Prospects for Regional Economic Integration in Africa

Prospects for Regional Economic Integration in Africa

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Africa has over the years, especially since the 1960s, established continental and regional integration bodies and frameworks, that have provided auspices for political and economic milestones. For instance, political decolonisation was achieved in 1994 under the Organisation for African Unity, the African Union was put in place in 2002 and a continental peace and security architecture established 2003, eight regional economic communities were formally recognised in 2006, the COMESA-EAC-SADC…

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The Mining Industry’s Generation of Something New

The Mining Industry’s Generation of Something New

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – A few years after this century’s commodity boom, which was primarily driven by China’s resource-intensive manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, many segments within the global mining industry are facing challenges that have caused severe price declines, increased volatility and lowered utilization levels. To add to this, the current value-chain is being challenged by macroeconomic conditions and increasingly pervasive new technology. As a matter of fact, the digital transformation of mining…

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Fintech Platforms Within a Trade Finance Context

Fintech Platforms Within a Trade Finance Context

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Much has been said about the upcoming “fintech disruption”. About 4 years ago, emerging technology companies identified as “fintechs” were mostly finger-pointed as attempting to create the next wave of competition against established financial institutions (FI’s). At that time, most bankers viewed fintechs as new entrants trying to enter the financial services industry using advanced technologies and innovative business models. Fintechs were perceived as attempting to grab market share…

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U.S. Readies New Tariffs as Trump Says He’ll Meet China’s Xi

U.S. Readies New Tariffs as Trump Says He’ll Meet China’s Xi

NEW YORK (Capital Markets in Africa) – The U.S. prepared to hit China with new tariffs even as President Donald Trump said he’ll meet his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, at next month’s G-20 summit, an encounter that could prove pivotal in a deepening clash over trade. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office Monday released a list of about $300 billion worth of Chinese goods including children’s clothing, toys, mobile phones and laptops that Trump has threatened to hit with a 25%…

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Côte d’Ivoire’s SIR financing highlights innovations in Africa’s debt markets

Côte d’Ivoire’s SIR financing highlights innovations in Africa’s debt markets

ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) – Côte d’Ivoire’s Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), West Africa’s largest oil refinery, has secured a €577mn debt financing which will help it repay historical obligations on crude supply and reduce the interest rate of its stock of debt. The facility will also enable SIR to upgrade its plant and align it to international environmental emissions standards, with a view to business expansion. In recent years, Côte d’Ivoire has put…

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Achieving Growth in Africa: The Challenges and How Trade and Trade Finance Can Help

Achieving Growth in Africa: The Challenges and How Trade and Trade Finance Can Help

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – It has been a difficult time economically for much of Africa over the last few years resulting in, with some exceptions, economic growth that has not lived up to hope or expectation. The reasons for this are many and diverse, differing from country to country and this article will be looking at some of the main challenges facing the continent and attempting to show how trade and trade finance…

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Trade War Piles Pain on China-Exporter Emerging Markets

Trade War Piles Pain on China-Exporter Emerging Markets

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – Just when it looked like things couldn’t get much worse for emerging markets, along comes a trade war. And it’s hitting emerging-market commodity producers and exporters to China especially hard. Take Thailand and South Africa, which each ship about 20 percent of their foreign-bound goods to China. The Thai baht has just reversed year-to-date gains against the dollar, while the South African rand is down 1.9 percent this week,…

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