Vol.32, Issue No. 09 October 2009

African finance ministers call for voice in G20

Ministers of finance from across Africa have called for their countries to have a voice in the Group of 20 (G20) nations in order to ensure the body considers their long-term development needs. While pledging to show fiscal prudence in the wake of the global financial crisis, the ministers said they need more assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank to help shore up battered budgets, make needed investments, and replenish foreign currency reserves.More>>

East Africa traders seek ways to boost exports to Europe

Players in the services industry from across the East Africa Community region are working on a raft of reforms that could unlock potential ahead of the signing of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the European Commission. Among the envisaged changes is the formation of an umbrella body bringing together all the service providers in the region to lead the foray into the EU countries once the preferential trade instrument is signed.more>>

Poor infrastructure hampers regional trade in ESA

Poor infrastructure in eastern and southern African countries remains the biggest challenge for the development of trade in the region. Consequently, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki has called on countries within the region to invest more resources in development and maintenance of regional infrastructure in order to facilitate trade.more>>

‘Poor countries being ignored in economic crisis’

The marginalisation of the world’s poorest countries needs urgently to be considered by the global community while addressing ways out of the economic crisis, India’s ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ujal Singh Bhatia has said. “Marginalisation of low income economies in the multilateral trade policy making process and in international efforts to contain the ongoing economic crisis is an unaddressed challenge in the contemporary global dialogue”, Bhatia told the recently concluded WTO public forum in Geneva.More>>

Stop rubber stamping trade deals, says official

African parliaments should take account on international trade negotiations as parliamentarians have in the past not been “robust” enough in ensuring that such talks deliver on development priorities. This is according to South African parliamentarian representing the ruling African National Congress (ANC) Sisa Njikelana at a discussion organised by the Africa Trade Network and the Trade Strategy Group.More>>

EAC service industry practitioners meet

Services industry practitioners and representatives from the East African region met to discuss and seek ways of building services coalitions to confront challenges in the sector and help unlock the region’s economic potential. The two-day workshop discussed the role of services coalitions in perusing services reforms, engage in trade negotiations, promote information and knowledge sharing amongst stakeholders and sought to promote consensus on services coalitions that can best serve the needs of EAC services operators.More>>