Kenya – Telecoms
Creating secure networks is high on the 2013 agenda of Kenya’s Communications Commission as the country’s e-commerce skyrockets. In 2012, the Commission disabled nearly 2 million counterfeit mobile phones — those with duplicated International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, — rendering them unable to receive or make calls, send messages, or access mobile money services. More than 20 million Kenyans currently use electronic and mobile payment systems.
Kenya – Financial Services
IBM is working with the Postal Corporation of Kenya (PCK) to review the country’s changing economic landscape and develop a plan to deliver financial services to rural areas.
South Sudan – AGOA
South Sudan was designated eligible for benefits under the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), while Guinea-Bissau and Mali lost their eligibility in the wake of political strife. AGOA provides for duty-free access to U.S. markets for certain products of sub-Saharan African nations. Legislation passed in 2012 had allowed South Sudan to be considered for inclusion in the trade preference program; it followed an earlier designation of the nation as a beneficiary under the Generalized System of Preferences.
Djibouti – Ports
China Merchants acquired a 23.5 percent stake in Port de Djibouti SA for $185 million. PDSA’s main assets are a 66.7 percent stake in the Doraleh Container Terminal and a multipurpose cargo facility in the Port of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa at the entrance to the Red Sea. DP World owns the remaining stake in the container terminal, six miles south of the Port of Djibouti, which the Dubai-based firm claims is “the most technologically advanced container terminal in the African continent.”
US-Africa – Trade
Walter Kemmsies, chief economist at Moffatt & Nichol engineers, is more bullish about prospects for U.S. exports in the second half of 2013 than in the first half. With respect to Africa, however, he said in an interview with The Journal of Commerce that while exports to developing markets such as Africa offer potential, significant gains in that market are some years off due to a lack of the port and transportation infrastructure needed to move freight from seaports to inland population and production centers.
US-Africa – Ocean Transport
Intermarine, New Orleans-based ocean transportation company, is expanding its Africa service and hired has hired John O. Bomer IV as a special consultant to the CEO to help do so. Bomer previously was president and partner of the Consolidated Steam Agency in Houston, Texas, which served as agent for Universal Africa Lines and its alliance partners. He has more than 30 years of experience in West African logistics. Intermarine is the managing agent of the vessel operating companies Industrial Maritime Carriers, US Ocean, Linea Naviera Paramaconi, and West Coast Industrial Express.
Nigeria – Ports
Konecranes delivered 10 rubber-tire gantry cranes to Ports and Cargo Handling Services Ltd. (part of Sifax Group) in Lagos, Nigeria. The all-electric, 16-wheel cranes were delivered the company’s terminal in Tin Can Island Port. They have a lifting capacity of 50 tons stacking 1-over-5 containers high and 7 plus truck lane wide.
