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Ahead of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Commission Summit in Addis Ababa, CNBC Africa’s Godfrey Mutizwa spoke to Dr. Hippolyte Fofack, Chief Economist and Director, Research and International Cooperation at Afreximbank on why Africa should speak with one voice on trade as a way to consolidate its bargaining power on the global stage.</p>


AU Summit 2020: Afreximbank: Why Africa should speak with one voice on trade

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Andrew Mold, Officer-in-Charge of the Office for Eastern Africa at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) is here to help us envisage the region’s economy in the next decade and how initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will shape it.</p>


How will AfCFTA shape East Africa’s economies in the next decade? UNECA’s Andrew Mold explains

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<p>The African Export-Import Bank has signed a programme for a N300 billion medium-term note with Nigeria&#8217;s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On the sidelines of the signing ceremony in Lagos, Afreximbank President, Benedict Oramah tells CNBC Africa’s Christy Cole that the bonds programme opens new doors for interventions across Nigeria. The Afreximbank President also spoke about the anticipated commencement of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA: Afreximbank President Oramah calls for African resources to support Africa’s development

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<p>Come July this year, the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement will take off, but are countries in West Africa ready to take advantage of this trade pact? Paul Alaje, Senior Economist at SPM Professionals joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Africa gears up for continental free trade agreement

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<p>Two years ago Rwandan Immigration &#038; Emigration announced that the country would be granting 30 day visa upon arrival for all countries without prior approval, the move was met with mixed reactions but now it&#8217;s been reported that president of Nigeria, has made a similar declaration. According to President Muhammadu Buhari, the country would now be granting visa on arrival for all travellers with African passports, this comes some months after the country ratified the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) agreement. CNBC Africa&#8217;s Kenneth Igbomor speaks.</p>


Nigeria commits to visa on arrival for all African passport holders

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<p>This is an important time for Africa – with the continent being focused on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 and with the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is gaining traction to drive intra-Africa trade. This is the opinion of Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive Officer of Africa Regions at Standard Bank, who spoke to CNBC Africa’s Kenneth Igbomor.</p>


Africa Investment Forum: Standard Bank: Its prime-time to drive intra-Africa trade through SDGs & AfCFTA

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<p>In May this year, Africa made history as the agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) entered into force with 54 out of the 55 member states of the African Union signing the agreement. The bigger task is implementation. Uganda had a meeting analysing both the benefits and costs for the move. Analyst, Charles Bwogi joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


Uganda holds discussions on AfCFTA: What is the way forward?

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<p>Nigeria&#8217;s Chief Trade Negotiator, Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe had passed while receiving treatment in Switzerland. He is credited for chairing negotiations that led to Nigeria&#8217;s signing of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. President Muhammadu Buhari described Osakwe as a man with intellectual depth who demonstrated professionalism in all trade agreements he negotiated for the country. Here is how the special policy dialogue colloquium unfolded with CNBC Africa.</p>


Nigeria remembers Trade icon, Chiedu Osakwe who passed on at 64


<p>By Mary-Jean Nleya </p>



<p><strong>Africa balkanised in 1884 – 1885 </strong></p>



<p>The balkanisation of African states is a colonial
construct, yet it has become one of the most Africanised phenomena of
contemporary Africa. During the wave of independence, a pan-Africanist movement
swept over much of the continent with Julius Nyerere as its ardent proponent.
However, the drawn lines of the Berlin Conference remained firm causing
national identity to trump over a shared African identity. The recent
xenophobic attacks in South Africa, particularly the targeting of other African
immigrants in South Africa, is a testament to identity markers that have been
forged along national geographies &#8211; a consequence of the Berlin Conference. Some
Nigerian citizens returned home last week as result of the violence. The recent
actions in South Africa and the reprisal attacks in other African countries
targeting South Africa makes African integration hang in the balance. </p>



