Africa Outlook - Issue 55

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AFRICA ISSUE 55

Associated Battery Manufacturers is on the charge; meeting driver demand with dependability

Energy

SOLUTIONS FOR ALL

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE

Seychelles: A Cocoon of Luxury

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HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY ZAMBIA CO. LTD

Technology to support your business

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BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO EAST & CENTRAL AFRICA 54

Driving sustainability in the tobacco industry

DUNHILL CONSULTING LIMITED 62

Professional, cost-effective and hasslefree property services

ALSO FEATURING: NIELSEN HOLDINGS | MEGCHEM | CAVIBEL SA - EQUATORIAL COCA-COLA CAPE VERDE

Business Travel Guides

A complete guide to Africa’s leading business travel destinations

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Seychelles With the advent of the Blue Economy and the ongoing guidance of the Seychelles Tourism Board, the country looks set to thrive as a vibrant regional and international business hub Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joe Palliser omprising 115 islands and many more reasons to visit, the Republic of Seychelles is merging brains with beauty as it looks to instil heightened levels of economic astuteness into its naturally stunning surroundings.

The archipelago houses less than 100,000 native residents and as such is the smallest of all sovereign African nations. However, across both the outer and inner footprints of the country - and especially within its capital, Victoria - the nation continues to punch above its weight and thrive as much more than a paradise destination.

Inevitably, tourism has and will continue to play a pivotal role in the growth of the country, leveraging its hot and humid environment, and

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FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: Area: Population (2016): GDP (2015): Currency: Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD:

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English, French, Seychellois 459 square kilometres 94,000+ $2.76 billion Seychellois rupee UTC+4 +248 .sc

its picturesque aesthetics, to facilitate a tourism infrastructure that now also lends itself to myriad industries and sub-sectors for the business world to explore too.

“Seychelles has evolved greatly in recent years and this has been largely due to a greater volume of business created by enhanced visibility of the brand and also greater connectivity by a growing number of airlines servicing the archipelago,” affirms the Seychelles Tourism Board. “This combination of factors favourable to growth has been further nurtured by years of economic, social and political harmony with which the country has been blessed.”

Ultimately, what has now been created is a masqueraded hub of economic acumen nestled among the palm trees and white sands that grace the numerous small islands.

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26 See page

Our Business Travel section not only gives executives the complete guide to the world’s most popular and populous locations, but also gives said locations the perfect opportunity to showcase their own businesses, events, venues and services to a truly international audience and readership of more than 185,000 each month.

To share in this unrivalled exposure and to put your own offering on our map, then please contact our Sales Managers, Joe Palliser or Ryan Gray to find out more.

joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 676

ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 672

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AFRICA

On the Charge AFRICA As we hurtle towards the end of the year, it’s fair to say that we could all do with a quick recharge before entering Associated Battery Manufacturers is on the charge; meeting driver demand with dependability the busy festive period; and in this month’s Africa Outlook, we receive this injection of energy via Associated Battery Manufacturers.

Under its banner, ‘energy solutions for all’ the proudly Kenyan operator has evolved from its solar panel origins to become a facilitator of power that meets driver demand with dependability.

“Our core business still remains the production of car batteries, however around 20 years ago we became heavily involved in renewable energy and created our Chloride solar portfolio,” introduces Managing Director, Guy Jack.

“Our work in this area has led us to become the regional leader in renewable energy, with our solar panel factory named Solinc.”

Complementing ABM’s dedication to innovative manufacturing and sustainable industry development is the world-renowned Hitachi brand; in this case, its construction machinery operations based in Zambia.

Similarly to ABM, the Company is focusing on applying its operational excellence to the most contemporary of trends, in order to retain strong levels of innovation and to live up to its household name parent Group.

Merging industrial and commercial worlds, property development and real estate has pushed its way to the fore in recent months, with both East and Southern Africa recognising the opportunities available in both capitalising on and offsetting the challenge from overseas investors.

Dunhill Consulting Limited, Forum Properties Africa and South Point are on hand to explain the trend and to highlight their own success stories to this end; the latter in particular showcasing how student accommodation can set the example when it comes to modern-day residential developments.

Leading this month’s supporting cast is the latest in our 2017 Coca-Cola-fuelled journey across Africa - this time focusing on the Equatorial Coca Cola Bottling Company’s story in Cape Verde (Cavibel SA) - while we round off October with a trip to the Seychelles where our Business Travel Guide explores Africa’s ‘cocoon of luxury’. www.africaoutlookmag.com

ISSUE 55

Energy

SOLUTIONS FOR ALL

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDE

Seychelles: A Cocoon of Luxury

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HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY ZAMBIA CO. LTD

Technology to support your business

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BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO

EAST & CENTRAL AFRICA 54 Driving sustainability in the tobacco industry

DUNHILL CONSULTING

LIMITED 62 Professional, cost-effective and hasslefree property services

ALSO FEATURING: NIELSEN HOLDINGS | MEGCHEM | CAVIBEL SA - EQUATORIAL COCA-COLA CAPE VERDE

EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Matthew Staff matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com Deputy Editor: Phoebe Calver phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com Art Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Advert Designer: Devon Collins devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com Images: Thinkstock by Getty Images

BUSINESS Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Operations Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com Heads of Projects: Joshua Mann joshua.mann@outlookpublishing.com Kane Weller kane.weller@outlookpublishing.com Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com Training Development Manager: Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com Sales Managers: Joe Palliser joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com Ryan Gray ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com Project Managers: Callam Waller callam.waller@outlookpublishing.com Donovan Smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com Josh Hyland josh.hyland@outlookpublishing.com Richard Thomas richard.thomas@outlookpublishing.com Stuart Parker stuart.parker@outlookpublishing.com Vivek Valmiki vivek.valmiki@outlookpublishing.com

ADMINISTRATION Finance Director: Suzanne Welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office & Finance Manager: Sophia Curran sophia.curran@outlookpublishing.com WEB DESIGN: Hamit Saka IT: James Le-May

OUTLOOK PUBLISHING Managing Director: Ben Weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com Chairman: Mark Weaver CONTACT Outlook Publishing Ltd Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4AB, United Kingdom Sales: +44 (0) 1603 959 652 Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0)1603 959 655 Email: matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

www.africaoutlookmag.com Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/africaoutlook Follow us on Twitter - @Africa_Outlook

Matthew Staff

Editorial Director, Outlook Publishing

Enjoy the issue!

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In this issue...

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SHOWCASING LEADING COMPANIES Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world

MANUFACTURING

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ASSOCIATED BATTERY MANUFACTURERS Energy Solutions for All Meeting driver demand with dependability

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HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY ZAMBIA CO. LTD Reliable Solutions Technology to support your business

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NEWS

All the latest stories from across Africa

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HEALTHCARE The Last Mile Problem

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TECHNOLOGY Machine Learning: The Future of Business

UNICEF and the Malawian Government work to bridge the healthcare gap

A G R I C U L T U R E

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South Africa displays business intelligence in adopting artificial intelligence

BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO EAST & CENTRAL AFRICA Enabling Choices

Driving sustainability in the tobacco industry

S E C TO R F O C U S

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RETAIL Nigeria’s Next Level Shopping Experience

Searching for greater value and efficiency

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES

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SEYCHELLES A Cocoon of Luxury

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DUNHILL CONSULTING LIMITED Refreshingly Different Professional, cost-effective and hassle-free property services

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AFRICA CONSTRUCTION

F O O D & D R I N K

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SOUTH POINT Living It Up

South Africa’s largest and leading accommodation provider

CAVIBEL SA EQUATORIAL COCACOLA BOTTLING COMPANY CAPE VERDE What We Do, We Do Well The local fostering of a global brand

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ORYX ENERGIES UGANDA Multinational Muscle on a Local Level Bringing new efficiencies to Uganda

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FORUM PROPERTIES AFRICA Creating Success Stories

A forum for continental creation

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MEGCHEM The MegChem Way

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MBT PETROLEUM Conquer the World with Us

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Optimising engineering resources

AFRICA IMPROVED FOODS Healthy Children, Healthy Nation, Healthy Africa Africa to feed Africa

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No sweeter way to fill up

SOUTH NYANZA SUGAR COMPANY (SONYSUGAR) Bringing back the Sweetness

Developing unique and fresh Kenyan sugar cane

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TWIGA CEMENT Integrated Cement Services Consolidating industry leadership in Tanzania

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WORLD MARKETING CONGRESS

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AFRICA RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM (ARF)

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ELECTRICX AND SOLARTEC

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MINING INVESTMENT WEST AFRICA

H E A L T H C A R E

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FISHER CLINICAL SERVICES SA Clinical Research Innovators Providing global clinical solutions for every trial

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PRACTICAL NIGERIAN CONTENT FORUM

Spend three days with local content leaders as they address today’s most pressing challenges

Discussing how businesses can grow, thrive and win by being a positive force in the world

Investors take to Casablanca at Morocco’s officially endorsed renewable energy events

The co-located events attract thousands of utilities authorities, developers, managers and distributors from both local and international markets

The foremost West African forum for the global mining community

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Outlook Creative Services Complementing the production of Africa Outlook, Asia Outlook and Europe & Middle East Outlook magazines, Outlook Publishing’s award-winning in-house team is now utilising these same specialist production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

CONTACT DESIGN: Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 959 656 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com

E D I TO R I A L : Matthew Staff +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

Mandy Farnell +44 (0) 1603 959 661 mandy.farnell@outlookpublishing.com

Phoebe Calver +44 (0) 1603 959 660 phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

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MINING & RESOURCES

Stellar Diamonds Seeks to Fund First Post-Ebola Mine in Sierra Leone French gas utility, Engie has bought a Ugandan home solar systems company in order to expand in subSaharan Africa, providing power to millions of people who have no access to electricity.

Engie commented that it had acquired Fenix International, which sells home solar kits financed through tiny regular payments by mobile phone.

Though Engie has 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy and gas-fired power assets in operation or under construction in Morocco and South Africa, and its Tractebel business sells energy services across Africa, the Group has no retail customers in the region.

Engie Africa Chief Executive, Bruno Bensasson, said Engie will aid

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Fenix in its expansion in approximately 10 sub-Saharan countries, including Zambia, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Ethiopia.

The acquisition is tiny for Engie, which had revenue of €66.6 billion ($79 billion) last year, but Bensassson said the Company expects double-digit growth from the new activity.

Average revenue per user from the solar kits will be similar to that of the African telecoms industry.

The International Energy Agency says that about 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity. People in regions without electricity spend 10-50 US cents on energy per day, whether on candles, kerosene or wood.

Customers pay an $8 deposit to take home a basic solar system and are

given seven days of free use, after which they must make their regular payments to unlock the system with a code sent by SMS. “We match financing to what people can spend, this way they gradually replace kerosene with clean energy,” Lyndsay Handler, Fenix CEO said.

Customers can pay as little as 15 cents a day on a lease-to-own basis and typically take 18 to 36 months to pay it off. Part of Engie’s role in rolling out the system internationally will be to help to raise funding for the solar kits.

Fenix also provides loans for second or third solar panels, for batteries and even for lights, radios and TVs. Late last year Engie competitor EDF announced a joint venture with Tanzania-based Off Grid Electric to sell solar panels and batteries in West Africa, also with payments through mobile phones.

Another competitor, Kenya-based M-KOPA, has connected more than 500,000 homes to solar power and is adding 500 homes every day, the Company said on its website.

GO TO WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AFRICA

AFRICA FOOD & DRINK

Brandy Chases Whisky in South African Spirit Wars In bars across South Africa thrifty consumers are switching from imported, big-brand whisky to various types of locally produced brandy to quench their thirst.

The trend, fuelled by a stagnant economy that is strangling spending, has led to the first increase in brandy sales for more than a decade, and falling sales of pricier whisky.

This is an unexpected reversal in a country that multinationals Pernod Ricard and Diageo targeted as a lucrative growth market for their whisky brands, and where they had enjoyed years of surging sales among an emerging middle class.

Pernod Ricard sells more Jameson in South Africa than anywhere else apart from the United States.

Brandy still lags its rival in the contest to be the number one spirit by some distance - about 32 million litres is sunk a year versus nearly 39 million of whisky - but the gap has almost halved since 2014, when the economic slump set in.

Most brandies retail for around $8 (R110) for a 750 ml bottle, compared with around $13 for Diageo’s Johnnie

Walker Red Label and $20 for Pernod Ricard’s Jameson, the two most popular whiskies.

The international companies, however, are fighting back. They are shifting focus to more affordable whisky brands and dipping into their war chests to step up marketing drives.

Pernod Ricard does not break down results by country, but acknowledged brandy was taking market share in South Africa because of lower pricing.

exploration firm on the continent that the Government says has expressed interest in an untapped block was represented by its Africa Vice President.

There was brief applause when second Vice President James Wani Igga, standing in for President Salva Kiir, said South Sudan “is emerging as a powerful nation with a world-class oil industry”.

A British drilling company executive called the arrival at Juba’s airport “enlightening”. The airport is housed in

tents amid renovations of the original terminal. Passports are stamped by officials without computers in a trailer provided by the United Nations.

Luke Patey, a researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies who studies East Africa’s oil industry, said of the turnout: “I think it’s a combination of the real risk that exists... and that the global oil price has been quite low compared to when South Sudan became independent.”

OIL & GAS

South Sudan Oil Conference Fails to Draw Biggest Energy Firms South Sudan’s President was a no-show for the nation’s first international oil conference, a gathering that also failed to attract prospective investors from the biggest global energy companies.

The turnout shows only smaller companies are risking bets on the oil sector of the world’s youngest country. South Sudan has 3.5 billion barrels of oil and three trillion cubic feet of natural gas in proven reserves, and is seen by companies as one of the last frontiers in energy exploration in sub-Saharan Africa.

Britain’s Tullow Oil, a leading

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RETAIL

Hilton to Add 100 Hotels to its Chain in Africa Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. plans to spend $50 million during the next five years to add 100 hotels to its chain in Africa, joining other chains keen to tap growing business and international travel on the continent.

One property will open in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi by the end of this year and another in the Rwandan capital, Kigali in 2018, the Company said in a statement.

There was 11 percent growth in sub-Saharan African tourism in the past year, according to data from the UN World Tourism Organisation.

“The model of converting existing hotels into Hilton branded properties has proved highly successful in a variety of markets and we expect to see great opportunities to convert hotels to Hilton brands through this initiative,” said Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton’s senior vice president for development in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

ECONOMY

South Africa’s Gigaba Faces Credibility Test in Maiden Budget Speech South Africa’s Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba faced a credibility test ahead of the delivery of his inaugural budget speech to outline spending plans and economic growth forecasts, providing an insight into his fiscal stance.

MINING & RESOURCES

Petra Diamonds’ Revenue Takes Hit from Tanzania Crackdown Petra Diamonds Ltd’s first quarter revenue fell by 17 percent after the Government of Tanzania seized a consignment of diamonds from its Williamson mine.

The owner of the Cullinan mine in South Africa has been hit by a crackdown on mining firms in Tanzania, where the Government is attempting to secure more revenue from the sector.

The Tanzanian Government confiscated a consignment of diamonds from the Williamson mine, which is majority-owned by Petra,

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Gigaba’s medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) will be made amid sluggish economic growth and a politically charged environment following allegations of corruption and influence-peddling in Government, which have unnerved investors.

Rating firms are concerned about political jostling ahead of the African National Congress (ANC) conference in December to elect a new party leader to succeed President Jacob Zuma, who has battled several scandals including corruption allegations.

Whoever the ANC picks is likely to take over from Zuma as South Africa’s leader in 2019 when a national election is held.

Gigaba, who has held other key ministerial posts including home affairs and seems to be favoured by Zuma, was appointed to lead the Treasury in March, replacing the fiscally-prudent Pravin Gordhan.

alleging the Company had underdeclared the value of the stones by about half.

Shares in Petra rose as much as four percent, before paring gains to trade up 2.75 percent. Petra maintained its full-year production guidance of between 4.8 million carats and five million carats.

Petra has also faced strikes in South Africa over pay, rent and housing allowances and demands for medical expenses.

GO TO WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AFRICA

AFRICA ENERGY & UTILITIES

OIL & GAS

Zambia to Start Building Two New Power Plants in 2018 Zambia plans to start building two power generation plants that will add 550 megawatts (MW) of electricity to its national grid once it is completed, Finance Minister, Felix Mutati commented recently.

Mutati said in a budget speech that one of its investors planned to build a 300MW thermal power station in Southern Zambia and another 250MW hydropower project in Northern Zambia is starting next year.

Zambia Energy Regulator Hikes Fuel Price for Retail Consumers Zambia recently announced an increase in the retail price of fuel, citing rising international oil prices and a depreciation of the kwacha.

The pump price of petrol would be increased to 12.97 kwacha per litre from 11.67 kwacha, while that of diesel would Zambia and Zimbabwe have started rise to 11.09 kwacha per litre from 9.87 preliminary financing arrangements for kwacha, the energy regulator added. the joint 2,400MW Batoka hydropower “Failure to adjust the pump price project, Mutati added. upwards would entail that the Government incurs a significant loss,” the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) said, adding that fuel subsidies were against government policy.

In August this year, Zambia reduced fuel prices after the energy regulator cited a lower crude price and stronger local currency.

OIL & GAS

South Africa Expects to Renew Total’s Offshore Exploration Right TRANSPORT

South Africa in Talks with Citibank on State Airline Debt South Africa is in talks with Citibank on how to settle a R1.8 billion ($135 million) loan to the state airline after the lender said it would not roll over the debt again, Treasury Director General Dondo Mogajane

said recently.

“We owe Citibank about R1.8 billion. We had an understanding with them to roll (the debt) to the end of September. Citi did indicate to us that they will not be in a position to roll further and we engaged them. It’s an ongoing consultation,” Mogajane told journalists.

South African Airways was in July provided with state funds to help it repay loans of about R2.3 billion to Standard Chartered.

South Africa is expected to renew Total’s offshore exploration rights next year, the Chief Executive of the state petroleum agency said recently.

“It is expected to be granted in the second quarter of 2018,” Lindiwe Mekwe, acting CEO of the Petroleum Agency of SA commented.

France’s Total stopped drilling off South Africa’s southern coast in 2014 after experiencing mechanical problems with its rig in rough sea conditions.

It operates Block 11B/12B, where it holds a 50 percent stake with CNR International; a subsidiary of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.

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TELL US YOUR STORY

AND WE’LL TELL THE WORLD AFRICA OUTLOOK is a digital and print product aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers across a wide range of industries on the continent.

With content compiled by our experienced editorial team, complemented by an in-house design and production team ensuring delivery to the highest standards, we look to promote the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories from the length and breadth of Africa.

We reach an audience of 185,000 people across the continent, bridging the full range of industrial sectors: mining; oil & gas; logistics; resources; manufacturing; construction; engineering; technology; food & drink; retail; finance; and healthcare.

In joining the leading industry heavyweights already enjoying the exposure we can provide, you can benefit from FREE coverage across both digital and print platforms, a FREE marketing brochure, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and to grow your business.

To get involved, please contact Outlook Publishing’s Managing Director, Ben Weaver, who can provide further details on how to feature your company, for free, in one of our upcoming editions.

W W W. A F R I C A O U T LO O K M A G . C O M Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 650 Email: ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com

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The Last Mile

PROBLEM Medical drones are the next big thing in East Africa, flying emergency medical care out to some of the most remote corners of the region with thanks to a humanitarian drone testing launch Writer: Phoebe Calver

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he last mile problem has been a problem plaguing East Africa, however, the region is finally putting in place strategies to change this. It has always been extremely difficult to deliver often life-saving health products from the city to rural locations, predominantly as a result of poor infrastructure and transport options.

Issues such as this are global, but of course it is particularly serious in the developing world and even more of an issue during emergencies or catastrophes caused by nature.

East Africa in particular is leading the way in terms of creating an innovative solution to the problem, working on platforms that have rapidly evolving technology to utilise medical drone

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services with the potential to save many lives.

One place in particular that has taken on this technology is Malawi, working together with UNICEF over the past few months to make real inroads into the development of drones in East Africa.

The Malawian Government and UNICEF have worked hand-inhand on launching an air corridor to test the humanitarian usage of unmanned aerial vehicles (AUVs), also known as drones. UNICEF’s corridor will be the first in Africa and indeed, the first in the world to focus on humanitarian and development usage.

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The air corridor is based on Kasungu Aerodrome in central Malawi. The centre spans a 40 kilometre radius designed specifically to provide a controlled platform for the private sector, universities and other partners to explore how UAVs can be used to deliver services that will benefit communities.

“Malawi has over the years proved to be a leader in innovation and it is this openness to innovation that has led to the establishment of Africa’s first drones testing corridor here in Malawi,” said Malawi’s Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jappie Mhango.

As the facilities are currently in a testing phase, the humanitarian corridor will undergo various areas of

stringent assessments. These include the generation and analysing of aerial images for development during humanitarian crises and for monitoring floods and earthquakes.

Connectivity and transport also play a big part in this stage of testing, exploring the possibility for UAVs to extend Wi-Fi and cellphone signals across difficult terrain which will be incredibly important in emergencies.

