Latest news with #crossBorderTrade
Zawya
03-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Promoting inclusive regional trade: Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) mobilises stakeholders along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor to support women traders
The ECOWAS Commission launched on Monday in Abidjan the third edition of its regional information and awareness campaign for small-scale cross-border women traders along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor. This initiative, which will run until 15 July 2025, aims to strengthen women's economic participation in regional trade by improving their access to information, training, and a safer trading environment. The Department of Human Development and Social Affairs and the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission are co-organising the third edition of the Information and Awareness Campaign for small-scale cross-border women traders along the Abidjan–Lagos corridor, from 30 June to 15 July 2025. The objective of this campaign is to build on the achievements and results of the 2023 and 2024 editions conducted along the Tema–Paga and Dakar–Banjul–Bissau corridors, in order to facilitate cross-border trade and improve operations for small-scale women traders by strengthening their knowledge and understanding of the regulations governing cross-border trade and related regional initiatives. As part of the implementation of this campaign, an official launch ceremony—co-chaired by the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister of Women, Family and Children—was held on 30 June 2025 at the NOOM Hotel in Abidjan. The ceremony was graced by the effective participation of H.E. Mrs. Massandjé TOURE-LITSE, ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture. The official launch of the information and awareness campaign was preceded by a public Town Hall meeting focused on raising awareness about ECOWAS cross-border trade policies and strategies, capacity building for women traders, the toolkit designed for small-scale cross-border women traders (border transparency and the fight against gender-based violence), and GIZ initiatives to boost intra-regional agri-food trade, improve coordination of regional policies, strengthen economic integration, and ensure food security. The launch event also saw the participation of the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Côte d'Ivoire, the ECOWAS National Office in Côte d'Ivoire, the Abidjan Chamber of Commerce, representatives of associations of small-scale cross-border women traders, and technical and financial partners. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Arab News
20-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan eases visa rules for Afghan transporters, drivers to improve trade amid deportation drive
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will issue multiple-entry visas valid for one year to Afghan drivers and transporters to facilitate cross-border trade, its embassy in Kabul announced on Friday, amid an ongoing campaign to deport undocumented Afghan nationals. Afghan drivers play a vital role in bilateral and transit trade between the two countries. Under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), Afghan transporters are allowed to move goods between Pakistani ports and their countries major cities like Kandahar, Jalalabad and Kabul. The Pakistan government's decision to issue visas comes at a time when the government has repatriated 979,486 Afghan nationals since launching a deportation drive in 2023 over security concerns. 'The Government of Pakistan has decided to issue multiple-entry visas of one-year validity to Afghan drivers and transporters,' the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul said in a post on X. 'The visa fee for this category would be $100.' Government of Pakistan has decided to issue multiple-entry visas of one-year validity to Afghan drivers and transporters. The visa fee for this category would be USD 100. Please apply for Work (Transit/Transport) visa at * Applicants are required to… — Pakistan Embassy Afghanistan (@PakinAfg) June 20, 2025 The new visa policy is likely to benefit ongoing trade flows, especially as Pakistan remains a primary corridor for Afghanistan's access to international markets. Afghan trucks are permitted to transport goods under the APTTA framework, including third-country imports destined for Afghanistan. Applicants for the new visa will be required to upload a photograph, a scanned copy of their passport, Afghanistan's national identity document, a valid temporary admission document, an employment letter from a registered transport company or an authority letter from a transport operator and a valid driving license. Pakistan's deportation policy in 2023 followed a spike in militant attacks, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Islamabad has previously linked such attacks and other crimes to Afghan nationals, who make up the largest migrant population in the country, though Kabul has denied any nexus between the two. Despite tensions, both countries have recently taken steps to restore diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level.
CNA
18-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Malaysia pushing to fast track ASEAN Power Grid for greater cross-border electricity trade
Malaysia is pushing to fast track the ASEAN Power Grid, designed to facilitate greater cross-border electricity trade. This comes amid the growing need to decarbonise and ensure sustainable energy supply. As ASEAN chair, Malaysia is eager to have all the bloc's members endorse a single road map to realise a fully interconnected grid system by 2045. Melissa Goh reports from the Energy Asia conference in Kuala Lumpur.
Zawya
26-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
China raises cross-border yuan use requirement for major banks, Bloomberg News reports
China's central bank asked its major lenders to raise the share of yuan when facilitating cross-border trade, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter. The People's Bank of China increased the floor ratio for yuan-denominated trade transactions to 40% from 25% as part of its recent adjustment to the Macro Prudential Assessment, the report said. Reuters could not immediately confirm the report. (Reporting by Kritika Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Toby Chopra)
Bloomberg
26-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
China Raises Cross-Border Yuan Use Requirement for Major Banks
China's central bank asked its major lenders to raise the share of yuan when facilitating cross-border trade, in its latest push for the use of the currency as the world grapples with the onslaught of tariffs by the US. The People's Bank of China increased the floor ratio for yuan-denominated trade transactions to 40% from 25% as part of its recent adjustment to the so-called Macro Prudential Assessment, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified discussing a private matter. While not mandatory, banks missing the ratio often receive a lower score in regulatory review which will impact their future business expansion.
