₦airaland Forum

Those that didn't sign are the usual - the bottom feeders - the retrogressive nations. Thankful out of 52 Africa countries...you can pick the bottom 20 and forget about them. The target is to get 22 countries. I think we will get to 32 and make this operational. Close home - Kenya need to start looking towards Ethiopia - esp for cereals - we really don't need to farm maize, beans and sugar-cane - if Ethiopia can do that - and we can convert our decreasing arable land into high value crops.

tylann:
You have to start from somewhere you know
A journey starts with one step
But some African countries are not cooperating

Big six - Maybe the Great Six. Few people ever get to see the whales.

mtisTheQubit:
The government has unveiled plans to make an addition to the famous Big Five game animals that consists of the lion, the leopard, the rhinoceros, the elephant, and the buffalo.
The proposal that is currently under review is likely to see the list turn to the Big Six, with the Whale Shark being the latest addition to the list.

Volker Bassen, a diver and the founder of the East African Whale Shark Trust (EAWST) revealed that the plan is at an advanced stage.

The EAWST also indicated that Kenya is currently the only country in the world that can boast of the Big six.

Literacy like development has got nothing to do with size. Most of the smaller African countries lack behind. Look at the usual Africa laggards. We are talking your neigbours Niger, Chad, Central Africa R, DRC Congo, South Sudan, Somalia, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi,Uganda, Zambia and tell me the majority - are small populated countries.

There are big countries that have turned the corner. There are small countries like Rwanda also turning the corner. They are medium sized country doing great.

It all comes down to investment put down to enabling people to read and write, or to build infrastructure. China were able to move forward by investing in it's people and infrastructure.

Nigeria should NEVER EVER EVER USE ITS POPULATION AS AN EXCUSE. It should face the reality. They have invested dismally in education. They have the resources commensurate with their size - and there is no excuse why their literacy is that low. She simply need to invest heavily in education.

And same it true for all indicators.

obaaderemi:
I always knew you were an idiot but not this big an idiot. You are comparing apples and oranges! China is an Asian country, Nigeria is an African country. The factors are different. Now, let's compare oranges with oranges, and apples with apples.
South Korea and China are both in Asia. Literacy rate in China in 1980 was 65%; in South Korea (88%) Look at the gap. It's always easy to achieve high levels of literacy in countries with small populations than in those with higher populations. Now, compare Kenya with Argentina, both have about the same populations. Kenya(85%), Argentina (99%) or even Germany (99%). Tell me why yours is lower than Germany's or even Zimbabwe's and equitorial guinea's for starters.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria 10 years ago in 2008 literacy level was a mere 51%, today it has grown to 68%. 10% difference in 10 years and climbing and your stupid self thought we didn't do anything to influence that? If we were to compare Africa's two biggest countries, Nigeria and Ethiopia, you would get a clearer view of my point. Compare Ethiopia's and Nigeria's literacy levels and get back to me ASAP.

Indeed. That makes it the 5th Nation - after Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda and South Africa. We need 15 more countries to make AFCTA a reality. I don't understand why the rest are hesitating. Nigeria should be amongst the first ones - the GIANTs of Africa.

Actually a lot more countries have since ratified. I can count about 16. If we add Ethiopia then we still need about 3 countries to make Africa free trade a reality. We need to follow with free movement of people or labour. We need to make Africa one seamless region.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/AfricanContinentalFreeTradeArea.svg/1024px-AfricanContinentalFreeTradeArea.svg.png

vaxx:
Thumbs up Ethiopia.

Ethiopia passes free continental free trade deal.


Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers on Saturday approved the country’s membership to the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which aims to create the largest common market in the world.

Over 40 African countries signed a historic trade agreement in March 2018, looking to enable free cross-border trade on the continent.

The AfCFTA agreement is expected to create a market for over a billion people, with a GDP of approximately US$2.6 trillion.

The decision to establish the AfCFTA was initially arrived at in the 18th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in January 2012, with a tentative launch date

The Ethiopian Prime Minister’s office announced the approval of the country’s membership to the AfCFTA, saying the common market would enhance regional integration.

“The decision is consistent with PM Abiy’s vision of creating a closer & full regional integration —where minds are open to ideas & mkts are open to trade. Ethiopia’s decision & track record of advocating Pan African causes will bring to reality an integrated Africa,” The PM’s office

http://africa.cgtn.com/

Nairobi only has to deal with two issues - Crazy traffic and chronic water problems - & perhaps social housing - to becoming a modern city.

Nairobi traffic is crazy.

Nairobi -Westland business districts- rises like a phoenix. Upperhill and Old CBD have serious competition.

