Fund to back China's E. Africa investment

 The China-Africa Development Fund said on Thursday that it was poised to strengthen its investment efforts in the East Africa Community region with the establishment of its representative office in Nairobi, Kenya.   The office, based in Nairobi, is the fifth in Africa after others in South Africa, Ethiopia, Zambia and Ghana. It is specially designed to cater to the EAC.   The new Kenya office aims to support and guide more Chinese companies and financial.... Read more »

Posted on : Saturday , 24th September 2016

Qatar, South Africa eye stronger ties in food, retail

 Discussions are being held between South Africa and several Qatari organisations in the food and retail industry due to growing demand for South African livestock and other consumer products, ambassador Sa’ad Cachalia has said.  Cachalia noted that demand for South African goods is growing in Qatar. These include biscuits, juices, and meat.   “We’ve been having discussions with Hassad Food and we’re going to see Mawashi (Widam) because.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Govt. establishes clusters to strengthen human resource for health in counties

 The Human Resource for Health Interagency Coordinating Committee (HRH-ICC) has established nine county clusters to address the human capital challenges in the country. More than 12,500 Health workers have been recruited by the county governments 26% of the overall target of 48,000 and 4,048 Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWS) to strengthen the county health services.   According to the Director of Medical Services, Dr. Jackson Kioko most counties have also.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Solar Ship To Cruise African Skies

 Manaf Freighters has announced it will purchase four of Solar Ship’s aircraft for use in cargo delivery and disaster relief in remote areas of East and Central Africa. A solarship is more than just a blimp. It’s a hybrid aircraft that combines aerodynamic lift, aerostatic lift and solar power into a long range and very energy efficient cargo carrier. The manufacturer says the approach provides the lifting capacity of a truck while providing the plucky performance of.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Car & General inks distribution deal with Dutch engine maker

 Auto maker Car & General (C&G) is set enter a joint distributorship venture with Netherlands-based Cummins BV whose diesel engines and generators it has been selling alone in the region for years.   The partnership will consolidate the sales, service and support of Cummins products in East Africa, the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm said in a statement.   The products include diesel engines, turbochargers, alternators and.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Africa’s regulators are smothering its innovators

 The birth of mobile money transfer in Kenya has raised optimism about the potential of the continent to leapfrog in other technologies. However, Africa’s mobile technology is starting to look like an exception despite efforts to create start-ups using emerging technologies and platforms such as drones, 3D printing, robots and machine learning. There are many reasons for the slow pace at which Africa is able to harness the power of emerging technologies and put them to.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Africa’s regulators are smothering its innovators

 The birth of mobile money transfer in Kenya has raised optimism about the potential of the continent to leapfrog in other technologies. However, Africa’s mobile technology is starting to look like an exception despite efforts to create start-ups using emerging technologies and platforms such as drones, 3D printing, robots and machine learning. There are many reasons for the slow pace at which Africa is able to harness the power of emerging technologies and put them to.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Local Content Bill to give Kenyans more oil cash

 Oil and gas companies will now be required to state how local communities will benefit from the proceeds before they are licenced if a proposed bill becomes law.   The bill by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi seeks to ensure the companies do not take off with everything after drilling oil and tapping gas. The Local Content Bill 2016 will also put an end to conflicts that have rocked communities in oil and gas rich areas and these companies by ensuring the millions of poor.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Tanzania: High-Tech Equipment Sought to Detect Natural Forces

 The government has arranged to acquire sophisticated equipment that will be used to undertake deep geologic surveys to detect the magnitude of natural forces like earthquake. Going by scientific term as Magnetotelluric, the machines, to be ordered from Germany, France, China or Japan, will make it possible for the country to measure and take immediate measurements of the quakes and take informed decisions.   Energy and Minerals Minister, Professor Sospeter Muhongo,.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Auto policy now under review – NADDC

 The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has said that it has started reviewing the country’s automotive policy with the stakeholders in the auto industry in order to eliminate the hindrances currently bedeviling the sector. The director, Policy and Planning, Mr Luqman Mamuda, who disclosed this, noted that when the policy was made in 2014, many companies welcomed it because of the tariff differentials between the Completely Knocked down (CKD), Semi.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

IRENA Claims Solar In Africa Is Set To Boom Thanks To Declining Costs

 The International Renewable Energy Agency has published a new report claiming that the falling technology costs of solar PV are likely to result in an installation boom across Africa.   “The business case for solar photovoltaics (PV) in Africa is stronger than ever thanks to rapidly declining technology costs” wrote the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in their new report, published this week, entitled Solar PV in Africa: Costs and Markets..... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016

Dahabshiil roots for US-Africa trade deals

 Young African entrepreneurs stand to gain more from enhanced business partnerships between the United States and Africa according to money transfer firm Dahabshiil's CEO Abdirashid Duale.   Speaking after the just concluded US-Africa business forum in New York, Duale, whose company operates in the US and in Africa, says the opening of opportunities for African investors in the US has helped turn around the lives of many.   "Through remittances from Africans.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 23rd September 2016