Israel offers Africans agriculture expertise

 Israel wants to use its leading edge in agricultural innovation to help improve food production across Africa, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said in Milan last week.   “If we pool our resources, our knowledge, our technology we can help many, many countries in Africa to not only better agriculture and to better life,” he said.   His remarks come ahead of the  12th Africa-Israel Economic Mission to be held from September 27 to 30, in Tel-Aviv,.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Tanzania survey shows more gas awareness needed

 DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Twaweza, a local Tanzania organization last week said many Tanzanians are misguided on the benefits they expect to reap from the oil and gas sector as such more education and sensitization is needed.     Aidan Eyakuze, Twaweza Executive Director when presenting the main results of a survey saidTanzanians citizens are significantly misinformed about the potential of the country’s gas deposits whereby almost two out of 10 (17%).... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Government bans issuance of mining licences to minors

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals has warned that children under 18 years are not allowed to be registered as shareholders when applying for mining licences. An official of the ministry, Ms Nuru Shabani, sounded the warning here during a training for small-scale and artisanal miners on the newly introduced Online Mining Cadastre Transactional Portal (OMCTP).   “It is illegal for children to be listed as shareholders; licence holders who will be found to provide false.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Kia Motors' new assembly plant in Africa to make 25,000 vehicles annually

 Leading automobile brand Kia Motors Nigeria has unveiled a new assembly plant in Lagos, which is expected to produce 25,000 vehicles every year   The plant named United Vehicle Assembly Limited (UVAL) will be part of Nigeria's robust automotive policy of making the nation a leading manufacturing hub, said officials from UVAL. Nigerian minister for industry, trade and investment Olusegun Aganga paid a visit to the plant, stating that it was technologically advanced and.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

East Africa to invest US$1bn in manufacturing sector

 Ethiopia is planning to invest US$1bn in industrial parks over the next decade to boost exports, improve the textile sector and enhance the country’s overall position as a major manufacturer   Arkebe Equbai, special advisor to the Ethiopian Prime Minister said, “In terms of industrial development and manufacturing development, we want to make Ethiopia number one in Africa.” The East African nation has targeted a 15-fold increase in textile and leather.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Chinese firm to build new industrial park in East Africa

 China Civil Engineering Corporation (CCECC) has concluded a US$246mn deal with Ethiopia’s Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) for the construction of the Hawassa Industrial Park   Ethiopian firm MH Engineering has been appointed as a consultant on the project, which will be completed in nine months. The industrial park will focus on garment manufacturing and the agriculture industry. The first phase of construction includes 35 factory sheds and 19 other.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Kenya gets new online grain trading platform

PXAfrica Limited has launched an online grain exchange in Kenya, providing a platform for wheat and maize trading   A subsidiary of the US-based PanXchange, Inc., the firm has already attracted 20 subscribers who represent about 35 per cent of the local grain market. It also has users in Tanzania and Uganda. “Recruiting smallholder farmers and expanding into cross-border trading were activities we had planned for next year’s crop but we have already witnessed.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Kenya: Gold discovery brings Nandi back to life

The discovery of one of the world’s most prized minerals — gold — is opening golden opportunities for villagers at Kapsaos location, Aldai in Nandi County. Kapsaos is slowly turning into a hive of activity as residents seize opportunities to extract the resource from their hilly and rocky farms to generate additional income from the traditional maize, coffee and livestock farming.   Their anxiety has also been heightened by the notion that their farms harbour.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Multi-billion fertiliser plant launched in Uasin-Gishu

Eldoret, Kenya: A multi-billion shilling fertiliser plant that will meet the specific soils and crop conditions across the country has been launched in Uasin-Gishu County. The first project of its kind in Kenya, which is being spearheaded by the Toyota Tsusho Fertilizer Plant, will bring down the cost of production upon its completion.   Deputy President William Ruto graced the colorful ground breaking ceremony, which was held at Ngeria grounds in Uasin-Gishu County on.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Kenya's irrigation project set for bumper harvest

NAIROBI: A bumper harvest is expected from the Galana irrigation project, which will potentially reduce the price of maize flour by half. The news comes as Kenyans grapple with high maize flour prizes, with a two-kilogramme packet going for Sh120.The Sh14 billion project that is being carried out by an Israeli firm, Green Arava, is part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s plan to enhance food security in the country.   The Government looks forward to harvesting 20,000 bags of.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Kenyan counties to benefit from Israeli agri-technology farming methods

NAIROBI: County governments are set to benefit from Israel’s agricultural technology following the success in the Galana-Kulalu project. Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, said the Government will be taking up accruing opportunities from the successful Galana-Kulalu Food Security projects.   “These projects will be carried out in various counties that we have identified as having irrigable potential. This will see the country increase the area.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015

Liquid Telecom set to expand footprints in Tanzania

Tanzania is positioned to be a hub and potential guide way of fibre optic network connectivity for the East, Central and Southern Africa, making telecommunication sector key contributor to economic growth. Liquid Telecom, Chief Executive Officer Mr Nic Rudnick made the remarks in Dar es Salaam yesterday during the Annual conference that constituted all large cable operators across the continent who met to share experience on new technologies in the fibre network.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 9th September 2015