Author: Maingi Gichuku

Maingi Gichuku is passionate about helping African businesses grow by offering technology solutions. With a BSC in Zoology and biochemistry, Gichuku yearns for an Africa that can find solutions to its challenges. My drive is to see an economically dynamic Africa and embrace its populations by creating opportunities cutting across the social and economic strata.

rolls royce
  • Rolls-Royce plc has appointed John Kelly as President of the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region, effective immediately
  • Rolls-Royce Power Systems Africa provides world-class power solutions and complete life-cycle support, serving Africa’s growing power generation, marine, rail, and industrial sectors
  • In his new role, John will provide leadership and representation for Rolls-Royce’s Civil Aerospace, Power Systems, and Defence businesses across the META region

Rolls-Royce plc has appointed John Kelly as President of the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META) region, effective immediately. Kelly previously served as Senior Vice President of Europe, Middle East, and Africa for the Group’s Civil Aerospace business, where he worked for six years.

He began his career with Rolls-Royce as a graduate trainee in the Defence business more than 20 years ago in 2001. He held various management roles before joining Civil Aerospace.

In his new role, John will provide leadership and representation for Rolls-Royce’s

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Tanzania Women and Technology Conference
  • Tanzania government to place more emphasis on fostering inclusive technology, innovation, and educational opportunities to achieve gender equality
  • Digital financial services in Tanzania have been strengthened, making them accessible to women in both urban and rural areas
  • The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology integrated ICT into teaching and learning, resulting in the training of 1,347 trainers in 2020, including 893 men and 454 women

The Government of Tanzania is committed to empowering women and girls to participate fully in the digital world in order to achieve gender equality in development.

As Tanzania joined the rest of the world in celebrating International Women’s Day on Wednesday 8 August 2023, Dr. Dorothy Gwajima, Minister for Community Development, Gender, Women, and Special Groups, stated that the government,working with others stakeholders, will place more emphasis on fostering inclusive technology, innovation, and educational opportunities to achieve gender equality.

In accordance with this year’s theme, …

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Macron in DrC
  • Crucial mining sector and infrastructural projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive an initial investment of €50 million euros from the European Union 
  • This is in line with EU’s Essential Raw Minerals Act, which aims to secure crucial raw resources like lithium, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths required for electric vehicles and wind turbines
  • DRC’s economy is growing, with 6.1% GDP growth expected in 2022 and 6.7% expected this year, according to the most recent IMF data

The crucial mining sector and infrastructural projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive an initial investment of €50 million euros from the European Union.

The investment was revealed at the inaugural Kinshasa Economic Forum, which included representatives from France, the EU, and the DRC.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance together with the European Commissioners for the Internal Market and International Partnerships, Thierry Breton and Jutta …

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US Dollars
  • The government of Tanzania has responded to claims that Kenyan companies are now obtaining dollars from Tanzania
  • Kenya is currently experiencing a severe dollar shortage as a result of massive international debt repayments
  • The Bank of Tanzania (BoT) is monitoring and evaluating the foreign exchange market to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and rules

The government of Tanzania has responded to claims that Kenyan companies are now obtaining dollars from Tanzania to fulfil their obligations to manufacturers and general goods importers.

Kenya is currently experiencing a severe dollar shortage as a result of massive international debt repayments, which caused its foreign exchange reserves to fall to a level that was below the key level of four months’ import coverage.

Lawrence Mafuru, the Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, stated in Dar es Salaam yesterday that the Foreign Exchange Act and rules govern the nation’s foreign …

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Mozambique's public debt
  • Mozambique’s public debt is expected to drop below 100% in 2023, boosted by the country’s improving economic growth and higher gas revenue
  • S&P Global Ratings states Mozambique’s ability to service its rising debt hinges on TotalEnergies SE’s liquefied natural gas project, which has stalled due to terrorism
  • TotalEnergies is investing billions in its gas project located in the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique

Mozambique’s external public and publicly guaranteed debt surged from 61% of GDP in 2016 to 104% in 2018, as undisclosed liabilities were exposed. This led to an unbearable debt service burden, causing Mozambique to default on its debt in 2016. Consequently, credit rating agencies lowered the sovereign’s ratings to selective or restricted default, while the World Bank and the IMF reclassified Mozambique’s external debt as “in distress.”

