Month: August 2016

Ethiopia: Optimization in Textile Processing

Among the country’s foreign currency sources, the textile and apparel industry is expected to generate one billion USD by the end of GTP-II. Hence, the Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute (ETIDI) has the responsibility in discharging nation’s development mission by ensuring the sector’s sustainable development through capacity building, knowledge transfer and innovative approaches.

In order to intensify the journey to industrialization, the government has undertaken a range of various activities in the manufacturing sector, like facilitating working atmospheres and transforming micro and small enterprises into medium ones and creating market chains. Customer satisfaction has been considered to be more dependable upon the present reality of Ethiopian textile and apparel industry. The textile market has become highly competitive. The final product cost is determined by the various components of entire supply chain.

On a recent Process Optimization in Textile Processing Seminar, from the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) of Mumbai Prof. Rv Adivarekar said that textile sector is probably the world’s largest industry. The customer demands consistent quality of the product. Determining targets for maintaining and achieving best possible outcome at each stage of textile processing ultimately helps ensuring delivery of product with optimum performance.

ICT Resident Staff and Team Leader at ETIDI Dr. Kedar Kulkami said that optimization of concentration of auxiliaries and basic chemicals is used for processing. The concentration of various basic chemicals as well as auxiliaries used in actual process is not standardized. The testing of these is not done in laboratory and the actual concentration used in the process is not optimized accordingly.

“The effect of variation in quality of chemicals should be minimized by optimizing their concentration is actual recipe. Our intervention has been helpful in overcoming some of their problems and thus trouble shooting was exercised.” he added.

Dr. Ashook Athalye from G.M. Technical Service, Atui Ltd, Gujarat, India in his presentation entitled “Role of compatibility in product optimization” said that the harmoniousness co-existence and synergistic effect is achieved by determining and ensuring the use of compatibly products and processes. It involves adequate use of substrates and their blend proportions, operating machine designs and their installations, processing sequence, colorant usage and combinations, chemical compositions and stability. Ultimately, the goal is to achieve best possible results and to deliver superior textile and material to the user, he added.

The true measure of the successful performance of the textile processing is the percentage of right first time as well as right every time production and the best levels can be consistently obtained by significantly optimizing the process of operations. The process of wide variety of fibers necessitates adequate dyestuff’s selection from diverse classes of colorants , he said.

The textile and apparel sub-sector is among the priority sub-sectors identified by the government in transforming the country’s traditional agricultural based economy to industrialization. It has been one of Ethiopia’s traditional domestic business mainly relied on traditional based and home grown old age spinning drop wheel and hand loom up to the modern textile and garment integrated mill was established in 1939 in Dire Dawa by the name of Dire Dawa Textile Factory.

Currently, Ethiopian textiles and apparel industry encompasses spinning, weaving, finishing of textiles, manufacture of cordage, rope, twine, netting, knitting mills, and manufacturing of wearing apparel. The firms in the industry produce products such as cotton and woolen fabrics, nylon fabrics, acrylic and cotton yarn, blanket, bed sheet, shirts, carpets, gunny bags, wearing apparels and sewing thread.

Moreover, the ongoing second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP II) of Ethiopia, and its industrial development strategy are all centered agricultural-based, manufacturing sector-driven and export-led development. The GTP pursued the growth through the export-driven industrialization strategy focusing on labour and capital intensive manufacturing industries, export-oriented and import substituting industries.

The key strategic directions are small and medium scale industrial development; and large scale industries with special emphasis all geared to poverty alienation and development. The manufacturing industries that have given due attention are agro- processing industries, textile and clothing, food and beverage industries, tannery and leather goods, pharmaceutical industries, chemicals and chemical products industries, paper and paper products, plastic industries, building materials, glass and glass products, metal and metal engineering among others.

