Africa is often seen as the home of precious gemstones and metals, with the world’s leading jewelry houses sourcing a steady stream of diamonds, gold and other minerals from the continent. But Africa isn’t merely a source for raw materials: A new wave of homegrown jewelry houses is offering
Business
WTO director-general announces surprise resignation amid trying times for trade
The director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Roberto Azevêdo, has resigned, cutting short his second term at the global body by a year. At a virtual meeting of all WTO members held earlier today, Azevêdo, who has held the role for seven years, said that this was a “personal
Covid-19 disrupts African flower producers
African flower producers are struggling as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts supply chains and demand dries up amid national lockdowns. On her company’s farm in the fruit-growing Breede River Valley in the Western Cape, Adene Nieuwoudt’s usually neat dahlia plantations resemble a small jungle. The soft pastel and deep burgundy blooms
UN to boost health tech production for COVID-19
The United Nations Technology Bank, together with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Health Organization (WHO), launched the Tech Access Partnership (TAP) on 13 May as part of a coordinated approach to strengthen developing countries’ responses to COVID-19 and increase access to lifesaving health
Virus drives “unprecedented” levels of EBRD trade finance support
Financing under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD’s) Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) in April topped €500mn for the first time in a single month in its history. This marks the development bank’s second consecutive month of record support for trade as it steps in to protect emerging economies
BACB continues expansion of Anglophone Africa team
British Arab Commercial Bank (BACB) has appointed David Oberheim as director for Anglophone Africa, the team’s second senior hire in a matter of weeks. Reporting to BACB’s head of client coverage, Jeff Fallon, Oberheim says he will help provide “critical support” to businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa affected by the global
COVID-19 puts women working in SIDS tourism industry at risk
Women make up the bulk of mainly low-skilled workers in the tourism industry on small island developing states (SIDS). But are they being catered for and what should be done to protect them from the economic and social fallout from the coronavirus pandemic? The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on
