Africa

Turkey is close to commencing talks with Ethiopia over signing a free trade agreement (FTA), according to Turkish foreign trade minister Zafer Ça─ƒlayan.

Ça─ƒlayan, who is currently in Ethiopia to participate in talks with the Ethiopian government, said that both countries have already agreed on signing a FTA to ease custom difficulties, according to Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman.

Turkey currently has FTAs with 13 countries, as well as with members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which consists of four non-EU member states.

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has made another increased bid for Riversdale Mining in an effort to convince shareholders to accept its acquisition proposal.

The new bid values the Australian owned coal miner at $4 billion. Rio first offered $3.5 billion last December, before improving the offer slightly later the same month.

The new bid represents an increase from $16 a share to $16.50, but Rio wants more than 50 per cent of shareholders to accept the bid by 23 March.

Taking on aid projects in third world countries can often mean biting off more than you can chew; but as Alan Swaby learns, enlisting the help of local engineers can help avoid the pitfalls.

State utility Mhlathuze Water is not only a full spectrum water company but also a provider of inspiration and support for the people of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, as Jane Bordenave finds out.

Formed just eight months ago, Imperial Logistics Refrigerated Services is preparing a paradigm shift in refrigerated logistics services in South Africa. Managing director Gavin Wilson explains to Gay Sutton his vision for the future.

Urgent action is needed to restructure South Africa’s electricity distribution industry, with infrastructure and maintenance backlogs recently breaking R30 billion and growing at a rate of R2.5 billion a year, Deputy Energy Minister Barbara Thompson told energy industry delegates at the 2011 Energy Indaba conference this week.

The conference coincides with the controversial closure of EDI Holdings, the company set up in 2003 by the South African government to address the issue of energy distribution.

ESB International (ESBI) has been awarded a contract by NamPower to provide technical advisory services for the development of the 800 MW Kudu combined cycle power plant at Oranjemund on the Namibia / South Africa border.

The power plant will use gas from the Kudu Gas field to produce electricity for Namibia and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP). Increasing demand for electricity in Africa as economies in the region grow is continuing to put pressure on state utilities such as NamPower.

The chairman of the taskforce overseeing the creation of the Kigali Free Trade Zone (KFTZ) in Rwanda has said it will be launched in April this year.

Speaking to Business Times, Alex Ruzibukira, head of the Kigali Free Trade Zone initiative at the state-run Rwanda Development Board, said around 90 per cent of the work on the 250-hectare project has been completed.

With the necessary infrastructure now in place, investors will be able to commence construction of factories and warehouses.