AFRICA CTBL-WATCH ISSUE 31 JULY Namibia: US$65m Coastal Road Upgrades Begin. AfDB Approves US$245m For Uganda-Rwanda Project

Transcription

1 AFRICA CTBL-WATCH ISSUE 31 JULY 2016 Namibia: US$65m Coastal Road Upgrades Begin AfDB Approves US$245m For Uganda-Rwanda Project Zimbabwe/South Africa: Beitbridge Border Post Protests

2 CTBL-WATCH AFRICA ISSUE 31 JULY 2016 Contents 03 Corridor Review 05 African Group News CTBL Product Focus: Trade Corridor Flexibility - Optimized Routings / South Sudan: Temporary Suspension Of CTBL Service / Zimbabwe: No Impact To CTBL Services Following Political Tensions / CMA CGM Opens Up Access To Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe, Targets All Mozambique Trade Corridors 09 Eastern & Southern Africa Regional: Ring Road To Be Built Around Lake Victoria Botswana/Zimbabwe: Mlambapheli-Mmamabaka Border Post Road Opens Burundi: Burundi Lauds Better Service At Mombasa Port DRC/Tanzania: Agreement To Co-Operate In Rail Services DRC/Uganda: DRC And Uganda To Harmonize Security Operations Along Border Ethiopia: Eight Road Projects To Be Constructed / ERA To Build 130KM Adama-Awash Expressway / Major Railway 98% Complete Kenya: Kenya Looks To IFC For Road Financing / Sirari Corridor Road Project: Isebania-Kisii-Ahero [A1] / Construction Of Ultra-Modern Weighbridges Nears Completion / Court Extends Orders Halting SGR Project / Kisumu Port Revival Depends On SGR Mozambique: Three Companies Interested In Developing Logistics Corridor / Construction Of New Port And Railway Begins 2017 / Negotiates With China Over Machipanda Railroad Namibia: US$65 Million Coastal Road Upgrades Begin Rwanda: Traders Call For Removal Of NTBS On Northern Corridor Route Rwanda/Tanzania: Centralised Revenue Collection Center Opens South Africa: Initiative Launches To Support Trade In Africa / Sale Of Toll Road Assets / Designation Of Musina-Makhado SEZ Tanzania: Tanzania To Construct Njombe-Ndulamo-Makete Road / TAZARA Sets To Double Cargo Movement By June 2017 / TICTS Extends To Rwanda Tanzania/Kenya/South Sudan: Road Corridor To Undergo Rehabilitation Tanzania/Zambia: Road To Boost Business Opportunities Uganda: Free Zones Authority To Push For Tax Incentives / UNRA To Profile Road Companies / UNRA Halts New Road Projects Slated For / Road Sector Support Project 4 / Uganda To Sign Financing Agreement For SGR By October / Free Trade Zones To Attract US$1 Billion Investment Uganda/Rwanda: AfDB Approves US$245 Million For Uganda-Rwanda Transport Project Zambia: Mansa-Luwingu Completed / Works On Chama-Lundazi Road Start / Government Awards Kashikishi-Chiengi- Lunchinda Road Contract Zimbabwe: Harare-Beitbridge Road Project Takes Off / New Railway Line On Cards Zimbabwe/South Africa: NRZ Looks To Transnet For Partnership Deal / Beitbridge Border Post Protests 27 Western Africa Cameroon: Transport Sector Support Program: Phase II / Mintom-Lele-Ntam-Mbalam Road Cote d Ivoire/Guinea: Border Road Upgrade Ghana: Mahama Cuts Sod For Reconstruction Of Bolga-Bawku Road / France To Upgrade Ofirikrom Asokwa Road / Government To Construct Tema-Akosombo Railway Morocco: Casablanca-Algiers-Tunis Corridor Nigeria: Lagos/Calabar Rail Project / GE to Invest US$2 Billion in Nigerian Rail Projects 1

3 The African Inland Freight Report Brought to you by CMA CGM Africa Marketing Rachel Bennett Dominic Rawle Website: CMA CGM Marseille Head Office 4, Quai d Arenc Marseille cedex 02 France Tel : +33 (0) Disclaimer of Liability The CMA CGM Group make every effort to provide and maintain usable, and timely information in this report. No responsibility is accepted for the accuracy, completeness, or relevance to the user s purpose, of the information. Accordingly the CMA CGM Group denies any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of relying on any published information. Conclusions drawn from, or actions undertaken on the basis of, such data and information are the sole responsibility of the reader. Events Diary July rd FILDA - INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF LUANDA (Luanda, Angola) August Feira Internacional de Maputo (FACIM) 2016 (Luanda, Angola) September Electra Mining 2016 (Johannesburg, South Africa) Africa Aerospace and Defence 2016 (Tshwane, South Africa) News Briefs Western Africa ANGOLA - The second 175MW turbine at the Cambambe II hydroelectric project should be operational within 2-months. When complete the US$2b hydroelectric dam will produce 960MW of electricity. BURKINA FASO - Endeavour Mining held a groundbreaking ceremony at its Houndé gold project on Thursday. More than 10,000 attended inc the President & PM. COTE D IVOIRE - DekelOil Public Ltd now holds 85.75% of the company that owns the Ayenouan palm oil plant up from 51% in a deal worth 12.8m. GABON - Presidential elections to be held on August 28th. GUINEA - Rio Tinto has shelved its US$20b Simandou iron ore project in Guinea because of a sustained slump in prices. MALI - Hummingbird Resources has entered into a MoU to combine noncore exploration permits in Mali with Kola Gold s permits in Mali and Senegal to establish a new company Cora Gold [Kola 57% / Hummingbird 43%]. Eastern & Southern Africa BOTSWANA - Tlou Energy announced its Lesedi CBM project would be fast-tracked for development and probably expanded beyond the 10MW originally envisaged to 50MW, following and offtake agreement with the government. ETHIOPIA - Dongfang Electric Corporation Limited in conjunction with The Ethiopian Electric Power Utility is set to construct an 80 turbine wind farm in Ethiopia s Somali Region at a cost of US$257m. KENYA - Kenya is to start the construction of an 865km oil pipeline linking fields in its northern region to a new Indian Ocean port. The government is evaluating bids for the pipeline s design and will award a front-end engineering design contract in October. MOZAMBIQUE - ExxonMobil Corp. is considering buying stakes in Mozambique s natural gas sea blocks. China National Petroleum Corp. group acquired an indirect 20% stake 3-years ago in Area 4 block from ENI for US$4.2b. - The Government of India has submitted a proposal to its Mozambican counterpart to sign a 5-year contract to purchase pigeon peas (toor dal) at a guaranteed minimum price of 5050 rupees per quintal. 2

