Africa: China Always Regards Africa As Priority - Chinese Foreign Minister

Antananarivo — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday that China always regards Africa as priority in its diplomacy.   During his talks with his Malagasy counterpart, Beatrice Atallah, Wang said that he chose Africa as his first overseas visit destination in 2017 by following a nearly three-decade-old diplomatic tradition.   This signifies that China always regards developing countries as the cornerstone of its diplomacy and Africa its priority, said.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

China Welcomes Africa to be Part of Belt and Road Initiative

Antananarivo — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Saturday that China welcomes African countries to join the Belt and Road Initiative.   The initiative was proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in hope for common development and common prosperity with countries that identify themselves with this proposal, said Wang at a joint press conference with his Madagascar counterpart.   This proposal is the most important cooperative concept China has offered to.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Tanzania: Mining Sector Has More Potential to Boost Economy

Tanzania is blessed with a wide range of minerals which should translate to a big boost to the country's economy and our people's quality of life. The minerals include metals such as gold, iron, silver, copper, platinum, nickel and tin; gemstones such as diamonds, tanzanite, ruby, garnet, emerald, alexandrite and sapphire.   Furthermore, there industrial minerals such as kaolin, phosphate, lime, gypsum, diatomite, bentonite, vermiculite, salt and beach sand; building materials.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Tanzania: As Gold Prices Fall, Explorers Shift Focus to Non-Traditional Minerals

Dar es Salaam — Explorers are shifting from traditional minerals to prospecting for graphite and new forms of gems, BusinessWeek has established.   They are also targeting industrial minerals, minimising their work in traditional minerals.   The acting commissioner of Minerals, Mr John Shija, believes that the fall in gold prices has pushed multinational corporations to shift their attention to non-traditional minerals that are highly demanded. "Large graphite.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Rwanda: Kigali Master Plan Shaping Up Modern City

You don't need to have studied the Kigali City Master Plan to figure out the City of Kigali and the government's vision of what the capital and its outskirts are supposed to look like in five years going forward. But to get there, many changes are inevitable.   Like the latest directive from the City of Kigali that affects businesses and non-business entities operating from residential buildings. The City has given them three months to move their offices into bona fide.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Tanzania: Mortgage Facility Provided Loans Worth 4.5 Billion in 2016/17

National Mortgage facility for civil servants has provided loans to 391 workers from various ministries and local government authorities worth 4.5bn/- during the 2016/17 fiscal year.   This was said in Dar es Salaam yesterday by the Director for Housing Section in the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Human settlement Development, Michael Mwalukasa, while speaking to journalists on the progress made by the facility. He said since the facility was established to date - 2,040 civil.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

East Africa: Egyptian Firm Looking to Sell Stake in Rift Valley Railways

Egyptian investment firm Qalaa Holdings has confirmed that it is talking to several local and international investors as it seeks to sell its stake in Rift Valley Railways.   The Business Daily on Wednesday reported that a consortium of local firms has made a $133 million bid to buy an 80 per cent interest in the Kenya-Uganda railway from the Cairo-based firm.   "Qalaa Holdings... confirms that preliminary discussions are ongoing with several prospective local and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 9th January 2017

Nairobi - The Only African City in Global Investors Top Five List

Nairobi is on the global watchlist of top five fast modernising cities that are attracting new global business on growing realisation that big companies cannot operate from one sub-Saharan location in South Africa.   The city is also taking off as a hub for global corporations looking to establish an office to cover the East African region, according to Global Cities - The 2016 Report by Knight Frank.   Big companies with global reach have come to the conclusion that.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 6th January 2017

Commercialisation of agriculture in Tanzania to be private sector-led

 According to Geoffrey Kirenga, CEO of the SAGCOT Centre Ltd, (Southern Agricultural Corridor of Tanzania), Tanzania's Development Vision 2025 and ASDS (Agricultural Sector Development Strategy) established clear priorities for the transformation process towards a modern commercial Tanzania to be private sector-led. SAGCOT is a public-private partnership with the aim to develop the agricultural sector of Tanzania by fostering responsible agribusiness investments in the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 6th January 2017

Ethiopia: GERD Project Continues to Receive Public Funding

The Amhara State collected over 15.4 million Birr for the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) construction over the last five months.   Expert with GERD Public Support Mobilization and Coordination Secretariat Gizachew Gidey said the money was raised by civil servants, farmers, and the private sector through bond sales and grants.   Planning to collect over 3 billion Birr, the state secured over one billion so far.   "Since the launching of GERD.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 6th January 2017

Tanzania: New Building Code System Essential for Real Estate Safety

Dar Es Salam — The government has been urged to introduce the Building Code system as a solution for the haphazard and unlawful real estate development in Tanzania.   The coding system was designed by the Architects Association of Tanzania (AAT) and handed over to the government in 2003.   This follows complaints from residents of major urban centres against violation of laws guiding real estate development, risking health, safety, and security of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 6th January 2017

Ethiopia: Tendaho Irrigation Dam Completed

 The dam has a capacity to hold 1.8 billion cubic meters of water and irrigate 60,000 hectares. The Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity announced that the overdue construction of Tendaho Irrigation Dam has been completed . According to the ministry , the irrigation project was expected to be finalized in three- year time with 870 million birr budget. As the construction of project is long overdue and has taken eight year more , the cost of the construction has.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 6th January 2017