Japan to strengthen ties with development support at TICAD summit

Published on Wednesday, 17 August 2016 10:21

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Nairobi which will mark the first time the event is held in Africa, sources close to the PM confirmed Tuesday.

TICAD was launched by the government in 1993, with the previous five related events held in Japan aimed at planning means to offer infrastructural development based on superlative quality that taps into the country’s technology.

The conference is planned to feature high-level policy dialogue between Japan and African leaders which will cover issues of economic development and investment, as well as those of trade and sustainable development.

Sources with the knowledge of the event revealed that issues of human security, peace and stable governance will also be discussed.

“Being a multilateral partnership, the TICAD process also actively promotes South-South and triangular cooperation, in addition to traditional cooperation,” an official statement from the multilateral partnership organisation said.

At the conclusion of the two-day conference, a declaration will be made that will refer to the region’s ongoing potential for economic growth and touch on issues of counter-terrorism.

A local media in Japan say a sizable Japanese business delegation will be in attendance with the aim of boosting corporate investment in infrastructural projects in Africa.

Japan previously pledged $32 billion over five years for infrastructural and human resource development, with the funds available on the principle of “Africa ownership” and international partnership.

Japan has also given some $3.5 billion in official development assistance (ODA), which is equivalent to about 25 per cent of the $14 billion pledged a similar conference held in Yokohama three years ago.

Source: Business Daily Newspaper.

Another cab-hailing app chops fares, drives up rivalry

Published on Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:49

Estonian online cab-hailing app Taxify has cut its fares amid increased competition from its rivals including Uber.

Taxify is from this week charging Sh40 per kilometre, down from Sh50, Sh4 per minute from Sh5, while the base fare will remain unchanged at Sh100.
The firm first entered the Kenyan market on July 1, this year.

Drivers signed up to the app are the biggest winners of the firm’s re-launch as they will part with a 15 per cent commission as its main rival Uber charges 25 per cent.

Taxify rider charges are, however, higher than Uber rates announced two weeks ago where passengers pay Sh35 per kilometre, Sh3 per minute and a base fare of Sh100 during normal hours. Unlike Taxify, Uber has price surges when demand for taxis rises.

“Today we are re-launching our services in Nairobi to adopt to changes in the market with new pricing models and stricter quality standards from our drivers,” Taxify Head of Marketing Pavel Karagjaur, said in Nairobi on Sunday.

The firm has tightened its quality control rules for drivers signing up as they are now expected to observe a number of terms that include safety certification.

Condition checks

“We accepted almost every taxi driver who would join in. Now we do have car quality and condition checks and train drivers individually to provide the best service,” he said.

So far, the firm has over 600 active drivers, most of whom are Kenya Taxi Cab Association (KTCA) members, with about 1,500 others awaiting approval to join the platform.

It has also added credit and debit card payment options along cash for riders, with a pending plan to include mobile money payment option.

The technology set up in 2013 is operational in more than 10 countries including South Africa, Estonia, Czech, Finland, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Serbia, Netherlands and Mexico.

Taxify has plans to venture into all major towns including Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu in the next one year and recruit about 7,000 drivers belonging to licensed taxi firms or groups.

It is estimated that Nairobi has 140,000 taxi users and it would require 25,000 drivers to service the city yet less than 15,000 are currently doing rounds leaving the market inadequately served.

Nairobi has become the tech hub of Africa mainly because its residents are more willing to embrace new technology making it a magnet for tech firms from around the globe. This explains why the capital is teeming with nearly a dozen cab hailing platforms.

Source: Daily Nation

Century Cinemax to launch Kenya’s second IMAX theatre in Nairobi

Published on Tuesday, 16 August 2016 08:46

Kenya is set to receive its second IMAX movie theatre in November at the Garden City Mall in Nairobi under the Century Cinemax brand of cinemas.

The first IMAX theatre — which displays images of larger size and resolution than conventional film systems — was set up in Kenya in 2012 by Blue Sky World Ltd at the 20th Century Plaza in the capital’s central business district.