The UAV testing corridor will be running for at least one year, especially when taking into consideration the popularity of the project. When it was announced in December, 2016, 12 companies, universities and NGOs from all over the world applied to use the corridor.

‘The air corridor is based on Kasungu Aerodrome in central Malawi. The centre spans a 40 kilometre radius designed specifically to provide a controlled platform for the private sector’

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This included drone manufacturers, operators and telecom companies such as GLOBHE in Sweden in collaboration with HemoCue and UCANDRONE in Greece, as well as Precision located in Malawi; all of which were present at the launch to demonstrate connectivity, transportation and imagery uses respectively.

Mhango continues: “The success of these trials will depend on working in new ways with the private sector, government and local entrepreneurs and engineers who can ensure that technologies deliver appropriate solutions for the people who need them the most.”

UAV technology is still in the early

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stages of development; UNICEF is working globally with a number of governments and private sector partners to explore how UAVs can be used in low-income countries.

All projects adhere to a strict set of innovation principles, with a focus on open source and user-centred design.

The launch of the UAV testing corridor follows a pilot project in Malawi in March, 2016 on the feasibility of using drones for the transportation of dried blood samples for early infant diagnosis of HIV. This study showed that UAVs are a viable addition to existing transport systems, including those used to help with the diagnosis of HIV.

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“The success of these trials will depend on working in new ways with the private sector, government and local entrepreneurs and engineers who can ensure that technologies deliver appropriate solutions for the people who need them the most.”

“Malawi has over the years proved to be a leader in innovation and it is this openness to innovation that has led to the establishment of Africa’s first drones testing corridor here in Malawi.”

The UAV testing corridor will be running for at least one year, especially when taking into consideration the popularity of the project.

UNICEF has also deployed drones in the past to support the Government of Malawi’s response to floods. UAV flights went out in Salima, Lilongwe and Karonga between February and April, 2017 to provide aerial footage to help assess the needs of affected families. The aim of the flights was to conduct faster, more efficient and cost-effective assessments of the situation of communities and families.

UNICEF is also exploring the potential for drones to be used to support

immediate search and rescue efforts.

“Malawi has limited road access to rural areas even at the best of times, and after a flash flood, earth roads can turn to rivers, completely cutting off affected communities,” said UNICEF Malawi Representative Johannes Wedenig. “With UAVs we can easily fly over the affected area and see clearly what the impact has been on the ground. This is a cheaper and better resolution than satellite images.”

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MACHINE LEARNING:

The Future of Business

With 60 percent of businesses across the globe expected to use A.I. by 2018, South African companies are championing how machine learning can manage business operations Writer: Matthew Staff

rtificial intelligence, or A.I., is already used by 39 percent of businesses around the globe in some form, according to Sage’s latest analysis. Be it to scan and organise vast amounts of data quickly to free up an employee for other tasks, or to help a customer answer common questions on a website, A.I. uses programmed requirements and machine learning to reduce the time taken to complete mundane tasks, improving business efficiency and operating costs.

Yet, despite CNBC reporting that smart technology boosts productivity, many companies are still to factor A.I. into their business model. Fortunately, South African companies are leading the way by adopting machine learning programmes to increase efficiency in numerous areas of their businesses.

Candidate matching

With the internet opening new opportunities for employers to hire highly skilled workers from all over the

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world, as well as the ability to post job postings to websites and social media, businesses are receiving more rĂŠsumĂŠs and CVs than ever before. Naturally, this can make hiring new personnel a tedious affair as someone needs to read each application word for word in their effort to find the perfect candidate.

Smart software can reduce this task in minutes. Whether it is scanning thousands of profiles on social media sites, or looking for keywords and phrases in the hundreds of applications on the company server, A.I. can narrow down a list of key candidates in minutes.

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Not only does this allow interviews to take place faster, but it frees up employers to focus on more important tasks.

Pattern recognition

One of the primary reasons that so many companies are already using A.I. is because they have a business page on Facebook. “Insights” is the free learning software which runs in the background, collecting data on the users that interact with a company’s social media page. Every time a potential customer watches a video or clicks a link on the page, Facebook records it. Over time, it uses the data to make predictions about the best times of day to engage with customers, makes recommendations as to which demographics the business should target, and can even draft adverts based on the media page managers have uploaded to attract more customers.

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organise enormous amounts of data to identify patterns in all company departments, from sales and marketing, to operations or research & development.

This software will not only use predefined parameters to present complex data into easy-to-understand graphs and charts, but is increasingly able to offer suggestions for appropriate responses to improve efficiencies and cost-savings. This might include advising when to start specific operations to ensure a project is completed by a deadline, or where cuts can be made to improve profit margins.

Business borecasts and direction

Identifying patterns and advising on business decisions isn’t limited to intelligent candidate matching software or social media. Companies like Isazi Consulting are developing consultancy software that can

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F U T U R E

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‘Absa is just one of the numerous organisations to now use a chatbot on its website as the first-line of customer support’

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Chatbots are messaging software which utilise machine learning to converse directly with customers.

Absa is just one of the numerous organisations to now use a chatbot on its website as the first-line of customer support. The A.I. analyses customers’ words and style to interpret their questions. It then

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matches those keywords to a database of information, forming a personalised reply which most users agree reads as though a person had written it.

Maintenance and safety

While smart software always needs data to analyse, this data can come from physical hardware, provided apparatus is installed to convert

the data into an electronic format.

With sensors to record the integrity of mechanical parts or the obstruction or presence of foreign materials, A.I. can take control of heavy machinery to prevent accidents, monitor equipment, organise maintenance checks, and even order replacement parts when they are needed; keeping business operations running at maximum capacity.

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NIGERIA’S

NEXT LEVEL Shopping Experience Shopping in Nigeria is undergoing extensive changes, with a highly organised experience and enhanced customer service to tackle rising prices Writer: Phoebe Calver

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espite Nigeria’s retail sector being dominated by independent formats like open markets and kiosks in terms of absolute store numbers; the Nielsen Shopper & Retail World Conference held in Lagos, Nigeria, has revealed that Modern Trade formats like supermarkets and hypermarkets are stepping up to fulfil the needs of consumers.

Nielsen Holdings plc is a global performance management company, providing a comprehensive understanding of what consumers both watch and buy.

Nielsen East-West Africa & Maghreb Managing Director, Abhik Gupta - a speaker at the event - tells us about

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Abhik Gupta, Nielsen East-West Africa & Maghreb MD

the future scope for retailers seeking to grow their modern trade presence within Nigeria’s retail market.

Africa Outlook (AfO): Firstly, could you briefly introduce us to Nielsen East-West Africa & Maghreb and its operations?

Abhik Gupta (AG): By integrating information from its Watch and Buy segments and other data sources,

Nielsen provides its clients with top-class analytics that help improve performance. Nielsen - an S&P 500 company - has operations in more than 100 countries, covering more than 90 percent of the world’s population.

Nielsen has a strong presence in East-West Africa and Maghreb, with local offices in 10 countries which helps it provide the best possible on the ground/grassroots information and understanding of the local context.

This is vital given the complex makeup of Africa’s diverse consumer markets.

A key area that Nielsen is involved in across East-West Africa and Maghreb is buy measurement, which provides the latest retail and consumer insights to manufacturers and retailers in the region.

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AfO: Over the past few years, what major changes would you say have been put in place in the retail industry to maximise customer enjoyment?

AG: The ability of the retail trade to adapt to consumer preferences and economic realities has been the subject of a lot of discussion, and the retail universe has expanded its available options in the form of different products, brands and variety of flavours.

The number of different pack sizes being offered to consumers has grown, to cater to different needs and budgets. Overall there is greater effort being put in by retailers and manufacturers to reach the consumer and provide a better shopping experience.

AfO: Leading on from that, how do you think that will change in the next three to five years?

AG: As competitiveness in the market increases, the consumer already has many more options available to them and this will only increase. In the African context where consumers interact with multiple formats on a regular basis.

For example in supermarkets, open markets, neighbourhood groceries,

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each of these will need to provide a strong reason as to ‘why’ the consumer should visit their stores.

Generally this involves access and availability, which means being where the consumer shops, along with providing a ‘shopping experience’ to consumers will be the key to success.

In addition, from a product viewpoint consumers are increasingly price and value conscious, and display a growing interest in promotions.

However, the concept of ‘value’ to the consumer is imperative to succeed in Africa. One can expect more innovations catering to ‘unique local needs’ and stronger communication to distinguish products as the markets evolve.

AfO: How much of an impact has the tough economic climate had on the retail industry and customers’ spending habits?

AG: Customers have tightened their purse strings, are cutting down on discretionary spending, and are spending more on essentials. They are also visiting different stores to get the best value for money. While they react differently to promotions, as per the local economic context, associations with a brand and its experience are the key to sustainability.

‘Customers have tightened their purse strings, are cutting down on discretionary spending, and are spending more on essentials. They are also visiting different stores to get the best value for money’

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AFRICA have adapted what they’re putting into their baskets to accommodate their wallets, and have also adjusted where, and how often, they shop.

Channel importance has shifted to open markets and smaller format stores, where there is greater flexibility in the quantity and packaging that can be obtained.

With rising prices, more money is required to cover essential living items and Nigerian consumers have diverted more of their spend to staples and non-packaged food products.

Packaged goods such as edible products account for the majority of spends. There is also a trend towards more frequent shopping, due to fluctuating daily earnings, leading to immediate, need-based shopping.

Nielsen’s Consumer Confidence Index also indicates that while consumers feel positive about their own finances, they are still holding back on spending.

One hopes that with economic stability leading to price stability - confidence levels will improve, leading to overall growth in consumption.

‘With rising prices, more money is required to cover essential living items and Nigerian consumers have diverted more of their spend to staples and non-packaged food products’

AfO: Lastly, what would you say the current outlook is for the Nigerian retail market looking to the future?

AG: Earlier this year we released a report: ‘Navigating the New Normal in Nigeria’ which looked at how the current economic situation is affecting consumer spending potential and what businesses are doing to adapt to the changing environment.

We saw that Nigerian shoppers

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S E Y C H E L L E S

Seychelles With the advent of the Blue Economy and the ongoing guidance of the Seychelles Tourism Board, the country looks set to thrive as a vibrant regional and international business hub Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joe Palliser omprising 115 islands and many more reasons to visit, the Republic of Seychelles is merging brains with beauty as it looks to instil heightened levels of economic astuteness into its naturally stunning surroundings.

The archipelago houses less than 100,000 native residents and as such is the smallest of all sovereign African nations. However, across both the outer and inner footprints of the country - and especially within its capital, Victoria - the nation continues to punch above its weight and thrive as much more than a paradise destination.

Inevitably, tourism has and will continue to play a pivotal role in the growth of the country, leveraging its hot and humid environment, and

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FACTS & FIGURES

Languages:

English, French, Seychellois

Area: Population (2016): GDP (2015): Currency: Time zone: Dialling code: Internet TLD:

459 square kilometres

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94,000+ $2.76 billion Seychellois rupee UTC+4 +248 .sc

its picturesque aesthetics, to facilitate a tourism infrastructure that now also lends itself to myriad industries and sub-sectors for the business world to explore too.

“Seychelles has evolved greatly in recent years and this has been largely due to a greater volume of business created by enhanced visibility of the brand and also greater connectivity by a growing number of airlines servicing the archipelago,” affirms the Seychelles Tourism Board. “This combination of factors favourable to growth has been further nurtured by years of economic, social and political harmony with which the country has been blessed.”

Ultimately, what has now been created is a masqueraded hub of economic acumen nestled among the palm trees and white sands that grace the numerous small islands.

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The Business End THE BLEND OF English and French speaking locals further aids the country’s international scope when it comes to business development; an evolution that took shape in earnest following its independence from the UK back in 1976. Subsequently diversifying its global outreach from a solely agricultural makeup to become a truly multi-market economy, GDP output has risen exponentially almost every year since then, and the Seychelles now boasts the highest nominal per-capita GDP on the continent.

Since the global economic crisis in 2008, the country’s Government has

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gone to great lengths to preserve its status via a more concerted privatisation of enterprises; which in turn has leant itself to heightened interest from FDIs and the international business scene.

Similarly, the Seychelles has taken the opportunity to look ahead at this diversification trend and veer ever so slightly away from its natural tourism tendencies.

The Seychelles Tourism Board adds: “The Seychelles has taken the decision to diversify both in terms of its tourism markets and also in terms of its economic base, seeking ways

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to diminish risk of depending entirely on tourism by looking to explore the many exciting aspects of its Blue Economy and to fortify its offshore financial services sector which has already grown to represent roughly eight percent of GDP. “As such, The State Bank of Mauritius and Al Salaam Bank Seychelles with headquarters in Bahrain are both opening branches in Victoria. A new residential complex, Pangea Beach, is also being opened on the outskirts of Victoria which will offer state-of-the-art facilities within a cocoon of luxury.”

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Out & About “A COCOON OF luxury” sums up the country most aptly, and while diversification is proving clever and astute, it doesn’t take away from the country’s core asset: its paradise setting and consequent appeal as a tourism hub.

Initiating back in 1971 upon the opening of Seychelles International Airport, tourism quickly became a staple fiscal contributor; and while this is still the case, it is actually the legacy it has left behind which is proving most significant in the present day.

Its hospitality options, transport network, conference infrastructure, and leisure functions now befit a nation primed and ready for extensive business facilitation, making it a destination for all seasons and all reasons.

In recent years, the Government has further encouraged foreign investment via numerous upgrades to its hotels and public services.

The Tourism Board continues: “In the tourism sector, Four Seasons is opening a hotel on Desroches Island in the Amirantes, 140 miles from Mahé; while destination management companies are gearing up with brand new boats and semi-submersibles to add value to tourist entertainment.”

Once out and about, the dynamic nature of the country shines through in every restaurant, bar, market and landmark; allowing the Seychelles’ natural and historical preferences to speak for themselves, rather than westernising them too sincerely.

Seafood inevitably forms a large

part of the country’s cuisine and is championed by the majority of each island’s top restaurants; accompanied by fresh, exotic fruits and flowers.

While sitting down to your meal, you will often be graced with the diverse yet local tones of Seychellois music, and it would then be rude not to have a beer (or three). The local Seybrew beer in particular is a great example of Africa-meets-Europe and can then be washed down by an even more traditional rum as you wind down the day at one of the many beach bars.

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S E Y C H E L L E S

Seychelles Tourism Board THE SEYCHELLES TOURISM Board came into being in 2006 as the successor to the Seychelles Tourism Marketing Authority that was formed in 2000, and oversees most aspects of Seychelles’ tourism industry. The Marketing Fund is responsible for coordinating the marketing of the destination while the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) trains staff for Seychelles’ hospitality industry.

“STB is also charged with implementing national tourism policy, conceiving all marketing initiatives and collateral materials for research and product development; providing local information and customer services as well as coordination with tourism offices and representative agencies abroad,” the Board elaborates. “Its original mission was ‘a drive to further raise visitor numbers, continuing to develop and maintain an authentic, dynamic and sustainable product at home, based on professionalism and value for money, as the foundation for parallel, innovative and cost-effective marketing campaigns throughout core and emerging markets’.”

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Africa Outlook (AfO): Since inception, how has Seychelles Tourism Board developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Seychelles Tourism Board (STB): “The Board is always evolving to keep abreast of developments and trends in the highly volatile sphere of tourism which has changed greatly over past years. The Board has invested heavily in digital marketing and spends much energy on getting its messages across via social media campaigns, its official tourism websites and the like.

Today, apart from its traditional European markets, the Seychelles Tourism Board speaks to new markets in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, the Far East

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and the CIS block of countries; and its messages are about the affordability of a Seychelles vacation, the harmony that reigns in the country in contrast to many others, and the pristine environment.

AfO: How would you evaluate the tourism sector in the Seychelles now compared to its condition when the Seychelles Tourism Board began?

STB: Today, the tourism scene has moved on from what it was when the Tourism Board started. Today, by virtue of developments in politics, communication, internet and social media, tourism businesses and establishments are more independent in terms of the way they conduct their businesses and disseminate their messages. STB is increasingly a facilitator working in close collaboration with the various tourism players and stakeholders to achieve common aims.

Today, there is far greater connectivity than there was thanks to the many airlines now servicing Seychelles and a steadily growing

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cruise ship industry. At the same time, major international hotel brands have come on line with their own marketing facilities and suite of amenities which have all helped to raise the bar and strengthen the brand.

AfO: What is in store for the Seychelles over the course of 2017 and beyond to continue the good work already commenced and to enhance its reputation as a tourism and business travel hub further in the future?

STB: Events and expos which have traditionally been organised by the Tourism Board are now being handled exclusively by a new agency (CINEA) for that express purpose. They will be organising the full spectrum of Seychelles events, including La Serenade, the successor to the Carnaval International de Victoria; La Fet La Digue; Seychelles Ocean Festival; and others.

In terms of new constructions in and around Victoria, the Seychelles International Airport is undergoing a major rebranding and reconstruction that has already brought a new domestic terminal online in August, 2017 and during the rest of the year and next year will see the

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refurbishment of the international terminal, the construction of a new commercial area, and other improvements.

The complex at the Seychelles Tourism Academy, charged with providing education for future generations of Seychellois tourist professionals and already featuring kitchens, restaurants, language labs and other amenities to help students acquire the skills they need to enter the industry, will soon expand to operate a Hotel D’Application; teaching students theory while at the same time engaging in the practical skills necessary to provide on-the-job training and echoing the academy’s motto: ‘Learning through experience’.

AfO: Looking forward, what progress and development do you expect to see in the future, both in regards to the Seychelles Tourism Board as an entity, and in regards to the business travel industry in the Seychelles as a whole?

STB: I would look forward to Seychelles further strengthening its brand and consolidating its position as a gateway to Africa by virtue of further strengthened connectivity and amenities on the ground and in continuing to attract regional and international businesses to our shores.

I hope that the advent of the Blue Economy, in particular, and the many economic opportunities it offers and the tools it places at our disposal such as Marine Spatial Planning and Fiscal Debt Conversion Systems - will continue to make Seychelles a vibrant regional and international business hub.

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S E Y C H E L L E S

Outlook Recommends “I look forward to Seychelles further strengthening its brand and consolidating its position as a gateway to Africa...” - Seychelles Tourism Board

NATURE

BEACHES

HOSPITALITY Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa

Anse Lazio Anse Source d’Argent Anse Volbert Vallée de Mai

Raffles Seychelles

Anse Cocos

Morne Seychellois National Park Veuve Reserve Constance Ephelia

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ISLANDS

CAR HIRE

Alphonse Island

Bliss Car Hire

Curieuse Island

Capricorn Car Hire

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With Bliss Car Hire You’re in Good Hands Bliss Car Hire on Praslin offers you a diverse selection of rental cars to explore the island and get the most of your holiday. Our fleet ranges from: Kia Picanto, Kia Soul, Daihatsu Terios Jeep, and Mini Moke.

The cars can be delivered anywhere on Praslin and as an additional service we offer a complimentary GPS for closed cars. Our GPS has got all the favourite attractions and points already pre-programmed.

Our emphasis on customer service is critical to the success of our business. Therefore you can only expect the best service from us.

FOOD & DRINK Chez Jules

Tel: +248 2509820 / 2618568 Bliss Car Hire Amitie Praslin Seychelles www.blisscarhire-seychelles.com info@blisscarhire-seychelles.com

Del Place Bar & Restaurant Takamaka Rum Distillery RETAIL Sir Selwyn SelwynClarke Market Anse Royal Public Market ART & CULTURE Rita’s Art Studio & Gallery National Library and Art Gallery WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM

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Transport Links

You’re in good hands with Bliss Car Hire

THE AFOREMENTIONED RENOVATIONS occurring throughout the Seychelles and in Victoria especially are epitomised by the International Airport, which serves as a gateway to the country.

Once again strengthening its network on both a domestic and international scale, Seychelles is very much a country open for business, and open to ideas from overseas.

And when you do find yourself heading for the islands, simplicity reigns supreme. While you must provide evidence of a return ticket

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or the finances to return home, a visa is surprisingly not required. It is also expected that you should be prepared and accounted for from an accommodation perspective before arriving.

Once you arrive at the country’s only international hub in Victoria, the country is equally well set-up from an internal point of view. Air Seychelles facilitates ease of transfer across the other main hubs, Mahe and Praslin, and on the rare occasions that you may need to go even more remote, then it’s time to take to the high seas.

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Seychellesbookings is on hand to cover all ferry services between the numerous islands, and you can arrange these online prior to your trip.

Once again the country’s operators opt for simplicity in migrating visitors from place to place, and you can also contribute your own element of straightforwardness to proceedings by hiring a car during your stay.

Bliss Car Hire and Capricorn Car Hire are two such examples of rental companies able to facilitate your journeys around Victoria, Mahe or Praslin especially.

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Landmark Attractions Bird Island

“Bird Island is one of the last authentic pieces of paradise remaining on Earth. This small coral island is located at the far north-east edge of the Seychelles, and has been described by some as the most beautiful island on Earth... about 30 minutes away from Mahé by plane, [it] is the Seychelles’ most northern island.

