13 summer by Black Business News Group

Join us for a two day summit on one of Africa’s fastest growing economies Africa’s recent economic surge is fueling optimism about the continent’s prospects and positioning it in the minds of many investors and businesses as a significant opportunity. Blessed with a wealth of natural resources and a large, young and growing population, many economies in Africa are enjoying rates of growth and development that are the envy of the emerging world. While sections of the continent still face steep challenges, Ghana is well placed to benefit from the forces of beneficial change in the region. • Strong and sustained growth in recent years - with the country benefiting from high global commodity prices and continued political stability • A youthful and better educated workforce, with half of the population under 20 • The emergence of a new generation of tech-savvy entrepreneurs. Ghana has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in Africa, with mobile phone penetration surpassing the 100% barrier • A concerted effort by the government to attract foreign investment and improve ease of doing business

However, Ghana faces serious challenges too. Its economy remains vulnerable to external factors— in particular the risk of a slowdown in China, the global commodity cycle and high inflation. The Ghana Investment Summit will openly explore the risks and opportunities—tensions and compromises—that are facing this thriving global African economy. It will bring together over 150 leaders from government, business and finance who are invested or otherwise interested in Ghana’s future. Register you interest today: http://response.economistconferences.co.uk/cemea-register-interest.

Black Business News International Edition -2- Summer 2013

Black Business News

About the Black Business News…

International Edition • Summer 2013

The mission of The Black Business News is to inspire and inform public and private sector industry representatives on the importance of smart small business growth. As a versatile source of socioeconomic development activity, the Black Business News imparts current local, national and international industry trends related to small businesses across the United States of America (USA), detailing greater access to financial capital, management efficiencies, business education, mentors and networks. The goals of the Black Business News include: •

increasing the use of business enterprises owned by USA-based blacks, by advocating for greater access to leading finance lenders and successful business managers. • wo working to ion International Edit s w e merge resourcme N ss Black Busine es, values, profi pro ts, technolContents ogy og throughout the public and private secpr tors. to • balancing major a public and p private secp tor contractt ing methods with positive outcomes of black-owned and opblack-ow erated t d enterprises. t i • providing an affirmative influence for emerging entrepreneurs sharing innovative design and creative cultural content that exposes them to the history of black enterprises and excite them to participate in the USA’s future. • advocating and promoting on behalf of black-owned businesses by promoting the need for expanding an economic foundation that supports an unfettered and self-sustained urban society with USA job creation and economic opportunity, where blacks work, live and operate viable business enterprises.  Serving the Global

African Economic

Community

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68 In The Spotlight 72 Trade Events 75 Books to Consider 78 Trade Advertisers

The Publisher Says... Tribute to the Honorable Nelson Mandela President Obama’s Second Tour of Africa Nigeria’s President Goodluckk Jonathan African First Ladies Summitt in Tanzania Business/Finance/ Technology Section New City for South Sudan 26 United Bank of Africa Highlights New Prograns The Enterprise App Economy is Opening Not the “Silicon Savanah” Profiles: Mobile Services Across Africa BRCK’s Kickstarter Success Story Uganda’s Space Program Meeting the Call for Transportation Improvements Humanitarian/Health African Nations Rank High in Peace Index New Vacine for Lung Cancer Culture / Lifestyle/ Science Section Africa is Tearing Apart

50 Black Business News International Edition -3- Summer 2013

19-20 September New York, New York USA www.leaderssummit2013.org The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit is a triennial gathering of top executives of Global Compact companies and other stakeholder groups. The largest gathering of its kind, the Leaders Summit represents a unique opportunity for Global Compact participants to discuss corporate sustainability strategy at the highest level, and produce strategic recommendations and action imperatives for the future of the initiative. More broadly, the Leaders Summit aims to deepen the commitment of participating leaders from business, labour and civil society to the Global Compact and its principles; to build and scale up momentum within the business sector; and to foster enabling environments and collective action. About the UN Global Compact

Launched in 2000, the United Nations Global Compact is both a policy platform and a practical framework for companies that are committed to sustainability and responsible business practices. As a multi-stakeholder leadership initiative, it seeks to align business operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption and to catalyze actions in support of broader UN goals. With over 10,000 signatories in more than 140 countries, it is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative. For more information, please visit www.unglobalcompact.org. Black Business News International Edition -4- Summer 2013

Black Business News International Edition PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Earl “Skip” Cooper, II ASSOCIATE EDITOR Sarah Harris PRODUCTION MANAGER Narishima Osei CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LaSandra Stratton • Dean Jones • Steven Turner GRAPHIC DESIGN Sarah Harris • Phallu Morgan ENTREPRENEUR EDITOR Kim Anthony STORY EDITORS Wanda Flagg ▪ Jennifer Marie Hamilton PHOTOGRAPHY Ian Foxx ▪ Sabir • Narishima Osei

The Publisher Says...

Earl “Skip” Cooper, II Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Black Business News

resident Barack H. Obama has completed his second tour to the continent of Africa. This three nation journey touched the Republics of Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. The Black Copyright © 2012 by Black Business News International. All Rights Reserved. Business News International provides several The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or articles on the tour beginning on page 12. Our intent, otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, as a business oriented publication, is to provide you necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted with information and leads that will entice you to invest material or parts therein. in the growing economies of the African continent.  Opportunities abound in every industry sector and in Black Business News •P.O. Box 43159, Los Angeles, CA 90043 USA every nation. 323-291-7819 • 323-291-9234 fax • www.bbala.org • mail@bbala.org BBN-I pays tribute to one of the heroes and leaders of world history - Nelson Mandela with a reprint of a United Nations review of his life (see page 6). The results of his life of leadership and sacrifice will be experienced for an eternity. He changed the course of history for us all. These two men are part of the heritage of thinkers and leaders that have created history throughout time. It is up to us to applaud our leaders when others do not. It is up to us to follow in their footsteps when others do not. The Black Business News will try to do our part. President Obama with President Kikwete in Tanzania. Please let us know how we might imPhoto retrieved from Reuters prove our service (Gary Cameron) to you.  CONTENT ADMINISTRATOR LaSandra Stratton LAYOUT/TYPESETTING Lion Communications

Black Business News International Edition -5- Summer 2013

Nelson Mandela: A Life of Leadership, A Life of Service

elson Rolihlahla Mandela was born in Transkei, South Africa on July 18, 1918. His father was Hendry Mphakanyiswa of the Tembu Tribe. Mandela himself was educated at University College of Fort Hare and the University of Witwatersrand where he studied law. He joined the African National Congress in 1944 and was engaged in resistance against the ruling National Party’s apartheid policies after 1948. He went on trial for treason in 1956-1961 and was acquitted in 1961. After the banning of the ANC in 1960, Nelson Mandela argued for the setting up of a military wing within the ANC. In June 1961, the ANC executive considered his proposal on the use of violent

tactics and agreed that those members who wished to involve themselves in Mandela’s campaign would not be stopped from doing so by the ANC. This led to the

formation of Umkhonto we Sizwe. Mandela was arrested in 1962 and sentenced to five years’

Black Business News International Edition -6- Summer 2013

see Nelson Mandela on page 7

1937

Nelson Mandela from page 6

imprisonment with hard labour. In 1963, when many fellow leaders of the ANC and the Umkhonto we Sizwe were arrested, Mandela was brought to stand trial with them Black Business News International Edition -7- Summer 2013

for plotting to overthrow the government by violence. His statement from the dock received considerable international publicity. On June 12, see Nelson Mandela on page 8

Nelson Mandela from page 7

1964, eight of the accused, including Mandela, were sentenced to life imprisonment. From 1964 to 1982, he was incarcerated at Robben Island Prison, off Cape Town; thereafter, he was at Pollsmoor Prison, nearby on the mainland. During his years in prison, Nelson Mandelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reputation grew steadily. He was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South Africa and became see Nelson Mandela on page 9

Nelson Mandela emerges from prison with wife Winnie Mandela

Nelson Mandela with prison mate Oliver Tambo

Nelson Mandela and wife GraĂ§a Machel Mandela

Nelson Mandela receives

Nelson Mandela celebrates Election outcome with South Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s President Thabo Mbeki

Nelson Mandela takes oath of office as President of South Africa

Nelson Mandela from page 8

a potent symbol of resistance as the anti-apartheid movement gathered strength. He consistently refused to compromise his political

position to obtain his freedom. Nelson Mandela was released on February 11, 1990. After his release, he plunged himself wholeheartedly into his lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work, striving to attain the goals he and others had set out almost

four decades earlier. In 1991, at the first national conference of the ANC held inside South Africa after the organization had been banned in 1960, Mandela was elected President of the ANC while his lifelong friend

Black Business News International Edition -9- Summer 2013

Nelson Mandela with grandson

Nelson Mandela celebrates his presidential inauguration

Nelson Mandela with U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama

Black Business News International Edition -10- Summer 2013

Nelson Mandela and Michael Jackson

Nelson Mandela married Winnie Madikizela in 1958.

Nelson Mandela from page 9

and colleague, Oliver Tambo, became the organisation’s National Chairperson. Mandela and South African President F.W. de Klerk were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to dismantle the country’s apartheid system. In 1994, Mandela was inaugurated as South Africa’s first black president. In 2009, Mandela’s birthday (July 18) was declared Mandela Day to promote global peace and celebrate the South African leader’s legacy.  From Les Prix Nobel. The Nobel Prizes 1993, Editor Tore Frängsmyr, [Nobel Foundation], Stockholm, 1994 www.biography.com/people/nelsonmandela-9397017

Black Business News International Edition -11- Summer 2013

U.S. President Obama Tours 3 African Nations

US President Barack Obama (left) talks with Senegal President Macky Sall at the presidential palace in Dakar.

Reports and Comments on the Obama Africa Tour

n June 2013, Air Force One, touched down in Africa, bringing with it President Barack Obama and family, for a landmark 3-day tour of the continent, which saw him visit South Africa, Senegal and Tanzania. On this trip, which is the second since his emergence as the 44th President of the United States of America, President Obama was very clear on his mission, which is, ‘to light up Africa’. In his words,

“Access to electricity is fundamental to opportunity in this age “. While addressing students at the Cape Town University in South Africa, Mr Obama pledged $7bn of US government money to bring “light where currently there is darkness”, adding that “It’s the light that children study by, the energy that allows an idea to be transformed into a real business. “It’s the lifeline for families to meet

their most basic needs, and it’s the connection that’s needed to plug Africa into the grid of the global economy. “You’ve got to have power,” he concludes. While government officials have maintained that the President’s visit is part of the Obama administration’s routine visit to pledge the government’s commitment towards supporting developing Nations, analysts are of the view that Mr. Obama’s visit may not be unconnected with the rising concern in Washington over China’s continued inroad into the continent. Mr. Obama while in Tanzania, laid a wreath for the victims of the 1998 US embassy bombing in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam. Eleven people were killed in the al-Qaeda attack. The president also commissioned the Ubungo power plant constructed by the US government. Hear him “This plant represents the public-private partnership we want to replicate across the continent. This is a win win. It’s a win for Africans: Families get to electrify their homes; businesses can run their plants; all this will make economies grow.”

Black Business News International Edition -12- Summer 2013

see Obama in Africa on page 13

Obama In Africa from page 12

He also visited the Goree Island in Senegal, which until the mid-19th Century was the gateway through which slaves were shipped across the Atlantic to America, bound in chains. http://africanleadership. co.uk/?p=43

Obama Trip Commentaries More commentaries on the Obama Africa Tour may be read by visiting allAfrica.com and the Africa Up Front (http://africaupclose. wilsoncenter.org) segment of the Wilson Center website.

President Obama in Africa: Up Close Part II S t e v e McDonald argues that Obama’s trip to Africa was overall successful and lays out his reasons for believing so. He also pinpoints potential missed opportunities and ways to strengthen U.S.-African relations going forward. This post appears on our blog here: http://bit. ly/120FlxW.

and continental bodies like SADC, EAC and ECOWAS, as well as the African Union. This post appears on our blog here: http://bit.ly/13C2cD8.

Part I: Prioritizing U.S.-Africa Policy Steve McDonald sets the stage for the opportunity this trip provides, it’s possible effects on legislation such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act, and U.S. diplomatic relations with the Continent. Finally, he mentions some of his concerns

Obama’s 2013 Africa Visit: (Re) Establishing Rapprochement in U.S. - Africa Relations? Dimpho Motsamai provides a critical analysis of current U.S. policy towards Africa and offers recommendations on how to overcome existing limitations on

A Diasporan Perspective: My Hopes for Obama’s Africa Trip Mame Khady Diouf discusses the promising themes of President Obama’s trip, such as youth, governance and democratic institutions, food security, and power infrastructure; but questions of whether or not it will result in tangible benefits for the continent.

lays out what to look for later in the series. This post appears on our blog here: http://bit.ly/186XGKY.

U.S.-Africa relations. This includes not only with individual states, but also strengthening ties with regional

Check out her interview! This post appears on our blog here: http://bit. ly/13C4aTW .. 

Black Business News International Edition -13- Summer 2013

Sweet Potatoes and Ending Hunger in Africa by Valerie Jarrett

Valerie Jarrett speaks at New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition roundtable in Dakar, Senegal. (Photo by USAID)

n 2009, President Obama called on global leaders to increase their focus on food security and hunger. Since then, the United States has partnered with African nations to spur increased agricultural growth, improve nutrition, and move people out of poverty. Today, as part of our trip to three African countries (www.whitehouse.

gov/blog/2013/06/27/travelingsenegal-south-africa-and-tanzania) ,

President Obama highlighted this

partnership by meeting with farmers, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are improving the lives of smallholder farmers in Africa with new technology and methods of agriculture. In the capital of Dakar, Senegal, he saw how women are using small-scale, efficient rice mills to save time for women and increase productivity. He heard of ways to fortify sweet potatoes and beans to increase nutritional benefits. And he witnessed examples of using mobile technology to coordinate

production and sales for small farmers to compete. Earlier in the morning, I participated in the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition roundtable. Also attending from the U.S. delegation were USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council Senior Director for Democracy and Development Gayle Smith, U.S.

Black Business News International Edition -14- Summer 2013

see Obama in Africa on page 15

Obama in Africa: Food Security from page 14

civil society commitments for food security and nutrition. In the last year, New Alliance countries have already made significant progress. For example: • Ghana Nuts, once a recipient of U.S. Government development assistance, is now a leading agro processor and signed a letter of intent under the New Alliance to

particularly women, and supports partner countries in developing their agriculture sectors to spur economic growth that increases incomes and reduces hunger, poverty, and under-nutrition. In 19 countries, Feed the Future has helped more than 7 million smallholder farmers adopt improved agricultural technologies or practices, and

Ambassador to Senegal Lewis Lukens, Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Daniel Yohannes, USAID Assistant Administrator for Africa Earl Gast, and Peace Corps Director for Senegal Chris Hedrick. During the roundtable, we spoke with high-level African officials from West African countries and regional institutions, as well as with key investors to discuss opportunities for further investment. We also highlighted U.S. food security initiatives across the continent and urged continued progress on reforms that would boost sustainable private investment in agriculture. The roundtable was a part of the New Alliance for Food President Barack Obama and USAID Administrator Raj Shah attend a Feed the Security and Nutrition, which Future Technology Marketplace in Dakar, Senegal. (Official White House Photo we launched at the G-8 last by Pete Souza) year. The New Alliance is a collection of commitments from promote soya and expand corn brought nearly 4 million hectares of countries to advance policy and procurement and processing in land under improved cultivation and partner with the private sector to management practices. Ghana. help expand agriculture in Africa. • The Government of Tanzania’s Everyone agreed that Africa has In the first year, membership in the decision this year to end a the potential for more sustainable New Alliance has tripled. We started longstanding export ban on corn, agricultural development, and we with Ghana, Ethiopia and Tanzania, rice and other crops will help rural look forward to working together to and have now added six more farmers collect fair prices for their realize that potential. countries—Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Please visit the Fact Sheet: harvests. Benin, Malawi, Mozambique, and • In Ethiopia, DuPont has opened a Food Security in Sub-Saharan Burkina Faso. And we look forward state-of-the-art seed processing Africa (www.whitehouse.gov/theto Senegal joining later this year. plant and warehouse that will help press-office/2013/06/28/fact-sheetWorking with the Comprehensive 35,000 smallholder corn farmers food-security-sub-saharan-africa) Africa Agriculture Development increase their yields by as much for more information on our efforts Program (CAADP) led by the in food security.  as 50 percent. African Union (AU), the New www.whitehouse.gov/ At the roundtable, we also Alliance has leveraged over $3.7 blog/2013/06/28/sweet-potatoeshighlighted President Obama’s billion in private investment in and-ending-hunger-africa Feed the Future (www. African agriculture and $1 billion in feedthefuture.gov) initiative, which nongovernmental organization and focuses on smallholder farmers, Black Business News International Edition -15- Summer 2013

President Obama Announces the Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders by Jamal Saghir

oday in front of an audience of more than 600 dynamic young leaders from South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, President Obama announced the

leaders to the United States each year for leadership training and mentoring. It will also create unique opportunities in Africa for Fellows to use their new skills to propel

shaping the continent’s future. • Respond to the strong demand by young African leaders for practical skills that can help them take their work to the next level

President Obama takes questions during Young African Leadership conferencel.

Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, the new flagship program of the President’s Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI). Beginning in 2014, the program will bring more than 500 young African

economic growth and prosperity, and strengthen democratic institutions. The Washington Fellowship will: • Invest in a new generation of young African leaders who are

in the fields of public service and business. • Deepen partnerships and connections between the United States and Africa.

Black Business News International Edition -16- Summer 2013

see Africa on the Rise on page 17

Obama in Africa: Young Leaders from page 16

• Build a prestigious network of young African leaders who are at the forefront of change and innovation in their respective sectors. • Washington Fellows will primarily be between 25 and 35 years old, have a proven track record of leadership in a public, private, or civic organization, and demonstrate a strong commitment to contributing their skills and talents to building and serving their communities.

Welcoming Promising Leaders to the United States Beginning in 2014, each year the United States will bring 500 of Africa’s most promising young leaders to U.S. universities for training in public management and administration; business and entrepreneurship; and civic leadership. Training in each of these sectors will focus on the skills young African leaders need to run better ministries, start and grow businesses, and serve their communities. Within the next five years, theinitiative aims to grow to 1000 young leaders each year. Washington Fellows will spend six weeks at top American universities and colleges that will provide tailored training in the sectors above, leveraging top faculty, cutting-edge curricula, and local opportunities to impart practical professional and leadership training. Formal university training will be augmented by workshops, mentoring, and networking opportunities with leaders in each field, as well as internships across the United States. For example, U.S. agencies such as the Overseas Private Investment

Corporation and the Export-Import Bank will host Washington Fellows as interns to expose them to the U.S. workplace and practices, and build their technical skills. Washington Fellows will also benefit from partnerships with American companies like Boeing, which will provide leadership training at the Boeing Leadership Center in St. Louis to extend Fellows’ campusbased training. The Fellows will also have the chance to interact with President Obama during an annual Summit in Washington, D.C., along with other senior U.S. government, business, and civic leaders.

Investing in Opportunities on the Continent The U.S.-based training Washington Fellows will receive is only the beginning of the long term investment the United States will make in these young leaders. To ensure that participants can put their newly-acquired skills and experiences to use, the U.S. Government is working with businesses, governments, and institutions to create meaningful opportunities to allow them to put their skills to practice in Africa. The Washington Fellowship will offer participants valuable access to internships and job opportunities in the private and public sectors. We are establishing partnerships with companies, government ministries, research institutions, regional organizations, and non-profit and community-based organizations across the region to provide meaningful career opportunities for these young leaders. For example, Microsoft will connect Washington Fellows with internships in their offices across Africa, including in Cairo, Tunis, Casablanca, Abidjan, Dakar, Accra, Lagos, Abuja, Luanda, Johannesburg, and Nairobi. Ethiopian Airlines will offer participants the opportunity to train

at their business management and corporate governance platforms at its hubs around the world. Washington Fellows will have access to dedicated funding opportunities to support their ideas, businesses, and organizations. More than $5 million in small grants will be awarded in the first three years by the U.S. African Development Foundation to Washington Fellows seeking to start their own businesses or social enterprises. The U.S. Department of State will invest an additional $5 million over the course of the program to help alumni establish or grow non-governmental organizations, undertake a project to improve their community, or work collaboratively to build the network of young African leaders, including reaching into underserved areas. USAID will establish regional hubs and coordinators to connect Washington Fellows to these opportunities and leverage over $200 million in ongoing youth programs and initiatives on the continent.

Sustaining a Strong Alumni Network Washington Fellows will be a part of a vibrant network that will continue to connect them to new opportunities in Africa and to each other. Regular local and regional events and networking opportunities will sustain strong ties over the years as program participants assume leadership positions in their respective sectors. Participants will be required to mentor other promising young leaders, enhancing the impact and sustainability of the initiative, and growing the network to encompass other leaders, especially in disadvantaged communities.  www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/06/29/president-obamaannounces-washington-fellowship-youngafrican-leaders

Black Business News International Edition -17- Summer 2013

Obama Proposal: Power Africa

early 70% of Africans lack access to electricity, and today, President Obama visited the Ubungo Symbion Power Plant in Dar es Salaam to highlight a new initiative called Power Africa, which aims to double the number of people across the continent who have access to

the lead on reforming their energy sectors. The U.S. is committing nearly $7 billion in support, and private sector companies have committed more than $9 billion, as President Obama explained today. “This is a win-win,” he said. It’s a win for Africans -- families

grow. It’s a win for the United States because the investments made here, including in cleaner energy, means more exports for the U.S. and more jobs in the U.S. And, obviously, a growing market in Africa will mean more opportunities for all countries. During his tour of the plant, President Obama also spent a few minutes playing with a SOCCKET ball, an energy generating soccer ball that harnesses the kinetic energy generated during play to provide a source of renewable, off-

President Barack Obama delivers remarks at the Ubongo Power Plant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) power. The Ubungo plant represents the type of model Power Africa seeks to replicate, matching public and private resources with projects led by African countries that are taking

get to electrify their homes; businesses can run their plants; investors can say if we locate in an African country, that they’re going to be able to power up in a reliable way. All this will make economies

grid power. The ball was invented by Jessica Matthews, a dual citizen of Nigeria and the United States, when she was 19 years old.

Black Business News International Edition -18- Summer 2013

see Power Africa on page 19

Obama in Africa: Power Africa from page 18

www.whitehouse.gov/ blog/2013/07/02/powering-africa

in rural areas lack access. Power Africa will build on Africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enormous power potential, including new discoveries of vast reserves of oil and gas, and the potential to develop clean geothermal, hydro, wind and solar energy. It will help

2030. Only with greater private sector investment can the promise of Power Africa be realized. With an initial set of six partner countries in its first phase, Power Africa will add more than 10,000 megawatts of cleaner, more efficient electricity

President Barack Obama tosses a Soccket ball in the air at the Ubongo Power Plant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. As it is used, the ball is able to create and store kinetic energy as a battery. Standing with the President, from left, are: Paul Hinks, CEO Symbion Power; Jay Ireland, President and CEO of GE Africa; President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania; Victor Angel, Vice President of Product Development at Uncharted Play; and Jessica Matthews, Co-founder and CEO of Uncharted Play. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

FACT SHEET: Power Africa The President has announced Power Africa, a new initiative to double access to power in subSaharan Africa. More than twothirds of the population of subSaharan Africa is without electricity, and more than 85% of those living

countries develop newly-discovered resources responsibly, build out power generation and transmission, and expand the reach of mini-grid and off-grid solutions. According to the International Energy Agency, sub-Saharan Africa will require more than $300 billion in investment to achieve universal electricity access by

generation capacity. It will increase electricity access by at least 20 million new households and commercial entities with on-grid, mini-grid, and off-grid solutions. And it will enhance energy resource management capabilities, allowing partner countries to meet their critical energy needs and achieve

Black Business News International Edition -19- Summer 2013

see Power Africa on page 20

Obama in Africa: Power Africa

from page 19

greater energy security.

Power Africa is Rooted in Partnership The United States and its partners will work with an initial set of Power Africa partner countries, including Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Nigeria, and Tanzania. These countries have set ambitious goals in electric power generation and are making the utility and energy sector reforms to pave the way for investment and growth. Power Africa will also partner with Uganda and Mozambique on responsible oil and gas resources management. Power Africa will bring to bear a wide range of U.S. government tools to support investment in Africa’s energy sector. From policy and regulatory best practices, to pre-feasibility support and capacity building, to long-term financing, insurance, guarantees, credit enhancements and technical assistance Power Africa will provide coordinated support to help African partners expand their generation capacity and access. The United States will commit more than $7 billion in financial support over the next five years to this effort, including: • The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide $285 million in technical assistance, grants and risk mitigation to advance private sector energy transactions and help governments adopt and implement the policy, regulatory, and other reforms necessary to attract private sector investment in the energy and power sectors. • The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) will commit up to $1.5 billion in financing and insurance to energy

projects in sub-Saharan Africa. for investment and the tools and • The U.S. Export-Import Bank resources available from the U.S. (Ex-Im) will make available up government and other partners to to $5 billion in support of U.S. support investment. exports for the development Power Africa will also leverage of power projects across sub- private sector investments, Saharan Africa. beginning with more than $9 • •The Millennium Challenge billion in initial commitments from Corporation (MCC) will invest up to private sector partners to support $1 billion in African power systems the development of more than through its country compacts to 8,000 megawatts of new electricity increase access and the reliability generation in sub-Saharan Africa. and sustainability of electricity Examples of commitments to-date supply through investments in include: energy infrastructure, policy • General Electric commits to help and regulatory reforms and bring online 5,000 megawatts of institutional capacity building. new, affordable energy through • OPIC and the U.S. Trade and provision of its technologies, Development Agency (USTDA) expertise and capital in Tanzania will provide up to $20 million in and Ghana. project preparation, feasibility and • Heirs Holdings commits to technical assistance grants to $2.5 billion of investment and develop renewable energy projects. These efforts will Cape Verde Greenfield be coordinated through Wind-Farm the U.S. - Africa Clean Energy Finance Initiative (US-ACEF) and supported by the recently launched U.S. - Africa Clean Energy Development and Finance Center (CEDFC) in Johannesburg, South Africa. • The U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) will launch a $2 million Off-Grid Energy financing in energy, generating Challenge to provide grants an additional 2,000 megawatts of of up to $100,000 to Africanelectricity capacity over next five owned and operated enterprises years. to develop or expand the use of • Symbion Power aims to catalyze proven technologies for off-grid $1.8 billion in investment to electricity benefitting rural and support 1,500 megawatts of new marginal populations. energy projects in Power Africa • In 2014, OPIC and USAID will countries over the next five years. jointly host an African energy • Aldwych International commits and infrastructure investment to developing 400 MW of clean, conference. The conference will wind power in Kenya and bring investors, developers, and Tanzania – which will represent companies together with U.S. the first large-scale wind projects and African government officials to demonstrate the opportunities see Power Africa on page 21

Black Business News International Edition -20- Summer 2013

Obama in Africa: Power Africa

from page 20

in each of these countries, and an associated investment of $1.1 billion. • Harith General Partners commits to $70 million in investment for clean, wind energy in Kenya and $500 million across the African power sector via a new fund. • Husk Power Systems will seek to complete installation of 200 decentralized biomass-based mini power plants in Tanzania – providing affordable lighting for 60,000 households. • The African Finance Corporation intends to invest $250 million in the power sectors

private sector, and donors. These incentives galvanize collaboration, producing near-term results and driving forward systemic reforms that pave the way to future investment. To achieve these ambitions, Power Africa includes: • An interagency Transactions Solutions Team to provide the catalysts needed to bring power and transmission projects to fruition by leveraging financing, insurance, technical assistance, and grant tools from across the U.S. government and our private sector partners. • Field-based Transaction Advisors, who have already begun their work in each of the partner countries, to help governments prioritize, coordinate, and expedite the implementation of power projects, while simultaneously building the capacity of existing host government ministries to deliver results.

Power Africa Will Build Capacity for Project of Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, Delivery and Energy Sector catalyzing $1 billion in investment Reform in sub-Saharan Africa energy projects.

Power Africa Will Help Attract Investment in Africa’s Energy Sector Power Africa directly addresses constraints to investment in order to accelerate progress. Instead of taking years or even decades to create an enabling environment for energy sector investment, Power Africa takes a transactioncentered approach that provides incentives to host governments, the

Building host-government capacity to develop, approve, finance and ultimately bring power projects on line is critical to the success of the initiative. To support this need, Power Africa will work with host governments to launch or further develop “delivery units” charged with driving progress on specific projects. These delivery units will help increase technical skills and accelerate energy sector regulatory, market structure and enabling environment reforms.

In Tanzania for example, Power Africa will support the “Big Results Now!” program, which is establishing new delivery units within government ministries. In Nigeria, Power Africa will provide staffing support, capacity building and technical assistance to an existing delivery unit. Establishment of a delivery unit in Ghana will be closely coordinated with the MCC’s Compact slated for signature in 2014.

Transparent Natural Resource Management The recent discoveries of oil and gas in sub-Saharan Africa will play a critical role in defining the region’s prospects for economic growth and stability, as well as contributing to broader near-term global energy security. Yet existing infrastructure in the region is inadequate to ensure that both on- and off-shore resources provide on-shore benefits and can be accessed to meet the region’s electricity generation needs. Although many countries have legal and regulatory structures in place governing the use of natural resources, these are often inadequate. They fail to comply with international standards of good governance, or do not provide for the transparent and responsible financial management of these resources. Power Africa will work in collaboration with partner countries to ensure the path forward on oil and gas development maximizes the benefits to the people of Africa, while also ensuring that development proceeds in a timely, financially sound, inclusive, transparent and environmentally sustainable manner.  www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/06/30/fact-sheetpower-africa

Black Business News International Edition -21- Summer 2013

President’s Proposal: Trade Africa

trade pact between the United States and subSahara Africa seeks to grow ties for Africa, the United States and other markets, President Obama said Monday.

The creation of Trade Africa was announced as President Obama wraps up his three-country visit to Africa in Tanzania. Trade Africa will initially focus on the East African Community states -- Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda -- which represent a market with significant opportunity for U.S. exports and investment, the White House said in a fact sheet. Intra-EAC trade has doubled in the past five years, and the region’s gross domestic product has risen to more than $80 billion, quadrupling in only 10 years. The five states of the EAC, with a population of more than 130 million people, have increasingly stable and pro-business regulations. They are home to promising local enterprises that are forming creative partnerships with multinational companies. And EAC countries are benefiting from the emergence of an educated, globalized middle class. In its initial phase, Trade Africa aims to double intra-regional trade

in the EAC, increase EAC exports to the United States by 40%, reduce by 15% the average time needed to import or export a container from the ports of Mombasa or Dar es Salaam to Burundi and Rwanda, and decrease by 30% the average time a truck takes to transit selected borders. The United States also hopes to e x p a n d collaboration with other regional economic communities in Africa, including in cooperation with other partner nations, the White House said. Officials said increasing trade between the United States and Africa will be the focus of the African Growth and Opportunity Act Forum in Addis Ababa Aug. 9-13, 2013.

FACT SHEET: TRADE AFRICA

resident Barack Obama recently announce the launch of Trade Africa, a new partnership between the United States and sub-Saharan Africa that seeks to increase internal and regional trade within Africa, and expand trade and economic ties between Africa, the United States, and other global markets. Trade Africa will initially focus on the member states of the

East African Community (EAC) -- Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The EAC is an economic success story, and represents a market with significant opportunity for U.S. exports and investment. The five states of the EAC, with a population of more than 130 million people, have increasingly stable and pro-business regulations. They are home to promising local enterprises that are forming creative partnerships with multinational companies. And EAC countries are benefiting from the emergence of an educated, globalized middle class. Intra-EAC trade has doubled in the past five years, and the region’s GDP has risen to more than $80 billion – quadrupling in only 10 years. In its initial phase, Trade Africa aims to double intra-regional trade in the EAC, increase EAC exports to the United States by 40%, reduce by 15% the average time needed to import or export a container from the ports of Mombasa or Dar es Salaam to land-locked Burundi and Rwanda in the EAC’s interior, and decrease by 30% the average time a truck takes to transit selected borders. The United States also hopes to expand its collaboration with other regional economic communities in Africa, including in cooperation with other partner nations. Increasing trade between the United States and Africa will be the focus of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Forum in Addis Ababa on August 9 - 13. The Forum will celebrate the progress achieved through AGOA since it was signed into law in 2000, and will help pave the way to AGOA’s renewal by 2015.

Increase U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Trade Africa will help mobilize

Black Business News International Edition -22- Summer 2013

see Trade Africa on page 23

Obama in Africa: Trade Africa from page 22

resources to support increased U.S.-EAC trade and investment, building upon the U.S.-EAC Trade and Investment Partnership (TIP) announced in June 2012. Activities underway include: • Exploration of a U.S.-EAC Investment Treaty to contribute to a more attractive investment environment; • Launch of negotiations on a Trade Facilitation Agreement and expansion of the TIP to include regulatory issues that affect the competitiveness of EAC regional and global trade (including with the United States), particularly the development of product standards, and regulatory systems related to food safety and plant and animal health; • Establishment of a new U.S.– EAC Commercial Dialogue to bring the private sector together with policy makers and increase opportunities for trade and investment; • Transformation of the U.S.– Africa Trade Hubs into U.S. Trade and Investment Centers to provide information, advisory services, and risk mitigation and financing to encourage linkages between U.S. and East African investors and exporters; and, • Advancing the “Doing Business in Africa” (DBIA) campaign (http://export.gov/africa) to encourage U.S. businesses to take advantage of growing trade and investment opportunities and to promote trade missions, reverse trade missions, trade shows, and business-to-business matchmaking in key sectors.

