Africa Outlook - Issue 27

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Cloud adoption levels accelerate as Oracle entrenches itself further into Africa to deliver

OIL & GAS FOCUS 22 IGU President, Jérôme Ferrier discusses Africa’s energy-driven future

AIRTEL MALAWI 74 Driving economic growth with financial inclusion products

VESTAS SOUTHERN AFRICA 100

Positive round four results for world-leading wind energy providers

LANGER HEINRICH URANIUM 108

Increasing production in line with country forecasts

AFRICA OUTLOOK ISSUE 27 ALSO FEATURING: COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP | DAVIS & SHIRTLIFF | LITHON PROJECT CONSULTANTS

The Sky is the Limit

The Sky is the Limit

Partnership through Integrity

Tel: +27 11 958 0161 Fax: +27 86 538 2017 info@pegramconsult.co.za www.pegramconsult.co.za

W E L C O M E Oracle’s Plan for Africa’s Tech Transformation

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EDITORIAL

For the second year in succession, one company dominates our issue this month, with Oracle once again taking centre stage to unveil its extensive plans for Africa in 2015.

Africa Outlook’s longstanding relationship with the global IT specialist leads to an even more comprehensive overview this time around, as a range of directors from the Company’s international offices share their views on a host of sectors, trends, CSR initiatives and future forecasts.

We delve into Oracle’s expertise across big data, mobile apps, SaaS, PaaS and smart cities and highlight a selection of customer spotlights which display the importance of close partnerships within the renowned Oracle business model.

Continuing the theme of technological prominence, the rest of this month’s showcasing section also features Airtel’s growing influence in Malawi and the Seychelles, Computer Warehouse Group’s ongoing innovations in Nigeria and Sierratel’s strengthening of Sierra Leone’s fibre backbone.

The tech sector’s supporting cast, as always, features the full selection of industry; comprising Vestas South Africa and Langer Heinrich Uranium in the energy and mining domains; food & drink catered for via Arenel, Liquor City and BrandActiv; manufacturing assembled by the likes of Davis & Shirtliff and Liebherr; and SAPETRO’s story of exploration success in the oil & gas arena.

Knight Frank’s residential consultancy services in Kenya offer a slightly more international flavour to the issue, adding to a front-of-book section which addresses three, key, multinational issues.

North Africa’s descent into continental obscurity is in the process of being resolved and we discuss how Egypt is leading the charge to restore the region to former glories.

Elsewhere, Landon Romano and Innocent Chikunya outline their vision for third world development via wealth migration projects, and IGU’s Jérôme Ferrier discusses Africa’s energy-driven future through the Matthew Staff harnessing of LNG. Editorial Director, Outlook Publishing Enjoy the issue!

OIL & GAS FOCUS 22 IGU President, Jérôme Ferrier discusses Africa’s energy-driven future

AIRTEL MALAWI 74 Driving economic growth with financial inclusion products

VESTAS SOUTHERN AFRICA 100

Positive round four results for world-leading wind energy providers

LANGER HEINRICH URANIUM 108

Increasing production in line with country forecasts

AFRICA OUTLOOK ISSUE 27 ALSO FEATURING: COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP | DAVIS & SHIRTLIFF | LITHON PROJECT CONSULTANTS

Editorial Director: Matthew Staff matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com Deputy Editor: Emily Jarvis emily.jarvis@outlookpublishing.com

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com Art Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Advert Designer: Mandy Farnell mandy.farnell@outlookpublishing.com Images: Thinkstock by Getty Images

BUSINESS Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Operations Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com Sales Manager: Ben Wigger ben.wigger@outlookpublishing.com Senior Project Managers: Arron Rampling arron.rampling@outlookpublishing.com Donovan Smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com Project Managers: Callum Philp callum.philp@outlookpublishing.com Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com Josh Hyland josh.hyland@outlookpublishing.com Stuart Parker stuart.parker@outlookpublishing.com Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com

ACCOUNTS Finance Director: Suzanne Welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office Manager: Jen Whitfield jen.whitfield@outlookpublishing.com WEB DESIGN: Hamit Saka IT: James LeMay

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

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ORACLE AFRICA Oracle Africa Enhances its Presence on the Continent

Playing a key role in Africa’s tech transformation

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AIRTEL MALAWI Financial Inclusion Drives Rural Coverage Driving economic growth with innovative product ideas

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SIERRATEL Strengthening the Fibre Backbone of Sierra Leone Leveraging its unique market position to offer something new

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Discovering a purpose for the good of a continent

NEWS

All the latest top stories across the month from Africa

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COMPUTER WAREHOUSE GROUP Starting a Business Revolution

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AIRTEL SEYCHELLES Driving Innovation, Affordability and Service

INDUSTRIAL REVIVAL Egypt Leads North Africa’s Re-emergence

Industry and country firsts secures double-digit growth

The continent looks up as a sleeping giant begins to wake

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SHARING THE WEALTH Migrating First-World Wealth to Third-World Nations

Developing a sustainable future for some of Africa’s poorest economies

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OIL & GAS Harnessing Africa’s LNG Potential

E N E R GY A N D U T I L I T I E S

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VESTAS SOUTHERN AFRICA Indigenous Renewable Expertise Drives Continent-wide Growth

IGU President, Jérôme Ferrier discusses Africa’s energy-driven future

Positive round 4 results for world-leading wind energy providers

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

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LANGER HEINRICH URANIUM Increasing Production in Line with Country Forecasts

Economic growth in Namibia dictates future uranium opportunity

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KANSAI PLASCON Forward-Thinking Manufacturers

The continent’s leader in paint and coatings

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Renowned manufacturer and supplier of quality goods globally

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ARENEL Moving forward in the Local and Regional Economies

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Making sweets and biscuits to satisfy Zimbabwe’s needs

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LIQUOR CITY RETAIL GROUP Family-Owned Business Shares Its Retail Experience An inclusive franchise offering for indie retailers

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BRANDACTIV Breathing Life into Brands

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ZZ2 World-Leading Practices for Long-Term Value

Optimising internal efficiencies to achieve external growth

FoodHealth is our promise, healthy soil our passion

MANUFACTURING

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DAVIS & SHIRTLIFF GROUP Winning Business Strategy Boosts Indigenous Expertise Leaders in water-related equipment look to explore new markets

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LIEBHERR-AFRICA MARITIME CRANES Maritime Hub Supports Africa’s Growth Markets Meeting the growing demand for cargo handling solutions

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PANDROL SOUTH AFRICA End-to-End Providers of Trusted Rail Track Solutions

Facing Africa’s infrastructure challenges head-on

AVENG MANUFACTURING A Leading Example in Safety RAIL2RAIL (PTY) LTD Connecting People Through Indigenous Engineering

Partnership with Transnet Freight Rail drives company growth

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LITHON PROJECT CONSULTANTS A One-Stop Shop on the Move A proudly Namibian company seeking opportunities further afield

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KNIGHT FRANK KENYA The Best Buildings in Town Planning for long-term development in a competitive market

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SAPETRO West Africa’s Exploration Giants Partnering to drive economic growth

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AVIATION FESTIVAL AFRICA World-Class Exhibition in Aviation

Highlighting new opportunities in the continent’s aviation sector

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INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA

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AFRICA ENERGY FORUM

Helping to unleash Africa’s infrastructure potential

The continent’s biggest gathering of energy ministers and stakeholders

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Cloud Services Set to be Next Big Thing in Africa Wale Odeyemi, Executive Head International Products at Vodacom Business says that out of the cocktail of technological innovations coming from Africa, cloud will be the next big thing Led by faster connection speeds, lower data costs, and increased activity by international businesses, technology services are creating a perfect storm that is set to see cloud services take off in Africa, according to Wale Odeyemi, Executive Head International Products at Vodacom Business.

From Odeyemi’s extensive consultations with companies

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across Africa, it is apparent that most enterprises are showing great enthusiasm about the potential for cloud, but many are looking to service providers for guidance on how to embark on this journey, including where to begin and which applications to use as a proof of concept.

Until recently, adoption of true cloud across the continent has been hampered by concerns around quality

of service achievable across the connectivity, a lack of understanding around cost, availability of bandwidth, security and the privacy of data stored in the cloud.

However, with high-speed data networks rapidly being rolled out across the continent, prices dropping and awareness growing around the benefits of cloud, the situation is changing fast.

Frost & Sullivan reports that cloud computing in South Africa and Kenya alone earned revenues of US$114.6 million in 2013, and expects this total to rise to US$288 million in 2018. In line with this, the fourth annual Cisco Global Cloud Index (2013 – 2018) predicted strong growth of cloud traffic, workloads and storage, with private cloud significantly outpacing public cloud in MEA by 2018.

The upsurge of interest in cloud computing is also being driven by multinationals expanding across Africa, as well as local financial service institutions and healthcare practitioners, with many small and medium sized enterprises now moving directly to cloud at start-up phase, he says.

“It is clear that Africa is looking to ‘true cloud’,” says Odeyemi.

“African businesses want more than just hosted services. Companies want to harness all the benefits of cloud computing, including automation, workforce mobilisation, and the ability to purchase software applications using credit card payments at online cloud stores.”

According to Odeyemi, as companies establish confidence in cloud solutions, they will move more of their applications into the cloud.

However, to achieve this, it is important that enterprises partner with a company that has a robust network and relevant skills to deliver the value that cloud computing promises.

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SA’s Franchise Sector Provides Opportunities for Investors South Africa’s franchise industry has been resilient; experiencing strong growth during the tough economic conditions witnessed over the past six years, and has seen an increase in investment by franchisees and franchisors, especially amongst smaller franchised businesses with lower setup costs.

This is according to Gerrie van Biljon, Executive Director of Business Partners Limited, who says that this growth makes the franchise industry an attractive investment opportunity Gerrie van Biljon, Executive Director of for entrepreneurs. He explained that Business Partners Limited businesses operating within the education and training, health and beauty, “The growing middle class and retail, and quick-service restaurant increased disposable income in South industries have experienced the most Africa has resulted in consumers significant growth. seeking convenience to the everO I L & G A S

Angola Provides Improved Capital Market Access in Oil Price Recovery As the second largest oil producer in Sub-Saharan Africa behind Nigeria, Angola’s government has a strategic plan to aid oil price recovery after more than a 50 percent drop in the oil price and recent credit rating downgrades in Angola. Recent signs of price stability and quick government action to manage the situation are expected to encourage development opportunities in the future as a result.

The Angolan government had planned for an $80 dollar per barrel oil price in 2015, but had to revise that down to just $40 after the crude oil plunge that started in June last

year. This meant it had to reduce $14 billion off this year’s budget and raise its budget deficit expectation to at least seven percent of the GDP. The general view is the price could move toward $60 - $70 a barrel in the next 18

increasing pressures of work and home life, and has been the largest contributor to the rise of businesses operating within these industries,” says van Biljon.

Furthermore, it has been reported that the franchise sector as a whole contributes approximately 9.7 percent to the total GDP and provides in excess of 500,000 jobs, making it a safer investment for entrepreneurs when compared to new, untried business models.

He concludes that future investment forecasts remain positive for the franchise industry: “Only 17 franchise classification categories of the local economy have a significant presence within the industry, and considering other countries globally, such as the United States with approximately 70 franchise classification categories, South Africa can expect the franchise industry to continue to provide solid growth in the future.” months. If this happens, then it will act as a buffer and help reduce the deficit.

“We have been in discussions with the government and the central bank to come up with answers. We are certainly seeing the government moving quickly to counter the negative effects of the drop in the oil price. The Angolan government is pushing hard to diversify the economy and is coordinating with the Central Bank to find new ways to incentivise banks to lend more to the real economy,” said Mr Teles, Executive Head Corporate and Investment Banking, Standard Bank Angola.

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Veolia Workshop Successful at 7th West & Central Africa Mining Summit and Expo

T E C H N O L O G Y

Oracle and Raspberry Pi Launch ‘Weather Station Project for Schools’ Oracle Academy and the Raspberry Pi Foundation have officially launched Oracle Raspberry Pi Weather Station for Schools, an ambitious project to join thousands of schools in Africa and around the world in a global science experiment. Participating schools will receive a Raspberry Pi hardware kit for students to build and operate their own weather station with the aim of gaining valuable skills spanning computing, meteorology and geography.

The first 1,000 kits have been funded by a grant from Oracle Giving, which along with Oracle Academy, is part of Oracle’s philanthropic efforts, and will be provided to schools free of charge while supplies last. Half of the free kits have been set aside for Oracle Academy schools. In addition to building a weather station, the kits teach students to write application code that logs a range of weather data, including wind speed, direction, temperature, pressure, and humidity.

Supplemental teaching materials for classroom use will be made available on the Oracle Academy website.

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Global leaders in environmental resources management, Veolia, hosted a free workshop at the seventh West & Central Africa (WaCA) Mining Summit & Expo, held at the Accra International Convention Centre, Ghana from 20-21 May, 2015.

As partner event sponsor, Veolia organised a mining workshop on 20 May from 10:30 am-4:00 pm, focused on “optimising operations for environmental sustainability of mining facilities”.

The presentations highlighted Veolia’s value propositions in mining as well as specific case studies such as AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem gold mine, where Veolia successfully operates the water treatment plant.

The Summit serves the region’s mining community by providing the best and only authoritative platform to learn, innovate and synergise with the power players of the extractive industry.

Panel discussions with industry leaders along with individual presentations highlighted the pressing issues and also brought global trends to the fore.

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Partnering up to Bring Solar Light to Off-Grid African Regions Leading window manufacturer The VELUX Group and the social business, Little Sun have announced a partnership with the NGO, Plan International to distribute a new solar lamp - the Natural Light solar lamp - in three African countries: Zimbabwe, Zambia and Senegal.

The partnership will deliver sustainable solar-powered light to some of the 1.2 billion people living off-grid in areas without electricity, through a programme that involves and empowers local communities.

14,500 Natural Light lamps will be produced and distributed by Plan in late 2015 and early 2016.

“We are a company built on knowledge of light, and we use our expertise where we believe it will have the greatest impact. As part of our 75th anniversary, we want to place a greater focus on bringing sustainable, reliable and affordable lighting to off-grid African regions,” said Michael Rasmussen, Marketing Director of the VELUX Group.

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ZAZOO Showcases Utility Vending System for Prepaid Meters at AUW 2015

Tapping into Africa’s Ecommerce Potential Using Technology DHL held its fifth annual Global Technology conference in Dubai in April, featuring a number of key sessions on doing business in Africa.

The “Rise of Africa” plenary session and several other workshops set out to explore the potential of, and expectations for, the African continent, with discussions on how to best navigate existing challenges concerning trade barriers and tap into growth.

Experts predict continued strong growth in the technology sector across Africa, with savvy

entrepreneurs leading the way in ecommerce and mobile payments, and technology segments such as mobile phones and data still growing at a rapid pace.

ZAZOO, a subsidiary of Net1 Mobile Solutions, launched its Utility Vending System at African Utility Week (AUW) held in Cape Town in May. This turnkey vending solution simplifies tariff management and consumer arrears collection, allowing utilities and municipalities to manage prepaid vending for electricity, water and gas meters more efficiently and cost effectively.

“The system gives utility companies and municipalities the ability manage and control prepaid vending to their electricity, water and gas meters in a turnkey solution,” said Philip Belamant, Managing Director of ZAZOO. “The technology is locally developed to respond to South African needs, although it can be adapted to the needs of utilities and their customers anywhere in the world,” he stated.

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Key Partnership to Bring Quick Service Restaurants to Shell Customers

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Tigo Becomes Biggest 4G Network Operator in Tanzania Tigo Tanzania has launched 4G LTE technology that will make it the biggest and fastest internet network in the country.

Speaking at the launch, Tigo Interim General Manager Cecile Tiano said: “This once again demonstrates our company’s

commitment to the digital lifestyle transformation and its leadership in delivering cutting edge technology and innovation in this market.”

“We will also launch 4G in Arusha, Dodoma, Morogoro, Moshi, Mwanza and Tanga by end of August,” she added.

The 4G technology launch is part of Tigo’s commitment to continue improving the quality and coverage of its network and bring world class products and services to Tanzanians.

Vivo Energy - the company that distributes and markets Shell branded fuels and lubricants across Africa - has announced an extension to its existing partnership with Innscor to add quick service restaurants to its Shell service stations.

The announcement will see Vivo Energy become the master franchisee for Innscor’s quick service restaurants at a number of locations in Namibia and Botswana; improving the convenience retail offer for Shell customers via its signature quick service restaurants including; Chicken Inn, Pizza Inn, Creamy Inn and Galito’s Flame Grilled Chicken.

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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 165,000 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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High angle view of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier moving through the Suez Canal

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Egypt Leads North Africa’s Re-emergence

The ongoing development of The New Suez Canal could be a symbol of industrial revolution for a region desperately trying to restore old glories and revive its status as a gateway to the continent Writer: Matthew Staff

istorically, the industrial and economical hubs of Africa formed a top-to-bottom line across the continent, with Cairo in the North and Johannesburg in the south enveloping a land of opportunity in one of the world’s most lucrative markets for developing trends and enterprises.

In the 21st century though, the parameters have changed, and that line has transformed into a triangle between the still thriving Johannesburg, Nairobi in the east, and Lagos in the west, dissecting the middle of the continent and casting the previously dominant north into the background.

Political and civil unrest are widely accepted as primary causes for the failure to evolve along with the rest of the continent, but this isn’t to stay that the likes of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya are stuck in the dark ages.

Vast, untapped potential still remains - and is being realised in some spaces - and as energy problems engulf South Africa, and the oil price drop disrupts Nigeria’s concerted

momentum, the forgotten giant of Egypt is now looking to recapture old glories for the north, to produce an axis of wealth for Africa’s bright future.

New Suez Canal

The Suez Canal Bridge, Egypt

A more stable political outlook in the North’s largest and most economically prosperous nation is a trend that neighbouring countries have either followed already in recent years, or are on the way to resolving; Sudan also in a state of rebuild following its split from the now established South Sudan.

Foreign investment is still tentative at present, however, with many multinationals looking for tangible signs of progress in Egypt especially before properly reigniting their interest in the region.

Such a tangible example may be achieved through the expansion of one the country’s most iconic landmarks: the Suez Canal.

New Suez Canal as it is known was initially a brainchild of former President, Mohamed Morsi alongside the Chairman of the Suez Canal Authority, Mohab Mamish, but has since been overseen by presidential

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successor, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi since late 2014.

The plan: to not only send a signal around the world that Egypt is investing to take one of its most renowned features into the 21st century, but to generate vast amounts of business opportunities, employment enhancements and trade boosts for the good of the economy at large.

Above all else, the plans unveiled for the expansion of the waterway – which were unveiled earlier this year – have instilled a renewed sense of national pride in the country, buoyed by the prospect of new central business districts and trade hubs included within the $50 billion development project.

Not just a widening of the canal itself – which will allow for hugely increased levels of traffic along the route - the Suez Canal Zone will comprise more than 100 square kilometres of logistics facilities along its journey, boosting business in Arish, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, Ain Sokhna and Tor; especially thriving across manufacturing, shipping, energy and IT sectors.

All in all, this may well be the symbol that the north has been looking for to kickstart its 21st century industrial revolution and it could definitely be argued that it has a promising platform on which to build when considering the extent of continentally-thriving businesses based in the country already.

Sleeping giant

Within African Business’s annual countdown of the top 250 companies on the continent exists a fair reflection of conditions within Africa, as some countries - below a more stable core top 10 - either saturate the chart or begin to dwindle from recognition.

Last year’s instalment would hardly ignite a parade in the north of the continent, but there were signs that the likes of Egypt and Morocco especially are still playing a significant

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role within the overall African economy; all 25 of the region’s biggest companies making the overall top 100.

More concerning though is the lack of new entrants emanating from North Africa; only 17 compared to 91 five years previously. An indictment on recent issues should perhaps be expected, but the potential is clearly still there for businesses willing to take a chance on Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and even Sudan.

Located ideally in the epicentre of transport links to Europe, the Middle East and the rest of Africa, the sheer size of these nations is also a potential draw for foreign direct investment (FDI) moving forward, as well as indigenous growth once the respective economies begin to respond favourably.

Tunisia is in the process of economic reform and liberalization after decades of heavy state direction and participation in the economy

Reasons for optimism

A snowball effect is what’s required from what seems like not just a standing start, but almost reverse gear when it comes to FDIs in North Africa at present.

Previously the benchmark for the continent due to the region’s prime location, Sub-Saharan Africa has

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Morocco’s sound economic management in recent years has yielded strong economic growth

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Suez Canal Aerospace companies including the likes of Bombardier are moving production operations to Tunisia and Morocco

long since surpassed its northern neighbours according to Ernst & Young’s annual Attractiveness Survey.

While the southern cluster’s rates of FDI rose by 4.7 percent in 2013, projects in North Africa declined a staggering 28.7 percent; dictating the overall reduction in projects continentwide.

All is not lost and there are still reasons for optimism, however. The likes of Casablanca, Cairo and Tunis are still perceived as lucrative areas in which to carry out business and to make investments; and if key areas of infrastructure, consumerism, labour and productivity can be addressed, then a resurgence of investor interest in the north may be seen in the future.

The fall in oil prices and the inevitably falling Egyptian pound

“If projects like New Suez Canal reap the anticipated rewards, then there is no reason why the historical point of entry standing proudly at the top of Africa, can’t become a gateway to the continent once again”

makes the country even more attractive from an international perspective, and signs of a recovery are already being seen in the manufacturing industry.

Aerospace companies including the likes of Bombardier are moving production operations to Tunisia and Morocco to capitalise on the low costs and location, while Cairo is also being identified more and more as a prime city and surrounding area for heavy industry projects.

Across the entire northern corridor, there are clusters and isolated cities recovering from social and political storms; meticulously planning and enjoying the calm before what they hope will be an investment storm in years to come.

If projects like New Suez Canal reap the anticipated rewards, and the region can stay free of acrimony in the interim, then there is no reason why the historical point of entry standing proudly at the top of Africa, can’t become a gateway to the continent once again.

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Migrating FirstWorld Wealth to Third-World Nations he term “wealth migration” may not be a new term or concept but as globalisation plays an increasingly important role in the direction of international investment, the goalposts are changing with regard to the rules, regulations and expectations that are subsequently enveloped within such decisions.

The responsibility to not only guarantee healthy returns on investment, but to do so in a sustainable, and socially responsible manner now brings into play the possibility of a new business entity acting as a proverbial middle man, in order to formulate a more conscientious value chain for the good of each benefiting nation.

Nowhere is this more prevalent than in Africa, where there are numerous occurrences of international investors from first-world nations angling their copious wealth towards third-world countries on the continent.

The aim is to ensure that this wealth is not only reaching the right places but is maintained internally for the good of the country’s economic future, providing the ideal platform for they, themselves to one day become the ‘first-world’ host of aspiring investors and entrepreneurs.

Landon Romano of Steward, LLC and Innocent Chikunya of Kamina Technologies are redirecting a traditional concept toward the sustainable future of some of Africa’s poorest economies Written by: Matthew Staff

Offering international clientinvestors the opportunity to “crosspollinate their wealth, riches and monies into projects across the world” in a way that is safe and uplifting for the target country of migration is something that business owners, Landon Romano of Steward, LLC and Innocent Chikunya of Kamina Technologies progressively establish ways to achieve.

Romano and Chikunya together earned their Baylor University full-time MBA from year 2006 and graduated from the programme in 2008, and Africa Outlook spoke to the former about how they are both endeavouring to bridge the gap between investorambition and the countries pursuing to build their assets.

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Africa Outlook (AfO): Can you firstly talk me through the traditional concept of wealth migration and how you are adapting the trend?

Landon Romano (LR): Wealth migration is the movement of clientinvestors’ monies from their resident or original country into an investment hosting country for the purposes of socially responsible development, preservation and compounding of wealth, riches and monies.

Wealth migration occurs when client-investors seek returns on investments outside their primary residential country and/or place of citizenship and the persons who are interested in diversifying beyond their countries of citizenship and/or residency are seeking high returns on investment to ensure hedging against their own country’s socioeconomic risks including politics and inflation.

Most happen to reside in third world and/or emerging economies. However, there are a growing number of

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The first-world country investors recognise the wealth and resources of Africa from its minerals to its agriculture with the natural resources of Africa coveted by the rest of the world

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first-world client-investors seeking third-world high return on investment opportunities.

For us, the term and concept “wealth migration” is actually about what we can accomplish for client-investors; helping to develop, preserve, hedge and compound assets by mobilising monies into global investment opportunities.

AfO: How is wealth migration being seen in Africa specifically?

LR: For example, due to the decline of the South African Rand, there are many South African persons keen to invest in first-world countries such as the United States. These persons are seeking listed equities, private equity and/or real property investments to safeguard their assets and hedge against the possible collapse of the South African systems.

However, interestingly enough, there are a growing number of persons within the United States who are

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Australians are seeking investments in places like Zambia

Investors recognise Africa’s abundance of wealth

questioning the collapse of the United States systems and are now therefore investing in countries such as South Africa and Zambia. Australians are seeking investments in places like Zambia as well.

The first-world country investors recognise the wealth and resources of Africa from its minerals to its agriculture with the natural resources of Africa coveted by the rest of the world. It is visible, for instance, that Chinese investors are taking Africa by storm to capitalise on these natural resources. And to a certain extent this happens at the expense of the country in which the investors “migrate”.

AfO: What do you look for with regard to optimising wealth migration opportunities?

LR: Our ideal investment when taking client-investors’ monies for projects

and returns is one that will benefit all stakeholders. When I say “all stakeholders”, I sincerely mean “all stakeholders!”

The client-investors have their rights to the preservation and compounding of their invested principal monies into the chosen asset classes. However, the hosting country must also have returns on investments for the simple fact that they are providing the products and/ or services.

An example of this concept where all stakeholders benefit is through our intentions within Zambia. We will be converting “customary tenure” (tribal) lands into title-deed/ leasehold bankable lands in Zambia for the use of commercial farming for the benefits of Zambia, Her people, the client-investors who input equity capital, the banks who lend the monies, surrounding communities within Zambia, suppliers, vendors,

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AFRICAN WEALTH MIGRATION PROJECTS Zambian commercial farming Zambian commercial farming will uplift the country and its people, plus provide significant returns on investment for client-investors. We have a Lusakabased attorney helping us with regard to the conversion of “customary tenure” lands into title-deed/ leasehold bankable lands. The Standard Bank Group plus First National Bank are both South Africa-based, Africa-wide, and keenly interested in lending against bankable lands up to 60 percent the land value and value chain proposition. Client-investors are welcome to buy into equity. Essentially, US$10 million investment will command approximately US$100 million returns over the next five-plus years. It has been proven in areas such as Mkushi. Romano has visited Zambia’s Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, following the Government’s interest in providing resources for these projects. The Group now has a firm commitment from Zambia.

Exotic African game animal farming in South Africa We have a 2700 hectare game farm in Vaalwater, South Africa. There are approximately 450 African animals on the farm including 65 sable antelopes. To put this into perspective with regard to the higher priced animals, one sable cow is valued at an average price of US$40,000. With US$3 million invested now, it has a US$5.5 million net present value over the 10 years. Romano and Chikunya engage the South African community in order for the population to profit.

US property The acquisition of real properties in the US is a key interest of client-investors from third-world countries.

Through companies and professional networks, Chikunya and Romano have the ability to harness the US banking and real estate systems to help clientinvestors acquire real properties in the country. With access to credit both in the US and internationally, they provide for third-world and other world client-investors an opportunity to diversify within a first-world domain.

Hon. Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe and Landon Romano

“Africa needs to think beyond export of raw materials. It needs to increasingly think industrialisation and scale to take advantage of the huge continental market” - Hon. Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe, Zambian Minister of Commerce

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Equity investments With regard to global wealth migration, there is the ability to invest in listed equities on behalf of client-investors. Romano and Chikunya currently have US and South African-based hedge fund turnkey platforms available for interested parties.

Both countries offer a host of equities with global corporations. The returns on investment are substantial when applying Benjamin Graham and David Dodd’s value investing principles. “Price is what we pay. Value is what we get,” Romano states.

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logistics specialists, wholesalers, retailers, and the end consumer.

An important element to consider is the fact that Africa has the largest untouched arable lands for livestock and crop production. As the world’s population grows, people must have food and Africa can produce it.

Although landlocked, Zambia is one of the main countries in Africa that will feed itself, its eight neighbours and perhaps as far as South Africa, India, China, Australia and the United States.

We believe in the upliftment of the persons in the investment-hosting country and in ploughing back into the community for the long-term growth of its people and development of its resources.

AfO: How important is it to the wealth migration trend to monitor these implications?

LR: We realise that it is one thing to go into a country, buy up its assets, resell them, exhaust the resources and keep the riches and monies only for the client-investors. It is another thing to ensure the safety of the country’s wealth, riches and monies for the country’s people first and then the client-investors second.

By providing for the host country’s people first, this ensures goodwill, as well as upliftment. The clientinvestors will naturally have greater gains, long-term, by ploughing-back into the host country. This is about socially responsible and sustainable investments.

AfO: How do you foresee this trend developing in the future for the good of third-world countries in Africa?

LR: With regard to wealth migration, the persons who are in the first-world countries who have a surplus of riches and monies on hand could find highly attractive returns on investments in third-world countries. And in spite of the high returns on investment, the first-world country persons could apply their minds by way of intellectual properties and resources in further assisting the third-world countries to emerge into first-world nations.

The third-world countries benefiting from investment will then have surplus of their own to reinvest in their own country; invest in a neighbouring third-world country; and/or hedge by investing in a first-world country themselves.

To achieve this cycle of wealth though, we as investors firstly have a fiduciary responsibility to plough into these investment hosting countries.

C O N TA C T D E TA I L S

Mr. Landon Romano STEWARD, LLC Tel: +27-71-688-7842 landon@stewardllc.com

Mr. Innocent Chikunya KAMINA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC Tel: +1-813-758-7632

ichikunya@gmail.com

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Harnessing Africa’s LNG Potential Ahead of June’s World Gas Conference in Paris, the International Gas Union (IGU) President, Jérôme Ferrier shares his thoughts on the role that Africa can play in vital discussions about the energy industry’s future Writer: Jérôme Ferrier, the President of IGU his year is an unprecedented year in the global gas industry.

The developmental challenges currently faced by the world have never before been considered with such urgency.

The resulting opportunity for our sector to take part in the efforts to address these global goals must not be missed.

Africa is a continent with extraordinary resources. But as the energy demands of its communities steadily grow, there remains a significant hurdle to overcome in setting in place the right policy, skills and development framework to enable them to be met over the longer term. Africa is one of the regions that is most vulnerable to climate change and faces issues around access to, and affordability of, energy supplies and the resilience of its infrastructure.

There are, however, exciting times ahead and, crucially, gas is well positioned to play a central role. The potential for shale gas, liquid natural gas (LNG), offshore discoveries and global export/import opportunities mean that the goal of providing reliable, affordable and safe energy to all Africans is becoming a reality.

About the

IGU

The International Gas Union (IGU) is a global, non-profit association aimed at promoting the technical and economic progress of the gas industry

The 2014 Africa World Energy Outlook report by the International Energy Agency calls Sub-Saharan Africa “one of the most poorly understood parts of the global energy system”.

It is a fascinating continent rich in resources and potential with a rapidly increasing energy portfolio. The report also identifies that “since 2000, Sub-Saharan Africa has seen rapid economic growth and energy use has risen by 45 percent”. Previously underserved African communities require greater access to information, technology and infrastructure, and it is essential that world leaders gather together to enable greater and more affordable supplies of energy to the poorest parts of Africa. Energy is the key to social development and we are now in a race to address the world’s most urgent development challenges.

As United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon put it, of all the Millennium Development Goals, energy represents the “golden thread” that links them all together.

African countries are rich in natural resources but often poor in supply and connectivity. In the IGU World LNG report 2014, we identified that volumes of gas from Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Algeria, Egypt and

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most recently Angola, made Africa the third-largest LNG producing region in 2013. Looking to the future, East Africa is well positioned to feed the ever increasing demand from Asian buyers, and beyond North America, major gas discoveries since 2010 off the coast of Mozambique and Tanzania have led to the development of several liquefaction projects, marking East Africa out as an important new development area. In fact, liquefaction capacity in Africa has grown 14 percent since 2008 with the introduction of new capacity in Algeria and Angola.

The debate over Africa’s vast energy development opportunities takes on a new urgency, however, while simultaneously addressing and overcoming current challenges. How can existing and emerging oil & gas producers maximise the value of their resources for economic development?

How can Africa’s resources be translated into sustainable and evenly distributed growth? As African economies continue to grow, so too do the opportunities to broaden the energy mix, set in place an energy system that addresses climate considerations more progressively and enable larger and more resilient infrastructure to be developed, which will meet energy demands of growing communities well into the future.

As President of the IGU, I am determined that by working together

P O T E N T I A L

Natural Gas Is Efficient

Natural gas is the most efficient fossil fuel in a variety of applications, but especially in power generation

“Today’s analytics software is user-friendly and intuitive and can build models for us.

It uses a degree of artificial intelligence to meet the requirements of modern-day businesses”

Natural Gas Drives Energy Solutions - This power-to-gas plant, built by Eon in northern Germany, converts excess wind power to hydrogen and then injects it into the network system

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at events such as the 26th World Gas Conference in June, the gas sector can play a vital role in the important steps taken towards securing a sustainable future mix for Africa. Sector leaders must seize the opportunity to set out a clear platform to ensure that the value of gas is realised to its fullest extent.

For the IGU, it is vital that the needs of communities throughout Africa

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are represented fully. With nineteen major producers of oil & gas in Africa, these nations have an important role to play in the debates taking place at industry events this year, including our own World Gas Conference and, in December, COP21, which promises to be the most important global climate negotiation in recent years.

France has a long history of working

collaboratively with its partners in Africa. I very much hope that the 26th World Gas Conference in Paris can unlock new opportunities to further these relationships and provide longterm solutions to meeting the rapidly growing needs of some of the fastest developing communities on earth.

The 26th World Gas Conference

The role of IGU is to advocate gas as an integral part of a sustainable global energy system, and to promote the political, technical and economic progress of the gas industry. In the months preceding the 26th World Gas conference, Paris, 1-5 June, 2015 (WGCPARIS2015), France, which has held the IGU Presidency for the last three years and itself a major gas hub, eagerly anticipates the arrival of more than 4,000 delegates, attending 100 conference sessions, to Paris.

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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 165,000 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.

Emily Jarvis, Deputy Editor emily.jarvis@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

ame O R A C L E

A F R I C A

Oracle Africa Enhances its

PRESENCE on the Continent The multinational technology corporation’s presence on the African continent has long been unparalleled within the industry, and the Company continues to innovate in 2015 Writer: Matthew Staff • Project Manager: Donovan Smith

racle Africa has offices in South Africa, Mauritius, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana. In the past two years, Oracle Africa has taken even greater strides to enhance its already extensive partner network, embracing the acceleration of cloud adoption among customers, and becoming more active in its commitment to the communities where it does business in the region.

