Africa Outlook Issue 18

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tigo tanzania is bringing a digital lifestyle that is second to none in the region

InVEstMEnt ProfIlE: kEnyA 22

africa outlook takes an inside look at kenya’s business and investment potential

PAArl MEdIA 56 paarl media has grown to become the most comprehensive commercial printing operation in south africa

uMoyA

EnErGy 78 umoya energy are one of the pioneering wind energy developers in sa wEAtHErford EAst AfrICA 84 Weatherford Services and Rentals Ltd offers a multitude of upstream services for the oil and gas sector throughout east africa

AfrICA outook IssuE 18 Also tHIs IssuE: AIrtEl sEyCHEllEs | HC HEAT-EXCHANGERS | uGu dIstrICt MunICIPAlIty

W E l C o m E Expanding Horizons

as referenced in the last edition of africa outlook, african companies have seen improved foreign investment recently and this has led to financially viable, strategic expansion across several markets. sectors such as telecommunications, renewable energy and manufacturing have all seen expansion on a regional scale, with some businesses even looking at cross-border expansion. This recent growth has enabled new consumers to be introduced to a wider range of products and services, which will be of benefit to both businesses and the end users. our front page feature interview is with Diego gutierrez, general manager of tigo tanzania, who has personally overseen the last 18 months of their national network expansion into towns in various regions of the country, bringing their range of services to a wider audience. with a third of tanzania’s population living in isolated and rural areas, having a telecommunications provider that accounts for these rural scenes can really make a difference. on page 56 we speak with paarl media group Ceo, stephen Van Der walt, who discusses how paarl media has grown to become the most comprehensive commercial printing operation in africa. with an operational capacity of 500,000 tonnes of paper a year, the company has further extended their reach to include the international printing stage and are proud to be on par with international printing standards. on page 84 we speak with sean wilcock, area manager of weatherford east Africa, who have been expanding into new markets along the eastern seaboard including Tanzania and Kenya - and identifying potential expansion opportunities that could reap huge rewards.

In the front of the magazine, we take a look at how Coca-Cola is investing an additional us$5 billion for long-term sustainable growth in africa, and how China-africa relations have reached a new historic level.

Our regular investment profile feature takes a look at kenya, whose strategic location on the eastern seaboard offers a deep water port for better access for vessels of all shapes and sizes. the country also offers potential investors a broad manufacturing base, the best business infrastructure in the eastern region, an able and enterprising workforce, excellent resources for agriculture and diverse tourism opportunities.

“There are no great limits to growth Matt Bone because there are no limits of human Editor, Outlook Publishing intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” Ronald Reagan

EdItorIAl

Editor: matt Bone matthew.bone@outlookpublishing.com sub-editor: emily Jarvis emily.jarvis@outlookpublishing.com

ProduCtIon

Production Manager: Daniel george daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com MAGAzInE dEsIGn: optic Juice ltd Art Editor: martin mitchell designers: Alex Cole | Katherine Robinson

BusInEss

sales director: nick norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com operations director: James mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com sales Managers: Ben wigger ben.wigger@outlookpublishing.com Rahim ali Rahim.ali@outlookpublishing.com senior Project Managers: arron Rampling arron.rampling@outlookpublishing.com Donovan smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com Project Managers: tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com Callum philp callum.philp@outlookpublishing.com stuart shirra stuart.shirra@outlookpublishing.com

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finance Manager: suzanne welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office Administrator: Donna Redpath donna.redpath@outlookpublishing.com IMAGEs: www.thinkstockphotos.co.uk dIGItAl & It: hamit saka HElPdEsk: James lemay

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Managing director: Ben weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com Chairman: mark weaver ContACt Africa outlook / uk 22 wensum street, norwich, uk, nR3 1hy sales: +44 (0) 1603 559 145 Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 559 152 fax: +44 (0) 1603 559 553 Africa outlook / sA the Colosseum, First Floor, Century way, Century City, Cape town, 7441 tel: +27 (0) 21 527 0053 subscriptions tel: +44 (0)1603 559 152 matthew.bone@outlookpublishing.com

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In this issue of Africa Outlook...

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MRE are the second largest refrigeration contracting and compressor packager in South Africa

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TIGO TANZANIA Talking Tanzania

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hC hEAT EXChANGERS engineering excellence

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SOLITON TELMEC Building networks for life

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ATRACO Delivering on the Atraco Promise

Over the last 18 months, Tigo Tanzania have been busy expanding their network to bring their range of services to a wider audience

In Kenya and Uganda, Soliton Telmec are widely considered to be market leaders in telecommunications construction and maintenance

HC Heat-Exchangers are continually innovating and developing new products to better serve the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry

Atraco is one of East Africa’s foremost suppliers of road and civil construction products

R E S O U R C E S

NEwS

From Shanghai to South Africa

How Africa and China are brought closer together, thanks to new trade agreements

cocA-colA gB

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INVESTMENT pROFILE Kenya

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ShOwCASING LEADING COMpANIES Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world

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Coca-Cola Invests an Additional US$5 Billion for Long-Term Sustainable Growth in Africa

Africa Outlook takes an inside look at Kenya’s business and investment potential

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MRE SOUTh AFRICA South Africa’s custom-coolers

All the latest top stories across the month from Africa

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AIRTEL SEyChELLES Bringing Innovation to Seychelles - First

Airtel Seychelles are proud to always be the first to bring new services to Africa

MANUFACTURING

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pAARL MEDIA Professional Personal Printers

Paarl Media has grown to become the most comprehensive commercial printing operation in South Africa

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UMOyA ENERGy Power Pioneers

Umoya Energy are one of the pioneering wind energy developers in SA

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wEAThERFORD EAST AFRICA east is the new West

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Weatherford Services and Rentals Ltd offers a multitude of upstream services for the oil and gas sector throughout East Africa

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ARENEL SwEETS & BISCUITS experience! Quality!

Innovation!

After decades of operation, Arenel’s sweet and biscuit lines remain of the finest quality

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SCATEC SOLAR South Africa’s Sustainable Solar Future

UGU DISTRICT MUNICIpALITy South Africa’s hub for Socio-economic Development

Ugu is creating an enabling environment for social and economic development

Scatec Solar have been awarded three solar plant projects under the REIPPP Programme in South Africa

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F O O D & D R I N K

CITy OF JOhANNESBURG METRO MUNICIpALITy Africa’s Finance & economic capital

The City of Johannesburg is the economic capital of South Africa and a heartland of trade and economic activity in Africa

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DAILy NEED GROUp A Friend in need

DNG’s vision is to be one of the top three manufacturers in the consumer business industry in Africa

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BRITISh AMERICAN TOBACCO NIGERIA nigeria’s leaders in Tobacco

BAT has had an operational presence in Nigeria for almost 100 years

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VITAL GROUp Vital Players in the Food Industry

Vital Products pioneered the processing and packaging of tomato paste in Nigeria

AMAThOLE DISTRICT MUNICIpALITy Building on Their historical heritage This South African district is renowned for its historical heritage, tourism and agricultural landscapes

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EVENTS

Africa Outlook highlights the upcoming events across the continent

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B u s i n e s s

Business Connexion Appoints New CEO Business Connexion Group Limited (BCX) announced in July that Mr Isaac Mophatlane has been appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, which came into effect from 1st August 2014. He will take over the role of his late brother, Mr. Benjamin Mophatlane, who passed away on 11 June 2014.

Isaac is currently BCX’s Head of Sales and Marketing and Group Executive of the Canoa division.

Isaac, together with his twin brother Benjamin, co-founded what was then known as Business Connection in 1996 and has held various positions within the company over the past 18 years.

M a n u f ac t u r i n g

Nampak Targets Africa Deals as Consumers Turn to Packages Nampak Ltd. (NPK), Africa’s biggest maker of beverage cans, plan to expand in Nigeria through acquisitions that may exceed its largest takeover deal to counter slowing growth in its main South African market.

Ethiopia is a target for expansion in East Africa due to its size and population of about 92 million, while Ghana is the most prominent untapped market in the west, Chief Executive Officer Andre de Ruyter, 46, said in an interview with Bloomberg. In South Africa, which accounts for 70 percent of sales, the strategy is to protect dominant market share and reduce costs, he said.

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More recently, he provided leadership and direction in the innovation division which houses BCX’s own software and packaged intellectual property prior to taking responsibility for the Canoa division, which drives the group’s Managed Print Solution offerings.

Commenting on the appointment, BCX Chairman Tony Ruiters, said: “Isaac

has an intimate understanding of the company, its operations and culture and his appointment as BCX CEO was a natural choice.”

“Benjamin’s legacy gives us a strong foundation to build upon and I look forward to continue working closely with Isaac to realise the vision and growth ambitions of BCX, both in South Africa and across the continent.”

Isaac is a member of the Black Management Forum, the Electronic Industries Federation of South Africa and the Black Information Technology Forum. He is also the Deputy Non-executive Chairman of the Catholic Education Investment Company.

BCX is also currently the subject of a takeover bid by Telkom – its second attempt to acquire the IT services company – valued at R2.7 billion.

million people that spends at least 20 percent of their earnings on food and beverages, the CEO said.

The Johannesburg-based company agreed to buy Alucan, a Nigerian packaging company, for 3.3 billion rand ($307 million) in its biggest ever deal last year and is studying an option to buy a plastics manufacturer in the continent’s largest economy.

Companies in Africa are using the advertising potential of cans to market different products and promotions, while the growing “The growth opportunity to take us to popularity of beer is also driving the next level of size can only come from growth, De Ruyter said. Nampak Africa,” De Ruyter said in July. “There are counters Nigerian challenges such sizable opportunities available in Nigeria. as unreliable power supply by I am bullish on Ethiopia. Ghana we need generating all its own electricity. to look at quite closely.”

Nampak plans to reduce Nampak, which supplies companies product lines to focus on the from Coca-Cola Co. to SABMiller biggest earners, helping to boost Plc, is expanding production plants productivity, lower costs and in sub-Saharan Africa to benefit “unlock cash” that can be used to from a consumer market of 900 fund growth, Dr Ruyter added.

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M a n u f ac t u r i n g

Hulamin Expands Use of Quintiq to Scheduling Operations for Enhanced Visibility

F o o d & D r i n k

Danone Partners with Brookside, East Africa’s Leading Dairy Products Company In mid-July, Danone and Brookside’s shareholders announced an agreement allowing Danone to acquire a 40% interest in Brookside’s holding company.

With 2013 revenues of around €130 million, Brookside is East Africa’s leading dairy products group. Established in Kenya in 1993, Brookside operates a unique distribution platform enabling a daily access to over 200,000 outlets.

The company manages the largest milk collection network in East Africa, with 140,000 farmers in the region.

By uniting Danone’s international expertise in fresh dairy products with Brookside’s regional expertise and robust supply chain, the partnership will enable Brookside’s growth acceleration by expanding its product portfolio and strengthening its geographical presence in key markets in the East African region, including Uganda and Tanzania.

This partnership will significantly enhance the platform Danone is currently building in Africa, and was effective from July 18th 2014.

Danone, with 190 production plants around the world, posted sales of more than 21 billion euros last year.

Quintiq, a global leader in supply chain planning and optimisation (SCP&O), announced that Hulamin Limited has selected the company’s software platform to optimise scheduling. With Quintiq, Hulamin will sync production and planning for the entire supply chain across its hot-rolling, cold-rolling and finishing facilities. By adding the scheduling capabilities, Hulamin can expect higher delivery performance, workin-progress control, increased supply chain visibility and key performance indicator-driven (KPI) scheduling.

Additionally, Hulamin will implement the Quintiq mobility server, which allows management to review KPIs on mobile devices and make decisions and changes in real-time.

Hulamin is a leading manufacturing business in South Africa that has carved out a niche in the global aluminum rolled products market. It serves customers both locally and internationally across several market segments. The company’s previous scheduling system was manually operated and lacked KPIs. With this system, a feasible schedule was simply “good enough,” which resulted in production bottlenecks, low delivery performance and a gap between order planning and execution.

In order to address the order planning and execution gap, Hulamin required an integrated scheduling solution for its hot and cold mills as well as multiple finishing lines. Quintiq’s reputation as a market leader in aluminum,

coupled with the seamless integration of additional software platform capabilities at Hulamin in 2011 and 2006, made the company’s scheduling technology the perfect choice for a fully cohesive supply chain planning solution.

“We hosted a one-week demo challenge to evaluate our scheduling options,” said Lydia Gertenbach, Production Planning Manager at Hulamin. “Quintiq was able to configure its software platform to our unique constraints within the week, and it made a noticeable improvement to our schedules. The challenges addressed in the one-week demo challenge were recognisable to the team, which demonstrated the potential value that integrated scheduling can add. We’ll now have the supply chain visibility we need to meet the needs of our customers in South Africa and internationally.”

“Our expertise in the metals market combined with our existing work with Hulamin equipped us to identify where the company could optimise operations in the hot and cold mills,” said Koen Jacobs, Business Unit Director at Quintiq.

“The decision to extend work with us validates the Quintiq offering and we look forward to continued success with Hulamin.”

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T e c h n o l o g y Net1 Mobile Solutions Brings Light to Hundreds of Pupils at Jon Kotlolo School et1 UEPS Technologies Inc has announced that its Net1 Mobile Solutions (N1MS) business unit, partnered with other South African-based companies and organisations to bring care-packs to hundreds of pupils at Jon Kotlolo School, and surrounding community members, in Nellmapius, Pretoria, in celebration of Mandela Day, on July 18, the iconic leader’s birthday.

The care packs, each with their own personal message and carefully filled

by N1MS’ employees, included a bucket, soap, a wash cloth and a Sune-light, the enhanced solar-powered lamp and mobile phone charger introduced to South Africa by N1MS. “We created Sun-e-light for South Africans who have little or no access to electricity, as an ongoing corporate social investment project,” said Philip Belamant, Managing Director of N1MS. “We heard that the students at Jon Kotlolo Primary School are often victims to power cuts, if they have electricity in their homes at all, and we hope that the Sun-e-lights will give them the light that they need to do their homework and study. Nelson Mandela, who we honoured with this pilot project, said that education is the greatest engine of personal development – and we want make it possible for these learners to achieve their full potential.”

A Jon Kotolo School student, on receiving his Sun-e-light, excitedly remarked: “I’m now solar-powered!

The light will help me when I’m studying and the mobile phone charger is awesome, I can stay in touch with friends!” A community

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member, Mama Mazibuko “You have no idea how much this will help my family, we have so many power cuts here that last for days, and we can now use the lamp to light up our house and charge our phones so I can call my family and know they are always safe.”

The first edition of the Sun-e-light is a solar-powered lamp that can also be used as a torch and it also has a port that makes it possible to use it to charge mobile phones. The next generation Sun-e-light, available in the next few months, can be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot, offering users the ability to research online and experience the digital world, giving learners access to academic material, and school graduates access to job-searching portals, for example.

“The Sun-e-light is about so much more than just providing light, it’s about providing accessibility and connectivity”, says Belamant. “Sune-light gives learners the illumination and the access to information that they need to complete their education.

We will be distributing the solar lamp at schools and tertiary educational facilities across South Africa in the coming months, in areas where learners do not have access to a consistent electricity supply.”

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Re s o u r ce s

SLR Consulting extends service offering in Africa Global environmental group, SLR Consulting, has acquired CCA Environmental Pty (Ltd), a South African specialist consultancy firm with blue chip clients across the oil and gas, minerals, infrastructure, energy and waste sectors.

CCA, based in Cape Town, has established an enviable reputation across South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius since it was founded

by Jonathan Crowther and Fuad Fredericks in 2004.

The CCA team has carried out award-winning projects across a broad range of upstream activities including exploration, pipeline and facility development. Clients include Shell, Total, Exxon and Anadarko for whom projects include managing Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), developing Environmental

Impact Assessments (EIAs) as well as permitting for new offshore oil and gas fields.

The move establishes SLR as the market leader in South Africa for EIA-related work with a 37-strong team of highly-experienced technical professionals.

SLR’s CEO Neil Penhall said: “SLR and CCA are a great match and this move enhances our provision of onshore and offshore EIA expertise in Africa.

“In particular, international oil and gas clients looking to develop

Te l ec o m s

Helios Acquires Telecoms Towers from Airtel Bharti Airtel has agreed to the divestment of approximately 3,100 telecoms towers to Helios Towers Africa (HTA). This will reportedly allow Airtel to focus on its core business and customers as well as enable it to deleverage through debt reduction, significantly reducing its ongoing capital expenditure on passive infrastructure.

“The agreement is another milestone in Airtel’s growth journey in Africa. Airtel pioneered the concept of a separate tower entity to promote infrastructure sharing in India and this agreement is a continuation of that philosophy,” said

Bharti Airtel International Netherlands BV Chairman, Manoj Kohli.

“It is an important step towards the consolidation of tower assets across Africa that will drive industry-wide cost efficiencies through infrastructure sharing. The agreement will further help

opportunities in exploration hot spots across southern Africa will be able to benefit from the seamless provision of technical services from our global network of offices combining local knowledge with global expertise.”

Jonathan Crowther, Founder and Director of CCA, said: “We are delighted to be part of the SLR team, which will allow us to offer SLR’s broad range of specialist environmental services to new and existing clients.”

This is SLR’s fifth acquisition in southern Africa and provides further leverage to promote the company’s multi-disciplinary offering to new and existing clients in regulatory compliance, Social Licence to Operate (SLTO), engineering, HSE services and EIAs across in the expanding sub-Saharan market.

For more information go to: www.slrconsulting.com in accelerating the growth of telecom services in the continent and at the same time benefit the environment by avoiding duplication of infrastructure.”

The towers will expand HTA’s coverage on the African continent to over 7,800 owned towers, assisting in allowing customers to preserve capital, focus on their core business and mitigate the proliferation of towers through the sharing of infrastructure.

Chuck Green, Chief Executive of HTA, said: “HTA is proud to be chosen by Airtel as its partner for the ownership and management of its existing infrastructure. This is a ground-breaking move for HTA and Airtel’s decision is a significant endorsement of HTA’s reputation, management team and operating track record.”

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Re s o u r ce s

MTN SA Launch Africa’s First Solar Cooling System

Vodacom Group Customers Increase, Drives Growth

MTN South Africa has unveiled the continent’s first ever concentrating solar cooling system to power the firm’s data centres.

“MTN is acutely aware of the impact of global warming and its adverse impact on emerging markets including South Africa.

We continuously explore ways in which we can not only reduce our carbon footprint, but it will substantially reduce our electricity consumption which will release additional capacity for the national grid,” Zunaid Bulbulia, MTN South Africa CEO. The cooling system, which is based in MTN’s head office in Johannesburg, is driven by Linear Fresnel Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology, which uses heat generated from the sun and has a peak cooling capacity of 330 kilowatts.

It also consists of 242 solar mirrors that cover a total area of 484 square metres which track the sun to generate pressurised hot water at 180 degrees Celsius. The mirrors move into a self-cleaning position when it rains, and turn down into a protective stow position on cloudy days. The hot water then powers an absorption chiller that produces chilled water circulated into the data centre for the cooling of IT equipment.

The parties involved in designing the cooling system include REACH Renewable, AOS Consulting Engineers, Industrial Solar and Voltas Technologies, among others.

The Vodacom group is on its way to profitability as its data and international businesses make the largest contributions to growth.

“In the past year we’ve added more than eight million new customers, taking our active customer base to just shy of 60 million. Group revenue for the quarter was 18.3 billion rand, an increase of 4.3 per cent over last year,” Vodacom group CEO Shameel Joosub said in a statement.

Group service revenue increased 1.8 per cent to 14.8 million rand, up 5.0 per cent and group data revenue increased 23.2 per cent to 3.5 million rand, and currently 24.1 per cent of service revenue.

“Data continues to be a key growth driver with the number of active data customers increasing 69.5 per cent. Mobile data revenue including M-Pesa grew 51.1 per cent.

We now have more than 6.6 million M-Pesa customers. We increased the number of 3G sites in our international operations by more than 50 per cent,” Joosub explained.

Group active customers grew 15.6 per cent to 59.6 million and active data customers grew 36.7 per cent to 25.3 million.

“We continue to make progress with our handset financing programme to put data capable devices into people’s hands. The number of active smartphones and tablets on our network increased 19.3 per cent to 8.0 million devices,” said Joosub.

“The average monthly data usage on smartphones increased 44.5 per cent to 312 megabytes per device and usage on tablets increased 43.0 per cent to 848 megabytes per device.”

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In 2010, MTN revealed South Africa’s first tri-generation methanepowered plant to electrify a new building, housing a data centre and a test switch centre.

Olu Soluade, Managing Director of AOS Consulting Engineers, explained that the cooling system was one step towards businesses becoming more environmentally conscious of their operations: “The development of sustainable solutions and the implementation of technologies for the benefit of mankind is the prerogative of all of us. The continuous commitment to the reduction of our carbon footprint is the hallmark of sustainable development administered by professionals,” said Soluade.

Similarly, Cristian Cernat, Managing Director of Voltas Technologies, added that the cooling system and its innovation can extend beyond renewable energy and into making a broader economic contribution: “The opportunity to model and design the installation using a high temperature heat source, architectonically integrated, creates a real opportunity for local manufacturing and future jobs creation in the field of renewable energy equipment production in our country.”

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Tech n o l o g y

MTN Ghana to Invest Further Resources into Data Technology MTN Ghana has announced they will continue to further invest into data technologies to improve customer experience and broaden opportunities for Ghanaians, in order to reap the benefits of communications technology.

The statement came during engagements between MTN officials and members of the media in the western and central regions of Africa.

Briefing the media, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Cynthia Lumor, reiterated the fact that MTN was the only telecommunications provider in Ghana to have met the license conditions for the rollout of 3G sites in the country.