Support EAC Regional Integration

The United States is also supporting the EAC’s efforts to advance regional integration, through bilateral and regional trade facilitation and a new partnership with TradeMark East Africa, with specific focus on: • Reducing barriers at borders, including by moving to single border crossings and implementing customs modernization programs using innovative technologies that allow customs services to communicate with each other; • Supporting the transition to a single EAC customs and revenue sharing authority; and, • Addressing barriers to transit that constrain the region’s competitiveness, including by reducing the number of roadblocks and the amount of time spent and fees paid to move products from the ports to neighboring borders.

• Build the capacity of private sector associations in Africa to provide sustainable business services and promote investment in key

Increase EAC Trade Competitiveness

Work with governments and National Export Associations to develop export strategies and establish export resource centers across the EAC to provide sustainable services for firms looking to export under AGOA. 

The United States will also form public-private partnerships with East African and U.S. industries and trade associations to stimulate greater trade in goods under the African Growth and Opportunity Act and, specifically, to:

growth sectors in Africa, including agriculture, health, clean energy, environment and trade-related infrastructure; • Formalize partnerships between American and African associations to increase trade through collaboration on trade shows and business-to-business matchmaking;

www.whitehouse.gov/the-pressoffice/2013/07/01/fact-sheet-tradeafrica

Here are just some of the U.S. businesses investing in Africa: • General Electric – Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa • Coca-Cola – Botswana, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, see Trade Africa on page 24

Black Business News International Edition -23- Summer 2013

Obama in Africa: Trade Africa from page 23

Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe • Exxon Mobil – Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Reunion, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe • Ford Motor Company – Algeria, Egypt, Liberia, Tunisia • Chevron Corp – South Africa, Chad-Cameroon, Angola, Liberia • Walmart Stores Inc – South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria • Yum! Brands Inc – South Africa, Angola, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe

• Honeywell International Inc – South Africa, Angola, Nigeria • Caterpillar Inc – South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia • Harley Davidson Inc – Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Mauritius • Google Inc – Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Uganda • Archer Daniels Midland Co – Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana • Cummins Inc – leader in power generators in Africa 

Africa is the World’s Fastest Growing Continent by Tyler Falk, Smater Planet

African Development Bank Group ith a projected average growth rate of 6% from 2013-2015 and one-third of African countries with economic growth rates currently above 6%, the 2013 African Development Towards sustainable growth for Africa Bank says that Africa is now the fastest growing Annual review continent in the world. In a new report, the African Development Bank Group says that 350 million Africans now earn between $2 and $20 a day as the share of the population living below the poverty line has fallen from 51% to 39%. The continent’s business climate is also improving with the cost of starting a business falling by more than twothirds over the last seven years and delays in starting a business to growth? Infrastructure. cut in half. Since 2000, there has “Africa currently invests just 4% of been $392 billion in foreign direct its collective GDP in infrastructure, investment. compared with China’s 14%,” the But, as the continent becomes report says. “While sustainable more prosperous, that wealth isn’t infrastructure entails significant reaching everyone. upfront investments, it will prove “The challenge will be to address cost-effective in the longer term.” continuing inequality so that all The entire report “African Africans, including those living Development Effectiveness in isolated rural communities, Review 2013” is available on deprived neighborhoods, and fragile the African Development Bank states are able to benefit from this at www.afdb.org/fileadmin/ economic growth. Pursuing an uploads/afdb/Documents/Projectinclusive and sustainable growth a n d - O p e r a t i o n s / A D E R - % 2 0 agenda is key to reducing these A n n u a l % 2 0 D e v e l o p m e n t % 2 0 inequalities,” the report says. E ff e c t i v e n e s s % 2 0 R e v i e w % 2 0 And one of its biggest hindrances 2013.pdf. 

Annual Development Effectiveness Review

Black Business News International Edition -24- Summer 2013

The 20 Fastest-Growing Countries In The World #4 Sierra Leone, #6 Mozambique, #7 Ghana, #9 Angola, #10 Ethiopia, #11 Democatic Republic of the Congo, #12 Rwanda, #13 Gambia, #17 Zambia, #18 Tanzania, #20 Uganda www.businessinsider.com/fastest-growing-economies-through-2015-2013-1?op=1#ixzz2XSffC8Zd

2013: Nigeria’s President’s Year of Judgement

n 2013, as President Goodluck Jonathan steps out to tackle the gridlock on Nigeria, the expectations are high. The president himself had said: “Wait till 2013”, so this is indeed the year of judgement. In this year, Nigerians look forward to tangible and measurable transformation through rapid sustainable development and solid reforms. Unlike some of the president’s opponents want to amplify, Nigerians do not hate the president: in fact they love him, but they are frustrated at the speed of his delivery of the transformation promise. The president’s calm and steady hand will tested this year; his look before you leap systematic approach will also be validated in this year of judgement. Somehow, each time I look at this president, I remember Exodus and the story of the exit of the Israelites from the land of captivity. (Numbers 12:3 Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men who were upon the face of the earth.) The Holy Scripture has it that the children of Israel rebelled against Moses because he was ‘slow to deliver’ and they cursed him (his speech disorder made it worse with his critics), then his closest allies in the cabinet – his brother, Aaron, and his sister, Miriam- who were supposed to protect him, grew arrogant and despised him because they knew him. In today’s Nigeria, Moses would have been summarily described as “Clueless”.

His Excellency, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR President, Federal Republic of Nigeria In this year, the president’s leadership will be tested. It is a year for gutsy calls. A year to look straight into their eyeballs and say f**k off to close allies – even ‘sisters’ and ‘brothers’ – when the corporate interest of the state is at stake. I am of the opinion that the gravest sores on the Jonathan presidency, like that of Moses, have been inflicted by his own kinsmen in the cabinet. It is time to shake-up that cabinet, and recruit smart visionaries who will bear his armoury and take his bullets; soldiers of transformation. In 2013, winning the battle against Boko Haram would not be sufficient; the Federal Government must win the war. The war against Boko Haram has little to do with ignorant arm bearing Almajiris, it

has to do with Northern politicians who provide the funding and intellectual cover for Boko Haram. It also has to do with knocking off and the strategic demobilization of evil and desperate forces that undermine education in the North, and blame the woes of the Region on some conspiracy. I have always believed that the major chasm in the prospects of Northern Nigeria is the failure of parenting. Fathers who send their five-year old children into the dusty cold streets to beg for food should be immolated. Only foolish parents give up on their children, let’s not blame it on poverty: blame it on the lack of will.

Black Business News International Edition -26- Summer 2013

see Nigeria’s President on page 27

Nigeria’s President But there is an emerging generation in the North that inspires my hope for a greater Nigeria. The drivers of the Arewa Transformation and Empowerment Initiative (ATEI) for the first time are looking beyond superficial factors that beguile the Region; they are drilling into the cultural and psychological gridlock of their people. Their strategic goal is to emancipate their people from mental slavery – and that is the solution to the Northern problem. Power is the most crucial driver of the Nigerian economy and potentially the single most important pivot for the first phase of the Nigerian transformation. It will be to the credit of this administration if they double the existing national power output by the end of 2013. Nigeria against the illusion of popular grandeur is a very poor

middle class. The industrialization of Nigeria d e p e n d s squarely on the transformation of the power sector. ‘Individual responsibility must match government accountability’. These are the words I heard from a lady on Channels TV last week, and it aptly describes the balance that is so badly needed in our polity. Public servants do not get corrupt in office; they all came in already corrupt, as products of a gravely corrupt society. As Nigerians, our orientation must change. Citizens cannot demand proper stewardship if they do not exercise their civic roles in a responsible way. The year 2015 will be judged by

country. Corruption is a recurring characteristic of very poor nations. I have formed the opinion a long time ago that the only cure for corruption is prosperity. Transforming Nigeria into a prosperous nation means we must industrialize and build a strong

2013. The past year was as winter unto us, and the wide spread expectation is that this year, spring will commence. This is the hope of the living as we reminisce the past. Like Diete-Spiff, President Jonathan must dream a big dream

from page 26

for the Niger Delta, beyond the urgent completion of East-West Road. In this year, let the governors of the ‘rich’ Niger Delta states decide to give their people amenities as common as pipe-borne water, or isn’t it saddening enough that the water supply situation has not improved in Port Harcourt exit of Diete-Spiff? Isn’t it plain travesty that the people, so blessed, are condemned to drink water polluted by hydrocarbon contaminants at rates over 1000 micrograms per litre as evidenced by the UNEP report on Ogoniland. For those governors who have betrayed the mandate of the masses handed to them, who now govern their states from multibillion naira private jets, God is watching you. If these governors remember nothing else this year, may they kindly remember this line from the Jamaican-American Grammy Award-winning pop singer Shaggy, in his song titled Why Me he said: “Take heed: never take advantage of the people that you need”. For our president, transformation does not come easy, especially for a giant like Nigeria that has been asleep for too long. http://indepthafrica.com/2013nigerias-president-jonathans-yearof-judgement www.facebook.com/ jonathangoodluck

Black Business News International Edition -27- Summer 2013

African First Ladies Summit Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa

First Row: Mrs. Matilda Amissah-Arthur, Spouse, Vice President of Ghana, Mrs. Chantal Campaore, First Lady of Burkina Faso, Mrs. Maria da Luz Dai Guebuza, First Lady of Mozambique, Dr. Christine Kaseba, First Lady of Zambia, Mrs. Sia Nyama Koroma, First Lady of Sierra Leone, Mrs. Janet Kataaha Museveni, First Lady of Uganda, Mrs. Roman Tesfaye, First Lady of Ethiopia, Mrs. Nompumelelo Zuma, First Lady of South Africa Second Row: First Lady Laura Bush, President George Bush, First Lady Michelle Obama, H.E. J. Kikwete, President of Tanzania, and Mrs. Salma Kikwete, First Lady of Tanzania

irst Lady Michelle Obama joked “There are prison-like elements, but it’s a really nice prison. You can’t complain,” when describing aspects of her experience as First Lady during a visit to Tanzania. Obama joined forces with former first lady Laura Bush for a two-day Summit dedicated to advancing women’s see Power Africa on page 29

Black Business News International Edition -28- Summer 2013

African First Ladies from page 28

economic empowerment across Africa, yet her off-the-cuff “prison”

political leaders to address the most critical issues facing African women today. Hosted by the George W. Bush Foundation, the “African First Ladies Summit” worked to promote the role First Ladies can

Ladies wield enormous influence, albeit in far less conventional ways than holding an elected or appointed position. “Lady Bird Johnson realized that she had a podium because her husband was president. And she chose to use it,” said Laura Bush encouraging those attending to do the same. Here are some of the highlights from the conversation between Bush and Obama as to how they navigated and embraced the transition to the most powerful platform in the world, the advantages of being First Lady versus Commander-in-Chief, and how the wives of African leaders can come together as “advocates” and “agents of change.”

Nothing Prepares You For The Job

remark has since dominated the news cycle. While the comment may have distracted from the greater mission of the gathering, the media attention just further underscores the unique power platform of a First Lady — and the very premise behind which these two unlikely collaborators came together. The Summit convened the wives of some of Africa’s most prominent

play as architects of change given the power of their voices and their high-profile platforms that extend far beyond traditional borders of continent and country. Such a gathering could easily fall subject to stereotypes because the ladies were convening around a “softer” agenda. But nothing could be farther from the truth. As both Laura Bush and Michelle Obama have demonstrated, First

“Nothing prepares you. Nothing prepares you for this role,” said Obama who admitted that “definitely elements that are confining” exist in her position. “What I didn’t really understand,” recalled Bush, “was how people would listen to the First Lady.” To be sure, there are steep learning curves for any incoming First Lady, but they even existed for Laura Bush who had the unique advantage of watching her father-in-law hold the highest office in the land. She recalled a seminal moment while shopping with her daughter when a cosmetics clerk thanked her for her radio address talking about the women of Afghanistan. “It was the first time it really occurred to me that people did hear me,” recalled Bush, “And that I really did have that podium that Lady Bird Johnson knew about.”

Getting Past the Bangs Both women agreed that seemingly trivial issues can overshadow the larger and more meaningful conversations that need to be had, but advised the

Black Business News International Edition -29- Summer 2013

see Power Africa on page 30

African First Ladies

issues you care most about.”

from page 29

other First Ladies that these can’t derail them from their larger mission. “Who would of thought? I didn’t call that,” mused Obama on the attention her blunt-cut bangs received in the press. “While people are sorting through our shoes and our hair, whether we cut it or not…. We take our bangs and we stand in front of important things that the world needs to see,” described the First Lady. “And, eventually, people stop looking at the bangs and they start looking at what we’re standing in front of.” “In the United States, it has a lot to do with the way you look,” added Bush. “That’s a problem everywhere in the United States — for girls as well. They should be worried about what they’re doing and how they’re being educated instead of whether they look pretty or they look sexy.”

On The Power Of the Platform

Speak Out and Speak Up: The World Will Be Better Off When Women’s Voices Are At The Table “I want to encourage every first lady to speak out and speak up and let people know because people are watching and they are listening,” emphasized Bush. “And you can be so constructive for your country if you speak up about issues that you think are important.” “It’s important for us to make sure that more women use their voices and their power,” Obama advised. “Because we know, as women, that we’re not that complicated, but we are complex. We are deep, diverse, enlightened people in the universe. And the world will be better off when

“I always joke,” said Obama, “that we [First Ladies] have probably the best jobs in the world because, unlike our husbands who have to react and respond to crisis on a minute-by-minute basis — they come into office with a wonderful, profound agenda, and then they’re faced with the reality. On the other hand, we get to work on what we’re passionate about. And I think that that’s something that I would encourage all first ladies to never lose sight of. You have an Former First Lady Laura Bush opportunity to speak and First Lady Michelle Obama to your passions and share a platform during the to really design and be First Ladies Summit very strategic about the

our voices are at the table.” The power of Africa’s First Ladies is undeniable and we should be optimistic that their influence will be cultivated to change the future for millions of women in their

respective nations, across the continent and around the globe. And let’s also hope that in the future, any such gatherings will need to be rebranded from “First Lady” to “First Spouse.”  www.bushcenter.org/events/ investing-women-strengtheningafrica

Black Business News International Edition -30- Summer 2013

Introducing the .....

Agriculture Education Energy Manufacturing

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Basic market research Partnering Identifying opportunities Information on economic performance Information on rules, regulations, licensing

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Zambia USA Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 13541 Torrance CA 90503

www.zambiausachamber.org info@zambiausachamber.org 424 777 6474

RESOURCES FOR GOING GLOBAL Event: Watch Videos on some of the National Export Initiative Priority Markets Watch videos on these markets to discover why they are important and to learn about a few of the many sectors where U.S. companies are competitive. 58% of U.S. exporters export to only one market, mainly Canada. Many small and midsized companies that work with the U.S. Commercial Service have found new customers in dozens of markets. Among the best prospect markets for U.S. companies are Vietnam, India, Indonesia, China, Taiwan and Thailand. From these short videos, you’ll learn why these markets are important. You’ll also learn about a few of the many sectors where U.S. companies are competitive. Importantly, you’ll also meet the top U.S. commercial diplomats in these markets who, along with their staff of local market and industry experts, will help you evaluate, enter and succeed. Please visit http://export.gov/nei/eg_main_033266.asp Activity: Commercial News USA Offers Free Korean Translation Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an inexpensive way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can take advantage of a special offer: Buy two ads and get the third ad for free (Based on one-time rates. This does not include the Showcase section). Reserve your space in the next issue today. For more information, call 1-800-581-8533, x 822, or visit www.thinkglobal.us, or e-mail advertise@thinkglobal.us. Marketing: Sell Your Products Worldwide in the USA Product Showcase Commercial News USA, the official export promotion magazine of the U.S. Department of Commerce, offers exporters an affordable way to promote their products and services in 178 countries worldwide. Now, you can advertise in the USA Product Showcase section of the magazine for just $499. Commercial News USA reaches more than a quarter million buyers worldwide. Reserve your space in the next issue today. For information, call 1-800-581-8533, x 822, online to www.thinkglobal.us/499, or send e-mail to advertise@ thinkglobal.us. Marketing: Promote Your Company on the New Commercial News USA Website The newly redesigned Commercial News USA website makes it easier for buyers around the world to find American companies with products and services ready for immediate export and for U.S. exporters connect with buyers worldwide. Commercial News USA features hundreds of products and services from U.S. exporters. Participants in the current is-

sue of the magazine are featured in a rotating carousel at the top of the page. Now, international buyers can search the site by company name or industry category. There also is a search box at the top of the page that enables searching by keyword. The site currently attracts 23,000 international buyers per month. Advertisers in the print magazine are included for free on the website. For more information and/ or to review the current issue of the magazine, please visit www.thinkglobal.us. AccessAmerica – Reach Chinese Investors and Clients “AccessAmerica” is our online Chinese-language directory of U.S. firms that provide customized services to C h i n e s e investors and firms that want to do business in the U.S. The “AccessAmerica” Service Provider directory gives U.S.-based companies and economic development agencies access and exposure to Chinese clients who seek U.S. expertise in global logistics, trade finance, HR, site selection, tax, insurance, legal and regulatory issues, marketing, and other support related to investing in the U.S. AccessAmerica is promoted extensively throughout China, featured on the U.S. Embassy Chinese webpage and featured at all Invest in America programs here and in China. Your listing will include company information, company logo, and contact details, all translated into Chinese, for a one-year subscription fee of $400. Learn more: http://www.buyusa.gov/china/en/access_america. html. For more information, please contact julie.carducci@ trade.gov. ᏊᏊᏊᏊᏊ The U.S. Commercial Service - Your Global Business Partner. With offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration uses its global Network and international resources to connect U.S companies with international buyers worldwide. If you have any questions about these initiatives, please contact your local U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist. To find the trade specialist nearest you please visit www. buyusa.gov/home/us.html or contact Bobby Hines at bobby.hines@trade.gov. 

