Endeavour Magazine August 2023

Heads of Departments

Editor-in-Chief Carley Fallows editor@littlegatepublishing.com

Space Management Emlyn Freeman emlynfreeman@littlegatepublishing.com

Media Coordinator Andrew Williams andrew@littlegatepublishing.com

Lead Designer Alina Sandu Research Kristina Palmer-Holt Editorial Research Amber Winterburn

Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com

Founder and CEO Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

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Editor’s Note

As we enter the peak summer months, many of us look forward to vacations, time to relax and enjoy the warmer temperatures. However, at Endeavour our thoughts this month are with those experiencing devastation from the widespread wildfires and flooding across the globe which are taking homes and livelihoods away from so many. We send our support and thoughts to all those impacted by this across the world.

In terms of our features this month, we got the chance to catch up with Investors Trust, talking with David Knights to learn more about the company’s expansion in Asia and how they are positioning themselves as a leading investment solutions option in such a vital location. Then we cover some big companies such as BP Trinidad and Tobago and Saipem who are expanding their global reach to develop localised projects towards global recognition.

Some personal favourite features from this month include Mario’s Pizzeria (and not just because the food looks so good!) which champions a community spirit and gives a real feel of friendship throughout its operations. As well as the International Zinc Association, which is developing the use of zinc worldwide toward sustainable projects, whilst doing vital work to help combat zinc deficiency in children.

Overall, we again cover a great variety of companies which are working towards building their industries towards global recognition, and we look forward to seeing how they all continue to strive for success throughout their operations.

by Carley Fallows

Features

13 BP Trinidad and Tobago

Pioneering Trinidad and Tobago’s Oil and Gas Industry

19 Saipem Engineering for a Sustainable Future

25 Mota-Engil Africa

Over 70 Years of Solutions Across Africa

31 RDF Feed, Livestock & Foods, Inc.

Providing Quality Everyday

38 Investors Trust

Expanding Across Asia

45 Macsteel South Africa

South African Steel Success

51 Hindustan Zinc

A Role Model for Responsible Mining

57 Cotton Egypt Association

Ensuring a Reputation of Luxury

63 Mario’s Pizzeria

Trinidad and Tobago

Pizza: Just The Way You Like It

69 Association of Singapore Marine Industries

Enhancing Singapore’s Offshore and Marine Industry

75 Zambian Seed Trade Association

Success Across the Seed Trade Industry

81 Terex Corporation

Global Manufacturing Solutions

RDF FEED, LIVESTOCK & FOODS

87 Alabama State Ports Authority

Seamless Supply Chains

93 International Zinc Association

Zinc: Crucial for Modern Life

99 Gibraltar Ports Authority

Promoting Maritime Excellence

105 Perseus Mining Limited

African Gold: Producer, Developer and Explorer

111 African Seed Trade Association

Uniting the African Seed Industry

MACSTEEL SOUTH AFRICA

Asia/Oceania

Australia and New Zealand Kick Off the World Cup

The Women’s world cup kicked off with co-host New Zealand beating Norway 1-0 in the opening match. This marks the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup, which is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand. 32 nations across the globe will compete in the Women’s World Cup, a record number of teams which has expanded from the first World Cup in 1991 which had only 12 teams.

The opening match took place in front of a record crowd for a women’s football match in New Zealand and managed to secure New Zealand’s first win with striker Hannah Wilkinson’s goal. Teams with continue to compete over the coming weeks, with the final match set to take place on 20th August.

In South Korea, in the city of Cheongju, 13 people died after water from a burst riverbank flooded an underpass which trapped vehicles, including a public bus. In recent days many people have died, and thousands have had to evacuate their homes as heavy downpours continued to hit central and southern parts of the country.

The extreme weather and consequent flooding are thought to be caused by the extreme summer weather, which in some countries is resulting in extremely hot temperatures, and in others record levels of monsoon rainfall resulting in widespread and life-threatening flooding. With the increased global temperature as a result of climate change, this weather is not expected to lessen but increase in severity as the climate continues to deal with the global temperature rise.

UN Approves Plan for Radioactive Water Release in Japan

A UN watchdog has approved plans for Japan’s Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant to release wastewater into the sea. The agency has said the release would have very minimal impact on the environment, and as such complies with international standards.

In 2011, three of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power plant’s reactors were flooded following a tsunami triggered by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake. In recent years the power plant has been moving towards decommissioning, which has resulted in a need to release wastewater into the ocean. Radioactive elements will have been filtered from the water, except for radioactive forms of hydrogen and carbon called tritium and carbon 14, which are difficult to separate from water.

Extreme Flooding across Asia

After a month of torrential rain across parts of Japan, China, South Korea and India; the countries have seen flash flooding, extensive power cuts and landslides causing havoc to infrastructure and homes, whilst also leading to people losing their lives across the continent.

The water will be released into the Pacific Ocean, which when mixed with the seawater will have tritium and carbon 14 levels which meet safety standards. Other nuclear power plants around the world regularly release water with higher levels of tritium than Fukushima will, however, the release has been met with many objections particularly from fishing communities stating that it will damage their reputation.

Africa

First Snowfall in 10 Years for South Africa

Residents of Johannesburg got a surprise snowfall this month, marking the first signs of snow for more than a decade. The last reported snow in Johannesburg was back in 2012, however, due to the colder winter for the country it looks set to experience more snow across South Africa than usual. The snow was a big hit among locals, leading many to post about the freezing temperatures online.

The snow and cold temperatures were also extended to other regions, including the mountainous areas of Drakensberg, Eastern Cape and the neighbouring Lesotho. Due to the lack of snowfall in the area, locals were advised to take extra care on the roads that had become icy from the unexpected snow flurry.

Black Sea Grain Deal Destabilized Leaving Shortages Across East Africa

Many East African countries have relied on Ukrainian grain exports, however, following Russia’s decision to pull out of the agreement which allowed the export of Ukrainian goods via a safe channel in the Black Sea, it has left many countries in East Africa fearing for the future of grain access and prices.

Before the deal was halted, more than half of Ukrainian grain was going towards developing countries, often through World Food Program donations. Much of this was given to droughtaffected communities such as Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia. The Black Sea Grain Initiative had a stabilising effect on global markets, seeing the cost of food drop by 23% from its peak which was reached in March 2022.

Russia paused its involvement in the deal following widescale Western sanctions, which is not expected to be reversed until its demands are met, including the easing of restrictions on Russian fertiliser products.

Protests Across Kenya

Protestors have taken to the street in Kenya to speak out against the end of subsidies and rising taxes as the country’s debt crisis looms. Rallied by the opposition leader, protestors have been in the street making their voice heard during the costof-living crisis. However, the protestors have been in violent clashes with police, seeing at least 6 demonstrators killed and more than 300 arrested.

The government is yet to respond to the protests taking place, and the official number of those killed or injured has not been released. The opposition leader has urged his followers to protest the levies in place currently on fuel and housing which were introduced in the last month, and the increasing costs of basic goods since the president came into power last year.

Elon Musk Re-Brands Twitter to ‘X’

Elon Musk has changed Twitter to ‘X’, his rebranded social media platform that now sees tweets called “x’s”. Twitter’s blue bird has been replaced by a white ‘X’ on a black background and is hoped by Musk to create a super app that will form a new kind of social media platform. Twitter will now be known as X Corp, however, the move away from the iconic blue bird has been met with mixed reactions by users.

This news comes after Musk bought the company for USD$44 billion last October. Twitter’s rebrand to X also comes just weeks after Meta launched Threads, a rival app to Twitter which has already surpassed roughly 150 million users.

Ancient Sloth Bones Discovered in Brazil

Three giant sloth bones have been found by archaeologists in Santa Elina rock shelter in central Brazil, which look to have been perforated and polished by human hands for personal use as pendants. The pendants are thought to be between 25,000 and 27,000 years old and are the oldest personal ornaments that have ever been discovered in the Americas.

The team of archaeologists analysed three modified and unmodified osteoderms (bony plates embedded in the sloth’s skin) to understand how the pendants were made, which revealed that before the bones had fossilized, they appear to have been polished by human hands. This comes as recent evidence of fossilised human footprints were found in New Mexico which are thought to date back to 21,000 to 23,000 years ago. Therefore, this discovery might add further evidence that modern humans were in the Americas earlier than archaeologists had previously thought.

Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Tops Box Office on Opening Weekend

Warner Bros’ Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig sold close to USD$155 million in box office ticket sales and is set to be one of the largest box office openings of all time. After weeks of Barbie marketing campaigns which created a keen buzz for the film, it has tracked record-breaking numbers for its first weekend of sales.

However, the release of Barbie was not the only key talking point for cinemagoers, as on the same day Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer was also released. Many fans were heralding the moment as ‘Barbenheimer’ and watching the films back-toback despite the massive juxtaposition of content and theme. Collectively, the films opened with a combined USD$235 million in ticket sales.

Middle East

Sea Urchin Deaths in Red Sea

Researchers from Israel have been noticing an increase in the deaths of black sea urchins near the southern city of Eilat. The urchins are thought to have been killed by a waterborne parasite, which paralyses the sea urchin’s usual protective spines and tiny feet. The parasite causes the urchin to lose tissue, until they are a bare skeleton, and is thought to only take 48 hours to kill them from infection.

Sea urchins play a crucial role in the coal reefs of the Red Sea as they help coral larvae settle and grow, whilst they eat algae to stop it from overgrowing and blocking sunlight to the coral. If the sea urchins are decreasing, it raises fears that the disease could have a negative impact on the development of the coal if the algae take over. It is thought that fish and human activities, including shipping, may have played a role in spreading the disease, and if the algae production is not monitored it could have massive impacts on the tourism industry too. It is thought that the extent of the pathogen’s effect in the Red Sea will not be clear until winter when the algae naturally blooms.

High Demand for Honey in Jordan

Following Covid-19, many people across Jordan turned to honey to help soothe their symptoms associated with the virus. Therefore, whilst the country’s tourism industry took a great hit, Jordanian beekeepers have seen an increase in honey uptake as people have become more aware of its value in herbal remedies for things such as sore throats.

Jordan produces 19 different types of honey, including citrus, eucalyptus, and maple varieties all determined by which plants the bees choose to pollinate. The variety of honey choices sees the country’s 4000 apiarists producing about 700800 tonnes of honey annually. The honey produced by these beekeepers is said to account for 70% of Jordan’s annual domestic needs. Therefore, following the pandemic beekeepers have seen an increase in honey sales, with the sector generating about $28 million a year to benefit the economy of Jordan.

Oman’s Fast Track to a Green Future

Roughly 60% of Oman’s income stems from the country’s oil and gas exports, and so are key industries for the country’s economy. However, they are also responsible for the majority of the country’s emissions, with Natural gas alone accounting for over 95% of the country’s electrical generation. However, Oman has made steps to achieve zero emissions by 2050 with the government committing to ramping up clean energy solutions moving toward renewable energy, green energy and low-carbon hydrogen options.

Due to Oman’s geographical position, it makes a crucial area for renewable sources of energy with solar, wind and some geothermal and tidal energy. The country is set to expand these energy sources to decarbonise domestic industries, to make them more competitive in international markets which are seeking low-emission industrial products. Therefore, Oman has set up an independent entity to oversee its national hydrogen strategy, a clear sign of the country’s commitment to a future of clean energy.

Europe

Widespread Wildfires across Southern Europe

Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have been forced to leave their homes and resorts across the Greek Islands of Rhodes and Corfu due to widespread wildfires which have destroyed businesses, homes, and farmland. The fires come as a heatwave has seen temperatures soar across the globe, with widespread fires seen across southern Europe and northern Africa, which have claimed the lives of 40 people across Italy, Algeria, and Greece.

Temperatures have reached highs of 45°C in Rhodes, leaving forest and farmland extremely dry which has led to wildfires rapidly spreading across the island’s landscape. Consequently, the island has been put into a state of emergency seeing travel companies sending flights to retrieve tourists, and temporarily cancelling all holiday travel plans to the island. Reportedly 20,00 people have been evacuated from the island, with roughly 16,00 being transported across land, whilst another 3,00 people were evacuated by sea. Temperatures continue to stay high across the continent, as wildfires continue to spread rapidly across the continent’s southern landscapes fanned by high winds.

Alcaraz Defeats Djokovic in Men’s Wimbledon Final

Carlos Alcaraz has knocked seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic off the top spot, winning the men’s singles final at just 20 years old. The defeat is the first for Djokovic on Centre Court for more than 10 years and is the first time since 2002 that the title was not won by Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rodger Federer, or Rafael Nadal.

The young player is the second youngest to ever lift the trophy, following Boris Becker’s win at 18 in 1986. For Alcaraz, it is a second Grand Slam victory after he won last year’s US Open, however, it was only his fourth tournament playing on grass. The win was crucial for the young player so early in his career and positions him to be a player to watch for future tournaments.

Junior Doctors in England Plan Four-Day Walk-Out

Junior Doctors are staging further industrial action in an ongoing pay dispute with the government. The doctors are hoping for a salary increase to return their pay to the equivalent of what they earned in 2008. This increase would be equivalent to a 35% rise; however, the government made a ‘final’ offer to junior doctors last month stating that their pay would increase by 6% and come with a £1,250 addition to their salaries. This offer is equivalent to an 8.1-10.3% rise depending on the worker’s previous pay packets.

However, Junior Doctors are not happy having reportedly lost close to a quarter of their pay in the last 15 years, and so they are taking to the picket line again. The strikes are planned to take place between Friday 7 am 11th August until Tuesday 15th August.