“MTN has consistently adopted a strategic and systematic approach to expanding and updating the

network in order to provide reliable services that are relevant to the lives of our subscribers,” she said.

Starting with fewer than 900 2G sites when MTN began operations in Ghana, MTN now has over 2275 2G sites and 1090 3G sites as well as over 4,000 km of fibre. “These investments are to empower customers to do more with voice and data; to use today’s devices to improve efficiencies, to stay in touch and to

C o n s t r u c t i o n

Kwikspace breaks into Namibia Rentals Market As the construction of the Namibia’s largest dam, the Neckartal Dam, is underway along the Fish River; South African company, Kwikspace Modular Buildings (Kwikspace) has made a contribution to the progress thereof, having been contracted to provide prefabricated rental units for the construction team. This project which took place at the beginning of June 2014 is a milestone for the company as it marks their first ever delivery of rental units in Namibia. They have the largest rentals fleet in Sub-Saharan Africa and have had extensive prior involvement in Namibia.

w w w . k w i k s pace . c o . z a The construction of the Neckartal Dam is of great significance to the country as it will create a reservoir capable of holding 857 million cubic metres of water, based on figures by Salini Impregilo S.p.A. On completion, the dam will bring about economic growth and prosperity in the country as it will

expand business opportunities. Our investments are also to support the innovations we develop so we are ready for what customers request tomorrow,” said Lumor.

She also used the occasion to ask for the support of the media in combating some of the challenges that hinder implementation and affect the delivery of quality services to customers. Notable among them are frequent fibre cuts and battery thefts at MTN sites.

The Regional Technical Manager for the Western and Central business district, Teddy Hayford-Acquah, also shared information on specific initiatives being undertaken to improve the data experience in the two regions.

He revealed that MTN was increasing the data speeds in both the western and central regions to enhance the data experience. “Data is key for us and we are taking all the necessary steps to ensure that customers get value for their money,” he stated. be used for power production, irrigation and agricultural development. In addition, the development thereof has created a number of job opportunities.

To ensure the smooth running of the construction process, the completion of infrastructure such as accommodation camps and office space for the construction team is an essential factor. For this reason, Kwikspace’s rapidly deployed units are highly suitable to the project requirements.

Kwikspace Modular Buildings’ Regional Sales Manager for the Western Cape, Leon du Plessis, commented: “We value the fact that we are able to contribute to a project that will see great growth take place in our neighbouring country, and we’re equally pleased that we have entered new territory with our rentals fleet.”

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from Shanghai China-africa relations have reached a new historic level. with increasing common interests and mutual needs, the two sides have great opportunities to accelerate their economic and trade co-operation Writer Emily Jarvis

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here is an ongoing debate amongst african leaders, as they continue to insist that the relationship with China is not a one-way street; that it includes more trade than aid. In 2011, trade between africa and China was at $166 billion, according to the economist. “the good thing about this partnership is that it’s a give and take,” claims Faida mitifu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s ambassador to the us. what then is China taking? In China Returns to Africa, a collection of essays published by Columbia university press, the editors Chris alden, Daniel large and Ricardo soares de oliveira

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noted: “the overarching driver has been the Chinese government’s strategic pursuit of resources, and attempts to ensure raw material supplies for growing energy needs within China.”

Why Africa?

China, the world’s second-biggest economy currently buys more than one-third of africa’s oil. In addition, China’s industries are getting raw materials such as coal from south africa, iron ore from gabon, timber from equatorial guinea and copper from Zambia. moreover, Chinese industries use africa as a platform to reach new markets in a potentially enormous and

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to South africa scalable outlet. “China is repositioning itself continuously for the new africa that’s emerging,” says kobus van der wath, founder of Beijing Axis, an international advisory and procurement firm based in Beijing.

Chinese products have flooded markets in Johannesburg, luanda, lagos, Cairo, Dakar and other cities, towns and villages in africa. those goods include clothing, jewellery, electronics, building materials and much more. “even little things like matches, tea bags, children’s toys and bathing soaps are coming from China,” said Bankole aluwe of alaba market in lagos, nigeria. of course, one of the most prominent factors as to why african

consumers like Chinese products is because they are affordable.

“Chinese goods are cheaper than those from europe and north america. In our business, price is very important to customers,” mr aluwe added.

trading origins the origin of China’s fascination with africa is easy to see. Between the sahara and the kalahari deserts lie many of the raw materials desired by its industries. China recently overtook america as the world’s largest net importer of oil. almost 80% of Chinese imports from africa are mineral products. China is africa’s top business partner, with trade

exceeding $166 billion. But it is not all minerals. Exports to Africa are a mixed bag, with machinery making up 29%. the size of China’s direct investment in africa is harder to measure than trade. last summer, China’s Commerce minister, Chen Deming, said the number “exceeded $14.7 billion, up 60% from 2009”. around the same time the Chinese ambassador to south africa, tian Xuejun, said: “China’s investment in Africa of various kinds exceeds $40 billion.” Apparently, the first figure is for african investments reported to the government. the second includes estimates of Chinese funds flowing in from tax shelters around the world.

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Is China’s Move to Africa too Aggressive?

China’s inroads into africa’s agricultural sector include the 20 demonstration centres that president hu said will “help african countries increase production capacity.” But there was a backlash when the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo leased thousands of unutilised hectares of land to Zte International, a Chinese company, in a deal that Oxfam, a UK charity, and others have labelled a “land grab.” the “land grab” accusation may be overstated, according to a study by the uk’s standard Chartered Bank. But the authors of the study believe that in the longer term China could well seek to import much more food from africa which, by world Bank estimates, has 60 per cent of the world’s uncultivated land. “given africa’s potential, China is likely to turn towards it.” the dispute over land adds to growing criticisms of the manner of China’s aggressive africa penetration. many africans often refer to the poor quality of Chinese products and blame their low prices for the collapse of local industries.

Comatex and Batexci, two leading textile companies in Mali, have been severely affected by cheap fabrics from Asia. “Hundreds of textile factories collapsed across nigeria because they could not compete with cheap Chinese garments,” noted the economist, which approvingly added that the tanzanian government has stopped the Chinese from selling in that country’s markets. the Chinese are welcome as investors, but not as vendors. performance assessments of some Chinese investors have not been the best. the managers of Chinese-run mines in Zambia have been accused of not taking adequate safety measures

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Chinese Prime Minister shaking hands with the SA Prime Minister

for their local workers. Further to this, the cheap price of Chinese raw materials in the construction industry is damaging the building sector in africa, as many companies have turned to using these materials for the simple reason that they are cheaper; rather than using in-country resources. plus, the same trend also occurs in the manufacturing sector, with China’s manufacturing industry currently at an all time high.

scalable trading Partner there is no doubt that trade between africa and China has grown at a breathtaking pace. The figures were at $10.5 billion in 2000, $40 billion in 2005 and $166 billion in 2011.

In an article in This Is Africa, sven grimm and Daouda Cissé state that in recent years China’s economy at times has grown at more than 10

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per cent a year, whilst cheap labour has helped reduce production costs, hence cheaper products. they also note: “the low level of the yuan compared to the other major world trading currencies such as the us dollar, the euro and the yen” attracts african importers.

China is currently africa’s largest trading partner, having surpassed the us in 2009. the Chinese government is eager to cement China’s dominance by reinforcing its image through initiatives such as a $20 billion credit to african countries to develop infrastructure and the african talents programme, which is intended to train 30,000 africans in various sectors.

China’s give-and-take relationship also plays out in other forms.

Chinese construction firms are acquiring enormous construction

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contracts. the China Railway Construction Corp. (CRC) signed a $1.5 billion contract in september 2012 to modernise a railway system in western nigeria. that same month, China south locomotive and Rolling stock Corporation, the largest train manufacturer in China, signed a $400 million deal to supply locomotives to a south african firm, Transnet. in february 2012 the CRC announced projects in nigeria, Djibouti and ethiopia worth about $1.5 billion in total.

It is plain to see that the country is deepening its direct economic ties. as such, the past 13 months have seen an unprecedented amount of attention on strengthening these ties in africa, according to a new policy briefing by Brookings Institution scholar yun sun. over the past year, Beijing has granted

$10 billion in direct loans to african governments; the focus of Chinese investment is clearly evolving. “one striking feature of these loans lies in China’s new priority in financing infrastructure, agricultural and manufacturing industries in africa,” writes sun, “a strategy that shifts away from its traditional heavy investment in africa’s extractive industries.” what’s more, there are now in excess of one million Chinese immigrants in africa and the number is on the up, ranging from shortterm construction workers to entrepreneurs aiming to settle there for the long term. these new arrivals are seeking both opportunities and escape from oppression in their homelands. the Chinese are the fourth-most-numerous visitors to south africa.

Chinese investors face huge challenges in africa. In an article in the globe and mail, a Canadian newspaper, David Berman maintained that cultural differences between Chinese and africans, including the language barriers, often lead to social tensions, and that poor infrastructure in africa makes business operations difficult. frequent power outages in some countries raise production costs, whilst policies towards businesses are inconsistent. we have to remember that african governments can raise taxes whenever they want, and with the effects of the global recession still in place, most african economies are still in a fragile state.

China hopes to minimise social tensions by bridging the information gap. Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency has increased its bureaus in africa to more than 20. In 2008 the China africa news service was launched, to report “China-africa news stories from african, Chinese and western sources.” In early 2012 China Central television (CCtV) opened a broadcast hub in nairobi, Kenya — it’s first outside of its Beijing headquarters. Its strategy has been to hire some of africa’s brightest journalists to report on africa to viewers in about 170 countries. “we have the news of what is happening in africa, we tell a positive story,” says pang Xinhua, the CCtV managing editor. But yu-shan wu, a researcher at the south african Institute of international Affairs, sees a broader motive: “China is actively introducing its culture and values,” she says, and calls the push “the rise of China’s state-led media dynasty in africa.”

sino-African relationship sino-african links have broadened in the past few years. the relationship is now almost as diverse as africa itself. until

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recently, China concentrated on a few big resource-rich countries, including Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan and Zambia. But places like Ethiopia and Congo, where minerals are scarce or hard to extract, are now getting more attention, not least as more Chinese businesses branch out into non-resource sectors. State-owned companies compete with private firms—both tempted by margins often far higher than at home. Young Chinese privateequity funds are also coming to Africa.

African elites see China as their biggest partner among emerging countries, but by no means the only one. Brazil, Russia and India (also in the BRICS club), as well as Turkey, South Korea and several others are following China’s path. Indian companies sign deals worth about a third of SinoAfrican trade, and some estimates see that proportion rising to 50%.

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The Changing Face of Africa

China’s new priority in financing infrastructure, agricultural and manufacturing industries in Africa, a strategy that shifts away from its traditional heavy investment in Africa’s extractive industries”

China’s image in Africa, once marred by suspicion, is changing.

Businessmen facing Chinese competition, especially in farming, retail and petty trading, are still unhappy with China’s entry into the continent. In Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, new rules restrict the industries or areas in which Chinese can operate. Yet a growing number of Africans say the Chinese create jobs, transfer skills and spend money in local economies. Only in Africa’s largest economies has China become less popular. There it is increasingly seen as a competitor.

Currently, the Chinese people are working hard to realise the Chinese dream of national revival, while African people are committed to the African dream

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of gaining strength through unity and achieving development and renewal. With a spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, China will continue to take concrete measures to build a Sino-African community of shared destinies featuring all-round, diversified and deep cooperation. It will work to advance China-Africa economic and trade cooperation to help both sides make their respective dreams come true. China is also willing to enhance its cooperation with the rest of the world to promote Africa’s prosperity and development.

The China-Africa relationship will get stronger. The editors of China Returns to Africa sum it up: So long as Africa’s development requires huge foreign investments, so long will China continue to be relevant. “Irrespective of the concerns being voiced in some

ness

Irrespective of the concerns being voiced in some circles in Africa, Chinese involvement is widely considered to be a positive-sum game”

circles in Africa, Chinese involvement is widely considered to be a positivesum game.”

China-Africa relations have reached a new historic level. Africa, a continent full of hope and thirsty for development, has become one of the world’s fastest growing

regions, while China, the world’s largest developing country, has maintained forward momentum in its development. With increasing common interests and mutual needs, the two sides have great opportunities to accelerate their economic and trade co-operation.

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COCA-COLA INVESTS AN ADDITIONAL U S $ 5 B I L L I O N F O R L O N G - T E R M

SUSTAInABle gRoWTh IN AFRICA

Coca-Cola also expands its Replenish Africa initiative to bring safe water access to 6 million people across the continent by 2020 SOURCE: Coca-Cola GB he Coca-Cola Company and its african bottling partners today announced a new investment of us$5 billion during the u.s. africa leaders summit. the investment, to be made over the next six years, increases its total announced investment in africa to $17 billion from 2010 to 2020. the company and its bottling partners anticipate that this investment will fund new manufacturing lines, cooling and distribution equipment and production; create additional jobs and opportunities across CocaCola’s african supply chain; and support key sustainability initiatives and programs focused on safe water access, sustainable sourcing,

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We and our local bottling partners have seen, firsthand, the great promise and potential of this dynamic, growing and vibrant continent”

women’s economic empowerment, community well-being and operational efficiency improvements. “as an organisation that has been part of the economic and social fabric of africa since 1928, we and our local bottling partners have seen, firsthand, the great promise and potential of this dynamic, growing and vibrant continent,” said muhtar kent, Chairman and Ceo of the Coca-Cola Company. “even as we see tremendous growth potential in africa, we know that the strength and sustainability of our business are tied directly to the strength and sustainability of the african communities we proudly serve.” the company has also signed a letter of Intent to launch Source

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SOURCE: Coca-Cola GB

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Africa, an initiative to secure more consistent and sustainable local ingredient sourcing for its products in partnership with the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition and Grow Africa. the initiative will initially focus on sustainable mango and tea production in kenya; citrus, mango and pineapple production in nigeria; and mango in malawi. longer-term, the program could expand to focus on sustainable ingredient production in ethiopia, senegal, tanzania and mozambique. Source Africa builds on the experience of Coca-Cola’s work in sustainable agriculture, including Project Nurture, an $11.5 million partnership supporting 50,000 small-scale fruit farmers in east africa to sustainably grow their crops and income. kent added: “as a business, we’re committed to creating public value and helping our communities overcome development challenges.

In africa, we believe we can do more to source agricultural ingredients locally, with significant supply potential that’s underdeveloped and underutilised. tapping this potential could accelerate the growth of our business and africa’s emerging economies, making our supply chains more cost effective and enabling sub-saharan africa to supply more ingredients to growing markets in africa and beyond.” at the summit, kent also announced that the Coca-Cola africa foundation (TCCAf) will expand its Replenish africa Initiative (RaIn) through 2020 to support pan-african safe water access and sanitation programs for an additional 4 million African people. This new expansion adds to tCCaF’s original RaIn commitment to bring safe water access to 2 million people across the continent by 2015. through the RaIn program expansion, TCCAf and its

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A boy enjoys a refreshing drink of safe water from a tap installed at his primary school in Pouma, Cameroon.

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As a business, we’re committed to creating public value and helping our communities overcome development challenges”

public and private partners will work to improve sustainable safe water access for 6 million africans; economically empower up to 250,000 women and youth; promote health and hygiene in thousands of communities, schools, and health centres; and return up to 18.5 billion litres of water to nature and communities. to date, tCCaF has made investments and collaborated with more than 140 partners to reach 2 million people with sustainable, safe water access across at least 37 of africa’s 55 countries by the end of 2015. the company and its foundations also remain committed to other programs focused on improving community well-being and women’s economic empowerment in africa, including:

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A man pumps safe drinking water for children at a newly installed water pipe at their school in Kindia City, Guinea.

Project Last Mile: In June 2014, Coca-Cola, its foundations, and public and private partners announced a $21 million expansion of the medical supply delivery program to an additional eight African countries over the next five years.

In Africa, we believe we can do more to source agricultural ingredients locally, with significant supply potential that’s underdeveloped and underutilised”

5by20: to date, Coca-Cola has reached more than 370,000 women entrepreneurs in 18 african countries through its 5by20 economic empowerment initiative. since 5by20 launched in 2010, more than 550,000 women entrepreneurs in the global Coca-Cola value chain have been economically empowered on the initiative’s journey to reach 5 million by 2020.

EKOCENTER: In 2014, Coca-Cola is piloting its publicprivate partnership to bring sustainable community markets operated by women entrepreneurs in six countries in africa, asia and north america.

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kenya africa outlook takes a closer look at kenya’s business and investment potential Writer Emily Jarvis Source: UNCTAD

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SOURCE: UNCTAD

enya lies on both sides of the equator on the east coast of Africa.

The country borders Somalia, Ethiopia and Sudan to the north, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south and the Indian Ocean to the east.

The country’s port of Mombasa serves most of the Eastern and Central African landlocked countries, including Burundi, Ethiopia, parts of Northern Tanzania, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda. In 2010, the population was estimated at 40.5 million, with approximately 8 million people living in the urban areas.

Also notable is Kenya’s quality of life. With pleasant temperatures year-round in much of the country, investors rate Kenya highly as a location for family and social life. There is a good supply of international schools, quality hospitals, shopping malls, housing and sports and leisure facilities.

Since independence in 1963, Kenya has maintained a diversified economy in which the private sector has always played a strong role. While there have been periods of tension, the country has never descended into civil war nor succumbed to massive state intervention in the economy. Nevertheless, the 80s, 90s and early 2000s did see a period of economic stagnation with falls in FDI, deterioration of governance and neglect of infrastructure. The move by the government towards making the private sector a new engine of growth and promoting FDI has been a consequence of this and has brought rewards in terms of GDP growth.

In this light, Keninvest was created in 2004 and given autonomy in 2007 to market the country’s opportunities, facilitate investors and ensure aftercare.

The Prime Minister meets with the private sector every six weeks and the President also on a less frequent basis.

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several reform bills have been lined up, including a bill on public private partnerships (ppps), which is going through parliament and is designed to attract much-needed investment to the country’s infrastructure upgrading and development. the privatisation Commission has been set up to manage the government’s privatisation programme in a transparent and competitive way. Furthermore, the government has published its Vision 2030, which includes clear benchmarks on how it wishes to develop and bring investment into a number of key sectors.

Challenges facing Investors

Kenya’s diversified economy and long history of private sector development ensure a wealth of investment opportunity. the country has great strengths and advantages as an investment location. however, the country also faces certain challenges.

Chief among these is the reliability of the power supply. Companies are required to invest in their own power

generation in order to ensure a backup. however, this also presents a business opportunity. another concern relates to the administration of taxation. investors can face delays in obtaining refunds of VAT and withholding taxes and customs clearance can take time with goods subject to a multiplicity of inspections. security is also a concern. major efforts have been made to tackle crime and this is paying off in terms of increased safety in nairobi. however, the instability in neighbouring somalia, while outside kenya’s jurisdiction, is having an impact, not least in higher insurance costs for shipping. yet the signs are that the government of kenya is taking this threat seriously and doing its best to mitigate the effects. in addition, the post-election violence of 2008, now hopefully addressed by the 2010 constitution, has nevertheless marked investors.

Vision 2030

the government’s economic policy priorities are set out in its Vision 2030. this document and its many

TOURISM

subsidiaries articulate the country’s strategy over the period of 2008 to 2030 with the aim of becoming a newly industrialising middle income country, providing a high quality of life to all its citizens by the year 2030. the strategy also places the country firmly within the growing opportunities of the east african region. the strategy is based on three pillars - economic, social and political - that are to be implemented in successive five-year medium-term plans, which aim to significantly improve the country’s infrastructure, including road and rail. the social pillar focuses on health, education and training, the environment, poverty elimination and housing and urbanisation. the political pillar emphasises strategies to strengthen the rule of law, improve electoral and political processes, enhance democracy and public service delivery, improve transparency and accountability, and address security, peace-building and conflict management. in particular, the economic pillar focuses on six priority sectors:

as a leading sector, the aim is for kenya to be among the world’s top 10 long-haul tourist destinations with an increase in contribution to gDp, hotel beds and spend per visitor. Diversification of the tourism product includes the development of three resort cities, increasing of premium safari parks, creation of niche products (cultural, eco-sports and waterbased tourism), revamping business tourism and investing in new conference facilities.

AGRICULTURE

emphasis is placed on increasing productivity in the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sector at the same time as expanding processing activities. the aim is to improve crop yields, make use of currently uncultivated land, reform land use policies, expanding irrigation schemes and better branding kenyan products.

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The aim is to move towards greater efficiency in the country’s marketing system by strengthening informal trade to increase the supply to formal traders such as supermarkets, increasing the number of large stores through the attraction of new chains and developing a free trade port at lamu.

MANUFACTURING FOR THE REGIONAL MARKET

kenya aims to become a prime supplier of basic goods to the eastern and central african markets before moving into the manufacture of niche products for other markets. the strategy proposes to invest in training, research and development and attract large investors in agro-processing industries to target local and international markets. the development of economic clusters and sme business parks is envisaged.

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WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE

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the strategy envisages kenya becoming “the top Bpo destination for africa”. emphasis will be on attracting investment from transnational corporations that are active in the sector and championing local players. work has begun on the construction of a Bpo park outside nairobi that will feature quality infrastructure and streamlined administration.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Development of this sector will focus on increasing savings rates, reducing the share of the population without access to a bank account, addressing the cost of borrowing, and introducing credit reference checks. at the same time, institutional capital will be consolidated through pension fund reform and expansion of bond and equity markets. skills will also be developed in the sector and the legal framework will be reviewed to facilitate the country’s position as a regional financial centre.

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susceptible to climatic conditions, but with peak electricity demand currently at 1,191 MW and growing at 7% a year, power outages during dry periods are frequent. This gap is partly addressed through diesel generation. KenGen has an emergency power producer agreement with Aggreko for 290 MW. Separately, many businesses also own standby generators.

