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<p>Amid global trade volatility, building resilience for African economies remains paramount. This episode of Focus On explores how Special Economic Zones operating under the African Continental Free Trade Area could enhance Africa&#8217;s global competitiveness, export diversification and increase exports of high-value-added manufactured goods.</p>


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Focus On: Bolstering African Economies Through Special Economic Zones

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<p>Kelvin Rwihimba, CEO of Minetech has  developed a smart sensor system to prevent mining accidents. With 150 cooperatives on the waitlist, Rwanda could be leading a mining safety revolution.</p>


Focus On: Mastering AI for growth with Minetech

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<p>In an intimate conversation with Reeta Roy on this episode of Transcending Boundaries, Ireland’s first female president and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, H.E. Mary Robinson, reflects on her remarkable career in human rights and climate justice. Join them as they discuss her journey of championing gender equality and global peace.</p>


In conversation with former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson

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<p>Analysts expect investors in Nigeria&#8217;s equities market to balance recent gains with an eye on some consumer goods stocks. Callista Chileke, an Investment Research Analyst at ARM Securities, joins CNBC Africa for a market review and outlook.</p>


Will profit-taking in consumer goods tilt Nigeria equities?

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<p>From the Regional Conference on Special Economic Zones hosted in Djibouti by the AfCFTA Secretariat, we bring you this panel discussion on the topic &#8220;Advancing Meaningful Trade: SEZs as one of the AfCFTA’s relevant instruments in advancing the development of Intra-African Trade&#8221;.</p>


Focus On: Advancing Meaningful Trade Through Special Economic Zones

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<p>Positioning Gauteng as the engine of Africa’s growth is critical to unlocking South Africa’s economic potential. This highlights special reflects on the Gauteng Investment Conference which convened government leaders, international investors, and business executives to explore strategies that will drive sustainable development, industrial expansion, and infrastructure investment in the province.</p>


Investing in Gauteng: The Engine of Africa’s Growth

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<p>Investors have their attention fixed on today’s 400-billion-naira T-bills auction. On the bond side, cherry-picking is observed particularly in the mid-dated maturities, with emphasis on the 2033 paper. Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund in its World Economic Outlook projects Nigeria&#8217;s inflation will average 26.5 per cent this year and 37 per cent in 2026. Kolawole Komolafe, Treasury Team Member at Access Bank joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


Access: Investors shift focus to mid-week PMA


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-523855" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/GettyImages-1258656549-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Wamkele Mene, secretary-general of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), during a Bloomberg Television interview at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa event in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023. The event brings together leaders in the private and public sectors to discuss the world&#8217;s most pressing issues and evaluate potential solutions in the context of local and regional priorities. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>



<p>African Continental Free Trade Agreement Secretary General Wamkele Mene says African countries must unify trade policies in order to deal with the disruption caused by U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariffs.</p>



<p>“The good news out of this crisis is that our heads of states understand that there is not a single market in Africa that will survive on its own,’’ Mene told CNBC Africa in an interview. ’’We are not going to be able to negotiate bilaterally successfully. I think that&#8217;s clear. We will have to leverage on our combined efforts, our combined market size, market share, and combined population size.’’</p>



<p>President Trump has slapped tariffs on almost every country in the world, complaining they have been taking advantage of the world’s largest economy’s openness for trade. Economists have however questioned the methodology used to arrive at the tariffs which saw the small mountain kingdom of Lesotho slapped with the highest tariff rate at 50 percent under Trump’s ‘reciprocal’ tariffs.</p>



<p>While most countries have sought to negotiate, China, the world’s second largest economy has retaliated with 125% tariffs on the U.S. after it jacked up the initial tariffs to 145%.</p>



<p>The tariffs on Africa have called into question the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) under which a number of African countries enjoyed duty free access to U.S. markets. The pact is due for renewal this year.</p>



<p>Mene said AGOA was practically dead anyway, given the sweeping nature of President Trump’s tariffs.</p>



<p>“I think if we look at the measures that the U.S. introduced, both the tariff and non-tariff measures, AGOA is no longer alive,’’ Mene said. “What we should always remember, though, is that it was a unilateral preference.’’</p>



