Geothermal resources to spur development of health spas in Kenya

The project will utilise geothermal resources to develop health spas. The spas would be curative and tourist attractions. Significant hot water springs are found in the following places:
• Lakes Bogoria and Baringo. The two lakes are in national game parks and 345km from Kenya's capital, Nairobi 
• Lake Turkana, which is situated at the borders of Kenya, Ethiopia and Sudan.
• Olkaria and Eburu near Lake Nakuru, which is famous for flamingos.
• Simbi on the shores of Lake Victoria. The area is close to Maasai Mara Game Reserve, renowned for its wildlife.

A pre-feasibility study reveals the existing geothermal waters are excellent for the development of quality health spas. Further studies are however needed to establish the viability and investment levels of this opportunity.

It is expected that the clients will be both local and foreign who will visit the locations for other attractions such as yachting, game watching and cultural experiences.

The government will provide the necessary infrastructure for this development. Investors can also take advantage of other sector-specific incentives.


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Africa's impressive growth looks likely to continue

Since The Economist regrettably labelled Africa “the hopeless continent” a decade ago, a profound change has taken hold. Labour productivity has been rising. It is now growing by, on average, 2.7% a year. Trade between Africa and the rest of the world has increased by 200% since 2000. Inflation dropped from 22% in the 1990s to 8% in the past decade. Foreign debts declined by a quarter, budget deficits by two-thirds.

In eight of the past ten years, according to the World Bank, sub-Saharan growth has been faster than East Asia’s (though that does include Japan). Even after revising downward its 2012 forecast because of a slowdown in the northern hemisphere, the IMF still expects sub-Saharan Africa’s economies to expand by 5.75% next year. Several big countries are likely to hit growth rates of 10%.

The World Bank said in a report this year that “Africa could be on the brink of an economic take-off, much like China was 30 years ago and India 20 years ago,” though its officials think major poverty reduction will require higher growth than today’s — a long-term average of 7% or more.

There is another point of comparison with Asia: demography. Africa’s population is set to double, from 1 billion to 2 billion, over the next 40 years. As Africa’s population grows in size, it will also alter in shape. The median age is now 20, compared with 30 in Asia and 40 in Europe. With fertility rates dropping, that median will rise as today’s mass of young people moves into its most productive years. The ratio of people of working age to those younger and older—the dependency ratio—will improve. This “demographic dividend” was crucial to the growth of East Asian economies a generation ago. It offers a huge opportunity to Africa today.

Seen through a bullish eye, this reinforces exuberant talk of “lion economies” analogous to the Asian tigers. But there are caveats. For one thing, in Africa, perhaps even more so than in Asia, wildly different realities can exist side by side. Averaging out failed states and phenomenal success stories is of limited value. The experience of the leaders is an unreliable guide to what will become of the laggards. For another, these are early days, and there have been false dawns before. Those of bearish mind will ask whether the lions can match the tigers for stamina.

Will Africa continue to rise? Or is this merely a strong upswing in a boom-bust cycle that will inevitably come tumbling back down?

Click here for the Economist article and an interesting map showing growth rates across the continent

Partners wanted for Kenyan government's e-services roll-out project

Kenya is looking for a partner to roll out e-government services. The project, which is a public private partnership, will include motor vehicle registration, pension services and land registration.

The project aims to improve on service delivery.

The ICT sector has registered substantial growth because of competition introduced in most market segments by the industry regulator, the Communications Commission of Kenya. The operators and service providers represent a significant investment in the economy and are big employers of ICT staff and major contributors to the GDP. Competition has raised quality of services though cost remains high. However, the cost of computer hardware and software has dropped over the years, and the sector is among the top on the list of government’s priorities for achieving economic growth.

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Investment opportunities in fisheries in Mozambique

The ministry of fisheries is seeking investment in developing and modernising post-harvest operations such as fresh fish handling, processing, refrigeration and storage, transport, distribution and packaging. Other opportunities would interest boat and outboard engine repair businesses. The absence of post-harvest facilities in almost all landing sites contribute to harvest losses of more than 50%. Mozambique hopes that further investment will streamline and formalise the trade in processed fish, and also lead to increased trade in fresh fish.