BP Trinidad and Tobago

As a division of the global BP Group, BP Trinidad and Tobago (BPTT) leads the way as the country’s largest hydrocarbon producer, providing expertise in all areas of the national energy industry. As a leader in natural gas production, the company’s operations account for roughly 55% of the nation’s total gas production. However, a crucial part of BPTT’s role across the industry is to actively develop the region towards a future that positively affects communities, the economy, and the planet.

At present BPTT has over 15 offshore production platforms that are working as part of a system to provide gas across Trinidad and Tobago. These platforms combine to establish BPTT as the region’s largest natural gas producer, which holds exploration and production licenses across 904,000 acres of land, multiple offshore platforms, and two onshore processing facilities. The vast spread of BPTT’s range across the region mirrors the global BP Group’s international reach, and BPTT believes that the key to long-range success and sustainability is to build up the local expertise around the national energy industry. It aims to do this across all aspects of the industry from oil and gas exploration, platform design and construction, and the installation of new pipelines. BPTT focuses on developing the industry specifically in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure a legacy of national energy infrastructure across the region.

One way BPTT has been expanding their operations is through the construction of its Cassia C facility, part of BPTT’s overarching Area Development Plan. The Area Development Plan has set out to develop the hydrocarbon resources in its licensed marine acreage for Trinidad and Tobago.

This plan includes a combination of exploration and development projects which are focused on maximising BPTT’s production. The Cassia C facility is the first offshore compression platform for BPTT and its biggest offshore facility, which will enable the BPTT to access and produce low-pressure gas resources from the Greater Cassia Area. With an expected peak production of roughly 200-300 million standard cubic feet a day of gas, the facility is the 16th one under BPTT to help meet the region’s supply commitment and sustain Trinidad and Tobago’s LNG and petrochemical industries.

David Campbell, President of BPTT said in a press release on the facility that “First gas from Cassia C is an important milestone for BP in Trinidad and Tobago. This first offshore compression facility will allow us to unlock new resources and bring muchneeded gas to market. I am immensely proud of the teams which have been working hard to bring this facility online”. Campbell’s statements come as the facility, which sits approximately 35 miles off Trinidad’s southeastern coast, will maximise the production potential of BPTT’s acreage.

BPTT recently announced the successful completion of the first phase of its “small pools” drilling campaign. The campaign, which began in October 2022, includes 3 wells in the Mango Field, one in the Savonette Field and 3 in the Angelia Field. The project is being completed by BPTT in stages, with the first phase seeing completion with all three wells put into production. The current production rate is approximately 180 million standard cubic feet a day with the third well still in the ramping up process.

The project includes six side tracks to existing wells, as well as to new exploration segments which have not been used previously. This structure allows for BPTT to target smaller accumulations of gas resources which are near the existing infrastructure set up by BPTT. By targeting these smaller gas resources BPTT can access gas in a more efficient way and bring it into production at a much faster rate. Furthermore, BPTT has shown their attention to detail and developmental process through the seismic data, reprocessing, interpretation and detailed well planning across the

BP Trinidad and Tobago

project to help achieve its current positive results in the first phase of the project.

The next phase of the project is set to commence soon with the Joe Douglas Jack up rig, which has been contracted to deliver the drilling programme, which is currently on-site at the Savonette platform to begin on the next well of the project. BPTT President, David Campbell comments in the press release announcing the completion of the project’s first stage in the Mango Field, that it “demonstrates our continued commitment to developing resources in our existing shallow water acreage in the Columbus Basin.”

He continues, “Our goal is to find and recover as much of the gas resources as we can, small or large, and particularly those that can be quickly brought into existing infrastructure. Each successful well helps to stem the declines in those more mature gas fields and contributes to our ability to meet our gas supply commitments to the NGC and Atlantic”. Consequently, as Campbell

outlines, the development of the Mango Field is a crucial step in BPTT’s plans to develop the region’s gas supply infrastructure towards a future of continued success.

Overall, as we see from the ramping up of two of BPTT’s projects over the last few years it is continuously expanding its role in Trinidad and Tobago’s gas and oil industry toward a future where their facilities can efficiently provide the growing demand on natural gas resources. BPTT’s projects are set to continue to expand, especially with the completion of the “small pools” drilling campaign which is set to bring even more supply to the region whilst supporting the current infrastructure system in place across its 16+ facilities. It is clear that BPTT is only getting started, and we can see its development project expanding across the region even further to ensure that BPTT remains the pioneer of the BP Global group in Trinidad and Tobago.

Desalcott desalinates sea water using a reverse osmosis process to provide WASA high quality potable water for industry at Point Lisas and for domestic and commercial use in the south of the country, overall comprising c.25% of the National water supply.

Desalcott is a member company within the Hafeez Karamath Group of Companies.

Photographs of Desalcott’s Point Lisas plant and the surrounding area featured in a New York Times article on 15th May 2023 regarding climate change affecting Trinidad and Tobago.

Making the most of our proven 40 years of excellence with diverse multi-sectoral expertise & experience to fulfil our Corporate Social Responsibility of care to nature and fellow mankind.

Our Vision

“To provide fundamental human rights services with excellence respecting the dignity of mankind”

Right to water

Proven success with excellence in delivery of 250 billion gallons of water to date and continuing

Right to sanitation

Proven success with excellence in environmentally sustainable technologies and solutions in our projects

Our Duty of Care of Nature

Desalcott epitomizes providing positive social value with philanthropic causes and pioneering environmental conservation. With R&D from design to current operations, Desalcott has the 4R approach (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover) as articulated by UNEP for water and energy conservation. Flora and fauna flourishes in Desalcott’s raw seawater, permeate, brine and sludge

Through working as a team, Saipem strives to overcome extraordinary challenges and bring the Italian ingenuity of its operations and partners to the energy and infrastructure sector’s engineering, drilling, and construction needs. The company is divided into five business lines: assetbased services, energy carriers, offshore wind, sustainable infrastructure, and robotics and industrialized solutions. These business lines allow Saipem to support its customers by accompanying them on a journey to net zero through its energy transition operations. Consequently, Saipem strives ahead to turn its customers’ strategies and projects into competitive and sustainable infrastructures, plants, and processes - all with the combined aim of a more sustainable future.

As a global player in the energy industry and infrastructure, Saipem is constantly striving towards technological innovation across its range of services to promote the most efficient and sustainable solutions possible. At present the company has 9 fabrication yards, a fleet of 29 construction vessels for offshore solutions (of which 26 are owned by Saipem and 3 are third-party owned but managed by Saipem), and 15 drilling rigs of which they own 8.

The global company provides essential sustainable solutions across a vast array of industries in over 70 different countries. With a workforce totalling over 30,000, Saipem is bringing customers globally towards a path of zero emissions with their increasingly digital means, technologies and processing solutions which are working cohesively to be effective for business whilst environmentally sustainable. Therefore, Saipem supports its customers throughout project cycles to identify needs, decommission facilities, employ staff, and make projects operational even in some of the most challenging contexts.

FRANKLIN OFFSHORE

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE EXPLORATION - PRODUCTION HEAVY LIFT - RENEWABLE ENERGY

Franklin Offshore are proud to be a key supplier to the Saipem group.

We provide high quality solutions on lifting, mooring and rigging equipment.

Our expertise includes heavy lift cable laid slings, HMPE/Dyneema slings and support services, such as inspections, re-certification, removal & installation on anchor lines, AR winch ropes and crane hoist ropes.

www.franklineurope.nl

We have seen Saipem’s reach across the industry with a range of contracts awarded to the company to help facilitate crucial change and development in the energy and infrastructure sectors. As of January 2023, Saipem was awarded a contract with Anker Solutions and by TotalEnergies to provide a subsea production system, tools and all related EPCI interfaces for the Lapa South West Field Construction in Brazil. The project is developing a deepwater oil field in the Santos Basin, 270 kilometres off the coast of Brazil. Working in partnership with Anker Solutions, the project is set to encompass a range of engineering, procurement, and construction operations, as well as the installation of a production system. This project will include three subsea trees, subsea umbilical, risers, flow lines and tie-in structures. Additionally, the contract is set to upgrade the control system of the existing Lapa South West subsea trees. The Lapa South West Development Project is the firstever integrated SURF and SPS project awarded by TotalEnergies. The work began early in 2023, with full delivery of the project planned for 2024. However, this contract was only the first of two offshore contracts which totalled approximately 900 million USD for Saipem. The second contract was

awarded to Saipem by Equinor for the Irpa Pipeline. The project consists of the installation of an 80km long swagged pipe-in-pipe pipeline to connect the subsea production template of the Irpa field to the existing Aasta Hansteen Platform. The work will take place in the deep waters of the Norwegian Sea, with a planned start date of 2025. The project is a pivotal moment for Saipem as they are planning to use their flagship Castorone vessel to complete the work.

As recently as June 2023, Saipem has been awarded a further two contracts; one to develop EPCI offshore activities in the Middle East and another for the development of underwater drones in Brazil. These two contracts total approximately one billion USD of development. The project in the Middle East is part of a long-term agreement with Saudia Aramco which has selected Saipem for the offshore project. The project involves the engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of 5 platforms and associated subsea pipelines, flowlines, and cables in Saudi Arabia’s offshore Marjan Field. This partnership strengthens the long-standing relationship between Saipem

Engineering for a Sustainable Future

Dräger delivers its services and products with our deep purpose to protect and save lives and is happy to see that this purpose can be shared with customers like Saipem. Technology for Life for maritime and offshore customers on all continents.

Dräger and Saipem have a long history in working together on various projects in the maritime and offshore sector

and Saudi Aramco, and its strategic positioning in the Middle East.

Furthermore, in Brazil, Saipem has been awarded a contract by Petrobras to develop and test a new autonomous subsea inspection system using Saipem’s fleet of underwater drones. The drones will enable the future of inspection and contract options across offshore Brazil.

This is a crucial milestone for Saipem, as it represents their innovative underwater robotics programme and the scalable quality it has for global utilisation across offshore projects throughout the entire value chain. The sub-sea technology has vast potential across the offshore industry, with applications in both oil, gas, and renewable segment markets. Therefore, as we see from Saipem, technology and its advancement to push the industry towards more effective technologically savvy solutions is key to Saipem’s, and the industry’s, continued sustainable development.

Overall, the contracts awarded to Saipem exemplify both the vast range of services they offer

and the legacy they have established globally to be given such giant energy and infrastructure projects which are put in place to develop countries around the world towards more accessible energy. However, Saipem is operating and implementing the most upto-date and efficient technology to cut costs and reduce waste and environmental harm.

These technologies allow Saipem to meet its goals and use creative technological innovation to care for people and the planet, whilst establishing the Saipem brand as one that can be trusted to complete all projects they are given efficiently and successfully. Therefore, we can see how the company has gained a reputation as the engineer for a sustainable future, for always promoting innovation, top-quality engineering solutions, technological advancements, problem-solving and project management to build the global energy and infrastructure industry towards a more sustainable future.

Mota-Engil Africa

The Mota-Engil Group has long been a leader across Portugal, which has expanded its operations in infrastructure, transport and logistics, energy, oil and gas, mining, and environment solutions across the globe. With crucial developments in Europe, Africa and Latin America, the overarching company has holdings in 228 companies, with projects across the globe. However, following the establishment of the company’s work in Angola in 1946, Africa has been a key division of development for the country, which has seen Mota-Engil Africa expand its operations to 13 countries across the African continent. Therefore, as a goto provider of a range of infrastructure, engineering, and mining solutions, MotaEngil leads the way across the continent as a crucial contractor developing the region towards a more efficient and sustainable future.

Mota-Engil Africa has spent the last 70 years providing a range of infrastructure solutions across Africa, including 68 engineering and construction projects, 8 environment and services projects, 9 mining projects, and 3 transport concession projects. Africa was a natural market for Mota-Engil to expand across due to its long-standing relationship and deep knowledge of the area following the initial development by the company in Angola. The company aims to establish close partnerships in infrastructure projects across a variety of solutions, to continue to broaden the company’s overall role across Africa.

Mota-Engil has been expanding its operations into new markets of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) space, by developing and building on its existing technical and financial capacity. In doing so, Mota-Engil can develop projects which are tailored to its customer’s needs, whilst contributing to the overall goal to bring the African Continent continued development.

We can see that Africa makes a key home market for the company, with a large percentage of its operations taking place across the continent, having expanded its original customer base from Portugal to the expansive markets of Africa. Consequently, Mota-Engil is striving to be an international reference across the broad variety of sectors in which they operate, which, when combined with core values of innovation, ambition, integrity, cohesion, and group spirit positions the company to lead the industry across the continent. Having further expanded its operations in Africa in 1975, Mota-Engil has been involved in a variety of key projects that have developed their respective regions towards success. These projects included the construction of the Dreihuk Dam in Namibia, the infrastructure of the Sun City Resort and MatooserBierkaal Road in South Africa, and the Lonhlupheko –Lomahasha Road in Swaziland. These constructions began Mota-Engil’s progressive internationalization of its operations and business, to today have over 85 projects across the continent. Current, construction and engineering projects include the Tilenga Upstream Development project, in which Mota-Engil was awarded a contract worth 162.4 million USD by TotalEnergies.

The Tilenga Upstream Development Project takes place in Uganda and, through the project’s key investments, develops the country’s energy sector. Mota-Engil is involved in the “Site Preparation for Enabling Infrastructure – Wellpads” phase, as well as having been awarded further contracts for the “Site Preparation for Enabling Infrastructure Industrial Area” and “Upstream Facilities – General Civil Works” phases. The project marks some key contracts awarded to Mota-Engil in Africa for key construction and engineering services.

