MIL Africa Engine

Source: APO

.

The Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), in partnership with the International Trade Institute of Southern Africa (ITISA), has launched a free Online Export Course to help businesses develop the skills and knowledge needed to compete in international markets. The initiative forms part of the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs Strategy, which seeks to drive economic growth, expand market access, and create sustainable employment opportunities.

Since its launch, the self-paced course has attracted significant interest from businesses across the province, with 518 participants registered to date. More than 70 participants have successfully completed the course, with many continuing to benefit from additional export support programmes offered by the Western Cape Government.

Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, said:

“Export growth is one of the most effective ways to create jobs and stimulate economic development. Through this free Online Export Course, we are equipping entrepreneurs and businesses with the practical skills they need to access new markets, grow their customer base, and contribute to the Western Cape’s export-led growth agenda.”

Positive Impact on Exporters

The course is already delivering tangible benefits for Western Cape entrepreneurs and export professionals.

Alicia Somdaka, Founder and CEO of Imbali Nature’s Crown, an emerging agro-processing business, said the training helped her understand export compliance requirements and provided practical knowledge on export documentation, tariff classification and accessing international markets. Following the course, she registered a business domain and dedicated company email, redesigned her product labels to meet export requirements, and is currently preparing her business for export opportunities in Europe and the Middle East. Alicia noted that the programme provided a practical roadmap that she continues to use as she builds an export-ready business.

Sandiswa Masimini, who completed the Online Export Course, described the programme as an enriching and rewarding experience that provided a comprehensive understanding of export operations, including documentation, compliance, logistics, customs procedures and international trade requirements. She said the course increased her confidence in managing export processes, improved her efficiency, and strengthened her contribution to her organisation’s export activities. Sandiswa added that she would highly recommend the course to anyone seeking to build or advance a career in exports and international trade.

The course provides practical tools, expert guidance, and real-world case studies to help businesses develop effective export strategies and successfully navigate the complexities of international trade.

Key Course Features:

• Tailored learning for both emerging and experienced exporters.
• Practical, industry-focused content supported by real-world examples and expert insights.
• Flexible, self-paced learning through videos, downloadable resources, and assessments.
• Alignment with the Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs Strategy.

Who Should Enrol?

The course is designed for:

• Entrepreneurs and SMMEs seeking to enter international markets.
• Business development professionals and trade facilitators.
• Export managers wishing to strengthen their export strategies and operational capabilities.

What Participants Will Learn?

The nine-module programme provides a comprehensive overview of the export journey, covering:

• Market Strategy and Readiness
• Understanding the global trading environment.
• Assessing export readiness.
• Developing international marketing strategies.
• Logistics and Operations
• International transport services.
• Cargo insurance.
• Incoterms® 2020.
• Compliance and Finance
• Export administration.
• Financial risk management.
• Customs procedures.
• Product classification and compliance requirements.

Access the Course

Entrepreneurs, business owners, and export managers can access the free Online Export Course at:

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/edat/online-export-course

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Western Cape Government: Department of the Premier.

Source: APO

A majority of Africans support the free movement of people across borders, but many remain cautious about immigration into their own countries, Afrobarometer’s (www.Afrobarometer.org) new African insights flagship report (https://apo-opa.co/3TXSRot) shows.

While citizens are quite open to having foreigners in their midst, they are evenly split on whether immigrants are good or bad for the national economy, and majorities would prefer to see fewer or no job seekers and refugees admitted into their country.

One unexpected finding stands out: In Africa, unlike elsewhere, it is the most educated, the most skilled, and the wealthiest who express the greatest resistance to immigrants.

The 2026 African insights report, the third in Afrobarometer’s annual flagship series, draws on 50,961 face-to-face interviews conducted in 38 countries in 2024/2025. It examines citizen views on five aspects of Africa’s relationship with the world: trade, migration, great-power competition, global voice, and climate change.

The findings reveal that the proportion of Africans who have considered emigrating has increased over the past decade, significantly surpassing levels of interest recorded in other global regions. The desire to emigrate is highest among the young and the educated, and is driven overwhelmingly by economic motivations.

The new report is accompanied by country scorecards (https://apo-opa.co/4hcEvud) that provide an at-a-glance snapshot of key indicators on international relations for each of the surveyed countries.

Key findings

• A majority (56%) of Africans say people in their region should be able to move freely across international borders, while 40% prefer that their governments limit cross-border movement to protect citizens’ access to jobs and opportunities (Figure 1).
• Just one in four citizens (23%) say it is “easy” or “very easy” to move across borders in order to work or trade, compared to 63% who describe it as difficult (Figure 2).
• Three-quarters (77%) of respondents say they would like or not mind having immigrants or foreign workers as neighbours (Figure 3).
  • But citizens are divided on whether immigrants are good (45%) or bad (44%) for their country’s economy (Figure 4).
  • Majorities would prefer to see fewer or no job seekers (64%) and refugees (70%) admitted into their country (Figure 5).
  • Higher levels of education are associated with lower support for admitting job seekers in Africa. Similarly, higher-skilled workers are less likely to report favourable attitudes than their lower-skilled counterparts.
• Nearly half (45%) of Africans have considered emigrating, including 25% who say they have thought about it “a lot” (Figure 6).
  • West Africans (34%) are more than twice as likely as East and North Africans (both 16%) to have given serious thought to finding new homes abroad.

