United Nations Economic Commission for Africa - ORIA

AfCFTA State of play: What next after Niamey?

eskinder.tsegaye — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:58:38 +0000

The African Continental Free Trade Area is one of the flagship projects of the First Ten Year Implementation Plan under the African Union Agenda 2063 – The Africa We Want. The objective of the AfCFTA is to create a single continental market for goods and services, with further negotiations planned on the facilitation of intra-African investment, intellectual property and competition. The Agreement paves way for accelerating the establishment of the Continental Customs Union and, ultimately, African Economic Community as envisaged in the Abuja Treaty. Furthermore, the AfCFTA will help to harmonise Africa’s different trade regimes within the continent’s various Regional Economic Communities (RECs). There is no doubt that this will result in a substantial increase in intra-African trade, greater industrial production and a boost to the continent’s GDP (ECA, 2018, AfDB, 2019, ch.3 and IMF, 2019, ch. 3). The AfCFTA will bring together 55 African Member States, whose combined gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at more than US $ 2.3 trillion as of 2018 (ECA, AfDB and AUC, 2019, p.85).

ch_2_state_of_play_on_the_afcfta.pdf

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Status of Regional Integration in Africa - Focus on macroeconomic convergence

eskinder.tsegaye — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 07:54:42 +0000

Macroeconomic convergence is one of the key instruments for successful regional integrating as well as economic growth. It plays an important role in providing efficiency, promoting public accountability, and paving the way for economic growth and sustainable development. It has been growing in popularity among many economists in developing regions, including those in Africa. Convergence among integrating African countries, particularly those at different levels of economic development, presents a platform for these countries to catch up through the narrowing down of their disparities. Deep regional integration cannot be realized unless there is sustainable macroeconomic convergence.

Five of the eight African Union recognized RECs^{^[1]} have set macroeconomic and monetary convergence targets aimed at harmonizing their economic indicators. However, countries within these RECs have not been able to sufficiently converge towards these indicators. There have been challenges in effectively coordinating the endorsed macroeconomic policy convergence programmes in a manner that would facilitate meeting targets.

[1] These are SADC, COMESA, ECOWAS, EAC, and ECCAS

ch_1_status_of_regional_integration_in_africa.pdf

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Ethiopia’s digital platform guiding investors to the country launched in Addis Ababa

eskinder.tsegaye — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 14:42:11 +0000

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, December 19, 2018 (ECA) – Ethiopia’s online investment guide, iGuide, which seeks to help investors discover opportunities in the country, business costs, key procedures and laws they may need to know before committing their money, was officially unveiled in Addis Ababa Wednesday.

The web-based investment promotion tool was launched in the presence of Mr. Shumete Gizaw, Ethiopia’s Minister of Innovation and Technology; Mr. Fitsum Arega, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC); and Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

The iGuide covers a wide range of topics deemed relevant to investment consideration and will serve as the first point of contact for domestic and international companies and businesspeople interested in investing in Ethiopia.

The platform highlights the various investment opportunities in the country and provides information on the costs, laws and regulations related to various aspects of investment, such as business set-up, labour, taxation, and access to land.

The iGuide was developed by the EIC with support from the ECA and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and was designed to attract productive investment into the country.

Investment can create a “win-win” scenario for the private sector as well as the host economy, said Mr. Shumete at the launch.

The Minister expressed hope that this communication and “empowerment” tool will serve to “enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Ethiopian business ecosystem” and help “build impactful relations” with investors and assist the country in its quest to become a major manufacturing hub.

The iGuide, providing clear, relevant and reliable information, seeks to serve both the national and international investment community.

“Foreign investors rely on the small and medium-sized enterprises in the economy and local business have to be linked global supply chains,” stated Ms. Songwe.

According to the Executive Secretary, the iGuide should also help to promote domestic women-led businesses by providing “digital space in which women can seamlessly interact.”

The ultimate objective of the electronic investment platform is to promote productive investments catalysing the structural transformation process in developing countries.

Mr. Fitsum observed that many African countries were already undertaking important reforms to enhance their business environment and Ethiopia was no exception to this trend.

“The private sector needs to be in the driver’s seat of development,” he declared. “Ethiopia endeavours to address the existing bottlenecks and open up further sectors for private investment, including logistics and telecom.”

During the developmental phase of the project, UNCTAD and ECA provided technical assistance and capacity-building services to EIC professionals to develop the necessary skills to manage the platform and keep it up to date.

“The iGuides help agencies, such as the EIC, to build their capacity, identify further areas for reform and understand investor needs,” explained Ms. Isabelle Durant, Under-Secretary of UNCTAD, in a video message.

