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Happy Tuesday and Welcome to Export Brief. A weekly newsletter with insightful developments and trends on non-oil export trade from Africa's largest economy and from the global stage. If you enjoy EB, share it with friends. 

• ⏲️: This edition is 1354 words, a 4-minute read.

IN BRIEF

⚡ Situational awareness: Trade Facilitation Agreement has increased trade by over US$ 230 billion, a new study finds.

• Japan-ITC extend partnership to address socioeconomic crises in Nigeria, Palestine, Ukraine

• Nigeria approves N453.90bn for Kano-Maradi rail, ports

TRADE 

1 big brief: Japan-ITC extend partnership to address socioeconomic crises in Nigeria, Palestine, Ukraine

The Government of Japan has announced funding of $1.27 million to support projects developed and implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in Nigeria, the State of Palestine and Ukraine.

🇳🇬Why it matters: In Nigeria, ITC will support small agri-food businesses – particularly ones owned by youth, women and displacement-affected communities in rural areas – and integrate them into domestic, regional and international value chains through digital channels, thereby promoting e-commerce in a way that leaves no one behind.

🇵🇸: ITC in the State of Palestine will work with youth from communities affected by socioeconomic challenges through targeted activities enabling them to learn new skills and connect with local, regional and international clients through digital channels, thereby promoting self-employment.

🇺🇦: In Ukraine, funding will be used to build the professional skills of internally displaced persons so they can find new income channels. The project will also contribute to improved resilience of Ukrainian small businesses, primarily in the agribusiness sector, by enhancing their capacity to sell online.

💬What they're saying: "We’re building on our strong partnership with Japan to continue providing targeted training and support to those who need it most. We look forward to working together to strengthen the resilience of small businesses and disadvantaged communities across the world." - Pamela Coke-Hamilton, ITC Executive Director

• "We are expecting ITC to continue to provide effective support, which leads to the improvement of the trade capacity of developing countries. - Amb. Kazuyuki Yamazaki, Japan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Between the lines: Aside from these projects, Japan is also providing funds for the SheTrades initiative, ITC’s flagship programme supporting women’s economic empowerment, and a project supporting Sudan’s accession to WTO.

The bottom line: All these projects are geared towards upskilling people in the most disadvantaged groups in vulnerable settings and linking them to trade and business opportunities.

UPCOMING EVENT

Attend GTR West Africa 2023 as a guest of IEOM

This event is a paid event and for corporate attendees, the fee is $499 while the standard rate is $1799. That information is also available here.

• IEOM is an institutional partner for GTR West Africa 2023 and this allows the Institute to admit a limited number of our corporate members to the event for FREE. As a corporate member of IEOM, your company can send a company representative to the event without the need to pay the standard or corporate rate.

• IEOM corporate membership costs N150, 000.00 and this is an annual subscription providing access to real benefits which include access to business roundtables (breakfast meetings), publications including research, discounted training, market intelligence for specific markets/products. For value, this is a much greater value than the standard/corporate rate for a one-time event.

TRADE ROUNDUP

PORTS & RAIL | Nigeria approves N453.90bn for Kano-Maradi rail, ports

• Nigeria's government approved the sum of N453.90bn for the procurement of rolling stock, operation and maintenance equipment for the Kano-Maradi standard gauge rail line currently under construction.

• This also includes N510.93m for the procurement of four customised fire service search and rescue vans in sea ports at Port Harcourt, Lagos Port Complex, Tincan Island port and the Marina Headquarters of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

TRADE FINANCE | Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria, have signed an MoU to collaborate in addressing the skills gap in trade finance, trade facilitation, and global banking.

• The collaboration will provide joint certification of trade-related and global banking courses and will also leverage the deep knowledge and expertise in the two institutions, towards the delivery of advocacy programs directed at promoting Intra and Extra African trade.

UPCOMING EVENT

A MESSAGE FROM GGI

Climate Action: With exploration comes the need for expertise and sustainability

At GGI, we combined expertise, innovation and sustainable practices in meeting our client's engagements. Our actions to mitigate climate change are central to making the world a better place. Learn more.

IEOM

The Institute of Export Operations & Management, as a Trade Support Institute is out to stimulate and facilitate non-oil export in Nigeria. Our vision is to become the foremost independent provider of export training and best research practice in Nigeria. In line with our mission, our intensive training progams both online and on-premise among others are designed to optimize your trade capacity and knowledge. We actualize this through the following: 

• Access to Low-Interest Loan from our partner Bank*

• Export breakfast meetings

• The Export Brief magazine

• Seminars and workshops

• Banker and Exporter training

• Trade access and facilitation

Trade Intelligence Unit (TIU) is a division of IEOM Nigeria, providing export trade information, research, insights and analytics for organizations, agencies of government, businesses and individuals to help them make informed decisions. We help our clients by leverage on our proprietary tools to create access into our rich trade database in delivering innovative solutions.Join us in our quest to make Africa's largest economy to be self-sufficient through non-oil export and become a member of IEOM.*We have partnered with Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria in creating access to low-interest loans for our MSMEs members.For enquiries on memberships, trainings and collaboration on sponsorships of events, newsletters and magazine you can reach us on+234 909 332 8361, +234 808 302 [email protected]. 

COVER PAGE OF THE WEEK

"When I and some of my London colleagues travelled to Beijing last week, we arrived to find the atmosphere laced with intimidation and paranoia. The world’s most important relationship—that between China and America—has become more embittered and hostile than ever.

• In the halls of government Communist Party officials were denouncing what they see as America’s bullying. They told us that the United States is intent on beating China to death and that it will never accept that any country can be as powerful as itself, regardless of whether it is communist or a democracy. America, in their view, will tolerate China only if it is submissive—in the words of one Chinese academic, a “fat cat, not a tiger”.

• It is naive to think that diplomacy alone can mend a rift this big. The question of what else might keep the peace will be a feature of our journalism—including our China podcast, Drum Tower, co-hosted by our supremely well-connected Beijing bureau chief, David Rennie, and the cover package of this week’s issue."

- Zanny Minton Beddoes - Editor-in-chief

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DATA WATCH

TWEET OF THE WEEK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

INKING THE DEAL: Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board, Afreximbank and Dr. Ken Opara, Chairman of Council, the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria at the signing of an MoU to collaborate in addressing the skills gap in trade finance, trade facilitation, and global banking. Image credit: Afreximbank