Ethiopia: ‘One of the Parks Can Create More Than 400 Thousand Job Opportunities for Citizens,’ Melaku Taye

he successful achievements Ethiopia scored in different sectors by accomplishing the objectives of the first Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-I) enabled it to proceed to the second one for further successes. Even though a year has been elapsed since the country began implementing the objectives of the GTP-II, considerable fruits that lead to the intended goal have been demonstrated. This period is considered to be the duration in which the transition from agriculture to industry has laid its proper foundation. And several activities in the industrial sector have been carried out in this first year. Thus, it is appropriate to ask: What has been accomplished so far? What are the success or failures in this first year? In order to get answers for these questions, we conducted interview with Communication Director at Ministry of Industry Melaku Taye. Here is excerpts:

How do you evaluate the first year’s performances of the second Growth and Transformation Plan?

Melaku: The plan does not only focus on economic growth but also it involves the entire transformation of the nation. In realizing this transformation, the manufacturing sector takes a lion’s share. At the outset of the year, we set some goals that support the expansion of the manufacturing sector. Since the sector competes with the international markets, we need to increase the production and productivity of the sector to the extent it can meet the international demand. Accordingly, the leather and leather products, agro-processing, metal and metal products, chemical and the like have got high attention. In connection to the expansion of the light industry, we have decided to lay lasting foundation for the heavy one in the second Growth and Transformation Plan.

Concerning the performances of the year, we have enjoyed some successes in certain sectors. For instance, in the export sector more than 57 percent of the plan has been accomplished. And there are beginnings to support the progress to transform from the light to heavy industries. The activities carried out so far in this regard played big role in laying the foundation for the transformation journey in realizing the industrialization.

At the beginning of the GTP-I, about five industries such as textile and garment, leather and leather products, foods and beverages, milk and meat, pharmaceutical as well as chemical industries were exporting their products in so random manner. In 2011, these sectors generated more than 270.9 million dollars.

On the other hand, the development of the electric and electronics as well as the pharmaceutical and medical apparatus sub-sectors is the indication of the expansion of the foundation of the industry sector. For instance, the pharmaceutical and medical apparatus sub-sector generated over 2.7 million dollars this year.

Was there any challenge you faced in the course of implementing the Plan?

Yes, since the sector is at the beginning stage, it has been accompanied with many challenges. Moreover, for the competition is with the international market, the challenges continue to prevail. Lack of well developed management and other technical skills could be the primary challenge. The instability of the global economy is the source of the other challenge. Lastly, though several industries are under construction these days in different parts of the country, most of them have not been completed as per their schedule.

What are the possible measures you took in order to solve these challenges?

Realizing the necessity of long lasting solutions for problems related to the lack of human power, we are working with universities. Through increasing and cultivating university-industry linkage, it is possible to produce well skilled human power that meets the demands of the industrial sector. Unlike the previous time, in order to meet the demands of the sector, we began training students at degree, Masters and PhD levels in textiles, leather, shoes and the like. In collaboration with Addis Ababa University, we have designed new curriculum for the post graduate programmes.

In this regard, we have achieved considerable success in the leather sub-sector and we are trying to expand the experience in the other sub-sectors. Moreover, the technical and vocational training centers are investing a great deal in capacity development in the different state of the country. We believe that these can solve constraints related to lack of human power.

The next measure we took is increasing our support, supervision and monitoring to accelerate the successful accomplishment of the ongoing projects. We have also been encouraging the local investors so that they can participate in the investment.

In different states of the country, the plan to construct about 17 integrated agro-industrial parks that can accommodate both local and international investors was designed. The construction of the industrial parks in the states helps the farmers to increase their production and productivity. Through using the international experiences, we have already planned to construct four model agro-industrial parks among others.

The construction of these industrial parks will be undertaking in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Southern Nations and Nationalities People States starting from the next month. One of the parks can create more than 400 thousand job opportunities for citizens. It has also the capacity to accommodate more than 400 investors. Thus, it is essential to establish all the necessary infrastructures that support the proper functioning of the parks.

The recently constructed industrial parks in Bole Lemi and Hawassa town have taken the attention of foreign investors; companies that have international brand have begun working at the parks since they have got conducive policies and circumstances to increase production and then easily export. The planned integrated agro-industrial parks on the other hand was designed to encourage the participation of the local investors. The necessary infrastructures will be built to support the purpose of the integrated agro-industrial parks.

