The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is supporting the African Union, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and member States to ensure that the potentials of the continent’s blue economy are fully realised, according to ECA’s Southern Africa director Said Adejumobi
Finance
AfDB and MCB launch African Domestic Bond Fund
The ADBF arose out of the Bank’s African Financial Markets Initiative (AFMI), which aims to strengthen African economies by reducing their dependency on foreign currency. (Image source: Roo Reynolds/Flickr)
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and Mauritius Commercial Bank Group (MCB) have launched the African Domestic Bond Fund (ADBF) ahead of its listing on the Stock Exchange of Mauritius Ltd on 18 September 2018
Sugar tariffs to provide relief against imports in South Africa

The South African Sugar Association will engage with International Trade and Administration Commission and other relevant stakeholders to look at the long term sustainability of the industry. (Image source: Kirk Kittell/Flickr)
The recently endorsed International Trade and Administration Commission (ITAC) recommendation to adjust the sugar and increase import duty of US$680 per tonne will provide the immediate relief required by the industry and protection against the surge of imports, said Ncumisa Mcata-Mhlauli, chief director for agro-processing at the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti)
Orange invests in South African payment service Yoco

Yoco’s mPOS allows merchants to accept card payments using a smartphone or tablet. (Image source: lau rey/Flickr)
Orange Digital Ventures Africa, the Orange Group’s venture capital investment fund for Africa, has made a second investment in one of the continent’s most promising fintech companies, the South African Yoco
ITFC signs two financing agreements to support Egypt’s main sectors
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) has signed two new agreements with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) and the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC) initiating the utilisation of the fifth framework agreement