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<p>The African Continental Free Trade Area agreement which launched operations on the 1st of January this year aims to accelerate intra-African trade and boost Africa’s trading position in the global market. But what does this mean for the continent&#8217;s largest trading partner, China? CNBC Africa spoke to Carlos Lopes, Professor at the University of Cape Town, for more.</p>


How the AfCFTA impacts China-Africa trade relations

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<p>Bitcoin&#8217;s explosion to a record $51000 has driven an exponential interest in the potential of digital currencies.</p>


The investment case for digital currencies in Africa

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<p>External trade in East Africa saw a sharp decline at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, exports defied the effects of the pandemic, surpassing 2019 levels by the third quarter of 2020. For more on trade performance in the region, CNBC Africa spoke to Andrew Mold, Chief of Regional Integration &#038; AfCFTA Cluster at UNECA.</p>


Hope for trade as East Africa exports rebound from lockdowns

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<p>The 34th African Union Summit took place a couple of weeks ago, where elections for the executive arm of the body took place. Albert Muchanga was re-elected as the Commissioner of Trade &#038; Industry at the African Union Commission. With the Africa Continental Free Trade Area implemented this year, there is a lot of excitement for trade in Africa. Albert Muchanga, joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AU Commission’s Albert Muchanga lists top priorities in AfCFTA rollout

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<p>2020 was tough year for the world&#8217;s economies, due to the COVID-19 pandemic; and the African continent has not been immune to the effects of the virus. But the gospel of economic growth on the continent remains; with Afreximbank projecting that aggregate output for Africa will expand by around 4.5 per cent. Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist at Afreximbank joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


2021 Outlook: Afreximbank expects robust recovery for African economies

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<p>In its annual Emerging Markets Logistics Index Agility says the global recession and COVID-19 pandemic disrupted supply chains and forced logistics professionals to adapt to new realities. In its ranking on Logistics, Nigeria rose five places overall to 30th while also becoming a top 10 market for domestic Logistics opportunities. As African countries look to take advantage of the AFCFTA, Geoffrey White, the CEO of Agility Africa joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA: How African countries rank on logistics

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<p>The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to global supply chains with the World Trade Organization (WTO) reporting a drop in trade of between 13 per cent and 32 per cent in Africa but could revival present an opportunity for Africa to build stronger trade institutions? Zachary Kaplan, Head of Sustainable Business Group at Dai Global.</p>


COVID-19: How Africa can rebuild trade institutions for a robust recovery

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<p>The U.S., U.K., Canada, India, Israel and other developed countries have launched mass vaccination programmes. Africa is still struggling to access these life-saving vaccines. Africa CDC Director, John Nkengasong joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


John Nkengasong gives update on Africa’s race to secure COVID-19 vaccines

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<p>Following the coming into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, Kwadwo Sarkodie says there are several unanswered questions about how the agreement will work, and this has created some commercial and legal uncertainty for businesses operating on the continent. Sarkodie, Partner at Mayer Brown International Legal Practitioners and Kayode Akindele, Partner at TIA Capital join CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA: How can businesses navigate the legal and regulatory hurdles?

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<p>The tourism industry has been the hardest hit, as a result of Covid-19. The labour-intensive sector accounts for 2.9 per cent of South Africa’s economy and approximately 1.5 million jobs.</p>


Kubayi-Ngubane criticises travel bans

Kubayi-Ngubane criticises travel bans, explains how the AfCFTA will boost SA tourism


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="544" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1195404729-820x544.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-396401" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1195404729-820x544.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1195404729-300x199.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1195404729-768x509.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GettyImages-1195404729.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana&#8217;s president, gestures as he speaks during a news conference on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. World leaders, influential executives, bankers and policy makers attend the 50th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos from Jan. 21 &#8211; 24. Photographer: Gem Atkinson/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



<p>Africa needs to find its own resources in order to drive a sustainable post-Covid-19 recovery and reconstruction plan built on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the President of Ghana told this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting.</p>



<p>President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said this was crucial as the continent seeks to return to macroeconomic stability and fiscal responsibility while leveraging rapidly changing digital technologies to improve livelihoods.</p>



<p>“The multilateral system is under strain, and we must do all that we can to generate the needed resources to achieve sustainable development,” the Ghanaian leader told a session entitled `Building Inclusive, Sustainable and Job-Creating Growth in Africa&#8217;”.</p>



<p>“We in Africa should make every effort to generate for ourselves the additional funds we need to advance, and hopefully our external partners – private and public – will lend their backing to the priorities we set.”</p>



<p>The agreement connects 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) valued at US$3.4 trillion. The World Bank says it has the potential to pull more than 30 million people out of extreme poverty.</p>



<p>Akufo-Addo said goodwill towards the continent remained strong as shown by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who told the virtual WEF Davos Dialogues that South Africa had mobilised around $51 billion (R774billion) in new investment commitments over the last three years.</p>



<p>Ramaphosa said around a fifth of the committed value had already been invested in construction and essential equipment for mining, manufacturing, telecoms and agriculture.</p>