Flexible expansion

“Over the past two years we have doubled our workforce in the region,” says Oracle Vice President Technology AFTA Cluster Leader and VP A&C ECEMEA, Janusz Naklicki. Referring to Oracle Africa’s most recent expansion

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of office space into Kenya in the east, and Nigeria and Ghana in the west, Naklicki adds: “Our country leadership teams in Africa consist of local nationals and our primary offices in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa act as hubs for the West, East and South African markets.

“We have recently committed to new office space in Lagos and Nairobi to accommodate our growth in these locations.”

The drive to keep investing, and to keep expanding, is key as part of the wider Oracle Africa continuous improvement strategy, where “in today’s world, business agility is key,” comments Naklicki.

This flexibility is further supported by rapid growth of its Oracle PartnerNetwork.

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Helping partners thrive and build local businesses is an imperative.

Oracle partners are an extension to the Oracle Africa sales force, as they help Oracle Africa drive new innovations and products into local markets.

Naklicki adds: “We have been engaged in doing business in Africa for decades, and we know the importance of personal engagement with customers.

“We do this through our local partners; we empower them to

provide customers with highvalue products and services, build local relationships, and help their communities prosper.”

Cloud adoption

A more comprehensive partner network and ecosystem, coupled with a more concerted physical presence, helps Oracle Africa align itself with the very latest customer trends.

With cloud adoption rates accelerating in Africa, this ability

becomes even more prevalent, with not only Software as a Service (SaaS) becoming engrained in the sector’s consciousness, but the Platform as a Service (PaaS) space is also gaining traction.

“IT systems have to be fast and simple to be able to be agile,” Naklicki notes. “We believe organisations that run Oracle software, Oracle hardware, or the combination, either on-premises or in the cloud, immediately move to the forefront of innovation and cost-

We do this through our local partners; we empower them to provide customers with highvalue products and services, build local relationships, and help their communities prosper

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effectiveness.

“Our customers face many of the same challenges in Africa as our customers in the rest of the world,” Naklicki states. “Oracle technology is based on open-standards. If you want the power, performance, scalability and agility that computing needs to deliver today, then we recommend Oracle on Oracle.

“From the data centre to the cloud, Oracle Africa not only helps to eliminate the complexity that can

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stifle business innovation, but it also engineers in speed, reliability, security, and manageability.

Skills development

“Skills and ongoing workforce development are essential to create a stable, affordable and, most importantly, local workforce; local knowledge and experience combined with technology can help give rise to new innovations,” Naklicki says, concluding that: “Our customers are

using information technology as a very powerful tool. They are saving money, they are delivering services that weren’t possible before and they are finding very smart ways to bring their products to market.

“Throughout Africa we have seen innovation and transformation beyond even our own expectation and as economic recovery starts to gather momentum, Oracle Africa plans to play a key role in this transformation.”

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SAAS

Offering Tangible Business Benefits through the Cloud

Thomas Kurian President of Product Development

WHEN CONSIDERING the rise of global cloud computing, you don’t have to read far down the list of pioneers to find Oracle. While the uptake of its comprehensive cloud service varies across its extensive international footprint, the Company’s presence in Africa is especially fascinating having grown on the continent alongside the very trends that the business is helping to introduce.

When discussing cloud computing in Africa, you have to discuss Oracle.

Silver linings

Given the rise of cloud technologies over the past decade, the challenge to differentiate and optimise the offering is monumental, but the rewards for finding the right solutions are invaluable, as Oracle has found to its credit across all of its regions of operation.

At a recent Oracle Media Day, Oracle executives told journalists that Oracle customers benefit from using a development platform that supports the same Java programming language used to develop Oracle’s own SaaS applications. They offered five reasons why Oracle should be considered a cloud company.

‘Unrivalled levels of understanding regarding database security, coupled with the ability to continuously expand its cloud functionality, further sets Oracle apart from competitors...’

CIO Perspectives on SaaS

SaaS Blueprint for Success A recent independent survey by IDC of 160 CIOs & IT Decision Makers in 8 countries in Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (ECEMEA), complemented by in-depth interviews with SaaS users, provides valuable insight into how CIOs and business managers view and are adopting SaaS.

SAAS OFFERS TANGIBLE BUSINESS BENEFITS

69%

Companies are changing the way that they view SaaS and it is no longer seen as hype, but offering tangible business benefits.

Over 60% of all companies across major verticals have adopted or are in the process of implementing cloud solutions.

say that the cloud offers significant tangible benefits

MAIN DRIVERS OF SAAS ADOPTION

58%

53%

Access to better technology.

Faster deployment.

51% Delivery of more projects.

TOP BENEFITS GAINED BY ORGANISATIONS

36%

61%

Increased competitive advantage.

48%

Improved workforce productivity.

62%

Significant savings achieved.

Impact on process efficiency.

SAAS ROADMAP FOR THE ENTERPRISE CRM

ERP

HCM

20%

19%

planned

already implemented

20%

18%

planned

already implemented

16%

18%

planned

already implemented

In terms of adoption or future adoption plans, most companies have a “SaaS Also” approach.

ORACLE CLOUD: COMPLETE, MODERN, FLEXIBLE, SECURE—AND READY FOR BUSINESS Oracle Cloud delivers a full suite of integrated, enterprise-grade applications services, enriched with social capabilities and embedded business intelligence, and providing easy access via mobile devices.

As a result of Oracle's uniquely comprehensive, modern approach to cloud applications, business can:

Innovate faster with less risk

Quickly execute integrated business processes

Transform user experience and mobile accessibility

Deliver unprecedented insight with transparent and actionable reporting

To download theTHE fullINDEPENDENT report, visit:MARKET-RESEARCH www.oracle.com/goto/idcme DOWNLOAD REPORT Get your copy of the IDC research report “SaaS Blueprint for Success” to see further details about cloud adoption.

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DOWNLOAD NOW

Zensar Technologies Zensar and Oracle are ready to propel your business using the cloud Zensar is a leading software and infrastructure solutions provider with industry expertise across Manufacturing, Retail, Insurance, Utilities, Banking, Financial Services and the Public Sector. The company delivers comprehensive services for missioncritical enterprise applications, business intelligence and analytics, business process management and digital enterprise services.

A recent industry trends study by Oracle highlights a clear increase in demand for Cloud solutions in 2015. Additionally, it indicates an increase in the number of organizations showing an inclination towards making a move to the cloud. Moving to the cloud is rewarding, but poses a few challenges as well. This is where Zensar can help you.

For example - A leading work force management company with over 26 branches leveraged Oracle Cloud solutions to replace manual processes with automated and integrated processes. Zensar helped them realize superior work force, improve end customer service, ability to monitor and control the financial spend and most importantly acquire a scalable platform to support aggressive business expansion plans.

Zensar is an Oracle Platinum Partner and an Oracle Cloud specialized partner. We have helped organizations across the globe to leverage Oracle Cloud platform and gain the following: • Faster return on investment • Simplify and standardize IT infrastructure and lower cost • Moving from CAPEX to OPEX • Process standardizations

Zensar and Oracle Cloud Unique Advantages: • Oracle Cloud Centre of Excellences for Customer Experience, Enterprise Resource Planning, Enterprise Performance Management, Human Capital and Analytics • Proven and tested rapid cloud solution deployment methodology • Cloud and application unlimited coexistence solutions • Oracle Cloud certified professionals • Dedicated Oracle Cloud Lab to build proof of concepts and demonstrations Zensar in Africa Zensar is among the top Oracle service providers in the world and has been present in Africa since 2001, and is well entrenched in the context of understanding local requirements and providing solutions to help Africa based organizations achieve their business objectives.

Zensar set up its first office in Johannesburg and then expanded into Southern and East Africa. Today, Zensar has presence in Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town and Nairobi across various verticals. Currently, the African operation is 700+ people across shores and has got close to 30 customers specifically in the Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, Retail, Manufacturing domains and the Government. In South Africa, Zensar is a BBBEE level 3 certified organization operating under the name Zensar (South Africa) Pty Ltd.

E marcom@zensar.com www.zensar.com

We are a leading provider of IT consulting and System Integration services with more than twenty two years of experience in Mauritius and the Indian Ocean, as well as in the European and African regions.

Since our incorporation in 1992, the company has achieved considerable growth, reaching in 2014, an annual turnover of around USD 10 million.

Our Headquarters is in Mauritius and we have regional offices in Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya and Madagascar.

Our workforce of around 150 professionals comprises business consultants, experts and software engineers in the field of Information Technology and Communication. More than 30 of them hold some certification in an Oracle technology.

We successfully carry out, on average, more than 100 projects every year for clients in more than 10 countries in the Indian Ocean, African and European regions. These projects provide solutions in many sectors, including Government, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Agriculture, Textile, Manufacturing, Aviation and Logistics, Hospitality and Tourism, Commerce/Retail, and Construction.

Our New Digital Service Lines

We have dedicated teams that develop and implement innovative solutions in leading edge technologies:

Cloud We implement both On Premise and Cloud solutions.

We recommend Cloud wherever possible because it encourages best practice, requires little upfront investment, avails the latest version of the software and is secure and highly available.

Mobility Our off-the-shelf or custom developed mobile applications integrate seamlessly with our Oracle offerings to provide comprehensive solutions.

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Data We help clients build, manage and analyse gigantic databases.

Security We have a host of solutions to address security concerns of our clients.

Formerly known as MAURITIUS P.O Box 41 1st Floor, The Factory Building, VivĂŠa Business Park Saint Pierre 81430, Moka, Mauritius T +230 405 7900

BOTSWANA P.O. Box 26591 Plot 135, Unit 9, K Gaborone, Botsw T +267 316 1279 F +267 316 1281

In recognition of our valuable achievements, our company has obtained several awards: • We have successfully implemented Oracle solutions for more than 15 years, and are currently an Oracle Platinum Partner.

• In 2010, we obtained the Oracle Partner Specialisation Award for being the partner of choice in the Financial Sector in the region.

• We are a member of the Oracle Partner Advisory Board Africa since April 2013.

Our wide range of expertise in Oracle solutions includes: • Oracle E-Business Suite Implementations: ERP, HCM, Financials, Oracle Database (DBA) and Application Server Support Services • Oracle Cloud implementations: Fusion, Taleo Consultancy and knowledge transfer services: Database • Administration, Oracle Discoverer Oracle vertical applications: Fleet Management, Axle • Load Control, Old age pension management, Document Management System (DMS), Training Institution Management System (TIMS) and Seamless integration with mobile applications, web services • Oracle custom application development using advanced Development Frameworks that boost up productivity

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need us to assist you in addressing your business challenges DCDM Consulting Ltd

Kgale Terrace, wana

MADAGASCAR Emplacement F5, Zone « AFRIPORT » ZI Forello, Tanjombato, Antananarivo Madagascar

SOUTH AFRICA The Business Centre Fourways, Leslie Ave Design Quarter 2191 South Africa

E contact@agileum.com

agileum.com

TANZANIA 7th Floor, Amani Place Ohio Street, Office Park Dar es Salaam Tanzania

KENYA ICEA Building, 17th floor Kenyatta Avenue P.O Box 15168-00400 Nairobi, Kenya

O R A C L E

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SAAS Oracle’s President of Product Development, Thomas Kurian emphasised the importance of strategic levers given to customers via integrated applications including ecommerce, sales and service to ensure an all-encompassing real-time customer service. “This type of tight integration between traditionally standalone applications is where we think the future is,” he said within the blog.

“This type of tight integration between traditionally standalone applications is where we think the future is”

8 STEPS TO ORACLE PRIVATE CLOUD

1 Design

5 Ordering services

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Unrivalled levels of understanding regarding database security, coupled with the ability to continuously expand its cloud functionality, further sets Oracle apart from competitors across key areas of innovation, and while PaaS looks set to overtake SaaS as an option in the years to come, the latter still formulates a large aspect of the Company’s service uptake in Africa.

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2 Cloud infrastructure

6 Monitoring

3 Assembling

7 Billing

4 Testing

7 Usage optimisation

Agileum A strong and trusted relationship with Oracle

• The Oracle Partner Specialisation Award for being the partner of choice in the financial sector in the region.

• Membership of the Oracle Partner Advisory Board Africa.

Our ingrained Innovation culture allows us to use cutting-edge technology to create the most suitable solutions to fulfill Over the years, our partnership with the needs of our clients.

Oracle Corporation has strengthened in all business sectors across our territories.

Our company has maintained a As a trusted adviser and a leading ICT strong and trusted partnership with solution provider to governments and Oracle Corporation for over a decade many other industries, we are the first and we have earned a reputation of Mauritian company to have certified implementing Oracle solutions of the resources in Oracle Cloud HCM and are highest quality standards across our currently implementing an Oracle Cloud territories. Our wide range of expertise in solution for a big chain of hotels.

Oracle solutions includes, among others, E-Business Suite implementations, Our implementation of Oracle Human Oracle Custom Software Development, Capital Management to manage the Oracle Business Intelligence, Oracle public service of the government of an Database Management, Java Application African country is one of our recent Development. success stories and further strengthened We also complement our Oracle Cloud offering with consulting services that lead our clients to the adoption of best practices, thereby eliminating the need for customisation. Oracle’s new Cloud HCM version increases global agility with global management of human resources.

With a single human resource instance, for instance, a multi-national can align its HR processes across multiple countries.

In recognition of our valuable achievements, our company has obtained several awards and accreditations: • Oracle Platinum Partner status.

our relationship with Oracle.

We regularly outsource resources to organisations, including other Oracle partners, to assist them on their important and/or complex projects where they require specialised skills. Our rates are very competitive and our skills levels are of international standard.

T +230 4057900 E contact@agileum.com

FLEXCUBE

CENTRE OF LEARNING

Accra - Ghana

INTRODUCTION Harnessing the power and the full potential of your Core Banking Software (CBS) is highly dependent on the skills and knowledge of the end user. From the Teller in the customer facing environment to the Application Support Person, the ability to use your business application effectively to improve service delivery is the goal of most banks. We deliver on all your key end user’s technical or functional training needs.

We propose that for effective utilization of the CBS, banks should target the training of all end users within 3 - 6 months after “go-live”. After this, all subsequent challenges that arise such as changes in sequence of key-strokes are corrected and reinforced. Our goal is to help you maximize the full potential of your investment and to consolidate the in-house knowledge and significantly expand the effective use of ICT.

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE INVESTMENT IN YO U R C O R E B A N K I N G S O F T WA R E ( C B S )

ABOUT US iBanking Solutions Ltd. is a Gold Partner in the Global Oracle Partner Network (OPN), with its head office in Accra, Ghana. Our training programmes are fully instructor-led and facilitated by a team of dedicated trainers with technical and functional expertise in IT as a business development tool and banking operations with several years of experience in the financial services sector.

We help trainees bridge the gap between the business issues they will face in their daily tasks and an ever changing ICT dependent environment. We customize training programmes to meet the needs of a given set of employees in the areas of banking operations and technology as a tool or as a service. Our training centre is well equipped with state of the art technology.

Our programmes can be customized to cover full-day sessions or half-day sessions (Lunch and coffee breaks provided)

A well-trained and knowledgeable employee is an asset, operating more effectively, making fewer mistakes and causing less disruption to business operations. Your bank will thereby operate at optimum capacity. There will also be minimal dependency on your Incident Management Structures. iBanking training programmes are designed to help you leverage the design potential and the flexibility built in the CBS to aid in new product launch from time to time. We enable trainees to understand the banking business requirements that informed the design-logic, architecture and general functionality of the Core Banking Application.

Our programmes are aimed at: • Delivering and imparting technical and functional knowledge which will give your bank a winning edge from a cutting-edge technology.

• Enabling and empowering all levels of users to know what to do, when to do it, how to do it, who to do it and why it must be done and thereby causing little or no disruption to business operations.

• Providing opportunity for continuous learning. Specifically, within the training programmes, selected end users can be taken through structured training modules that will provide FLEXCUBE Technical Certification and FLEXCUBE Functional Certification from Oracle University to successful candidates. In our view, FLEXCUBE Certified staff within a bank ensures a stamp of professionalism in those charged with maintaining a higher level of performance and delivery from your FCUBS platform.

• Reducing on-the-job training time by providing new employees with the requisite knowledge and skills by sending them through Accra-based training facility, fully supported by the designers of the software.

LEARN, IMPROVE ...... RIGHT HERE AT HOME

MISSION: To provide customized and demand-driven training and software managed services consultancies to the banking and the financial services industries with a well-motivated knowledgeable team.

VISION: To be a leading financial services training support centre and partner for ORACLE in the delivery of cutting edge technology in Africa.

www.ibankingsolutions.net

FLEXCUBE

CENTRE OF LEARNING

Accra - Ghana

OVERVIEW OF iBanking TRAINING PROGRAMMES BOOT CAMP (I) TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR NEWLY RECRUITED BANK STAFF OR FRESH GRADUATES FROM TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS The programme provides a powerful combination Of theory and practical knowledge on contemporary topics of the Ghanaian banking and financial services industries. The programme is in two phases: (i) The basics of banking business. (ii) The banking application system used by the institution to deliver banking services. (e.g.

Oracle FLEXCUBE) The aim of this programme is to introduce participants to the basic theory and practice of banking and accounting principles through the medium offered by information technology (thus the term “Banking Application Software”).

BOOT CAMP (II) TRAINING FOR NEWLY RECRUITED, CONTRACT STAFF AND NATIONAL SERVICE PERSONNEL POSTED TO BANKS AND THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS The 10-day programme provides a comprehensive coverage of theory and practical knowledge of the various businesses banks offer including new areas such as electronic and mobile banking. The programme is designed to meet the training needs of contract staff and/or temporary staff of banks and financial services institutions (such as National Service Personnel posted to the banks). Practical sessions on banking operations are fully discussed and the theory and the business processes underpinning the daily tasks of the scheduled staff are fully explained.

END-USER TRAINING in Oracle FLEXCUBE FOR SELECTED CATEGORIES OF STAFF, namely: • Retail, Branch and Operations Managers • Tellers (customer-facing and back office) • Staff who work in Trade Finance, Money Markets, Treasury Back Office/Foreign Operations • Consumer Lending/SME/Relationship Managers • Product - & Operations - Support Teams.

This is a 2-10 day programme depending on the job role of targeted staff. The programme uses each individual bank’s Core Banking Software (CBS) version currently in use to execute daily tasks performed by the staff. The programme thus provides the theory, practical knowledge and the technology issues related to the specific business process and the job function of the participant. To achieve full interactivity, the training platform should be what the participant is used to, so we use data from the insitution’s current Core Banking Software (CBS) version.

TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ORACLE FCUBS – APPLICATION SUPPORT The 15-day programme is designed to deepen the knowledge of data centre and end-of-day (EOD) technical staff who support to close current day activities and set-up for beginning of day (BOD) the following day.

In scope in this module are: 1. Managing source versions 2. Debugging user issues 3. Undertaking 1st level analysis and simulated interactions with support teams.

TECHNICAL TRAINING – ORACLE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE ENTERPRISE EDITION (OBIEE) The 10-day programme imparts to participants the Oracle FCUBS Technical Architecture, Basic Concepts and FCUBS Naming conventions.

Participants will be taken through the various tables generated in FCUBS Naming conventions. In this module, we cover: • FLEXCUBE data dictionary • OBIEE BI administration universe • Freehand OBIEE/BI publisher report generation Participants will be able to understand the information needed by business units within the bank and will be able to design and produce timely, accurate and useful reports.

TECHNICAL TRAINING ON ORACLE FCUBS DEVELOPMENT WORKBENCH The 10-day programme provides insight into the Oracle FCUBS “Dev Workbench”. Participants are introduced to the Development Workbench Tool, Automatic Code generation as well as Extensibility.

This module includes sessions on FLEXCUBE Installer and Interface set up using Gateway Server.

Contact us Solutions Ltd 10 Abeasi Street, Ambassadorial Enclave, East Legon, Accra - Ghana, P. O. Box KA 30310, Airport - Accra, Ghana Tel.: +233 (0)302 543 202 +233 (0)267 666 351 info@ibankingsolutions.net www.ibankingsolutions.net

Solutions Ltd IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ORACLE FINANCIAL SERVICES SOFTWARE, INDIA AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS WORLDWIDE

LET YOUR INVESTMENT IN ICT DRIVE YOUR COMPETITIVENESS

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A F R I C A

SAAS “Oracle Cloud delivers a full suite of integrated, enterprise-grade applications services, enriched with social capabilities and embedded business intelligence, and providing easy access via mobile devices”

Ready for business

“We are the only ones now in the market with all three layers of cloud,” says Kenya’s Country Leader, Dr. Gilbert Saggia.

For Oracle, repeat business and longstanding client relationships are achieved through the evolution to PaaS, and then on to IaaS, but for many of its customers over the past decade, the initial SaaS connection is what defines the Company’s development as a cloud entity and partner.

As an independent survey carried out by IDC recently indicated, the majority of global enterprises now recognise SaaS as a solution that offers tangible business benefits due to the enhanced access to technology, and the improved productivity that is achieved as a consequence.

“Oracle Cloud delivers a full suite of integrated, enterprise-grade applications services, enriched with social capabilities and embedded business intelligence, and providing easy access via mobile devices,” emphasises Saggia.

“Oracle’s modern approach to cloud applications can help businesses innovate faster with less risk; quickly execute integrated business processes; transform user experience and mobile accessibility; and deliver new insight with transparent and actionable reporting.”

“We are comfortable dealing with vendors that are able to provide us with both on-premise and SaaS options for certain applications” - Kevin Kinyanjui, Information Systems Director, Kenya Airways

Dr. Gilbert Saggia, Country Leader, Kenya

“Oracle was selected as the foundation for this new technology platform based on its global expertise in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) deployment and its track record of delivery in the Kenyan and East African markets. We were looking for a world-class solution that is agile and that could seamlessly integrate well with our multiple core business and support systems.

I commend the contribution of Oracle and TransSys, our partner, to the project so far. They have demonstrated global expertise, coupled with a local team that has experience within the Kenyan and regional environment” - Jack Maina, CIO, Britam

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PROJECT JAWABU SET TO DELIVER AN OPTIMUM CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Africa Outlook (AfO): Can you firstly talk me through the company’s affiliation with Oracle and how it began?

Jack Maina, CIO, Britam (JM): In July 2014, Oracle was selected as the foundation of Britam’s new technology platform based on its global expertise in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) deployments and its track record of delivery in the Kenyan and East African markets.

Britam also engaged with Oracle Consulting Services and TransSys Solutions, an Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Platinum level member, to ensure the system was implemented effectively and that the process of transferring skills to Britam’s IT team was seamless.

and also facilitate improved cash flow management and investment returns.

The implementation of structured workflows to enforce discipline in transaction processing and to track/escalate points of delay should improve our internal control system, and increase the efficiency of our internal audit and enterprise risk management functions and controls.

We expect end-to-end straight through processing of some transactions, significant reduction in manual processes/interventions and work-arounds particularly where processes such as procurement/supply chain and HR were largely manual, resulting in accelerated operational efficiency.

Through the HCM (Human Capital Management) modules, we expect increased productivity as a result of an enhanced AfO: What made Britam choose Oracle’s performance management solution, more service over other market operators? accurate and timely computation of benefits JM: We were looking for a world-class solution that is agile and that could seamlessly and reimbursements, efficient recruitment integrate well with our multiple core business and on-boarding process for staff across our seven countries and extended branch and support systems. I commend the networks, and overall increased security and contribution of Oracle and TransSys to the project so far. They have demonstrated global confidentiality of staff information.

The Business Intelligence tool will enable expertise, coupled with a local team that has intelligent information, for intelligent decision experience within the regional environment. making and increased market responsiveness.

Oracle has a strong delivery team on the ground. Since the initial launch of the ERP AfO: Finally, what would you say sets project in July 2014, we have seen both Oracle and TransSys actively leading at our project Oracle apart from its competitors, based office. on the experience you have had working alongside the company?

AfO: What other benefits have you JM: Apart from providing world-class, enjoyed from this relationship with integrated technology, Oracle has developed Oracle since the services’ adoption? strong presence in the region through its JM: The ERP system is expected to deliver own offices as well as partners like TransSys major benefits for Britam, including timely, Solutions. It is also focused on education to accurate and reliable financial information ensure its whole ecosystem is able to deliver and relevant management reports due to the cutting-edge cloud and shared services integration capability. We expect that the solutions to customers. system will strengthen our management and statutory reporting, incentive calculations

Jack Maina CIO, Britam British-American Investments Company (Kenya) Limited (Britam) is a diversified financial services group, listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange, offering a wide range of financial products and services across the insurance, asset management, banking and property domain.

Boasting a presence across East Africa – including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania - the Company has launched “Jawabu”, as the project is known, an ambitious IT-enabled business transformation project designed to deliver the technology capabilities required to provide the best customer experience.

It is part of the diversified financial services Group’s quest to achieve its strategy for regional and local expansion through IT business transformation, and to also respond to the growing requirements of its customers.

Project “Jawabu” is supported by the implementation of Oracle’s E-Business Suite, Oracle SOA Suite and Oracle Middleware, Oracle Taleo Learn Cloud Service and Oracle Business Intelligence tools.

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TransSys Solutions TransSys Solutions: Transformation Begins Here Living by its name which represents Transformational Systems & Solutions, TransSys is a certified Oracle Platinum Partner that strives to be a specialist in making client’s transformational vision a reality rather than being a mere system integrator. The founders of TransSys carry over 150 person years of experience in ERP Implementation, Program and Project Management, Bolt-on solutions development and deployment with specialization across Airlines, BFSI, Oil & Gas, Real Estate, Telecom and Retail verticals.

Having a long list honors and achievements to its credit, TransSys Solutions has been recognized with Prestigious Oracle Excellence Award for Specialized Partner of the Year – EMEA in Applications for 2014, Oracle “SaaS Partner of the Year for 2014”, Oracle “Specialized Partner of the Year 2013” in the ECEMEA region and Excel4apps”Partner of the year 2013″ title for GL Wand product category for the second consecutive year amongst other recognitions.

Headquartered in Dubai with a development centre in India, TransSys has served over 70 customers in Middle

East, Africa and India since inception.

The company offers solutions focused on Oracle E-Biz Suite, ERP Implementations, Upgrades and Support, HCM, EPM, Fusion Applications, Customer Experience Management Solutions (Siebel and Fusion) Oracle based Core Developments and BI Solutions.

Innovation driven leadership in Cloud Solutions Besides delivering on premise Enterprise solutions, TransSys is today a leader in delivering SaaS based Solutions with significant innovations to boot. TransSys has done about 30 engagements on Cloud for customers across Banking, Airline, Real Estate and other customers and these solutions cut across Human Capital Management, Customer Relationship Management and ERP domains. Our innovations are around bringing in Industry flavours to the cloud solutions for industries such as Airlines, Real Estate & Banking besides integrations with multiple on-premise applications as well.

Dubai Headquarters +9714-5096707 India Dev Centre +91 44 30851111 www.transsyssolutions.com

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PAAS

Integrative Solution Instils Customer Confidence

Cherian Varghese Cluster Leader, Africa

“Despite several challenges, African countries have continued to outperform global average growth indicators since the turn of the century”

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OVER THE past decade, Africa has become one of the most rapidly evolving regions on the planet in regards to embracing new technologies, despite traditional challenges still engrained into some areas of the continent.

The desire to reach levels of western connectivity and accessibility is there in such abundance that cloud computing, especially, has gained previously unthinkable levels of traction over the past decade or more. Getting SaaS off the ground was challenging enough, but the infiltration of PaaS, IaaS and now even DaaS signifies that more and more regions across the continent have the infrastructure to at least be introduced to these new trends, for the good of the future of business and industry in Africa.

“Despite several challenges, African countries have continued to outperform global average growth indicators since the turn of the century,” emphasises Africa’s Cluster Leader, Cherian Varghese. “The world did not expect such a rapid adoption of cloud, especially from the African countries.

“Platform as a Service (PaaS) sounded like a nonstarter in African markets 12 months back. However the global push on cloud has made a significant impact on the African decision makers. With the emergence of mobile as big player in Africa, services like Oracle Java Cloud Service, Oracle Database Cloud Services and storage as an infrastructure service has captured the mind of both SME & large customers in Africa.

Intense education

Research firm, IDC forecasts that, on a global scale, the PaaS market will grow to more than $14 billion over the next two years; an astounding figure given that the benefits of the trend are still debated and ambiguous across different sectors.

“When they move to the cloud, people are no longer only looking for software as a service or infrastructure as a service,” said Mike Lehmann, Oracle’s Vice President of Product Management in a recent Forbes article. “They’re thinking of bringing

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STATE INFORMATICS LIMITED

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tate Informatics Limited (SIL) is a full-fledged systems integrator that has gained the trust of private companies and Governments alike in the local and international markets. More than 200 consultants, developers and engineers have successfully developed and implemented over 300 ICT projects in Mauritius and mainland African countries.

This has been achieved thanks to the expertise of SIL’s team, to our expertise about the public sector and other domains, and to our relationship with technology partners of global dimensions, including our longeststanding partner, Oracle.

We have learned how to master the technologies of our partners and to adapt them to the needs and expectations of our markets and clients, hence also contributing to our partners’ products, services and brands being highly regarded. SIL is an Oracle Platinum Partner and has developed and successfully implemented key solutions for governments in Mauritius or in mainland Africa, based on Oracle technologies. Examples of such solutions are the Crime Occurrence Tracking System (COTS) for the police force, the Integrated Financial Management Information System for ministries of Finance, the Immigration and Border Control System, and the Company Business Registration Information System (CBRIS). Our ISV status, which is unique in Mauritius, has made it possible for us to provide development services on Oracle and to create the TaMIS packaged software for HR management.

The launch of SILNAM in Namibia in 2003 and that of SILBOTS in Botswana in 2011 both demonstrate SIL’s ambitions as a regional player with partners in various markets, as well as our participation in skills development in every country where SIL is present.

www.sil.mu

Proud to be working with our world-renowned partner.

SIL is a leader in providing integrated IT solutions for the African region. With its offices in Mauritius, Namibia and Botswana, SIL serves multinational companies as well as government organisations and local businesses. The expansion of SIL in the African continent demonstrates our capability to deliver the right solutions, whatever the needs and identity of the client organisation.

Mauritius • Namibia • Botswana

+230 207 8000

silmail@sil.mu

www.sil.mu

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PAAS over application platforms and workloads to gain some of the same benefits for the application layer; standardisation, faster deployment, automation with more flexible capital expenditure approaches, and seamless integration.”

Varghese explains how this has transpired in Africa: “The adoption of PaaS in our market space has been the result of both intense education to our customers, our partners & our sales ecosystem.

Oracle - PaaS FIRST initiative has yielded great results from market penetration perspective.

African customers are well abreast with our cloud solutions.

Our marquee event “Oracle Cloud World” has pulled customers from this part of the world to attend and interact with global customers. We are backing the African markets with tailored Africa events branded as “Africa Cloud Day”.

“Customers have had challenges to be early adopters, however with a few wins, we have been able to replicate and grow faster than expected”

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Customer confidence

Research does suggest that the level of understanding surrounding PaaS is improving, allowing Oracle to really benefit in the world’s fastest-improving adopting continent.

Additional services across database Java, mobility, integration and on-demand offerings being delivered in the cloud has set the Company apart in this particular market arguably more so than in any other, and customer feedback only goes further in supporting this claim.

“Customers have had challenges to be early adopters, however with a few wins, we have been able to replicate and grow faster than expected,” Varghese states. “Companies have realised that power and infrastructure is a constant challenge in African shores. The enormous amount of electricity required for running large data centres and cooling them, has led them to believe that a failover environment can easily be hosted in remote countries.

“This has led to CXO’s easily adopting the PAAS platform and thereby reducing capital expenses.

Oracle PaaS gets everything onto one platform, so integration becomes easier. This also leads to better economic sense in serving their customers better and bringing faster services to customers.

Varghese concludes: “In a nutshell, customers are feeling confident about investing in Oracle’s PaaS solution.”

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CISAN INTERNATIONAL LTD

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isan International Limited “Cisan” is a multi-competency enterprise transformation and technology consulting firm that combines expertise and capabilities across many industries and business functions to deliver superior value to its clients. Cisan collaborates with its clients, both in the private and public sectors, to build high performance enterprises.

Cisan’s IT transformation solutions help clients get maximum value from existing systems and new investments.

Our professionals are experienced in working with both technology and business executives to help them do more for less.

We specialize in transforming IT operations to complement business directions and priorities, and deliver IT services consistently and effectively. We provide a roadmap to support clients through the IT change process while aligning the business and achieving stakeholder agreement. The result is dramatic improvements in collaboration between users, applications, and technology components, generating significant value for any business and creating competitive advantage.

Cisan’s principals and directors have a combined industry experience of over 25 years in various sectors of the economy: with competence in business transformation, financial advisory, software engineering, communication technology, e-Business development, government transformations (e-Government), systems integration, IT consulting, Instrumentation & Control, and process reengineering.

Cisan has deep understanding of the industries it works in, strong technical competencies, and an outstanding track record both in the private and public sectors. With its tested methodologies and best practices, its clients get bestfit, quality solutions that meet their business demands.

With a flexible organizational structure primed to deliver customized services to its clients, Cisan goes the extra mile to fully understand its clients’ real needs.

In this way, its clients are enabled to reinvent themselves and remodel their operations and business services using proven business methodologies.

I.T & TELECOMS ELECTRICAL & INSTRUMENTATION CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGEMENT For over 20 years, Cisan has been providing undisputable first-rate Systems, exceptional Services, and superb business Solutions to a wide spectrum of customers. Our strategic partnerships with many leading global brands have put us in an even stronger position to further secure our place in Nigeria’s ICT and Telecommunications sector.

We supply and deploy Oracle Engineered Systems, traditional servers and storage solutions

Our Partners

Galcon House, Plot 2, Blk 113, Lekki Express Way (By Elf B/Stop), Lekki –Phase 1, Lagos State, Nigeria T: 01-2805755-6 | 08037610167 • E: info@cisaninternational.com • www.cisaninternational.com

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BIG DATA

Big Data: Who Needs It?

Kevin Attard Country Leader, South Africa

“In Africa, we believe both the private and public sector enterprises are poised to go through the evolution of data warehousing into a fully-fledged data management systems consisting of three components: ‘data warehouse’, ‘data reservoir’ and ‘franchised query engine’” 50

AS TODAY’S enterprises embrace big data, their information architecture must also evolve. Every sizeable organisation has probably run a data warehouse and used business analytics to interrogate the information generated by its IT systems. But data today is far more complex; it consists not only of figures and facts, but also video, data collected outside of the organisation on social platforms, the internet, commerce sites, voice, and many more elements.

