Ethiopia
Italy to Stage Exhibition to Enhance Exchange of Agricultural Technologies to Africa, Beyond
The Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa announced that an exhibition aimed at enhancing exchange of agricultural technologies to countries in Africa and beyond will be held at Fiera Bologna from 9 to 13 November 2022.  Read More

Ethiopia, Djibouti Discuss Bilateral Trade Ties
A delegation led by Ethiopian Minister of Finance, Ahmed Shide, paid an official visit to Djibouti. Read more 

Finance State Minister Holds Discussion with Different Officials, Investors
State Minister of Finance Eyob Tekalign held a fruitful discussion with different officials and investors on the sidelines of the Paris Forum. Read More

Ethiopia Calls Creditors to Step up Efforts to Finalize G20 Framework for Debt Treatment
Ethiopia called on creditors to step up their efforts to finalize the G20 common framework for debt treatment by establishing a clear timeline. Read More 

Kenya
Treasury Targets Special Courts for KRA Tax Disputes
The Treasury is seeking the creation of a Tax Court within the Judiciary to speed up the settlement of disputes between taxpayers and the Kenya Revenue Authority. Read More

Nairobi Water Prices to Rise by Up To 40 Percent
Water bills for homes and businesses in Nairobi are set to rise up to 40 percent if the regulator agrees to a fresh tariff review, setting the stage for a further squeeze on household budgets. Read More

NHIF Members to Access Private Clinics
The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will allow members to directly access consultant doctors and private pharmacies in a move aimed at widening treatment options and keeping a lid on costs. Read More

Defaulters Risk Auction in Lipa Na M-Pesa Loan
Safaricom will deploy debt collectors to pursue unpaid loans in its planned zero-interest credit service that will allow millions of its customers to shop for goods worth up to KES 100,000 (approx. USD 850) and pay later. Read More

Rwanda
Call for Incentives as Rwanda and Netherlands Shift from Aid to Trade
This year marks the end of Netherlands’ financial aid to Rwanda as the two countries move to boost trade to support Rwanda realise its ambition of becoming self-reliant. Read More

Government to Start Paying Health Centres in Advance
The government of Rwanda is set to start implementing the ‘Capitation Model’ for the Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI). Capitation is a form of payment where health service providers receive a fixed amount of money upfront for each person that uses the CBHI. Read More

Africa Bio-Manufacturing Institute Works to Kick off in Kigali
Rwanda is engaging a host of higher learning institutions to help train, re-skill and upskill professionals in the bio-manufacturing industry. Read More

Commodity Prices Rise By 13.7 Percent
The prices of goods and services increased by 13.7 percent in June 2022 compared to the same month last year, and 0.8 percent increase on a monthly basis, according to National Institute of Statistics. Read More

Tanzania
Chinese Products Attract Visitors to Tanzania's Largest Trade Fair
Tens of hundreds of local and foreign visitors to the 46th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair are flocking to the Chinese pavilion to seek information on a range of products on display. Read More

DSE Forecasts Robust Recovery
Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (DSE) is looking at a strong recovery this year after experiencing one of the lowest activities ever recorded of TZS 104 billion (approx. USD 45 million) last year. Read More

NMB CEO Zaipuna Gets Top Continental Business Leadership Award
The Chief Executive Officer of NMB Bank, Ms Ruth Zaipuna, has been awarded the prestigious ‘African Business Leadership Commendation Award’ for 2022 for her outstanding stewardship of the top lender in the country. Read More

Shandong Entreprises to Sign Deals with Local Firms
The seminar is scheduled for next Saturday through social media platforms to reach many young entrepreneurs. A total of 53 entreprises from Shandong Province in China are participating in the Dar es Salaam 46 International Trade Fair to tap and cement business deals with Tanzania companies. Read More

Uganda
Uganda Sets the Standards for Africa in Renewable Power
Uganda is providing a robust example to the rest of the continent when it comes to renewable power initiatives, says the CEO of the country's Electricity Regulatory Authority. Read More

Kenya and Uganda Cry Foul as Reality of New Taxes Checks In
Just a week after the new East African Community common external tariff band came into force, businesses are already feeling the pinch and crying foul over the “unintended consequences” of the regime. Read More

Diageo One Goes Live in Uganda
Uganda Breweries, a subsidiary of the Nairobi-based East African Breweries, has unveiled a self-service online portal dubbed Diageo One to easily reach retailers as it strives to cut operational costs and maximise revenue generation. Read More

Algeria
Event Planned to Promote Trade with Algeria
A virtual conference will be held on 13 and 14 July to promote trade and business links between Vietnamese localities, enterprises and cooperatives with potential partners in Algeria. Read More

Egypt
Month-on-Month Inflation in Egypt Records Negative Rate for First Time in 2022
The Cabinet declared that month-on-month inflation in urban areas dropped for the first time in six months in spite of the continuing repercussions of the Russia-Ukraine War, attributing this to not suspending under-progress mega national projects and taking measures aimed at expanding the share of the private sector in the economy. Read More