You were nearly zero. Maybe they counted Dangote Cement factory that year.

Kazikazi:
Just keep on dreaming on your slumber.Tanzania's manufacturing growth is one of the in Africa.We are growing too fast.Only a kiberan will not notice it

Slumpolis.

68816419:
Lagos, Biggest apple in Africa ![b][/b]

Actually a growing TZ and Ethiopia is good for Kenya. Only a jealous TZ would think otherwise.See South Africa lifts many southern countries boats. You see Kenya economy is growing as you Eth & TZ grow. The only problem your growth is down to mining.

Kazikazi:
Kenya is pressed between Ethiopia and TZ.Kenya is btn a rock and a hard place.These two economies are using same methodologies in achieving industrial revolution.

1.Cheap electricity
1.devaluing their currencies
3.Forming countless industrial parks and SEZ
4.Cheap labour
5.Free land to manufacturers
6.Fast railway network

All oil producing countries grew at those rates - when Oil prices was 140 dollars idiot. That really is nothing Nigeria did. It just oil price. And you have crashed to -1-2% when Oil crashed. Pray for Oil every day your wake up.

obaaderemi:
Their economy is growing as fast as a bullet train. Its going to mash you up very soon. 8.5% growth and above for more than 10 years! Only Nigeria can achieve that in sub Sahara Africa.

3 dollar a hour is great. But that is not what manufacturers are prepared to pay. More like 2 dollars a day. In Kenya by the time manufactures pay workers social pension & medical care (complusory) - they would already be past Ethiopia salary. So yes Kenya salary are not competitive regionally - Ethiopia, TZ, Ug and even Nigeria workers - earn about less than Kenyan average salaries and wages.

obaaderemi:
The two bolded points is what is killing Little India. Unemployment is more serious in Kenya than any other east African country. Many of your sons fighting here on nairaland due to joblessness would jump at $3 per hour wage in Kenya. That's over 300Ksh. Your arrogance is mind blowing.

You started well then veered off. Actually Ethiopia cannot beat kenya in textile and apparel. We have huge EPZ in Athi River - Nairobi Metro - and we export nearly half a billion dollar worth of textile to US under AGOA. I think in Africa - only Lesotho - export more.

Ethiopia are basically starting from literrally zero - and they are doing a good job attracting chinese low manufacturing.

Kenya has always had a strong manufacturing industry - possibly second strongest after South Africa.

We are talking of new fdi to manufacturing...here Ethiopia are beating kenya...most new manufacturers are choosing Ethiopia for
1) Cheap slavish labour. Kenya we have higher labour cost and stronger unions.
2) Cheap subdizied power - hyrdo - but you know Ethiopia & droughts are twins - and gov subsidy.
3) Cheap free land - Ethiopia gov simply grab land from peasant and give it to investors.
4) Tax incentives - Ethiopia gov are giving investors 10yrs tax holidays.

However those that have gone there - are also regretting - Ethiopia macro-economics are not looking good - forex controls is crazy - so repatriating profit is nearly impossible.

In short our manufacturing is now 8-10% of GDP - that is like 8B dollars. Ethiopia is about 3% of their GDP - that not even 2.5B dollars. So our manufacturing is about 3-4 times as big as Ethiopia.

As for Tanzania - those laggards will NEVER catch up. Ethiopia can slave for long hours working for 20 dollars and are incredibly disciplined & resilient like Chinese automatons. .

Tanzanaia - I think you don't know Tanzanians. Those people even if you paid them what - will not work. They will arrive maybe 2hrs late, gossip for another 2hrs, go for lunch for another 2hrs, and then complain the rest of the afternoon. And you cannot fire them. Firing a Tanzanian takes a company like 1-2 yrs going through the legal labyrinth.

In short Tanzania is a hopeless case. If they were to open their doors for free movement of labour - their companies would swifly hire kenyans.

The tangential issues - Ethiopia is 100m but very poor. Kenya is 50M and low middle class. Their is very little consumption demand in Ethiopia so industries there are export oriented.

Ethiopia airways was making huge losses when KQ was the most profitable. Airline industry is tough. Ethiopia airlines is basically heavily funded by Ethiopia Gov. KQ our gov did the first & most successfully privatization of airline in 90s....and the airline was doing great..until they got mixed up in oil futures...when oil was rising till it got 140...KQ decided to buy oil futures...and then Oil crashed to now 50s. It crashed Nigeria economy just like it crashed KQ. For more than 10yrs KQ have been stuck with expensive oil future contracts - that see them buying oil at even 140 dollars a barrel - when competitors are buying at 40 dollars.

obaaderemi:
You are correct @ bolded. Kudos for your honesty.. There's no way you can outcompete Ethiopia on manufacturing, especially low wage manufacturing, which is actually the backbone of any third world country. The major reasons are these, pay attention :
*Ethiopia, despite opening up its market late, is more organized than little India. For manufacturing alone, they have 5 new state of the art eco friendly industrial parks. This is something Kenya and other African countries need to learn from Ethiopia.