Black Business News International Edition -32- Summer 2013

“Sustainable Transformation through Trade and Technology”

AGOA Forum

August 12-13, 2013  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in association with the United States Government, will host the 2013 U.S.-Sub-Saharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum also known as the AGOA Forum, on August 12-13, 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of this year’s AGOA Forum is “Sustainable Transformation through Trade and Technology.” The Ministerial-level event will include a high level dialogue on the future of U.S.-Africa trade and economic cooperation. The Forum will be preceded by private sector and civil society programs, as well as a program arranged by the Ethiopian African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP), on August 10-11. The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Chambers of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) will also organize a U.S. – sub-Saharan Africa Trade Exhibition to run concurrent with the Forum events. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) is the U.S. Government’s signature trade initiative with sub-Saharan Africa. The United States is strongly committed to expanding trade and investment, and to supporting broad-based economic opportunity and prosperity in Sub-Saharan Africa. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) was signed into law on May 18, 2000 as Title 1 of The Trade and Development Act of 2000.

www.agoa.gov Official Carrier for AGOA 2013 Participants 5% discount to all travellers. Discount available through Ethiopian sales office only. Locate your nearest office by visiting: http://www.ethiopianairlines.com/en/info/contacts.aspx Use discount code ADD1701A.

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ALTOUR |TECH www.altourtech.com

Black Business News International Edition -34- Summer 2013

Wo r l d Wa t e r D a y

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www.continentalacc.org Black Business News International Edition -35- Summer 2013

Africa’s Stock Exchanges

he Stock Exchanges in Africa are a key component of the complex network of the financial landscape of the continent. The individual exchanges, the regional organizations such as SADC and ECOWAS, the African Union, all of whom are working together to try to integrate and link financial markets across Africa. This network is growing stronger and more astute all the time. Always consult your personal financial manager when embarking on an investment strategy.

Stock Exchange Listing • Bolsa de Valores of Cape Verde - www.bvc.cv (in Portuguese) • Bond Exchange of South Africa - www.bondexchange. co.za • Botswana Stock Exchange www.bse.co.bw • Bourse Regionale des Valeurs Mobilieres - UEMOA (Abidjan, Ivory Coast) - www.brvm.org • Casablanca Stock Exchange (Morocco) - www.casablancabourse.com/bourseweb/index. aspx

• Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange (Tanzania) - www. dse.co.tz • Douala Stock Exchange (Cameroon) - www.douala-stockexchange.com/index_us.php • The Egyptian Exchange - www. egx.com.eg/English/homepage. aspx • Ethiopia Commodity Exchange - www.ecx.com.et • Ghana Stock Exchange - www. gse.com.gh • Johannesburg Stock Exchange (South Africa) - www. jse.co.za/Home.aspx • Khartoum Stock Exchange (Sudan, in Arabic) - www.kse. com.sd • Libyan Stock Market - www. lsm.ly/_layouts/membership/ login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fEnglis h%2fPages%2fdefault.aspx • Lusaka Stock Exchange (Zambia) - www.luse.co.zm • Nairobi Stock Exchange (Kenya) - www.luse.co.zm • Malawi Stock Exchange - www. mse.co.mw • Mozambique Stock Exchange (in Portuguese) - www.

bolsadevalores.co.mz • Namibian Stock Exchange www.nsx.com.na • Nigerian Stock Exchange www.nse.com.ng/Pages/default. aspx • Stock Exchange of Mauritius www.stockexchangeofmauritius. com • Swaziland Stock Exchange www.ssx.org.sz • Tunisia Stock Exchange - www. bvmt.com.tn • Uganda Securities Exchange www.use.or.ug References: African Security Exchanges Association www.africansea.org/ asea/ The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke/media-center/ecommunique/exchange-magazine/ category/50-free-version.html) African Capital Markets News www.africancapitalmarketsnews. com/tag/african-stock-exchange Investing In Africa http:// investinginafrica.net/african-stockmarkets/african-stock-marketperformance 

Black Business News International Edition -36- Summer 2013

South Sudan Launches Modern Business and Investment City

much dependency on other countries. The establishment of SEZ will provide an opportunity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and their linkage to largescale enterprises and to seize this opportunity for their development and expansion.  www.capitalethiopia.com/ index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=3227:ssudan-launches-modern-businessand-investment-city&catid=45:news-inbrief&Itemid=37

he government of South Sudan has officially launched the construction of a Juba Specialized Economic Zone (SEZ), an industrial area for business and investment activities. The 625 square km land, located about 30km from the South Sudan

Minister added, will not happen if there are no clear investment policies at national or state levels. “..nevertheless, provisions of these kind of infrastructure and availability of others, such as tax incentives, non-tariff barriers, power, roads, access to finance etc,

capital, Juba, will reportedly be used for building a new modern city, mainly for large businesses that will boost the young nation’s economy. While speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony held in Jokukweboma, the country’s commerce, industry and investment Minister, Garang Diing Akuong, said the creation of the SEZ indicates the desire and determination of South Sudan’s Central Equatorial state to encourage and promote investments and economic development in the state. “The specialized Economic Zone is indeed in line with the policy of the government of the Republic of South Sudan, which promotes National and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in South Sudan,” said Akuong, who represented President Kiir at the occasion. The FDI investment inflow, the

will pave the way for more investments to consider South Sudan as one of the best investment destinations in the region, if not the world,” he stressed. The Minister further said South Sudan, with its rich n a t u r a l resources, needs to diversify in order to e n h a n c e economic growth and reduce too

Black Business News International Edition -37- Summer 2013

UBA wins Best Banks Awards in Cameroon and Senegal Posted by: Mark Marich

wo country subsidiaries of United Bank for Africa Plc; one of the largest financial services institution in Africa, have emerged the ‘Best Banks’ in their respective countries. UBA Cameroon and UBA Senegal on March 19, 2013 were named ‘World’s Best Banks in 2013’ in their respective countries by Global Finance magazine in New York. Global Finance magazine is the world’s leading corporate finance magazine with readers across 160 countries, focusing on C-suite level management, Corporates and selected financial institutions and international investors. Global Finance editors with inputs from industry analysts, corporate executives and banking consultants, selected the best emerging markets

banks in the region and in 29 countries using such criteria such as growth in assets, profitability, strategic relationships, customer service, competitive pricing, and innovative products to determine eventual winners. Managing Director of UBA Senegal, Mrs. Amie Sow said she was delighted at the award and commended the staff for their diligence and hard work. “we are poised to taking UBA Senegal to a greater level for the benefit of Senegal and Africa” she enthused. The same sentiments were expressed by the Managing Director of UBA Cameroon, Mr. Georges Wega. “This couldn’t have come at a better time, coming in the thick of our 5 year anniversary celebrations. We thank the

UBA Offers Off Enhanced E h d Benefi B fits for Ruby Account for Women

nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has upgraded the features of Ruby Premium Current Account for the discerning woman. Ruby is a financial product,

targeted at womenfolk and is specially designed for professional women and female entrepreneurs who place a premium on convenience banking. The enhanced features Deputy Managing Director, UBA Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka; Special Guest of Honour and Director, UBA Plc, Mrs Onari Duke; CEO, Fine and Country, Nigeria, Mrs Udo Maryanne Okonjo, at the presentation of Ruby, a Current Account for Women, held at UBA House, Marina Lagos

Cameroonian banking public for embracing us whole heatedly and the UBA Group for the support and leadership direction” said Wega. Published since 1987, Global Finance has huge international readership and gives good coverage of corporate and investment banking as well as the emerging markets. The UBA Group is an acknowledged industry leader in commercial and retail banking across Africa with operations in 19 African countries serving over 7 million customer accounts through multiple channels and remote locations.  www.ubagroup.com/mc/ newsandevents/newstopic?id=201304 02083708njbrjcnugg

and benefits of this premium product include: Zero COT and highly attractive interest rates; customized Gold debit cards; unlimited number of withdrawals or deposits; the use as payroll account; up to 15% discount on services offered by Ruby partner outlets nationwide; free enrollment on all UBA e-Banking products and services; access to consumer credit facilities and a personalized premium gift item. Mrs. Onari Duke, a Director of the bank and Special Guest of Honour, called on women to brace up to the challenge of expanding their competences and taking advantage of the ‘Ruby Account’ to improve on their entrepreneurial drive to excel. 

Black Business News International Edition -38- Summer 2013

UBA Launches Exclusive World Mastercard nited Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced the World MasterCard, which is the most exclusive card in the MasterCard staple. The

can be tied to any of Naira, US Dollar, Pounds Sterling and Euro domiciliary account. He emphasized that the UBA World MasterCard offers a chockfull

introduction of the UBA World MasterCard is consistent with the Bank’s strategic focus of providing appropriate product to every customer segment, including but not limited to the highly discerning customers who cherish rare and exclusive privileges. Head, Cards, UBA Plc., Adédèjì Olówè, affirmed that UBA is the only bank offering World MasterCard for its debit product in Nigeria. According to him, the card program, which is available by invitation only,

of benefits such as travel accident and inconvenience insurance; extended warranty; purchase protection; concierge services; and emergency cardholder services. The card, Adédèjì stated, is exclusively made from a rare alloy of Silver Nickel, only a few materials of which exist in the world. “The heft of the material is its signature. The recognition of the program has afforded it the highly coveted MasterCard premium hologram. In addition, there is a

great security service protecting our esteemed customers everywhere they shop with Fraud Protection and MasterCard Zero Liability,” he added. According to Adédèjì, UBA is the only bank offering debit cards in all the major currency range, stressing that the Bank also offer a dedicated lounge for its premium cardholders at the Head Office supported by 24/7 private banking customer support. The introduction of World MasterCard is coming after UBA Plc added MasterCard for Domiciliary Accounts to its robust bouquet of electronic products. This variant of Debit MasterCard products is tied to domiciliary accounts instead of Naira Current or Savings account and offers the same flexibility of usage anywhere in the world, including Nigeria. United Bank for Africa (UBA) is a leading Pan African Bank with presence in 19 African countries, New York, London and Paris thus able to effectively manage African businesses globally. 

Black Business News International Edition -39- Summer 2013

http://allafrica.com/ stories/201307152368.html

TEDxSoweto 2012

n 20th October 2012, at the new Soweto Theatre, TEDxSoweto invited all to close their eyes, open their minds, take a deep breath, and Leapfrog! Notable highlights include the heartwarming talk presented by photo bloggers “I see a Different You” (www.youtube. com/watch?v=G4gioQmtHeU), and digital games developer Anne Githuku-Shongwe’s (www. y o u t u b e . c o m / w a t c h ? v = Vu L _ ANW58Vo) and mothertoungue activist Phiwayinkosi Mbuyazi’s (www.youtube.com/ watch?v=wqhl9tNDAlM) talks being featured on the TEDx blog. At the TEDxSoweto site (www. tedxsoweto.co.za) most of the presentations from the three years of events may be viewed as YouTube videos. Also, we’re thrilled that since this event Soweto Theatre has become

the new home for TEDxSoweto. We look forward to many happy years at what is arguably Johannesburg’s best equipped theatre facility. Over the years our speakers have covered a wide range of issues – education, t e c h n o l o g y, music, robotics, a s t r o n o m y, photography, energy, youth, design, film and innovation. From now till end of June, on our blog, we will revisit these topics, chat to some of our speakers and open the discussion to the community.

What is TEDx? In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TED has created a program called TEDx. TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our event is called TEDxSoweto,

where x = independently organized TED event. At our TEDxSoweto event, TEDTalks video and live speakers will combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events, including ours, are selforganized.

TEDGLOBAL2013 Among the TED events that take place around the world each year, this is the one that brings the people of the world together in one place. The TEDGLOBAL for 2013 was held in Edinburgh, Scotland bringing together those who challenge us to pause for an instant and Think Again.  www.tedxsoweto.co.za http://conferences.ted.com/ TEDGlobal2013

Going Beyond AGOA: Ideas for a Trans-Atlantic Partnership with Africa

his is an ambitious but realistic and practical way to enhance AGOA by not just ensuring prompt and seamless renewal of U.S. market access provisions for African imports, but also promoting a level playing field for U.S. investment in Africa and encouraging American participation in sub-Saharan Africa’s regional infrastructural development. Trans-Atlantic South Partnership (T.A.S.P.) is

specifically meant to highlight the fact that Africa and the U.S. are separated by the South Atlantic, while countries participating in the Trans-Atlantic and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) and the TransPacific Partnership (TPP) are in the North Atlantic and in the Pacific, respectively. Download the publication at: www.wilsoncenter.org/sites/default/ files/Going%20Beyond%20AGOA. pdf. 

Black Business News International Edition -40- Summer 2013

The Enterprise App Economy and Box $rev By Chris Yeh

e at Box.com are excited to announce that we’re adding a significant new channel to our third party monetization story in the form of a new program called Box $rev. Box $rev is a program for developers to monetize their applications on the Box platform and bring new innovation to the emerging enterprise app economy.

The Challenge of Enterprise Monetization in a Consumer App World If you think about how consumer mobile apps are monetized today, it’s primarily through app store purchases, ads and in-app upgrades. In the enterprise, this works…but only to a point. After all,

anyone can buy a productivity app and bring it to work. You might even go so far as to say that the consumer model around app acquisition has

democratized app adoption in the enterprise. But there’s a problem. Enterprise apps simply do not monetize very well. Look at any stats around app downloads and monetization and you’ll see that productivity apps struggle as a category. In addition, a stream of ongoing subscription or maintenance revenue – one of the key benefits of selling enterprise software – is inaccessible to most small app developers. The reason? The adoption model has changed, but the procurement model has not. Most enterprises still buy en masse through an IT/procurement process that requires a dedicated sales force on the other end—a non-starter for most small app companies.

growing sales team and access to many businesses – more than 150,000 of them, in fact. Why can’t we help developers monetize against our business customers? The observation: users of third party apps get more value out of Box, resulting in greater user satisfaction. The idea behind Box $rev? Pay developers for creating this kind of engagement on Box. The benefits for our customers are obvious. For developers, we provide a new stream of revenue directly correlated to their success in penetrating and engaging with Box users.

Ten Partners at Launch

Box $rev: The Easiest Way for Enterprise App Developers to Make Money

10 of our leading partners have signed on to join Box $rev. We’ll be

Here at Box, we have a large and

see Box $rev on page 43

Black Business News International Edition -42- Summer 2013

Box $rev from page 42

building out the program with these initial partners, as well as extending to more of our OneCloud app developers in the coming months. Developers interested in joining $rev can sign up now.