“Every enterprise has some sort of data warehouse today, but best practice embraces emerging technologies such as Hadoop and NoSQL,” explains Oracle South Africa’s Country Leader, Kevin Attard. “Today’s information architecture recognises that data is not only stored in increasingly disparate data platforms, but also in increasingly disparate locations; on premise and potentially multiple cloud platforms.”

The idea of a single monolithic “enterprise data warehouse” has faded as a new more flexible architecture has emerged. Oracle calls this new architecture the Oracle Big Data Management System.

Attard adds: “In Africa, we believe both the private and public sector enterprises are poised to go through the evolution of data warehousing into fully-fledged data management systems consisting of three components: ‘data warehouse’, ‘data reservoir’ and ‘franchised query engine’.”

2015 is the year

Now recognised as a kind of capital, data is just as necessary in establishing new products, services and methods of working as it is as financial capital.

“For CEOs, this means securing access to, and increasing use of, data capital by digitising and data-fying key activities with customers, suppliers and partners before rivals do,” Attard continues. “For CIOs, this

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means providing data liquidity; the ability to get data the firm wants into the shape it needs with minimal time, cost and risk.”

To meet the needs of these aforementioned CEOs in Africa, Oracle has set itself apart through its unparalleled levels of innovation to address specific industry criteria, and to produce bespoke solutions across the full range of benefiting sectors.

This, in turn, has laid the foundations for what Attard believes will be yet another pivotal year of big data evolution in 2015: “2015 is the year of big data for enterprises, and it is essential for solutions to evolve as trends for technology usage change in the market. Oracle has an excellent understanding of big data trends predicted in the market and our R&D is geared to address these trends.

“We are focusing on the expectation that corporate boardrooms will talk about data capital rather than big data, big data management will ‘grow up’, companies will demand ‘a SQL for all seasons’, just-in-time transformation will transform ETL (extract, transform and load) activities, self-service discovery and visualisation tools will come to big data, security and governance will increase big data capabilities, and production workloads will blend cloud and on premise capabilities.”

Future forecast

Also addressing the need for different readiness and maturity levels for progressive technologies in Africa, Oracle’s allencompassing approach has aligned itself with recent Gartner research which has shown that early adoption of big data solutions can generate as much as 20 percent difference in performance between themselves and later adopters of the same solutions; Globacom in Nigeria being just one

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ORACLE’S BIG DATA PREDICTIONS, 2015 1. Corporate boardrooms will talk about data capital, not big data 2. Big data management will grow – up 3. Companies will demand an SQL for all seasons 4. Just-in-time transformation will transform ETL 5. Self-service discovery and visualisation tools will come to big data 6. Security and governance will increase big data innovation

of the numerous enterprises to have enjoyed a close, big data-orientated relationship with Oracle over the years.

“In Africa, telcos and banks are the early adopters. So, we believe that the parts of the equation are poised to bring about a positive difference; Oracle’s offering in Africa being state of the art, and the African enterprises – some of them – being ready to adopt early,” Attard concludes. “Oracle will extend its current Big Data Management System to provide fast, integrated, secure access to all data; not only data stored in an Oracle Exadata-based data warehouse or Oracle Big Data Appliance, but also data stored in operational NoSQL databases, transactional

relational databases, streaming data sources and more.

“Our future Big Data Management System will provide a framework for easily incorporating new data sources, ensuring that these new data sources can be seamlessly managed. Oracle will execute its BDMS vision incrementally, spanning multiple product and release cycles.

“Oracle’s core big data products will be available in the cloud. In line with Oracle’s corporate strategy, the same capabilities and products that are available on-premise are also being delivered as Oracle cloud services.

This allows customers to easily migrate existing Oracle systems to the cloud.”

7. Production workloads blend cloud and onpremise capabilities

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S P O T L I G H T :

S K A

THE WORLD’S BIGGEST RADIO TELESCOPE TRIGGERS SA BIG DATA ACTIVITIES

“Unlike what you may consider in life, when observing the universe, size does matter. Ingesting exabytes of radio telescope data requires a secure, long-term and high capacity storage system like the SL 150” – Manfred Gramlich, Systems Executive, Oracle South Africa

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THE SOUTH African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Project sees the telescope as a trigger for big data activities in South Africa and reaching into other African Partner Countries. The aim is to bolster development on a large scale as part of a national, multi-disciplinary programme, bringing together local universities, government and industry to tackle a range of big data challenges and to develop skills in big data management.

Focused on the MeerKAT and SKA, a range of projects are underway in the fields of high performance and power efficient computing, advanced algorithms, artificial intelligence and data visualisation, to name a few.

A number of other initiatives are also under way, including collaboration with the Western Cape government that will result in the construction of a big data-focused, high-performance computing facility in the province. In Carnarvon, an e-learning programme for young students, as well as a community knowledge centre, has already taken shape with a view to drive skills development in the area.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is an international project to build a radio telescope tens of times more sensitive and hundreds of times faster at mapping the sky than today’s best radio astronomy facilities. Simply put: the world’s largest radio telescope. The SKA will also be the world’s largest public science data project.

Once completed, it will generate data at a rate more than 10 times today’s global internet traffic.

The process of building the biggest radio telescope in the world is rapidly moving forward, located in South Africa and eight other African countries and Australia. The core of the African component of the telescope is being built in the Karoo, near the town of Carnarvon. A green field site for the telescope has been established that is now fully provided with infrastructure; power lines, a very fast optical fibre connection to the national network, specially constructed buildings, roads and accommodation. The site is protected from radio interference (which would make the telescope blind) by regulations promulgated in terms of the Astronomy Geographic Advantage Act.

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INTERDIST ALLIANCES

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ith presence in 11 African countries, and plans to increase our footprint, Interdist Alliances is ideally placed to assist partners across the continent to grow their Oracle business.

We currently hold 5 Oracle Specialisations across both hardware and software solutions and are constantly working to increase these as we see our knowledge of the Oracle solutions as a key differentiator, allowing us to offer comprehensive presales advice to both our partners and their customers.

We host the Oracle Partner Hubs in both Nigeria and Kenya, where we offer technical and sales training every week.

In operation since 2013, we have offered over 100 training sessions to over 1,500 students.

Our Oracle Authorised Solution Centre in Nigeria is ranked #1 in the region, with revenue derived from demonstrations and proofs of concept at over $7-million from that market alone.

This year we are taking our OASC to the cloud, enabling us to offer demonstration and proof of concept services to Oracle Partners regardless of their location on the continent.

“Our commitment as a value-added distributor is to help partners find new opportunities and to provide the enablement necessary to support them.

We are very proud to be an Oracle distributor and to be able to execute a shared vision of a word-class technology brand across Africa.” – Kristian Tierney, General Manager E oasc@interdistalliances.com

www.interdistalliances.com

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SKA PROJECT

“The MeerKAT alone is set to generate the equivalent of 700,000 x32 gigabyte (GB) iPods a day, with the SKA1 and SKA2 set to produce exponentially more. The data is structured but flows in firehose-like quantities through dedicated stages of computing, designed to extract very weak signals from the universe. This is then reduced through various stages of processing, resulting in approximately 7,000 x32GB iPods’ worth of data being stored in the long-term MeerKAT archive each day. This is really big data, which presents its own set of challenges, as well as numerous broader opportunities” - Jasper Horrell, Manager of Science Computing and Innovation, SKA South Africa

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A team of South Africa scientists and engineers in the SKA South Africa project office has designed and is building the world-leading MeerKAT telescope on the site. It will consist of 64 dish antennas, each 13.5 metres in diameter, so that each antenna stands about four stories high. They will be distributed over 10 kilometres and are connected by buried power lines and optical fibre connections to very fast computers in the underground Karoo Array Processor Building (KAPB) on site. An Oracle SL150 Tape Library is being used to archive the massive amounts of data being ingested from MeerKAT. It is able to scale to high data transfer rates and can store large volumes of data in an energy efficient form.

Oracle’s StorageTek SL150 modular tape library provides simple and scalable data storage, ideal for backup and archival applications. The SL150 delivers an industry-leading combination of ease of use and scalability, scaling seamlessly from 30 to 300 slots and hundreds of terabytes of data. “Unlike what you may consider in life, when observing the universe, size does matter. Ingesting exabytes of radio telescope data requires a secure, long-term and high capacity storage system like the SL150,” says Manfred Gramlich, Systems Executive at Oracle South Africa.

Dr Bernie Fanaroff, SKA SA Project Director says: “There is intense interest from the international astronomy community in the MeerKAT and teams including South African scientists and more than 300 international scientists have been allocated observing time. The MeerKAT will begin “early science” in 2016 and its full science programme in 2017. A seven-dish array, the KAT-7, has been built on site as a prototype and although it was intended as an engineering test bed, it has worked so well that it is in demand by scientists for their observations and is producing important science.

“In March, 2015, the board of directors and the members of the organisation agreed to the proposal for re-baselining the first phase of SKA, called SKA1.

This was done to ensure that SKA1 could be built within the cost cap of €650 million but still have the capability to carry out the science that it will be expected to do. SKA Organisation will build 133 dishes at Losberg in the Karoo - all of them will be 15 metres in diameter - and 125,000 low-frequency antennas in Western Australia. The 64-dish MeerKAT radio telescope will be integrated into the SKA1-MID telescope when the MeerKAT science programme is completed. So the SKA1-MID will consist of 197 dishes in an array spread over 150km around Losberg.”

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OVATIONS GROUP

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t Ovations, we provide specialist knowledge and innovative transformation solutions. We have a unique understanding of how people, processes and technology combine to optimise business functionality and profitability. Our focus is the transformation of business and customer experience and process optimisation.

We are locally based and our people are locally recruited and skilled. We are a niche South African service provider.

Through this approach, we show our commitment to growing key technical and industrial engineering skills in the South African economy and addressing the large skills gap in the market.

At Ovations, we immerse ourselves in the details of your business or technical issue, while addressing the real issues in your workplace – whether it involves people, processes or technology.

We have specialists in industrial engineering, software engineering, banking, IT architecture, training and insurance. These bright, enthusiastic people are not confined to roles but are encouraged to think out-of-the-box and challenge the status quo.

Our team consists of a substantial number of people, based in Johannesburg and Cape Town. We will roll up our sleeves to get involved and solve your business’ technical problems.

Hardworking, but never forgetting how important it is to have fun while doing it, we bring the Ovations culture and brand into your environment and fit in like one of your own.

If we’ve piqued your interest and you need help transforming your business and processes, send us a mail or give us a call to chat and find out where and how we can make a difference to your organisation.

T +27 (0)11 658 8500 E TalkToUs@OvationsGroup.com

www.ovationsgroup.com

We solve complex problems and sometimes we use technology.

Ovations始 focus is the transformation of business and customer experience from manual to automatic. To do this, we first assess what the current state of your business is and whether it始s organisational, process or technology based. Then we see which technologies you have invested in and if they can do the job required to improve the process and solve the problem. If not, we advise and help with the selection and implementation of enterprise software products.

Please contact TalkToUs@ovationsgroup.com or +27 11 658 8500 for more information. www.ovationsgroup.com

O R A C L E

A F R I C A

MOBILE APPLICATIONS

Fulfilling the Needs of the Millennial Generation

Adebayo Sanni Country Leader, Nigeria

NEW RESEARCH from Oracle has revealed that a majority of millennials would be less likely to use a company’s products or services based on a poor mobile application experience, highlighting the importance of apps in the tech industry’s progression, and also the necessity for R&D into the topic by companies like Oracle.

Mobile Applications are a modern day everpresent in the tech domain having a profound relevance to the new systems entering the market, and the generations of people adapting more rapidly to these new technologies.

The demand for enhanced usage across smartphones, tablets and phablets is particularly palpable across what Oracle calls the ‘millennial’ demographic; the population aged between 18 and 34 to which this evolution most applies to.

“Recent research suggests that 85 percent of people aged 18 to 34 own a smartphone and the effect on businesses globally has been dramatic in a relatively short period of time,” notes Nigeria’s Country Leader for the Company, Adebayo Sanni in relation to the study carried out by a Nigerian Telecommunications Commission. “Nigeria ranks seventh in the world by the number of mobile phone users with nine out of 10 people owning at least one mobile phone.”

‘Recent research suggests that 85 percent of people aged 18 to 34 own a smartphone and the effect on businesses globally has been dramatic in a relatively short period of time’

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FUSION INFORMATION SERVICES

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usion has been an Oracle Partner since 2006. Fusion’s initial focus was on implementing JDEdwards and Oracle E-business. Over the years, Fusion has gained extensive experience on managing a range of Oracle projects and technologies.

Fusion’s latest offering, Project Portfolio Management as a Service (PPMaaS) is built on this experience.

Fusion is passionate about changing the world on how projects are conceived and managed. We believe that while projects are complex, they can be delivered with quality and predictability time after time.

Fusion’s PPMaaS will provide the following benefits to clients: • Reduce project failures • Ensure that a client obtains the level of PPM capability they desire • Economies of scale • Just enough governance • At a predictable cost • Using industry standard methods • A client can take complete ownership of the PPM capability when they are ready to do so In addition to the PPMaaS, Fusion has developed a unique Unlocking Leadership from Within Training Programme for Project Managers Coaching is considered to be a key enabler for leadership development, empowerment and transformation, and is a key part of this programme, and looks at how we can take good project manager (with or without a certification) and make them more effective through a process of education and coaching.

www.fusionis.co.za

Project PortFoLIo ManageMent as a servIce (PPMaas) PPM FUnctIons

HoW Does It WorK

Financial Management

tracking and reporting

PPM governance

change control

timesheet tracking resource and capacity Planning

• Assess current PPM (state and Maturity) • Define PPM Model (requirements)

career Management

PMo training

Pilot

2

3

rollout

4

Manage

• Agree PMO Model: - target Benefits - PPM scope - training approach - Quality approach

• Agree pilot projects

• Rollout framework

• Train staff

• Bring PPM to full strength

• Get stakeholder feedback • Refine framework

• Train staff • Conduct communications • Get stakeholder feedback • Make operational

• Develop Framework: - governance - Methods - templates - reporting and MI - software

• Support project managers • Inform community • Inform Portfolio Management • Induction programme • Refine framework

governance Predictable cost Industry standard Methods take ownership when ready

• Track performance

WHY

• Review and fine tune

scalable governance Measurable

Quality assurance

consistent

content and Information Management

cLoUD soFtWare

standardise PPM Processes

outsource

obtain PPM capabalility economies of scale

Manage Projects and Programmes

Methodologies and tools

reduce Project Failures

assess and Develop

1

Blueprint

Portfolio Management

BeneFIts

Predictable single source of truth

Benefits Management

Flexibile

risks Issues

UNLOCKING LEADERSHIP FROM WITHIN FOR UNLOCKING LEADERSHIP FROM WITHIN FOR PROJECT MANAGERS KING G LEADERSHIP LEADERSHIP FROM FROM WITHIN WITHIN FOR FOR PROJECT MANAGERS PROJECT PROJECT MANAGERS MANAGERS Source: Managing Successful Programmes - Axelos

copyright © 2015 Fusion Information services (Pty) Ltd

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OBJECTIVES

ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT

1. Meaning

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TOPICS

TOPICS TOPICS

• Roles • Roles • Responsibility • Responsibility BENCHMARKING

2. Attitude

• Trust • Trust

PROGRAMME

PROGRAMME

4. Power

PROGRAMME

BENCHMARKING BENCHMARKING

3. Loyalty

• Decision making • Decision making • Information processing • Information processing • Self-awareness • Self-awareness • Personal powers • / TRAINING Personal powers GROUP DIALOGUES • Excellence • Excellence

GROUP DIALOGUES GROUP DIALOGUES / TRAINING / TRAINING

5. Responsibility

• Thinking patterns • Thinking patterns • Communication • Communication • Motivation • Motivation

ON THE JOB • CONSULTATION Engagement • Engagement

6. Engagement

• Leadership • Leadership

ON THEON JOBTHE CONSULTATION JOB CONSULTATION

• Personal Values • Personal Values

7. Trust

• Personal Vision • Personal Vision • Personal Efficiency • Personal Efficiency

INDIVIDUAL COACHING 8. Openness

• Wheel of life • Wheel of life • Prioritisation • Prioritisation

INDIVIDUAL INDIVIDUAL COACHING COACHING

• Effectiveness • Effectiveness • Conflict Management • Conflict Management

Copyright © 2015 Fusion Information Services (Pty) Ltd

Ltd vices (Pty) Ltd

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Email:

info@fusionis.co.za Email: info@fusionis.co.zawww.fusionis.co.za www.fusionis.co.za info@fusionis.co.za www.fusionis.co.za

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• Roles • Responsibility • Trust • Decision making • Information processing • Self-awareness • Personal powers • Excellence • Thinking patterns • Communication • Motivation • Engagement • Leadership • Personal Values • Personal Vision • Personal Efficiency • Wheel of life • Prioritisation • Effectiveness • Conflict Management

O R A C L E

A F R I C A

MOBILE APPLICATIONS

“Companies must understand that their mobile apps now serve as one of the most important extensions of their business when it comes to engaging customers. They have become the new conduit between modern companies and the millennial generation, but this will only hold true if organisations can deliver something of value”

The pressure on groups like Oracle to subsequently monitor, analyse and then capitalise on these statistics is significant and has led to critical studies being carried out to forecast the future of mobile applications.

“Companies must understand that their mobile apps now serve as one of the most important extensions of their business when it comes to engaging customers. They have become the new conduit between modern companies and the millennial generation, but this will only hold true if organisations can deliver something of value,” adds the Vice President for Mobile Strategy and Product Management, Suhas Uliyar.

- Suhas Uliyar, Vice President for Mobile Strategy and Product Management

FINTECH GROUP

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intech has over the years acquired extensive experience in addressing Africa’s unique financial services technology challenges and has continued to provide and develop a broad range of innovative solutions and services, including world class custom developed software to meet the ever changing needs of our clients.

These solutions include; Core Banking (Flexcube UBS), Reconciliation, Sacco and MFI, Leasing, E-tax (Automated Tax Collection), Clearing and Settlement (Cheque Truncation), Electronic Delivery Channels (Mobile/Internet Banking, ATM & POS), CRB Reporting, Business Intelligence, CRM, ERP, Outsourced IT services, infrastructure, Unified Communications, Call Center, and Consultancy.

Fintech has partnered with world leading IT vendors, including Oracle, Oracle Financial Services Software, Broadridge, Interactive Intelligence, Imperva, Microsoft, and IBM.

PLEXADA SYSTEM INTEGRATORS LTD Plexada is an IT consultancy where we pursue big dreams.

The millennial generation

“The research reveals that nearly 55 percent of millennials say a poor mobile app experience would make them less likely to use a company’s products or services,” notes Sanni. “According to the global report, ‘Millennials and mobility: how businesses can tap into the app generation’, 39 percent of millennials would also be less likely to recommend a company’s products or services to others following a poor app experience, and 27 percent admit it would even give them a negative view of that organisation’s products or services altogether.”

Alienating the millennial generation, and consequently the key demographic for smartphones and tablet sales, is a risk certainly not worth taking, with the importance and saturation of mobile applications only set to increase further in the future.

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Today, Plexada is a tier one Oracle partner with a diversified portfolio. We accept the challenges that others prefer to avoid.

We are a creative company that grows continuously. Plexada employees personify our path to success. We help customers implement best-inclass Oracle solutions for operational excellence, and information management. Our deep experience in the portfolio of Oracle solutions address a range of customer needs including social relationship management, customer relationship management, data management, procurement and financials.

www.plexada-sl.com

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MOBILE APPLICATIONS For Oracle, this means that the extent of innovation and research must continue at an equally rapid rate: “There clearly remains much room for innovation when it comes to tablet apps, as well as apps for larger form phablets, and companies that answer the call will be well-placed to capitalise on a still maturing market,” the Company’s research revealed. “However, apps for smartphones and tablets should not be developed independently from each other.

“Many millennials own multiple connected devices, and businesses will need to deliver a consistent, high-quality app experience across all of these if they want to add value for their customers.”

Disruptive in the digital age

“Access, convenience and added-value are the primary requirements of the millennial generation, and a successful digital business will define itself and its services based on these principles” - Adebayo Sanni, Country Leader, Nigeria

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The key moving forward, therefore, is flexibility; to ensure that companies are not only meeting millennial customer demands now, but they are also developing a service that can be adaptable to future demands also.

“We are now in the age of the digital business; one in which mobile, social and the cloud have converged and put companies in a position to build themselves around a fully digital platform and better serve both their customers and employees,” Sanni says. “For millennials, mobile devices are at the very heart of how they interact with companies and with each other.

“Unless they can tap into how this generation actually uses these devices, then organisations will struggle to differentiate themselves in the era of allthings digital. For those that do get things right, the mobile opportunities are plentiful indeed.”

Optimising the cloud in meeting all requirements in the field seems the best way forward, in allowing devices already outside the firewall to access data both in the cloud and on-premise; subsequently enabling businesses to vary their resources and achieve that necessary flexibility.

Sanni concludes: “With their databases, applications, and platform services all tied together in this way, companies will ensure that relevant data and services are easily accessible to everyone that needs them – including customers, partners, and employees – whenever they need them.

“Access, convenience and added-value are the primary requirements of the millennial generation, and a successful digital business will define itself and its services based on these principles. Putting mobile first is crucial to this endeavour, and to being truly disruptive in the digital age.”

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FINEART TECHNOLOGIES … make IT Simple.

Fineart Technologies Zimbabwe (formerly SECSYS Technologies Zimbabwe) aim to rapidly establish itself as a leading technology provider with it’s de facto Service Delivery Platform and related value-added services designed to support mission critical solutions.

Our mission is to provide world-class state of the art solutions and 24/7 support to our customers.

To this end we provide a selection of the following products and services:• Oracle hardware and software installation and support • Service level agreements, help desk and database management • Telecommunications - GSM networks 3G, 4G, turnkey network design and implementation services

GLOBAL COMPUTING SOLUTIONS

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lobal Computing Solutions Plc (GCS) is a leading systems integrator, IT infrastructure service provider and an established player in the Ethiopian IT industry, providing a wide spectrum of technology solutions and services to a diverse customer base.

With more than two decades of rich experience in technology and enterprise IT infrastructure, GCS has successfully implemented, managed and consulted various companies on complex IT and critical business systems.

GCS represents more than 30 brands in value segments of the business and going forward, GCS plans to expand its services not only in Ethiopia but also into neighbouring countries across Africa.

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Gold Partner

Global Computing Solutions is an IT Infrastructure Services provider. Our solutions include;

FSD Partner

Delivering tomorrow’s IT solutions today Contact us info@gcsethiopia.com +251 115 513862 www.gcsethiopia.com

System Integration Network Implementations Enterprise implementations Applications integration End User Computing

Managed Services IT Service management Network Operations Center Security Operations Data Center Operations Cloud Operations

Building Automation Systems Structured Cabling Data Center Setup BAS

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BUILDING IT SKILLS & INNOVATION IN AFRICA

IT Promotes Social Inclusion

‘Today, IT holds the promise to promote social inclusion, combat corruption, expand the digital economy and enable stronger links between citizens and governments, businesses and customers, NGOs and the communities they serve’

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TODAY THERE is a new “third platform” for IT. The first platform emerged in the 90’s when workers had computing delivered to their desktop from a central mainframe. This client server technology made computing accessible to more people. The second platform was the internet age, where people and systems could communicate with each other all over the world.

The third platform is built on cloud computing, mobile computing and social media. All three of these elements can be easily consumed, and are being adopted at an unprecedented rate. Just like other platforms, highly technical skills are needed; these are skills with a strong foundation in math.

Oracle Africa is finding new ways to empower people to embrace and use the new third platform.

“Turning the skills gap into an opportunity requires a multi-stakeholder effort between government, the private sector and the technology industry. Training at various levels must be addressed; from helping to ensure existing employees have the skills they need to keep pace with the changing technologies, to supporting workforce development programmes and working with national education systems,” says Oracle Vice President Technology AFTA Cluster Leader and VP A&C ECEMEA, Janusz Naklicki. “We need to combine our efforts to build a vibrant and innovative skills pool in Africa that can help create a foundation for sustainable economic growth and a pipeline of innovative solutions.”

FALCORP TECHNOLOGIES

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alcorp Technologies is an ICT services and Solutions Company providing innovate solutions and services to public and private sector organisations in South Africa and Africa.

Falcorp’s solutions focus on 5 core technology areas including, digital and interactive, application services, SOA services, data management, and Oracle services.

Our end-to-end digital business and technology services encompass, digital marketing strategy, analytics, online services, online and mobile solutions, social media and mobile platforms.

T 011 805 6315 E info@falcorp.co.za

www.falcorp.co.za

ICT WORKS

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CT-Works is a business solution provider renowned for forging strategic partnerships with its clients, to achieve efficiencies in operations and productivity in the public and private sectors. Through world-class systems and technology, ICT-Works delivers sophisticated yet simple solutions to complex business problems.

As an Oracle Platinum Partner, we offer a comprehensive range of technology and valuable solutions including continuous improvement consulting services. We provide our clients with a “one-stopshop” for the full spectrum of possible business services.

ICT-Works is 100% black female-owned and is backed by a proven track record of delivering large projects.

Orla Ni Chorcora, Senior Director, Business Development Oracle ECE/MEA, with MTN Foundation Scholar and Oracle bursary recipient to CERN openlab Summer School 2015

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Johannesburg +27 11 234 7040 Cape Town +27 21 834 8400 E info@ict-works.co.za

www.ict-works.co.za

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Our solution covers the full Supply Chain Management life-cycle for the Public Sector Built on the Oracle Platform and customised for the needs of each country on the continent, our solutions enable public sector managers across all tiers of government to manage all elements of the supply chain lifecycle easily and effectively.

Compliance

Reporting and Analysis

• PFMA, MFMA, PPPFA, SCOA • Cash, Accrual and Modified Cash

• Supply Chain Intelligence • Spend Analytics • Supplier Rotation • Business Intelligence

Governance • Visibility • Accountability • Auditability • Monitoring

Technology

Standardisation • Public Sector Supply Chain Management Business Processes • Centralised Master File: Suppliers, Employees, Items • Delegations and Segregations • Human Workflows • System Workflows Budgeting • Top-down, Bottom-up budgeting • Daily Cash Forecasting • Funds Reservation

• Integrated with Transversal Financial system (BAS) • Web-based Systems • Mobility • Application and Database Security • System Audit trails

Single source of information • Supplier Master • Item Master • Commodities • Employee Master

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BUILDING IT SKILLS & INNOVATION IN AFRICA BOHN INC

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ohn Inc, a trusted Information and Communication and Technology Strategic & Implementation Partner of choice to Public and Private Sectors in South Africa and surrounding countries through distinctive, unique and world class offerings.

Verticals: Education - Health - Security Financial Services - Telecoms - Transport – Media & Entertainment

Above: The Information Communication Technology Authority (ICTA) in Kenya signed a memorandum of understanding with Oracle to broaden the IT skills in the region

“We need to combine our efforts to build a vibrant and innovative skills pool in Africa that can help create a foundation for sustainable economic growth and a pipeline of innovative solutions”

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Addressing the skills gap

Oracle Africa is aiming to tackle the skills challenge from four perspectives: employee readiness, ecosystem readiness, workforce readiness and youth readiness. “The elements within these areas are tailored to meet the needs of each audience and also take into consideration the time to market, and help foster a pipeline of IT talent for the future,” explains Naklicki.

Today, IT holds the promise to promote social inclusion, combat corruption, expand the digital economy and enable stronger links between citizens and governments, businesses and customers, NGOs and the communities they serve. They can do this and at the same time dramatically reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Implemented in conjunction with government agencies such as Lagos State and Edo State in Nigeria, the Ministry of ICT and Education in Kenya, the Workforce Development Agency in Rwanda and the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia; the Oracle Africa engagement also incorporates collaboration with the private sector and organisations such as MTN Foundation Nigeria.

“Innovation hubs help support the acceleration of technology innovation, and are often the birthplace of the digital disruption we hear so much about.

Oracle Africa is working with a number of these hubs across the region to leverage Oracle product experts to engage the local tech community via

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Solutions • Information & Communications Technology (ICT) • Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) • Platform as a Service (PaaS) • Software as a Service (SaaS) • Business as a Service (BaaS) • Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) • B2B Cloud Computing Infrastructure • 360 Business Intelligence Platform •Data Security Solutions (Storage, Exchange and Recovery)

knowledge transfer sessions. We are pleased to be associated with a community of tech entrepreneurs whose creativity and energy are contributing to the creation of new and exciting African businesses,” says Naklicki.

Oracle Africa also has an internship programme designed for Information Systems and Business Science graduates. At the end of the internship, candidates can graduate armed with initial on-the-job experience. In FY 14, Oracle Africa retained many of the interns and the remainder had opportunities to seek employment in the Oracle partner ecosystem.

The recent collaborations referenced here are just examples of what Oracle Africa foresees to be a long-term commitment to growing and developing local talent to support Africa’s digital transformation.

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OR ACLE G old Par tner Bohn Inc, a leading information and Communication and Technology (ICT) Strategic Business Partner of choice to Public and Private Sectors through distinctive customer experience and world class coverged solutions.

ORACLE GIVING IN AFRICA One of the ways that Oracle helps to address the ICT skills challenge is by supporting nonprofit organisations that advance education - especially computer science education - as well as organisations that protect the environment, and enrich community life.

Akili Dada, Kenya serves as a leadership incubator, investing in high-achieving young African women from underprivileged backgrounds who are passionate about social change. Oracle’s funds scholarships for five underprivileged young women ages 13-20 in the Young Changemakers Programme, which provides mentoring and leadership training. Scholarships cover tuition, board, fees, supplies, and personal care items.

Strathmore University, Kenya is one of the country’s leading schools of business, finance, and information technology, where the Oracle Centre of Excellence provides training for lecturers and teachers.

Africa Cancer Foundation, Kenya helps prevent cancer and provides holistic solutions for African people affected by cancer, by mobilising resources, conducting research, and providing education to the public and to healthcare practitioners. Oracle funding has enabled the development of a web platform to improve access to cancer screenings, diagnosis, and treatment, and an SMS platform to target communities in rural areas.

WEEE Centre, Kenya addresses environmental and health hazards of increasing e-waste. Oracle funding supports the Centre’s public education programme, which explains the hazards of e-waste and how to properly dispose of it, provides youth entrepreneurship training in the responsible reclamation and sale of valuable materials, and increases the volume of e-waste processed at the Centre. iHub Limited, Kenya supports the local tech community by connecting people and supporting start-ups. Oracle funding has enabled the formation of a Java

Tel : +27(0)10 330 0350 Email : info@bohn-inc.co.za Web : www.bohn-inc.co.za

Users Group, delivery of Alice and Greenfoot workshops for children, and the creation of a showcase event for Java applications and solutions developed at the iHub. Riders for Health, Kenya and Nigeria delivers public health care services to rural communities in Sub-Saharan Africa predictably, reliably, and cost effectively.

Oracle provides general operating support, including maintenance of a fleet of motorcycles and four-wheel-drive vehicles used to transport: medicine, vaccines, specimens/results and healthcare, workers who deliver care and conduct educational outreach and disease monitoring.

The Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, Rwanda protects and conserves gorillas and their habitats in Africa. Oracle funding supports daily tracking of gorillas and anti-poaching patrols. It has also enabled development of an iOS mobile application for data capture in the field and accurate transfer to the Fossey Fund’s new database in the Oracle Cloud.

Wecyclers, Nigeria helps low-income communities to capture value from waste and clean up their neighbourhoods through incentive-based recycling. Oracle funding supports general operating and the creation of recycling clubs at two schools, which educate 10,000 households on the importance of proper waste management annually.

Co-Creation Hub, Nigeria accelerates the application of social capital and technology for economic prosperity. Oracle funding supports the Geeks Club, an after-school computing club held weekly for secondary school students ages 13-18.

Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, Nigeria educates, connects, and empowers women and girls through active engagement in technology training, mentoring, and career counselling. Oracle funding supports the Girls Technology Club, which engages 800 underserved girls from 20 high schools, plus alumnae of the two-week Girls Camp, and deepens their skills through programming classes, tech company excursions, career talks, and mentoring.

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CUSTOMER SPOTLIGHT: UNIVERSITY OF DJIBOUTI

DJIBOUTI INVESTS TO BECOME EDUCATION LEADER ON HORN OF AFRICA

Dr Nabil Mohamed Ahmed Minister of Higher Education and Research

“This is the perfect platform upon which to build our continuing investment in the youth of this region, for whom world-class education is essential”

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ON THE 15 - 16 June this year, Djibouti will host the first Oracle Africa Higher Education Summit in the country, hosting delegates from much of West, Central Africa, the neighboring country Somalia, and composed of various ministers, university presidents and rectors to showcase on the experience of this small country with great vision.

The capacity building event has been geared towards less developed areas of the continent and, to achieve this goal, the University of Djibouti possessed the foresight to adopt Oracle’s PeopleSoft E-campus solution last year; a decision which acknowledges the Company’s reputation for simplifying IT, tailored to the needs of specific markets.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education, the University of Djibouti e-campus has been designed to help deliver tertiary education to students in countries on the horn of Africa, and was unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Djiboutian President, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh and students from the university.

Dr Nabil Mohamed Ahmed, Minister of Higher Education and Research, states that the PeopleSoft system would entrench global best practices in delivering and managing higher education. “This is the perfect platform upon which to build our continuing investment in the youth of this region, for whom world-class education is essential.”

He added that modern technology is a key requirement to advance education in Djibouti and beyond.

“The significance of this implementation lies in the vision of Djibouti’s President, who recognised that modern technology today is a vehicle for progress,” says Alfonso di Ianni, Oracle Senior Vice President, East

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Central Europe, Middle East and Africa.

“This implementation has proved that information technology is a very powerful transformational tool for business and government.”

The long-term goal of the university is to provide degree and post-graduate courses to students in surrounding countries, a service the university believes will be supported by the system.

Implementation was conducted jointly by Mahindra Satyam and Mega Bureautique, a Djibouti-based partner that assisted the University during the project and trained up a team of software engineers to provide support. Oracle provided both servers, storage (Oracle Sun X3-2), and software (PeopleSoft Campus, Oracle Database, Oracle WebLogic and Oracle WebCenter).

Principal of the university, Dr Djama Mohamed Hassan, comments that the software platform constitutes a complete university system delivering teaching, research and administrative management in line with international modern practices: “The University would not have had the skills to implement these processes manually, but the PeopleSoft system already has best practices built into the workflows.”

“Students, academic staff and administration can have a fluid, seamless engagement whether virtual or physical, thus allowing them to address student and academic needs dynamically,” he says.

