Regional & International Trade

AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol: A review of the key to overcoming barriers to intra-Africa digital trade.

Digital trade, defined as digitally enabled transactions for the trade of goods and services, is reshaping the global economy and the regional economy is not exempted. Its impact on growth, development, and job creation is powerful, especially among the youth. It has the potential to

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Kenya’s Eurobond return exceeds expectations, eases debt repayment concerns.

On February 7, the Kenyan government made an offer to partially repurchase its existing Eurobond, which is maturing on June 24, 2024, at par, including payment of accrued interest. Additionally, the government announced its intention to issue a new bond in the market.    The

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Green energy revolution: Macro-economic effects, power struggles and winners in the changing landscape of energy economics.

Economic power affects every state and industry in defining manners. Economic power is the access to wealth, natural renewable resources, monopoly powers and/or superior technology. The current global initiative towards climate change threatens to cause a shift in economic powers and strengths, particularly concerning access

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President Salva Kiir to assume chairmanship of EAC as Burundi leader completes tenure

South Sudan President Salva Kiir is set to take the position of Chair of the East African Community Regional Intergovernmental organisation. This comes as Burundi President Evariste Ndayishimiye steps down after the end of his one-year tenure.   South Sudan takes the mantle amid great

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Calls for implementation and enhancement of AfCFTA to enhance growth and development at AU meeting

  Last week, the 5th Mid-Year Coordination Meeting (MYCM) was held at the United Nations African headquarters in Gigiri, Nairobi. The Summit witnessed a remarkable gathering of 51 foreign ministers from the African Union (AU) member states, accompanied by 15 heads of states and an

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An analysis of the trade deal between Kenya and the EU

On Monday, 19th June 2023, President William Ruto oversaw the political conclusion of the negotiations for the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Kenya and the European Union (EU). The negotiations were spearheaded by European Commission Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for Trade Valdis Dombrovskis and Cabinet

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Unleashing potential: Africa Business Council’s drive to boost private sector participation in government procurement

The African Business Council has taken a bold step in pursuit of economic growth and empowering local businesses. The council is championing a game-changing initiative that calls for 40% of all government procurements across the 55 African countries to be allocated to the African private

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Key takeaways from Africa’s Private Sector Dialogue on the AfCFTA

The Africa Private Sector Dialogue on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) was hosted by the Kenyan government, under the 3rd Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) from Monday 29th to Wednesday 31st May 2023 at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, bringing together

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Examining the Legal Instruments of the Malabo 2014 Conference: Implications and Significance of Ratification for Kenya

President William Ruto stated that Kenya would ratify one of the Malabo Treaties (2014) focusing on empowering the Pan-African Parliament to be a proficient legislative organ of the African Union (AU) by September 2023. This arm of the AU only has advisory and consultative powers

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Globetrotting CS: Eyebrows raised after Moses Kuria meets 10 presidents in a month

Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS) Moses Kuria has met 10 sitting presidents and a former president in an interval of one month, igniting speculations of clashing roles with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under CS Alfred Mutua. Even though Mr. Kuria on Monday

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20th January 2023 Trade and Financial Services Round Up

  Kenya   Users allowed to sue Safaricom over clients’ bank details access  The High Court has allowed millions of Safaricom subscribers to join a class action suit against the telecoms operator over a clause in the SIM card registration rules that allows the firm

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The Hustler Fund (Financial Inclusion Fund)

The Financial Inclusion Fund popularly known as the ‘Hustler Fund’ is a flagship project of the Kenya Kwanza Government which will be launched on November 30 to offer cheap loans to ‘Hustlers’. It will be disbursed technologically through an app so that the youth can

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President Ruto bags a host of trade and energy deals

As Kenya spearheads efforts for the continent to join the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTFA), President William Ruto’s government has established the tone for economic diplomacy on the regional and continental fronts. In addition to four other agreements that would address non-tariff barriers like

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Benefits of Kenya-South Africa bilateral trade agreements

Kenya and South Africa have enjoyed cordial relations since post-apartheid when resident diplomatic missions in Kenya and other countries were reopened. The cordial relations between the two countries were bolstered on 5 August, 2003, where the parties agreed to sign a Declaration of Intent on