Android to Aim New Operating System at Low-End Phones, Emerging Markets? By Channtal Fleischfresser

s of May 2013, 900 million Android phones have been activated around the world. But that leaves out a growing chunk of the developing world — one that is reliant upon cheap mobile phones. The problem is that its current

Announcing Our New iOS and Android SDKs We also mark the launch of our new iOS and Android SDKs. These SDKs are the first Box-built SDKs; we’ve tested them carefully and have built them in a highly systematic form. If you happen to program in both Objective C and Java, you’d find the SDK structures/ approaches to be very similar. In addition, with these SDKs we are able to deliver Box’s expertise with enterprise single sign-on (SSO) to third parties. Finally, these SDKs allow developers to integrate Box quickly using pre-built file pickers and buttons. For more information, please check out developers.box. com/sdks. As you can see, we’ve been having fun building the Box platform business, and will have lots more to come later this year. In the meantime, we hope to see you on the other side of all of this $revenue.  http://blog.box.com/2013/06/theenterprise-app-economy-and-boxrev/

operating system requires far too much memory (RAM) to run on older or cheaper smartphones. If the unconfirmed, albeit credible, rumor is true, Android 5.0 (code-named Key-Lime Pie) would require only 512 megabytes of RAM, allowing it to run on smartphones that cost as little as $100. In trying to expand to emerging

markets, Android’s OS has the advantage of being able to run on a variety of hardware. In contrast, Apple’s single product, the iPhone, may be popular in developed countries but its prohibitive price tag makes it an unlikely choice for mass adoption in the developing w o r l d . Part of the reason Nokia still c l a i m s sizable market share in India is because it sells phones p r i c e d between $50 and $100. I f A n d r o i d ’s operating system can be streamlined to run on lower-end smartphones, that would open up a potential market of billions for Google.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/bulletin/ android-to-aim-new-operatingsystem-at-low-end-phonesemerging-markets/22065?tag=nl. e660&s_ cid=e660&ttag=e660&ftag=

Black Business News International Edition -43- Summer 2013

Don’t Call Africa’s Tech Hub ‘Silicon Savannah’ By Monty Munford

Nairobi, Kenya Flickr, Dan Kori

echnology is up! The extraordinary success of Kenya’s mobile payments system M-Pesa is the vanguard of an amazing story, and has helped position Nairobi as the tech hub for the African continent. The M-Pesa phenomenon has changed the banking system in Kenya. Launched in 2007 by the operator Safaricom (www.safaricom.co.ke), it registered more than 20,000 customers in its first month. Less than six years later, more than 60% of the adult population has an account, and in June 2012 the total value of mobile money transactions was equivalent to more than 60% of Kenya’s GDP. Before M-Pesa launched, the “traditional” banking system served only a quarter of Kenya’s adult population and the country had less than two bank branches per 100,000 people. Today M-Pesa has more than 40,000 agents nationwide, and more than 75% of the country’s financial transactions are handled by the system.

Many investors perceive Africa as the final frontier for high-return speculation, and the competition is fierce. So the success of M-Pesa has given Nairobi an extra edge over its African competitors.

iHub: Kenya’s Unofficial Tech Headquarters Accra in Ghana, Lagos in Nigeria and the South African cities of Johannesburg and Cape Town are all vying to be Africa’s major tech hub, but with the recent Kenyan elections over and investors pacified, a flood of money is expected to flow into the country. These investors are not alone. Google’s Eric Schmidt recently dubbed Kenya the continent’s technology leader after a trip to sub-Saharan Africa. And January’s launch of the the U.S. $10 billion Konza Technology City just outside Nairobi is further evidence of the city’s promising future. Then there is the city’s iHub (www.ihub.co.ke), where Google’s Schmidt visited on his recent trip. Based in the center of Nairobi, the

co-working space, tech community and business incubator provides a space for entrepreneurs to receive mentorship and possible VC funding. More importantly, it also hosts the fastest Internet connectivity in the country. It has been described as “the unofficial headquarters of Kenya’s tech movement.” It is also home to Ushahidi (www. ushahidi.com), which means “testimony” in Swahili. Ushahidi was a website initially developed to map reports of the 2008 electoral violence in Kenya. After Kenyan journalists used the site to collaborate during crisis, Ushahidi has since become an open source platform for content collection, visualization and interactive mapping (see story on page 32). Spanning more than 220 countries, the Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA www.gsma. com) trade association has brought together 800 of the world’s mobile operators with more than 230 companies in the broader mobile eco-

Black Business News International Edition -44- Summer 2013

see Africa’s Tech Hub on page 45

Africa’s Tech Hub from page 44

system. GSMA will open an office in the iHub in 2013 (GSMA Nairobi info@gsma.com).

Unprecedented Growth Chris Locke is the managing director of GSMA Mobile for Development (www.gsma.com/ mobilefordevelopment). He is as passionate about Africa as he is enthusiastic about the opportunities that Nairobi offers. “There are now twice as many mobile money users in Africa than there are Facebook users, and more transactions than on PayPal,” says Locke. “What we’re seeing in countries such as Kenya is a phenomenal growth in innovation around mobile, where an entirely new industry is emerging. “Startups in Nairobi are outpacing Silicon Valley, creating products that could only exist in a country that balances extreme needs with

iHub

the possibilities products such as M-Pesa offers. Places such as iHub in Nairobi have become the crucible for this, not only for the country, but as an example for the whole continent,” he says. But it’s not all about M-Pesa, as the success of Afroes (http://afroes.com) shows. Afroes is the first African company to win a Meffy at the prestigious MEF awards in Lon-

don. Not only is its mobile game Moraba popular across the continent; it recently launched a mobile iterative game before the Kenyan elections to promote peace among

Kenyan youth. London-based Matthew Dawes is the founder and CEO of event organizing company All Amber, which has held 12 trade shows on the continent, in South Africa, Nigeria and most recently at Mobile Web East Africa in Nairobi. “That doesn’t make it the most exciting market, though – Nigeria holds that badge. It’s in the top 10 mobile markets on the planet in numbers of subscribers, has a low penetration rate, is unpredictable in terms of success and the people are very business-oriented.” Some have branded Nairobi as “Silicon Savannah” in the same risible way that other world cities try to brand themselves after the Silicon Valley model. But many African companies at the Mobile Web Africa deride this term. While speaking on a panel in the city, I suggested Nairobi didn’t need to brand itself this way — the whole conference burst into applause. c One of the attendees, TMS Ruge, c co-founder of Uganda-based incubation hub Hive Colab (http://hivec colab.org), was s similarly scathing a about Silicon Sav vannah. “It is misleading. We don’t have the right to c ourselves Silicall c Savannah,” he says. “We don’t con produce silicon; we don’t make anyt thing; we are emulators at best. And in a few ways we are innovators w products such as M-Pesa and with Ushahidi. We need to go beyond hyping it with a cute name.”  http://mashable.com/2013/03/26/ nairobi-tech-hub/?utm_ campaign=false&utm_ context=textlink&utm_ medium=rss&utm_source=false

Black Business News International Edition -45- Summer 2013

20 Important African Startups to Watch By Monty Munford

by New York-born Derek Jason Bossman, who relocated to Ghana with his parents as a teenager, the company operates in West Africa and is rapidly expanding across the continent.

4. Gloo.ng - Nigeria

enya’s huge success with mobile money and the M-Pesa platform has launched Africa into the startup spotlight. But African innovation goes way beyond mobile money. Whether it’s ecommerce in Nigera, price comparison in South Africa or mobile advertising in Tanzania, African startups are not only changing their continent, but the world.

1. Saya - Ghana Chat messaging clients are hugely popular across Africa. Mobile chat app Saya Mobile (www.

saya.im) builds on the success of such services. It works across the iOS, Android, Blackberry and Java platforms, and is a product of the Meltwater Entrepreneurial

School of Technology (MEST) based in Accra (www.meltwater. org).

2. Ushahidi - Kenya Ushahidi, which means “testimony” in Swahili, was initially a website developed to map reports of violence around the 2008 Kenyan election. The company has since evolved to become a tech nonprofit that specializes in developing free open-source software for data collection, visualization and interactive mapping. (see page 32)

3. AdsBrook - Ghana Digital and mobile advertising

is big business everywhere, including Africa. AdsBrook (http:// adsbrook.com) provides a network of channels for advertisers to run integrated campaigns. Headed

In Lagos, a city of 21 million people with 30,000 more arriving every day, the idea of running an online grocery business seems insane, but Gloo (http://gloo.ng) somehow manages to grow. Founder Dr. Olumide Olusanya g a v e up his medical practice to devote time to building his business. It now employs more than 100 people.

5. Mara Online - Uganda Mara Online (http://mara.com) is

a family of web and mobile platforms that allow users to communicate, interact and collaborate. Sometimes referred to as Africa’s answer to

Black Business News International Edition -46- Summer 2013

see Startups to Watch on page 47

Startups to Watch from page 46

Skype.

6. Aim Group - Tanzania This digital agency is disrupting the media, marketing and brand space by harnessing social media and traditional communications. The company works with major African brands, such as Vodacom, Castle, Tigo and Ndovu to extend their reach and messaging (www.aimgroup.co.tz).

7. PriceCheck - South Africa As the largest price comparison site in South Africa and Africa

as a whole, PriceCheck (www. pricecheck.co.za) considers the prices of thousands of products. In May it faced 100,000 other entrants to win the International “App of the Year” at the BlackBerry Live conference in Florida.

8. Iroko Partners - Nigeria Iroko (http://irokotv.com) is the world’s largest distributor of African

entertainment, including Nigeria’s huge Nollywood film industry. Launched at the end of 2010, the company has a global audience of more than 6 million users from 178 countries — it’s regularly referred to as “Africa’s Netflix.”

9. biNu - South Africa BiNu (www.binu.com) mobile app platform can boost Internet speeds by 10 times, which means even the most basic phones can have smartphone-like capabilities. Its more than 100 channels include social media, news, weather, entertainment and free books. BiNu users can also interact with each other via news feeds, social profiles

and messaging.

10. Konga - Nigeria One of Nigeria’s leading online megastores, Konga (www.konga. com) is growing rapidly across its mobile and SMS platforms. Founded in the summer of 2012, the company now has 150 employees. It promises to deliver products that range from flatscreen TVs to

cosmetics anywhere in the country, within five days.

11. Bozza - South Africa Backed by HP Ventures, Bozza (www.facebook.com/beBozza) is a mobile social networking startup aimed at township users. It’s headed by entrepreneur Emma Kaye, who describes the service as “a place to discover and share content, enabling small enterprises in a township environment to collaborate and prosper.”

12. Njorku - Cameroon Launched in March 2011, the Njorku (http://njorku.com) job search engine helps users find careers across Africa. Active in

seven countries, the platform offers free and unlimited access to hundreds of thousands of job listings. The company has already raised seed funding from a business angel in France and a Canadabased technology company.

13. Fawry - Egypt Fawry (www.fawry-eg.com/ En/common/default.aspx) is a payment service customers can

Black Business News International Edition -47- Summer 2013

Startups to Watch from page 47

use through banks, post offices and a nationwide network of retailers. Services range from bill payment to Internet and mobile banking. The company employs 250 people and has already collected more than $220 million.

14. Spinlet - Nigeria As a mobile music download platform, Spinlet (http://spinlet. com) offers media distribution to emerging markets in Africa. It encourages the social aspect of music by making it easy to create and share playlists to friends within the application, while enabling both the purchase and discovery of new music.

15. MXit - South Africa

m e t r i c s , a c c e s s demographic and social media profiles of message senders and analyze the real sentiment behind the messages they receive. In May 2013, it became the first African company to join the 500 Startups Accelerator Program in Silicon Valley.

17. ForgetMeNot Africa Zimbabwe ForgetMeNot Africa’s (http:// forgetmenotafrica.com) optimizer technology converts Facebook “actions,” emails and chat messages into SMS formats,

“African Amazon.” In March 2013 it received a $26 million investment from Summit Partners, which it will use to expand business to other African countries.

19. moWoza - South Africa The company’s commerce service focuses on mobile as a delivery platform. Customers can “shop wherever they are, at any time” and register with a licensed agent. When the transaction is complete, both the customer and beneficiary are informed by SMS, which also indicates where the parcel can be collected (http://mowoza. com).

20. Afroes - South Africa/Kenya

MXit (http://site.mxit.com) is Africa’s biggest social network, with 50 million users across more than 3,000 different mobile phones. Users can send free online messages, enjoy multiplayer games, buy music, exchange goods and even trade on the stock market.

16. Dropifi - Ghana Dropifi (www.dropifi.com) users can see data in relation to industry

without connecting to the Internet. The company’s ECONET Wireless Zimbabwe’s eTXT service is a cheaper alternative than a fixed-line Internet connection or most Internet cafés.

18. Jumia - Nigeria As Africa’s biggest online shopping mall, Jumia (www.jumia.com.ng) operates in Egypt, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Kenya as an

Afroes (http://afroes.com) produces applications and content for young people, which contain educational and social messages. It is in development with a series of mobile games and SMS reporting platforms that will form the interactive component of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, “Champion for Children campaign.” In 2012, the company won the prestigious MEF Social Responsibility and Development Award for its Moraba game in London.  http://mashable.com/2013/06/06/ african-startups

Black Business News International Edition -48- Summer 2013

he GSMA mWomen Programme aims to increase women’s access to and use of mobile phones and life-enhancing mobile services in developing markets. Launched by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in October 2010, the GSMA mWomen Global Development Alliance is a programme in partnership with USAID, AusAID, GSMA and Visa. GSMA mWomen’s objectives are to: • Encourage industry to serve resource-poor women • Increase availability of lifeenhancing valueadded services • Promote solutions to women’s barriers to usage. The programme aims to achieve these objectives by working with mobile operators, valueadded service providers, and other mobile industry members, as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other international development partners. Its activities are designed to: • Promote and support industry and development partner action to serve women • Generate and share insights to encourage and equip partners to reduce the global mobile gender gap.

Focus end-users: The programme particularly focuses on resource-poor women1. In the context of the GSMA mWomen programme, this term includes women who tend to experience some of the following: • Low income • Low level of empowerment

GSMA mWomen Programme Overview • Limited access to education • Social isolation due to limited mobility or remote locations.

In June 2012, Mobile for Development travelled to Kenya to meet the Masai Villagers of Hell’s Gate National Park near Lake

Focus geographies:

Naivasha in Kenya. The Masai are pastoralists, farming sheep, chicken and cows and selling both primary and secondary products as their primary source of income. Only recently has mobile penetration reached these remote farmers. Hear Sophia, a young mother, explain how she benefits from using mobile to beneficially impact her business, solve health issues in the village and increase safety (www. gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/ sophia). 

GSMA mWomen focuses its operations in Africa, Asia Pacific and Sophia

the Middle East, regions historically experiencing more significant mobile gender gaps. Programme events, findings, tools and other resources are available and easily adaptable for mobile ecosystem partners to serve resource-poor women in all other geographies.

www.gsma.com/mobilefordevelopment/ programmes/mwomen/overview 1 Note that ‘resource-poor’ is not a measurable or universally used term; the programme has identified the definition above to help clarify the focus of its work

Black Business News International Edition -49- Summer 2013

Award-Winning Mobile Service Available to Tanzania’s Women Entrepreneurs he Cherie Blair Foundation) for Women (www. cherieblairfoundation.org), in partnership with the ExxonMobil Foundation, is expanding its awardwinning Business Women mobile service to women entrepreneurs in Tanzania. The service, developed by Nokia, aims to reach more than 75,000 women entrepreneurs, and builds on research and pilot projects in Nigeria and Indonesia, which are already helping more than 75,000 women entrepreneurs to develop and grow their businesses.

hundreds of thousands more in the longer term on a global scale,” said Cherie Blair, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women. Business Women provides tailored content and information to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses. In Tanzania, the service will be complemented by a project implemented in partnership with the Tanzania Gatsby Trust, an organisation which promotes poverty alleviation by enabling small and medium sized businesses to grow. The

“This important service will make a difference to the lives of tens of thousands of women entrepreneurs in Tanzania in the next year, and

collaboration will help support 140 women in scaling up their micro and small enterprises through business skills development, incubation

support and enhanced access to capital and markets. The mobile service provides a scalable model for empowering large numbers of women. “The Business Women mobile application aligns well with our national commitments to promote women and economic development,” said Mrs. Salma Kikwete, First Lady of Tanzania. “This programme will help increase the number of economically empowered women in Tanzania and be a valuable resource for our nation’s women entrepreneurs.” The expansion to Tanzania was formally launched at the African First Ladies Summit, Investing in Women: Strengthening Africa, which was held in Dar es Salaam in July 2013. The Summit, organised by the George W. Bush Institute with support from

ExxonMobil, convened African First Ladies, government officials, private organisations, NGOs and see Entreprenur Mobil Service on page 51

Black Business News International Edition -50- Summer 2013

Entrepreneur Mobile Service from page 50

academics to discuss best practices that can ensure sustainable, replicable results, benefit women and strengthen society. “Rapid innovation in mobile technology can yield exponential returns in addressing the business challenges faced by women entrepreneurs,” said Suzanne McCarron, president of the ExxonMobil Foundation. “Through this innovative use of technology, women in developing and emerging economies can grow their enterprises, and thereby contribute to their local economies and strengthen their communities.” The service was developed based on groundbreaking research

technology can be used to address them. The research concluded that the extensive and ever-increasing penetration of mobile phones in developing and emerging markets presents a significant opportunity to women entrepreneurs who want to develop their micro businesses. “We are delighted to see the Business Women service expand into Tanzania,” said Jawahar Kanjilal, Vice President and Global Head of Nokia Life. “Business Women has the ability to inform as well as inspire, giving women entrepreneurs direct opportunities to develop and apply new skills. We are very proud to be part of this initiative and make a real impact with entrepreneurial women in Tanzania.” Mama Muze, one of the women already supported by the Tanzania Gatsby Trust, is struggling to get

about how to work with traders, improve distribution channels and tap into valuable existing networks, all of which will support women entrepreneurs in growing their businesses.