4 CTBL AFRICA CORRIDOR REVIEW Eastern & Southern Africa Corridor Kenya [Mombasa] -Great Lakes / Uganda / Rwanda / South Sudan Tanzania [Dar Es salaam] - Great Lakes Tanzania [Dar Es salaam] - Copper Belt Current Situation Kenya: We offer competitive rates on heavy 20ft container rates Gross Weight [GW] up to 32T and 40ft containers with GW below 22T for rail to ICD Embakasi, Nairobi. All import cargo to Kenya [local] must have a Certificate of Conformity [COC]. Without a COC we will not be able to clear the cargo out of port. Failure to which Kenya Bureau of Statistics will impose heavy penalties on consignee s account. South Sudan: TBL service to South Sudan has been temporarily stopped due to current political instability. The Nimule-Juba route is no longer safe for our vendors to call. Rwanda: Subject to premium tariff we now authorise shipper to book at 30T incl TARE for final destination Rwanda. DRC: Roads from Dar Es Salaam to DRC [Goma / Bukavu] are in good condition and services are running well via Rwanda. Uvira via Burundi available but subject to a pre confirmation with our Dar es Salaam office due to possible insecurity in Burundi. Rwanda: Service is running very well. It is operated under SCT with efficient transit time and rates. Burundi: We have re-opened our service connecting Tanzania to Burundi. The Dar-es-Salaam to Bujumbura road corridor offers a transit of 13-days. Regional: Please be advised due to Customs complication, no part load shipment is allowed in TBL for our corridors via Dar Es Salaam. Regional: The corridor from Dar Es Salaam to Lusaka, Copper belt & Lubumbashi is safe. Our rates have recently been improved and we offer competitive transit times. Our local agent is working with local hauliers to further improve this. Zambia: Roads through Mbeya offer an alternative to the train to Ndola. With an improved ASEA TANZANIA service we offer direct weekly service from Asia to Dar Es Salaam enhancing inland solutions to Malawi and Zambia. DRC: We are the only line to have an owned office in Lubumbashi which closely monitors the local situation. Mozambique Nacala Corridor New competitive rail rates for Nacala corridor to Malawi final destination. Mozambique Beira Corridor Competitive rates for 20 Beira-Harare [Zimbabwe] by road and by rail. CMA CGM will indemnify clients from further liability should any port storage incur on the units to be railed. We also have new competitive rates on the Beira Malawi corridor. Mozambique Maputo Corridor Competitive solutions remain available to Zimbabwe by rail from Maputo- Hwange even during current political tensions. There is no port storage invoiced if shortage of wagons in Maputo. S. Africa Durban New inland reefer overborder solution available via Durban to inland countries: Zimbabwe, DRC, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, Swaziland. Namibia Walvis Bay We can offer a routing solution for export CTBL cargo from Zambia to Namibia. The route along the Trans-Caprivi Corridor links Zambia with the Port of Walvis Bay via the Katima Mulilo bridge border crossing. Export solutions are available from DRC and Zambia to Walvis Bay for dry and reefer equipment. The corridor to Lusaka, Kitwe, Ndola & Lubumbashi in south DRC are running well. We also offer domestic routes to Windhoek and Otjiwarongo, Otjikoto, Oshakati, Ondangwa and Oshikango by road and rail. 3

5 Western Africa Corridor Current Situation 1 Mauritania-Mali New!! A new intermodal offer from the port of Nouakchott now targets 15 Mauritanian landlocked cities by road. We also offer a connection from Nouakchott into neighbouring Mali with a road link to Bamako. 2 Senegal-Mali The Dakar-Bamako corridor is only available by road. Both our rail and rail-road corridor options for Dakar-Bamako have been closed due to a change in the governance of the railway that has affected services. Meanwhile we are only able to accept cargo for Southern Mali destinations. For safety reasons traffic to Northern Mali [Kignan, Ségou, Mopti, Sevaré, Gao, Kidal, Menaka, Ansongou, Tessalit, and Timbuktu] via Dakar are temporarily suspended. 3 Senegal-Guinea Bissau The corridor is open and running smoothly. 4 Cote d Ivoire-Burkina/Mali Our service to Burkina is running well by both rail and road to all destinations. The rail service from Abidjan is running well offering excellent transit times and no congestion. We also recommend the road option. From 15th March a Terminal Handling Charge [THC] is applicable in Abidjan Port. We have also launched a new reefer service from Abidjan. 5 Ghana-Burkina The Tema-Ouagadougou corridor running well. We offer competitive rates with excellent transit time from Asia using our AFEX service and from Europe on our EURAF 2 service. 6 Togo-Burkina/Niger We offer a reliable service to Burkina following recent attacks. Generally the service is running well. Thanks to good volumes and on-going negotiations with suppliers we have decreased our Ouagadougou rates from Lome. We can also offer excellent solutions from Asia on our AFEX service. Please note that Lome port is strict on enforcing weight regulations for trucks. 7 Benin-Niger Service is operating very well by road to Niamey. Our Cotonou agency has signed a new contract with BENIRAIL [Bénin-Niger Rail]. The move opens up a new rail option for transit cargo from Cotonou port to Parakou. 8 Nigeria Corridor NEW! From Lagos [Tin Can & Apapa] we offer inland solutions along the A2 corridor: Abuja, Kaduna, Kano and the northern city of Katsina on the A9 near the Niger border. We also provide alternative direct rail services from Lagos to Kano. And links to the coastal oil-refining city of Port Harcourt by road. All running well. 9 Cameroon-Chad We offer both road and rail services to Chad which are running well. The train operator, CAMRAIL, offers a good service. 10 Cameroon-CAR The Douala-Bangui corridor is running well and open on a case by case basis with agreement from our local Douala Agency. Please note all TBL to Bangui will be subject to Consignee signing LOI locally. 11 Gabon Corridor From Libreville, we serve domestic destinations by road to Franceville, Lambarene, Mouila, Bitam, Moanda, Mitzicnd Makokou. 12 Congo Corridor Pointe Noire-Brazzaville corridor is REOPENED. We offer an inland service from Pointe Noire to Dolisie, Brazzaville, Oyo and Ouesso. 13 DRC Corridor Matadi-Kinshasa service is running smoothly. New competitive rates are available. 14 Angola Corridor We serve the interior via the 4-main national ports of Luanda, Lobito, Cabinda and Namibe. We offer transit to Malange, Bela Vista, Catumbela, Benguela, Bahia Farta, Huambo, Lubango, Malongo, Malembo, Yema, Subantando, Buco Zau, Belize, Necuto and Lubango. All destinations are served by road on a 1-2 day transit time. 4

