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issue 587 | 30 Mar 2025

World

Members continue TRIPS implementation review discussion, address IP notification obligations

World Trade Organization (WTO) members continued talks on how to proceed on the long overdue review of the implementation of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). At a meeting of the TRIPS Council from 20-21 March, members were also updated on notifications under various provisions of the TRIPS Agreement. In addition, they had an extensive discussion on technology transfer to least-developed countries. Mme Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand, Permanent Delegate of France, was elected as Chair of the council for the coming year. Under Article 71.1 of the TRIPS Agreement, the TRIPS Council is required to conduct a review of the implementation of the Agreement after two years and at periodic intervals thereafter. However, the initial review in 1999 was never completed and no other review has subsequently been initiated. The chair recalled that over the past year members had spent significant time and energy on considering how to finally launch the review. They ultimately converged on a Proposed Process for the First Review of the Implementation of the TRIPS Agreement under Article 71.1 that was circulated as document JOB/IP/79/Rev.3 on 22 November 2024. However, the chair noted, despite intensive and constructive engagement by members, who have never been closer to consensus on this particular issue, that document could not be adopted.

Source: WTO

Africa

AfDB and Mastercard expand MADE Alliance: Africa with launch of Kenya country chapter

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Mastercard have announced the launch of the Kenya Country Chapter of the Mobilizing Access to the Digital Economy (MADE) Alliance: Africa. The Kenya chapter held its inaugural meeting on the sidelines of the Scaling Finance for Smallholder Farmers in Africa conference co-organised by the AfDB and the Pan-African Farmers Organization. The inaugural meeting gathered MADE Alliance: Africa members, along with agriculture ministers from Eswatini, Liberia, Nigeria, Madagascar, and Sierra Leone. In his keynote address, AfDB President Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina highlighted the bank’s USD300-million commitment to the first five years of MADE Alliance: Africa’s programming. The initiative aims to integrate three million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria into the digital economy through Mastercard’s Community Pass platform. This digital credential system connects farmers with buyers, input suppliers, and financial institutions, enhancing their access to essential agricultural services.

Source: AfDB

Africa

Infrastructure demand boosts investment opportunities

The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to bring tremendous opportunities for investment in the continent’s infrastructure. Panellists at a roundtable discussion on the nexus between the AfCFTA and infrastructure development during the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development agreed that increased intra-continental trade will require improvements in digital and physical connectivity on the continent. Robert Lisinge, Director of ECA’s Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division, noted that trade and infrastructure are “mutually reinforcing” and that with increased trade will come opportunities for the transport and energy sectors. “Our research shows that with the implementation of the AfCFTA, we will need an additional two million trucks, 150 000 rail wagons, over 150 maritime vessels and 250 aircraft. This represents over USD400-billion in opportunities for investment in transport,” he said. “According to our estimates, Africa’s infrastructure needs are between USD130-billion and USD170-billion annually,” Mike Salawou, Director, Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, African Development Bank said, adding that “average annual investment in Africa’s infrastructure has been approximately USD80-billion, leaving a funding gap of between USD70-billion and USD90-billion.”

Source: ECA

Africa

Unpacking the ICT tax conundrum

The issue of how much, or how little to tax the information and communications technology (ICT) sector to optimise performance of the economy, improve digital access and create jobs came under the spotlight at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa’s (ECA) 2025 Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development. In a presentation, Mactar Seck, Chief Emerging and Frontier Technologies, Innovation and Digital Transformation Section, Technology, Innovation, Connectivity and Infrastructure Division, ECA, said the picture was mixed. “Africa’s broadband costs are high compared to other countries – at least five times that of other continents. We need to do something about this,” he said. “All projections are positive for the continent if we do something because we expect the digital economy to be USD712-billion by 2030, which will increase GDP by 8.2%,” he added. “Each country must develop its own framework to monitor and assess the impact of tax on the ICT sector. The majority of countries decreasing taxes have seen an increase of tax receipts, job creation and broadband. But given the current situation of our economies, we need to do this gradually and see how it evolves,” he said.

