IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Chinese vow to share agricultural expertise

China is willing to share its technological advances and expertise in agricultural development to promote food production in both countries, says China's Ambassador to Kenya, Liu Xianfa.

At the opening of the China International Agrochemicals and Crop Protection Exhibition Africa Summit in Nakuru county, Kenya, on Sept 14, Liu said: "China has accumulated great experience in agriculture development, including agrochemicals and crop production, and through continued collaboration we can promote food security for the citizens of Kenya and China."

He urged participants from China and Kenya to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen collaborationin agricultural technology and innovation.

Lenah Wati, acting vice-chancellor of Egerton University, a co-host of the forum, said exchanging knowledge and information on proper use of agrochemicals among small and large-scale farmers is critical as it bolsters initiatives aimed at dealing with insecurity in Kenya.

She thanked the Chinese government and its people for their unyielding support in promoting Kenya's agricultural development.

Kenya eyes tea market in China

Kenya says it is working on plans to export tea to China.

Elizabeth Kimenyi, interim head of the Tea Directorate, said in Nairobi that the Chinese market will help to diverse her country's tea export markets.

"We want to reduce our reliance on traditional markets such as Egypt, Britain and Pakistan in order to reduce price fluctuations," Kimenyi said on the sidelines of the Africa Coffee Outlook Conference, which opened in Nairobi on Sept 15.

Despite China's huge domestic tea production, it is a net importer of tea because of its huge population, she said. China produces mainly green tea, while Kenya produces black tea.

Sinomach, GE partner for power projects

China's leading contractor for international projects will team up with the US conglomerate General Electric to develop clean power projects in Africa.

China National Machinery Industry Corporation (Sinomach) and GE signed a memorandum of understanding on collaboration in promoting clean energy in Africa, with the goal of helping double the number of Sub-Saharan Africans with access to electricity.

The two firms will jointly finance, raise investment for and develop these projects, including a pilot wind power project planned in Kenya.

The power station will be about 50 kilometers south of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, with total installed capacity of 102 megawatts. Sinomach will be the project contractor and GE will provide turbines and technology support.

Firm pledges reliable power supply

China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co, which has delivered power to the Addis Ababa Light Rail Transit in Ethiopia's capital, has guaranteed the smooth and reliable power supply to the railway project.

The Chinese company has successfully completed the gas insulated substations that are meant to supply power to the transit system.

Officials of the Chinese company and of Ethiopian Electric Power visited one of the GIS substations at the Kality area of Addis Ababa on Sept 15.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 09/18/2015 page18)