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Every Breath Counts Campaign Strives to Reduce Pneumonia in Nigeria

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<span style="font-size: large;">Every Breath Counts declared November: Pneumonia Month. Nigeria has the second highest pneumonia mortality in the world and primarily affects children under five. Pneumonia kills more children than any other infectious disease - almost 1 million children every year. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In light of World Pneumonia Day (November 12), Every Breath Counts decided that the disease needs more attention then just one day. Using social and traditional media, Pneumonia Month is dedicated to raising awareness to pneumonia's prevalence and burden in the country.<br /><br />Building from Her Excellency Aisha Muhammadu Buhari's, Wife of the President of Nigeria, participation and endorsement, the Every Breath Counts campaign features nationally recognized influencers: Hadiza Aliyu, Rahama Sadau and Ali Nuhu. They have each raised their voices to speak up against pneumonia in various PSAs. Ali Nuhu (@alinuhu) will lead a twitter chat to discuss his role in the campaign on November 11th at 11AM (Nigeria). Pneumonia Month jumpstarts the campaign that is expected to run through January 2017. <br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency on behalf of Every Breath Counts.</span></div>
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Every Breath Counts Campaign Strives to Reduce Pneumonia in Nigeria

Every Breath Counts Campaign Strives to Reduce Pneumonia in Nigeria

Every Breath Counts declared November: Pneumonia Month. Nigeria has the second highest pneumonia mortality in the world and primarily af...

09:48

DHL Regional Conference highlights sector growth opportunities in Africa’s Life Sciences & Healthcare sector

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<span style="font-size: large;">Over 125 healthcare professionals and logistics experts came together last week to discuss ‘Delivering <a href="http://www.dpdhl.com/">Healthcare</a> to Africa’ at DHL’s  6th annual Regional Life Sciences & Healthcare conference in Pretoria, South Africa.<br /><br />According to Deloitte, the Sub-Saharan region as a whole is on a positive growth trend although growth rates vary considerably from as low as 1.52% in South Africa to as high as 9.94% in Ethiopia. Growth in healthcare spend across Africa is forecasted at around 3 percent until 2020, with the top 15 countries with the exception of Gabon currently spending over US$ 1 billion per annum on health.<br /><br />Africa has positive growth potential in the healthcare sector, but continuous investment in capabilities, quality and innovation are needed to operate successfully across the continent, noted Thomas Ellmann, Vice President EMEA, DHL Life Sciences & Healthcare in his opening speech. <br /><br />Africa is considered the final frontier in delivery of healthcare services and there are a number of service delivery challenges to be overcome. According to Ellmann, companies in the sector have quality and process standards high on their list of requirements, in addition to visibility and control throughout the supply chain, from the point of manufacture to the end customer. Temperature control, Good Distribution Practice, trade compliance and regulations, and innovation are all key to success when it comes to the supply chain. “We wanted to address the requirements of the life sciences and health care industry at the conference with leading companies and experts in the sector, and discuss how the industry can adopt the best supply chain strategies to capitalize on Africa’s growth potential,” says Ellmann.<br /><br />Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) adds, “We have been in Africa for 38 years and have established ourselves as the market leaders. Africa is home to one of the fastest growing middle classes and access to healthcare products and services is critical. DHL Express is perfectly positioned to support healthcare supply chains in Africa – a market where we continue to see enormous potential and opportunity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Over the past two years we have equipped 16 countries in SSA to handle dangerous goods, enabling the movement of temperature-controlled consignments throughout our network. An additional seven countries are planned for DG-certification in 2017. We have also set up Express Logistics Centers and capabilities in 21 countries across SSA providing the ideal locations for short-term stock holding and the distribution of medical device and diagnostics equipment, electronics and spare parts, with further investment envisioned in this area.”<br /><br />As the leading logistics provider for the life sciences and healthcare industry, DHL serves customers globally and provides industry-leading capabilities, including time-definite international (TDI) express network covering 220 countries and territories, life sciences-qualified DHL Medical Express services in over 70 countries that enable global access to healthcare through continuous investments in skills, scale and solutions that adapt to ever-changing needs.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL. </span></div>
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DHL Regional Conference highlights sector growth opportunities in Africa’s Life Sciences & Healthcare sector

DHL Regional Conference highlights sector growth opportunities in Africa’s Life Sciences & Healthcare sector

Over 125 healthcare professionals and logistics experts came together last week to discuss ‘Delivering Healthcare to Africa’ at DHL’s ...

10:08

MainOne chooses Minkels to enhance position in West-African Data Center Market

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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.minkels.com/">Minkels</a>, part of the publicly traded company Legrand (NYSE Euronext Paris: LR), has been chosen as data center supplier for premier West African connectivity and data center solutions company, <a href="http://www.mainone.net/">MainOne</a>. MainOne blazed a trail in Africa with its undersea fibre optic cable connecting West Africa to Europe and the construction of West Africa’s largest commercial Tier III+ Data Center, MDXi. <br /><br />MainOne observed a strong market demand for a world class, carrier-neutral co-location data center in Nigeria in 2012. According to Ms. Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne: “The market demand rapidly outstripped the co-location space in our landing station and necessitated the construction of a purpose built Tier III facility with 600 rack capacity. We developed the Lekki data center (MDXi) over 24 months and launched in January 2015 to keep up with customer demand.”<br /><br />MainOne, in search of best of breed solutions, conducted a global search for a more flexible Cold Aisle Containment System (CAC) to accommodate the various needs of their global customers with racks of varying widths and heights. “We considered manufacturing in China to meet our specifications and also direct purchase from various OEMS. A global evaluation followed: all top industry players, custom CAC vendors and local manufacturers were evaluated to provide racks, Cold Aisle Containment, PDUs and accessories for customers at our data center. Minkels met our requirement to provide a Cold Aisle Containment solution: flexible concerning rack width and height, able to accommodate a free standing 47U solution, and lend itself to caging. In addition, Minkels has the technical ability to understand our requirements and quickly make custom engineering modifications based on experience with many of our global customers.”<br /><br />MainOne has successfully deployed the Cold Aisle Containment solution and custom support frames to meet the requirements of their international co-location customers who will be deploying their server racks shortly. “As the premier Data Center in West Africa, it is important we lead in innovation, professionalism and delivery of world-class solutions. Our partnership with Minkels ensures our ability to respond to customers with different technical requirements and volumes. Feedback from our customers is that they are impressed with the Minkels CAC and it makes the decision and process of co-locating with us easier. Given the success of this first-of-its-kind custom CAC deployment, we are in early discussions exploring the possibility to partner in the further deployment of Minkels solutions across MainOne’s MDXi data centers to ensure we remain very competitive in a dynamic and growing market.”<br /><br />Christiaan van Terheijden, CEO of Minkels, is also delighted with the partnership with MainOne: "We are very proud that MainOne has selected Minkels as their data center supplier. We see MainOne as a company that knows how to drive Internet use across the West African region. MainOne invests heavily in growing the broadband ecosystem in West Africa. This benefits both inhabitants as Internet enabled business models across the region. We are more than happy to be part of that development."<br /><br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of MainOne. </span></div>
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MainOne chooses Minkels to enhance position in West-African Data Center Market