<p><strong>Xenophobia &amp; economic
integration</strong><strong></strong></p>



<p>The
xenophobic attacks come at a time when African countries recently concluded the
largest trade agreement, since the creation of the World Trade Organisation in
1994. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has the potential to
connect over 1.3 billion people as well as to form an economic zone of over $3
trillion and boost&nbsp;<a href="http://www.intracen.org/uploadedFiles/intracenorg/Content/Publications/AfCFTA%20Business%20Guide_final_Low-res.pdf">intra-African trade</a> in agriculture, manufacturing, raw
materials and services. However, such a potential requires more than simply
diplomatic relations across the continent, but also steadfast unity among
African people. Looting and destroying businesses owned by other African
migrants in South Africa, particularly businesses owned by those at the lower
rung of the socio-economic pyramid and the consequent retaliatory attacks in
various other African countries, goes against the very foundations of economic,
social and trade integration. </p>



<p>The
AfCFTA was seen as acting as a buffer to the current trade-war climate by
strengthening regional trade within the continent of Africa; while free trade
is under attack in much of the developed world. If anything, the US-China trade
war is an additional propeller for African states to deepen trade-relations
among themselves.</p>



<p>However,
what use is an African trade pact that aims at building bridges and dismantling
borders; when the African people do not see themselves as a single identity? </p>



<p><strong>Art and development: The unifying
force of music</strong></p>



<p>As the African continent grapples with its developmental agenda, art and specifically music has the propensity to act as a unifying force among African people. The major milestone accomplished by the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X7b8fYcYCk">Ndlovu Youth Choir’s</a> magnificent performances that celebrated Africa as a continent and its culture, and that ultimately landed them a record as the first African act to make it to the finals of the US’ major talent competition, is significant not just as entertainment but also in forging a unified African identity in the midst of the regressive social and economic moment of the recent xenophobic attacks. Music that was composed specifically following the September 2019 xenophobic attacks was a song “Africa Unite” that poignantly explored social themes of interdependence and African togetherness. </p>



<p>Music
is an
enabler in building bridges and in articulating and
expressing the complexities of identity politics found in development processes.
It is also a vital medium in communicating
and illuminating themes central to development discourse (including regional
trade integration) at a time where the social infrastructure of the continent
is of importance and heightened social tensions among
Africans need to be eased. </p>



<p><strong>Conclusion</strong></p>



<p>The
AfCFTA, with its potential to make significant contributions to economic
development, curbing unemployment and poverty alleviation if it is supported by
effective policies, is a starting point; but an ingrained pan-African vision
from those at the bottom of the socio-economic pyramid all the way to the top
is essential for the growth of the African continent. The world has much to
benefit from an integrated and united Africa.&nbsp;Africa Unite. </p>


Op-Ed: Africa urgently needs a shared identity for its $3trn free trade club to work, could music be a unifier?

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<p>President of Nigeria&#8217;s Manufacturers Association (MAN), Mansur Ahmed says year-long engagements with key stakeholders, government across levels, Afreximbank and an extensive study of the AfCFTA&#8217;s impact on its operations have assured manufacturers in Nigeria that opportunities presented by the trade agreement outweigh its risks. On the side-lines of the AGM of the Manufacturer&#8217;s Association on Nigeria, he joins CNBC Africa&#8217;s Christy Cole for more.</p>


MAN President Mansur Ahmed on how Nigeria’s manufacturing value chain can grow the economy

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<p>In 2016,
Kigali Global Shapers (KGS) started a Visa free Africa campaign that later
became one of the catalysts of the AfCFTA. 3 years later, on the progress of
this campaign, Curator of KGS, Aimee Dushime joins CNBC Africa&#8217;s Arnold Kwizera
for more. </p>


Visa-free Africa campaign: How effective has it been 3 years later?

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<p>President of the Africa Export-Import Bank, Benedict Oramah says intraregional trade disputes in parts of Africa can be resolved through communication. To share some insight on the 500 million-dollar facility for the Manufacturer&#8217;s Association of Nigeria (MAN) and efforts to strengthen economies across Africa, he joins CNBC Africa&#8217;s Christy Cole for more.</p>


Benedict Oramah discusses AfCFTA and how it can overcome Africa’s internal trade disputes

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<p>People are talking about the African Continental Free Trade Area, the biggest thing to hit Africa for a century. How is it going to work? What agreements are needed? Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA: How is it going to work & what agreements are needed?

