Browsing: East Africa

• Kenya’s electricity imports from its neighbours have more than doubled
• For years, Ethiopia has supplanted Uganda from position one, Kenya’s top source of power imports.
• The East African nation has revealed that it needs $5.3 billion to overhaul power transmission lines and forestall frequent blackouts.

Kenya’s electricity imports from its neighbours have more than doubled in the past year amid increased demand and a slower pace of investment in energy infrastructure.

Data by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said the country imported 706.9 million kWh of electricity from Ethiopia and Uganda in the first 11 months of 2023, up from 288.27 million kWh in a similar period in 2022.

The bulk of the power imports — 546.5 million kWh — were sourced from Ethiopia during the period, according to KNBS, with the country emerging as Kenya’s biggest electricity supplier in the region. (pamblancopainting.com) Ethiopia has supplanted …

• President Mama Samia Suluhu Hassan is leading Tanzania to become Africa’s greatest transportation corridor. 
• The comprehensive transportation developments in Tanzania are strategically designed to boost economic growth, enhance regional trade, and foster regional integration.
• Tanzania faces challenges in financing and meeting construction timelines for its ambitious projects.

In the heart of East Africa, a remarkable transformation is unfolding. Led by President Mama Samia Suluhu Hassan, Tanzania is emerging as a formidable economic powerhouse on the continent. Under her stewardship, the nation strategically harnesses its geographic location and embarks on ambitious infrastructure projects that promise to redefine its role regionally and globally.

With a visionary approach, President Suluhu Hassan is steering Tanzania towards becoming Africa’s most significant transportation corridor. This transformation is anchored in large-scale investments in transportation infrastructure, encompassing rail, road, air, and sea connectivity. These initiatives reflect an acute understanding of the pivotal role that efficient, modern transportation systems …

• President William Ruto’s announcement of Kenya’s visa-free entry policy for all visitors starting January 2024 marks a paradigm shift in the region’s economic and social landscape.
• The policy is expected to boost Kenya’s economy by attracting more tourists and business travellers, thus increasing revenue and foreign exchange.
• Addressing the accompanying challenges will be crucial to ensuring the policy’s success and sustainable growth in the region.

Kenya, a country known for its rich wildlife, vibrant culture, and dynamic economy, is poised to make a significant leap in becoming a hub for investors and business in East Africa. President William Ruto’s announcement of Kenya’s visa-free entry policy for all visitors starting January 2024 marks a paradigm shift in the region’s economic and social landscape. As the visa-free entry date nears, it is important to explore how Kenya is set to redefine the dynamics of business and investment in East Africa.

Overview of

• Most East African family businesses believe that it is essential to be trusted by customers, employees and family members. 
• Among those who consider trust among each group important: 56% are fully trusted by customers, 47% are fully trusted by employees and 77% are fully trusted by family members.
• East Africa’s level of trust is slightly higher than global survey on family businesses.

Family businesses in East Africa demonstrated robust performance over the past financial year, with 64 percent experiencing growth, compared to 46 percent in 2021, as indicated by a survey conducted by the advisory firm PwC. The PwC’s East Africa Family Business Survey 2023 affirms the resilience of family businesses, consistently overcoming geopolitical challenges.

Despite their success, experts emphasize that these businesses must adopt new priorities to ensure the longevity of their legacies. The landscape of building trust in business is undergoing a fundamental and rapid transformation. Environmental, Social, …

• Dubai Ports World (DP World), based in the United Arab Emirates, is rapidly expanding its operations across Africa to become a dominant player in the region’s commerce.
• Establishing a streamlined commerce corridor connecting East Africa and the Great Lakes region is a fundamental plank of DP World’s overall strategy.
• DP World seeks to regulate and strengthen African trade by tackling the difficulties of logistics and storage with cutting-edge digital solutions.

Dubai Ports World in Africa

As the Africa Continental Free Trade Act ushers in a new era of African trade, a significant participant rises from the Arabian Peninsula. Dubai Ports World (DP World), based in the United Arab Emirates, is rapidly expanding its operations across Africa to become a dominant player in the region’s commerce.

The story’s action begins in one of East Africa’s thriving harbours. The vast potential of the Kenyan ports of Mombasa, Lamu, Kisumu, and Naivasha has …

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has selected Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) over bids from Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Botswana, and Egypt. The East Africa joint bid, commonly called the “Pamoja AFCON Bid,” has won the hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON as Morocco takes the rights for the 2025 showpiece.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced the news on Wednesday morning, 27 September, shortly after the body held an executive committee meeting in its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. Recommendations from several nations boosted the East Africa Pamoja AFCON Bid. In a move that will elate East African sports enthusiasts, the CAF Executive Committee chose the Pamoja Afcon Bid.…

International tourist arrivals grew 32 per cent in the half-year to June, closing at 847,810 as Kenya’s tourism sector growth continued post-Covid-19. This was up from 642,861 arrivals recorded in the same period last year, as official data from the Ministry of Tourism indicates.
The performance represents a 92 per cent recovery compared to the same period in 2019. The increased numbers came with higher earnings for the country and the sector.…

• Investment and trade between the two countries was valued at more than $600 million last year.
• Kenya’s exports last year increased to $7.9 million from $6.3 million in 2021, the country’s Economic Survey 2023 indicates.
• Imports from Indonesia were valued at $187.7 million having dropped from $307.5 million the previous year.

Kenya is now keen to increase trade volumes mainly exports to the Asean market, with its renewed ties with Indonesia. President William Ruto said investment scope will also be broadened to bring about a balance of trade that is currently in favour of the Southeast Asian country.

“We will seize our energies and create the necessary environment for increased trade between our countries,” President Ruto said on Monday.

Investment and trade between the two countries was valued at more than $600 million last year. Indonesian economy registered a growth of  5.3 per cent in 2022 compared to of …

• Central Africa’s economic performance was powered by the DRC, which grew at a jaw-dropping 8.5% in 2022.
• Central Africa growth rate was higher than the African average, which is estimated at 3.8% in 2022, down from 4.8% in 2021.
• The region id projected to settle at 4.9% in 2023 and 4.6% in 2024.

Central Africa achieved real GDP growth of 5.0 per cent in 2022 compared with 3.4 per cent in 2021, as the region posted the strongest performance compared to other regions in the continent.

This was in terms of growth, inflation and budget deficit, a new report by the African Development Bank (AfDB) indicates.

Central Africa oil, minerals and commodities’ wealth

The rebound in economic activity was driven by favourable prices for raw materials. Increasingly, Central Africa economies are turning out to be a net exporter of crude oil, minerals and other commodities.

In comparison, the region’s …

• Leaders are meeting in Nairobi for the Eastern Africa ‘Waste is Wealth’ conference.
• The inaugural Waste is Wealth Series is organised by Taka Ni Mali, East African Business Council, and Alliance for Science.
• The three-day conference is themed: Promoting Effective Waste Management Practices for Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Mitigation.

The concept of a circular economy is fast gaining momentum in East Africa with both the private sector and government’s stuck on the drawing board shaping policies and regulations to help realise the shift.

World business leaders, policy makers, academics and NGOs have argued that a move towards a more circular economy is necessary to help solve global environmental and economic challenges.

Moving towards a more circular economy could increase competitiveness, and stimulate innovation. It will also boost economic growth and create jobs across economies.

Waste is Wealth

It is against this background that leaders are meeting in Nairobi for …