Category Archives: Economy

23May/24

THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL TRADE IS BEING REGIONALISED, RESTRUCTURED, AND REROUTED, DMCC REPORT FINDS

Global trade growth and resilience will be maintained in 2024 as an accelerated shift to regionalisation drives deeper bilateral and multilateral partnerships. This will be underpinned by deep supply chain restructuring, modest and uneven goods trade growth, a surge in digital services trade and widespread AI adoption – finds DMCC’s latest Future of Trade 2024 report titled “Decoupled and Reconfigured”. Continue reading

14May/24

AFTER FOUR YEARS OF WILD SWINGS FROM SHORTAGES TO GLUT, GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAINS ARE NOW IN THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE: GEP GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN VOLATILITY INDEX

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index — a leading indicator tracking demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories and backlogs based on a monthly survey of 27,000 businesses — rose in April to -0.18, from -0.32 in March, which signals that global supply chains are operating at close to full capacity. Continue reading

15Jan/24

Beyond the Minerals: Uncovering the Vibrant Tapestry of DR Congo and Zambia

Sept. 15, 2023 /Economy/ — While the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia are indeed known for their mineral wealth, particularly copper and cobalt, their identities extend far beyond these resources. Let’s dive deeper into the rich tapestry of these fascinating African nations: Continue reading

29Nov/23

The Zambian debt restructuring impasse has got the international community riled

Nov. 29, 2023 /IEconomy/ — Zambia is a country in southern Africa that has been struggling with a heavy debt burden for many years. In 2020, the country became the first African nation to default on its sovereign debt during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to get its finances back on track, Zambia has been seeking to restructure its debt with its creditors. Continue reading

28Nov/23

Zambia’s foreign debt tragedy – what needs to happen to resolve the crisis

Danny Bradlow, University of Pretoria

Three years after defaulting on its foreign debt, Zambia is still trying to reach agreement with all its creditors on how to manage this situation. This has left the southern African country in a state of development finance limbo. It is handicapped in raising the funds needed to generate jobs, build infrastructure, provide health, education and social services and deal with climate change. Its president, Hakainde Hichilema, has warned that the situation threatens to undermine its democracy.

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13Oct/23

ODDS OF A SOFT LANDING FOR THE U.S. ECONOMY ARE RISING AS MANUFACTURING STABILIZES IN SEPTEMBER, BUT RECESSION ALARM BELLS RING FOR EUROPE: GEP GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN VOLATILITY INDEX

The GEP Global Supply Chain Volatility Index — a leading indicator tracking demand conditions, shortages, transportation costs, inventories and backlogs based on a monthly survey of 27,000 businesses — fell from -0.18 in August to -0.35 in September, with a sharper increase in excess capacity across the world’s supply chains. Continue reading

12Oct/23

Africa’s total exports expected to hit close to USD1 trillion by 2035, Standard Chartered report reveals

Standard Chartered has today published its Future of Trade: Africa report, highlighting the outlook for African trade and providing a view of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key proponent of optimising intra-African trade. Continue reading