<p>He said the disruption caused by the tariffs was going to hurt countries like South Africa and Nigeria, the continent’s largest economies as well as smaller ones like Lesotho, Madagascar, Angola and Kenya. But he suggests the continent should use the opportunity to diversify its markets and strengthen intra-African trade, which remains the lowest among global regions at under 20 percent.</p>



<p>He cited the example of Ethiopia which doubled its exports after being kicked out of AGOA by partnering with China.</p>



<p>‘’The benevolence of others is not going to get us anywhere. We&#8217;ve got to very, very quickly redouble our efforts to build this domestic market because we can&#8217;t rely on others.’’</p>



<p>To accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA, Mene said African Ministers of Trade are looking at ways of simplifying the ‘’complicated method’’ used to reduce tariffs among member countries which was negotiated in 2017. ‘’It’s a very different world to today. So, how do we make sure that we have a liberalization modality that takes account for where we are, the reality of today?,’’ he said lamenting the $50 billion African countries expend annually to import grain when it has grain exporters.</p>


Key Speakers at New Economy Gateway Africa Event

AfCFTA Secretary General Calls for Unified African Trade Policy as Trump Tariffs Hit


<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="462" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico-820x462.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-420118" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico-820x462.jpeg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico-160x90.jpeg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico.jpeg 929w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The new economic measures laid out by the U.K. government “will likely increase inequality”, according to a spokesperson from the International Monetary Fund.
Yuri Gripas | Reuters</figcaption></figure>



<p>The International Monetary Fund has cut its forecast for African economic growth by 0.3 percentage points, citing multiple shocks hitting the continent including U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs across the world.</p>



<p>While lauding resilience across the continent, the Washington-based lender now expects its 54 economies to expand by 3.9 percent this year, down from its October forecast of 4.2 percent, it said in a joint statement by its Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and Hervé Ndoba, the Central African Republic’s Minister of Finance and Budget who is Chair of the African Caucus.</p>



<p>‘’The strong policy actions that have been taken to bring down inflation, stabilize public debt, and reduce external imbalances risk being undone in the face of further shocks,’’ the statement said. &#8220;Risks to the outlook are high amid elevated uncertainty and there are significant differences across countries, with fragile and conflict affected states facing particularly acute challenges.’’</p>



<p>President Trump’s universal tariffs threaten recovering growth across Africa and access to the world’s largest economy through the African Growth and Opportunity Act which is due for renewal this year. Lesotho, derided by Trump as a country nobody has ever heard of, ended with the world’s largest rate at 50 percent.</p>



<p>The continent has struggled to respond, with some countries including Zimbabwe and South Africa saying they would not retaliate and seeking talks, while Kenya has said it is confident it will secure a deal on its own.</p>



<p>The joint statement said African countries will need to intensify domestic reform efforts in the face of the disruption, in order to promote fiscal sustainability while strengthening economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Central banks should cut rates where appropriate to support economic growth, it added.</p>



<p>‘’At the same time, ambitious structural reforms will unlock growth and drive job creation,’’ it said. “The IMF will remain agile in adapting our toolkit, policy advice, and capacity development to respond to emerging challenges, including from more frequent shocks and transformational shifts from digitalization and AI.’’</p>



<p>The IMF said it remained supportive of initiatives like the G20 Common Framework and the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable on debt reduction to help countries battling high debt. World Bank figures show average African government debt to gross domestic product ratios remain high at around 60 percent.</p>



<p>The African Caucus, which is made up of African finance ministers and central bank governors, meets with fund management at its annual meetings while the African Consultative Group comprises the Fund Governors of a subset of 12 African countries who are members of the African Caucus and only meets at the Spring Meetings.</p>


107004870-16427966702022-01-21t201709z_969185203_rc2w3s99wb9o_rtrmadp_0_argentina-imf-mexico

IMF Cuts 2025 African growth forecast as Trump tariffs disrupt trade

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<p>Digital payment technology has transformed the way we make purchases and handle transactions. But with this rapid advancement comes a rise in new forms of fraud and scams — underscoring the urgent need for strong security measures and continuous consumer awareness. This highlights special explores how consumers can stay secure in an increasingly digital world.</p>


VISA CEMEA Security Summit 2025: Highlights Special

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<p>Join us for an insightful panel discussion on &#8220;AI for All: African Youth Voices Shaping the Future&#8221; as experts, industry leaders, and upcoming innovators share their perspectives on harnessing Artificial Intelligence to drive positive change in Africa.</p>


