Big Five Explorer

TRADE and Industry Minister Rob Davies wants funding from the Land Bank and Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) in place by the end of the next financial year to fund a massive afforestation programme in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu- Natal. Conservative estimates in a 2005 study identified 100000ha for new forestry in the Eastern Cape and 39000ha in KZN with smaller parcels in Limpopo and Mpumalanga concluding that the industry had the potential to create 15600 jobs. The forestry products industry ranks among the top exporting industries in the country and its exports in 2008 totalled R14.8-billion which, after deducting forest product of R11.3-billion – meant a net foreign exchange earning of R3.5-billion, a contribution of some 15% to the country’s trade balance.

The Industrial Policy Action Plan (IPAP), released by Davies last week, notes that most of the forests are on communal land where “a number of value-added opportunities can be explored for smaller growers” currently supplying their timber to big companies for pulp and paper mills. IPAP says that opportunities exist to expand the small-scale milling industry and to use jungle wattle that would otherwise go to waste for charcoal production. The action plan says the issuing of water licences has become “a serious obstacle for forestry development” and communities are unable sometimes to afford the required environmental impact assessment.

It wants a national task team in place by the end of June to oversee the afforestation process and for the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (DWEA) to have conducted reserve determination and hydrological surveys for targeted catchments within the same time frame. By the end of September, Trade and Industry will have appointed facilitators to mobilise communities and “provide capacity for them to apply for water use licences issued by DWEA and access capital”.

Funding for the EIAs will be provided by Asgisa EC and Trade and Industry. Davies is also looking at charcoal manufacturing enterprises in the Eastern Cape and KZN using jungle wattle – an alien species. He points out the market requires low levels of capital inputs, limited technical knowledge, uses unskilled workers and is labour-intensive. “The project has the potential of increasing participation in the rural areas, employment creation and skills transfer.” IPAP wants Asgisa EC to undertake the required EIAs in identified areas by the end of June and for the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA) to train and register 12 cooperatives in communities with an interest in charcoal production within the same timeframes. The National Empowerment Fund and IDC must also provide funding for the enterprises by the end of September. IPAP is also looking at the biomass sub-sector for SMMEs and a feasibility study will be undertaken before the end of this year as well as a business plan developed before the end of March next year.

Source: Weekend Post (http://www.weekendpost.co.za/business/article.aspx?id=535623)

Tourism is a vital sector not only for Tanzania, but also the entire East African region. For a long time, the industry has contributed to the development of the region, being a key foreign exchange earner.

Besides bringing in the foreign cash, which these economies badly need, the industry also creates employment.

However, its impact would be felt even more if these countries pooled their resources and jointly marketed their attractions. So far, each country has been going it alone, and yet they have tourism products that if sold together would be a marvelous attraction to the foreign visitors.

There are a lot of advantages the region can realise if it comes up with a coordinated policy in some or all the aspects connected with the industry. One of these is having a single visa for all the five countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

As the region forges closer ties, having a common market, joint tourism promotion is the way to go. And a single visa will go a long way in easing travel arrangements for those intending to visit one or all of the member countries of the East African Community (EAC).

We are, therefore, happy to learn that consultations are going on to have a single tourist visa for all EAC member countries. We are told this will be the first step in efforts to harmonise tourist policies and laws.

Efforts to boost the tourism in the region should be encouraged. A single visa will save potential tourists time and the agony of having to hop from one embassy to another to apply for different visas to come to East Africa.

They should be able to obtain this one document and visit and sample the diverse tourism attractions in the five countries.

Such an arrangement will definitely lead to an increase in the number of tourists to the region. This effort should be speeded up so that the benefits can be realised as soon as possible.

Source: eTurbo News (http://www.eturbonews.com/14464/tanzania-single-east-africa-tourist-visa-great-idea)

Air Mauritius has announced an increase of its weekly frequencies from three flights currently operated this Northern Winter (November 2009 to March 2010) to five flights next Winter (November 2010 to March 2011). An additional frequency will be operated during the peak period leading to six frequencies at specific times of the year.

Air Mauritius will operate four flights during the Northern Summer (April to October 2010). An additional frequency is also planned during the peak period.

Mr R K Ujoodha, G.O.S.K., Air Mauritius CEO, says: “This move by Air Mauritius translates into increases of up to 67% of the weekly capacity currently scheduled and should provide the necessary momentum for growth of the UK market towards a daily frequency as soon as the market is ready. It comes at an opportune time as Mauritius gears itself to welcome one million tourists this year”.

Source: eTravelBlackboard.com (http://www.etravelblackboard.com/showarticle.asp?id=101946&nav=2)