As in the other countries in Africa where the iGuide had already been launched, the joint UNCTA-ECA team remains on stand-by to provide further assistance should such a need arise.

Mr. Anteneh Alemu, Deputy Commissioner at the EIC, and Mr. Joseph Baricako, Economic Affairs Officer at the ECA, walked the audience through the nuts and bolts of the website. The information is clustered around seven thematic chapters dealing with issues ranging from the steps needed to be taken to start a business in Ethiopia, to the skills and wage expectations of its labour force, the legal framework on investment protection and promising investment sectors.

Unlike many other investment guides, the iGuide also contains feedback from the existing investment community in the host economy highlighting both the strengths and competitive advantages of the local business environment, as well as identifying areas for improvement.

Following on the heels of Madagascar and Mauritania, Ethiopia has become the seventh African country to launch its iGuide in 2018. As of now, fourteen countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean boast an online investment guide. Work on the iGuide project was initiated following official request delivered to either ECA or UNCTAD from any of their member States.

The iGuide for Ethiopia can be accessed on http://www.theiguides.org/ethiopia

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

Investors can now make use of a new online guide to Mauritania

Minilik.Demissie — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 11:15:25 +0000

The online investment guide (iGuide) to Mauritania was officially launched in Nouakchott on 22 November in the presence of the media and representatives of the public and private sector. Designed to provide intelligible, reliable and up-to-date information on the relevant laws, regulations, costs and opportunities, the investment promotion tool is now ready to serve the national and global investment community.

“Investment is a key driver of development,” noted Mr Mohamed Salem ould Soueilim, General Secretary of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. “The iGuide should help us seize the opportunities provided the international markets as well as promote domestic investment.”

The website covers topics such as the rules and procedures of starting a business, skills and wage levels of the local labour force, investor rights and business sectors with especially high investment potential. Users who wish to obtain more detailed information may consult additional documents that have been uploaded, such as the French version of laws and regulations and contact details of some of the relevant institutions. The site also features feedback collected among investors on the ground. “The information accessible through the iGuide is otherwise scattered across many different websites or outright not available,” highlighted Mr Ian Richards, Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), as he walked the audience through the platform.

Mr Joseph Baricako, Economic Affairs Officer at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), recalled that the iGuide was a joint product developed by the Ministry of the Economy and Finance in collaboration with the ECA and UNCTAD. After outlining the relevance of the platform for the country and potential investors, Mr Baricako also said that like in all other countries where the investment guide has already been developed, the platform is to be managed and updated by the national authorities following its official launch.

Mauritania is the sixth African country to launch the iGuide in 2018, following the Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Zambia, Nigeria and Madagascar. Ethiopia is also expected to present its iGuide by the end of the year. To date, thirteen countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean have an online investment guide at their disposal.

The iGuide for Mauritania can be accessed on http://www.theiguides.org/mauritanie

Investing in Madagascar gets easier following launch of new Investment Guide

eskinder.tsegaye — Fri, 17 Aug 2018 14:16:37 +0000

Antananarivo, Madagascar, 16 August 2018 (ECA) - The Madagascar online investment guide was officially unveiled in Antananarivo on 16 August 2018. Targeting foreign and domestic investors who are considering investing in the country, the platform provides clear, reliable and current information on the relevant laws, regulations, costs and opportunities.

The guide was created jointly by the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). EDBM, which requested the guide, will also ensure it is kept up to date.

Speaking to an audience of government officials, private sector representatives, journalists and diplomatic corps, Ms Tantely Rahoeliarivahy Rajobson, Economic Adviser to the President of Madagascar and Chair of EDBM Board noted that, “foreign investors are often held back from committing to African economies, including Madagascar, by a lack of relevant and updated information and the iGuide is meant to help address this issue.”

Mr Joseph Baricako, Economic Affairs Officer at the ECA, explained that foreign direct investment is an important source of development finance and drives economic growth, diversification and structural transformation. “The web-based tool will certainly attract more investment in Madagascar and assist in building the capacity of local institutions, such as EDBM,” he added.

Mr Ian Richards from UNCTAD, presented the guide and its contents. He demonstrated how users can find information on how to register a company, acquire land, benefit from fiscal incentives, hire employees, obtain work permits, priority sectors such as tourism and apparel, and find out which markets they could access duty-free. He also showed how feedback from existing investors in Madagascar had been integrated into the guide for more credibility.

Madagascar is the fifth country to launch the investment guide since the start of 2018, following the Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria. Two more official launches of the iGuide will shortly take place in Ethiopia and Mauritania. To date, twelve countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean have an online investment guide at their disposal.