Surrounded by crystal-clear water and endless beaches, this small coral island can’t be beaten when it comes to natural, native flair. While the Seychelles’ inner islands are all granitic, Bird Island belongs to the outer coral islands, making it a unique prospect compared to the larger islands at the heart of the Seychelles.” - SeyVillas

Beau Vallon

“Simple. It’s a gorgeous, wide bay with calm, gentle waters that is perfect for children. The sunsets here are out of this world, and the glassy-smooth water reflects the light beautifully... It’s also remarkably affordable for the Seychelles, with a number of beachfront hotels that won’t break the bank, and enough restaurants to keep you interested if you tire of hotel buffets...”

- SoSeychelles

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

IMAGE: JOE LAURENCE, SEYCHELLES NEWS AGENCY

“This imposing Cathedral is the Mother Church of the Catholic Diocese in Seychelles. Constructed on the site where Father Leon of Avanchers built the first vault in March, 1851 that was devoted to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception, the Cathedral is one of the first churches in Seychelles.”

- The Seychelles Islands

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AFRICA is a leading business-to-business publication promoting and showcasing the leading companies across an array of sectors on the continent.

Appearing in both digital and print, the publication is aimed at boardroom members and hands-on decision makers, reaching more than 185,000 business executives.

Each month we feature leading companies and business executives by profiling their operations and success stories. Covering areas of best practice, capital investments, the supply chain, innovation and continuous improvement, we aim to promote all that is good about the industry and the region, with your company taking centre stage throughout it all.

Producing business profiles across the full range of sectors and every corner of the continent, Africa Outlook is the platform to promote your business success.

Read on for this month’s profiles.

Phoebe Calver, Deputy Editor phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

If you want to enjoy the exposure and coverage we can offer, please feel free to contact us to discuss the opportunity further.

Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world.

Matthew Staff, Editorial Director Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

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LUTIONS FOR ALL

Associated Battery Manufacturers is making a concerted effort to improve relationships between battery manufacturers and locals in Kenya, keeping on-top of international trends and industry developments Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

ocus and strategy are two of the defining factors behind Associated Battery Manufacturers’ (ABM) success, following a clear roadmap that has set it apart from competitors in the market since the Company’s inception in 1963.

ABM was formed as a part of the Chloride Group, a UK-based company that already had vast representation in the battery manufacture market all over the world. More than 50 years later the Company still has ties within the UK, working with Oxford Export Services Ltd; a supplier of raw materials, chemicals and components to the automotive battery industry who has been a proud supply partner of ABM for more than 20 years.

In the early 1990s the Company became 100 percent Kenyan-owned, made up of a number of shareholders all working within Kenyan investment holding companies.

“From our Company’s original remit, we initially evolved though the introduction of a solar panel factory,” explains Guy Jack, Managing Director of Associated Battery Manufacturers.

“Our core business still remains the production of car batteries, however around 20 years ago we became heavily involved in renewable energy and created our Chloride solar Genting HK, Zouk portfolio.

Clark Quay, Singapore “Our work in this area has led us to become the regional leader in renewable energy, with our solar panel factory named Solinc.”

Alongside ABM’s work in renewable energy, the Company has also created a plastic injection moulding subsidiary named Precision Plastics. It is working hard to portray the positive aspects of working in lead manufacturing, creating its own recycling plant called REAL (Recycling East Africa Limited) and ensuring the products it uses at every stage are completely recyclable.

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“We recognise the importance of building a strong relationship within our local community, particularly to help remove the stigma that surrounds our business,” affirms Jack. “We have an ongoing programme called the Lighting Hearts Initiative which uses solar power to provide electricity to the schools and homes without it currently. Projects like this are incredibly important to us at ABM and we will continue to invest a lot of time in them.”

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End-to-end service

Over the years the Company has perfected an end-to-end service, utilising its own scrap collection network to gather scrap batteries throughout the market which are taken to its recycling plant.

There the lead is recycled as well as the plastic from the battery boxes and cases.

The recycled plastic is then made into buckets and crates that can be sold locally, while the lead comes back to ABM to be converted into batteries and placed back in the market.

“ABM and Oxford have been in business for many years.

Key to Oxford Export’s success has been the ability to establish strong relationships with their business clients which extend well beyond traditional partnerships. They constantly strive to understand our needs and exceed them in service delivery, product quality and availability.”

- Guy Jack, MD, ABM

OXFORD EXPORT SERVICES LTD

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ounded in 1989, Oxford Export Services Ltd is the leading UK supplier of raw materials, chemicals and components to the automotive battery industry.

We have represented Daramic, Goonvean Fibres, TBS Engineering and Thai United Plastics for many years.

Longstanding relationships with all our manufacturers in Europe, Asia, USA and South America guarantee the very highest standards of service and supply.

Oxford customers always benefit from a distinct competitive advantage.

We are proud to be a supply partner of Associated Battery Manufacturers for more than 20 years.

T +44 (0)1491 615361 E sales@oxfordexport.com

www.oxfordexport.com

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kümsan was established to produce automotive and industrial battery products and accumulator boxes; and covers both Turkey and global markets.

The Company is one of the most important players in the sector with high brand awareness that provides services with high capacity and hundreds of environmentally friendly product types; as well as a research & development team meeting market needs with efficiency.

The Company continues to invest in order to meet the needs of industry plastic boxes and covers, especially with the widespread use of smartphones in the fields of telecommunications, renewable energy systems and electric industrial transport vehicles.

Perfecting an end-to-end service

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T +90 212 622 44 44 E info@akumsan.com

www.akumsan.com

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Oxford Export Services Ltd

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Oxford Export Services are a leading UK exporter of battery equipment, spare parts and raw materials to industrial manufacturers worldwide.

Address: Couching House, 41 Couching Street, Watlington, Oxon, OX49 5PX. UK Tel: +44 (0)1491 615361 E-mail: sales@oxfordexport.com

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A S S O C I A T E D

B A T T E R Y

M A N U F A C T U R E R S

POLYWORLD

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olyworld has two core businesses: the manufacture of battery boxes and lids and contract manufacturing of plastic products for the automotive, consumer electronics and industrial parts industries.

The Company’s Maintenance Free (MF) boxes and lids are proven for performance in highly-demanding applications. The Company’s unique venting system prevents leakage and retains electrolyte within the battery and the Company’s Dry Charged series are durable, future-oriented and competitive.

The Company’s designs, flexibility and low MOQ requirements enable its customers to launch multiple product variants simultaneously.

Continuous Kaizen, consistent quality and competitive prices are the Company’s key growth catalysts.

T +603-8724 2933 E info@polyworld.com.my

www.polyworld.com.my “The success of our recycling plant is all a result of our continuous improvement strategies, finding ways to better our Company while also helping the community that we operate in,” adds Jack. “Around 10 years ago we came across the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, which we quickly introduced into our operations.

“It is a philosophy of continuous improvement driven from the bottom up and as a management team we will naturally do the necessary, but we try to keep the improvements driven by our operating teams that work directly with the products.”

With a long-term focus on its developments, ABM is never looking for a revolutionary flash as it very rarely happens in this business.

However, methodical step-by-step improvements ultimately make for better products, cost saving measures and improved efficiency within all aspects of operations.

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KAE LII

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ae Lii was established in 1991 in Taiwan as a specialised manufacturer of professional batteries. The Company’s machineries are built with user-friendly operating interfaces and are durable, stable, and easy to operate. All machines are customised to work with designated PLC or inspection instruments or can be installed with optional servo motors to achieve capacity versatility depending on customers’ production needs and budgets.

The Company delivers standard ABS battery, motorcycle battery and automotive battery casings specifications for its customers to choose from and all products are compliant with both Japanese JIS and European DIN standards.

Continuous improvement from the bottom up

T +886 4 227 53611 F +886 4 227 56557 E kaelii@kaelii.com.tw

www.kaelii.com.tw

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T H E M A S T E R M A K E R O F P P B AT T E R Y C A S I N G & C O M P O N E N T S

Polyworld Malaysia, established in 1989, is the professional manufacturer of battery boxes and lids for Automotive, Solar and Marine batteries. The Company produces JIS, DIN and BCI containers in Conventional and Maintenance Free (MF). Having extensive experience in plastic and battery manufacturing, its team is focused on delivering quality products with very competitive prices and minimum lead time. The Company works closely with battery machine manufacturers to ensure a smooth start for new turnkey battery factories. Polyworld is your BEST choice in battery boxes and lids.

No. 15 & 17, Jalan P6/2, Seksyen 6, Bandar Teknologi Kajang, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, MALAYSIA. Tel: 603-8724 2933 Fax: 603-8724 0933

Email: info@polyworld.com.my Web: www.polyworld.com.my Latitude: 2°57‘34.26“N Longitude: 101°48‘31.26“E

We specialise in battery assembly lines, injection battery casting and injection mold design & manufacture

Kae Lii Machine Mfg. Co., Ltd. was established in 1991, and the Company is recognised as a leading and experienced manufacturer of lead acid battery assembly machines, equipment, injection molds, injection battery casing and tooling in Taiwan.

The Company enjoys an excellent reputation since formation in this field and has served over 100 customers in over 20 different countries.

T: +886 4 227 53611 F: +886 4 227 56557 E: kaelii@kaelii.com.tw KAE LII MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD. No.2, Lane 24, Her Lih Street, Tai Ping Dist, Taichung City, 411, TAIWAN

www.kaelii.com.tw

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KEL CHEMICALS LTD

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EL Chemicals is East and Central Africa’s leading manufacturer of phosphate fertilizers and sulphuric acid-based industrial chemicals. Since our Company’s inception in 1977, we have maintained high production standards that exceed the stringent quality criteria set by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), World Health Organisation (WHO) and other countryspecific standardisation bodies.

Our range of world-class products include: • Aluminium Sulphate • Sulphuric Acid – Technical Grade • Sulphuric Acid – Battery grade • Kelphos Planting Fertilizer

Continuous improvement from the bottom up

“In order to maximise the productivity of the Kaizen philosophy, we have to hone in on selecting the right people for the job,” continues Jack. “Staff development is incredibly important and one of the main reasons that we have been able to achieve the success we have done up to this point.”

Employee empowerment

One factor in the Company that has never changed is its attitude when it comes to its staff, generally hiring for attitude and going on to train for skill.

“We work on the principle that with the right attitude you can train anyone to achieve anything,” Jack describes.

“It is important to us to ensure that the people we choose have the right entry level skills, however over the years we have found that we can bend a little on that to ensure that we find the right people to fit into the team.”

Alongside the extensive industry training delivered initially and throughout each employee’s time with

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T +254-20-2365199 E info@kelchemicals.com

www.kelchemicals.com

SOVEMA GROUP

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s a long-experienced supplier of equipment for manufacturing both lead-acid and Li-ion batteries all over the world, Sovema Group is proud to be a partner of Associated Battery Manufacturers in the production of their high-quality batteries.

Over the past 10 years, the Company has been cooperating with ABM by putting at their disposal equipment, technical skills, and knowhow, and contributing to their sustained growth and success.

The Company is continuously working to confirm itself as a solid reference and support for the technological development of ABM’s and all its African customers’ products in the years to come.

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Leading Manufacturer of Chemical and Fertilizer Products ...Quality Products for a Better Tomorrow!

Sulfuric Acid Technical Grade Sulfuric acid H2SO4 is a clear, colorless, oily, odorless liquid.

It is a strong dibasic acid; fully miscible in water.

Sulfuric acid dissolves in water with liberation of heat.

Packaging: 47Kgs jerry cans and bulk in tunkers.

Aluminum Sulphate (Aluminum) Alternatively spelled either aluminum or sulphate, is a chemical compound with the formula Al2(SO4)3. It is soluble in water and is mainly used as a flocculating agent in the purification of drinking water and waste water treatment plants, and also in paper manufacturing.

Packaging: 50 kg.

KELPHOS Non Acidic Neutral Planting Fertiliser KELPHOS FERTILISER is a Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertiliser.

It is non acidic planting fertiliser used in all crops like maize, wheat, beans, tea, cotton, oil seed, pineapples sugarcane, coffee etc. It is a multi nutrient carrier fertiliser.

Packaging: 50Kgs bags.

Proudly associated with (ABM) Associated Battery Manufacturers Thika Garissa Road, Plot No 4953/1205, PO Box 1444-01000, Thika, Kenya T: +254-20-2365199, +254-20-771 759 466 | E: info@kelchemicals.com | www.kelchemicals.com

NO MATTER YOUR BATTERY TECHNOLOGY,

WE’LL BUILD IT AND TEST IT FOR YOU.

NO MATTER YOUR BATTERY TECHNOLOGY, WE’LL BUILD IT AND TEST IT FOR YOU. ENERGY STORAGE TAKES ON MANY FORMS. THE SOVEMA GROUP FITS THEM ALL.

ENERGY STORAGE TAKES ON MANY FORMS. THE SOVEMA GROUP FITS THEM ALL.

ENGINEERING & EQUIPMENT FOR BATTERY MANUFACTURING

www.sovemagroup.com

E QUI P M E N T F OR L E A D- A C I D BAT T E R I E S

E QUI P M E N T F OR L I T H I UM BAT T E R I E S

E QUI P M E N T F OR BAT T E R Y F OR M AT I ON

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the Company, there is also a lot of work going on in terms of empowerment and self-development of staff. This philosophy for training is carried out both individually and on a Group-basis; subsequently ensuring that everyone is on the same page for growth and moving in the same direction.

“We are incredibly proud of the developments in our workforce and particularly the fact that we are 100 percent Kenyan,” describes Jack.

“Kenyan’s ares extremely innovative, driven and motivated, so we have found that with those qualities you don’t really need to look elsewhere.

“However, there are times that we need to outsource people to keep up-to-date with our training, so we will often bring in people with the ability to train our employees on international skill-sets.”

Environmental transition

As well as the investment that that Company makes across its workforce,

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it will also spend an average of four to five million dollars a year on capital expenditures and internal improvements.

“We had a large outgoing in the last two year’s for internal investments, standing at approximately $12 million,” explains Jack. “This was predominantly due to major upgrades in our technology. Where traditionally we have manufactured dry-charge or service batteries it is now important to move with the times and ensure that we are providing a service that you would find in international markets.”

ABM has successfully made the transition across to maintenancefree batteries with thanks to its sizable cash injection, spent not only on the technology itself but also the facility upgrades required to work with that technology.

“It is safe to say that our capital expenditure in terms of technology

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Supplier of high-grade primary metals and ferrous/nonferrous alloys

Ferro-Molybdenum

Copper Granules

Copper Phospherous

Tin Ingots

is well taken care of for the next few years, however we also see a big spend coming up in terms of the local environment we operate in,” adds Jack. “There are incredibly stringent environmental laws surrounding the lead industry, and we are constantly striving to ensure that we are meeting European standards as well as the local

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Proud to support Associated Battery Manufacturers

Ferro-Silicon Magnesium

Antimony Ingots

We distribute throughout Africa, priding ourselves on quality, service and reliability.

Tel: +27 011 474 3630 Email: info@lilsales.co.za Download catalog: www.lilsales.co.za

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Batteries Support International provides technical consultancy to Associated Battery Manufacturers and to the international battery business Batteries Support International 946 Manchester Road, Over Hulton Bolton BL5 1EQ, United Kingdom

standards.”

The Company works secure in the knowledge that whatever passes as legislation in Europe today will inevitably become legislation in African industries shortly after, enabling it to remain ahead of the industry curve.

“In the next few years I would imagine that there will be a large expenditure

on environmental upgrades to ensure we are doing just that,” concludes Jack.

“We are lucky to work with shareholders who wish to fully integrate themselves into the business on all levels and whose interests are very much in the longterm; and subsequently we are able to continue to expand and develop the business as and when we need to.”

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H I TA C H I C O N S T R U C T I O N M A C H I N E RY Z A M B I A C O. LT D

Reliable Solutions hen it comes to products and services, Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia (HCMZ) uncompromisingly fulfils its promise to provide reliable solutions to customers. With product support teams that are closely involved in all aspects of customer-facing business, the Company maintains a clear understanding of each project’s requirements.

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Hitachi Construction Machinery Zambia is achieving excellence in all aspects of its operations, adopting an innovative approach to support its clientele nationwide Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

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In the early days of Hitachi Zambia, the Company operated as a branch of Hitachi Construction Machinery South Africa before becoming incorporated as a full dealership in October, 2010.

Initially Hitachi Zambia operated out of its office in Kitwe - the Copperbelt Province - before recently relocating to its current head-office in Lusaka.

“Our head office and remanufacturing centre are both located in Lusaka,” explains Nawa Mataa, Corporate Director of Administration. “We also have established a presence in Solwezi, working with the Kansanshi Mine and in Kalumbila for the Barrick Lumwana Mine as well as a workshop in Kitwe.”

The main bulk of the Company’s business is focused on remanufacturing key components for customers to utilise, particularly specialising in hydraulic pumps, motors and cylinders, electric motors for

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excavators and alternators, wheel motors for the Diesel electric trucks, and transmissions for trucks and excavators.

“To put it simply we provide a reliable solution for all Hitachi machines, spanning the length of time from the date of purchase to the date the machinery is decommissioned,” adds Mataa. “In addition to this we recently added a sales department which could cater for construction-size machines, assisting with the demand for small to medium machines in our rapidly developing country.”

Determination, vision and quality

Developing its services to meet the needs of the local market is an aspect that the Company greatly excels in, as well as identifying clients’ needs and shortcomings in order to aid them in developing those areas. This is achieved through a determined vision

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to provide a top quality service to its customers, investing in tools and equipment to improve efficiency.

“Our in-house design teams are exceptional, working around the clock to create a constant flow of new ideas,” continues Mataa. “Recently this has resulted in creations such as electric-hydraulic excavators and battery-powered excavators, both of which are making significant contributions to achieving zero exhaust emissions and lower CO2 emissions.

“We have also worked on creating a hybrid system with energy efficient hydraulics, reducing fuel consumption by approximately 15 percent compared to standard models.”

Alongside the call for designs that aid in creating lower emissions, the mining industry in Zambia in particular is demanding a lower cost-

per-hour for operating overheads.

With Hitachi Zambia’s electric drive system totally manufactured by the Company itself, such requirements have once again been achieved seamlessly.

A determined vision to deliver quality customer service

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Achieving excellence and innovation in all aspects of the business

Mataa describes: “For example, the trolley assist systems on our dump trucks utilise overhead power lines to allow the truck to drive electricity from the power grid, and subsequently results in increased ramp speeds while also decreasing fuel burn.”

Nationwide customer retention

Its drive to achieve excellence and innovation in all aspects of business has aided Hitachi in achieving a nationwide clientele, some its largest customers including Barrick and FQM in the north-western Province.

Mataa affirms: “When it comes to construction the majority of our clients are involved in various projects in Zambia, including dam construction, housing projects, specialist projects that include the improvement of water reticulation and sewerage under the Millennium Challenge Account, and agricultural projects, to name a few.”

The Company has strived to create a successful strategy for customer

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Rowlee Company Ltd. The name you can trust

• Reconditioning of all industrial & commercial radiators, after coolers, oil coolers & heat exchangers • CNC-Plasma & gas profile cutting facility

Tel: +260 212 213 973 Email: rowlee@zamnet.zm / rowlee1947@gmail.com

ROWLEE

Rowlee Zambia, Plot 840 Nyerere Road, Kitwe, Zambia

COMPANY LIMITED

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Desirable employees on both a local and global scale

Our remanufacturing centre has allowed us to provide services not only to customers who have bought new machines from HCMZ, but also offer the same quality service to those who purchased their Hitachi machines through global dealers

Guaranteeing high levels of machine availability

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retention across the country, with one of its tactics involving setting up the remanufacturing centre in Lusaka to attract new potential customers. The premise of this strategy is based on the need for improved component turnaround, guaranteeing high levels of machine availability for a customer’s fleet.

“Our remanufacturing centre has allowed us to provide services not only to customers who have bought new machines from HCMZ, but also offer the same quality service to those

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who purchased their Hitachi machines through global dealers,” explains Mataa. “All of these dealerships are part of a network of our esteemed clients and strengthen our drive to offer reliable solutions to both mining and construction consumers.”

Harnessing talent

The Hitachi Group’s investment in the country was not only placed with the hope of further domestic development, but also to ensure that young locals are being developed and taught the relevant skills required to run a large-scale facility in the industry.

“A combination of the skill levels we are training for and the fact we are part of an international organisation has made our employees particularly desirable in both the local and global market,” continues Mataa. “We have also created a gateway for recent graduates, through an internship programme that bridges the relatively sizable gap between academia and industry.”

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The Company also encourages employees at all stages of their career within the Company to work on its numerous corporate social responsibility projects (CSR), a factor which has always been a huge part of HCMZ and a good way to give back to the community, schools and hospitals.

“In a broader context, we have been involved in a select few projects in all our branch locations; namely Solwezi, Kitwe and Lusaka,” states Mataa.

“These projects have been covered in partnership with Development Aid from People to People (DAPP) which is aimed at improving livelihood, health and education of households in selected areas of our location districts between 2014 and 2016.”