6 CMA CGM AFRICAN GROUP NEWS CTBL Product Focus Trade Corridor Flexibility - Optimized Routings CMA CGM uses its widespread presence and experience in Africa to permanently monitor the trade in order to optimize routings taking into consideration local constraints and improvements in quality of local services. Should the need arise we are quick to react and can redirect our volumes via transport corridors and offer flexible options to avoid blockages and strikes. CMA CGM continuously reviews each corridor to ensure that each service is running smoothly and offers reliable transit times along with picking the best option & availability of equipment. Our inland depots can be used for delivery and collection and serve to bring the ports closer to our customers. The Group offers a multimodal service carrying your containers from place of load to place of delivery, to and from all landlocked African countries. This service is available on all CMA CGM lines whatever the country of origin. As such CMA CGM aims at being the reference in the market for CTBL traffics to and from Africa. We provide a competitive through transport tariff giving shippers ready access to simplified all-in quotes with charges made under a single invoice. We also manage local haulage operations throughout our African coastal markets. The service also includes the charges for detention, demurrage, and container rental up to final destination. The exchange of the original B/L and the control of the container seal number are made at destination by our agents to guarantee the safety of your goods. - No demurrage nor deposit at port of discharge - CMA CGM dedicated agents in all landlocked countries [for tracking, customer service...] - Single bank negotiable document - Numerous landlocked African destinations with controlled transit times - Optimisation of on-carriage to meet local constraints - Efficient tracking system on request - Secured and integrated logistic network up to delivery at final destination - All-inclusive rates available at initial inquiry Enquiries For booking and all-in rate enquiries please contact your usual CMA CGM agent. 5

7 South Sudan: Temporary Suspension Of CTBL Service Social unrest has further escalated in South Sudan. The security situation in the capital Juba and in a number of other provinces has seriously deteriorated. The Nimule-Juba route is no longer safe for our vendors to call. Therefore, CMA CGM Group has no option than to temporarily suspend its CTBL service and no bookings will be accepted to Juba until further notice. We will keep you informed as soon as the corridor is safe to resume services. Zimbabwe: No Impact To CTBL Services Following Political Tensions As turmoil sparks the largest protests in years CMA CGM remains committed to providing a reliable CTBL service to major destinations across Zimbabwe. These include Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare accessed from a choice of transport corridors by both road and rail. Port options available are via Beira and Maputo in Mozambique, Durban in South Africa and Walvis Bay in Namibia. In recent weeks, the country has seen the largest street protests in a decade. Local banks are limiting withdrawals to $100 per day when they actually have cash. This lack of hard currency has also led to the introduction of restrictions on the imports of many goods, and local storekeepers have said they are unable to pay their suppliers. The export market for natural resources is nearly at a standstill. And a multi-year drought, combined with uncertain land tenancy, has further undermined agricultural productivity. For full details on our Zimbabwe CTBL service view: 6

8 CMA CGM AFRICAN GROUP NEWS CMA CGM Opens Up Access To Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe, Targets All Mozambique Trade Corridors We are pleased to offer very competitive rates across all our Mozambique trade corridors towards Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We offer a choice of 3-access ports namely Nacala, Beira and Maputo. These services provide flexibility of routings by both road and rail to avoid congestion and maximise transit times. Our local agents have built on relationships with 3rd party logistic providers across Mozambique on both pricing and tariffs. Our dedicated team is in place to ensure service quality for shipments using rail companies and road hauliers that are well known and recognised on the market. Mzuzu Kitwe Ndola Lilongwe Nampula Lusaka Blantyre Nacala Harare Mutare Tete Quelimane Bulawayo Chimoio Beira Dondo Inhambane Xai-Xai Maputo Road Rail In Mozambique we offer 3-corridors: 1. If using the Northern Nacala Corridor, the Group offers rail routings to Nacala-Blantyre and Nacala-Lilongwe using the Corredor de Desenvolvimento do Norte [CDN - Nacala railway]. CMA VGM is in a position to obtain regular allocations and is in continuous negotiations with all stakeholders including CDN the National Rail operator. Nacala port is served by our weekly Asia-Mozambique Express and our weekly Swahili Express. 2. The Maputo Corridor is available to Zimbabwe by rail from Maputo to Harare and Maputo to Hwange [Zimbabwe]. Maputo port is served by our weekly Asia-Mozambique Express and our weekly Rhino Express. 3. If transiting the Beira Corridor we have a bond agreement with customs in place and have our own broker at our agency office to shorten clearance time and trucking. We are also using new local road transporters to cope with the increase in demand for this service. CMA CGM will indemnify clients from further liability should any port storage incur on the units to be railed. Beira port is served by our weekly Asia-Mozambique Express. 7

9 Destinations Mozambique Inland Malawi Zambia Zimbabwe A range of inland destinations are offered across Mozambique. We can offer 24hr delivery by road transport for all inland destinations: - Inland destinations with city limits at Beira, Maputo, Nacala, Quelimane - Northern Mozambique: Nampula via Nacala - Central Mozambique: Dando, Chimoio and Tete via Beira - Southern Mozambique: Xai-Xai and Inhambane via Maputo CMA CGM provides an efficient and extensive coverage of all major cities in Malawi including Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu. We serve both the ports of Beira and Nacala with 2 dedicated services: Asia- Mozambique Express and the Swahili Express. We can offer both onward rail from Nacala and road options from Beira with good transit times. Connecting to the Zambian market we can offer secured door delivery by truck from Beira to Lusaka, Livingstone, Kitwe, Ndola, Solwezi, Chipata and many other small cities (Chingola, Kabwe, Kaoma, Kapiri Mposhi, Mansa, Petauke, Siavonga, etc). We offer services by both rail and road from Beira to Harare and by road to Mutare and Bulawayo. There is also a reliable rail service from Maputo to Harare. Example Transits [Not Exhaustive] Port of Discharge Destination Country Final Destination Transport Kms Transit Time Terms Beira Malawi Blantyre Road Free On Truck - Road Terminal Beira Malawi Lilongwe Road Free On Truck - Road Terminal Beira Zambia Lusaka Road Free On Truck - Door Beira Zimbabwe Harare Road Free On Truck - Door Maputo Zimbabwe Harare Rail Free On Rail - Rail Terminal Nacala Malawi Blantyre Rail Free On Rail - Rail Terminal Nacala Malawi Lilongwe Rail Free On Rail - Rail Terminal Local Contacts MALAWI llw.nkamanga@cma-cgm.com ZAMBIA lun.cmutale@cma-cgm.com MOZAMBIQUE Beira: ber.tbl@cma-cgm.com / ber.jhopoon@cma-cgm.com Maputo: map.mnhamucho@cma-cgm.com Nacala: nac.cbaptista@cma-cgm.com / nac.hferreira@cma-cgm.com ZIMBABWE hre.vmachache@cma-cgm.com For More Information: 8

10 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRIDOR & TRADE NEWS Burundi Burundi Lauds Better Service At Mombasa Port Burundi has lauded efforts by Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] to enhance clearance and logistics of goods at the Port of Mombasa. Burundi s transport minister Jean Bosco Ntunzwenimana said the ongoing construction of the alternative route from Mombasa, Voi, Taveta, Moshi, Arusha, Singida to Bujumbura will significantly reduce the distance from the Port of Mombasa to the Port of Bujumbura. The new route covers a total of 1,545 km compared to the alternative 1903 km route from Mombasa via Nairobi- Malaba-Kampala-Katuna-Kigali to Bunjumbura. Last year, a total of 75,811 tonnes of Burundi imports and exports passed through the Mombasa. KPA expects that container throughput will reach 1.6 million TEU s in 2018 when the second container terminal starts operations. The authority has also acquired a 50-acre land at Taveta border with Tanzania where it intends to construct an Inland Container Depot [ICD]. The improved road infrastructure coupled with an inland container depot will boost onward transit, export and transhipment of cargo. [Star 09/07/16] DRC/Uganda DRC And Uganda To Harmonize Security Operations Along Border Security officials from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo met in Ituri, east of DRC, to harmonize security operations along the common border. The meeting brought together security committees from 4-Ugandan districts [Nebi, Zombo, Obilisa and Oima] and the Congolese Mahagi territory. The meeting, which was the 3rd of its kind, was aimed at evaluating signed agreements, especially with regards to execution, with a view of making recommendations to address security failures. [Coastweek 19/06/16] 9

