The increasing role of banks in agribusiness

 This is the case not only domestically but also within the region and across the continent.   “Africa now earns an average of 24 per cent of its annual growth from its farmers and their crops. If matched with more electricity and irrigation, smart business and trade policies and a dynamic private agribusiness sector that works side by side with government to link farmers with consumers in an increasingly urbanized Africa, the World Bank estimates that agriculture.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th January 2015

Kellogg’s to Break into Kenya’s Food Market This Year

As part of its emerging markets strategy, American multinational food manufacturing company, Kellogg’s, is spreading its business to East Africa, starting with Kenya, the region’s largest economy. Last year, the New York Stock Exchange-listed firm appointed the former managing director of East African Breweries (EABL), Gerald Mahinda, as the head of operations in the region. Rumored to explore possible partnership opportunities with a local investor, Kellogg’s is.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th January 2015

East Africa’s First Utility-Scale Solar Field BoostsDevelopment

 Rwanda’s Minister of Infrastructure, James Musoni, and the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Government’s Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), John Morton, will lead the ribbon-cutting on Thursday, February 5, at 12:30pm of the 8.5 Megawatt solar field at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, and will be joined by international representatives of the partners that developed the landmark $23.7 million project.   The Rwanda field brought together an.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th January 2015

Africa Sees Growth in Agriculture

 On the 10th Anniversary of the adoption of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), African Union declared the year 2014 to be the Year of Agriculture and Food Security in Africa. There is much to celebrate; agricultural production in Africa has increased steadily over the last 30 years: its value has almost tripled showing an increase that clearly exceeds the growth rate of global agricultural production over the same period, almost identical to that.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 30th January 2015

Kenya Industrial & Trade Developments and Prospects

 Real GDP grew by an annual average of 3.7% over the 2008-12 period, with agriculture growing by only 0.6% and the industrial and services sectors by 4.0% and 4.5%, respectively. The short-term outlook is positive, with projected GDP growth reaching 5-6% over the next three years, mainly driven by higher private-sector investments and increased exports. Services, especially, finance, ICT and construction, are the expected drivers of GDP growth. The discovery of oil, gas and coal.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Industrialization and Global Value Chains in Kenya

 Kenya has a range of value chains in floriculture, textiles, leather, automotive production, intermediate and final manufacturing, music industry and tourism. It is evident that the country is generally at the low end of the value chain, given that a large component of Kenya’s exports is in raw materials (e.g. coffee, tea, animal products) which have low foreign value added content. For example, though Kenya has been integrated in the global leather value chain, this has.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Vivo Energy Kenya to Import Cleaner Diesel

 Nairobi — Vivo Energy Kenya, which distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Kenya, has become the first oil marketer in the country to import Low Sulphur Fuel Diesel (LSFD) with 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur content. This follows a December 6, 2013 legal notice by the East African Community to amend the sulphur content from 500PPM to 50PPM; to take effect from January 1, 2015. Through the Open Tender System (OTS) Vivo Energy Kenya won the.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Small-Miners' Welfare On Simbachawene Plan

 THE new Minister for Energy and Minerals, Mr George Simbachawene, on Monday outlined four areas that would characterise the first days of his leadership at the powerful docket, including empowering small-scale miners. At a brief ceremony held at the ministry's headquarters in Dar es Salaam on Monday, Mr Simbachawene mentioned the four areas as empowering small scale miners and enhancing their ability to compete and work with the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

China eyes Tanzania for Mining Investment

 Mwanza — Chinese resource companies are looking at making Tanzania an investment stronghold. Mining and infrastructure projects are attracting more Chinese companies and individuals in the Tanzanian economy. There are 6,000 Chinese interested in exploiting minerals in South Tanzania. The Njombe Regional Commissioner, Rehema Nchimbi was quoted recently as saying, "There are more than 6,000 Chinese individuals who have shown interest to invest in Liganga iron ore.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Solar Tops Clean Energy in Kenya

 Nairobi — Kenya is moving to boost its solar energy capacity, with a new plant now under construction aiming to start producing electricity for the national grid by January 2016. This heralds a shift in the balance of the country's efforts to embrace renewable energy, which have so far focused on hydropower, geothermal and a small amount of wind. Independent power producer Greenmillenia Energy Limited (GEL) has said it will begin generation at its 40 megawatt (MW) solar.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Kenya small business flourish using efficient methodology

 Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Kenya have increased their productivity and are delivering goods to customers more quickly after introducing the Lean methodology into their processes. Through a series of three workshops, most recently held on 20-21 January in Nairobi, the chief executive officers and managers of Greenforest Foods, Mace Foods, and Stawi Foods and Fruits learned to analyse their production and delivery processes and eliminate inefficiencies - such as.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015

Rwanda Coffee Farmers to boost crop output

 Huye District residents are expecting bumper harvests of coffee following a coffee extension programme in the district. The move, which seeks to increase areas covered by coffee in the district, is expected to help generate more revenue for farmers, increase productivity, raise household income as well as quality of local coffee, among others Huye is one of the major producers of coffee in the country and is mainly known for the Maraba coffee brand which recently penetrated.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 29th January 2015