Kenya: Construction of Bridge Across Ferry Channel Delayed

Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho has said the national government has delayed the construction of a bridge across Likoni channel by switching firms.   Mr Joho said the French government was willing to finance the construction but got no approval from the government, which sought another company's services.   Speaking at the Aga Kgan Hospital in Mombasa during the signing of an agreement between Aga Khan Health Services Kenya and Agence Française de.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 17th January 2017

Ethiopia: Authority Signs Road Construction Deals Worth $2 Billion

Ethiopia is committed to expand access to modern road.   The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) signed road construction agreement worth 6.4 billion Birr with domestic and foreign contractors Thursday.   Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ethiopian Roads Authority Director General Araya Girmay said the agreement was made to construct Babile-fiq I,. II,III, Asosa-Daleti-Barudu, Eteya-Robe-Seru, Afedera-Erebti and Eritale-Ahmedela I,II roads with concrete.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 17th January 2017

Rwanda: Rwandair's Mumbai Direct Flights to Boost Trade, Tourism

The move by RwandAir to start direct commercial flights to Mumbai, India in quarter two of the year will ease market access and help reduce transport costs, the business community and experts have said. It could also boost tourism arrivals, they added.   The development follows the signing of bilateral air services agreements between Rwanda and India during the 8th Vibrant Gujarat Summit, a global business forum in India, early this week, paving way for the commencement of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Rwanda: Legislators Assess Development Projects Across Country

MPs in the Lower Chamber of Parliament yesterday started a ten-day tour across the country to assess both government and privately initiated projects that have been driving economic development of citizens over the last seven years.   The visits, which will be held in each of the country's 30 districts from yesterday up to January 21, are in line with Parliament's mandate to assess government programmes and the MPs will draw recommendations on how to strengthen the projects for.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Ethiopia Looking at U.S.$940 Million From Coffee Export

Ethiopia is working to become second coffee exporting country.   Ethiopia has set a goal of securing 940 million USD exporting 241,000 tonnes of coffee this year.   In a recent briefing, Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority Director General Sani Redi said modernizing coffee value chain, employing IT assisted export control system and improving Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) capacity are fundamental tasks being carried out to hit the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Ethiopia: $40 Million Cement Project Replaces Fuel Oil With Coal

The replacement move is to cut cost and increase production.   The 39.2 million USD worth Mugher cement project which replaced previous High Fuel Oil energy source with Coal has seen completion and entered production phase.   Speaking at the inaugural event, Public Enterprises State Minister Beyene Gebremeskel lauded enterprise's unrivaled effort in equipping itself with state-of-the-art technology to enable its employees and customers benefit the most out of.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Ethiopia: UN Approves $40 Million Project to Upgrade Commissions in Africa & Asia

United Nations — The UN's Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee) has approved a $40 million project to retrofit the premises of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, as part of the upgrades of UN Commission buildings, including the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa.   The project, described as "the most cost-effective, low-risk and viable option", is expected to provide long-term.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Rwanda: Regional Coffee Giants Java House Opens Kigali Branch

 One of the leading coffee shops in East Africa, Java House, is due to open its maiden shop in Kigali today. Java House was initially in Kenya, later expanded to Uganda and have now opened the first Rwanda arm, making a total of 56 branches distributed in three countries. "We are super excited to be in Rwanda, really thrilled," Ken Kuguru, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Java House told The New Times in an interview yesterday. "We are in three countries.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Tanzania: Zanzibar Begins Branding Its Cloves, Other Spices to Win Market

SPICES grown in Zanzibar, including cloves, are set to increase their competitiveness in the world market following the inauguration of its branding under the name 'Zanzibar Exotic Original.' Isles President Ali Mohamed Shein graced the inauguration of the branded spices, noting that Zanzibar cloves remain the world's best, asking the people to maintain the standard. "We took the best decision not to privatise cloves; it would be under threat of collapse with low price..... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 16th January 2017

Rwanda: Nyamagabe Tea Maker, Farmer Co-Operatives Partner to Increase Production

 Smallholder tea farmers and other residents of Nyamagabe District are upbeat following plans by Kitabi Tea Factory to expand production. The move means that residents, mainly from Kitabi, Tare and Uwinkingi sectors, can now expand their plantation as they will be assured of a ready market, officials from the firm have said. According to Jean Mutabazi, the general manager of Kitabi Tea Factory, the firm is working with farmer co-operatives and smallholder farmers to expand the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 13th January 2017

East Africa: Green Energy Firms Look to Crowdfunding to Raise Funds for Expansion

Renewable energy companies in East Africa are now turning to crowdfunding to raise money for expansion.   Firms that provide solar kits and modern cooking stoves -- such as Rubagabaga Run of River Hydropower Project in Rwanda, SimGas Kenya Ltd, Eco-Charcoal Ltd and Uganda's Eco Group Ltd -- are bypassing traditional financial intermediaries and turning to online crowdfunders.   Crowdfunding involves the use of Internet and mobile phone technologies to tap donations on.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 13th January 2017

Africa: Mauritania to Benefit From U.S.$21 Million IFAD Grant to Boost Food Security, Nutrition and Reduce Rural Poverty

 Rome — A total of 285,600 farmers, particularly women and young people in six regions in southern Mauritania will benefit from a financial agreement signed today between the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Mauritania to improve their incomes, nutrition and food security. The agreement for the Inclusive Value Chain Development Project (PRODEFI) was signed in Rome by Michel Mordasini, Vice-President of IFAD and Mariem Aouffa, Ambassador of.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 13th January 2017