About the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women provides women entrepreneurs in developing and emerging markets with the skills, technology, networks and access to finance that they need to become successful small and growing business owners, so that they can contribute to their economies and have a stronger voice in their societies (www. cherieblairfoundation.org).

About the ExxonMobil Foundation The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. Globally, ExxonMobil and the ExxonMobil Foundation provide funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries (www. exxonmobil.com/community).

About Nokia Nokia is a global leader in mobile communications, whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world (www.nokia.com/about-nokia).

About the Tanzania Gatsby Trust

conducted by the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Booz & Company on the challenges women entrepreneurs face and how mobile

more customers. The Business Women service was designed for women like Mama Muze to provide access to information

The Tanzania Gatsby Trust relentlessly pursues its mission to harness, channel and unleash human energy to build social, financial and physical capital through entrepreneurship development (www.gatsby.or.tz).  http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ cherie-blair-announces-expansionaward-040000015.html

Black Business News International Edition -51- Summer 2013

Ushahidi’s BRCK, a Success Story

he BRCK is the easiest, most reliable way to connect to the internet, anywhere in the world, even when you don’t have electricity. All kinds of jobs require steady connectivity, even when infrastructure is spotty due to wireless connections, intermittent power, or devices that can’t share connections. Seeing this, Ushahidi set out to redesign connectivity for the world we live in - Africa. As we laid out what such a device would look like - physically robust, able to connect to multiple networks, a hub for all local devices, enough backup power to survive a blackout - we realized that the way the entire world is connecting to the web is changing. We no longer only get online via desktops in our office, we have multiple devices, and we are all constantly on the move. So we designed the BRCK for the changing way we connect to the web around the world, from cafes-hoppers in San Francisco to

struggling coders in Nairobi.

Who We Are Ushahidi, founded by David Kobia, Juliana Rotich, and Erik Hersman, is a non-profit technology company that builds open source software. The word “Ushahidi” means “testimony” in Swahili, and came out of the crowdsourced mapping platform we built during the Kenyan post-election violence in 2008. Our goal is to improve the way information flows in the world, and the BRCK is a natural extension of this. As a company full of engineers working in places with poor infrastructure, we simply cannot get connected as reliably as our peers in the developed world. Since David our software out Kobia came

BRCK is a Kic kStarter success raising $172,107 from 1,078 backers. The g oal: $125,000. www.kickstart

er.com/project s/17 brck-your-back up-generator-fo 76324009/ r-the-internet

i i situation, it ti th tools t l we off a crisis the build are aimed at helping people communicate in the toughest of situations, and helping collect information in the most difficult places. Our software has been used for blizzards in Washington DC, hurricanes in the US, earthquakes in Haiti and Japan, and election monitoring around the world. BRCK is our answer to a fundamental problem that arises during these situations and during the daily life of much of the world: the need for reliable connections in unpredictable environments. 

Black Business News International Edition -52- Summer 2013

http://brck.com

So that African children see themselves in the books they read.

www.signafrica.net www.bbala.org select: Black Business News Black Business News International Edition -53- Summer 2013

Uganda’s Fledgling Space Program

Ugandan Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi inspects Chris Nsamba’s space probe in March, 2013

s Ghana grabbed headlines with its first tiny satellite in May, one determined scientist in Uganda is working hard to get his country into the space race as well. But Chris Nsamba is facing more than just technical challenges. Chris Nsamba, is head of the African Space Research Program, an organization he founded in 2009 after studying astronomy in the United States. But armed with nothing more than a team of student volunteers, and working from his mother’s backyard, the 28-year-old Nsamba has set out to build and launch Uganda’s first space observer. Nsamba’s neighbors, like Lawrence Okello, have been eagerly watching the probe take shape.

“There is a small project I saw him making. He called it a space observer,” he said. “I heard him saying it’s going to capture a picture of Uganda from space. He showed me that it’s going to work. I saw it responding to the GPS. They are just preparing to launch it, but I know it will fly. It will fly.” About the size and shape of a beach ball, the probe is equipped with solar panels and a camera. On its maiden voyage, Nsamba plans to send it up with a passenger as well – a live rat. “The reason why we called it observer is because it has a camera on it, so it can take pictures and videos, and it can send live data back to our control center. So it can observe space,” he said. “Two, we are using it to check out our skills of keeping something alive in space.”

Aside from a grant from Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Nsamba and his team have had to rely entirely on private donations from well-wishers in Uganda and abroad. Nsamba says he also doesn’t have a technical team to assist with the finer points of aerospace engineering. “I developed it myself. No one is involved, just me.” he said. “The other people are my students. I’m training them on how to develop such projects. However, they are students, they are still learning. I don’t acquire any skills from them. They are the ones acquiring skills from me.” The launch itself would involve a helium weather balloon to carry the probe up to 120,000 feet, at which point thrusters would kick in.

Black Business News International Edition -54- Summer 2013

see Uganda’s Space Program on page 55

Uganda’s Space Program from page 54

Nsamba claims he and his team have been working up to 18 hours a day on the project. And, he says, the probe is functional, and thrusters have been tested and the rocket fuel is ready. The Ugandan president has even given permission to launch the observer,

take pride in having a space program of their own. Professor Florence D’ujanga, head of the physics department at Kampala’s Makarere University, thinks Nsamba’s efforts should not be dismissed. “Scientists start like that usually, and people usually push them off,” D’ujanga said. “They usually started small. Like Newton was

Space Observer

Chris Nsamba and his team work on their projects in his mother’s backyard. (Photo: African Space Research Program)

Nsamba says, but wants to inspect it himself first. It is a far cry from NASA. But despite skepticism in the international media, many Ugandans see potential in Nsamba’s passion, and

looking for the apple, the falling of the apple, and then gravity. And I’m sure at that time, when he talked about it, people sort of brushed it aside. So with this young man, I

think we better give him a chance.” For science to develop, she says, you have to start somewhere. http://africagoodnews.com/content/ ugandas-one-man-space-programsparks-cosmic-dreams

Black Business News International Edition -55- Summer 2013

he global rail market is expected to grow rapidly in the coming years. According to a new report from Frost & Sullivan, the rail networks in Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East are expected to double in size by 2022. And while high-speed rail projects have been canceled in places like Poland and Portugal, governments are looking to infrastructure — especially transit infrastructure — to spur economic growth. “Efficiency requirements will spur the global adoption of advanced asset and fleet management tools such as remote diagnostics, passenger information and asset planning,” said Shyam Raman Frost & Sullivan’s automotive and transportation research analyst, in a statement. “With train operators using Internet protocol architecture for onboard Internet access as well as operation and safety services, opportunities will open up for nextgeneration multimedia applications. The U.K. and U.S. already have the highest number of rolling stock with Wi-Fi services in their respective regions.” Other key market projections: • Africa will experience the highest growth in the rail supply market. • North America will be the fastest growing market for light and commuter rail and metro rail will be the largest replacement market. • By 2020, China will have nearly 75,000 miles of rail. • Between 2015 and 2022, Europe is expected to replace 10,298 locomotives and 1,860 railcars.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/ bulletin/global-demand-for-rail-isgrowing/24274?tag=nl.e660&s_ci d=e660&ttag=e660&ftag=TRE4eb 29b5

Global Demand for Rail is Growing

Black Business News International Edition -56- Summer 2013

By Tyler Falk

How Improved Urban Transportation Could Save $70 Trillion by Tyler Falk

s more of the world’s population moves to cities, congestion will only increase, the strain on urban transportation systems will only intensify, and the amount of energy used for urban

transportation is set to double by 2050. But careful planning could lead to big savings for farsighted cities. In a new report, The International Energy Agency (www.iea.org) says that we lose hundreds of billions of dollars in lost time and

fuel because of crowded transportation systems. But it estimates that cities investing in improved energy efficiency of transportation systems could collectively save $70 trillion by

2050. “Governments must think beyond individual technologies and electoral cycles, and consider how to build – and how to renew – cities that will accommodate and transport nearly 6.3 billion people by 2050. We must plan infrastructure, logistics and

energy systems now that make sense today and over the coming decades,” said IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven, in a statement. In the report, A Tale of Renewed Cities (www.iea. org/publications/ freepublications/ publication/ R e n e w e d _ Cities_WEB. pdf), IEA makes numerous policy recommendations and suggests an “avoid, shift, and improve approach” to transportation planning. “Avoid” policies help reduce the burden on transportation systems — initiatives that promote telecommuting, for example. “Shift” policies encourage the use of more energy efficient modes of transportation — buses and bikes, see African Solutions on page 58

Black Business News International Edition -57- Summer 2013

Urban Transportation from page 57

for example. “Improve” policies make transportation systems more energy efficient. But it’s not a onesize fits all approach. The report makes suggestions that vary by city type — from sprawling cities to multi-modal cities. Case studies in the report point to cities that have already implemented sound policies to improve transportation efficiency,

from New York City reducing travel time with express bus service to Belgrade refurbishing its urban rail system and tripling passenger numbers in the first six months. There’s already a lot of us living in cities and there will only be more urbanites in the future, so we might as well start planning for it and save a little money in the process.  www.smartplanet.com/blog/

bulletin/how-improved-urbantransportation-could-save-70trillion/24089?tag=nl.e660&s_cid=e 660&ttag=e660&ftag=TRE4eb29b5

Solution Through a single relationship and low-cost integration, FiftyOne helps merchants sell to and engage with more than 1.5 billion online consumers around the world. The FiftyOne Global Ecommerce solution is the only third-party-managed service that extends a retailer’s ecommerce platform globally without adding infrastructure or introducing change to their existing business operations. By effectively snapping international lenses on a retailer’s website, FiftyOne allows international shoppers to interact with a merchant’s brand while enjoying the same online experience enjoyed by U.S. consumers. From optimizing and localizing your website for international shoppers, to handling every single aspect of the cross-border import and logistics challenge – our end-to-end solution enables you to transact effortlessly across borders in every corner of the globe. Your international shoppers get a first-class customer experience and can buy with the same confidence and certainty they would if your retail operation was just across town. As the most comprehensive global ecommerce offering available in the marketplace, FiftyOne is the partner of choice for many of the leading U.S. retail brands.

Expore the FiftyOne Solution: www.fiftyone.com

Black Business News International Edition -58- Summer 2013

Environmental Solutions Group, Inc. ESG is an environmental technology firm offering a variety of technologies. These include, but are not limited to, landfill volume reduction, remediation of landfill waste, conversion of organic and inorganic waste into usable byproducts. All this reduces landfill volumes and extends the life of a landfill. Please visit our web site for videos, photos and data on our technologies - www.esgint.com. One of our key technology product offerings is the Compressed Earthen Block Production System. ESG provides the equipment and training for the manufacture of earthen blocks to be used primarily for the construction of high quality, low cost housing. The City of Durban in South Africa has just purchased their 3rd set of block making equipment. They will soon begin construction of a 3,200 house project. The basic house to be constructed in Durban will be 52 sq. meters and have two bedrooms, kitchen, family area and indoor toilet and shower. The estimated cost of the house is $10,000 US including the roof tiles, Photovoltaic electrical system, rainwater tank and solar water heater. The Republic of Angola has 10 sets of our block making equipment and ESG equipment is in use in seven (7) other African nations. Even the US Military has 55 sets of ESG block making equipment. The ESG Compressed Earthen Block Production system: • Creates between 21 and 30 jobs. • Our blocks do not require mortar. • Our blocks need a minimum of 10% clay. • Our blocks do not need curing they can go directly into the wall. • Our blocks have a Thermal Efficiency of 34/36 while cement blocks are 3. • Our blocks have a PSI of 900 to 1200 without cement. This is 6 to 8.3 Mega Pascal. This is 3 to 4 times minimum standards of 300 PSI and 2.0 Mpa. If we add 5% cement the PSI goes to 2500 or 17 Mpa. Profit Incentive If you were to only make blocks for commercial sale and make a profit of $.20 cents US per block, the profits from our ESG 3500 Compressed Earthen Block Production System will pay for itself in 200 work days. At $.20 cents profit per block the ESG 3500 Compressed Earthen Block Production System will generate between $350,000 and $400,000 US per year. With our smaller unit the income will be about $140,000 US per year. If you need any additional information please do not hesitate to contact Robert Morriss, Director, info@esgint.com. Environmental Solutions Group, Inc. Environmental Solutions International 460 Langer Ct, Hemet, CA 92545 USA www.esgint.com  Office: 1-951-325-8200

Black Business News International Edition -60- Summer 2013

African Nations Rank High in Worldwide Peace Indexes Compiled by BBN Editorial Staﬀ

he Positive Peace Index (PPI) (www.visionofhumanity.

org/#/page/indexes/globalpeace-index) has ranked Botswana

the best governed country in Africa. The country is placed at number 41 out of 125 countries which where measured against eight core governance categories. The categories included issues such as: • a well functioning government, • good relations with neighbours, • free flow of information, • respect for human rights, • and low level of corruption. In Africa Botswana is followed by Namibia (51), South Africa (53), Ghana (55) and Tunisia (58). Botswana has also emerged among countries which are considered the most peaceful in the world. And the 2013 Global Peace Index (GIP) which was released on June 11, 2013 by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), places Botswana at 32 out of 162 countries. Therefore, Botswana is above half of the European region countries measured. In Africa, Botswana is placed behind Mauritius (21), but is ahead of Namibia (46), Zambia (48), South Africa (121) and Zimbabwe (149). The Global Peace Index is a new attempt to measure the relative position of nations’ and regions’ peacefulness. It is the product of the Institute for Economics and Peace (http://inec.usip.org/frontpage) and

developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts with data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The annual list was launched first in May 2007. This year the Global Peace Index for the first time included a “Positive Peace

Index,” which looks at attitudes, institutions and structures that, when strengthened, can improve a country’s peacefulness.  www.africanspotlight.com/2013/06/13/ botswana-ranked-best-governedcountry-in-africa-then-namibia-safrica-ghana-see-full-list

Black Business News International Edition -61- Summer 2013

SAVE THE DATE! 4th Annual Pan African Global Trade and Investment Conference featuring

Date: December 11-14, 2013 Location: Oriental Hotel Lagos, Nigeria Sponsored by: Trend Media City Ltd. Collaborating Organizations: Trend TV

The 1st Annual Pan African Film & Entertainment Investment Summit MISSION The Annual Pan African Film & Entertainment Investment Summit will provide a venue for investors, film, TV & music entertainment content producers, studio executives, media experts and regulators to meet to secure financing for Pan African film, television, music and entertainment content, infrastructure and capacity development. A major highlight of the 2013 summit is the launching of an investment fund in this sector of the creative industries. For more information contact: Al Washington, Executive Director Africa-USA Chamber of Commerce & Industry at 1.626.321.7041 or alwash9727@aol.com

The Pan African University School of Media and Communication The Federation of Pan African Film Makers The Africa-USA Chamber of Commerce & Industry The African Marketplace Inc.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Global Cinema & Urban Media Initiative The Pan African Global Trade & Investment Association

Black Business News International Edition -62- Summer 2013

cancer tumors and, along with the Argentine group, developed a medicine that would convince the body to attack that antigen, thereby destroying the cells. After being tested on some 1,700 patients, including 1,200 included in an ongoing clinical trial, the drug was approved for use in late-stage lung cancer patients. Only about 8% of late stage cancer patients survive two years, Dr. Alonso says, while 24% of those who took the cancer vaccine in the clinical trials survived that long. For Argentina, leading a medical breakthrough is a bit of a homecoming. Argentina was once one of the world’s top centers of scientific inquiry, and Argentine scientists won Nobel Prizes in 1947, 1970 and 1984. But the country’s glory has faded in recent decades, and Dr. Sigman says that the desire to show that Argentina could discover great drugs was part of the inspiration for the vaccine. The second inspiration, according to Dr. Sigman, was meeting patients who couldn’t physically handle chemotherapy or radiation therapy and needed a new treatment option. The course of treatment for Vaxira, which consists of five buildup shots given every two weeks and then ten booster shots given every four weeks, costs $20,000. Dr. Sigman says that he expects that the drug will be approved in the majority of the 25 countries where it has been licensed by 2015, and that the Argentine/Cuban joint venture should earn back its $100 million investment five years after that. 