11 Mozambique Three Companies Interested In Developing Logistics Corridor Three private companies have shown interest in developing the Chongoene Corridor in Mozambique, which is vital for transporting heavy sands from Chibuto, in Gaza province. A Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] may be signed soon, including construction of a railway line to Swaziland and a port in Chongoene, in Xai-Xai district. The interested parties were not named. A draft of the memorandum is practically finished to be delivered to the Ministry for Transport and Communications for analysis. Heavy sands from Chibuto are currently explored by a consortium of Chinese companies Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group [AFECC] and Yunnan Xinli Non-Ferrous Metals Co., Ltd, which export the product by road in containers to the port of Maputo. [Macauhub/MZ 28/06/16] Rwanda Traders Call For Removal Of NTBS On Northern Corridor Route Rwandan traders are pushing for the removal of all Non-Tariff Barriers [NTBs] along routes connecting Kigali to the East African coast to ease trade. Transporters noted there were 7-weighbridges along the northern corridor creating unfavourable competition and are calling for further advocacy. As such the central corridor route from Kigali to Dar is still preferred, though longer, as it has only 1-weighbridge. It was back in 2013 when Presidents Museveni of Uganda, Kagame of Rwanda and Kenyatta of Kenya agreed to implement a Single Customs Territory [SCT]. The SCT agreement was supposed to remove multiple weighbridges, police and customs checks along the Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali route. [New Times 19/06/16] Rwanda/Tanzania Centralised Revenue Collection Center Opens Rwandan President Kagame finished his state visit to Tanzania, where he was the guest of honour at the Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair [DITF] - a weeklong event that he officially opened. The move further promoted bilateral cooperation which have been recently cemented by incorporating a centralised revenue collection system, opening up the Tanzania Port Authority [TPA] to Rwanda and the establishment of Rwanda Inland Container Depot [ICD] in Dar es Salaam. The Tanzania Revenue Authority [TRA] opened its revenue collection centre in Rwanda this month. Whilst President Magufuli directed the Tanzania Ports Authority [TPA] to open an office in Kigali. Dr Magufuli said the country would allocate land for establishment of a Rwandan Inland Container Depot [ICD] which will facilitate the handling and storage of containerised cargo to Rwanda and vice versa. [Daily News 03/07/16] 10

12 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA CORRIDOR & TRADE NEWS South Africa Initiative Launches To Support Trade In Africa Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies launched Trade Africa on 15th July, formerly known as the Africa Export Council, a unit established within the Department of Trade and Industry to promote South Africa s trade relations with the African continent. The initiative was launched together with the Guidelines for Good Business Practice by South African companies operating in the rest of Africa at a roundtable discussion themed Collective Action to Enhance Intra-Africa Trade at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. The Trade Africa initiative is premised on the need to have a dedicated unit responsible for driving South Africa s exports of manufactured goods and services while creating sourcing relationships from the continent to promote intra-africa trade. Dr Rob Davies, Trade and Industry Minister The meeting promoted collaboration between government and the private sector, as well as key stakeholders in fostering trade and optimising economic benefits on the African continent. The aim is to share information on regional economic integration initiatives to support enhanced intra-africa trade, as well as discuss the private sector s role in fostering regional economic integration and intra-africa trade. [Engineering News 11/07/16] Uganda Free Zones Authority To Push For Tax Incentives The Uganda Free Zones Authority (UFZA) is projecting to attract foreign investment to a tune of US$1 billion (by The authority intends to achieve its target by pushing government to provide investors with a raft of tax incentives. In December 2015 the minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development minister signed an agreement with a Turkish company, ASB group, to develop an 18-square-mile free zone in Nakaseke district to attract foreign investments. UFZA will manage the project. UFZA intends to attract at least 200 business entities to operate in the free zone. Creating the zones are part of government plan to address the issue of unemployment, narrow the import-export gap, and reduce the reliance on subsistence farming. Over the 5-year term the ministry will focus on 6-priority areas to include: industrialization and export promotion, investment promotion, public investment management, focus on service delivery and enhance resource mobilization. [Observer 08/07/16] 11

13 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Regional Ring Road To Be Built Around Lake Victoria Kenya plans to build a 450-km ring highway around Lake Victoria. The project is to be funded by the World Bank at a cost of sh412.6 billion. According to the Kenya National Highways Authority [KeNHA] who is in charge of the project, the design will be completed in December. The road will run from Bumula in Busia County near the border with Uganda and end at Muhuru Bay in Migori County. It will cross Siaya, Kisumu and Homa Bay. [Standard 25/06/16] Ethiopia Eight Road Projects To Be Constructed Eight 2-lane asphalt road projects have been launched in Ethiopia by the Addis Ababa City Roads Authority [AACRA]. Slated to cost an US$70 million, the roads will be constructed by ASER Construction, Hazi II, Afro Tsion, Eney, Eshetu Lema, Worseh and the Authority itself. Four of the roads will be built by AACRA and the remaining four will be handed over to local contractors. [Construction Review 16/06/16] ERA To Build 130KM Adama-Awash Expressway The Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) is set to begin the construction of a 130 km expressway linking Adama and Awash, an extension project of the Addis Ababa-Adama Expressway that cost 12 billion Br. The road is part of the larger Adama-Dire Dewa Expressway project. According to ERA the Addis Ababa-Jimma corridor sees 5,200 vehicles per day. [Addis Fortune 05/07/16] 12