Aware of the environmental and financial cost, the government is encouraging the production of energy from renewable sources and has implemented a policy of feed-in tariffs to support this. Chief among the energies being promoted, although not subject to a feed-in tariff, is geothermal power, for which there is an estimated capacity in the Rift Valley of between 3,000 and 5,000 MW, and which, since 1957, has already proved itself as a source of energy, albeit at

KenGen for 280 MW. In addition to geothermal energy, the government is keen to encourage wind power generation and several projects have been announced. This includes a 300 MW average capacity wind farm of 353 turbines on Lake Turkana (by Lake Turkana Wind Power), and a 60 MW wind power project on the Kinangop Plateau (by Aeolus Kenya). Other sources being encouraged are solar, biomass and small hydro plants.

The government is encouraging the production of energy from renewable sources and has implemented a policy of feed-in tariffs”

a current output of 202 MW. To this end, the government created the Geothermal Development Company.

Its role is to prospect and develop blocks and then sell exploitation licenses to investors to develop steam turbine power generation plants.

The first project consisted of 25 wells drilled in the Ol Karia field, which yielded 196 MW. The second project, currently underway is Menegai Phase 1 and consists of four blocks with an estimated capacity of 400 MW. GDC is mapping these blocks by drilling 120 wells. With further development, GDC estimates that the Menegai field could yield 1,250 MW. Overall, GDC hopes to produce 2,000 MW of steam and is seeking total investment of US$10 billion, of which it has already obtained a significant amount. Other geothermal projects include one by

Bright Prospects

Perhaps the best summary of Kenya’s prospects is that they are as bright as Kenya chooses to make them.

While this could apply elsewhere, it is particularly apt for Kenya, given the country’s enormous advantages.

Kenya has a strategic location, a port and a coastline, a broad manufacturing base, the best business infrastructure in the region, an able and enterprising workforce, excellent resources for agriculture and tourism – the list is not endless, but it is long.

The challenges to be met are serious but hardly insuperable. An investor with an interest in any of the major opportunity areas mentioned above would be most unwise to ignore the potential of a country that is working hard to renew itself and strengthen its status as a regional powerhouse.

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SOURCE: UNCTAD

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is an area where continued growth and development is always needed. Kenya currently has an installed power generation capacity of 1,330 MW. 80% of this is produced

by KenGen, a state-owned company, which derives 65% of its power from hydroelectric sources. 30% percent of its power is obtained from seven dams on the Tana River. Thus not only is the country’s power generation

L e a d i n g C o m p a n i e s frica outlook is a leading business to business publication that promotes and showcases the leading companies on the Continent. The digital and print publications are aimed at boardroom and hands on decision-makers in a wide range of industries, reaching over 135,000 business executives every month. With over 11,000 unique visitors to our website on a weekly basis africa outlook is the platform to promote your business success. each month we feature leading companies and business executives by profiling their operations in their own words. Covering all aspects from supply chain, investments and developments, best practice, innovation, growth plans and future project and products we aim to promote all that is good about industry, economy and business. producing business profiles across all sectors and regions of africa we give companies the opportunity to tell their story to our readers.

Emily Jarvis Sub-Editor

w w w . a f r i c a o u t l o o k m a g . c o m

If you want to enjoy the exposure and coverage we can offer please feel free to contact me and we can discuss the opportunity at length. Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world.

emily.jarvis@outlookpublishing.com

T I G O

T A N Z A N I A

over the last 18 months, tigo tanzania has expanded their network coverage to bring a full range of digital services to a wider audience Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Donovan Smith

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ince 1994, tigo tanzania has been bringing a digital lifestyle that is second to none in the region. with highly competitive and affordable services including voice, data services and mobile financial services, tigo has registered over 7 million subscribers to their network. tigo is one of the largest companies in the country, employing around 650 people directly and indirectly employing approximately 15,000 people, through distribution networks offering products and airtime and direct sales centres.

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Diego Gutierrez, General Manager of Tigo Tanzania, has set his sights on helping make Tigo the number one provider of new and traditional mobile services to the region, through a combination of innovative new technologies in all handsets and a constantly expanding data network: “Every one of our subscribers has opted to use our products, whether it be for calls and texts, data services, financial services or for social interaction because we offer a stable and wide reaching network that is the most affordable on the market.”

broadcom ltd

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e have a head office in Kenya and entities in the name of Broadcom (TZ) Limited, Broadcom Networks and Broadgreen Networks in different countries. Our organization has three main business units. These are Implementation, Managed Services and Solutions Divisions. The divisions provide telecommunication network installations and commissioning services, Network Managed Services (Maintenance) and Network Solutions to cater for telecommunication end to end requirements.

Tigo’s Data Services Officer Augustino Garani from Kigamboni Tigo shop assists a customer to access internet on his mobile phone right after the official opening of the new branch.

Tigo Tanzania General Manager Diego Gutierrez.

Expanding Horizons

Over the last 18 months, Tigo Tanzania has further expanded their already national network into further towns in the Lake, Northern and Southern regions of the country to bring their range of services to a wider audience. With a third of Tanzania’s population living in isolated and rural areas, having a telecommunications provider in that area can really make a difference. The company has been investing an average of US $2 million per week in all aspects of network expansion including infrastructure, service facilities for the network and technicians to ensure the diverse landscape in the rural locations is traversable. Tigo Tanzania has been working hard to ensure that with the new network expansion plans,

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Our service offering includes; design, implementation and commissioning of various types of both wireless and wire-line telecommunication products.

We are particularly experienced with mobile networks, covering all network elements including infrastructure, fibre optics systems, radio access and transmission network. We work in a multi-vendor environment and are able to provide complete planning, installation and commissioning of virtually all dominant mobile technology products in the industry.

Our Managed Services (Maintenance) division provides complete maintenance solution for the mobile industry and covers all managed services for both active and passive telecommunication networks. In the same token, our Network Solution division strives to give a piece of mind to network operators by providing complete mobile broadband solutions covering the whole telecom ecosystem.

Our engineers have implemented wireless projects in Zimbabwe, Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Mali, Nigeria, Sudan, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi besides many in Kenya. Similarly, we have provided telecommunication network solutions across Africa.

Tel +254-20-3746669 Email info@broadcom.co.ke

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elepin software is an innovative, global pioneer enabling electronic payment solutions for the wireless industry. Founded in Canada in 2006, telepin software has emerged as a global leading software provider for mobile network operators, financial institutions (msp/Iso), banks, and payment service providers.

Customer Engagement Specialist Jackson Jerry introduces the Experience Zone to the District Commissioner of Babati Hon. Khalid Mandia where customers can test and buy the available smartphones at the new Tigo Shop launched in Babati, Manyara.

comes the new data services in the country. with the basic eDge data service already widely accessible in the region through current towers, tigo has now brought 3g+ to the network and has upgraded most of their towers to accommodate the increased demand in data speeds. “In past years, we lagged a little in terms of coverage across the country, but with strategic investment and careful planning, we have already caught up with and overtaken some of our competitors within our coverage area. our goal is to have over 90% coverage for Tanzania over the next five years,” remarks gutierrez.

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Tigo has now brought 3G+ to the network and has upgraded most of their towers to accommodate the increased demand in data speeds”

telepin has built the most advanced and sophisticated mobile financial service platform. the system has been deployed in over 40 countries across africa, asia, middle east, and the americas. telepin powers the world’s largest systems for mobile money, mobile payments, and remittance in some of the harshest environments requiring a highly adaptable, malleable, and available end-to-end system. we have developed and deployed many client types for our customer to enable a complete integrated solution including mobile point-of-sale, nFC, kiosk, cardless atm, and white-labelled consumer and merchant mobile applications.

Telepin’s product solutions provide flexible, innovative ways to complete financial transactions, as well as providing our customers’ unprecedented management and control of their intricate merchant/ payment networks. while providing exceptional support to our world-wide customer base, telepin’s delivers scalable, reliable, high performance and costeffective electronic payment solutions by using a modular, component-based architecture. telepin’s platform provides a common centralized architecture incorporating business management, distribution/merchant management, and personalization and promotion for all of the telepin products. our solutions have been designed and certified to work with infrastructure from both telecommunication and financial service providers. our systems are secure, scalable and flexible and can be readily modified to offer new premium products and services, such as customized reporting, mobile payment, gift cards, mobile ticketing, and loyalty programs telepin software #100-411 legget drive Ottawa, Ontario | CANADA www.telepin.com

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Company hALF Technology Associates PAGE EDT Thumbs up! Tigo Tanzania General Manager Diego Gutierrez (L) and Facebook Director for International Growth and Partnerships Nicola D’ Elia during the launch of partnership between Tigo & Facebook in which all Tigo customers in the country will get free access to Facebook services in Kiswahili.

Innovations and Mobile Financial Services

By partnering with Facebook and cooperating to launch the Swahili interface, we brought the internet to millions of people for the first time”

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In February of this year, Tigo Tanzania launched the first cross-border mobile money transfer service, offering its customers the opportunity to send money to neighbouring countries such as Rwanda. The service features an automatic currency converter with up to date exchange rates.

Additionally, in April, Tigo partnered with Facebook to give all their subscribers free access to the social media site with a new interface written specifically in Swahili, the official language of Tanzania. The partnership with Facebook allowed many subscribers the chance to use the internet for the first time. This new found freedom has been widely regarded as a trailblazing partnership in the region and won many plaudits from companies and residents alike. “By partnering with Facebook and cooperating to launch the Swahili interface, we brought the internet to millions of people for the first time. It gave many the chance to see the global social impact that the website has and from that they have had a

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quamDar eaqui es Salaam sum ium based fugitis ICTciunto teniacompany, vendaeperro Technology il molorib Associates uscipsam Limited queTanzania con niendesed (TA) hasexpel been providing molumworld-class nobit, officimaxime ICT & financial velit services atquissolutions eturios to the Tanzanian market for many years. Mr. Mesam

sitatibuLuptatint, comnit mo odiatus Rizvi, the company’s Managing Director, autem fuga. sit viducium spoke about TA’sNequiae service offerings and vollestibus ad with quiatquo tectates an their relationship Tigo Tanzania, aperumlocal quatem.

Num et explian important partner. derit, consedit optam qui cus necea dolorepe lab inctus.ASSOCIATES ABOUT TECHNOLOGY

Ecum eni velicimo totaectatus Technology (TA), part of the coritatur,Associates ut et aut eveleni modios Technology Associates Group, is a leading mos modio beatatum consequi IT services and systems integration blaceaqui company established across Sub Sahara Africa and theniet Middle East. Offering a e con niBore et resed magnisqui wide range of ICT solutions, Technology berion remquam volum fugitas Associates differseatibus from other provide lluptam queservice non et providers by implementing our vision: magnatibusam aspelitam ipsant, que

nonemquam, sed ut qui dolutem “To partner our customers by providing poriam intiam voluptatemos ant, omnis cutting edge technology and business autemque dolessim quo ipsapid ucietum impacting solutions to help them improve fuga. Et eatem volupta ssimaximus their service delivery, increase revenue, audae venis ut quam sam, in earum et ut lower costs and broaden their market qui volorepta dolor maxim illupta pliscip reach. We do this throughout the region saeprae mollore magnimust aut adi by delivering exceptional levels of service seque voluptur alit, ius, vera pro omnis quality through our team of highly skilled est rem nimus, tem fugiant que occum and motivated professionals.” asit et, cus ex et facerum re rem ium et dolum volentem es que omnimet aut e With us as your IT partner, your technological challenges and milestones Alibust oremolum nosandam into are completely taken care of, leaving te cum lab illuptaspis soluptatur aut enough room for you to focus on the elique odiandanim ex eos earum est, bigger picture. tempernam enempere repre consed quatat harcius tionsequiat magnis Our biggest motivator is a satisfied aspicaectis dereria spicia plitatem and smiling customer. This is the very quaese volupta tetur, voluptas quiam purpose of Technology Associates quate nobis se pro duntur? existence and the biggest driving force behind our success.

Feris dolo vero verspersped que culpa velit peratis et verumendelic te RELATIONSHIP WITH TIGO TANZANIA ipient eos ut quat alia conem hilleca tionsequiam re eiciisc iumquos ex This has been an extremely long journey, eatias voluptatibus adipsan tionsectem which started almost 10 years back, as with que reperovid quae core nusam MOBITEL. Since then we have grown this que vendebis ipsam rem aut quodici relationship and feel extremely delighted doluptae dolorporpor aut expedic and satisfied to have achieved a status temporporis dem eum eatGent pra as one of their key partners for having preped quatem elessuntur, sus modi contributed to their ongoing success. quamenisqui non eum simolup tatque et estest, occus aut et mo eos aut Tel (255) 22 2121594/5 Tel +??mrizvi@techno-associates.co.tz ? ??? ???

Email Email +?? ? ??? ???

www.techno-associates.com www.yourwebsiteurlgoeshere.com

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whole new world opened up to them that they never knew existed. Now these subscribers are evolving to use email, other social media sites and downloading content and media,” proclaims Gutierrez.

By far the biggest impacting innovation from Tigo Tanzania has been its mobile financial app, one of the first mobile money apps in the world, which has revolutionised the way Tanzanians access and transact with their money in a simple and easy to use format using their Smartphones.

Out of the 7 million customers currently subscribed to Tigo Tanzania, over 3.5 million have already signed up and are active users of the mobile financial service and are actively using it on their phones. Tigo Pesa has become a vital source of financial inclusion for many Tanzanians. To put this into figures, a government survey in 2013 showed that only 14% of Tanzanians have a formal banking

ERICSSON REAL PERFORMANCE IS ALL THAT COUNTS

W Members of the Tigo sales force attend a training to empower them with product knowledge and customer engagement skills.

account with a financial institution, but 44% use a mobile banking service.

“Mobile money has transformed the way people interact with money and financial services. For example, we have partnered with 15 major banking institutions in the country to help them utilise our mobile money platform for their own customers, which widens the ecosystem,” cites Gutierrez.

hen talking about network performance in the past, the focus was on meeting the huge increase in mobile voice and data traffic. But now Ericsson sees an even more important challenge to address – the diversity of user needs.

Each new device, application and user has unique requirements, and operators are being challenged to meet them all. The key challenge is therefore to build superior performing networks that can handle different types of usage and beat expectations in every situation. We call this Real Performance.

Real Performance is the starting point for every product, system and network we design. We want to enable users around the world to have unique experiences in the right context – because Real Performance is all that counts.

Achieving this requires a unified approach. Ericsson works with operators to bring multiple disciplines together and create sustainable, holistic solutions that meet users’ expectations every time, in every situation.

Tigo Sales agent (R) registers a new customer during an exhibition this year.

Present in Africa since 1896, Ericsson sub-Saharan Africa supports over 100 customers in 43 countries and employs more than 3,000 people.

Ericsson and Tigo Tanzania have been working in partnership focussing on the mobile broadband market and end user behaviour in Tanzania. Close engagement between both parties has led to significant network improvements.

www.ericsson.com

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real

performance

is all that

counts Users want their apps to work – anywhere, anytime.

Ericsson’s app coverage concept helps operators ensure that they deliver real performance to their subscribers.

The customers’ experience of performance is all that counts.

www.ericsson.com/real-performance/

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distributing services

Tigo Tanzania identified early on that having conventional service centres and hubs was not going to work in the country. the majority of tanzanian shops are on the street and not in shopping centres or huddled locations. with this in mind, tigo set up a distribution network and proceeded to send an ‘army’ of sales people to go to the small towns and market the products and airtime on a street level. the workers were not alone, they were backed up by comprehensive training and knowledge based workshops, so that they could facilitate any customer enquiry about the products. this person to person approach has paid dividends, as subscribers have doubled in the small townships and villages. there are a few centralised hubs in the major cities and towns, who offer full product and service capabilities including handsets and a repair facility, but the majority of the sales and distribution is done on a face to face basis. “what we have found is that the sales people who go out to the townships and smaller street markets to showcase tigo’s services have been greeted very positively. a lot of these smaller rural locations would not have had access to our products if we had stuck to traditional central locations. this is what makes Tigo different. We understand the need for street level marketing,” remarks gutierrez.

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Tigo Corporate Responsibility Manager Woinde Shisael (C) in a group photo with mothers and their newborns during the launch of the Mobile Birth Registration project supported by Tigo.

elcom is the owner and operator of the largest independent network of pointof-sale terminals in tanzania. the Bank of tanzania recognizes us as the leading enabler of mobile banking and bill payment services, having developed middleware, wallets, mobile financial solutions (mFs) for cash-in, cash-out and payment of goods and services as well as, mFsto-bank and bank-to-mFs switching. to date, selcom has connected over 25 banks to mobile banking for core services including Barclays, stanbic Bank and standard Chartered. having established a strong foothold in the tanzanian market, selcom is now beginning to expand into other african countries. at selcom, we turn challenges into opportunities. tel +255 78 467 0075 Email info@selcomwireless.com

www.selcom.net

nft Consult

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ounded in 2005, nFt Consult has its headquarters in kampala, uganda with country offices in Rwanda, Burundi & tanzania. human resource outsourcing is our business with specific interest across different sectors. we also offer staff recruitment for permanent positions across all management levels, staff and call centre outsourcing, training and personnel developments. nFt human Resource solutions are customer tailored per industry requirements and are geared towards increased cost savings, process improvement leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness yet simultaneously strengthening quality and control of resources.

We are committed to flexibility, dedication and creativity in meeting our customers’ needs with the aim of developing win-win partnerships.

tel +255 22 2773 588 Email inquiries@nftconsult.com

www.nftconsult.com

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SELCOM.NET

INNOVATION RELIABILITY SERVICE

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New Ideas for New Lives

Flametree East Africa

Tigo Tanzania has taken CSR to a new level in recent months. The company has utilised their expansive network to create a pioneering platform that allows the mother’s of new born children to register their child’s birth using only a basic handset. The new system enables trained staff to visit rural locations with handsets to help the mothers to register their newborns. This project has been done in coordination with the government,

We believe that our customers know what they want from their operator and by listening carefully to this, we can tailor our products and a service to exactly what is wanted”

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lametree East Africa is a communications agency with a passion for pushing boundaries and finding unexpected, effective communication solutions. Our creative approach has an emphasis on strategic collaboration, drawing from both our international experience and local expertise to produce campaigns with maximum market impact.

Babati District Commissioner Hon. Khalid Mandia (C) cuts a ribbon to inaugurate Tigo’s new Tigo shop launched in Babati, Manyara. Looking on is Tigo’s Contact Centre Operations Manager Ms. Halima Nassoro (R) and Tigo’s Customer Service Centre Supervisor for the Northern Zone Ms. Lydia Sakaya (L).

A section of Tigo pavilions with members of Tigo Sales force (in yellow) attend to customers while others remain alert for more walk-ins during a business expo in Lindi.

Unicef and other entities. “This has been a massive project for Tigo and one we are very proud of. By being able to give mothers in isolated locations the ability to register their child with the proper authorities, we have helped make them feel less secluded and a closer to the rest of the population,” explains Gutierrez.

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Through our wonderful partnership with Tigo we have taken our approach to scale, managing national campaigns end to end that utilize smart media in addition to traditional ATL/BTL pathways to produce impressive point of sales results.

We thrive on working with partners from a diversity of sectors. Let’s have a chat to see what we can do for your brand.

Zainab Rashidi, Business Development and Strategy Email

zainab.rashidi@flametreeltd.com

For a company to succeed they must have a certain factor that differentiates them from their competitors, for Tigo Tanzania, that factor is customer understanding.

By listening to customer feedback and quickly identifying areas for improvement or new innovation that could facilitate a need, Tigo has quickly become one of the top operators in the region. “We believe that our customers know what they want from their operator and by listening carefully to this, we can tailor our products and a service to exactly what is wanted.

This has kept us at the forefront of innovation. Of course that is not our only reason for success; we also have a great team of highly motivated people who are very committed to the company,” concludes Gutierrez.

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Africa Outlook is a fantastic platform to share success stories and find ways of growing your business in Africa and through our sister publications, across the world. To discuss your options contact Ben Weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com

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building Networks FOR LIFE

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oliton telmec limited is a telecommunications technology company with their head office based in Nairobi, Kenya. The company was established in 2005, after evolving from soliton systems (est. 1999). the company builds and supports both the basic and complex infrastructure required to enable electronic communications across the nation, which includes data centres, fibre optic lines; and the related routing and transmission equipment, including on-going support backed by service level Agreement. With subsidiary offices in kampala, uganda and a branch in mombasa, kenya to support project implementation in the region, soliton telmec provides services across the east african region. abdirahman sheikh, Ceo of soliton telmec, regards the company’s strong relationship with clients as one of its biggest assets: “we work with our customers at the design stage to choose the most optimal solution using desktop tools, and throughout the process we maintain field teams to ensure that our customers services remain up and running. I think that it is this level of care and attention to our customer’s requirements that sets us apart from our competitors.”

A new level of service

soliton telmec works across the entire east africa telecommunication engineering ecosystem from conceptual design and needs analysis, to maintenance and service connection Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Donovan Smith

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soliton telmec works across the entire ecosystem of telecommunication engineering technology from conceptual design and needs analysis, to maintenance and service connection. they continuously improve their services through many years of iteration and study in the research and development labs and through analysis of customer feedback. “today, through the careful R&D

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Soliton Telmec Uganda Chairman, Ibrahim Kaliisa (left) and Kai U. Wulff (right), Access Director for C Squared Limited, building the fiber network in Kampala

BIRLA-ERICSSON

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irla-ericsson, a Joint Venture company between prestigious Birla group of India and ericsson of sweden; is recognized globally over 3 Decades for pioneering the design and production of all types of telecommunication Cables. Birla-ericsson has vision to produce high quality cables by combining Cutting edge technology, World Class infrastructure & Expertise.