The country is planning to construct the integrated agro-industrial parks in the four states. What are the immediate benefit they bring to the target society?

Though the parks have the capacity to accommodate hundreds of thousands of workers, considering the prevailing condition of our country, we give priority to the industries that use agricultural inputs as raw materials. Then we will focus on industries that create jobs opportunities for thousands of citizens. We have adequate human labour but limited capital. Thus, the parks are very relevant to the states in using the agricultural inputs and accommodating huge number of workers. The imminent construction of the 17 integrated agro-industrial parks will soon be realized.

Algeria: Helicopter Manufacturing in Setif – Signing of MOU Between Defence Ministry, Italian Leonardo-Finmeccania

Algiers — An industrial and trade partnership memorandum of understanding on the manufacturing of AugustaWesland helicopters in Ain Arnat (Setif) was signed Thursday, in Algiers, by the ministry of National Defence and the Italian group Leonardo-Finmeccanica (SPA-Italy) said the ministry in a communiqué.

The memorandum “is part of the implementation of the programme of economic relaunch, initiated by his Excellency the president of the Republic, Supreme chief of the armed forces, minister of National Defence, aimed at re-boosting the national industry and the interest granted by the High command of the People’s National Army to the development of military manufacturing to contribute to national development and strengthen its potentials,” said the source.

The parties to this agreement “agreed this year to create a joint Algerian-Italian company destined to the manufacturing of light and medium helicopters in the industrial site of Ain Arnat.”

“From the first years and following the construction of plants, the main objective of this company is to manufacture three types of light and medium helicopters for various use including the transport of personnel and cargo, medical evacuation, surveillance and control,” added the communiqué.

“From its launch, this company will benefit from a local and international distribution network and an after-sales service that includes all levels of reparations,” said the source.

Ethiopia: Industrial Parks Promoting Foreign Investment Influx,Tapering Unemployment

Around the world, industrial parks have become significant vehicles for countries to provide competitive environments for industries to take off. Cognizant to this fact, the government of Ethiopia prioritized to the development of industrial parks to accelerate the economic transformation, promote and attract both domestic and foreign investors.

The Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC) has built about ten industrial parks, and continue establishing the rest in some sectors across the country. In 2016, IPDC have been developing additional parks in Makalle, Dire Dawa, Kombolcha, Jima and Adama. Each park would cover a size ranging from 500 to 2000 hectares.

In fact, various scholars argue on the significance of industrial parks to contribute to the growth of a country’s economy. With regard to its significance and pertinence, The Ethiopian Herald recently conducted exclusive interview with some industrial professionals from university, financial sector and manufacturing unit.

Dr. Atlaw Alemu from Department of Economics at AAU explained that as industrial parks are useful for processing exports, imports and managing duty free services, the system would simplify bureaucratic situations for manufacturers particularly for importing raw materials and exporting finished goods.

According to Dr. Atlaw, the most crucial use of industrial parks are increasing foreign direct investment, transferring technologies, creating linkages with international markets, and teaching locals on how to manage similar factories. To make use of these opportunities, he stressed that the infrastructures have to be fulfilled, particularly supplying energy and labour, developing work culture and reducing bureaucracy. In fact, many of the common facilities are particularly efficient if the firms are engaged in similar activities.

As foreign and domestic investors are continuing to work in close proximity, such closeness encourages not only co-operation but also fruitful sharing of technologies, special skills and ideas. Though most industrial parks tend to have a fairly heterogeneous mix of tenants, those engaged in similar activities can easily increase their production.

Clustering into industrial parks, small, medium and even large enterprises must take advantage of public infrastructures, and gain access to nearby skilled labour markets, research and educational facilities and other critical inputs. He, therefore, suggested that local enterprises need to enter into industrial parks based on their capacity, knowledge, and business plan.

Moreover, Dr. Atlaw commented that the government should also diversify complementary factories around industrial parks those producing metals, machines, spare parts, electrical products, other than specializing on same products.

