Latest news with #EastAfrica
The Star
2 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
East African fashion life show opens in Kenya to boost textiles, apparels trade
NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The second edition of East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show was officially opened on Friday in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, drawing over 70 exhibitors from Kenya and China. Chinese enterprises are exhibiting textiles, packaging material, baby toys, personal care products and wigs, home decor, and gift wrappers during the expo that runs from Thursday to Saturday. Yin Maolin, Party chief of Mudan District in Heze City, east China's Shandong Province, led a high-level Chinese delegation to attend the expo that will highlight the potential of East Africa as a hub for the fashion, sustainable textile, and apparel sector. According to Yin, the fashion show offers a platform for deepening economic partnership between China and Kenya, focusing on trade in high-quality manufactured products and jointly establishing seamless supply chains. Pius Rotich, general manager for investment promotion and business development services at Kenya Investment Authority, said the government has created a conducive policy and regulatory environment to spur the growth of the textile and apparel sector. Kenya is committed to a partnership with Chinese investors in a bid to manufacture high-quality leather products for export in the African market and beyond, boosting foreign exchange earnings and job creation, said Rotich. Gao Wei, managing director of Afripeak Expo Kenya Ltd., co-organizer of the 2025 East African Fashion Show, said this year's edition had grown bigger in terms of the number of visitors and exhibitors, reaffirming dynamism in the region's textile and apparel sectors. The fashion expo, according to Gao, will run under the theme of "Inspire Friendship, Connect World," bringing together Chinese and Kenyan enterprises dealing with household accessories, cosmetics, and electronics under one roof. Gao said the expo will also create a platform for Chinese business executives to network with their Kenyan counterparts, explore two-way trade in leather products. Hundreds of Kenyan visitors thronged to the East Africa Fashion expo, with the majority acknowledging their appreciation of Chinese-made products, including wigs, cosmetics and fabrics. Waceke Mwaura, a female entrepreneur, said that she was impressed by the wig showcased by Chinese exhibitors, adding that its high quality has made it popular among local clients. Mwaura said she has been importing hair from China to supply to local retailers and beauty parlors, even as she scouts for distributorship arrangements with Chinese manufacturers. Paul Munyua, a middle-aged pedicurist, said that he visited the expo to gain insight into new beauty products in the local market imported from China that are affordable to his clients.
The Star
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Kenyan youth stage catwalk to showcase fusion of African, Chinese fashion
NAIROBI, June 20 (Xinhua) -- The fusion of Chinese and African fashion came into the spotlight on Friday when students from Moi University in southern Kenya staged a catwalk during the second edition of the East Africa (Kenya) Fashion Life Show 2025, held in the capital, Nairobi. Models participating in the fashion show wore elegant attire that blended Chinese and African fabrics, patterns, designs, and colors, demonstrating cross-cultural ties between the two sides. Liz Nyakiongora, a part-time model and communications major at Moi University, said she felt honored to participate in the catwalk and demonstrate both Chinese and African fashion. "What we wanted to bring out in this fashion show is the solidarity and prosperity in China-Kenya relations. As an African model, being able to showcase this fusion of fashion from both sides was a great moment. We took the prints from Kenya and China and came up with these final products," Nyakiongora said. Cavince Otieno Ochieng, an arts major at Moi University, said the event emphasized inclusivity, cross-cultural understanding and harmony through the blending of African and Chinese prints. "As a young Kenyan, I look forward to more inclusivity in fashion and having people from different countries come together to form a common thread that unites us," Ochieng said. While acknowledging his appreciation of Chinese fashion, Ochieng said it embodies positive virtues of humanity, including unity, talent, beauty, and a vibrant aura. Biutha Mosomi, dean of students at Moi University's Nairobi Campus, said the fashion show helped spotlight the richness, authenticity, and beauty of African and Chinese fabrics. He stressed that blending Chinese and African fashion will help strengthen bonds of friendship and understanding, in addition to opening up revenue streams for young local designers.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan PM orders expansion of national shipping fleet to cut $4 billion trade cost
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed authorities to lease new ships to expand the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation's (PNSC) fleet, aiming to reduce the $4 billion annual foreign exchange burden on sea-based trade. The directive comes as Pakistan looks to bolster its maritime trade capacity and reduce reliance on foreign shipping lines, which officials say significantly contributes to the country's widening trade deficit and puts pressure on foreign exchange reserves. Pakistan's sea trade plays a vital role in its economy, with over 90 percent of the country's imports and exports transported by sea. 'The prime minister directed that ships be acquired on lease to expand the fleet of the PNSC,' the PM Office said in a statement following a meeting on PNSC affairs chaired by Sharif. 'He noted that due to the limited number of ships in the PNSC fleet, the national exchequer incurs a loss of $4 billion annually in foreign exchange on sea-based trade.' Sharif instructed authorities to present a strategy within two weeks for the PNSC to eliminate this burden on the national treasury on account of freight charges. The development comes as Pakistan plans to enhance its maritime trade with other countries, including the East African Community, and establish direct sea links with Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Somalia, Burundi, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. In February, Pakistan and Bangladesh also decided to begin passenger and cargo shipping services between the two countries. The PNSC inducted two $60 million Aframax oil tankers in 2019 to strengthen its oil transportation fleet. Pakistan also regularly collaborates with its counterparts from various parts of the world to ensure illicit activities such as smuggling, drug trafficking, and piracy are kept in check.
BBC News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Focus on Africa How different will the Rwanda-DRC peace deal be?
There is a glimmer of hope that three decades of conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo could end after the government agreed a draft peace deal with Rwanda, a country accused of funding the M23, a group that has taken over some significant towns in the east of DRC. Representatives of the two countries will formally sign the agreement next week. But will this deal brokered by the United States work where others have failed? Also, Egypt scrambles for gas supplies after Israel's oil refineries are struck by Iranian strikes and we examine whether other countries in Africa have been affected too. And a bra-scandal: why female staff members at a university in Nigeria were touching the breasts of students before allowing them to take an exam? Presenter: Audrey Brown Producers: Yvette Twagiramariya, Bella Hassan and Blessing Aderogba Technical Producer: Chris Ablakwa Senior Journalist: Sunita Nahar Editors: Andre Lombard and Alice Muthengi
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Rwanda arrests opposition leader Ingabire, says investigative body
Rwanda has arrested prominent opposition leader Victoire Ingabire, who is being held at a detention facility in the capital Kigali on charges of inciting the public and creating a criminal organization, a state investigative agency said. Sean Hogan reports.