14 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Kenya Kenya Looks To IFC For Road Financing Kenya is in negotiations with the International Finance Corporation [IFC] for a US$1.5 billion line of credit to finance 4,000 km of national roads. The government plans to raise US$5.5 billion to complete 10,000 km of road construction in Kenya: US$3.4 billion for rural roads and US$2.1 billion for urban roads. If the new deal with IFC works out the government said contractors would be able to access US$1 billion directly from the institution. The roads should be completed by 2020, 3-years after the promised timeline. [Construction Review 04/07/16] Sirari Corridor Road Project: Isebania-Kisii-Ahero [A1] The Government of Kenya has obtained financing from the African Development Bank [AfDB] towards the cost of rehabilitation of the176 km Isebania Kisii Ahero A1 road which forms part of the southern link of the Sirari Corridor [Tanzania-Kenya-South Sudan Corridor]. The Kenya National Highways Authority [KeNHA] has invited sealed bids through Open Competitive Bidding [OCB] from eligible bidders for the execution of the Sirari Corridor Accessibility and Road Safety Improvement Project [SCARSIP]. The Sirari Corridor is a transit route running along the Eastern shore of Lake Victoria via Isebania to Lokichogio and onwards to Juba. It is the main trade route between Mwanza port [Tanzania] and Kisumu port [Kenya] - the key trading centres within the Lake Victoria basin. The road traverses Migori, Homa bay, Kisii, Nyamira, and Kisumu Counties. [AfDB 16/06/16] Construction Of Ultra-Modern Weighbridges Nears Completion The National Highways Authority has announced that the construction of 2-ultra modern weighbridges in Kenya is at its final stages. The weighbridges are being constructed on either side of the Northern Corridor at Mariakani. The US$7.3 million weighbridges will be completed in July with commissioning slated for August. The Northern Corridor is one of the busiest and most important transport routes in East and Central Africa. It provides a gateway through Kenya to the landlocked economies in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern DR Congo and Southern Sudan. [Construction Review 06/07/16] 13

15 Namibia US$65 Million Coastal Road Upgrades Begin Work to upgrade the gravel road behind the dunebelt between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund into a tarred dual carriage highway has officially started. The ground-breaking ceremony of the US$65 million [N$960 million] project was officiated by works minister Alpheus Naruseb. This first phase will include upgrading of the C28, which becomes Main Road 44, also known as the dune road between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. The second phase will include the upgrading of the B2 road also known as the coastal road or road of death. The tender for the second phase has been issued with work expected to begin soon. The total distance of both phases is 100 km. The entire project worth nearly N$2 billion is set to be completed in 3-years. The Roads Contractor Company [RCC] is the main contractor, with Chinese company Zhong Mei Engineering Group as subcontractor. Last month RA announced that about 700 km of roads will be upgraded in the Erongo region to ensure quicker and lesscongested traffic between bulk business centres. The current roads network is too old and limited to deal with the growing number of trucks to and from the port of Walvis Bay to other destinations in Namibia, and to neighbouring landlocked states on the main trans-corridors. This also causes strain for general traffic, congesting the flow, especially on the B2 coastal road between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay. Work has already started on the first phase of the 403-km Henties Bay, Uis, Khorixas and Kamanjab connection. This phase should be completed by [Namibian 04/07/16] South Africa Sale Of Toll Road Assets African Infrastructure Investment Managers [AIIM] has sold investments in 3-privately concessioned toll roads in Southern Africa. This sale represented the largest private equity realisation for toll road infrastructure in Africa to date. Each of the toll roads had in excess of 10-years operating history. Together roads totalled 1,364 km on South Africa s key transport corridors, extending from Gauteng province to Maputo, in Mozambique, and from the Botswana border to KwaZulu-Natal. [Engineering News 06/07/16] 14

16 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Tanzania Tanzania To Construct Njombe-Ndulamo-Makete Road The Tanzanian government through the Ministry for Transport is to construct a US$8.6 million road linking Njombe-Ndulamo- Makete. The TANROADS roads agency has already completed a feasibility study undertaken by M/S Crown Tech Consult Limited. The contractors selected to build the 110km road has not been announced. [Construction Review 27/06/16] Tanzania/Kenya/South Sudan Road Corridor To Undergo Rehabilitation The Kenya National Highways Authority [KeNHA] has called for bids on the rehabilitation of the Isebania-Kisii-Ahero road which is slated to start sometime this year. The Isebania-Kisii-Ahero [A1] road forms part of the southern link of the Sirari Corridor [Tanzania-Kenya-South Sudan Corridor], which is a transit route running along the Eastern shore of Lake Victoria via Isebania to Lokichogio and onwards to Juba. It is the main trade route between Mwanza Port [Tanzania] and Kisumu port [Kenya] the key trading centres within the Lake Victoria basin. The project will be carried out in 2-lots: - Lot 1 starting from Isebania to Kisii - Lot 2 from Kisii to Ahero [Exchange 27/06/16] Tanzania/Zambia Road To Boost Business Opportunities The Tanzanian government is set to construct the 50km Matai-Kasesya road to act as a highway linking Tanzania to Zambia. The government has set aside US$5.3 million for the projects which aims to boost trade between Eastern and Southern Africa. The road is part of the 342 km Tunduma-Sumbawanga-Matai-Kasesya road which is undergoing a huge upgrade. [Construction Review 05/07/16] 15

17 Uganda UNRA To Profile Road Companies The Uganda National Roads Authority, the body that is in charge of road construction and maintenance in the country has started profiling road construction companies. The goal is to establish companies that carry out quality work and those that have been doing shoddy work and blacklist them when profiling bids. [Monitor 04/07/16] UNRA Halts New Road Projects Slated For 2016/2017 The Uganda National roads Authority [UNRA] announced a halt on new road projects in the financial year beginning 2016/ 2017 due to financial constraints. Existing funds will be allocated to finishing road works on the 1,000 km currently under construction and on rehabilitating the existing roads. Only new road projects financed by donors will take off. [NTV 30/06/16] Road Sector Support Project 4 The Uganda Government has received a loan from the African Development Fund [ADF] towards the cost of the Road Sector Support Project 4 [RSSP4]. A feasibility study and detailed engineering design will be carried out for upgrading of Kazo Buremba Kabagole Kyegegwa Road [82km] in Western Uganda. It traverses through the Districts of Kiruhura, Ibanda and ends at Kamwenge. [AfDB 23/06/16] 16

18 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA ROAD Uganda/Rwanda AfDB Approves US$245 Million For Uganda-Rwanda Transport Project The African Development Bank [AfDB] has approved US$245 million in loans/grants to finance a transport project that will boost regional trade and decongest traffic from Kampala [Busega] city to Mpigi. These roads are vital links, supporting regional integration objectives of the East Africa Community [EAC] and the Great Lakes Region. The project also includes the construction of 2-cross-border markets at Kagitumba and Rusumo. Uganda Rwanda US$151 million for construction of a 23.7km expressway, which will facilitate the journey between Kampala [Busega] and Mpigi on the Northern Corridor. The existing Busega-Mpigi road is highly congested especially at Busega, handling over 26,000 vehicles per day on a 2-lane road. Average vehicle travel time from Busega to Mpigi will be reduced from 1-hour to 20 minutes on the completion. US$94 million for the rehabilitation of the 208km Kagitumba-Kayonza-Rusumo road in eastern Rwanda. The average vehicle travel time on the Kagitumba-Kayonza-Rusumo road will be reduced by 50%, from 6 to 3-hours. The road construction will be completed in 2½ years. The direct beneficiaries of the project are traders and transporters who use the Northern Corridor via Mirama Hills/ Kagitumba and the Central Corridor, via Rusumo and the 2.14 million people living within the Busega-Mpigi and Kagitumba-Kayonza-Rusumo areas. 17 The total project cost is estimated at US$376.5 million, co-financed by AfDB [US$244.6 million], Japan International Cooperation Agency [US$56.3 million], European Union [US$22.4 million] and the Governments of Uganda and Rwanda [US$53.2million]. [AfDB 22/06/16]