Birla-ericsson manufactures complete ranges of telecommunication Cables i.e. optical Fibre Cables, Copper Cables & Specialty Cables which find usage across a wide spectrum of Industries i.e. telecom operators, Internet service providers, FttX Infrastructure networks, oil & gas, Defense, transportation, mining etc.

Birla-Ericsson offers the widest range of product portfolio that can meet the demand of various applications of communication-both Indoor & outdoor. tel +91 22 41268855 Email info@birlaericsson.com

www.birlaericsson.com

process, soliton telmec are able to offer a new level of service. We have been able to realise this through step-by-step improvements. we created two network operations Centres in the region, ensuring that our customers enjoy the services with minimal interruption. these centres are open all day, every day and will be able to support clients with any enquiry,� remarks sheikh. soliton telmec have a strong and qualified team who have access to state-of-art equipment who ensure that their workmanship is extremely professional and that there is no compromise on quality, delivery or timings.

Challenging Times

In kenya, soliton telmec are widely considered to be market leaders of telecommunications and as such, are well equipped to take on regional challenges that come with building

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large optic networks, which can include some regional by laws which vary from one authority to another, this hinders the deployment of infrastructure. these challenges can also take the form of environmentally protected land or having to negotiate terrain in rural areas. with a team made up of crossblend professionals with industry specific experience - having trained at some of the best institutions worldwide and gained additional experience in various levels of the telecommunication industry - soliton Telmec are confident that there are no challenges either geographically or technologically that cannot be overcome. “we have introduced efficient methods of building networks that have now become industry standard and we are very proud of this. we have designed and built the first and largest fibre optic network solutions for residential

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MukAlAzI tECHnICAl sErVICEs mukalazi technical services are happy to be associated with soliton telmec group as partners in the telecom industry, and offer our services to them and the wider construction and telecom industries. we are telecom contractors and civil engineers handling a wide range of engineering technologies; gsm tower construction and installation, optic fibre works, road construction and water & sewerage works. mukalazi technical services also engages in the manufacturing, supply and installation of a wide range of concrete products. tel 0752721066 Email mukalazi.tech@gamil.com

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use in Kenya and we will continue to look at ways of building bigger and faster optic solutions. We can always overcome challenges and look for innovative ways to do so. It is the Soliton Telmec way,” cites Sheikh.

One of the bigger challenges comes from government institutions and agencies. Several governments encourage and even invest directly in Soliton Telmec’s business, but agencies within the government are frustrating private sector companies such as Soliton Telmec with excessive fees, unpredictable changes in pricing for permissions and a lack of guidelines on telecommunication infrastructure development. This is due in part to having too many agencies, where multiple licenses and fees are involved, to carry out fairly simple projects.

Another challenge affecting the company is theft and vandalism, which is also a big challenge facing the communications industry as a whole. Vandalism will continue to be a problem as long as there are people willing to pay money for scrap metal. Sheikh explains that Soliton are working on ways to minimise the theft of their material and infrastructure, but it comes at a price: “We have had to choose metalfree components across the entire route infrastructure of our network at a great inconvenience and extra cost to the company. We have been able to reduce cases of theft through this means, as fibre optic cable contains no metal and is virtually useless for any other purpose.”

A Changing Industry

The telecommunication industry is developing at a very fast rate, with material costs becoming increasingly cheaper and quality constantly being improved. Today, the prices of connecting to the global Internet are roughly one-tenth of the price

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before the advent of fibre optic.

It has become common place to see people catching up with news complete with video feeds on their mobile phones, downloading films in HD or keeping up with the latest social media events, all at the same time. Telecommunication is no longer a privilege but rather a necessity.

With technology moving forward at a steady pace, Sheikh is pleased with the integration of new technologies by Soliton Telmec to further advance the business: “Yes, there are lots of opportunities in infrastructure development thanks to the new technology being available to us, including development of the Fibre-to-theBuildings / Fibre-to-the-Homes (FTTB/ FTTH) concept in the region and beyond. Our motivation is simple; we want to enable every home and as many individuals as possible to have access to fast connectivity, which will make the world into a global village.”

Evolution of last mile solutions e.g. PON (Passive Optical Network) and LTE (Long-Term Evolution) has enabled the support of missioncritical applications that are capacity intensive. Fibre has contributed significantly in ensuring businesses, homes, learning institutions, medical centres and government institutions are interconnected. “As long as there is a requirement for communication - be it for business, social or entertainment -and a demand for greater speeds and levels of data, the opportunity to connect will always be there,” cites Sheikh.

Supplying the Region

Supplying customers with the necessary connectivity tools is a key area for Soliton Telmec. They deliver quality and timely services and products to their customers due to the strong partnerships they have forged with reputable vendors/manufacturers

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Innovators in Trenchless

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GRUNDOMAT soil displacement hammers GRUNDORAM steel pipe rammers GRUNDODRILL HDD system GRUNDOBURST pipe bursting systems

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TRACTO-TECHNIK GmbH & Co. KG

Lennestadt · Germany · www.tracto-technik.com over the years. soliton telmec believes in establishing strategic partnerships with the best suppliers and maintaining healthy relationships with both client and supplier, which will be beneficial to all parties in both the short and long term. soliton telmec are looking at further expansion into the region and the rest of africa and with their services in high demand across the region, several global companies are selecting soliton telmec; thanks to the stellar track record and constant reliability they possess. “we are also working on solutions for costeffective and deeper fibre access, and we believe that our clients will appreciate the results of our efforts.

Investment in new technologies that will result in better deployment is a continuous process for us. we want to influence the market to work with the new technologies we are creating,” remarks sheikh.

Investing in the Company, the Client and the Community investing in your staff is always an important part of any successful business and soliton telmec are proud to invest in staff training both in kenya and overseas through various partnerships and training schemes. the company also works closely with clients to understand their aspirations and requirements for connectivity and ensure the services being delivered by soliton telmec, will be instrumental in that aspiration becoming a reality.

“It is a well-known fact that communication is a basic need. people need to talk! we need to connect with each other for business, education, security or personal reasons. The fibre optic system is one of the technologies that enable us to connect with each other. we will continue to re-invest our money into furthering technology and innovation in the sector,” explains Sheikh.

with soliton telmec always looking for new ways to bring greater connectivity to kenya, and hopefully to a wider african audience, it will only be a matter of time before the company becomes the number one African connectivity supplier. sheikh concludes:

“We want to surpass our bench-mark for service delivery and expand our business and operations to all countries in Africa. We want to change the mindset of our people and embrace technology to improve their livelihood. In short, when you think fibre, think Soliton Telmec,”

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#01 Innovation B ri n g i n g

to Seychelles FIRST

Boasting exemplary customer service coupled with dedication to technological innovation, Airtel Seychelles bring the latest technologies and data services straight to the user Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Donovan Smith

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irtel Seychelles is a special member of the Bharti Airtel family because the Seychelles operations became the tech giant’s first venture into Africa 15 years ago. Since then, Seychelles has seen vast technological improvements and a whole array of new services moulded to suit the needs of the community; and no one man is prouder to have been a part of this change than Airtel Seychelles’ current Managing Director, Amadou Mahamat Dina. “Everything in Airtel Seychelles is always a first. By this I mean we were the first to launch pre-paid mobile services, the first to bring in 3.75G data services in Seychelles and we are soon to launch 4G LTE services in the country– and we are proud to be the first to enter the mobile finance market in Seychelles with Airtel Money,” he highlights.

The company have come on leaps and bounds since entering the country and have expanded their footprint across all of Seychelles’ islands, ensuring that their services are available to everyone. “It is important to us that our services are available to all customers and are at an affordable price. Whether our customer is corporate, an SME’s or an individual, our services are available to all,” explains Amadou Dina. Boasting the fastest Internet speeds in Africa - as per the broadband the testing company Ookla - Airtel Seychelles offer a wide range of communications services locally including pre-paid, post-paid, fixed line, ISP, mobile banking and much more.

Supporting their growth, the company have received many awards and accolades for their dedications to innovation and customer needs, the most notable include: Best Product Innovation Award from the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SCCI); and Best Network Utilisation for Airtel in Africa across the Airtel Africa operations.

Launching New Product Lines Many of the challenges for Airtel Seychelles stem from rapid changes in communications

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BARCLAYS

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arclays Bank (Seychelles) Limited was the first commercial bank to set up operations in Seychelles in 1959 and today remains the leading global bank in the Seychelles. Barclays has historically been a major partner in the country’s socio-economic development and was the first bank to venture into international banking in 2004. Barclays is today firmly entrenched in the financial services sector, with a leading position in international business banking.

technology, as Amadou Dina further explains: “Airtel is always keen to get the latest technologies to market and as such, we are launching three new products to the mobile and internet markets. Firstly, the coming weeks will see the introduction of 4G LTE in Seychelles. This demonstrates that we welcome new technological developments. Secondly, we will be becoming first in the Seychelles finance market with the release of Airtel Money, which has already been established by Airtel in the African markets to great success.

In contrast to most other African countries, everyone in Seychelles has a bank account and is educated in basic banking practices, meaning Airtel Money will be a bonus for the country. Finally, we have interconnected the islands with fibre and are investing to cover the mainland with fibre in the next few years, so that everyone has access

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to fast broadband. Right now, we only have a few kilometres of cable, so this will be a huge project for the entire country.”

Currently, the mobile penetration rate in Seychelles stands at above 100 percent, an impressive figure which emphasises just how important telecommunications are island-wide. “This is in stark contrast to some of the other African markets, where penetration rates are as low as 20-30 percent.

So this is also a big deal for us.

Accompanying this figure is mobile data usage, which has only reached 20 - 25 percent in Seychelles at present; clearly this holds huge opportunity and can be identified as an advantageous gap in the market for future growth,” comments Amadou Dina, who hopes that Airtel Money will also play a significant role in achieving the full potential of mobile data use.

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Our services are tailored to meet the requirements of non–resident commercial clients. The International Business Bank in Seychelles provides our international customers with a comprehensive range of sophisticated transactional and risk products and solutions, comprising cash management, fixed deposits, treasury and trade services that meet the specific needs of each client. Our aim is to facilitate international trade and services, and protect the value of our customers’ assets and investments.

Barclays Seychelles form parts of the Barclays Africa Group Limited, one of Africa’s major financial services providers. We aspire to being the ‘Go to Bank’ in Africa and remain the number one bank in Seychelles, recognised as an innovative, customer-centric bank that delivers outstanding solutions and services, provides excellent careers for our people and contributes positively to the communities in which we live and work. Our skilled team of Relationship Managers are dedicated to providing you with banking solutions that meet your requirements as well as providing professional personalized services to each and every client.

Tel +248 4383 939 Email seybdm@barclays.com

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Securing Top Talent

In terms of further educating their own staff locally, Airtel provides all staff with the opportunity to explore new ways to expanding their horizons.

“In Seychelles, we have all of the top talent within the company. We let them go to expos and events in order to expand their way of thinking and meet the Airtel standard of excellence.”

Over the past few months, Airtel Seychelles have sent a few members of staff out to other countries in order to expose themselves to different African markets. “Indeed, when these people come back, they will bring new knowledge home with them.” Amadou Dina aims to continue this exchange programme in order to secure welltrained and market-aware staff by the end of the year.

In Seychelles, we have all of the top talent within the company. We let them go to expos and events in order to expand their way of thinking and meet the Airtel standard of excellence”

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Airtel Premier Airtel Seychelles is an arm of Bharti Airtel that really directs its focus towards the customer, in terms of both service and experience. “We have a dynamic young team which offer 24/7 support to respond to customer needs. Plus we are the most affordable network in the country and we like to think of ourselves as the best,” affirms Amadou Dina. The company is further strengthening their customer-orientated focus in Seychelles with the advent of a Premier Lounge for valued customers, which is another first for Seychelles in the telecom world.

“What is Premier? Premier is identified by a customer who exemplifies being premier. In Airtel, this is for customers who have been with us for a long time and who expect the best service. The premier customer has a fast track for any interaction with the company, priority routing on services on the network plus earns loyalty rewards in terms of offerings like Priority Pass – a services that allows our customers access to over 600 Airport lounges across the world,” Amadou Dina further explains.

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Amadou Mahamat Dina, Managing Director

We always listen to the customer and are here to improve in order for them to enjoy the best customer service ever. Coupled with our dedication to technological innovation, we bring the latest technologies and data services straight to the user”

Supporting Seychelles on a monthly basis, airtel seychelles runs a CsR project in order to reach out to the lives of ordinary people, whilst also nurturing undiscovered talents. their current community focuses are on youth, education, health and sport. under the education banner, the company have adopted a disabled school in seychelles in its entirety including the provision of teachers, supplies and refurbishment. moreover, airtel Seychelles are an official sponsor of Carnival International. Carnival International de Victoria is a joint partnership between airtel and the seychelles tourism board. “It’s one of the must do things on the

seychelles calendar. seychelles carnival parade of the island’s 2014 Carnival International De Victoria and the 26 International Delegations with the 151 members of the International press. It is a melting pot of cultures and attracts a lot of tourists to seychelles,” comments amadou Dina.

In terms of supporting health and sport infrastructures, airtel seychelles take part in airtel Rising stars and hold airtel seychelles national Cup, which amadou Dina was keen to highlight: “we give young people the opportunity to take part in the football cup to win a trophy. airtel Rising stars is a youth football initiative undertaken by airtel africa. this programme, launched in

2011, is a soccer talent programme that aims to focus on identifying and nurturing budding soccer talent from the grassroots onto an international stage. two young footballers were selected from seychelles and went to tanzania to attend the manchester united Football Clinic.” with a proud and positive attitude, amadou Dina is sure that airtel have a secure future in seychelles. “we always listen to the customer and are here to improve in order for them to enjoy the best customer service ever. Coupled with our dedication to technological innovation, we bring the latest technologies and data services straight to the user,” he concludes.

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COMPANY HALFPTY FREIGHTMORE PAGE LTDEDT

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quam eaqui sum ciunto in reightmore Ptyium Ltd fugitis was founded tenia vendaeperro il molorib 1986, starting with just two vehicles uscipsam que con niendesed expel and six staff members. After molum nobit, officimaxime velit decades of evolution and growth, today atquis eturios Freightmore operates a fleet of 100 sitatibuLuptatint, mo odiatus vehicles from depotscomnit in Johannesburg, autem fuga.

Nequiae viduciumand Cape Town, Durban, PortsitElizabeth vollestibus ad quiatquo tectates East London aided by a staff compliment aperum quatem.

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Freightmore have been noted as market withintotaectatus the transport and Ecumleaders eni velicimo logistics industry, providing coritatur, ut et aut eveleniservices modios which freight, air freight mosinclude modio road beatatum consequi andblaceaqui cross border deliveries.

ith its roots going back to 1905, Paarl Media has grown to become the most comprehensive commercial printing operation in Africa, with an operational capacity of 500,000 tonnes of paper a year. What’s more is that the company has further extended their reach to include the international printing stage and are proud to be on par with international printing standards.

This has only been possible thanks to a forward-thinking attitude and a quest to keep abreast of the latest technologies. “Through the implementation of faster, more advanced technology and highly efficient, fully automated production processes, we ensure our position as a single source for all printing requirements,” says Group CEO, Stephen Van Der Walt.

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Through the implementation of faster, more advanced technology and highly efficient, fully automated production processes, we ensure our position as a single source for all printing requirements”

Freightmore’s current business model e con niBore niet et resed magnisqui include cross-border deliveries berion remquam volum fugitas via provide lluptamstrategy, eatibus que et an outsourcing withnon a long magnatibusam aspelitam que term goal to look beyond ipsant, its founding nonemquam, sed ut quiinto dolutem country and expanding bordering poriam intiam ant, omnis nations such asvoluptatemos Namibia, Botswana, autemque and dolessim quo ipsapid ucietum Swaziland Mozambique. fuga. Et eatem volupta ssimaximus audae venis ut its quam sam, mode in earum To accompany primary of et ut qui volorepta dolorfreight, maximthe illupta pliscip transport via road company saeprae mollore magnimust aut adi also offers air freight as an additional seque voluptur alit, ius, vera pro omnis benefit to make things as easy and est rem nimus, tem fugiant que occum accessible clients. asit et, cusfor ex et facerum re rem ium et dolum volentem es que omnimet aut e Freightmore has been hailed as the ‘preferred transporter’ for theinto printing Alibust oremolum nosandam and packaging industry, providing a te cum lab illuptaspis soluptatur aut service invaluable to customers, elique odiandanim exits eos earum est, while building and maintaining tempernam enempere repre consed customer relationships. quatat harcius tionsequiat magnis aspicaectis dereria spicia plitatem quaese volupta tetur, voluptas quiam Of its most notable relationships, The quateMedia nobis Group se pro duntur?

Paarl has been partnering with Freightmore in a relationship Feris doloover verotwo verspersped spanning decades. que culpa velit peratis et verumendelic te ipient eosMedia ut quatGroup alia conem hilleca The Paarl are pioneers tionsequiam re eiciisc in industry, focused oniumquos offeringex eatias voluptatibus adipsan tionsectem professional printing solutions for que reperovid quae core nusam publications distributed throughout que vendebis ipsam rem aut quodici Africa. Freightmore takes great pride in doluptae dolorporpor aut expedic acknowledging aneum ongoing temporporis dem eatGent pra business partnership with The preped quatem elessuntur, susPaarl modi Media Group.non eum simolup tatque et quamenisqui estest, occus aut et mo eos aut Tel 0861 76 76 76 Tel +??info@freightmore.co.za ? ??? ???

Email Email +?? ? ??? ??? www.freightmore.co.za

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k&H frEIGHt k&h Freight, with their head office in the Western Cape, offer next day and economy road delivery services, with competitive pricing and excellent service.

K&H also offer transportation alternatives via our airfreight service, and also have the capability to transport hazardous chemicals. k&h Freight have a fruitful partnership with paarl media, and hope to continue this in the coming years.

tel +086 111 1084 Email enquiries@khfreightgroup.com

Consequently, the paarl media group has seen steady growth per annum for the last decade, testament to their efforts to embrace the future.

striking a Balance Between old and new tech whilst print media in europe and the us is now considered a somewhat dated technology, Van Der walt identified Africa as an emerging market for print media: “It is different here in African countries, our markets are driven by democracy and literacy rates. nigeria and DR Congo for example are relatively new to the democracy scene. with these new political processes comes an enormous requirement for print media to be prepared for elections, education, law libraries and so on.

We find that a desire for literacy comes hand in hand with this. a lack of broadband and affordability

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A lack of broadband and affordability of luxury goods such as tablets and computers currently limits the growth of the digital space.

However, digital is sure to remain a key growth area, which is definitely playing a big role in where Paarl Media is headed”

of luxury goods such as tablets and computers currently limits the growth of the digital space. however, digital is sure to remain a key growth area, which is definitely playing a big role in where paarl media is headed.” alongside this however, comes the need to always diversify in the face of future technology trends and advances, which paarl media see as key to retaining their top position. over the last five years, the company has made substantial investments in technology and development, in turn enhancing existing business with capex spending. “In the market conditions of 2014, it is simply not enough to focus on our core printing business; although print media is still an important part of african media, the number of printed magazines and newspapers continue to steadily decline, following the western trend

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of digitisation, and so we must continue to reinvent the business.”

As such, Paarl Media’s geographical positioning opens itself up to the idea of amalgamating businesses that bear close relation to their core business. In other words, adopting what some may consider a vertical integration strategy, bringing all processes surrounding print media – such as distribution, logistics, management and even recycling materials – under the Paarl Media wing as Van Der Walt further explains: “I see this as a natural progression, particularly in terms of having our own logistics and a means to recycle our materials. Firstly, as most of our materials come from overseas and sometimes the final product is exported internationally, the Group heavily utilises freight logistics so this is a logical step for us. Some of our print materials go huge distances, to Rwanda for

In the market conditions of 2014, it is simply not enough to focus on our core printing business; although print media is still an important part of African media, the number of printed magazines and newspapers continue to steadily decline”

example. With the latest acquisition of Correll Tissue, this allows the Group to expand its manufacturing operations in the paper industry by harnessing the potential of waste paper – currently produced by the extensive printing operations of the Group – in the production of tissue paper. This vertical integration will result in significant value-add to the manufacturing processes by effective utilisation of waste paper generated by the printing operations.”

Further to this, considerations into operational costs has put more pressure on South African companies to create one large organisation that encompasses all; these major amalgamations that Paarl Media have undertaken ensure safe structures in the company.

“Plus, we will make significant contributions in the long term to continue our investments,” reasons Van Der Walt.

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Other facets of the business have experienced a number of challenges centred around economic factors including pressures on South Africa infrastructures, but Van Der Walt says the Group tries to be as transparent as possible in the face of arising issues: “There has been extreme pressure from the South African people on what is an expected wage increase. As with any large business, every year presents challenges to ensure that you cover your costs; and those costs tend to also increase each year. At our busiest, we can have up to 4000 people in employment including seasonal workers. We emphasise training and continuous development as an employer of choice and truly value our workforce. The Group supports the creation of job opportunities, this is done in conjunction with our Academy and the bursary trust which we have established.”

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Exposing Staff to New Skills

As most of our materials come from overseas and sometimes the final product is exported internationally, the Group heavily utilises freight logistics so this is a logical step for us”

These different amalgamations are just a taste of the new technologies that Paarl Media are developing. “Indeed, it must be noted that we view ourselves as a technologically advanced manufacturing company, which is always looking at improving internal skills to explore new methodologies that will allow us to decrease our longterm reliance on printed publications.”

Van Der Walt further divulged into the challenges centred around ensuring that the Group has enough skilled workers in order to contend in the global market: “This is a challenge felt throughout Africa; not only to have the number of staff required, but also to retain skills and continuously enhance alongside the changing technologies we are implementing.”