Since the beginning of 2017, the Company has been running its CSR projects independently through its branch locations. The aim of this action is to build good relationships with partners and communities to improve the image, and to enhance the credibility of Hitachi Zambia.

“Currently we are trying to focus our efforts on projects and infrastructure donations, feeling increasingly optimistic that with amplified financial and political stability our clients will continue to invest in Zambia,” concludes Mataa. “Alongside our clients, the support and future support of the Government and its partners - such as Millennium Challenge - is extremely exciting for our Company and those working in the industry moving forward.”

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BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO EAST & CENTRAL AFRICA

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Enabling BAT is leading the tobacco industry by satisfying and addressing consumer needs and moments Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

ritish American Tobacco East & Central Africa Area (BAT ECAA) has diligently contributed to economic growth in its countries of operation, integrating systematic year-on-year investments into manufacturing, human resource development, product development and sustainability.

BAT ECAA comprises 14 markets which are working together not as a trading entity, but as a geographical cluster of markets. The countries within this cluster include Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), La Reunion, Mauritius, Somalia,

Somaliland, Rwanda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Djibouti, Comoros, Mayotte and Madagascar.

There are currently more than 600 people directly employed by BAT across ECAA, with a further 85,000 individuals indirectly engaged through wholesale and retail distribution, agriculture and other third-party business partnerships.

BATECAA’s tobacco growing operations partner with and support the livelihoods of more than 5,900 contracted farmers.

According to BAT ECAA Area Director, Beverley Spencer – Obatoyinbo, sustainability is at the core of the business: “It is pivotally important to us that we improve our

The BAT East & Central Africa leadership team with accolades received for their recognition as a top employer

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ANT

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NT focuses on offering a bestin-class service experience to customers by ensuring provision of client-friendly professional help from the time of order initiation through the technical-support phase post implementation.

The Company works as a partner with its customers, and the relationship starts with a factory visit in order to determine the scope of implementation.

Its product portfolio also includes software for supporting many types of continued improvement initiatives and projects, offering real-time process data acquisition, on-line data, and benchmark presentations.

Sustainability is a key focus for the business and its investments in the future

local area through our operations. This includes strengthening our approach to human rights, advancing sustainable agricultural practices amongst our farmers, driving efficiencies in manufacturing processes, developing industry-wide security systems to prevent tobacco trafficking and investing in our markets, our brands, our new product categories and our people, to name a few.

“We have also contributed to economic growth across the markets we operate in. In Kenya alone, over the past five years, we have invested more than US$103 million in tobacco farming, leaf processing and our cigarette manufacturing factory in Nairobi.”

Over the past decade the BAT Kenya factory in Nairobi has become a strategic manufacturing hub for the BAT Group; and in 2016 more than 60 percent of its factory output was exported to 13 countries outside Kenya. Further, the Area’s operations have contributed significant tax revenues to the governments of the various markets it operates in, amounting to approximately US$ 2 billion within the past four years.

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In addition, the company has been recognised as a Top Exporter by the Kenya Revenue Authority.

Business performance

Business performance for the Company has remained robust despite a tough macro-economic environment characterised by rising inflation and lower disposable income, spreading across all of BAT ECAA’s markets of operation.

“Recently we have seen a sharp increase in taxation as the various governments try to balance their budgets,” adds Sidney Wafula, Area Head of Finance. “This has meant an increase in consumer prices, which has reduced the affordability of cigarettes, putting pressure in general on our consumers.

“Despite these challenges, our operating profit has increased by five percent CAGR over the past five years, driven by pricing, introduction of innovative and affordable products and stringent cost containment measures, which include productivity initiatives and business restructuring to take advantage of technology and new improved ways of working.”

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The Company is a respected brand in the industrial software solutions market and is renowned in Europe for providing innovative products and aftermarket solutions for its customers in a timely manner.

Without a doubt the Company’s biggest advantage is that they create dedicated solutions which are tailor-fit to each customer and even to each individual factory of a single customer.

The Company does not sell a box solution to which the customer has to then adjust their practices. Instead, they adjust their software do fit the customer demands and requirements to make the system the most possibly useful tool which will increase the efficiency and lower the costs within the company.

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx For its strong overall performance, ANT has earned Frost & Sullivan’s 2017 Price/ Performance Value Leadership Award in the MES for food & beverage market.

The full Frost & Sullivan report on ANT can be found under www.antsolutions. eu/about-us/

T +48 12 296 50 40 E ant@antsolutions.pl

www.antsolutions.eu Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Dedicated solutions that solve real manufacturing problems

With more than 350 implementations around the world, employing over 70 engineers and developers in 30 countries for more than 10 years.

See how ANT Industrial Software Solutions can help you improve your factory’s efficiency by a double-digit.

ANT Sp. z o. o.

Wadowicka 8A Street 30-415 KrakĂłw Poland T: +48 12 296 50 40 E: ant@antsolutions.pl

www.antsolutions.eu

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BOLLORÉ LOGISTICS Bolloré Logistics – a reliable partner in supply chain logistics Bolloré Logistics is a global leader in international freight forwarding and logistics. As a tier-one supply chain partner, the Company draws from an indepth experience and understanding of supply chain logistics to deliver customfit solutions for a wide variety of clients in different industries around the world.

BAT supports balanced and evidence-based regulation, helping to achieve public health objectives

The key challenges faced by the business include the illicit and dutynot-paid tobacco products, inequitable and unsustainable tax increases, protectionist government policies and draconian legislation that inhibits BAT ECAA’s ability to meet the needs of its consumers.

“Despite these challenges, we continue to focus on our mission to be the best at meeting our consumers’ needs. We will provide innovative quality products while pursuing opportunities to enter new markets to further grow shareholder value,” explains Wafula.

“In order to be the best at satisfying consumer moments in tobacco and beyond, a central part of our strategy is to achieve a portfolio of inspiring and innovative products,” states Darryn Bassa, Area Head of Marketing. From an innovation perspective, we have introduced new-to-market capsule offers which deliver multiple flavours in one cigarette for key brands such as Dunhill, Rothmans and Benson & Hedges into markets such as Somalia, Kenya and Mauritius.”

Tolga Kilic, General Manager for

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East African Markets adds: “BAT has a long history in the ECAA region and therefore the consumers in these markets trust our brands and have interacted with them for many years.

For example, the Company has been in operation in Kenya for over 100 years and has been listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) for almost 50 years.”

The BAT Group has been a leading tobacco company in the world for over a century and is now the largest publically traded tobacco company in the world after its acquisition of Reynolds American in mid-2017. The combination of these factors has enabled BAT ECAA to build valuable knowledge to support and build its brand portfolio, combining local strength and global trends, satisfying current consumer requirements.

One of the corporate values of the Company is long term commitment and this is embodied by its relationship with British American Tobacco in Kenya and Eastern Africa, which begun in 2009 as an international freight forwarder and continues into 2017, where the Company now handles multiple supply chain operations for BAT, including the main logistics services centre – which is responsible for the supply of all outbound exports to 17 markets in East & Southern Africa, among other services.

With presence in 46 countries in Africa, and 105 countries globally, the Company offers end-to-end supply chain efficiency and control, affording its clients the convenience of a singular accountability for all their logistics requirements.

The Company invests in the human resource, equipment and infrastructure necessary to optimise supply chain operations including online based platforms to aid its clients in decision making, cargo tracking and supply chain management, all with a view to improve the efficacy and visibility of the logistics chain.

The Company holds a stellar record in health and safety compliance, as well as customs and regulatory matters.

Add value to your supply chain – Call Bolloré Logistics today.

Building a legacy of leaders

In order to keep up the excellent standards that the Company has been delivering for the past century, its recruitment processes ensure that the right talent is sourced for the right roles.

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T: +254 20 642 1000 E: info.nbo@bollore.com

www.bollore-transport-logistics.com

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With an integrated worldwide network of 601 agencies in 105 countries, Bolloré Transport & Logistics develops unique tailormade supply chain solutions for your business. Our services include: Multimodal Transport • Customs & Regulatory Compliance • Global Supply Chain • Value-Added Warehousing • Industrial Project Logistics Bolloré Transport & Logistics East Africa Head Office Tel. +254 20 642 1000 • Email: info.nbo@bollore.com Bolloré Transport & Logistics East Africa Head Office www.bollore-transport-logistics.com

Working in partnership with retailers both large and small to add value to their business.

Efforts are directed at ensuring products are available to adult tobacco consumers in the region reguardless of where they are

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EXP KENYA

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xp is Africa’s largest and leading Experiential Marketing Agency, using Live Experiences to Amplify Reach, Convert Customers and Drive Sales. We believe in the Brand Experience to bring communication to Life and Empower Brands.

Through our proprietary Sixth SenseTM strategic tools, Exp evaluates the Brand opportunity against the Consumer reality, developing a strategy that delivers value to both the consumer and the brand.

From this strategy, we conceptualise the idea and develop the Live+ experiential campaign – a multidimensional cross media approach that delivers the communication.

Our service offering includes Brand Activation; Event Marketing; Sponsorship Marketing & Social Marketing.

The organisational culture is founded on open-mindedness to energise employees

“Our focus is to recruit locally within the territories we operate. Primarily we hire by utilising a direct sourcing model on our company’s careers portal (www.bat-careers.com),” Razeeah Belath, Area Head of HR describes.

“Our recruitment staff undergo accreditation through our ‘Licence to Hire’ course, enabling them to focus on the right people, their capabilities and future potential.

“We also have an internal referral initiative named, Like Minds’, serving to boost employee advocacy through referring like-minded individuals while rewarding its staff for their efforts.”

Alongside the various initiatives across ECAA, BAT’s global footprint provides numerous opportunities for staff to acquire global exposure through cross-geographical courses and assignments in addition to the cross-departmental opportunities available locally.

“We aggressively export talent to our sister companies across the

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Contact us on:

www.expagency.biz group which contributes in developing our talent for senior leadership roles. We are extremely proud of our local staff who are cuurently lending their expertise to other BAT entities, including the BAT Asia Pacific Area office, BAT Denmark, and BAT Vietnam,” continues Belath. “We believe in providing a ‘great place to work’ for our teams and building a winning organisation through our guiding principles, one of which speaks to ‘strength from diversity’. We harness the diversity of our people, cultures, viewpoints, brands, markets and ideas to strengthen our business.

“Thanks to our superior HR practices, we have been recognised as a top employer in Kenya and Africa, by the top employer institute, most recently in October this year.”

Building a sustainable business

“As an international business, we play an important role in the communities we operate. Beyond our corporate social

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investment initiatives across ECAA, we have programmes that ensure the long-term sustainability of our tobacco leaf supply chain and enhance farmer livelihoods,” explains Seyi Adeyemo, Area Head of Operations. “Our long and proud history of working directly with farmers and advancing agricultural practices, benefits our farmers by giving them the resources and support they need to be successful, as well as helping to secure our long-term supply of tobacco leaf and ensuring the integrity and quality of our products to satisfy our consumers.”

Simukai Munjanganja, Area Head of Legal & External Affairs adds, “While we have experienced an increase in the restrictions on the manufacture, packaging, marketing and sale of tobacco products across ECAA, we are clear that we support regulation that is based on robust evidence, respects legal rights and livelihoods and delivers on the intended policy aims. We will thus continue to seek opportunities

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to contribute to the debate, offering information, ideas and practical steps and work with the regulators addressing industry issues.”

“Moving forward, while traditional tobacco products continue to be the mainstay of our business, as a group, BAT is also at the forefront of developing products that offer consumers potentially less risky alternatives to regular tobacco products. These Next Generation Products (NGPs) include Vype, our vapour product, and glo, our tobacco heating product. The BAT Group has invested more than US$1 billion over five years in developing a world-leading portfolio of products in the NGP category – not just because they are an exciting new opportunity, but also because they have the potential to reduce smoking-related diseases.” concludes Munjanganja.

Looking ahead, BAT ECAA is excited about their business outlook and continues to invest towards this promising future.

SERVICES OFFERED:

MMA Engineering Services Ltd is one of the country’s leading integrated engineering outsourcing companies. Success is driven by its people and their commitment to get results the right way by operating responsibly, executing with excellence, applying innovative ideas and capturing new opportunities for profitable growth.

The Company is involved in virtually every facet of the engineering industry and its vision is to become a professional, well managed and well organised engineering services provider in the region.

• Steel fabrication • Machine installation • Factory machinery maintenance services • Engineering supplies and installation • Automotive maintenance • Plumbing services • Machine shop services • Electrical services • Masonry and tiling services • Carpentry services • Compound cleaning and maintenances • Factory cleaning and support services

The Company provides safe and quality service that is sustainable and rewarding to its stakeholders through competent employees, dependable processes and superior technology.

Tel: 00254 722 634 911 ogutu@mma.co.ke

PO Box 4909-01002 Madaraka, Nairobi, Kenya

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Refreshingly Refreshingly Different

With the rapid expansion of Greater Nairobi and the phenomenal pace of construction within Kenya, Dunhill Consulting is ready to capitalise, with its imminent Dunhill Towers project an innovative and green sign of things to come Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Kane Weller

ncompassing values of professional, costeffective and hassle-free real estate services, Dunhill Consulting continues to expand its simple but lucrative offering across East Africa; showcasing the soon-to-be unveiled Dunhill Towers as an epitome of the Company’s expertise.

Described as a “major step forward in commercial green buildings in Kenya”, Dunhill Towers is the culmination of almost 15 years of growth and diversification for a business that can now boast the full spectrum of real estate services across an ever-broadening footprint.

“Our practice areas include sales, letting, management, development and advisory services,” introduces the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Nipool Shah. “We serve all sectors of the industry, including residential, commercial, retail and warehousing developments; while our sister Company, Dunhill Africa Valuations Ltd provides valuation and survey services and is on the panel of several banks in Kenya.”

With a staff compliment of more than 125 valuers, estate agents, accountants and sales personnel, Dunhill is able to serve individual unit and mixeduse development clients alike; driven by professional expertise that emanates down from its four

department Executive Directors - all of whom have shares in the business.

Shah continues: “At least one director is responsible for excellence in delivery within each silo of Sales and Letting, Facilities Management, Projects, and Single Properties. Our professional expertise is then engaged with by a broad range of organisations, including multinational corporations, local developers, high net-worth individuals, quasi government offices, and not-for-profit institutions.”

Testament to its philosophy, the rise of Dunhill speaks for itself, and in 2016 alone Dunhill Consulting achieved more than Ksh7 billion in properties sold, while also affirming its status as a leader in warehousing with more than 2.5 million square feet under its management.

Nipool Shah, Chief Executive Officer

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PAYTECH LIMITED

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aytech Limited is a technology solutions and service provider based in Nairobi, Kenya. The Company provides convenient, reliable and fully integrated top class car park management technologies made by world market leaders.

Its solutions incorporate a host of eCommerce products such as reservation systems, cashless payment via app and ticketless parking with LPR at entry and exit lanes allowing you to comprehensively manage both shortterm and contract parkers.

By integrating intelligent parking guidance and smart lighting solutions you are able to efficiently manage your car parks and ultimately lower your total cost of operation.

The go-to company for residential sales

“We also provide building management services to more than 30 commercial buildings and large apartment complexes - managing collections of more than Ksh100 million a month - while we’re also the go-to company for residential sales of apartments and houses across Nairobi,” Shah enthuses.

The right place at the right time

Incorporated initially in 2003 by Shah, he has ensured that Dunhill has evolved as a brand reputed for selling quality developments from solid developers; staying true to its tagline of “professional, cost-effective and hassle-free”, while continuously investing in cutting-edge technologies in order to improve it services.

“Being in the right place at the right time and providing unmatched services has allowed Dunhill to grow by 25 percent in turnover, year-on-year, since inception,” the CEO states. “To achieve this, in our facility management

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T +254 709 639 000 E info@paytechafrica.com

www.paytechafrica.com services, we have introduced a comprehensive software for our property and facilities managers in our retail, office, industrial, residential and body corporate portfolios, with integrated accounting and real-time financial reporting.

“This is a first of its kind software introduced in Kenya. Designed around industry best practices and business processes, it is used every day by leading property owners and managers around the world. This software covers the full spectrum, from day-to-day administration to portfolio performance reporting and analysis.”

Always striving for a new competitive advantage and enhanced internal procedures, this latest innovation allows Dunhill to provide a comprehensive accounts payable system with stronger security controls, making the process faster and more efficient. It also allows for improved storage of documents; an increase

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NEGAWATT

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egaWatt Limited is a young and dynamic team of professional engineers in East Africa that provide energy efficiency solutions to all kinds of industry.

Completion of the Building Automation System at TRM for Dunhill Consulting has paved the way for intelligent buildings here in Nairobi. From controlling lighting and fans to assisting with monthly tenant billing, NegaWatt and Dunhill Consulting have established a relationship for the greater good.

As the East African distributor for Johnson Controls, Metasys, and York, we can assist with providing solutions that work for you too.

The Government has commenced construction of the Thika superhighway alongside the Mall

T +254 710 777 909 E info@negawattea.com

www.negawattea.com

in scope and capacity; enhanced accountability; and it ensures a single point access to pertinent credit control processes through the use of automated statistic generation.

“Finally it allows us to manage jobs emanating from either tenants or our own maintenance department, whether reactive or planned. In other words, it allows for full integration from issuing an order to the payment of invoices,” Shah completes.

Flagship project

In perfecting its internal structure, Dunhill can then launch from the perfect footing into what it is best known for: its project portfolio.

Described as the Company’s unique selling proposal, “our estate agency strengths allow us to focus on creating projects that are appropriate for the market where the development is planned”, Shah affirms. “Our experience from our in-house projects allows us to guide other developers in

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Thika Road Mall

best practices, cost optimisation and project management. And over the years, we have developed apartments, townhouses, luxury homes, warehousing and commercial offices.”

Renowned for its work on the Thika Road Mall especially - the largest mall in East Africa at the time - this project has really set the tone for Dunhill’s progression ever since the undertaking back in 2010.

Shah recalls: “The location was identified as a prime location since the Government had just commenced construction of the Thika superhighway. This 50,000 square metre mall was delivered three months ahead of schedule, within budget and achieved a 75 percent occupancy rate at the time of opening. It has since achieved an occupancy rate of more than 90 percent year-on-year and retailer, Carrefour has recently announced the opening at TRM of the first Hypermarket in an existing mall in Kenya.”

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Thika Road Mall is situated in a prime location

Embedding consumer trends and requirements across safety, security, technology, digital marketing and social media, Dunhill has never been one to shy away from modern nuances and foreseeable trends; the latest being the industry’s commitment to green practices and eco-friendliness.

And nothing epitomises this ethos more than its soon-to-be completed flagship project, Dunhill Towers.

Shah details: “Dunhill Towers will be completed by October, 2017 and is a classical yet modern design that provides warmth and character to its immediate environment with a high level of finish both on the interior and the exterior. The design of the building will enhance the cityscape, providing Tier 1 office spaces with stunning views towards the main highway and the general Westlands area. The project

has been designed considering user comfort for effective working space.

“The project also holds significant importance to the future of green buildings in Kenya and by extension the East Africa region in that it is also the pilot project for the South Africa Green Star-¬Kenya Office V1.1 rating system.”

Working alongside WEB Limited who was tasked with ensuring that these environmental principles were adhered to, Dunhill has subsequently fostered a 30,000 square metre building designed with two towers, a connecting lobby, six high-speed efficient lifts, and a host of simple yet effective considerations.

Shah continues: “These include adequate natural lighting; effective natural ventilation; solar glass to reduce heat gain within the building; solar shading ledges; low water consumption sanitary fittings; low power usage LED light fittings; and energy modelling to minimise greenhouse gas emissions.”

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“Meanwhile, we have decided to focus on three main areas for our CSR activities: food, water and education.”

Outstanding investment

As such, Dunhill Towers is set to become an innovative pioneer within the local industry, as the first Green Star Office V1.1 project in the region and outside of South Africa. Actually exceeding Green Star benchmarks across its VOC compliancy and its building tuning, the building owner has also assured a commitment to ensuring that the building performs as designed and will be monitored as such via a biannual productivity study.

“Jerry Yudelson, PE, LEED(r) Fellow, and author of 13 full-length professional and trade books on green buildings, integrated design, green homes, water conservation, building performance and sustainable development has commended Dunhill Towers as a “major step forward in Commercial Green Buildings in Kenya”, during his recent visit to the project,” Shah notes.

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children to go to school and to ensure that health standards rise through the provision of clean water. To date the programme has completed 280 such bore-wells in the dry areas of Kenya and has now moved to solar-run water pumps that are far more efficient and more effective.”