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Unpacking Kenya AfCFTA National Implementation Strategy 2022-2027

Recently, Kenya was selected among several countries that would initiate trading under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). The pilot phase is meant to test environmental, legal and trade policy basis for intra-African trade.Trading under the AfCFTA provides great opportunities such as a combined

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What August 9th General Election means to the East African Community

Kenya’s electioneering season is now in its final stretch. On August 9, voters will head to polling stations across the country and in the diaspora to cast their votes. A peaceful General Election in Kenya will strengthen regional stability. The country needs a leader who

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Whitman’s appointment as envoy expected to boost US-Kenya strategic trade and investment partnership

Kenya is a recognized trade hub in the continent, and has been viewed as an important strategic partner of the United States. This is evident from the nomination and recent approval by the US Senate of former CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and eBay, Margaret

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Barriers to digital foreign trade in Kenya: A US perspective

The 2022 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers (NTE) is the 37th version in an annual series that highlights significant foreign barriers to US exports, US foreign direct investment, and US electronic commerce. The NTE Report identifies significant barriers, regardless of whether they

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Proposed 35% Maximum Common External Tariff Rate Set To Boost Intra-EAC Trade by USD 18.9 Million

The proposed maximum East African Community Common External Tariff rate of 35% is set to boost intra-EAC trade by USD 18.9 million if adopted by the EAC partner states. This is according  to an  analysis done by the East Africa Community Secretariat on the proposed

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Kenya – Somalia Maritime Dispute : Traders and economic relations left hanging in the balance

This week, the International Court of Justice( ICJ)  ruled on the maritime dispute between Kenya and Somalia . The bone of contention was in which direction each of the country’s borders extends into the Indian Ocean. Somalia said the boundary should run in the same

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The scramble for the 90 million strong market

The East African Community member states are eyeing the Democratic Republic of Congo market of 86.7 million people and are eager to have the vast country join the bloc. With a surface area equivalent to that of Western Europe, the DRC is the largest country

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Suluhu brings solutions to Kenya and Tanzania

The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Samia Suluhu Hassan arrived in Kenya on Tuesday this week following an invite from President Uhuru Kenyatta. The relationship between the two countries took a nosedive during the presidency of the late John Pombe Magufuli, her predecessor.

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Private Sector Engagement in the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

The World’s largest Free Trade Area is finally here with us covering a market of 1.27bn people with a combined GDP of 3.4 trillion US dollars. The region does enter the agreement with great momentum around trade: Exports have grown by nearly a factor of

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FTA Series – Part 6 : Kenya concludes its negotiations with the UK

With the United Kingdom (UK) set to conclude its exit from the European Union (EU) at the end of December, 2020 it has decided to enter into a bilateral agreement with Kenya. On Tuesday 08th December, 2020, the two countries formally signed a trade agreement ending an

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COVID-19: Global trade value chains, taxation, and recovery

Ideally, removing the non-tariff barriers that remain the biggest hindrance to continental trade can foster regional integration, which must play a key role in the crisis recovery strategies in Africa.

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FTA Series – Part 5: Impact of US-KE FTA on agriculture

It’s impossible to overstate how much Congress cares about agriculture – US agriculture is very productive, and we now want to work out how to sell it.” – A Senior USTR Adviser, 2020

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FTA Series – Part 4 : Unpacking the US-KE Free Trade Area Agreement

Although Kenya may not feature as one of the top ten importers for the US market, the textile and apparel industry has the potential to alleviate the unemployment crisis in the country

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FTA Series – Part 3: What you need to know about the COMESA Digital Free Trade Area

COMESA is the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa. In 2018, they agreed to establish a Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA). The initiative that upon inception was expected to create a $17.2 billion-worth market for member states is an online platform for trade facilitation

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FTA Series – Part 2: African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement

The AfCFTA offers a unique opportunity to develop an inclusive trade system and economic model by increasing intra-continental trade; but in order to trade, Africa first has to produce; and not just primary commodities. However, the AfCFTA will only promote intra-African trade if governments actually implement it

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FTA Series – Part 1: What you need to know

A population estimated at 1.3 billion predominantly made up of young people and with an
abundance of natural resources, Africa presents market opportunities, a growing labour force
and raw materials for manufacturing.

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