Mota-Engil also has a keen mining presence in Africa, with 9 mining projects which span the continent. The Latigué Project is a crucial mining project awarded to Mota-Engil, in collaboration with Endeavour Mining, to deliver mining solutions across the Ivory Coast. The contract shows the role MotaEngil plays in the wider sphere of mining solution providers as it works to develop its reach through strategic and rich partnerships with other key players in their respective industries.

Over 70 Years of Solutions Across Africa

Consequently, the contract is worth roughly 600 million USD and shows the ongoing work the two companies are working on across the Ivory Coast.

Mota-Engil has 3 transport concession projects across the continent, including the Labito Corridor project in which the company is providing rail services and logistical support concessions to provide a key route connecting the mine of the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC) with the port of Lobito in Angola. These vital infrastructure links allow the RDC to transport products from its mines towards the port, for crucial access to international markets. The contract is set to span 30 years and will provide essential logistical movement for the RDC and even further development for Angola. MotaEngil is also involved in 8 environment and services projects, one of which includes a new 290-euro contract for the construction of water collection, treatment, and distribution infrastructures in Angola. In partnership with Soares da Costa and Suez, the contract, which is financed by World Bank, will provide the country with further environmental development services.

A key pillar of Mota-Engil’s operations is to ensure that sustainability is upheld throughout

their operations. Mota-Engil highlights the role that companies must play in implementing sustainability agendas, as they pride themselves on being “a global company focused on sustainably delivering value to all stakeholders”. As announced recently in MotaEngil’s 2022 Sustainability Report, the company has set out a Strategic Plan timeline for 2022 to 2026 which aims to protect the climate, inspire progress toward sustainability, foster well-being and equality, accelerate the innovation of the business towards sustainable goals/solutions, all whilst empowering and supporting local communities.

These crucial pillars of Mota-Engil’s operations allowed them to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% in 2022, and so continue its commitment to being fully carbon neutral by 2050. This process will include constructing more efficient buildings, promoting electrical mobility, optimising processes and material use, investing in renewable energies, and integrating environmental requirements into procurement policies company wide. Therefore, it is clear that striving for sustainability is a key priority for Mota-Engil Africa, and so its customers can be sure that by choosing Mota-Engil they will also be investing in a more sustainable future.

Overall, Mota-Engil is working to establish itself as a first choice for a wide variety of service needs across its central regions of operation. However, with such key contracts taking place in Africa, it is clear to see how the company’s development of this division is crucial for expanding both its international reach and its role as a reliable provider of solution needs.

Every project is working with key partners across the industry to provide life-changing development goals through infrastructure, construction, engineering, mining, transport, and energy sectors. However, it is evident that throughout every operation, service, or solution; Mota-Engil is keenly concerned with ensuring that they are working toward a more sustainable future by meeting crucial goals to make their work and the world a more sustainable place.

JAPAfrica, a key player within JAP Group, has made significant strides in the mobility solutions sector in Africa.

Their representation of Premium brands as MAN Trucks & Bus and Hyundai Construction Equipment is particularly noteworthy, underscoring their commitment to high-quality, reliable machinery and vehicles.

Their product range includes mainly Solutions for Mining & Construction as Trucks (Service Trucks, Tippers, Bowsers, Cranes, etc.) and Construction equipment (Crawler/WheeledExcavators , Wheel loaders, Articulated Dump Trucks, etc.).

This extensive offering is backed by on-site technical support, maintenance contracts, ensuring customers have the best support across Africa. Beyond sales, JAPAfrica’s commitment to their customers shines through in their tailor-made solutions. They customize trucks according to customer needs and provide robust equipment from the best

suppliers. This customer-centric approach, coupled with their deep understanding of the African market, truly encapsulates their mission and dedication to serving the African continent.

JAPAfrica’s local support is guaranteed by its dealerships in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya (through the Mobikey brand), Angola (Automatriz) and Mozambique (Entreposto) This local presence supported by highly trained staff ensures that customers receive timely and efficient service.

In conclusion, JAPAfrica, under the umbrella of JAP Group, continues to uphold the group’s legacy, established in 1904. Their mantra, “Africa is our home, mobility our expertise,” is testament to their commitment to quality and customer satisfaction.

As a company-owned and operated agri-food enterprise, RDF Feed, Livestock and Foods Inc. (RDF) is leading the agri-food market across the Philippines providing integrated systems and processes to efficiently facilitate every level of the industry’s supply chain. The supply chain spans from breeding programs and farming, through to meat processing – all until end logistical services used to transport its meat products. For RDF, quality is not just a guarantee but a way of life, and so all produce bought from the farm is assured to be top quality and has been produced following the highest of hygiene standards throughout its production.

RDF is divided into four main divisions: poultry, swine, meat retail and distributorship, and finally food and beverage. These areas have allowed RDF to expand their business across a wide range of services in the industry to produce high-quality meat and value-added meat products for retailers in the Philippines. RDF owns a range of industrial facilities such as a feed mill, slaughterhouse, AAA meat-cutting plant, meat processing plant, Fresh Options Meat Shop, and a chain of stand-alone meat shops offering highquality fresh meat and value-added meat products. RDF’s feed mill manufactures and supplies highquality feeds to meet the nutritional needs of the company’s broiler and swine farms. These farms are overseen by a team of veterinarians to closely monitor the health and well-being of the animals. These teams are also responsible for conducting breeding and genetic improvement programs to boost the productivity and efficiency of their animal products. All facilities at the RDF farms, and throughout their processing chains, comply with animal welfare, waste management and government laws to ensure that they are operating in the most efficient and responsible way possible.

A further step to improve the efficiency of its production systems is through its in-house, export-grade abattoir, AAA meat-cutting plant and meat processing plant. All of these are located on one site, to seamlessly move products from one facility to another, whilst being able to closely monitor the produce to ensure that hygiene, safety, and the prevention of contamination regulations are strictly followed. Once products are moved to storage facilities they are separated by product, keeping chicken and pork in separate containers, and are rigorously maintained to ensure that the meat is perfectly conditioned and tracked to regularly rotate the products in line with the age of the meat, before they are sent through RDF’s logistical service.

RDF’s holistic farm-to-table approach makes the company’s operations more efficient and higher in quality, by streamlining its production systems, whilst being able to diversify its markets and address gaps in its supply chain. It is this kind of streamlined innovation and creativity which is so crucial to RDF’s operations and allows their meat products and value-added products to have

such a wide span in end markets. Overseeing the logistical movement of the produce allows RDF to use independent distributors to deliver products to wet markets, and sari-sari stores. Furthermore, their value-added meat products, which include products such as chicken nuggets or chicken hotdogs. RDF also distributes its home-grown brands such as Delibite and Our Farms to selected local supermarkets. Consequently, RDF can directly facilitate end markets with products, whilst providing the assurance that every product with the RDF name is guaranteed to be of the highest quality, is locally sourced and has been overseen by a strict level of food safety standards.

However, RDF’s production does not end there, as the company also owns 2 restaurants. The first is a Western-inspired casual dining restaurant called Roberto’s, which largely serves chicken, pork, and beef with a variety of salads, rice meals, burgers and pizzas. Located in Barangay Dolores in San Fernando, Pampanga, the restaurant offers customers a variety of meals using their top-quality meat produce, further extending the operations of

the company. The second restaurant is Hot Kitchen by Fresh Options, a restaurant designed for busy urban areas where people are lacking in time to cook themselves delicious hot meals. Therefore, the spot is both dine-in and takeaway providing a range of hot freshly cooked dishes that can quickly satisfy the on-the-go customer with a homecooked meal. The expansion into restaurants sees RDF close the gap between farm and restaurant with a direct supply from its farms to the tables at its restaurants.

However, for RDF education is just as important in ensuring that the same level of standards are maintained throughout its operations through employee training and development programs. There are currently over 2000 employees with RDF, ranging from veterinarians, animal nutritionists, quality assurance specialists, food technologists, chefs, butchers, engineers etc. Therefore, as the company spans such a wide range of operations, the training and development of these staff are equally as broad, but with the combined goal to ensure that the company maintains a high level of

Leading supplier of quality feed additives, veterinary, agricultural, and alternative water treatment and disinfection products in the Philippines.

RNT Enterprises Inc. facilitates the importation and distribution of a wide range of nutritional and medicated feed additives essential to the growth and improved performance of livestock, poultry, aqua and game fowls by providing vitamins, minerals and eubiotic product options. We also provide our clients with other alternatives to existing products in the market by venturing into organic treatment products that make the consumption of water fit not just for poultry and livestock, but even for humans possible sans the known hazards and side-effects that come with traditional water treatment products in the market at present.

excellence in every aspect of its operations. In 2017, RDF opened its university with the aim to better equip employees with the skills and mindset needed to promote a culture of performance excellence throughout the company.

Courses at the university include excellent customer service at basic, supervisory and manager levels, foundational skills, management leadership etc. These courses are promoted to help foster an environment of excellence, development, and support for its employees. Furthermore, RDF signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the University of the Philippines at Los Banos (UPLB) for the internship program of the College of Agriculture and Food Science.

The agreement is valid for 5 years and will develop academic and educational cooperation for both parties. Both UPLB and RDF are keenly concerned with improving the training and skills of their students through a range of practical field operations across the spectrum of agriculture services. This first-hand personal experience is

what RDF and UPLB hope will contribute greatly toward the improvement of the industry.

We have seen that RDF are not simply a farm or meat producer, but instead are a cohesive but expansive team working across the entire spectrum of the meat and value-added meat industry. The company is working with its people, local distributors, restaurants, and key educational facilities to develop its operations towards continued excellence. Therefore, as a by-product of this excellence, RDF is contributing towards improving the standards across the food industry globally, but representing a way to efficiently and productively breed, farm, process and then distribute meat products across the region. Therefore, as a leading company in the Philippines’ agri-food business, they continue to expand their reach to develop their operations into an expansive, successful ad constantly developing agri-food business.

EXPANDING ACROSS ASIA

As an established provider of cross-border insurance-linked investment and saving solutions, Investors Trust has clients in more than 100 markets worldwide. These markets are served by a number of regional offices which are working to grow Investors Trust’s distribution network across the world to bring a modernised approach to investing. If you are a frequent reader of Endeavour Magazine, Investors Trust is a name you will be familiar with, and we again got the chance to catch up with the company to see how the business has grown. We spoke with David Knights, Head of Distribution for Asia at Investors Trust, and heard about the great work that is being done to expand the company’s Asia division, most notably with the opening of a new sales and distribution hub in Kuala Lumpur. Investors

Trust

chevron-square-right www.investors-trust.com

Investors Trust is a global brand representing the ITA Group of companies, which comprises a number of international insurance companies and subsidiaries in multiple jurisdictions around the world. The overarching aim is to provide investors with access to a range of market-leading unit-link investment products. These products are provided to internationally mobile clients and higher-worth individuals around the world through a large number of independent financial advisers and wealth managers based in multiple locations around the world.

Investors Trust has long seen Asia as a key market for investment solutions and consequently has been recently expanding its network across the region to establish Investors Trust as a growing and innovative player in Asia’s wealth management market.

Investors Trust currently operates under an insurance company licence in Labuan, a premier offshore financial centre situated in the East of Malaysia which benefits from a well-regulated and tax-efficient regime through the Labuan International Banking and Financial Centre (IBFC). Labuan is at the heart of Asia Pacific and is well positioned to benefit from one of the fastestgrowing regions in the world, which provides great opportunities for international companies to seek

entry into Asia’s expanding markets. The Labuan IBFC boasts a wide range of business and investment structures which helps to support cross-border transactions, company negotiations, and wealth management requirements. Therefore, as Asia continues to be a core region for Investors Trust, it intends to continue expanding its operations across both new and existing markets there taking advantage of the region’s growing population of affluent and high-net-worth investors.

As ITA products are distributed on an intermediated B2B basis, rather than via direct or agency sales, the team headed up by David Knights in Asia for the last 9 years is small with only 8 people but is made up of highly experienced people who have an extensive knowledge of international financial services which allows them to work closely with the company’s distribution partners to provide high-quality products based on an understanding of the needs of their clients. Consequently, Investors Trust allows investors to build a plan that works uniquely for them and believes that a ‘one product fit all’ concept is ineffective in providing top-quality financial services. David’s team is using their experience to help provide both local and international investors with solutions to suit a range of lifestyles, whilst generating wealth to reach each client’s personal financial goals.

In 2012, Investors Trust obtained its license in Malaysia where it opened its first office in Kuala

Lumpur to service business in the region. In 2023, they continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to the region with the opening of a new office in the prestigious Exchange 106 Tower in the new central business district of Tun Razak Exchange.

This new sales and distribution hub will build on the company’s existing presence in Malaysia and enhance the support that Investors Trust can offer to its advisory and distribution partners in the regions.

Overall, Investor Trust’s success across the Asia region is built upon the strong distribution relationships that the company has established over many years, as well as its firm commitment to continued innovation and development. David Knights believes that this is the company’s recipe for success which continues to serve Investors Trust well. The business aims to stay a step ahead of competitors with an established reputation for leading-edge technology using an end-to-end online platform which supports its clients at every stage of their journey. Investors Trust continues to invest in its operations to remain at the forefront of the cross-border financial services market which, when backed by the company’s experienced multinational team can continue to deliver high standards of service and innovative solutions to clients across the region.

