Biz Hub Africa

by Stanley Carlos Okombo @StanleyOkombo   Tanzania and Zambia have agreed to inject $80 million into their loss-making railway company, which is suffering from decades of under-investment. The governments have agreed to invest the money in the Tanzania–Zambia Railway Authority (Tazara) over the next 12 months, starting with an immediate injection of $9.2 million to offset salary arrears and support operations. The amount agreed upon is slightly more than a third of the $211 million Tazara needs over five years, with the balance expected to be raised from private sources. With interest-free loans worth yuan 2,543 billion ($412 million) from China since its inception in 1968, Tazara is the Eastern economic giant’s largest single foreign aid project in Africa. The 1,860 kilometre line was built to transport copper from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to Dar es Salaam, from where it was shipped to China. The line also handles imported crude for clea

Global hotels giants among those seeking to widen investments in the East Africa region by Stanley Carlos Okombo @StanleyOkombo     Kenya has been ranked one of the top Africa countries whose investment markets are progressively being seen as open for business regardless of perceptions of imminent risks. A renowned global business consultant has given Kenya a clean bill of health and predicts a bright future for the country's capacity to attract top international investors. The presence of representatives of some of the top hotels in the world in Kenya recently, among others, is reason for HTI Consulting chief executive officer Wayne Troughton to believe the country is still way at the top of Africa's preferred business destinations."In the last few weeks, top official of the world's big hotels such as Hillton, Wyndham, Acco and Marriot have been in the country to assess the hospitality business environment. I believe it's about the increasing global business

    Online trading of shares is attracting a youthful generation of investors who take advantage of the convenience of the internet.Due to a new product from the Nairobi Security Exchange (NSE), it is possible for anyone with shares to buy and sell them online without having to go through stockbrokers. The new system which is available to anyone who opens a trading account with investment group, SBG Securities Limited,links the NSE to back office systems at the offices of stockbrokers and the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC).      The CDSC is the official custodian of clearing and settlement services in the capital markets and ensures investor's transactions are fast,safe and secure. The service comes at a time when more youth are being encourage to trade shares at NSE. In April 2008, the bourse launched the annual NSE Smart Youth Investment Challenge to promote stock market investments among Kenya's young adults. This year's event offered up to Ksh.200