News

The perverse relation between regional integration and informal trade in Africa

Tuesday, 20 April 2021 11:35

On 17 April 2021, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) presented, at the 39th ECA Committee of Experts of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development held from 17 to 19 March 2021 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a report with an assessment of the current status of regional integration in Africa.

High road transport costs in Africa as a consequence of imbalanced trade flows

Tuesday, 20 April 2021 08:00

One of the problems that mainly contributes to the high cost of road transport in Africa are the empty trips that are charged by logistics operators to their customers. This is a consequence of the imbalanced nature of trade flows in Africa, as the continent imports much more of what exports, which is common to all the African corridors.

African Union Assembly adopts second phase of PIDA

Saturday, 10 April 2021 06:10

PAP II, the second phase of the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) will include 69 regional infrastructure projects in the Energy, Transport, Trans-Boundary Water and Information and Communication Technology sectors (read our post), for an estimated budget of 161 billion USD and an annual coverage need of US$ 16 bn over the next 10 years, that will include the costs associated with project preparation and implementation, as well as with project operation and maintenance.

Vehicle insurance schemes used in Africa and their possible convergence

Friday, 09 April 2021 10:48

On our blog, thoughts about regional vehicle insurance schemes used in Africa and the possibility to promote their convergence into a continental one to be included into the AfCFTA negotiations in order to reduce transport costs at inter-REC level.

AfCFTA: focus on tariff or non-tariff barriers?

Wednesday, 07 April 2021 12:17

Read our post on the Desiderio Consultants' blog that explores the gains of removing tariffs among African countries vs. the elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).