A ‘Vaccine’ for Lung Cancer? by Ian Mount The story of the vaccine begins in 1994, when a group of Argentine scientists who dreamed of creating a cancer vaccine met with a group of Cuban scientists who had an idea of how to make one. And it reaches its finale on July 1,2013, when a drug called Vaxira (Racotumomab) goes on sale in Argentina. Developed by ID+i, an Argentine consortium of universities, government ministries, and Grupo Insud, a local pharmaceutical conglomerate, along with Cuba’s Molecular Immunology Center (CIM, in Spanish), the vaccine required $100 million of investment,

One of the more headturning aspects of the drug is its classification as a vaccine. It is not a vaccine in the traditional sense of a preventative shot given to kids, but rather an anti-idiotypic vaccine. Instead of introducing a weakened version of a virus so that the body is ready to fight when the real version shows up, vaccines like Vaxira encourage the body to fight lung cancer tumor cells that are already present in the body. In this sense, a better label for the drug would be an “active immunotherapy treatment,” Dr. Daniel Alonso, ID+i’s scientific director, says.

A vial of Vaxira, the lung cancer vaccine Dr. Hugo Sigman, Grupo Insud’s CEO and the founder of ID+i, says. Besides Argentina, the drug has also already been approved in Cuba and has been licensed to 25 countries in the Americas and Asia, from Brazil to Cambodia.

“It is not a cure for cancer,” he says. “But it is a treatment option for prolonging a patient’s life.” In the case of Vaxira, the Cuban investigators identified a compound called an antigen present in the cell walls of non-small cell lung

www.smartplanet.com/blog/globalobserver/a-8216vaccine-for-lungcancer/12600?tag=nl.e662

Black Business News International Edition -63- Summer 2013

Photo from ID+i/Grupo Insud

Why Is Africa Ripping Apart? Seismic Scan May Tell By Charles Q. Choi, OurAmazingPlanet Contributor

This radar image highlights portions of three of the lakes located in the Western Rift of the Great Rift Valley

Arrays of sensors stretching across more than 1,500 miles in Africa are now probing the giant crack in the Earth located there — a fis-

sure linked with human evolution — to discover why and how continents get ripped apart. Over the course of millions of

years, Earth’s continents break up as they are slowly torn apart by

Black Business News International Edition -64- Summer 2013

see Africa Ripping Apart on page 65

Africa Ripping Apart from page 64

the planet’s tectonic forces. All the ocean basins on the Earth started as continental rifts, such as the Rio Grande rift in North America and Asia’s Baikal rift in Siberia. The giant rift in Eastern Africa was born when Arabia and Africa began pulling away from each other about 26 million to 29 million years ago. Although this rift has grown less than 1 inch (2.54 centimeters) per year, the dramatic results include the formation and ongoing spread of the Red Sea, as well as the East African Rift Valley, the landscape that might have been home to the first humans. “Yet, in spite of numerous geophysical and geological studies, we still do not know much about the processes that tear open continents and form continental rifts,” said researcher Stephen Gao, a seismologist at the Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. This is partly because such research has mostly focused on mature segments of these chasms, as opposed to ones that are still in development, he explained. [Earth Quiz: Mysteries of the Blue Marble] Seismic SAFARI Geodynamic models suggest that below mature rifts, a region called the asthenosphere is upwelling. The asthenosphere is the hotter, weaker, upper part of the mantle that lies below the lithosphere, the planet’s outer, rigid shell. So far, there are two contenders for what might cause this upwelling: anomalies deeper in the mantle or thinning of the lithosphere due to distant stresses. To help find out which of the two different rifting models is correct, the Seismic Arrays for African Rift Initiation (SAFARI) project installed

50 seismic stations across Africa in the summer of 2012, each spaced about 17 to 50 miles (28 to 80 kilometers) apart. “One of the techniques that we will use to image the Earth beneath the SAFARI stations is called seismic tomography, which is in principle similar to the X-ray CAT-scan technique used in hospitals,” Gao told LiveScience’s OurAmazingPlanet. “The only differences are that our sources of the ‘rays’ are earthquakes and man-made explosions, and the receivers are the seismic stations such as the 50 SAFARI stations.” Altogether, these arrays encompass a length of about 1,550 miles (2,500 km) and are located in four countries — Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. “I think the project has a positive impact on local communities,” Gao said. “Some of our 50 SAFARI seismic stations are on local schools, and the teachers and students were excited and were proud about the fact that their school was selected for a high-tech scientific instrument. We believe that this project showed some kids that the outside world is different and even fascinating.” The arrays will image the areas under the Okavango, Luangwa and Malawi rifts, the southwest and southernmost segments of the East African Rift system. These so-called incipient rifts are not yet mature and could thus shed light on why and how rifting occurs. “This is the first large-scale project to image the structure and deformation beneath an incipient rift,” Gao said. “The Okavango rift in Botswana is as young as a few tens-of-thousand years, while most other rifts such as the Rio Grande and Baikal rifts are as old as 35 million years.” Upwelling or thinning? If thermal or dynamic anomalies

deep in the mantle are responsible for rifting, then upwelling from the asthenosphere should already be occurring beneath these incipient rifts. In contrast, if thinning of the lithosphere is the cause of rifting, then any levels of upwelling should be insignificant because the lithosphere should not have thinned adequately for major upwelling to occur yet. A magnitude-5.6 earthquake in November near the northern end of the Indian Ocean’s mid-ocean ridge sent out seismic waves that were more than 1 second slower than predicted. This supports the idea that the mantle layer beneath Southern Africa is hotter than normal, perhaps due to a jet of magma known as a mantle plume that geologists have proposed exists beneath this area. To image the structures beneath these rifts and pin down what the rifting mechanism in Eastern Africa is, researchers need data from more than just one event. The seismic arrays will be deployed for 24 months, and each station will sample the Earth for seismic waves 50 times per second. “We are anxious to see if there are melted rocks in the mantle beneath the rifts, if there is convective mantle flow that is driving the rifting process, and how much the crust has been thinned in different portions of the rifts,” Gao said. “But this cannot be done until next summer, when all the data recorded by SAFARI are processed.” The scientists detailed their findings to date in the June 11 issue of Eos, the online newspaper of the American Geophysical Union.  Image: One-of-a-Kind Places on Earth http://weather.yahoo.com/whyafrica-ripping-apart-seismic-scanmay-tell-140447700.html

Black Business News International Edition -65- Summer 2013

One Africa: Tell the US Government that North Africa is Africa Too!

oin with and support the United Africa Organization’s campaign to petition the U.S. Department of State to include the whole African continent under its Bureau of African Affairs.

Why? The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs, led by Assistant Secretary Johnnie Carson, currently excludes Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara from its agenda. Instead, the aforementioned countries are grouped with the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, together with Iran, Iraq, Israel and others. This artificial distinction between North Africa and the rest of Africa

negatively impacts US foreign policy relations throughout the entire continent of Africa. We unequivocally reject the argument that North African countries are outside the scope of African affairs. North Africa is geographically and historically part of the African continent, and all fifty-three (53) independent African states, including North African countries, are represented in the African Union (AU). It would be far more productive for the State Department to engage with the entire continent of Africa, including North Africa, under its Bureau of African Affairs. We are one Africa, from the

Cape to Cairo, indivisible and bound together! Therefore, no square inch of African land should be excluded from African affairs.

Sign The Petition!!! Go to www.change.org/petitions/ one-africa-tell-us-state-departmentthat-north-africa-is-part-of-africa and sign the online petition to support this important proposition. Next tell everyone you know to sign. 

Black Business News International Edition -67- Summer 2013

www.uniteafricans.org

In the Spotlight The Anzisha Prize 2013 The Anzisha Prize is the premier award for African

The Anzisha Prize is an initiative of the African Leadership Academy’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Leadership in partnership with the MasterCard Foundation. 12 finalists will travel to South Africa for a weeklong conference and gala event where they will share in $75,000 in cash prizes and access lifelong mentor opportunities.

Though the application deadline has passed. There are many ways to participate in the Anzisha Prize program. Please browse our website and join our movement to encourage and catalyse youth entrepreneurship and leadership across Africa. www.anzishaprize.org

entrepreneurs aged 15-22 who have developed and implemented innovative businesses or solutions that have a positive impact on their communities. Finalists will travel to South Africa for a weeklong entrepreneurial conference and stand to collectively win $75,000 in cash prizes, as well as access to lifelong mentorship that can be provided by Anzisha Prize’s vast network of individual partners, organizations, and youth leaders.

ATA’s 38th Annual World Congress Republic of Cameroon October 16 to 21, 2013

he Africa Travel Association (ATA) has announced that the Republic of Cameroon will host the 38th Annual ATA World Congress, ATA’s largest international tourism industry meeting, in 2013. see In The Spotlight on page 69

In The Spotlight

from page 68

The congress will bring together hundreds of tourism leaders and professionals from government, business and nonprofit sectors to promote tourism development to and across Africa from around the world. ATAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual event in Africa offers a unique networking, learning and agenda-shaping platform for the most diverse group of buyers and sellers of Destination Africa of any travel industry event on the continent. Participants include African tourism ministers, industry professionals representing tourism boards, travel agencies and tour operators, conference and incentive operators, ground operators, airlines, and hotels, as well as the travel trade media. Participants from the corporate, non profit and academic sectors are also expected to attend along with leaders of the African Diaspora. ď&#x201A;˛ www.AfricaTravelAssociation.org

Power Africa/Trade Africa The President of the United States announced two Africa-oriented programs in June 2013 - Power Africa and Trade Africa. The US Department of Commerce

is holding briefings on these two programs to inform and engage potential investors. These two programs are designed to catalyze opportunities to US firms in Africa. Designated public and private sector funding for Power Africa alone

is $16 billion. These programs work along side the Doing Business in Africa campaign led by the US Commerce Department. This briefing will provide an overview of each of the programs, as well as covering the practical side of how to tap into the resources, funding, and opportunities associated with these programs. US agency officials will lead the briefing. See articles on page 18 and 22 for more on these two programs. Registration is available through Eventbrite: www. eventbrite.com/event/7416867049?ref=ebtnebregn. ď&#x201A;˛ www.afribiz.info/content/power-africa-and-trade-africabriefing-december-10-2013-raleigh-nc-usa

Returning to Africa? African Repatriation is an invaluable online resource for any African national who is thinking about returning to Africa. Our industry articles and specialist editorials provide the latest sector information. Why not find out for yourself and become a part of our growing community today?

www.africanrepatriation.com

Career Opportunities in Africa Search and apply online for the latest vacancies in Africa with African Talent. We provide candidates and employers with the tools and resources needed in today’s competitive job market. For employers, we offer numerous options to feature your jobs in Africa and for candidates, reviewing the most recent job vacancies in Africa is a fast, easy process. Uploading your CV is simple and takes just a few moments.

www.africantalent.com

List Your Business or Project on Afribiz for FREE! Afribiz.info (www.afribiz.info) serves as the online portal for Afribiz which focuses on catalyzing and growing trade, information, business, technology and innovation, and capital flows between Africa and other global markets, both developed and emerging. Afribiz.info oﬀers information, intelligence, research, media and broadcasting, services, and is the gateway to the Afribiz business ecosystem situated in Africa and around the globe. Afribiz is opening its business and project directory to those who would like a place to share information on a business or project. Right now, you can list a business or project for free for 2 years. (There is normally a $100 fee). Note: You must register on the Afribiz site, which is also free. Listing must include a website address for the specific business or project and a business email address not general email addresses like gmail.com or yahoo.com.

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Go to www.bbala.org Menu Selection: Black Business News to view current and past issues.

Fall 2008 USD$5.00

Contents Corporate Givin

g: EOY charita opportunities in health, education, ble ing, and more. housTourism: Investm

ent in Africa’s tourism industry is active, all across the contin vital and is evident ent.

Feature Articles: “Strategies For Cons Engagement with tructisve the African Diaspora ” “Diaspora Enga gement: Remittances & Beyond” Investment ProƤ le: Moyo District of the Repub lic of Uganda

Professional Direc tory Charitable Inves

tments

Rev. Leon R. Perry , III in Ghana with

see Corporate Giving recently orpaned twins page 21

Black Business News International Edition -70- Summer 2013

The UN reports that at the Kobe refugee camp in Ethiopia, an average of 10 children under the age of five has died every day. Twenty years ago, I witnessed firsthand the devastation of another famine in Somalia. Two decades later, International Medical Corps has built vast networks of staff and partners on the ground, who as you read this, are responding to this crisis. Our efforts are working – but so many more vulnerable people need to be reached. With our partners, Wings of Help, Lufthansa, and International Relief Teams, we airlifted 90 tons of medicine, food, and humanitarian supplies to East Africa, where we are distributing them to the families and children who need it most. We’re in the camps, providing care and nutrition to refugees and we’re expanding our existing op-

SOMALIA CRISIS

erations outside of the camps to reach drought-affected communities. We know we can count on your support because you’ve already shown how much you care – please, give today and help us relieve their suffering. You can make a difference It’s time to act. Visit our website at http://internationalmedicalcorps. org. Your donation today can save lives and relieve their suffering.

community mobilization, nutrition screening, micronutrient supplementation, and vaccination and medical referrals •Delivered nutrition supplies, including ready-to-use foods and nutrition equipment such as height boards and weighing scales, to local health centers •Trained 20 community health workers, 12 community nutrition workers, and 12 health care providers

What We Are Doing

ETHIOPIA •Screened more than 5,000 children and mothers at the Kobe refugee camp. •Constructed 136 latrines, with an additional 200 planned •Preparing feeding program for mothers and children between 6 months and 5 years-old in two additional camps

SOMALIA •Screened 5,761 children for malnutrition at International Medical Corpssupported sites •Trained Ministry of Health staff on

KENYA •Deepening current operations in Garissa, the Rift Valley, Isiolo, and Tana River – drought affected communities outside of the camps

Thank you, Stephen Tomlin, Vice President, Program Policy and Planning International Medical Corps

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) agency is seeking US$144,954,431 in funds for emergency relief in the host countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya, which are themselves hard hit by the drought. Many refugees walk for weeks to reach aid in neighboring countries. Some do not survive the harsh journey; the weakest children die along the way as their mothers watch helplessly. Those refugees who make it to Kenya or Ethiopia’s camps arrive exhausted, dehydrated and severely malnourished. Child deaths are alarmingly high. The refugees urgently need medical aid and high-protein, high-energy food. They also need clean water, shelter and basic services in the camps. Please visit www. unhcr.org. and donate today. Black Business News International Edition -71- Summer 2013

International Trade Calendar AGOA Forum August 12-13, 2013 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia The governments of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the United States of America, will host the 2013 U.S.-SubSaharan Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum also known as the AGOA Forum, on August 12-13, 2013 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Forum will be preceded by private sector and civil society programs, as well as a program arranged by the Ethiopian African Women’s Entrepreneurship Program (AWEP), on August 10-11.

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in collaboration with the Ethiopian Chambers of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) will also organize a U.S. – subSaharan Africa Trade Exhibition to run concurrent with the Forum events. For information go to www. agoa.gov. 

Africa Print 2013

August 21-23, 2013 Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg, South Africa

fter successfully hosting the Africa Print exhibition in 2012, Practical Publishing is proud to announce Africa Print 2013. The dedicated commercial and digital print exhibition, Africa Print will take place from 21-23 August, 2013 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. This significant event will also showcase the entire digital print process, featuring from sheetfed A3 machines up to Grand format digital equipment and will include both suppliers and manufacturers of commercial litho and digital printers, finishing equipment, software, media and consumables.

business system. Africa Print will provide an opportunity for printers looking to expand their business with the potential of digital production. The expo will focus on the innovative and cost-effective capabilities of shortrun, variable data and personalised print as well as providing visitors with the latest developments and trends in the global industry. An extensive national and international marketing campaign will ensure that visitors to the show will include print industry representatives as well as end users and influential decision makers. Africa Print will aim to educate and inspire all visitors on the powerful capabilities and commercial benefits of digital print, in its entirety. The Africa Print expo is sponsored by Xerox. Companion shows with AfricaPrintExpo are SIGNafrica and VISCOMafrica. Vist the website for information or to register for all three

expos. com. 

With the rapid development in printing technology, digital printing can now offer flexibility and convenience with the same level of quality as traditional offset machines. This has resulted in an irreversible industry trend, where digital is not necessarily replacing traditional printing processes but rather being integrated into commercial print houses as a complementary element of the

www.africaprintexpo.