MainOne chooses Minkels to enhance position in West-African Data Center Market

Minkels , part of the publicly traded company Legrand (NYSE Euronext Paris: LR), has been chosen as data center supplier for premier Wes...

10:03

Africa Code Week's Big Return to the Continent

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<span style="font-size: large;">SAP wrapped-up the second edition of Africa Code Week on Saturday in Cape Town, after a week marked by over 1,500 coding events taking place across 30 African countries. This year, with the participation of UNESCO's YouthMobile initiative and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development as strategic partners, the nine-day event aimed at introducing coding to 150,000 young Africans aged 8 to 24 through free coding workshops and online courses ranging from Scratch all the way to Web programming. <br /><br />The second edition of this award-winning digital literacy initiative officially kicked off on October 15 in Kigali, Rwanda, with officials from SAP, the Rwandan Ministry of Education, UNESCO and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. Founded and orchestrated by SAP in partnership with the Cape Town Science Centre and the Galway Education Centre, Africa Code Week relies on a growing network of nonprofits, government bodies, educational organizations, NGOs and corporations across the continent. For the second year in a row, Google Inc. supported Africa Code Week 2016 by empowering organizations across Africa with micro-grants so they could multiply computational thinking and coding activities all over Africa using Google CS First enrichment materials. <br /><br />"Beyond coding as the 21st century language, we are imparting the right skills and attitudes and a culture of innovation and creativity among young Africans", says Claire Gillissen-Duval, Director or EMEA Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP and Africa Code Week Global Lead. "Africa Code Week sheds light on how public-private partnerships can be renewed in the digital age for greater scale and impact: if young Africans see that governments, nonprofits and the private sector are working as one voice to deliver on joint education priorities, trust is seeded and they feel encouraged to start owning and living their dreams," she concludes.<br /><br />In preparation for Africa Code Week 2016, SAP has deployed its own IT experts as skilled volunteers to train 6,000+ teachers, parents and local volunteers throughout the year, all over Africa. These live Train-the-Trainer sessions, combined with access to online courses on the openSAP platform beyond the actual event time, enable Africa Code Week and partners to scale the impact continent-wide and in the long-run. "Africa Code Week is all about mobilizing the collective expertise and resources at the local level; Train-the-Trainer sessions provide a sound, scalable structure for inter-group knowledge sharing, unlocking people's potential and desire to serve as resources for each other," says Gillissen-Duval.<br /><br />SAP - Africa Code Week received a C4F (Communication for Future) award in the category 'Education of the Future' from the World Communications Forum in Davos in March 2016, as well as the Judges' Choice Award in the Corporate Initiative Category from the MIT Inclusive Innovation Competition in September 2016.<br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of SAP Africa.</span></div>
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Africa Code Week's Big Return to the Continent

Africa Code Week's Big Return to the Continent

SAP wrapped-up the second edition of Africa Code Week on Saturday in Cape Town, after a week marked by over 1,500 coding events taking p...

09:58

The new App enables customers to open a new digital account with no more than a few clicks, with no paper references

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<span style="font-size: large;">Ecobank (Ecobank.com) has launched the Ecobank Mobile App, an instant and convenient way of banking via the mobile phone. It is the first unified app delivered by any institution for use in 33 countries. Group CEO, Ade Ayeyemi unveiled the new App at a large product launch in Lagos, which brought together a wide range of customers, including students, various professionals, traders and transporters. Ecobank board members, shareholders, staff and media were also present at the event.<br /><br />The Ecobank Mobile App uniquely leverages the power of digital to deliver real convenience to customers. The App gives Ecobank the scale and capacity to achieve its target of attaining 100 million customers in a profitable and sustainable way. <br /><br />The new App enables customers to open a new digital account with no more than a few clicks, with no paper references.<br /><br />Ade Ayeyemi said: “The Ecobank Mobile App opens up opportunities for customers by allowing them to shop, transact and do business without cash. At scale, this will be transformational for Africa. Through its purchasing power and Ecobank’s partnerships with Visa and Mastercard, the Ecobank Mobile App will be an accepted means of payment. With its removal of barriers to entry and affordable price points, the Ecobank Mobile App will empower the consumer to be on the move.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Ecobank’s Group Executive for Consumer Banking, Patrick Akinwuntan, said: “This product launch fulfils our promise to create relevant solutions for consumers. With the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank customers can now make and receive instant payments across 33 African countries on their mobile devices. They can also pay in store with their mobile phones. This is genuine convenience delivered to our consumers.”<br /><br />At the launch, Mr. Akinwuntan demonstrated how to make a payment, how to send funds, and how to receive money from merchants using Ecobank Masterpass QR technology. He also showed that opening an XpressAccount was an instant and easy transaction.<br /><br />Ecobank Nigeria’s Managing Director, Charles Kié, said: “Nigeria is a leading hub for entrepreneurship and technology for Ecobank. This is why we chose Lagos as the venue to launch the Ecobank Mobile App. This new product will allow customers in Nigeria and other affiliates across our vast network, to grow their businesses by giving them a convenient and secure way of banking.”<br /><br />The innovative new platform reduces the need to carry cash. It gives customers the opportunity to deposit money through a mobile transfer.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Ecobank. </span></div>
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The new App enables customers to open a new digital account with no more than a few clicks, with no paper references

The new App enables customers to open a new digital account with no more than a few clicks, with no paper references

Ecobank (Ecobank.com) has launched the Ecobank Mobile App, an instant and convenient way of banking via the mobile phone. It is the firs...

