#IvoryCoast –
September 26, 2020 — Workers in the cocoa
industry of Ghana and the Ivory Coast should begin to earn higher salaries in
October; a 2018 agreement struck between the countries which are the world’s top
producers of cocoa is beginning to bear fruit.
The Price
Agreement, signed in March 2018 was chiefly aimed at ending price competition
and levelling what the marketplace pays for cocoa from either Ghana or the
Ivory Coast.
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It is working, and can hopefully boost income from just three percent of the global chocolate industry revenue, to a figure commensurate with the level of production.
The International Cocoa Organization published in 2017, that the chocolate industry recorded $22 billion of trade. The Ivory Coast earned scraps; a mere $3.3 billion when it produces 44 percent of the world’s cocoa.
His Excellency George-Louis Tin , Prime Minister – State of the African Diaspora (SOAD)
The State of the African Diaspora, SOAD is not only monitoring the progresses of the Price Agreement and the strategies being undertaken to ensure African nations can convert highest production into highest earnings, but it has a multi-talented farmer in the field.
“His Excellency,
the man in front of you, is a medical doctor, a farmer, a city mayor and a chancellor
of African Kings and African Leaders. Since the Declaration of The Sixth Region
of Africa, the State of African Diaspora has been officially created on July
1st 2018, at the 31st Summit of the African Union, in Noaktchot in Mauritania.
His Excellency Dr Roland Goprou, Roving Ambassador for Mano River countries, SOAD
His Excellency
Dr Roland Goprou has been appointed by The Prime Minister of The State of
African Diaspora, His Excellency George-Louis Tin as the First Roving
Ambassador of Africa.
As an Ivorian, His Excellency Roland Goprou, according to the saying: ‘Charity starts at home’ has decided to take the four Mano River Countries as his stronghold. Since last year he has been travelling in those countries: Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia to present his accreditation letter to the different governments,” said Professor Bertin Amissale, speaking at the introduction of Dr. Goprou on May 25, 2020.
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His Excellency
Dr Roland Goprou runs a successful cocoa operation along the Mano River and
approved the declaration signed between Alassane Ouattara, Ivorian President and Nana Akufo-Addo, President of
Ghana.
“This agreement
will benefit us because there will be a price stability. Two heads of state finally agree to practice
the same prices in Ghana and the Ivory Coast will be a sigh of relief to
producers because it will prevent the illegal selling of our various products,”
said His Excellency, Dr. Goprou who has actioned scholarships for 1,000
Liberian youth from the State of the African Diaspora and who is advancing a
potable water project for the Mano River countries.
SOAD is
recognized by the 47-year old Mano River Union, (MRU) which synergises
protective and developmental efforts for the countries of Ivory Coast, Guinea,
Liberia and Sierra Leone, where the MRU is headquartered.
Cocoa plant
Cocoa fruit
“Also good news for producers, on September 24, Youssouf Fadiga, Director General of Ivorian National Bank said support will increase by eight percent compared to the previous campaign, and will be for cooperative societies, businesses and operators in the coffee-cocoa sector in order to enable them to finance more easily their purchases. A 2020-2021 marketing campaign is also set to be launched in a matter of days on October 1,” informed His Excellency as he rehashed a major announcement by the Ivorian National Bank (BNI) which has earmarked nearly $200 million to support coffee and cocoa farming.
Other plans of these top tier cocoa producers, via the 2018 Agreement, is to boost harvest, expand storage capacity, potentially venture into cocoa paste production and collaborate to protect cocoa crops from swollen-shoot disease.
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What would happen if the Caribbean started spending more with Africa?
That question is no longer hypothetical. It’s the vision behind a growing movement that sees the Caribbean not just as a neighbor of the Americas, but as a key partner in the rise of a “Global Africa.” With shared history, deep cultural ties, and emerging trade frameworks, experts say the potential is enormous—if the will to act finally matches the passion of the speeches.
Billions on the Table
Today, trade between Africa and the Caribbean sits at just over US $729 million annually. But the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank project that number could balloon to US $1.8 billion per year by 2028—more than doubling in just a few years.
This boost is expected to come not just from commodities, but increasingly from services, particularly in transport, travel, food exports, and creative industries. Two-thirds of that growth, according to analysts, could come from services alone—sectors where the Caribbean is eager to expand. (afreximbank.com).
Meanwhile, Africa’s consumer and business spending is forecasted to skyrocket to US $6.66 trillion by 2030, driven by a population boom and rising middle class.
The Case for a New Trade Axis
The Caribbean imports 80% of its food, but many of those goods can be sourced from African markets. What we offer in return? World-class logistics, tourism know-how, financial services, and proximity to the U.S. market. It’s a natural fit—one that is currently underdeveloped.
The recent call by Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a “Global Africa Commission” underscores this urgency. He urged stakeholders at the Afreximbank Trade Expo to stop the cycle of empty talk and get to work: building shipping routes, finalizing trade agreements, and boosting knowledge of what each region actually has to offer.
“We will not leave here with another communiqué,” Mitchell continued. “We will leave here with a commitment to act, to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.” The statement underscored a central theme of the summit — that both Africa and the Caribbean can no longer afford to admire the idea of unity; they must operationalize it.Pilot platforms like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) are already simplifying how cross-border payments work between African countries—and could extend to Caribbean partners. The system removes the need for U.S. dollars in trade between African nations, creating space for sovereign empowerment.
What’s the Hold-Up?
