Finance and Economics

Presidents Ramaphosa and Ouattara ‘pleased’ to see Ukrainian grains deal signed

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The President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, visited South Africa on Friday.
Outtara was welcomed by his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa in the capital, Pretoria.
The visit coincided with a UN and Turkey-brokered agreement to allow Ukraine and Russia to export grain and fertilizers. 

“It has taken much too long, in my view, because that conflict has put a stop to the import or exportat of grain, fertilizers and other foodstuffs like wheat to various other parts of the world. And we are therefore pleased. That this may indeed in the end become a reality. Would this be seen as signalling something that could amount to the end of that conflict? I would like to believe that, yes”, said South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. 
Referring to Mali, the Ivorian president rejected earlier suggestions that his country was interfering in its neighbour. 
The accusations were linked to the detention of a group of Ivorian soldiers accused of being mercenaries.
” Ivory Coast cannot afford to attempt to destabilize any country and especially not a neighboring country (such as Mali). And they are the same peoples, the same population. The relationships are close, are very close. We use the same currency, we use the same legal framework, etc. It (Mali) is a friendly country and brother and sister populations. Therefore, there isn’t any question about us engaging in any attempt to destabilize”, reassured Alassane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast.
During the visit to South Africa, the two presidents signed a number of agreements and Ouattara addressed the South Africa – Ivory Coast Business Forum.

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Central African Republic president launches crypto initiative following Bitcoin adoption

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Faustin-Archange Touadéra, president of the Central African Republic, has announced the government will be backing an initiative centered around developing the country’s blockchain infrastructure.In a Monday announcement on Twitter, Touadéra said the CAR government would be launching Sango, a crypto initiative proposed following the country’s adoption of Bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender in April. According to Sango’s website, the government intends to launch the program during a July 3 event in which the president, members of his cabinet and industry experts will discuss the physical and digital infrastructure needed for the CAR to enter the crypto space, as well as the legal framework for the country. The Sango project’s plans include building a “legal crypto hub” aimed at attracting businesses and global crypto-enthusiasts, expanding the adoption of Bitcoin in the country, and creating a virtual “crypto island” — a special economic zone in the metaverse that will seemingly have an equivalent space in the physical world. According to Sando, the CAR plans to have a dedicated legal framework for crypto in place by the end of 2022.“The ambitious strategy to quickly build a successful economy can only rely on new technologies that have taken the world by storm and taken money to another level, with Bitcoin as a watchword,” said Touadéra. With #Bitcoin as #legaltender & inspiration, our country opens a new chapter in its inspiring journey towards a brighter future via #blockchain #tech. Everyone is welcome to witness the Sango Genesis Event that will be broadcast on the 3rd of July, on https://t.co/LIQiKGhcBS. pic.twitter.com/7u6knv5f6w— Faustin-Archange Touadéra (@FA_Touadera) June 27, 2022Related: Crypto users in Africa grew by 2,500% in 2021: ReportTouadéra’s and the CAR’s plans to adopt crypto seem to be emulating those of El Salvador, whose Bitcoin Law declaring the digital currency legal tender went into effect in September 2021. The Latin American nation also announced plans to create its town Bitcoin City funded by $1 billion worth of BTC bonds, placed on hold as of June amid the bear market.

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