Import/Export contributor articles in Africa

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When local becomes lekker for the economy

The notion of buying local doesn't extend to all products and services. We produce and manufacture many things in Namibia, including cars, however, with certain things it's impossible to buy local...

By Llewellyn le Hané 6 Jun 2019

Chocolate puts Ivory Coast on top in Africa's agriculture trade

Chocolate can certainly get one some brownie points, and no way is this truer than in Ivory Coast which in 2018 reported the largest agricultural trade balance in value terms in Africa, an amount of $5.1bn...

By Wandile Sihlobo 10 May 2019

SA's fruit industry - Doing more with less

Doing more with less is a theme that's found its way into the narratives of all our economic sectors, in one way or another. The agricultural sector - and the fruit industry - has certainly not been spared, especially when it comes to the dwindling natural resource of water...

By Konanani Liphadzi 12 Apr 2019

#AfricaMonth: How Shoprite trailblazed trading in Africa

The Shoprite Group has trailblazed trading in Africa in many respects. Since kicking off its expansion into the continent in 1990, the retailer now has its footprints firmly planted in over 460 locations across 14 African countries...

By Lauren Hartzenberg 24 May 2018

Nigeria's VoomNow starts exporting local produce

Nigerian assisted shopping startup VoomNow has started exporting local produce to the United States (US), making local food stuffs such as catfish, egusi and noodles available...

By Tom Jackson 13 Oct 2017

#FreshConnections: The realities of trading in Africa

It's often agreed that the trickiest part of the supply chain is not the sourcing, but getting the product to the consumer...

By Lauren Hartzenberg 18 Aug 2017

#AfricaMonth: Internal trade barriers show signs of falling

While the road ahead may still present significant challenges, some of Africa's most long-standing internal trade barriers are beginning to show signs of falling. We interview David Williams, Maersk Line Africa chief executive and global head of Safmarine to find out more...

By Ilse van den Berg 30 May 2017

New head leads Fairtrade Label SA in achieving 2017 goals

Leán Muller has recently been appointed as the new head to direct Fairtrade Label in accomplishing the vast goals it has set for 2017...

By Cari Coetzee 24 May 2017

[Source Africa 2015] Africa en vogue

Africa is certainly the next big thing when it comes to trading partners for the US, and the recent reauthorisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for another 10 years has just made it even hotter...

By Nicci Botha 11 Jun 2015

[2013 trends] Africa's dynamic markets

The year 2013 for most brands, especially the ones coping with saturated markets in developed countries, will be a decisive one. Incorporating Africa into their corporate brand strategy, if they haven't done so, will be the better part of valour, so to speak.

By Obaika Consulting Team 31 Jan 2013

[2013 trends] It is no longer business as usual

No matter how slow off the mark, we have all come to the realisation that, no matter what line of business we are in, drastic measures are needed in order for us to not only increase market share but also to survive. It is not, however, all doom and gloom and for those who are embracing innovation and prepared to experiment with new ideas, a lot of opportunity awaits to reconnect with consumers and rise above the negative economic factors.

By Dave Nemeth 30 Jan 2013

COMESA Summit ends, new chair appointed

The 15th COMESA (Common Market for East and Southern Africa) Summit of Heads of State and Governments came to an end on Saturday 15 October 2011 with the announcement of the newly appointed chairman of COMESA, Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika.

By Gregory Gondwe 17 Oct 2011

Africa's five major trends for potential growth

Population growth, rapid urbanisation, adoption of new technologies, unlocking of abundant resources and the deepening of the financial sector are the five major trends that are set to drive Africa's economic growth, Simon Freemantle, Standard Bank Africa senior analyst, told a media roundtable in Johannesburg, South Africa, yesterday, Thursday 6 October 2011.

By Issa Sikiti da Silva 7 Oct 2011

BRICS stimulate Angola's economic awakening

From a sleeping giant disabled by the ghosts of war, socio-political intolerance, neo-colonialism and human exploitation, Angola has risen to become one of Africa's emerging economic heavyweights and is now at a crossroads of history. Research shows that BRICS - Brazil, (the main culprit), China, India, and lately South Africa and to a minor extent Russia - feature strongly in the list of countries that are driving Angola's rise to the riches.

By Issa Sikiti da Silva 24 Aug 2011

Malawi asks US to soften AGOA conditions

Malawi's position paper presented at the 10th African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum in Lusaka, Zambia has asked the US government to simplify its import approval procedures - without in any way sacrificing safety - in order to facilitate greater trade from Africa.