In this sense, industrial parks also offer a valuable contribution to equitable and sustainable industrial development. They can also be considered as one of the most important factors supporting positive economic development bringing an integrated various functions into an industrial area with bulk of industrial production and services, as well as with high economy turnover and high employment.

Furthermore, Dr. Atlaw expressed that though the manufacturing sector contributes 5 per cent to GTP, the concern should be creating links with international buyers, and promote import substitutions. The interaction of international and domestic investors could create favourable conditions to facilitate purchasing, develop productive techniques.

The industrial parks have a range of common facilities such as recycling, waste collection, and effluent treatment, testing, standard quality control and heat treatment, refrigerated storage, even security services, recreation areas, health facility and post office.

The Hawassa Industrial Park (HIP) is a state of the art facility constructed at the cost of more than US 250 million dollar. It covers a land area of 1.3 million square meters, of which 300,000 metric square is factory shed built up area. It has additional area allocated for shared facilities such as dormitory and commercial buildings for the use of shopping centers, health clinics and banking services. Many industrial parks have also good rail and road transportation. When all factories in the park are fully operational, HIP will employ about 60,000 employees in two shifts.

Youth Development Initiatives Are Key for Inclusive and Sustainable Growth

The focus of this year’s International Youth Day (IYD), to be observed on August 12, 2016, resonates with the African Development Bank’s key efforts that recognise the role of young people in sustainable development.

Under the theme, The Road to 2030Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production, the 2016 IYD is about achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It emphasises the leading role of young people in ensuring poverty eradication and achieving sustainable development through sustainable consumption and production.

The Bank’s recently launched Jobs for Youth in Africa (JfYA) strategy underscores the importance of Africa “to promote transformative and inclusive development, where the youth are the drivers of the required transformation and are responsible for their own positive economic and social outcomes”. The initiative is expected to reduce poverty, inequality, as well as economic and conflict-driven migration, increasing social cohesion and political stability. “The future of our young people does not belong at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. It lies in us tapping their talents and putting our resources to support them,” President Akinwumi Adesina said earlier.

The strategy will see the Bank invest US $5 billion over the next 10 years to create 25 million new jobs. These investments are expected to open opportunities for 50 million young people through skills development, and job creation in Agriculture, Industry and ICT. The initiative is expected to generate over US $30 billion in income gains for Africa in the next 10 years.

The agriculture sector, according to President Adesina, offers numerous opportunities for job creation for Africa’s youth. “Agriculture is the future for Africa. We must make agriculture exciting for the youth; and we must stop looking at agriculture as a way of life, as a sector that manages poverty. Agriculture is a business; in fact it is the biggest business in the world,” he said in an address to an ENABLE Youth workshop held in Nigeria in April 2016.

ENABLE (Empowering Novel Agri-Business Led Employment) Youth is an AfDB-led initiative that aims at promoting youth entrepreneurship in agriculture and agri-business. Under the program, the Bank will train the next generation of agriculture entrepreneurs, also referred to as ‘agri-preneurs’. It seeks to launch 300,000 agribusinesses and create 1.5 million jobs across 30 nations over the next five years. A number of countries have already expressed interest in the initiative.

The AfDB, through its East Africa Regional Resource Centre (EARC), is currently in discussion with the Kenya government on how to train youth in agribusiness and develop proposals on bankable projects that can be funded by the Bank, according to the Gabriel Negatu, the EARC Director.

Both ENABLE Youth and the JfYA approaches feed into the Bank’s top development priorities, the High 5s, especially “Feed Africa” and “Improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.

Nigeria: ‘How to End Nigeria’s Economic Crisis’

Entrepreneurship remains the only viable solution to the economic problem confronting Nigeria, a professor of Accounting at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof Taiwo Ashaolu has said.

He advised Nigerians desirous of ending the current economic quagmire to embrace entrepreneurship.

The don who was a resource person at the one-week High School Residency Programme organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) at Landmark University, Omu-Aran, posited that the naira can only be saved by increasing the nation’s productive capacity.

