The second close of East African Catalyst Fund has achieved $155 Million
With commitments from regional investors increasing by a factor of 50 per cent for Catalyst Fund II, the emergence and mobilization of local capital marks the coming of age of the regional private equity industry.
 The first Catalyst Fund raised to $125 million which it invested in 9 companies in Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia with diverse interests in manufacturing of consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, industrial agro-processing, logistics and engineering as well as healthcare, technology and financial services.
 In launching its second fund, Catalyst cements its position as the leading regional private equity fund manager with the largest pool of funds under management amongst its peers dedicated to the East African region.
 This is about Ksh 15.5 billion of capital commitments from leading international and regional investors, as a successor to Catalyst Fund I, a $125 million fund raised in 2009.
EXIM Bank Tanzania pledged to support cashew farmers
TANZANIA – A section of cashew Nut farmers in Tanzania are set to receive a boost following a move by Exim Bank to support them with TZS 200 million ($87,334 dollars).The farmers from Mtwara will benefit from the investment which aims at bolstering the industry productivity during 2018 season.
According to a statement from Exim Bank, cashewnut industry in Tanzania recently has seen a significant growth in production and sale prices which is a move to improve the livelihoods of the farmers.
Kenya Signs Agreement With China On Agricultural Exports
Kenya and China signed an agreement allowing the East African country to export various agricultural products to China.
Nzioka Waita, President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Chief of Staff, said the agreement on food, plant and animal safety - known as sanitary and phytosanitary measures - had been reached between the two after a week of negotiations.
Waita said on Twitter the agreement would pave the way for Kenya to start exporting
Deal to construct 25 silos for wheat and teff value chain by Federal Agency
ETHIOPIA – The Federal Cooperative Agency has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the heads of regional cooperatives to construct 25 silos to be used by agricultural cooperative unions involved in teff and wheat value chain in four regional states. The bid aims to alleviate the shortage of warehouses and help cooperative unions with a reliable and effective market outlet.
