Kenya's Business Community Is Optimistic About the Future

 Trade is growing in the entire region, including Kenya. Kenya's GDP is approximated to hit 15% by the turn of the year. With the recent tripartite agreements that our African presidents have signed, markets in South, East, West, and North Africa will begin to harness their energy towards intra-continental trade.   This is good news to the region's people as they can benefit from expanded market opportunities. Opening up former continental market blocs will mean that.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th January 2016

Africa: WTO Members Secure a Package for Africa

 Members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) concluded their tenth ministerial conference in Nairobi recently by securing an agreement on a series of trade initiatives.   The Nairobi package contains a series of six ministerial decisions on agriculture, cotton and issues related to least-developed countries such as Uganda.   A centrepiece of the Nairobi package is a ministerial decision on export competition, including a commitment to eliminate subsidies for farm.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th January 2016

Kenya and Uganda plan to build another corridor to boost trade

 Kenya and Uganda plan to build another corridor to boost trade between the two East African countries.   Uganda National Roads Authority and the Kenya National Highways Authority are seeking funds from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the project which will traverse Uasin Gishu County and to the west of the boundaries of Eldoret, Trans Nzoia.   The proposed road project dubbed multinational Uganda and Kenya: Kapchorwa - Suam - Endebess - Kitale - Eldoret.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 5th January 2016

Ethiopia, Egypt, Sudan Announce Consent in Applying GERD Principles

The agreement is a step forward towards finalizing and reaching agreement on the nomination of the two consultancy firms.   Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan announced Tuesday that they have reached consensus to put into practice provisions in the Declaration of Principles regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).   The three parties have reached an agreement on the consultancy firms which would conduct the technical studies on GERD, noting that the French Artelia.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Foresight Africa 2016: Free trade agreements and the implications for Africa

The launch of Foresight Africa: Top priorities for the continent in 2016 is on the horizon.  In anticipation of this year’s report, the Africa Growth Initiative team offers the below preview of one of the major topics covered and encourages you to check out the report when it publishes next week.   Much of the world is entering into mega-regional free trade areas (FTAs). Indeed, October 5, 2015 marked the ratification of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the most.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Ugandans in Diaspora Asked to Invest More Back at Home

Kampala — Ugandans in the diaspora have been challenged to create private equities and invest in private companies and skills developments instead of keeping their money in banks.   Mr James Aguma, the chief financial officer South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), while speaking at the 5th annual diaspora business breakfast at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Tuesday, said: "I see so many Ugandans in the diaspora with lots of money. They should create a private.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Africa: Building East Africa Information Expressway to Open a New Chapter of China-Africa Cooperation

The Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was opened on December 4thwhen President Xi Jinping announced to upgrade China-Africa relationship into a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and said that China is willing to implement ten major cooperation initiatives with the African side in the following three years. Such a portfolio has won high recognition of various participating parties and warm response from the international community, and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Food Giant, Willowton Group to Set Up U.S.$40 Million Plant in Africa

South African company Willowton Group will spend at least $40 million to set up an integrated fast consumer goods plant in Mutare. The group manufacturers a wide range of products which include edible oils, margarines and spreads, toiletries, laundry and bathing soaps, candles, chocolates, and baking and industrial fats.   Some of its popular brands on the local market include Sunfoil cooking oil and D'lite cooking oil.   "The company expressed interest in setting.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Africa's Automobile Sector to Contribute 4.5 Percent of 2016 Global Sales

Africa's automobile sector may contribute at least 4.5 per cent of 2016 global automobile sales as a result of the country's increased investment in the automobile sector in 2015, which encouraged local production.   This was contained in the review report of the trends in the automobile sector in Nigeria by online vehicle marketplace, Carmudi.com.ng.   According to the report, "In 2015, investment in the automobile industry in Nigeria was at an all time high as.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Tanzania Exports Rise By 9.2 Per Cent On Strong Industrial Manufacturing

 Tanzania's value of exports has increased by 9.2 per cent as manufacturing  improved in the year ending 2015, according to the Bank of Tanzania (BoT).   The exported goods and services reached $9.4 billion, said the latest Monthly Economic Review for November.   Foreign exchange earner increased from $1.98 billion to $2.23 billion during the corresponding period last year.   Manufacturing exports also improved from $1.21 billion to $1.31 billion in the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 4th January 2016

Uganda: Agro-Forestry to Boost Income, Conservation

Farmers in Buikwe, Mukono, Kalangala and Mpigi districts as well as the outlying Buvuma islands are engaging in agroforestry to boost their agricultural production as well as combating climate change.   The initiative, which is a collaboration between World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and National Forestry Authority (NFA), will have many farmers simultaneously conserve forests and plant particular trees species for fruits, to aid bee keeping and promote.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 31st December 2015

Eskom Uganda Is Committed to Improving Maternal and Infant Health

Ugandans know Eskom as a reliable partner for generation of electricity which has spurred development and progress in this country.   You know Eskom as people who have for the last 12 years operated and maintained this country's first two hydro power stations, Nalubaale and Kiira, without incident and/or deficiency.   The plant availability for both dams for the period since the start of the concession in 2003 has consistently been above the contractual average of 94%,.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 31st December 2015