December 2020 - BlueBlox

Review of Trade and Corruption in Botswana

December 8, 2020 LaetitiaOur Opinion

Botswana has been rated as the least corrupt country in Africa on numerous occasions. Botswana is one of the least corrupt countries in Africa. In 2019, the Transparency International (TI) index has ranked Botswana the second least corrupt country in […]

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New global trade alert system launched to boost market access for developing countries

(Geneva) – A new online alert system designed to help government agencies and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) keep track of the latest information on regulatory requirements for international trade was launched today (8 November) by the United... [...]

Equipping TISIs to drive membership and increase revenues

Enhancing the efficiency of Trade and Investment Support Institutions (TISIs) from across East Africa and beyond was the focus of a two-day workshop held by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce,... [...]

Myanmar to launch Kayah State as tourist destination at World Travel Market 2016

(Geneva) – A little-visisted region of Myanmar is to be launched as a new tourist destination at the World Travel Market 2016, an important tourism trade fair, in London between 7 and 9 November. The launch of Kayah State as a tourist destination is... [...]

Asian exporters to gain better access to Chinese market

Exporters in Bangladesh, Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Nepal are better positioned to access the Chinese market following training from the International Trade Centre (ITC).A series of training workshops organized in each... [...]

ITC and Expertise France launch EU-funded Libya Entrepreneurship Programme

(Paris, Geneva and Tripoli) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) and Expertise France today launched the Libya Entrepreneurship Programme, which will provide six-week online training courses for young and aspiring entrepreneurs in Libya. The programme... [...]

Austria donates EUR 200,000 to support trade-related academic activities

The government of Austria has contributed EUR 200,000 (CHF 215,000) in 2021 to the Global Trust Fund (GTF) dedicated to supporting the new phase of the WTO Chairs Programme. The objective of this initiative is to help academic institutions in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs) build their expertise in trade policy, international trade economics, international relations and international economic law. [...]

Trade Policy Review: India

The seventh review of the trade policies and practices of India takes place on 6 and 8 January 2021. The basis for the review is a report by the WTO Secretariat and a report by the Government of India. [...]

WTO updates report on trade in medical goods in the context of COVID-19

The WTO Secretariat has published an update of the information note on trade in medical goods in the context of tackling COVID-19 which was first issued on 3 April. The update looks at developments that took place in the first half of 2020. [...]

WTO paper explores role of trade policy in the rapid roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines

The WTO Secretariat has published a new information note on trade-related issues for COVID-19 vaccine production, manufacturing and deployment. The note, entitled “Developing and delivering COVID-19 vaccines around the world,” explores how trade policy can play its part in ensuring the rapid roll-out of vaccines against COVID-19. [...]

Australia initiates WTO dispute complaint against Chinese barley duties

Australia has requested WTO dispute consultations with China concerning anti-dumping and countervailing duties imposed by China on imports of Australian barley. The request was circulated to WTO members on 21 December. [...]

Monitoring COVID-19 Impact on Households in Kenya

The COVID-19 pandemic has reached Kenya, creating an urgent need for timely data and evidence to help monitor and mitigate the social and economic effects of the crisis. Responding to this need, a high-frequency phone survey with households was designed and implemented to measure the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 in Kenya. [...]

Rapid Results Initiatives in Niger: Advancing Women’s Health Outcomes

Challenge The fertility rate in Niger is among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa (about seven births per woman). One in seven Nigerien women lost their lives due to pregnancy complications, and thousands more needlessly suffer trauma, infections, diseases, or disabilities that can haunt them for life. Poor feeding practices also contributed to the high prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years old, especially those living in remote and underserved communities. Compounding the challenges were powerful socio-cultural barriers impeding the use of reproductive health services, even when they were available. Furthermore, in districts and areas where there had been gainful… [...]

Increasing Access to Stable, Reliable, and Affordable Energy for the Citizens of the Economic Community of West African States

Challenge The region has important energy resources with one-third of the African gas and oil reserves. This is in addition to over 23,000 Megawatt (MW) of technically exploitable hydropower capacity. However, these resources were unequally distributed with the major sources of electricity supply located far away from the main consumption centers. At the conception of the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) program in 2011, there were specific challenges to Burkina Faso, including reliance on only one existing interconnection with Côte d’Ivoire (100 MW capacity). Additionally, about 90 percent of the population still relied on firewood and charcoal for the bulk… [...]

Increasing Access to Quality Secondary Education to the Poorest Districts: Ghana’s Experience with Results Based Financing in Education

Challenge While Ghana has achieved near universal access to primary and lower secondary education, the gross enrollment rate in higher secondary education was below 45 percent in 2014, with large gender and regional disparities in access. The poorest students from the most deprived districts, or from rural areas, were five to six times less likely to access secondary education. Increasing completion rates at the basic education level had led to increased demand for secondary education but supply had not kept pace. In the West African Senior School Certificate Examination only 50 percent of students had passed integrated sciences and 37… [...]

