Yaoundé, Cameroon — The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) commences in Yaoundé, marking the first such event hosted on the African continent. The Least Developed Countries (LDC) Group has presented its Ministerial Declaration, highlighting priorities such as LDC graduation, agriculture, e-commerce moratorium renewal, intellectual property rights, and WTO reform on special and differential treatment. A new focus on trade and the environment reflects LDCs’resistance to environmental preservation reforms like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
In Johannesburg, South Africa, the sixth South Africa Investment Conference (SAIC) is set to take place on March 31. Trade, Industry, and Competition Minister Parks Tau reassures that the conference will proceed despite geopolitical challenges. Since the first investment conference in 2018, South Africa has garnered R1.56-trillion in investment pledges.
In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Infrastructure has inspected the Kwala Dry Port project, noting its contribution to easing cargo congestion at the Dar es Salaam Port. Meanwhile, disruptions linked to the Iran war have rerouted luxury cars destined for Dubai to Lamu Port in Kenya, illustrating the impact of geopolitical events on global shipping routes.
Source: tralac Daily News, Engineering News, SAnews, Daily News, Business Insider Africa, Daily News
