Tunisia plans to reduce its budget deficit to 4.9% (against 6% now) by 2018. To achieve this, it plans to rely on the tax reforms it currently implements. “Next year’s budget will focus on major reforms which have been postponed for long, such as tax reforms and those in the public sector,” the Tunisian minister for economic reforms, Taoufik Rajhi (photo), told Reuters. Tunisia plans to...

In South Africa, tech firm International Business Machine (IBM) and mobile operator MTN have teamed up with the Wageningen University (WU) in Holland, and Prodapt to fight the poaching of rinhoceroses at Welgevonden Game Reserve. To achieve this, the Internet of Things (IoT) will be used.  Indeed, the IBM technology will be paired with MTN’s Connected Wildlife Solution and predictive...

In Cote d’Ivoire, the Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) will develop a 5-year programme to fight cocoa’s swollen shoot disease. This was announced by the regulatory authority last Monday, during a workshop organized in Bouaflé, in the North Western part of the country, Xinhua reported.  The scheme which will go from 2017 to 2022 and cost overall $63 million (FCFA34.5 billion), will...

In Zambia, Muchinga Power Company Limited (MPCL) will spend $900 million to develop a 330MW hydropower dam. The project which aims to boost renewables share in the country’s energy mix also includes construction of a 66km-long 330kV power transmission line. It will connect the hydropower station to the country’s grid, Daily Mail indicates. “MPCL intends to develop a hydropower project...

TSX and NYSE listed firm, Kinross Gold, has published results of the feasibility study for the second phase of its expansion project for its Tasiast gold mine in Mauritania. The phase aims to make Tasiast a world-class project with low costs, a long lifeline, and which would generate substantial cash flows. Results of the study show that the mine’s processing capacity should rise to 30,000...

Accelerate land procedures. This is the wish of Tunisia’s minister of State domains and Land affairs, Mabrouk Kourchid (photo), who recently revealed details about the reform that would insure the realization of this objective. The official did so during a visit to the regional land office. “The minister said efforts should be mustered to reduce the duration of land procedures from 30 days,...

From 2017 to 2019, the African Development Bank (AfDB) will back Gabon’s economic recovery plan, providing the country a budget support of $1.5 billion or around FCFA900 billion. The first tranche of the facility, FCFA131 billion, was released in March. Remaining tranches will be paid over the three years during which the economic recovery plan will be implemented. The fund utilization...

Lesotho is now officially the first African country to legalize the cultivation of weed. This by providing a license to grow and process the plant to South African phytopharmaceutical firm, Verve Dynamics. The plants will be used for medical and research purposes. In effect, the related agreement signed by Lesotho’s ministry of health and Verve Dynamics will enable the South African company to...

The first is the renowned business mogul and Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote. Also listed as the second most influent black person in the world, he is more of a star. The second is highly estimed in Morocco, but not much known in sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, with his Adoha group, Anas Sefrioui is quite active on the continent, mainly in the sectors of housing and construction materials...

Starting from January 1, 2018, foreigners interested in visiting the Republic of Benin will be able to get their visa online. This, through a platform via which they will be able to make related payment or pay at the borders. This was disclosed by Benin’s minister of foreign affairs, Aurelien Agbenonci (photo), last week as he was opening the diplomatic year. This e-visa project, it must be...