Browsing: Global Business Forum Africa

The report notes that figures reveal that the region’s share of Dubai total trade grew considerably over the years. In 2020, it was the emirate’s third-largest trading partner in Africa, with total trade value hitting US$12.2bn. This was a 24.4 per cent share of Dubai’s trade with Africa.

East Africa’s trade with Dubai is relatively balanced.

Imports accounted for 43 per cent of trade activity, while re-exports and exports made up 42 per cent and 15 per cent in 2015-2020. Imports grew 22 per cent in the same period, while exports grew 15 per cent, and re-exports 3 per cent. …

• The cost associated with policy instability and unpredictability is often passed down to consumers
• In 2020, the manufacturing industry in Africa experienced reduced demand and depressed production capacity

The biggest challenge that the manufacturing industry faces in Africa is unpredictable business environments.

This is according to the Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Association of Manufacturers Phyllis Wakianga who says the sector is faced with unpredictable fiscal and regulatory policies that discourage the industry from scaling up their businesses.

She adds that the situation also leads to investors seeking more suitable, predictable and secure markets to relocate their businesses.

“Unfortunately, the cost associated with policy instability and unpredictability is often passed down to consumers, whose spending power has been crippled by the ongoing pandemic,” he says in an exclusive interview.

Wakianga also reveals that such instability is a blow to manufacturers, who are struggling to reduce costs, in a highly uncertain …

With the sixth edition of the Global Business Forum Africa event series set to run this year from October 13–14, 2021 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), businesses from Africa are increasingly looking at Dubai as a gateway for them to expand into markets across the GCC, Asia, and Europe.

Dubai’s focus on the African continent has been evident through GBF Africa, which aims at bringing the trade and investment community back together to explore bilateral trade opportunities between Dubai and Sub-Saharan Africa.

This year’s Forum is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

UAE has served as a hub that global businesses have used to launch and run their operations in the African continent for a number of years now.

According to  Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Director of …