Of late, the 70th Anniversary of Ethiopia and Sweden's diplomatic relations was marked. Accordingly, The Ethiopian Herald held an exclusive interview with Swedish Ambassador Jan Sadek and Minister Counselor and Head of Development Cooperation Section, Annika Jayawardena, for their reflections on the seven decades diplomatic journey of the two countries. This piece is the first part of the summary of their responses to the questions raised by the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 10th February 2017

Kigali International Airport has been ranked second-best airport in Africa and best in East Africa by a reputable Canadian travel and hospitality firm, Sleeping Airports.   Sleeping Airports, with their website, www.sleepinginairports.net, is an internationally recognised travelllers' online guide established in 1996 as a platform for passengers to share their airport experiences around the world.   The survey, released Wednesday.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 10th February 2017

Rwanda targets to use proceeds from the sale of its stake in I&M Bank to fund construction of the new Bugesera International Airport.   Finance minister Claver Gatete told Parliament on Tuesday that the government expects to earn about Rwf11.5 billion ($14 million) from its 19.61 per cent stake sale in the lender.   "The money will be invested as initial equity in the Bugesera airport," Mr Gatete said while presenting.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 10th February 2017

Despite being an electioneering year, 2017 is expected to be a boon for Kenya’s tourism, with a number of international conferences slated to take place here.   Confirmed hotel and conference hall bookings indicate 2017 will witness a hype of activity buoyed by 2016’s success that saw over 100 world leaders visit Kenya at different times.   In the past, election years in Kenya have attracted an intense focus by the.... Read more »

Posted on : Friday , 10th February 2017

Dodoma — European Investment Bank (EIB) is set to decide on a proposal to upgrade and expand four airports, which are lined-up for fund receipt after completing the initial stage of scrutinising the contractors.   The EIB had agreed to fund a special programme of transforming transport links to remote regions of Kigoma, Kagera, Tabora, Shinyanga and Sumbawanga by committing 50 million Euros (over 100bn/-) in long-term funding,.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th February 2017

Addis Ababa — Ethiopia's parliament on Tuesday approved a USD 250 million loan agreement made with China's Export-Import (Exim) Bank to finance major infrastructure construction in the country.   The loan agreement, already approved by the Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives, the lower house, would finance supply and construction of 400-kv power transmission projects of Genale Dawa III-Yirgalem II-Wolayita Sodo II-Hawassa II.... Read more »

Posted on : Thursday , 9th February 2017

Ethiopian Airports Enterprise (EAE) concluded 2 agreements with contractors from Ethiopia, for the construction of Hawassa and Semera airports passenger terminals.   The construction of Hawassa Airport passenger terminal is going to be undertaken at an outlay of 126,534,721 Birr. The project is awarded for FE Construction Material Rental Production and General Contractor while the design work was done by Bereket Tesfaye Consulting.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th February 2017

Rwanda's total revenue collections, excluding local government tax and fees, increased to Rwf514 billion in the first semester of 2016/2017 fiscal year compared to Rwf470.6 billion collected during the same period last year.   However, the figure falls short of the set target of Rwf516.5 billion and represents 99.7 per cent of performance level.   According to the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), collections from local government.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th February 2017

Dar es Salaam — The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) has secured new orders to transport at least 165,000 tonnes of freight for various companies on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia this year following a renewed confidence to the hauler.   A statement issued by the company's Dar es Salaam office indicates that the freight orders follow TAZARA Managing Director's visitations to various shippers and logistics companies in.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th February 2017

Dar es Salaam — Tanzania should open up its Dar es Salaam port to trudge cargo volume, expand and build new transport links to make Tanzania a regional hub while turning the country as Dubai of East Africa, the East African Business Week can report.   "The Dar es Salaam port is an engine for economic growth, if we invest in logistic centers, improve on infrastructure and create a facilitative environment, we can easily turn Dar.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th February 2017

Construction of the first 300-kilometre stretch of the standard gauge railway between Dar es Salaam and Morogoro begins from next month to mark the beginning of one of the major infrastructure projects under the second Five-Year Development Plan (2016/17- 2020/21).   State-owned Reli Assets Holding Company Ltd (RAHCO) signed an agreement with a joint venture of Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi and Portugal's Mota-Engil Engenharia e.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th February 2017

A joint venture between a Turkish and a Portuguese firm has won a tender for construction of 205 kilometres of Tanzania's standard gauge railway, part of the 1,216km stretch that will eventually link Dar es Salaam with the rest of the country as well as with Rwanda and Burundi.   The project, to be constructed at a total cost of $1.215 billion, will be undertaken by Yapi Merkez Insaat Ve Sanayi (Turkey) and Mota-Engil, Engenharie and.... Read more »

Posted on : Wednesday , 8th February 2017