The Investment Guide to Madagascar can be accessed at http://www.theiguides.org/madagascar

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, ECA and UNCTAD launch electronic portal for investors

Minilik.Demissie — Wed, 23 May 2018 09:13:26 +0000

The Nigerian iGuide, an online investment portal, was officially launched in the presence of public officials, private sector representatives and journalists on 17 May 2018 in Abuja, the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) had jointly provided technical assistance to the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) throughout the development stage of the project in line with the UN principle of “Delivering as One.” The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) now manages the tool.

The electronic platform providing both domestic and foreign investors with up-to-date and relevant information on investment was officially unveiled by Edet Sunday Akpan, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment. “The iGuide highlights investment opportunities in the country and complements domestic reforms to encourage investment,” stated Mr Akpan.

Yewande Sadiku, Executive Secretary of the NIPC, explained the ins and outs of the web portal noting that the content was grouped in seven thematic chapters dealing with business registration; access to land; taxation; labour laws and availability and costs of production factors, as well as potential sectors for investment. During her intervention Ms. Sadiku also drew attention to the subsection presenting different states of Nigeria stating that “investors can easily find information on the socio-economic profiles and competitive advantages of the individual states.”

In delivering the Statement and overall objective of the iGuides, Emmanuel Chinyama, Economic Affairs Officer of the ECA, observed that potential investors are now able to access all necessary information easily on one site. “The iGuide is a living tool, and as such will be very useful in signalling to investors changes in government policies, legislation and administrative procedures,” explained Mr. Chinyama.

Welcoming the platform to the “growing iGuide family,” Julien Bornon, Regional Coordinator for the UNCTAD Business Facilitation Program, informed the participants that the Nigerian iGuide was the fourth in a series developed in cooperation with ECA and UNCTAD. The Republic of the Congo, Republic of Malawi and Republic Zambia have launched their iGuides earlier this year. The two sister organisations are currently working with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Republic of Madagascar and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on their online platforms.

The iGuide project was started by the UNCTAD in 2013, replacing the previously published paper-based investment guides that required updates every four years to keep track of new developments. Ministries or agencies charged with investment countries of twelve different countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean have the electronic platform for investors at their disposal.

The iGuide for the Republic of the Nigeria can be accessed on http://www.theiguides.org/nigeria

African leaders agreed a landmark deal paving the way for the African Continental Free Trade Area

Minilik.Demissie — Thu, 10 May 2018 14:20:34 +0000

On 21 March 2018, 44 African Heads of State and Government signed the Agreement establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Kigali, Rwanda. Further six countries also signed the separate Kigali declaration reaffirming commitment to the pan-African initiative, thus raising the number of countries endorsing either or both documents to 50. Three countries, namely Rwanda, Ghana and Kenya, have already ratified the treaty. The latter two countries have also deposited the instruments of ratification with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC). The 10^th Extraordinary Session of the African Union Summit also saw 27 African leaders put their signature to the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community relating to Free Movement of Persons, Rights of Residence and Right of Establishment complementing the AfCFTA.

The AfCFTA marks a milestone in the African regional integration efforts, which have been envisaged and driven by the African countries within the framework of the 1991 Abuja Treaty. The world’s largest free trade bloc in terms of participating countries that is set to come about is expected to ultimately span all 55 member States of the African Union (AU) and cover a market of 1.2 billion people and an aggregate GDP of $2.5 trillion.

The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the African Development Bank provided technical support along the way. H.E President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger championed the negotiations in the run-up to the signing of the Agreement.

The AfCFTA is a flagship initiative of the AU Agenda 2063, the continent’s long-term development and integration strategy and vision, as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations. The AfCFTA will provide economic opportunities and can serve as a platform to accelerate social inclusion. Phase one of the AfCFTA encompasses trade in goods, trade in services and the creation of a dedicated dispute resolution mechanism. Work on Phase 2, pertaining to the questions of investment policy, intellectual property and competition, is slated to commence in 2018.

Regional value chains linking economies with different production patterns and levels of industrial sophistication will should emerge or strengthen following the reduction in trade costs and investment facilitation. Industrial exports are expected to receive a boost from the establishment of the trade area. The intra-African trade that the AfCFTA aspires to promote should be particularly conducive to sustainable development. While commodities accounted for three quarters of Africa’s exports to the rest of the world between 2012 and 2014, they amounted to less than 40% of trade among African nations with manufactured products comprising 43%. Comprising relatively more manufactured and value-added products, intra-African trade gives rise to economic growth as well as jobs for Africa's bulging youth population.