09:55

Record Number of Economies Carried Out Business Reforms in Past Year: Doing Business

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<span style="font-size: large;">A record 137 economies around the world have adopted key reforms that make it easier to start and operate small and medium-sized businesses, says Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All, the World Bank Group’s annual report on the ease of doing business. <br /><br />The new report finds that developing countries carried out more than 75 percent of the 283 reforms in the past year, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for over one-quarter of all reforms. <br /><br />In its global country rankings of business efficiency, Doing Business 2017 awarded its coveted top spot to New Zealand, Singapore ranks second, followed by Denmark; Hong Kong SAR, China; Republic of Korea; Norway; United Kingdom; United States; Sweden; and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. <br /><br />The world’s top 10 improvers, based on reforms undertaken, are Brunei Darussalam; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Belarus; Indonesia; Serbia; Georgia; Pakistan; United Arab Emirates (UAE); and Bahrain. <br /><br />The report cites research that demonstrates that better performance in Doing Business is, on average, associated with lower levels of income inequality, thereby reducing poverty and boosting shared prosperity. <br /><br />“Simple rules that are easy to follow are a sign that a government treats its citizens with respect. They yield direct economic benefits – more entrepreneurship; more market opportunities for women; more adherence to the rule of law,” said Paul Romer, World Bank Chief Economist and Senior Vice President. “But we should also remember that being treated with respect is something that people value for its own sake and that a government that fails to treat its citizens this way will lose its ability to lead.” <br /><br />Doing Business data points to continued successes in the ease of doing business worldwide, as governments increasingly take up key business reforms. Starting a new business now takes an average of 21 days worldwide, compared with 46 days 10 years ago. Paying taxes in the Philippines involved 48 payments 10 years ago, compared to 28 now and in Rwanda, the time to register a property transfer has dropped from 370 days a decade ago to 12 days now. <br /><br />This year’s Doing Business adds gender measures to three indicators - Starting a Business, Registering Property and Enforcing Contracts - finding disparities in 38 economies. Of these, 23 economies impose more steps for married women than men to start a business. Sixteen limit women’s ability to own, use and transfer property. Doing Business finds that, in these economies, fewer women work in the private sector both as employers and employees. <br /><br />The report also features expansions to the Paying Taxes indicator, to cover post-filing processes, such as tax refunds, tax audits and administrative tax appeals, to better understand the overall tax environment. Since 2004, when Doing Business started, a total of 443 reforms have been recorded under the Paying Taxes indicator, the second highest number of reforms, with 46 reforms implemented in the past year. <br /><br />However, easing the requirements for Starting a Business is, by far, the most common area for reform, with almost 600 reforms recorded since 2004. Of these, 49 reforms were introduced during the past year. <br /><br />“Government policy plays a huge role in the daily operations of domestic small and medium-sized firms and onerous regulation can divert the energies of entrepreneurs away from developing their businesses or innovating. This is why we collect the Doing Business data, to encourage regulation that is designed to be smart, efficient, accessible, and simple,” said Augusto Lopez-Claros, Director of the World Bank’s Global Indicators Group, which produces the report. <br /><br />This year’s Doing Business report includes a pilot indicator on public procurement regulations. The report studies procurement in 78 economies across five main areas: accessibility and transparency, bid security, payment delays, incentives for small and medium enterprises and complaints mechanisms. Public procurement represents, on average, 10 to 25 percent of an economy’s GDP, making the procurement market a unique pool of business opportunities for the private sector. <br /><br />By region, East Asia and the Pacific is home to two of the world’s top 10 ranked economies, Singapore and Hong Kong SAR, China, and two of the top 10 improvers, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia. The pace of reforms picked up significantly in the past year, with the region’s economies implementing a total of 45 reforms to improve the ease of doing business. <br /><br />The Europe and Central Asia region was also a major reformer during the past year, with Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Serbia amongst the world’s top 10 improvers. Europe and Central Asia has consistently been the region with the highest average number of reforms per economy and is now close to having the same good practices in place as the OECD high-income economies. <br /><br />Business reform activity accelerated in Latin America and the Caribbean with over two-thirds of the region’s economies implementing a total of 32 reforms in the past year, compared with 24 reforms the previous year. The bulk of the reforms were aimed at improving tax payment systems, facilitating cross-border trade and starting a new business, with Brazil implementing the most reforms in the past year. <br /><br />The Middle East and North Africa region saw the most reforms implemented in the past year since 2009, with 35 reforms in 15 of the region’s 20 economies. Among the reformers, the UAE and Bahrain were among the world’s top 10 improvers. However, the region features the greatest gender disparities, with 70 percent of the economies creating barriers for women entrepreneurs. <br /><br />In South Asia, five of the region’s eight economies implemented a total of 11 reforms in the past year, compared with nine the previous year. Pakistan, which was among the world’s top 10 improvers, implemented several reforms this past year, as did India and Sri Lanka. The bulk of the business reform activity in the region was aimed at facilitating cross-border trade. However, Afghanistan and Pakistan, stipulate additional hurdles for women entrepreneurs. <br /><br />Sub-Saharan Africa economies stepped up the pace of reform activity, with 37 economies undertaking a total of 80 business reforms in the past year, an increase of 14 percent from the previous year. For the second consecutive year, Kenya was among the world’s top 10 improvers, while seven economies implemented four or more reforms each in the past year. However, 13 economies in the region stipulate additional hurdles for women entrepreneurs. <br /><br />“The overarching goal of Doing Business is to enable entrepreneurship, for women and men, particularly in low and middle income countries. That governments around the world are taking up the challenge of improving the business climate, to enable job creation, is worth celebrating and we look forward to continue recording the successes we have seen this past year in the years to come,” said Rita Ramalho, Manager of the Doing Business project. </span></div>
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Record Number of Economies Carried Out Business Reforms in Past Year: Doing Business