Advantageously, Paarl Media have established their own Academy which boasts both a local and international qualification, the latter from the

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From seed to paper We’re involved every step of the way.

Paarl Media Academy

Plus, we will make significant investments in the long term to continue our growth”

Forests

Mondi Richards Bay Pulp Mill

Mondi Merebank Paper Mill

Mondi’s South African business includes forestry operations in KwaZulu-Natal, a pulp and containerboard mill in Richards Bay and a paper mill in Merebank, Durban. Mondi’s Rotatrim, the Better Performance Paper, is South Africa’s leading brand of office paper and carries the Forest Stewardship Council certification.

Mondi is committed to proactively contributing to a sustainable future, and is involved in a number of critical projects that seek to ensure environmental integrity, and address the socio-economic needs of surrounding communities.

PM sponsorhip at National Teaching Awards; Aaron Ganesh, Jane Motlatsi and Linda Chisolm

You can find out more about Mondi’s sustainability efforts by visiting sd-report.mondigroup.com

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prestigious City of guilds london, uk. “we employ people with the sole purpose of writing the curriculum, which has changed our business and the industry significantly in ways we did not imagine. Not only did we use this to up-skill our present staff, we expose them to other skills in order to multi-skill them as well. our courses drew the attention of external companies, and as a result our academy has become outwardfocused. our time was clearly well spent!” Van Der walt emphasises.

International and SA Clientele In the wake of their academy success, it is evident that Paarl media is a true african company who has invested both time and money into their business’ research and development. a true testament to this is their printed product retail leaflets client base, which includes the likes of international giant Massmart (Walmart) and South africa’s largest retailer, Checkers. Van Der walt also highlighted the textbook sector, newspapers and the magazine market as three other key areas for business: “Newspapers are a big market, but perhaps the fastest diminishing sector, with around 6-7% decrease year-on-year in terms of both pages and circulation numbers. the magazine market has remained buoyant throughout other economic factors over the years.”

Supplying the Education Sector

keen to highlight the important role that Paarl media play in the education sector, Van Der Walt explained how lucky the group were to be involved in a South africa-wide project to supply work books to all children: “with huge support from the South african government, we have been able to supply 26,000 schools with over 50 million workbooks per annum which we have distributed around the country. Children have to get to grips with the ten official languages

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Stephen Van Der Walt, Group CEO

(including Braille) taught in South Africa, which is a difficult task for anyone no matter the age.” This project has been a major accomplishment as Paarl Media witnesses the continued successful delivery of education to every child in South Africa, which the company are incredibly humbled to have been a part of. “Schools in different economic areas have varied access to education and the delivery of workbooks really means a great deal to us,” affirms Van Der Walt.

Where Printing is Personal

Van Der Walt concluded his interview with us stating that the furtherance of people is a key value running throughout Paarl Media and its practices: “The education of both our own staff and the children of South Africa share a link - we want everyone to have a chance to get educated and further their skills. Plus, we will make significant investments in the long term to continue our growth.” In future projects, Paarl Media wishes to decrease their core reliance on printing and look towards other ways of enhancing both their core business and staff. With strong investment in research and development, the company will continue to remain focussed on technology, and enhancing the skills of staff alongside these new adventures.

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CUSTOM-COOLERS Through hard work and a strong growth strategy, MRE hope to adapt to market changes and continue to provide a top-class service in industrial refrigeration long into the future Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Tom Cullum

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RE are a specialist Industrial Refrigeration Company that designs, installs and services/maintains plants to suit the cooling requirements of any customer. The company are the second largest refrigeration contracting and compressor packager in the whole of South Africa. Each of the designs is custom made in order to best suit individual customer requirements.

“We have excellent installation and service crews who are based locally. Additionally we manufacture and assemble locally as well so that we can make our products as affordable as possible,” cites Dennis vd Westhuizen, Managing Director of MRE. The company have gone to great lengths to ensure they adopt the very latest technologies and control systems to achieve efficient operation of their refrigeration plants.

Started in 1995 in Cape Town, MRE originally had an office which covered Southern Africa but due to the demand for their services, strong growth allowed the company to open offices in Johannesburg and Durban.

“As a result of the passion and dedication shown by our staff across all our regions of operation, today, we have been able to secure positive growth and have consequently gone on to have one of the best years ever in the history of the company in 2013,” highlights vd Westhuizen, adding his thanks to MRE customers for their continued valuable support in “our partnership to proudly provide and even exceed their requirements.”

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Finding Qualified Artisans the lack of engineering skill in South Africa extends across all industries that require semiskilled to skilled workers, as vd Westhuizen explains: “indeed, a lack of qualified artisans has forced us to implement our own in-house training in order to up-skill the industry. we see our training as a way of making a positive impact to the local work force in south africa, and consequently offer free education and training to any applicants that require financial assistance. Currently, we have trainee technicians and welders in a series of continual programmes of skills improvement.” mRe are also employing young engineers to train and become “the future of mRe” as vd westhuizen believes in the mantra that “people make mRe strong and are the future of its existence”.

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We see our training as a way of making a positive impact to the local work force in South Africa and consequently offer free education and training to any applicants that require financial assistance”

Furthermore, running a business the size of mRe also contributes to skilled staffing difficulties, coupled with the important decision as to whether implementing automated machinery on the production line is a good idea. “mRe not only strive to keep up with the latest technologies in automation, but also focus on up-skilling the industry; using a balance of automated and manually operated lines,” vd westhuizen continues: “we strive to be energy efficient in all our plants wherever we can. we use heat recovery ventilation in order to not only provide fresh air and improved climate control in the plants, but to also save energy by reducing the heating and cooling requirements.”

Despite this issue, vd westhuizen says the company will continue to grow from strength to strength into the latter part of 2014: “our entire team have been assisting in ensuring

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Africa is a growth point and we are looking forward to using South Africa as a springboard to reach other countries. There really is significant potential and this is just the tip of the iceberg”

our success. Due to the hard work across the board, it is difficult to put our success down to one area alone.”

However, in order to maintain this growth status, it is important for MRE to constantly monitor their training, internal policies and capabilities as vd Westhuizen reasons: “Constant improvement is a must in our business. Therefore, we are concentrating hard on improving our service department nationwide. By focussing on our customers, we hope to increase partnerships and those who consider us for their patronage.”

Vital Supply Chain

MRE works with highly-reputable associate companies both international and local in origin and all of them are vital to their operations. With the majority of MRE’s refrigeration equipment being imported from abroad, vd Westhuizen says that the company encourage local partnerships wherever possible: “We try to instil as much local content and job creation as possible throughout all our systems and packages.”

South Africa and Beyond

MRE see South Africa as the foundations for an even further reach

across Africa. “Africa is a growth point and we are looking forward to using South Africa as a springboard to reach other countries. There really is significant potential and this is just the tip of the iceberg,” says vd Westhuizen.

“Everything we do is new,” he adds.

Moreover, MRE are developing some new products with the help of local suppliers in order to grow in newly identified areas for development.

Through hard work and a strong growth strategy, MRE hope to adapt to market changes and continue to provide a top-class service in industrial refrigeration long into the future.

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Engineering

Excellence HC Heat-Exchangers manufacture an extensive range of quality products for both commercial refrigeration and air conditioning applications, right the way through to large custom built units suitable for all manner of industrial applications Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Tom Cullum

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C Heat-Exchangers (hChe) is a design and manufacturing company, specialising in air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. heating Centre was founded in 1973 and rapidly built a reputation for superb engineering and manufacturing within the industry. From this solid foundation, HC Heat-Exchangers was born in 2001 as a manufacturer of finned tube heat-exchangers. over a short period of time, hC Heat-Exchangers rose to become the largest manufacturer of these products in southern africa. the company design and build everything from finned-tube heatexchangers and packaged airconditioning units, to compressorised simplex and multiplex systems for both the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. a large portion of the business is also geared towards offering bespoke solutions which are designed and engineered to client specifications. HCHE service a wide range of clientele, varying from the military and petrochemical industry through to the commercial and industrial air-conditioning and refrigeration industry. hChe have a large, highly qualified engineering division who are able to provide custom solutions to the market place, priding themselves on not only the quality of their products, but most importantly the quality of the engineering behind the product.

Robert kruger, managing Director of HC Heat-Exchangers, points to two reasons why hChe have become the top company in their field in Southern Africa: “there are two points which make us unique. The first is our high level of engineering and ability to custom design to almost any application. the second is our excellent manufacturing capabilities which enable us to deliver high quality products in short lead times.”

Equipment that Performs

HC Heat-Exchangers produce a range of equipment, from commercial refrigeration products through to large custom-built units for industrial applications. the company also produces condensers, evaporators (both flooded and direct expansion), chilled water coils, hot water coils, steam coils and dry coolers.

HCHE offer a variety of different construction materials to suit all operating environments including all stainless coils designed and manufactured to sans 347 and ASME B31-5 specifications. HC HeatExchangers are continually innovating and developing new products to better serve their customers, to remain at the forefront of technology and to remain true to their mantra of quality engineering behind every product. “every one of our products is made to the highest levels of both design and manufacture. our name is synonymous with excellent quality products that will serve your company well,” cites kruger.

Industry Challenges

every industry faces challenges, whether it is in the form of stiff competition or as a result of global economic impacts. For the manufacturing market in south africa, the latest issue plaguing the industry has been industrial labour strikes. hChe have however been very lucky not to have been affected by this as Kruger explains: “We have been extremely fortunate in that we are not unionised and we continued to produce through a very difficult 4 weeks. Our staff are very loyal and they understand the need for the company to maintain daily production. throughout the strike period we maintained a 97% attendance rate from our staff, which is excellent. where our competitors and other manufacturing companies really felt the effect of the strike, we continued to

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function. I am extremely proud of our team as they did this in the face of dire intimidation and union pressure.�

Not all challenges a company faces are negative, some are in fact positive.

HCHE have seen steady growth over the last few years, and consequently seen the need to keep pace in terms of both financial stability and high production standards. Coupled with this is the need to recruit and train top quality staff in order to meet the growing demand for their products and services. HCHE identify promising workers in engineering and other relevant disciplines, and offer them posts within the company. “We hire a number of staff on limited duration contracts and provide them with on the job training, monitoring them closely in the hopes of identifying a diamond in the rough. When a top performer is identified, a permanent contract is put into place and more intensive training begins,� explains Kruger.

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Customer Focus Customer satisfaction is the biggest defining factor of a successful business. If your customers are unhappy with your products or service levels, they are usually quick to voice their displeasure. Dropping the ball here can quickly hurt a company’s reputation, taking many years to bounce back from. One of HC Heat-Exchangers core focuses is to ensure constant customer satisfaction across the board. “There is a very definite trend of poor customer service in our industry of late. Many customers come to us complaining about service levels from our competitors, hoping we can provide a solution. We strive to ensure that our customers are well treated and catered for to the highest level. “If a customer requires our help, we can quickly and efficiently handle their request to reach satisfaction,” remarks Kruger.

Suppliers play a vital role in customer service and the business model as a whole. Maintaining the relationships between suppliers and the business is paramount and HCHE take great care in nurturing strong professional relationships with both local and international suppliers. HCHE import around 40% of their raw materials due to a lack of local supply, however, they have a very strong policy to support local suppliers wherever possible.

Future Plans

With the current growth being shown by HCHE, the company is on target for a projected growth of 27%, with an expected growth of at least 25% year-on-year over the coming five years. “We are in a very exciting phase and have just bought a new 18,000m2 manufacturing facility with 2000m2 of office space. Preparations are currently underway to move our whole operation into the new factory during December this year. We expect to employ around 400 people by the end of 2015, which considering we now employee a little over 300, is a significant increase.”

HC Heat-Exchangers have an in-house Research and Development department which is an integral part of the business. Not only do they develop new products on site, but also thoroughly test and improve on existing products in order to ensure performance and quality levels are maintained at the highest level. By utilising the latest 3D CAD software, products can be digitally modelled, evaluated and thoroughly tested. This process allows a large number of concepts and designs to be evaluated quickly and efficiently prior to manufacturing working prototypes for further evaluation and testing. There are several new products being worked on in the R&D department, but Kruger is keeping them very close to his chest: “We have some very exciting products currently in development, but these will remain under wraps for the time being. These projects are in the prototype phase at the moment, and when ready for the consumer market will most certainly be game changers!”

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Over the past five years, Atraco have held a stellar reputation through upholding good business practice and ethics in all of their business dealings Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Ben Wigger

traco International (k) limited is a general Commodity International trading Company and is one of east africa’s foremost suppliers of road and civil construction products and technology. the in-house trading company was incorporated in kenya in september 2012 and was to operate as the holding entity of their sister company, hanse International ltd. (incorporated in kenya on July 2009). hanse was already a trading company that had vast experience in Commodity trading in europe, asia and parts of africa. “in essence, Atraco is an offshoot of hanse and has taken over some of the operations in east africa,” says atraco Regional managing Director, Rita Bochere. “we specialise in the supply of building materials such as bitumen and steel products to our clients. these complimentary activities are aimed at assisting road authorities, consulting engineers and contractors in building roads and structures of the highest quality. we recognise that infrastructure, especially a good road network, is a nation’s most strategic asset,” she adds. the supply of these materials is accompanied by highly qualified staff, who apply years of industry experience and support Atraco’s mission to provide its customers with products manufactured to the highest standards, enabling them to build roads and housing for the future. atraco International kenya limited offers a full service from its offices in nairobi and Istanbul, turkey. the company has strong business partners and reliable manufacturing sources worldwide, enabling atraco to provide sustainable, cost effective solutions and quality products. “the great need for a regional office in Nairobi became apparent

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due to the increase in the demand for european and middle eastern products via our online service,” explains Bochere. “With the onset of the East African Community Common market, we believe that our presence in this region makes even more business sense.” as a consequence of their strong market presence in kenya and uganda, atraco have been able to break into and tap the markets in tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, southern sudan, ethiopia and somalia.

the Atraco Approach

Over the past five years, Atraco have held a stellar reputation through upholding good business practices and ethics in all of their business dealings. “we try to understand the local market, to source for competitive products at the best price and to deliver promptly. our customers are very important to us. Client requirements always come first,” cites Bochere.

Further, in order to develop and maintain long lasting relationships with clients, atraco focus on how to best meet and service their specific needs, both individually and professionally. “we are attentive and ensure that all legal processes are followed - right from product ordering, inspection, handling, shipping, payment of import duty and taxes, clearing, storage and transporting to site, to the eventual benefit of our client. this is supported by the right paperwork,” emphasises Bochere. moreover, atraco as a trading house does not limit their product range to building materials only, more information regarding trade-ins can be found on their website: www.atracointl.com. not only does the company demonstrate attention to detail throughout all their processes, atraco International (k) ltd never compromise on quality as Bochere reasons: “we believe that to be competitive in the world market, we need to produce a world-class service against genuine products in line with competitive pricing. our vision is to become a market leader in general commodity trading, both locally and internationally.”

shipping knowledge

one of the keys to atraco’s success in trading business has been the company’s broad knowledge of shipping and logistics. “this is one way we have been able to differentiate ourselves and beat our competitors,” Bochere continues: “we have been fully trained with complete shipping knowledge as well as international business terms. henceforth, we accompany our shipments with the fastest possible delivery times. our major shareholder and

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Ahmet Aydin, CEO

CEO of the organisation, Mr Ahmet Aydin, has over 25 years experience in international trading. Shipping is one of the major parts of our international business. A successful shipping time will result in the successful delivery of our products.” Bochere further stated that lead times for delivering of products from point A to point B herald the same level of importance as providing good quality product: “We can now easily identify which shipping line is more qualified for our territory or our client’s territory, at the right price.”

Through a close and intimate relationship that Atraco’s staff have built up with shipping companies over the years, the company are able to trace their cargo at any time, which means they can provide a detailed outlook for various shipping-related inquiries, further improving Atraco’s customer service; these include being able to provide:

COD (Change of Destination) before cargo arrives at the final destination; BL Switch at trans-shipment ports; Extra free storage period at destination port; Leasing the containers at a right price for a particular period of time. Atraco’s freight levels have so far proven to be the best among their competitors.

Atraco offer sustainable services, without compromising on quality.

“We always deliver on our promises and honour our commitments.

That is the Atraco way,” Bochere surmises. With a significant amount of expertise in international trading, Atraco will continue to work with clients in order to provide much-needed improvements to infrastructure both in East Africa and internationally.

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Pioneers It is an exciting time for renewable energies in South Africa, in particular in wind generation, as the country enters Round 4 bidding in August this year Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Rahim Ali

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moya Energy is the Independent Power Producer (IPP) that owns Hopefield Wind Farm (HWF), located in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Established in 2008 by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), the IPP was created as a Special Purpose Vehicle to develop and own HWF, making it one of the pioneering wind energy developers in South Africa. Umoya Energy’s Technical Manager, Sam Cook, has relished the chance to be a part of the project: “Indeed it was both novel and exciting to be a part of, as HWF was the first commercial wind farm in South Africa to reach the COD milestone (Commercial Operation Date) on 1st February 2014.

Construction of the wind farm was completed on time, within budget, and without major challenges.”

Umoya Energy was selected as a successful bidder in Round One of the DoE’s REIPPP Programme. “Hopefield Wind Farm is the culmination of rigorous studies, planning and work by a number of people since at least 2008. Strong partners and active community engagement have been key to our success. It is certainly rewarding to play a role in building the project and also building relationships with the local community.”

For projects in the early rounds of the REIPPP Programme, there is no local supply of the main wind turbine components. This is soon to change however, with wind turbine towers to be manufactured locally in South Africa shortly. “We use local suppliers where we can, including the supply of balance of plant. The wind turbine components were not yet being manufactured in SA. However, we were able to up-skill the local South African workforce through our work with local subcontractors and suppliers,” says Cook.

For many of the sub-contractors

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involved in the construction phase of HWF, this was their first experience of wind farm construction.

The HWF project value is 1.45 billion rand. The site consists of 37 Vestas V100 1.8 megawatt wind turbines, giving a total installed capacity of 66.6 megawatts. “To put this in perspective, this is enough electricity to supply the equivalent of 29,000 medium-income homes or 70,000 low-income homes in South Africa,” adds Cook.

Meeting the Demand for Power

With increased governmental pressure globally for renewable energy solutions to combat global warming, there has been increased competition amongst IPP’s looking to secure potential sites for development.

“This competition drives down the cost of electricity for the end-user or consumer. Wind energy continues to get progressively cheaper, and is already the cheapest form of new electricity generation in South Africa.”

Not only does South Africa need a cleaner energy solution than its coal-fired power stations, but with economic growth on the horizon, the demand for power is rising at a steady rate. Power shortages have again recently led the public utility, Eskom, to resort to load shedding, which has negatively impacted the economy due to unpredictable power outages affecting businesses and the public. “As well as this, delays and budget overruns in the construction of coal-fired power stations, such as Medupi power station, have exacerbated the problem.”

Concurrently, the renewables sector has been building new wind and solar farms under the DoE’s REIPPP Programme. “Thanks to competition created by the REIPPP Programme, wind has proven to be the cheapest form of new electricity generation in South Africa, averaging R0.74/kWh

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Rand Merchant Bank Umoya Energy, Hopefield Wind Farm

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moya is a 100%-South African owned and developed wind farm near Hopefield in the Western Cape. Umoya supplies 67MW of electricity to South Africa’s national grid, in a region where power is in short supply, as well as providing sustainable employment for the local community.

The 1 000 hectare Umoya project is one of the first wind farms developed under the South African Department of Energy’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP).

It is also one of the largest, single wind farms under development in the world and came into operation in February 2014.

The project, which cost R1.5-billion, was financed through a mix of senior debt (75%) and equity (25%).

Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), the investment banking arm of FirstRand Bank Limited, was the sole lead debt arranger for the debt financing part of the project. “The project was the only submission in round one of the REIPPPP to incorporate inflation-linked debt funding, protecting Umoya against rising and falling inflation,” says James Price, senior transactor at RMB. “The wind farm will deliver long-term, environmentallyresponsible benefits to South Africa in the form of clean energy, local industry development, job creation and skills transfer.”

PO Box 786273 Sandton 2146 South Africa Tel +27 11 282 8000 Email info@rmb.co.za

www.rmb.co.za

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in the programme’s third bidding round,” cites Cook, hopeful that this achievement will influence South Africa’s energy policies going forward.

The Importance of Economic Development Projects Since completing the construction phase of HWF, Umoya’s focus has turned to the operations phase, including the establishment and implementation of various economic development projects that serve to benefit the local community. “Our first major initiative is a home improvement project in the town of Hopefield, which is bringing improvements including insulation, electrical reticulation and solar geysers to the homes of economically disadvantaged families.

We aim to maximise the long term benefits to the local community,” emphasises Cook.

In addition to this, a conservation area of 1200 hectares on Umoya Energy’s land adjoining the HWF site is in the process of being declared a part of the West Coast National Park: “Umoya Energy is pleased to be able to make this land available to extend the national park. Our wind farm generates clean energy, while the conservation area is another way of contributing towards environmental conservation and appreciation.” Moreover, Umoya Energy will front the cost of managing the conservation area, providing further jobs to locals.

Inspiring Africa

It is an exciting time for renewable energies in South Africa, in particular wind and solar, as the country enters Round Four bidding in August this year. Plus, projects from previous rounds are currently being built in various parts of the country, paving the way for a greener future in the country, and inspiring others across the African continent to follow in South Africa’s footsteps.

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Weat h erford E ast A frica

S ervices

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is t he New

With West Africa already seeing a huge oil and gas boom, companies have begun to look towards the east coast as the next big resource arena

WEST

Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Arron Rampling

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n East Africa, Weatherford is a provider of upstream products and services that span the life of the oil and natural gas wells through a formation evaluation, well construction, completion, stimulation and production portfolio. Since East Africa is the epicenter of geothermal development on the continent, Weatherford has utilised its expertise to provide faster drilling operations.