<p>Naspers SA Chief Executive Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa told the meeting that digital had the ability to help reduce some of the inequalities exacerbated by the coronavirus.</p>



<p>“Africa’s digital transformation has the potential to leap frog many cycles of development. We can make significant advances enabling sustainable economic growth ensuring we move forward collectively so that no one is left behind.”</p>



<p>Absa Group Chief Executive Daniel Mminele said the there was an opportunity to leverage public funds and infrastructure investments better to uplift communities.</p>



<p>“We need to find sustainable solutions to some of the funding problems we have but funding is very key and a responsibility that sits on the shoulders of both the public and private sector and banks.”</p>


Day Three Of The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2020

Africa must use continental new trade agreement to plan Coronavirus recovery plan

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<p>According to the Rwanda National Institute of Statistics, the country&#8217;s exports to Africa has nearly increased by around 50 per cent over the last 5 years. Now, with the AfCFTA in place, the government has identified opportunities in several local products for exports that are expected to drive the country&#8217;s exports to the African continent from the current $1.6 billion to about $5 billion in 10 years. Diane Sayinzoga, Head of Special Economic Zone and Export Facilitation Department at the Rwanda Development Board joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA: How Rwanda plans to tap into the continental market

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<p>According to figures from the National Agricultural Export Development Board, Rwanda’s coffee export volume reduced by 6 per cent while revenues went down by over 11 per cent to $7.6 million. CNBC Africa spoke with Gilbert Gatali, Chairperson of Coffee Exporters and Processors Association in Rwanda on this and expectations they have towards the AfCFTA.</p>


Rwanda’s coffee export revenue fell by 11%

Rwanda’s coffee export revenue fell by 11%, here’s why

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<p>The African Union introduced the African Business Council (AFBC) as a key pillar within the architecture of the African Continental Free Trade Area to ensure an organised interaction between the private sector and policymakers. Mansur Ahmed, Interim Vice-Chairperson of the Council joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AFBC’s Ahmed on how African businesses can leverage the AfCFTA

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<p>The African Continental Free Trade Area holds immense potential for the social and economic development of Africa. Joining CNBC Africa to discuss how the project can boost trade and resilience in the continent is Chido Munyati, Acting Head of Africa at the World Economic Forum.</p>


WEF’s Munyati on how to strengthen intra-African trade

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<p>The private sector is a key stakeholder and beneficiary of the African Continental Free Trade Area. But how ready are they to commit fully to trading and investing in the AfCFTA? CNBC Africa spoke to the Chairman of the Rwanda Private Sector Federation, Robert Bapfakurera, for more.</p>


AfCFTA: Assessing the preparedness of Rwanda’s private sector

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<p>The Eastern Africa region is set to generate an estimated $1.8 billion and more than 2 million jobs if the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is successfully implemented. But how is the region ready to stand out in the competitive market? UNECA Director for East Africa Mama Keita spoke to CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA

How the AfCFTA impacts China-Africa trade relations

The investment case for digital currencies in Africa

Hope for trade as East Africa exports rebound from lockdowns

AU Commission’s Albert Muchanga lists top priorities in AfCFTA rollout

2021 Outlook: Afreximbank expects robust recovery for African economies

AfCFTA: How African countries rank on logistics

COVID-19: How Africa can rebuild trade institutions for a robust recovery

John Nkengasong gives update on Africa’s race to secure COVID-19 vaccines

AfCFTA: How can businesses navigate the legal and regulatory hurdles?

Kubayi-Ngubane criticises travel bans, explains how the AfCFTA will boost SA tourism

Africa must use continental new trade agreement to plan Coronavirus recovery plan

AfCFTA: How Rwanda plans to tap into the continental market

Rwanda’s coffee export revenue fell by 11%, here’s why

AFBC’s Ahmed on how African businesses can leverage the AfCFTA

WEF’s Munyati on how to strengthen intra-African trade

AfCFTA: Assessing the preparedness of Rwanda’s private sector

AfCFTA: Are East African economies ready to compete?

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AfCFTA

How the AfCFTA impacts China-Africa trade relations

The investment case for digital currencies in Africa

Hope for trade as East Africa exports rebound from lockdowns

AU Commission’s Albert Muchanga lists top priorities in AfCFTA rollout

2021 Outlook: Afreximbank expects robust recovery for African economies

AfCFTA: How African countries rank on logistics

COVID-19: How Africa can rebuild trade institutions for a robust recovery

John Nkengasong gives update on Africa’s race to secure COVID-19 vaccines

AfCFTA: How can businesses navigate the legal and regulatory hurdles?

Kubayi-Ngubane criticises travel bans, explains how the AfCFTA will boost SA tourism

Africa must use continental new trade agreement to plan Coronavirus recovery plan

AfCFTA: How Rwanda plans to tap into the continental market

Rwanda’s coffee export revenue fell by 11%, here’s why

AFBC’s Ahmed on how African businesses can leverage the AfCFTA

WEF’s Munyati on how to strengthen intra-African trade

AfCFTA: Assessing the preparedness of Rwanda’s private sector

AfCFTA: Are East African economies ready to compete?

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