Sector: The fisheries and aquaculture sectors produce prawns, shrimps and other products that do exceptionally well in European and Asian markets. There is enormous potential along the 2 700 km Indian Ocean coast line. The sector contributes roughly 3% to the GDP. Lake Niassa, Cahora Bassa reservoir and Massingir dam are the major water bodies that are currently supporting the fisheries industry. Apart from Cahora Bassa reservoir where semi-industrial fisheries for sardines have been developed, no significant development has been achieved in other inland waters. According to Herminio Tembe, the director of economy in the ministry of fisheries 'very little investment has occurred to take advantage of opportunities in post- harvest operations, yet the profits made in the niche are significant'.

Short-term opportunities exist in developing and modernising post-harvest operations such as fresh fish handling, processing, refrigeration and storage, transport, distribution and packaging.

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Zambia: Proposed manufacturing plant to cater for rising demand

The ministry of communications and transport in Zambia is proposing to build an ICT manufacturing plant, which will produce computers, television sets, telephone handsets and other electronic goods. The available inputs for this greenfield opportunity include affordable skilled labour, land and a working transport and logistics infrastructure. The government aims to reduce the cost of importing and create jobs in the manufacturing sector.

An Environmental Impact Assessment is essential and potential investors must comply with the provisions of the Companies Act.

 Local manufacture and assembly of ICT equipment is classified as a priority area, and has special benefits in the ICT sector incentives outlined in the Zambia Development Authority (ZDA) Act. General incentives are provided for in various other Acts.

  Click here for more details or visit www.tradeinvestafrica.com for more investment opportunities.

Business opportunities in Ghana's oil industry

Ghana pumped its first commercial oil in December 2010 after the discovery of the offshore Jubilee Field three years ago. An estimated 1 billion barrels of oil and 800 billion cubic feet of natural gas could be sold over the next quarter century, according to government estimates. The ministry of energy forecasts that production at Jubilee will quickly rise to 250 000 barrels per day by the end of 2011.

Two more offshore oilfields, Enyenra and Tweneboa, have been identified and could produce between 75 000 and 125 000 barrels per day when the taps begin running in 2014. With the first pump, the needs of the oil industry extended from supply vessels, pipelines, storage tanks, refineries, power stations, transmission grids to public utilities, financial and hospitality services. The port city of Takoradi is home to Ghana’s oil industry and many people see the region as one of most lucrative business opportunities on the continent. Takoradi Harbour is the nearest commercial port to the Jubilee oil fields.

Click here for further details on this opportunity or visit www.tradeinvestafrica.com for more investment opportunities.

Tap into the opportunities in the Kenyan beer industry

Investors are invited to discover the numerous opportunities in Kenya's beer industry.

Kenya has a flourishing beer industry producing high quality beer, which is recognised internationally. This has been possible due to factors such as good climate for agriculture, availability of barley, affordable labour, big local market, and access to regional markets like COMESA and the East African Community. Some of the investor friendly policies in place include the liberalisation of marketing and processing of cereals and other agro-produce, removal of duties on importation of farm inputs and free repatriation of capital and profits.

Click here for further details or visit www.tradeinvestafrica.com for more investment opportunities.

Invest in high-tech diagnostic lab in Addis Ababa

The project envisages the establishment of a high-tech diagnostic laboratory with a capacity of providing up to 200 different laboratory analyses per day. There are two such laboratories in Addis Ababa but an additional three are required by 2025.

 The project can create employment for 72 persons, and will generate Birr 4.52 million in terms of tax revenue. High-tech diagnostic laboratory testing service is essential to the basic management of patient care, allowing physicians to diagnose diseases earlier. Ethiopia has an integrated national laboratory master plan (2009-2013) developed by the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI). EHNRI has been mandated to coordinate strengthening of the national laboratory systems. Most of the laboratory technologists and technicians are trained in state universities, but private colleges and universities also train professionals.

There are two main types of laboratories that process the majority of medical specimens in Ethiopia’s tiered system: hospital laboratories are attached to a hospital and perform tests on patients; private laboratories receive samples from general practitioners and other health clinics for analysis, and the existing two high-tech diagnostic laboratories in the capital city, Addis Ababa. The government is seeking an additional three high-tech labs by the year 2025.

Click here for further details on investing in a high-tech diagnostic lab in Addis Ababa or visit www.tradeinvestafrica.com for more investment opportunities.

Opportunity to supply prefabricated housing in Ethiopia

Opportunity to supply prefabricated housing in Ethiopia:

Demand for prefabricated buildings is projected to grow, in tandem with the development of infrastructure, mining and other sectors of the Ethiopian economy. Investors are welcome to establish plant to manufacture prefab buildings.