Kenya: Standard Gauge Rail to Finally Become a Reality This Year

This will be the year of the railway - perhaps mimicking 1899, when the current railway reached Nairobi.   By then, the railway was Colonial Kenya's most expensive project. Today, the new standard gauge railway is still the country's most expensive infrastructural project.   A historical transport masterpiece in the region, SGR has encountered numerous challenges like her predecessor, the metre gauge line that is more than a centenary old now.   The resilience.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Ethiopia: $100 Million World Bank Refugee Project to Benefit Over 1 Million People

A new World Bank funded project promises improved living conditions for refugees camped across five states in Ethiopia.   The Bank offered 100 million USD to implement "Development Response to Displacement Impact Project (DRDIP) in the Horn of Africa."   Speaking at project launching event in Semera, Afar State, Livestock and Fisheries Minister Dr. Misrak Mekonnen said the projects are believed to increase the benefit of the community from socio-economic as.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Ethiopia Ready for Low Carbon, Green Industries

Though Ethiopia didn't cause climate change it is confronted by the threat the challenge poses. It should also recognize the opportunity that the change presents. Climate change is not a future possibility for Ethiopia but it is already a present reality.   Like much of Africa, Ethiopia has become warmer over the past century and human induced climate change is projected to bring further warming over the next century at unprecedented rates. Climate models suggest that Ethiopia.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Government Prioritizes Agriculture Sector in 2017

 Saurimo — The agriculture sector is expected to receive special attention from the provincial government of Lunda Sul in this fiscal year, aiming at increasing and diversifying production, local governor Candida Narciso said Sunday in Saurimo. In her first statement in 2017, Cândida Narciso considered Agriculture a key sector for the development of the economy, which deserves special attention and greater investment. The governor appealed on the occasion to the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Ethiopia: Ample Power Generation Potential, Access is the Key

The development of electric power is an area in which Ethiopia has registered significant growth over the course of the last two decades. Particularly, the nation could generate huge electric resource from hydro power scheme alone.   As the effort to generate electric power had begun in 1897 with a generator capacity to the national palace, currently Ethiopia could build mega hydro-power projects which have the capacity to generate 6,000 MW in at a time. It is well known that.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Tanzania: Govt Revokes New Power Tariffs Set By Regulator

Dar es Salaam — The government yesterday revoked new electricity tariffs, only a day after they were announced by the regulator-- Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority (Ewura).   Energy and Minerals minister Prof Sospeter Muhongo took the unprecedented action in a letter ordering Ewura to shelve the planned increase in the cost of power supply.   The letter dated December 31 and addressed to Ewura director general Felix Ngamlagosi would come as a surprise.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Ethiopia: Agricultural Extension Key to Sustainable Farmer Development

Ethiopian Society of Rural Development and Agricultural Extension said it is working to create a highly effective extension system that fulfills the promise of sustainably improving the lives of smallholders.   Speaking at a recent annual conference , Society President Chimdo Anchala said effective and efficient agricultural extension would enhance production and productivity of smallholders through the development of innovative, effective and sustainable farmer and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Ethiopia: Construction of 4 Industrial Parks to be Launched Soon - Ministry

The Ministry of Industry announced that the construction of four agro- industrial parks projects would be launched soon in Tigray, Amhara, Oromia and SNNP States.   Speaking at stakeholders' consultative meeting on the implementation and resource mobilization for agro-industrial parks expansion project here Friday, Integrated Agro- Industrial Parks Project Marketing and Economic Analyst Moges Mesfin said the project is part of the national vision to become light manufacturing.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Ethiopia: GERD Council Successful in Rallying Public Support

Office of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation for the Construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) said it has successfully accomplished its goal of mobilizing the public towards the construction of the dam.   Office Deputy Director Tagel Kenubih said the office had managed to mobilize Ethiopians home and abroad for massive purchase of bonds over the last fiscal year (2015-16).   The deputy director also said the office has.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 3rd January 2017

Africa: Emphasis on Corporate Social Responsibility in Mining Sectors

The activities of mining firms often affect the communities in which they operate in; In some instances, a large number of people have to be relocated due to mine constructions. It is against this backdrop that players in the mining sector are taking the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda seriously. The World Bank defines CSR as “the commitment of businesses to contribute to sustainable economic development by working with employees, their families, the local community.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 2nd January 2017

African Packaging Industry Well Equipped for Increased Demand

Growth in Africa’s packaging sector is tipped to explode over the coming years and global packaging equipment suppliers are certainly keen to capitalise on the potential for consumer-led growth. According to a report, sub-Saharan Africa’s key food and beverage market grew by 18 per cent last year. Over the next 20 years, it is projected to be four times the region’s urban market growth average. Sub-Saharan Africa’s packaging growth is predicated on some of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 2nd January 2017

Rwanda: Hotel Boom as Kigali Targets MICE as Base of Tourism Industry

In the past few years, Rwanda has risen to become among the leading foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations in the Great Lakes, and even beyond.   This is particularly true when one considers a number of the biggest international hotel chains which have recently opened their doors: Kigali Radisson Blu, Serena, Park Inn, Sheraton, Zinc, Protea, and Golden Tulip among others.   All these hotel brands are establishing in Rwanda with the aim of grabbing a slice of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 2nd January 2017