19 Zambia Mansa-Luwingu Completed Government has completed the construction of the 175km Mansa-Luwingu road built at a cost of K242 million. The construction, by China Henan Corporation and Bari Zambia as consultants, started in October The project is part of the Link Zambia 8000 project. [Daily Mail 19/06/16] Works On Chama-Lundazi Road Start Government has started works on the 124-km Chama- Lundazi road to upgrade it to bituminous standard. Works on the 84km stretch from Chama-Muyombe junction towards Lundazi was awarded to China Civil Engineering Company. The remaining 40 km into Lundazi town will be done by Sable Transport Limited. [Daily Mail 01/07/16] Government Awards Kashikishi-Chiengi-Lunchinda Road Contract President Lungu noted the government has awarded China Heinan the contract to work on the Kashikishi-Chiengi-Lunchinda road. [ZNBC 02/07/16] Zimbabwe Harare-Beitbridge Road Project Takes Off Dualisation of the US$2 billion Beitbridge-Harare and Harare-Chirundu highways has reached take-off stage, after a Government inter-ministerial committee met financiers of the project last month to finalise implementation modalities. The road is a strategic economic regional gateway and is at the core of Zim-Asset and the 10-Point Plan for Economic Growth. The tender for the dualisation project was awarded to Geiger International in association with China Habour Engineering Company Limited. Teams from both companies met with the negotiating committee to conduct due diligence exercises to assess their ability financially and technically to undertake the project. [Herald 21/06/16] 18

20 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA RAIL DRC/Tanzania Agreement To Co-Operate In Rail Services The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority [TAZARA] and the National Railways Company of Democratic Republic of Congo [SNCC] have agreed to aggressively market their services to increase the volume of freight between the port of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and the DR Congo. Both TAZARA and SNCC had posted improvements in their performances with the transit time between Lubumbashi in DR Congo and Dar es Salaam scaled down from over 40 days to less than 10 days. TAZARA alone was moving cargo between Dar es Salaam and New Kapiri-Mposhi in Zambia in 5-days on average. Improvements are a result of leadership changes in both railways as well as measures taken by the shareholding governments to stabilize and boost railway operations by injecting funds and equipment. The 2-railways are to pool their efforts in allocating wagons and to address the co-ordination amongst the 3- railways, including Zambia Railways Limited. TAZARA has been going through turbulent times for many years now, but hit the lowest ebb in the last financial year 2014/2015, when only about 88,000 MT of freight were transported, the lowest figure recorded since 1976 when TAZARA operations officially began. In November last year, TAZARA received 4-new diesel-electric mainline locomotives and 18 new passenger coaches valued at US$22.4 million. The new equipment was expected to register a substantial impact on the operations of TAZARA, which has been struggling from diminished capacity due to aged equipment. [Coastweek 20/06/16] Ethiopia Major Railway 98% Complete The Ethiopian Railways Corporation [ERC] confirmed the US$3.4 billion Sebeta- Meiso-Dewele railway is 98% complete. Development of the 656 km line which is being undertaken by Chinese companies China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is expected to start pilot operations soon and go fully operational in next year. 30% of project is being financed by the government of Ethiopia and the balance by a loan from the Chinese Exim Bank. When complete the project will have an annual 10 million tonnes loading capacity. [Construction Review 07/07/16] Kenya Court Extends Orders Halting SGR Project The environment and land court has extended orders barring construction of the Coastal Standard Gauge Railway (SGR). African Gas and Oil Company, the registered owner of 41.2-ha in Miritini, is battling the government over unpaid land compensation. Orders were obtained on 8th July with the court due to rule on the matter on 22nd July. The land had been listed for acquisition in the Kenyan Gazette, under the Mombasa Port Area Road Development Project. [Standard Digital 12/07/16] 19

21 Mozambique Construction Of New Port And Railway Begins 2017 The construction of the railway line between Moatize and the Sopinho region of Mozambique, including the deep water port of Macuse, is due to begin in Q according to the president of the Zambezia Integrated Development Corridor (CODIZA). The project is estimated to cost US$3 billion. To date over US$60 million have been spent on environmental impact and economic viability studies needed for project implementation. The port of Macuse and the railway line stretching over 500km, which are considered particularly strategic for the transporting coal, are also fundamental to the viability of many projects planned for the Zambezi Valley. The Macuse project is about 60% owned by the Italian Thai Development Company Limited, of Thailand, 20% by Mozambican state port and rail company Portos e Caminhos de Ferro de Moçambique [CFM] and the remaining 20% by CODIZA. [Macauhub/MZ 11/07/16] Negotiates With China Over Machipanda Railroad The Mozambique government is in negotiations with Chinese companies to rebuild the Machipanda railroad. Reconstruction of the line, which is operated by Mozambican state port and rail company CFM, will cost an estimated US$400 million. The railway, which is 317 kilometres long, links the city of Beira, the capital of Sofala province, to Machipanda in Manica district near the border with Zimbabwe. The model to be adopted for the work may be Build, Operate and Transfer [BOT] as outlined in the Law on Public-Private Partnerships [PPP]. This would prevent the State being the project s only investor. [Macauhub/MZ 23/06/16] Tanzania TAZARA Sets To Double Cargo Movement By June 2017 The Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) is set to move about 380,000 MT of cargo by June 2017, an increase of over 100%. The volume is to be realized under new leadership as well as commitments shown by governments of moving traffic from road to rail. TAZARA performance fell in the 2014/2015 fiscal year moving only 88,000 MT, though levels slightly improved in the just-ended financial year at 130,000 MT. [Daily News 11/07/16] 20

22 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA RAIL Uganda Uganda To Sign Financing Agreement For SGR By October The Ugandan Government has confirmed that by October 2016 it will have closed the financing agreement for the construction of the first phase of the Standard Gauge Railway [SGR] project. The 273 km first phase is expected to run from Malaba to Kampala at a cost of US$2.3 billion to be funded by the China EXIM Bank. Government also signed the China Harbour Engineering Company as the contractor tasked to ensure minimum 40% local content and companies. The SGR was launched on October 2014 when President Museveni, President of Rwanda, Mr. Paul Kagame, Mr. Salva Kiir, South Sudan President and representatives from Kenya and Burundi met in Uganda. The mega development project is part of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects regional initiative that came about in order to build up and operate a new, state-of-the-art high capacity railway system jointly among Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan. The proposed regional modern railway line will run from Mombasa through Nairobi, Kampala and Kigali to Juba. 21 The foremost objective of the railway line is to provide a reliable and efficient railway network that will lead to reduced cost of transportation and logistics by around 15-20%. [Construction Review 29/05/16]

