The Government of the Netherlands and the International Trade Centre (ITC) signed a four-year partnership agreement to support innovative projects to enhance the trade competitiveness of the services sectors in selected African countries, focusing on digital technology and agribusiness services.
COVID-19 has contributed to accelerating the global digital transformation. Boosting the development and provision of innovative and effective digital solutions can have a major impact on traditional sectors like agribusiness, improving efficiency, enhancing productivity and value-addition, providing traceability, and allowing stronger positioning in international markets.
Digital acceleration can also support building back better in an environmentally sustainable manner: digitalization enables better usage of resources through increased resource and energy efficiency, and circular economy.
The partnership, called the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V), will contribute to this structural transformation in agribusiness and related value chains. It will support thousands of small businesses and tens of thousands of jobs, thereby creating entrepreneurial opportunities for women, youth and poor communities. Through efficient agribusiness and support services, NTF V will ultimately contribute to increased trade, better incomes, and help reduce poverty.
Enhancing trade competitiveness in African countries
Uganda Land Forces Commander visits Somalia to assess troop welfare
Uganda’s Commander of Land Forces (CLF), Lieutenant General, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has visited Ugandan troops serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), to assess their welfare and commend them for their contribution to the peace support operation.
Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba was in Somalia from 23 to 27 September, where he interacted with Ugandan troops involved in ongoing operations to degrade Al-Shabaab and restore peace and stability in the country.
“The purpose of my visit is to commend the troops for the great work they are doing in Somalia. Secondly, it is to talk to them and get a feel of the problems and challenges they are facing,” said Lt. Gen. Kainerugaba, noting that a commander has to visit troops in the field, to understand what the troops are going through.
Embassy holds a virtual reception celebrating anniversary of the founding of the PRC
On September 28, the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia held a virtual reception to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China where Ambassador Zhao Zhiyuan delivered a keynote speech. Mulatu Teshome, former President of Ethiopia, Molalign Asfaw, Director General of Asia Pacific of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and Melaku Mulualem, Head of Project Coordination and Partnership Affairs of the Institute of Strategic Affairs attended and addressed the ceremony via video links.
Ambassador Zhao Zhiyuan delivered a speech stating that the founding of New China 72 years ago marked the rebirth of the Chinese nation, and started a momentous journey toward rejuvenation and prosperity of the country. These grateful achievements came from the unremitting effort of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese people in exploration, expedition and innovation based on national conditions. The year 2021 is a meaningful year in the history of New China, as it marks the CPC’s centenary. At this historic juncture, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, China will keep forging ahead with a greater sense of urgency, in the glorious pursuit of national rejuvenation.
ECA and AUDA –NEPAD renew partnership to enhance sustainable growth in Africa
The Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance their partnership and collaboration to accelerate the achievement of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Signed at the Africa Union Office in New York City on September 27, the MoU aims to harness synergies arising from the organisations’ mandates and establish the non-binding and non-exclusive arrangements necessary to ensure effective cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Vera Songwe, UN Under-Secretary-General and ECA’s Executive Secretary, said the MoU is a show of how much the two organizations can pool together and raise their ambitions to achieve what needs to be done in regard to Africa’s transformation Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development agenda 2030.
“Our collaboration will push Africa’s agenda forward, especially within the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which we all believe in,” said Songwe.
