insert_link World Modi’s narrow win suggests Indian voters saw through religious rhetoric, opting instead to curtail his political power Supporters of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party dance at a party office in Guwahati, India, during counting of India’s national election on June 4, 2024. AP Photo/Anupam Nath By Sumit Ganguly, Indiana University India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, had hoped for a landslide victory in the country’s six-week general election – the largest display of democracy, by far, in a year of voting around the […] todayJune 5, 2024 17
insert_link Local Namibia’s new visa regime: a step backward for tourism and economic growth The SADC Business Council Tourism Alliance has expressed deep concern over Namibia's proposed restrictive visa regime, which could severely hamper the country's tourism industry and economic growth. This policy shift appears to contradict Namibia Airports Company’s recently launched air access strategy, “Air Connect Namibia”, aimed at increasing international flights and connectivity. The implementation of stricter visa requirements could have a detrimental impact on various sectors of […] todayJune 4, 2024 11
insert_link 2 Opinion Pieces Economic and Business Advice for the next President Opinion Piece by Josef Kefas Sheehama There are a number of important business and economic issues that the incoming President should take care of as we anticipate the upcoming presidential and national assembly elections. As an independent researcher in economic and business matters, I advise the incoming president to prioritize trade and industrial policies and foster positive relationships with international trade in order to attract investors […] todayMay 28, 2024 22 2
insert_link Namibia The role of regulatory investigations in the ICT industry As Namibia joins the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry starts to have a significant impact on the country’s economy, promoting equality of opportunity, industrial development, economic growth, and poverty eradication. The Namibian government has put laws in place to encourage the growth of ICT due to its importance to economic development. Through the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN), the Ministry […] todayMay 22, 2024 22
insert_link World UN Economists warn of “resource curse” in net-zero transition Economists at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs warn that people in mineral-rich countries crucial for the global transition to a net-zero carbon economy may suffer from a new "resource curse," where wealth fails to alleviate poverty. The findings were part of the department's latest economic prediction released on 16 May 2024. Hamid Rashid, the lead economist at DESA. According to the World Economic Situation and Prospects as of […] todayMay 20, 2024 30
insert_link Africa Gabon: post-coup dialogue has mapped out path to democracy – now military leaders must act By Douglas Yates, American Graduate School in Paris (AGS) At the end of April 2024, a long and peaceful process of national dialogue in Gabon between the military junta, presided over by coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, and civil society, represented by 580 civilians, came to an end. The national dialogue followed an August 2023 coup that removed Ali Bongo Ondimba from office and ended […] todayMay 17, 2024 21
insert_link Business / Economics Aspirations and reality of Namibia’s Green Hydrogen dream – Dr. Hage Geingob By Josef Kefas Sheehama His Excellency Dr. Geingob's vision has been realized as Namibia has made major strides to establish itself as a major player in the world of green hydrogen production. The transformation of Namibia's economy and the realization of green hydrogen in the country were spearheaded by Dr. Geingob. Drawing on the proverb that states “Rome was not built in a day”. This serves […] todayMay 8, 2024 32
insert_link Africa US-Africa trade deal turns 25 next year: Agoa’s winners, losers and what should come next By Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth The African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) is a landmark piece of trade legislation enacted by the United States in 2000. Its goal is to promote economic growth, development and poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa by providing qualifying countries with duty-free access to the US market for over 6,500 products. By eliminating import tariffs and quotas, Agoa aims to […] todayMay 7, 2024 26
insert_link Business / Economics Enhancing Digital Transformation: Innovations and Obstacles in East Africa By Robert van Breukelen, CEO at Itemate Solutions The telco sector is poised to play a central role in Ethiopia’s economic and digital transformation, but should learn from other countries to avoid common pitfalls and accelerate development. In recent years, countries in the eastern and north-eastern African region have launched several exciting initiatives aimed at accelerating the adoption of digital technologies. Digital transformation in East Africa Powered […] todayMay 2, 2024 11