23 Zimbabwe New Railway Line On Cards Transport Minister, Joram Gumbo, has revealed that government is carrying out a feasibility study for the construction of a new railway line linking Harare and the Zambian capital, Lusaka. Feasibility studies for the line, which will pass through Kariba, are currently being conducting. The move comes at a time when the National Railways of Zimbabwe [NRZ] is struggling to get more than US$2 billion to upgrade and modernise existing infrastructure. For many years now, business for NRZ has been very low. Last year, the loss-making parastatal moved about 3-million tonnes of goods compared to 3.8 million tonnes in At its peak in 1998, NRZ moved 18 million tonnes of goods annually. The parastatal is facing challenges such as ageing infrastructure and equipment which breaks down intermittently as units have surpassed their designed lifespan. Government in March this year appointed Larry Mavhima as the new NRZ chairman, declaring his 3-topmost priorities would include the restoration of business confidence, unlocking new finance and restructuring of the parastatal s workforce. [Financial Gazette 23/06/16] Zimbabwe/South Africa NRZ Looks To Transnet For Partnership Deal The Zimbabwe Ministry of Transport is in negotiations with South Africa s Transnet Limited over a partnership deal with the National Railways of Zimbabwe [NRZ]. The deal, if successful will secure funding required for the rehabilitation of Zimbabwe s rail network. The Government is also in talks with the Development Bank of South Africa with the aim of securing further funding to revamp its operations which have been subject to challenges due to lack of enough working capital. Transport and Infrastructure Development Deputy Minister Engineer Michael Madanha said NRZ requires US$2 billion for the acquisition of new rolling stock as business opportunities for the parastatal have been low while overall the institution requires US$6 billion to match world standards. It is in talks with a number of partners like DBSA South Africa, Transnet, Chinese investors. However nothing has been firmly concluded. The group s loss for 2015 widened to US$40.88 million from US$31.6 million in the previous year. This comes as capacity utilisation has fallen to low levels while employees have gone for long periods without getting paid. [Herald 04/07/16] 22

24 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA OSBP, SEZ & ICD TERMINALS Botswana/Zimbabwe Mlambapheli-Mmamabaka Border Post Road Opens The Gwanda South District Development Fund [DDF] has completed the US$200,000 construction of a 9.1 km gravel road leading to the recently opened Mlambapheli-Mmamabaka border post. The post, which started operating on the 1st of June is the 3rd border that the country shares with Botswana. However, the facility is yet to be officially opened. [ZBC 27/06/16] Kenya Kisumu Port Revival Depends On SGR According to the Kenya Ports Authority [KPA] the revival of Kisumu inland port on Lake Victoria will depend on the completion of phase two of the Standard Gauge Railway [SGR]. Phase two of the 487-km project from Nairobi to Malaba through Kisumu county will also revive the Inland Container Depots [ICD s] in Kisumu. A new routing has been approved from Naivasha, Narok, Nyamira, Kisumu and Malaba. [Star 22/06/16] South Africa Designation Of Musina-Makhado SEZ The South African Cabinet has approved the decision by Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies to designate the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Vhembe region of Limpopo. The designated zone would promote industrial development in the region with a specific focus on mineral beneficiation, agroprocessing, petrochemicals and other light industries. The move is in line with the Industrial Policy Action Plan, which identified SEZs as strategic interventions designed to accelerate economic development through greater investment, export volumes and job creation. This development would also improve rail and road transport links between South Africa and the rest of the continent. Vhembe is one of the 5 districts of Limpopo province of South Africa. It is the northernmost district of the country and shares its northern border with Beitbridge district in Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. The Musina-Makhado region is also part of the Trans-Limpopo Spatial Development Initiative and was well positioned for regional integration and linkages with Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. Musina is also the main land-based trade route between South Africa and the broader African continent. [Engineering News 11/07/16] Makhado Local Municipality Johannesburg Musina 23

25 Tanzania TICTS Extends To Rwanda Tanzania International Container Terminal [TICTS] envisages extending wings to neighbouring Rwanda. According to local reports, TICTS is scheduled to open the Kigali office on July 1st 2016, to generate greater volumes through the port of Dar es Salaam. TICTS has already trained 16 graduates in a year-long intensive management programme and is determined to build for the future and expand business, citing an investment of over 40bn/- in new quay cranes, which arrived in November. [Daily News 20/06/16] Uganda Free Trade Zones To Attract US$1 Billion Investment The Uganda Free Zones Authority [UFZA] is projecting to attract investments worth US$1 billion and US$100 million in exports by 2020 by establishing 10 free trade zones by The target is to set up 2-public free zones now which would lead to the private sector establishing 8-more by Through a host of tax and non-tax incentives, UFZA is targeting this investment growth from various sectors in the economy as investors come in the country to set up operations in value addition and agro-processing. The UFZA has already signed an agreement with a Turkish company, ASB, to set-up a free investment zone on 18m2 in Nakaseke, which would attract at least 200 entities. ASB is projected to invest US$ million once the agreement is concluded with the government. There is also interest from several state-owned and private Chinese companies. The UFZA was established in 2014 to license, regulate and market free zones in order to generate export revenue, manufacturing and attract investment. UFZA launched an incentive system to attract investors in the zones. Among them is the unrestricted after tax profit repatriation, complete exemption on income from agroprocessing, total exemption from taxes, levies and rates on exports and a 10-year tax holiday on finished goods, among others. [Monitor 01/07/16] Nakaseke Kampala 24

26 EASTERN & SOUTHERN AFRICA OSBP, SEZ & ICD TERMINALS Zimbabwe/South Africa Beitbridge Border Post Protests Beitbridge Border Post saw protests earlier this month over the importing of goods into Zimbabwe. On 1st July, traders blocked roads around the border post, venting their frustration with Zimbabwe s restrictions on goods being imported into the country. Beitbridge Border Post was for the first time in over a century shut down as street protests swelled. On 17th June the Zimbabwean government announced it was suspending imports of products including bottled water, furniture, building materials, steel products, cereals, potato crisps and dairy products, most of which arrive via South Africa. The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority [ZIMRA] said in a statement that Zimbabweans should comply with the import ban. Meanwhile the opposition MDC-T party called on the government to immediately lift the blanket ban. There were no demonstrations or border closure on South Africa s side. Traffic in Limpopo was only affected by the blockade on the Zimbabwean side. Meanwhile a warehouse owned by tax agency ZIMRA and used to hold illicit goods seized from people crossing the border, was set alight by the protesters. Demonstrations have now subsided and the area is being monitored. Beitbridge is the busiest road border post in southern Africa where goods flow between South Africa and countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC], Zambia and Malawi as well as Zimbabwe. 25

