In a decisive move to bolster the nation’s industrial base and promote local innovation, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) has unveiled comprehensive strategies aimed at enhancing the visibility, acceptance, and competitiveness of Made-in-Nigeria products. The initiative, described as both timely and necessary, seeks to tackle head-on the persistent challenges that have […]

A Tit-for-Tat Trade Dispute Shakes Southern Africa Tanzania has ignited a regional economic standoff by imposing immediate bans on agricultural imports from South Africa and Malawi. The move, announced late Wednesday by Agriculture Minister Hussein Mohamed Bashe, is a direct retaliation against what Tanzania calls “hostile trade measures” imposed by its Southern African Development Community […]

South Africa’s Finance Ministry stunned markets and consumers alike on Thursday by announcing that it will not proceed with the planned increase in value-added tax (VAT) from May 1. The decision, delivered in a brief statement, follows intense political opposition within the governing coalition and mounting concerns about the measure’s social and economic impact. Finance […]

The International Monetary Fund has trimmed its 2025 growth forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from 4.2 percent to 3.8 percent, warning that recent tariff escalations by the United States and ensuing retaliatory measures are clouding the region’s recovery. In its April World Economic Outlook, the Fund also lowered its global growth projection to 2.8 percent […]

Despite Nigeria’s recent policy overhauls, millions remain trapped in poverty and chronic hunger. Following its 2025 Article IV Staff Mission, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has lauded Abuja’s steps to stabilize public finances and unify foreign‑exchange markets—but sounded a stark warning: these gains have yet to reach the most vulnerable, as poverty and food insecurity […]

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation (MoPEDIC) and the Group of African Ambassadors in Cairo, convened the first-ever FOCUS Africa Trade and Investment Forum on 15–16 April 2025 in Cairo. Bringing together policymakers, business leaders, investors, and diplomats, the Forum showcased bankable projects, tackled […]

In a sweeping effort to revitalize its public healthcare system, the South African government has announced a landmark allocation of $52 million dedicated to recruiting new healthcare professionals nationwide. The move, widely seen as a turning point in addressing long-standing shortages in the public health sector, comes on the heels of increased budgetary commitments and […]

The South African rand advanced on Monday, buoyed by reports that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) may abandon plans for a value-added tax (VAT) hike in the upcoming budget. The news comes at a critical juncture, as domestic political debates intersect with shifting global market conditions, including a weaker dollar that has provided some […]

In a groundbreaking display of unity and determination, the World Chambers Federation (WCF) Africa Summit 2025 has emerged as a crucial platform for South Sudan to map a sustainable and inclusive economic path. Held in Nairobi and drawing over 4,500 delegates from more than 70 countries, the summit provided South Sudanese officials and businesses with […]

In a significant milestone for Somalia’s long-suffering economy, the government in Mogadishu has signed a $306.5 million debt relief deal with the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF). The agreement, announced on April 10, 2025, in a ceremony held in Kuwait, is being celebrated as a critical step forward in Somalia’s ambitious economic reform programme. This deal […]