Record Number of Economies Carried Out Business Reforms in Past Year: Doing Business

A record 137 economies around the world have adopted key reforms that make it easier to start and operate small and medium-sized busines...

09:51

African Economies Adopt Record Number of Reforms, Says Latest Doing Business Report

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<span style="font-size: large;">Sub-Saharan Africa economies carried out a record number of reforms in the past year to improve the business climate for local entrepreneurs, says the World Bank Group’s annual ease of doing business report. <br /><br />Doing Business 2017: Equal Opportunity for All, released today, finds that 37 of the region’s 48 economies adopted 80 reforms in the past year, an increase of 14 percent from the previous year. More than half of the past year’s reforms were implemented by the 17 members of the Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa (OHADA). <br /><br />The region’s economies reformed most in the areas of Resolving Insolvency (with 18 reforms) and Starting a Business (15). Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, for example, made starting a business easier by introducing or improving online portals. Furthermore, as a part of the OHADA reform agenda, Cameroon, among other things, introduced a new conciliation procedure for companies in financial difficulties. This now makes resolving insolvency easier by allowing additional outlets to settle debts. <br /><br />Seven economies implemented reforms related to Trading Across Borders. For example, Niger made trading across borders easier by removing the mandatory pre-shipment inspection for imported products. Also, Mauritania made trading across borders easier by upgrading to the ASYCUDA World electronic data interchange system, which reduced the time for preparation and submission of customs declarations for both exports and imports. For example, it now only takes 51 hours in Nouakchott, Mauritania to comply with documentary procedures for exports, compared with 59 hours previously. <br /><br />As governments continue to take up the reform agenda, Doing Business data shows continued successes on the ground. For example, it now takes an average of 27 days to start a business in Sub-Saharan Africa, compared with 37 days five years ago. <br /><br />“Although the region still has work to do to make itself more business-friendly, we see steady improvements within various economies in the region,” said Rita Ramalho, Manager of the Doing Business project. “To see a record number of reforms take place in Africa is very encouraging for local entrepreneurs and the global business community alike.” <br /><br />Mauritius once again ranks best in the region, with an overall Doing Business global ranking of 49. Mauritius performs best in the areas of Protecting Minority Investors and Dealing with Construction Permits, with a rank of 32 and 33 respectively, on those indicators. For example, it takes 156 days to complete the construction permitting processes for simple buildings, compared to 183 days in France and 222 days in Austria. <br /><br />Ranks of some other economies in the region are Rwanda (56), Botswana (71) and South Africa (74).  This year’s report also covers Somalia for the first time, bringing the total number of economies covered globally to 190. Somalia is ranked 190. <br /><br />For the second consecutive year, Kenya places among the global top 10 improvers. Ranked 92, Kenya implemented reforms in five Doing Business areas. For example, in the area of Resolving Insolvency, the economy introduced a reorganization procedure and introduced regulations for insolvency practitioners. Starting a Business was made easier by removing the stamp duty fees required for the nominal capital, memorandum and articles of association and eliminating requirements to sign the compliance declaration before a commissioner of oaths. <br /><br />Kenya also streamlined the process of Getting Electricity by introducing a geographic information system which eliminates the need for a site visit, thereby reducing the time and interactions needed to obtain an electricity connection. This reform reduced the time for grid connection by almost two weeks. <br /><br />This year’s Doing Business report includes, for the first time, a gender dimension in three indicators: Starting a Business, Registering Property and Enforcing Contracts. In Sub-Saharan Africa, 13 economies require additional legal hurdles for women entrepreneurs. For example, six economies (including Cameroon, Benin and Guinea-Bissau) require additional steps for women to formally register a business compared to men. <br /><br />The Paying Taxes indicator has been expanded to cover post-filing processes, such as tax audits and VAT refund. The report finds that the region has room for improvement in these new areas. In most economies in Sub-Saharan Africa—where it is likely for an audit to take place—taxpayers are exposed to a field audit whereby the auditor visits the taxpayers. This is the case in Botswana, The Gambia, Malawi, Niger, Zambia and Zimbabwe.</span></div>
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African Economies Adopt Record Number of Reforms, Says Latest Doing Business Report

African Economies Adopt Record Number of Reforms, Says Latest Doing Business Report

Sub-Saharan Africa economies carried out a record number of reforms in the past year to improve the business climate for local entrepren...

