The South African Rand (ZAR) has recently shown volatility against the US Dollar, with an exchange rate of 1 ZAR to 0.0564025 USD. The Rand's resilience is evident in its exchange rates against major currencies. Economic policies will influence the trend of exchange rates, and investors need to closely monitor market changes.
Greenville Port is an important maritime hub in Sino County, Liberia, connecting to West African markets. The port features deep water and excellent berth conditions, handling an average of 109,000 cubic meters of forest products annually. With significant potential, it is a crucial choice for international trade.
Porto Alexandre, located in Namibia Province of Angola, is a significant urban port serving West African routes. It boasts a thriving fishing and salt industry and is in proximity to a hunting reserve and national park, exemplifying a model of economic development coupled with ecological conservation.
Five West African nations are jointly developing an electronic transit system to streamline processes, reduce costs, and improve efficiency, thereby promoting regional economic integration and supporting trade facilitation agreements. This initiative aims to modernize customs procedures and enhance the movement of goods within the region, fostering economic growth and attracting investment. By leveraging technology, the system seeks to overcome existing bottlenecks and create a more predictable and transparent trade environment for businesses operating in West Africa.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) - West and Central Africa Capacity Building Working Group (WACAM) project expanded to Central Africa, aiming to enhance customs human resource management in the region. Through regional workshops and on-site support to Gabon Customs, the project has made significant progress in areas such as competency models and job management. This project will continue to support the modernization of human resource management in West and Central African customs administrations, contributing to regional development.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) joint “Mentoring Training Programme” (MTP) has made significant progress in West Africa. Overcoming the impact of the pandemic through innovative models such as virtual working groups, the program successfully enhanced the capacity of customs officers in West African countries in risk management and intelligence analysis, contributing to regional trade security and economic development. The success of this program provides a valuable reference for capacity building in other developing countries.
Praia Port is an important transshipment port in Cabo Verde, featuring deep water berths and comprehensive service facilities to provide efficient support for shipping in the West African region. With a maximum draft depth of 10.76 meters, it accommodates various types of vessels, making it a crucial hub for international trade.
Nolusport, a small port on the South African West Coast, primarily supports nearshore diamond mining. Despite facing siltation issues, it offers good support for lightweight fishing vessels and yachts. With a maximum draft of 2.6 meters and a maximum capacity of 90 tons, it has become an important base for explorers and diamond prospectors.
COSCO SHIPPING and OOCL jointly upgraded the MWAX service, incorporating the Port of Conakry in Guinea into the network. This enhancement will improve the transportation capacity of bulk commodities, strengthen their position in the African market, and facilitate the development of China-Africa trade. Both parties will continue to optimize the service to address challenges and provide high-quality shipping services. The upgraded MWAX service aims to better serve the growing trade demands between China and West Africa.
The World Customs Organization (WCO), through the West Africa Customs Administration Modernization (WACAM) project, is supporting the Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) in implementing a competency-based human resource management model. A WCO expert team reviewed GRA's HR management tools and provided recommendations for improvement and an implementation plan. GRA is expected to become a benchmark in human resource management in the West and Central African region, offering valuable lessons for other countries. This initiative aims to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the GRA through strategic human resource development.