Let’s be blunt: political will, slow bureaucracies, and lack of coordination are stalling real action. Despite a decade of “Africa–Caribbean unity” talk, less than 3% of CARICOM trade currently involves the African continent. That fact continues to undermine these brave speeches and ambitious notions.
Where Caribbean Consumers Fit In
Caribbean consumers—especially the younger, tech-savvy generation—are already looking for affordable, ethical, and culturally relevant goods. African markets offer exactly that. Redirecting even a fraction of spending toward African-made clothing, beauty products, tech tools, or agro-processed foods could start a real trade revolution.
Bottom Line
If the political leaders won’t build the bridge fast enough, maybe Caribbean consumers will. The money is there. The interest is rising. Now it’s time to turn the “Global Africa” vision into a real economic shift—one shopping cart at a time.
Washington, D.C. – April 25, 2025 — In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the Governments of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda today signed a Declaration of Principles aimed at paving the way for peace, stability, and economic integration in eastern DRC. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a significant step forward in efforts to resolve longstanding tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner signed on behalf of the DRC, while Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe signed for Rwanda. They were joined by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos, and U.S. Ambassador to the DRC Troy Fitrell.
The signing ceremony builds on the efforts of the African Union and other regional leaders who have long sought to address the complex and often violent conflict in the Great Lakes region. The Declaration of Principles establishes a framework for restoring normal bilateral relations between Rwanda and the DRC, reinforcing commitments to sovereignty, territorial integrity, security cooperation, and regional economic development.
“This is a pivotal moment,” Secretary Rubio said. “The United States is honored to support Rwanda and the DRC as they take this courageous step toward lasting peace and shared prosperity.”
The Declaration outlines key areas of cooperation, including mutual recognition of each country’s sovereignty and established borders, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and the prohibition of interference in internal affairs. It emphasizes the urgent need to address security threats posed by non-state armed groups operating along the shared border and commits both governments to refrain from providing support to such groups.
To enhance security, the two nations agreed to explore the creation of a joint security coordination mechanism aimed at combating armed groups and criminal organizations. This cooperation is viewed as essential not only for stability but also for expanding legitimate trade and broader economic collaboration across the region.
In an ambitious economic vision, Rwanda and the DRC pledged to develop a phased regional integration framework, building on organizations like the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the East African Community (EAC). They plan to link this framework with U.S.-supported investments in infrastructure, hydropower, mineral supply chain transparency, and national park management.
The Declaration also addresses the humanitarian crisis caused by ongoing conflict. Both countries committed to working with UN agencies to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees.
In addition, the two countries reaffirmed their support for the UN peacekeeping mission MONUSCO and other regional mechanisms, ensuring protection for civilians and facilitating the implementation of the principles outlined in the Declaration.
Finally, in alignment with ongoing initiatives such as the Nairobi and Luanda processes, the two governments committed to drafting an initial Peace Agreement by May 2, 2025. Any disputes arising from the draft will be addressed through a Foreign Minister-level meeting in Washington, D.C., hosted by the U.S. State Department.
Signed in duplicate in English, today’s agreement marks a hopeful new chapter in Rwanda-DRC relations, offering a potential blueprint for peace and development across one of Africa’s most conflict-affected regions.
21 March 2025 – Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX), an intervention by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) invites African publishers of trade books to apply for the second edition of the CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa.
The initiative, developed in partnership with Narrative Landscape Press Limited, underscores the commitment of Afreximbank through the CANEX Book Factory to showcasing of the literary and publishing value chain in Africa, and developing literary talent across the continent and its diaspora. The inaugural edition saw Cassava Republic Press, win the Prize in 2024 for the “Female Fear Factory: Unveiling Patriarchy’s Culture of Violence,” by Pumla Dineo Gqola.
The CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa is designed to celebrate and recognise the outstanding contributions of African publishers and authors to the literary world. The total prize fund is $28,000, with $20,000 awarded to the winner and $2,000 distributed to each of the four finalists. The prize is open to trade books published by Africa-domiciled publishers in the year preceding the prize, in one or more of the official languages of the African Union: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Swahili, and any other African language.
Submissions will be judged on the quality of writing, editing and production. Priority will be given to books printed and produced on the African continent, as well as to books published in indigenous African languages. Interested publishers should visit https://canex.africa/canex-book-factory to register, with entries open from 17 March – 30 April 2025. The CANEX Book Factory is an annual programme of events under Afreximbank’s Creative Africa Nexus initiative. This year’s programme will culminate in an awards ceremony at the fourth edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), Africa’s premier trade and investment event, taking place in Algiers, Algeria from 4 – 10 September 2025.
During the week-long fair, more than 2,000 exhibitors, including businesses from the African continent and globally, will be showcasing their goods and services to the visitors and buyers while exploring opportunities and exchanging information. This is projected to translate into over US$44 billion in trade and investment deals.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said, “We are delighted to announce the 2025 CANEX Book Factory Prize for Publishing in Africa. Building on last year’s successful edition, this landmark initiative celebrates African publishing excellence. Through the CANEX Book Factory, we aim to put a spotlight on the enormous contribution of African authors and publishers to Africa’s cultural identity and economy.”
Dr Eghosa Imasuen, co-founder of Narrative Landscape Press Limited and Programme Manager for the CANEX Book Factory, said, “The first edition of the Prize greatly underscored the necessity of this intervention in the publishing value chain in Africa. We are grateful to Afreximbank and CANEX for their ongoing support of African publishing. We are excited to launch this second edition, and we hope to see submissions from more publishers across the continent than in the inaugural edition.”