Hello, this edition is a quick policy news overview. Hope you found our previous edition on family structure interesting. If you have not read it yet, here is a link.

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Number

🔢 This Week’s Number

 2.4%

• A 2.4 % increase might seem modest, but in the context of global trade it signals just-barely positive momentum after much deeper weakness earlier this year.

• Trade volume is a leading indicator for broader GDP growth—when trade slows, production, investment and jobs often follow.

 🌍️ Africa

🇸🇳 Senegal Lifts Its Debt-Service Forecast Before IMF Talks
Senegal’s finance ministry raised 2025–28 debt-service projections by $5.8bn, signaling a tighter fiscal path going into IMF discussions.

🇹🇿 Tanzania Confirms New Natural-Gas Find in Mtwara
Authorities reported a new onshore gas discovery in the south (Mtwara), adding to domestic supply potential.

🇳🇬 Nigeria Comes Off FATF “Grey List”
The FATF confirmed Nigeria’s removal from enhanced monitoring following AML/CFT reforms.
Why it matters: Banks regain easier correspondent access and lower compliance frictions; this cuts the cost of capital and boosts formal FDI/portfolio inflows—fuel for private-sector growth. The efforts of the country to change its image as a money laundering centre have paid off to some degree.

🇺🇬 Uganda & 🇳🇱 Netherlands Agree New Trade/Development Priorities
Kampala and The Hague set a fresh cooperation agenda focused on trade, agribusiness and skills.

🇬🇭 Ghana Builds Its Gold Exports to Boost Reserves and Control Money Flow Ghana’s central bank says a new state-run gold trading body has helped rebuild foreign exchange reserves by buying export gold from local miners so the money stays inside the country.

Why it matters : Good reserves mean Ghana can import what it needs and keep its currency stable. A stable currency lowers business risk, so companies invest more, hire more workers, and the economy grows more steadily. Also, when export money stays local, more of the value stays in the country instead of leaving through offshore channels.

 🌍️ Europe

🇳🇱 Netherlands Seizes Control of Nexperia; EU–China Chip Tensions Escalate
The Dutch state intervened in Chinese-owned chipmaker Nexperia; China restricted exports, squeezing auto supply chains.

🇪🇺 EU Steps Up Plan to Cut Reliance on Chinese Rare Earths
Brussels outlined measures to secure critical minerals amid tighter Chinese controls. Showing that rare earth minerals are not so “rare” after all.

🇪🇺🇪🇬 EU–Egypt Summit: Joint Statement & Financing Package
Leaders issued a joint statement and advanced a €4bn resilience package.

🌎 North & South America

🇨🇴 Colombia’s High Court Blocks Health-Reform Decree
The Council of State provisionally suspended a decree implementing parts of the health reform.

🇵🇪 Peru Expands Amazon Electricity Access with IDB Support
Government advanced a program to deliver productive, sustainable electricity to Amazon communities with multilateral backing.

🌎 FAO Honors LatAm Food-System Innovations
FAO recognized projects across the region (incl. Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay) for scalable, technical solutions to food security.

🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea Considers Age Restrictions & Digital-ID for Social Media Access
PNG plans a Social Media Policy under which users 14+ will need a government-issued digital ID to access major platforms.

🇺🇸 United States to Reopen Entire Alaska Wildlife Refuge for Oil & Gas Drilling
The US plans to reopen the full coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil/gas leasing, reversing prior protections.

🇲🇽 Mexico Announces National Quantum-Technology Strategy (Tentative)
Mexico’s government disclosed plans to launch a national strategy for quantum technology development and research hubs.

🇨🇦 Canada Issues New Immigration Program Tied to Skilled Tech Workers
Canada unveiled a “Tech Talent Visa” stream allowing highly skilled professionals in quantum, AI and clean-tech sectors quicker residency routes as of 18 Oct 2025.

🇺🇸 Trump Administration pays its dues
The administration has quietly paid $25 million that was due to the World Trade Organisation. And that despite continued attacks on the organisation. Seeing China wanting to play a greater role must have changed their minds.

🌏 Asia & Australasia

🇮🇳 India Moves to Mandate Labels & Takedowns for AI Deepfakes
New draft rules require clear labeling of AI-generated media and rapid removal on platforms.
Why it matters: Trust in digital markets is a productivity input; cleaner information lowers fraud/coordination costs for firms and protects election integrity—key for investment sentiment.

🇯🇵 Japan’s Core Inflation Holds Near 2.9%
Fresh data show inflation still near target, keeping policy normalization in play.
Why it matters: A steady exit from ultra-loose policy can stabilize the yen, reduce import cost volatility for manufacturers, and improve planning horizons for capex.

🇮🇳🇧🇹 India–Bhutan Rail Links Green-Lit (₹4,033cr)
Two cross-border rail projects were announced/advanced, Bhutan’s first rail connection.
Why it matters: Lower trade costs expand market access for SME exporters on both sides; logistics reliability raises total factor productivity across border regions.

🇨🇳 China Pursues Tech Self-Reliance in 2026–2030 Plan
China’s ruling party announced that its upcoming five-year economic plan will emphasise semiconductors, AI, and domestic high-tech capacity.

🇳🇿 New Zealand Supports Launch of Australasian Space Innovation Institute (ASII)
Set to begin in January 2026, the institute will coordinate space-tech R&D, satellite deployment and industry collaboration across Australia/NZ region.