From today, the UK has temporarily removed export tariffs for cut flowers, with the aim of making trade with the UK easier and cheaper for growers in East Africa and beyond. 

Unlimited quantities of flowers can now be exported to the UK at 0% tariff, even if they transit via a third country. This is particularly important for East African flower growers who transport their blooms via third-countries or auction houses before they arrive in the UK. 

The move aims to increase trade and further strengthen the economic relationship between the UK and the region. UK consumers could win big too – on price, seasonality and variety. 

The suspension of 8% duty for cut flowers applies across the world but will be a big win for major flower growing regions in Kenya, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The duty suspension will remain in place for two years from 11 April 2024 to 30 June 2026.

His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Africa, John Humphrey said: The UK’s relationship with East Africa is rooted in mutually beneficial trade. This additional flower power will allow trade to bloom. We go far when we go together… or in this case, we grow far when we grow together, further reinforcing the UK’s commitment to the expansion of trade in East Africa.

In 2022, Kenya was ranked as the fourth biggest exporter of cut-flowers in the world, with 6% of global cut-flower exports. Ethiopia is the second largest cut flower producer in Africa, making up 23% of Sub-Saharan African exports. In 2023, the value of trade in cut flowers between the UK from Ethiopia was valued at £12.6m, Rwanda at £727,000, £839,000 from Tanzania, and £1.1m from Uganda. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Government of UK.

The Bills and their certificates of financial implication were presented by different ministers for first reading, during the plenary sitting of Tuesday, 09 April 2024 chaired by Speaker Anita Among.

Hon. John Muyingo, the Minister of State for Education and Sports (Higher Education) presented the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Hon. Fred Byamukama, (State Minister for Works and Transport) presented the Uganda Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and Hon. Martin Bahinduka, (State Minister for Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities) read the Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Centre Act (Repeal) Bill, 2024 together with the Uganda Wildlife Amendment Bill, 2024. 

Similarly, Hon. Hellen Asamo, (State Minister for Disabilities) presented the Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Library (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Council for Older Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Women Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024 while Hon. Balaam Barugahara, (State Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development) read the National Youth Council (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The Minister of State for Finance, (General Duties), Hon. Henry Musasizi, read the National Planning Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Physical Planning Amendment Bill, 2024, the Tier 4 Microfinance Institutions and Money Lenders (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Assets of Departed Asians (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Public Enterprises Reform and Divesture (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Population Council Act, 2014 (Repeal) Bill, 2024 and the Registration of Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2024

Additionally, the Minister of Water and Environment, Hon. Sam Cheptoris, presented the Uganda National Meteorological Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the National Forestry and Tree Planting (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Other Bills presented also included the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (Amendment) Bill, 2024 laid by the Attorney General, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka and The Uganda National Roads Authority Act (Repeal) Bill, 2024 laid by Hon. Edward Katumba Wamala.

The Uganda Exports Promotions Board Act (Repeal) Bill, 2024 was laid by Hon. Francis Mwebesa, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives while the Uganda Trypanosomiasis Control Council Act (Repeal) Bill, 2024 by Hon. Hellen Adoa (State Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries).

Notably, the National Curriculum Development Centre (Amendment) Bill, 2024 was laid by Hon. Denis Hamson Obua, the Government Chief Whip on behalf of the education minister.

Speaker Among said that the Bills were to be presented individually, hence the justification for each reading.

“These Bills were not in an omnibus; they were to be brought one by one plus their certificates of financial implication. Pursuant to the Rules, the respective sectoral committees are supposed scrutinise the Bills and report back to the House,” Among said.

RAPEX was adapted by Cabinet on 22 February 2021 in a bid to reduce wasteful public expenditure by government agencies and save more than Shs1 trillion shillings in public expenditure.

On 27 February 2024, Cabinet withdrew the Bills that it sought to rationalise and merge public entities pending harmonisation following concerns from Members of Parliament over the lack of certificates of financial implications.

