Africa > East Africa > Industry

Industry in East Africa

  • East Africa moves to curb used car imports, boost local assembly plants

    DJIBOUTI CITY, 2016/06/13 East African states are tightening controls on used car imports in a drive to cut pollution and boost the local manufacturing industry. Kenya recently announced that it would scale up its used car emissions laws, joining Uganda which has by presently introduced related taxes. Cabinet Secretary in Kenya’s Ministry of Transport James Macharia said that the policy would any minute at this time be in place and that motorists found to be in breach of the law risk having their cars deregistered. “By the end of the year, we will require vehicles countrywide to undergo a mandatory inspection to determine their level of toxic emissions,” said Mr Macharia.
  • Support from China for the industrialisation of Angola and Mozambique

    CHINA, 2016/06/04 Support from China for the industrialisation of Angola and Mozambique has been set as an objective on a government level, as large investments in local production capacity, even additional necessary at a time of economic difficulties, are presently expected. The Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held in December 2015 in Johannesburg set the goal to shift Chinese industries to Africa, a subject that was discussed once again during the recent visit by Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, to Beijing, inclunding at the same time as his Angolan counterpart was in Beijing.
  • Africa: China - Africa's Springboard to Industrialisation

    CHINA, 2016/05/10 China is fast proving its mettle on its commitment to helping African nations come out of their situations to occupy world positions of prosperity. While some people on the continent are from presently on to wake up to that reality, the Asian country has a drawn-out vision which augurs well with the developmental aspirations of African nations. That China has emerged as Africa's major trading partner in the last few years is undisputable, with trade reaching $975,92 billion between 2011 and 2015.
  • Kenya’s tea industry moves toward strategic diversification

    KENYA, 2016/05/07 Reducing a reliance on bulk black tea is a key objective for Kenya as it looks to boost revenue from one of its flagship agricultural sectors. Kenya is the world’s leading exporter of black tea, which accounts for 95% of the country’s in general tea production, making it one of its major agricultural exports. Tea exports generated earnings of KSh125.3bn ($1.23bn) in 2015, a 23% increase from the previous year. The jump in revenue was the result of higher prices due in large part to a weaker harvest, with 2015 crop yields at 399.2m kg, a 10% year-on-year decrease, according to data from the Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Authority (AFFA).
  • Tanzania: Ban On Sugar Imports Could Force Factories to Shut Down

    TANZANIA, 2016/03/16 Carbonated drink manufacturers have raised the alarm over possible suspension of production should the government not end a growing crisis apparently triggered by sugar imports restriction. The manufacturers have written to the Chief Secretary seeking National Home intervention next they failed to get permits to clear consignments of refined industrial sugar--the key raw material used in their production--part of which is by presently at the Dar es Salaam Port. They are protesting inactivity on the part of the Tanzania Sugar Board (TSB) and the agriculture ministry which ought to have granted them clearance to obtain the sugar. Reports say stocks in some of the firms can only last two weeks.
  • Africa Industrialization Day through the micro lens

    AFRICA, 2015/11/30 Despite my years of research experience on African industrial development, it has come to my attention for the initial time that there has been a long tradition of celebrating Africa Industrialization Day on November 20—each year since 1990! But why celebrate African industrialization? In short, to raise world awareness on the importance and challenges of African industrialization and to stimulate the international community\'s commitment to the industrialization of Africa. In addition, African industrial development contributes to not just in general economic and social development but as well to this year’s theme: Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for poverty eradication and job creation for women and youth. 1. Why do we care about African industrialization? All nations should have an active industrial policy to achieve sustainable development: Sound industrial policies present Africa opportunities to invest in its human and physical capital formation, in technological innovation, and in supportive institutions. In addition to the merits of industrialization on its own, African industrialization as well helps nations achieve pro-poor increase and safeguards economies against market and climate-related shocks. Thus, African industrialization is essential to spurring increase and improving in general well-being on the continent.
  • South African retailer sees wholesale opportunity at DRC-Zambia border

    CONGO BRAZZAVILLE, 2015/11/20 South African-based grocer Fruit & Veg City is planning on setting up a wholesale centre at Kasumbalesa, the border town between the DRC and Zambia, according to the retailer’s chief of African operations, Frans van der Colff. “I have stood at that border and [watched] trucks arrive and stand there, and they are emptied – they sell everything on the truck before they even cross the border. And people don’t come through the border post, they just run through the bush on the side, buy… and again simply run back and sell on the other side.” The road from Kasumbalesa leads to Lubumbashi, the DRC’s second major city, and Van der Colff said the route is “phenomenally busy”.
  • Which Way Should Ethiopia Industrialise?

    ETHIOPIA, 2015/07/13 Lately, the trend of discussions within my circle of friends has changed. In one way or an extra, I find myself discussing industrialisation. This may be a reflection of the change in the economic structure of our equitable country. But it may as well be just because I have friends who love to discuss what is going approaching. As much as I love discussions about Ethiopia's industrialisation, a process that is close to overwhelming us whether we like it or not, there is no clear national ambition on what type of industrialisation ought to be pursued. For starters, by type of industrialisation, I mean the source of capital, sectoral focus, size of production, use of technology, ownership, backward and forward linkages, utilisation of factors of production, location and so on.
  • Malawi: Kamuzu Stadiums' Artificial Turf Near Expiry

    MALAWI, 2014/12/15 Eight years next it was laid at Kamuzu stadium's soil, the artificial turf is fast approaching its expiry date with only three years to go before it is restored. The turf which was not well taken care of since it was laid could have lasted for additional years. The management of the facility failed to meet conditions that could have increased its life span. Football association of Malawi embarked on a project to make the turf available because it is not costly to take care of as compared to natural glass.
  • Huye Lays Ground Work for Industrial Park Development in Rwanda

    RWANDA, 2014/08/21 WHEN BONIFACE NZITABAKUZE was asked to leave his house in Sovu Cell and look for another place to relocate his family, he first thought his rights were being violated. That was about two years ago as authorities in Huye District, Southern Province, moved to clear a zone earmarked for industrial development. A year earlier, government had adopted plans to set up four provincial industrial parks in Bugesera, Huye, Nyabihu and Rusizi districts in a move that was aimed at spurring local development and boosting the manufacturing sector.