Written by Carley Fallows

THE WORLD OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Over the last few years, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of brands and companies which are adopting artificial intelligence (AI).

Now in 2023, it seems every brand is using AI to remain ahead of the curve and keep their apps and services evolving with the current rate of technological advancement. We have seen the rise of chatbots such as ChatGPT and image generators which have been sparking crazes online. However, the topic of artificial intelligence has always come with a surrounding debate on the role that AI is playing in our lives personally and across wider industries. In recent months, we have seen many of the top players in the world of AI step down from roles or speak out on how they think AI has gone too far

So, what is artificial intelligence? Very simply AI is best understood as a machine learning technology where computer programs are given lots of data which the programme will look through for patterns in response to a set of requests or instructions. Sometimes the results aren’t exactly what was requested, and so with this feedback, the computer programme can learn from these responses to

improve future requests. Therefore, AI can be given huge amounts of information and be trained to recognise patterns, which it can adopt into its system to make predictions, solve problems, and even learn from its own mistakes.

In theory, programmes such as these provide great excitement as many can respond almost as if they were human, with programs such as chatbots, or large language models (LLMs) to be exact, putting words and phrases together in learnt combinations to form intelligent responses to questions or requests.

A popular example of this is the development of ChatGPT, which interacts with its users in a conversational way. The programme allows users to refine, and steer conversations towards desired lengths, formats, styles, levels of details and language used. ChatGPT saw great interest on apps such as TikTok where users were using the software

to ask questions to the chatbot or get it to write funny stories for them using details input by the user. However, with the rise of the app allowing users to ask the technology to write at length for them, it was quickly used by students across the world to write homework or essays for them. Whilst the software is not perfect and results in essays being poorly researched and incorrectly referenced, it raised concerns over the use of it in education to plagiarise work.

The possible dangers of AI don’t stop there, as even the UK’s government has established a task force to help build the next generation of safe AI. The software and programs come with concerns over privacy, transparency, discrimination, and job displacement. It is feared that as the data or source material behind these AI models is being taken from somewhere, often from online data, it can result in biases and discrimination being present in the responses which obviously leads to inaccurate and offensive responses.

A big concern is the role that AI will play in the job market if these technologies begin taking over the jobs of humans, and whether it results in a society where human responses can be replaced entirely with AI-generated ones. A key concern is in the arts industries, where AI picture generation models are using images found online and adapting them with other images to produce new pieces of art. However, this has led to people searching artists’ names in the AI system to produce artwork which is in a similar style.

Many artists have noticed how these AI models have made works so similar to their style that some artists have joint lawsuits against AI imagery generators such as Midjourney over copyright claims. If the same is to take over in script writing, who’s to say that the entire arts sector can’t be overrun with AI technology making the necessity for the artist, writer or creative’s input no longer needed?

However, this does seem to be a push - while AI is impressive, it is not without its faults and so the need for the arts sector I believe is well and truly safe.

While AI has become ever present in our daily lives from chatbots, personalised Spotify playlists, Snapchat and maybe a little helping hand whilst writing essays, its role has not yet become so significant that it looks like the AI vs. Human war is going to begin anytime soon. Whilst the speed and breadth of knowledge with which AI can learn compared to a human is remarkable, and will aid in the efficiency of our daily lives and the future of many industries, AI does not seem to have captured the nuance and emotionality of the human experience – and for that reason, AI remains a remarkable and intricate tool, but not one set on destroying all of humankind…well not yet anyway.

Sources:

BBC: https://bbc.in/45j1f2u

Forbes: https://bit.ly/3qmwcnq

New Yorker: https://bit.ly/3OwbaL0

AI-generated image

For over 116 years, Macsteel has been leading the steel industry across South Africa providing manufacturing, merchandising and distribution of steel and value-added steel products. Through its strategic network of service centres, branches and warehouses, Macsteel is leading the industry across the continent by providing its customers with exceptional levels of personal services and products across a whole range of industries. Therefore, through its robust infrastructure, technical development and striving to continually improve, the company has solidified its reputation as the preeminent supplier of steel across the African continent.

As a leading manufacturer, merchandiser and distributor of steel, the company is leading the way in providing products such as general steel, coil processing, tube and pipe, roofing, special steels, stainless steel, VRN, fluid control pipes, fittings, and flanges, as well as a range of Harvey Roofing products. These products are available across a whole range of industries from construction, mining and manufacturing to food and beverage or consumer/retail industries. The company’s operations are vast and with this, the services that Macsteel provides are equally as expansive, to process, cut, treat, and deliver highquality and reliable steel solutions for its customers’ every need.

Macsteel has adapted its operations since it was established in 1904, now it is an expansive operation across South Africa and has become a household name due to its powerful brand and great reputation. It continues to promote success throughout the company by operating as a wider nationally run business, which instils matching strategies throughout all its 40 service centres, branches, and warehouses. By adopting an overhead structure, Macsteel can ensure that its operations remain customer focused. Macsteel is committed to adapting and innovating in line with its customer’s needs and demands, and as the world moves towards a more sustainable future, we can see throughout the company’s services and operations they are implementing and creating new solutions to meet these demands.

One of the noticeable qualities of Macsteel is its desire to constantly be evolving to meet the growing steel needs of the customers and their respective industries, whilst paying close attention to developments towards a more sustainable future. A key way Macsteel have been doing this is through its divisional business, Harvey Roofing Products, which under the Macsteel Group name has recently announced the development of a new roofing title which will provide more sustainable and reliable roofing lightweight steel roofing products. The subdivision is known for using only the best materials available in its manufacturing to deliver products that are consistently high quality and

suitable for a wide range of roofing applications including commercial, domestic, and industrial settings.

The Harvey EcoTile™ was announced in July and has been developed to be a lightweight yet superior in strength roof title, which is easily installed and boasts top quality weatherproofing, whilst being lower in cost for roof structure and transportation. The tile reimagines roofing, which conventionally uses titles made of clay, cement, and steel profiles.

The conventional tiles are known for their excessive weight, fragility, and high price point, whilst requiring continual maintenance. The conventional tiles are also not great for the environment either, whereas the EcoTIle™ is made of 98% recyclable waste material, provides excellent weatherproofing, and is virtually unbreakable with a significantly longer lifespan compared to other options.

Mike Benfield, CEO of Macsteel, said in the press release on the Harvey EcoTile™ that “It is a very exciting product, not only for the market that is waiting in anticipation for it to drop in full force but also for Harvey Roofing products diversifying their well-known band. It de-risks us from the volatility of the steel price and moves our business to sustainability with the promise of new ground-

breaking product”. Although the tiles are still being developed by Harvey Roofing Products under Macsteel, the EcoTile™ provides great potential for the future of sustainable roofing as the company works to revolutionize the market towards more efficient, cost-effective, and durable steel roofing solutions.

Macsteel has a long history of supporting its local communities through sports development, donations to community organisations and NGOs, as well as a range of contributions towards other corporate sponsorships. The company is working to connect, nurture relationships, collaborate and impact the surrounding communities positively. Its central focus has been to develop the economies of its communities through education, building, health, wellness, engagement, and welfare projects to ensure that throughout every aspect of its operations, Macsteel is leaving a positive legacy of developmental success.

We can see that throughout Macsteel’s operations, and even sub-divisions, the corporate social responsibility of the company is always at the forefront. CEO of Macsteel Mike Benfield outlined this focus as “Our new positioning statement is ‘Pursuing Reinvention’, this is very appropriate to both the steel industry and South Africa. We at Macsteel are very proud to be part of the transformation journey in South Africa and being

South African Steel Success

a good corporate citizen”. He continues, “Our investments in our corporate social responsibility program is part of this journey of reinvention and transformation”. Benfield’s comments show how committed Macsteel are to promoting a future of sustainability whilst invigorating the regions that it operates within, to ensure they are playing an active role as a good corporate citizen.

Overall, Macsteel is a massive company which is leading the way across the South African steel landscape to provide its customers with highquality, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions suitable for a wide range of industries and vast uses. We can see their development across industries, and through their sub-divisions, that sustainability and working towards a wider community-supportive goal is paramount. The company’s long terms goals are looking to grow its market share and diversify its product portfolio, whilst bringing improved shareholder returns to establish itself as a singular constant supplier of steel. It plans to do this by establishing rich and beneficial relationships across the industry in Africa and towards its everincreasing global network.

Unica Iron and Steel is a fully integrated mini steel plant, manufacturing light and medium structural steel from iron scrap.

Established in Babelegi 2006, the company manufactures quality light structural sections (window sections, square bar and angle iron) commercially. The company boasts a state of the art straight line rolling mill which allows it to produce bigger sections.

As India’s largest zinc producer and one of the world’s leading integrated silver producers, Hindustan Zinc has spent the last 50 years excelling in its operations across the mining sector. The company, therefore, has established itself as a leading global supplier of zinc-lead and silver metals. Through the company’s commitment to the environment and ensuring that the mining of such finite resources is carried out in a responsible way, Hindustan Zinc continues to demonstrate world-class standards of governance, safety, sustainability, and social responsibility. Therefore, Hindustan Zinc has positioned itself as a leader in the mining industry and continues to set a new standard for responsibility across mining practices which paves the way towards a more sustainable future in the sector.

Hindustan Zinc provides a range of mining, smelting, and processing services for zinc-lead, and silver metal deposits. The company operates across 5 districts in Rajasthan, and a district of Uttarakhand, with total metal production of 1.123 Metric tons (Mt). As a subsidiary of Vedanta Limited, which owns a 64.9% stake in the company, Hindustan Zinc has operations across lead-zinc mines, hydrometallurgical zinc smelters, lead smelters, pyro-metallurgical lead-zinc smelter, as well as ownership of a sulphuric acid and captive power plant in the north of the country. The Indian government has also retained a 29.5% stake in the company, but it is all of these stakeholders which work together to develop the industry towards global economic recognition. As a result, they are collectively enhancing the stakeholder value through exploration, innovation, operational excellence, safety, and sustainability.

With roughly 13 million tonnes of Zinc produced worldwide every year, 58% of this is used for galvanising which is used in industries such as building, construction, infrastructure, household appliances, automobiles, and steel furniture, where the zinc coating in this instance is sacrificed itself to protect the underlying steel from corroding.

Hindustan Zinc is also producing lead ingots which have a minimum of 99.99% purity which is used across industries, but especially in battery segments, lead-based pigments, and cathode ray tubes. Both Hindustan Zinc’s zinc and lead are produced at its world-class Chanderiya Smelting Complex, and its products are registered on the London Metal Exchange (LME). The LME has some of the highest standards for metals in the world, to show that only metals which are high in quality, have uniform physical characteristics and are consistent are included on the exchange. Therefore, Hindustan Zinc’s lead and zinc products being included on the LME signify the capability and commitment to achieving and maintaining high standards throughout their operations and consequently their products.

As one of the largest integrated silver producers in the world, Hindustan Zinc is producing high-

quality refined silver as a by-product of the zinclead facility. Hindustan Zinc produces silver bullions which have a minimum purity of 99.9% and are listed on the London Bullion Market Association (LMBA). Its silver is produced in 30kg bars, 1kg bars and silver powders, which are used in a range of applications for its heat and electric conductivity, its decorative nature in jewellery and silverware, and in the industrial sector in things such as alloys, batteries, and circuits.

Having strived towards excellence for decades, Hindustan Zinc puts as much importance into the productivity of its mining operations as it does in ensuring that sustainability measurements are upheld across the company. The company has been using bestin-class technology to implement smart, safe and sustainable operations across its sites. The holistic digital transformation across the company is driving them towards a more sustainable future, through a data-driven, agile, integrated, and collaborative approach.

A Role Model for Responsible Mining

The new technologies allow for real-time databased decision making which works to reduce waste, increase resource efficiency and drive-up productivity. This decision has also improved safety across its operations, all with the combined goal of being productive and safe whilst harnessing renewable energy sources.

Hindustan Zin’s overarching goal is to produce ‘Mines of the Future’ which are bringing digital data-driven and sustainably driven processes to mining, milling, and smelting goods before they go to market. An example of this is the use of drones in underground mining, which are used to scan stopes and produce volume measurements of bulk materials. These drones use vision-based technology to detect quality defects and unsafe conditions to improve efficiency, product quality and safety across mining operations. Hindustan Zinc also uses IoT (Internet of Things) in mining, which deploys smart sensors on heavy earthmoving machinery (HEMM). This system monitors performance, health, and reliability on a real-time basis across all its underground operations.

Notably, Hindustan Zinc is the first mining company in India to introduce electric utility vehicles into underground mines, and consequently, the country has plans to invest 1 billion USD to convert all diesel-run mining vehicles in the mines to batteryoperated ones over the next 5 years.

This investment recognises the efforts the company is striving towards to be both efficient, productive, and technologically advanced, whilst working in every aspect to bring higher standards of sustainability across India’s mining industry. Further systems by Hindustan Zinc include 3D simulators, augmented/virtual reality, electrical substation automation, as well as automated and tele-remote drilling operations. These operations are working to strengthen the mining operations of the company but are all made to ensure the safety and sustainability of practices towards the future of mining.

Overall, Hindustan Zinc is leading the way with its high-quality and efficiently mined products which are renowned globally on the LTE for their purity. They

remain a leader in the industry with implemented technological advancements which are constantly improving productivity and safety across its 5 regions of operations. However, the company works beyond the confines of mining and processing to ensure that they are positively impacting the local communities and restoring vital biodiversity to promote a more sustainable future for the world, and critically for the mining industry. Consequently, Hindustan Zinc is a shining example of a company that has put people and the environment first to not only be a world-leading metal producer, but a role model for sustainable mining operations across the global industry.