By Gregory Gondwe 13 Jun 2011

Kenya now brands its tea

Tea, Kenya's leading export, is set for a massive branding initiative that will be used to identify and promote the tea in local and international markets. Towards this end, the Tea Board of Kenya has appointed the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KeBS) to implement a globally recognised mark of origin for Kenyan tea.

By Carole Kimutai 10 Jun 2011

US, China tussle over Africa: governments warned to exercise caution

As African governments spread their wings to embrace China's no-strings-attached ideological and economic involvement in Africa at the expense of the US, experts urge the continent to guard against a 'simplistic shift' in allegiance from west to east, according to a Standard Bank Economic Strategy report released on Monday, 14 March 2011.

By Issa Sikiti da Silva 15 Mar 2011

Africa's engagement with China, India reshapes global economy - report

Africa's engagement with China, India and other Asian economies is a new megatrend that will reshape the global economy for years and decades to come, as Africa gradually moves away from the West and heads towards high-growth economies of the East, according to a recent report released by MasterCard Worldwide Insights.

By Issa Sikiti da Silva 8 Feb 2011

Surge in Zim retail imports triggers concern

Zimbabwe's central bank has called on government to halt what it called "deindustrialisation through over-reliance on imports of finished goods" after the distribution and retail sector accounted for the biggest jump in imports by value during the half year to June.

By Dumisani Ndlela 11 Aug 2010

Zim contends with strong rand to avoid food shortage

To control or not to control food imports from South Africa has become the single major headache for the Zimbabwe government, now facing spiralling inflation after a disinflationary period in 2009.

By Dumisani Ndlela 16 Jul 2010

It doesn’t look that dangerous, does it… The MetOp-A satellite imagery from April 20 showed Eyjafjallajökull's ash plume as a very small, faint area (yellow arrow points to plume) of brown on Iceland's southern tip. (Image: NASA/NOAA/EUMETSAT)

Delayed by volcano

The eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano had a massive impact on many spheres - from the airlines, to events, to travel, to health, import and exports, and more, and its impact is likely to be felt for a long time - and that's even should the eruption cease completely - which it hasn't!

By Rod Baker 29 Apr 2010

[Festival of Media] Colombian coffee meets the challenge

VALENCIA, SPAIN: Colombia produces some of the best coffee in the world - though in the view of the Colombians themselves, their coffee is the best. However, they had to face the challenge of making that known to the rest of the world. How they did it was related at the Festival of Media 2010.

By Rod Baker 21 Apr 2010

Cameroon courts SA investors

The Republic of Cameroon, the largest economy in central Africa and sub-Saharan Africa's 7th biggest economy, is at crossroads and looking to redirect itself to the path of economic diversity by calling on South African investors for help amid the heat of the global recession.

By Issa Sikiti da Silva 23 Oct 2009

Finlay shuts down Mara Mara factory

James Finlay (Kenya), a local tea extracts manufacturing firm, has announced the commencement of a phased shutting down of its Mara Mara Tea Extracts factory located in Kericho, Rift Valley. Finlay's sales volumes have been affected by the economic downturn and increasing competition from lower cost production centres.

By Carole Kimutai 5 Oct 2009

No cheers for Zim wines and spirits

It's no longer cheers for local wine and spirit lovers. Come August, they will pay more for wines and spirits, after finance minister Tendai Biti increased customs duty on these products.

By Dumisani Ndlela 20 Jul 2009

Air Malawi, Jo'burg partner for shopping festival

The financially struggling Air Malawi has struck a deal with South Africa's City of Johannesburg to allow interested Malawians to benefit from the 2009 Jo'burg Shopping Festival scheduled for 1 - 30 September 2009.

By Gregory Gondwe 17 Jul 2009

Zim banks to import foreign cash

Zimbabwe's central bank has ordered banks to start importing foreign currency from their nostro accounts as banks began grappling with increasing demand for foreign cash, bankers said. A nostro account is a bank account established in a foreign country for the purpose of holding that country's currency.

By Sam Hungwe 20 Feb 2009

Malawian companies to participate in Chinese Trade Fair

Malawi Export Promotion Council (MEPC) has said it will participate in the African Commodities Trade Fair scheduled for early September this year.

By Gregory Gondwe 27 Aug 2008

Malawi government takes over trading of maize

Malawi government has taken over trading of maize in the country after private traders have been found hoarding the commodity in order to capitalise on the impending high demand towards the end of the year.

By Gregory Gondwe 26 Aug 2008

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