German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged on Tuesday a new €1bn development fund of to tackle unemployment in Africa, a problem spurring the mass migration that has shaped her long premiership as it nears its end. Merkel hosted a summit of African leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, a day after her announcement that she would retire from politics by 2021, which sent shockwaves across Europe and started a race to succeed her.

The 6th Africa Ireland Economic Forum recently brought together business people and thought leaders from across Europe at the Convention Centre, Dublin Ireland to focus on strengthening trade links in the agri-food sector.

The Italy-Africa Conference scheduled to be held at the Farnesina next 25 October, will involve 46 African Countries, many representatives at ministerial level and 13 International Organizations, including the African Union, for a total of 350 delegates.

Papua New Guinea has taken steps to strengthen and deepen its Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the EU and other ACP states that have similar trading arrangements. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Hon Rimbink Pato who attended the ACP-EU Joint Ministerial Trade Meeting in Brussels, Belgium on 26 October 2018, signed the ACP Administrative Cooperation Agreement (ACA), making it possible for Papua New Guinea to enter into intra-ACP trade relations with the cumulation of the rules of origin.

President Cyril Ramaphosa embarks on a working visit to Germany to attend the G20 Africa Conference in Berlin. The G20 Africa Conference, scheduled for Oct 29-30, will discuss progress made with the G20 Partnership with Africa and the Compact with Africa (CwA).