Egypt Eyes Investment in 3 Basic Sectors in South Sudan
Egypt's Ambassador to Juba Moataz Mostafa Abdel Qader met earlier this week with South Sudanese Minister of Trade and Industry Kuol Athian as the country eyes investment opportunities in the neighboring state's sectors of animal and fish production, food processing, mining, and pharmaceuticals. Read More

Egypt in Talks with UAE over Bi-Fuel Pickup Cars Manufacturing
Minister of State for Military Production Mohamed Ahmed Morsi discussed with board chairman of UAE's M Glory Holding company Majida al Azazi and a number of company officials boosting bilateral cooperation. Read More

Egypt’s Gov’t Reveals Public Investments Acquire Largest Share Thanks to National Projects
The economic and social development plan for the new fiscal year 2022/2023, submitted by the Minister of Planning, Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, revealed that public investments acquired the largest share of 78.6 percent, distributed among the authorities, and the private sector obtained the remaining 21.4 percent of the total directed investments. Read More

Morocco
German Consulting Firm ILF Wins Tender for Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline
The German company ILF Consulting Engineers is now in charge of managing consulting for the second phase of the feasibility studies for the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP), the second-largest pipeline in the world. Read More

OCP Group to Establish New Chemicals Company ‘OCP Nutricrops’
Morocco’s phosphate and fertilizer giant OCP Group has obtained the green light from the government to create a new company with a capital of MAD 13.8 billion (USD 1.3 billion), assembling a number of its subsidiaries engaged in chemical activities. Read More

Morocco’s Fintech Landscape Is ‘Dynamic’ Despite Being Small
Despite its relatively small size, Morocco’s fintech sector is growing and proving to be a “dynamic market” with potential for far more success in the future. Read More

FAO: Morocco’s Cereal Production to Drop by 68.4 Percent in 2022
Due to the adverse weather at the onset of this year’s agriculture campaign, Morocco’s total cereal production is set to average 3.3 million tons, a 68.4 percent year-on-year drop. Read More

Gold Rush in Nkhata Bay
Gold mining activities have taken centre stage in some areas surrounding Tukombo Trading Centre in Nkhata Bay District, where people are selling the precious stone to both local and international buyers. Read More

Macra Establishes Toll-Free Call Centre
The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) has established a toll-free customer call centre. Through the call centre, Macra seeks to attend to enquiries and deal with complaints which have not been resolved by communications service providers. Read More

DFC Grants NBS USD 5 Million for MSME
The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Board of Directors recently approved a USD 5 million loan guarantee to Malawi, which aims at furthering micro, small and medium enterprise development. Read More

Concentrated Export Basket Worries Firms
The Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry says the country’s overreliance on unprocessed agricultural products and few markets for export has proven to be a strain on the economy. Read More

Mozambique
Mobile Wallets M-Pesa, mKesh and e-Mola are Now Interconnected
The three mobile wallets in use in Mozambique are now interconnected under an agreement signed by the operators holding the services, the central bank announced. Read More

Cabo Delgado Business Council Urges Economic Agents to Resume Activities
The Cabo Delgado provincial Business Council last week urged business people to resume their activities in areas once affected by terrorism, but where security has now been restored. Read More

South Africa
Standard Bank Drops Mandatory Covid Vaccines in South Africa – as New CCMA Ruling Calls Them ‘Unconstitutional’
Standard Bank has withdrawn its Covid-19 vaccination policy with immediate effect, with approximately 95 percent of its employees already vaccinated.  Read More

Work from Home will Lead to Changes in Leave and Time Off in South Africa
As more South African businesses shift to a hybrid and work-from-home model they face increased questions around leave and time off. Read More
 

Nigeria
Fidelity Bank disburses NGN 100 billion loan to SMEs in H1, 2022
Fidelity Bank has disbursed over NGN 100 billion (approx. USD 241 million) loans to Small and Medium Enterprises in the real sector in the first half of the year. Read More

Energy Prices: Manufacturers Raise Alarm over Imminent Industry Collapse
As the rising cost of diesel alongside poor electricity supply and lingering foreign exchange challenges takes a toll on the manufacturing sector, operators have raised the alarm about imminent collapse of the productive sector, if the government does not provide any form of intervention. Read More

Neimeth to Fund New Multi-Product Facility with NGN 3.67 Billion Rights Issue
Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc has stated that the NGN 3.67 billion (approx. USD 8.8 million) rights issue will be deployed into the construction of a new multi-products facility to comply with the World Health Organisation standards of Good Manufacturing Practice at Amawbia in Anambra State. Read More

Macron Re-Appoints Rabiu as FNBC President
Founder and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has been re-appointed as President of the France Nigeria Business Council by President Emmanuel Macron of France. Read More