AfCFTA is one of the flagship projects of the first ten-year implementation plan (2014-2023) under the AU’s Agenda 2063. It emphasises the reduction of tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and the facilitation of free movement of people and labour, right of residence, right of establishment and investment. If implemented fully, this agreement will become the largest trade agreement in the world with potential to create a continental free-trade zone with a combined GDP of USD $3.4 trillion.

Financial instability is not good news for any business, even if they are not trading overseas, but small businesses feel the impact of currency instability most noticeably. Compared to larger businesses, small businesses often lack the back-up finances to enable them to manage through periods of decline.

This brief illustrates how currency fluctuations affect SMEs’ investment decisions and access to credit. This relationship is stronger especially with SMEs in the manufacturing sector that mainly use imported inputs.

Uganda hides and skins are naturally of high quality, high texture and heavy substance which are suitable for the production of excellent heavy upper and vegetable tanned sole leather. On average, a Ugandan hide weighs 16kgs and has 29ft2 of which about 15-20 percent can be used for upholstery, making Uganda the only country in East Africa with larger quantities of hides that are suitable for upholstery.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a member of Southern African Development Community (SADC) and shares borders with five of the six members of the East African Community (EAC). It could potentially become the largest member by area as well as by population and therefore a lucrative market for EAC.

DRC recently requested membership to EAC which would enable dropping of custom barriers and increasing trade between EAC countries. Ministers in charge of EAC Affairs gave a green light report on DRC verification mission for consideration by the EAC Heads of State.

Export diversification reflects the degree to which a country’s exports are spread across a large number of products and/or trading partners. Diversification is achieved through increasingly changing the basket of commodities being exported, or improving the existing exports by adding value, or enhancing them through technology and innovation.