Rwanda: Minagri Rolls Out New Strategy to Boost Agriculture

 The Ministry of Agriculture has announced a new 'smart' initiative to increase access to agriculture information and boost agricultural production.   The initiative, dubbed "Information and Communication Technology for Agriculture Strategy and Implementation Plan," was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday.   Addressing a post-Cabinet news briefing, yesterday, Dr Geraldine Mukeshimana, the minister for agriculture and animal resources, said the strategy will,.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th September 2016

Ethiopia. Corporation Plans to Produce Over 7 Million Quintals Sugar

 The Ethiopian Sugar Corporation plans to produce over 7 million quintals of sugar this budget year.   Corporation Deputy Chief Executive Officer Abraham Demise said that preparations have been made to attain the target and meet local demand in the new year.   According to him, Omo-Kuraz I and II sugar factories will enter into production in January.   "Once they begin with their full capacity, the two factories will produce 12,000 quintals by crushing.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th September 2016

Rwanda: Construction of U.S.$150 Million University Starts in Burera

 The Northern Province governor, Aime Bosenibamwe, says construction work to establish the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda has started in Burera district.   The governor said this during the baby gorilla naming ceremony last week. "Construction of the university which President Kagame recently promised to the citizens has started in Butaro sector, Burera district," he said while presenting how pledges made by the president are being.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th September 2016

Indicated resources at Tanzania gold prospect up 409% to 205 347 oz

 East Africa-focused gold producer, developer and explorer Shanta Gold has upgraded its Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant resource estimate at the Ilunga satellite deposit at the New Luika Gold Mine (NLGM), in south-west Tanzania, with indicated resources increasing by 409% – from 40 352 oz of gold to 205 347 oz of gold. Ilunga is located in the Lupa goldfields, about 2.5 km north-east of the NLGM central processing facility. Access has been developed as part of the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th September 2016

Kenyan firms’ spending up as business confidence rises

 Kenyan firms have let loose their purse strings in an apparent show of business confidence as operation bills for last year hit $60 billion, the ninth largest in Africa.   A new McKinsey Global Institute report shows that local companies funnelled $60 billion in acquiring capital goods, input materials, financial services, transportation and ICT for expansion. The study does not include salary expenses.   The spending is mainly driven by multinationals and large.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th September 2016

Kilimall eyes Africa market with expansion into Uganda and Nigeria

 Kilimall, an online retail platform that launched operations in Kenya two years ago, has spread its presence to neighbouring Uganda and Nigeria.   The online retailer has opened a Nigeria office, while its Uganda shop started operations in May. Like their Kenyan counterparts, Ugandan shoppers are increasingly embracing online shopping in tandem with rapid growth of technology.   The shift to online is also boosted by the increased use of smartphones, which are now.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 16th September 2016

Construction of Ethiopia’s tallest bank edifice undertaken by China progressing well

 The state-owned Bank and the Chinese company signed an agreement last year for the construction of the would-be tallest structure in East Africa.   Accompanied by members of the management body, Bekalu Zeleke, CBE President, visited the on-going construction of the project on Monday.   “The progress is amazing. It is going very well on the satisfaction of the management and the bank,” CBE President said while visiting the construction site.   The.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th September 2016

Start-up spreads clean energy in Africa

 A group of highly-skilled engineering alumni, Master’s and PhD students from Masdar Institute have formed a startup company called the Nigeria Future Energy Group (NiFEG), focused on clean energy development and deployment throughout Nigeria. Fully incorporated in Nigeria, NiFEG is a non-profit organization with the ultimate goal of providing local energy solutions sustainably in Nigeria. The startup has successfully emerged out of the community of Masdar.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th September 2016

Rwanda innovates to power its economy

 A $200m project to convert methane into electricity is poised to change the lives of nearly 2m people in the mineral-rich Central African region—a major relief for the economies of Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).   Located on the shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, lies the gigantic KivuWatt methane-fired power plant. The plant reflects Rwanda’s ambitions to be one of Africa’s technological pioneers –.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th September 2016

Rwanda innovates to power its economy

 A $200m project to convert methane into electricity is poised to change the lives of nearly 2m people in the mineral-rich Central African region—a major relief for the economies of Rwanda, Burundi and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).   Located on the shores of Lake Kivu, one of Africa’s Great Lakes, lies the gigantic KivuWatt methane-fired power plant. The plant reflects Rwanda’s ambitions to be one of Africa’s technological pioneers –.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th September 2016

Nasal spray to calm kids in dental chair

 Adults might baulk at having a tooth pulled but will stoically endure the process. Children are less brave, however, and may not cooperate at all, presenting dentists with a major challenge.   With this in mind, two researchers—a senior lecturer from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Western Cape, South Africa, and a paediatric dentist from Sudan—have been studying sedatives in the hope of finding a safe, effective, low-dose solution that reduces.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th September 2016

Nairobi-Naivasha SGR construction to cost Sh2 billion more

 The construction of the Nairobi-Naivasha Standard Gauge Railway will cost taxpayers Sh2.02 billion more.   The 120km route had been estimated to cost approximately Sh150 billion.   Kenya Railways MD Atanas Maina said the cost went up after the original route was modified as demanded by conservationists.   "The modification of the route along the savannah of the Nairobi National Park will be more costly since it will require several enhancements to make.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 15th September 2016