Source: ECA

East Africa

EAC readies to advance digital integration with an ambitious Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan

The East African Community (EAC) has taken a significant step towards revolutionising cross-border payments with the regional validation of the Draft EAC Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan. This milestone, attained during the EAC Regional Payment Systems Steering Committee meeting held in Mombasa, Kenya from 17 to 21 March 2025, aims to enhance the speed, security, affordability and integration of payment systems across the region. Speaking during the meeting, the Chairperson of the Steering Committee, Mr Michael Eganza, the Director of Banking and Payment Services at the Central Bank of Kenya, Nairobi, said that the validation of the Masterplan was a significant event towards a more integrated and efficient East African payments landscape. The Masterplan was developed through extensive consultations with the partner states’ central banks and envisions a future where East Africans can conduct cross-border transactions with ease, fostering deeper economic integration and financial inclusion. Its mission is to implement a secure, efficient, and interoperable payments framework that aligns with the objectives of the EAC Monetary Union.

Source: EAC

Botswana

Botswana signs agreement to establish SADC parliament

Botswanan President Duma Boko has signed an agreement amending the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Treaty to establish the SADC Parliament as one of the organisation's institutions. At the signing ceremony, President Boko said the move is "a political decision", calling on SADC countries to harmonise their laws to address regional challenges. The agreement to amend the treaty allows for the transformation of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, launched in 1997, into a regional parliament with enhanced legislative authority. For this to take effect, a majority, if not all, of the SADC member states must sign the agreement. Dithapelo Keorapetse, Speaker of the Botswanan National Assembly, praised the role of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in promoting good governance and regional integration.

Source: Xinhua

Botswana

Business Botswana launches private sector development programme

Business Botswana launched the Private Sector Development Strategy 2024-2029 and Private Sector Development Programme, which is a blueprint for the private sector development in Botswana over the next four years. When officially launching the strategy and the development programme in Tlokweng last week, the Managing Director of Bank Gaborone, Ms Olebile Makhupe said the initiative represented not just a policy framework, but an ambitious blueprint designed to drive sustainable economic transformation and position Botswana’s private sector as a globally competitive force. “This strategy is a testament to our shared vision of a private sector-led, export-driven economy, one that fosters innovation, expands industries, and embraces new market opportunities,” she said. Ms Makhupe said Botswana had long been recognised for its stable economic foundations, rich resources and strong institutional frameworks.

Source: Daily News Botswana

Botswana

Forensic audit commences

In an effort to restore public trust in government structures and address public concerns regarding corruption and the misappropriation of funds, government has commenced the much anticipated forensic audit on the affairs on the country. Addressing the media in Gaborone, President Duma Boko said the purpose of the audit would be to identify and assess corruption across government departments, develop a risk based audit plan to combat corruption as well as provide data driven tools to address corruption over time. He said the audit would also conduct a comprehensive study of the financial performance of all state-owned enterprises in the country, dating back to 10 years until 2024. The audit, he said would be conducted by the Dubai registered auditing firm called Alvarez & Marsal Middle East Limited to the tune of just over BWP54-million. Despite the intent to recover misappropriated public funds in Botswana, President Boko indicated that the audit was a critical move to bolster investor confidence in Botswana and also send a strong message that government would not tolerate corruption. “The first phase will be to identify and assess corruption and fraud, risks across ministries, government departments, state-owned enterprises as well as regulatory and oversight institutions,” said President Boko. The second phase will be to develop a risk-based forensic audit for governance, procurement and regulatory compliance on a prioritised and targeted base, President Boko said and explained the third phase to provide a data driven tool, to monitor and mitigate corruption risks overtime.

Source: Daily News Botswana

Cameroon

AfDB Group approves EUR330-million loan to upgrade Ngaoundéré-Garoua road to improve connectivity and strengthen regional integration

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has given the green light to a loan of EUR330.48-million to Cameroon to redevelop and widen a key section of the Douala-Ndjamena economic corridor, a vital part of plans promoting strengthened regional integration. The financing agreement for the 246-km-long Ngaoundéré-Garoua section of the Douala-Ndjamena economic corridor, one of the most strategic corridors in Central Africa, comes under part of Phase 4 of the Transport Sector Support Programme (PAST4). It was signed on 19 March 2025 in Yaoundé by Solomane Koné, the AfDB Group’s Acting Director General for Central Africa, and Alamine Ousmane Mey, Minister of Economy, Planning and Regional Development and Governor of the Bank for Cameroon. The AfDB Group will provide 97% of the total cost of Phase 4 of the PAST4, which amounts to EUR340.7-million. The Government of Cameroon will contribute EUR9.14-million.

