East Africa is poised to unlock new pathways for trade, development and growth. This comes as businesses, regulators and banks find and drive new direct investment, launch projects and close gaps to financial inclusion, providing a powerful tailwind for broader pan-African trade., recently published by the African Development Bank, says the region will register the highest regional economic performance on the continent in 2023 and 2024, with growth figures at over 5%.
Governments in leading countries are also undertaking a wide range of activities to improve the financial sector and this is sparking digital banking, interest free banking and capital market growth, among others. I expect these and other trends to drive trade and investment to gather pace from here, judging by the commitment being shown by the likes of Stanbic Uganda to facilitate, support and grow these new trade avenues.Available statistics from the Bank of Uganda show that the value of the country’s exports to South Africa continues to grow, doubling to $21.24m in the past 10 years up to 2022. However, the pace of growth has slowed in recent years.
South Africa’s exports to Uganda include machinery, vehicles, plastics, chemicals, electronics, parts and accessories, petroleum, live animals, books and newsprint, textiles, footwear, aircraft, and household goods. There is, today, a real commitment to improve and, both in Uganda and further afield, into the heart of Africa itself.