The ECA has estimated that if all import duties are removed, the volume of intra-African trade would rise by 52.3 percent by 2022 compared to the 2010 levels. This trade could be doubled if non-tariff measures are also eliminated. According to UNCTAD, African economies could annually reap $3.6 billion in welfare gains in the absence of tariffs. As not all tariffs will be immediately withdrawn, the anticipated economic gains are expected to accrue more gradually, however.

Small and medium-sized enterprises, which form the productive backbone of African economies and accounting for 80 % of formal jobs, are expected to capitalise on the AfCFTA. Those businesses could place their products in regional markets or to supply larger enterprises on the continent engaged in overseas exports. By reducing trade costs, the AfCFTA will make it easier for small informal cross-border traders to transition and operate through formal channels. This effect could be particularly important for women who constitute about 70 percent of informal cross-border traders in Africa and are often subject to harassment, violence or even confiscation of goods and incarceration.

African businesses and consumers will save on tariffs currently applicable to a significant amount of traded goods. Transaction costs for traders will fall as a result of streamlined customs procedures as well as cooperation of authorities on product standards and regulations and trade transit and facilitation. Gradual liberalisation and mutual recognition of standards will allow services suppliers to compete in other markets on the continent.

The separate AU protocol on the free movement of people is an important complement to the AfCFTA with the provision of visa-free travel, the right of residence, and the right of business and professional establishment. Among other measures, the Protocol also envisages the creation of a single passport for all African nationals. Several regional economic communities (RECs), including the East African Community and the Economic Community of West African States, already operate regional passports.

According to ECA, several accompanying measures and policies will be necessary to fully realise the full potential of the AfCFTA. The Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) provides guidance on areas requiring further attention to ensure that all African countries reap the benefit of the AfCFTA. Less industrialised countries would gain from a speedy implementation of the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa programme seeking to bolster the skill base of the working population. Resource-based economies should harness the free trade area to promote their export diversification through the Africa Mining Vision.

The AfCFTA will come into force once the 22^nd instrument of ratification has been deposited with the Chairperson of the AUC. A new AfCFTA Secretariat will be set up in one the AU Member States to oversee the implementation process. The RECs will coordinate and support the implementation at the national level. African countries ought to develop and follow through with dedicated AfCFTA strategies to take full advantage of the process.

The Single African Air Transport Market is launched

Minilik.Demissie — Wed, 02 May 2018 13:03:10 +0000

The Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a flagship project under the Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), seeking to liberalise and unify the African skies was launched during the 30^th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU on 28 January 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia[1]. Through the advocacy activities of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Civil Aviation Commission and the Ministerial Working Group on the Single African Air Transport Market, the number of Member States that have signed the Solemn Commitment has increased from eleven to twenty-five[2]. The SAATM is the first flagship initiative to be launched and is expected to accelerate the achievement of the main goals of the Agenda 2063, a vision and roadmap for an integrated, prosperous, people-centred, peaceful and stable Africa. The establishment of the SAATM follows on the 2015 Declaration of African Heads of State and Government in which they reaffirmed their commitment to realise the 1999 Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) on the liberalisation of civil aviation.

The SAATM should enhance connectivity on the continent and foster the development of the aviation sector, tourism and trade. As such, it is expected to contribute to the objectives of the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade and the African Continental Free Trade Area. The AUC has estimated that the SAATM will translate into 300,000 direct jobs with further two million opportunities created indirectly.

Eligible African airline carriers will be able to operate routes “on the basis of their own economic considerations and without any hindrance” under the SAATM. In the immediate term, member States are called upon to amend their current Bilateral Air Service Agreements (BASAs) with other African states in order to align them with the YD. The key principles of the YD include the liberalisation of traffic rights, capacity, frequency and pricing. Ultimately, the intra-African aviation market will dispense with BASAs and operate under a single set of rules.

The AUC has been tasked by the signatory countries to present a single African sky architecture, which should be operational by 2023. The AUC, Regional Economic Communities as well as newly appointed Regional Champions of the SAATM will engage the remaining member States of the AU to encourage them to also ratify and implement the initiative.

[1] Decision on the Establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market. Assembly/AU/Dec.665(XXX).

[2] Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Capo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinee Conakry, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Togo and Zimbabwe.

Zambia launches online investment platform with ECA and UNCTAD support

Minilik.Demissie — Fri, 30 Mar 2018 12:53:46 +0000

Lusaka, Zambia, March 30, 2018 (ECA) - The Zambian iGuide, an electronic investment platform, was launched in Lusaka this week with technical support from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The two sister organizations undertook the project jointly in line with the United Nations principle of “Delivering as One”.

