Around 50 Swedish related companies are represented in Kenya, with the majority based in Nairobi. Sweden foreign minister who recently blasted the UK for the bitter Brexit divorce has been travelling to Africa to shop for investment opportunities for her country and recently held bilateral talks with Kenyan officials. Margot Wallstorm, the feminist proponent minister and a hard hitting critic of Brexit has noted that Sweden has already identified areas that it want to invest in Kenya as a gateway to East Africa. She has held consultative meeting with Kenya’s Foreign Affairs CS, Monica Juma on different bilateral fronts between Kenya and Sweden. Wallström blasted Britain’s political leadership for mismanaging the UK’s upcoming departure from the EU. “I just think that they’ve made such a historical mistake and they’ve really created a problem for all of us,” Wallström was reported saying. “I cannot forgive them for this,” she said. A Swedish delegation to Kenya that she is leading has identified opportunities for further growth in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture, ICT and renewable energy. A growing number of Swedish companies have established themselves in Kenya. Important export products from Sweden are telecommunication equipment, paper, machinery, manufactured products, medical equipment and vehicles. Imports from Kenya consist mainly of coffee, cut flowers, fruits and vegetables. Around 50 Swedish related companies are represented in Kenya, with the majority based in Nairobi. Among these are ABB, Alfa Laval, Atlas Copco, Bahco, Ericsson, Saab, Sandvik, Scania, SKF, TetraPak and Volvo. Several of these companies cover...

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs minister, Sam Kutesa is in touch with Rwandan authorities to resolve any border issues, government has said. “I don't know about the tensions being high, but what I know yesterday (Wednesday) at around 6pm, the authorities from Rwanda refused vehicles both private and public from entering Uganda. Uganda provides the everyday necessities of life. They even prevented their own people from coming to buy the daily necessities," Uganda government spokesperson Mr Ofwono Opondo said on Thursday after reports emerged that cargo trucks from Uganda had been blocked from crossing into Rwanda at Katuna, also known as Gatuna, to pave the way for the upgrade of the one-stop border post, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has said. However, Mr Opondo told journalists in Kampala that there's a “slight problem” at all the three border points between Uganda and Rwanda. “If it was construction of the road “they wouldn't have prevented their people from coming into the country. Our Minister of foreign affairs is in touch with the authorities of Rwanda,” he said. Mr Opondo further noted that by Thursday morning, Rwandan authorities had blocked even school children from crossing into Uganda for studies. “If there's any other reason beyond the construction works they have given, the honorable Sam Kutesa is in engagement and we hope that this matter will be resolved quickly,” he said. RRA in a letter addressed to the Commissioner for Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority on Wednesday, said heavy trucks would be diverted to other...

Rwanda-Uganda tensions continued to simmer Thursday when the tiny neighbouring nation blocked its people as well as Ugandan trucks from crossing the border. A source at the Kagitumba/Mirama Hills border posts in Ntungamo district told edge.ug that Rwandans were being picked out of buses coming to Uganda and blocked from crossing the border. “I’m not sure what is going on. We see Rwandans being ordered out of buses and told to say in their side of the border,” a source told this website Thursday afternoon. While responding to the matter, government spokesperson Ofwono Opondo, said “under the spirit of the East African integration, they [Rwanda] shouldn’t be preventing their people from crossing”. “I don’t know about the tensions being high, but what I know yesterday at around 6.00pm the authorities from Rwanda refused vehicles both private and public from entering Uganda,” Opondo noted. He refuted high tensions between Uganda and Rwanda but instead called for calm. Opondo said Rwandan officials claim they are constructing the road via Katuna and advised travellers to use Mirama hills. “If it was construction of the road, they wouldn’t have prevented their people from coming into the country,” Opondo added. Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) said cargo trucks from Uganda were being diverted at Katuna also known as Gatuna to pave the way for the upgrade of the one-stop border post. “In view of the above, Rwanda Revenue Authority would like to inform you that with effect from February 28, 2019, all heavy trucks carrying goods...