GHH Group is a total solution provider to the Underground Hardrock and Softrock Mining and Tunnelling Industries, with a core focus on low profile, narrow vein and mid seam mass mining applications.

GHH Group is comprised of GHH Fahrzeuge GmbH (Germany), GHH Mining Machines (South Africa) , Mine Master (Poland) and BAT Bergbau Services (Germany), including various strategic partner companies. They have long been part of the Schmidt Kranz Group, a privately owned German based company, although at the moment are in the process of being acquired by Komatsu, a Global OEM in the underground and surface mining industry.

GHH Group provides loaders, trucks, scalers, face drills, roof bolters, long-hole production drill rigs and rock tools. GHH has various partners, in geographical locations, that have ranges of products that all add to the “total solution provider” approach.

Through deep cooperation with partner companies like Titan from Turkey, UVB from Botswana and Tembo from Netherlands, GHH Group has added a significant number of products to their portfolio including low profile utility vehicles, spray concrete units, general utility vehicles, passenger transporters, light cranes, scissor lifts, mini dumpers, lifting platforms and ANFO loading trucks as well as light duty full electric vehicles.

GHH Group not only provides new, used and rental equipment but they also provide aftermarket parts and service support through the entire life of the machine from start-up to decommissioning. GHH provides field service support, parts supply, complete rebuilds of components and equipment, as well as tailored aftermarket solutions depending on location and customer needs.

MACHINES FOR ALL YOUR MINING NEEDS

• For low profile, narrow vein & mid-seam mass mining underground hardrock applications

• For softrock industrial minerals applications

• Loaders, Trucks, Scalers, Drills, Bolters and Utility Vehicles

If you’ve ever stayed at a luxury hotel you’ve likely experienced the joys of beautifully soft bed linen that you can’t wait to jump into at the end of the day, get all cosy and have a nice comfortable sleep in. You’ve maybe even looked at the sheets and tried to figure out what makes them so soft, and then went on your own search for hotel quality sheets for your own home. It is likely that in all of your searches, you have included the words ‘Egyptian Cotton’, in the hopes of finding bedding of the same beautifully soft quality.

In today’s retail field, those words are seemingly overused for any material and the true quality which the trademarked Egyptian Cotton represents has been lost. This is where Cotton Egypt Association (CEA) comes in, they are working to reestablish the Egyptian Cotton name and ensure that whenever the logo is used, you can be sure you are buying authentic Egyptian cotton products.

The CEA was established in 2005 as a nonprofit association to exclusively manage and promote the registered Egyptian Cotton logo trademarks, and to protect the value-add of the Egyptian Cotton identity in supply chains end-to-end. The association aims to do this by globally authenticating the legacy of Egyptian cotton, to ensure that when customers are buying products with the registered Egyptian Cotton trademark, they are sure that the cotton is 100% pure and legitimate. The goal of the association is to rid the supply chain of falsely labelled goods through traceability programs and DNA testing processes to recognize the genomic fingerprint of Egyptian Cotton. Therefore, the purpose of CEA is to restore the reputation of Egyptian Cotton to its former glory, as a respected, trusted, and luxurious quality that can be traced back to Egypt.

Egyptian cotton is the highest quality cotton available anywhere in the world, which is made to last you a lifetime whilst delivering its luxuriously soft feel. The climate in Egypt is perfect for growing cotton, as during the summer months there is a stable warm temperature. The river Nile provides the land with rich fertile soil which receives a constant supply of nutrients. These ideal conditions allow the cotton fibres to grow longer and so with longer fibres, there are fewer ends in the fabric leaving every Egyptian Cotton item with a signature super soft luxurious feel. Additionally, Egyptian Cotton is handpicked to ensure both its purity, but also its structural integrity. Much of the world’s cotton is machine harvested, especially in the USA, which runs the risk of damaging the cotton and leaves getting caught in it. Machine harvesting of cotton consequently requires further cleaning stages to remove leaves which causes the fibres to be damaged leaving them with a less soft feel and

the products with a shorter lifespan. Therefore, with CEA’s cotton, they can proudly promote that it is amongst the purest material in the world, cared for throughout its journey from harvesting to end markets to bring you top quality and reliable cotton goods.

To ensure that the market only has authentic Egyptian cotton goods, CEA has been working to authenticate Egyptian cotton products through its partnership with the Bureau Ventas, which provides testing and auditing services to verify the authenticity of Egyptian cotton at any stage of the supply chain.

The testing is revolutionary for CEA as it conducts laboratory tests to ensure that every good in the market which is labelled as ‘Egyptian Cotton’ can be traced back to the specific genomic fingerprint of the authentic materials. This is conducted to ensure that when products use or are given the Egyptian Cotton certification, they are authentically made from Egyptian Cotton quality.

Once confirmed, CEA conducts audits of businesses every quarter to ensure that all manufacturers which have been graded the trademark are maintaining the authentic quality and standards that Egyptian cotton demands. This is all to help consumers to feel comfortable in purchasing products which have the Egyptian Cotton trademark, as they should have been tested and regulated by the overarching association to ensure the quality of the products.

However, the need for this process began as many people were selling goods with the claims that the materials were 100% Egyptian cotton, therefore for CEA the move to establish regulation and build consumer confidence is a large task and one that the association is constantly having to battle. Fake Egyptian cotton products are so easily dispersed in the market; therefore, CEA is taking positive steps to reverse the damage caused by the fake products and bring back the high-quality and trusted trademark of Egyptian Cotton across all consumer markets. Therefore, as Egyptian cotton is such a vast exporter for Egypt, the government are working with the association to ramp up efforts

to develop the country’s textile industry. This development saw the government’s investment of 1.2 billion USD into the industry and promote the added value of Egyptian Cotton, towards the future of Egypt’s cotton manufacturing, agriculture and exporting industries.

Overall, CEA works to reinstate the legacy and reputation of Egyptian Cotton by tackling fake materials, protecting the materials throughout their manufacturing process, and taking part in audits to ensure that the products under the Egyptian Cotton trademark are authentic and high in quality.

The industry is such a crucial one for Egypt for its exporting potential, as the only place in the world to buy 100% pure and authentic Egyptian Cotton materials. Therefore, as an association, they are working tirelessly and with innovation to test and uphold the Egyptian Cotton name as one with a reputation for soft, durable, and reliable cotton goods.

ACL Impex, with a know how dating back 1922, is one of the largest importers of Egyptian CottonTM for home textiles.

We are one of the few Portuguese bed linen manufacturers recognized with the 100% Egyptian CottonTM (Gold Seal), and we are honored to be one of the Cotton Egypt Association’s first ten Gold Seal companies.

Your B2B ally for home textiles

Our business and manufacturing platform supports high-end retailers for brands and private labels in every continent. From duvet covers to fitted sheets, from bedspreads to throws, all of our home textiles are made according to our partners’ needs and requests. Exclusive fabrics and materials can be developed to achieve unique pieces and concepts.

Mario’s Pizzeria Trinidad and Tobago

I think we can all agree that there is nothing quite as delicious as a big slice of pizza. Toppings debate aside, there’s no denying that a crisp get delicious base, glorious passata-style sauce and cheese is a winning combination for pretty much everyone. Well, this is exactly what Richard Harford and his group of friends thought when they transformed Harford’s deli-style shop into Trinidad’s first-ever pizza parlour back in 1972. Now over 50 years later, Harford has expanded the brand and restaurants from a single shop to 26 restaurants across Trinidad and Tobago, crafting Mario’s Pizzeria as not just an iconic brand but a name that represents the joy, community, and unity that the shop was established on all those years ago.

Founded on friendship in 1972, Richard Harford, or ‘Slice’ as he is better known, opened the deli-style spot with a friend in the Valpark Shopping Centre focusing on selling sandwiches, roti, and drinks. The spot was an instant success bringing customers from all around. However, after Harford’s friends returned from their studies abroad, they arrived back in Trinidad with a pizza oven and the hopes that Harford would change the deli-style spot to a pizza parlour - the first of its kind in the country. With a little convincing, Harford and 4 of his friends established Mario’s Pizzeria Limited, and opened its doors to the people of Trinidad.

Pizza was still relatively new in Trinidad, and was not super widespread for its popularity, however, the team achieved high approval from its customers by adapting the original mozzarella you might find on an Italian pizza with cheddar cheese. This swap proved popular with the people of Trinidad, and accompanied by a range of freshly prepared vegetables and meats the pizza began flying out the door, and so the brand was an instant hit with people across the region. However, much of the success of the business is seen largely to be due to Harford’s commitment to the pizza parlour. His work ethic and exacting standards ensured that every pizza was made with love and care, and every customer received warm and friendly service to ensure they wanted to come back time and time again.

However, Mario’s Pizzeria saw a bump in the road when Trinidad’s economy started to swing south, leading to all of Harford’s business partners selling their shares of the business to Harford. Despite the economic downturn of the country, Harford strived ahead and continued to steadily grow the business across further restaurant locations and regions. Now, under Mario’s Pizzeria Limited, there are 26 restaurant locations across the twin island state of Trinidad and Tobago, with further expansions into Guyana.

Harford is striving to expand further across more territories, and hopefully, one day establish itself as a global brand in the quick-service restaurant (QSR) industry. The company hopes to be fully established within the English-speaking Caribbean over the next 10 years and is looking at further expansions into South America to bring its pizza delights to even more customers. Notable, the chain has already

Mario’s Pizzeria Trinidad and Tobago

expanded from its pizza offerings, to also include burgers, sandwiches, and fried chicken across its restaurant locations. Therefore, Mario’s Pizzeria Limited has established itself as a crucial name in the restaurant and quick-service industry, that is actively working to develop its reach to bring great, flavourful, and delicious offerings across the wider global industry.

One thing that is clear about Mario’s Pizzeria is that there is a strong sense of unity and community behind the company.

local causes and sponsoring events in the local community. Earlier this year in April 2023, the company again showed its commitment to giving back with Harford presenting a $5000 cheque to the Board of Directors at Adonna Institute for Orphans. The cheque for Adonna Institute for Orphans signifies Mario Pizzeria’s role in the community to provide vital funding to projects and organisations across the local area. Furthermore, they are the sponsor of many football tournaments in the local area, providing the players with lots of delicious pizza post-match.

Rotoplastics Logo Elements

Harford has been committed since its beginning to ensuring that customer experience is topnotch, by only hiring staff who believe in providing the same top-quality service with a smile. In line with this, the company provides coupons for its regular customers, and additional coupon offers on customers’ birthdays to again establish its commitment to providing a great dining experience to its customers which feels like they are part of a community family.

This is extended into Mario Pizzeria’s online presence with its social media channels supporting

Overall, Mario’s Pizzeria Limited is a communityoriented pizza parlour that has set its sights on the global markets, whilst still ensuring that throughout every restaurant and franchise, the same topquality service and tasty food is consistently available. As the renowned ‘Pizza King’, you can be sure that with Mario’s Pizzeria that you are getting delicious slices just the way you like them, with the added bonus that when you are buying from the business you are supporting local community efforts and a self-started business that continues to grow across the globe.

Established in 1976, Rotoplastics Trinidad Limited began as a small company, proudly known as the pioneer of rotationally moulded plastic products in Trinidad and the Caribbean.

Tuff Tank is now regionally and internationally recognized for its durability, strength and quality.

Our reputation for reliability, quality and innovation expanded our range to include septic tanks, planters and garbage bins and insulated coolers.

Tuff Tanks are customizable to suit personal or commercial needs.

Rotoplastics Trinidad Limited

27-29 Don Miguel Extension Road, El Socorro Extension, El Socorro 280616, Trinidad

� 1 868-674-8265 | fax 1 868-674 8339

� sales@rotoplastics.co.tt

� www.rotoplastics.co.tt

The Rotoplastics logo features two distinct parts: The logotype and the logomark. Every effort should be made to ensure the logo is presented in its original colour. The Rotoplastics name is on the right and the logotype “arrow” is on the left. Neither the logotype or the logomark may be used independently of the other, the logo must remain intact.

Association of Singapore Marine Industries

Formed in 1968 as a non-profit trade association, the Association of Singapore Marine Industries (ASMI), has been working to promote, unite and advocate for the interests and advancement of its member companies across the country’s marine and offshore industries. ASMI works closely with crucial players in the sector and its members to enhance the image of Singapore’s marine industries on an international scale. Consequently, ASMI strives ahead as a leading offshore and marine association which is constantly developing Singapore’s role in the global marine industry.

ASMI was initially called the Singapore Association of Shipbuilders and Repairers (SASAR), beginning with only 10 member companies that were predominantly shipbuilders and repairers. The early objective of SASAR was to develop the shipbuilding and repairing industry, however, as the association grew and more companies in the marine and offshore industry became interested in the uniting force that the association represented, it reorganised and rebranded. ASMI was established in 1968 to encapsulate the more diverse range of companies it was now advocating for, and today reflects its wider grasp on the marine sector, where the Association serves as a diverse and expansive representative body and voice for the industry.