The platform was officially unveiled by Ms. Kayula Siame, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry. The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) also played a key role in the project.

The iGuide, delivered at the official request of the Zambian government, is expected to help increase investment activity in the country.

“The Government of Zambia remains committed to creating an enabling environment to attract the much-needed investment necessary to achieve our dream of becoming a prosperous middle-income nation,” noted Ms. Siame in reference to Zambia’s long-term development plan, Vision 2030.

Mr. Said Adejumobi, ECA’s Southern Africa Director, explained that the web-based tool will serve as a “one-stop information shop” providing investors with necessary and current information on business opportunities and regulation.

“The development of the investment guide will assist in building capacity of local institutions, directly dealing with investments issues such as ZDA,” said Mr. Adejumobi.

During the presentation of the platform, Mr. Emmanuel Chinyama of the ECA, highlighted the structure of the iGuide, which is composed of seven thematic chapters - getting started, labour, production factors, land, taxes, investor rights and growth sectors and opportunities.

It is complemented by an additional chapter containing essential country data. Each of the thematic chapters also features a section with feedback from investors on the ground.

Investors who need more details can also find on the platform contact details of the relevant ministries and agencies.

The ZDA has been in the driver’s seat of the implantation process and remains charged with the management of the platform.

“The iGuide is a useful investment promotion tool tallying with ZDA’s mandate to promote and facilitate foreign and domestic investment,” said Mr. Perry Mapani, Director General of the ZDA.

Ms. Milasoa Chérel-Robson, UNCTAD’s Acting regional head said the iGuide for Zambia was the latest in a series of electronic investment manuals that her organisation was helping work on, adding it is easy to access and manage.

Unlike the previously published paper-based investment guides, the iGuide is a living tool and the information it contains can be quickly updated whenever there is a change in policy or priorities.

Since the beginning of this year, the Republic of the Congo and Malawi have also launched their iGuides.

Efforts are also currently under way to launch the Nigerian one. To date, eleven countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, including Burundi, Kenya, Congo and Rwanda, have the electronic platforms for investors at their disposal.

The launch event was attended by government officials, private sector representatives and members of the diplomatic corps.

The iGuide for the Republic of Zambia can be accessed on http://www.theiguides.org/zambia

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org

In tandem with ECA and UNCTAD, the Republic of Malawi launches its electronic investment guide

Minilik.Demissie — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 08:29:42 +0000

Lilongwe, Malawi, February 28, 2018 (ECA) - The Malawi iGuide, an electronic investment platform, was developed by the Malawi Investment Trade Center (MICT) assisted by the ECA and UNCTAD acting in line with the United Nations principle of “Delivering as One”. It was officially unveiled by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism in close collaboration with the MITC in Lilongwe, Malawi on 28 February 2018. The launch event was attended by government officials, private sector as well as members of the diplomatic corp.

The iGuide is an easy-to-use online platform providing domestic and foreign investors alike with up-to-date and pertinent information on business opportunities as well as applicable laws and regulations. The platform is grouped into seven chapters around the themes of business set-up, labour, production factors, land, taxes, investor rights, sectors and opportunities.

“The iGuide was launched at an opportune time when investors are facing challenges including accessing consolidated up-to-date investment-related information under one umbrella. In this respect, the Malawi Investment Guide, a joint project of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism with support of the ECA and UNCTAD, was therefore, developed to address these challenges. The iGuide is expected to bring benefits to investors and to the country in general,” noted the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism and MP, Mr. Henry Mussa, during the launch of the iGuide.

Presenting the iGuide during the launch, Emmanuel Chinyama, Economic Affairs Officer, ECA, informed the experts that the project was carried out at the request of the Republic of the Malawi to the Executive Secretary of the ECA. “The Malawi iGuide will be key in attracting investments shaped by the growth sectors and opportunities section, which highlights most recent national development strategies in terms of potential investment priorities”, he added.

Following Congo, the Malawi launch is the second in a series of iGuides supported by the ECA, which also include Nigeria and Zambia for which the launch is expected during the first quarter of 2018. This technical support falls into the ECA’s advisory services and capacity-building domain.

The iGuide project was rolled out in 2013 by the UNCTAD, complementing the former published investment guides which require updates every four years to keep track of new developments. To date, ten countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean, including Burundi, Kenya, Congo and Rwanda, have the electronic platform for investors at their disposal.

The iGuide for the Republic of the Malawi can be accessed on http://www.theiguides.org/malawi.

Issued by:

Communications Section
Economic Commission for Africa
PO Box 3001
Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 5826
E-mail: eca-info@un.org