Category: Development
Kenyan Startup BasiGo Begins Selling Locally-Manufactured BYD Electric Buses From China
The mobility startup Basigo on Tuesday officially launched operations in Nairobi, where it is now manufacturing electric-powered buses from kits imported from the Chinese EV giant BYD. BasiGo will sell two versions of its coaches, 25 and 36 ...
Chinese Man Awarded Honorary Chieftan Title in Central Nigeria
The chief of the central Nigerian town of Keffi in Nasarawa State awarded a local chieftain title to the Shandong native Cong Hui (丛辉) in appreciation of his contributions to economic development in the community. Cong works for PowerChina and is ...
How China is Facilitating Africa’s “Structural Transformation”
For much of the past 20 years, China has been the indispensable actor in African infrastructure development, financing the construction of thousands of kilometers of new railways and roads along with ports, airports, and power stations. But has it been enough ...
Uganda’s Finance Minister Grilled by Parliament Over Chinese Airport Construction Loan, Apologized for Oversights
Uganda's Finance Minister Matia Kasaija apologized to parliament last week for the mishandling of the $207 million loan from the China Exim Bank to expand Entebbe International Airport. "I apologize that we shouldn't have accepted some of the clauses,"
Kenya’s Transport Minister Tours Almost-Finished Chinese-Built Nairobi Expressway, Promises Traffic Relief by Christmas
Kenya's Transportation Cabinet Secretary James Macharia led journalists on a tour of the nearly-completed Nairobi Expressway, one day after a small section of the road opened to motorists for the first time. Macharia said ...
Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Wants to Integrate the Port of Mombasa Into Overland Trade Routes in Asia
China's ambassador to Kenya, Zhou Pingjian, met on Friday with leaders from the Kenya Port Authority (KPA) to discuss further integration of the Port of Mombasa with the Belt and Road, specifically linking the port to the Gwadar Port in Pakistan that is at the center of ...
With New Chinese Money Hard to Come By, Kenya’s Treasury Turns to the Bond Market to Finance Infrastructure
The Kenyan government is making preparations to float its largest-ever bond offering, a record $1.3 billion (Sh150 billion) issuance. It will be used to settle debts with contractors, possibly including some Chinese companies, and to fund road projects that are currently in development.
In Phone Call With Macron, Xi Pursues Trilateral Development Cooperation in Africa
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a phone call on Tuesday that the European Union should pursue greater autonomy (presumably from the U.S.) in its foreign policy. The two leaders also discussed the upcoming COP26 climate ...
Nairobi Commuters Will Finally Get Some Relief When First Section of New Chinese-Financed Expressway Opens This Weekend
The Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) finally said the words that every Nairobi motorist has been waiting to hear: the expressway is open! OK, so it's just the first section of the 27-kilometer roadway but even that will provide some badly-needed relief ...
China, DRC Sign Three Agreements to Reduce Debt and Provide New Aid
Chinese ambassador to the DRC Zhu Jing and Foreign Affairs Minister Christophe Lutundula Apala posed for a ceremonial fist-bump at the Foreign Ministry in Kinshasa following the signing earlier this month of three new accords that will provide additional Chinese aid to the DRC while eliminating some of ...
Should Chinese Nationals Help Supervise Mining Activities in the DRC? A Military Governor Thinks So, But Kinshasa Says Otherwise
The Vice Minister of Mines in the DR Congo, Godard Motemona, declared that the appointment of three Chinese nationals to help supervise Chinese mining activities in the far eastern province of Ituri is "null and void." The ...
Uganda’s Parliament Considering New Law to Bolster Local Construction Companies Against Chinese Competition
The Ugandan parliament is considering a bill proposed by infrastructure minister Katumba Wamala that would provide sanctuary to local construction companies when bidding for smaller road contracts. Although China was not mentioned in the proposed legislation specifically, it's widely ...