He said: “I will suggest entrepreneurship. Irrespective of our profession, we should combine it with entrepreneurship. There are so many things that we acquired without going out. These are the things that we can do easily. These are things that are innate in us. We do not need to sweat before we demonstrate the ability. This will stem youth unemployment substantially.

“We need to be very careful with the way things are being run in the country. Look at our forex policy; it is either there nor there. It is as if Nigeria as a nation, we have found ourselves in the midst of an ocean and there is no direction.

Naira is daily depreciating and there seems to be no depth to the level it’s going. Things are very difficult for an average Nigerian.

“There is the need for us to increase our production capacity in Nigeria. That is what I said entrepreneurship. We do not need to depend on imports as a nation for our existence.

“It is obvious that the 2016 budget is already hampered by the currency crisis in the nation. We are already in August. What do you think that has happened so far? Nothing! In fact, the initial thought of an average Nigerians was that once the budget was passed, the following day everybody starts to enjoy.

“It is a serious problem. There is the need for President Muhammadu Buhari to bring in experts who are knowledgeable in these areas to assist the economy of this country. We cannot continue like this.”

While delivering his paper titled “Creative Confidence and ABC Principles of entrepreneurship”, Ashaolu told participants that the creative approach is appropriate when there appears to be either no solution or more than one solution to a particular problem.

According to him, “the Creative approach is an idea-producing process specifically intended to generate a number of solutions, any of which will solve the problem at hand. There are a number of creativity techniques available for problem solving situations. Some are for use by individuals working alone, other for use by groups. All the techniques provide a method or mechanical procedure to help the user generate more solutions to his creative problems. The various techniques provide formats for mental stimulation.”

Nigeria: Exchange Commission Rules Out Crowdfunding for Now

Companies and group of individuals’ ambitious targets to raise funds through Crowdfunding the Nigerian financial markets are being inhibited by the restrictive provisions in the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 1990 and Investment and Securities Act, 2007 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has disclosed.

Crowdfunding is the use of small amounts of capital from a large number of individuals to finance a new business venture using easy accessibility of vast networks of people through social media and crowdfunding websites to bring investors and entrepreneurs together.

Crowdfunding is very popularly in use in the United States (US), Europe and Asia to raise capital for various financial and non-financial projects. There are more than 1000 Crowdfunding portals worldwide supporting a multi-billion dollar industry. For instance global Crowdfunding hit $16.2 billion in the US in 2014. And given the tremendous growth in online platforms that has led to the success of online shopping portals in Nigeria, many fund seeking corporates and groups have shown interest to source for funds through Crowdfunding in the country.

However, the Director General of SEC, Mounir Gwarzo said crowdfunding cannot be effective in Nigeria for now because of lack of rules and inhibitions in the provisions of CAMA and ISA.

Speaking in Lagos last week the SEC boss said while the commission is committed to deepening the nation’s capital market to meet the funding needs of corporates and grow the economy, the legal provisions are a big challenge.

“We are aware of the growing interests among Nigerians to use Crowdfunding to raise funds. However, that cannot materialise now given the legal challenges as a result of the provisions in CAMA and ISA. But we are looking for ways to go about it so that companies will enjoy the benefits of Crowdfunding in the country as well,” Gwarzo said.

According to him, SEC is looking at the Crowdfunding rules in US and Canada in order to ensure an enabling legal and regulatory framework that will support this massive global innovation.

It is believed that equity crowdfunding will prove to be an expedient way for many struggling SMEs to raise capital since they find it difficult to raise startup capital because they are considered as high risk to banks.

The theory behind crowdfunding is that if a large number of people, referred to as the “crowd”, each provide monetary contributions, then it is possible to raise substantial sums of money, without the need to go to traditional lending sources.

However, SEC regulates all securities offered for sale by public companies in Nigeria and currently there are no provisions relating to crowdfunding in the SEC rules. Besides, the provisions of CAMA, regulates the formation and operation of all types of companies and enterprises in Nigeria, will place restriction in dealing with transfer of shares, invitations to the public to subscribe for shares among others.

