NAIROBI, Kenya | Xinhua | Kenya on Tuesday imposed a ban on sugar imports from outside the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the East African Community (EAC), two regional trade blocs, citing an increase in local production. Andrew Karanja, cabinet secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture …
Read More »Vice President Alupo hails strong Uganda-China relations
VP Jessica Alupo: Uganda draws valuable lessons from China’s modernization path BEIJING, China | Xinhua | Uganda has drawn valuable lessons from China’s modernization experience, Ugandan Vice President Jessica Alupo has said. In a written interview with Xinhua for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in …
Read More »What African visitors are adding to their baskets at Beijing’s Silk Market
BEIJING | Xinhua | The ongoing 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) offers an array of side activities for foreign guests who have traveled from afar. When I opened a brochure introducing these activities, I found out that Silk Street, a landmark market in Beijing, was among …
Read More »Why China Town is causing discomfort among traders
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | What is it about China Town supermarket? Well, this is my experience. I strolled into China Town, and after walking around hundreds of meters through columns of shelves, I instead landed on Ugandan products – laundry soap and related items by Mukwano Industries Ltd and …
Read More »Alcohol bill dismissed for failure to address real sector challenge of illicit alcohol and trade
KAMPALA, UGANDA | THE INDEPENDENT | A report on the proposed 2023 Alcohol Bill tabled by Sylvia Nayebare, the Chairperson Trade and Tourism Committee of Parliament has been dismissed following findings of the joint committees on Trade and Tourism that observed that the bill fell short of addressing the real challenges …
Read More »East African states deviate from agreed tax rates in local production battle
EAC-CET was established to protect the common interests of various partner states by safeguarding specific sectors, and the lack of uniform application Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Import costs in the East African Community states are expected to remain high under the newly implemented Common External Tariff (CET) as countries …
Read More »Tripartite Free Trade Area opens new trading opportunities in Africa
The tripartite member states represent 53% of the African Union’s membership, accounting for more than 60% of the continental GDP ($1.88 trillion) and with a combined population of 800 million ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | The private sector in the East African Community, under their umbrella body, the East African Business …
Read More »Uganda, France strengthen trade, diplomatic ties
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has hailed the cooperation between Uganda and France in the areas of trade, investment and diplomatic relations as a formidable uniting factor that ought to be fostered for further growth. “We are looking forward to increasing the trade …
Read More »East Africa’s great trade war
Kenya struggles to keep economic grip on Uganda COVER STORY | THE INDEPENDENT | Kenya has four big exports to Uganda; palm oil (11.8%) of exports, cement 10.1%, coated flat-rolled iron 8.94%, and refined petroleum 6.27%. Together, these comprise about 40% of Kenya’s total exports to Uganda as of December …
Read More »Africa-Caribbean trade poised to hit $1.8 billion by 2028
Afreximbank and ITC will develop detailed profiles of sectors in both regions to map out promising value chains and identify growth barriers and requirements ANALYSIS | THE INDEPENDENT | Trade between Africa and the Caribbean could soar to $1.8 billion annually by 2028, provided that value addition, trade facilitation, and enhanced …
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