The University of Djibouti today offers its more than 7,000 students 29 distinct educational channels comprising four faculties: Faculty of Letters, Languages and Social Sciences; Faculty of Law, Economics and Management; Faculty of Sciences; and the Institute of Technology.

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» Fiber optic and LAN deployment » Deployment of secured networks » Hardware supplies and installation » General I.T. accessories and consumables » Fabrication of Angular Type Lightweight Telecom towers We deploy the best standard solutions to empower service providers’ infrastructure Offering a wide range of Oracle hardware and software products.

www.sistec.co.ao

SISTEC is a case study, integrating Information Systems and Communication, which provides services with high levels of quality, according to the best market practices, in order to increase the value chain of the performance of customers.

Working with important partners as ORACLE and others, merging new technology solutions with existing IT infrastructures, upgrading critical applications, or finding better ways to manage data storage. From strategy development through implementation and management, Sistec Professional Services offers an expert support for every major project phase.

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PARTNER ECOSYSTEM

Engaging, Insightful and Knowledgeable Specialisation

Stefan Diedericks Alliance and Channel Director, South Africa

“Oracle has listened to both its customers and partners in enhancing the Oracle PartnerNetwork programme over the past number of years...”

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MUCH OF Oracle’s success in Africa over the years can be attributed to its unparalleled network of partners, which has increased further still over the past two years.

Accounting for more than 40 percent of Oracle’s global revenue and 80 percent of its global transactions, the Partner Ecosystem that has subsequently been formed is now an integral facet in response to its equally diversifying and expanding customer base, as the Company’s Alliance and Channel Directors in South Africa, Stefan Diedericks and Africa, Donald Thomas explains.

Stefan Diedericks (SD) and Donald Thomas (DT): The Oracle PartnerNetwork (OPN) Programme offers customers a structured approach to differentiate the competencies and capabilities of partners called “Specialisation”.

Specialisation is preceded by a partner obtaining distribution/reseller rights for products within a knowledge zone and thereafter obtaining transactions and references within a given period.

The Programme was launched in 2009 in response to our customers becoming ever more diverse and to ensure customers can rely on a trustworthy programme that drives quality, engagement, skills and excellence.

the defined product or industry area, and able to work with them to develop and implement specific solutions.

Learn more about Oracle’s Specialisation Programme by visiting: http://www.oracle. com/partners/en/partner-with-oracle/getstarted/index.html#cw01step-3

AfO: What feedback has Oracle subsequently received regarding this system?

SD and DT: Oracle has listened to both its customers and partners in enhancing the Oracle PartnerNetwork Programme over the Africa Outlook (AfO): What benefits does past number of years by including incentive the partner ecosystem bring to based programmes that enable our partners customers? to drive their own growth. In addition, OPN SD and DT: OPN’s Specialisation Programme is offers a unique Solutions Catalogue that showcases our partners based on unique a trusted status and brand, which allows our most experienced and committed partners to competitive offerings utilising leading Oracle Technology, but also gives the customer an differentiate themselves in the marketplace and gain a competitive edge by spotlighting easy to use portal to find that ideal partner. their strengths and special skills. Specialised The OPN Solutions Catalogue can be found at: http://www.oracle.com/us/partnerships/ status provides customers with proof that they will be engaging with an insightful, solutions-catalog/specialized-partners/index. knowledgeable partner who is an expert in html

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SD and DT: The OPN Specialised Programme, status and brand forms a pivotal element in the way in which Oracle goes to market, identifying and highlighting those partners that have differentiated, evaluated and optimised solutions that have been certified and recognised to provide defined value for our customers.

The Programme allows a positive form of differentiation based on a partner’s unique competitive positioning and allows partners to carve out their own niche within the Oracle ecosystem which protects their investment, whilst it allows our customers

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AfO: How do you foresee the partner ecosystem progressing further in the future and how does Oracle plan to innovate the process even more moving forward?

SD and DT: The OPN Specialised Programme is advancing and modernising its offerings in support of Oracle’s latest technologies within the cloud and software-as-a-service space and has also launched the Oracle Cloud Marketplace where customers can find thousands of cloud applications and services that extend Oracle’s world leading SaaS and PaaS stack.

“The OPN Specialised Programme is advancing and modernising its offerings in support of Oracle’s latest technologies within the cloud and software-as-aservice space...”

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DBAAS

Providing the Right Tools for Lower Operating Costs MOST COMPANIES have IT “spaghetti” when it comes to applications, and are seeking ways to consolidate them onto a more manageable platform. Customers wanting to move their infrastructure to a private cloud are seeking advice from their IT partners to find ways to further consolidate applications onto a shared infrastructure which they know will also decrease their hardware costs.

Donald Thomas Alliance and Channel Director

DBAAS PROVIDES a tremendous opportunity. By standardising and consolidating on a shared database and middleware platform for as many applications as possible, companies can dramatically increase cost savings and accelerate application development.

KEY CAPABILITIES OF DBAAS • Support for multiple databases efficiently sharing the underlying resources • Catalogue of standard database services to enable rapid, consistent deployment • Self-service to enable end users to rapidly provision, monitor, and manage databases • High degree of security and isolation between databases • Elasticity to support dynamic workloads

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• Metering to enable chargeback or showback for cost recovery

COMPANIES CAN look to their local Oracle partner to help them: 1. STANDARDISE and consolidate at the database and middleware platform layer, even though some applications may require testing and updates to run on the standardised platform.

2. CONSOLIDATE at the infrastructure layer when it is not practical to standardise on a database and middleware platform. This approach requires a clear vision and solid roadmap.

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3. DEPLOY new projects on such a platform. They can be delivered quickly with measurable ROI, with the longer-term strategy to consolidate proceeding in parallel.

THIS ROUTE can deliver great business value. Organisations that have implemented DBaaS have seen 50 percent lower operating costs, 10 times faster deployment of new databases, and availability to improve to more than 99.95 percent.

ORACLE’S COMPLETE SOLUTION FOR DATABASE AS A SERVICE • Complete, out-of-the-box DBaaS solution: software, hardware and services; integrated and engineered to work together • High-consolidation efficiency and low total cost of ownership with Oracle Database 12c with multitenant architecture featuring pluggable databases and Oracle Exadata Database Machine and Oracle SuperCluster engineered systems • Rapid deployment and complete DBaaS lifecycle management with Oracle Enterprise Manager 12c • Standardised DBaaS supporting all database workloads

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BENEFITS TO CUSTOMERS • Self-service provisioning and management means that partners or customers can quickly and easily deploy new applications for the business • Standard service definitions allow customers to understand exactly what capabilities and service levels they should expect from the provider • Metering allows for greater transparency into utilisation and IT costs, allowing consumers to make more-informed decisions about where to spend their time and money

“OUR PARTNER eco system enables our partners to assist customers to maximise their IT investment and take full advantage of a private cloud. Oracle’s DBaaS solution provides a fast path to the cloud, giving them all the tools they need to quickly provision database services in the cloud, helping them to jumpstart their cloud efforts,” says Donald Thomas, Alliances and Channel Manager, African Operations.

FURTHER, BY focusing on a standardised and optimised platform, providers can also offer the possibility of opening up capacity to their consumers through improvements in procurement, capacity planning, and resource management.

“Oracle is 100 percent focused on ensuring that the benefits of DBaaS and Platform-as-a-Service goes beyond multitenancy, standardisation and costoptimisation and extends to including the Oracle Partner Network eco-system in reselling these products as part of their outsourced technology managed service contracts with their end customers which allows increased service value for our joint customers in using these latest technologies to transform their IT architecture” - Stefan Diedericks, Alliance and Channel Director, Oracle South Africa

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ORACLE’S SMART FUTURE

Smart Cities Make for Smarter Citizens In 2015, this forecast for the years to come embraces one of the most exciting tech developments the world over, and the significant role that Oracle will look to play in the advent of the smart city revolution

FOR THE best part of 40 years, Oracle has innovated and adapted its technological services and solutions in-keeping with the continuously evolving global parameters; ensuring it is both ahead of the curve on an international scale, and considerate of more specific, regional conditions and maturities on a local level.

In Africa, cloud adoption acceleration, the development of skills capacities, and an increased saturation of the market has been Oracle’s key drivers over the past 12 months but, as always, one eye is always fixed on what is to come in the future.

In 2015, this forecast for the years to come embraces one of the most exciting tech developments the world over, and the significant role that Oracle will look to play in the advent of the smart city revolution.

This is a hot topic in countries where many economies have shown dramatic growth in recent years. Sharply rising standards of living and increased social mobility have been marked by a demographic shift away from rural areas towards life in urban environment and cities. And associated massive investments in urban development have heightened the opportunity, and indeed the need to focus very sharply on how those cities are designed and built to become liveable urban environments.

Capitalising on the new model of using knowledge as the fundamental element of economic and social change – primarily through the portal of advanced technologies – is a development very much within Oracle’s skill set.

Retro-fitting

Older cities can enter the digital age through the modernisation of their operations, and Oracle has supported this trend with its Oracle Smart City Platform, an integrated set of powerful IT solutions that bring city governance into that aforementioned digital age.

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City operations can now be modernised with advanced back-office systems that make day-to-day operations more efficient and cost effective. Old, isolated legacy systems can be replaced by a harmonised set of processes and applications that are simpler to maintain and update.

That paves the way for collaboration between different city departments and services as their IT systems can now talk to each other and share data more easily. And the integration of arrays of smart sensors within the city infrastructure adds to the capabilities of city governance to better understand usage of key systems such as power and water utilities, and traffic and public transport patterns.

With all these systems in place, cities can now become truly smart with analytic systems that can provide key insights into city operation for more effective planning.

These smarter, more open systems within

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for smarter citizens.

For example, when alerts are sent out about transportation delays, people can react in a smarter way and find alternative routes.

In turn they can also push out the information to their own communities so more people can become smarter.

Going one step further, the community can even be brought into the planning phase, asking people about their opinions for planning changes and next steps for city development. Citizens are no longer just endusers but begin-users; becoming involved in planning and design, as the city benefits from their imagination in a way not possible with purely centralised decision-making.

Equipped for the future

city governance have an inevitable knock-on effect on making the businesses within these cities equally smart, and laying the foundations for enhanced entrepreneurship and flexibility across a range of industrial sectors.

Smarter citizens

Filtering down the value chain even further and Oracle’s Smart City Platform is also set to directly impact the lives of individuals as they become more exposed to advanced technologies and - especially within regions more in need of development - are able to capitalise on digital opportunities previously unthinkable to them.

When local governments open up their data to their citizens, people can make better decisions based on information that’s relevant to them, such as when to use a certain traffic route, where to find a parking space, and how to best regulate their use of electricity to save money. Smart cities make

As is the case in everything that Oracle does, this Smart City Platform provides a digital arena that will no doubt play a key role in bringing data, people, and resources together.

Iemke Idsingh, responsible for Smart City activities at Oracle, emphasises: “A sentient city infrastructure helps cities to almost literally sense, listen, hear, and action upon what is happening in the city. Connectivity and closed loops are key to that end.

“With the Oracle Smart City Platform, cities can establish a city-wide nervous system, enabling the citizens and the city to share responsibilities while offering maximum control at the lowest level in the community.”

Service optimisation, process harmonisation, and legacy modernisation prepares the city to move to the next level.

Open standards link businesses back to cities, the Internet of Things enables closed loop feedback, and social networks allow citizens to engage with their cities as well as each other; all leading to open and connected smart and imaginative cities, with smarter citizens that are better equipped to move ahead into the future.

Oracle’s Smart City Platform Solution Empowering Citizens.

Engaging Business.

Connecting Departments.

Provides a modular solution set for transformation, including technologies and applications that consolidate IT infrastructures, support current and future systems, and improve service delivery

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Airtel family day. Airtel is a well-known and respected contributor when it comes to CSR projects

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FINANCIAL INCLUSION DRIVES

RURAL Coverage Airtel Malawi is more than just an IT and telecoms carrier, but an integral part of Malawi’s infrastructure that is driving countrywide growth via its data services and community integration Writer: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Donovan Smith

ast year, Airtel Malawi reached one of its main objectives to establish its presence as an internet data provider in what Managing Director (MD), Heiko Schlittke says is part of a “strategy involving continuous expansion of its distribution network in order to increase market reach across rural areas”, to the point where the network has now increased its data penetration rate by around 100 percent.

“As the general mobile penetration rate in Malawi continues to increase, there is plenty of headroom for growth and our Airtel Money platform will be the driver of this growth as we roll out a variety of financial inclusion services,” the MD says.

Given the fluctuating GDP and its affect on disposable income and economic growth, Airtel Malawi continues to face challenges affecting

the entire value chain; however, Schlittke is confident that with the right level of investment and market research, the Company will come out on top with its affordable, accessible products and high quality customer care.

Financial inclusion

After re-establishing the Airtel Money brand to include a whole host of financial inclusion services - with a

concerted focus on wireless payments and an availability of insurance products – the Company has created phone packages that can be used to support individual industry sectors.

“This will allow Airtel to significantly grow both its offering and provide a welcome contribution to the country’s GDP. For example, we provide tailormade data packages for the agriculture sector which provides access to

The Airtel Unicef partnership is just one of many community initiatives

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information on the sector online,” says Schlittke.

“The goal is to establish ourselves as the number one data and smartphone network in Malawi by offering more flexible bundles, affordable packages, products and services than anyone else; including a partnership with Facebook, Internet.org, which is due to go live in the next few weeks.”

This strategic partnership is one of Airtel Malawi’s key growth drivers for 2015, which promises to result in a more vertically integrated business model.

“Our products are uniquely tailored to the market in Malawi and Internet.org will enhance our data strategy to reach as many people as possible and satisfy customer needs to the best of our ability. Backed by our expertise on the ground and country knowledge, we can give the unconnected majority the chance to connect with each other and the rest of the world,” Schlittke details.

Internet.org provides free access to basic services in Malawi such as health, employment and local information websites without data charges. “By working together, the initiative allows vendors to share tools, resources and best practices to explore solutions that tackle affordability and efficiency.

“On top of this, customers can access things such as microinsurance products like life insurance, disability insurance and other financial inclusion services, tailor made for the Malawi market through Airtel Money,” says the Managing Director.

“Combined with the support of Internet.org, we believe to be making a big step in the right direction to a deeper and broader penetration of the Malawian market through all customer segments,” Schlittke explains.

NICO HOLDINGS LTD

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ICO started its operations in 1971 and provides financial services in general insurance, life insurance, banking, asset management and offers support business in information technology, hospitality industry and real estate.

With its head office in Malawi, NICO has presence in major cities in Malawi and Zambia with associates in Mozambique, Uganda and Tanzania.

NICO was the first company to be listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange in 1996.

Strategically partnered with Internet. org by Facebook

Pupils busy in the Airtel - British Council IT Hub at St Mathews Primary School in Chikwawa

NICO‘s vision is to be the preferred financial services provider while creating value for its stakeholders. NICO’s strategy remains to be a growing business through various acquisitions and partnerships with companies that have the same values and culture.

NICO’s recent business partnership with Sanlam, a South African based financial service provider giant, through its subsidiary Sanlam Emerging Markets Proprietary Limited (SEM), in the general and life insurance business, has seen NICO leverage on SEM’s financial muscle and expertise to increase and improve its product offering and customer service.

T +265 1 831 902/980 E cs@nicomw.com

www.nicomw.com

“The Preferred Financial Services Financial Provider” “The Preferred Continuous investment Airtel Malawi’s Director of Regulatory Due to uncertainties in economic Services Provider” Affairs, Wilson Kyumba presenting tablets

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to Kamuzu College of Nursing

GENERAL WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM INSURANCE GENERAL

da anda

stability, the main challenge for Airtel Malawi is protecting its profitabilty in

GENERAL INSURANCE GENERAL INSURANCE LIFE LIFE INSURANCE INSURANCE

ASSET ASSET MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

BANKING BANKING

INFORMATION INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY NICO NICO Holdings HoldingsLimited.

Limited.

Chibisa ChibisaHouse, House, 19 Glyn Jones Road, 19 Glyn Jones Road, PO. Box 501, PO. Box 501, Blantyre - Malawi Blantyre - Malawi

Malawi Zambia Mozambique Tanzania Uganda Malawi Zambia Mozambique Tanzania Uganda

“The Preferred Financial Services Financial Provider” “The Preferred Services Provider”

www.nicomw.com www.nicomw.com

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uawei has built up corporation with Malawi Airtel since 2009 and help Airtel to provide the best mobile telecommunication service in Malawi. The main proposed telecommunication solutions are UMTS solution, hybrid microwave solution, hybrid site power solution (solar), optical access network solution, datacom solution and metro network solution.

Huawei provide 7*24 hours network SLA service, on-site support service, end to end project service, professional warranty service within the product lifecycle.

Huawei is a strategy solution partner to Malawi Airtel for the next 5 years.

T +86 755 89241622 E media.aff airs@huawei.com

www.huawei.com/en

The opening of an Airtel Express shop in Malawi

the short-term.

“Our shareholders and partners know that continuous investment into Malawi is required, but to succeed in a country with high inflation that drives the local costs up, it is critical to find the right balance,” Schlittke says.

In order to maintain a leading position, the Company has to keep up with market demand and monitor the latest data trends occurring across the African continent. Schlittke says that even though 3G hasn’t been fully deployed, 4G is the next logical step that needs to quickly follow: “Even if the 3G network hasn’t been fully deployed, due to the rapid uptake of telecommunications services in Africa, we have to be flexible and lay the foundations for the deployment of 4G in order to cater for the future longterm growth of telecoms in Malawi.”

As well as investing in its infrastructure, Airtel Malawi provides its team with in-house training in the specific skills required to operate in the country

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Even if the 3G network hasn’t been fully deployed, due to the rapid uptake of telecommunications services in Africa, we have to be flexible and lay the foundations for the deployment of 4G in order to cater for the future long-term growth of telecoms in Malawi

CONSUMER ELECTONIC SERVICES

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onsumer Electronic Services (CES) opened its doors in 1996 in the heartland of Blantyre. It is a market leader specialising in the merchandise of branded household electronic consumer goods such as televisions, refrigerators, cookers, digital cameras, computers and relevant accessories.

At the inception of mobile phones, CES has been the major distributor of cellular telephones as its core business and an authorised distributor of Microsoft Mobile in this part of Africa.

Beginning with Celtel and now Airtel, CES has forged strong and long standing links.

CES endeavours to manage its businesses proficiently and discretely through its core values of integrity, technical excellence, dedication to, and ensuring the satisfaction of the unique needs of its diverse clientele.

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MER ER EL ELEECCTTRROONNIICC SSEERV RVIICCEESS CCOONNSSUUM

LILONGWE (DAUD COMPLEX) +265 1 756400 / +265 99 9821445 BLANTYRE (KANABAR HOUSE) +265 1 822624 / +265 99 9926333 Email: ces-llw@hotmail.com GATEWAY MALL - OPENING SOON

Electronics for Everyone!

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and understand the telecoms market.

“Geographically, Malawi is a small country when compared to those landlocked to it. Therefore, our approach to training staff is to send them to the surrounding, larger African countries to leverage off the wider Airtel Group’s positioning in Africa and take part in knowledge-transfer,” states Schlittke.

Commitment to Malawi

Throughout Africa, Airtel is a wellknown and respected contributor when it comes to corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects: “Given the environment that we operate in, people look to us for worthwhile contributions via community initiatives.

“From my perspective in Malawi, CSR is an extremely important part of our strategy and positioning and I feel it is important to contribute to the social welfare of our citizens through the capabilities we have on the African continent,” emphasises the Managing Director.

Contributing to the social welfare of Malawi’s citizens

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From my perspective in Malawi, CSR is an extremely important part of our strategy and positioning and I feel it is important to contribute to the social welfare of our citizens through the capabilities we have on the African continent

Local blood donation

Airtel is one of the most prominent players in CSR in Malawi, boasting 70 projects in the past year, spanning healthcare access, HIV prevention and education access in particular.

“We strive to make sure that people of all ages are prepared for life and have access to education and thus, improving literacy of all ages. In short, we want to make sure that everyone is better prepared for the economic challenges in Malawi, and CSR is at the heart of our approach that demonstrates this commitment,” he adds.

Complementing this with the continual investment in its own service offering will transform Airtel Malawi into more than just an IT and telecoms carrier; but an integral part of the country’s infrastructure and a driving economic force.

Schlittke concludes: “This will be the challenge in the next 24 months; to ditch the economic downturn and emerge as the most efficient, reliable and largest network in Malawi. We believe this can be achieved via the ongoing enhancement of Airtel Money and data services, allowing us to become the undisputed market leader for financial inclusion products, and we look forward to seeing our customer base increase substantially as a result.

“These strategic objectives will be the focus for 2015 and guide us into 2016.”

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QoS.networks, founded in 2011

by Marcel Lucas Mahoukou, offers telecommunication and radio network access services across Africa. With Lucas`s years of experience as a Network Director, our philosophy is to provide the highest standards of professionalism and high quality, in order to achieve the maximum benefit.

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Airtel Malawi family day

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STRENGTHENING THE FIBRE BACKBONE OF

SIERRA LEONE Government-owned telecom operator, Sierratel, continues to deliver attractive, innovative, reliable and competitive data and voice services and solutions across Sierra Leone Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Donovan Smith

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strengthening its subscriber numbers, particularly those using data services at the corporate and SME levels.

“In addition to our varied bouquet of fixed and mobile products and their available combinations, we feel on our way to answering Sierra Leone’s demand for reliable services.

Given the ever-increasing demand for reliable data services and the completion of the ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) fibre cable, we have been able to re-launch our landline service as a combination package that offers ADSL internet and

ierra Leone Telecommunications Company (Sierratel) was Sierra Leone’s first and sole telecoms operator in the country to offer landline telephony services in the capital and provincial cities. Since the advent of mobile telephony services, the Company has spent the past few years focusing on reinstating its position as the go-to telecoms provider in the country, leveraging its unique market position which it still retains as the sole provider of fixed line, mobile data and voice services. “The rapid uptake of mobile telephony and associated services dramatically impacted our landline business and made us realise the importance of diversifying our portfolio to include these new mobile and data services,” explains Sierratel Managing Director (MD), Adel Taher.

Through its enhanced offering of voice and data products aimed at both the corporate and consumer segments, including bundled voice and data packages tailored to meet the need of these different segments, Sierratel has been successful in

Mr Adel Taher, Managing Director Taher has held the position of Sierratel Managing Director since January 2012, bringing enthusiasm and commitment to the development of Sierra Leone’s telecom infrastructures. With a career in the industry spanning more than 20 years, Taher has worked hard to maintain Sierratel’s market leading position in landline, voice and mobile data services.

broadband via fibre. This is available in all the key provincial cities now,” highlights Taher.

One-stop solutions

The recently renewed and re-launched landline service has provided Sierratel with a unique market differentiator as the only telecoms operator that provides fixed line and mobile voice and data services in Sierra Leone.

And, even against the backdrop of the recent Ebola epidemic, Taher is confident that Sierratel will continue to gain market share as the Company continues with its customer-driven focus for the best landline and mobile products, and subsequent value-add services.

“We have the competitive edge as a one-stop shop communication solutions provider,” he justifies.

In order to remain ahead, the Company has several major additions and goals set out in the next few years, including an approximate US$40 million investment for rollout of a fully digitised landline network nationwide and a further US$7 million investment to upgrade the CDMA network nationwide. “This will complement the existing infrastructure for this service,” the MD adds.

Additionally, as more and more people subscribe to mobile data services and, given its rapid growth and importance to the continent’s economic growth, Sierratel will continue to focus on bringing financial inclusion products to its customers.

“We recently introduced ERP and CRM systems and other OTT applications and portals, such as the web self care platform and advanced call centres in order to improve efficiency and promote corporate governance. All of these services have a customer-centric focus and will bring financial inclusion products to more customers,” he continues.

Moreover, Sierratel has identified that social media and content

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...Sierratel has access to a huge network of infrastructure that, combined with our retail telecommunications business, means we find ourselves in a strategic position to exploit this emerging opportunity

services are two key drivers of telecommunication consumption within Sierra Leone, which make them essential selling points going forward. “This has created the need for bandwidth and increased capacity to satisfy this growing demand, which is a challenge for us.

“However, as a governmentowned entity, Sierratel has access to a huge network of infrastructure that, combined with our retail telecommunications business, means we find ourselves in a strategic position to exploit this emerging opportunity,” highlights Taher.

The main challenge for the Company stems from its position as a fully-owned government

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institution. “Navigating through the bureaucratic and cultural landscape in an emerging market such as Sierra Leone can sometimes present its difficulties. Nonetheless, a crucial part of our strategy is to always remain engaged with all the stakeholders and keep focused on the key business deliverables that benefit the end-user, and grow the landline and mobile penetration rates in the country,” he further details.

Locally rooted

In order to provide much-needed skills development for the Sierra Leonean economy, Sierratel has undergone an extensive streamlining and restructuring

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Yoz

Services Ltd CONTACT US: Freetown Sierra Leone 00232 76 518 585 Charles@yozservices.org

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exercise to ensure a leaner, more customer focused company emerges.

“All Sierratel employees are local and have been subject to a right-sizing plan, to make sure that we have a sustainable business in the long-term.”

By partnering with a Lebanonbased telecoms management company, MDIC, who specialises in the management of mobile and fixed telecom operations, Sierratel has enjoyed a beneficial relationship in order to better deliver on the business objectives of the Company.

“Moreover, a key part of MDIC’s remit is to provide on-the-job mentorship to our selected local management team, who then share their knowledge with others; like a cascade effect down through the

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Moreover, a key part of MDIC’s remit is to provide on-the-job mentorship to our selected local management team, who then share their knowledge with others; like a cascade effect down through the company

company,” further explains Taher.

This relationship and subsequent training is further complimented by other skills transfer initiatives including overseas training for key local staff.

Not only this, but Sierratel firmly believes that local is best and where possible, its suppliers are always locally sourced. “In terms of volume, approximately 80 percent of our suppliers are local and in value terms represent a significant proportion of our procurement expenditure,” affirms Taher.

Rebuilding communities

As the only locally-owned telecoms operator in the country, Sierratel places corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities at the forefront of

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its country strategy. Prior to the Ebola outbreak, the Company sponsored a number of key events organised by the Sierra Leone Chamber of Commerce as Taher emphasises: “Some key examples include supporting a healthy environment campaign in Kroo Bay, an underdeveloped and heavily populated area of the capital city.

We also sponsored the National Association of Journalists (SLAJ) in their annual media conference and outreach exercise in the north of Sierra Leone.”

Similarly, Sierratel made a significant financial contribution to the government in support of its efforts to eradicate Ebola in the country. “Now, we have a number of post-Ebola

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Now, we have a number of post-Ebola initiatives lined up to support the rebuilding efforts once the disease has been eradicated from the country

initiatives lined up to support the rebuilding efforts once the disease has been eradicated from the country,” he adds.

Through these activities, it is clear that Sierratel is committed to improving the lives of customers not just through telecoms, but via life-changing community projects.

“Behind the scenes, over the next five years, our main objective is to achieve a sizeable market share across the voice and data market in Sierra Leone. Our fibre backbone and network infrastructure will ensure that we deliver attractive, innovative, reliable and competitive services and solutions to residences, businesses and government institutions across the country,” Taher concludes.

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S TA R T I N G A B U S I N E S S

REVOLUTION Computer Warehouse Group (CWG Plc) is leveraging IT innovative aptitude and partnerships with some of the world’s most renowned IT players as it expands its range of win-win solutions to customers and partners alike Writer: Matthew Staff • Project Manager: Donovan Smith ince unveiling its 2.0 model three years ago, Computer Warehouse Group has continued to adapt and innovate as it strives to infiltrate as much of West, East and Central Africa as possible with its business revolution.

With the initial aim of embarking on a new adventure in 2010 with its more dynamic and profitable strategy for delivering cloud services and solutions to SMEs in Nigeria, the Company’s subsequent success has not always been achieved with a tailwind, but has been consistent and flexible enough to make it the dominant player across a range of sectors in the region.

Over the course of the past 12 months, this ongoing success has been carried out in the face of a significant oil price drop in its historically oil-dependent home nation; a trend which has proven catastrophic for many significant enterprises in Nigeria, but one that has opened up a new opportunity for the entrepreneurial Computer Warehouse Group.

“We believe that only the flexible survive and that has been our strength

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from five years ago when we decided we needed to become the dominant player in the cloud computing market,” recalls Austin Okere, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “We knew that our previous model would not carry on being successful into the future, so in 2010 we looked at what we can provide in the cloud at a better value proposition to our customers, and to create better profit for ourselves.”

This flexibility, coupled with its commitment to empowering SMEs with technology in Nigeria has been an unlikely boost in 2015 with the country now looking towards smaller businesses to boost an economy struggling as a result of the oil crisis.

“Nigeria has started looking at other ways of building the economy, focusing on SMEs and the space we operate in,” Okere continues. “Now, there are more and more SMEs getting support and requiring solutions that we can provide.

“We are probably in the best position amongst our peers because we already have the systems in place to deliver these cloud solutions to SMEs.”

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(L-R) Natarajan Chandrasekaran, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services; Mr. Austin Okere, Founder & CEO, CWG Plc; and Rich Lesser, global CEO & President of the Boston Consulting Group, at the WEF Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Tianjin

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EMC CORPORATION

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MC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service.

Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way.

Prof. Kaus Schwab, Founder & Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum congratulating the Global Growth Companies Award winners at the WEF on Africa held in Abuja

Success stories

The potential created for 2015 and beyond as a result of this more diverse distribution of wealth in Nigeria is just the latest in a long line of success stories for -CWG Plc across not only Nigeria, but also Cameroon, Uganda and Ghana; the Company priding itself on finding realistic solutions for the entire region.

Its award-winning ecommerce platform alone has expanded from comprising just 40 merchants to more than 2,500 in recent times, epitomising once again the business’s forward momentum in a market which its competitors are struggling to contend with.

Through its online shopping platform, Openshopen.ng, and the dramatic increase in merchants utilising the service, there is also a subsequent rise in the uptake of her SMERP cloud-based accounting and inventory systems; again, with CWG Plc being the partner of choice more often than not.

“We also have our financial service platform designed for microfinance banks that do not have the size of traditional banks but still needing

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Mr. Austin Okere receiving the Global Growth Award from Helena Leurent, MD, Head of Business Engagement, World Economic Forum, at the World Economic Forum on Africa in Abuja, Nigeria

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We believe that only the flexible survive and that has been our strength from five years ago when we decided we needed to become the dominant player in the cloud computing market

We work with organizations around the world, in every industry, in the public and private sectors, and of every size, from start-ups to the Fortune Global 500. Our customers include global money center banks and other leading financial services firms, manufacturers, healthcare and life sciences organizations, Internet service and telecommunications providers, airlines and transportation companies, educational institutions, and publicsector agencies.

EMC is supported by thousands of technical R&D employees around the globe, the industry’s broadest portfolio of systems, software, and services, our ability to create total integrated solutions, and our commitment to delivering the best Total Customer Experience in this or any industry.

We are committed to acting in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and to being an attentive and thoughtful neighbour in our local and global communities. We score at the top, or near the top, of regional rankings of great places to work.

Nigeria office: EMC² Computer Systems 1 Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island 9th Floor, Sapetro Towers T +234 1 2776353 +234 1 2770 2701

www.africa.emc.com

E N I F E D E R HYBRID CLOUD MADE EASY

w w w.af ri c a.e m c .c o m Call us: +234 1 277 6370 9th Floor, SAPETRO Towers, 1, Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

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advanced systems to provide the same services to young enterprises,” Okere notes. “We therefore deliver our service to them from the cloud and are seeing a big uptake in that where more and more SMEs are becoming increasingly active.”

The biggest growth, however, has been seen through its affiliation with Diamond Bank in Nigeria; its MTN-driven mobile money platform, Diamond Yello Account (DYA) generating 2.6 million subscribers, from a standing start, in just nine months.

“Diamond Bank has since had $145 million invested in them because of the great coverage and new accounts in the region,” Okere continues. “The growth has been exponential and the target now is to reach 60 million

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mobile money accounts, based on the amount of subscribers that MTN has in the country.”

Profitable partnerships

We open people’s eyes as to what is available in terms of better costs and better efficiencies

Mr. Austin Okere and Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, at the Maiden Annual Fidelity SMEs Conference, held in Lagos

(L-R) Mr. Tony Elumelu, Vice Chairman, NCCN; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman, Dangote; Mr. Chika Mordi, Chairman, NCCN and Mr. Austin Okere

Mr. Austin Okere receiving an award of special recognition from Mr. Peter Jack, DG, NITDA at the National Information Technology Merit Award (NITMA) ceremony, held in Lagos

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(L-R) Mr. Phillip Obioha, COO, CWG Plc; Prof. R.A Bello, Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos; Prof. Duro Oni, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services) and Master Agho Adrian Osemwonyemwen, the best graduating student of Computer Science, University of Lagos

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Longstanding partnerships with multinational heavyweights have been a linchpin for Computer Warehouse Group’s growth within Africa; the likes of Oracle, IBM, EMC, Cisco, Symantec amongst others, all adding value alongside the Company to bring the very best in IT solutions to the continent.

This stems from a much wider commitment that the Group has to continue being on top of the industry curve and ensuring that the solutions being unveiled to the market are the most necessary and innovative.

“We open people’s eyes as to what

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is available in terms of better costs and better efficiencies,” Okere says. “For instance, we have a training academy which is supported by the GEM ICT Cluster of the World Bank to help analyse trends and to build skill and capacity through quality technology training, to provide support to the teeming SMEs adopting technology to expand their businesses.”

Extracting samples of customers from its leading partners – namely within the finance and technology domains – Computer Warehouse Group utilises these readymade pools of people to research what they need, and subsequently what the partner needs to meet their customers’ requirements.

“We launch products into their ecosystems that provide value through

(L-R) Mr. Austin Okere; Adebayo Sanni, Country MD, Oracle; Abdulahmed O. Mustapha, DG, Lagos State Financial Systems Management Bureau and Toju Onaiwu, Director, Software, Edo State ICT Agency

Mr. Austin Okere in conversation with the Hon. Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson at the NCCN event

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technology to their customers that they are willing to pay for because they can be more efficient and more profitable,” Okere adds.

Discovering a purpose

Having formed such a strong reputation in the region, the expectation on CWG Plc to continue innovating and investing is palpable, but the recognition also brings advantages in the form of skills attraction and an unparalleled feelgood factor that derives from having such a positive influence on the country.

“Attracting the required skills isn’t a problem, but we have to keep them motivated too, and we do that by continuing to be innovative and by going beyond what seems possible,” Okere enthuses. “This is where we have what we call ‘discovering our purpose’, and identifying the goal and motivation to go to work each day.

“What we see as key in discovering our purpose is making an impact in every sector and helping SMEs to grow their business.”