Earlier during a plenary sitting held on Thursday, 04 April 2024, government tabled 11 Bills namely, the Higher Education Students’ Financing (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the National Agricultural Advisory Services (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the NGO (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Children (Amendment) Bill, 2024; the Dairy Industry (Amendment) Bill, 2024; and the Non-Performing Asset Recovery Trust Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Other Bills presented also included Free Zones (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Warehouse Receipt System (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Agricultural Chemicals Control (Amendment) Bill, 2024; Cotton (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

The National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024 seeks to mainstream the functions of the Uganda Coffee Development Authority – UCDA in to the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament of the Republic of Uganda.

Mike Sangster, Senior Vice President Africa at multinational energy company TotalEnergies will speak at the 2024 edition of the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference – taking place October 2-4 in Luanda. Sangster’s participation is expected to strengthen discussions around driving exploration towards increased production in the country.

TotalEnergies expects FID for the Cameia-Golfinho fields this year as well as to start production at the CLOV Phase 3 project. With a focus on deep- and ultra-deepwater exploration and stakes in the Angola LNG project and the New Gas Consortium, the company accounts for just short of 45% of the country’s production and is looking at increasing output through investments in upstream assets. During AOG 2024, Sangster is set to provide an update on ongoing projects while outlining key areas of focus for the company beyond 2024.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; national oil company Sonangol; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

The multinational company is undertaking a multi-energy strategy in Angola. Launched in 2022, the strategy encompasses the $850 million Begonia field development – the first on offshore Block 17/06 – the Quiluma and Maboqueiro offshore fields – the country’s first non-associated gas projects and a solar plant. FID was announced for the Begonia project and the Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields in 2022, the latter of which will supply gas to the Angola LNG project to produce four billion cubic feet per annum by 2026.

Currently, TotalEnergies operates several deep- and ultra-deepwater licenses the country, including Block 17 and its four major hubs – namely, Girassol, Dalia, Pazflor and CLOV – as well as Blocks 31, 0, among others. Retaining operatorship, the company sold a 40% stake in Block 20 to Malaysia’s Petronas in 2023 for $400 million. Comprising Cameia and Golfinho, the fields will produce 70,000 barrels per day, with a system of subsea wells connected to an FPSO – the seventh FPSO developed by TotalEnergies in the country. https://apo-opa.co/3PYAuv3

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Meanwhile, committed to sustainable oil and gas production, TotalEnergies signed an agreement with Angolan national oil company Sonangol in November 2023 to co-launch an initiative that uses drone technology to identify, quantify and reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the industry. The technology will be piloted on Block 3/05. During AOG 2024, Sangster is set to engage in discussions on balancing production increases with decarbonization.

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This year, TotalEnergies celebrates 100 years of global operations and 71 years of operating in Angola. Having celebrated 70 years at AOG in 2023, the company’s return to the conference signal a strong commitment to investing in the country. During the conference – which takes place under the theme Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola -Sangster is expected to detail ongoing project developments while engaging with regional stakeholders on future opportunities.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director of the Trade and Development Bank (TDB), will speak at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum in Paris, highlighting key trade and finance opportunities shaping the continent.

Operating in eastern and southern Africa, the TDB plays a critical role in fostering trade, regional integration and sustainable development through the provision of trade finance, project and infrastructure finance, asset management and business advisory services. In March this year the bank secured a $100-million finance facility from the UK’s British International Investment to support local businesses and financial institutions in Africa, with a view to stimulating trade activity, boosting economic resilience and improving access to goods and services. 

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/3UMOOtQ) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 14-15, 2024 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

In October 2023, the TDB signed an MOU with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation to strengthen trade finance solutions for member states, as well as explore opportunities for technical assistance and capacity building for the private sector and SMEs. Within Africa, the African Development Bank recently approved a $150-million finance facility with the TDB to boost intra-African trade, promote regional integration and mitigate the trade finance gap, in alignment with the ongoing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

As an international banker specialized in trade and development finance, Tadesse is expected to discuss strategies for de-risking and improving access to finance for Africa’s large-scale energy and infrastructure developments. The two-day forum serves to connect global investors and financial institutions with African projects, policymakers and developers, working towards enhanced financial collaboration.   

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.