Dr Papias Malimba Musafiri, the minister for education, speaks during the first East African stakeholders' workshop on science, technology and innovation as Dr Ignace Gatare, director-general of National Commission for Science and Technology (L), looks on. At the workshop in Kigali, Musafiri said maximising science and technology is part of the government's agenda to enhance products value addition. / Nadege Imbabazi. Maximising use of science and technology is part of the government’s agenda to increase products value addition, Education minister Papias Musafiri has said. The minister was speaking, yesterday, as experts met to devise regional priorities in science, technology, and innovation funding workshop in Kigali. The workshop convened regional scientific bodies and commissions, under the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO). It sought to design a five-year action plan in integration of science and technology toward socio-economic transformation and sustainable development. Head of DFID Rwanda Laure Beaufils speaks during the first East African stakeholders' workshop on science technology and innovation. / Nadege Imbabazi Minister Musafiri said a policy on science and technology should provide tangible and palpable solutions to prevailing challenges. “The role of science and technology, first of all, is to provide simple technology that should later be disseminated or transferred to support either farms or small-scale industry activities and to ensure that we have some facilities at the lower level processes of the materials which are being produced,” he said. A participant follows proceedings. / Nadege Imbabazi. Musafiri said it was important to create a value addition...

The East African Community needs a strong and uniform regulatory framework that promote financial inclusion to ensure sustainable growth in the region. Prof Lemma Senbet, from the African Economic Research Consortium says that a regionally integrated financial system that feeds into a global system will help strengthen the financial industry on the continent. Senbet also noted that a strong linkage between the financial industry and other sectors of the economy is crucial for Africa. The professor stated that It is important to have a globally competitive financial system and regulatory framework to ensure best practices. Source: TVC News

(L to R) Trade and Industry (Industry) Minister S Iswaran, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Mozambique's Minister of Trade and Industry Ernesto Max Elias Tonela. (Photo: Calvin Hui) SINGAPORE: Trade relations between Singapore and Africa are set to deepen, with several agreements signed on Wednesday (Aug 24) at the fourth edition of the Africa Singapore Business Forum. These include the signing of the Avoidance of Double Taxation (DTA) with Ethiopia, a bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with Mozambique and an Air Services Agreement (ASA) with Nigeria. According to a joint press statement from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Finance, Ethiopia-Singapore DTA clarifies the taxing rights between both countries. This covers all forms of income flows from cross-border business activities and minimises double taxation of such income, they said. Meanwhile, the Mozambique-Singapore BIT is a legally binding agreement on how the Mozambique government should treat investments from Singapore, and vice versa. With this agreement, Singapore companies operating in Mozambique will enjoy protection on top of what is already accorded under the country's domestic laws. The Nigeria-Singapore ASA provides a framework to enable the establishment of air linkages between both countries, as airlines from both countries can operate an agreed number of passenger and cargo flights between Nigeria and Singapore, and beyond both countries. They were signed by Trade and Industry (Industry) Minister S Iswaran and respective representatives from the countries - Ethiopia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tedros Adhanom, Mozambique's Minister of Trade and Industry...

Dar es Salaam — A critical analysis to establish the reasons for a drop in cargo volume at the Dar es Salaam Port is underway, a top official has said. But Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) director general Deusdedit Kakoko gave no figures or possible causes for the decline. Nonetheless, he said in 2014/15 fiscal year the ports collectively handled 15,979,693 tonnes of cargo compared with 15,427,830 tonnes in 2013/14. The ports handled 4.732 tonnes of cargo destined to neighbouring countries during the same period and the authority collected Sh679, 316.95 and spent Sh464, 653.32. Meanwhile TPA is implementing 163 projects to raise the performance of ports and contributing immensely to economic development. According to Mr Kakoko, $690 million will be spent on Dar es Salaam Port projects. The money will be sourced through soft loans and grants. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will offer a $600-million-soft loan while the UK's Department for International Development and Trade Mark East Africa will jointly offer a $30-million grant. The Tanzania government will contribute $60 million. The money will be spent on 10 schemes which include increasing berth depth to 14 metres covering berth number 1 to 11; increasing the number of scanners from three to five; building a new berth at the Gerezani Creek and two more at number 13 and 14 locations, deepening to 14 metres the port's gateway, installation of a conveyor system and silos, modernisation of railway network within the port, expansion of Bandari-Mivinjeni road and completion of...