Having seen some businesses quintuple in size through using CWG Plc platforms, the ramifications delve even deeper into the Nigerian economy through the creation of more jobs, an increase in SMEs listing on the stock exchange and an all-round devotion to enhancing levels of education within the country

(L-R) Mr. James Agada, CTO, CWG Plc; Mr. Austin Okere; Mr. Valentin Mbozo’o, MD, GIMAC and Mr. Valentine Essimbi Jean Valentin, Head Applications, GIMAC; during an official visit to CWG Facility

via corporate social responsibility initiatives.

According to Austin, “if we can support each of the 17million SMEs in Nigeria to grow to the point where they employ one additional staff, we would have succeeded in creating 17 million more jobs in Nigeria, enough to absorb all the 16 million unemployed youths”.

The CEO adds: “Creating something very meaningful for the economy is the most satisfying and rewarding thing and it attracts employees and partners alike who want to identify with that purpose.”

Win-win

With a solid and sustainable, yet flexible, plan in place through its 2.0 model, CWG Plc’s target for the future is as simple as generating more subscribers across its platforms, to generate equally lucrative revenue streams, both internally and for its partners and customers.

A history of achieving just this has laid the foundations for such growth, but the Company is determined not to rest on its laurels as it continues to strive for new knowledge and new ideas.

“Our competitive advantages are our innovation firstly, but also our ability to learn how to learn,” Okere concludes. “We are not happy to just know something; you have to always adapt and be ahead of the innovation curve in order to see more than anyone else, before anyone else and clearer than anyone else.

“This is what we did five years ago when everyone asked why we were changing our model, and we are doing the same now to put the building blocks in place for the next five years.

“We see ourselves as starting a business revolution in Africa, where we win, our customers win, and our partners win; because it’s not just about revenues, but about doing what is best for the continent.”

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DRIVING INNOVATION,

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and SERVICE

With expanded 4G data, optical fibre, Airtel Money and Airtel Premier service offerings, Airtel Seychelles continues to reach new heights through the strategic deployment of cutting-edge technologies Writer: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Donovan Smith

irtel’s operations in Seychelles represent a significant number of Airtel and industry firsts. As the first venture into Africa 16 years ago, the Company has experienced double-digit growth year-on-year even through tough economic times.

Witnessing vast technological improvements and an ever-increasing mobile penetration rate - which currently stands at well over 150 percent - Airtel Seychelles has taken advantage of industry trends and quickly adopted 4G, becoming both the first 4G African venture for Bharti Airtel Group, and the first commercial LTE network in the country. “The service is a state-of-the-art network based on FDD-LTE, making Seychelles among the first countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to commercially deploy this cutting-edge technology,” reasons Managing Director, Amadou Mahamat Dina.

Phase one of the 4G network rollout covered

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High level of service

Providing equipment and internet access to a local school as part of a CSR project

10,000 LTE subscribers and this month the second phase was completed; Amadou Dina further details: “Initially, 4G coverage was available in urbanised and key areas of the country; available in corporate offices and the airport for example.

As of May 2015, we have added 15 additional sites in phase two of the project.”

By the end of the year, Airtel Seychelles hopes to provide 70-80 percent of Mahé, Praslin and La Digue with high-speed 4G technology. “The 4G network was launched by the Vice President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, which demonstrates just how deeply rooted and valued the Airtel brand is in Seychelles. Mobile data usage has currently only reached 25 percent in the country therefore, the market holds amply opportunity for Airtel to grow,” he adds.

Similarly, 3.75G has been rolled out over a large proportion of the country and its islands, with six more sites planned for Mahé, Praslin and La Digue. “Our long-term goal is to achieve the same quality of service, wherever you are in Seychelles, and the government has been very supportive throughout these milestones,” summarised Amadou Dina.

Airtel Seychelles firsts First Bharti Airtel operation in Africa First to launch 3G and 3.75G in Seychelles First 4G African venture for Bharti Airtel

With telecoms being one of Seychelles’ biggest growth sectors and a substantial GDP contributor, Airtel worked hard to rollout fibre optic across the island in November last year and the Group proudly invests 100 million rupees back into the development of the business in each country every year. “This is so that wherever our customers go, they will receive the same high quality service and connectivity levels,” explains Amadou Dina.

Supported by one of Africa’s largest telecom companies in terms of geographies, Airtel Seychelles is driven by both Group strategies and an individually tailored approach specific to the country’s 115-island structure. “Working for a globally recognised company places us in good stead when it comes to industry challenges. The in-depth knowledge of that the Group has of Africa’s telecom market allows us to focus on the positives and get excited about what the future holds,” says Amadou Dina.

By adopting a local strategy to meet local customer needs, Amadou Dina says that the Company is on its way to becoming the best smart city in Africa: “We are in the top three i-city African nations and strive to provide a high quality of IT communication and associated infrastructures not just in urban areas, but eventually across each island.”

First to launch a money service in Seychelles First Airtel Seychelles Premier Lounge opened in November 2014

The 4G network was launched by the Vice President of Seychelles, Danny Faure, which demonstrates just how deeply rooted and valued the Airtel brand is in Seychelles

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Vice President of Seychelles visits the Airtel Premier Lounge

Affordability and quality of service are the two cornerstones of Airtel Seychelles’ operation, and in order to provide this, the Company is proud to bring only the best technologies to the unique island nation.

All-inclusive services

The game-changing platform, Airtel Money has brought financial inclusion to millions across the African continent, and Airtel was the first telecom operator to introduce this life-changing service to the Seychellois public. “Given that more than 50 percent of Seychellois are banked, this, combined with the high mobile penetration rate of 150+ percent has guaranteed rapid uptake and has brought financial inclusion services to great heights which we are extremely proud of,” emphasises Amadou Dina.

Alongside this, the launch of Airtel

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So far, we have received positive feedback in terms of our level of service and will continue to invest in Airtel Premier going forward, adding more destinations abroad to extend this VIP treatment

The VP shares his thoughts on Airtel’s 4G and fibre plans

Premier last year has pioneered exclusivity and inclusion in the telecom market for loyal Airtel customers.

Those subscribed to Airtel Premier receive priority treatment from the Company and have access to the latest and greatest services as Amadou Dina details: “Airtel Premier is for customers who have been with us

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Minister of Education inaugrates free Wi-Fi for students

for a long time and expect the best service. The Premier customer is fast tracked through any interaction with the company, with priority routing on services on the network plus the ability to earn loyalty rewards in terms of offerings like Priority Pass; a service that allows our customers to access more than 600 airport lounges in more than 120 countries worldwide.

“So far, we have received positive feedback in terms of our level of service and will continue to invest in Airtel Premier going forward, adding more destinations abroad to extend this VIP treatment.”

In terms of staff who represent the face of the Company, Airtel Seychelles is able to mitigate the country-wide skill shortage via its access to the wider Group’s resources, including secondment programmes and the Airtel Academy facilities. “We always

Valentines Day promotion winner receives prize trip to Venice

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CYRUS

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yrus strives to attain leadership in the IT industry based on a solid reputation for integrity, coupled with a commitment to excellence and a dedication to 100% client satisfaction by converting their business visions into technology solutions”.

At CYRUS we work very closely with our partners and suppliers and our experience and reputation is built on quality installations, timely project completion, competitive pricing and total customer satisfaction based on comprehensive after sales support.

Thus CYRUS caters to all the requirement of the large corporate customers, providing after sales support which has been appreciated by all our customers and probably it is the single most reason for our continuous growth.

www.cyrusinfotech.com Airtel Seychelles will continue to invest in Airtel Premier going forward

aim to hire and train local people, from those unskilled to local graduates. One aspect that is vital to us is encouraging those who left the country in search of work to return to Seychelles and receive training under the Airtel umbrella.

“Additionally, skills transfer across our secondment programme is designed to teach staff about Airtel operations in larger countries and is a valuable tried and tested programme across the Group,” Amadou Dina details.

Lifelong service

Every aspect of Airtel Seychelles ensures that the public receive the best level of service possible and this ethos extends into its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the community. “On average, we complete two or three CSR activities every month that tackle every aspect of the community; education, healthcare,

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Our high level of innovation, emphasis on customer experience and inclusive technology will ensure we remain ahead of the competition, and our products are carefully designed so that when customers try us, they stay with us for life

sport, environment, music and so on.

“We want every single citizen to feel Airtel is part of their DNA,” asserts Amadou Dina.

All of the above factors demonstrate just how far Airtel Seychelles has come since entering the country 16 years ago. Amadou Dina concludes: “By the middle of 2015, our focus will be on the completion of our fibre network and we are currently 300 kilometres away from completion. The main goal for us is to drive exclusivity: we want customers to get the best service from all things technology-related. This will include moving into the television space to overhaul the limited services available in the country.

“Our high level of innovation, emphasis on customer experience and inclusive technology will ensure we remain ahead of the competition, and our products are carefully designed so that when customers try us, they stay with us for life.”

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Email: amit@cyrusinfotech.com Tel: +971 4 280 8825 Fax: +971 4 238 1289 Mobile: +971 55 809 9918 www.cyrusinfotech.com

CYRUS is one of the leading companies in the field of Information Technologies.

CYRUS; > provides consultancy in the field of information technology > develops efficient solutions depending on new technologies > plays integrator role for versatile projects

The powe r that will drive the next thousand years is th e power of ideas.

Core Technologies specializes in providing a wide array of IT services that help increase productivity and reduce costs. We have an in-depth understanding of technology and processes, combined with proven experience across various industries which enable us to provide solutions that are quick, efficient, reliable and cost effective.

Core Technologies Ltd Tel: +248 2812200 +248 2727703 sales@coretechnologies.biz info@coretechnologies.biz www.coretechnologies.biz

The company completes two or three CSR activities every month

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Re ewable Expertise Drives Continent-wide Growth

With Round 4 bidding complete, Vestas looks to establish an even stronger renewable energy presence in Sub-Saharan Africa Writer: Emily Jarvis

With round 4 bidding complete, Vestas looks to establish an even stronger renewable energy presence in Sub-Saharan Africa

Project Manager: Nick Norris

Writer: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Nick Norris

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lobal wind turbine specialist, Vestas, is playing a crucial role in the continent’s renewable sector, retaining slightly less than a third of the market share for wind turbines in South Africa after round 4 REIPPPP (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme) announcements earlier in 2015.

Rapidly changing renewable energy support schemes in Africa are not only shaping the continent’s future sources of electricity, but they are also a source for local jobs and economic empowerment. Given that an increasing number of Sub-Saharan African countries are establishing their own policy frameworks, there are shared continent-wide goals to both reduce CO2 emissions and improve access to electricity infrastructure through least cost generation options such as renewable energy.

Vestas has been present in South Africa for more than 10 years and officially established its local entity, Vestas Southern Africa in 2010 - the same year that the REIPPP Programme began. The Company has focused on expanding its presence across SubSaharan Africa in a bid to continue steady growth on the continent and share its significant knowledge and understanding of the African business landscape, and the application of renewable energy.

“We have actively taken part in the bidding process in rounds 1-4 and established new divisions that cover East Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. Taking into account round 4 of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) REIPPPP, Vestas has won the supply of turbines to 10 utility scale wind power plants; five of which are fully installed, two of which have commercial operation dates and the others are in the construction phase,” highlights James White, Vestas South Africa’s Country Manager.

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CONSOLIDATED POWER PROJECTS

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onsolidated Power Projects (Pty) Ltd, also known as CONCO, was established in 1986 and has since built a formidable reputation as a professional electrical infrastructure development company, driven by experienced engineers, with an impressive footprint in Sub-Saharan Africa, through the more than 1,000 projects we have completed to date.

Vestas is currently the only manufacturer to win at each round of the bidding process in SA

Substations CONCO is recognised as the largest African based Electrical Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) company on the continent, with a capacity and capability to construct any type of substation from 11kV to 765kV, which are designed, procured, constructed and commissioned by our own specialised engineers.

Overhead lines CONCO’s resources, equipment and full in-house facilities make it possible for our overhead power lines division to design and deliver power line work, from distribution to transmission voltages up to 400kV, even in the most challenging environments.

Insofar, Vestas is the only manufacturer to win at each round of bidding and subsequently, the Company has witnessed steady internal growth in terms of staff numbers, which now stands at approximately 45 members who work across key functions such as sales, construction and service.

Renewable drivers

The REIPPPP is a criteria-based bidding approach spanning the finance, construction, operation and maintenance of renewable energy generation facilities in South Africa, with 5,243MW of successful projects to date and 1,827MW of this already connected to the grid. With this

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success in mind, the Minister of Energy has sent the request to Nersa (National Energy Regulator of South Africa) for the permission to procure a further 6,800MW of renewable energy power generation from IPPs (Independent Power Producers).

So far, four of the five proposed bidding rounds have taken place. This competitive bidding process was chosen to help transition the South African economy from its current coal-based energy system to one that is composed of 17,800MW of renewables by 2030.

“While requirements have been tough, this has been a fantastic programme with clear guidelines that keep the process simple,” comments White.

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Energy Solutions Our in-house protection and automation division specialises in engineering, manufacture and commissioning of protection and control equipment for substations, but recently expanded its offerings to include containerised substations, low voltage products (MCC’s), batteries, chargers, smart grid solutions and a wide variety of telecommunication solutions.

Renewable Energy CONCO is currently the leading contractor for wind farm electrical balance of plant works in South Africa and has been highly successful in securing contracts for multiple wind and solar projects. CONCO has the ability to design, engineer and implement highly complex solutions for renewable projects and has thus far successfully completed 11 renewable projects and is busy executing a further 6 projects.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading developer of turnkey high voltage solutions

Direct: +27 21 905 0392 Cell: +27 82 889 0132 Email: Izak.VanderMerwe@concogrp.com Web: www.concogrp.com

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ARUP

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rup is a wholly independent organisation owned in trust.

With no shareholders or external investors, we are able to determine our own priorities and direction as a business.

We have extensive experience across all technical, financial and commercial aspects of renewable energy projects (wind, PV, hydro and biomass technologies), at each project stage, including detailed design, lenders / owners technical advisory services and project management. Arup has extensive knowledge of South African policy, regulation and processes associated with local energy projects with South Africa.

We have provided technical advisory services on over 4GW of renewable energy projects worldwide.

REIPPPP is satisfying the local demand for jobs in South Africa

For Vestas and others participating in the process, the Programme is satisfying the local demand for jobs; an ongoing challenge in both South Africa and Africa more broadly.

“There has been great synergy between IPPs and rural communities without a reliable energy supply. By targeting South Africa’s rural areas for example, where it is windy and sparsely populated, we can increase electricity coverage geographically and provide meaningful careers to those who live closest to the facilities. This is an opportunity that hasn’t even begun to be fully realised and has great potential going forward,” he further adds.

Challenges

Over the past decade, renewable technologies on the African continent have matured, becoming more reliable and cost-competitive with fossil fuels.

Although rapidly decreasing tariffs are affecting OEMs like Vestas, and IPPs,

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www.arup.com

AZARI WIND

By targeting South Africa’s rural areas for example, where it is windy and sparsely populated, we can increase electricity coverage geographically and provide meaningful careers to those who live closest to the facilities

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zari Wind provides the following services to leading manufacturers and operators of wind energy systems throughout Africa and beyond: • planning • project management • port operations • transport • crane • installation • commissioning • operations • maintenance Appointed by Vestas Southern Africa, Azari has completed installation of: • 8 Vestas V52 WTGs – Ngong Hills, Kenya (TPF-Econoler) • 37 Vestas V100 WTGs – Hopefield (Umoya Energy) • 41 Vestas V100 WTGs – Noblesfontein (Coria (PFK) Investment) as well as port operations, transport, crane and installation of: • 20 Vestas V112 WTGs – Grassridge (Grassridge Wind Power) •47 Vestas V90 WTGs – West Coast One (Aurora Wind Power)

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Azari Wind is a truly South African company specialising in turnkey solutions for the construction of multi-megawatt wind turbine generators.

Our services include planning, project management, port operations, transport, crane, installation, commissioning, operations, and maintenance.

Azari Wind (Pty) Ltd 11 De Beers Avenue Paardevlei Somerset West South Africa

Appointed by Vestas Southern Africa, Azari recently completed the port operations, transport, crane, and installation components of 47 Vestas V90 wind turbine generators for Aurora Wind Power’s West Coast One project.

T: +27 (0)21 852 1114

Azari is committed to producing high quality work and we strive to build mutually beneficial long-term relationships with our clients, partners and suppliers.

E: info@azarigroup.com www.azarigroup.com

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renewables are now cost-competitive with coal and have reached grid parity in South Africa as White explains: “We can now generate power at a levelised cost of electricity that is less than or equal to the price of purchasing power from the electricity grid.

“However, with the average wind tariffs decreasing by 42 percent over rounds 1-4, it vital for Vestas to find ways to differentiate itself both as a company and in terms of its high quality finished product at a costcompetitive price to maintain a good portion of the market.”

Furthermore, given the overwhelming demand from the private sector to develop new projects, the demand on the limited number of substations in South Africa to evacuate power to the grid has come under close scrutiny. Both private and public stakeholders require careful dialogue to manage the strained power capacities which present a long-term challenge. The more allocated energy, the more pressure this will place on the national grid, and Eskom will need to increase power infrastructures to cater for demand.

In Kenya, the 300MW Vestas East Africa site at Lake Turkana poses a different set of challenges as White elaborates: “Lake Turkana project is in the middle of a very sparse area, around 1300 kilometres from the Port of Mombasa, and this means there will be a high level of infrastructure complexity involved to complete the project due to poor quality transport links.

“We chose this location not for the challenges it brings, but due to the incredible wind resource here, which has the capacity to deliver the lowest cost of energy for any power source in Kenya; shattering the myth that renewable energy is expensive.”

When completing a project such as this, it is crucial to partner with reliable local suppliers and look for suitable roads. “With one turbine consisting of

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Lake Turkana Project

Northern Kenya

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Turbines: 365 units Capacity: 300 MW Commission planned for mid2016 to provide enough power to satisfy 17 percent of Kenya’s total installed power

up to eight heavy loads, delivering 365 wind turbines to Lake Turkana will be a world-leading example in logistics.

“This challenge stretches across the landlocked countries we operate in, such as Botswana and Ethiopia, therefore, Vestas always try to get as close to the site as possible to minimise logistical challenges,” he continues.

Increasing local content

Advantageously, Vestas has been able to leverage its global reputation as a leader in wind turbine technology to secure tenders across the continent, as well as a fully-qualified team of staff. “The market is still relatively small in Africa, which means we can easily identify our strategic partners and demonstrate our local competencies and in depth grasp of the technology.

“Vestas has spent a considerable amount of time building its South African profile by attending conferences and events, to really communicate to our stakeholders that although we are a global company, we have a local presence. This has been

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compliance will have increased.”

In response to the latest energy allocations announced by the Minister of Energy for the upcoming rounds 1800MW of renewable energy in 2015, with the tender released in June and preferred bidders announced in the third quarter of 2015, and a further 6300MW to be procured over the long term starting with round 5 to be released in Q2 2016 - Vestas will work towards increasing local content in line with the government’s expectations and prudent business practice.

Additionally, the Company will continue to actively work with the Department of Trade and Industry to aid job creation.

813MW

Renewable hotspot

Vestas projects in South Africa have a total capacity of 813MW across 10 projects

a key element to our success,” adds White.

In the long-term, he hopes that Vestas South Africa will champion local content, including increasing locally manufactured turbine parts: “The majority of Vestas’ parts are manufactured and partially-assembled before they reach the continent via the closest local port depending on project location. Given the focus on driving the economy through employment, we should see that by round 5 of bidding, the ‘Economic Development Criteria’

Our level 4 B-BBEEE compliance is something that differentiates us from the competition and is something we utilise to show our commitment locally

“We have been impressed by the high level of skilled South African workers and encourage others to add to the local skill pool,” says White. “In recent years, Vestas South Africa has invested in localising its training so it can organically train new staff as the Company continues to grow. Our level 4 B-BBEEE compliance is something that differentiates us from the competition and is something we utilise to show our commitment locally.”

The most notable form of internal training is the Vestas Technician Pipeline training model, which takes trainees through a formalised and recognised training programme to become specialised turbine engineers.

Sub-Saharan wind production is booming, with East Africa rapidly emerging as the latest renewable hotspot. With a combined 813MW and 335MW of power generated by Vestas across South Africa and Kenya at present, the Company is excited to be a part of the future renewable supply on the continent. “These long-term contracts give us commitment to the continent and are a springboard from which to expand our presence going forward.

“In South Africa, we are particularly excited for the extra allocations outlined recently by the Minister of Energy. In the meantime, our aim now is to consolidate and continuously refine our offerings before being firstmovers into many of Africa’s nation markets,” summarises White.

Through a localisation strategy and utilising its in-depth indigenous expertise of the African renewables market, Vestas is actively exploring projects across a wider geographic spectrum including Namibia, Tanzania, Botswana, Ethiopia and Mauritius.

“Over the next five years, we foresee rapid developments when it comes to wind farms across Africa,” concludes White.

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Managing Director and General Manager Paladin Energy is a globallyrecognised uranium production company with projects currently in Australia and two mines in Africa. Since 1998, during a period of sustained downturn in global uranium markets, Paladin spent this time accumulating a quality portfolio of advanced uranium projects, each exhibiting further production potential to rise and meet demand. Langer Heinrich Mine in Namibia is its flagship project.

After three profitable expansions, Langer Heinrich Uranium now looks to complete the next stage of development, once uranium prices achieve a much-needed boost Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Arron Rampling anger Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd, 100 percent owners of Langer Heinrich Mine (LHM) in Namibia, has successfully reached Stage Three expansion targets and is now operating in excess of the nameplate level 5.2Mlb pa (million pounds per annum) of U3O8 as it looks to complete the next stage of development at a time where higher uranium prices will dictate future expansion opportunities.

“With a refocused mandate, Stage Four has presented a unique opportunity for improvement and optimisation, resulting in an expected future feasibility of increasing production to 8.7Mlb uranium ore and upgrading the plant’s facilities,” said the Company.

Moreover, experts predict that the

accelerated GDP growth levels, which currently stand at 5.3 percent, should continue to remain strong in the coming years, driven by increased mining activities as new mines start production and the export market grows.

“Various piloting and testing programmes will continue in order to consider the available options and enhancements in preparation for the future expansion of our mine in line with economic development. Our goal will be to increase production with reduced unit costs and improve process efficiencies, while reducing feed grade into the plant to the reserve average of 520ppm uranium ore,” added the Company.

As a result of the work undertaken, and its achievement of an ISO 14001:2004 environmental management system

20 years LHM has a project life in excess of 20 years

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certification, the Langer Heinrich Uranium project is in an excellent position to respond to these market conditions and expand its operations as soon as the price is sufficient. “The certification applies to our entire mining operation, including open-pit mining and production of uranium oxide in Namib-Naukluft National Park,” cited the Company.

Stabilising the spot price

Located at the foot of the Langer Heinrich Mountain in the Namib Desert, on the western side of central Namibia, LHM is 80 kilometres east of the major deepwater port at Walvis Bay and the coastal town of Swakopmund, and spans across a 15 km-long tertiary paleo-drainage system containing seven contiguous mineralised zones. When production commenced after the official opening of the mine by the President of

In an excellent position to respond to market conditions

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tonnes

The mine can produce up to 1,180t of uranium oxide concentrate from 1.5Mt of calcrete-hosted ores a year

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Taking advantage of Namibia’s mining infrastructures

Namibia in March, 2007, LHM became the first conventional uranium mining and processing operation to be brought online in more than a decade.

With an original budget of US$92 million and overcoming significant cost pressures during the 20-month construction term, the Mine has successfully completed three stages of expansion, producing at a rate of 5.7Mlb per annum.

Protea Mining PROTEA MINING CHEMICALS – “MORE THAN JUST A CHEMICAL SUPPLIER” Protea Mining Chemicals is a member of the Omnia Group (Pty) Ltd, a subsidiary of Omnia Holdings Limited, a manufacturing company which is listed under the chemicals sector of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE).

Omnia has three major operating divisions: Omnia Nutriology (for fertilisers and plant nutrients), Bulk Mining Explosives (or BME, the market leader in the supply of explosives) and Protea Chemicals (incorporating the Protea group of companies).

The goal of Protea Mining Chemicals is to become the market leader in supplying a full range of industrial and speciality chemicals to the mining industry throughout subSaharan Africa and then to maintain this market leader status. At present, Protea Mining Chemicals supplies a broad range of performance mining chemicals and a full range of commodity chemicals to customers throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including South Africa, Namibia (as Protea Chemicals Namibia), Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.

Protea Mining Chemicals have extensive experience and an intimate knowledge of the processes employed in the mining industry, which allows us to provide an invaluable service and assistance to customers in process troubleshooting and problem solving. Integral to Protea Mining Chemicals’ growth strategy, is our commitment to establishing preferred partnerships with key customers, thereby allowing us opportunities

to identify and optimise certain aspects of their production processes and therefore, the customers’ overall profitability.

Protea Mining Chemicals is committed to promoting Safety, Health, Responsible Care®, the Environment and Quality (SHERQ) awareness. To this end, Protea Mining Chemicals, including Protea Chemicals Namibia, is ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 certified.

Protea Mining Chemicals is a signatory to the Responsible Care® programme, maintained by the Chemical Allied Industries Association in South Africa. We are committed to safe and responsible handling of chemicals, with the philosophy of “cradle to grave” management.

Protea Mining Chemicals uses the skills of Omnia’s Engineering services to create a business that can provide in-house engineering capabilities to design and construct reagent handling plants for our customers.

248 Dyson Road Wadeville 1422 T+27 (0) 11 323 3000 F +27 (0) 11 827 8414 Port of Walvis Bay Rikumbi Kandanga Road Walvis Bay, Namibia T +264 64 221 540 F +264 64 221 541

www.proteachemicals.co.za

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Providing professional transportation services to the public, corporate institutions and tourism industry throughout Namibia & South Africa.

What was once started with only one bus in its fleet grew into a transportation giant and is now proud to have a fleet of more than 110 vehicles, ranging from 80 seated buses to luxury 70 seated buses as well as a variety of smaller buses down to 13 seated Toyota Quantum mini buses.

Coach & Bus Transfers and Hire Transfers Airport Transfers Bakkie Rentals

SWAKOPMUND OFFICE | KANTOOR (HEAD OFFICE) Einstein Street | Einstein Straat New Industrial | Industrieel Swakopmund Tel: 064-402299 | Fax: 064-405912 www.sunshinenam.com

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The Namibian government actively encourages the growth of its mining industry

“As of June 2014, the mine contained 22.4 metric tonnes of measured resources at an assumed grade of 0.055 percent U3O8, with the total ore reserves including proven, probable and stockpiles were 103.8 tonnes of 0.052 percent grade, containing 53,917 tonnes of U3O8.

“These reserves form the basis of the continuing life of mine plan for the project and the revised mine plan allows a project life in excess of 20 years,” explained the project details on the website.

Due to the current stable economic and political environment, Langer Heinrich Uranium has been able to take advantage of Namibia’s mining-related infrastructures such as roads and port connections; and its already diverse mining industry involving not just uranium, but diamonds, gold and base metals.

“The Namibian government actively encourages the growth of its mining industry, which is a solid contributor to the country’s economy via a strong export market, and we are proud to play a part in this,” detailed the Company.

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53,917 tonnes

The total ore reserves including proven, probable and stockpiles were 103.8 tonnes of 0.052 percent grade, containing 53,917 tonnes of U3O8

Sunshine Tours

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unshine Tours started its humble beginnings in 2003 and was established, out of pure passion for the industry, by its founder and managing member, Winston. A. Greyling with the aim of providing professional transportation services to the public and corporate institutions as well as to the tourism industry throughout Namibia and South Africa.

What was once started with only one bus in its fleet has grown into a transportation giant and is now proud to have a fleet of more than 110 vehicles and it is this large variety gives us the flexibility to cater to almost all leisure and corporate transport needs.

Vehicle maintenance is at the top of the list of priorities at Sunshine Tours, as it is no secret that proper vehicle maintenance and safety go hand in hand. To support this, all our operational depots throughout Namibia are equipped with use of specialized maintenance and cleaning programmes to ensure all vehicles are kept in immaculate condition all year round.

In addition to this, all Sunshine vehicles are fitted with real time satellite tracking, enabling us to monitor the whereabouts and speed profiles or

LOGO

access driver exception reports of any vehicle at any time. The vehicles are also fitted with fire extinguishers and first aid kits to further enhance our focus on safety.

Sunshine Tours is not only an equal opportunity employer but also proud to be a wholly Namibian owned company, in partnership with Optimal Investment (Pty) Ltd, a Namibian BEE entity. We are undoubtedly your best choice for passenger transport, for the public as well as the corporate and tourism industry, operating across Namibia and pride ourselves in offering efficient and more importantly safe services.

Sunshine Tours Namibia always endeavours to deliver a safe, prompt and efficient service to all our customers.

Our partnership with Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd sees us providing transportation of employees to and from their sites and was one of our first relationships to be formed.

T 064 405912 E 064 402299 www.sunshinenam.com

A MEMBER OF THE GECKO AFRICA GROUP OF COMPANIES

Gecko Namibia (Pty) Ltd is a Namibian owned, diversified company in mineral resources and services to the mining and construction industry.

Since the Group’s establishment in 2008 it has aspired to leave a legacy that will be of real and sustainable benefit to future generations.

Gecko provides the following services: • Opencast mining • Design, manufacture and operation of both fixed and mobile mineral processing plants • Exploration drilling • Civil construction • Materials handling • Metallurgical laboratory services

Contact us:

Email: info@gecko.na / Tel: +264 61 225 826 /

/ Fax: +264 61 225 304

We transform

natural resources into prosperity

/ 8 Sinclair Street, Windhoek, Namibia

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Expansive history

After a government-sponsored airborne radiometric survey of the area, the Langer Heinrich deposit was discovered in 1973. Despite its discovery and subsequent eight-year project evaluation, the Mine was unable to begin sustainable operations due to depressed uranium prices.

In 1998, LHM was sold to the Australian-listed public company, Acclaim Uranium NL, who completed a highly favourable pre-feasibility study for the area. Once again, adverse uranium market conditions in the late 90s and low prices curtailed development.

Despite this, Acclaim sold its holding in Langer Heinrich Uranium (Pty) Ltd to Paladin Energy in 2002. Following this acquisition, Paladin initiated a bankable feasibility study (BFS) which was completed in April, 2005.

The Company strives to make operations more profitable

The Namibian government actively encourages the growth of its mining industry, which is a solid contributor to the country’s economy via a strong export market, and we are proud to play a part in this

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5.7 million pounds a year

The mine has successfully completed three stages of expansion, producing at a rate of 5.7Mlb per annum

“The BFS confirmed that the project was capable of generating highly attractive returns using the defined reserves only, and with construction and staged commissioning achieved in December 2006, the mine officially opened in early 2007 with precise goals to make operations profitable after remaining unused for almost seven years,” highlighted the Company.

Given the initial successes, a Stage Two expansion programme was completed in June 2009, which involved a US$50 million investment to boost the mine’s production to 3.7Mlb a year. The Company further detailed: “This involved upgrading the recycle crushing circuit and feed conveyor, expanding the cyclone circuit and installing a new pre-leach thickener, additional leach capacity, heaters, highdensity thickeners and IX columns. It also involved the expansion of the new drier, including the feed arrangement, increasing the capacity of reagent dosing, the construction of additional motor control centre (MCC) buildings and upgrading the tailings disposal.”

In order to deliver the additional feed required for the Stage Two expansion, LHM had to increase its mining fleet and enhance its logistical capabilities to ensure safe passage of the final product to the port.

Additionally, Stage Three expansion was

Gecko Nambia G

ecko Mining is a specialist service provider to the mining industry throughout Africa. As a member of th Gecko Africa Group of Companies, we are committed to offering professional, effective and all-inclusive mining solutions to clients. Our strategic alliance with affiliate companies allows complimentary services such as mineral exploration, mine planning and product beneficiation to be offered as an inhouse capability.

It is our mission to become a long-term alliance partner to our clients to ensure the successful planning, design and execution of each client’s project to the mutual benefit of not only all alliance partners but also their employees, stakeholders and the community at large. Gecko Mining has a management structure that is highly competent with all employees well experienced in their respective fields. This allows for effective management and efficient mining of a wide range of resource deposits.

Typical activities would include topsoil stripping, drilling and blasting, dozer pushover, truck and excavator removal of overburden, waste and ore, relevant pit services and the subsequent rehabilitation process and related activities. We are further able to offer a complete solution to clients’ mineral and materials handling, stockpiling and loading requirements.

Gecko Drilling service the needs of the mining and mineral exploration industries in Namibia and Southern Africa through the provision of exploration drilling and drill and blast services, offering exploration drilling solutions across a diverse range of commodities using the expertise and experience of our highly skilled drillers.

Gecko’s experienced and dedicated team is committed to ensuring that our clients’ objectives are met effectively.

We have successfully undertaken many challenging drilling contracts throughout Southern Africa using our diversified fleet of drill rig types.

Gecko owns and operates a fleet of Reverse Circulation (RC) and Diamond Core (DC) drill rigs, with all the required support equipment including modern Isotainerbased camp facilities, all-wheel drive support and supply vehicles and trucks, air boosters and compressors and a large fleet of water bowsers and ancillary plant and machinery. All our drilling operations are well supported through our comprehensively equipped hydraulic, mechanical and machine workshops.

T +264 61 225 826 F +264 61 225 304 E info@gecko.na

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Expansion will occur once there has been a substantial increase in uranium prices

completed in March 2012 which saw annual production increase to 5.29Mlb of U3O8 a year and further improvements to the above production methodologies listed in Stage Two. The Company continued: “Stage Four began in the last quarter of 2012 when we received environmental impact assessment approvals from the Namibian government. We have now begun the bankable feasibility study which will see us expand the mine geographically.”

“The feasibility study for Stage Four expansion is investigating the viability of setting up a new 8.7Mlb per annum production plant adjacent to the existing one. It will also investigate the potential of heap leaching or upgrading the material and mineralised waste rock with a below cut-off grade to recover an additional 1.3Mlbs of uranium. As stated previously, the expansion will not occur until there has been a substantial increase in incentive uranium price.”

The latest piece of significant news from the Company came in July last year, when Paladin Energy entered into an agreement to sell a 25 percent stake in LHM to a wholly-owned subsidiary of China

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US$92 million

The mine was officially opened on 14 March, 2007 after an initial investment of US$92 million

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PO Box 96221 Windhoek, Namibia • Tel: + 264 61 235 540 • Fax: +264 61 232 375 • www.nec-namibia.com • nicolaas@namstahl.com

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PROCESSING STEP 1 Ores are processed using conventional methods including ore beneficiation, alkaline leaching, countercurrent decantation, ion exchange, precipitation and calcining

STEP 2 Agglomerates are broken down into individual grains through crushing and scrubbing

STEP 3 Uranium minerals are separated from the surface of the grains

STEP 4 High-grade fines or leach feed are separated using cyclones and screen methods from barren discard material

STEP 5 Once thickened, the leach feed slurry is conditioned with carbonate and bi-carbonate before it is heated and pumped to the leach circuit

STEP 6 The slurry is then fed through a counter current decantation (CCD) circuit, where high-grade uranium solution is separated from solids

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After undergoing additional clarification, the solution is pumped through fixed bed ion exchange (IX) columns.

