New Trade Deal between SADC, EU now Effective
On 10 October 2016, the SADC-EPA entered into provisional application between the EU and Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Mozambique is in the process of ratifying the EPA and will start applying the EPA once procedures are completed. Angola is an observer. Under the SADC EPA, the EU will grant Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, and Swaziland 100% free access to its market. The new SADC-EPA agreement replaces the TDCA which had been in effect since 2004. The EU has also fully or partially removed customs duties on 98.7% of imports coming from South Africa. The SADC EPA states do not have to respond with the same level of market opening. Instead, they can keep tariffs on products sensitive to international competition. The Southern African Customs Union (SACU) removes customs duties on only around 86% of imports from the EU. Outside EPAs, the EU has never agreed before to such a degree of asymmetry in any free trade agreement. (Source: EU Press Release)
27 African Countries Adopt the Marrakesh Declaration
Twenty-seven African countries have adopted the Marrakesh Declaration, which consolidates these countries’ commitment to placing the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) at the heart of 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) negotiations. The Marrakesh Declaration outlines the actions and objectives that the countries are committed to endorsing the principle of a larger, more effective and efficient public and private funding. It also looks at the principle of monitoring the funds disbursed for the AAA, with an easier access to climate funds for African projects. Countries would be expected to contribute to actions and solutions through the Global Climate Action Agenda and any other related framework, highlighting African projects and good practices in such fields as soil management (including carbon storage in soils), agricultural water control, climate risk management, and funding small farmers, who constitute one of the most vulnerable groups, thereby facilitating access to research in agriculture. (Source: BizCommunity)
AfDB Launches Bespoke Mini Grid Help Desk
The AfDB-hosted Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) Africa Hub has launched a Green Mini-Grid Help Desk for renewable energy mini-grid project developers. According to the AfDB, the ‘help desk’ is intended to provide on-line technical assistance on the myriad of activities important to the business cycle of developing and operating a clean energy mini-grid. (AfDB Press Release)