Africa: How Infotech Accelerates Development

Use of Internet and automated systems has been growing steadily spurring productivity and economic development, according to experts.

Internet users rose to 2,895,662 (about 5.3 percent) this year up from 2,742,269 (or 5.1percent) last year according to International Telecommunication Union (ITU), World Bank and United Nations Population Division reports.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Tanzania is the first country in the world where mobile money transactions are worth more than half the country’s GDP. But despite these positive trends, a multiplier effect is on middle class and most likely to reduce jobs in the market.

Among Economists, Business leaders and others the debate is on how best the advancement of technology can help promote economic growth, yet generate job opportunities. Despite rapid global technological advancement and economic development, Tanzania has not made greater investment in its education systems to replicate the new developments.

“The government is well placed to improve Information Communication Technology-ICT among its units to spur growth,” said Minister for Works, Transport and Communication Prof Makame Mbarawa, at the launch of Technological Festival held in Dar es Salaam.

However, observers question on availability of infrastructures in public schools, not to mention in remote areas. The 2016, Huawei Tanzania Technology Festival was meant to showcase, the firm’s latest innovation especially on the concept of ICT transformation, infrastructure and business transformation operations. Prof Mbarawa outlined that Tanzania has a strongest National ICT Broadband (NICTBB) covering around 24 regions across the country.

“This provides conducive framework for investments.” The NICTBB, according to the minister, is connected to submarine optic cable, offering services to cross-border countries; Kenya, Malawi, Burundi, Zambia, Rwanda and Uganda.

Themed “Open roads to a better connected Africa,” the three days festival has provided a mechanism to redefine that technological unemployment can be twisted to create more jobs than killing the existing ones.

Former University of Dar es Salam Business School Dean, Prof Marcelina Chijoriga said technology in development is inseparable and that if well applied can address development challenges and create jobs. ” Currently, there are more ICT graduates without jobs.

As the government shifts to Dodoma, these jobless graduates can help facilitate the Dar es Salaam- Dodoma migration process,” Dr Chijoriga believes. Likewise, the University of Dar es Salaam Telecommunication Engineer student, Ms Faith Asenga says the expansion of knowledge, advancement of technology as well as globalization issues stakeholders must invest in education sector to help penetration of technology for development.

“The profession is quite challenging. There is also a challenge with competent teachers requiring new planning and technological adaptation to cope with cultural dynamism,” she says. Teachers are implementers, and thus need to learn and apply new technologies into their classroom instructions.

Governments in East African countries as elsewhere, are more conscious than ever about the importance of ICT in the development of a nation in several aspects, such as educational development, economic growth, social awareness, cultural enrichment and political leadership.

The use of ICT in schools is crucial for the development of economic and social change worldwide. ICT provides opportunities to stimulate learning and increase motivation that enables teachers and students to interact productively with neighboring communities and global economy in a wider and higher scope.

To realize this opportunity, however, technologies need to be part of the curricula. Experts say ICT plays a greater role in generating of knowledge and processing information for problem solving and further exploration.

However, it remains to be seen how teachers use, integrate and invite students to learn, access, gather, process, analyse, transmit and simulate information. “The use of ICT in classroom instruction is a more practical, interactive and innovative aspect rather than theoretical.

In effect, the impact of ICT on education is one of the most critical issues,” Mr Juma Suleimain a computer studies teacher said. Adding: “It’s a powerful instrument that enables practical environment and assists new ways of teaching and learning, and helps students to develop knowledge and skills for cooperation, communication and problem solving.” In many African countries, particularly in East Africa, most teachers do not integrate ICT into their instruction as it should be owing to interrelated factors.

Government in Tanzania has been doing a lot of initiative in the last 40 years when it comes to the development of ICT in the country. In 1960 The Ministry of Education designed educational programmes for students to listen through radios and televisions; The Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE) has developed an ICT curriculum, for primary and pre-primary education which is currently implemented in few schools near district headquarters and the schools that have ICT facilities 2007 they started Distance Education Learning Services (DILES).

The DILES project develops and provides the teaching and learning materials for secondary school students in printed and electronic format. 2007 – There were Procurement of Computers for Secondary Schools.

