Africa: AfCFTA Success Depends On Regional Integration of Public Good-Report
July 21, 2021--The African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET) has stated in its African Transformation Report 2021 that countries in the continent should look beyond trade and markets and collaborate in delivering regional public good.
This, it noted was to ensure the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and achieve growth in their respective economies.
The report titled, "Integrating to Transform, stated: "But while past regional integration efforts have often struggled, Africa's transformation requires much more progress on regional integration.
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Source: allafrica.com
Nigeria's Inflation Drops to 17.75 Percent in June-NBS
July 16, 2021--The National Bureau of Statistics says the consumer price index, (CPI) which measures inflation (rate of change in the increase in prices) increased by 17.75 per cent (year-on-year) in June 2021.
This is said to be 0.18 percentage points lower than the rate recorded in May 2021 (17.93) per cent.
This implies that prices continued to rise in June 2021 but at a slightly slower rise than it did in May 2021).
The corresponding twelve-month year-on-year average percentage change for the urban index was 16.51 per cent in June 2021.
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Source: allafrica.com
Southern Africa: South Africa Dependency Threatens Zimbabwe's Economy
July 16, 2021--The violent events that unfolded in South Africa this past week present renewed purpose for some serious soul searching by Zimbabwe's economic decision makers on how to model the economy out of the dependency on its neighbor to the south for raw materials and other essentials, economic experts have said.
South Africa's KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng provinces-two strategic economic areas- burst into mayhem this week as looters ransacked major retail shops, banks and warehouses with loses to businesses expected to peak into billions of Rands.
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Source: allafrica.com
Violence gives South African markets a reality check
July 14, 2021--South Africa unemployment one of highest in the world
South Africa's worst unrest in years threatens to derail one of this year's star emerging market performers and highlights the chronic joblessness and poverty papered over by a short-term export boom.
The rand tumbled as much as 3.4% this month and hit a more than three-month low, stocks of property firms and retailers dropped as much as 7% in a single day and sovereign bonds sold off after more than 70 people were killed in unrest and looting that erupted following the jailing of ex-president Jacob Zuma.
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Source: zawya.com
South Africa Economic Update: South Africa's Labor Market Can Benefit from Young Entrepreneurs, Self-Employment
July 12, 2021--The thirteenth edition of the South Africa Economic Update, Building back better from COVID-19, with a special focus on jobs, examines how supporting young entrepreneurs could be one of the ways the country could address, unemployment, among its other pressing social challenge in an environment of weakened economic growth.
The Economic Update expects South Africa's growth to rebound to 4% in 2021, the fastest pace in over a decade, bouncing back from last year's deep contraction of 7%. However, medium-term prospects for higher and more inclusive growth remain constrained. Growth is expected to slow down to 2.1% in 2022 and to 1.5% in 2023.
view the World Bank-Building Back Better from COVID-19 with a Special Focus on Jobs report
Source: World Bank
Nigeria: Stock Market Reverses Gains As Investors Book Profits
July 12, 2021--The stock market closed last week on negative note as the positive sentiments of the previous week could not be sustained.
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Source: allafrica.com
Nigeria: Blockchain Technology Has the Potential to Add $29 Billion to Nigeria's GDP By 2030
July 12, 2021--New research by Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EFInA) finds that blockchain technology can address barriers to financial inclusion in Nigeria and substantially boost Nigeria's economy, potentially adding $29 billion to Nigeria's GDP in this decade.
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Source: allafrica.com
Nigeria: Nigerian Stocks Deepen Loss By U.S.$601 Million As Investors Take Profit
July 10, 2021--The all-share index toppled by 475.68 basis points to close at 37,994.19.
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Source: allafrica.com
How a Great Green Wall could help Africa combat climate change
June 18, 2021--The Great Green Wall initiative aims to restore land, sequester carbon and create jobs in some of the poorest communities in the world, where climate change is hitting the hardest.
The project began as a reforestation initiative, but has grown into a broader and more ambitious plan for ecological, economic and social development.
The future of the Great Green Wall will rely on the project's ability to innovate. It needs to move into new areas, encouraging communities to switch to renewable energy and encouraging 'ecopreneurship'.
The Great Green Wall initiative is a reforestation project that aims to transform the lives of millions living on the frontline of the climate crisis. The goals of this African-led project are to restore 100 million hectares of land, sequester 250 million tonnes of carbon and create 10 million green jobs in rural areas. Once complete, the Great Green Wall will be the largest living structure on the planet, three times the size of the Great Barrier Reef.
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Source: World Economic Forum (WEF)
Africa: Nigeria-South Africa Trade Hits U.S.$2.9 Billion
June 16, 2021--The volume of trade between Nigeria and South Africa hit $2.9 billion last year with expectation of it rising further with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement.
Nigeria's Consul General, Malik Abdul, in a statement noted that Nigeria accounts for 64 per cent of South Africa's trade in West Africa and is one of his country's top three sources of crude oil.
He further added that in 2020, South Africa imported R35 billion ($2.48 billion) worth of goods, predominantly crude oil from Nigeria and exported R6 billion ($425milion) to Nigeria.
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Source: allafrica.com