Weatherford has branches established in its various countries of operations throughout East Africa under the global brand Weatherford and is seen as a new breed of service company; one that can provide the industry with extended products and services, more efficient operations, more powerful research and development capabilities and greater geographic diversity. The East African division has approximately 300 highlyskilled professional employees in its charge across various disciplines.

Sean Wilcock, Area Manager for Weatherford East Africa, explains that

although the company is well known and respected in the resources market, they still consider themselves a young company: “We see ourselves as the teenager of the oil and gas companies. We have been established for more than 20 years, but it is within the last 10 years that we have really put our name on the map. Some of our competitors have been around for many years, but we feel our youthful exuberance is matched by our established professional approach.”

Not Just Drilling Weatherford East Africa have spent the last few years really honing their practices in various resource disciplines in order to be the best they can be.

Wilcock says that the company’s core services and products incorporate value in the standard level of excellence they provide to every project, rather than considering themselves to be offering “value-added services”. By having such a wide range of services to offer the client, Weatherford East Africa has been able to tender for projects and provide solutions that their competitors are unable to, thus giving them an edge when it comes to potential future projects. “Our clients look for a company to work on a project that could have several different requirements such as evaluation and drilling combined. We can then offer to undertake several of those requirements simultaneously and seamlessly. Our all-encompassing service approach allows us stand out from our competitors,” remarks Wilcock.

East African Exploration

With West Africa already seeing a huge oil and gas boom, companies have begun to look to the east coast as the next big resource arena. In 2006, Weatherford identified East Africa as the new frontier for oil and gas and after large gas reserves were found in the same year in Uganda and Mozambique; the company was swift to commit and move into the area and began looking at securing drilling contracts with the block operators. Along the eastern seaboard - including Tanzania and Kenya - Weatherford East Africa has explored these new markets and highlighted potential opportunities that could reap huge rewards.

However, it has not been all plain sailing, with political, financial and logistical challenges arising. The markets in East Africa are very fragile in the resource industry and Weatherford is mindful not to take on more risk than is necessary in both commercial and operational terms. With new markets opening up, shareholders and investors have been quick to come on board, but investing in oil and gas can come with some volatility.

“Shareholders base their decisions on two factors: will the project be profitable and for how long?

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Weatherford Rig 804 in Turkana drilling Ngamia-1 in 2012, Kenya’s first successful oil well

Situations can arise where you can drill for oil and come up with nothing and the shareholders can quickly pull their money and look for the next project with another company. We have to strike the perfect balance between operator contracts that offer short-term investment and long-term profitability,” cites Wilcock.

We have to strike the perfect balance between operator contracts that offer short-term investment and longterm profitability”

Weatherford Drilling Rental & Inspection Services

Overcoming the Challenges

The slanted Rig 721 in Uganda

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The oil and gas industry is one of the most highly regulated and intensive sectors in the world and East Africa, although a relatively new market, is no different. National politics can have a huge impact on a company’s ability to operate within a country’s borders effectively. If the government will not issue a company with the correct drilling permits, then projects can grind to a halt, costing the drilling company and its contractor’s time and money for each day of inactivity.

Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique are new resource markets, with outdated energy laws and regulations in place to govern current oil and gas projects; often amended from mining regulations. There is an urgent push by these countries to legislate new regulations that services the needs of both the country and investors.

Weatherford’s ability to be flexible plays an important role in supporting the operators in these countries. Where some companies can be regimented in their operational practices, Weatherford

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Executive Rentals LTD Executive Rentals Limited’s mission is to be the most preferred car rental company in Kenya which targets to go beyond the horizon to provide quality services to our esteemed clients through our philosophy based on our core values.

Our aim is to work hand in hand with you to define your transportation needs and recommend solutions that will ensure the achievement of your transport requirements.

With our long term experience, we have matured to an extent to serve any industry. In addition, we also specialise in airport transfers for all leading airlines’ crew.

We have a variety of vehicles in our fleet, specialising in four wheel drives and luxury coaches, that are serviced in-house thus maintaining high standard quality and avoiding delays.

Tel +254 722 513393 Email info@executiverentalsltd.com

www.executiverentalsltd.com

Victoria Motors Ltd

V

ictoria Motors Ltd, incorporated in Uganda in 1980 is the motoring division of the General Machinery Group of companies, operating in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Since inception, Victoria Motors has grown from strength to strength to become a major player in Uganda’s transport sector.

Victoria Motors is the authorized distributor of Mitsubishi vehicles, Renault trucks, and Yokohama Tyres in Uganda, providing both sales and after-sales services at our fully equipped workshop in Kampala and recently opened workshop facility in Hoima. These 2 workshops are supported by 3 mobile service vans that transverse the country every month offering after sales services.

We are proud to have Weatherford Services and Rentals Ltd as one of our leasing clients outsourcing its transport through operating lease for the last three years; enabling them save on management and operational costs.

www.gmachgroup.com

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Weathe rf o rd S e rv i ces & Renta ls Lt d Ea s t Africa

will look to work with any new laws, whilst still maintaining the more concrete international high standards, company policies and codes of practice.

The second main challenge for working on the East African seaboard is the national reserves and game parks that the East African countries are more famous for. Environmental surveys and assessments to calculate the impact of drilling and noise pollution are paramount in these locations as well being respectful and sensitive to the needs of the local communities and tribes. “There are always going to be situations where compromises must be made. The local tribes in Uganda and Kenya are especially sensitive to the work we are undertaking and we try to minimise our footprint in those regions where possible. We go through extensive surveys and impact assessments to ensure that we can undertake the project without upsetting the local people by involving and training them within our operations as much as possible,” explains Wilcock.

Sean Wilcock, Area Manager for Weatherford East Africa

Trends and Benefits

The oil and gas sector has brought several key benefits to Africa’s east coast over the last few years, the two biggest being job creation and economic investment. Weatherford East Africa is a strong and leading advocate of using local skilled workers on their projects and by utilising intensive in-house training, the workers can be quickly brought up to speed on Weatherford’s own equipment and procedures. By

working alongside the countries and governments, Weatherford can quickly create a healthy, sustainable working relationship that is mutually beneficial.

“Working with locally skilled employees allows us to tap into their knowledge of the area we are working in and gives us a chance to show local authorities and nationals that we want to create a good professional working relationship. After all, we could be in country for a number of years; having open communication and strong ties to the powers that be is always going to be important. I am an East African (Kenyan by birth), so I must lead by example,” states Wilcock.

In It for The Long Haul Weatherford prides itself on having identified East Africa as the next big arena for the oil and gas industry and say that they are in it for the long haul. With West Africa in the midst of a boom, Wilcock believes that 2015 and 2016 will be the biggest

East African Team

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years for development and production in the area, and that Weatherford is in prime position to begin work right away: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have spent a lot of time, energy and money on ensuring we have suitable business foundations in each country, allowing Weatherford to be well positioned to begin tendering for projects immediately in East Africa.

Because of our strong ties to both international and local suppliers, we can quickly offer additional services when the need arises. I think that 2015 will see Tanzania and Mozambique really come to the forefront of the East Africa activities and 2016 will herald the rise of Kenya and possibly Uganda as a natural resource powerhouse,â&#x20AC;? proclaims Wilcock.

Weatherford is gearing up for the East Africa resource race and is already looking at potential business prospects for several large scale projects along the coastline in 2015. With a strong focus on building positive relationships with authorities and local communities alike, Weatherford stands by its responsibility to become market leaders in the region, honouring its shareholders and customers, as well as the countries in which they operate, by becoming an integral part of the economy for many years to come.

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SOUTh AFRICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

SuStaiNablE

Solar futurE scatec solar are looking to become the biggest provider of solar energy in africa Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Rahim Ali

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catec Solar is an integrated independent solar power producer working in South Africa, aiming to make solar a sustainable and affordable source of energy worldwide. Scatec Solar develops, builds, owns and operates solar power plants and now, in 2014, they deliver power from 220 MW facilities in the Czech Republic, South Africa and Rwanda. The company has seen strong growth over the years and has a solid pipeline of solar projects under development in Africa, US, Japan, Middle East and Europe.

Andrzej Golebiowski, Country Manager for Scatec Solar in South Africa, is pleased with the current growth seen by the company in South Africa: “Since we began operating in South Africa in 2010, we have seen the cost of solar power drop by 70%, which was beyond anyone’s wildest expectations back then. The solar power delivered today through the REIPPP Programme is cheaper in South Africa than the local coal power projects under development

by Eskom.”

Power Hungry

With the ever-rising demand for a sustained and prolonged power supply on the national grid, thanks in part to the business boom in the country, South Africa is seeing regular power shortages and is becoming increasingly dependent on fossil fuels, in particular coal.

Using coal as the primary electricity source has brought challenges on an international level as the international community and regulatory bodies have put marked pressure on all countries to reduce their CO2 emissions and slow the effects of greenhouse gases. South Africa has

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Ibhayi Contracting

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bhayi Contracting’s mission is to contribute towards sustainable economic development that competes globally. This means doing it right the first time, on time, every time to ensure client satisfaction and also to provide a platform for our people to develop to their full potential.

At Ibhayi Contracting we believe that the key to success is to communicate and merge client expectations, our expertise and people in an innovative and passionate way, resulting in sustained relationships.

Based in Port Elizabeth, Ibhayi Contracting is a concrete rehabilitation specialist company in the Eastern Province. Founded in 1996, we have grown over the past eleven years and continue to specialize more and more in areas related to rehabilitation of concrete structures, recently expanding into bridge construction, general civil engineering works and construction of Photovolatic (Solar) parks.

Andrzej Golebiowski, Country Manager

Ibhayi is registered with the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) as a level 7CE and 7GB Contractor, has achieved a BBBEE level 3 status.

Ibhayi Contracting also offers the following services in the Solar Industry: 1. Recruitment, training and management of labour resources 2. On-site logistics 3. Ramming of ground support systems 4. The assembly of substructures 5. Installation of modules 8 Woodpecker Street Cotswold Port Elizabeth P O Box 34913 Newton Park Port Elizabeth 6055 Tel 0027 41 365 2871 Email info@ibhayicontracting.co.za

www.ibhayicontracting.co.za

S c a t ec

S o l a r

CURRENT SOLAR PROJECT Energy produced:

150,000 MWh per annum

Project yield:

2,035 kWh/ KWp DC-capacity:

75 MW Substructure-system: Fixed tilted

Providing energy for:

35,000 households

Modules: BYD polycrystalline Inverter-system: SMA Inverters looked at committing to generate the majority of new power creation to come from renewable energy.

“The renewable energy programme launched in 2011, and this opened up a strong pipeline of projects to increase the relatively small solar resource capacity. We have so far been awarded three solar plant projects with a total capacity of 190 MW under the REIPPP Programme (Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme).

The construction of the first plant commenced in early 2013, with expected completion of our third plant in 2014. Scatec Solar will operate the solar plants for at least 20 years,” remarked Golebiowski.

Will Solar Power Last?

Solar energy production is a clean, renewable form of power generation that is in no way affiliated with

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Solar power is a much greener and economically friendly power supply, that once built requires very little modification or repair”

Land-use:

105 ha

non-renewable fossil fuels such as coal and oil, with little or no dependence on limited and expensive natural resources. Although there is unpredictability in the amount and timing of sunlight over the days, weeks, months and years, an appropriate sized and innovative system can be designed to be highly reliable while providing a long-term, fixed price electricity supply with zero carbon and a minimal ecological footprint.

Solar power production generates electricity with a limited impact on the environment, when compared to other forms of electricity production.

“Solar power is a much greener and economically friendly power supply, that once built requires very little modification or repair. Solar power is also extremely fast and simple to build: We constructed Africa’s largest solar power plant [Kalkbult] in less than 12 months, and 90% of the workers were unskilled and largely unemployed

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KALKBULT, SOUTH AFRICA, 75 MW the kalkbult plant, situated in the northern Cape region, is currently the largest solar plant in africa. Connected three months ahead of schedule, it was the first REiPPP Programme to be grid connected and operational in south africa. ownErsHIP And PPA ppa with eskom for a period of 20 years PROJECT OWNERS Scatec Solar AS (Norway) | Norfund (Norway) Simacel Kalkbult Holding (RSA) | Standard Bank (RSA) | Old Mutual (RSA) PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECT EXECUTION scatec solar was awarded the 75 mw kalkbult project in December 2011. the kalkbult site is the largest project awarded in the 1st bidding round in south africa, accounting for 12% of overall volume. scatec solar initiated the development, partnering with simacel, a local project developing company. the 75 mw power plant was completed in record time (January 2013 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; september 2013) and was connected to the grid three months earlier than planned. scatec solar took the leading role for all epC activities and managed the construction phase. oPErAtIon And MAIntEnAnCE scatec solar takes full responsibilities for all o&m services: monitor the plant, take corrective and preventive maintenance measures, reporting to utility and owners.

people from the local communities,â&#x20AC;? remarks golebiowski.

A renewable future

with power generation becoming a hot topic in africa, the implication solar power companies like scatec solar building large scale plants could be widespread. solar power offers a clean and green power source that can enable south africa to cut its over-reliance on coal and petroleum to power generators and energy grids. Cutting down on the use of fossil fuels deposits, which are running out, is paramount for the long term power needs of the country. If solar power is taken up as a serious and competitive power source, south africa could become a fully sustainable and renewable nation for future generations, leading the way for the rest of the continent in showing how solar can be the future in power creation.

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BRITISh AMERICAN TOBACCO NIGERIA

NigEria’S

lEadErS IN TOBACCO

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Bat nigeria are well on their way to sustaining the lead in product innovation and quality initiatives in tobacco products, whilst retaining brand loyalty Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Callum Philp

ritish american tobacco (Bat nigeria) limited is a fully owned subsidiary of the British american tobacco group. the company has had an operational presence in nigeria since 1912. at this time as a group, they held a 60% shareholding value in the nigerian tobacco Company (ntC) while a 40% shareholding value was held by the nigerian government. By 1978, there were three operating factories located at Ibadan, port-harcourt and Zaria.

British american tobacco is a global tobacco group with brands sold in more than 200 markets; few companies founded in 1902 are still going from strength to strength. Fewer still are leaders in more than 60 markets, and with one billion adult smokers around the world, Bat manufacture the cigarettes chosen by one in eight of them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;we take our business and our impact very seriously. we know the tobacco industry is a controversial one, and so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all the more important that we act responsibly, from the crop right through to the consumer.â&#x20AC;? the domestic industry in Nigeria experienced a decline when an influx of illicit trade and the deteriorating infrastructure created an uncertain business environment and investment slowed. this led to closures of port harcourt and Ibadan factories and a downscaling of the Zaria operations. the election of the 1999 civilian administration brought a renewed focus on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) which led to the incorporation of British american tobacco (nigeria) limited in July of the year 2000.

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Zeco Nigeria Limited

Z

eco Nigeria Limited is a Nigerian company, which was incorporated in 1983.

We started doing business with BAT in 1985 - formerly known as NTC - when we were supplying them with transmission spares, bearings, belts, seals, roller chains and other allied products.

Building on our vast experience in sourcing and spare parts directly from OEMs, companies such as BAT began to invite us to help them in sourcing some of their regularly consumed items and parts.

Subsequently, the company merged with the Nigerian Tobacco Company in November of the same year. The company is now a fully owned subsidiary of the British American Tobacco Group.

On September 24th 2001, the Group signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government of Nigeria for an investment of $150 million to build a state-of-the-art-factory in Ibadan, Oyo State. The investment started a process that has impacted all aspects of the tobacco industry, from leaf growing, through to the manufacture and distribution of tobacco products.

Commitment to Nigerian Development Under the terms of the MoU, British American Tobacco Nigeria made a commitment to work with the Nigerian government in the following areas:

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We know the tobacco industry is a controversial one, and so it’s all the more important that we act responsibly, from the crop right through to the consumer”

After great success, we were invited to enter the Third Party Purchase and Supply Programme which gave us a better idea of our clients’ regularly required parts. With this arrangement, we were able to import the items directly from the OEMs in bulk and consequently keep high stock levels at all times. We are able to offer cheaper prices and are always available for customer support and delivery when your items are ordered from us.

Our vast experience in dealing with industries in Nigeria places us at the forefront of the supply and distribution sectors.

ZECO NIGERIA LIMITED A8 JUNCTION ROAD KADUNA Tel +234 (0) 80 37873835 Email zeconigerialimited@gmail.com

britiSh amEriCaN tobaCCo NigEria

Acting Responsibly, Both Globally and Locally

Regularising the tobacco sector Building potential for regional exports Significantly increasing both the quality and quantity of tobacco grown establishing an independent foundation to address rural socio economic development on June 17th 2003, British american tobacco nigeria completed and commissioned its state-of-the-art factory in ibadan. The factory is staffed by first class Nigerian engineers and technicians, and research shows that products manufactured in the factory are of the highest international quality.

This resulted in the certification of the factory to nIs Iso 9001:2000 by the standard organisation of nigeria on may 18th, 2005 with a further recertification in february 2009.

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We take pride in the responsible way that our businesses are run. And the recognition and awards we’ve received over the decades show it’s not just us who think we’re doing the right thing”

BAT were the first tobacco company to be included in the Dow Jones Sustainability index in 2002 – and we’ve been included every year since. “we take pride in the responsible way that our businesses are run. and the recognition and awards we’ve received over the decades show it’s not just us who think we’re doing the right thing.”

In 2002, British american tobacco nigeria took a decision to localise the manufacture of nigerian brands with a subsequent improvement in product quality and freshness.

International brands which were previously imported - such as Benson and hedges, st. moritz, Rothmans, Consulate, london, pall mall and Royal standard - are now produced in nigeria. with a business that operates at a local, as well as global, level,

m a N u f a C t u r i N g

coRe VAlUeS V BAT’s core values were developed following discussions with hundreds of employees from around the world and from all levels of the organisation. They describe the shared beliefs that we feel make British American Tobacco a great company to work for: ConsumeR leD: The most successful tobacco company will be decided by the consumer. To win, we must win the consumer. We are consumer led. natIonal BattleFIelDs: Our ‘battlefields’ are national. This is where our consumers, trade partners, stakeholders and people are. This is where we sell cigarettes, generate cash and develop talent. This is where our brands live or die. This is British American Tobacco. gloBally alIgneD: We are a global business with a global vision. We have global strategies and hard-won global scale. We must use and leverage these in order to win against global competition. To do so, requires global cohesion and discipline.

A matrix organisation is the best means to ensure this. We recognise that there is a ‘tension’ in a matrix organisation. This is as it should be: business needs different viewpoints to build conviction and purpose.

DIVeRse teams: We believe in the value of teams and diversity within those teams.

We cherish individuality in the pursuit of the team goal. We believe individual creativity and contribution can and must flourish for us to succeed. gooD leaDeRs: People remember their leaders. The ones who had time for them, listened to them, coached them, developed them, trusted them. The leaders who helped make them the success that they are. We like good leaders.

They tend to be very successful themselves. Our leaders bring our beliefs to life.

We must all be leaders.

Fun anD welComIng: We like working with our colleagues and we trust them to deliver. They’re smart, keen to make a good contribution and fun to be with.

They are what makes British American Tobacco so special. We are a welcoming and hospitable organisation. We want people to enjoy their experience with us. People feel at home here.

FIt to FIght: Our competitors are powerful and determined. We value our organisational intimacy and family-feel, yet recognise we must be no less determined or demanding of ourselves. To head the industry will take more than thoughtleadership and scale, we must be fit for the fight ahead, we must be quick and agile.

We must each take ownership for our actions.

ConsCIously ResponsIBle: We act responsibly and transparently. Not because we have to, but because we want to. We take comfort and pride in knowing that we will do the right thing and behave in the right way. We accept the costs this will incur.

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Bat provide agronomy support through their extension services to over 100,000 smallholder farmers around the world. “we are a part of many local communities – both large and small – around the world, and in many countries we are the top employer and the company of choice for people employed at every stage of our supply chain.”

In 2013, Bat group sold 676 billion cigarettes, made in 46 factories in 41 countries. the company employ more than 57,000 people in more than 200 markets worldwide, with many more indirectly employed through their supply chain. on a global scale, the company contributed more than £33 billion in duty, excise and taxes to governments worldwide in 2013.

“Our people are part of our history” Bat are proud to state that their staff are an essential part of

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We are a part of many local communities – both large and small – around the world, and in many countries we are the top employer and the company of choice for people employed at every stage of our supply chain”

not only the present company developments, but its future as well. “we attract and retain experienced managers and graduate trainees who look forward to a challenging and rewarding career. the company’s employment policies include a commitment to equal opportunity, which eschews any form of discrimination, ethnic or religious bias.” employees at Bat nigeria are exposed to a whole range of international assignments which act as critical developmental channels. this is aimed at ensuring the managers are able to gain exposure, share and implement global best practice in their respective locations.

looking to the future

British american tobacco nigeria aims to be “the foremost positive socioeconomic contributor to the nigerian economy” and the company

m a N u f a C t u r i N g

We are keen to prove that a tobacco company can be socially responsible and in so doing set high standards of good corporate citizenship”

goal is to “sustain leadership of the nigerian tobacco industry”. In their drive to achieve this aim in nigeria, the company acknowledge that the support, encouragement and partnership of the government and its agencies as a crucial element to success. “we are continually seeking for dialogue opportunities with the government to actualise this. as we continue to demonstrate commitment to best practice in

all our operations in nigeria, we are keen to prove that a tobacco company can be socially responsible and in so doing set high standards of good corporate citizenship.”

