AfCFTA: an opportunity to boost Africa’s economic transformation
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Eastern Africa
AfCFTA: an opportunity to boost Africa’s economic transformation
Kigali, Rwanda, 14 March 2018 (ECA) - The African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) offers a unique opportunity to promote intra-African trade. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is convinced that it can also have a positive impact on people’s welfare and contribute to Africa’s industrial transformation.
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CFTA and Business Summit
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AfCFTA Business Summit
History will be made on March 21st 2018, when Africa’s single market comes into existence.
His Excellency President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, the Chairperson of the African Union, and His Excellency Mr Moussa Faki, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, will convene an extraordinary meeting of the Heads of State and Government of the continent in Kigali, Rwanda, to formally launch the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
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Lots of economic benefits could come from sports tourism in Africa
Kigali, 8 February 2018 (ECA)- Over the last two decades, there has been growing focus on sports tourism globally, involving travel for purposes of watching sports events, active participation in sports or simply to gaze at sports facilities infrastructure.
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Comoros: Leveraging remittances to finance development
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Comoros: Leveraging remittances to finance development
Between 2000 and 2013, remittances from Comorian nationals living in France (estimated between 150,000 and 300,000 people) have increased from 12.5 billion to 59 billion Comorian francs (KMF), and now represent about 25 % of Comoros’ GDP, making it the fourth most dependent country in the world for diaspora transfers. Most remittances were sent through the informal sector and aimed at domestic consumption.
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Contemporary exchange rate policies in Eastern Africa: helping or hindering development?
For the past year, a debate has raged over the role and impact of the CFA franc in West Africa. Supporters of the controversial exchange rate arrangement argue that the peg to the Euro has delivered a credible and stable currency while keeping inflation low. Critics, however, contend that the loss of monetary policy independence (and lack of control over foreign exchange reserves) has stifled economic growth. Some commentators have questioned the sustainability of the CFA franc zone on both economic and political grounds.
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East African Community adopts its energy security agenda.
Kigali, Rwanda, 27 November 2017 (ECA) – The East African Community (EAC) has adopted its Energy Security Policy Framework seeking to ensure the security of the region’s biomass, electricity, and oil and gas supplies.
“According Mr. Elsam Byempaka Turyahabwe, Energy Expert at the EAC, Partner States are implementing a number Energy projects to address the low access to modern energy services in the region. However, energy security is a major challenge in the EAC and globally.
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New UN report focusing on transformational energy launched in Kigali
Kigali, Rwanda, 27 November 2017 (ECA) – The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) through its Sub-Regional Office for Eastern African hostes the launch of the Least Developed Countries Report 2017, presented by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The focus of this year’s report is on transformational energy access, which goes beyond household use of energy to encompass productive uses in order to foster sustainable development and job creation.
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