The expansion will eventually see Garden City host five ordinary screens from Century Cinemax — which operates screens in Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Arusha and Nairobi’s Junction Mall — with a capacity of more than 800 people.

“Kenyans love movies and they are very savvy in terms of recognising good quality content. The cinema market is quite mature in Nairobi, therefore making it our first choice of Century Imax to put their first IMAX screen in the region,” said Shafina Jaffer, owner of the Century group of cinemas.

An IMAX screen is approximately 17×9 metres taking up about the same size as 13, 51-inch plasma screens in what enhances the visual experience.

IMAX 20th Century took up the space previously accommodating Fox 20th Centruy Cinemas, with the new screen requiring that the two theatres be merged into one.

READ: 3D movie experience comes to Kenya

A movie viewed in IMAX immerses the viewer into it due to not only the magnitude of the screen but also the quality of sound. The 3D effects on IMAX are also more vivid than those on a regular 3D cinema screen. Its 3D effect is brought so near to you that the movie seems to be unfolding around you.

The movie scene in Kenya has had turbulent times that saw the closure of several theatres including Kenya Cinema, Capital Centre and Fox 20th Century over the past decade.

Jumpstart the segment

The entry of the first IMAX in 2012 seemed to jumpstart the segment as well as the expansion by Nakumatt’s Planet Media Cinemas.
There are currently less than 10 commercial cinema halls in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

There has been steady improvement in the sub segment that prompted investments by Blue Sky World Ltd — owners of IMAX 20th Centruy and Anga Sky at Panari, Nakumatt Holdings (Planet Media Cinemas) and Century Cinemax (owners of CenturyImax).

“There are talks with upcoming malls and negotiations are underway to expand in Kenya to offer the customer an international level of cinema going experience,” said Ms Jaffer.

According to Ms Jaffer, Garden City was a good fit for Century Cinemax’s expansion. “The landlords and management are very proactive in trying to offer a complete mall experience to the customer making it an ideal location for cinemas.”

Nakumatt initially set up a fully-fledged entertainment unit in 2012 which was replicated at selected branches.

Planet Media Cinemas joined the bandwagon of film distribution in Kenya early in the year. The outlet is leveraging on existing network and infrastructure to provide film distribution services of Hollywood and Bollywood, among others.

Source: Business Daily

Turkey looking to make inroads in regional construction industry

Published on Monday, 15 August 2016 08:37

The Turkish business community on Friday launched a major drive to popularise their construction and building products with a view to penetrating the East African market.

Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Deniz Eke said Turkey manufacturers were ready to form partnerships with Kenyan traders to promote their products.

Ambassador Eke said the deal would involve exploring ways to make the products locally.

She said that this would create a ready platform for skills’ transfer, enabling Kenyans to learn Turkish engineering in the building, construction and infrastructure sector.

Ambassador Eke who spoke at the KICC ballroom during the launch of the four-day Turkish Fair, said their presence in Kenya hardly three weeks after a failed military coup was evidence that the Turkish economy had started picking up where all activities were back to normal.

“Turkey is very safe and I urge Kenyans to travel to Turkey like they did before for tourism and for business. We are here to cement existing ties as pledged by our two governments,” said the Ambassador.

Industrialisation Director Erastus Kimuri said the Kenyan government was keen to enhance the business partnerships, adding that Kenya was ready to facilitate trade between the two countries.

Mr Kimuri said Kenya’s position as the connection point to the East African community created a suitable avenue for Turkish traders to break even via partnership with Kenyan traders.

The event was organized by Turkel Fair Organisation which brought in 40 exhibitors in interior design, electrical cables, tiles, plumbing products, generators, doors among other construction materials.

Ambassador Eke, who was accompanied by the Turkish Commercial Counselor Selman Kurt, said Turkey manufacturers and businesspeople were ready to offer Kenyan contractors access to Turkish engineering skills, materials and technology that had also been successfully deployed in Europe and the Middle East countries.

“Out of the top 250 construction companies around the world, Turkey has 40 companies and this is proof that our technology and expertise is superior and trusted by many,” she said.

Source: Daily Nation