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Industry and Trade
- AIM Congress 2025 will solidify its role in shaping a sustainable global economy, observes His Excellency Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade.
- Already, the annual forum has positioned itself as a hotbed for transformative ideas and partnerships; the bridge between emerging economies and global powerhouses.
- Key themes Foreign Direct Investment, Global Trade, Startups, Future Cities, Future Finance, Global Manufacturing, Digital Economy, and Entrepreneurship are tailored to resonate with the pulse of a rapidly evolving global economy.
In April next year, the bustling city of Abu Dhabi will once again take center stage as world business leaders and policymakers converge for the 14th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Congress. Under the theme “The New Wave of a Globalized Investment Landscape: Towards a New Balanced World Structure,” this expo promises to reshape investment trends globally.
Hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre …
- Egypt and Ethiopia have been onboarded into the BRICS bloc.
- BRICS has announced increased investment and trade with Africa.
- Africa stands to gain with increased representation in BRICS.
The presence of BRICS in Africa has grown exponentially with the onboarding of two of the continent’s most populous economies, Egypt and Ethiopia. This move is poised to give Africa a much larger representation in the growing economic formation even as other economies, such as Kenya, express interest in joining the BRICS ecosystem.
“The expansion of BRICS in 2024 has undoubtedly increased Africa’s weight in international affairs and contributed to the ongoing discussion on the complexities of multipolarity,” reports Daria Zelenova, Head of the BRICS African Strategy Centre and Institute for African Studies.
In the wake of the 16th BRICS in Kazan, Russia, Zelenova said, “The development of strategic and commercial ties between BRICS and Africa reflects the pragmatic interest in the …
- African countries lag in terms of clean water and sanitation for all investments.
- The World Bank warns that failure to achieve SDG 6 will affect the achievement of most other goals.
- Tanzania was recognized for achievements of the Water Sector Development Program (WSDP) phase three.
Africa is not on track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Six (SDG 6), which advocates Clean Water and Sanitation for all, yet its achievement would lead to the realization of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The assertion was made by the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina who noted that failure to achieve SDG 6 will significantly impact the elimination of poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), clean energy (SDG 7) and decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) as well.
He said that while there are strong relationships between water security and …
- Kenya has unveiled a plan to help MSMEs meet international export standards.
- Through the plan, Kenyan will be able to secure necessary product certifications for easier entry into foreign markets.
- Kenya plans to send over 300 MSMEs to the trade fair, focusing on presenting high-quality, export-ready products.
Kenya’s Ministry of Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has launched a new initiative aimed at enhancing regional trade and improving the export competitiveness of high-potential products. This program seeks to address existing supply gaps in global markets and help local businesses tap into higher price segments.
The initiative will include boosting the readiness and organisation among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to meet strict international quality and quantity export standards.
The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Wycliffe Oparanya said that through the plan, Kenya will be able to secure necessary product certifications for easier entry into foreign markets.
“Central …
- Kenya solidifies its position as East Africa’s tourism hub, with Nairobi chosen to host the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit for 2025, 2026, and 2027.
- The summit, which draws hundreds of innovators, government leaders, and tourism experts, will boost Kenya’s post-COVID tourism recovery.
- Organized by TEAMS Africa, the event underscores Nairobi’s growing prominence on the global tourism stage following a successful edition in Namibia.
Kenya, East Africa’s travel and tourism industry hub, has yet again cemented its position in the hospitality sector after the capital Nairobi was picked to host the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge (AYTIS) for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027.
This feat further reinforces Kenya as a tourism destination of choice as the industry continues to register growth post the Covid-19 economic fallout.
AYTIS is a platform that is fashioned to promote and uplift innovative investors within the dynamic tourism industry in …
- The International Property Show (IPS) contributes to achieving the goals of Dubai’s Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033.
- Currently, Dubai’s property industry is experiencing growth powered by a rising population and business.
- Dubai has long been recognized as a trailblazer in modern property investment in the region.
Players in the real estate industry from across the world will be converging in Dubai next year in a showcase that is poised to strengthen the Gulf city’s leadership in fostering collaboration among private sector investors.
In an expo scheduled between April 14 and 16, Dubai is gearing up to host the 21st edition of the International Property Show (IPS) at the World Trade Centre. This event aligns with the recently announced Dubai’s Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033, which aims to strengthen Dubai’s global leadership in this vital industry.
In addition to an expansive expo, IPS 2025 is set to feature conferences sessions, …
- Kenya’s rising debt obligations have failed to reduce the debt that currently stands at about $82.2 billion.
- Service costs went up from 58% after the government paid $2 billion Eurobond.
- Sovereign bond-holders accounted for $6.6 billion of the external public debt stock.
The National Treasury has laid bare the pain awaiting Kenyans in repaying loans borrowed from external lenders and domestically. Fresh data tabled in Parliament reveals that taxpayers will dig deeper in their pockets in the next financial years to repay loan obligations.
Details show that for every $0.78) Sh100 the government collects, $0.53 (Sh68) goes to servicing the $82.2 billion (Sh10.6 trillion) debt pile reported as of June 30, 2024. The treasury revealed that the country’s debt stock increased by $2.3 billion (Sh303 billion) compared in the year ended June 2024 compared to a year ealier. Currently, Kenya’s debt stock is projected to hit $100.7 billion (Sh13 trillion) …
- Innovate UK and SITA aim to develop solutions to curb carbon emissions by 20 per cent at airports.
- The two entities are seeking innovators to present innovative solutions to tackle this persistent challenge.
- The successful solution will initially be piloted in either South Africa, Nigeria or Kenya airports.
SITA, the global leader in technology solutions for the air transport industry, has formed an alliance with Innovate UK, the national innovation agency of the UK Government, to roll out strategies to cut African airport emissions.
In the deal, Innovate UK and SITA aim to develop solutions to curb carbon emissions by 20 per cent at airports in the continent by among others, optimizing aircraft turnaround times.
This initiative is opening the doors for innovators to step forward and pitch their solutions to SITA. Successful pitches stand the chance to get GBP25,000 in seed funding from Innovate UK Global Alliance Africa* and …
- Kenya’s rose flower exports face increased scrutiny in the EU despite the market remaining the top destination for fresh produce.
- Kephis says that the EU has imposed stricter guidelines for flower exports.
- In addition to roses, capsicum has also seen a rise in interceptions, with seven cases in 2023 compared to zero in 2020.
Heightened scrutiny for Kenya’s rose exports
Kenya’s flower export industry, particularly its rose exports, is facing heightened scrutiny from the European Union (EU) as interceptions of shipments due to pest concerns have significantly increased. 2023 there were 37 interceptions on roses, nearly doubling the 21 interceptions reported the previous year.
This rise is a cause for concern, especially since Kenya is the world’s leading exporter of roses, making the stakes even higher for the industry. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) says that the EU has imposed stricter guidelines for flower exports, particularly for pests like …
