Trade & FX Reality Check (Eswatini): Eswatini’s August trade showed E3.86bn exports vs E3.67bn imports, a small merchandise surplus, but April–August still ran a deficit of about E878m—an important reminder for SMBs that cross-border costs and demand move both ways. Regulation Costs (Zimbabwe): Zimbabwe’s competitiveness push is shifting from “more licences” to asking what regulation itself costs firms; the government is institutionalising regulatory impact assessments to cut the hidden burden on investment and scaling. Entrepreneurship Push (South Africa): GEC+Africa 2026 in Cape Town brought MSMEs, investors and policymakers together under “Connecting Africa,” with calls for action on finance and red tape. SME Energy Relief (Nigeria): Ondo’s Lucky Light Initiative will supply solar power to 1,000 small businesses, aiming to cut one of the biggest production costs and boost profitability. Credit Costs (Kenya): President Ruto urged banks to turn improved stability into cheaper credit for households and businesses, warning high lending rates still choke investment. Digital Growth (Kenya): Kenya’s .KE domains hit 129,140 by end-June, showing steady digital identity expansion alongside a much larger mobile and internet base. Trade Data Tools (Eswatini): EIPA launched two ITC-backed dashboards to help investors and exporters access market intelligence and investment opportunities. Insurance for Resilience (Nigeria): AXA Mansard’s campaign argues insurance should be seen as practical protection for livelihoods and business continuity, not just another expense. AI & Jobs (Ghana): A focus on AI’s impact on youth employment urges readiness to work with the technology rather than treating it as a distant threat.