China Builds Modern Infrastructure to Build New Trade Routes Across East Africa

In 1896, the British colonial government began construction of a narrow-gauge railway line from the Kenyan port city of Mombasa to Nairobi. Today, the railway builders are back. This time, it is China’s economic integration strategy in East Africa that is behind the construction of a new rapid rail link between Mombasa and Nairobi. The new line, due to reach the Kenyan capital by 2018, will eventually extend to Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and...

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Facebook to Open its New Office in Nigeria

As part of its continued commitment and ongoing investment in Africa, Facebook (www.Facebook.com) today announced it will be opening an office in Lagos, Nigeria - its second office on the African continent. Aimed at supporting the entire Sub-Saharan Africa region, the office is expected to become operational in H2 2021 and will be the first on the continent to house a team of expert engineers building for the future of Africa and...

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Chinese-built Industrial Park Provides New Momentum to Ethiopia’s Growth

As African countries pursue industrialization, the Chinese-built industrial parks and free trade zones have been gaining momentum in the socio-economic drive of the continent, some significantly accelerating the process of industrialization and job creation. Located about 40 km south of Addis Ababa, the Eastern Industrial Zone (EIZ), built and operated by Chinese companies, is widely viewed as the benchmark for the development of...

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Kenya’s Blooming Flower Industry

Kenya's economy largely relies on the agriculture sector. Horticulture sub-sector is one of the top foreign exchange earners for the country generating approximately US $ 1 billion annually. The sub-sector contributes roughly 1.25% to the national GDP while flower exports contributes nearly 1% from the flower industry. It has grown in significance to a vibrant flower industry worldwide. The flower industry is also one of the largest...

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Djibouti Port: Trade and Logistic Hub for Africa

More than a century ago, when the old Port of Djibouti was built by the French colonisers, it was connected with a railway that linked Addis Ababa to Djibouti City. Given the size differences of the two countries – today Ethiopia’s population is more than 100 million, while Djibouti’s is less than 1 million – the port was never about trade with Djibouti, but trade with Ethiopia. It is no coincidence that today, the...

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Consumer Spending In Africa Continue to Grow

With a growing young population coupled with rapid urbanisation and fast-growing consumer expenditure, Africa offers attractive opportunities for entities wishing to expand into new frontier markets. Retailing contributions to GDP across the region continue to increase, indicating that the region is consumption-driven. Retail sales in the Africa amounted to over USD500 billion in 2019. Key retailing markets included South Africa, Egypt,...

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The Booming Markets In Africa

Many African countries have been increasing their spending on infrastructure such as airports, cities, hotels, ports, roads, bridges, hospitals, and power plants. Both west and east African countries continue to implement major infrastructure projects such as the Trans-African Highway network. This project is comprised of a transcontinental road which aims at integrating the region’s transport corridors to meet the growing demand for...

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Ethiopia Opens Up Logistics Sector

The Ethiopian government has opened up its logistics sector to foreign investors for the first time, in the form of joint ventures with local firms. The country wants to attract at least $120 million of foreign direct investment into the sector by 2021. Meanwhile, the state-owned Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Services Enterprise (ESLSE) is to be part-­privatised, and the state railway company, the Ethiopian Railway Corporation,...

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