely to view themselves as entrepreneurs compared to the 85 per cent of Gen Z, and 89 …

• Stryk Global Diplomacy picked to spearhead talks on oil and gas between Africa and U.S. President Donald Trump.
• The deal aims at ensuring that Africa’s energy interests are well represented in U.S. legislative and policy discussions.
• “Africans need energy to fix energy poverty issues and spur economic growth,” said Stryk Global Diplomacy.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) —a lobby that represents the African energy sector–has enlisted the services of a global consulting firm, Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD), to spearhead talks on oil and gas between the continent and U.S. President Donald Trump administration.

In an update on Tuesday, the African Energy Chamber said the move aims at ensuring that Africa’s energy interests are effectively represented in U.S. legislative and policy discussions.

“Stryk is a super Lobbyist. He understands Africa and he gets results. He is adaptive and forward-thinking. He achieves results by building consensus. I am confident he is going …

• TradeTech Forum is poised to attract about 400 trade leaders and experts with a mission to explore how new techonologies are impacting international trade.
• Panelists at the 2025 edition of TradeTech Forum are expected to delve into ways in which emerging technologies are impacting and shifting the norms of international trade.
• They will also share their experience on how tech is impacting sustainability and fostering inclusivity across businesses.

The second edition of the TradeTech Forum, a key engagement that attracts captains of industry from around the world to share insights on how technology is transforming trade is set for April 8^th, at the AIM Congress 2025.

In an update on Tuesday, TradeTech Forum is poised to attract about 400 trade leaders and experts with a mission to explore how new technologies are impacting international trade.

“Technology can revolutionize global supply chains at every stage, creating opportunities to …

• Amsons Group has started integrating its new acquisition, Bamburi Cement of Kenya into its industry portfolio in the region. Amsons says it will invest $400M in Bamburi in the next three years.
• With Bamburi Cement’s integration, Amsons Group’s total cement manufacturing capacity has now grown to 13,000MT/day.
• Tanzania-based conglomerate says it will enhance the high operating and commercial standards set by Holcim Ltd and Lafarge.

Tanzania-based conglomerate Amsons Group has announced that it has started integrating its new acquisition, Bamburi Cement of Kenya into its corporate fold in the region.

The family-owned company said the integration through its Kenyan subsidiary and investment vehicle, Amsons Industries (K) Ltd, follows the recent closure of a transaction in which Amsons Group placed a $183 million bid and acquired over 95 per cent of the issued equity shares in Bamburi late last year.

Amsons Group Managing Director Mr Edha Nahdi said the integration will …