Cargo trucks from Uganda have been blocked from crossing into Rwanda at Katuna, also known as Gatuna, to pave the way for the upgrade of the one-stop border post, the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) has said. The taxman, in a letter addressed to the Commissioner for Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority on Wednesday, said heavy trucks would be diverted to other border crossings. "We are considering reducing the traffic of heavy trucks to allow completion of the OSBP infrastructure," read the letter signed by Ms Rosine Uwamariya, the Commissioner for Customs at RRA. "In view of the above, Rwanda Revenue Authority would like to inform you that with effect from February 28, 2019, all heavy trucks carrying goods destined and those transiting via Gatuna shall be temporarily diverted from using Gatuna Border Post to Kagitumba/Mirama Hills border posts," she added. However, the announcement followed complaints on social media of stranded citizens and truck drivers. "Why are our goods being stopped from entering Rwanda? Our friendship still stands," Mr Aaron Ainomugisha posted on Twitter. For ordinary citizens, the deteriorating diplomatic relations between Rwanda and Uganda,that has largely remained at the top, seemed to have moved to the grassroots, interrupting their lives. Both Kampala and Kigali accuse each other of espionage. "But this madness between Rwanda and Uganda must stop. My family from the other side has been blocked from coming to Uganda for our sister's marriage ceremonies!" tweeted Agather Atuhaire, before posing: "How can both be oblivious and ignore the fact...

THE Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) plans on digitising its primary services to sharpen its competitive edge, Nairobi's Business Daily reported. KPA managing director Daniel Manduku was quoted as saying in the report: 'One of the key drivers of change has been the shipping industry which is continuously changing through innovations and new inventions. 'Ship sizes have grown, with possibilities of further creation of larger vessels,' he said during the unveiling in Mombasa of the authority's five-year plan that ends in 2022. He said that while 20,000-TEU vessels have become 'a reality and soon we expect even bigger vessels of up to 50,000 TEU capacity'. Said Mr Manduku: 'KPA is alive to the fact that ports must keep up with changes. Smart and green port operations, sustainable infrastructure development and innovative funding options, are among the newer areas of focus.' The managing director also said emerging technologies in the industry are transforming operations, citing artificial intelligence, internet of things, big data, block chains, port information platforms, as well as remote container and equipment monitoring. 'These innovations are being piloted in various ports globally and are already institutionalised in some,' Mr Manduku said. In addition, he said that challenges of cyber security and the rapid development of e-commerce are also and 'need to be addressed holistically'. Source: Sea News

WINDLAB Limited has unveiled an agreement for the investment of 10 million US dollars by Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation (Eurus) into Windlab’s East Africa business. Windlab will use the funding to accelerate the development of key projects in East Africa to meet the large unserved demand for electricity. Windlab East Africa holds the company’s existing project development assets as well as the right to future projects in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Malawi. Windlab’s East Africa (WEA) assets currently consist of a strong pipeline of development projects totalling around 1,650MW of potential capacity, ranging in status from early-stage projects to the approved 300MW Miombo Hewani Wind Farm in Tanzania, which has been short-listed in a government sponsored off take process. “We are delighted to secure the support of Eurus as a partner in WEA. We will work together to expedite the development of our projects in this region. Whilst many of these markets are not without challenges the need for significant investment in electricity generating infrastructure is clear,” Roger Price, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Windlab said. Price added, “Wind and solar are by far the cheapest and fastest technology to deploy and accordingly we anticipate most new demand will be met with renewable energy. WEA’s diversified portfolio and the Company’s development experience positions it well to capitalise on these opportunities.” Eurus Chief Executive Officer, Hideyuki Inazumi said, “Eurus enjoys a long and successful working relationship with Windlab having completed the Coonooer Bridge Wind Farm (Australia)...

Exciting time has come for Kenya and Ethiopia to boost their historic ties by strengthening trade and investment between them, says Kenyan Ambassador to Ethiopia. A high level Kenyan delegation led by President Uhuru Kenyata is expected to visit Addis Ababa tomorrow and Saturday with 100 heads of major Kenyan companies. “We are delight that this is happenings that we have been able to facilitate. We know that this is a really a further step to the great cordial relationship that our two countries have had,” said Ambassador Catherine Muigai Mwangishe, explaining the mission of the delifgation. The visit of high level business delegation to Ethiopia is a result of the reformist prime Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, who announced plan to open the country for business and facilitate conditions for the private sector, according to Ambassador Catherine MuigaiMwangi. “That has given the confidence to the Kenyan business people that Ethiopia is now open for business,” she said, indicating it is also a good opportunity for Ethiopian businesses to meet with Kenyan business and see the opportunities Kenya is offering. In the coming two days, representing the business communities, the chambers of the two countries are expected to hold meeting and sign partnership agreements, according to the Ambassador. She stated that the conversation to improve investment and trade between the two countries by harmonizing policy and regulations has been going on for long time.“I don’t think of any Kenyan businesses setup here,” she said, indicating the need for harmonizing policies that...

When Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Yoweri Museveni opened the improved border crossing at Busia in February last year, they said they were implementing their commitment to expand trade by freeing movement of people. Known as the Busia One-Stop-Border Post, the crossing cost about Sh1.2 billion, with facilitation from the Trade Mark East Africa. But away from the dignitaries, media, pomp and colour, the Nation spent time with border communities to get a peak on what regional integration means for them. LIFE BEFORE At Buyengo village, deep in Busia on the Ugandan side, 67-year-old Alfred Mang’eni tells of a story of mixed parentage and a life unhindered by borders. Mang’eni is, technically a Ugandan resident. But he is Kenyan. His father is a Kenyan from Luchululo village in Samia Sub-County of Busia but he bought land in Jinja, Uganda where he was born with other six siblings. “Long time ago we could visit our relatives in Kenya without many restrictions. We used to cross via the lake using boats,” he told the Nation, as he massaged his beard. “At the moment a lot has changed and we have to produce documents to relevant authorities. At the main Busia border crossing, we were never issued with permits to grant us entry to Kenya or vice versa,” said Mr Mang’eni in his native Samia, a language also spoken in Funyula Constituency in Busia County. DIVIDED FAMILIES For the Samia, the border between Kenya and Uganda at Busia cut their villages right in the middle, dividing families...

The United Arab Emirates has listed internationally unrecognized Somaliland as the leading African country where it has the highest foreign direct investment (FDI). According to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country’s FDI outflows for the financial year 2017/2018 amounted to US$11.52 billion dollars, US$2.58 billion going to the Persian gulf country. Canada and India were second and third in the destination list of UAE’s FDI’s with outflows of US$1.68 billion and US$1.28 billion. Somaliland led as the investment destination for UAE in Africa followed by Egypt. The sectors UAE has invested in include the construction industry, Ports, transportation, warehousing and storage, mining, metals and chemicals, renewable and environmental technology and financial services, among others. Thirty nine percent of its investment is in construction, 19 percent in ports and transportation while mining metals and chemicals take 15 percent of the country’s foreign direct investment. Already, UAE company Dubai Port has pumped in US$ 442 million to expand the port of Berbera which the UAE see as very strategic to them. The Berbera port expansion is designed to equip the Somaliland port for major vessels and transform it into one of Africa’s pre-eminent facilities in the breakaway region. UAE military base in Somaliland is also set to begin operating by June. The base will include a coastal-surveillance system. The U.A.E. is growing its military presence in the Horn of Africa to help protect trade flows through the Bab el-Mandeb strait, a key shipping lane used by oil tankers and other cargo...

KROTAJ, a joint venture company formed between an Israeli company named Genuine and Ethiopian Sesame Export, has opened a new sesame processing factory in Ethiopia. The firm seeks to generate $10 million annually by processing 3,700 metric tonnes of sesame known as Tahina. Ethiopia is one of the greatest sesame producers in the world. Sesame is the country’s most important oilseed in both local and export markets and has exported the produce in whole, raw form. However, with the new processing plant, the East African nation would get more value from its valued-added commodity export. Export of raw seeds without value addition is one of the reasons for the declining in export revenue in many economies. Other challenges that affect the income include contraband trade and fluctuation of global prices. The processing plant will improve the level of competition of agricultural export commodities in Ethiopia. Mr Yohanes Sintayehu State Minister of Industry said the government would continue to support such infrastructure improvement to better the agricultural sector. Agriculture is an engine of the Ethiopian economy, employing 85 per cent of the total population, contributing 39 per cent of GDP, and generating 90 per cent of its foreign currency. However, the country’s agricultural exports are primarily unprocessed commodities, including the nation’s main export earner coffee, oilseeds, sugar, pulses, live plants, and cut flowers. Among the oil crops of Ethiopia, sesame seed commands a leading position because it is highly adapted to the arid and semi-arid low land environment and yields well....