How investing natural heritage can benefit African countries

 From the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)’s Virunga National Park, to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, to Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools and Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve, wondrous diversity and natural value make Africa’s natural heritage the envy of the world. Yet research by WWF in 2015 shows that 61 per cent of Africa’s natural World Heritage sites are threatened by concessions or activity by the extractives sector – oil, gas or.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

SA’s oldest coffee roastery releases new-look packaging

 MASTERTONS Coffee and Tea Specialists are a Port Elizabeth-based speciality coffee roastery and have been pioneers in the roasting and blending of top-quality coffee since 1924.   This makes them one of the oldest, if not the oldest, coffee roasteries in South Africa! Providing a personalised service, they supply a large range of freshly roasted coffee blends and speciality grade single-origin coffees, among numerous other awesome products, to the hospitality and retail.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Amaya Capital commits $300m in electricity generation

 Amaya Capital, the African-focused principal investment firm, has announced an equity commitment of over $300 million in power generation platform.   The new investment follows the acquisition by growth markets investor, Actis of American Capital Energy & Infrastructure’s stake in Azura Power Holdings Limited (Azura).   The company said in a media statement that this transaction and the consequent expansion of Azura’s capital base, allows the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

South Africa solar park utilises salt storage

 A ground-breaking ceremony has taken place in South Africa for a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) project. Kathu Solar Park is in the Northern Cape Province and is being developed by a consortium led by Engie and comprising Sener and Acciona.   Construction has begun following the signing of a 20-year power purchase agreement between Engie and South Africa’s state-owned power utility Eskom.   The plant is expected to be operational in the second half of.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Tanzania: Government outlines key investment areas

 The government of Tanzania has marked eight areas to private investors as part of industrialisation efforts in the country’s endovour to becoming a middle-income economy by 2025.   The areas announced by the Minister of Industry, trade and investment, Charles Mwijage in the capital, Dar es Salaam are manufacturing, infrastructure development, agriculture, mining, tourism, fishing, power generation and information and communication technology (ICT).   The east.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

SA, Kenya sign memorandum on investment

 Investment South Africa (ISA) and its counterpart, the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on investment co-operation, the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) said on Thursday.   The MoU was inked on the sidelines of President Jacob Zuma’s state visit to Kenya this week.   Zuma had called on the business sector in South Africa and Kenya to increase investments in both countries in a reciprocal manner,.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Tanzania: Jakaya Kikwete Heart Institute Saves Millions for Nation

 A cancer which has for years drained the country of its foreign exchange and denied thousands the chance to lead a peaceful life has at last been tamed.   The cancer, overseas heart operation, which has for a long time consumed much of the nation's foreign exchange annually, may not have been totally disabled, but its ferocity has to a large measure been checked.   "In 2015 alone overseas heart operations, most of them in India, cost the nation 4.7bn/-,".... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Africa: Tanzania to Become Fifth Top Uranium Producer in Africa

 Tanzania is expected to be among the top five producers of uranium in Africa after the completion of Mkuju River Uranium Project, which is in the final stage of trial, the Urenium One Chief Operation officer, Mr Andrey Shotov said yesterday.   He told journalists that in the coming two years they will start mining activities, the project expected to boost the country's economy. "We are finalising the Mkuju River project, we are looking forward to start trial as in.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Ashok Leyland wins $170 million order from Tanzanian government to supply vehicles

 Chennai-based commercial vehicle maker Ashok Leyland said on Thirsday that it has won an order worth $170 million from the Tanzanian government to supply vehicles and related items. The company informed about the order minutes before trading hours; the share price of Ashok Leyland closed 1.72 percent higher at Rs 85.65 on the BSE. The order will be financed by the EXIM Bank of India under National Export Insurance Account (NEIA) Scheme, the company said in the regulatory filing.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Meru Greens helps bring Kenyan crops to lucrative markets

 It all started with green beans — a durable vegetable, quick to grow and well-suited for the task of convincing rural subsistence farmers to try a new crop. It’s a crop Rosemary Muthomi hoped might one day connect farms in Kenya to lucrative international markets.   “Green beans are the easiest crop to grow within a very short time,” says Muthomi in the downtown offices of Global Partnerships, the organization that brought her to Seattle as a.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

Tanzania Invites Indonesia to Invest in Construction

 A many as 21 construction contractor companies from Tanzania incorporated in ACCT (Association of Citizen Contractors Tanzania), visited the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry. The Association invited Indonesian contractors to work on construction projects in Tanzania.   Anita Farmati, Secretary General of Public Works and Public Housing Ministry said that the invitation arrived at the perfect moment because Indonesia is currently attempting to tap into new markets.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 21st October 2016

High visibility in the heart of Africa

 Vice President M. Hamid Ansari’s tour of West Africa in end September, his second in five months, took him to Nigeria and Mali. His previous tour of North Africa covered Morocco and Tunisia. The latest tour may not have excited the national media, but it is imbued with significance for three reasons.   First, it marked the end of over a year – from March 2015 to September 2016 – that saw unprecedented political outreach by India to African nations. It.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 20th October 2016