Source: AfDB

Ethiopia

Ethiopia resumes accession negotiations with target of WTO membership by MC14

World Trade Organization (WTO) members commended on 19 March efforts undertaken by Ethiopia to galvanize its WTO accession negotiations after an impasse of five years. At the 5th meeting of the Working Party on the country's accession, the Ethiopian delegation said it was ready to work with members to conclude the accession process by the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) that will take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, in March 2026. Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and WTO Chief Negotiator Kassahun Gofe Balami led the high-level Ethiopian delegation in Geneva. Several senior government officials from the Steering Committee on Accession and experts from ministries and government agencies, including those participating remotely from Addis Ababa, attended the meeting. Members of the Geneva Mission, headed by Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew Daka, also took part. Under the framework of Ethiopia's Home-Grown Economic Reform Agenda, Ethiopia has undertaken fundamental reforms regarding its economic policies. Virtually all of these reforms are designed to ensure that its regulatory regime is fully compliant with WTO rules. This has been instrumental in driving structural changes to enhance economic resilience, promote private sector-led growth, and create a conducive business environment that aligns with WTO principles, Dr Kassahun explained.

Source: WTO

Ethiopia

Ethiopian Airlines Group and AfDB sign Letter of Intent for financing of world-class Abusera International Airport

The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Ethiopian Airlines Group have signed a Letter of Intent for the development of the East African nation’s planned Abusera International Airport Project. The USD7.8-billion project aims to address increasing passenger and cargo demands, reinforce Ethiopia’s position as a leading aviation hub, and stimulate regional economic growth. Chief Executive Officer of Ethiopian Airlines Group Mesfin Tasew Bekele signed the Letter of Intent with AfDB Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo, at the bank’s headquarters in Abidjan on Friday, 14 March. The new world-class international airport will be situated in Bishoftu, about 40 km from the current Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.

Source: AfDB

Ghana

Trade Minister vows to ease land disputes for businesses

Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister of Trade, Industry and Agribusiness, has vowed to resolve land litigations for businesses to flourish through alternative dispute resolution (ADR). The goal is to reduce the burden of time-consuming litigations, financial and reputational risks associated with land disputes, allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) businesses to operate with greater certainty in the country and create jobs. Mrs Ofosu-Adjare, a Lawyer and ADR practitioner, said this when she visited B5 Plus Group, a leading steel and iron manufacturing company, Dawa Industrial Zone, and industrial park and Bright International Free Zone, recently. She made the pledge following concerns raised by the FDI companies on land litigations. Other issues raised by the companies included exemptions on custom duties and value added tax on machinery, equipment, and raw materials, and import tariffs on goods that could be produced sufficiently in the country.

Source: Ghana Business News

Lesotho

AfDB Group to expand investment in Lesotho to USD331-million

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group plans to invest USD331-million in key strategic sectors in Lesotho as part of its proposed Country Strategy Paper for 2025-2030 to boost economic growth and industrial competitiveness. During an official visit to Lesotho – the first by an AfDB President – Dr Akinwumi Adesina met with His Majesty King Letsie III to discuss strengthening development partnerships and expanding the bank's investments in the country. His Majesty expressed delight at the AfDB president’s visit, viewing the mission as a reflection of the bank and Adesina’s appreciation for Lesotho's progress in improving people's lives. The AfDB president commended His Majesty for his leadership on the King Letsie III Just Energy Transition Fund, which aims to generate approximately 200 MW of power through private sector investments. He also briefed King Letsie about the bank's new 2025-2030 Country Strategy Paper and planned investments of USD331-million to support quality infrastructure, capacity building, energy, integration and interconnectivity, debt management and standards, and strengthening the office of the Prime Minister.