09:49

Abdallah Mzee yakamilika

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<span style="font-size: large;">Mradi Mkubwa wa ujenzi wa Hospitali ya rufaa ya Abdulla Mzee iliyopo<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Mkoani Kisiwani Pemba  tayari umeshaweka alama ya Kihistoria<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>itakayoendelea kuimarisha uhusiano wa muda mrefu uliopo  kati ya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China na Zanzibar ambao una zaidi ya miaka 52<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>sasa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Balozi wa Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China Nchini Tanzania Bwana Lu Youqing<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>alisema hayo wakati akipokea salamu za shukrani kutoka  Serikali ya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar zilizowasilishwa kwake na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi Nyumbani kwake Mtaa wa Namanga Bara<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>bara ya Haile Selassie Jijini Dar es salaam.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Balozi Lu alisema Serikali ya nchi yake kwa makusudi imeamua kufanya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>ushirikiano wa kina na wa ndani kati yake na Zanzibar kutokana na<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Viongozi Wakuu wa pande hizo mbili kuasisi mafungano hayo yenye kuleta<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>faraja na upendo baina ya wananchi wa sehemu hizo mbili.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Alisema upo ushahidi wa wazi unaothibitisha ushirikiano wa pande hizo<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>mbili ukijikita zaidi katika uanzishwaji wa miradi ya maendeleo ya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>kiuchumi na ustawi wa jamii Visiwani Zanzibar na kuungwa mkono wa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>kiuwezeshaji na ndugu zao hao nwa Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Balozi Lu Youqing alielezea faraja yake kutokana na mabadiliko makubwa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>ya teknolojia ya Kisasa yanayoendelea kupamba moto ndani ya Visiwa vya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Zanzibar jambo ambalo hukleta matumaini kwa Wananchi wake hawa Vijana.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Akizungumzia utanuzi wa eneo la maegesho ya ndege katika Uwanja wa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>ndege wa Kimataifa wa Zanzibar {Terminal 2 } Balozi wa Jamuhuri ya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Watu wa China Bwana Lu Youqing alisema hakuna matatizo yoyote katika<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>uendelezaji wa mradi huo kwa Vile Benki ya Kimataifa ya Exim<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>imeshapata njia ya kupata fedha kwa ajili ya kukamilisha wa mradi huo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Balozi Lu Youqin kilichochelewesha kuendelea kukamilika kwa mradi huo<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>ni mabadiliko yaliyotokea ya Uongozi wa Benki ya Exim yaliyokwenda<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>sambamba na mabadiliko mengine ya Uongozi wa  Wizara ya Fedha na<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Mi<span style="font-size: large;">p</span>amgo ya Jamuhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania ambayo ndio mratibu wa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>mradi huo wa Kimataifa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Bwana Lu Youqing alimuhakikishia Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>kwamba Serikali ya Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China utatoa kipaumbele ombi la<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar la ujenzi wa Nyumba za Madaktari<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>katika Hospitali ya Rufaa ya Abdulla Mzee Mkoani.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Alisema kipaumbele hicho kitaingizwa katika mipango inayokusudiwa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>kutekelezwa na China katika kipindi cha mwaka ujao kupitia mpango wake<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>wa kuunga mkono mataifa ya Bara la Afrika.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Mapema akitoa ashukrani  kwa niaba ya Serikali ya Ma9induzi ya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Zanzibar, Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi<br />alieleza kwamba kazi inayofuatia kwa sasa na kutafuta mbinu za ujenzi<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>wa nyumba za Madaktari katika Hos9itali ya Abdulla Mzee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Balozi Seif Alisema kazi hiyo itakwenda sambamba na Serikali<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>kujitahidi kutafuta madaktari mabingwa watakaoweza kutoa huduma za<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>afya kulingana na mahitaji halisi ya wagonjwa ndani ya Kisiwa cha<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Pemba pamoja na maeneo jirani yaliyokuzunguuka kisiwa hicho.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Makamu wa ili wa Rais wa Zanzibar ameelezea faraja yake kutoka na<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>hatua kubwa na ya mwisho ilizofikiwa na wahandisi wa ujenzi wa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Hospitali hiyo itakayokuwa mkombozi mkubwa kwa wananchi walio wengi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Hospitali ya Abdulla Mzee Mkoani  imejengwa katika mfumo wa teknolojia<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>ya kisasa utakaokuwa na uwezo wa kutoa huduma mbali mbali ikiwemo zile<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>za upasuaji mkubwa, uchunguzi wa maradhi mbali mbali itaweza kukidhi<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>mahitaji ya huduma za Kiafya kwa wancchi walio wengi ndani ya Visiwa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>vya Zanzibar pamoja na ukanda wa mwambao wa Tanzania.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Wagonjwa wapatao 130 wanaweza kulazwa kwa wakati mmoja kwenye<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Hospitali hiyo zikiwemo huduma zote muhimu kama vyumba Vitatu vya<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>upasuaji, chumba cha wagonjwa mahututi { ICU }, Wodi ya wazazi pamoja<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>na jengo la msikiti litakalotumiwa na wagonjwa pamoja na familia zao<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>kwa ajili ya ibada.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Balozi Seif alitumia mazungumzo hayo kuishukuru pia Serikali ya<br />Jamuhuri ya Watu wa China kwa kukubali kugharamia ujenzi wa uwanja wa<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>michezo wa Mao Tse Tung uliopo Mperani Kikwajuni Mjini Zanzibar.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Alisema ujenzi wa uwanja huo utasaidia kurejesha hadhi ya jina la<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Kiongozi na muasisi wa Taifa hilo lilioko katika Bara la Asia.<br /><br />Othman Khamis Ame<br />Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div>
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Abdallah Mzee yakamilika

Abdallah Mzee yakamilika

Mradi Mkubwa wa ujenzi wa Hospitali ya rufaa ya Abdulla Mzee iliyopo Mkoani Kisiwani Pemba tayari umeshaweka alama ya Kihistoria itakay...