A further example saw Doshi adopt a unit for 22 children with cerebral palsy, providing them with food, care and necessary equipment; and such initiatives are testament not only to the Company’s compassionate nature, but also to its understanding “Investing in human resources is a critical of the surroundings it operates in. success factor... Our staff are among the This particular initiative started with best paid within the industry and subjected to continuous training both in-house and 22 children with cerebral palsy and has outsourced.” now grown to 120 children providing for all their needs. The plan is to now increase the reach to 250 children by establishing a world class centre in Inevitably addressing areas of Kenya. sustainability as a consequence, “Dunhill is proud to do such CSR Dunhill has made it a concerted focus activities to ensure we take care of the since day one to have a positive needy in society, and country expertise impact on Kenya and the wider region; is therefore one of the four key whether that’s from a green building differentiators we have identified to perspective, a human resource point of engaging in a relationship with Dunhill view, or even from a corporate social Consulting,” Shah concludes.”The responsibility (CSR) angle. other three are technology, focus, “Investing in human resources is a and delivery, and our results speak for critical success factor,” Shah says to themselves. this end. “Our staff are among the best “We tailor-make the plan to suit the paid within the industry and subjected product and our unique approach is to continuous training both in-house founded on the co-development of and outsourced. expectations for service and value, “Meanwhile, we have decided to as well as a “value scorecard” which focus on three main areas for our CSR enables clients to continuously activities: food, water and education. measure our performance, converting Led by our Projects Director, Bharat the relationship from a cost into an Doshi at present we participate in outstanding investment. a programme to feed more than “With the rapid expansion of 1,500 school children a hot meal daily Greater Nairobi and the phenomenal in different schools in slums. This pace of construction within Kenya, we programme is being expanded to are now embarking on developing a continue the work and feed more. The solid footprint, especially for the estate result has been healthier children who agency business that will allow us, if now attend more regularly. all goes well, to cover all of Nairobi “Secondly, we have a programme within the next two years, key towns to dig bore-wells in remote areas for in Kenya over the next four years, and the local communities that allow more the region by 2025.”

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Quantity Surveyors and Contract Administrators for Dunhill Towers

More than half a century of Tissue & Hygiene Products manufacturing excellence and market leadership across East and Central Africa. Also being the largest recycler of paper waste in the same region, everyday we are focused on improving the competitive advantage of all our stakeholders.

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Eddieson Owuor Target Cost & Management Solutions P.O. Box 29856 - 00100 GPO, Nairobi, Kenya Masari Road, Diamond Plaza Annexe, 2nd Floor, Suite No. 10 T. +254 789 611 354 / +254 731 431854 info@targetcost.co.ke eddie@targetcost.co.ke

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WE CONGRATULATE DUNHILL CONSULTING LTD. ON DUNHILL TOWERS.

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info@studioinfinity.net P.O Box 421 Sarit Centre 00606 Narobi.Tel 0702 419 342

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Living IT UP South Point continues to embrace South Africa’s transformational agenda by tackling the progressive and challenging student accommodation sector Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Kane Weller

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s a proudly 100 percent South African-owned entity, South Point has, for the past 15 years, made it a concerted focus to contribute to the transformation of the country’s student accommodation outlook and infrastructure.

Functionally performing in-house operational areas include letting and debtor management, as well as marketing, student programme management, facilities management, cleaning, security, maintenance, IT infrastructure management and financial management;

the Company has evolved and diversified from its initial vision to provide quality tertiary student accommodation located within easy walking distance of South African universities.

“Under-investment in infrastructure by universities over the past two decades is and continues to be most acute in respect to on-campus housing stock which spawned an often unscrupulous student housing industry that was plagued by unattractive and substandard accommodation,” recalls and introduces the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Ndumiso Davidson.

“In contrast, South Point sought, from its very inception, to shed the prevailing and largely deserved perception of exploitative practices by private operators by developing a safe, attractive, comfortable and professionally-managed student accommodation out of distressed commercial properties.

“South Point pioneered a new industry while quickly establishing itself as the market leader without any of the residential displacement that so often underscores global urban renewal programmes.”

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A&E FURNITURE (PTY) LTD

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&E Furniture (Pty) Ltd was established in 1995. The Company has strived to remain a leading supplier of quality steel and office furniture.

All products are manufactured from locally produced quality steel and finished in high quality powder coatings, delivered nationally and exported to various African countries with unmatched quality delivery periods and personal service.

The Company’s uncompromised dedication, planning and technical background ensure that its supply a complete service to its customers.

Contact: Hannelie van Dyk T 0027 11 979 3181, 0027 82 689 8037 E aefurniture@yebo.co.za

The student experience is a principle point of differentiation

www.aefurniture.co.za

Subsequently and consequently, the Company evolved to embrace small retail, commercial and hospitality divisions to round its portfolio more wholly, and now boasts a status as the country’s leading and largest provider of student housing solutions outside of the universities themselves.

In a landscape that is increasingly formalised and competitive, the South Point student experience rather than the largely commoditised accommodation product - is now its principle point of differentiation, but this stems from a perhaps more poignant differentiation that was earmarked originally.

Davidson continues: “South Point has fully embraced the country’s transformational agenda in a sector of the economy that is one of the least progressive and transformed in South Africa. The ownership structure is not only driven by sociopolitical factors but operational and strategic considerations. With the

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overwhelming majority of students in higher education being first-generation university-goers, black and from lowincome families, it’s imperative that the product and experience resonates implicitly with these students with respect to culture, product and affordability.”

Much more than a landlord

All-told, and courtesy of such pertinent ambition, South Point currently houses as many as 11,000 students across Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria and Port Elizabeth.

And in each case, the Company strives to place great emphasis on continuous improvement, whether revolving around finance, human capital, design, infrastructure, or the aforementioned element of student lifestyle and satisfaction.

“South Point is celebrated as much more than a ‘landlord’ that simply supplies a room key and a monthly invoice. It has established itself as

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P.O. Box 10622, Brentwood Park, 1505 209, Eureka Street, Pomona, Kempton Park Tel: (011) 979-3181 Fax : (011) 979-3189 Email: aefurniture@yebo.co.za Website: www.aefurniture.co.za V.A.T NO: 4830151694 Reg No: 95/06863/07

A&E FURNITURE (Pty) Ltd has proven to be one of the leading suppliers of quality steel lockers, beds and custom made steel dormitory furniture.

Every project, no matter how big or small, is executed with professionalism and craftsmanship. Our mission is to provide our customers with cost effective, high quality products, with a prompt delivery and excellent after-sales service. Call NOW and speak to one of our advisors.

Outlook Creative Services

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F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

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We are acutely aware that we must embrace advances of any nature that improve service, convenience and value to our customers in every aspect of our business

the continent’s industry leader, providing innovative student lifestyle solutions, driven by imaginative and far-reaching urban renewal concepts, creating student-friendly districts that, in turn, support and grow small businesses,” Davidson explains. “In the dynamic youth market, populated by restless millennials living in a world where technology-enabled business model disruption is a constant threat, complacency and stagnation are luxuries we can’t afford.

“We are acutely aware that we must

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embrace advances of any nature that improve service, convenience and value to our customers in every aspect of our business.”

To this end, the Company is specifically excited about its new bespoke App which is set to launch in 2018 and will digitise its operating platform; resultantly enabling 24-hour real-time engagement.

It is this level of proactive thinking, entrepreneurship, and targeted innovation that has also lent itself to South Point’s own structural

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diversification, epitomised by the development of numerous iconic, headline-grabbing projects over the past few years.

“Projects include Randlords, a double-storey rooftop event and bar space that offers sweeping views over Johannesburg; a hotel property; and The Grove, a restaurant-lined public space that serves as Braamfontein’s de facto village square,” Davidson notes. “Our head office, South Point Central, was designed by awardwinning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, and has also been featured in a number of prestigious design publications. “[Furthermore] we’ve just completed the renovation of South Point Cnr, a nine-storey office block that has attracted an interesting mix of South African and international NGOS as well as a range of small and medium enterprises, mostly in the communications, financial and creative industries.”

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A market we understand best

Imaginative and farreaching concepts for the millennial generation

Upcoming projects include a 17-storey Jorissen Street student residence in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, as well as a new 1,200-bed student residential facility in Cape Town, which will comprise four three-storey blocks with occupation expected in February, 2018.

Needless to say, therefore, that South Point certainly hasn’t fulfilled its entire vision for South Africa just yet, as Davidson enthuses: “The alignment of the scale of the opportunity, macroeconomic factors and the sustained policy and fiscal emphasis on higher education makes South Africa the most compelling investment case for student housing across the continent.

Importantly, it’s a market that we understand best.

“Notwithstanding, we continue to explore opportunities across the continent that provide opportunities for risk-adjusted returns with an investment case that is similar to those in South Africa and where we can best leverage our experience and skills.”

Evidently contributing greatly to the national economy as a result, one of the Company’s key missions is to maintain a positive impact in a country that is now growing to depend on the corporate sector’s transformational capabilities.

As such, local builders, contractors, architects and designers are all called upon in favour of international artisans within the Company’s supply chain.

Davidson continues: “Virtually all of our construction and furnishing elements - from cement, steel and sanitary-ware to tiles, paint and furnishings - are South African-made.

We also work within legislated governmental frameworks and ‘best of’ business practice, which places emphasis on the use and support of small and medium enterprises whenever possible.

“Importantly, this includes BEE Codes of Good Practice, which also places emphasis on the transformation of the

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Iconic, headlinegrabbing developments

supply chain and empowering black and emerging suppliers and contractors.”

‘Lifestyle-stay’

The final piece in this particular jigsaw brings personnel into the equation, which is inevitably not lost on South Point. With an entirely South African team to call upon, national enrichment beams from all corners of the Company, and is, in-turn, rewarded by relatively low turnover rates, and strong levels of employee retention.

“Our emphasis is on growing talent

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in-house so today’s cleaner might be tomorrow’s receptionist. Up-skilling is key,” Davidson affirms. “We are also investing in formalising our skills development programmes, exploring the establishment of a training academy that sources and grows artisanal skills like plumbers, electricians, painters, rope-access teams, etc.

“Looking ahead, there are exciting longer-term opportunities with local college and university partnerships.

Of course, being the home-awayfrom-home to some 11,000 university

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students at any given time provides us with a vast skills-pool of young, hardworking talent.”

Many former residents have gone on to carve out viable careers within South Point, working their way up the ranks to complete the cycle from satisfied customer to satisfying provider.

This also fosters a positive DNA, culture and attitude from the top down, with all understanding the regional and local nuances of the industry and indeed the country, before applying that knowledge where they feel it is most applicable.

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“We are firm believers in creating a 360-degree ecosystem that incorporates student lifestyle initiatives, urban renewal, retail and office curation, and staff welfare support.”

“...being the home-away-from-home to some 11,000 university students at any given time provides us with a vast skills-pool of young, hardworking talent.”

“As we often say, ‘we don’t fill space; will fill strategy’, and in the future we will further entrench our position as both the largest and leading accommodation provider in South Africa.”

Perhaps manifested through another development, or a strategic acquisition, or a newly hired member of staff, or even through one of South Point’s many charitable initiatives, the end result always stems back to its overriding goals of national upliftment and in operating beyond expectations.

“South Point has quickly developed a reputation as a company that always does things a bit differently. We are firm believers in creating a 360-degree ecosystem that incorporates student lifestyle initiatives, urban renewal,

retail and office curation, and staff welfare support,” Davidson concludes.

“So, you’ll find that we choose office tenants that can offer internship opportunities to students, while the office workers in turn support surrounding businesses that we hand-pick to create ‘complete-street’ neighbourhoods. This curatorial approach cannot be underestimated in the company’s success, creating a student-friendly ‘lifestyle-stay’ rather than a mere ‘convenience-stay’.

“As we often say, ‘we don’t fill

space; will fill strategy’, and in the future we will further entrench our position as both the largest and leading accommodation provider in South Africa, ultimately aiming for more than 30,000 owned and managed beds.

“What we will also retain in the process though, is a relentless pursuit of an unparalleled student experience, as a catalyst of urban regeneration initiatives driven by continued innovation and an adoption of leading technology advancements.”

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Success

STORIES Forum Properties Africa’s turnkey property development services are truly capitalising on African potential as the Company continues to target emerging economic nations Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Kane Weller

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he notion of Africa as an emerging heavyweight with copious amounts of potential is hardly a new one, but few are capitalising on this so-called promise so wholly as large-scale real estate developer, Forum Properties Africa.

As an autonomous member of the Forum Properties Africa Group, and with a majority shareholding that emanates from international entrepreneurial investors into frontier markets, the opportunities that exist in Africa are undoubted and plentiful of course, but it has often been the case that prospective investors or businesses have turned towards the more emerged elite of South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya in recent years. As the respective hubs to the south, east and west of the continent, it would seem a natural decision to make, but Forum continues to shine a light on the missed opportunities in neighbouring countries.

Chief Executive Officer, Deon Bruwer introduces: “I myself pulled out of Nigeria in 2013 because the country was wholly dependent on one commodity and it seemed too risky to have all your eggs in one basket. As much as 95 percent of the country’s GDP was based on one commodity back then - oil - and I was concerned that, due to the growth in renewable energy and fracking, the economy could be vulnerable. We all know what happened.

“However, if you look at a country which has been blessed with numerous commodities like the DRC, where they have copper, cobalt, coltan, titanium, diamonds, gold, agriculture etc, then you have a wide range of commodities to offset the challenge of one market collapsing.”

It is this logic that has set the tone for Forum Properties Africa’ rise ever since, assessing opportunities in exciting progressive countries - despite their own specific challenges - in order to fully capitalise on the economic potential they possess.

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Forum Properties’ development masterplan

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“A lot of people underestimate how challenging these aspects are, because they differ not just from country to country, but from province to province or even across different departments within cities. But as long as you don’t spread yourself too thin as proofed by our model, then you can offset these challenges, and the competitive advantage then comes from doing business differently, by thinking outside of the box, with your eyes all the time on the ball, and by adding value in countries like the DRC.” Luano City in the Katanga Province Bruwer continues: “The DRC is quite of the country epitomises this ethos unique and not always an easy place to and so far - alongside its Cradle operate, but if one follows compliance, City Project at Lanseria Airport in keeps their lawyers-auditors and other Johannesburg - in evolving from an professionals close, and thereby carries ambitious economic development out operations professionally with idea, to become one of the country’s credible global firms, then you can get leading international business and the job done and attract international financial hubs; an ideal aerotropolis tenants/buyers and investors into AAA- environment for working, living, grade offices, residential, industrial and staying, investing and forming a retail. sustainable smart city in the area.

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Quality turnkey services

In my opinion it’s the best, safest and most secure development of its kind in the DRC and is continuously evolving each year...

All told, since inception back in 1993, Forum Moscow and Forum Properties Africa has established a solid track record of developing high quality, mixed-use developments; its global Group footprint covering Europe and Africa.

“We work with a team of property development specialists with significant collective experience in real estate development and management,” the Company explains.

“This ‘forum’ of management professionals represents a collective experience and success track record in commercial, retail and residential development that spans: more than 140 years; more than 1.3 million square metres in retail development; more than 10 million square metres in residential development; more than 785,000 square metres in commercial development; and more than 4.1 million square metres in completed development projects on the African continent.”

Aspects of development management, project management, design works, permits approvals, procurement, tendering, subcontracting and much more fall under the Forum remit to this end, culminating in a turnkey service that has become synonymous with the Company’s Luano City and Cradle City projects especially.

“If you look at our Triple A grade offices, housing and industrial work in the Katanga province for example, its tenants and owners include some of the biggest mining companies in the country, as well as other international operators, including United Nations and foreign diplomat representatives,” Bruwer notes. “In my opinion it’s the best, safest and most secure development of its kind in the DRC and is continuously evolving each year; a new shopping centre set to be introduced next year for instance.”

And as this, and indeed Forum’s

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“...we’re clearly a first choice for lots of people, but it also sheds light on a not so nice fact that there is so much unemployment, and we try to help where we can.”

Willingness and work rate are important employee attributes

additional projects continue to escalate, so too does the Company’s own infrastructure as it strives to meet the needs of the project, its tenants, its suppliers, its stakeholders, and even the relative countries.

Bruwer adds: “Initially you look to keep overheads down where you only have 10 or 15 tenants and owners, but then this quickly rises to 50 or 60, who all need water invoices or power invoices, etc. So in order to keep on top of that increase, and to keep offering quality turnkey services, you employ more quality people and also look into heightened areas of automation which we have now implemented across areas of accounts and administration.”

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Hardest working

Inevitably, human resources plays an equally pivotal role in the evolution of Forum and each of its developments, and once again, the country-specific challenges are numerable. Extensive training, upliftment and sustainability practices are therefore vital to not only get people up to the required standard, but to then promote each individual through the business in the long-term.

Such a strategy does pay off ultimately though, with the business’ commitment to long-term personal enrichment subsequently repaid by enhanced employee loyalty and a status as an employer of choice.

“Every day we have people standing outside our gates trying to get work,”

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Bruwer details. “There’s a high unemployment rate but people can see the developments taking shape and can also see people moving in, and generally a company heading in the right direction. It’s good as we’re clearly a first choice for lots of people, but it also sheds light on a not so nice fact that there is so much unemployment, and we try to help where we can.

“One good story revolves around a mute guy who could neither speak nor hear, yet he stood outside our gates every day with the others. One day, when a cement shipment came in late in the day, he was the only one still left and he helped to offload cement from a truck. A year and a half later and he is now one of our hardest working employees working

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in the nursery. Technical ability may be in short supply but willingness, a great attitude, and a high work rate is equally important to us.”

Creating success stories

Much like the Company’s hiring status, Forum’s general market status is largely untouchable. Its standing at the top of the market is safely secured for the time being; not just because of its turnkey services, but mostly because it has proven to move forward during the ups-and-downs of the market challenges.

The ability to source, secure and create focused development opportunities in these emerging areas serves not just company growth, but national enrichment, and moving

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forward, Forum will look to compound its strategy of land acquisition and development delivery in these highgrowth emergence regions of Africa.

“As a normal progression due to successes in our field of expertise, we are approached by investors and funds to invest and benefit from our future investments. We are in the final stage of incorporating our first fund in Mauritius to this end. The fund will focus on buying quality real estate assets driven by strong internationally-backed tenants for long-term leases and hard currency returns. Attaining quality tenants is the key here with no development risk.

Bruwer concludes. “The future lies by investing in real estate, secured by hard currency returns, within multicommodity rich countries.”

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Integrated Cement Services

Twiga Cement has played an instrumental role in developing Tanzania’s cement industry, now focusing its efforts on reducing its environmental impact moving forward Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Kane Weller

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anzania Portland Cement Company Ltd (Twiga Cement) is an instrumental part of the cement producing industry in Tanzania, supported by its parent Company, Heidelberg Cement Group. Established in 1966, originally the Company’s principal work was centred on manufacturing and selling cement.

In the early days Twiga worked in collaboration with Tanganyika Development Company - now known as Tanzania Development Corporation - and build a cement factory at Wazo Hill in Dar es Salaam. Due to its input into the collaboration, the Government of Tanzania owned 20 percent of the Company shares.

Construction of the aforementioned factory was completed in mid 1996 and was home to the first bag of cement to be produced in Tanzania.

A year later the Government increased its shares in the Company

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We also aim to conserve our resources, reducing emissions and minimising the environmental impact that our operations have on the local community surrounding us

from 20 to 50 percent, Twiga was later nationalised, and the Government then increased its shares to 100 percent.

Since inception Twiga has continued to produce high quality cement to stringently conform to the standards issued by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), creating three brands of cement which includes Twiga Extra, Twiga Plus+ and Twiga Ordinary.

All products provide exceptional value for money, particularly Twiga extra which has great workability and forms plasters and moulds with ease. Twiga Ordinary is perhaps more of a traditional product, with higher strength than Twiga Extra and Twiga Plus.

Milestone expansions

Over the years the Company has undergone various expansions, including a project in 2014 for the construction of a new Cement Mill to further consolidate Twiga’s market position by increasing its production

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A to Z Textile Mills

A to Z Textile Mills, combines 50 years of textile manufacturing and plastic extrusion expertise to produce the highest quality PP woven bags, Garments and Mosquito Bed Nets with stateof-the-art machinery.

Certied Facility

w w w. a z p f l . c o m capacity to 1.9 million metric tonnes per year.

“The cement mill has been a real milestone in our quest to deliver quality services,” explains the Company on its website. “We have consistently remained a market leader in Tanzania, holding a share of approximately 36 percent. Being a leader has enabled us to supply cement to many sensitive and competitive projects, including the new National Stadium, the Bus Rapid Transit pavement roads, Kigamboni Bridge, the Mwenge-Tegata road, Kilwa road, multi-storey structures such as PSPF, Uhuru Heights, Rita High Rise, NHC and many more over the years.”

Matching its excellence in products, Twiga has been ISO certified since January, 2003, with its business operations confined to a clear quality management system to continue to meeting international standards.

“Our laboratories are equipped with modern x-ray machines,” adds the Company on its website. “We use this to ensure the thorough analysis of geological materials, various semiprocessed products and cement and keeping in mind at all times that we are only successful when our customers are successful.”

Environmental management strategy

The majority of Twiga’s operations still remain at Wazo Hill, the integrated plant which consumes a sizable amount of limestone, water and energy.

“Our industry generates a large amount of emissions which we are trying to tackle, including dust, combustion gases, noise and particulate from the kiln stacks,” continues the Company. “The operations also generate wastewater, waste from plant maintenance and laboratory waste that have pushed us

Innovative Manufacturing

to create a strict waste management system.

“We are incredibly strict when it comes to environmental issues and therefore focus strongly on our waste management and three pillars for sustainable development.”