The revelation of the “hidden” loans had a significant impact on Mozambique, leading to a prolonged economic downturn. The country’s …

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Renewable energy
  • The Dubai edition aims to strengthen collaboration among African energy decision makers and stakeholders with the UAE and businesses and investors in the Middle East
  • The African Energy Dubai event’s Venture Capital will boost Africa’s energy sector growth by facilitating optimal investment and industry cooperation between UAE and African stakeholders
  • Middle Eastern investment opportunities in African oil and petrol projects are critical in assisting the continent in meeting its increasing energy demands

The Dubai leg of the Invest in African Energy event will highlight capital and partnership opportunities across Africa’s expanding energy sector, will be hosted by the African Energy Chamber (AEC) on March 30 2023.

Following the success of the London (U.K.), Oslo (Norway), and Frankfurt (Germany) editions of the Invest in African Energy receptions in 2023, the Dubai edition aims to strengthen collaboration among African energy decision makers and stakeholders with the UAE and businesses and investors in …

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Maputo,,,City,Of,Mozambique
  • Agro-business has emerged as one of the most promising fields, whether for small or large enterprises, due to the chronic shortage in food production in the nation. 
  • The estimated 70% gap in energy access in Mozambique creates a market that is drawing more attention from renewable energy investors
  • Financial markets are showing promise of good returns, including forex and cryptocurrencies

The World Bank projects Mozambique will grow by 5.7 percent between 2022 and 2024 driven by increased demand post-pandemic and the start of LNG production. This is expected to stimulate other sectors including extractives, services and boost exports.

Analysts agree that transportation and logistics, energy, ICT, capital markets, agribusiness, banking, insurance, and textiles provide enormous potential for commercial success in Mozambique.

Pedro Correia, Country Manager of Flying Submarine, says a number of sectors are ripe for investment and growth due to the changing business and regulatory environment.

Yet, there is …

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Mozambique Africa
  • Mozambique government acknowledged that not all of the objectives outlined in the 2022 Economy and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE-2022) had been accomplished
  • According to data from the National Statistics Institute (INE), Mozambique’s economy expanded by 4.12 percent in contrast to the 2.9 percent predicted at the start of the 2022 fiscal year
  • The Government  plans to use $250 million Mutual Guarantee Fund from the world bank to support small and medium-sized businesses in Mozambique once the fund gets approved.

The government of Mozambique has acknowledged that not all of the objectives outlined in the 2022 Economy and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE-2022) have been accomplished but it remains positive that the gains will rollover to this year.

The government set 575 targets in 2022, but only achieved 433 of them, or 75% of the target, according to Executive Spokeswoman Ludovina Bernardo. The remaining 142 targets, or …

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Cobalt Small-Scale Miners
  • Companies that purchase cobalt are said to engage in a “futile” exercise when they attempt to differentiate flows from industrial mines and the significant production from small-scale artisanal mining
  • Buyers will only be able to fulfil an anticipated four-fold growth in global demand for cobalt by 2030 with ASM
  • The DRC Congo was the world’s greatest producer of cobalt in 2022, producing 130,000 tonnes of the metal, roughly 68% of all cobalt mined worldwide

To meet the growing demand for the mineral used in batteries that power electric vehicles and consumer gadgets, changes are needed to legitimize the activities of unregulated artisanal mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Companies that purchase cobalt are said to engage in a “futile” exercise when they attempt to differentiate flows from industrial mines and the significant production from small-scale artisanal mining, or ASM, according to a paper released on Wednesday 8th Feb …

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Tanzania and Morocco To finalize deal on a fertilizer facility
  • The negotiations between Tanzania and Morocco for establishing a fertilizer blending facility at Kisarawe to be completed next week
  • The facility will assist Tanzanian farmers as well as East Africa Farmers achieve food security 
  • Morocco has a clear edge in the manufacture of fertilizers, including phosphorus. It has more than 70% of the world’s reserves of phosphate rock, which is where the phosphorus used in fertilizers comes from.

The negotiations between Tanzania and Morocco for establishing a fertilizer blending facility at Kisarawe, Coastal Region, are expected to be completed next week.

That deal had stalled from 2016 but President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s recent visit to Senegal, when she also met and spoke with Moroccan delegations, jump started the conversation.

According to yesterday’s statement by Zakaria El Goumiri, the Moroccan ambassador to Tanzania, the discussions centred on ways to promote agriculture in both nations. The ambassador said the facility will assist …

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