Source: AfDB

Mozambique

Mozambique local currency rating lowered to ‘SD’ on completed domestic debt switch; foreign currency rating affirmed

On 21 March 2025, S&P Global Ratings lowered its long-term local currency sovereign credit rating on Mozambique to ‘SD’ from ‘CCC-‘. At the same time, it affirmed its long-term foreign currency rating on Mozambique at ‘CCC+’. The outlook on the foreign currency rating remains negative. S&P Global Ratings’ ‘CCC+’ transfer and convertibility assessment remains unchanged. As a “sovereign rating” (as defined in the European Union Credit Rating Agencies Regulation 1060/2009 (EU CRA Regulation)), the ratings on Mozambique are subject to certain publication restrictions set out in Art 8a of the EU CRA Regulation, including publication in accordance with a pre-established calendar. Under the EU CRA Regulation, deviations from the announced calendar are allowed only in limited circumstances and must be accompanied by a detailed explanation of the reasons for the deviation. In this case, the reason for the deviation is the completion of a domestic debt swap operation. The next scheduled rating publication on the sovereign rating on Mozambique will be on 11 April 2025.

Source: S&P Global

Namibia

Business sector welcomes NNN’s new Cabinet

Namibia’s business sector has welcomed President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah’s ascension as the country’s first female president and the steps she has taken to structure her government executive. Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Acting Chief Executive Helena Mootseng has congratulated the president and her new team sourced from various sectors of the economy. “At the same time, we appreciate the effort of the incoming administration to cut the size of Cabinet from 21 to 14; this is commendable given the huge public wage bill and duplication of various mandates,” Mootseng says. “It is clear that it will not be business as usual as pronounced by the president, and we certainly wholeheartedly welcome this,” she adds. The acting chief executive says the chamber is committed to working with the new administration to ensure existing laws and policies and those to be enacted enable the entrepreneurial ecosystem and attract both local and external investments. “For this, we urge the new policymakers to engage the chamber and the business sectors on their specific portfolios to have a well-detailed understanding of the economic realities and how they can use the law and national budget to solve such issues through entrepreneurship,” she says.

Source: The Namibian

Namibia

First green hydrogen produced in Namibia

A major milestone has been reached in Namibia’s green hydrogen sector. This comes after Hylron Oshivela Project – a partnership between Namibia and German renewable energy and engineering companies – successfully produced its first green hydrogen, using 12 MW of electrolyser capacity. In a statement released, the team said they are now in the process of gradually ramping up the electrolyser to its full capacity, which will soon form the foundation for producing iron with zero emissions. The project aims to use renewable energy to produce zero-emissions iron for green steel. Iron ore will be reduced emission-free in an airtight rotary kiln that uses green hydrogen. In the first phase of the project, a 20 MW solar photovoltaic project was installed to supply carbon-free electricity to the plant. In November 2024, Hylron received two 6 MW electrolysers, which were installed on-site. “These key components enable the production of green hydrogen and lay the foundation for climate-friendly iron production – a groundbreaking innovation for heavy industry,” they said.

Source: ESI Africa

Namibia

Namibia expects two final investment decisions in oil sector by 2027

The Ministry of Mines, Energy and Industry has expressed confidence that Namibia will secure at least two final investment decisions (FIDs) in its emerging oil and gas sector by 2027, paving the way for production within the next five years. Petroleum Commissioner Maggy Shino confirms that the transition from exploration to production is becoming a reality following a series of successful discoveries. “Oil and gas production in Namibia is no longer a myth that we have been preaching for the past 30 years since we started exploration. We have made the discoveries, we have appraised those discoveries, and at least for a bare minimum, we are going to get at least two FIDs that are going to come on board in the next two years,” Shino says. Namibia’s recent petroleum discoveries, including the highly anticipated Venus project, are expected to enter the production phase by 2030, depending on successful investment and project execution. Shino emphasises the need to develop local capacity to ensure Namibians play an active role in the industry rather than remaining spectators.