ASMI is governed by a council made up of key players in the sector, which are working together to enhance the collective image of Singapore’s marine and offshore engineering industry. The Association is divided into 5 committees that are working to improve the industry and help solve its member’s concerns. These committees include the Productivity and Future Economy Committee, the Manpower Committee, the Enterprise Committee, the Social, Youth and Membership Committee, and the Workplace Safety and Health Committee. The committees are working to represent and promote the interests of ASMI, by fostering an environment of cooperation among its members and by implementing regular programmes to improve the industry in terms of safety, technology, and productivity, whilst also consulting with relevant bodies across Singapore and the globe.

Members under ASMI are divided into 3 groups, the first being ordinary members who are any Singapore-registered company which participates in marine and offshore services including ship repairs, ship and rig building, marine engineering, marine consultancy, etc. To qualify for full member status under ASMI the company must also have been in operation for more than 2 years, with a paidup capital of at least $100,000. If the company meets these requirements, they are entitled to all rights and privileges of the Association.

Furthermore, Associate members are Singaporeregistered companies whose business activities are related to the country’s marine industry, have been operating for at least a year and have a

Association of Singapore Marine Industries

paid-up capital of $10,00 as a minimum. Honorary members include all exclusive classification societies and other organisations whose activities are directly connected to the marine industry. Honorary members are invited into the association by the ASMI council. Both Honorary and Associate members are entitled to all rights and privileges of the association, however, they are not eligible to hold office or vote in ASMI’s General Meeting.

As part of ASMI’s association members benefit from training courses, seminars, workshops, and conferences that are organised by the association to develop communication and relationship building between key stakeholders in the marine and offshore industry in Singapore. The association spearheads initiatives to expand the industry and address key concerns of its members relating to manpower, training, safety, industry promotions and capability. One crucial initiative for ASMI is through education, to bring more people into the industry and provide them with the training and skills needed to access top jobs within the industry.

ASMI’s current workforce totals over 130,000 individuals, however, the Association has implemented a systematic program to recruit production workers and provide them with training and certifications to join the association’s expansive team of employees. However, a more specific initiative has been set up to attract, train, develop and retain young people in the industry. Consequently, ASMI is working to provide essential education to young people to encourage them to take on higher roles of leadership within companies across the industry in the future. This initiative is helping to build a secure and experienced workforce for the future of Singapore’s marine industries.

To further promote excellence among its members towards the combined goal of developing the image of Singapore’s marine and offshore industry, ASMI introduced a set of awards in 1994 which recognise individuals within ASMI for their outstanding contribution to the association. These awards include the Meritorious Award which is given to council or committee members to recognise their contributions to the Association and wider industry and the Gold Award which is given to nonindustry personnel to recognise their involvement, support and contribution to the Association and

Enhancing Singapore’s Offshore and Marine Industry

industry. The final award is the Special Recognition Award which is given to industry veterans who have shown continuous commitment, dedication, and passion for the industry and ASMI. By recognising and awarding the commitment and dedication to the industry and ASMI, the Association ensures a legacy of success as each member and individual is always striving for success.

Overall, ASMI is an association that is working across Singapore’s marine and offshore engineering industry to develop its recognition towards a global scale, by collaborating internally with its members to establish effective communication, training and regulations which ensures that each company thrives under ASMI. By working to establish training programs and initiatives, ASMI is securing the future of Singapore’s marine and offshore industry by bringing young people in that will take over top roles across the industry in the future. Therefore, in every aspect of ASMI’s work, they are ensuring the stability, longevity and recognition of Singapore’s industry as a key player in both local and international sectors.

Our Founder and Managing Director Mr. Mamannan who started his career in Singapore as a Mechanical Technician in the year 1995 has evolved step by step and transformed into one of the Pioneers in Singapore.

With the vast knowledge and experience of over three decades, Mr. Mamannan has steered through MR Marine as a major brand in the Ship Repair industry in the region.

Zambia is endowed with ideal climatic conditions and fertile soil which supports the vibrant and rapidly growing farming industry to produce a range of quality crops. To grow these crops, farmers across the country use high-quality certified seeds which are produced and supplied by many seed companies. The Zambia Seed Trade Association (ZASTA), to which most seed companies in the country belong, was established to promote the interest of its member seed companies and the seed industry in Zambia.

ZASTA provides a platform for the exchange of information among the key players of the seed industry in Zambia, whilst contributing to the effective and efficient delivery of seeds across the country. We got the opportunity to interact with the President of ZASTA, Mr Marx Mbunji, and Mr Godfrey Mwila, ZASTA’s Executive Secretary, who provided some insights into the great work that ZASTA has been doing in Zambia and its vision going into the future.

Established in 1999, ZASTA is a not-for-profit non-governmental organisation, registered under the Societies Act in Zambia. With 26 members, the Association is at the helm of Zambia’s seed industry, which is a major player in the regional and international seed trade, focused on promoting profitable seed enterprises involving the production, distribution, and marketing of highquality seed for a wide range of crops. Over the last 20 years, ZASTA has grown exponentially in line with the growing seed industry across Zambia, which has resulted in the increase of seed companies from 4 when the Association began, to now 30 companies

operating across the entire country. Consequently, the seed industry across Zambia is much more wellestablished compared to other countries on the continent with its vast network of seed growers, distributors, and a firm regulatory system.

ZASTA supports its members in running their commercial seed enterprises, which are responsible for supplying the vast majority of certified and high-quality seed to all categories of farmers across the country. In Zambia, the seed market is dominated largely by hybrid maize seed; however, the country is also producing a variety of other crops including beans, groundnuts, sunflowers, soybeans, Irish potatoes and a wide range of vegetables and fruits.

Although the Zambian seed industry is well developed and continues to grow, there has been a big increase in incidences of fake seeds being offered for sale on the open market. To mitigate and keep this at a minimum level, ZASTA, in collaboration with seed companies, is actively working to put measures in place to tackle this issue and ensure that illegal seed dealers are detoured from serving farmers. In addition, ZASTA fosters good ethical business practices among seed companies and other players along the country’s seed supply chains. These business practices ensure that its member seed companies and the subsequent farmer’s interests are protected through the delivery of certified and high-quality seeds.

The Association’s members include commercial seed companies which are operating in global, regional, and national seed markets. Together with Associate and Honorary members, the 21 private seed companies, who are full members of ZASTA, continue to work hard to promote and grow the seed industry in Zambia, to the extent that the seed industry in Zambia is regionally and internationally recognised as a good model for seed trade development. Additionally, the Associate and Honorary members provide valuable research and development towards the future of seed industry technologies and in the provision of seed regulatory services. Furthermore, most of the private seed companies are fully-fledged seed enterprises which have established research and development facilities to enable the production of early-generation seed, the production of certified

Success Across the Seed Trade Industry

seed, and the distribution and marketing of seed among the farming communities across Zambia. Markets for the Zambian-produced seed include export markets to countries in Africa and beyond.

The three Associate members are Amiran and Hygrotech who are involved in vegetable and horticultural crops seedling production and distribution, and Harvest Plus, who are involved in supporting research for the development of biofortified crop varieties in maize, beans, sweet potato, and cassava.

The Honorary members who support the seed industry by conducting agricultural research and development are the Zambian Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI), a public agricultural research organisation, and the School of Agricultural Sciences of the University of Zambia. Additionally, the Seed Control and Certification Institute (SCCI) is an honorary member providing regulatory services to the seed industry. Furthermore, as an affiliate of the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA), ZASTA actively participates in their programmes

to improve its own services, whilst providing its member companies with the global expertise to help develop and expand their business operations in the local, national, and international markets. The Association is run by an Executive Board comprising of five elected members including Mr Marx Mbunji the President, the Vice President, the Treasurer, two committee members and the immediate past President. The role of the committee is to oversee the running of the Association, which meets once per quarter to review updates from the three subcommittees. The first sub-committee looks at projects, the second looks at ZASTA’s strategic plans and advocacy work, and the third focuses on its memberships, financials, and ethics. When we spoke to ZASTA, they focused on how crucial leadership was for the effective operation of the Association. For Mr Mwila, who is the Executive Secretary of ZASTA, he believes that as one of the key strategies, the Association should increase stakeholder engagement which will facilitate the continued sharing of experiences and learning. Through this exchange of experience and learning, he believes ZASTA can continue to understand

INDIGENOUS SUPPLIER OF MEDIUM HYBRID VARIETIES

Maize medium varieties (AMAC 614, AMAC 612, AMAC 618), all medium maturity • Soyabean AMAC kafue, (AMAC lunganga) • Beans (mberesh, Kabulangeti, Lungwebungu) • Cowpeas

the key issues affecting the industry and identify approaches needed to address these challenges, whilst leveraging on the available opportunities. As part of their corporate social responsibility (CRS) initiatives, member seed companies are collaborating in a ZASTA-led Waste Management Project. The project is working to prevent and reduce the contamination of the environment by promoting the safe disposal of chemical waste which is produced from seed treatment and packaging processes. The Waste Management Project aims to ensure that a consistent level of environmentalism is upheld throughout the supply chain, as a crucial part of ZASTA’s work is to protect and support the environments in which its members and subsequent farming communities operate in.

ZASTA is also encouraging seed companies, and the public research institutes it works closely with, to develop and make available more crop varieties which are nutrientrich, efficient in their use of nutrients and tolerant to climate change effects. It is hoped that producing more of these crop varieties will contribute towards enhancing food and nutrition security, whilst helping to reduce the amount of fertiliser needed for growing high-quality crops.

Success Across the Seed Trade Industry

Looking towards the future, we learnt that the Executive Committee of ZASTA had embarked on a transformative agenda, which plans to grow and expand the mandate of the Association whilst increasing stakeholder engagement. Part of this agenda is to improve the visibility of the Association across the seed industry by highlighting the role ZASTA plays in driving and coordinating activities in this sector. Consequently, ZASTA aims to carry out some statutory functions to oversee seed certification, seed distribution and the provision of technical information pertaining to seed matters. A key aspect of this transformation is to broaden ZASTA’s revenue base to provide functional and financial stability across the Association. In line with this, ZASTA aims to increase the capacity of the secretariat to be able to implement more programmes and activities to benefit its members, as well as the seed industry at large.

Overall, ZASTA is working to improve the seed industry in Zambia by providing stability and expertise to benefit its member companies, which in turn highlights ZASTA as a key player in the seed trade sector. By safeguarding the future of the seed trade in Zambia through the support of seed companies, its environmentalism work, the monitoring of illegal activity and efforts to protect farmers, ZASTA leads the way as the only commercial seed trade Association providing continued support to the seed industry in Zambia.

As a global manufacturer of materials processing machinery and aerial work platforms, Terex Corporation leads the way in designing, building, and supporting the manufacturing of machinery across the energy, recycling, minerals, and material management industries. Terex strives to improve the lives of people across the globe, by providing industrial products which yield superior productivity and bring its customers substantial returns on their investments. Consequently, Terex has established itself as a leading manufacturer which is looking to improve the sustainability of manufacturing these types of machines for the future.

Based in Connecticut in the United States of America, Terex leads the way in providing a range of aerial and materials processing machinery. With manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia; Terex’s operations span the globe and provide heavy-duty machinery solutions for its customer’s projects. The company believes in the values of integrity, respect, improvement, servant leadership, courage and citizenship to establish Terex not just as a leading brand for its equipment, but as a brand which puts its customers first. Terex believes that if these values are honoured throughout all its work, it can lead the industry and expand its operations through an increasingly expansive network of customers, suppliers, and investors. Since its beginning in 1933, the company has evolved through a range of strategic acquisitions towards the current company which has been diversified towards the publicly owned entity that it is, with major operations for aerial work platforms in Washington, and materials processing operations in Northern Ireland.

Terex is home to a range of subdivision companies including leading brands such as Genie, Powerscreen, Evoquip and Finlay. Terex has paired with these businesses to provide them with the global network, sales opportunities, and service that the Terex name can provide, and in turn, these companies continue to expand the ever-growing umbrella of Terex’s operations. Through pairing with these companies, Terex offers a range of aerial work platforms, boom lifts, scissor lifts, telehandlers, portable aerial work platforms, material lifts, aerial equipment, and digger derricks. However, these only briefly cover the expansive range of Terex machinery that the company manufactures and supplies.

Many of Terex’s machines are being built for a more sustainable future as Terex has continued to develop its products to help customers reduce their environmental impact with the inductions of a range of electric and hybrid offerings. The products are designed by the Terex brand to ensure that they can deliver quiet, emission-free performance, which meets the growing demands for more sustainable options across a range of industries. They are also designing machinery to help to recover useful materials from various types

Global Manufacturing Solutions

Abrasive Wear Plates

Here at GES, we supply world-class abrasive wear plates and special steel products to the mining, construction, agriculture and recycling industries. With an eye for excellence we are geared to be the perfect partner to OEMs with a focus on 400BRN, 450BRN and 500BRN steel plate and high tensile capabilities. We specialise in the profiling, milling, forming and fabrication of abrasive wear plates and screening products, our work is carried out in our bespoke 130,000 ft² facility.

GES

metal from compost, biomass, incinerated bottom ash (IBA) and waste.

The TMS 320 incorporates the RevX ST22 eddy current separators and rare earth drum magnet. The TMS 320 has a premium 22pole neodymium rotor which spins at 3000 rpm, and the rotor, encased in an ultra-thin carbon fibre shell with a thin PVC belt, ensures that the intense field produced by the ST22 provides the most effective separation results possible. The machine offers a quick and easy set-up, with a variable drum magnet, and eddy current belt.

and also the majority of the leading OEMs in the crushing and screening sectors.

We export our products to North America and across Europe. As well as this, GES is a SSAB certified partner and accredited to ISO9001:2015 Quality, ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health & Safety, ISO14001:2015 Environmental Management and ISO 3834-2 Welding Standard.