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<p>At the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town, Sarb Governor Lesetja Kganyago spoke with CNBC Africa’s Chris Bishop about what the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) means for the continent.</p>


World Economic Forum: Lesetja Kganyago on what Africa’s free trade agreement means for the continent

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<p>The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) area is, since early this year, into force after getting required ratifications. To discuss how technology can drive its implementation, Bosun Tijani, CEO of Co-Creation Hub joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA validation: How can technology drive its implementation?

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<p>The Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN), Chiedu Osakwe told CNBC Africa that the government is working to ensure that it ratifies the African Continental Free Trade Agreement in the coming weeks. But how can Nigeria&#8217;s agriculture value chain position to take advantage of this pact? Kola Masha, Managing Director of Babban Gona joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


How can Nigeria’s agriculture sector gain leverage from signing AfCFTA treaty?

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<p>Back in 2013 the idea of the high-speed Standard Gauge Railway was born. The promising concept of a 1,500km long railway connecting Mombasa, to Kampala and Kigali with additional branch routes, was inspired, and the intention was to lower transport costs, further facilitate cross border trade and increase the region&#8217;s competitiveness. But now, six years later, as we focus on what would be the biggest bloc in Africa, the AfCFTA, it&#8217;s hard to ignore that this ambitious project has unfortunately stalled. Victor Otieno, Analyst and SME Consultant joins CNBC Africa for more.</p>


AfCFTA

AU Summit 2020: Afreximbank: Why Africa should speak with one voice on trade

How will AfCFTA shape East Africa’s economies in the next decade? UNECA’s Andrew Mold explains

AfCFTA: Afreximbank President Oramah calls for African resources to support Africa’s development

Africa gears up for continental free trade agreement

Nigeria commits to visa on arrival for all African passport holders

Africa Investment Forum: Standard Bank: Its prime-time to drive intra-Africa trade through SDGs & AfCFTA

Uganda holds discussions on AfCFTA: What is the way forward?

Nigeria remembers Trade icon, Chiedu Osakwe who passed on at 64

Op-Ed: Africa urgently needs a shared identity for its $3trn free trade club to work, could music be a unifier?

MAN President Mansur Ahmed on how Nigeria’s manufacturing value chain can grow the economy

Visa-free Africa campaign: How effective has it been 3 years later?

Benedict Oramah discusses AfCFTA and how it can overcome Africa’s internal trade disputes

AfCFTA: How is it going to work & what agreements are needed?

World Economic Forum: Lesetja Kganyago on what Africa’s free trade agreement means for the continent

AfCFTA validation: How can technology drive its implementation?

How can Nigeria’s agriculture sector gain leverage from signing AfCFTA treaty?

What next for abandoned Chinese-backed railways in Kenya?

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AfCFTA

AU Summit 2020: Afreximbank: Why Africa should speak with one voice on trade

How will AfCFTA shape East Africa’s economies in the next decade? UNECA’s Andrew Mold explains

AfCFTA: Afreximbank President Oramah calls for African resources to support Africa’s development

Africa gears up for continental free trade agreement

Nigeria commits to visa on arrival for all African passport holders

Africa Investment Forum: Standard Bank: Its prime-time to drive intra-Africa trade through SDGs & AfCFTA

Uganda holds discussions on AfCFTA: What is the way forward?

Nigeria remembers Trade icon, Chiedu Osakwe who passed on at 64

Op-Ed: Africa urgently needs a shared identity for its $3trn free trade club to work, could music be a unifier?

MAN President Mansur Ahmed on how Nigeria’s manufacturing value chain can grow the economy

Visa-free Africa campaign: How effective has it been 3 years later?

Benedict Oramah discusses AfCFTA and how it can overcome Africa’s internal trade disputes

AfCFTA: How is it going to work & what agreements are needed?

World Economic Forum: Lesetja Kganyago on what Africa’s free trade agreement means for the continent

AfCFTA validation: How can technology drive its implementation?

How can Nigeria’s agriculture sector gain leverage from signing AfCFTA treaty?

What next for abandoned Chinese-backed railways in Kenya?

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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