Construction of Port Reitz-Moi International Airport access road, which is part of the works to decongest roads in the region and boost trade within and outside the port . PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT By MATHIAS RINGA [email protected] IN SUMMARY Economic boost to trickle down from the motorways set for completion next year, says ministry. In Mombasa the State is spending Sh30 billion on roads including the key Miritini- Kipevu road which when completed will ease evacuation of cargo from the port. The Transport ministry has lined up Sh100 billion road projects at the Coast in yet another effort to speed up efficient movement of cargo and passengers even as standard gauge railway (SGR) nears completion. Infrastructure Principal Secretary (PS) John Mosonik, said the projects – either at different stages of construction or set to begin in coming months - are being implemented in Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, Kwale, Tana River and Lamu counties. In Mombasa the State is spending Sh30 billion on roads including the key Miritini- Kipevu road which when completed will ease evacuation of cargo from the port. It is also expected to address traffic congestion from Miritini to Changamwe. “The road will boost transportation of cargo from the port of Mombasa to Nairobi and the neighbouring countries of Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” engineer Mosonik said. The 16 kilometre (km) road project is part of the implementation of the phase one of the Dongo Kundu bypass project which will cost Sh11 billion...

Better roads promote trade and movement of people and goods, a reason why Africa must invest move in such facilities. (File photo) Africa has been touted as the new destination for investors. However, the continent still faces a myriad of challenges that hold back its potential, especially efforts aimed at improving business environment and alleviating poverty to ensure sustainable economic growth. That’s why Africa needs leaders who can tackle these challenges and translate them into opportunities to achieve the ‘Africa we want’ as per the theme of the recently-concluded 27th African Union summit in Kigali. Supportive policies and infrastructure that promote entrepreneurship and trade on the continent will play a critical role in helping the continent rise from the ‘ashes’ to achieve the African renaissance dreams proclaimed by the likes of former South African President Thabo Mbeki, experts say. According to Teddy Kaberuka, an economic analyst in Kigali, infrastructures, including transport, power and information and communication technologies (ICTs) facilities, are instrumental in supporting growth in the global economy. That’s the reason why African countries must prioritise infrastructure development to ensure sustainable economic growth on the continent. “The only way Africa can increase its production and strengthen its economy is by investing heavily in infrastructure development to support the production and ease access to markets and encourage intra-regional trade. Therefore, government must invest more in the energy, ICT and transport sectors because these are enablers of trade and development,” he said. “Without enough power, the continent’s production capacity will be affected,...

THE Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) is implementing 163 projects aimed at raising performance in all ports in the country. Basking in the glory of improved performance, TPA Director General, Engineer Deusdedit Kakoko told reporters in Dar es Salaam that the authority paid 80.1bn/- to the government in 2015/16: 40bn/- in form of corporate tax; VAT 37.4bn/- and withholding tax 2.7bn/-. “Dividend to the government this year was 93bn/- against our collected revenue amounting to 662bn/-,” he noted. He said performance up-lifting projects in Dar es Salaam port alone will cost 690m US dollars. The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) will offer a 600-million dollar softloan; the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) and Trade Mark East Africa will jointly offer 30-million US dollars grant and the Government will contribute 60 million US dollars. Eng. Kakoko said the money will be spent on ten schemes, which include increasing berth depth to 14 metres -- covering berths number 1 to 11; increasing scanners from three to five; building a new berth at Gerezani Creek and two more at number 13 and 14 locations, deepening to 14 metres the port’s gateway, installation of a conveyor system and silos, modernisation of the railway network within the port, expansion of Bandari-Mivinjeni Road and completion of a onestop centre building along Sokoine Drive. Tanga will get an oil jetty and storage tanks, he said, adding that designs and feasibility study for the proposed Mwambani Port will be launched in the near future. Mtwara Port...

