Ethiopia has signed a three year, $2.4 billion agreement with three Chinese companies to upgrade and expand telecommunication services. The expansion plan aims at increasing the number of mobile services to 7 million from 1.5 and that of fixed telephone network from 1 million to 4 million. The deal will also involve expanding Ethiopia’s fiber-optics network to 10,000 km.

Kofi Annan Hopes for a Female Successor

The UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, hopes for a female successor when his term expires by the end of 2006. Annan noted that a lady had never held the position. Annan, a native of Ghana is the seventh secretary-general. 

International Literacy Day 

The International Literacy Day was marked on the 8^th of September throughout the world. The vital role of literacy in the social and economic growth was the message from the UNESCO’s Director General, Mr Koichiro Marsuura. The International Literacy Day has been marked since 1965. Primary education does not reach every child hampering achieving universal primary schooling by 2015. According to Kofi Annan, the UN Secretary General, higher literacy rates are essential to economic growth, poverty eradication, social participation and environmental protection.

Kenya Ranked 3^rd on the Ease of Doing Business

Kenya is ranked 3^rd out of 20 when it comes to ease of doing business in the Common Market for Eastern and South Africa (COMESA). However, on the global scale Kenya is ranked 83 overall well below Mauritius (32) and Swaziland (76). The report, Doing Business 2007: How to Reform, was issued by World Bank and its private sector arm International Finance Corporation. Ghana and Tanzania were ranked among the top 10 reformers. Top ranked African countries on the ease of doing business are South Africa (29), Mauritius (32) and Namibia (42). Singapore is easiest country to do business on the globe while DR Congo is the worst. COMESA is planning to launch a customs union by 2008.

A Boost to SMEs

The Kenyan and the French government will give loans to finance medium and small scale businesses in rural areas. The Ksh 1 billion will be channeled through K-Rep, Co-operative and Equity banks. The three banks have a track-record of dealing with small businesses and low income earners.

A New Product by Topserve East Africa

Topserve East Africa, an agrochemical distributor, has introduced a new fungicide that will target the horticultural sub-sector. The new product, Bellis, combines two different fungicides with different modes of action hence effectiveness in control of a broad range of diseases. Topserve is the sole distributor of BASF products in East Africa and the Great Lakes Region where it commands 25 percent of the market share.

The 4^th Africities Summit

The fourth Africities summit will be held in Nairobi Kenya September 18-24. The main objective of the meeting is to build joint actions for the effective realization of the Millennium Development Goals in African local governments. 

The 3^rd Global Youth Summit 

Kenya will host the 3^rd Global Youth Summit from 13-16 September 2006. Its main focus will be empowering the youth to be more entrepreneural. The forum will bring together leaders and youths from different countries around the globe.

U.O.N SIFE Represents Kenya in the SIFE World Cup

University of Nairobi (U.O.N) SIFE left for Paris-France on Sunday Sept 10, for the SIFE World. The team, which is representing Kenya will compete against 46 universities around the world. U.O.N SIFE emerged winners during the 2006 Annual championship.