AI for All: African Youth Voices Shaping the Future

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<p>In this Invest Rwanda episode, we explore the rise of Rwanda&#8217;s capital markets and the impressive growth of the Rwanda Stock Exchange (RSE). Discover how RSE is driving economic development, attracting investment, and positioning Rwanda as a financial hub in East Africa.</p>


Invest Rwanda: The Rise of Rwanda’s Capital Markets

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<p>Buy interest in ACCESSCORP and UNILEVER are driving a bull run at Nigeria’s equities market despite profit-taking activities noted in GTCO, FIRSTHOLDCO and MTN Nigeria. Samuel Oyekanmi, Group Research and Insight Associate at Norrenberger joins CNBC Africa for more market movements.</p>


Will Nigeria’s equities sustain rebound?

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<p>Traders at Access Bank say market momentum slowed sharply following the surprise uptick in March inflation data, tempering risk appetite. Meanwhile, investors remain on the sidelines in anticipation of the second quarter bond issuance calendar release. Emmanuel Orji, Treasury Team Member at Access Bank joins CNBC Africa for more on market sentiments.</p>


Access: Inflation uptick tempers risk appetite

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<p>Join us on Focus On as we explore the Mastercard Foundation&#8217;s innovative efforts to promote AI growth in Africa. Discover how they&#8217;re harnessing the power of AI to drive economic development, create opportunities, and shape the continent&#8217;s future.</p>


Focus On Empowering Africa’s Future: Mastering AI for Growth

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<p>Convenience, digital payments and online services are in demand, this is according to the latest SpendTrend25 report, which provides insights into consumer spending habits in South Africa between 2019 and 2024. This Focus On episode looks at how consumers are spending their money amid growing economic pressures.</p>


Focus On: SpendTrend25 report

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<p>How do we cultivate the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders? Patrick Awuah shares the personal stories and pivotal moments that fueled his mission to cultivate a generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders. He reflects on the power of values-based leadership, the impact of innovative education models, and his vision for unleashing Africa’s boundless potential on the global stage.</p>


CNBC Africa

Focus On: Bolstering African Economies Through Special Economic Zones

Focus On: Mastering AI for growth with Minetech

In conversation with former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson

Will profit-taking in consumer goods tilt Nigeria equities?

Focus On: Advancing Meaningful Trade Through Special Economic Zones

Investing in Gauteng: The Engine of Africa’s Growth

Access: Investors shift focus to mid-week PMA

AfCFTA Secretary General Calls for Unified African Trade Policy as Trump Tariffs Hit

IMF Cuts 2025 African growth forecast as Trump tariffs disrupt trade

VISA CEMEA Security Summit 2025: Highlights Special

AI for All: African Youth Voices Shaping the Future

Invest Rwanda: The Rise of Rwanda’s Capital Markets

Will Nigeria’s equities sustain rebound?

Access: Inflation uptick tempers risk appetite

Focus On Empowering Africa’s Future: Mastering AI for Growth

Focus On: SpendTrend25 report

Patrick Awuah on cultivating a generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders

News Tips

Advertise With Us

CNBC Africa

Focus On: Bolstering African Economies Through Special Economic Zones

Focus On: Mastering AI for growth with Minetech

In conversation with former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson

Will profit-taking in consumer goods tilt Nigeria equities?

Focus On: Advancing Meaningful Trade Through Special Economic Zones

Investing in Gauteng: The Engine of Africa’s Growth

Access: Investors shift focus to mid-week PMA

AfCFTA Secretary General Calls for Unified African Trade Policy as Trump Tariffs Hit

IMF Cuts 2025 African growth forecast as Trump tariffs disrupt trade

VISA CEMEA Security Summit 2025: Highlights Special

AI for All: African Youth Voices Shaping the Future

Invest Rwanda: The Rise of Rwanda’s Capital Markets

Will Nigeria’s equities sustain rebound?

Access: Inflation uptick tempers risk appetite

Focus On Empowering Africa’s Future: Mastering AI for Growth

Focus On: SpendTrend25 report

Patrick Awuah on cultivating a generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders

News Tips

Advertise With Us

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