Emergent Africa: Investment and Business Opportunities September 25–27, 2013 Montreal, Canada Forum AFRICA has always sought to be a top-tier, quality showcase for investors interested in Africa. This is borne out by at least three

Black Business News International Edition -72- Summer 2013

see Trade Calendar on page 73

International Trade Calendar decisions we made at the outset. First of all, we have always made it a point of honour to choose an exceptional venue for each edition. Over the

the largest pan-African association of businesspeople, whose members include world-calibre captains of industry (industrials, bankers and other professionals) and are active across all sectors

years, these have included the Sheraton Centre, the Fairmount The Queen Elizabeth and the Delta Hotel. Secondly, we have had prestigious participants over the years. In 2003, for instance, we had the privilege of hosting Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Under-SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations and Special Adviser on Africa. Forum AFRICA 2005 was enhanced by the presence of Jacques Saada, Canada’s Minister of Economic Development. For the 2009 edition, we hosted His Excellency Mr. Alpha Oumar Konaré, former president of Mali and former chairman of the African Union Commission, as well as the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew, Canada’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Finally, it bears noting that many partners of choice have always collaborated with Afrique Expansion to make this business event possible. Among the indefectible regulars are the Africa Business Roundtable (ABR) and the Canadian Council on Africa (CCAfrica). Founded by the African Development Bank (ADB), ABR is

of activity. For this reason, it has been chosen by Africa’s Heads of State to steer the NEPAD Business Group in Africa. We have been able to count on ADB’s support from the very first edition, as well as that of Afreximbank. More than simply a prestigious gathering, over the years this business summit has evolved into an eagerly anticipated, must-attend event! Over the years, Forum Africa’s organizers have honed a template for the event that has received positive feedback from participants, who have said that it serves very well to foster business dealings. Conference Lunch: As in previous years, there will be two. The Conference Lunch features as speaker a well-known figure who will make the case for the continent. It is an opportunity to describe Africa as it truly is, including the many hopes and promises for its prosperity. Gala: A highlight of the Forum. In addition to the possibilities for networking with several hundred business people interested in developing Africa–Canada

business ties, the Gala honours the exceptional achievements of a number of companies and individuals in promoting exchanges between the African continent and the North American country. The Afrique Expansion Awards of Excellence are presented in the following categories: • Africa-Canada Partnership

• Support for Women’s Entrepreneurship • Import Trade • Export Trade • Business Development in Africa • Sustainable Development Panel and Roundtable: Heads of large corporations, high officials from Africa, Canada and elsewhere, and ambassadors or ministers are invited to come talk about a specific theme, such as Infrastructure Development; International Funding for Projects in Africa; and Doing Business in Africa. Networking: A cocktail function is usually held. The agenda is also structured so that some 2030 minutes are set aside to allow participants to chat and exchange business cards. Matchmaking: For the different participants, we can organize numerous targeted encounters with dynamic individuals who are interested in doing business with them. For details and registration visit Web site: www.forumafricanada. com. 

Black Business News International Edition -73- Summer 2013

gency phase behind us and turning completely towards sustainable human development while never, of course, overlooking those in urgent need of aid. Maison Shalom is unique because of the holistic approach of all its activities. It monitors the children it helps even after their reintegration into the community, to ensure that everything’s going well. Its activities include all areas of integrated and sustainable development : health, education, culture, justice and income-generation. The focus is on agricultural and pastoral activities, the livelihood of over 90% of the population.

Restoring Children’s Dignity Since its inception by Marguerite Barankitse in 1993, Maison Shalom (House of Peace) has done all in its power to restore dignity to war or AIDS orphans, street children, young children and babies in prison (infants with their mothers), and the children of poverty-stricken parents. Since first taking charge of 25 war orphans in 1993, Maison Shalom has come to the aid of more than 20,000 orphans and other needy children. As peace returns to Burundi, Maison Shalom has gradually changed its ap-

Involving the Socioeconomic, Political and Religious Players proach. We no longer wait for children in need to come to us: we go to them.

A Community Approach Our almost 18 years of experience working with vulnerable children have taught us that the best way to help them efficiently and sustainably is to develop the community in which they live. In addition to children, other categories of people – mothers with nursing difficulties caused by malnutrition and poor sick people – turn to Maison Shalom for assistance. The root of the problem is obviously the extreme poverty of the families. We have therefore adopted a community approach. We go to the families and help them develop to the point of selfsufficiency.

Towards Sustainable Human Development We have moved on, leaving the emer-

Maison Shalom works in all Burundi’s provinces and in its neighbouring countries (Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo). In addition to our day-to-day work, it is our duty to call on all those involved in socio-economic, political and religious life to make an effort to restore dignity to our brothers and sisters in Burundi and to put a smile back on their faces: we want to set a living example of integrated development.

We’re Convinced With our unshakeable belief in the success of our mission, our determination and the friendship of our partners and friends who hold us dear and support us, we are convinced that our dream to see every Burundian lead a decent life will come true.

Make A Donation www.maisonshalom.org/en/19/donation 

Black Business News International Edition -74- Summer 2013

Books to Consider... In Honor of Nelson Mandela Many authors have explored the phenomenon of Nelson Mandela including Mandela himself. A few of the tomes are shown here. ď &#x192;

Books for Africa Donate a Desk to Students in Malawi

ooks For Africa (www.booksforafrica.org) has a simple mis-

sion. We collect, s o r t , s h i p , and distribute books to children in Africa. Our goal: to end the book famine in Africa. Since 1988, BFA has shipped over 24 million high-quality text and library books to children and adults in 45 African countries. Millions more are needed. It costs $9,800 to send a sea container to most major sea ports of books and computers to Africa. Your donation will enable Books For Africa to send even more books to children in Africa who are hungry to read, hungry to learn. 

very day, millions of children throughout Africa struggle to learn while sitting on the floor or on the ground outdoors. Giving them a desk, where they can write and concentrate, is a great step towards creating an educational system that attracts, and keeps, eager young students. Support the U.S. Fund for UNICEF (www.unicefusa.org) and MSNBC’s “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” in an ambitious campaign called K.I.N.D.: Kids in Need of Desks to provide 46,000 desks for 172 schools in UNICEF Malawi’s Schools for Africa network. By making a tax-deductible dona-

tion to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, you can pick one or more students up off the ground and help pave their way to a better education and brighter future. A gift of: • $24 can pick one student off the floor; • $48 will buy a desk and bench for two students; • $720 will furnish an entire class of 30. The program is a component of the UNICEF Schools for Africa campaign which aims to accelerate access to quality basic education for children, with a special focus on girls, orphans and vulnerable children. 

ASSIST THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH SUDAN Sudan Sunrise Help Build Schools in the South Sundan www.sudansunrise.org

outh Sudan is the most underdeveloped region of the world today. 85% of the population in South Sudan is illiterate. Only about 7% of teachers in the south have any professional training, and it is not uncommon to visit a school where the teachers themselves have not been educated beyond fourth grade. Some 1.5 million children who should be in school are not, due to lack of schools. The majority of schools that do exist consist of a chalkboard under a tree. Read about the camapign and contribute to the program to build over 41 schools at www.sudansunrise.org.

Southern Sudan Literacy Project (SSLP) Build a Primary School • www.thehopealliance.org/?q=node/77

he Southern Sudan Literacy Project (SSLP) is designed to build a Primary school in Dongchak Payam, Duk County, Southern Sudan. Solomon Awan, who was one of the “Lost Boys from Sudan,” now lives in Salt Lake City, Utah. He desires to help the village he is from, Duk Padiet. Villagers are just now returning after so many years of war and genocide. During the Spring of 2008, Solomon traveled back to his home village where he was reunited with his mother and sister. He met with the village community and agreed that the education of their children is the most critical need. We hope to finish building the school before the 2011 rainy season. To further this goal, SSLP has partnered with Hope Alliance, allowing our donors the benefit of a tax deduction. Please help SSLP accomplish this worthwhile project: send donations to The Hope Alliance (www.thehopealliance.org) For further information please contact: solomonawan@ yahoo.com.  Black Business News International Edition -76- Summer 2013

This is an official warning from the African Union, an intergovernmental and continental organization with its headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

t has come to our attention that an organization calling itself the AFRICAN UNION CHAMBER OF COMMERCE is using the name AFRICAN UNION (AU) AND THE AFRICAN UNION LOGO AND WEBSITE and claiming to be part of or an institution of the African Union. The said organization has been alleged to have solicited money from the wider public in order to render certain services or to provide access to identified goods or services. We would like to warn people worldwide that the AFRICAN UNION has no connection whatsoever with the so called African Union Chamber of Commerce. The said organization is not part of or an institution of the African Union and is not recognized by the African Union. The use of the name, logo and website of the African Union by the said organization is not authorized by the African Union and is therefore illegal. The African Union disassociates itself from any misrepresentations, statements or communication in whatever form and manner made by this organization purporting to be an agent of or part of the African Union. The African Union will not accept any liability in respect of any representation or misrepresentation, communication, transaction, losses or damages incurred by any member of the public arising from any act of commission or omission or utterance perpetrated by the so called African Union Chamber of Commerce. The AU as the copyright holder will take appropriate action against the said organization. 

“One Africa for Prosperity and Peace”

Strategic Objectives African Union Commission 1. Reduce conflicts to achieve continental security and stability; 2. Achieve the necessary continental security and stability as a prerequisite for Africa’s development and integration; 3. Promote sustainable economic development; 4. Promote sustainable social and human development; 5. Formulate frameworks for developing and sharing Africa’s Statistics, and Research & Development capacities; 6. Enhance continental integration; 7. Build and foster continental and global cooperation; 8. Promote good governance, democracy and human rights; 9. Strengthen the Africa-wide humanitarian response and action; 10. Promote Inter-African solidarity; 11. Promote African Cultural Renaissance and the protection of Africa’s cultural heritage; 12. Promote the active participation and contribution of all segments of the African society in Africa’s development and integration; 13. Promote the ratification and entry into force of all outstanding legal instruments adopted by the Assembly of the Union; 14. Promote gender equality; 15. Strengthen the capacity and enhance the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the African Union Commission; 16. Promote synergies, linkages and good working relations with all Africa Union Organs; 17. Promote effective cooperation and collaboration with Member States and the Regional Economic Communities; 18. Promote strategic partnerships for leveraging sustainable sources of funding and comparative advantages.

www.african-union.org

Black Business News International Edition -77- Summer 2013

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www.kasamore.com 1-866-507-7144 http://angola.org/newsletter/Imbondeiro.pdf Black Business News International Edition -78- Summer 2013

The

Congolese Community of Southern California

invites all of us to take part in the campaign to End the Violence, End the Genocide, End the Rape, End the Exploitation taking place in the Democratice Republic of the Congo Now!. Watch the video record of the recent public protest held in Los Angeles, California. Then become a supportor and an activist for freedom - contact is

Watch & Support the Africa Channel! Time Warner Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the Africa Channel in your area? Call Time Warner at: 1-888-8922253 and ask that the Africa Channel be broadcast to your area. For information on the Africa Channel visit www.theafricachannel.com or send an e-mail inquiry to info@theafricachannel.com.

congolesecommunity@ gmail.com www.cneworld.tv/live Black Business News International Edition -79- Summer 2013

Making it easy to Buy Black. Supporting Black job creation. Decreasing the wealth gap. Yeah, we do all that! www.ujamaadeals.com The Ujamaa Difference for Black-owned Businesses

Buy Black! Daily discounts from Black-owned companies Support cooperative economics and job creation Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple. Black unemployment is at least 2x the national level (the official estimate is about 16.7%, but the real rate is closer to 30%). Black-owned businesses are 85% more likely to hire Black employees than non-Black-owned businesses. So the most efficient use of our consumer dollars to increase Black employment and decrease the wealth gap is to support Black-owned businesses. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.

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Black Business News International Edition -80- Summer 2013

Online Videos Offer Businesses the Basics of Exporting

h e Africa F i l m Academy in its quest to enhance capacity in different aspects of film making and promote the growth of the motion picture industry is set to train over 1000 youths across Africa via Film-In-A-Box, a practical, hands on training school established to equip aspiring and emerging film makers with requisite skills needed to succeed in the film industry. The Africa Film Academy will be running the all round film training course across Africa this summer. The courses are held in Banjul Gambia, Johannesburg South Africa and Lagos Nigeria. Our Module takes the shape of Team Building and Team Work over a period of 21 days of intensive training. The Curriculum covers the core modules of: Screenwriting, Directing, Cinematography, Editing,

A new series of 12 online videos offer exporters another tool in learning about the technical aspects of exporting and dealing with the intricacies of trade rules and paperwork. In these videos, viewers see Trade Information Center (TIC) trade specialists, explaining how to fill out a NAFTA Certificate of Origin. The presenters in the videos all do customer-facing work for their Department of Commerce agencies and, thus, are intimately familiar with the subject matter of each video. The 12 export training videos are available on the Web at www.census.gov/foreign-trade/aes/ exporttraining/videos. Each video runs about three or four minutes and can be viewed online or downloaded for off-line viewing. For additional sources of export counseling, contact the Trade Information Center at 1-800-USA-TRAD(E) (1-800-872-8723); www. export.gov. Acting, Sound, and Production Management. Students go from basics to some form of knowledge base on the area of the course they decide to follow at the end of the three week training courses. The students are divided into two team that build on a production which is basically a film not exceeding 90 minutes in parallel and intersecting with the courses. During the second part of the program the main focus is producing a feature film. Students pre-produce, shoot, edit, and work on the marketing and distribution of a real film intended for theatrical release. The programme provides master classes and professional supervision to ensure the artistic and professional quality of the film. Classes are aimed at addressing the specific needs of the film. Students complete programme in 21 days, knowing all the aspects of film industry, from preproduction to distribution, and, most importantly, each team leaves with a film that exhibits the talents and professions learnt during FILM IN A BOX. ď&#x201A;˛

Black Business News International Edition -81- Summer 2013

www.ama-awards.com/film-box

You can make deposits directly into your Imbongi Capital Account either via Electronic Funds Transfer or via a Cash Deposit into our third party payment processing account or at any vendor displaying the Imbongi Capital logo. Unfortunately no cheque deposits will be accepted. Debit orders can be established against this account provided that the service provider who raises the Debit Order does so via Capital Computer Bureau (Pty) Ltd. Stop orders can be set-up and managed on this account using your mobile phone application. Third party payments (including to other banks) can be made using Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) from your Mobile phone or the Internet bank facility provided by Imbongi Capital.

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Black Business News International Edition -82- Summer 2013

Pan-African CHILDREN’S FUND

Focused on ways the African Diaspora can participate and support the African Union’s Sixth Region initiative. For participation information contact: David J. Saunders, Program Director 202-371-0588; or intern_cfa@yahoo.com

people-to-people, church-to-church initiative to contribute to a better future for the children of Africa Please send your contribution to: Pan-African

Children’s Fund

P.O. Box 8386, Los Angeles, CA 90008 323-733-1048 pacf@westa.org

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YOUR LINK TO AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESS ENTERPRISE The Black Business Association, SBA 2007 Journalist of the Year, is pleased to invite you to be an integral part of our publication. Black Business News - Your Link to African American Business Enterprise throughout the nation. The Black Business News is the ofÀcial voice through which public and private entities advertise contract opportunities available to black business enterprise. Gain access to a highly afÁuent target market via outreach and advertising opportunities. • Outreach to Black Businesses • Advertorial/Feature Story Advertising • Profiles and Business Listings • Classified Ads and Bid Opportunities

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Resources Media Africa Interactive Multimedia Press/Content Agency in Africa www.africa-interactive.com African Leadership Magazine http://africanleadership.co.uk Africa World Press Books www.africaworldpressbooks.com African Vibes Magazine www.africanvibes.com The African World www.theafricanworld.tv Africast TV www.africast.tv AllAfrica http://allafrica.com Black Wall Street Times http://bwstimes.com Black Business News Group www.blackbusinessnews.net Black Press USA www.blackpressusa.com BridesNoir www.bridesnoir.com CuisineNoir www.cuisinenoirmag.com DiasporaVoice www.blogtalkradio.com/diasporavoice Rock Me Africa //rockmeafrica.com

www.causecast.com www.causecastfornonprofits.com Continental African Chamber of Commerce www.continentalacc.org Pan African Film Festival www.paff.org United African Organization http://uniteafricans.org Zambia-USA Chamber of Commerce www.zambiausachamber.org

Investment/Development Africa Reports www.africareports.com African Development Bank www.afdb.org African Export - Import Bank //afreximbank.com/afrexim/en The Exchange Magazine www.nse.co.ke Ventures www.ventures-africa.com

U.S. Government Commerce Department www.doc.gov International Trade Administration http://trade.gov Minority Business Development Agency www.mbda.gov Small Business Administration www.sba.gov State Department www.dos.gov White House www.whitehouse.gov

Organizations Africa Leadership Forum http://africaleadership.org The African Union www.au.int/en Black Business Association www.bbala.org CauseCast

Black Business News International Edition -85- Summer 2013