Tag: Trade Facilitation
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Open Trade and Digital Investment: The Path to an AI-Driven Trade Boom by 2040, Says WTO
Open trade and digital investment: unlocking AI-led growth Smarter, faster, and more interconnected global commerce hinges on a coordinated approach that blends open trade rules with targeted digital investment and workforce upskilling. The World Trade Organization (WTO) recently highlighted that adopting artificial intelligence (AI) in trade processes—while preserving transparent and rule-based markets—could drive almost 40%…
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Singapore-China CCI Opens Chongqing Global Logistics Hub
Introduction: A decade of transformation On the banks of the Yangtze, Chongqing has long stood as a gateway to inland China. A decade ago, however, logistics was hampered by distance, bottlenecks, and the challenge of linking landlocked western China to global markets. The Singapore-Chinese Chongqing Connectivity Initiative (CCI) began with a simple aim: turn the…
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Unified Certification in the GBA: Driving Soft Connectivity and Trade Integration
Introduction: A new pillar for regional integration The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is accelerating an important trend: unified certification. By streamlining compliance across borders, this initiative enhances soft connectivity—the invisible glue that binds a dense network of businesses, suppliers, and markets. As cross-boundary trade becomes more efficient, firms in the GBA can move…
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China Backs Nigeria’s Port Modernisation Drive with Technical and Diplomatic Support
Overview: A Strategic Shift in Nigeria’s Ports Nigeria’s quest to modernise its seaports is moving into a new phase as the government of the People’s Republic of China pledged substantial technical and diplomatic support. The commitment underscores a deepening bilateral relationship, with a shared focus on enhancing maritime efficiency, reducing turnaround times, and strengthening Nigeria’s…
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East Africa Urged to Embrace Open Borders for Small Traders
New Push for Open Borders in East Africa East African Community (EAC) member states are intensifying discussions on open borders to boost the capacity of small traders and spur regional growth. The proposal centers on simplifying customs, harmonizing regulations, and ensuring easier movement of people and goods across borders. Advocates argue that when micro, small,…
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Jaishankar Meets Putin in Moscow as SCO Leaders Convene in the Shadow of Global Tensions
Overview: Jaishankar’s Courtesy Call on Putin at SCO Summit External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meetings with fellow member states. In a courtesy gesture highlighted by diplomatic protocol, Jaishankar also held an audience with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The meeting…
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Trade Policy Review: Nepal — Navigating Opportunities in a Changing Global Market
Overview of Nepal’s Trade Policy Review Nepal is undergoing a comprehensive assessment of its trade policies as part of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy Review cycle. This process gathers inputs from the government, the WTO Secretariat, and stakeholders to evaluate how Nepal’s trade regime supports development, regional integration, and poverty reduction. The review…
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Trade Policy Review: Nepal — Insights from the WTO Process
Overview of Nepal’s Trade Policy Review The World Trade Organization’s Trade Policy Review of Nepal provides a comprehensive look at how Nepal’s trade regime functions in a rapidly changing global economy. The review examines tariff structures, non-tariff measures, trade facilitation, services, and government policies that shape Nepal’s trade performance. It also assesses how Nepal’s policies…
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Trade Policy Review: Nepal—Insights from the WTO Assessment
Overview of Nepal’s Trade Policy Review Nepal’s Trade Policy Review (TPR) offers an in-depth examination of its trade regime, barriers, and reform trajectory. Conducted with input from the WTO Secretariat and the Nepal government, the review assesses how Nepal’s policies influence export competitiveness, import access, and overall economic development. The document set includes a Secretariat…
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Regional Instability and East Africa’s Cross-Border Trade: The Path to Industrialisation
Introduction: Instability as a Barrier to Trade Regional stability has emerged as a critical driver for intra-African trade, particularly in East Africa where cross-border commerce fuels jobs, investment, and industrial growth. At the 3rd Industrialisation Conference, stakeholders highlighted that without peace and cohesion, efforts to scale up cross-border trade will stall, undermining regional aspirations for…