11:07

SMZ yawapa onyo wawekezaji

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<span style="font-size: large;">Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar imeonya kwamba haitasita kumfukuza Muwekezaji yeyote aliyepewa fursa kuwekeza miradi yake Nchini na akashindwa kufuata masharti na taratibu zilizowekwa kwa mujibu wa vigezo vya uwekezaji liliwemo suala la kunyanyasa Wananchi wa maeneo ya uliopo mradi.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Onyo hilo limetolewa na Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi baada ya kusikiliza kero zinazowakabili  wananchi wa Vijiji vya Matemwe Kijini na Mbuyu Tende kuhusu  kutolipwa fidia kwa maeneo yao ya ardhi yaliyochukuliwa kwa ajili ya ujenzi wa Mradi Mkubwa wa  Hoteli ya Kimataifa ya Penny Royal.<br /><br />Akijibu na kutoa ufafanuzi wa changamoto za Wananchi hao wa Matembwe Mbuyu Tende na Kijini Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alisema azma ya Serikali katika kukaribisha wawekezaji ya kuanzisha miradi yao nchini imelenga kusaidia pato la Taifa sambamba na kunyanyua maisha ya Wananchi.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema pamoja na kumuagiza Muwekezaji wa Mradi huo kulipa fidia Wananchi waliochukuliwa ardhi yao lakini Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar imeunda Kamati Maalum itakayofuatilia suala hilo ili itowe ripoti itakayozingatia kutolewa haki kwa kila upande.<br /><br />Aliwaeleza Wananchi hao wa Vijiji vya Matemwe Mbuyu Tende na Kijini kwamba Serikali Kuu hadi sasa haiendelea kumuongezea eneo zaidi ya Hekta 411 ilizompa Mwekezaji wa Mradi huo wa Penny Royal hadi hapo itakaporidhika na maendeleo ya hatau ya awali ya mradi huo.<br /><br />Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar aliwahakikishia Wananchi hao wa Jimbo la Kijini kwamba kila mwenye haki yake hatokosa kupatiwa lakini aliwaomba kuendelea kuwa na subra na uvumilivu ili maamuzi yatakayotoka yasije zaa kero jengine.<br /><br />Balozi Seif aliwataka Wananchi wote waliohusika na tatizo hilo kuorodhesha majina na vielelezo vyao kwa Kamati husika kwa lengo la kutoa fursa za upatikanaji wa malipo yao bila ya dhulma wala ghushi yoyote.<br /><br />Alisema Serikali haitaki kuona mizozo ya ardhi inaendelea katika maeneo mbali mbali nchini na hatimae kupelekea baadhi ya wawekezaji kuonyesha tabia ya kunyanyasa wananchi.<br /><br />Mapema Balozi alisikiliza kero za Wananchi hao zilizowasilishwa kwa niaba yao na Mzee Khamis Hassan, Mzee Zaja Haji Khamis, Mzee Ali Mcha Ali, Mzee Simai Mshindani pamoja na Mzee Makame Haji hapo Mbuyu Tende pembezoni mwa eneo la maegesha ya boti zinazopeleka watalii katika Kisiwa cha Mnemba.<br /><br />Wazee hao walitoa maduku duku yao hayo kubwa zaidi likiwa ni lile la   muwekezaji huyo kushindwa kulipa fidia ya maeneo yao  kwa takriban miaka mitano sasa wakiweka wazi kutokataa kuwekwa kwa mradi katika eneo lao lakini cha kuzingatia mwanzo na umuhimu wa kufuatwa kwa masharti na taratibu zilizokubalika kwa pande zote husika.<br /><br />Walisema katika kutafua ufumbuzi wa tatizo hilo ipo haja kwa Wananchi, Serikali pamoja na Muwekezaji husika kukaa pamoja katika kuangalia njia sahihi itakayosaidia pande zote kupata  muwafaka kwa amani.<br /><br />Naye Mzee Makame Haji akizungumza kwa hamasa alitahadharisha wazi kwamba Serikali inapoamua kuwapelekea Wananchi muwekezaji lazima izingatie masuala ya utamaduni na silka za eneo husika ili kuwepuka mapema mtafaraku kwa pande zote mbili.<br /><br />Mzee Makame alisema Jamii ya watu wa Matemwe Mbuyu Tende na Kijini hivi sasa imepata ufa na mtafaruku kufuatia eneo wanalolitumia kwa shughuli za mazishi  ni miongoni mwa maeneo yaliyomo ndani ya mradi huo wa Hoteli.<br /><br />Kampuni ya Penny Royal iko mbioni  kuanzisha mradi mkubwa wa Hoteli ya Kimataifa itakayopewa  jina la Zanzibar Amber Resort katika kijiji cha Matemwe Mbuyu Tende ndani ya Mkoa wa Kaskazini Unguja.<br /><br />Mradi huo utakwenda sambamba na ujenzi wa Skuli, Hospitali, Kituo cha Polisi sambamba na ujenzi wa Kituo cha Jamii kitakachowapa fursa Wananchi wa Matemwe hasa wajasiri amali kuendesha miradi yao katika  eneo la kisasa.<br /><br />Mbali ya ujenzi wa uwanja wa ndege na kiwanja cha mchezo wa Golf unaopendwa zaidi na matajiri wakubwa Ulimwenguni, Wataalamu wa Kampuni inayosimamia mradi huo watatengeneza Visiwa vidogo vidogo kwa kufukia Bahari ili kuongeza mandhari  nzuri ya mradi huo wa Hoteli.<br /><br />Matengenezo hayo ya visiwa  vidogo vidogo yatakwenda sambamba na ujenzi wa mkahawa maalum utakaojengwa chini ya Bahari zikiwemo nyumba za wafanyakazi.<br /><br />Othman Khamis Ame</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div>
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SMZ yawapa onyo wawekezaji

SMZ yawapa onyo wawekezaji

Serikali ya Mapinduzi ya Zanzibar imeonya kwamba haitasita kumfukuza Muwekezaji yeyote aliyepewa fursa kuwekeza miradi yake Nchini na akash...

