Kenyans transacted over KShs1.9 trillion between April 1, 2018, and June 30, 2018. …

Infobip’s technology creates seamless mobile interactions between businesses and people as well as simplifying the integration of almost all communication capabilities. …

RENEW and the Impact Angel Network (IAN) have committed capital to a fund dedicated to investing in women-owned and led companies in Ethiopia and Uganda.

RENEW and the IAN, now one of the most active investment groups in East Africa focusing on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), designed the fund to address a pressing need to close the financing gap for women-owned companies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Some of the investors are meeting this week at the third Impact Angel Network (IAN) International Gathering in Washington, D.C.

RENEW, with its largest office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, manages the IAN’s investment operations and provides investment advisory and consulting services in support of its investments.

RENEW’s work in Ethiopia was piloted with USAID and is currently undertaken with financial support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. The project, Accelerating Business Growth, aims at sustainable job creation for low-skilled workers, …

The Retirement Benefits Authority has announced an 8 percent year-on-year increase in the total assets under management by fund managers and approved issuers in Kenya.

According to the recently released RBA Retirement Benefits Industry report for December 2018, 16 fund managers and 15 approved issuers, submitted 1,236 scheme reports with a total fund value of Ksh. 980 billion representing an 8 percent increase compared to the December 2017 values.

The report further confirms that the total assets managed by fund managers amounted to Ksh. 813 billion while the approved issuers managed Ksh. 167 billion at the end of December 2018.

In terms of investments by fund managers and approved issuers, Sanlam Investments East Africa Company Limited (SIEAL) maintained its industry lead as the fund manager with the largest pension scheme assets under management, totaling Ksh. 202 billion which constitutes 20.6 percent of Kenyan pension sector assets.

The RBA report states …

Global oil prices which have been on an upward trend since January are putting pressure on Kenya’s economy, as the country’s population continues to dig deeper into their pockets to meet the cost of living.

This is in the wake of a rising inflation in Kenya which rose to 6.58 per cent in April from 4.35 per cent in March, the highest increase in the cost of living in 19 months, mainly driven by high food prices.

Crude oil prices have been on the rise since January after edging up from USD59.50 per barrel in December. In January, a barrel traded at USD60.95.This went up to USD66.35 in February, USD 68.60(March) and USD73.05 in April.

Brent, which is a benchmark crude, is currently trading at USD71.90, with overall oil prices projected to surge.

Kenya which prices its oil products on the previous month’s market prices (due to the import period), …

The European Union (EU) has reiterated its commitment to continue supporting the government towards achieving its industrialization strategy and middle income status by 2025.

The European Union Charge d`Affaires to Tanzania, Charles Stuart made the remarks on Thursday in Dar es Salaam during the commemoration of the 69^th anniversary since the signing of the Schuman Declaration which marked the birth of the EU.

The occasion was also attended by heads of diplomatic mission in the country, government officials, representatives of Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations.

He said that Tanzania and the EU have been partnering in ensuring high quality livelihood, peace, stability and unity, good governance, educated and learned society. He mentioned others as a competitive economy capable of producing sustainable growth and shared benefits. He said the above mentioned matters have been worked together since that partnership began.

` Our trade and economic relations are maturing …

South Korea has managed to maintain its first position on 2018 Bloomberg Innovation Index for the fifth consecutive year.

The 2018 Bloomberg Innovation Index results published on January 22, 2019 which compiles the index based on data from sources including the World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), credits South Korea`s top ranking to Samsung. The electronics giant is South Korea`s most valuable company and has received more US patents than any company other than IBM since the start of the millennium.

This innovation trickles down the supply chain throughout South Korea`s economy. It was divided into seven assessment categories namely, research and development (R&D), manufacturing, Hi-tech density showing the number of domestic high-tech companies, tertiary efficiency showing the total enrollment in tertiary education, research personnel and activity showing resident patent filings, total patent grants and patents in force per million population.…

Tanzania`s vast geographical boundaries and mobile phone penetration among its demographics have attributed to a shift of many Tanzanians from traditional cash transactions to emerging mobile payment solutions.

Mobile solutions are being used to send money home, facilitate informal business transactions, pay bills, or buy pre-paid electricity. Notably, low-income people, especially in the rural areas, find value in remote digital payment solutions.

According to the second National Financial Inclusion Framework 2018-2022 (NFIF2), mobile payment solutions have contributed to an increasing number of adults in the formal financial systems, from 58 per cent in 2013 to 65 per cent in 2017.

The framework further asserts that the combined efforts between the government and the private sector are a main factor for the upsurge in financial inclusion.

The World Bank also maintains that the inclusion of people in the formal financial system will enable communities, especially businessmen to access financial services with …

Less than a fortnight after a thousand visitors from the Middle East toured Tanzania, the country has just received the first batch of expected 1,000 tourists from the Far East.

Landing at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) on Sunday 13^th May, 2019 evening, more than 350 tourists from China kicked off their itinerary by sampling Northern Zone attractions, including the Ngorongoro crater and Serengeti National Park.

They were received at the airport terminal by the Prime Minister, Kassim Majaliwa, who described the entourage as yet another indication that Tanzania is becoming a lucrative destination for visitors and investors from overseas.

The 10,000 visitors from China will be touring Tanzania through the `Tour Africa – New Horizon` program coordinated by Touch Road International Holding Group, which in addition to opening doors for tourists from the Far East, is hatching a new initiative where some visitors are going to identify potential …

China`s economic miracle is a combination of several factors, including globalization, openness and cooperation, a prominent Chinese national stated.

Speaking during a high-level business talk in Dar es Salaam, board member, deputy secretary and member of the party committee at Moutai Group, Wang Yan, said 40 years ago, China was poorer than most African countries at present.

The business talk, which was graced by former Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda held in Dar es Salaam, was part of the `Cultural Moutai, Colourful Guizhou` – China Kweichow Moutai Belt and Road Branding Initiative in Tanzania.`

The business talks also coincided with the launch of Moutai liquor in Tanzania.

`Africa is still developing. China`s development miracle from being the poorest country in the world to today has showcased the profound power globalization, openness and cooperation have over people`s lives……I remember vividly that over 40 years ago, the income of these families was extremely …