Ethiopia: Construction Sector to be Governed by New Bill

Upon the approval of the bill, the ministry will conduct a quality audit inspections on construction projects   In a bid to reduce waste in publicly funded construction projects, the government is preparing a legal framework to monitor the rapidly growing sector.   The directive is meant to establish a system of controlling and auditing construction projects at every stage, from inception to completion. It will provide a way to audit design quality, tender processes,.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 14th December 2016

Tanzania: PASS, AGF Ink Deal to Boost Agriculture Loan Guarantees

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania's Private Agricultural Sector Support (Pass) has signed an agreement with Nairobi-based African Guarantee Fund (AGF) to boost loan guarantees in the county.   The two parties agreed to share the risks of loan guarantee to eligible clients in Tanzania, with the aim of enhancing the outreach impact and reducing duplication of efforts and resources.   "Pass and AGF are determined to ease access to credit facilities by all eligible.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 13th December 2016

Rwanda: Dairy Exports Cross Rwf9 Billion in 2016

Rwanda's earnings from export of dairy products increased from $85,000 in 2012 to $11.5 million in 2016, Rwanda Dairy Competitiveness Programme II (RDCP II) Impact Report shows.   By 2016, according to the report, 78,000 additional litres of milk were being processed per day in Rwanda, helping meet a growing need for milk used in value added products.   This move brought the quantity of milk processed daily to 110,000 litres.   The report was released last week.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 13th December 2016

Tanzania: 'Local Textiles Industries Can Meet Domestic Demand'

Domestic  textiles industries can meet the country's demand for garment should efforts be in place to protect them from cheap imports. Instead, more manufacturers were moving huge sales to the regional markets of the East, Central and Southern Africa than they did to the local markets.   An official with A to Z textiles, Mr Fadhili Mbise, said at the ongoing industry exhibitions at the DITF along Kilwa Road that local manufacturers were capable of meeting local and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 13th December 2016

Tanzania: Govt Plans Industrial Development Bank to Boost Investment

The government is planning to establish industrial development bank soon to speed up investment flow and loans for industrial development. Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Adelhelm Meru, revealed the above in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the official closing of the industrial exhibitions that took place at Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) grounds along Kilwa Road.   "The industrial development bank can form a.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 13th December 2016

Rwanda: Invest in Agriculture to Boost Industrialization - AfDB President

African countries should invest more in agriculture and agro-processing to boost industrialisation on the continent, Akinwumi Adesina, the African Development Bank President (AfDB), has said. He noted that there is need for both governments and private sector bodies to partner and leverage the continent's resources to transform the sector amid the global economic recession.   Adesina also urged governments on the continent to promote research and good practices that can help.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 12th December 2016

Tanzania's First Wind Farm Project to Take Off in May 2017

Singida Wind Power project, which is the first wind farm in Tanzania is expected to begin from May, next year, after negotiations for power purchase agreement between the developer and the government are concluded.   The Managing Director of Six Telecoms, which is among partners to the project, Rashid Shamte told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the PPA negotiations with TANESCO, Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Attorney General office were at advanced stage and.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 12th December 2016

Kenya Power Prepares $2 Billion Budget for Upcoming Mega Projects

Electricity distributor Kenya Power has prepared a $2.17 billion (Sh219.1 billion) budget for the implementation of capital intensive projects in the next five years.   The utility firm, in its blueprint, states that the funds will be used to adequately supply power to 10.8 million customers by 2021, more than double the 4.8 million clients currently connected to the national grid.   Kenya Power's plan covers five key projects -- infrastructure development, network.... Read more »

Posted on : Monday , 12th December 2016

Tanzania: World's Largest Solar Pumping Project to Aid Refugees

Dar es Salaam — At least 250,000 displaced Congolese and Burundians living in three refugee camps in Western Tanzania expect to benefit from a largest solar-powered water treatment project.   According to a press statement, Water Mission and Poul Due Jensen Foundation (the Grundfos Foundation) are partnering to deliver safe and clean water to refugees coordinated by the Tanzanian Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).   The.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th December 2016

Kenya: Solar Lights at Night Helping Locals With Increased Income

Embu — With solar lights in the market, farmers can grow by day and sell by night   Violet Karimi spends her days as she always has, attending to household chores and working on her farm.   But when the sun goes down, she now has a second job, thanks to the arrival of solar lights in this town in eastern Kenya.   Each evening the widow leaves her three children studying at home by the light of a solar lantern and takes fruit and vegetables harvested on her.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th December 2016

MOKKA X in SA market for pre-christmas unwrapping

 Opel is stepping up its onslaught on the local compact SUV market with the pre-Christmas unwrapping of the latest version of its popular Mokka that has undergone a nifty make-over which includes a new uppercase name of MOKKA X. The jazzed up MOKKA X now brags with new daytime running LED headlight clusters, smart new upholstery and a high-end infotainment system with R4.0 IntelliLink and a driver display which is an optional extra on the Enjoy models. Optional on the Cosmo.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th December 2016

Crops in Rwanda monitored by a drone

 An aerial drone to monitor crops for Irish potato farmers in Northern Province was launched, yesterday, in Musanze District. The US Agency for International Development (USAID), through its Private Sector Driven Agricultural Growth Project (PSDAG), is partnering with AgriLift to pilot the drone-based crop monitoring technology. It will serve 2,000 potato farmers affiliated with 20 potato cooperatives in the Imbaraga Cooperative Federation, located in Nyabihu, Burera and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 9th December 2016