In the IX columns uranium is recovered on to resin

STEP 8 The uranium is removed from resin before being precipitated as sodium diuranate

STEP 9 After being re-dissolved with sulphuric acid, the uranium is further precipitated with hydrogen peroxide.

The product delivered is dewatered, dried and stored as uranyl peroxide

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LHM is 80 kilometres east of the major deepwater port at Walvis Bay and the coastal town of Swakopmund

National Nuclear Corporation, CNNC Overseas Uranium Holding Limited.

“This agreement allows CNNC to purchase its pro-rata share of product at the prevailing market spot price and it is expected that the agreement will enhance the long-term growth and development of the Langer Heinrich operation,” emphasised the mining house.

Predicting market growth

Given the world’s divided opinion on nuclear energy, particularly since the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and resultant tsunami which inflicted severe damage of the Fukushima Daiichi reactors, most countries have radically overhauled their comprehensive safety review of existing nuclear power plants; placing

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Post-Fukushima though, worldwide reactor plans have been re-affirmed and work has continued on reactors under construction.

Furthermore, the spot price for uranium has been showing signs of recovery since the global financial crisis, however for the first time since 2005, uranium reached a low point of below US$30 per lb of U3O8 in mid-2014, but this has not deterred Langer Heinrich Uranium as the Company is confident that the market will recover, given that the economy shows no signs of slowing down more generally. “The medium to long-term outlook for uranium is still extremely buoyant and is underpinned by the increasing demand for uranium to fuel existing and new reactors and the inability of the current uranium supply sector to significantly increase production.

“In line with this, many of Japan’s power plants are due to be restarted in 2015, which is an important step forward after the past four years since Fukushima. The pace of the restarts may remain slow, but the long-term outlook remains encouraging,” said the Company.

Worldwide, there are now 72 nuclear power plants under construction, ten more than at the time of Fukushima. This means there are 435 operational reactors that consume more than 170Mlb per annum of U3O8, and the Paladin Group forecasts that global uranium demand will reach 230Mlb per annum by 2020 as Langer Heinrich Uranium concluded: “The global uranium production industry will struggle to meet this rapid growth in demand, however, we are in a strong position and can further increase production in line with this forecast when necessary via a Stage Four development.”

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We specialize in:

Welding repairs

Metal Fabrication

Gearbox & PumpOverhauls

Milling

Centrifuge, Impeller & Rotor Ballancing

Centrifuge & screw feeder overhauls

Portable Line Boring

General Machining

Line Boring Specialists’ services will meet the customers requirements with the following unique capacity / functionality or service options: • New parts cost savings options (replacement of worn our components is not necessary anymore).

• Transport cost saving options (on-site repairs).

• Production down-time saving options (focusing on line boring results in better turnaround and less down time).

Tel: +264 64 40 50 55 Cell: +264 (0) 81 122 5116 Fax: +264 64 40 50 66 Email: info@namiblbs.com / lbs@iway.na Web: www.namiblbs.com

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Moving FORWARD in the Local and Regional Economies

Arenel uses its home-grown manufacturing expertise to keep up with the ever changing tastes of Zimbabweans Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Callum Philp renel has achieved local and regional growth throughout its decades of continuous operational improvement in the manufacture of quality sweets and biscuits for Zimbabweans and its key export markets. Last year, the Company launched a new range of mini biscuits - known as ‘Yummies’ - in five exciting flavours, and a new flavour of Chocolate Zambezi Pops which serves to strengthen Arenel’s growth strategy and cement its position in the country’s confectionery industry. “The new product lines are designed to meet changing market demands and are in response to the ever-changing taste of the people. So far business has been positive and we are moving forward with that movement of positivity,” says Joshua Lepar, Managing Director of Arenel.

With a footprint in virtually every corner of the country, Arenel boasts one of Zimbabwe’s most extensive distribution networks in the country.

300

Current number of staff employed at the company

100

Anticipated number of new employees to work out of the new Mahewu manufacturing facility

In line with this, the Company has been committed to increasing its service offering with the eventual aim to provide a more inclusive end-to-end service. 2015 is an exciting time for the Company as feasibility studies have been undertaken for the manufacture of a further three products and Lepar is eager to push for their production and inclusion in the Arenel product range. “This year, we will be launching our take on the traditional energy drink called Mahewu, made from maize.

To achieve this objective, we have a special purpose-built factory in place for new state-of-the-art equipment, including new processing and bottling machinery which is being installed as we speak,” explains Lepar.

Currently, Arenel has a staff complement of 300 and given the aforementioned new Mahewu manufacturing facility, this number is anticipated to increase by a further 100 employees to increase those on the factory floor right through to distribution and point of sale.

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SUPPLIERS OF

TURNKEY BEVERAGE PROJECTS SPECIALIZING IN

TRADITI ONAL DRINKS PRODUCTI ON FOR THE AFRICAN CONTINENT

CONTACT US Metal Tank Industries (PTY) Ltd 146 Geldenhuys Street Putfontein, Benoni Gauteng, South Africa T: +2711 21 0501 +2783 462 6228 +2783 269 3636 E: sales@metaltank.com www.metaltank.com

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A proudly Zimbabwean company

Within this, the Company maintains its long-standing policy to employ a number of physically disadvantaged persons and integrate them into the workforce.

Within its manufacturing rationalisation objectives, Arenel has consolidated its raw material warehousing into a recently acquired premises in close proximity to its manufacturing units in Bulawayo.

“Moving our raw materials under one roof close-by will enable us to have better control of our stock levels, minimum order levels and allow for more efficient accounting of usage in order to effectively replenish, while at the same time releasing space which was previously used for raw material storage to additional production machinery,” he adds.

The additional installed production capacity and new product introductions now allow the Company to focus on strengthening its customer base over a wider geographic footprint to include new targeted territories of Ghana, Uganda, Mozambique and Namibia.

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Buy Zimbabwe

Yummies’ BISCUIT FL AVOURS

Choc-ice cream Vanilla ice cream Tropical banana Sweet orange Tangy lemon

As strong advocates of the ‘Buy Zimbabwe’ campaign, Arenel purchases locally produced goods and services where possible and given the projected expansion, Lepar continues to personally believe in the ethos that local is best: “As a truly proud Zimbabwean company, we make sure that we purchase and procure all our raw materials from local sources where possible; while mindful of achieving the right price and quality that meets our stringent quality control procedures.” If unable to procure in-country, Arenel looks to the immediate regional partners in SADC and COMESA for its materials.

After a decade of economic malaise in the country, ‘Buy Zimbabwe’ is an important initiative that will actively promote the consumption and procurement of locally produced goods and services by the government, local authorities, and the public and private sectors.

“The Zimbabwe economy finds itself in a very illiquid position at this time and as a country, we have largely seen disposable income diminish further as we find ourselves competing for that elusive dollar. However, through our country-wide distribution network supported

Metal Tanks

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etal Tank Industries (Pty) Ltd is a South African based company with 20 years’ experience in the supply of stainless steel and mild steel vessels for all process industries.

The company specializes in turnkey project solutions, with strong expertise and experience in the beverage and food sector particularly the traditional drinks market for Sorghum beer and Maheu.

Successful installations of complete Maheu Plants have been achieved in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, DRC, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda and Mozambique.

We have vast experience in the Opaque Beer industry and have supplied both individual equipment and complete plants in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Our scope of supply includes Design, Process Engineering, Process and Production Validation, Plant Building, Pipelines, Rigging, Site Installation, Assembly and Commissioning.

Typically, Plant would include Stainless

Steel Vessels, Pipework, Valves and Instruments, Pumps, Cooling Towers, Boilers, Filters, Steelwork and Electrical Panels.

Our large premises, only 20 minutes from O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg, allows us to PREFABRICATE and PRE-ASSEMBLE COMPLETE PLANTS for the Export Market.

We are well placed and equipped to deal with supply throughout Africa.

Our logistic service includes, marking, wrapping, crating, containerization where required, loading, unloading as well as rigging and craneage.

We are proud to have partnered with Arenel (Pvt) Ltd. in supplying their new beverage venture, and wish them success with their product.

For further information or queries please contact us directly.

T 0027 83 462 6228 0027 11 021 0501 E sales@metaltank.com rob@metaltank.com www.metaltank.com

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by a dynamic and knowledgeable home-grown team, state-of-the-art machinery and sizable fleet of interlink vehicles; we are able to ensure that we get to the market at the correct price point giving us a competitive edge and enhancing our brand promise to deliver a quality products at a great price,” states Lepar.

In order to further develop the Company brand and build on its localisation strategies, Arenel has been active in the social sphere, recently sponsoring the Nash U17 soccer tournament for Zimbabwean schools country-wide. “The soccer sponsorship is in excess of US$150,000, and we still maintain our sponsorship of the national ‘Wimbledon’ tennis tournament for school children under the age of 18; Wimbledon being the brand name of our fantastic coconut base biscuit.

“Activities such as this demonstrate our focus to give back to the community through sponsoring and developing junior sport in Zimbabwe,” Lepar emphasises.

Top: Mahewu storage tanks. Above: Marie biscuit cutting line

The Traditional Mahewu Drink We are currently benefiting from our localisation strategy and supporting the community where we can through our youth-driven programmes

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Mahewu is a traditional African beverage that is enjoyed by millions, providing improved digestion due to the inherent roughage and healthy probiotics.

Arenel’s new Mahewu maizebased beverage will be rich in nutrients and high in carbohydrates, making it an ideal source of energy

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Products reach the market at the correct price point in order to gain a competitive edge

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Household name

As a household name synonymous with quality and value for money products, Lepar intends to grow the Arenel brand to further increase its product range and its reach not only in Zimbabwe, but the surrounding countries. “To achieve this, our main focus will be on the new Mahewu factory for local consumption and we will be working on a comprehensive strategy to successfully expand geographically with our existing range of products coupled with the new projected products that are to be introduced. We are currently benefiting from our localisation strategy and supporting the community where we can through our youth-driven programmes.

“The youth are our priority and focus. They are everything for both the future of Arenel and our country,” concludes Lepar.

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With exclusive license to some of the world’s top alcoholic brands, Liquor City looks to share its expertise with independent retailers through its franchise strategy Writer: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Josh Hyland iquor City has become a name synonymous with world-renowned brands and its concerted focus on people; by not only providing a smooth shopping process for customers frequenting its 300 stores, but looking after South Africa’s independent retailers by granting them a platform to grow.

Out of these 300 stores, around half are franchise-owned, which demonstrates the need to recognise the country’s independent liquor scene as a successful growth market, and Liquor City plays a huge role in keeping these much smaller retailers from falling by the wayside in an ever-developing South Africa, where corporations strive to dominate.

Last year marked two significant milestones for the Company and its committed CEO, the South African business icon Manny de Atouguia. The year marked his 70th birthday and 20 years since Liquor City opened its first store in Sofia Town in 1994.

Within these past 20 years, South Africa has witnessed wholesale changes to the retail industry, in particular the marked increase in liquor licenses and subsequent demand for alcoholic beverages whose popularity are drawn from other parts of the globe. When Liquor City began trading just after the apartheid era in 1994, investment in the region was seen as too much of a risk for some. However,

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FIRST NATIONAL BANK

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wning a business in South Africa comes with its own set of intricacies, requiring a certain level of commitment, and can be facilitated by the expertise of First National Bank.

As a fast developing country in terms of infrastructure, the ‘land of opportunity; has created a platform for the growth and development of numerous industries, and franchising opportunities as a consequence.

Earning its place as South Africa’s largest independent retailer for alcoholic goods

backed by the entrepreneurial attitude of its CEO, Liquor City continued to work hard to earn its place today as the country’s largest independent retailer for alcoholic goods, specialising in bringing some of the world’s biggest brewers and distillers into what became its signature house brands.

Big retail corporations also benefitted from the continent’s growth, and it therefore became imperative for Liquor City to differentiate itself from the likes of key national players. The Company achieved this by launching many signature house brands that hold equity on a global scale, alongside some exclusive brands sourced from many countries around the world known for their craft including; Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Mozambique.

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“Every country has a set of rules that governs how to do business. That, along with the country’s franchising landscape makes for a unique and rewarding experience. Many people are excited about owning a franchise in South Africa because there are a number of advantages,” says Morne Cronje, FNB Head of Franchising.

These advantages bridge both local and international investment opportunities by global franchise brands and the benefits are subsequently being explored more and more within South Africa’s developing economy.

Being your own boss is one such advantage, balanced by an extensive franchise infrastructure to provide support where necessary. Innovative new technologies further compliment the opportunities now available, also adding significant value to small and medium business banking clients.

“What lies at the heart of franchising is the fact that it is not a business, but rather a way of doing business and if the fundamentals of the franchise format are followed, it can be adapted to almost any industry, across all sectors and services,” concludes Cronje.

T 011 632 0397 E franchising@fnb.co.za

www.fnb.co.za

get more banking solutions for your business.

Whether you’re expanding your franchise, or expanding into a franchise, our expert Industry Specialist team offers tailored and innovative banking solutions for your business. Because growing a franchise leaves you with a lot to do, let us help you with banking, so you can get on with business.

Get more bank. Do more business.

For more information, please contact our Franchise Desk on 011 632 0397 or email franchising@fnb.co.za

First National Bank - a division of FirstRand Bank Limited.

An Authorised Financial Services and Credit Provider (NCRCP20).

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Becoming a franchisee

With South Africa’s liquor market projections touted to reach R91 billion this year, Liquor City believes continued growth from smaller players who choose to embrace its franchising model will play a momentous role going forward.

“Liquor City has been built on strong foundations and has gained a reputation as a family-owned, customer-centric business not affiliated with any supermarket. We provide the opportunity for independent retailers to partner with us in order to form a winning alliance that will give these smaller stores much bigger buying power,” explains Vania Martins-Fouche, Liquor City’s National Marketing Manager.

Based on affordable setup costs, Liquor City’s comprehensive franchising strategy - which already includes more than 150 stores and counting - not only gives prospective

Signature Brands SCOT L AND, UK

Label 5 Whisky SCOT L AND, UK

Glen Moray Single Malt Whisky M OZ AMB IQUE

2M & Laurentina beer P OR T UGAL

Super Bock beer C HILE

Concha Y Toro Wines B R ASIL

Pitu Cachaca SPAIN

Don Simon Sangria AR GENT INA

Trivento GERM ANY

Killepitsch

We provide the opportunity for independent retailers to partner with us in order to form a winning alliance that will give these smaller stores much bigger buying power

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Green Island Rum AM ERICA

Evan Williams Bourbon Whiskey IREL AND

Merrys Cream P OR T UGAL

Licor Beirao ITALY

Luxardo Liqueurs Range F R AN CE

G.M.Gobillard Champagne MEXICO

Corraleijo Tequila

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franchisees support in all advertising and marketing endeavours, but is also helped along by the deployment of a regional franchise manager to support this growing client base. “Supported by our area managers, these members of staff make sure that everything we do is fair and we have the right shared incentives in place when they excel.

“Essentially, by maintaining key relationships we give every franchisee an opportunity to grow their business and increase their gross profit percentage. And working in tandem with us, our suppliers are always keen to help. We are able to bridge the gap and reach out to the smaller independent,” highlights MartinsFouche.

With thousands of new independent liquor stores projected to open over the course of the next few years, Liquor City will work to continuously evaluate its franchise strategy to ensure that it can be applied to the upcoming growth predictions.

“Rather than bringing logistics and other accompanying services under the Liquor City umbrella, we have kept things simple to keep costs down and maintain our affordable product range,” she further explains.

Additionally, the Company maintains an open dialogue with its key suppliers at all times; undertaking regular visits and attending industry conferences to share Liquor City’s wealth of knowledge and experience.

This view extends throughout the Company’s internal hierarchy as Martins-Fouche adds: “We are keen to provide employment to those previously disadvantaged where we can because for us, it is about hiring those who are able to work up the chain of command and show enthusiasm towards continuous selfimprovement.

“Both our active customer service and focus on staff training are the two big differentiators that separate us from others in the market.”

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What next?

Work with the Johannesburg Cooking School

Liquor City’s CEO turned 71 this year, and with his son, Len de Atouguia ready in the wings to take the reins, the Company will remain dedicated to its customers and growth goals, mirroring industry trends along the way.

“As consumer habits are changing due to economic factors such as politics, technology and so on, we need to be ready to embrace these changes and adapt our way of thinking so as to find the best way to market our products, but also find out what is gaining popularity among specific age groups,” says Martins-Fouche.

In accordance with this, Liquor City has been overhauling its marketing strategy in order to build brand awareness. By working with the likes of cooking shows and the Johannesburg Cooking School, as well as embracing social media and targeting a new market footprint, the Company has gained even further appreciation of its indie offerings.

“This year, Liquor City plans to grow both the corporate segment as well as the franchise sector of the business.

“More than anything, we want to get the message out there that Liquor City takes a personal interest in not just the customer, but the retailer. We encourage you to get in touch and take advantage of the opportunities we offer, so that we can grow together and keep the independent scene alive,” concludes Martins-Fouche.

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Breathing Lifeinto Brands randActiv has brought some of the world’s most renowned household names to Mauritius over a time period which can be traced back centuries, and is now looking towards opportunities to replicate its success in mainland Africa in the future.

As an importer and distributor of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), BrandActiv can be traced back 180 Writer: Matthew Staff years within the island nation, with the Project Manager: Josh Hyland Company’s evolution under different guises and brandings culminating in a restructuring and renaming in 2011; the platform for an entrepreneurial modernisation of its operations and ambitions ever since.

Overseeing the rebranding was the Company’s General Manager (GM), Jean-Michel Rouillard who remains enthusiastic about how BrandActiv can move forward over the next stage of its development.

“BrandActiv is a cluster of IBL Group

A 2011 rebranding has set the wheels in motion for BrandActiv as it leverages a long history of global partnerships to now look towards its own international adventure

Jean-Michel Rouillard, General Manager Jean-Michel Rouillard oversaw the amalgamation of IBL Consumer Goods and IBL Frozen Foods in 2011, and has since driven the rebranding that has occurred under the BrandActiv banner. The Company’s General Manager remains as enthusiastic now as he did four years ago that the business will maintain and build upon a reputation in Mauritius that dates back 180 years in the fast moving consumer goods sector.

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100 supermarkets, as well as retail stores, the hospitality sector, and the restaurant domain; all of which fall within BrandActiv’s end-customer remit.

The Company’s key business partners and clients at the front end of the value chain, however, include some of the biggest names in global FMCG, having been the majority’s chosen distributor within Mauritius for the best part of a century.

Brands such as Kraft, Colgate, L’Oreal, Heinz and Johnson & Johnson have all benefitted from the IBL and BrandActiv offering from as early as the 1940s, and have formed the crux of the Company’s success over the years.

“Historically, there were not many companies in the local market with the structure to distribute, and to this day we have capitalised on these relationships in an industry which has a lot to do with relationships,” explained Rouillard. “We have a strong reputation, are very credible among our suppliers and are ranked among the top in Africa, in what we do.”

Packing and labelling frozen meats

and was formed in 2011, under my management, when IBL Consumer Goods and IBL Frozen Foods merged together,” he recalls. “We wanted to create something new, evocative and visionary with a rebranding exercise that was geared towards our clients, staff, customers and suppliers.”

The business is now formed of three divisions – dry foods, frozen foods and non-food – each headed by a manager overseeing their own line managers and a pool of marketing and sales personnel.

“Going back to 2011, we reviewed our mission and role as BrandActiv.

As we have evolved over the years as an importer and distributor of FMCG, we now see ourselves as a complete provider of branded consumer goods to the entire Mauritian population.”

Relationships

The aforementioned population may be small but the market is dense and competitive, comprising more than

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International growth

As we have evolved over the years as an importer and distributor of FMCG, we now see ourselves as a complete provider of branded consumer goods to the entire Mauritian population

Through this ever-growing reputation, BrandActiv is also in a strong financial position which allows it to be selective when forming new client partnerships; a strategy which is also supported by the manufacturing and distribution of its own in-house range.

“Producing our own brands reduces the amount of risk when relying only on ourselves,” says Rouillard. “This is part of our strategy which is easier said than done with only 1.3 million inhabitants, but we already have five or six of our own brands in the market which are doing well and, in some cases, are leaders in their respective categories.”

This work in progress began tentatively around 15 years ago with the Company never afraid of seizing opportunities with the view to diversifying its business and

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Zikra Co Ltd (ZCL) is engaged in the import and export business with a portfolio of bluechip customers throughout the Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar, the Comoros Islands and to various African countries.

ZCL has tie-ups with a number of reputed international firms such as Al Kasem, Al Noor Exports, Manda S.A, Brandactiv and Freshly Frozen Foods amongst many others.

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Seafood

ZCL is a reliable, trustworthy and performanceoriented company offering a wide variety of products altogether with a dedicated, friendly and professional team to offer you an excellent service to ensure your complete satisfaction while getting you the best deal.

Flour

Meat

Sugar

Edible Oil

Rice

Our range of products also includes staple food, construction materials, rubber tyres, bitumen, paper products amongst many others.

Our sister companies;

Tel (230) 467 8691 / 467 7233 Mob (230) 5259 1661 Fax (230) 467 9464

Emails zikra@orange.mu whitelake@orange.mu societemerignac@orange.mu

Address 1st Floor Columbia Court, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius

The BrandActiv management team

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reaching a wider audience. This is especially the case moving forward as BrandActiv, for the first time, assesses the possibility of expanding its reach outside of Mauritius and on to the African continent.

Rouillard adds: “We are a major player in Mauritius but want to also grow and have strategies in place to continue this growth. One of these strategies is now to move beyond the Mauritian borders to try and find partners outside the country and bring our experience, expertise and credibility to the table alongside people who have the knowhow and cultural knowledge of a new market.

This is the model we are looking to follow.”

Having seen many companies try and fail to achieve international expansion over the years, Rouillard has been keen to emphasise that this has been a methodical strategic decision, stating that when BrandActiv does make the move to new countries over the coming years, “it is to stay”.

key drivers and continuous improvement strategies over the next three-five years but isn’t necessarily the Company’s biggest step forward in recent times, with internal development every bit as, if not, more vital to the ongoing growth of the business.

While upgrading and improving its supply chain management strategies on an annual basis ensures optimum

We are a major player in Mauritius but want to also grow and have strategies in place to continue this growth

A big new adventure

Exploring unchartered territory will undoubtedly be one of BrandActiv’s

The BrandActiv team is enjoying an adventure into unchartered territory

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Partnerships with companies like L’Oreal have been formed over numerous decades

levels of service to all customers, it is a new internal ERP system which has taken BrandActiv to the next level, as the GM explains: “Three years ago we decided we had to leverage on our IT for two reasons: one, we believed it would help us become more efficient and improve productivity; and two, there are not many companies in our sector that can afford to have similar high performing IT tools.

“We told ourselves that we really wanted to differentiate ourselves through this and the outcome is something I am very proud of.”

Having initially taken on board a consultant to analyse the general streamlining of the business, BrandActiv appointed an official, local solutions provider to produce an

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Mondelez International award ceremony in Durban, March, 2013

in-house ERP system which is now set to be the foundation for all external success that can be achieved through internal optimisation.

“We went live in November 2014 with the system and it has already been a tremendous achievement six months down the line,” adds Rouillard.

“We are at the beginning of a big new adventure and can already see a huge amount of efficiencies that the system has brought in, and a few failings that we can now address moving forward as well.”

Coaching of clients carried out by a sales executive in a L’Oreal hairdressing salon

Breathing life into brands

Not only proving a success among the BrandActiv workforce, the new technology and general willingness to improve has also impressed both

The first-class Azurmind mobile software

existing and prospective stakeholders with the promise of enhanced productivity.

Rouillard enthuses: “All of our stakeholders are very happy, our staff are very happy, our customers are very happy, and I am certainly very happy.

“We invested quite a lot of money into this IT ERP tool, but none of it makes us successful without the positive relationships we have with these fantastic brands and, most importantly, our members of staff.”

Empowering BrandActiv employees has been an initiative long predating the recent rebranding and technological advancements, but remains just as prominent in the Company’s plans for the future, as an employer of choice in Mauritius, and as part of an IBL Group which places staff engagement high on its list of priorities.

“Year after year, it has been the norm for IBL Group to invest up to three percent of staff costs into training and we’re also now looking at introducing a BrandActiv training academy to highlight how important our staff are to us,” Rouillard concludes. “People come to work for IBL because it’s a good employer with a lot of benefits, and I want BrandActiv to do its bit as part of that Group.

“Our mission through this is to breathe life into new brands, putting our experience and expertise into our own brands and to develop new ideas in order to reach out to the customer, and that is how we define ourselves today.”

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VA LU WORLD-LEADING PRACTICES FOR LONG -TERM

Committed to international standards of FoodHealth and sustainable operations, ZZ2 is staying true to its inspirations and missions in South Africa Writer: Matthew Staff • Project Manager: Josh Hyland

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Z2 is the brand name for a farming organisation which now supplies more than 40 percent of commercially traded tomatoes in South Africa.

It is a fast growing player in the production, packaging and marketing of avocados (avos) while onions and deciduous fruit are also gaining importance in the fruit and vegetable basket offered to customers. Livestock has always been part of the ZZ2 value proposition and includes a Pinzgauer cattle herd from the Austrian Alps and the indigenous Nguni cattle. From these two breeds, a new breed has been developed at ZZ2, the PinZ²yl.

Farming operations are spread across South Africa, the Group consisting of various independent companies managed under the ZZ2 umbrella with a turnover exceeding R1 billion per annum. ZZ2’s employees match this status by increasingly representing a multicultural African society within a multilingual environment.

The company extended the services provided to the internal convertors of production, packaging and marketing value with carefully considered joint ventures. It has significant shareholding in an international commercial seedling nursery, an online fresh produce trading platform, a box manufacturing plant, a staging depot for fresh produce, and production facilities for biological inputs to compost, compost tea and fermented plant extracts. Joint ventures in primary production include a date farm in Namibia on the Orange River.

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“that’s it!”

In the mid 1990s, ZZ2 implemented the “open system” or “living system” business philosophy, which demands a long-term view to create value for all stakeholders of the company rather than chasing short-term profits for shareholders.

The company is therefore managed as an open and living system based on the following ethical norms (values) which are implemented as preconditions for any orderly and civilised society: • “Prudentia” (thoughtfullness, wisdom, vision, integrity) • “Justitia” (fairness, honesty, impartiality, humanity) • “Fortitudo” (fearless without wavering, with energy, perseverance, endurance, dauntlessness) • “Temperantia” (modesty, selfrestraint, selflessness, tolerance) ZZ2’s inspiration (vision) is to be the benchmark of success in agriculture, creating sustainable value for its stakeholders as a living, open system.

The mission is to deliver high quality, primary agricultural products to clients looking for value and practices are in place to optimise resources and are based on principles that are ethical, environmentally friendly and economically sustainable.

Inspiration and missions

The ZZ2 trademark is a well known brand in South Africa. Originally a cattle brand it has become associated with the company and excellence.

The Sepedi/Northern Sotho phrase “Ke Tswa Tsweo” was added to the trademark in 1994 and literally means

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World leader

ZZ2 is a world leader in extensive, nature-friendly agricultural practices, also known and registered as Natuurboerdery® or translated into English; nature-friendly farming. It is a break with the deleterious effects of industrial farming and includes some of the more sane concepts of organic farming.

A centre was established to research (with the help of local and international experts) and mass produce compost, now universally apllied to all ZZ2 crops, and an array of biologically based pest and disease control agents. The concept and techniques of Natuurboerdery® are attracting much attention as an alternative to

ZZ2’s new avo packhouse:

unsustainable industrial farming and unproductive organic farming.

In today’s times it is a fact that people are demanding healthier food.

Therefore FoodHealth is ZZ2’s promise and healthy soil is its passion. By embracing nature and implementing Natuurboerdery® principles, healthy products are delivered.

Market trends

In line with this, ZZ2 decided more than 20 years’ ago to farm with avocados.

Avocados have been identified as one of the superfoods of the world, being absolutely packed with heart-healthy nutrients, monounsaturated fats and essential omega-3 acids. In the past five years, ZZ2 started to aggresively expand it’s avo production. Avocado production surpassed 8,000 tonnes in 2012 and is growing exponentially with 70 percent exported mainly to Europe.

Looking at the per capita consumption of avos worldwide you

The new avo packhouse facility, Boekenhoutbult was the original/ founding packhouse of ZZ2 and has a history of more than 60 years. It was the main tomato packhouse up until 2014. As the tomato production centre of gravity shifted, more favourable locations were utilised to pack tomatoes. This created the opportunity to move the avos into Boekenhoutbult while the old avo facility was transformed into a successful lowcost regional market

Absa has long recognized the significant role agriculture plays in the South African economy. When combined with linked sectors, agriculture contributes 25% of the GDP and provides jobs to more than 850 000 permanent workers.

Absa, through its AgriBusiness unit, continues to target agriculture across the entire value chain as one of the key sectors for support. At Absa we believe in nurturing lasting relationships with our clients in order to put them on the journey to success. When a client partners with us, they are not just partnering with just any other bank, but they are partnering with a bank that is here for them to prosper.

Over the years Absa has supported and continues to have good relationships with many clients across the country.

One such client is ZZ2, a farming company operating in Limpopo, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces. Since 2002 Absa has provided finance and other services to ZZ2’s tomato operations in Limpopo. As a result of that partnership, ZZ2 today produces 160 000 tons of tomatoes annually, for both local and overseas markets, making it a world leader in tomato production and large scale biological farming practices. The company today employs 6 000 workers.

• It has a throughput of 15 tons an hour, and can handle all varieties of avocados • Cupsizers with a total of 14 lanes are used to upgrade the packline • The packaging area is isolated and can be air conditioned to 18°C • Waste heat recovery from the cooling is used to clean and dry the avos

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bsa Bank (Absa), a division of Barclays Africa Group Ltd, which has for more than a century provided finance and other forms of support to small and large-scale commercial farmers in South Africa and the rest of Africa, is geared up to meet the ever-growing demand for finance from the agricultural sector.

ZZ2 Partnership

• The facility covers more than 7000m2

• The facility still accommodates specialised tomato packaging in a separate cooled area, with a throughput of up to 100 tonnes a day

ABSA BANK

T +27 (0)11 350 6854 E agribusiness@absa.co.za

www.barclaysafrica.com The avocado has been identified as one of the superfoods of the world

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Absa geared up to meet increasing demand for agriculture finance Absa Bank (Absa), a division of Barclays Africa Group Ltd, which has for more than a century provided finance and other forms of support to small and large-scale commercial farmers in South Africa and the rest of Africa, is geared up to meet the ever-growing demand for finance from the agricultural sector.

Absa Bank Limited Reg No 1986/004794/06 Authorised Financial Services Provider Registered Credit Provider Reg No NCRCP7

will find that Mexicans consume nine kilograms (kg) of avos a year; Chileans, four kg a year; Israelis, four kg a year; Americans, 2.5 kg a year, Europeans two kg a year; and South Africans, only 0.8 kg a year. ZZ2 therefore identified a huge growth potential in this market segment. In addition, South Africa is ideally situated to service the East (India, China, Indonesia, Malasya etc) where there is a huge untapped market.

Taking all the above into account, ZZ2 has deemed it necessary to expand it’s packing facility at Boekenhoutbult Farm, Mooketsi. ZZ2’s own team of engineers tackled this project with great enthusiasm, from design to completion. The packhouse is presently being constructed and was completed at the end of March, 2015.

Marketing model

ZZ2 supplies fresh produce to consumers in a carefully considered

Avocado production line

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The new avo packhouse facility, Boekenhoutbult, Mooketsi, Limpopo

value channel. Products are sold to retailers, wholesalers, hawkers, repackers and food processors via sales commission agents.

The sales commission agents operate on a retail and wholesale level.

Prices are discovered by balancing supply and demand. This process is supported by a comprehensive system called FGX (Farm Gate Exchange, an online trading platform) where the goal is to aggregate volumes supplied and demanded with prices paid, enabling an environment for an industry-wide functional market for efficient price discovery.

The agency system of selling is employed with remuneration based on ad valorem commission for sales functions performed. These synergistic systems bring exceptional reach in terms of area covered to customers and ZZ2 alike. Special attention is given to different offered products; in terms of packaging, variety and taste, continuity, and reliability of supply and quality.

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ZZ2 produces the following varieties of avocados: Fuerte*

February-March and June-August

Ettinger February Maluma* February-March Pinkerton* April-May Hass* April-June Edranol June Ryan* July-September Queen October Lamb-Hass* November-December Reed November-December Itzamna January * = exported

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ZZ2 markets its avos under the name Afrikado and all its fruit exports are done through Core Fruit; exporting around the world.

An exciting journey

At the same time as the construction of ZZ2’s packhouse, the company is also establishing ripening rooms at its staging facility, ZZFresh, near Lanseria Airport, Johannesburg. ZZ2 cooperates with Mission Produce, the biggest supplier of avos in the world, to understand how to ripen and market ripe and ready avocados. This will enable ZZ2 to supply its customers with ready-to-eat avos throughout the year.

ZZ2 is of the opinion that providing consumers with ready-to-eat avos will boost the local consumption from 0.8 kg per capita to the level of other countries with the same per capita income, such as Mexico and Chile.

The company is very excited about the journey it has embarked on and looks

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The aims of environmentally sustainable and affirmative value creation for all its stakeholders through the open-system approach should safeguard its sensitivity and mobility in any conceivable environment

forward to promoting this wonderful fruit locally and internationally.

ZZ2 is endowed with a sound and ethical corporate philosophy. The aims of environmentally sustainable and affirmative value creation for all its stakeholders through the opensystem approach should safeguard its sensitivity and mobility in any conceivable environment. It should also ensure the relevance of ZZ2 as a sustainable value creator to all its stakeholders over the short, medium and long-term.

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ess Strategy

Vertical integration of key services has allowed Davis & Shirtliff to focus on enhancing its staff performance, expanding its product range and extending market reach to new regions of Africa Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Donovan Smith

enya-based Davis & Shirtliff is East Africa’s largest water industry player focusing on pumps, water treatment, swimming pools, renewable energy and power products. The Company has grown rapidly over the past decade and is now looking to capitalise on the recent high rate of economic growth in Africa through a comprehensive business strategy involving an extended product range, new branches over a wider geographic spread and a centrally-managed distribution model.