British american tobacco nigeria is committed to delivering superior quality products and meeting the desires of consumers. “our brands are amongst our most important assets. this is why we take care to position them intelligently to adult consumers

who have chosen to smoke. to meet this requirement we have a strong broad-based portfolio of international and local brands.” with a marketing strategy built on understanding customers and delivering the most relevant brands to meet differing preferences, Bat nigeria are well on their way to sustaining the lead in product innovation and quality initiatives in tobacco products, whilst retaining brand loyalty.

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A r E n E L

Experience!

Quality!

Innovation! renel are manufacturers of quality sweets and biscuits. After decades of operation, you can be sure that the company’s sweet and biscuit lines are of the finest quality.

In 1946, Mr Robert (Rube) Lepar and Mr Abe Rubin had a vision which culminated in the manufacturing of sweets, in a small factory in Bulawayo.

It was not long before the duo were manufacturing a range of hard boiled sweets that included the ever popular “suckers”, “sugar sticks” and “apricot balls”. Demand for their quality products grew and in order to increase their manufacturing capability, a purpose built facility was erected in the

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Our high quality product range is a result of our core values: Experience!

Quality! Innovation!”

Belmont industrial area of Bulawayo.

The partnership of Lepar and Rubin dissolved when Mr Abe Rubin relocated to Harare, where he established a successful bread making enterprise.

In the early 1960s, Arenel entered the biscuit market with the purchase of Crown Biscuits. Arenel continued on its path of growth and product development and in 1973 additional premises were acquired some 200m west of the existing facility. Therefore, a biscuit plant was purchased from overseas and installed.

Arenel now manufacture quality biscuits to compliment their ever popular growing range of sweets.

Soon, space and development dictated the purchase of yet another factory for

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Through their three core values of integrity, loyalty and hard work, Managing Director Joshua Lepar is confident that the future is bright for Arenel Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Callum Philp

warehousing and distribution, along with a facility for the transport division and maintenance workshops. “Our high quality product range is a result of our core values: Experience! Quality!

Innovation!” Joshua Lepar, Managing Director of Arenel says. Now with a strong staffing of over 300, Arenel continue to expand both their biscuit and sweet divisions.

State of the Art Expansions In 2011, a state of the art oven with a width of 1.2m was installed at the Bulawayo factory, which added immensely to the enhanced quality and output of the biscuit division.

“Consequently, with the immediate impact and success of the products

By re-tooling our facilities, we have been able to ensure that we once again become a major player on the African continent”

produced from this oven, another brand new technology biscuit oven with a belt width of 1.5m was installed to complement the existing production capability,” adds Lepar.

Additionally, Arenel have installed a new lollipop plant line, which they intend to continue to grow their sweet production capacity with over the next couple of years. “Further, we have updated our wrapping and packing divisions to further enhance our product brands,” cites Lepar.

In 2013, the company opened a much needed 8000m2 warehousing facility, which was purchased and redesigned to take care of the new increased production output, distribution and logistical needs to

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VENK-PAC PTY LTD

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enk-pac pty ltd has grown from 1998 with 12 employees in a 900 m2 premises to a world class, impressive 16,000 m2 premises employing in excess of 200 employees with the best name brand equipment in the industry.

Venk-pac supplies high-quality laminates in various structures, coextruded specialised polymers, as well as the general purpose pp, llDpe, LDPE and HDPE films. This flexible packaging is offered in up to 8 colours in both flexo or gravure printed for form-fill-seal (ffS) and pouch applications. Venk pac specialises in manufacture of Jumbo shrink and stretch hoods for pallet stabilization of glass bottles and beverage. there is no compromise on quality; our clients receive equivalent (or improved) quality at costs effective pricing. tel +27 32 533 0929 Email sales@venkpac.co.za

www.venkpac.co.za

In terms of the sweet and biscuit industry in Africa, I believe that there is a good level of competition that ensures that we are always keeping our pencil sharp, especially when it comes to efficiencies and reducing wasteâ&#x20AC;?

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ensure they remain competitive and continue their devotion to customer service excellence.

“By re-tooling our facilities, we have been able to ensure that we once again become a major player on the African continent. We see our exports to neighbouring countries – even as far as Nigeria – as one of our major successes this year,” highlights Lepar.

However, the company recognise that as a team, they are always working to further improve: “It is a task that we believe never ends.”

Recently, Arenel purchased a property adjacent to their Bulawayo Head office comprising of 2.6 hectares where they are planning to build a new purpose built production facility as Lepar further explains: “This is to ensure that we stay abreast of new technologies as well as ensuring that we are able to meet the ever growing demand for the Arenel brand.”

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Zimbabwean Industries

We are confident that our economy will turn around and in light of our confidence and in anticipation of an up take, we are gearing up for the upward trend in the Zimbabwe economy”

The current industrial climate in Zimbabwe is a difficult one. However, the understanding and assistance from the Ministry of Industry is creating processes in order to help further business opportunities within the country. “This is something we believe will be tantamount to the turnaround of the confectionary industry as a whole in Zimbabwe, and we hope to benefit from this,” Lepar continues: “In terms of the sweet and biscuit industry in Africa, I believe that there is a good level of competition that ensures that we are always keeping our pencil sharp, especially when it comes to efficiencies and reducing waste. We are always looking to bolt-on products in the food space, where we can use our existing plant, machinery, logistics and facilities which will reduce our costs.”

Moreover, Arenel are targeting the mass market by producing smaller

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value packs of sweets. “We are confident that our economy will turn around and in light of our confidence and in anticipation of an up take, we are gearing up for the upward trend in the Zimbabwe economy,” emphasises Lepar.

Supporting Communities Since its founding, Arenel has always had the policy of supporting charities and the communities at large. “We have had this long involvement through service organisation as well as through direct involvement. We support schools by way of prizes for year-end attainments as well as supplying sports equipment and sponsoring youth sport and so on. We recently sponsored the Zimbabwe Junior Tennis Tournament aptly named the Arenel Wimbledon Biscuit Junior Tennis Tournament and co-sponsored a junior rugby tournament in excess of 2000 players,” comments Lepar.

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We have had this long involvement through service organisation as well as through direct involvement.

We support schools by way of prizes for year-end attainments as well as supplying sports equipment and sponsoring youth sport and so on”

Arenel has also for over 40 years employed people from the community with various impediments (mainly drawn from the renowned Jairos Jiri Organisation).

“Arenel has a commitment to such persons from 100% sight impairment to persons who are in wheelchairs.

They make up an important part of our all too valuable workforce team,” Lepar explains.

“Integrity, Loyalty and Hard Work” Through their three core values of integrity, loyalty and hard work, Lepar is confident that the future is bright for the company: “These elements are all about people, us as a company and all that entails; our suppliers and customers who are integral to us and our continued success; our labour as a team who make it happen and of course and very importantly our ever loyal customers. Those elements make up our secret potion for success.”

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D ai l y - N eed

G r o u p

A FRIEND

IN NEED For over 44 years, the Daily-Need Group have manufactured high quality products for the Nigerian consumer market Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Callum Philp

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he Daily-Need Group (DNG) began life as Daily-Need Chemist, the brainchild of Dr. Matthew Oyin Jolayemi, in 1970. After two years of trading, the manufacturing of cosmetics started in Surulere and their first product, Paulina Beauty Cream, was created on the 19th November 1972; whilst pharmaceuticals were added the following year. The foray into pharmaceuticals commenced with the production of Penicillin Ointment.

The organisation made a giant stride in 1974 by moving into its factory which it still occupies today, and in the same year, Daily-Need Toothpaste was launched into the market for the first time which proved to be a big success.

In the last six years, through company evolution and consumer research, DNG have been able to reposition themselves as a marketdriven establishment which is sensitive and understanding to the need of the everyday consumer.

Tosin Jolayemi, Managing Director of the Daily-Need Group, considers that the company’s 42 years of successful operating can now be used as a springboard to propel the company into the next stage of becoming a vertically integrated and national company: “We have succeeded in having a solid foundation for future growth.

The next phase in our development programme is to set up a modern factory which complies with all World Health Organisation requirements. Every piece of machinery we have acquired recently has been put into motion to achieve this within the shortest time possible. Our vision is to be one of the top three in the consumer business industry in Africa within the next few years.”

THREE DISTINCT SECTORS The Daily-Need Group work in three key sectors within the Nigerian markets:

Pharmaceuticals

The flagship sector of the company is spearheaded by 5 products: De-Deon’s Syrup of Haemoglobin Vit. B12, Biovit Vitamin B Complex, Uniplex Cough Syrup, Mathew Worm Elixir and Vilicin Balm. All five of these products are strong sellers within the Nigerian market, due to their strong brand identity and quality ingredients, all of which is overseen by founder Dr. M Jolayemi. It is this attention to detail that has put the products firmly at the top of the Nigerian consumers list.

“What we try to do is create products that we would use ourselves. Most ailments affect everyone, regardless of stature, so we created products that would be affordable to all, but most importantly would do the job first time,” states Tosin Jolayemi.

Food

The main food product currently available from DNG is Suppy Cubes.

This product has been available for over 10 years now and has seasoned many a Nigerian dinner in its time.

Suppy Cubes are made from the highest quality ingredients and come in two flavours: beef and chicken.

Personal Care

The number one product in the DNG portfolio is also its most senior product, Daily-Need Toothpaste. The product has been on Nigerian shelves for over 4 decades, and although the formula and ingredients have changed to match industry innovation, the brand is loved as much today as it was in 1974.

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Challenging Times one of the biggest challenges faced

by Dng in recent years has been the lack of skilled workers ready to walk into a job in the company. when the new factory was built at a cost of n4 Billion, Dng had to import workers from India to not only build the new factory, but also install all the new machinery that was being fitted at the new site. “the lack of highly skilled workers in nigeria has been a problem for us over the last few years. our industry and factories require workers with a particular skill set that cannot be taught in a week. During the building of our new factory, we placed new recruits alongside the experienced Indian workers in a kind of apprentice scheme for several months. the results after 6 months were very positive as on-the-job training enabled the workers to enhance their skill sets greatly,” Jolayemi remarked.

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the second biggest hurdle Dng have to overcome is the lack of stable infrastructure in nigeria. although the country is considered one of the stronger african countries for developed infrastructure, they are still lacking in several key areas including a sustained power supply and general technological advancement. government help and funding are ensuring that the infrastructure is beginning to improve, which will be of benefit to the DNG.

Staying Ahead in the Markets

when it comes to ensuring the business remains a success and keeps ahead of the curve, Dng are a company that like to set trends and implement changes in the market, rather than follow them. Jolayemi prides himself on attending several global exhibitions in the areas of machinery and manufacturing processes, in countries such as germany, korea, China and India to enable him to bring the latest

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technologies and product innovation to the african market before his competitors do so. “The expos are a great source of product information and new technologies being used in the global markets. By attending, I am able to get a step ahead of my competitors in bringing potential market leading technology to the nigerian and african markets. this places Dng in a strong position to move the market in our favour,” Jolayemi reasons.

new Products for new success

whilst already having good products in the market, Daily-need group are always looking at bringing to light new additions to their product range. Over the next 12 months, nine new products will be brought into the nigerian market, although what they are remains a secret but if the success seen by previous products is anything to go by, then these new items will be flying off the shelves in

M a n u f a c t u r i n g

Our vision is to be one of the top three in the consumer business industry in Africa” no time at all. “We have created our new products with a keen emphasis on high quality and consumer needs in mind, and I have little doubt that they will become market leaders in their own right. Only time will tell,” proclaims Jolayemi.

With two generations of the family already working for DNG, Tosin Jolayemi is hoping that the knowledge and passion for the company and products that was passed on to him by his father, will in turn be passed to the next generation who will one day take over the running of the business. “For me, the reason we have been so successful is down to our belief in the Almighty God for his divine guardian coupled with the knowledge and passion that was passed down. You cannot truly promote a product or company unless you love the product and have a passion to see it succeed. I hope I can instil the same level of enthusiasm and passion into the next generation as my father did for me,” concludes Jolayemi.

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Vital Players in the Food Industry

With new methods of food preservation, Vital Products aim to help lower the costs of consumer products in the open market Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Callum Philp

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ital Products became operational in 1999 and was nurtured by a vision that saw Nigeria as the future to strong economic growth in Africa. Being abundantly blessed with agricultural products and enormous human and material resources, the country needed an opportunity to showcase its strength and potentials in the area of food production as a major export base aside from its major economic resource, oil. As a result of the long-term focus, persistent belief and faith invested in the country and its potentials by the pioneering founders of the company and willing investors based in the UK, Vital Products Ltd was born.

Today, the company looks back with a sense of pride and accomplishment at their achievements, as the leading provider of consumer healthcare and food products in Nigeria. Boasting extensive business experience that spans over two decades, the company has gradually etched itself into the Nigerian foods and beverages market by maintaining quality control backed by some of the best technologies used throughout its operations.

From a consumer and healthcare products company distributing only pharmaceutical products, the company has recently forayed into the manufacture and distribution of high quality fruit juices and nonalcoholic beverages.

In the community in which they are located, Vital Products continually strive to be a responsible corporate citizen. “In line with our corporate values of care, support and empathy in reaching out to communities served, the company is looking into initiatives aimed at promoting and supporting initiatives related to health, education and humanitarian services. We are thus positioning ourselves to lead the culture of service excellence in the industry tomorrow and into the future.”

Nigeria’s Pioneers

Vital Products Limited was incorporated under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1999.

The company commenced operations as a manufacturer and distributor of fruit drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, such as energy drinks, and stands as a company of repute in the food and beverage Industry. The company pioneered the processing and packaging of tomato paste in a 70 gram sachet and also introduced the concept of tomato paste which was developed indigenously.

“We have built up a reputation as one of the most innovative indigenous companies in Nigeria, specialising in the manufacture of natural, healthy drinks made from fresh fruits and promoting trade relationships that go beyond the shores of Nigeria.”

The company gradually etched itself into the Nigerian food and beverage market by maintaining quality control and best practices. The company in fulfilment of its mission of pursuit of excellence was certified by Standards Organisation of Nigeria (S.O.N), having fulfilled the requirements for the award of the prestigious ISO 9001:2000 quality management system certificate in 2006.

Vital Products have invested substantially in the fruits and vegetable processing industry, allowing the company to develop a portfolio of products of this type. The company has, as a part of its plans for expansion, procured a multi-million naira machine solely for the production of processed tomatoes and other food seasonings such as ginger and garlic.

Diversifying into Food Processing

In recent times, Vital Products have diversified into food processing and preservation in line with a sustained focus on new product development.

Within this, the company have invested in Individual Quick Freezing technology in fruits and vegetables processing and preservation. “This process ensures

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that food products pass through the temperature zone of -5 to -40 degrees Celsius very quickly; leaving very low and safe microbial counts which ensures that food is free of harmful bacteria and safe for consumption. This is important considering the effect of time, the hot climate and distance travelled on the transportation and preservation of food products across Africa and other continents.” Vital’s product range in this category includes pre-cut potato fries and unprocessed vegetables like peas, carrots and fresh vegetables. “We have the facility to process mangoes and pineapples to pulp and freeze. This will no doubt tap into the vast potentials to export processed fruits.”

Vast Distribution Network

When it comes to supply chain, a vast distribution network is key for Vital Products’ business. “We recognise the role distributors play in getting our products to the market no matter the

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We have built up a reputation as one of the most innovative indigenous companies in Nigeria, specialising in the manufacture of natural, healthy drinks made from fresh fruits”

distance. In recognition of the role of our channel partners in getting our products to the consumer, we offer attractive trade incentives to them and allow them to recruit trade promoters, canvassers and wholesalers on our behalf.”

Furthermore, Vital Products are in a strategic relationship with groups of fruit growers and farmers in various regions across the country, subsidising the cost of their seedlings and buying directly from them at harvest, at a cost that justifies their investment on land and labour. “We do this to save them the costs associated with transportation, middlemen and storage to ensure that the fruits arrive at the production factory in their fresh state.”

For Vital Products, improving basic crop subsidies for farmers and assisting them is the company’s way of ploughing back into those communities that provide the raw materials. “In doing this, we invest in the lives of the people who contribute to making our dream a reality and in our own future as a company.”

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“Our greatest asset is our people” Not only is an excellent distribution network key to successful business, Vital Products greatly value their staff and the values they bring to work in ensuring that high quality hygiene and consistency in delivering value to customers are maintained. “We source 95% of our talents in Nigeria while we also invest in foreign technical skill to train, develop and motivate our people. We provide continuous staff training in quality control, production processes and IT compliance for our staff. Workshops and seminars are organised regularly to acquaint our staff with the latest trends in food production and packaging processes as well as innovative trends in marketing and distribution.”

Those who are a part of the Vital Products family share a collective vision about the company’s position as the new agent of positive change in the food and beverage industry in Nigeria, which is paving the way towards achieving a truly home-grown economy. “We are committed to building a profitable, financially stable and expanding business in the food industry. Our business strategy is to target developing sectors of the market where a demand for innovation and excellence offers opportunities for profitable growth and where we can be a leading manufacturer.”

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SOUTh AFRICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S hUB FOR

SoCio-ECoNomiC

dEvEloPmENt Ugu District Municipality offers its public socio-economic opportunities and high quality residential services Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Stuart Shirra

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Town and Around Civils

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stablished in 1999, Town and Around Civils is a dynamic, well respected Civil Engineering Contractor based in Paddock, KwaZulu Natal. Our position is central to the various projects we are awarded by UGU. Town and Around therefore is instrumental in the upliftment of previously disadvantaged communities by optimising the design and constructing water distribution systems, and is proud to be a BEEE rated closed corporation. We pride ourselves on being non-discriminatory, accountable and transparent in our operations. We have our own well maintained fleet of plant and equipment ranging from small utilities to large earthmoving plant.

No 5 Paddock Place Paddock 4244 Tel +27 (39) 679 1009 Fax +27 (39) 679 1719 Email enquiries@taccc.co.za Email bruce@taccc.co.za

gu District Municipality offers some of the best examples of pure sub-tropical, bushland and woodland in KwaZuluNatal. Alongside the sprawling natural areas, there are small rural villages, active urban centres and major industrial locations. Boasting a coastline of 112 kilometres, Ugu is a favourite tourist destination, and includes the well established coastal towns of Port Shepstone, Pennington, Margate and Scottburgh. The modern N2 highway runs through Ugu parallel to the sea, passing Port Shepstone, the seat of the District Municipality and the main commercial centre. Ugu District Municipality has a simple vision for its residents, to be “a place where everyone benefits equally from socio-economic opportunities and services.”

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Ugu District Municipality has a simple vision for its residents, to be “a place where everyone benefits equally from socioeconomic opportunities and services”

The availability of housing, education, health and recreational facilities all contribute to a beneficial lifestyle for the residents. Amenities include internationally acclaimed golf courses, cinemas, social services and large shopping malls such as the 28,000m2 Shelly Beach Mall and the new South Coast Mall. Electricity is available throughout the district via Eskom’s national grid and the high level of rainfall ensures that there is an abundance of water, both of which are considered stable sources.

The prosperity of the economy can be put down to two reasons: tourism and agriculture. There is also some manufacturing centred around Port Shepstone, but this does not contribute as much to the economy as the others. The Hibiscus Coast Municipality is the most concentrated economic hub within the Ugu District Municipality and offers a multitude of economic sectors.

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Agriculture Commercial agriculture in the district produces approximately 20 per cent of all bananas consumed in South Africa, as well as vegetables, sugarcane, tea, coffee and macadamia nuts. There are a number of businesses successfully exporting these products to some of the most exclusive packers in the United Kingdom. It is this impressive exportation that has really boosted the economy in the district.

Uguâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive wattle, gum, pine and poplar tree plantations are processed by about 200 small sawmills. There is potential for the establishment of new timber plantations and supporting industries including biofuels using sugarcane and timber, and the processing of tea tree and aloe essential oils. This is something that the municipality is looking at as a long term investment opportunity and future revenue stream.

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the ugu fresh produce market provides retailing and limited agriprocessing opportunities, as well as a link to the Durban and eastern Cape markets. the market has a large area of land available for the expansion of agro- processing facilities ranging from fresh food to dry goods packaging. the ugu fresh produce market forms part of the network of markets in kwaZulu-natal, which are linked to the Dube trade port.

Manufacturing

ugu has a strong manufacturing sector which offers the following: clothing, textiles, metal products, food and beverages and wood products. ugu has the only â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;marbleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; delta within the kwaZulu-natal province, mined for cement and calcium carbonate. npC CImpoR, kwaZulu-natalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier cement manufacturing company, has developed an R800 million operation in the oribi gorge region, which has created numerous jobs and is helping keep the economy moving along steadily.

sport

Sport has been identified by the Ugu District municipality as a valuable community development tool, particularly amongst the youth, where numbers taking up sports have risen over the years. the ugu sports & leisure Centre is an investment catalyst project that has been going since 2010 and looks to continue into 2014 and beyond. as a high performance sports development centre, a major goal is to produce elite athletes from the ugu region and nurture this talent, with the hopes to achieve national and international recognition.

Tourism

tourism is one of the biggest economic draws in the district and is based on the plethora of water

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and land based activities; and sights for tourists and locals alike. Ugu has a number of highly acclaimed Blue Flag beaches. The large waves are a surfer’s dream and the myriad of bays and inlets offer model areas for sea kayaking, kite surfing and scuba diving. Fishing along the coast has become a popular sport for both locals and holidaymakers, and there is a variety of different fish available to catch.

“The Greatest Shoal on Earth” describes the huge number of sardines that leave Africa’s west coast to follow the plankton-rich cold ocean current that flows up the south coast during the winter months. 50,000 common and bottlenose dolphins, sharks, schools of game fish, seals and thousands of sea birds all follow the huge shoal, competing for nature’s bounty.

It is truly an apparelled event in Southern African waters.

