LMD and Schneider Electric Partner on Smart City Projects in Egypt Egypt: LMD has signed a memorandum of understanding with Schneider Electric to collaborate on the development of smart and energy-efficient projects across Egypt. The agreement focuses on integrating technologies related to sustainability, energy management, artificial intelligence and smart city infrastructure into current and future developments. The partnership will utilise Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure

Kenya Sanitaryware Factory Kenya: A new sanitary ware manufacturing facility has commenced operations in Kisumu County, following an investment of US$20 million. The plant, developed by Keda Ceramics, is the first sanitary ware factory in Kenya and the largest in East Africa, marking a significant step in the country’s industrial expansion. The facility is aligned with the government’s affordable housing initiative, which is driving demand for locally produced construction ma

New Ceramic Plant Set to Strengthen Ethiopia’s Domestic Production ETHOPIA: A new ceramic manufacturing plant in Ethiopia is set to begin production within three weeks, marking a significant boost to the country’s domestic building materials sector. Built by Baijia Ceramic Manufacturing in Tulefa, about 65 km from Addis Ababa, the facility was developed with an investment of US$50 million and spans 30 hectares. The factory is expected to produce between 35,000 and 50,000 squa

Kenya Urges African Nations to Adopt Affordable Housing Model Kenya: Kithure Kindiki has called on African countries to adopt Kenya’s affordable housing model to address urban housing challenges. He made the remarks at the closing ceremony of the Second Africa Urban Forum held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. The housing programme, introduced under the administration of William Ruto, includes more than 200 construction sites and has contributed to employment g

South Africa reports rise in FDI inflows in fourth quarter of 2025 South Africa: South Africa recorded foreign direct investment inflows of ZAR 41.3 billion (approximately USD 2.4 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with outflows of ZAR 21.0 billion (approximately USD 1.2 billion) in the third quarter, according to data published by the South African Reserve Bank. The inflows were attributed to non-resident investments across sectors including media and entertain

Residential construction SOUTH AFRICA: As South Africa approaches the 2026 national Budget cycle, much of the focus is usually on bold growth projections, policy changes, and large infrastructure commitments. However, in the residential property market, confidence tends to build slowly rather than through sweeping announcements. Following a difficult decade marked by high interest rates, declining property values, and financial pressure on households, homebuyers have become m

Carrier JV Targets Kenya’s Data Center Growth with Advanced Cooling Solutions KENYA: Gulf-based AHI Carrier FZC, a Carrier Global joint venture, has announced plans to enter the Kenyan market, aiming to capitalise on a rapidly growing demand for data centers and digital infrastructure in the region. The company’s regional business manager, Ajay Garg, said the move aligns with Kenya’s expanding digital economy and strong need for high-density, energy-efficient cooling technolo

RMB Secures US$ 0.28 billion (R4.45bn) Funding to Back Reatile Group’s Energy Growth SOUTH AFRICA: Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) has finalised a US$ 0.28 billion (R4.45 billion) funding package to support South Africa-based Reatile Group’s expansion across the energy sector, including gas, petrochemicals, fuel storage and renewables. The financing, announced on 5 February 2026, includes a US$ 0.21 billion (R3.35 billion) holding company facility and a US$ 0.07 billion (R1.1 billio

Hassan Allam Properties Egypt: Hassan Allam Properties plans to execute new projects worth US$ 296 million in 2026 and will introduce a hospitality brand to manage its expanding hotel portfolio. The company is diversifying beyond residential developments into hospitality, sports, and education through partnerships with local and international entities. Four hotels with a combined capacity of around 700 rooms are under development in New Cairo, 6th of October City, and the Nor

Haier Expands to South Africa, Eyes Local Production SOUTH AFRICA: China’s home appliance major Haier has officially entered the South African market, hosting a launch event in Johannesburg. The company described South Africa as a strategic gateway for expansion across southern Africa and showcased smart, energy-efficient appliances, including solar-powered air conditioners tailored to local electricity cost challenges. Haier said it plans to establish an industrial park wi