• Across 31 countries where this question was also asked in Round 7 (2016/2018), there has been a 7-percentage-point increase in the proportion considering emigration “a lot,” from 18% to 25% (Figure 7).
• Serious thoughts of looking abroad are particularly common among youth (32% of those aged 18-35) and the most educated citizens (31%).
• Half (50%) of potential emigrants (those who have considered it at least “a little bit”) say they would go in search of work, and another 29% would leave to escape economic hardship. 
• Among potential emigrants, about one in five say they would go somewhere within the subregion (17%) or elsewhere in Africa (5%). About one in three (32%) would opt for Europe, followed closely by North America (28%). 
• Across 31 countries where the question was also asked in 2016/2018, the proportion preferring to move to another African country has dropped from 36% to 26%.

Afrobarometer surveys

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life. Ten survey rounds in up to 45 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 surveys (2024/2025) cover 38 countries.

Afrobarometer’s National Partners conduct face-to-face interviews with nationally representative samples of adults in the language of the respondent’s choice that yield country-level results with margins of error of +/-2 to +/-3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. For more on the sampling methodology, click here (https://apo-opa.co/4cgyxoz).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afrobarometer.

For more information, please contact:
Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny
Director of communications
Email: jappiah@afrobarometer.org
Telephone: +233243240933

Visit us online at www.Afrobarometer.org.

Social Media:
Facebook
X
LinkedIn
YouTube
Instagram
Whatsapp
Bluesky

Follow our releases on #VoicesAfrica.

Source: APO

President of the Republic of Seychelles, Dr Patrick Herminie, today presided over the swearing-in ceremony of members of the Commission for the Enforcement, Implementation and Monitoring of the Recommendations of the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC).

Present at the ceremony were Vice President Mr Sebastien Pillay, former President Mr Danny Faure and members of the National Unity Committee.

The establishment of the Commission marks an important step insupporting the implementation of the recommendations contained in the TRNUC Final Report, and contributing to Seychelles’ ongoing process of reconciliation and national unity.

The creation of the Commission reflects President Dr Patrick Herminie’s commitment, since taking office, to promoting unity, reconciliation and a renewed sense of togetherness among the people of Seychelles. In previous addresses, the President has consistently emphasised the importance of bringing the country together, promoting healing and restoring hope.

During the ceremony, the Commissioners took their oath as Commissioners, formally assuming responsibility for overseeing, monitoring and supporting the implementation of the recommendations contained in the TRNUC Final Report.

The Commission will serve as an important mechanism to ensure coordination, follow-up and oversight of the implementation of the TRNUC recommendations, supporting the implementation of recommendations relating to victims identified in the TRNUC Final Report.

Speaking to the press following the ceremony, Commissioner Mr George Bibi explained that its primary responsibility is to determine reparations for victims identified in the TRNUC Final Report. He added that the Commission will work closely with relevant institutions, including the Seychelles Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Education, and the Seychelles Police Force.

Mr Bibi further explained that the Commission will submit an annual report to the President on its activities and provide regular public updates to ensure transparency and prevent misinformation.

“Our role is to determine the quantum of reparations based on the recommendations contained in the TRNUC Final Report. Once a determination has been made, it will be forwarded to the Reparations Trust Fund for payment,” Mr Bibi said.

He noted that reparations will be assessed according to the nature of the violations identified in the TRNUC Final Report, including unlawful killing, unlawful imprisonment or other deprivation of physical liberty, forced eviction from legally owned property, forced exile, and other recognised violations.

Mr Bibi clarified that the Commission will not determine compensation solely on the amount requested by victims. Instead, it will establish a clear assessment framework for determining the quantum of compensation, ensuring that all claims are considered fairly, consistently and transparently.

“Today marks our first day in office. Our immediate priority is to establish our Standard Operating Procedures, including the framework that will guide the determination of reparations,” he said.

Once the assessment framework has been finalised, victims will be invited for individual interviews, during which the Commission will explain how the amount awarded was calculated. Should a victim disagree with the Commission’s determination, they will have the option of seeking redress through the courts. However, there will be no appeal process before the Commission itself, as this could delay the implementation of its mandate.

Acknowledging the long wait experienced by many victims, Mr Bibi said the Commission intends to begin its work without unnecessary delay.

“People have been waiting for this for a long time. We will use these first few days to establish our office and put the necessary administrative arrangements in place. We anticipate that recruitment and the installation of the required facilities will take approximately two months, and we expect to expects to become fully operational, subject to the completion of the necessary administrative arrangements. This is a sensitive responsibility, and while we recognise that we may not be able to satisfy everyone, we are committed to carrying out our mandate fairly, professionally and to the best of our ability.”

Mr Bibi also emphasised that the Commission’s responsibility is limited to determining the quantum of reparations. Responsibility for mobilising and managing the funds rests with the Reparations Trust Fund Committee, which will process payments based on the Commission’s determinations.

He further noted that reparations are not limited to monetary compensation.

“It is important to understand that reparations are not only monetary. They can take different forms, including restitution, compensation and rehabilitation. Our team includes members with legal and psychological expertise, while both Mr Gbilimou and I bring experience from our work with the TRNUC.”

The Commissioners will designate a Chairperson and a Vice Chairperson from among themselves. Their mandate will last for a period of five years.

The recommendations contained in the TRNUC Final Report were submitted to former President Wavel Ramkalawan at the end of March 2023.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.