The aforementioned three pillars include economy, ecology and social responsibility, striving to preserve the natural environment which is the basis for all of the Company’s activity.

“We also aim to conserve our resources, reducing emissions and minimising the environmental impact that our operations have on the local community surrounding us,” states the Company. “Ensuring efficiency to reduce our dust emissions is an aspect that we have focused on specifically over the past few years.

“We hope that moving forward we will be able to continue evolving our business to achieve growth and sustainability while supporting the local environment that we work in.”

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Muscle on a Local Level Multinational

Oryx Energies Uganda is looking to consolidate its position as a top three player in the Ugandan downstream petroleum sector by mixing international clout with a small-company ethos Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Josh Hyland

s one of Africa’s largest and longeststanding independent providers of oil & gas products and services, it could be expected and even forgiven that Oryx Energies would flourish as a continental heavyweight; but in reality, the supplier and distributor continues to thrive as one of the most locallyconscious players in the market.

In no other presence point is this more apparent than in Uganda, where its sourcing and storing of products further affirms its position as a business able to act locally, and

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with a small company mindset. Serving consumers, businesses and maritime operations in the country - and indeed across the wider sub-Saharan African region - the African arm of the Swiss-owned Group can now look to optimise this established presence on an even more concerted scale in the future.

“Majority-owned by private investment group, AOG, Oryx Energies is present today in more than 20 sub-Saharan countries, and has been responding to the evolving energy needs of the region for almost 30 years,” introduces Uganda Country Manager, Peter Businge. “Our reputa-

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tion as a professional and reliable business partner is anchored in our fully-integrated downstream model that enables us to control the full value chain from sourcing products on the open market (through our trading arm), to strategic storage and distribution to end consumers.

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“In Uganda specifically, Oryx Energies initiated in November, 2012 through the total acquisition of Engen Uganda Limited. Since then we have continued to grow our foothold in Uganda with big plans ahead in establishing ourselves as a strong market player in this industry.”

The full spectrum of products entails refined petroleum offerings across petrol, diesel and kerosene; as well as own-brand lubricants, Axcella and Enduro; and even LPG products for cooking, heating and lighting.

Businge continues: “We also sell HFO (heavy furnace oil) and bitumen and through this portfolio, we would like to inform all our current and future customers that we as Oryx Energies are committed to Uganda as a market, in bringing new efficiencies to them as our customers.

“We shall continuously engage with them and would like to show our appreciation for the support they have

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given thus far in making Oryx Energies what it has become today in Uganda.”

Stamp the Oryx Energies name

Since then we have continued to grow our foothold in Uganda with big plans ahead in establishing ourselves as a strong market player in this industry

Epitomising this dedication to national enrichment and saturation is its 11 retail stations across the central and eastern areas of the country, with footprint expansion an ongoing drive.

And matching every geographical improvement is an equally significant enhancement of Oryx Energies’ product range, as Businge explains: “The main growth focus of products has been on diesel and petrol due to the growth of the manufacturing sector in Uganda as well as the increase in passenger vehicles.

“In addition, being a highly agricultural country, we have seen the agricultural sector as another major driving force for diesel consumption.

We also see a tremendous growth in LPG consumption with an average of six percent growth year-on-year due to

Supply Chain Optimising Solutions

Quality Control With the highest in quality control standards in the petroleum products transportation industry, we employ: • Regional and specialized transport services • Professional and courteous Drivers • Detailed record traceability and tracking protocols • Highly trained and efficient dispatchers operating 24/7 • Mobile communications systems • Only day time movement (6:00am6:00pm) • GPS tracking for constant monitoring of every load • The latest equipment specifically engineered for efficiency, safety, and productivity • On-time delivery

AT N O O R , we value our customers’ businesses as much as they do.

As a strategic outsource logistics and supply chain partner, our multidisciplinary specialists develop market and future oriented solutions in response to national and international logistics, as well as individual business challenges. These solutions satisfy high standards of reliability, adaptability, responsiveness and transparency.

Continuing our tradition of smart expansion Noor has over 45 well maintained trucks and if necessary, we can lease up to 100 other trucks, which is a significant player in the fuel transportation industry. Noor will hold a major role in the new emerging market of transportation We specialize in On-Highway and Off-Highway fuel delivery throughout, Uganda, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi and Rwanda. The products we transport age from bulk aviation fuels and other petroleum based products such as Jet Fuel, Diesel Fuel, Petrol Fuel, and Kerosene.

Tel: +254 020 515 7028 info@noorinvestmentsltd.com

Noor Investments Ltd., 17th Floor, ICEA Building Kenyatta Avenue, P.O. Box 43511-00100 Nairobi

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the increase in urbanisation.”

Such innovation and continuous improvement has been rewarded in turn by a plethora of key contracts over the past five years; leveraging key skills and a refined management structure to achieve high levels of personability.

“Our major contracts are in the construction, manufacturing and power generation sectors, and we continuously take part in all tenders in that regard as we continue to stamp the Oryx Energies name on the Ugandan market,” Businge continues.

“That being said, 2017 has been a year of consolidation of what we have, trying to reach full optimisation of all the Company’s current assets.

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...our main focus in 2018 will be expansion so as to spread our retail and commercial footprint in the Ugandan market

“We believe that has now been achieved and our main focus in 2018 will be expansion so as to spread our retail and commercial footprint in the Ugandan market.”

The best results

Differentiation inevitably derives from product quality and enhanced geographical reach, but also stems from Oryx Energies’ ability to find niches in the market, and small nuances that differ from the existing market offering.

One recent example alludes to the potential of entering the fuel card sector, where the Company is looking at meeting the needs of customers that are not yet being

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met by competitors. Superior supply chain management monitoring across its sites is also set to compound this commitment to diversification.

On the personnel side, Oryx Energies utilises reputable human resource firms to initiate recruitment procedures before the Company adds a more bespoke and company-specific element to finding the correct skills.

“Because we know that people are core to our success, hiring is an activity we take our time on so as to get the best results,” Businge notes. “Attitude of the prospective employee, teamwork, experience and learning ability are some of the key attributes we look for.”

Once again addressing notions of localisation, the focus then turns to employing as many indigenous artisans as possible in each location - in this case, Uganda - and this is aided by a series of internship programmes and affiliations with local universities so as to impart relevant skills and to develop the talent pool more sustainably.

Additionally, the aforementioned aspect of supply chain management takes on a similarly local dynamic, this time on a regional level.

“Our strategy is to cluster supply chain management with our other affiliates in Kenya and Tanzania as well as with support from our head office in Geneva,” Businge details. “This opens up avenues for economies of scale which we leverage as a subsidiary, and ultimately as a Group.

“Our approach is to consolidate as a regional block of East Africa as opposed to struggling as an individual subsidiary. This enables us to tap into and utilise all of the Group’s resources optimally, thereby leading to substantial gains.”

Adaptability, principles and flexibility

Ultimately, by honing and mastering internal facets, and by perfecting the global structure for the good of each local subsidiary, Oryx Energies is better placed to react to industry trends and to capitalise when certain opportunities arise.

In the African oil & gas domain, this ability is of course critical, but when taking into account peripheral upstream and construction fluctuations as well, the need raises another notch.

“Case in point is the impact of the inland refinery on the supply chain direction as this will significantly change how our supplies are procured,” Businge offers as an example. “However, Oryx Energies is defined by its multinational capability, yet small company execution; and this means that while we have the multinational muscle to fully compete with the Ugandan market, we do so as efficiently as a smaller business.”

The reduced bureaucracy and red tape results in a more streamlined approach to projects and market penetration, while also speeding up project completion times and ultimately ensuring enhanced satisfaction among the Company’s customers.

Businge concludes: “This is epitomised by our values of adaptability, principles and flexibility and looking forward we expect to leverage these values to consolidate our position as one of the Ugandan downstream petroleum sector’s top three players; achieving top position in one or two products, and with a much greater nationwide presence overall.”

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MegChem

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uilding long-term relationships with clients has always been at the heart of MegChem’s success and although no job is too small, it strives to consistently enter into longer-term contracts with its key clients.

The development of these numerous long-term contracts has enabled the Company to firmly cement itself in the local market, establishing its decentralised offices in the main industrial Sentra in South Africa. The Company’s inception was in 1995, initially as an engineering company focusing on detail-design engineering for the oil & gas industry.

“During the past two decades, we have expanded our service offering to become a multidisciplinary engineering company,” explains Pieter Neethling, Managing Director of MegChem. “We have broadened our services beyond pure design and consultation, moving into a fully-fledged project execution engineering house.”

With thanks to the Company’s hard work in this department, MegChem currently employs more

Despite operating in a tumultuous industry, MegChem continues to succeed with a mixture of large and small-scale projects to service engineering needs and improve standards in the local oil & gas market Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Josh Hyland

than 80 graduate engineers of which 30 are ECSA-registered professional engineers. Alongside these engineers is an additional 120 highly skilled design draftsmen that provide a strong technical base, and this base lies at the heart of the Company and its service delivery.

“Since the Company was established, we have worked to the ideal that quality in every aspect of the business is paramount,” adds Neethling. “Everything we do in this business not only develops a loyal customer base, but also enables us to retain and grow the base.”

From the very beginning, the Company’s endeavours have been carried out with the purpose of achieving the best possible combination of quality and value for money for its loyal customers.

Achieving quality

The energy sector is an increasingly regulated environment and within that MegChem has spent significant time and energy on developing its own in-house quality management system.

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SECUNDA CONTROL VALVE SOLUTIONS (PTY) LTD (SCVS)

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CVS was formed in 2013 and is the Channel Partner for BHGE Dresser International LLC for the Secunda Area. The Company supplies Masoneilan control valves and spares to Sasol and all engineering contractors in the area.

Situated in Secunda, South Africa, the Company helps its customers to calculate and select the correct control valve for the specific application, and supplies its products accordingly for various projects and control valve replacements. The Company also provides technical assistance and training through BHGE Dresser.

Contact: Las van Deventer T +27 17 639 1485/9, +27 83 460 1799 E las@scvs.co.za

New technologies epitomise its status as an adaptable organiser

“In 2004, we proudly received ISO 9001 certification which we have been able to maintain ever since,” adds Neethling. “Over the years we have always regarded this focus and determination to achieve quality as the backbone of our service offering, forming our core value system which is instilled in every new employee.”

MegChem is highly dependent on

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its employees for the up-keep of its service offering, realising early on that the market it operates in cannot always be relied upon to provide the skills and expertise required for success.

“In order to tackle this problem, we established a training academy named Gola, in 2011,” Neethling continues. “For our work in this area

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Employees are trained to achieve excellence

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we have attained SETA accreditation specifically for the programme formed in 2012 - and have since been able to train more than 120 mechanical and piping draftsmen through our rigorous training.”

MegChem has always been an employee-owned business, and since the Company began as an ownerdriven entity it has imprinted a value system that drives both commitment and customer focus.

In line with the aforementioned commitment to its employees, the Company has always realised the importance of BBBEE compliancy.

“In 2016 we began a BBBEE transaction that resulted in the ownership that we now possess,” describes Neethling. “In terms of these codes we are now 51 percent black owned and 30 percent black women owned, with this change assisting us in attaining a level four score on the Amended Code of Good Practice on Black Economic Transformation.”

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Investing in technology

The technology we are inputting is without doubt highly expensive while also requiring a high level of utilisation; however, it is important for us to remember the positive impact it will have to our Company in the long-run

Like the industry it operates in, MegChem is a fast changing and adaptable organisation, and this involves embracing new technologies to drive down costs and provide higher value.

“This trend we are entering is not without its pitfalls,” states Neethling.

“New technology will inevitably require significant cash input, as well as rigorous training of employees to ensure it is being used efficiently.

“The technology we are inputting is without doubt highly expensive while also requiring a high level of utilisation; however, it is important for us to remember the positive impact it will have to our Company in the long-run.”

An example of the technology currently being brought into MegChem includes high-definition laser scanning.

The Company has developed the competence to use this technology to the benefit of its clients, mitigating the challenges associated with brownfield

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KELVION SOUTH AFRICA

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elvion South Africa (previously GEA Aircooled Systems and GEA Nilenca) has been collaborating with Megchem for more than 20 years. The Company has designed, manufactured and delivered numerous pressure vessels, shell and tube heat exchangers and air cooled heat exchangers to Megchem for Southern Africa petrochemical plants.

Kelvion also uses Megchem for specialised engineering solutions including piping design work on high pressure piping for power station refurbishment work, rigging studies for installation of heavy equipment in power stations and pressure vessel design for waste heat boilers.

www.kelvion.com

project execution. MegChem has been using the technology over the past 10 years, utilising specialist inhouse teams operate the scanners to capture the data where after the data is being used by our technical teams throughout our integrated design processes. This approach greatly facilitates the design complexities associated with brownfield plants, and is also being used as a planning agent for equipment replacements and complex rigging for highly congested plants. With thanks to the aforementioned technology MegChem now can provide its clients with a 4D model of their plant modifications, with the fourth dimension providing a visual demonstration of construction schedule.

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Neethling adds: “We have also invested in the latest state-of-theart software for piping design and modelling, piping stress analysis, mechanical design and modelling, finite element analysis, process and instrumentation design and analysis; while also having a highly proficient team of engineers to solve complex engineering problems.”

Current projects

Solving complex engineering problems

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With thanks to its advancements in technology and a well deserved reputation for excellence, MegChem is currently working on some exciting projects. Recently the Company was appointed as the engineering contractor for four major projects at the Chevron Refinery in Cape Town.

“One of the projects the crude column replacement required a clever design and extensive planning, taking into consideration the existing operations and structures in place at the plant,” describes Neethling. “We

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Oil and gas play a significant role in the global energy mix.

Kelvion is the experienced partner at your side with trendsetting solutions that provide efficient heat exchange capabilities in production, transportation, and processing for the oil and gas industry, with outstanding reliability, availability, and an unyielding pursuit to cut your life-cycle costs to the core. www.kelvion.com

Experts in Heat Exchange – since 1920

SAFEGUARDING TOMORROW’S RAW MATERIALS SUPPLY WITH TODAY’S TECHNOLOGIES undertook process improvements and KLV_Oel-und-Gas_AZ_96x160_170925_RZ_EN.indd worked closely with our client’s team 1 of engineers.

“Perhaps the biggest challenge we encountered during this process was the execution of the rigging, mainly owed to the small space we had to work in for the positioning of the crane that was forced to lift from a congested plant area.”

Alongside that large-scale project, MegChem has also worked on a NPA de-bottle necking project located in Sasol Secunda for which MegChem completed basic engineering; increasing production at the plant by 37 percent. Following on from this success, MegChem was appointed the engineering contractor for detailed engineering, procurement, fabrication and construction.

“We completed this construction during a shutdown period of 33 days where we had to work 24 hours a day,” explains Neethling. “The entirety of the construction included 4,800 weld

The KºBloc is a fully welded plate heat exchanger with a solidly bolted frame which consists of four columns, top and bottom plates as well as four side plates – and that´s just one of the product solutions Kelvion offers the oil & gas market!

Our clients have become specifically costsensitive and as such we have excelled in meeting this demand for value for money

inches that were completed in the 26.09.2017 11:37:07 shop, alongside 1,550 weld inches completed in the field with a total of 250 resources involved during construction.”

The Company has thrived against the odds since the economic downturn in 2007 to retain large-scale projects such as these, as in general there has been far less capital spent on bigger capital projects. In addition smaller maintenance related projects remain very important, as well as environmental compliance projects and plant optimisation.

“Our clients have become specifically cost-sensitive and as such we have excelled in meeting this demand for value for money.

Neethling concludes. “Currently we believe that the time is ripe for market penetration in Africa and despite the difficulties these markets may present, we are very eager to continue to set up partnerships moving forward.”

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M B T

P E T R O L E U M

CONQUER the World with Us MBT Petroleum is distinguishing itself from competitors through the establishment of a dynamic service to rival any company operating within the industry Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Josh Hyland

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hen the opportunity within the petroleum sector for an aggressively servicedriven and motivated company was identified, Johan Fouché, the Chief Executive Officer of MBT Petroleum founded a business based on those very values.

Since 2005 MBT Petroleum has supplied supreme customer service, competitive pricing, excellent communication and an unfailing ability to put the needs of its customers first.

“We are a proudly specialist group, leading the way in the South African petroleum and lubrication sectors

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respectively,” explains the Company on its website. “Historically the South African petroleum industry is dominated by refining wholesalers such as Shell, Engen, BP, Chevron, Total and Petro SA.” South Africa is also home to secondary-tier petroleum suppliers referred to as non-refining wholesalers - in which MBT Petroleum is among the leaders and recognised as BEE compliant in the Oil Industry Fuel Charter. “Our Company has played an instrumental role in directing change in the industry over the past eight years, establishing ourselves as one of the leading non-refining wholesalers

in our local industry,” adds the Company. “Currently we are looking to focus our efforts on expansion of both existing and new retail service stations, working on our branding in particular.”

Extensive product range

The Company provides its customers with an extensive range of products to serve all needs across the market, including automotive fuels and lubricants from its various contracts with a selection of refineries for the supply of petroleum products.

The Company adds: “We have a wide product range in both

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unleaded petrol and diesel products, alongside services in asset finance, securities, on-road refuelling, toll and maintenance, projected monthly price movements, site and retail licence applications, environmental impact assessments, traffic impact studies, fuel management systems, and pump and tank installations.”

MBT’s unleaded 93 and 95 are intended for use in the majority of spark-ignition internal combustion engines, with its lead replacement also available. However, this fuel contains metals that are not recommended for use within vehicles equipped with catalytic converters.

“We have also worked on both our Diesel 50PPM and 500PPM, both of which are highly refined hydrocarbon fuels containing less than 0.005

percent sulphur by mass,” explains the Company. “They are intended for use in all diesel engines, operating at any altitude and allowing engines to deliver an improved driving experience.”

MBT also has an extensive lubricant range, comprising a wide selection of oils and greases manufactured and marketed for the demanding requirements of the sector and ensuring that the products comply with relevant national and international specifications.

Specialist retail service

MBT has tirelessly worked to corner all aspects of the market, striving to establish retail sites in Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and the northwest with all sites clearly identifiable as part of the brand.

“We are a proudly specialist group, leading the way in South African petroleum and lubrication sectors respectively.”

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“Each of our sites has a comprehensive service offering matched with a clean and modern look,” adds the Company. “We have worked hard to rebrand and upgrade our existing sites where our clients are highly successful due to the guidance that we consistently offer them, alongside the implementation and management of effective fuel management systems and HSSE training and support.”

A specialist retail team is also onhand to assist customers during this period of rebranding, going the extra mile to ensure that operations are running smoothly throughout the entire process. Once each of these filling stations has become branded, they are officially a part of the MBT family and with that a key account

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Douwe Egberts Professional is proud to present the Barista One! A brand new state of the art fully automated hot beverage solution designed for ease of use. Simplicity meets style with the one touch LED screen making the perfect cup of coffee every time. The sleek silver styling makes it the perfect fit in any business.

Douwe Egberts Professional is proud to partner with MBT-Petroleum to deliver outstanding service and value.

T: +27 31 570 7500 E: vdp@coindemire.co.za www.vdpdistributors.co.za

manager from the Company will be allocated to each specific site.

Alongside the Company’s extensive work in retail development, MBT Petroleum now offers full installation services for its tanks and pump sets as well as the maintenance thereafter.

The Company states on its website: “Both our new and refurbished tanks are available at extremely competitive prices and together with our retail strategy, strong relationships with commercial clients have been established.”

Dedicated distribution

MBT also has its own up-to-date fleet for the delivery of products to customers, including a selection of state-of-the-art metered tankers that are managed by a competent team of technical, administrative and operational management staff.

“We have a stringent scheduling and planning system that is utilised as soon as the delivery instructions

“We have a stringent scheduling and planning system that is utilised as soon as the delivery instructions are handed down...”

are handed down from the MBT sales department,” affirms the Company.

“We know the importance of delivering fuel on time and strive to get it right every time.

“The recent implementation of a 24hour control room has also successfully been put in place to monitor and control all aspects of a customer’s delivery experience.”

The Company is driven by its devotion to the sale and distribution of bulk fuels, with its fleet of 14 trucks readily available to deliver to clients within 48 hours of payment.

“Our whole team is dedicated to providing a fast, friendly and efficient service while also being an affordable and attainable brand,” concludes the Company. “We are enjoying tremendous growth and unrivalled success with no signs of slowing down; looking forward we will continue to distinguish ourselves from competitors through providing an endlessly dynamic service.”

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Clinical Research

Innovators Fisher Clinical Services South Africa is the innovative industry leader in clinical trial research and serves as the gateway to sub-Saharan Africa for global pharmaceutical and biotech companies Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Callam Waller

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he globally renowned Fisher Clinical Services’ South African facility is going from strength to strength in the pursuit of clinical trial excellence, working with regulatory authorities to ensure compliance in all aspects of its processes.

In August this year the Company became the first clinical trial supply chain and logistics provider in the area to receive a licence to perform secondary packaging and labelling for clinical trials, cementing it as the provider of choice in South Africa for a broad range of clinical trial services.

