China yesterday clarified that an agreement signed between Tanzania and Governor of Exim Bank of China was meant to facilitate a feasibility study, not an agreement for a loan from China to Tanzania for the construction of central line railway.   China has meantime commended Turkish and Portuguese firms that have since won bids to construct the country's first phase of the 250km-stretch of Standard Gauge Railway from Dar es Salaam to.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 17th February 2017

Dar es Salaam — In its effort to decongest Dar es Salaam Port, the government will next month start constructing an inland container depot (ICD) worth Sh7.286 billion at Ruvu in Coast Region.   The minister of Works, Transport and Communications, Prof Makame Mbarawa, told reporters that there are also plans to to widen and deepen the berths of the port and construct a new one at Mtwara Port that would enable large vessels to.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are planning to construct a 700km bridge in an effort to boost trade relations among them.   DRC's Katanga Province governor Jean-Claude Kazembe said here yesterday that the bridge to be constructed at Kasenga on the border between Congo and Zambia will cost $85 million (about Sh190 billion on the prevailing exchange rate). Upon constructing the bridge it.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017

Rwanda has introduced a new law enabling the levying of a tax on imported goods, with proceeds going to the financing of the African Union.   A Cabinet meeting chaired by President Paul Kagame passed the draft law to establish the 0.2 per cent tax on imported goods.   At the 27th African Union Summit held in Kigali in July 2016, African governments unanimously adopted a formula known as the Kigali Declaration proposed by a review.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017

Works, Transport and Communications Minister, Prof Makame Mbarawa has directed the contractor constructing the Tazara Flyover to speed up in order to reduce the duration the project.   Speaking at the construction site in Dar es Salaam yesterday, Prof Mbarawa, hailed the contractor, Sumitomo Mitsui, for the progress made putting emphasis on increasing speed for people to start benefiting from the project. "Ensure to employ much.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 16th February 2017

The new investor will renovate the facility to tap into growing country's tourism sector   Rwanda's hospitality industry has received a major boost after Uganda's Madhvani Group acquired Umubano Hotel, ending a long-running delay that was hurting the credibility of this facility as well as tourism prospects.   The 4- star facility , with 100 rooms, 14 suites, four conference rooms, a swimming pool, tennis court, and a mini-golf.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 15th February 2017

Trade and tourism between Rwanda and Mali could flourish following a new bilateral Airspace Service Agreement signed yesterday in Kigali.   Both countries agreed to open their airspace allowing their national carriers to operate without restrictions.   According to the agreement, all air service operations will be conducted under the fifth freedom arrangement, which means an airline has the right to carry passengers from one.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 15th February 2017

The office space business in the Rwandan capital Kigali is undergoing remarkable innovations as people dash to beat a March 2017 deadline to vacate offices from residential premises.   The directive announced in early January gave businesses and Non-Government Organisations operating in residential premises a three months ultimatum to vacate.   City of Kigali (CoK) authorities say the move is an implementation of the city master.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 15th February 2017

Ethiopian Airlines has received a $159 million loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB), boosting its expansion plans.   The credit line, backed by the African Trade Insurance Agency (ATI), will enable the airline to expand its fleet as it targets to have 140 aircraft within the next decade from the more than 80 planes in its hangar.   The Ethiopian flag carrier, the fastest growing airline in sub-Saharan Africa, seeks to.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th February 2017

Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) and Morocco's OCP Policy Center jointly organized the first Ethio-Moroccan Strategic Economic Policy Dialogue here yesterday.   Speaking at the occasion, EDRI Executive Director with a Rank of Minister Mekonnen Manyazewal commended Morocco's OCP Policy Center for the practical steps it has taken to forge partnerships with EDRI.   He said the two partner institutions should further.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th February 2017

African countries are gearing up to accelerate socio-economic development through affordable access to broadband and use of appropriate information and communication technologies (ICTs), under Smart Africa agenda.   Part of this is to find ways to leverage the principles of urban planning and technology solutions to promote efficiency of cities.   Under the 'Smart Cities' initiative, multiple sector stakeholders and industry.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th February 2017

RwandAir has been nominated for the Uganda Tourism Excellence Awards 2017 in the Best Airline category. The national career is competing for the accolade with Ethiopian Airlines. This annual event is designed to promote and reward excellence in the tourism industry to help preserve standards in the sector.   The awards also celebrate the achievements of the tourism industry, recognising hard work and dedication exhibited by individuals.... Read more »

Posted on : Tuesday , 14th February 2017