14:25

DHL Express recognized as Top Employer in Africa for the third consecutive year

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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.dpdhl.com/">DHL</a> Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has been certified as a Top Employer in Africa by the Top Employers Institute at the prestigious Top Employer 2017 ceremony on Thursday 13 October at the Sandton Convention Centre.<br /><br />The company was certified as a Top Employer in twelve markets, including Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. Hennie Heymans, CEO of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), says, “We are extremely proud of this achievement. This is testament to how much we value our employees and reaffirms that DHL Express is a rewarding place to work at.”<br /><br />“Having motivated people is the first pillar of our global internal Focus strategy and being an Employer of Choice is one of our three bottom lines. This demonstrates how seriously we take employee engagement and development at a global level and on the ground in SSA. We’re committed to having a team of high performers who operate in a high performance culture and in a region that promotes and drives diversity of leadership.”<br /><br />“I believe that DHL Express has something very unique. You don’t often find a company that can maintain the same culture across the world. The fact that you can walk into any one of our offices around the world and feel that same drive towards customer centricity from the minute you walk in the door is truly amazing. Our Focus pillars lay the foundation for this success and the abundance of employee engagement and recognition programs are perfectly positioned to support this.”<br /><br />“These initiatives and programs include our Certified International Specialist (CIS) program, which is a cultural change program that all our employees across SSA have gone through. An extension of CIS is our Certified International Manager (CIM) program, which focuses primarily on ensuring that our leaders are equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet the demands of today’s complex working environment and promote effective and quality leadership among managers.”<br /><br />“We also run an annual Employee Opinion Survey which is 100 percent anonymous. This gives us great insight into areas that require improvement, as well as reaffirms areas that we are doing well in. Much like how we rely on customer feedback to improve our customer service quality, direct feedback from employees is imperative to our success. From an employee recognition point of view, we run Employee Appreciation Weeks and functional focus weeks which celebrate and recognize our employees’ achievements in each country. In addition, we present quarterly and annual awards to our star performers, based on employee nominations,” adds Heymans.<br /><br />To be certified as a Top Employer in Africa, a company needs to operate in four or more countries and have exceptional employee conditions. The Top Employers Institute conducts comprehensive and independent research by getting employees in the relevant companies to complete a HR best practice survey.<br /><br />The survey assesses the company’s HR strategy, policy implementation, practices and employee offerings, to reveal whether the company provides exceptional employee conditions, develops talent on all levels and demonstrates leadership through optimizing the development of its employees and employee practices.<br /><br />Each completed survey is reviewed by the Top Employer Institute and subsequently audited by a third party. Only organizations that qualify from the selection process receive the Top Employers title and Certification Seal but all participants receive a comprehensive Feedback Report.<br /><br />“We are delighted to have been certified as a Top Employer in Africa for the third consecutive year and strive to ensure that we continue to achieve this prestigious certification every year,” concludes Heymans.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Deutsche Post DHL. </span></div>
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DHL Express recognized as Top Employer in Africa for the third consecutive year

DHL Express recognized as Top Employer in Africa for the third consecutive year

DHL Express, the world’s leading international express services provider, has been certified as a Top Employer in Africa by the Top Emp...

14:13

Think About The Digital Tomorrow, Today

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<span style="font-size: large;">By Ashley Boag, Acting Managing Director of SAP East Africa <br /> 'Disruption' is a word one hears in the business context all the time these days. Being told that your business is in danger from unseen and unpredictable forces is not comforting.<br /><br />The truth is that potential of something coming along and hurting or disrupting your business has always been a reality. If you were a small retailer, the equivalent of a grocery Uber is not as worrying as a serious competitor opening its doors down the road from you. The local market might shift to new demographics, customers may relocate en masse for reasons beyond your control and a commodity crisis or natural disaster could quickly raise the cost of your staple products, thinning your margins to losses. I don't need to tell business owners about disruption; they recognise it all too well.<br /><br />Yet there is reason to focus on disruption: we are currently experiencing a technology revolution that is rewriting all the rules and doing so fast. In the past 15 years Kenya's internet penetration has grown from less than one percent to over 70 percent. Uganda has passed the 50 percent mark for mobile user numbers and ICT is already nearly 10 percent of its GDP. Tanzania is fast growing its digital citizenry since introducing 3G, LTE and Voice-over-IP technologies.<br /><br />These are great numbers, but they also signify the challenge modern companies face: we are all reliant on technology, from the humble phone and email interaction to customer-facing websites and customer relationship management systems. No enterprise leaves home without its enterprise resource planning tools (ERP) in tow - in fact, home is where the ERP is- and even that trusty system saves many executives from many sleepless nights. Having said this we now need more than ERP to clear a strategic path to growth and success in this highly complex world, we now need agility, deep insight (from structured & unstructured sources) and then to become innovative to find new paths.<br /><br />Trends like this are growing. If you haven't paid attention yet to the piles of documentation and mountains of data your business is collecting, you should. It's not just about staying ahead and keeping up with audits. It's about the future.<br /><br />Data is a common example. Businesses don't like uncertainty, which is why the unknown unknowns are so bothersome. But every aspect of your enterprise - equipment, staff, customers, markets, competitors, trends, suppliers, stock, etc. - generates data and often hides terrific insights. The question that every forward-looking executive should be asking him/herself is: do I have a plan to transform my business and effectively harness that data? This should be top of mind. Most companies are okay at understanding historical structured data to glean insights as to where they may have gone wrong but very few harness real-time insights and are using these to hone daily activities and eek out more immediate advantages. It need not be said that even fewer are yet immersed in predictive analytics with a deep understanding of both their structured data and customer behaviours but also all the unstructured data that now with the relevant technology you can blend to create more comprehensive insights and far more accurate predictions and simulations.<br /><br />Other questions that one should be asking oneself include: How are mobile devices changing the habits of my customers and supply chain partners? How might technology help a competitor undercut me? How can automation create efficiencies and free up resources? And, is my business the lean and mean machine it ought to be? Surely if we have such high mobile penetration and social media usage customers will expect the same ease of experience and type of interaction from you as your customer.<br /><br />The reality is these and many more challenges make one realise that we need to be ready to benefit from rather than be a slave to the trends that are inevitable. More importantly as this is an ever changing world we need to ask how whatever we do will fit into the longer term perspective and ensure its relevance in the longer term in terms of future-proofing your business yet providing sufficient flexibility to quickly adapt to new trends.<br /><br /><a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001UpIIqN0KWCOUzVytXGbvvSTyN1H-P3nyKS2nST_TSuimsgKczRL-NJuTheqGxG0x1AkRmvlQnz3CR0sUlVMlUeeQNIvTl8b4tVt0LOMKbXoefKBYxtcqOG2tMWhcTH_5BlWu1ACgoytKtH06CeX6T4KWlC6swq6ckcUrOO5XDTuuVBFfhoKcc2cbd-zlTDkQZqT_9dygOULZeNiljWVexMvlmJD8bKEK&c=0d5kdxf-RZwIEPSvFY6nrQREwyzN5JUmZAk3-dNZQWRfs0FfmR9WYw==&ch=1eslEpl4Y9N3_18SIUW114_P8s957nBxSyrEl6SGVRRgDlfOxfGXHQ==">SAP HANA</a> is the in-memory technology platform that can position your business for a successful, sustainable future and with over 40 years of industry experience, SAP caters to the nuances of 26 sectors. Not only does this provide a platform for the future but it ensures you can understand your business in real-time today and help build the basis of predictions for the future. The limitations now become only how creative you can be in embracing technology and combining information in new ways to optimise and adapt your business.<br /><br />This is a great time to be in business as the world of transformative technology is truly your oyster. The real work is up to business owners: they need to ask themselves whether they are having the right kinds of discussions around the boardroom table? A vision and a concrete plan to enable that technology-powered future is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must.<br /><br />Harnessing the power of Cloud or operating On-Premise, no matter the size of your business, SAP uniquely helps create that roadmap in partnership with you.<br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of SAP Africa.</span></div>
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Think About The Digital Tomorrow, Today