South Africa is increasingly becoming a target for multinational pharmaceutical and biotech companies and with thanks to Fisher Clinical Services’ well established reputation with the Medicines Control Council (MCC), it has played an instrumental role in the development of clinical trials in the region.

Fisher Clinical Services cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) Distribution facility was set up in 2009, operating for the first three years to establish itself in the local market before taking its successes with the first of several expansions in the latter part of 2012 and into early 2013.

“We set up the Company in one of four business units that could be used as independent offices and temperature controlled warehousing space,” begins Dennis Bode, General Manager of Fisher Clinical Services South Africa. “When we launched our expansion in 2012 into cold and ambient storage, we required more space and took on the second unit in the business park.”

During this time, the Company was one of the main drivers behind the sponsored growth of clinical trials in South Africa and with that mutually beneficial relationship Fisher Clinical secured the third business unit.

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Looking outside of normal ideas

“In 2015 fit out of our cGMP secondary packaging and labeling facility commenced,” adds Bode.

“There was further expansion into Unit 4 in 2016 to accommodate cold chain and ambient storage and distribution requirements and office expansion.”

Supporting clinical trial growth in Africa

“It is important to understand what is driving clinical studies both at home and around the world; that way we are able to deliver a service that our clients will gain maximum benefit from,” continues Bode. “We look outside of the normal ideas for storage distribution, instead focusing on what might attract sponsors into South Africa and Africa.”

Secondary packaging and labeling has been one of the main areas of the Company’s improvement strategy, looking at the needs in sub-Saharan Africa to facilitate distribution into Africa and ultimately the needs of

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pharmaceutical companies looking to grow their clinical studies in South Africa and Africa.

Throughout our expansions and time in the local market, we have seen local growth when it comes to clinical trials and ultimately the work we carry out with both local and international pharmaceutical and biotech clients,” explains Bode. “We found that studying the global markets had a direct correlation to the local market and inspired us to provide an even more efficient service.”

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It is important to understand what is driving clinical studies both at home and around the world; that way we are able to deliver a service that our clients will gain maximum benefit from

In the present day, the vast majority of the Company’s work involves time and temperature sensitive materials, and subsequently Fisher Clinical Services has ensured that its work across the supply chain is carried out at global, recognised clinical cold chain standards ensuring critical patient treatments are maintained within prescribed temperature ranges.

Ensuring patient safety

Quality products are the cornerstone of the Company, driving every aspect of the business and have led to Fisher Clinical Services having an unmatched quality system in the local market.

All of the processes within the Company’s remit have been carefully adapted over time to achieve the highest possible quality, control and compliance standards to ensure patient safety. These processes have been extended to key partners to ensure 100 percent compliance across the entire supply chain, end-to-end.

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“Our mantra is ‘We Supply Hope’, one that is embraced by all employees.”

“With the right team and the years of innovation to support us, we believe that the Company has everything in place to encourage sponsors to come to South Africa and work with our team.”

“We expect each employee to deliver 100 percent daily, there is a very special type of person that is able to perform at these high standards within the job; they are the people that we want to work with us.”

Bode adds: “In order to achieve this ongoing growth, we have always had a continuous improvement mentality within the Company where employees follow our Product Process Improvement (PPI) process. That way we can rest assured that they will make recommendations if they feel something could be done in a better manner.

“We have been involved in global and international studies to help improve all aspects of quality within our services and through that have created an environment whereby we focus on achieving low cost with

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unmatched quality systems in a high performing clinical cold supply chain.”

Recruiting character

Ever-increasingly one of the most important aspects of the business is the people within it; everything at Fisher Clinical Services is people driven and it is therefore vital to have the right people at the helm.

“From a recruitment point of view, our main focus is on looking at the character and finding a person that has passion for the subject,” affirms Bode.

“Each of these people has a drive

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instilled within them naturally; that we know we can work with and develop.

Our mantra is ‘We Supply Hope’, one that is embraced by all employees.”

The Company carries out an extensive amount of training with its people and monitors their performance consistently to ensure they receive the required support they need to effectively carry out their jobs.

The Company runs an induction programme with regular training and assessments to guide each new employee. Alongside that its learning laboratories provide them with hands-

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State-of-the-art facilities merged with a people-driven ethos

on experience of what it will be like in a real cGMP environment. Although they technically work for Fisher Clinical Services, there is a definite feeling within the Company that Management work for them. Ensuring that they always have the knowledge, skills and training to carry out their work in a zero failure environment.

“Finding the right people can take us a lengthy amount of time,” continues Bode. “We expect each employee to deliver 100 percent daily, there is a very special type of person that is able to perform at these high standards within

We have been involved in global and international studies to help improve all aspects of quality within our services...

the job; they are the people that we want to work with us.

“With the right team and the years of innovation to support us, we believe that the Company has everything in place to encourage sponsors to come to South Africa and work with our team,” concludes Bode. “I have no doubt that moving forward there will be an expansion in South Africa as more and more pharmaceutical and biotech companies choose this region to conduct their clinical trials, and I hope that it will spread further afield across the continent.”

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CAVIBEL SA - EQUATORIAL COCA-COLA CAPE VERDE

What We Do,

We Do Well Cavibel SA aims to inspire moments of happiness in supporting the sustainable development of Cape Verde Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

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ver the past two decades, Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Co. has expanded its continental operations in Africa to Ghana, Morocco and Algeria to reach a lucky 13-country footprint. Arguably though, none of the globally-renowned beverage manufacturer’s operations are quite as complex or nationally significant as across the 10 islands of Cape Verde.

World famous for the bottling of brands including Coke, Coke Zero, Fanta and Sprite, the Group’s Cape Verde representative, Cavibel SA, has looked to enrich the nation for more than 20 years via this established offering, as well as a more tailored portfolio that includes water, juice, and beer products.

Across the board, the vision is to consolidate its leadership position as the number one total beverage company in the archipelago.

“This complex structure works in close relation to align strategies and resources to respond to the demands of the operations in nine islands of the country, where Cavibel has five direct distribution centres and four exclusive distributors,” explains Country Manager, Rodrigo Chies. “In the two most touristic-developed islands, Cavibel has a direct distribution centre with full capacity to provide technical services and products to the hospitality channel.

“In fact, Cavibel is well recognised in the country for being one of the few companies with the capacity and ability to respond to the demands of a complex business such as the all-inclusive hostel business, either in terms of quality or quantity.”

This capability derives from Cavibel’s other differentiators in being the only local company to own a local beer manufacturing plant, and to actually own the only national beer brand, Strela.

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Tarrafal beach in Santiago island in Cape Verde

“This gives to our company a competitive advantage that enables us to play an important role in fostering the Cape Verdean economy through tourism; driven by our other differentiators which focus on the quality of our products, the fostering of a national brand, and the role we play in social responsibility,” Chies adds.

Ahead of local expectations

The notion of quality perhaps overrides all of the above, not just in embracing the products, but in how Cavibel conducts itself in general.

The business’s core philosophy, “what we do, we do well” further compounds this ethos but once again brings to mind more than simply thirst quenching.

“To keep on digging into this market that has become more competitive and more demanding, during these 20 years we have never given up on guaranteeing quality in

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Equatorial Coca-Cola Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company started in 1989 in Africa with the concession of Equatorial Guinea. Subsequently, other countries such as Guinea Conakry, Mauritania, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and The Gambia, joined the venture. Equatorial CocaCola was founded in 1997 as a new company to combine the operations of all these countries.

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all senses,” Chies affirms. “We are strongly committed to giving quality to our customers and we will keep on producing locally while always following international good practices and procedures to guarantee that our consumers will always have the best from us.”

Testament to such a philosophy is its locally produced beer brand, Strela, which has received five international quality awards from the International Taste & Quality Institute (ITQI).

Chies continues: “We want to grow our business, but not at all costs though. We also work very closely with the strategies of wider country development and we look to grow the business in support of this local development.

“We also follow the daily market trends in order to understand such developments and what the consumers need. The market is alive and speaks every day and in different ways. Thus, we are focused on giving our consumers alternatives of healthier drinks, such as our new juice, Rani.”

Similar innovations across its sparkling category have resulted in reduced sugar content and more contemporary packaging; while the aforementioned Strela brand has diversified its alcohol contents across the overall range.

“Cavibel is a company that is also aligned to the rules and regulations of the country in terms of manufacturing good practices and sometimes is even ahead of the local expectations,” Chies notes. “We therefore comply with all internal and external audits to guarantee that our procedures adhere to international patterns such as ISO9001, FSSC22000, and OHSAS 18001.”

Motivating project development

Implementing Cavibel’s commitment to the values of excellence, diversity and positive results is a strong team of local employees, each

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driven by principles of engagement, accountability, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Subsequently adopting a recruitment structure which focuses as much on attitude and application as it does on technical ability, the culmination is a safe and stable environment conducive to peripheral business growth.

Chies details: “Among several regular work benefits, Cavibel provides training oriented to the goals of

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the business; motivating project development through our internal talent contests, providing growth opportunities within the country, and generating international career options within the Group system. “Additionally, as much as 90 percent of our workforce is local, with 9.3 out of the remaining 10 percent accounted for from the African continent. Cavibel is also aware of gender equality with a 50-50 split of males and females on the managing board.�

Being in this country for 20 years, making business, is a motive of joy and pride to be the only one in the beverage industry here capable of supplying a full portfolio of drinks, from water, soft drinks and beer.

This was only possible thanks to the support of local authorities, the trust of our consumers, efforts from our workers, and the professionalism of our suppliers and partners.

- Rodrigo Chies, Country Manager

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Commitments with our communities To grow our business while helping to build a strong and sustainably developed community is our driving factor and what guides all the decisions we make.

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This brings to the fore notions of corporate social responsibility (CSR), something that the Company has prided itself on over the years as it looks to ingrain its business success and financial clout into the wider fabric of Cape Verde.

Education, the environment, health, tourism and culture consequently dominate Cavibel’s attentions to this end as the business looks to be a key contributor to the country’s sustainable development.

“On the health side, Cavibel contributes annually to the cataract surgery of the local population. Until now, with the support of Barraquer Foundation, we have given sight to more than 500 patients during two surgery sessions that have happened in one week,” says Hernidia Tavares, Marketing & PAC Manager. “Also, joining efforts with Ruta de la Luz Foundation, we have donated more than 700 pairs of glasses to children suffering from myopia.

“Finally, in partnership with Medshare through the Coca-Cola Africa Foundation, for the second year, Cavibel has supported four central hospitals in the country with two full containers of medical supplies amounting to an investment of more than US$400,000.”

The education strand has included the sponsoring of children, the provision of school uniforms and the promotion of academic contests to enhance national literacy levels; while environmental protection has been encompassed by Cavibel’s status as the only beverage company in the country to own a wastewater treatment plant and a PET recycling programme.

“Finally, on the tourism and culture front, Cavibel is committed to the internationalisation of the country, developing project strategies that go beyond the barriers of the country,” Mrs Tavares finalises.

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“We are strongly committed to giving quality to our customers and we will keep on producing locally while always following international good practices and procedures...”

Inspiring moments of happiness

Having an established, stable and sustainable internal structure in place has allowed the renowned factory operations and resultant products to flourish accordingly. And inevitably, through having such a comprehensive international influence and network, the business is also best equipped to foresee and react to any fluctuating industry trends.

Chies offers: “At present, with the awareness of energy and water savings, productivity increases, safety, occupational health, and environmental protection, Cavibel is having to monitor each of these related KPIs as they become more decisive to the sustainability of the industry, and indeed our performance in the market.

“Our solutions have included energy and water savings, productivity increases, improved raw material yields, an improved safety and occupational health rate, and

our aforementioned wastewater treatment facility.”

On a more industrial note, the unveiling of new facility upgrade across beer lab remodelling and administration systems and concerted improvements across areas of supply chain management have helped to compound Cavibel’s ever-intensifying stronghold.

Chies concludes: “All of this results in competitive advantages across product quality, national branding and CSR, and in the future I would like to report even more investments into this country.

“In turn, this will result in more opportunities of employment, improved capabilities across our workers and facilities, and an improved capability to attend the demands of the market. In a nutshell, we are the Company that wants to keep inspiring moments of happiness in supporting the sustainable development of this country.”

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Healthy Children, Healthy Nation, Healthy Africa Africa Improved Food’s inclusive business model and ongoing dedication to regional enrichment has contributed to the Company’s reputation as East Africa’s “social enterprise” Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

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s an innovative social enterprise focused on improving nutrition in East Africa, Africa Improved Foods’ (AIF) mission to curb malnutrition by making high quality, affordable and locallysourced nutritious foods is becoming a reality.

Incepted just three years ago, the Company’s aim from day one was to find a solution to malnutrition in the region, and soon after - with the Government of Rwanda quickly onboard - the construction of a stateof-the-art manufacturing facility in Kigali got underway.

Chief Executive Officer, Amar Ali picks up: “By December, 2016, construction was completed and since then the fortified foods that we produce have fed more than one million children. As a next step we are looking to expand our operations to Ethiopia and other East African countries in the near future.

“Our products are presently available in Rwanda, Uganda and DRC. We are currently also exploring distribution options in Kenya and Tanzania. For now, our goal is to gain a strong foothold in all East African countries by becoming a trusted supplier of both government programmes and commercial distributors. However, we are ambitious; if good opportunities arise in other African countries we will definitely consider them.”

A public-private partnership incorporating DSM, FMO, CDC, IFC and the Government of Rwanda (for that country specifically); AIF works alongside these partners to represent the overall shareholders of AIF Holding.

In Rwanda, this has already manifested in the production of fortified blended foods (FBF) in terms of product

innovation; a blend of cereals fortified with vitamins and minerals.

“Special variations, such as those intended for infants, may contain milk powder,” Commercial Director, Darshana Joshi adds. “We currently produce Super Cereal Plus for WFP, Shisha Kibondo for the Government of Rwanda and a commercial range of nutritious porridges under the Nootri brand for consumers in East Africa.

All our products are fortified and thus contribute to reducing micronutrient deficiencies in the most vulnerable population - pregnant and breast feeding mothers and children aged six months to two years.”

This has been a concerted goal since inception for AIF, with its first products targeting infants as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers.

Joshi continues: “This was chosen because improving nutrition during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life can significantly improve growth and cognitive development. However, our marketing team soon understood that older children and adults were asking for a product adapted more to their specific needs.

“As such, we are about to launch a series of multigrain family porridges in larger, more affordable bags. Like all our other products, these family porridges will be enriched with vitamins and minerals.”

The nutritious Nootri porridge range

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AURORA Satisfying Demand The Zambian Government, in fulfillment of its policy to improve agricultural trade, has put in place mechanisms and structures that encourage local Zambian companies such as Aurora to participate with ease and efficiency in the export of agricultural products.

With Zambia, producing an estimated 3.6 million tonnes of white non-GMO maize for the 2017/2018 season, while national consumption until the next farming season is estimated at 1.8million tonnes; there is surplus maize product readily available for export. In addition, the ease of export is magnified by Zambia’s central location, strategically placing Zambia in proximity with SADC member countries and consequential access to ancillary markets, which markets include countries in the COMESA region.

Its manufacturing plant is already at 90 percent capacity

Africa to feed Africa

Despite being a very young company, AIF has already diversified and expanded its product range exponentially, while achieving several key milestones on a broader note.

After just six months of production, its manufacturing plant had already reached 90 percent operational capacity; a testament to the speed at which employees have mastered operating procedures, which Joshi describes as “truly unique”.

“We are also proud about the fact that AIF has recently been awarded the FSSC 22000 certification, which is the highestlevel Food Safety System Certification a food manufacturer can have,” she says. “A key pillar of this success was the investment that AIF made in education and training of its staff.

“For example, plant operators and shift leaders went on training excursions to plants in Singapore, Switzerland and Kenya to observe and

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We are also proud about the fact that AIF has recently been awarded the FSSC 22000 certification, which is the highestlevel Food Safety System Certification a food manufacturer can have

The Company’s ability to deliver and its reliability has allowed for it to develop key partnerships with its trading partners. Noteworthy is its business relationship with Africa Improved Foods (“AIF”) and ProDev/ Minimex, two of Rwanda’s largest grain importers, which has seen the Company maintain a steady supply of maize to AIF and enhances the credibility of Aurora; not only in Rwanda, but in the East African region as well.

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Address No. 10 Matandani Close Rhodes Park PO Box 34972, Lusaka T +260 979 318703 +260 969 030556 E info@auroragp.com andreasimbwae@auroragp.com

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AURORA

COMMODITIES LIMITED Introduction

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urora commodities limited (“Aurora”) is a Zambian commodity supply company that is specialized in the supply of agriculture commodities such as grains and beef products.

Aurora provides commodities to Zambian and regional customers spanning from Central, southern and east African markets.

Locally Aurora supplies over 10,000 tonnes. True to its vision of striving to be the market leader in the provision of high quality grain products to Zambia and beyond, Aurora supplies both the private and public sectors.

Aurora's strengths lie in its

Aurora's strengths lie in its quality products and the efficient and reliable delivery of its commodities. This strength is drawn from Aurora's network of reliable farm producers, finance houses and transportation companies to ensure timely delivery of commodities to clients. The strong networks within the supply chain has enabled Aurora commodities to grow its commodity business exponentially resulting in the supply of Non-GMO Maize and Soya beans to major local millers and exports to neighboring countries within SADC and COMESA regions.

Expansion into Africa Having steadily established itself on the local Zambian market, Aurora has turned its focus to firmly establishing its presence in the Pan-African region.

With this focus in mind, over the past six (6) months, Aurora has supplied and continues to supply grain as follows;

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Over 10,000 tonnes of maize and 8,000 tonnes of Soya Beans into Zimbabwe;

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Over 6,000 tonnes of maize and 5,000 tonnes of soya into Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; and

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Maize meal in excess of 3,000 tonnes into the Democratic Republic Congo.

Aurora anticipates to deliver at least 90,000 tonnes of maize and 20,000 tonnes of soya beans in the next twelve (12) months through out the above mentioned countries

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BÜHLER Working for a cause Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) is a non-profit organisation that supports African food producers and millers with technical and economic knowledge and expertise thanks to the voluntary work of employees from the partner companies.

PFS was founded in 2009 by General Mills and includes several leading companies from the global food industry as partners. Bühler became a partner in 2013. Since then, employees have supported projects in Africa and in October 2016, a meeting of the founding partners took place at Bühler in Uzwil, and in addition to projects already running, the Company will support more local training courses for food processing.

The Company also joined the organisation “One Young World” in 2016. This non-profit organisation brings together young leaders from all over the world in order to develop solutions for the most pressing challenges worldwide.

The Company supports the nonprofit organisation Partners in Food Solutions with its vision to improve food security and nutrition to enrich lives around the world, together with some of the world’s largest food and agricultural companies.

Capital investments affirms AIF's pioneering status

learn how to implement high quality manufacturing standards.”

AIF has never been afraid to invest where necessary, whether that’s into product development or human resources, and so far, €60 million has been spent on capital expenditures in Rwanda alone. Covering elements of packaging lines, new technologies or manufacturing processes, AIF remains a truly pioneering venture.

“Our vision is for Africa to feed Africa,” Ali emphasises.

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Country Manager, Prosper Ndayiragije adds: “A lot of the food aid and commercial food products that are distributed in Africa are still imported from abroad. By upholding the highest quality standards and sourcing ingredients locally, we are hoping to boost the local economy and contribute to sustainable development.

“From a commercial perspective, this translates into making available a local product that is as good as

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As of today, Partners in Food Solutions have helped strengthen the xxxxxxxxx capacity Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx of more than 600 food companies in Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Malawi, and Ethiopia, impacting nearly 829,000 local smallholder farmers who support an estimated 4.9 million family members.

Bühler is proud to contribute to this great cause with financial support and skilled volunteers.

www.buhlergroup.com Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

Every day, billions of people come into contact with BĂźhler, be it to cover their basic needs for food or for mobility.

With our industrial process technologies and solutions, we contribute significantly to feeding the world’s population, as well as reducing carbon emissions of cars, buildings and machinery. As a global Swiss family enterprise, we are committed to a sustainable future. www.buhlergroup.com

Dedicated to healthy nutrition and energy efficiency.

Innovations for a better world.

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EAST AFRICAN PACKAGING INDUSTRIES LTD (EAPI)

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ast African Packaging Industries Ltd (EAPI) was established in 1959 in Nairobi, Kenya. Since then EAPI has been one of the leading manufacturers of products made out of corrugated cardboard.

To keep up with the demands of modern packaging and in order to maintain service levels of the ever increasing volumes of our customer base, EAPI is investing heavily in upgrading our machinery; including state-of-the-art multi-colour printing presses.

These investments will help to service one of our major long-term customers and one of the world leaders in horticulture, Flamingo Horticulture Kenya Ltd.

www.eapi.co.ke

or better than any of the imported brands. To compete with those premium brands, we are looking into introducing both instant flavoured cereals in packaging ranging from tins to large family packs.�

AFGRI AFGRI & AIF partner to ensure food security

Improving livelihoods

In order to achieve local sustainability throughout the value chain, it has also been a concerted strategy of AIF’s to hire 100 percent locally. Naturally, when this becomes a challenge, the search becomes regional rather than national, but as a Greenfield project, there is a lot of space for personal development; and the Company has quickly established itself as an employer of choice.