The Ugu region offers unsurpassed natural wonders in the hinterland, with welcoming rural communities eager to share their culture and heritage with the visitors”

The Ugu region offers unsurpassed natural wonders in the hinterland, with welcoming rural communities eager to share their culture and heritage with the visitors. The Oribi Gorge is a natural gorge that offers sporting activities aimed at thrillseeking tourists with activities such as rock climbing, abseiling and the Wild Swing. Situated at the top of Lehr’s Waterfall, the Wild Swing is the highest swing in the world. Hurl yourself (or simply step) off the edge of the waterfall to swing into the gaping depths of the gorge 165m. Unlike a bungee, where you are strapped by the ankles, you experience the swing securely and comfortably fastened in a full body harness. For the more gentle tourist pursuits, the district offers agritourism, horse riding, hiking trails and bird watching to name a few. www.ugu.gov.za

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CITy OF JOhANNESBURG

fiNaNCE ECoNomiC CaPital the late nelson mandela described Johannesburg as the city of “vibrancy and activity, the centre of our country’s prosperity, providing that opportunity to create a better life for all” Writer Emily Jarvis Project Manager Stuart Shirra

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Image source: Enoch Lehung Š

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City of JohaNNESburg

he City of Johannesburg is the economic capital of south africa and a heartland of trade and economic activity in africa. It is home to the headquarters of most local and multinational companies in banking, finance and industry because of its nationally acclaimed economic and social infrastructure. It also houses the Johannesburg securities and Bond Exchange, the largest stock exchange on the continent. with a population of over 4 million people, Johannesburg is a bustling metropolis which offers locals and visitors an experience as unique and diverse as the city itself. as the biggest of south africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eight metropolitan municipalities, it is the destination of choice for both skilled and unskilled migrant workers from beyond the provincial borders of gauteng and national frontiers, and is a gateway to other destinations in southern africa.

Johannesburg is an inland city located in the province of gauteng, the wealthiest of south africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nine provinces which occupies only 1.4% of south africaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s land area, but contributes more than 33% to the national economy and a phenomenal 10% to the gDp of the entire african continent.

It is a city which is rolling out innovative solutions in the fields of alternative energy, public transport and high-speed broadband; a caring city that looks after its people through its housing initiatives, its successful healthcare programmes, its human and social development interventions, its expanded social package for indigent communities and the vulnerable and its urban agriculture programmes to ensure food security and a society where no one should go to bed hungry.

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Urbanisation and the African City

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rbanisation is a reality that has and continues to be a key factor for the growth and development of cities globally. For the African City, this trend is transformative as the African continent experiences some of the highest urbanisation rates in the world. The SubSaharan Africa urban growth rate is, for example, 3.6 percent per annum - double the world average.

In practical terms, by 2050 we will require additional city infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa equivalent to more than 1000 cities the size of Oslo, Norway.

Critically, high rates of urbanisation shape both policy and developmental trajectories for developing cities and the countries within which they find themselves.

Cities are the most important sphere of government as they are the closest to the people

The high rates of urbanisation bring both benefits and challenges. Some of the benefits of rapid urbanisation are fast growing consumer markets, high economic and GDP growth rates and accelerated technological innovation. Rapid urbanisation also results in a variety of employment opportunities with the potential for increased wages for individuals, whilst business and industry benefit from cost savings due to agglomeration economies and economies of scale.

Society at large also benefits from improvements in the form of improved health; decreases in poverty; improved living conditions; higher disposable incomes; and improved levels and standards of education.

Rapid urbanisation also brings, however, significant challenges to African cities in that it places a strain on the capacity of local and national government to provide the most basic of services to the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population. Within our developing economies, urban poverty is persistent accompanied by the unwieldy growth of shanty towns or slums - 200 million Africans live in slums, making up 70 percent of urban

Cities pictured included: Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Cairo

inhabitants. Often an excess supply of unskilled labour leads to increased levels of unemployment and underemployment. The negative connotations of increased pressure on existing services, employment opportunities and infrastructure represent major strains on available resources and service delivery.

The strain on resource is largely facilitated by real increases in costs for transportation, real estate and infrastructure costs alike.

Infrastructure leads citiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; economic and social development The infrastructure gap is one of the major problems facing the African city and the continent as a whole.

The African Union has identified infrastructure as a key priority in their 2009-2012 Strategic Plan that seeks to promote integration, socioeconomic development and cooperation on the continent.

At this continental and inter-regional level, the

swelling demand for infrastructure is acknowledged as one of the continents greatest impediments to sustainable development.

Further, there is a clear acknowledgement that the solution for infrastructure development to match apparent needs in Africa will require creativity and collaboration. The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) drives for regional integration of the continent and specifically calls for new models of partnership between business, government and donors to implement the 51 Priority Action Plan (PAP) infrastructure projects already identified.

Prioritisation of infrastructure development is of critical importance in light of funding constraints

Urbanisation and the African City At the level of the African city, the need to think and address the matter in a broader context centred on collaboration, cohesiveness and co-operation cannot be overstated. Whereas the AUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NEPAD, PIDA and such interventions provide a broad framework for coherent infrastructure development, it may be argued that cities at country and sub-national level are the building blocks that will add substance to the strategic commitments that have been made.

The need for re-imagining the urban space in cities is imperative for African to take advantage of its emerging role as a destination of choice for many investors and development actors looking for high growth markets.

KPMG has extensive experience of providing professional services to cities, and understand African cities, their challenges and their future.

This collective information is channelled to our clients by way of a globally-connected Africawide Centre of Excellence for Cities, with a focus as set out in our service offering model, comprising of subject matter experts and highly experienced professionals.

We have delivered a number of flagship assurance and advisory projects, including urban and economic development, optimisation of city balance sheets, financial turnaround plans, revenue assurance and enhancement, capital projects planning, prioritisation, monitoring and financing, as well as international city benchmarking.

Value-added advice is when ones combines deep sector knowledge with subject matter expertise

Delivery

Financing Growth

Governance, risk and Organization

High Performing Local Economies

Revenue Enhancement

City, Vision and Strategy

Understanding growth and prioritisation

service offering model

For more information please contact:

Kobus Fourie kobus.fourie@kpmg.co.za

Anthony Thunstrom anthony.thunstrom@kpmg.co.za

Andile Skosana andile.skosana@kpmg.co.za

City of JohaNNESburg

It is the home of global icons such as the late nelson mandela who described Johannesburg as the city of “…. vibrancy and activity, the centre of our country’s prosperity, providing that opportunity to create a better life for all”.

Executive Mayor Tau and Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York

the Man Behind the world Class African City Johannesburg is remaking itself and shaping its future as a sustainable liveable and resilient city – a city that ‘cares’ for its people and their future. the man behind this vision and its implementation is Councillor mpho, Parks Tau, Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg. he brings a unique blend of youth and experience to his role as Executive mayor of Johannesburg, south africa’s premier economic city.

Mayor Tau is a proficient international speaker and provides a voice of transformation in international seminars and conferences. he has represented the City of Johannesburg as a speaker, facilitator and presenter at a number of global events such as the world economic Forum in Davos, un habitat world urban Forum, the metropolis annual meetings, the uClg world Congress, africities and economist conferences to name a few. his main areas of focus are issues of socio-economic development, urban transformation, climate change, energy and youth matters and he has been able to generate global debate and garner support for his views and perspectives. mayor tau is a member of the uClg world Council and Executive Bureau and is Vice-Chair of the un habitat’s global network for safer Cities. through his international role, he has been able to attract a number of key events to Johannesburg including the metropolis annual meeting in 2013, the C40 mayors summit in 2014 and the forthcoming africities summit in 2015.

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The city of vibrancy and activity, the centre of our country’s prosperity, providing that opportunity to create a better life for all”

Mayor Tau opening C40 Summit in Johannesburg

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City of JohaNNESburg

Green Bond

leading the African Continent on Capital Investment

Johannesburg’s capital investments have increased significantly from R7.6 billion in 2013/14 to R10.9 billion in the 2014/15 financial year, making it the largest in the continent. the city has also successfully redeemed R1.9 billion since the inauguration of the municipal bond which the city pioneered – including R900 million in the past 12 months.

Johannesburg also received an unqualified audit report for the 2012/13 financial year, which attests to the city’s good governance systems and adherence to the highest standards of corporate governance and financial controls. the city deploys these resources to achieve its developmental obligations through investment in strategic infrastructure such as roads, the rehabilitation of public spaces and innovative transport solutions and telecommunications.

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The First C40 City to Issue a Green Bond

Johannesburg is remaking itself and shaping its future as a sustainable liveable and resilient city – a city that ‘cares’ for its people and their future”

the City of Johannesburg has successfully listed the first green bond CoJgo1 which will mature in 2024. the bond of R1.46 billion was priced at 185 basis points (1.85%) above the R2023 government Bond, which is very competitive and is a reflection of the city’s improved financial position. It marks a historic occasion as Johannesburg became the first city in the C40 Cities Climate leadership group to issue a green Bond. “the bond auction was 150% oversubscribed, demonstrating investor confidence in Johannesburg and commitment to environmental stewardship and climate change, while receiving a market related financial return,” says Executive mayor mpho parks tau. the green Bond has provided the city with a funding source to improve and expedite the implementation of its climate

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City of JohaNNESburg

Green Fuel Metro Bus

change mitigation strategy and move the city towards a low carbon infrastructure, minimal resource reliance and increased preservation of natural resources. the projects to be financed are green initiatives such as the Bio gas to energy project and the solar geyser initiatives, as well as other projects that reduce greenhouse emissions and contribute to a resilient and sustainable city.

Leaders in Climate Change Mitigation strategies Johannesburg is conducting a green revolution through a range of initiatives designed to reduce and mitigate climate change. as a member of the C40 Cities, the city is increasing its efforts to combat climate change, conserve its finite resources and guarantee security of supply of water and energy for its residents.

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the initiatives taken by the city to promote the “green revolution” Include:

As a member of the C40 Cities, the city is increasing its efforts to combat climate change, conserve its finite resources and guarantee security of supply of water and energy for its residents”

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Replacing its fleet with modern, low-floor and dual fuel (biogas and diesel) green buses which will advance the city’s clean fuel, job creation and low carbon economy agenda.

Reducing carbon emissions through the introduction of green transport such as the Bus transit system.

Rolling out 43,000 solar water heaters which generate the equivalent of 22.5 gigawatt hours of electricity per year – enough to run a small town.

Installing 42,000 smart meters, which is ongoing to enhance the city’s energy efficiency.

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opening a second Biogas-toenergy (Bte) plant at wastewater treatment facilities at the Driefontein works to mitigate climate change and reduce energy costs.

Replacing 143 km of water pipes as part of a three year, 900km refurbishment programme. this will reduce technical water losses from leaks and pipe bursts.

In this future, ‘Joburgers’ will live closer to their workplace and be able to work, stay and play in the same space without having to travel long distances”

engineering based on exclusion and apartheid, to create a spatially integrated city and undo the process of urban sprawl, through the provision of high-density housing along well Instituting a programme to design planned transport corridors.

Dubbed Corridors of Freedom, the city’s “future energy mix”. the new vision will not only this will include the increased transform spatial development in utilisation of gas, the uptake of Johannesburg, but will also facilitate roof top photovoltaic systems the shift towards an affordable and and other alternative, greener accessible mass public transit system energy sources. that includes both bus and passenger Johannesburg Rolls Out Innovative rail. along these corridors the city spatial Vision is locating mixed income housing, schools, offices, community facilities, the City of Johannesburg is working cultural centres, parks, public to reverse the legacy of social

squares, clinics, libraries, as well as cycling and walking. “this transit-oriented development will provide a modern approach to urban planning which has been implemented in cities such as san Francisco, Vancouver, melbourne, paris and guatemala City,” says the Executive Mayor for Johannesburg, Councillor mpho parks tau.

In this future, ‘Joburgers’ will live closer to their workplace and be able to work, stay and play in the same space without having to travel long distances. the idea is to reduce the number of cars and lessen carbon emissions to save our environment.

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BUILDING ON THEIR

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amathole District municipality are committed towards selďŹ&#x201A;ess, excellent and sustainable service to all their communities Writer Matt Bone Project Manager Stuart Shirra

he amathole District municipality (aDm) is on the eastern coastline of South africa and was established after the local government elections in December 2000. the municipality stretches from the Indian ocean coastline in the south to the amathole Mountains in the north, and from Mbolompo in the east to the Great Fish River in the west. the district lies at the heart of the Eastern Cape Province and is presently home to about 1.7 million people. the economy of the district is dominated by Buffalo City, which comprises the coastal city of East London, King Williamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Town, mdantsane and the provincial administrative capital of Bhisho. amathole is a land of rivers and fertile ďŹ&#x201A;oodplains, rolling grasslands, valley bush, estuaries, beaches, forests and waterfalls.

The bio-diversity of the district is often remarked upon by tourists and locals alike and this could have possible options for future socio-economic developments and competitive advantages.

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THE DISTRICT HAS SEVEN LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, EACH CONTAINING AT LEAST ONE URBAN SERVICE CENTRE. THESE ARE:

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amaHlatHI muNICIPalItY (Cathcart, Stutterheim and Kei Road)

gREat kEI (Komga, Kei Mouth, Hagga-Hagga, Morgan’s Bay and Chintsa)

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MBHASHE (Dutywa, Willowvale, Elliotdale) mNQuma (Butterworth, Nqamakwe, Centane)

NgQuSHwa (Peddie, Hamburg)

NKONKOBE (Seymour, Fort Beaufort, Alice, Middledrift)

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NXUBA (Bedford, Adelaide)

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THE MNDWAKA DAM

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ana manzi Joint Venture was appointed to construct the Mndwaka Dam by the Amathole District municipality in early 2012. the dam location is on the Mndwaka stream, a tributary to the Mncwasa River about 8 km inland from the well-known “Hole-inthe-Wall” landmark on the Transkei Wild Coast. the estimated water impoundment of 2,000,000 m3 is for primary use by the surrounding communities.

The Mndwaka Dam has been designed using rubble masonry concrete in order to maximise the use of labour in order to provide much needed employment for local people. the wall comprises two arches, each spanning over 60m, supported by gravity buttresses, and a 60m gravity flank wall on the eastern bank. The centre arch has a maximum height of 29m.

Email dpillay@zmks.co.za

www.wssa.co.za www.aserve.co.za

Sectors Sectors that provide formal employment in the district are: Public services 75,000 jobs; manufacturing 27,000 jobs; trade 25,000 jobs; and agriculture 17,000 jobs.

The Amathole District’s existing manufacturing sector includes the automotive, textile, pharmaceutical, electronics and food processing industries. the automotive industry has strong linkages into activities such as component parts, industrial textiles and leather tanning. Globally recognised companies operating in the district include: DaimlerChrysler SA, Johnson & Johnson, China Garments, Nestlé, First National Battery, Aspen Pharmacare, Yarntex and Coca-Cola Bottling.

Two of the Eastern Cape’s Spatial Development Initiatives (SDIs) for concentrated economic development the Fish River and Wild Coast SDIs - fall partly within the amathole region. the

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East london Industrial Development Zone - endorsed by the Department of Trade and Industry - is aimed at export oriented manufacturing and processing and is ideally located close to the airport and harbour, the only river port in South africa. the district has a good travel infrastructure in the form of roads and has excellent airport facilities at both East London and Bulembu Airport near Bhisho.

Tourism

three tourist routes overlap the Amathole District, including the Sunshine Coast (Port Elizabeth to East London), the Wild Coast (East London to Port Edward), the N6 (East London to Bloemfontein) and a fourth route, the Amathole Mountain Escape falls wholly within the district in the northern reaches. the district is renowned for its historical heritage as this was the

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ommitment towards selfless, excellent and sustainable service to all our communities.

area where nine colonial/frontier wars took place over a century between 1779 and 1878. The area is also renowned for academia, sport, and captains of industry. It is a place that has inspired poets, artists, sculptors, songwriters, photographers and authors.

Four new heritage routes have been established, named after Xhosa kings and heroes. these are the Makana, Sandile, Maqoma and Phalo routes. over 350 heritage sites have been identified within the district which is dotted with remnants of forts, mission stations, places of historical significance and burial sites of Xhosa kings.

A haven for the adventurous, Amathole offers rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, bird watching, canoeing, 4x4 trails, malaria-free game/nature reserves, water sports, including some of the best surfing spots in the world. The weather is temperate and mild, and the countryside usually basks in balmy sunshine during winter days, making this area ideal for various sporting activities.

Projects

MISSION T HE AMATHOLE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY, IN ITS DEVELOPMENTAL MANDATE, IS DEDICATED IN CONTRIBUTING TO: Ensuring access to socio-economic opportunities; Building the capacity of local municipalities within ADM’s area of jurisdiction; Ascribe to a culture of accountability and clean governance; Sound financial management; Political and administrative interface to enhance good service delivery; Contributing to the betterment of our communities through a participatory development process.

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ADM’s Health and Protection Department ventured into a waste management promotion in Nkonkobe Local Municipality, with an aim to curb the challenge of illegal dumping in the region. aDm Senior Environmental Pollution Control Officer, Ayanda Mangqongoza said as an intervention, both municipalities partnered to promote recycling as well as preventing further dumping.

Mangqongoza said the project has spin-offs that would benefit the local communities. “This is a yearlong project, which will then be renewed annually. The budget for this project is R 800,000, and the people who will benefit from it are community members, as well as school children.

There will also be a competition, which

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VALUES SELFLESSNESS Commitment and dedication to the provision of services to the community.

PRO-POOR The poorest of the poor will be the main focal point for ADM’s business and service delivery.

RESPONSIVENESS Striving for improved turnaround time in the delivery of services and in dealing with valuable customers.

TRANSFORMATIVE ADM are making considerable strides to ensure sufficient institutional capacity (skills and human capital) to maximise transformation.

A haven for the adventurous, Amathole offers rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, hunting, bird watching, canoeing, 4x4 trails, malaria-free game/ nature reserves, water sports, including some of the best surfing spots in the world”

will be taking place on a quarterly basis, whereby the local schools of Nkonkobe will be competing against each other for a cash prize.

The budget of this competition is R300,000,” said Mangqongoza.

One of the speakers, Waste and Air Pollution Management Officer Nozuko Fotoyi from the provincial Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, stated that waste management as everyone’s responsibility: “I am happy that school children have been included and encouraged to participate actively in waste management,” she said. She also stated that waste management encourages development, in the sense that it minimises illegal dumping sites, and therefore creates ample space to build houses. Waste Manager Unathi Madikane from Nkonkobe LM voiced her gratitude towards ADM for launching the project.

INCLUSIVITY Including all stakeholders in planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting in ensuring an integrated effort towards service delivery.

DIGNITY AND RESPECT Ensuring that service delivery restores human dignity and respect.

GOOD WORK ETHICS A professional approach in ADM’s conducted and ascribe to the Batho Pele principles.

TRANSPARENCY Throughout business operations, ADM will ensure access to information and fairness to their stakeholders.

INTEGRITY Constantly conducting business with utmost integrity as councillors and officials of the ADM.

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AITEC Banking and Mobile Money COMESA Intercontinental Hotel Nairobi Kenya

1 0 - 1 1 S e p tember 2 0 1 4

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Hotel Avenida Maputo Mozambique

1 6 - 1 7 S e p tember 2 0 1 4

Africa Oil & Gas Expo

2 3 - 2 4 S e p tember 2 0 1 4

0 9 - 1 0 O ctober 2 0 1 4

Hotel White Sands Dar es Salaam Tanzania

www.portexpansioneastafrica.com

APESTRANS 2014 Palais des Congrès Yaounde Cameroon

2 3 - 2 5 S e p tember 2 0 1 4 www.apestrans.com

Nasrec Expo Centre Johannesburg South Africa

1 5 - 1 9 S e p tember 2 0 1 4

AITEC East Africa ICT Summit Oshwal Centre Nairobi Kenya

0 1 - 0 2 O ctober 2 0 1 4 www.aitecafrica.com

The Maslow Hotel Johannesburg South Africa

1 8 - 1 9 S e p tember 2 0 1 4 www.events-africa.com/cloudvirtualisation-summit-africa-2014events-africa.html

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4th Mining Business and Investment Conference (MBI) Safari Park Hotel Nairobi Kenya

1 6 - 1 7 O ctober 2 0 1 4

Totally Concrete East Africa Hyatt Regency, The Kilimanjaro, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

2 8 - 3 0 O ctober 2 0 1 4 www.totally-concrete.com/east

www.electramining.co.za

Cloud and Virtualisation Africa Summit 2014

Sandton Convention Centre Johannesburg South Africa

www.mbieastafrica.com

www.nacaladevelopment.co.za

Electra Mining Expo

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Port Expansion East Africa

www.aitecafrica.com

Nacala Corridor Infrastructure Development

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Tech4Africa

Focus Rooms Sunninghill, Sandton Gauteng Johannesburg

0 9 - 1 0 O ctober 2 0 1 4 www.tech4africa.com

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eGov Kenya

Brackenhurst Conference Centre Nairobi Kenya

0 3 - 0 6 N ovember 2 0 1 4 www.10times.com/egov-kenya

International Business Awards

SM

The International Business AwardsSM are the world’s premier business awards program.

All organizations worldwide are eligible to compete in the 2015 competition, and can submit entries in a wide range of categories including management awards, company of the year awards, marketing awards, and more…

Complete entry details are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/IBA

Stevie Awards for Women in Business ®

The Stevie® Awards for Women in Business are now accepting entries. These are the top honors for female entrepreneurs, executives, employees, and the organizations they run worldwide. The 2014 program features more than 80 categories including Entrepreneur of the Year, Executive of the Year, Maverick of the Year, Mentor or Coach of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement Award, among others.

Get complete entry details at http://www.StevieAwards.com/Women