globalEDGE Newsletter

December 2007
Vol. 6 - Issue 11

Inside This Issue

  1. Featured Country: Uganda
  2. Poll Question
  3. News
  4. In-Depth Look
  5. gBR Featured Article
  6. Featured Sites
  7. Featured Academy
  8. Newsletter Information

1) Featured Country: Uganda

While high inflation and political instability have plagued Uganda for much of the past several decades, reforms under the current government have sparked a change for the better. Rampant inflation is now under control, providing a strong economic outlook for the east African nation. Abundant natural resources, including fertile soil, provide a strong economic base for the agriculture industry, which employs 80% of the Ugandan workforce. Escalating tariffs present in the developed world create difficulty in exporting processed goods, resulting in an export portfolio dominated by agricultural products and natural resources, most notably raw coffee beans. Uganda also holds largely untapped oil and natural gas deposits that, if utilized, could help to diversify the national economy and usher in a new era of prosperity.

Learn more about Uganda on globalEDGE Country Insights.

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2) Poll Question

This month's poll question is:

"Will the strength and stability of the Ugandan economy propel Africa into a new era of economic competitiveness?"

Please click a choice below to vote. You can also vote at our home page.

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3) News

E. Africa Bloc Signs Interim Trade Agreement with EU
Reuters, by Tim Cocks (November 27, 2007)
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL27440686.html
The countries of the East African Community trading bloc, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, have signed a new trade deal with the European Union. The temporary agreement is not a full Economic Partnership Agreement but is intended to prevent trade from being interrupted. The WTO ruled that the EU's trade agreements with former colonies are illegal, and must be revised.

Uganda: Museveni's Vision is Certainly Audacious, But His Language!
allAfrica.com, by Macharia Gaitho (November 27, 2007)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200711262195.html
Uganda, with the help of President Yoweri Museveni, is fast regaining its shine as the pearl of Africa. Perhaps driven by this achievement, the Ugandan leader now envisions an upcoming economic renaissance for the continent, fueled by his nation's successes. Yet, ambition and optimism aside, Museveni's caustic words could prove to be more than a hindrance to his bold cause.

EAC Urged to Set Up Special E-Govt Fund
The East African, by Francis Ayieko (November 26, 2007)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200711260349.html.
The five countries of the East African Community are pushing for a substantial increase in funding to develop the region's e-government initiative. At a recent meeting in Nairobi, industry players suggested that each country in the region set up distinct governmental bodies devoted to e-government development. An effective e-government is crucial to infrastructure development in the region.

View more News on globalEDGE.

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4) In Depth Look

Uganda: Where to Put Your Money
The Monitor, by James Abola (November 25, 2007)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200711260169.html
James Abola, a reporter located in Kampala, highlights what he considers to be the best areas for investment in Uganda. For those living in distant places, the fast-growing Uganda Securities Exchange may be the best choice. Other areas with high potential include real estate and road construction.

India Feels the Heat of the Dragon in Uganda
Business Standard, by Bhupesh Bhandari (November 26, 2007)
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?autono=305485&leftnm=3
The current Indian population in Uganda of about 16,000 dominates business in the country. However, in the last few years 12,000 Chinese have come to Uganda and are quickly taking up a substantial share of the economy. As the demand for natural resources increases, these two Asian countries have brought their competition to Uganda.

Why ASEAN's Stock Markets Must Work Together
McKinsey Quarterly (October 1, 2007)
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/article_page.aspx?ar=2070
The stock markets of Southeast Asia face a number of problems that could hamper their long-term viability. With the average stock on most of these exchanges trading less than once every two years, very low turnover has resulted in exceedingly high trading costs, naturally resulting in a lack of foreign investment. If Southeast Asian exchanges are to succeed in bringing in additional foreign capital and consolidating operations, strategic collaboration and gradual integration may be better than outright merger. (Free registration required to view this article.)

View more In Depth Look articles on globalEDGE.

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5) gBR Featured Article

Focus on All Stakeholders Globally
By Tomas Hult (Volume 1, Number 4, pp. 1-3, 2007)
http://globaledge.msu.edu/newsandviews/businessReviews/gBR1-4.pdf
Executive Briefing: Does your global supply chain adopt a narrow or broad focus? Is either of speed, quality, cost, or flexibility the key outcome in your chain? If so, certain elements drive your performance more than others. But if you truly go for the gold standard, your focus is probably on running a strategic global supply chain (SGSC). Do you know the drivers of a SGSC?

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6) Featured Sites

This month's Featured Sites:

Uganda: Uganda Securities Exchange
http://www.use.or.ug/home.asp
The Uganda Securities Exchange is Uganda's principal stock exchange. The basic function of USE is to provide a facility for raising funds for investment in long-term assets. Information is provided on opportunities available in the Uganda capital markets. The site includes an Electronic Library outlining the roles, functions and procedures of the USE for those interested in investing.
Category: Money: Stock Exchanges
Country: Uganda

AFRICA: East African Business Week
http://www.busiweek.com/
East African Business Week is a frequently updated source of business news and opportunities in the East Africa region. Business news, the site's main focus, is supplemented by current events in other topics as well as an easily navigable archive. Among the countries featured, country budgets are available for Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Category: News & Periodicals: Regional News
Region: Africa

International Maritime Organization
http://www.imo.org/
The International Maritime Organization is responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships. The site contains a vast amount of resources on maritime matters, such as current news and informative documents. The IMO was established by the United Nations and is currently based in the United Kingdom.
Category: Trade: Logistics

View recently added sites on globalEDGE.

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7) Featured Academy

Swedish: Introduction to Swedish
http://www2.hhs.se/isa/swedish/default.htm
Presented by the Stockholm School of Economics, this website not only provides introductory lessons in basic to intermediate Swedish, but also provides users with useful audio files, language comparisons, and helpful historical and cultural context to help one better understand the language. The website is designed for users with no prior knowledge of Swedish, and provides useful vocabulary as well as explains the basic grammatical structure of the language.
Category: Course Content: Language Guides

View more Academy Resources on globalEDGE.

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8) Newsletter Information

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