Kenya: Govt to Subsidize LPG for Promotion of Safe Energy

Kenya plans to subsidise the cost of cooking gas cylinders to promote safer sources of energy to households.   The government says it intends to promote liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as the preferred alternative source of energy for cooking, replacing kerosene, charcoal and firewood, which are used by 87 per cent of Kenyans.   The Treasury has provided $200 million in this year's budget to roll out the subsidies and the Ministry of Energy is exploring the most effective.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

Tanzania: African Relief Organisation To Invest Sh3 Billion For Irrigation Project

Dar es Salaam — The African Relief Organisation is investing Sh3 billion on the first phase of its irrigation project on the Rufiji Basin, the company announced yesterday.   The organisation is discussing with the Rufiji Basin Development Authority (Rubada) to implement the project which is scheduled to start this farming season, according to the chairman for the organisation's board of trustees, Sheikh Abdallah Ndauga.   The amount to be injected into the project.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

Tea Auction to be automated in East Africa

The East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA) has signed a financing agreement with TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) that will enable automation of the tea auction in Mombasa. TMEA will provide financing of US$ 1.5 million.   The automation is expected to reduce the tea trading cycle by about 65% from the current 45 – 60 days to less than one month.   Reduced delays will ensure that farmers receive timely payments negating need to take loans to finance their producer.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

Top officials from Kenya and Uganda scheduled to sign Joint SGR Financing Pact In Beijing

 IN SUMMARY   Top officials from the two countries have already scheduled a trip to Beijing early next year. Kenya is seeking funds for the Naivasha to Malaba section of the SGR while Uganda plans to build the link to Kampala under a bilateral agreement signed between the two countries. Kenya and Uganda are set to sign a joint financing deal for building the second phase of the standard gauge railway (SGR).   Top officials from the two countries have already.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

Ethiopia Secures U.S.$114 Million Funding for Small-Scale Irrigation Program

Ethiopia has secured a 114.5 million dollars loan agreement from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The money will be spent on developing small-scale irrigation systems in rural Ethiopia. The project is expected to impact 108, 170 households. Kanayo F. Nwanze, president of IFAD, and Mulugeta Alemseged, Ethiopian Ambassador to Italy, signed the loan agreement in Rome, Italy.   The money will be used for the execution of the second phase of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

Technician Training Centre in Cape Town for young South African's

German sports car manufacturer Porsche will, from the middle of next year, train 75 young South Africans from disadvantaged backgrounds as service technicians at its new Porsche Training and Recruitment Centre, in Cape Town. The course has a duration of three years. Those who complete the course may have the opportunity to work at Porsche South Africa (SA), or at one of its sister brands within the Volkswagen group, such as Audi.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

More Pulse Crop As Dar Eyes Ready Indian Market

 Tanzania plans to use the National Service, JKT and Prisons Department to increase agricultural production, notably in leguminous crops, as it eyes exporting six million metric tonnes of pulses to Indian markets. India, the world largest consumer of pulses, takes about 50 per cent out of the 13.6 million tonnes produced annually, with Tanzania contributing only 2.5 per cent. According to Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Tanzania, Robert Shetkintong, his country was.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 8th December 2016

Baskin-Robbins to launch in SA

 South Africans need to have something special to look forward to this summer - and ice cream fans will welcome the arrival of the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, Baskin-Robbins. South African franchise holder, Grand Foods, has announced that the official launch will take place on Friday, 9 December at 11am at the Canal Walk Shopping Centre in Cape Town. According to Euromonitor the volume consumption of ice cream in South Africa was sitting at 59.5.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 7th December 2016

motorcycle assembly in East Africa

 East African countries are closer to an agreement that could boost motorcycle assembly in the region. The EAC Secretariat has appointed a team of experts from each member state to develop a proposal that will promote value addition and motorcycle assembly in the region. The experts will identify imported motorbike parts that can be excluded from taxation in order to lower the cost of production and encourage industrialisation in the region. The motorbike parts, commonly called.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 7th December 2016

Major Vessels to the Port of Mombasa in 2017

 Several global shipping lines will deploy major vessels to the port of Mombasa next year in efforts to revive trade.   According to Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), big ships from Denmark’s Maersk Line, Taiwan-listed Evergreen Marine Corp and French Shipping line CMA CGM will bring goods to Mombasa before they are re-exported to smaller ports in the region.   “The cargo will be re-exported to regional ports of Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, Zanzibar,.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th December 2016

East African Community told “CREATE MORE JOBS”

Political stability of East African Community (EAC) is dependent on how individual countries will handle the high rate on unemployment among its youth population.   East African Legislative Assembly Speaker Daniel Kidega said the fight against corruption and promotion of good governance will contribute significantly in the community’s achieving of its objectives.   Kadega said the increase in population, now at 160 million, could be a great disaster if the.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th December 2016

Final Phase - Kenya’s Economy Expects Boost from Chinese- Built Railway- expected operational in 2018

Workers are seen working on the Nairobi-Mombasa railway near Kenya’s capital Nairobi  The construction of a Chinese-built railway in Kenya has entered its final phase. Kenyan officials and observers are suggesting the project will significantly add to the country’s economic growth prospects once it is operational in 2018.   Civil engineering work is set to be completed in a few weeks on the first Standard Gauge Railway connecting the Kenyan capital Nairobi and.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 6th December 2016