Abrasive Wear Plates

Here at GES, we supply world-class abrasive wear plates and special steel products to the mining, construction, agriculture and recycling industries. With an eye for excellence we are geared to be the perfect partner to OEMs with a focus on 400BRN, 450BRN and 500BRN steel plate and high tensile capabilities. We specialise in the profiling, milling, forming and fabrication of abrasive wear plates and screening products, and our work is carried out in our bespoke 130,000 ft² facility.

Supplying SSAB Special Steels to Crushing & Screening, Construction, Agriculture and Recycling Industries.

Ltd, Unit 3 Campsie Industrial Estate, Derry, BT47 3XX (028) 7137 7490

Supplying SSAB Special Steels to Crushing & Screening, Construction, Agriculture and Recycling Industries.

The TMS 320 is fitted with a combined splitter system which offers accurate real-time judgment, enabling the operator to easily configure the machine to the specifications of its application. Furthermore, it is built with a modular design, so the machine can be separated, moved, and folded down to ensure it is easy to transport across projects. Therefore, the TMS 320 is leading the market for efficient metal separation and portability. Furthermore, the TMS 320 is electrically driven so contributes towards the sustainability goals of each company.

The electrification of the system reduces operating costs, fuel usage, emission, and noise levels. Therefore, the machine created by the partnership boasts some great credentials that are working to benefit the globe through recycling facilities, whilst working within its design to ensure that it is made with the future in mind.

Consequently, in a world that is moving ever more towards sustainability, Terex has made strives to improve the renewability of its designs.

However, what makes a company such as Terex stand out is its commitment to providing efficient aerial and material processing machinery to its customers. We can see how its expansive network across the globe allows Terex to lead a multitude of sectors towards more efficient operations, whilst considering the environmental impacts. Overall, Terex is successful in its mission to improve the lives of people through the industrial products it offers for incredible productivity and investment return. This achievement can be traced back to Terex’s core values, that throughout its operations a deep desire to help with respect and support underpins everything it does.

As the Global Leader in Separation Technologies, Eriez manufactures and markets specialist solutions. Eriez’ portfolio consists of magnetic separation, metal detection, vibratory feeding, lifting, and handling equipment.

Eriez’ solutions provide machinery protection, end-of-line inspection and metal recovery for processing industries worldwide. This includes, mining and minerals, food and plastics, bulk handling, and recycling sectors.

• Protect crushers, screens and downstream processing equipment from tramp metal damage

• High sensitivity metal detection to detect unwanted ferrous and non-ferrous in product flows

• Comprehensive range of magnetic separators for optimum metal removal

Alabama State Ports Authority

As Alabama’s only seaport, the Port of Mobile’s role in the state’s financial prosperity can be traced back centuries, having been a crucial step in many supply chains with its expansive growth during World War II. Now, many years later the continued development and growth has seen the region deliver vast investments in manufacturing, agribusiness, and mining. All these industries benefit from the port’s activities, which has allowed the port to become one of the most prominent seaports in the United States. Therefore, the Alabama Port Authority was established in 2000 to position the Port as a strong link and partner across supply chains, facilitating the transportation of goods and materials across the port and connecting them with the crucial rail, roads, river, and runway links.

With 18 diverse cargo handling facilities and a port with direct access to 45-foot deepwater, nine railroads and air, truck and barge movement options, the Port is a vital player connecting the state with the local and international movement of cargo. We know this as annually the Port is responsible for bringing 85 billion USD to Alabama’s economy, providing seamless services to manufacturers and industries around the world. Therefore, the Port provides a gateway for all types of cargo, including aggregates, automobiles, breakbulk, coal, cold storage, containers, forest products, general cargo, liquid bulk, metals, and project cargo.

The connected nature of the port is second to none, and so has been a key area for development to continue to serve and develop Alabama’s cargo industries. Consequently, the Alabama Port Authority has invested over 1.4 billion USD into the port over the last 20 years to modernize and grow its facilities to support its customers’ needs.

In June 2023, the State of Alabama allocated 20 million USD to the McDuffie Coal Terminal to increase the current port incentives to provide greater benefits to businesses. The McDuffie Coal Terminal handles metallurgical and bit coal across rail, barge and truck links. Coal in Alabama is metallurgical and so is a key component in steel making as it is recognised industry-wide as some of the finest metallurgical coal in the world, making it a crucial development for the port to continue to contribute to the state’s overall economic development.

John Driscoll, Director and CEO of Alabama Port Authority commented in a press release for the funding that “At the Port our mission is to help Alabama’s economy grow”. He adds later that “The Port is proud to deliver lower landed costs to shippers through the optionality and fluidity we provide. In addition to these operational advantages, the increased incentives for businesses to use the State’s Port will make Alabama even more competitive in the global market”. We can see from Driscoll’s comments that the Port is striving through every investment to make a mark on a range of industries, to promote both the Ports reputation and the State’s role in the development of the global economy.

Alabama State Ports Authority

This investment comes as Alabama Port Authority announced its 2022 stats a few months early, which saw the port handle 563,191 twenty-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) over the year, which reflects the 9th year in a row that the Port of Mobile has announced a double-digit growth since 2009 at 11%. The intermodal rail volumes continue a 31-month record of triple-digit growth and ended the year with 142% growth compared to the previous year’s figures. Additionally, the container terminal handled a record number of 312 vessels, an increase of 75 vessels from the previous year.

However, Alabama Port Authority is not slowing down its development, and expects to see its capabilities reach one million TEUs upon the completion of the 6th expansion phase at the container terminal, and the deepening and widening of the harbour. Further planned expansions include constructing a fly-over bridge, creating on-dock rail access for the container terminal, modernising the general cargo piers and developing an in-land intermodal facility in North Alabama.

However, Alabama Port Authority is not just concerned with the economic and operations expansion of the port, they are equally as concerned with ensuring environmental standards across all the port facilities and forwarding links. Alabama Port Authority have been Green Marine certified since 2018, which is the largest environmental certification program in North America and provides a framework that the marine industry adheres to, to ensure that the industry can reduce its environmental footprint. Consequently, the Alabama Port Authority is committed to ensuring environmental and sustainable practices and programmes are implemented into all its business decisions, port development plans and daily operations. Its goal is to work towards improving its practices and stewardship regarding the quality of air, water and of soil and sediment. They are also committed to ensuring wildlife habitats are protected, waste management initiatives are followed, and energy consumption regulations are implemented across all operations to improve the environmental conditions in Mobile and the surrounding area of Alabama.

At present, the Alabama Port Authority has implemented electric ship-to-ship cranes at the McDuffie Terminal, Pinto Island Steel Terminal and the Container Terminal. It has repowered locomotives to smart idle/EPA-certified off-road industrial engines to help reduce the particulate matter and nitrogen oxides that are produced from their diesel emission, which has already reduced emissions by 90% and has been further developed with a no-idle policy.

The whole facility also works to ensure that recycling is carried out throughout the port, and twice a week the near-shore and shoreline is inspected. The shoreline work allows the port to monitor the waterways are make sure they are not impacted by environmental damage, and should an instance occur they have the facilities through its environmental programmes to provide clean-ups where releases could have a negative impact on the waterways. However, the Alabama Port Authority is continuing to work to develop the operations of the port towards sustainable success and working to support the surrounding areas through further wetlands developments, conversion to LED lighting and removal of invasive species.

Overall, Alabama Port Authority is working to promote the port’s operations towards global markets through its expansive network of forwarding links due to its ideal geographical position on the Gulf Coast and at the centre of many transport links both by land, sea, and air. As the only port in Alabama, it makes a crucial part of the State’s economic development to aid in the facilitation of import and export cargo whilst providing the local communities with vast employment opportunities. However, the Port Authority is not just concerned with economic success, it is equally as concerned with ensuring that its environmental impact is kept to a minimum and promotes sustainable and environmental programmes throughout its vast range of operations.

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Dedicated to championing the interests of zinc and its users across the world, the International Zinc Association (IZA) works to bring together key players in the industry and promote the use of zinc to create a more sustainable future. It is the only organisation which is solely dedicated to the interest of zinc and its users, and so works to provide a forum for the zinc industry to develop through analysis, representation, regulation, and advocacy across the global industry. Therefore, through its operations across the globe, IZA is working to sustain the long-term global demand for zinc by focusing its efforts on three areas: sustainability and environmentalism, technology and market development, and communication.

Made up of a range of mining and refining companies, all of which have a representative on IZA’s board of directors, the Association bring together key players across the industry to foster an environment of communication and cooperation. The Association works with its full, affiliate and associate members across the globe via its offices in China, Europe, Latin America, North America, India, and Southern Africa. IZA is on a mission to lead the global zinc industry through coordination and add value to strategic issues to develop the industry on local, regional, and global levels. These industries and markets include automotive, energy storage, fertilisers and food security, infrastructure, and renewable energy - all of which use zinc in their end markets. However, zinc is also used in die-casting alloys, coatings, chemicals, and sheet forms. Therefore, IZA is working to grow these markets and develop them towards the future of zinc demands, whilst advocating for the adoption of zinc products across more industries.

We have seen the world shift towards more sustainable solutions, with currently 20% of the world’s energy coming from renewable energy resources. These renewable energy sources include solar panels and wind turbines, both of which use zinc to protect the structures and help to prevent rust through zinc galvanising. Therefore, IZA’s work across the zinc industry plays a vital role in the global shift towards a more sustainable future. The Association is working towards a future of ‘net zero’, and so advocates for the implementation of change in the zinc industry both in its operations to process the material and in the adoption of zinc in renewable energy solutions. Zinc, consequently, will continue to play a key role in supporting clean energy technologies in the future.

Key zinc markets which are working towards a sustainable future are automobiles and batteries. Zinc is used in automobile production for its use in producing high-strength galvanized steel for manufacturing. This was a successful project in 2022, with IZA’s Galvanizes Autobody Partnership programme which brings partners from the steel and automotive industries together to achieve combined success. The project focused on the use of zinc in galvanized auto bodies in India and China

where current usage is approximately 20% and 50% respectively, compared to almost 50% usage in its North American and European counterparts.

Currently, most automakers have adopted galvanized steel for their high-volume production of internal combustion hybrid and electric vehicle models. Therefore, IZA is working to continue to promote the use of zinc in automobile markets by working with its members and automobile manufacturers to meet the current demand for zinc in vehicles and promote it to more manufacturers worldwide.

Another key industry for zinc that develops the world towards a more sustainable future is batteries. The demand for batteries across the energy and transport sectors, as they move towards a future of decarbonisation, has grown exponentially. Zinc batteries provide flexible, long cycle life, high specific energy, and power, whilst having a wider operating temperature and regime. Additionally, they require minimal upkeep to maintain high performance and safety. Furthermore, IZA is keen to promote zinc batteries as they provide lower-

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cost products compared to other battery options making them a great alternative compared to the more commonly used lithium batteries. However, the benefits don’t just end there as they are non-toxic, made from abundant and inexpensive materials, all of which are sourced from diverse and reliable supply chains.

IZA is working to diversify the market away from solely lithium batteries as, at present, most funding and supply comes from lithium technology rather than zinc. However, IZA saw great success in 2020 with its Technology Market Development (TMD) project which made significant strides in raising the muchneeded awareness of zinc battery technology for long-duration energy storage applications. Furthermore, IZA has established a Zinc Battery Initiative (ZBI) which has attracted 5 new members, and now includes most of the world’s zinc battery producers under the IZA’s umbrella.

However, through the Association’s advocacy for zinc across the globe by working with and helping develop the industry with its members, IZA has established itself as a global leader in the zinc industry and its economic development. However, this is not the only role that IZA plays in the zinc industries, as they are actively working to end zinc deficiencies across the globe. Zinc deficiency is a significant health problem in developing countries

especially for young children. Roughly 2 billion people are classified as zinc deficient, which can lead to a weakened immune system making those with this deficiency more susceptible to other illnesses. This is particularly prevalent in young children, affecting over 140 million children under 5 and leading to 450,00 fatalities every single year from zinc deficiency-related issues.

Therefore, IZA has implemented an initiative to address zinc deficiency by supporting zinc supplementation programs in partnership with UNICEF. Together the organisations are working to support global micronutrient supplementation programs which focus critically on zinc deficiencies in at-risk children. As the United Nations labelled zinc as a ‘life-saving commodity’, it is clear to see the crucial role it plays in the well-being of thousands of children across the globe. Therefore, IZA’s work toward the well-being of children worldwide highlights the larger role it plays in developing and supporting a world for a prosperous, healthy, and sustainable future.

As an overarching association comprised of key figures throughout the world’s zinc industry, IZA is working to promote the interests of zinc in every aspect, whether that be from manufacturing, advocacy or from implementing initiatives towards the well-being of people and the planet. They are working tirelessly to lead the industry, coordinate efforts for development and continue to add value to markets. As part of this, they are providing crucial licensing for operating in the global zinc industry and establishing key platforms for communication between these global partners all with the combined goal of positioning zinc as a leading resource worldwide for sustainable, profitable, and reliable development.

Gibraltar Ports Authority

With 240 million gross tonnes of vessel calls per year, Gibraltar is home to a key port offering a wide variety of services for vessels of all sizes and types. The port required an overseeing body that would ensure the safety, reliability, and development of Gibraltar’s port. Therefore, Gibraltar Ports Authority (GPA) was created to provide topquality service to oversee the efficient coordination of all marine activities across the port, which now includes the monitoring and control of vessel movements, port security, licensing of port operations, search and rescue response, pollution prevention, and bunkering services all within the British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.

