Women are key stakeholders in Africa's economic development as they make up 70% of the continent's informal traders. In this episode, we will explore how women-led small business can benefit from intra-African trade through the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We are joined by  Myra Engelmann, Proprietor of Pofeyster investment, a company engaged in exporting beadwork products made by women from the pastoral communities across Africa. She seeks greater integration of bead workers in the access of international markets.   

Despite its expansion, Africa’s contribution to global and intra-regional trade remains relatively low. Many scholars and researchers attribute low levels of intra-African trade to the fact that many cross-border trade flows are unrecorded. How far are we, as ordinary citizens, from being able to understand the deeper meaning and cultural embeddedness of informal cross-border trade, in a way that goes beyond the notion of “smugglers” as mere criminals? Is there really a need to formalize this type of trade, when it is such an integral part of the lives of those who live in the borderlands?  To answer these questions we have invited Dr. Thomas Hüsken, Associate Professor at the Department of Social Anthropology, University of Bayreuth, who talks about how the phenomenon of informal cross-border trade is interlinked with culture. This podcast is provided by the International Trade Centre (ITC) for information purposes only. Reference to any specific product, service or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ITC. Information or opinions provided by guests in this podcast are based on their own experiences and knowledge and can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of, or endorsement by, ITC. Views expressed in this podcast are those of the authors and do not necessarily coincide with those of ITC, the United Nations or the World Trade Organization.    

A crucial element of e-commerce is the timely and reliable delivery of goods. Postal service is the crux of this. Today we are joined by Mr. Dan Kagwe, Postmaster General of Posta Kenya, and Mr. Twahir Mohamed, CEO of Taz technologies, an innovative ICT company that is  steadily  growing in  various  African  countries. In this episode, we discuss the need for small business owners to remain agile in changing times and the benefits of learning and incorporating e-commerce to increase business opportunities.

4 out of 10 small businesses said they could permanently close due to the pandemic according to ITC’s COVID-19 Business Impact Survey. Resilient companies were 5 times less likely to lay off employees during the pandemic, and were more likely to have stable sales. To help us understand what sets resilient businesses apart, we have with us John Robin, Managing Director of Benjo’s Seamoss, a small beverage firm producing seaweed-based drinks in Dominica.

Access to reliable and affordable internet connection is the backbone of today’s interconnected global economy. Yet across Africa, internet penetration remains at just 39.2%. Sub-Saharan Africans continue to pay some of the highest monthly fees for internet.   To help us learn more about SMEs and startups' important role in making digital connectivity more affordable, reliable, and accessible for Africans, we have with us Emeka Ebo and Joseph de Durfort, the co-winners of the International Trade Centre’s #FastTrackTech challenge.

One million. One million animal and plant species could go extinct, many within decades – that’s more than ever before in human history. Reversing biodiversity loss requires a shift away from business as usual. How can businesses become more biodiversity-friendly and by doing so, contribute to conservation and sustainable trade? To help us understand how small businesses can help drive the change needed to address the biodiversity crisis, we have with us Andrew Kingman, Managing Director of Eco-Micaia, a social enterprise from Mozambique that supports local communities and associations producing biodiverse products.

Hailing from the island of Jamaica, Pamela Coke-Hamilton took the helm of the International Trade Centre in October 2020 in the middle of a semi-lockdown in Geneva. Her career in trade spans more than 3 decades and has taken her from the Caribbean to the United States to Switzerland. Formerly at UNCTAD as the Director of International Trade and Commodities and as Executive Director of the Caribbean Export Development Agency, Pamela is accustomed to taking the lead.  In the first episode of our second season, Pamela shares her story, her perspectives and the mark she wants to make on the world of international trade.

Tourism accounts for one in every 10 jobs on the planet. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, there were 45 tourist arrivals worldwide every second. Is this high number possible without major negative consequences for people and the planet… and vice versa? To learn how to balance the economic and ecological consequences of tourism, we interview Asmaa Kherrati, co-founder of Enjoy Agriculture, a Senegalese startup that promotes agritourism on the African continent, and Julio Andrés Rozo Grisales, founder of Amazonía Emprende, a sustainable tourism provider and sustainable business incubator. Can sustainable tourism be the solution? This episode was possible thanks to the collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organization. 

15% of the global population experience some form of disability. And 80% of people with disabilities live in developing countries. Differently-abled people are more likely to face socio-economic hardships. And yet their varied experiences and skills are an asset. Research shows that diversity in an organization leads to innovation and increased revenues.  So how can this be better reflected in the workforce, to make trade more inclusive, on a global scale? To learn about inclusion of differently-abled people, we hear from Robin F. Baker, Executive Director and Co-Founder of GoTherapy, a nonprofit organization working to improve access and quality of occupational, physical and speech therapy services for persons living with disabilities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Is inclusive trade actually inclusive?

Did you know that 15 years ago, streaming made up 0% of global music revenue? Now, it makes up more than half! Technology is changing the way music is made and sold: the physical trade in creative goods is giving way to digital. So how are artists – who build businesses around their passions – adapting in a world where their songs live online, on platforms they don’t own? How are they making money... and protecting their work? To help us understand how artists are adapting their business models to keep doing what they love while generating revenue, we have with us today Chaka Nyathando aka Pompi, a multi-award-winning artist and founder of entertainment company Atmosphere Nation from Zambia.