The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda removed visa fee
To facilitate free movement of goods and people within the borders of the two neighbouring countries, DRC removed visa fees for Ugandan intending to visit the country. Previously, the fee ranged from US$50 to US$100 depending on the length of stay when traveling to DRC. The removal of the fees will promote trade and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. However, the guarantee of free movement is subject to restrictions imposed by the countries for reasons of public policy, public security or public health.
Uganda tops EAC as the most attractive country for investor
The Africa Risk-Reward Index (2023), ranked Uganda as the most attractive economy to invest in within the East African Community (EAC) and the third across the entire African continent. The report commends Uganda for interventions in improving the business environment which has made the country attractive for investors. The ranking is mainly attributed to Uganda’s macroeconomic stability; enhanced political stability; and infrastructure development.
Lack of information is affecting business operations under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area
According to the brief, the Business Climate Index (BCI) improved from 89 in Q2 FY2022/23 to 91 in Q3 FY2022/23. The improvement is mainly driven by Input costs, production cost, activity, turnover, capacity utilisation and profit. However, despite of the improvement, the conditions for doing business remained below potential during the review period (January to March 2023).
African Trade Report 2023: Export Manufacturing and Regional Value Chains in Africa under a New World Order
The report shows that, the value of intra-African trade reached US$193.17 billion, growing by 18.6 percent in 2022. Intra-African trade, which has been given a boost through the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), is clearly set to redefine Africa’s economic fortunes for the future.