*Ethiopia is less corrupt than Kenya by far. Who wouldn't want to invest in such a place. Ethiopia is 144 out of 175 countries on the latest corruption index. Kenya is a miserable 144. That's why investors are holding fast to their purses. if na you nko?

*Ethiopian manufacturing started long ago. They have a serious headstart above Kenya. Ethiopia's long history of textile and garment began in 1939 with its first modern textile factory. At that time, most Kenyans were still running wild buck.nakedd.

* Today, textile is a booming sector in Ethiopia. Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, Hela,etc all make clothing there.

* Population. That influences markets.

* Ethiopian Airways is playing a significant role in Ethiopia's economy. It's Africa's largest and fastest growing airways. And it's profitable unlike the corruption ridden, basket case loss making Kenya airways which continues to drain tax payer's money.

*Oh, and this: the Ethiopians are not arrogant like you people. They stooped low to make peace with Eritrea. And they are about to have access to Assab and Massawa ports again. This would really impact economy of Ethiopia in days to come.

*Electric power is another thing Ethiopia is really working on with the construction of a new huge dam.

*Tanzania is working against you. Don't underrate Tanzanians.

Exactly.

jonraid2:
We can consolidate our agro-industry capacity further.Focus on rather heavy industries such as steel,cement,construction and auto mobiles(this industries sync well with our TVETs courses).Invest more and more in Education and ICT related industries and make this nation a knowledge based economy.

When you artist stops running to South Africa to shoot videos then start talking. The thing is South Africa is developing a world class film & studio industry that can compete with Hollywood. You can hope become a world power through half-hearted measures - slummish ideas - will not turn world class. I had rather you invited the whites to help develop the industry than trying to stumble through. That is how the rest of world did. China did it..and they understudied the whites & took over.

obaaderemi:
And what's more? These wonderful studios you posted were put on ground by Nigerians. Unlike the white owned studios and media companies in South Africa he posted.. More of these Africans should be proud of Nigerians. If any subsaharan African country is ever going to become a world power, it's Nigeria.

Ethiopia pay 20-50 dollars a month.Their power cost 3-6 cents. We cannot compete with them on low cost manufacturing. And that is the challenge. I think we need to go the Germany way - cottage industries built on strength of vocational training. The SEZ/EPZ are good - for raising exports - but ultimately we have to find something that uniquely works for us.

kikuyu1:
I'm optimistic ofc,but realistically we need to find our niche in man'f. We'll never be a low wage producer like Bangladesh;politically untenable and thanks to workers rights that's impossible! Those slave wage sweat shops and factories paying 3$ daily are a no go here.

I am not sure - last I heard it was to be established deep in narok - around Enosupukia - not even Naivasha or Maaimahiu. That will take time before it get off grounds. It another Konza. I think gov should just focus on having cheaper power for anyone in manufacturing. These SEZs unless by Chinese - are vision 2030 - long term. Another Kulana-Gulala.

Yeap - The Industrial Park to be located in Enosupukia - Narok. That is like nearly 60kms deep from MaiMahu. I wonder what industries you'll attract there. Maybe light industries...coz raw materials for heavy hitters is important.

jonraid2:
The Naivasha one too can be an easy win,the prospect of cheaper geothermal power and the railway should make it come to fruition! What Industry wouldn't want to get power sold at half the price and an SGR nearby?

Interesting. I am excited by the private sector activity around steeel & cement production. I cannot say the same about GoK funded EPZ/SEZs. I don't think Dongo Kundu or Naivasha or Athi have started. There was big talk of Leather Industry at Kenaine - Athi River - but where is it now. I know in Edloret - Langat's SEZ with Pearl River China is off ground.

So I am still not up-beat about improving our manufacturing back to where it was few ago - when it was 17% of GDP. Now it 8% and probably going down.

Anyway I do hope Matiangi can make things move. Dongo Kundu - with new road - and lying few meters from current port & railway - should be easy win.

jonraid2:
The Plan for our manufacturing sector under the MTP by The National Treasury(Medium Term Plan for duration 2018-2022)

We have made huge strides in The Ease Of Doing Business and in the Global Competitiveness Index rankings.

