Browsing: African Continental Free Trade Agreement

AGOA extension
  • The proposed AGOA extension signals a commitment to bolstering trade relations between the US and Africa.
  • US Senators Chris Coons and James Risch have introduced the bipartisan Agoa Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024, aiming to integrate AGOA with the AfCFTA.
  • Bill aims to refine AGOA’s eligibility criteria, increase transparency, and hold US agencies accountable for their advice to the president: Senator Risch

AGOA extension proposal

The US Congress has proposed extending the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) to 2041, covering all 54 African countries. Senators Chris Coons of Delaware and James Risch of Idaho introduced the bipartisan Agoa Renewal and Improvement Act of 2024, aiming to integrate Agoa with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to foster intra-African supply chains.

Originally enacted in 2000, Agoa is set to expire next year. However, the proposed extension signals a commitment to bolstering trade relations between the United States and …

East Africa trade
  • Kenya-DRC and Tanzania-DRC Corridors have been identified as the key links that will drive East Africa trade.
  • Within the Southern Africa region, higher integration will drive its share of total intra-Africa exports to a third by 2035.
  • The MENA Region and the Middle East-East Africa corridors will also be substantial, with combined trade volume expected to reach almost USD200 billion by 2035.

Increased infrastructure interconnectivity by the African states has been identified as the key driver that will lead to success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Kenya-DRC and Tanzania-DRC Corridors have been identified as the key links that will drive East Africa trade.

This comes after members after some member states expressed concern that the African trade system has failed to grow beyond the estimated 14–15 per cent over the last three to four years.

However, prospects are now positive that intra-Africa trade will grow 3.9 per…

UNCTAD World Investment Report 2021 specifically states that “Greenfield investments in industry and new infrastructure investment projects in developing countries were hit especially hard.”

These financial flows of investment dollars have deep-rooted implications for Africa in the sense that they are vital for sustainable development in less developed and poorer countries.

The decline in investment flows was disproportionately skewed towards developed countries where FDI fell by 58 per cent according to UNCTAD. Investment flows in developing economies fell by a moderate 8 per cent mainly because of resilient flows in Asia.…

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drums and music entertainment

The power of music to unify can not be understated. South African hit song Jerusalema got the world on its feet providing much-needed relief amid a global pandemic, symbolizing hope and togetherness even amidst a crisis. 

If there is one thing common in Africa it’s music and dance. At weddings, Africans sing and dance. At funerals, there is song and dance. In fact, music and dance are the tools Africans use to express any emotion. It’s no wonder that the entertainment industry is making strides and gaining recognition on a global scale.

And it’s not just music, the African creative scene boasts of success in the film industry, visual, and performing arts among others. The power of art extends beyond entertainment and sentiment, it is also a lucrative arena with massive earning potential. In the US, the creative industry rakes in over 800 billion per year a simple testament to