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african continental free trade area afcftalatest news & developments
Upward trajectory: Kenyan president William Ruto and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during Ruto’s state visit to South Africa. South Africa’s exports to Kenya grew by 18.9%
compared with 93.3% for imports. Photo: GCIS

SA integrating well in African commerce

Under Ramaphosa, the country’s trade with other regional powers on the continent is growing — but unevenness must be addressed

Great gift: Africa, a continent of contradiction, where conflict and innovation, fragility and possibility, poverty
and resilience live side by side.

Africa has a gift the world still needs

The demographic case is equally striking. More than 60% of Africans are under 25. By 2050, one in three people aged 15 to 24 anywhere on Earth will be African. A continent this…

Role model: The Dangote refinery in Nigeria is a reminder that African ambition can materialise under the right conditions. Photo: Dangote Industries

Africa can survive global shock

The Dangote refinery in Nigeria offers a reminder that African ambition can materialise when the enabling environment and project size meet. AfCFTA’s promise is to replicate…

Kenyan President William Ruto says bilateral trade between Kenya and Tanzania is expected to surpass $1bn in 2026, citing growing investment, regional integration and stronger East African Community ties

Ruto projects $1 billion Kenya–Tanzania trade milestone in 2026 as ties deepen

Kenyan President William Ruto says bilateral trade between Kenya and Tanzania is expected to surpass $1bn in 2026, citing growing investment, regional integration and stronger…

Global disruption: A Navy destroyer in the US Central Command area of operations transits the Strait of Hormuz on April 11. Photo: US Central Command

Iran war a reset  moment for Africa

Closure of Strait of Hormuz can be used as a strategic opportunity to enhance regional cooperation in Africa without further complicating its already strained relationship with…

The latest projections indicate a historic fuel price surge, with diesel set to rise by more than R8 per litre and petrol by more than R5 per litre.

The April fuel cliff: Why South Africa’s policy paralysis costs us more than the Middle East war

This breakdown reveals that a significant portion of the fuel price sits within domestic policy control. The government cannot stop a war in the Middle East but it can intervene…

If the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is to translate into real commercial activity, this financial architecture has to grow with it.

How finance can help build more integrated African supply chains

Regional trade becomes expensive to finance when too much of the transaction sits in separate systems that do not talk to each other

Within the SACU region, there is supposed to be free movement of agricultural goods, with a few exceptions, including national security and when there are crop and animal diseases. (Madelene Cronje)

The challenge of regional agricultural trade

Within the SACU region, there is supposed to be free movement of agricultural goods, with a few exceptions, including national security and when there are crop and animal diseases

African growth: African growth: From left, Luvuyo Masinda, CEO
Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking, Transnet COO Solly
Letsoalo,, Deputy Finance Minister David Masondo, Zen Dlamini, Head
of Infrastructure and Public Sector Client Coverage, Group CEO Sim
Tshabalala and Mameetse Masemola, Acting Head of Infrastructure SA.
Photo: Marco De Agostino

Africa’s infrastructure gap can boost economic growth

As Africa urbanises and grows, the need for infrastructure investment will increase