Having spoken to the company previously in 2014 and 2013, it appears the same factors have led the Company to achieve continued growth this year. As a leading name synonymous for quality in East Africa for close to 70 years, Davis & Shirtliff leverages on its reputation in the region in order to widen its activities and target new markets. Last financial year, the Company achieved an impressive revenue figure of US$70 million.

Moreover, rolling out a number of initiatives has allowed the Company to vertically integrate a number of its services, in particular its inhouse manufacturing and logistics capabilities. “Through our Dayliff brand, we now make our own control panels for example, which complements the already substantial range of products we have from working with approximately 40 key international suppliers from Europe, Middle East and Asia,” comments Alec Davis, Davis & Shirtliff‘s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Market buoyancy

Davis & Shirtliff has greatly benefitted from the buoyant market conditions in East Africa’s manufacturing industry, investing in significant amounts of stock to ensure the Company is able to fulfil orders promptly. “The

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GLOBAL WATER SOLUTIONS LTD

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lobal Water Solutions Ltd (GWS) offers a full line of prepressurized diaphragm tanks for water well, pressure booster, pressure management, reverse osmosis, heating and thermal applications. GWS is positioned to serve global markets with strategically located production in the USA and Taiwan, with distribution warehouses in countries strategically situated across the globe.

We offer a comprehensive range of pressure vessels from 0.16 to 10,000 litres for various applications. Our tanks have a fixed chloro-butyl diaphragm and are maintenance free with no need to check the air. Apart from our standard10 bar tanks, we also offer 16 and 25 bar.

View of the Davis & Shirtliff Workshop

dynamic market conditions have been welcomed, which have necessitated the purchase of additional warehouses offsite in Kenya in order to meet demand and keep high stock levels,” the CEO adds.

Alongside this, the Company has increased its customer reach with the opening of four new branches across the East Africa region, taking the total number up to 40. Davis & Shirtliff now has a presence in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan and Ethiopia through an associate company. This wide market presence particularly services the demand for its volume line of products including water treatment for domestic applications, small solar systems and pool equipment as well as a wide range of domestic pumps.

When more specialised equipment is required, supply is referred back to

The dynamic market conditions have been welcomed, which have necessitated the purchase of additional warehouses offsite in Kenya in order to meet demand and keep high stock levels

Our offering includes both steel and composite tanks and now also a comprehensive range of water treatment products including the SpringTech™ series, featuring the revolutionary Vortech™ bottom distribution technology. Furthermore, we have a superior range of Proline borehole pipes and casings, able to withstand 2 tons of weight.

All our products undergo stringent testing. We also offer the industry’s longest and most extensive warranty.

GWS is on the forefront of international regulatory issues with the most country specific approvals of any tank manufacturer.

The company’s broad product offering, innovative product development and highly experienced staff distinguish the company from its competitors.

Together with sister companies, Flexcon & TankPAC, GWS is a company on the move with quality focused products and a global focus on water systems.

GWS’ products are available in over 125 countries worldwide and growing.

T +27 011 918-9501 E info.africa@globalwatersolutions.com

www.globalwatersolutions.com

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Africa. “We are a very well-known brand as well as leaders in our field and plan to apply our successful business model to new regions in the future,” he further adds.

DAYLIFF range of own-brand products

head office, where stock is distributed.

“Our model is that we centrally purchase stock to be distributed across our network of branches while carefully monitoring demand for each product to ensure branches are appropriately stocked.

“Maintaining high stock levels is key to operating successfully in our market.

As such, we have invested more than US$10 million across our various markets in Africa,” explains Davis.

In order to serve these markets and increase product volumes, Davis & Shirtliff has deployed a footprint strategy which optimises warehouse and branch facilities to better serve the customer across multiple business segments. The growing regional markets have also encouraged Davis & Shirtliff to identify potential new countries and the Company is now looking at further growth in Central

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Maintaining high stock levels is key to operating successfully in our market. As such, we have invested more than US$10 million across our various markets in Africa

In-house brands

Through the development of the Dayliff brand, Davis is injecting the element of independence into the business as he further details: “Having our own brand plays a very important role in our long-term strategy. Not only does this give us more flexibility, but it will also allow us to work on a wider range of projects and keep a high level of control over the final product.”

In line with this, Davis & Shirtliff will continue educating its staff in the latest technologies and industry innovations. “Given that the technology of our various product segments is developing at such a rapid pace, we need to make sure we have strong indigenous expertise by developing our own internal capacities

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capetown@watersa.co.za • jhb@watersa.co.za • www.watercomponents.co.za

Quality Water Components South Africa (WCSA) is a one stop supply of water treatment equipment and components to engineers, manufactures and resellers across Africa. WCSA have extensive experience and knowledge in all facets of the water treatment industry resulting in excellent product knowledge and support. WCSA believe strongly in creating lasting partnerships with both our suppliers and customers and work closely with both to insure our product offering adds value to your business. WCSA offer a wide variety of products to support the following: domestic water supply, water softening, membrane separations such as Reverse Osmosis and Nano Filtration, conventional filtration technologies, membrane anti scaling chemicals and cleaners, chemical dosing, automation and process controllers, Ultra Violet sterilisation, filtration media and many other associated products.

WCSA strive to grow our supplier and partner network in order to continually add quality products and support to our offering. If you are looking for a quality supplier and partner who is committed to assist you in growing your business, look no further and contact WSCA today.

WCSA are proud to be associated with Davis and Shirliff and look forward to continue working with their team.

WCSA has distribution agreements with many multinationals;

Pumps & Generators from Japan

Products for Agricultural Irrigation, Construction, Marine, Garden and Oil Industry.

12, Kami-Hachinotsubo, Kotari, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto, 617-8511 Japan T: +81-75-953-2499 F: +81-75-954-6119 E: info@koshin-ltd.co.jp www.koshinpump.com

since 1948

Top brand

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in 160 nations in the world

UPS - SMF Battery - Solar Systems

Skype: champion-sefag www.zhicheng-champion.com Email: champion-aliao@hotmail.com

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Proud to be 100 percent indigenous

The newly refurbished Westlands branch in Nairobi

to keep up with market developments.”

Internally, centralised support functions including finance, supply and IT has greatly improved communication and control, resulting in benefits to operational efficiency and financial performance.

Key suppliers and products

Solar pumps

Given the increasing importance of the renewable energy sector in Africa, Davis & Shirtliff has developed a significant business in solar pumping, particularly among county governments and NGOs such as World Vision, the Red Cross and Oxfam. “Due to the recent substantial reduction in the cost of solar modules and technology advances, demand has considerably grown and solar pumping is now becoming a popular option for water supply in remote areas,” says Davis.

Davis was also keen to highlight the Company’s other key ongoing projects: “Through our partnership with global water and process solutions company, Dow, we have been able to introduce reverse osmosis and ultra filtration (UF) technologies in our markets which are both excellent solutions for treatment of particular water conditions. Plants are designed and assembled in-house which provides benefits of reduced cost, quicker deliveries and improved serviceability. We are also working on our own

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Grundfos Pedrollo Davey Dow Kohler SolarWorld Dayliff (own brand)

solution for remote pump monitoring and control, which will be a great innovation, especially in remote areas.”

Additionally, Davis & Shirtliff is currently forming ties with diesel engine-maker, Kohler, to power its pumps and also supply to the market. “Kohler is world-leading in both technology and quality and with the recent demise of another well-established manufacturer, it is expected that these engines are destined to become market-leaders,” says Davis.

Performance-focused

Training is a key focus for Davis & Shirtliff and an active training centre, located at the Kenyan headquarters, holds regular courses for both staff and customers. The Company is also proud to be 100 percent indigenous in all its markets, with current staff levels standing in the region of 550. “This has been achieved through our progressive staffing and employee empowerment

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policies, resulting in a committed and competent workforce that is trained to the highest standard. We are a resultsbased organisation, so it is vital that we focus on staff performance, which is a key area of our success,” emphasises Davis.

Given that East Africa has the potential to become one of Africa’s leading economic powers, Davis & Shirtliff’s open and transparent attitude to business is sure to continue to support future growth beyond East Africa. “Long-term partnerships, a strong company culture and a sustained focus on our strategic expansion plan are the three main factors that differentiate us from the competition and reinforce Davis & Shirtliff’s leading position,” Davis proudly concludes.

Alec Davis, CEO

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Maritime Hub supports The continent has seen increased activity at its ports and remains the second biggest growth market behind Europe in terms of maritime cranes Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Tom Cullum

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A F R I C A’ S GROWTH MARKETS

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s part of the internationallyrenowned €9 billion Liebherr Group of Companies, LiebherrAfrica (LAF) began life on the continent in 1958 with contracts spanning across mining, construction and civil engineering. Through fruitful, longstanding business relationships, the Company was able to make its mark in one of the world’s fastest developing regions, with 2014 marking its best year ever for sale of its mobile harbour cranes and a record year for offshore and container cranes.

The growing demand for cargo handling solutions in South Africa has allowed Liebherr-Africa’s Maritime Cranes division to prosper due to the

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rise of economies of scale, which is touted to continue throughout 2015 and has seen its staff compliment double in the past three years in line with this. “Africa is the rising star for us; it is the second biggest growth market behind Europe in terms of maritime cranes. We have witnessed significant growth on the continent as a whole which has led to increased activity at the ports,” says Henner Rodenwoldt, Liebherr-Africa Maritime Cranes Divisional Manager.

Growing reach

Out of its brand new maritime hub in one of the region’s major port cities, Liebherr-Africa operates from a central location that covers three main specialist divisions; port

equipment, ship cranes and offshore cranes. “Our long-term collaboration with Transnet over the past few years has allowed us to build this hub and expand our capacities to support the rapid economic growth in Africa.

Complete with a focus on training key personnel, this development will play an important role in Southern Africa’s maritime industry; ensuring fast and high quality customer service in terms of maintenance, the supply of spare parts and personnel training,” the Division Manager adds.

This new location, combined with the opening of the remanufacturing centre in Springs, Gauteng, will not only leave Liebherr-Africa strategically positioned to service the country’s key ports, but it serves to bring more

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CMC INTERNATIONAL

C Liebherr-Africa Durban office

MC International is Africa’s sole distributor of Waxoyl and since our inception, CMC International has repaired thousands of new vehicles so badly rusted that they could not be sold as new. As a result, many vehicle manufacturers and their dealer networks have been assisted in resolving the rust problem most vehicle manufacturers and importers are facing today.

The name Waxoyl stands for more than sixty years’ experience in the battle against corrosion and environmental damages. Trusted by specialists the world over, CMC International is proud to be able to offer you the complete range of Waxoyl professional products and services.

Henner Rodenwoldt

Maritime Cranes Divisional Manager, Liebherr-Africa

T +27 41 379 3136/3192 E emc_int@mweb.co.za

www.cmcinternational.co.za

of the Company’s manufacturing and value-add capabilities in-house.

In recent years, there has been a trend towards megaships that has caused a cascade effect, meaning that ports will have to adapt and invest in new infrastructure, including the manufacture of larger equipment to support these vessels.

Given that 90 percent of Southern Africa’s import and export trade is made by sea, Durban Harbour and the Port of Richard’s Bay play vital roles in supporting the economy.

Consequently, Liebherr has now delivered more than 250 maritime cranes into the African continent.

“We have an approximate 85 percent combined market share in terms of our quay side cranes in the Sub-Saharan countries of South Africa, Namibia and Angola which includes ship to shore cranes and mobile harbour cranes.

Outside of South Africa, Liebherr

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CMC International, P.O. Box 40034, WALMER Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 6070

T: +27 41 379 3136 or +27 41 379 3192 • E: cmc_int@mweb.co.za • www.cmcinternational.co.za

DISCUSS YOUR RUST / CORROSION PROBLEMS WITH THE SPECIALISTS Customised problem solving to maintain the value of everything man-made that moves on roads or rails, floats on water or flies through the air. For storage and maintenance, too. With our specialized rope access teams, we can climb the heights to protect your investments.

From pros for pros - exclusive and effective!

CMC - INTERNATIONAL

Africa’s sole distributor of WAXOYL - Authorised agent of Rust Bullet & MCU Coatings

Relationship with Transnet Transnet operates more than 60 Liebherr cranes, 13 mobile harbour cranes, 31 ship-to-shore container cranes and 18 rubber tyre gantry cranes. The Company’s continued relationship with Liebherr-Africa was a significant contributing factor to its decision to establish a specialised maritime hub in Durban.

has traditionally seen strong business from the west coast, with the likes of Nigeria, Angola and Ghana in particular. This year however, the company made its first strong strides into the east coast with deliveries into Maputo, Mozambique, for two mobile harbour cranes, and further east into Kenya with an order of three ship-toshore cranes.

Upcoming innovations

Being part of the Liebherr Group of Companies brings its advantages when it comes to keeping up with the latest technological advancements.

The Group reinvests 10 percent of its profits back into the company with a substantial portion of this going directly into research and development, and by working closely with customers around the world it is able to significantly contribute to the pace of maritime innovation.

In line with this, Liebherr Maritime

We look forward to facing the future together with our key partners and suppliers; where our industry know-how and innovations only promise to get even better

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Cranes launched a game-changing technology called SmartGrip for its mobile harbour crane product range, boasting higher performance and avoiding overloads among other valuable advantages. “SmartGrip has a self-learning algorithm for bulk handling that maximises grab capacity and can increase turnover by up to 30 percent,” the Division Manager comments.

Moreover, SmartGrip controls the filling of the grab so as to prevent overloading, which extends the lifetime of the crane, saving both fuel and time. This new innovation can easily be retrofitted to existing cranes.

“As a division, we will continue to invest in order to remain a market leader in technology and equipment designed to increase not only safety and productivity, but lower costs and emissions as well,” he further adds.

The Company remains at the height of innovation with the launch of its latest crane, the LHM 800, which outperforms the existing maximum lifting capacity by nearly 50 percent.

“This breakthrough giant mobile harbour crane is capable of servicing 22 rows-wide container vessels.

Configured for heavy lifts, the LHM 800 is capable of lifting 308 tonnes and is gaining traction as an attractive piece of equipment for handling project cargo for the oil & gas market.

LHM crane in Cape Town, South Africa

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Liebherr’s state-of-the-art simulator, LiSIM

It represents a forward-looking extension at the head of Liebherr’s mobile harbour crane range that we hope to bring to the African market as well,” highlights Rodenwoldt.

Dedicated teams

In order to provide the best training possible for its staff, Liebherr has made significant investments into a state-of-the-art training centre at its hub in Durban. Taking centre stage are the Liebherr Simulators (LiSIM) for all maritime applications as Rodenwoldt details: “We believe that it is not just the aerospace industry that can benefit from simulator training. Subsequently, Liebherr-Africa has the biggest presence of simulators in the world in order to fulfil our goal to eliminate human risk in the workplace while increasing employee performance, reliability and safety.

“The course is nearly fully booked for the next two years and we are proud of this achievement; it shows the industry really appreciates this way of learning.”

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SmartGrip has a self-learning algorithm for bulk handling that maximises grab capacity and can increase turnover by up to 30 percent

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The company provides simulator training for mobile harbour cranes, ship to shore cranes, rubber-tyred gantries and offshore cranes, in addition to setting the standards high in all other areas of its work.

“Our hub in Durban not only holds a considerable stock of spare parts, but features the training of operators, technicians and service staff via its classrooms.

“More than 90 percent of our staff are locally sourced and our key personnel from head office have been part of a knowledge transfer process that will enable us to be 100 percent local in our areas of operation in the coming years,” emphasises Rodenwoldt.

Through its strategically positioned subsidiaries staffed with the right

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facilities and stock levels, LiebherrAfrica’s maritime crane division has the solid foundations in place to continue to expand geographically. The Division Manager concludes: “After a strong year in 2014, we will continue to reach new heights in our growth phase, building on the well-structured network we have at the moment.

“With our African maritime hub now fully operational in South Africa we look forward to facing the future together with our key partners and suppliers; where our industry knowhow and innovations only promise to get even better. The maritime crane division of Liebherr-Africa is able to offer the complete package to customers and we are sure to make a continued positive impact to general growth on the continent.”

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END -TO -END PROVIDERS OF

TRUSTED Rail Track Solutions Through close partner relationships and leveraging Group knowledge and strategy, Pandrol South Africa brings a globally-renowned product to the African customer Writer: Emily Jarvis Project Manager: Tom Cullum

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androl has been involved in the rail fastenings industry since 1917 and has supplied fastenings to more than 415 railroads, surpassing the supply of two billion clips worldwide. With an aim to deliver the world’s best rail track solutions to more than 100 countries worldwide, the Pandrol Group of Companies combine leading research and development (R&D) with specialisation in rail fastening products and installation; track engineering, maintenance and analysis; noise and

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vibration reduction; and rail electrification. As part of the DELACHAUX Group, Pandrol is able to take advantage of world-class R&D testing facilities and leverage synergies and methodologies for continuous improvement, with tried and tested production techniques to provide the best customer solution. This year, the Company will focus on investing money back into the production and quality control side of the business in order to remain a market leader.

Compiled of three shareholders in South Africa – Sturrock & Robson,

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Pandrol Ltd and Sphere Holdings – Pandrol’s presence in the country has been a welcome support for the local mining industry since establishment in 1937. Originally manufacturing elastic rail spikes, the Company quickly developed the PRclip, which formed the building blocks for a whole range of further rail clips and fastenings, including the E clip and Fastclip.

“After being acquired by DELACHAUX Group in 2003, Pandrol was able to significantly strengthen its market position and focus on an expansion strategy beyond South Africa,” says Guy Turner, Managing Director of Pandrol South Africa, adding that the Company has seen a yearly sales

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growth of 20 percent as a result of this.

Accompanied by full sales and aftersales technical support, customers across a wide Sub-Saharan African reach - including South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Angola, Lesotho, Swaziland and the DRC – enjoy high quality service and a reliable product. “Our products are manufactured locally, which allows us to provide innovative and cost-specific solutions to our customer’s unique requirements, as well as providing professional local support through our experienced staff who have extensive local knowledge of the rail industry,” explains Turner. In support of this, the South African arm

Pandrol SA’s core markets Surface and underground rail fastening systems Surface and underground aluminothermic welding material Crane rail solutions

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What is a rail fastening clamp?

Recently investing an additional R10 million in its production lines

of the company is ISO 9001 and 14001 accredited, proudly maintaining a level 4 B-BBEE status.

“As a South African company, it is important for us to grow our local ties and where possible, we hire local people and work with local suppliers.

Our B-BBEE score and supplier development commitments combined with our internationallyrenowned range of products puts us in good stead as a reputable and trustworthy rail partner,” the Managing Director further adds.

Improving efficiency

In order to cater for future growth prospects, Pandrol will continue to improve its plant efficiencies with an injection of an additional R10 million for

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An elastic rail fastening clamps the rail to the sleeper while providing insulation to the rail through the use of side posts or gauge plate insulators. The side posts/ gauge-adjusting plates allow for the gauge to be changed to suit the track requirements. The Pandrol pad between the rail and sleeper prolongs sleeper and ballast life.

Through the use of various materials and designs, the pad can be designed to meet specific stiffness requirements.

The rail clip generates tow loads of between 300kgf - 1,250kgf (kilogram force) and the fastening can be used on steel, concrete and wood sleepers in either ballasted or non ballast track.

the manufacturing production lines and quality control departments.

Furthermore, by introducing new products into various territories across Africa, the Company hopes to revitalise the continent’s railway lines.

“In many of our territories, theft of rail fastenings is a major problem in terms of replacement cost and safety of trains. Therefore, we intend to upscale our offering of products in this area. This is how we differentiate ourselves from the competition; by developing solutions applicable to the site conditions and customer requirements.” says Turner.

Pandrol has developed numerous solutions to solve the problem of theft such as the anti-vandal, anti-sabotage clips and a further solution called the TR2000 is due to be launched on the market soon.

Moreover, Pandrol is currently working on a number of other projects in Sub-Saharan Africa as Turner further details: “In addition to working on new rail lines in Zambia and Mozambique, we have a number of rehabilitation projects underway.

South African sales are possible due to our long-term relationship with the likes of Transnet and PRASA. We work in tandem with their expansion plans and market demand strategy in order to deliver a win-win partnership.”

Through regular contact with key business partners and external customer satisfaction surveys, Pandrol is able to identify any areas of weakness and implement strategies

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to address them. “Not only is Pandrol South Africa a supplier, but we pride ourselves on our position as a local solution provider. We aim to surpass customer service level requirements through regular meetings and ensuring there is communication at all levels.

“As such, our employees go through an extensive training programme and regular performance appraisals.

Pandrol is proud of its apprenticeship programme in partnership with Technotrain, a Sturrock and Robson technical training institution. We spend a minimum of R6 million per annum on skills development with a focus on retention of staff,” highlights Turner.

Between 2011 and 2014, Technotrain has shown a 140 percent year-on-year volume growth and the Company is due to open a new training facility in Kwazulu-Natal this month to cater for even further growth.

Capital investment

Going forward, Pandrol will focus on three key capital investment programmes: increasing automation, further improving quality inspection, and investing in the latest technology to ensure it maintains a leading position.

After achieving the above goals, in the long-term, Pandrol strives to maintain its market-leading position in South Africa while growing its geographical presence in other African territories, introducing new rail fastenings and growing its market share in the secondary business areas of welding products and crane rail fastenings.

“Strengthening our business relationships across the continent will play a crucial role in securing our longterm position in Africa. Given that the continent is witnessing huge growth levels at the moment, infrastructure projects - including rail – promise to be a prominent feature on the economic development landscape for years to come,” concludes Turner.

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Established in 1989

KDP Services specializes in the supply, repair, manufacture and design of Hydraulic power packs, Hydraulic Pumps,Valves, Motors, Cylinders Pipes and fittings,Lube systems, Installations and any other hydraulic components. We also do precision CNC Turning and Milling www.kdpservicessa.co.za E-mail: kdpservices@acesurfer.co.za Tel: +2711 392 5750 Fax: +2711 392 5750

TOOL & DIE MAKING MOULD MAKING INJECTION MOULDING MILLING SPARK EROSION CONTACT US Tel: +27 11 965 1146 Email: acred@mweb.co.za info@acred.co.za Web www.acred.co.za

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Kansai Plascon has 125-year long history of leading quality assurance and a strong brand presence, known as a coating company you can trust to deliver high quality, innovative and premium quality products Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Tom Cullum ansai Plascon can look to the future assured by the strength of its past.

Since 1889, Plascon has been the force behind the production of top quality coatings with innovative and ground-breaking technologies, making it southern Africa’s leading coatings manufacturer.

Given the rapid company growth over the years, in 2012, the company formerly known as Plascon South Africa was renamed Kansai Plascon, after a merger with Japanese company Kansai Paint, the world’s sixth largest coatings company.

Boasting over a century of manufacturing firsts, in November 2014, the Company received three prestigious awards for its forwardthinking point of sales executions at the annual Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) awards in South Africa; nominated as finalists in three separate categories and going on to win gold, silver and bronze.

market for its Plascon is known in the campaigns memorable advertising

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Forward-Thinking Manufacturers

Moreover, Plascon is known in the market for its memorable advertising campaigns including the iconic 40-year old Double Velvet brand, which is one of the longest advertised brands on South African television today.

“These innovations show the brand’s commitment to providing customers with the very best service and top quality products. As such, Plascon has once again been recognised for marketing excellence by the greater industry,” said the Company.

Today, Kansai Plascon continues to champion the Plascon brand as it expands into Africa as the continent’s number one coatings company; incorporating the best of Kansai’s 90-year international reputation for innovation, with Plascon’s 125-year

These innovations show the brand’s commitment to providing customers with the very best service and top quality products.

As such, Plascon has once again been recognised for marketing excellence by the greater industry

reputation for South African brand leadership. The Company continues to drive innovation and excellence in the retail, trade, industrial and furniture coatings markets in southern Africa from three strategically placed manufacturing sites in Mobeni, KwaZulu-Natal; Luiperdsvlei in Krugersdorp; and Epping in Cape Town.

Builders Warehouse project

Plascon received a much-coveted gold award for its ‘custom colour creation in mass retail’, as part of the short run category of paints (under 50 units). The Company worked on a paint display that was tailor made for a special project with Builders Warehouse store in Rivonia - a small township in South Africa. The stand was showcased in a high-end mass retail environment that introduced revolutionary displays and areas within a mass space “where all shoppers can experience and be inspired by the brand”.

As a retail environment that is often associated with a dominantly male customer base, Plascon used this opportunity to engage with prospective female shoppers and create the environment for a more couple-friendly experience.

In order to do this, the Company created the ‘Plascon colour experience zone’, a paint stand that bears resemblance to a cosmetic display, including elements such as LED backlighting, high-gloss

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UBUHLE OCS CLEANING SERVICES

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ormed in 1998, Ubuhle OCS Cleaning Services represents a partnership of both local and international experience of more than 110 years of service. Ubuhle OCS is therefore not a “fly by night” organisation which is here today and gone tomorrow and we pride ourselves on the high calibre employees, offering commercial and industrial cleaning services across many industries.

The ‘colour experience zone’ was designed to display Plascon paints in a user friendly way

black Perspex and paint-filled colour forecast jars which helped make the display not only eye catching, but user friendly. “The zone was manned by trained consultants to ensure the customer service offering matched the aesthetics and colour offering.

The zone has been a success not only boosting sales in the store, but in terms of the concept and design, receiving international and local attention,” explained the Company.

This one-off execution with Builders Warehouse demonstrates Plascon’s ability to strategically position itself within the market and take advantage of local partnerships that have the potential to benefit both parties.

“Winning the gold award for this project set the benchmark high for other companies in the paint manufacturing sector,” said Plascon’s Channel Marketing Executive, Michael van Harmelen.

“These awards only serve to prove what our customers have known all along, that Plascon is the brand to trust. But we’re not content to rest on these laurels. As a marketing team, Plascon is already looking ahead to future trends and to further innovation this year,” added Harmelen.

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Ubuhle OCS is based in Durban, with contracts throughout the KwaZulu Natal province. Due to some of these contracts having a national footprint, Ubuhle OCS plans to increase its footprint nationally as well.

T +27 31 569 3427 E sales@ocsgroup.co.za

These awards only serve to prove what our customers have known all along, that Plascon is the brand to trust

www.ubuhleocscleaning.co.za

NET LOGISTICS

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s a specialized consolidation and logistics company offering cross border freight solutions into the SADC region, NET Logistics understands the need to move our customers’ cargo as fast as possible. All of our staff are trained to understand their own unique role in ensuring this process happens as efficiently as possible.

No matter how big or how small the cargo, NET Logistics is well placed to collect or receive goods into our Johannesburg warehouse and ensure all documentation is in place to provide for a hassle free cross border delivery.

T 011 826 7176

www.netlogistics.co.za

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A commercial cleaning services company

Call Us: +27 31 569 - 3427 Email Us: sales@ocsgroup.co.za www.ubuhleocscleaning.co.za

From offices to factories, shopping centres to warehouses, hospitals to schools, our contract cleaning service will put the sparkle into your facility.

Contract cleaning

Specialised cleaning

Window cleaning

Garden services

Washroom hygiene

Pest control

Specialized Consolidation and Logistics

Forklift management

Tel: 011-826 7176 www.netlogistics.co.za

For more information Contact us

Doing everything right first time!

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Level 3 B-BBEE status

CLUB TRAVEL CORPORATE

September 2014 marked the achievement of a level 3 B-BBEE status for Kansai Plascon, confirming its position as a recognised value-add supplier.

The Company highlighted: “Our B-BBEE procurement recognition level has increased from 110 percent to 137.5 percent. Combine this with our value-add supplier position and we are a strong contender when tendering for projects as the preferred procurement choice.”

Having increased from level 4 in 2013, Kansai Plascon’s new score of 80.27 points cements its position as the coatings industry market leader in southern Africa.

“Consequently, companies that purchase from Plascon will improve their own procurement scores thereby improving their own B-BBEE ratings,” the Company added.

C

lub Travel Corporate are proud to be the South African representatives for GlobalStar Travel Management.

GlobalStar Travel Management is a worldwide travel management company owned and managed by local entrepreneurs. Over 85 market leading enterprises, representing over US$14 billion in sales, combine their local expertise, strength and commitment with our global organisation to deliver cohesive, multinational solutions through an innovative technology platform.

This partnership gives Club Travel Corporate clients a network of 10 agencies within Africa allowing us to partner with companies looking towards Africa to grow their business.

www.clubtravelcorporate.co.za

Community upliftment

As a company with a proudly outh African heritage and a strong sense of social responsibility, Kansai Plascon is actively committed to investing in local communities and upliftment programmes across the country, as well as providing ongoing employee education on environmental and health issues.

Known globally for high standards of performance, Kansai Plascon integrates into the communities in which it operates so as to create a sustainable environment for the future generation. “Our strong foundations enabled us to think about a more focused, deeper agenda for a sustainable future together with our stakeholders. Our aim is to create long-

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We acknowledge that healthy societies, communities, labour forces and environments provide the necessary foundation for a healthy business

term shareholder value by embracing opportunities and managing risks derived from economic, environmental and social developments.

“We acknowledge that healthy societies, communities, labour forces and environments provide the necessary foundation for a healthy business. As such, we are interdependent on the societies and environments in which we operate. To this end, we integrate sustainability into the very core of our business strategy,” emphasised the Company.

In addition to brightening the lives of thousands of children by supplying paint and in some cases, funding, to various schools, children’s homes,

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The Plascon Paint Academy offers a variety of courses aimed at equipping the applicator with the necessary knowledge and skills of the application of the Plascon products. Courses offered to contractors, supervisors, building maintenance managers, etc, are focused on increasing their general paint knowledge and to equip them with the skill of problem-solving

orphanages and crèches, Plascon’s involvement with the free CID University in Johannesburg has helped to train and employ many students to carry out building and maintenance work on the campus.

“Furthermore, our support for the National Council of the Blind has

helped to restore the eyesight of more than 600 people by providing muchneeded annual funding for cataract operations,” added the Company.

In summary, Kansai Plascon has 125-year long history of leading quality assurance, superb formulation and trusted performance; and now, the

brand has also secured its position as the market leader in South Africa, which reinforces the Company’s standing as a coating company you can trust to deliver high quality, innovative and premium-quality products, backed by leading technical expertise and excellence service.

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A LEADING EXAMPLE IN

SAFETY 176

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veng Manufacturing, part of the wider Aveng Group, has had a presence in Africa for more than 125 years.

This South African consortium continues to make its mark across the globe as a renowned manufacturer and supplier of a diverse range of steel and concrete products, valves, services and engineered solutions in the mining, water, oil & gas, construction and infrastructure sectors. The Company also undertakes rail construction and maintenance projects in South Africa’s surrounding countries, including activities in Australia.

The Group consists of six business units, namely Aveng Automation and Control Solutions (ACS); Aveng Infraset; Avent Duraset; Aveng DFC; Aveng Rail; and Aveng Facades.

Throughout each division, quality and safety are the watchwords, which are supported by ISO9001 2008 and OHSAS 18001 accreditations. The safety of Aveng’s staff is of paramount importance and is just one of the vital aspects of the business that has led to its continued success and high level of industry respect.

About Aveng Group

Industry giant, Aveng Manufacturing is responsible for iconic structures across the southern Africa landscape, with expertise across a whole host of associated value-add services

Aveng is a leading infrastructure development Group of Companies with a strong presence and expertise in key target geographies around the world, spanning more than 30 countries and employing more than 30,000 people. As one of the leading construction and manufacturing companies in southern Africa, Aveng is responsible for iconic structures and landmarks while always adhering to best practices and health, safety and environment policies.

Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Tom Cullum

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AVENG RAIL PREVIOUSLY KNOWN as Aveng Manufacturing Lennings Rail Services up to 2013, Aveng Rail is southern Africa’s leading rail track construction and maintenance contractor. Boasting more than 50 years of experience, combined with a skilled team and state-of-the-art equipment, the Company is driven to providing world-class solutions for every project.

Based just east of Johannesburg, Aveng Rail has been a major contributor to the railroad network, as a critical supporter of transport infrastructure across South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique.

The division’s highly motivated team is led by specialist railway engineers who have built a reputation for creating innovative solutions to some of the continent’s biggest challenges. The Company further highlighted: “We have some record achievements to our name, such as replacing 58,560 concrete railway sleepers on the Sishen-Saldanha ore export line, South Africa in just 10 days. Projects like these push the limits of what can be accomplished and just how many potential issues it is possible to overcome along the way, all while keeping the highest standards of safety in mind.”

A.SHAK (PTY) LTD

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.SHAK (Pty) Ltd is focused firmly on their core business of manufacturing and supplying building industry chemicals.

Being passionate and innovative, A.SHAK offers clients supreme service and superior quality of product whilst continuing to strive for excellence with a quality range of products that are both innovative and highly effective.

More of a partner than a supplier, A.SHAK aims to continually improve and grow to the benefit of their clients and the industry.

Established in 1958, A.SHAK started off by selling shutter release oil to the construction industry. With time the company developed numerous new products and as a result they entered the retail sector approximately 30 years ago, primarily supplying Plasterkey to the hardware industry.

In 1999 Colin McCrorie and Cindy Engels acquired the company, and immediately set about taking this highly successful brand to even greater heights.

A.SHAK believes in shared success and superior service is top of their list.

This commitment, along with qualitytested products and ongoing customer support, makes A.SHAK a preferred supplier.

As specialists in the construction industry the company enjoys a hands-on approach to management, thus giving it an intimate understanding of exactly what it is the client needs. High-end technology research and product development make A.SHAK a leader in its specialist field.

T 011 822 2320 E sales@ashak.co.za

www.ashak.co.za South Africa’s leading rail track construction and maintenance contractor

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A.SHAK (Pty) Ltd is a reputable manufacturer and supplier of quality and innovative building industry chemicals.

Established in 1958, A.SHAK started off by selling shutter release oil to the construction industry.

Today we have a wide range of specialised products that are widely applied in the mining, construction, pre-cast and building industries.

Through our high-end technology research and product development we endeavour to ensure that all our clients benefit from service excellence and a superior quality of product.

This makes A.SHAK a leader in its specialist field.

A.SHAK’s hands-on approach to management leads to us having an intimate understanding of exact client needs.

CALL US - we are a solutions company!

Telephone : 011 822 2320 Email : sales@ashak.co.za Website : www.ashak.co.za 3981 Ashak Africa Outlook May’15 Manfctrng Featre fp ad

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AVENG MANUFACTURING DURASET THROUGH THE strength of the brand, Aveng Duraset is now a leading supplier of safety-critical products for the mining industry; supplying Strata control products to the gold, platinum, coal and copper industries including export to 22 countries in Africa, Europe, Russia, Chile and Canada among others.