AFRONOMICS: Learning from five decades of development in Africa Featuring KY Amoako, Founder and President of the African Center for Economic Transformation

As we close out 2020 and look into 2021, one thing is abundantly clear: the world has changed. There is much to be concerned about against the backdrop of COVID-19, but so much to be proud of and hopeful for across Africa. This episode of Afronomics looks back over the last five decades of crises, successes, and development in Africa to see what lessons can be applied now, as the economic recovery gets underway across Africa. Host Albert Zeufack, Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank, discusses this and more with Dr. K.Y. Amoako, Founder and President of the… [...]

Algeria Economic Monitor — Fall 2020: Navigating the COVID-19 Pandemic, Engaging Structural Reforms

The report "Navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, engaging structural reforms" presents an overview of Algeria’s recent macroeconomic developments and of its short-term economic outlook. Chapter 1 presents the country’s macroeconomic developments in 2019, which establishes the context for the unprecedented developments of 2020 related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapter 2 details the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and concurrent crash in oil prices on various dimensions of Algeria’s economic fabric. Finally, the conclusion presents the short-term outlook for the Algerian economy. In 2019, Algeria’s economic growth rate decelerated for a fifth consecutive year amid the protracted social mobilization and political transition,… [...]

المرصد الإقتصادي الجزائري — خريف 2020: تجاوز جائحة كوفيد-19، تفعيل الإصلاحات الهيكلية

يقدم هذا التقرير لمحة عامة عن التطورات الأخيرة على مستوى الاقتصاد الكلي في الجزائر والتوقعات الاقتصادية على المدى القصيرللبلاد. يعرض الفصل الأول من التقرير تطورات الاقتصاد في البلاد في عام 2019، والذي يحدد سياق التطورات غير المسبوقة لعام 2020 المتعلقةبجائحة كوفيد-19. ويوضح الفصل الثاني بالتفصيل تأثير جائحة كوفيد-19 وتأثيرالانهيار المتزامن في أسعار النفط على أبعاد مختلفة من النسيج الاقتصادي الجزائري. فيما يختتم التقرير بعرض الاستنتاج المنظور قصير المدى للاقتصاد الجزائري. في عام 2019، تباطأ معدل النمو الاقتصادي في الجزائر للعام الخامس على التوالي وسط التعبئة الاجتماعية المطولة والتحول السياسي، مما أضعف ثقة المستهلك، الشركات والإنفاق. على المستوى القطاعي، استمر التدهور… [...]

Note de conjoncture de l’Algérie — Automne 2020 : Traverser la pandémie de COVID-19, engager les réformes structurelles

Le rapport intitulé « Traverser la pandémie de COVID-19, engager les réformes structurelles » fournit un aperçu des récentes évolutions macroéconomiques en Algérie et des perspectives économiques à court terme du pays. Le chapitre 1 présente les évolutions macroéconomiques du pays en 2019, brossant ainsi le contexte des évolutions sans précédent survenues en 2020 à la suite de la pandémie de COVID-19. Le chapitre 2 décrit l’impact de la pandémie de COVID-19 et de l’effondrement simultané des prix du pétrole sur différents aspects du tissu économique algérien. Enfin, la conclusion aborde les perspectives de l’économie algérienne. En 2019, le rythme… [...]

Reforming Lebanon’s Port Sector to Build Back a Better Port of Beirut

BEIRUT, January 5, 2021 — Reforming Lebanon’s port sector is a prerequisite for building back a better Port of Beirut and revitalizing the Lebanese economy, according to a new World Bank note that aims to provide guidance to policymakers on the crucial additional requirements for the rebuilding of the Port of Beirut (PoB). The note titled "Reforming and Rebuilding Lebanon’s Port Sector: Lessons from Global Practices" summarizes global best practices in port governance and border management reforms, and offers a set of guiding principles to help inform port sector reforms in Lebanon and pave the way to rebuild a better PoB. The… [...]

إصلاح قطاع الموانئ في لبنان لإعادة بناء مرفأ بيروت على نحو أفضل

بيروت، 5 يناير/ كانون الثاني 2021 - يُعد إصلاح قطاع الموانئ في لبنان شرطًا أساسيًا لإعادة بناء مرفأ بيروت على نحو أفضل ولتنشيط الاقتصاد اللبناني، وفقًا لوثيقة جديدة أصدرها البنك الدولي تهدف إلى تقديم الإرشادات إلى صانعي السياسات بشأن المتطلبات الإضافية الأساسية لإعادة بناء مرفأ بيروت. تلخّص الوثيقة الصادرة تحت عنوان "إصلاح وإعادة بناء قطاع الموانئ في لبنان: الدروس المستفادة من الممارسات العالمية" التجارب العالمية الفضلى في مجال إصلاح إدارة الموانئ وإدارة الحدود، وتقدّم مجموعة من المبادئ التوجيهية للمساعدة في عملية إصلاح قطاع الموانئ في لبنان وتمهيد الطريق لإعادة بناء مرفأ بيروت على نحو أفضل. وتستند الوثيقة أيضًا إلى مشاورات… [...]