African markets and business updates

Twenty-four Liberian Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) professionals have departed for advanced training in Kenya and Ghana under the European Union-funded Youth Rising Project, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The approximately 18-month training programs will strengthen their technical, pedagogical, and professional competencies in areas directly linked to Liberia’s skills-development and workforce needs.…

Dementia is increasingly becoming a major public health challenge in Africa, with an estimated 1.9 million people currently living with the condition across the region. The number is expected to rise significantly as populations grow and life expectancy increases. Beyond its health impact, dementia places a heavy economic burden on families and societies, costing an estimated US$15.6 billion annually in the African Region. Much of this burden falls on unpaid caregivers, predominantly women and family members, who spend an average of 12.9 hours per day providing care, far exceeding the global average of 7.8 hours.…

The International Trade Centre (ITC) and DHL ( www.DHL.com ) today signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen their long-standing collaboration supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly women-led businesses, to trade across borders. The agreement combines ITC’s expertise in market intelligence, SME development and inclusive trade with DHL’s global logistics network and technical expertise. SMEs account for around 90% of businesses globally, provide roughly 70% of employment and contribute 70% of global GDP, making them play a critical role in driving growth and job creation, yet many continue to face barriers to participating fully in international trade.…

The Uganda High Commission in Kuala Lumpur held a strategic engagement with COFFEX, a major coffee importer and roaster in Malaysia with a strong presence across the ASEAN region. The engagement was held in preparation for the upcoming Uganda Coffee Cupping Event in Kuala Lumpur, which aims to showcase the quality, diversity and distinctive profile of Ugandan coffee to the Malaysian and ASEAN markets. H.E. Amb. Dr. Betty Bigombe, High Commissioner of Uganda to Malaysia, welcomed the growing collaboration with COFFEX, noting that the partnership has already contributed to increased exports of Ugandan coffee to Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region.…

As part of her virtual Mentorship and Leadership Platform, “Beyond Power; Leadership, Global Influence and Impact,” Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation , has published a new leadership article titled “We Did Not Donate Cancer Care. We Built the People Who Could Deliver It.” Through the article, Dr. Kelej reflects on her leadership journey in strengthening cancer care capacity across Africa and explains why she believes that building specialized human capacity is one of the most sustainable ways to transform healthcare systems. To read the full article and access the platform, visit: Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.)…

The WHO Representative to Ethiopia, the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), Professor Francis Chisaka Kasolo, held a bilateral meeting with the Director General of the Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority (EFDA), Ms. Heran Gerba, to discuss strengthening Ethiopia’s regulatory systems for medicines and medical devices. The discussion focused on advancing EFDA’s efforts towards achieving WHO Maturity Level 3 (ML3) for medical devices regulation, reflecting a stable, well-functioning and integrated regulatory system. WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting EFDA through the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool Plus Medical Devices (GBT+MD).…

On September 15, the dinner banquet on the 200 years of the establishment of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt was held at the Ambassador’s residence, and from the Japanese side, MOFA officials, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr. YAMADA Kenji as the Director General of the Japan-Egypt Friendship Parliamentary Association and others attended the celebration. In his opening remarks, H.E. Mr.…

The race to contain the Ebola outbreak is far from over. While some indicators, such as declining patients' admissions and slower transmission, may suggest the outbreak is easing, Médecins Sans Frontières / Doctors Without Borders (MSF) teams are observing a worrying trend: cases are emerging and spreading into new, underprepared areas while basic response measures are still not in place in the original hotspots, making containment efforts increasingly challenging. "Assuming the outbreak is under control because some Ebola Treatment Centres are admitting fewer patients would be a mistake," says Anthony Kergosien, MSF Emergency Coordinator in the Democratic Republic of Congo.…

The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf , extends his warmest congratulations to the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya on Nairobi’s selection to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships. The AUC Chairperson described the decision as a landmark achievement, marking the first time that the premier global athletics championship will be hosted on African soil and constituting a significant milestone for Kenya, Africa’s sporting community and the African continent as a whole.…

The East African Community (EAC) recorded strong growth in trade during the second quarter of 2026, with total trade reaching USD 52.3 billion. Rising exports sustained a regional trade surplus, while trade within the Community and with major African and global markets continued to expand. According to the EAC Quarterly Statistics Bulletin for April–June 2026, total trade increased by 37.0 percent from USD 38.2 billion in the same quarter of 2025. Exports rose by 41.3 percent to USD 26.3 billion, while imports grew by 32.9 percent to USD 26.0 billion. The region recorded a trade surplus of USD 0.3 billion, compared with a deficit of USD 945.3 million a year earlier.…