Established in 2005, GPA monitors and controls the 60,00 vessels that operate along the Strait of Gibraltar every year. An essential part of GPA’s role is in their Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), which GPA utilises to effectively coordinate vessel movements across the BGTW and into the port. The VTS provides round-the-clock monitoring from its operations centre in the port’s main office to oversee all ships travelling in the BGTW, using a range of sensors including radar and automatic identification systems (AIS), CCTV and night-time thermal imaging. Furthermore, GPA works with global partners to update the UK’s Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) on all vessel traffic to assist authorities worldwide in monitoring vessel operations across international shores. Additionally, Gibraltar is in such a vital position geographically for goods and materials transportation as it is located where the Mediterranean and Atlantic shipping lands cross, so the port provides a crucial link between the shipping stakeholders of the BGTW. Therefore, through GPA’s operations across the port using VTS systems, it can effectively improve navigational safety standards, whilst ensuring the efficiency of all the activities that the port facilitates due to its crucial location.

Nicknamed ‘The Rock’, Gibraltar remains a busy commercial port, with a multitude of services facilitated by an entire network of experienced staff across a diverse range of activities. Tourism remains a key service for Gibraltar, especially as the tourism industry regains its feet following the pandemic. Under GPA the port facilitates cruise ships which can helpfully enter the port at any time of the day due to its one-metre tidal range. Situated only an hour from the Strait of Gibraltar, the port can facilitate these cruise vessels with bunkers of water.

The Cruise Terminal is 950 metres and allows for four medium-sized cruise vessels or two largesized cruise vessels to berth alongside each other simultaneously. The terminal includes a range of facilities, including telephones, bars/cafes, art and craft shops, display areas and the Gibraltar Tourism Board Information Office providing everything both passengers and staff may require upon docking. GPA monitors the port, along with the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Gibraltar Police Marine Section to ensure the safety of the port and its

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Gibraltar Ports Authority

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GPA announced in June that, as part of its continued development toward expanding its cruise and tourism business, it welcomed the Carnival Venezia cruise ship. The massive ship of 14 decks, 5260 passengers and 1278 staff and crew docked at Gibraltar’s port as part of its inaugural voyage, which saw the ship travel for two weeks from Barcelona to New York.

The cruise market is highly competitive, so having a large vessel choose Gibraltar as one of 7 key stops highlights the crucial role the port plays in international voyage plans. This vessel choosing Gibraltar port shows the constant work that GPA is doing to attract new cruise business is proving effective and is setting up the future of the port for continued tourism development as it hopes to

welcome further cruise business as it continues to expand these operations.

As the largest bunkering port in the Mediterranean due to its high turnover and tax-free status of Gibraltar, the port of Gibraltar is also a highly competitive location for bunkering. Situated near the main shipping lanes, the port’s bunkering facilities can supply all grades of marine fuel from 30 centistokes (cSt) to 380 cSt. The bunkering facilities are continually monitored by the Government of Gibraltar to ensure that the port is maintaining the strict safety and environmental regulations set out by the Bunkering Code of Practice. GPA’s bunkering superintendents continuously monitor all the operations in the port, and as an associate member of Southampton’s Oil Spill Response Ltd. (ORSL), they critically watch over the port’s operations to prevent, respond, and act upon any oil spillages.

Consequently, as such a key player in the world of bunkering, GPA is committed to ensuring environmental disasters are avoided through its careful management across the port and wider international waters. However, if one should occur, it will respond quickly to spillage situations to reduce any potential environmental impacts. Therefore, bunkering remains the main activity within the Port of Gibraltar under GPA, and as an organisation, it is constantly working to ensure that threats to environmental ecosystems are greatly reduced and responded to efficiently.

As part of GPA’s continued development and improvement to the services of the port, it announced in May 2023 that the government of Gibraltar has granted a licence agreement to Mid-Harbour Small Boat’s Marina Association. The licence will turn a small area of land by the port into a boat repair and yard service. This will provide the association’s berth holders with an area where vessels can be taken to complete maintenance and repair works. The port currently has facilities for ship repairs at Gibdock, which can accommodate

ships up to 270 metres in length in its three dry docks. Furthermore, the shipyard can carry out work alongside vessels, or at anchor, whilst working with several companies which facilitate underwater repairs, hull cleaning and maintenance. Thus, the development of repair facilities at the port allows it to continue to work with vessels to make essential repairs to keep vessels operational, which in turn will keep the port’s services running smoothly.

Overall, GPA oversees and maintains the smooth running of the port of Gibraltar by communicating with other marine services operations both within the BGTW and internationally. Therefore, GPA leads the way in port authority through their facilitation of marine services, regulation, and development of the port. All of this ensures that GPA’s operations and the port of Gibraltar can maintain their critical role for its operations at the cross-section of the Mediterranean and Atlantic shipping lands.

With crucial developments in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, Perseus Mining Limited has developed its operations from a junior exploration company to a wellestablished multi-mine gold producer with a reputation for being a strong and diversified gold production, development, and exploration company. Now in 2023, Perseus is working across its vast array of mining sites and gold deposit exploration projects to generate material which benefits its stakeholders, whilst remaining as environmentally and socially responsible as possible. Ultimately, Perseus is positioning its entire business operation to continue to expand its gold production with integrity, teamwork, commitment, and achievement.

Perseus has spent the last 9 years as a rapidly growing African-focused gold producer, developer, and explorer, producing 521,221 ounces (oz) of gold at an all-in-sustaining cost (AISC) of US$941 per ounce in 2022, and so is leading the way as a crucial gold company across the West of Africa. Under Perseus are three major operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, which the company has acquired over the years to expand their network. In Ghana, Perseus has 90% ownership of the Edikan Mine, which is a large-scale, low-grade, multi-open pit operation which is located on the Asankranwa Gold Belt. With the beginning of commercial production at the Edikan Mine in 2012, it has since produced more than 2 million ounces of gold and consequently established Perseus as a key producer of gold for the region. As of June 2022, the remaining reserves at the Edikan Mine totalled 1.34 million ounces, with an average grade of 1.31 grams per ton (g/t), making Perseus’ first mining operation a huge success. The gold from the Edikan Mine is sourced from several open pits and is processed through a centralized processing facility with the

African Gold: Producer, Developer and Explorer

capacity to process up to 8 million tonnes of ore per annum.

Sissingué Gold Mine was the second mine developed by Perseus and is situated in Côte d’Ivoire. The mine’s development was based on the early explorations done by the company in its junior exploration phase, and in 2018 the mine reached commercial production.

The mine is a key success for Perseus, as it consistently exceeds internal targets and surpasses expectations for gold production, run time, recovery, and costs. Located near the border of Mali, the mine produces high-grade gold ore from its main open pit, and several smaller satellite open pits. With the development of its satellite deposits including Fimbiasso and Bagoé, Perseus has extended the life of the Sissingué Gold Mine to March 2026, with the potential for further extensions by processing low-grade stockpiles.

The Sissingué Gold Mine plays a crucial role in the development of the local community it

operates in as the mine is a major provider of formal employment in the local community with over 600 people employed through the mine. Furthermore, to ensure that they are giving back to the local community, Sissingué Mine donates 0.5% of the mine’s total annual revenue to the Community Development Fund (CDF) which is managed by a representative committee to deliver infrastructure and programs for the 12 communities nearest to the mine. Therefore, whilst Perseus is developing the gold industry across the West of Africa, they are ensuring that throughout every aspect of their mining, processing, development and exploring that they are giving back and supporting the communities in which they are operating.

Perseus also have a 90% ownership stake in the Yaouré Gold Mine in central Côte d’Ivoire which was Perseus’ third gold operation in western Africa. Commercial production of the mine began in 2021, with an expected yearly output of 200,00 ounces of gold per year for the first 5 years of its mine life. The gold produced at the mine has an average AISC of roughly US$745, and Perseus has identified several

Perseus Mining Limited

highly encouraging nearby ore exploration targets. Much like the Sissingué Gold Mine, the Yaouré Gold Mine donates 0.5% of its annual revenue towards a CDF to fund a range of community-determined, infrastructure and livelihood development projects.

Finally, Perseus has a 70% interest in Meyas Sand Gold Project (MSGP), which covers 2 main gold deposits close to Sudan’s northern border near Egypt. The government of Sudan hold a 20% stake in the project, with Meyas Nub, a local Sudanese enterprise, holding the remaining 10% stake. The development in Sudan comes as it is one of the largest producers of gold in Africa. However, at present the gold industry in the country is driven largely by unregulated, artisanal mining. Furthermore, the country is still largely unexplored for gold using modern exploration techniques, therefore it makes a crucial site of development and exploration for Perseus.

However, following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan earlier this year, Perseus withdrew most of its employees from the MSGP site pending the resolution of the conflict. Protected by the Sudanese Mining Police, Perseus announced in June that key employees and contractors would

be able to safely return to the site as the conflict had not taken place close to the project. Perseus commented in their press release that the safety of their employees and contractors is the main priority, will continue to monitor the situation and is ready to react should the situation change.

Overall, Perseus Mining Limited is a company that has developed over the years to expand its operations from exploration to development to processing. It continues to expand its influence not just over Africa’s gold industry, but its impact and development of the local communities in which they operate. As a vital gold company across the west of Africa, it is focused on maintaining a high level of gold production by extending the life of existing assets, whilst tirelessly working to discover or acquire new material reserves and assets. Therefore, Perseus has perfectly positioned itself to sustain gold production across West Africa, and vitally develop the economies of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sudan. However, Perseus would not be where it is without its workforce, many of which are from the local areas around its mines, and so their safety, support and championing remain a priority throughout the company’s operations.

The landscape of the African seed trade is shifting; the industry is moving away from publicly funded seed systems towards a more diversified market which is led by private seed companies and associations. The private seed sector is becoming more and more well-established each year, which has forced governments across Africa to acknowledge the role private seed companies play in the availability and delivery of high-quality seed to farmers across the continent. The private seed sector plays a key role in the growth of the agricultural sector and its development across the continent. Consequently, the African Seed Trade Association (AFSTA) was established in 2000 to be a uniting voice throughout the private seed sector, and to aid in the development of the seed industry both within the continent and across the globe.

With over 20 years of experience, AFSTA is a not-for-profit membership association formed to champion the interests of private seed companies across the continent. It is registered in Kenya as an international organisation which is providing crucial support, networking, and advocacy for its 150+ members. The members include a variety of private seed companies as well as several national seed trade associations, which have built up a network of companies and organisations across the globe. All the members are working together under AFSTA to bring huge development and security for the seed trade and subsequent agriculture industry in Africa.

AFSTA’s main objective is to promote the trade of high-quality seed across the continent and towards global seed markets. To do this AFSTA believes in providing its members with key knowledge of the seed industry, which it has gained from its development of a statistical database that looks into the seed production and trade on the continent.

Ultimately, AFSTA aims to bring a united voice to the African seed industry by effectively working with governments and NGOs to promote the crucial role

that private seed companies play in the African seed industry. Therefore, as an overarching governing body, AFSTA is actively working to establish a level of regulation to bring harmonization throughout the industry in Africa to ensure the efficient delivery of seed. As part of this, they are actively working with seed companies across the continent to set up national seed trade associations. Working with national seed trade associations, AFSTA can ensure consistency throughout the industry due to the personalised perspective of land, economy, and climate that the national associations provide. Therefore, by encouraging countries to establish their own regulatory boards, AFSTA encourages more efficient distribution of seed in the industry, by ensuring that the development of seed business is developing on both a regional and national level.

AFSTA’s mission is to create the best environment for trade and innovation possible to produce quality seeds for the benefit of its members and farmers in Africa. The Association wants all farmers to have access to top-quality seed which reinforces the stability and security of the food industry.

Their work is essential as the African seed industry has faced some crucial challenges; whether that be due to outdated seed laws and regulations (which has had an adverse effect on the ability or desire for private-sector investment in the seed industry), or due to the limited government support for the seed business, which has had knock-on effects through the industries infrastructure, credit, training and implementation of regional policies. Therefore, through AFSTA’s work throughout the private seed industry, they are establishing themselves as an effective partner to the seed policy makers and shareholders to provide advocacy for their members, whilst helping to find solutions to the industry’s constraints. Consequently, AFSTA is working to provide the support framework necessary to foster an environment of success across Africa’s seed trade industry.

To champion the interests of the private seed companies of Africa, AFSTA is working to provide visibility for their members. As part of this, they include all their members in the directory listing in their African Seed Magazine which is provided yearly to encourage networking and sharing of knowledge and experience towards the betterment of the industry.

As part of their role in facilitating a global network, they rotate the annual conference venue to highlight and learn from the diverse cultures across the continent. Their annual conference provides a platform to showcase and integrate new members into the association, giving new members the opportunity to speak on the role they play in the continent’s network of seed suppliers.

Overall, AFSTA provides a variety of services and advocacy initiatives to help promote the private seed industry across Africa. Working with all its members, crucial stakeholders, and governmental figures, AFSTA has successfully promoted the development of the seed sector towards a more stable future that supports both the seed enterprises and the farmers whom they supply. By acknowledging the constraints throughout the industry, they are well-equipped with the knowledge and expertise to handle and resolve many of these issues throughout the network. Therefore, AFSTA is leading the way as a governing body that strives to provide a unified voice across the seed industry and promote the African seed industry towards the global expansion of the seed trade across the world.