“While some of our products are for niche applications, others are standard items offered throughout the South African mining industry and our bigger customers include almost all of the majors mining houses operating in the country. We are proud to have a longstanding relationship with several high profile blue chip companies with whom we’ve enjoyed many decades of strategic cooperation on cost-effective mining solutions,” emphasised Aveng Duraset.

As part of its continuous improvement strategy, this division of Aveng Manufacturing maintains a particularly strong research and development effort focused on improving mine safety and reducing total cost of ownership as Aveng Duraset further detailed: “This ongoing programme is strongly rooted in the practicalities of mining and is carried out in conjunction with mining groups, ensuring that solutions address root causes which facilitate subsequent transfer of technology.”

AVENG MANUFACTURING DFC FOUNDED IN 2001 and user of seven of the most respected and established brands in the local and international valve industry, Dynamic Fluid Control Pty Ltd. (DFC) carries on the Aveng tradition of excellence in production, service and technical support that permeates through the individual brands and the company as a whole.

After recognising the natural synergies that lie between the various branded valve products, DFC has split its services and product offerings to focus on its two prime markets of water and mining; via the two resulting entities respectively known as DFC Water and DFC Mining & Industrial.

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AVENG INFRASET BOASTING FACTORIES across the southern African region equipped with the latest technology, Aveng Infraset manufactures a diverse range of precast concrete products to world-class quality standards.

“Aveng has played a major role in Africa’s infrastructure development, including many landmark roads, bridges, dams, buildings and power stations in several developing economies,” commented Aveng Infraset.

Aveng Infraset sustains a long heritage of technical excellence; its roots can be traced as far back as 1928 and the business unit has been named as a preferred supplier by many southern African contractors. Its four divisions, namely infrastructure products; railway products; landscape products; and building products, have been responsible for some of South Africa’s most iconic projects including the Gautrain and the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project (GFIP).

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AVENG MANUFACTURING FACADES

A SPECIALIST business unit that employs highly skilled personnel, specialising in unitised curtain walling and cladding systems, Aveng Manufacturing Facades operates within the highly specialised field of systemised facade cladding for major commercial building projects both nationally and internationally.

The company is based in Boksburg, Gauteng where it currently operates an 8000m2 facade manufacturing complex specialising in the fabrication of unitised and other proprietary curtain walling and cladding systems; incorporating the use of high performance glass, metal, natural stone and other related materials.

Sustainability

As a Group, it is Aveng’s vision to leave a legacy which future generations can be proud of, hence its strong drive to continually improve its workforce, quality of products and boost the level of sustainable development in Africa.

“Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment is a major component of our sustainability plan which we have achieved various levels of adherence to across all our divisions.

We believe that investing in our people is essential to our success and as a result, the Group has global bestpractice policies and procedures in place from grading and remuneration, to performance management and succession planning,” concluded the Group.

Above all, it is Aveng’s committed culture and value system that ensures a very stable workforce, consisting of fully qualified staff that create a strong base for future growth.

AVENG MANUFACTURING ACS AUTOMATION & Control Solutions (ACS) is a leader in southern Africa in the field of process control instrumentation, process control systems solutions, a wide range of machinery health monitoring equipment and services, as well as engineered fire and gas detection systems and solutions. The company provides world-renowned products, specialised training, after sales engineering services, service level agreements and technical support.

Additionally, ACS supplies and supports field devices and systems, helping businesses automate their production, processing and distribution in oil & gas, refining, mining, minerals and metals, synfuels, chemical processing, as well as pulp and paper, power generation, food and beverage and other industries. “Engineers at ACS are fully qualified and have solid plant experience and understand the needs of the industry,” highlighted the division.

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CONNECTING PEOPLE THROUGH

Indigenous Engineering Utilising the continuous production process from a state-of-the-art facility in the Northern Cape is just one element that sets Rail2Rail apart from the competition Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Ben Wigger

stablished in 2007 as a home-grown, all-African solution designed to provide much needed upgrades to South Africa’s rail network, Rail2Rail (Pty) Ltd has provided more than three quarters of a million sleepers to Transnet Freight Rail in the country to date; proudly working with the reputable Company to maintain South Africa’s freight railways, consisting of a network which has 22,000 kilometres

of track. In total, Rail2Rail has the capacity to produce approximately 350,000 sleepers a year.

After searching the world for the right sleeper production methods, the Company eventually struck a lucrative licence agreement with Rail One GmbH, one of the largest sleeper producers in Germany and Europe.

Comprising nine production plants all over the world, Rail2Rail was able to leverage European industry expertise and went on to establish a high-tech

state-of-the-art production facility in Kimberley, South Africa two years later.

One of the most impoverished provinces in South Africa, Kimberley’s location in the Northern Cape was strategically selected due to its central geographic location relative to the rest of the country; facilitating easier distribution of sleepers. But perhaps most vitally, Rail2Rail’s location means it can provide muchneeded employment opportunities

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afarge South Africa is one of the major building material manufacturers in Southern Africa, offering cement, aggregates, readymixed concrete, and pulverised fly ash through Ash Resources. Lafarge is the local presence of the international Lafarge Group, the world leader in building materials.

Lafarge applies its unparalleled technical strength to continually develop innovative building material solutions for the construction industry and contributes to Building better cities and communities around the world, while reducing the environmental footprint of its products and manufacturing processes. Ash Resources, South Africa’s leading manufacturer and supplier of fly ash products, has pioneered the development of fly ash as a major sustainable material for the construction industry.

The growth of the business remains the key focus

locally. The province has the highest unemployment rate in the country, which Rail2Rail is trying to overturn, now employing more than 80 employees while also contributing to local economic development via its corporate social responsibility activities spanning key impactful community improvement areas.

“It is important that we adopt a localisation strategy where possible and as such, around 60 percent of our monthly operational expenditure is to suppliers around the Kimberley area.

“Similarly, as a relatively new company, it is imperative that the growth of the business remains our focus, and localisation plays an integral part in maintaining this going forward,” detailed the website.

In order to secure continual growth, Rail2Rail provides ongoing maintenance for Transnet’s demand strategy, vowing to maintain profitable relationships with industry professionals. “Securing this all-

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It is important that we adopt a localisation strategy where possible and as such, around 60 percent of our monthly operational expenditure is to suppliers around the Kimberley area

important contract after applying to Transnet Freight Rail during the competitive supplier development programme for concrete sleeper producers was a great achievement that confirms our leading position in the rail industry,” highlighted the Company.

Manufacturers of quality

With technology-enhanced manufacturing facilities designed specifically for the production of prestressed PY P2 and FY concrete railway sleepers, Rail2Rail utilises a continuous process production method including a carousel system with quadruple modules, the latest de-moulding system and the ability to pre-stress the sleepers with profiled steel wires or rods. The Company further explained: “The manufacturing process of each sleeper is organised around a non-stop carousel system operation, featuring a continuous, closed cycle. The sleepers are produced in quadruple moulds.

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Ashley van der Berg, CEO, Rail2Rail Ashley has held his position as Chief Executive Officer of Rail2Rail for more than seven years, since Rail2Rail was in its infancy. After studying construction management at Cape Peninsula’s University of Technology, he went on to spend close to 20 years in the construction business, gaining behind the scenes knowledge on the manufacturing process involved in creating component parts along the way.

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Each mould is moved simultaneously through the cycle from one station to the next.

“At each station, appropriately trained and respectively qualified workers and equipment perform processes assigned to them. The de-moulding takes place after the respective curing period (which is essentially the late de-moulding system).”

Securing contracts with the likes of Transnet cements Rail2Rail’s position as a business with the right level of expertise and competent understanding of the market to secure strategic manufacturing contracts with big names.

“We pride ourselves in always delivering the best product we possibly can. With this in mind, the Transnet specified concrete strength for the sleepers were an impressive 60MPa in 28 days. We also have to meet cube strengths of between 48 and 50MPa

before the sleepers were de-moulded.

“Furthermore, sleeper production at Rail2Rail involves strict quality control procedures and conforming to top quality tests, from receiving the raw materials right through to testing the end-product,” commented the Company.

Renowned for the quality of its products and strong reputation among key rail investors in South Africa, Rail2Rail continues to differentiate itself from the competition with its continuous production method, ensuring the most efficient and timely delivery possible for the final sleeper product, which is a major advantage over its competitors.

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One-Stop Shop

Move Move Move Move ON THE

ithon Project Consultants is strengthening its reputation on a continental scale as the early stages of international expansion pick up pace in South Africa.

The proudly Namibian company has long been one of the major industry players spanning the project management, multi-disciplinary engineering and mining services offered to its vast array of clients over the years. And now, with an extensive portfolio of projects having been completed in the country, and a comprehensive selection of suppliers and business partners to rely on, Lithon is eager to replicate its success in South Africa.

“What we’ve done is opened up an office in South Africa, in which we have invested quite a lot, with the purpose of fully establishing a multi-discipline presence in the country as well,” explains the Company’s Managing Director (MD), Frikkie Holtzhausen.

The aim of this natural expansion is not only to duplicate the business model and project success that Lithon has enjoyed in Namibia over the years, but to combine the regional advantages of both for the good of the business as a whole.

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While historically focused solely on its indigenous Namibian market, Lithon Project Consultants’ recent drive into South Africa signifies the first step in a long-term continental vision for expansion Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: James Mitchell

While South Africa boasts a healthier complement of skills, Namibia’s general consulting sector across the relevant industries suggests a far more positive forecast for the coming years.

“What we would like to see in our South African office over the next 12 months is a fully established presence in the country and our multidisciplinary office up and running.

“We want this operation to be independent from Namibia, but also supportive of our Namibian operations, so that both can act as a springboard for our vision of expanding further into Africa.”

Responsible expansion

Frikkie Holtzhausen, MD

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Frikkie has more than 22 years of municipal, engineering and management experience and is especially knowledgeable regarding project management, planning, design, procurement and construction supervision of civil and municipal engineering projects in Namibia.

Botswana, Zambia and Angola are all areas of interest in the immediate SubSaharan region, but Lithon is also keen to ensure that any such expansion is carried out methodically and when the timing is right.

“We want to achieve growth but will do so slowly and responsibly because it’s not easy,” notes Holtzhausen.

“That has been our strategy in South Africa in forming an independent and fully operational presence which can be a springboard for us to go from there in the future.”

As Lithon does inevitably venture further afield in the years to come,

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e Husab Access Road: Bridge over the Khan River during construction

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CEMS ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS (PTY) LTD

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EMS Engineering Consultants (Pty) Ltd is a multi-disciplined engineering firm, able to provide comprehensive engineering, fabrication, procurement and construction services.

Clients can also leverage our capabilities independently to meet their needs and specifications.

Offering high quality workmanship and the ability to be flexible to meet our clients’ needs worldwide, our ultimate aim is to maintain a close working relationship with our clients, whilst retaining a high standard on quality, safety, governance and control.

it is keen to act as a local operator in each new nation, as opposed to being a Namibian company in new domains. This will largely be achieved through the formulation of strategic partnerships in each additional country, but will also largely be achieved through the consistency of the workforce.

Holtzhausen continues: “Our focus will be on making use of local expertise in whatever countries we are involved in to help improve our own market knowledge, while also helping to develop the local skills in return.”

This commitment to local employment and the promotion of skills has been a longstanding ethos of Lithon’s within Namibia, as it continuously strives to overcome skills challenges domestically.

“We have to adhere strictly to the labour stipulations in Namibia, employing local skills where possible, and leveraging our position as an employer of choice which plays in our favour when retaining these key people,” the MD says.

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CEMS Engineering Consultants (Pty) Ltd can also draw on a wide spectrum of expertise to provide full turnkey solutions for your needs. We can execute turnkey projects where we do the design, procurement, manufacturing, installation and commissioning for clients.

Quality is assured through a rigorous Quality Management System with a zero tolerance policy towards reworking of jobs and defective workmanship and our Quality Control Plan is based on ISO 9001 of 2008.

Project governance and on-time scheduling is achieved through the application of a dedicated Quantity Surveying program and schedule tracking.

Technical Queries Chris Theron (MD) T +27 (79) 813 0915 E chris.theron@cemsconsult.com Administration T +27 (12) 252 7362 E office@cemsconsult.com

www.cemsconsult.com Construction of Husab Access Road

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Your Vision, Engineered with Passion Visit us on the web at www.cemsconsult.com

Design Office

With the need to ensure quality, accuracy and delivery to our clients, we have invested in a full, functional Design Office.

Green Innovation

With modern paradigms and phrases of ‘Load Shedding’ and ‘Water Shortages’ being the norm, we see opportunity - an opportunity to make a difference.

EPCM Projects

CEMS Engineering Consultants (Pty) Ltd is a multi-disciplined engineering firm, able to provide comprehensive engineering, fabrication, procurement and construction services.

New Concept Development

Being involved in projects throughout the mining, petrochemical, commercial and industrial sectors, we have developed several new concepts that set the benchmark in the industry.

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Long-term projects

To further cement the Company’s ability to build a strong core of employees, Lithon has frequently entered into local partnerships over the years, alongside institutions and associations containing young professionals requiring practical experience in order to progress individually.

Just one insight into the business’s role as a corporately and socially responsible enterprise, Lithon regularly partakes in activities such as this in order to enrich the wider communities in Namibia; spanning all four corners of the country.

“CSR forms a fixed part of our budget and is an important aspect of what we are doing in Namibia,” Holtzhausen states. “In Namibia, we work alongside various institutions in supporting child welfare organisations and development centres, because we believe we should make a difference in the community.

Inauguration of Lithon HQ, Lithon House

CSR forms a fixed part of our budget and is an important aspect of what we are doing in Namibia

Oshakati Open Market construction

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“As part of this, we are also involved with the African Leadership Institute where we sponsor, over a three year period, the development of local senior officials, mayors and counsellors in the municipalities, with the mission of teaching them ‘how to get the job done’.”

While areas of CSR epitomise the philosophy and reputation of Lithon, it is still the high calibre of projects which act as the driving force for the Company’s positioning in the market, with three leading activities still ongoing moving into 2015.

Additionally though, this year consists of work being carried out in relatively new sectors, including a major transportation project being undertaken on a freeway between Windhoek and Rehoboth over the best part of the next decade.

“All of these projects are long-term and ongoing, while we have also been commissioned on an irrigation project

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which has kicked off this year.

“The bigger the project, the bigger the turnover and through looking for big projects, our turnover has increased 35 percent in 2014; illustrative of the growth of the Company.”

One-stop shop

The capability to attain these large, nationally-significant projects stems primarily from Lithon’s status as a onestop shop in the project consultancy arena. This facet has proven especially beneficial as new, young engineering companies arrive into the Namibian marketplace.

“Being an indigenously Namibian company provides a competitive advantage against the young guns coming into Namibia, but these up-andcoming companies are also unable to provide the same multidiscipline onestop shop that we can,” Holtzhausen emphasises. “That’s a competitive

Lithon staff have contributed to the local “Chica” project

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We create wealth through property.

We create wealth through property.

If you’re looking for the finest investment opportunities, or simply speculating and therefore require a trusted project management partner, when you think property Namibia, think FaanBergh Winckler Projects (Pty) Ltd. With years of experience working with Namibia’s best contractors, estate agents, architects, engineers and consultants, the likes amongst which are the Lithon Group, we offer the best service south of the Equator.

www.faanberghwinckler.com

advantage which the younger guys need to establish.”

Having the subsequent structure to make quick and entrepreneurial decisions – incorporating capital investments and project selections – also leads to high levels of customer satisfaction and subsequent repeat business.

The MD concludes: “Lithon focuses very strongly on relationship building with clients, and we develop our systems to an extent that we can meet all of their expectations fully.

“This is why they keep coming back to us, and it can only be achieved with the right, qualified people on board, which is ultimately the main aim of the Lithon family.

“We have managed to get these right people in Namibia, and hopefully soon in South Africa, which, in turn, enables us to provide that one-stop shop service.”

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Buildings in Town

Knight Frank is one of the world’s most renowned names in global property consultancy, and is leveraging this reputation to capitalise on East Africa’s ever strengthening gateway into the continent Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Stuart Parker

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night Frank’s 50-year tenure in Africa has seen the region become one of the linchpins in the global property consultancy’s international progression, with the east of the continent leading the way from its Kenyan hub.

Nairobi is recognised not only as the country’s capital, but the capital of East Africa as a whole, forming an axis across the continent alongside Johannesburg in the south, Lagos in the west, and formerly Cairo in the north.

With a presence in the region now spanning two decades, Knight Frank’s influence in this prosperous East African nation – offering the letting, sale, management and valuation of commercial and residential property – has reached new highs in recent years, with a sustainable longterm plan in place to cement its strong market position in the future.

Knight Frank Kenya Managing Director (MD), Ben Woodhams explains: “With 160 employees

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and a significant turnover, Kenya is the company’s biggest operation in Africa, currently letting more retail space than the UK operation.

“As the lead letting agent for numerous 50,000 square metre-plus malls in the region, we have around four million square feet of retail space either in the market now or about to come on to the market, with the company replicating its global business model as a multi-practice real estate consultancy, including carrying out market and feasibility studies across both residential and commercial development.”

Being the largest property manager in the region with more than five million square feet of commercial space under management, Knight

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The Watermark Business Park in Karen, an office park development being let by Knight Frank

Frank Kenya has recently safeguarded its extensive portfolio through a significant capital investment in an in-house property management and accounting system.

Woodhams says: “What this allows us to do is manage everything more efficiently. We’ve been able to bolt on more and more properties to our system because we have a package which is not only bespoke, but we can also change it where we see fit, and expand it almost limitlessly.”

Partner of choice

Internal differentiators such as this new in-house system are pivotal in what is becoming an increasingly competitive market.

Previously acknowledged as a

partner of choice in East Africa, new entrants into the market from South Africa are putting pressure on Knight Frank to sharpen its pencils and reenter the pitching domain to attain new business; a challenge which the business is more than willing to take on and capable of overcoming.

“It’s not an easy market to operate in with multiple currencies and the challenge of delivering the level of services that a multinational company would expect in the west but in a third world environment. However, the Knight Frank brand and our integrity set us apart,” Woodhams notes.

“Despite the new competition, in the past 12 months we have had two people who had left return to us, which proves that the grass is not

necessarily greener on the other side.”

Arguably the most valuable asset engrained into the Knight Frank philosophy stems from its reputation, having proven its reliability and consistency over the years to achieve methodical and steady growth.

Woodhams adds: “We have built the business up through relationships with architects and developers, introducing blue-chip tenants to brand new buildings in our portfolio, and not involving ourselves in any project to make a quick buck that might come at the expense of our reputation or brand name.

“These Fortune 500, blue-chip tenants have helped build our business because they are easier to manage, are capable of paying more rent, and are,

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KK Security K

K Security has, for nearly 50 years, been innovating and challenging the security industry status quo, driving and pioneering resolutions for large blue-chip companiesincluding Knight Frank Kenya, diplomatic missions and residential properties. This has necessitated a dedicated, world-class management team and a motivated, intensively trained safety and security force. Wherever we operate, our commitment is to provide service with integrity. For us this is much more than a tagline: it captures our essence.

Safety, security and risk management has become of paramount importance to individuals, corporations and governments.

There has been an increase in threats ranging from extremist groups to the usual but ever more sophisticated, criminal activities experienced in major cities, towns and rural areas across the region. Further, stricter legislation regarding health and safety and the environment has created an urgent need for better understanding and innovative measures to manage those risks. KK Security has the expertise to help clients develop strategies to strike the optimum balance between costs, risks and desired outcomes.

KK Security has striven to offer world-class services to clients across all sectors in the region. We have partnered with international suppliers to ensure unparalleled service to our clients. We provide an extensive range of safety and security solutions covering a wide spectrum of risk environments. With a regional network of branches in Kenya,

Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, DR Congo, Burundi and Malawi, we offer a mix of security solutions including trained security officers, K9, technology, cash management, facilities management, professional training and security & safety consultancy. With years of experience, we have grown to cater for every industry in the East and Central Africa.

To ensure that our standards are relevant and meaningful, we seek and maintain accreditation with the leading international bodies in our industry sectors which include British Security Industry Association, Skills for Security, the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Companies, National Association of Security Dog Users, Fire Protection Association, UK Fire Protection Association and both the Kenya and Rwandan Security Industry Associations. We are ISO certified.

We have built our business on the foundations of ethics, integrity and trust. We use our core skills to help foster a sustainable business. We have a commitment to operate responsibly wherever we work in the region and to engage with our stakeholders to manage the social, environmental and ethical impact of our activities in the different markets that we operate in. The policies that govern our operation ensure responsible business practices.

www.kksecurity.com

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KK SECURITY

Service with Integrity

THE KK GROUP OF COMPANIES

Providing Security and Peace of Mind to Families and Businesses for nearly 50 years

www.kksecurity.com more importantly, willing to do so as they understand the value of being in the best buildings in town.”

Interiors of the Westend Towers in Westlands, which is being let and managed by Knight Frank

global company acting locally certainly a critical element when it comes to addressing infrastructural and personnel challenges.

Global consistency “The biggest difference on the With such an extensive global cachet continent is firstly the type of to leverage, Knight Frank Kenya properties, with Africa being more understandably looks to maintain about the management of shopping as consistent a service across all of centres and office buildings for large its operating regions as possible, corporates, rather than country and – despite certain region-specific homes or estates which people often challenges – the same very much associate with Knight Frank. applies across East Africa.

“Also, because Kenya is a Woodhams states: “Everything is developing country, we have massive done under the global model and we infrastructure challenges, with the lean heavily on the fact we are members country simply unable to keep up with of the RICS, with all valuations done the rate of development.” according to the red book.

Regardless, the company “There is a high level of consistency endeavours to ensure that its across all of our offices, with each residential and commercial occupiers adopting all the same principles in the get as consistent a level of service valuation process.” as possible under the conditions, This isn’t to say that more localised bolstered by a core of indigenous staff considerations aren’t addressed who know the local market better than however, with the ability to be a anyone.

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Here to stay

While Kenya is the hub of the region, its complementary operations in the vicinity, including Tanzania and Uganda, are on the verge of being joined by Rwanda, a joint investor having been established and local shareholdings in the process of being finalised.

“When Knight Frank says we’re in a country, we really are in it. We take expansion seriously, so when we consider moving into a new country, we’ll either do it properly or wait until the timing is right,” the MD says.

“What we tend to do is team up with a local partner who typically owns or has access to a ready supply of fee-earning property; therefore taking some of the issues away from us that one would otherwise face in a new, challenging environment.”

Meticulous expansion and alignment of growth will remain the crux of the company’s continuous improvement plans over the years to come, as Nairobi becomes even more of a pivotal hub and gateway to the continent; especially for foreign direct investment coming in from the Middle East and Asia.

This all means that the market is likely to accelerate ahead of the growing levels of competition, leading to an exciting period of growth for an already prosperous business.

“In three to five years, I would

Mandharini Kilifi, a luxury homes development for sale by Knight Frank

Rear view of the Oloidien Bay House

Knight Frank staff join hands with Ben Woodhams during the rehabilitation of Westlands Primary School football pitch

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When Knight Frank says we’re in a country, we really are in it.

We take expansion seriously, so when we consider moving into a new country, we’ll either do it properly or wait until the timing is right

expect Knight Frank to be doing more of the same, with much more competition but much more business as the market expands, and we see phenomenal levels of investment coming into the country,” Woodhams concludes. “Over this time, I expect our management portfolio to expand dramatically as more and more global corporates set up regional offices in Nairobi, meaning that we get stronger and stronger as a result.

“Having grown up in Kenya and having a bit of a homecoming in 2003 when I returned, I am happy to say that Knight Frank is here to stay and that everything we do is geared towards long-term growth, looking after our clients and the people we have in the company. After all, they are our biggest asset.”

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Knight Frank staff celebrate after emerging overall winners on the first day of the white-water rafting competition.

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Exploration

GIANTS Nigeria’s privately owned Nigerian oil & gas exploration firm, SAPETRO looks to create value by powering the development of West African economies and beyond Writer: Emily Jarvis • Project Manager: Nick Norris

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he West Africa region is rich with resources and an area where mining activity is guaranteed to have a bright future. In line with this, exploration and production companies operating here, such as the indigenous South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) have witnessed an increase in oil & gas activity in recent years.

Since establishing in 1995, the Company has been taking some of the biggest risks in the industry in searching for new oil fields, while seeking to create value in the pursuit of rewarding exploration throughout the value chain.

With a balanced portfolio of six assets in five countries spanning the full cycle of exploration and production, the privately held Nigerian oil & gas company, SAPETRO is rapidly growing its operations in Nigeria, the Republic of Benin, Madagascar and the French Overseas territories.

“With a net acreage position in excess of 74,890 square kilometres, SAPETRO is currently the second largest operated acreage holder in offshore East and Southern Africa and is well placed to play a leading role in one of the world’s major emerging hydrocarbon provinces,” said the Company, who added that its focus remains on continued strategic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa while building lasting and beneficial partnerships along the way.

Partnering for success

Back in 1998 during Nigeria’s first bid round, SAPETRO was awarded the deepwater frontier acreage OPL 246. The Company entered into a partnership with Total and Petrobras to undertake a very successful exploration programme leading to the discovery of the 500mmbbl (million oil barrel) Akpo field, and the similar size Egina field. Post-discovery, the partnership was joined by CNOOC and

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the four parties jointly undertook the development of the Akpo field.

The Akpo field came on stream in 2009 and is now producing at a plateau rate of 175,000bbls a day. This year, the partnership also took a final investment decision to bring Egina field on stream by 2017. They’re predicting the Egina field will have a production rate of 200,000bbls (oil barrels) a day.

Additionally, SAPETRO has continued to expand into new frontiers, laying claim to yet more lucrative territories.

“In 2004, we entered the Republic of Benin as an operator in our own right. At the Seme field here, we are the 100 percent owners of block 1,

where we have concluded a successful appraisal programme and discovered oil,” stated the Company. “In 2011, we acquired very substantial acreage in the Mozambique Channel from Roc Oil where we undertook a 13,000 kilometre high-tech 2D seismic survey, which showed significant promise.

In 2014, we began to undertake a 9,000km2 3D survey in the same area, and we’re very excited to see the potential results.”

Indigenous roots

What makes SAPETRO’s story so interesting isn’t just the highly successful ventures the company has

The indigenously African company continues to succeed

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already engaged in, it’s that these successes are happening in the hands of a truly indigenous African company.

The Company highlighted: “Our slogan is ‘Africa is our home’ and as a home-grown company, we understand how to do business in Africa and how to create and maintain value-add partnerships. We intend to continue creating value while looking for high impact opportunities to repeat this success in other African countries.”

Of course, this level of profitability for a home-grown exploration business presented its challenges along the way; none of which were too large for SAPETRO to overcome as the Company detailed: “When SAPETRO started out the biggest challenge was in building our technical capabilities from scratch. But there is a lot of talent in Nigeria which the company has been able to capture and develop. Our joint venture has faced and overcome the challenges of successful deepwater development in Nigeria while maximising the use of local content.

Not only this, but SAPETRO has been able to leverage its African expertise in

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Cakasa Engineering Services Limited (formerly Cakasa (Nig.) Company Limited - ETSD) offer full scale Engineering and Project Management Services to the oil and gas and power industries in Nigeria and the sub-saharan region.

Our services: > Conceptual design > Front End Engineering Design (FEED) > Detailed Engineering Design (DED) > 3D modelling > Laser scanning & dimensional control > Project management and consultancy

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Our areas of engineering expertise include: > Offshore platforms and both onshore and offshore pipelines > FPSO’s > Marine terminals and oil/gas processing plants > LPG, LNG and petrochemical plants > Marginal oilfield development > Tank farms and loading facilities > Refineries > Civil & mechanical construction works Contact us: 186 Awolowo Road Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria T: +234 1463 02178 M: +234 8023 267134 +234 8136 617944

order to obtain attractive exploration positions abroad, where the market is highly competitive.

Of course a large part of the reason the company’s ventures have been so successful is that SAPETRO is a company dedicated to building the best team it possibly can. To this end, the firm has an extensive and thorough recruitment process.

“We advertise all our positions in the national papers to ensure people from all over the country have a chance to apply but we also invite nominations from recruitment companies,” said the website. “So we always have a large pool to select from and take great care in the selection process to find the right calibre of candidates.”

Weathering the storm

Today, the hard work of SAPETRO is really starting to see some concrete results, as it comes to the end of what has been an extremely productive few

General T Y Danjuma, Chairman

years for the Company.

“The last two years have been extremely busy and presented many challenges, given West Africa’s Ebola crisis and fluctuating oil prices, but we have weathered the storm and emerged successful,” said the Company.

Similarly, SAPETRO has plans to steadily increase growth both inside and outside Nigeria’s borders as the Company concluded: “We are currently looking very seriously at IOC divestment opportunities and I think we will be able to put together some very credible and serious bids focusing on what we can do to build production for Nigeria and improve the lives of local communities while continuing to build our company. We are also going to continue to explore our concessions in the Mozambique Channel as well as looking for further high impact opportunities elsewhere on the continent.”

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World-Class Exhibition in Aviation After five successful years of Aviation Festival Africa, this year the event is back, larger and more spectacular than ever before

AVIATION FESTIVAL AFRICA will cover the newest opportunities in African aviation through five different brands; Aviation Outlook, The Airports Show, AirXperience, Air Retail and Air IT in order to provide complete coverage of the whole value chain, right through to selling to the customer directly.

With a predicted economic boom in Africa, air traffic on the continent is set to dramatically increase. African airports are therefore under huge pressure to improve operational efficiencies in response to an increased demand from international and African airlines.

Airports Show Africa was launched to combat the challenges associated with operational efficiencies and by partnering with Airports Company South Africa, the event will bring key decision makers from across Africa together to discuss investment opportunities, future development and efficiency improvements for airports, airlines, government and associated partners.

Aviation Festival Africa is an opportunity for airlines, airports, investors and aviation regulatory bodies to meet and assess new routes to market, strategies and ways to increase customer numbers. After five beneficial years of the Festival,

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it remains a crucial meeting place for buyers to get together and identify smarter solutions worthy of investment.

The two-day event will encompass every aspect of the aviation sector through its Air Retail and AirXperience events, which will focus on the overall passenger experience and ways to increase ancillary revenue.

Additionally, the Festival will also include the Aviation IT show which will examine new technologies and state-of-the-art business processes that can be implemented into current operations to further improve efficiency.

The organisers, Terrapinn, are responsible for the design, production and creation of Aviation Festival Africa’s world class conference agenda. Boasting a unique

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platform consisting of five events in one platform and thought-leading keynote speakers discussing global and regional trends, the expo presents the largest gathering of solution providers to the African continent.

“Many of the speakers and attendees are global leaders and innovators who use the Aviation Festival as their once-a-year opportunity to meet and do business with new and exciting airline customers. It provides them with complete access to the African market that is traditionally difficult to penetrate,” stated the event organisers.

Most importantly, the festival allows attendees to meet real buyers and some of the continent’s key decision makers. With global success, the 2015 Aviation Festival Africa is the place to be.

FEATURING

30 June - 1 July 2015 | Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa IT’S FREE TO ATTEND REGISTER AT WWW.TERRAPINN.COM/AVFESTAFRICA

As a visitor you can: Be the first to premier our unique event highlights Explore all 3 halls of the exhibition Attend 5 seminar theatres covering various transport topics Network with the sponsors and exhibitors Make business contacts like never before

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E V E N T THE 2015 INFRASTRUCTURE AFRICA Business Forum, is designed to maximise the opportunity for delegates and experts to interact in a constructive, moderated dialogue that will lead to the exchange of ideas on how progress can be made in unleashing Africa’s infrastructure potential.

The African economy has undergone fundamental changes in the last decade. Growth in investor interest is driven by strong economic growth, rising foreign exchange reserves, quality and cost competitiveness and encouraging government policy-making. The level of economic growth achieved in Africa in recent years has led to an expansion of industry, commerce and per capita income. This has fuelled the demand for infrastructure services

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DETAILS

WHEN: 1-2 September, 2015 WHERE: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa REGISTER: info@infrastructure-africa.com +27 11 463 9184 WEBSITE: www.infrastructure-africa.com

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including energy, transportation, ICT, water supply, growing agriculture and urban infrastructure.

The fourth annual conference will bring together Africa’s most senior business leaders, policy makers, regulators and media to advance debate and champion delivery of Africa’s critical infrastructure requirements.

The two-day conference will allow businesses to explore new trading opportunities, establish new business networks, develop and form partnerships and plan a way forward to address some of the continent’s requirements. By taking a stand and showcasing your company at the event, you will have the opportunity to promote your company to business counterparts, international investors, buyers and governments worldwide.

2015 EXPECTATIONS

450+

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65+

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300+

BUSINESS MATCHMAKING MEETINGS

KEY TOPICS • Financial innovation – Infrastructure development and financing • Addressing Africa’s infrastructure project preparation challenges • Bridging the infrastructure gap – the physical connectivity of markets through roads, rail and ports • Accelerating regional integration and access to markets • Africa’s critical energy infrastructure – power, oil & gas • ICT & telecoms – improving communication infrastructure in Africa • Eastern and Central Africa transport corridor • Air transport infrastructure • Alternative financing – pension funds and private equity funding investment into Africa

KEY SECTORS - ENERGY | TRANSPORT | WATER | ICT & TELECOMS | FINANCE

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E V E N T THE 17TH AFRICA ENERGY FORUM (AEF) will welcome energy ministers and utility leaders to Dubai this June and is the only international Forum focused on power generation for Africa with attendance restricted to stakeholders from the power sector.

AEF will come to the UAE for the first time from 8-11 June, to capture the huge potential of Middle Eastern investment, and to learn from a region that has successfully built its gas based economy into a booming global empire.

With 11 African Ministers confirmed to attend and delegates from more than 20 African countries including Ghana, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tunisia, Tanzania, Mozambique, South Africa and more, this year’s Forum will focus on new areas of investment for both long-standing partners and new investors. The full list of Ministers, utilities and investors who have confirmed attendance are available on the website.

The most powerful investors from around the world will gather to

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drive projects forward and hasten the pace of investment into Africa.

Representatives from national investment bodies attending AEF 2015 include China, USA, Japan, Norway, Sweden, UK, UAE, Germany, France, Canada and Brazil.

With significant demand for power in Africa and international investors keen to fund power projects, this is the most established African power event that African governments and private sector attend year-onyear. As a result, AEF has become the place to do business and meet new and prospective clients.

Held in a different city each year, African Ministries, utilities and regulators return from across the continent meet and do business with prospective investors and power developers from Europe, Asia, Middle East, North America and South America.

For more information about this international investment forum for Africa’s power sector, please email amy.offord@energynet.co.uk quoting the code AEF_AO, or visit the website.

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DETAILS

WHEN: 8-11 June, 2015 WHERE: The J.W Marriot Marquis, Dubai REGISTER: amy.offord@energynet.co.uk WEBSITE: www.africa-energy-forum.com

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