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia Discuss Housing and Construction Cooperation Nigeria/Saudi Arabia: Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have held discussions to expand bilateral cooperation in housing development, construction technology and local building materials manufacturing, during meetings on the sidelines of the 2026 Real Estate Future Forum in Riyadh. Nigeria’s Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, met with Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs

Sustainable Cooling AFRICA: A new report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) warns that inadequate access to cooling places over one billion people globally at risk, with Africa among the most affected regions. Without urgent action, up to 1.05 billion Africans could face high heat-related risks by 2030. In Sub-Saharan Africa, weak cooling infrastructure threatens health, food security and productivity, while countries such as Nigeria, Sudan and Mozambique are among the

KEDA Ghana Eyes Further Expansion Following Major Local Manufacturing Investment GHANA: KEDA (Ghana) Ceramics Company Ltd. is planning to expand its international sales footprint after investing around US$ 300 million in local manufacturing since 2017. The company, which estimates it now holds about 45% of Ghana’s domestic ceramics market, is considering a second-phase sanitary ware production line that could attract a further US$ 200–500 million in investment. The move would

Egypt Egypt: Egypt has received approval for funding of around US$ 1 million for its Compressor Conversion Project during the 97th meeting of the Executive Committee under the Montreal Protocol. The project is designed to support the local conversion of hermetic compressor manufacturing toward inverter-based technology, with the objective of improving energy efficiency in the cooling sector. The initiative is financed through the Multilateral Fund, which supports countries in

Utopia Bath & Kitchen Registers Trademark in Nigeria, Expanding Global Presence Nigeria: Utopia Bath & Kitchen, a renowned British bathroom manufacturer founded in 1989, has officially registered its trademark in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, marking a key milestone in its global expansion strategy. Celebrated for over three decades of British craftsmanship, innovation, and design excellence, the company offers a comprehensive range of high-quality bathroom solutions inclu

Refrigerant SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa’s HVAC-R sector is preparing for a major shift as the country reduces its R22 import quota to 2.5% of current consumption starting in 2026, a move aligned with commitments under the Montreal Protocol. According to SARACCA Executive Director David Botha, the reduced limit means only 80 to 100 tons of R22 will enter the market for servicing and repair. “This reduction is intended to minimise the environmental impact of R22, which is known

The Rise of Chinese Sanitaryware in East Africa Chinese sanitaryware has established a strong foothold in the East African market, particularly within the lower-income segment, while the premium category remains largely dominated by Western brands such as Ideal Standard, Duravit, and Roca. At first glance, China’s dominance appears to stem from its competitive pricing, which makes its products highly accessible to cost-conscious consumers. Yet the picture is far more nuanced.

Mitsubishi Electric Expands HVAC and IT Cooling Operations in Southern Africa South Africa: Mitsubishi Electric has strengthened its collaboration with Intramech to expand its applied HVAC and IT cooling operations across southern Africa. The partnership will integrate Mitsubishi Electric’s product portfolio with Intramech’s local expertise in sales, service, and engineering to deliver comprehensive one-stop solutions. The collaboration aims to enhance capabilities in system

Sanitation as Open Defecation Namibia: Namibia continues to struggle with major sanitation challenges, with 40% of the country’s 756,339 households still practising open defecation, according to the 2023 Census Report released by the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA). Speaking at the first National Sanitation Symposium on behalf of the minister of agriculture, water and land reform, deputy minister Ruthy Masake highlighted that the problem is most severe in rural areas and info

Resolve Acquires South African Tile Supplier Tiletoria South Africa: South African investment firm Resolve, through its private equity fund and in partnership with the company’s management team, has completed the acquisition of tile and bathroom solutions provider Tiletoria. The company, founded in the mid-1990s, supplies tiles and related products to major retail chains, commercial developers, and large-scale projects across South Africa. Its operations focus primarily on pr