In the past nine months alone, many employees have risen through the ranks of the Company, and AIF is proud of the opportunities it is able to offer young people as they look to unearth their own talents and begin their own professional journeys.

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AFGRI has been in grain management since 1923 and set up its operation in Uganda in July 2013 to contribute to food security in the country.

The Company operates in each region of Uganda as they source, maintain and store for food & feeds manufacturers both locally and regionally.

Africa Improved Foods (AIF) manufactures high quality and nutritious complementary foods, thus deserves high quality grain especially for the infant and a strategic partnership of AFGRI and AIF will strengthen food security within the region.

Equipment to facilitate competition with premium brands

T +27 11 063 2347

www.afgri.co.za

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AFGRI is a leading agricultural services company with core competencies to enhance, support and guide the growth of your agricultural enterprise.

AFGRI, your partner for life.

WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT ENSURING FOOD SECURITY FOR OUR CONTINENT, ON WHICH OUR BUSINESS HAS A MORE THAN 90 YEAR HERITAGE IN GRAIN AND AGRICULTURE. IT IS THIS PASSION THAT DRIVES OUR VISION INTO AFRICA. AFGRI Grain Management 12 Byls Bridge Boulevard, Highveld, Ext 73, Centurion 0157 | PO Box 11054, Centurion 0046 | T: +27 11 063 2347 | www.afgri.co.za

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ZDENAKIE

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denakie is a Zambian company trading in agricultural commodities, supplying fertilisers and is a leading storage provider in the country.

The Company is very active in supplying grains and oil seeds in the SADC region and expanded recently in the East African region including working with organisations such as the World Food Program.

The Company has also partnered with Africa Improved Foods in Rwanda to supply some of AIF’s maize requirements.

We are very proud to be associated with a Company such as AIF that makes a meaningful contribution in reducing malnutrition in Rwanda through their highly nutritious range of products and a Company who seeks out for the best quality of raw materials for its products’ .

www.zdenakie.com “For some positions we work exclusively with interns who go through training in different departments based on their interest and potential,” Joshi details. “With the right training, mentoring and feedback some of them have secured permanent positions in the Company.”

A similarly local commitment is evident across AIF’s pivotal supply chain management too. With an annual maize demand of approximately 28,000 metric tonnes, the Company is by far Rwanda’s biggest maize procurer. Local supply is therefore the only sustainable method to keep up with such demand in the long-term.

“As maize is an important staple crop in Rwanda, AIF is in a unique position to improve local farmers’ livelihoods,” Ndayiragije explains.

“AIF is committed to paying farmers a premium price for high quality maize. To help farmers improve their yields and quality standards, we are partnering with CHAI, World Vision

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International, Technoserve and One Acre Fund.

“We are currently working with about 9,000 local farmers and are looking to increase this number next season.”

Another element of AIF’s cooperation with farmers has been the value-added option of quick cash payments and on-farm transport services.

Ndayiragije adds: “We work with Kumwe Logistics - a Rwanda-based start-up - to deliver this. Unlike maize and soya, ingredients such as vitamins, minerals and milk powder are hard to find in the region. These products we import either from South Africa or Europe.”

Creating shared value

As a result of AIF’s all-encompassing devotion to local and regional upliftment, the Company is often referred to as a ‘social enterprise’.

On the supply side of the value chain, it works with partners to improve

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smallholder farmers’ production, while on the demand side, the business is equally adept at working alongside governmental institutions and sector associations in order to work towards a common goal: “to ensure the poorest of the poor have access to subsidised nutritious food”.

“To ensure long-term access to affordable, nutritious foods, we are also working hard to reduce the prices of our commercial products, albeit without compromising on quality, so that all segments of society can fulfil their micronutrient requirements,” Ali notes.

“It is perhaps fair to say AIF is more involved in ‘creating shared value’ than ‘corporate social responsibility’.”

The scale and social mission associated with the shared value being generated makes AIF unique. It is the largest producer of FBF in East Africa with an annual capacity of 45,000 metric tonnes, which is impressive in itself. But in then focusing that capacity towards plugging societal

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T+260 211 846333 info@zdenakie.com www.zdenakie.com

Zdenakie trades in agricultural commodities, supplies fertilisers & storage in Zambia.

G R A I N T R A D I N G | F E R T I L I S E R S U P P LY | T R A N S P O R T & L O G I S T I C S | W A R E H O U S I N G

cracks, the ambition veers from being financially-driven to being more broadly significant.

Ali concludes: “The focus is on reducing malnutrition and sourcing maize and soya from local smallholder farmers as much as it is on getting a return on investment. And in the future I would like to see a significant reduction in malnutrition in line with this focus.

“That would mean AIF has contributed to the improved wellbeing of an entire generation of children, and that achievement would be priceless.

“Secondly, I would like to see AIF become a trusted supplier of NGOs and Governments in Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, DRC and Kenya. And thirdly, I would like to see our Nootri products listed in the shops of these same countries.

“Finally, I’d also like to see an improvement in local sourcing. With nutritious locally-sourced foods, it would be great if we could truly get Africa to feed Africa.”

Your globally diversified merchant and client solutions provider Engelhart Commodities Trading Partners was established in 2013 and has since developed into a global community merchant, with a presence in all the major global commodities hubs.

The Company is a global diversified merchant and client solutions provider in the commodities space, covering a range of agricultural, industrial and energy products.

The Company provides support to its clients throughout the entire value chain with a proven strategy focused on financing, marketing, transportation and risk mitigation.

www.ectp.com Silverstream Business Park, 10 Muswell Road South, Bryanston 2021, Johannesburg, South Africa

Tel: +27 11 996 6600

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South Nyanza Sugar Company has perfected its ability to deliver clean and mature sugar cane, increasing Kenya’s national sugar production and reducing the country’s dependence on imports Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

Sweetness Bringing back the

outh Nyanza Sugar Company (SonySugar) is well established in Kenya as the manufacturer of choice for clean and fresh sugar, developed over the years to utilise the rich soils available in the country which contributes to the well-known sweetness of the brand.

Its current product range offers two distinct choices for both the trader and consumer, including the SonySugar Brown and Mill White sugar that is packed in sizes ranging from six grams to 50 kilograms.

The extensive offerings from the Company have gained it a superbrand status, becoming a household name that is recognised among the top brands operating in East Africa.

“We are diversifying as a company and increasing our product range

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in order to access new markets,” explains Managing Director, Bernard Otieno. “Currently we are paying particular attention to sweeteners and condiment products offers and looking to make significant investments in the near future.”

The Company was established 41 years ago by the Government of Kenya in partnership with two development finance institutions, ICDC and Industrial Development Bank; as well as a private investor named Mehta Group International. Located in Migori County in the south-western region of Kenya, SonySugar’s mandate still remains the same, to increase national sugar production and subsequently reduce dependence on sugar imports; creating employment opportunities and enhancing regional development.

“Over the years we have succeeded in shaping regional development

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through the expansion of commercial agriculture, urban development, employment, and trade and development,” continues Otieno. “Now we are trying to expand opportunities, focusing our efforts on expanding cane development, manufacturing, marketing and trade in quality sugar and associated products.”

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S O U T H

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C O M P A N Y

( S O N Y S U G A R )

ARM ENGINEERING COMPANY LTD

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RM Engineering Company Ltd was incorporated in June 2006 to undertake turnkey contracting services, electrical engineering, and design & project supervision.

Registered as a Class A1 contractor with the Ministry of Works as well as the National Construction Authority, the Company offers expertise in the electric power industry according to its customer’s needs and to any standard worldwide.

The Company’s focus is in East and Central Africa, with an ultimate target of striving to provide affordable and high quality products for the entire African region.

T +254 733 676036 E info@armengineering.co.ke

Investing in innovative initiatives is vital to development

www.armengineering.co.ke

Strategy for growth

The Company’s current capacity is approximately 750,000 metric tonnes (MT) per year, significantly contributing to the fruition of Kenya’s Vision 2030 through growing sugar production.

“Currently we are working hard to up capacity optimisation, increasing production to 900,000MT per year,” states Otieno. “In order to achieve this, our plans include increased sugarcane availability, sugarcane supply and de-bottlenecking as well as process automation of the plant to operate at its optimal levels.”

The Company has embarked on initiatives and investments in recent years, bettering its industry leading status and improving the availability of prime-quality, mature cane.

Otieno affirms: “We have invested in competencies and capabilities in sugarcane agronomy, farmer support and funding, investment in roads, cane development and manufacturing

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Bernard Otieno, Managing Director

systems, enterprise resource planning, human resources and quality management systems.”

Optimisation strategy

While pursuing its strategy for optimisation of the core business performance in sugar production,

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the Company has been moving itself up the value chain through the diversification of products. In recent times in particular the Company has made significant investments towards numerous areas of the business.

“We have paid particular attention to the realisation of information and communication technology and its importance to development in this day and age,” continues Otieno. “One stand-out investment has been in a state-of-the-art ERP system which covers all aspects of the business, as well as an agriculture-specific management system.”

Alongside the bigger investments that SonySugar has made in recent years, resources have also been deployed more specifically on agronomic trials for sugarcane to improve the various cane varieties that the Company produces.

Otieno states: “At this point in time there is a lot of work occurring on our process side, involving

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Our vision is to attain world class standards in electrical engineering and our mission is to provide affordable, competent and innovative products and services in the power sector.

1st Floor Jamii Bora Makao Building, Funzi Road, Off Enterprise Road, Nairobi, Kenya PO Box 4285 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Telephone: +254 733 676036 / +254 726 485160 Email: info@armengineering.co.ke Website: www.armengineering.co.ke

E L E C T R I C A L E N G I N E E R S • C O N T R O L A N D H V D E S I G N • A U T O M AT I O N • I N S TA L L AT I O N & C O M M I S S I O N I N G

modification and modernisation of our sugar plant. Some of the key aspects of the upgrades taking place include the installation of a Fibrisor to improve cane preparation for milling, automation of our boilers and installation of the vertical crystalliser to ensure conversion efficiency.”

Targeted products

During its many years in the industry, SonySugar has stood uniquely among its many competitors in the industry, due predominantly to its unwavering philosophy and commitment to its business model.

“Our main philosophy that drives us on in the business is the belief that we can only operate in a continuously profitable and sustainable manner if our key partners are motivated by our services,” explains Otieno. “Our strategic intent and direction will always be to move up the value chain through the diversification of our products in relation to our main work

SonySugar’s farmers are key business partners in the raw material supply chain

in sugar processing and deepening synergy with our partners in the material and product markets and technology.”

Looking forward, the main targeted products for the Company are ethanol, packed molasses, briquette, commercial electric power and medium density fibre board.

Through working with these products SonySugar is confident of its move up the value chain while also upping the milling capacity of the sugar mill, enhancing its capability for the production of additional products.

“We believe that in the next five years the Company will have a stabilised milling capacity of 3,000 tonnes of cane a day, while also having launched at least three additional products,” concludes Otieno.

“Currently we are working on phased implementation of those that will be our main priority and we are excited to see how we will progress within the market in the coming years.”

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PRACTICAL NIGERIAN CONTENT FORUM

E V E N T

F O C U S

Spend three days with local content leaders as they address today’s most pressing challenges

PNC 2017 Advert 180 x 240.pdf

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WHEN: 6-9 November

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WHERE: Le Meridien Ibom Hotel & Golf Resort, Uyo, Akwa Ibom, Nigeria CONTACT: pnc@thecwcgroup.com WEBSITE: www.cwcpnc.com

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OVER THE PAST six years, the Practical Nigerian Content Forum organised by CWC Group in partnership with the Nigerian Content and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has developed alongside the Nigeria Oil & Gas Content Development Act (NOGICDA). In 2011, the first PNC Forum gathered industry stakeholders to explore the requirements of the NOGICDA. During PNC 2012 to PNC 2014, participants outlined the challenges being faced in compliance and explored potential solutions with representatives from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, NNPC, the NCDMB and other government agencies. PNC 2015 and 2016 celebrated the progress made to date, re-examined the objectives of the NOGICD Act and reviewed the top priorities for compliance in the new economic climate of lower oil prices.

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PNC 2017 will provide an update of the steps that have been taken by the Government and industry stakeholders over the past year to ensure the sustenance of Nigerian Content efforts in today’s operating environment.

The 7th Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Forum, officially supported by the NCDMB, will be taking place 6-9 November 2017 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom for the first time.

Spend three days with the top leaders in local content as they address today’s most pressing challenges. You’ll leave with new strategies on increasing Nigerian content implementation, and knowledge on Nigerian content initiatives being implemented by the Federal Government.

Speakers Include:

• Hon. Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Federal Republic of Nigeria* • Dr Maikanti Baru, Group Managing Director, NNPC* • Engr Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board • Patrick Obah, Director – Planning, Research & Statistics, Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board • Paul McGrath, Chairman & Managing Director, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited • Taofik Adegbite, Chief Executive Officer, Marine Platforms

THE WORLD MARKETING CONGRESS

E V E N T

F O C U S Purpose vs Purposeful

Discussing how businesses can grow, thrive and win by being a positive force in the world EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 24-25 November WHERE: Taj Lands End, Mumbai, India CONTACT: aalok.pandit@ worldmarketingcongress.org WEBSITE: www.worldmarketingcongress.org

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A RECENT ARTICLE in the media reported the death of the ‘failed strategy’ of CSR. It argued that a new era of social purpose was emerging, with brands developing growth strategies geared towards a genuinely positive impact on society.

Sustainability reports, strategic CSR and even marketing campaigns were all bundled together claiming to be “purpose”.

If purpose is defined as so many different things, does it start to become a little meaningless? And are we in danger of a new kind of ‘purposewash’, where brands claim to be ‘benefiting the world’ then just carrying on with business as usual?

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Part of the problem is the seemingly interchangeable words of purpose and purposeful. We see a difference between ‘having a business purpose’ and ‘being a purposeful business’. The former outlines the reason a business exists over and above simply ‘making money’ and is also sometimes known as the ‘Why’ or ‘Core Ideology’.

A purposeful business is a business that exists primarily to tackle a problem or challenge in the world in some specific way, and sees the sale of products and services as a vehicle for this positive change.

For a purposeful business, money represents freedom; the freedom to pursue a mission, to make a difference, and to measurably and impactfully change lives. It is these businesses that tend to enjoy the biggest rewards of acting with purpose; higher staff productivity and retention, greater customer loyalty, improved regulatory relationships, etc.

Thus our questions are:

• What does purposeful look like?

• How important is the internal culture?

• How does commitment to their purpose impact influencing other stakeholders?

• Does a term like “The purpose journey” hold ground?

These are our thoughts for the future of business; one where businesses grow, thrive and win by being a positive force in the world. And the more they do, the better the world will be for all of us.

AFRICA RENEWABLE ENERGY FORUM (ARF)

E V E N T

F O C U S partnerships and closing of deals to sustainably electrify Africa. The Honourable Minister, RABBAH will be giving the opening keynote speeches and he will explore potential financing bottlenecks which could arise in Morocco’s renewable energy strategy with some of Africa’s most established investors.

Alongside its partners, ACWA Power, DLA Piper, DBSA, Engie, Fieldstone Africa, Wärsilä, White & Case, and Jinko Solar; the Morocco Energy Week welcomes governmental figures from across Africa including The Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, South Africa, Ethiopia, Mauritius and Zimbabwe.

Investors take to Casablanca at Morocco’s officially endorsed renewable energy events

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 30 November-1 December WHERE: Hyatt Regency, Casablanca, Morocco WEBSITE: www.africa-renewable-energyforum.com

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UNDER THE AEGIS of the Kingdom of Morocco’s Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development and the personal participation of the Honourable Minister Aziz Rabbah, the annual Africa Renewable Energy Forum will assemble global C-suite level players, actively looking to invest into the African energy sector.

The Forum will assemble some of the most prolific public and private sector investors, project developers and governmental delegations from across Africa.

The event is committed to achieving a sustainable energy-mix for the continent, providing a strategic platform for the forging of long-term

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Needless to say, DFI representation from organisations such as IFC, World Bank, Africa50 and OPIC will be present to showcase financing opportunities and bankable projects.

Gathering enterprises from across the globe, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, Masdar Clean Energy and one of India’s biggest business houses, Adani Solutions will also push the frontier of energy solutions at these upcoming investment summits.

In addition, the Africa Renewable Energy Forum (ARF) will cover the role of renewable energy in achieving a sustainable energy-mix by delving into the financing of clean energy projects and their finalisation. The clear appetite for investments in renewable IPP projects means that the focused dialogue around bankable projects at ARF will certainly help both investors and governments to better formulate an integrated strategy.

The Africa Renewable Energy Forum (ARF) sustains the African COP22 legacy, furthering its goal to a sustainable energy dynamic.

LOCAL PARTNER

Africa

A FR IC A

R E N E WA BL E ENERGY FORUM

30 November - 1 December 2017 HYATT REGENCY – CASABLANCA

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Call +44 (0) 207 384 7901

arf@energynet.co.uk

Ministers of Energy and Heads of Utilities from across Africa are set to gather in Casablanca to announce live renewable energy projects seeking partnerships with developers, financiers and solution providers. Over 500 high level participants will attend this important annual forum to forge partnerships and close deals.

UNDER THE AEGIS OF:

STRATEGIC PARTNERS:

SPONSORS:

SUPPORTING PARTNER:

All readers and subscribers are entitled to an exclusive 10% off on registration.

Email arf@energynet.co.uk with the code ARFAO to claim your 10% off.

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E L E C T R I C X A N D S O L A R -T E C

E V E N T

F O C U S Solar-Tec

The co-located events attract thousands of utilities authorities, developers, managers and distributors from both local and international markets

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 3-5 December WHERE: Cairo International Convention Centre, Cairo, Egypt CONTACTS: info@electricxegypt.com info@solartecegypt.com WEBSITES: www.electricxegypt.com www.solartecegypt.com

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Electricx The 2017 edition of Electricx will be one of the largest in the 27-year history of the power exhibition. With the growth to cover more than 15,000 square metres, the event will be a truly international gathering of more than 10,000 power distributors and retailers, consultants, government representatives, electrical engineers and purchasers from Egypt.

Demand for electricity is growing rapidly in Egypt at an estimated additional 1,500 to 2,000MW per year due to rapid urbanisation and economic growth. It was also announced that Egypt is the largest importer of gensets in Africa; 58.6 million units annually and 30GW of capacity is now planned to be installed every year until 2020.

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Solar-Tec exhibition, co-located with the 27 year old Electricx exhibition attracts thousands of regional utilities and regulatory authorities, leading developers, contractors, consultants, system integrators, project managers and distributors who are constantly sourcing latest solar technologies from both the local and international markets.

The transition towards renewable energy is making a shift in Egypt’s economy, especially with the 2030 vision being announced. In the next few years, Egypt will install over 6.5GW of solar power capacity with investments totalling more than US $30 billion. Also, it was announced that US $13 billion worth of potential investment planned in the renewable energy sector and 2.3GW of solar capacity is targeted by 2017 of which 2GW will be centralized PV power plants and 300MW will be distributed PV installations under 500KW. To enhance the knowledge sharing experience and to facilitate business networking, the organisers of Solar-Tec have designed various comprehensive programmes highlighting key project developments and investments in and around Egypt. This year, based on extensive research about the market and current demands, the exhibition and conference will touch upon key subjects like energy storage (both ongrid and off-grid).

MINING INVESTMENT WEST AFRICA 2018

E V E N T

F O C U S

The foremost West African forum for the global mining community

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 25-26 January, 2018 WHERE: Accra, Ghana WEBSITE: www.mininginvestmentafrica.com

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MINING INVESTMENT WEST Africa is a strategic mining conference and exhibition for the leaders of the mining, quarrying and construction materials industries, bringing together 300 attendees from 20 countries.

Ministers, mining companies, investors and service providers travel from all over Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and the Middle East for two days of partnering, networking and business matching.

Our speakers are industry leaders and provide new perspectives on key issues disrupting and innovating the mining sector, while sharing cuttingedge content and insights on the mining landscape. Our exhibition demonstrates the very latest in technology and solution innovations to mining industry buyers.

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Women in Mining & Mining Tech

For the first time, Mining Investment West Africa will also support inclusion and diversity in the mining sector by focusing on Women in Mining (WIM).

Through a partnership with West African WIM groups and mining companies with exemplary inclusion and diversity practices, Mining Investment West Africa seeks to shine the spotlight on gender diversity and promote a more balanced mining sector for the region.

In addition, there will also be a special conference stream devoted to mining technology called Mining Tech. Service providers can use this platform to highlight their latest technology for the mining sector and how miners can utilise these technological innovations to improve the efficiency of their mining operations.

MININGINVESTMENT WEST AFRICA

25 - 26 JANUARY 2018 Accra, Ghana

Where Miners, Investors and Service Providers Converge

Take Advantage of our Special Offer to Attend and Exhibit Today!

Contact Michael at +65 6717 6017 | michael.lim@spire-events.com Featuring

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