27 Statutory Instrument [SI] Control of Goods [Open General Import Licence] [No 2] [Amendment] Notice 2016 [No 8] NOTE BY VERITAS SI 64/2016 adds new items to the Schedule to the Open General Import Licence published in SI 8/1996. Section 3 of SI 8/1996 of allows the import into Zimbabwe of all goods except those listed or referred to in this Schedule. The effect of SI 64/2016, therefore, is that with effect from 17th June import of the goods listed in the SI is prohibited unless it is covered by a special import licence issued to the importer by the Secretary for Industry and Commerce. Statutory Instrument 64 of Control of Goods [Open General Import Licence] [No.2] [Amendment] Notice, 2016 [No. 8] IT is hereby notified that the Minister of lndustry and Commerce has, in terms of section 4[1] [a] of the Control of Goods [Import and Export] [Commerce] Regulations, 1974, published in Rhodesia Government Notice 766 of 1974, made the following notice: 1. This notice may be cited as the Control of Goods [Open General Import Licence] [No.2] [Amendment] Notice, 2016 [No.8]. 2. The Schedule to the Control of Goods [Open General Import, Licence] [No.2] Notice, 1996, published in Statutory Instrument 8 of 1996 is amended by the insertion of the following- 24. Coffee creamers [Cremora] classified under headings 2106:9090 of the customs tariff. 25. Camphor creams, White petroleum jellies and Body creams classified under headings 3304:9990 of the customs tariff. 26. Plastic pipes and fittings classified under headings 3917:2110,3917:2190, 3917:2310, 3917:2320, 3917:2390 and 8424:8100 of the customs tariff. 27. Buildersware products: [i] wheelbarrows [flat pan and concrete pan wheelbarrows] classified under headings 8716:8010 of the customs tariff; [ii] structures [excluding prefabricated buildings of heading 94.06] and parts of structures of iron or steel [bridges and bridges section, lockgates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors, windows and their frames and thresholds for doors. shutters, balustrade, pillars and columns] and plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections and tubes prepared for use in structures of iron and steel classified under headings 7308:3090 of the customs tariff; [iii] flat-rolled products of iron or non-alloy steel, of a width of 600 mm or more, clad plated or coated and corrugated steel roofing sheets classified under headings 7210:4100 of the customs tariff; and [iv] other furniture and parts thereof and other metal furniture of steel kitchen units classified under headings 9403:2090 of the customs tariff. 28. Metal clad insulated panels classified under headings 8418:9910,8418:9990 and 9406:0091 of the customs tariff. 26

28 WESTERN AFRICA ROAD Cameroon Transport Sector Support Program: Phase II The African Development Bank [AfDB] and the Development Bank of Central African States [BDEAC] is to finance the construction of the Transport Sector Support Program: Phase II, to open up the Central, South, West and Extreme North of Cameroon. Part of the project will see the rehabilitation of the Yaoundé Bafoussam-Babadjou road [241 km] including the construction of an interchange at the Obala junction, the Maroua-Bogo-Pouss road [63.16 km] and construction of the Grand Zambi-Kribi road [53 km]. [AfDB 20/06/16] Mintom-Lele-Ntam-Mbalam Road The Government of Cameroon has obtained a loan from the African Development Bank [AfDB] and the Japanese Cooperation Agency [JICA] to finance the construction works of the Ketta-Djoum road and transport facilitation on the Brazzaville-Yaounde corridor. Part of the financing shall be used to pay the construction works of the Mintom-Lele-Ntam-Mbalam road, South and East Regions, Length - Lot 1: km and Lot 2: 53 km. Eligible contractors are requested to submit their sealed tenders. [AfDB 23/06/16] Cote d Ivoire/Guinea Border Road Upgrade The Ivorian Government has received a loan from the African Development Fund (ADF) for development and tarring of the Danané road on the Ivorian-Guinea border (47.6 km). The project falls within the Mano River union development program. Management Agency AGEROUTE invites relevant tenders interested in submitting their bids. [AfDB 07/07/16] 27

29 Ghana Mahama Cuts Sod For Reconstruction Of Bolga-Bawku Road President Mahama has cut the sod for reconstruction work to begin on the 115-km Bolgatanga-Bawku Road. The road runs through 7-districts and links Ghana to Togo and Burkina Faso. Queiroz Galvão, a Brazilian company has been awarded the contract and is expected to complete the project from Bolgatanga, the regional capital, to Pulmakom in the Pusiga District over 30-months. The project includes 3-main bridges over the Kola River, the Red Volta and the White Volta. [StarrFM 11/07/16] France To Upgrade Ofirikrom Asokwa Road France have signed a US$41.6 million loan agreement for a roadwork project in Kumasi financed by the Agence Française de Development [AFD]. The by-pass project is under the remit of the Second Urban Environmental and Sanitation Project [UESP II] and involves the Ofirikrom-Asokwa by pass and the Lake Road. [Construction Review 04/07/16] 28

30 WESTERN AFRICA RAIL Ghana Government To Construct Tema-Akosombo Railway President Mahama has announced government s intention to construct a railway line from Tema in the Greater Accra Region to Akosombo in the Eastern Region. President Mahama revealed the move after a meeting with the visiting Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee. The Tema-Akosombo line is seen as important in the movement of containers and other cargo including fuel products, cement etc along the 88km line to Akosombo which is a port on the lower end of the Volta River. From this port products can be transported across the Volta Lake to the Northern lake ports of Buipe and onwards to the 3-Northern regions of Ghana or even Burkina Faso, Mali and other countries. [Citifmonline.com 14/06/16] Morocco Casablanca-Algiers-Tunis Corridor The Union du Maghreb Arabe [UMA] has obtained a US$1.7 million loan from the African Development Bank [AfDB] granted as part of the NEPAD Special Infrastructure Fund [IDF-NEPAD] for financing preparatory activities for the rehabilitation and modernization of the Trans-Maghrebine rail project. The projects seeks to improve rail networks of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia and promote intermodal transport and trade in the Arab Maghreb Union [AMU]. This will have a positive impact in reducing the cost and transport time within the Casablanca-Algiers-Tunis corridor. The project involves 362 km of tracks connecting Morocco to Algeria and 503 km of railway between Algeria and Tunisia. It will also see the construction of 253 km of new tracks supporting a speed of 220 km/h for connect the Algeria to the Tunisia. A feasibility study will be undertaken directly. [AfDB 20/16/16] 29

31 Nigeria Lagos/Calabar Rail Project The Federal Government and China Civil Engineering Construction Company [CCECC] have signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] to commence work on Lagos to Calabar coastal rail project. The project, which was initially awarded during former President Goodluck Jonathan s administration at a cost of US$11.9 billion has been renegotiated to US$11.1 billion following a drop in commodity prices. The government will take care of 15% of the funding. The project is expected to be completed in 2-years. The first phase covering Calabar, Uyo, Abba and Port Harcourt will commence once discussions are finalised with China Exim Bank. The entire contract covers Calabar, Uyo, Aba, Port Harcourt, Yenagoa, Otuoke, Ughelli, Warri, Sapele, Benin, Agbor, Asaba, Onitsha, Ore, Ijebu Ode, Sagamu and Lagos, and finally Lagos Seaport. [Naija /07/16] GE to Invest US$2 Billion in Nigerian Rail Projects The Minister of Transport disclosed that General Electric [GE] would invest US$2 billion in the country s rail projects namely to revive the Lagos-Kano narrow gauge and the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge by private investment. The Federal Government is seeking Public-Private Partnership s [PPP] to fund the Nigerian transportation sector. [Vanguard 30/06/16] 30