The new online portal will reduce time and costs taken to issue import and export certificates and permits of plants, animal materials and agrichemicals by up to 45%.  Kigali, Rwanda, 19 August 2016: It is a double win for importers and exporters of plants/plants materials, animals/animal products and agrichemicals in Rwanda, as they will spend less time and spend less when acquiring import and export permits. The gains follow the development and commissioning of an online trade management information portal. This re-engineering has automated the systems and processes used by Rwanda Agricultural Livestock Inspection and Certification services (RALIS) to regulate and facilitate businesses involved in international trade in the agricultural sector in Rwanda. Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture developed the portal through a direct project funding of US$ 150 000 (One hundred and fifty thousand US dollars) from TradeMark Africa (TMA) the region’s fore Trade Facilitation institution. The announcement was made during the official launch of the portal graced by Hon. Tony Roberto Nsanganira, the State Minister of Agriculture. Hon. Nsanganira lauded the new development saying that, “ICT is no longer an option but a necessity in order to reach the economic development. We can hardly do without it. We rely on the ICTs for almost all our daily activities including communications, transport, businesses, just to mention these few. This portal will reduce costs and delays, enhancing compliance enforcement, as well as better transparency, accountability and competency among the traders, transportation agencies and government authorities; it interfaces with Electronic Single Window,...

Horticulture exports. Red and green peppers in preshipment sorting at National Agricultural Export Board offices in Kigali. (Courtesy.) Claude Niyomugabo, a produce dealer in Kigali, last month failed to close a huge deal after failing to obtain the necessary import documentation in time. Niyomugabo is not alone as many other agro-dealers, importers and exporters had fallen victim to the previously bureaucratic and tedious process of acquiring import or export certification. The bureaucratic procedures had often resulted into delays in terms of delivering farm inputs to farmers affecting sales and crop productivity. However, this could soon become history, thanks to a new online portal unveiled last week, which will ease the process and make it more efficient. The facility has automated the systems and processes used by Rwanda Agricultural Livestock Inspection and Certification Services (RALIS) to regulate and facilitate businesses involved in international trade in the agricultural sector in Rwanda. The portal, launched on Friday, was developed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources with $150,000 funding from TradeMark Africa (TMA), a trade facilitation non-profit organisation. The new online portal will reduce time and cost to issue import and export certificates, as well as permits of plants, animal materials and agrichemicals by 45 per cent, according to Tonny Nsanganira, the State Minister of Agriculture. According to Beatrice Uwumukiza, the RALIS director general, the portal will enhance enforcement, as well as ensure transparency and accountability among stakeholders, including traders, transporters and government agencies. Uwumukiza said the facility that uses the Electronic...

By Pius Rugonzibwa Mwanza — More than 300 local and foreign exhibitors will take part in this year's Mwanza East African Trade Fair (MEATF 2016) set to begin on August 26. This will be an increase of nearly 100 exhibitors up from roughly 200 of them that took part in such trade fair last year indicating a remarkable growth of the regional event. Announcing this year's activity, the Mwanza Regional Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) Vice-Chairman, Mr Leopard Lema, said that the objectives of the trade fair have changed much, the main one being to provide an opportunity for companies to enhance their brands and corporate images. He reported that other targets for this year seek to enable participants to get an opportunity to develop and cultivate customer relations, search for partners and act as market research instrument. "But more importantly, this year's event brings another opportunity for the businesses to tap the potential found in Mwanza Region and the entire Lake Zone regions as the best available market and investment area with its excellent strategic location in East Africa," he explained. While local companies are expected to increase in number this year, they are also expected to learn new business strategies as well enhancing export trade to capture available privileges and readily- arranged markets worldwide. Mr Lema mentioned the theme for this year; "To increase intra East Africa Trade and Investment" as being part of the support for a regional agenda practical participation in the EAC...