The Tanzania Computer Literacy for Secondary Schools Trust Fund (TCLSS) procures computers for secondary schools and helps them to set up computer laboratories 2010 – There was The Bright Education Trust Fund (BETF) initiative which developed the capacity of teachers and school administrators by teaching them how to use ICT to improve both classroom teaching and the administrative tasks of their respective schools.

Despite these initiatives by the government, many learning institutions from primary to higher learning institutions are conducting teaching and learning process with limited ICT facilities which include few computer laboratories with few computers, few computer access points, limited electricity supply, inadequate infrastructure, the cost of bandwidth is still out of reach of many schools.

To address some technological difficulty, Tanzania inked a Chinese leading technology provider–Huawei in 2015 as the official advisor in the field of ICT. The agreement saw the two developing ‘Seeds for the Future Programme’.

Huawei Managing Director Mr Bruce Zhang Yongquan noted his firm was completely dedicated to the development of ICT industry in Tanzania and to the development of Mobile Broadband services. “Huawei has trained many professional and technical personnel for Tanzania.

This year Huawei invited 10 students to China for cultural exchange and ICT training, to bridge the digital divide for Tanzania and in the future, the firm will continue to cooperate with their partners to empower Tanzania through ICT.”

The program will produce 10 students each year that will be dispatched to its headquarters in Beijing to shape their expertise. The arrangement is designed to take ten years according to Mr Yongquan.

Tanzania: ATCL Plans to Add New Routes in Revival Strategy

Dar es Salaam — Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) is planning to start at least 11 new regular routes including Dodoma after receiving the two new aircraft expected next month.

The state-run airline currently flies only two routes – Kigoma and Comoros – with only one aircraft but the new fleet is expected to restore the company’s business competitiveness, according to acting managing director Mr Patrick Itule.

Tanzania signed agreement with Canadian Bombadier to purchase two commercial aircraft – D8 Q400 and they are expected to arrive in the third or fourth week of September this year.

“As a company we are expecting a smooth run after the planes’ arrival and we will be logged in a competitive business since our long time biggest challenge which is the shortage of planes would be solved, ” promised Mr Itule in a statement issued yesterday.

“The company will not be willing to tolerate employees who fail to conform to the current pace of change,” he stressed.

President Dr John Pombe Magufuli has promised to replenish the ailing ATCL fleet and return it to its lost glory. He said will revive the national flag carrier.

The planes are currently undergoing final touches by the Canadian Bombardier Company, he said.

Some of the destinations the company would conduct its regular flights include Dodoma, Mwanza, Arusha, Mbeya, Kigoma, Tabora, Mpanda, Kilimanjaro, Mtwara, Zanzibar, Pemba, Bukoba and Comoros Islands.

However, he stressed that the mentioned destinations and many more will be established basing on the company’s business feasibility study.

According to Mr Itule, company already has created a task force that oversees various issues including preparations of human resource in order to conform to the current business requirements.

ECA and UNITAR Offer Free e-Learning Course on Industrialization through Trade

Geneva, Switzerland — Africa’s social development indicators reveal a paradox: high unemployment and poverty coexisting with robust growth. Industrialization and trade are two key instruments playing a major role in economic growth performance having the potential to structurally transform Africa economies.  The goal of trade-induced industrialization must also guide the conduct, negotiations and implementation of trade and investment agreements and arrangements.

In order to provide interested stakeholders with a better understanding of how trade can serve as an instrument of accelerated industrialization and structural transformation in Africa, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) together with the Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), has partnered with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to offer an instructor-led e-Learning course based on ECA’s Economic Report for Africa 2015 (ERA 2015).

he number of participants is limited to 125 persons. Until the registration deadline, participants are accepted to the course free of charge on a rolling basis and subject to availability of slots. A certificate of completion will be issued to all participants who successfully complete the course.

Further information and online registration are available at https://www.unitar.org/event/full-catalog/economic-report-africa-2015-industrialization-through-trade-0.

Registration is open until 9 September 2016 subject to availability.