 Double Cocoa Production

Nigeria

Nigeria will double its production of cocoa, one of its major export crops from 250,000 to 500,000 tons by 2015, said its Ministry of Agriculture recently, adding that 3.6 million hybrid cocoa pods would be distributed free to cocoa farmers in the country to meet the target. Calling on the private sector to partner with the government in exploring the opportunities in cocoa production, the ministry said intensification of efforts toward adding value to cocoa in the country would enable it to be a key player in international cocoa business.

 Bridge Building

Mozambique

A 3-km bridge with an investment of $725 million under Mozambique-China cooperation started construction recently in the capital Maputo. This project is estimated to generate 2,000 jobs. Mozambican President Armando Guebuza highlighted the importance of the bridge to the development of the districts. The project will last 30 months and will be done by the Chinese Road and Bridge Corp.The bridge across Maputo Bay will connect the capital to Catembe, and includes paving the 120-km road between Catembe and Ponta do Ouro, a popular tourist resort which borders South Africa. That would also connect Maputo to Durban, the continent's busiest port.

RIDING FORWARD: Kenya's sports policies will soon get more support

 Sport Law

Kenya

Kenya will enact a sport law by the end of December in order to provide an anchor for the sports policy, according to Commissioner of Sports Gordon Oluoch. He said the sport law should be in place by December, so that the sport policy can be operationalized. "The law will provide the legal provisions to enforce the sport policy so that Kenyans can begin to benefit from it," he said. The sport commissioner added that the legislation will also establish the National Sports Authority which will govern all sport activities in the country.