Energy

UN report: Africa, still too reliant on commodities exports, needs to diversify

Nearly 60% of African countries remain dependent on exports of commodities despite decades-long efforts to diversify. Therefore, a shift especially to technology and financial services, among other sectors, could help them withstand economic shocks, a study recently published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) argues. UNCTAD’s Economic Development in Africa Report […]

Africa Business Headlines International

African Union braces for free trade area

The African Union summit in Niamey brought together heads of state in the continent to launch a continental free-trade zone that, if successful, would unite 1.3 billion people and create a $3.4 trillion economic bloc. So far, 54 African State agreed on the accord setting up the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which would […]

Africa Business Headlines International

Africa’s free trade zone kicks-off

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the African Union’s flagship project for the continent’s economic integration, came into effect on Thursday with the aim of increasing intra-African trade by 60% before 2022, announced the AU. The African Union (AU) hopes the agreement will create a continental $2.5 trillion market of 1.2 billion people and […]

Africa Business Headlines International

Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area takes effect

Gambia’s National Assembly has ratified the agreement that seeks to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Twenty-two signatures were the minimum threshold required to approve the deal among the 55 member states of the African Union. With Gambia’s ratification, the continent’s free trade agreement has drawn enough signatures to go into operation. The […]

Africa Business Headlines International Morocco

Morocco-Africa: Cabinet Council adopts bill on AfCFTA

he Moroccan Cabinet Council adopted Thursday at its weekly meeting Bill 11.19 ratifying the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), signed in March 2018 in Kigali, capital of the Rwanda. The announcement was made by the Government Spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi at the press briefing that followed the meeting. To enter into […]