We are left with the remaining three.That's where the work is.With passion and the Legacy in mind,I can't see why the president will shoot himself in the foot and choose not to realise this. Matiang'i is hardheaded(in a good way),he will expect nothing but performance from the guys reporting to him.There might be some reprieve for our manufacturing capacity as a nation after all,I'm pumped up by the new development in our steel industry.Outside SA courtesy of Devki Group,we will have the only raw industrial steel plant which will be self powered by 55.5 MW energy plant.Our steel import bill stands at around 0.8-1 billion USD. Devki wants to eat into this as they will be producing the steel from the scratch from our locally iron ore reserves. We have BMS,a Bangladeshi company which also wants to come in,it will partner with a Mauritian company and unnamed Kenyan Investor .The new Jumbo Steel Mills in Rabai,Kilifi has recently been opened.

You cannot industrilise without metals.We will soon have steel in cheap prices if everything falls into place.

A berth for the Dongo Kundu SEZ is already underway,the SEZ is modeled under Dubai's port of Jebel Ali,the world ninth busiest Port.Kengen are a brilliant Parastatal,the Naivasha Park is coming up.3.4 billion shillings for land has already been set aside.The SEZ in Athi River is set to receive cash in the budget year 2019-2020,we can at least be optimistic in our manufacturing! What we need is implementation of all mentioned in the Treasury's MTP 2018-2022.

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/corporate/companies/Steel-firm-Jumbo-opens-Sh1bn-Kilifi-plant/4003102-4714294-aa8l6sz/index.html

https://www.nation.co.ke/business/Chinese-firm-inks-Sh26bn-energy-deal-with-Devki/996-4945154-13l86jb/index.html

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/Bangladeshi-steel-maker-to-open/539546-4910048-l9sw4s/index.html

https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/news/MPs-allocate-Sh3-4bn-for-Naivasha-industry-park-land/539546-4536406-mqqfdu/index.htm

https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/All-set-for-Dongo-Kundu-free-port/1107872-4758344-wg6hdmz/index.html

Riverwood. Named after River-road nairobi where most of those cheap skits are produced.
2017 RiverWood winners
https://www.sde.co.ke/sdemedia/sdeimages/monday/eta2781tobcxex58c639ef544a2.jpg
The awards that mainly focus on local productions, done on low budget

edon21:
what's the name of Kenya s movie industry please

Mombasa - Kenya.

Mombasa Island - the old town and business district.

Mombasa - Kenya

Mombasa kenya - Samson Ambode poodle - now that is resort & port city.

TZ witch - COMESA - has sub-sahara countries nearly equal to SADC (only Angola & South Africa missing) - then add most of magreb countries - Sudan, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Djibouti.

And where will you hide when Africa Free Trade become reality.

You'll still be selling maize and beans.

Pretty impressive. For a country of 29m - that looks really good. I see you already have more than 55% urbanization. This is what ails kenya - we urbanazing faster now - but from a small base - around 30%.

vaxx:
The list go bellow.

Exactly.

Just30:
which develop?

is there 90% of kids in school?
is there electricity?

is there pipe pumped water?
have you won the extreme poverty war?
do you have the right doctor to patient ratio?


those are what counts as development

Yeap providing home-ownership to 1M kenyans - hosting nearly 4-5M households - will be huge. That will be about 10% of our population. This is path Singapore took.If we sustain this - then by who knows - by 2030 - we could have more than half of kenya owning modern urban residences.

kikuyu1:
This project is transformational on all levels;if it delivers 70% of target UK will deserve a Nobel prize!

There is social housing - but that is Nairobi Eastlands - Slums upgrading is different story - most of it are illegal - would need to be demolished for being on riparian and forest land. The some of it can be upgraded.

tylann:
I thought it was slum upgrading
Or something like social housing project

Best of my knowledge; it is not; it mostly upgrading the old colonial style estates like Jericho,Maringo, Park road into high rises. Slum upgrading is not part of it.The solution for slums is to give the structure holders title deed.

The private component - I think where they will be given free land - gok has acquired I think 5000 acre or more from Portland cement - for KSHS 15b - and that is the land private sector will be given - with understanding they will sell the houses cheaply on completion - less than 3M kshs.

Jonraid:
It's part of the slum upgrading programme!

Nairobi -KIlimani towards Westland
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1926/45013511272_11f96c86d5_h.jpg

Kilimani towards Upperhill & CBD.
https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1980/44341693284_27ad32bb27_h.jpg

Changing face of Kilimani-Upperhill
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4864/44010423180_06a913e50b_b.jpg

Kenyatta Avenue - middle of Nairobi CBD.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4839/46099024044_13ad1ca86e_h.jpg