Source: The Namibian

Senegal

IMF staff concludes visit to Senegal

A staff team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mr Edward Gemayel, visited Senegal from 18 to 26 March 2025, to engage with the authorities on the findings of the Court of Auditors audit report released on 12 February 2025. The comprehensive audit reviewed budget execution over the 2019–2023 period and confirmed significant underreporting of fiscal deficits and public debt. The mission aimed to assess the magnitude of the misreporting, understand the mechanisms that contributed to the discrepancies, and discuss corrective measures to help prevent recurrence. At the conclusion of the mission, Mr Gemayel issued the following statement, in part: “The IMF staff team welcomes the Senegalese authorities’ strong commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability. The audit by the Court of Auditors found significant revisions to Senegal’s fiscal data for the period 2019–2023. Specifically, the average fiscal deficit was revised upward by 5.6 percentage points of GDP, while central government debt was revised from 74.4% to 99.7% of GDP at end-2023. These revisions primarily reflect previously undisclosed liabilities, including hidden loans amounting to 25.3 percentage points of GDP. These findings point to serious lapses in budget controls and public financial reporting, underscoring the need for urgent reforms.”

Source: IMF

Somalia

Somalia joins Afreximbank as it seeks to boost intra-African trade and economic growth

Somalia has formally acceded to the Establishment Agreement of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), becoming the 53rd African member state of the African multilateral financial institution and bringing the bank closer to its goal of broadening its product offerings to all parts of the continent. In the instrument of accession, signed by Hirsi Jama Gani, State Minister, Office of the Prime Minister, Somalia notified Afreximbank that Somalia “accepts, and hereby accedes, to the Agreement for the Establishment of the Bank” and pledged to undertake all necessary steps to expedite ratification of the Agreement. Somalia’s membership of Afreximbank is a significant milestone that places the country on a path of sustainable economic transformation, upgrading of the country’s trade and industrial infrastructure, and most importantly joins the rest of the continent in the push towards continental integration and self-reliance through the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Source: Afreximbank

Uganda

Uganda's USD5-billion EACOP pipeline gets funding boost

The company developing Uganda’s East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) has closed the first allocation of external financing from a syndicate of institutions including commercial banks and the African Export-Import Bank, a statement from EACOP Ltd said recently. Among the financiers are Standard Bank, Stanbic Bank Uganda, KCB Bank Uganda and Saudi Arabia's Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector. "The successful closing of this first tranche represents a significant milestone," the statement said. It did not provide a value for the financial backing. In October, Uganda's energy minister told Reuters that partners developing the USD5-billion EACOP were injecting more cash into the project to prevent it stalling as debt financing proved elusive.

Source: Reuters

Zambia

Zambia to host conference on improving transport corridors in Africa

Zambia will host the 4th Land-Linked Zambia Conference from 10-11 April, which aims to improve transport corridors in Africa, Zambian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Frank Tayali, said recently. “The importance of land-linkages cannot be overemphasised as they are critical for the economic transformation of Africa as the continent continues to advance its integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area… and transport networks will be a key driver of growth,” he said. Tayali said the conference, under the theme Embracing Smart Transport Corridors in Africa, is an important platform to reinforce Zambia's strategic position as a regional transport and logistics hub, facilitating trade and investment across Southern Africa and beyond. He said embracing smart corridors will allow Zambia and the region to unlock greater trade efficiencies, attract investment and enhance connectivity, making Africa a global competitor in logistics and trade facilitation.

Source: Xinhua

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe encourages private firms to help ease power shortages

The Zimbabwean government has encouraged private companies to generate their own electricity to reduce demand on the national grid. Speaking at a post-Cabinet media briefing in the Zimbabwean capital of Harare, Minister of Energy and Power Development July Moyo said the country is recording an increase in the number of private companies that are setting up their own power plants amid the ongoing power shortages. Moyo noted that by generating their own power, the firms are not only contributing to import substitution in the power sector but also boosting the power supply to attract foreign direct investment. The minister also encouraged farmers to invest in renewable energy, especially solar and biogas, as they are more cost effective. Zimbabwe is grappling with power shortages due to insufficient generation capacity resulting from obsolete power infrastructure and last year's El Nino-induced drought that reduced power generation at its major hydropower stations.

Source: Xinhua