Think About The Digital Tomorrow, Today

By Ashley Boag, Acting Managing Director of SAP East Africa 'Disruption' is a word one hears in the business context all the ti...

10:39

Mundipharma becomes the 'Official Healthcare Product Partner of Manchester City Football Club'

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<span style="font-size: large;">Premier League club Manchester City have signed healthcare and pharmaceutical business Mundipharma as one of their most recent regional partners.<br /><br />The multi-year deal sees Mundipharma Pte Ltd named the 'Official Healthcare Product Partner of Manchester City Football Club' in Mundipharma's markets in Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. It reflects both partners' commitment to deepening the connection they have with their fans and people in those emerging markets. <br /><br />Under the partnership, Mundipharma will be incorporating Manchester City branding in a selection of their marketing and advertising campaigns and the logo of its popular range of BETADINE medicines will feature on the sleeve of the Club's medical staff at friendly matches in Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.<br /><br />As the partnership progresses, Mundipharma will also collaborate with the Club to offer young fans the opportunity to travel to Manchester for an unforgettable football experience at the Club's elite youth development and training facility, the City Football Academy. On the trip, young fans will enjoy training sessions delivered by qualified City Football Schools' coaches dedicated to providing participants with an authentic Manchester City experience.<br /><br />Speaking as the partnership was announced at the City Football Academy, Manchester City's elite youth development and training facility, Raman Singh, President, Mundipharma, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, said:<br /><br />"We are proud to become an Official Healthcare Product Partner of Manchester City Football Club. Manchester City are one of the world's best football teams and are known all over the world. Sports reaches and inspires people around the world. We intend to harness this power to raise awareness on key health issues such as preventing the spread of infectious diseases, which is a major focus for us in emerging markets where there have been a number of recent outbreaks. <br /><br />Echoing Mr Singh's sentiments, Manchester City's Chief Operating Officer, Omar Berrada, said:<br /><br />"We are delighted to announce our partnership with Mundipharma, who like Manchester City continually strive for excellence. Their commitment to connecting with their in-market consumers in innovative and meaningful ways reflects that of Manchester City making them a fitting partner for the Club. We look forward to working together across emerging markets, where our fanbase also continues to grow." <br /><br />Manchester City, who have 400 million followers around the world, are currently enjoying a successful start to the season, under the guidance of manager Pep Guardiola. <br /><br />Mundipharma's emerging markets business has grown significantly in recent years and its medicines are distributed in more than 120 countries worldwide.<br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Mundipharma.</span></div>
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Mundipharma becomes the 'Official Healthcare Product Partner of Manchester City Football Club'

Mundipharma becomes the 'Official Healthcare Product Partner of Manchester City Football Club'

Premier League club Manchester City have signed healthcare and pharmaceutical business Mundipharma as one of their most recent regional ...

10:31

World Bank Group President makes strong economic case for Investing in the Early Years

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<span style="font-size: large;">At a groundbreaking summit at the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings, nine countries today pledged to make a range of major investments designed to dramatically reduce childhood stunting and equip tens of millions of young children with the abilities they need to succeed in a fast changing world. Today’s commitments are expected to help create future economic growth by preparing people – in the early years -- for the jobs of the future. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />“Poor nutrition, few opportunities for early learning and stimulation, and toxic environments literally hardwire young children to miss out on opportunities to learn and later to earn good wages,” said Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group. “But when Heads of Government and Ministers of Finance commit to fight stunted development and nurture the power of children’s brains, we can avert future crises where people and economies will not reach their full potential.” <br /><br />Speaking for a country where 47 percent of children under age five are stunted from chronic malnutrition, H.E. Jimmy Morales, President of Guatemala said: “If our children are not healthy and well nourished, they will not be able to go to school and they will not be able to learn well; as adults they will not be able to find good jobs with good earnings so we will not have a productive, safe and secure society. This is why for me, for my government and for my country, the reduction of stunting by 10 percent during my period is the most important priority.” <br /><br />Côte d’Ivoire’s Prime Minister HE Daniel Kablan Duncan said: “Côte d’Ivoire hopes to achieve dynamic economic, social and cultural growth. This development cannot be achieved without the development of human capital, the first wealth of any nation. This national consciousness has revealed the need to make early childhood a priority in order to make growth more and more inclusive and achieve shared prosperity.” <br /><br />Worldwide, 156 million children under age five suffer from chronic malnutrition, only half of all three- to six-year-olds have access to preschool, and children from the wealthiest families hear as many as 30 million more words by age three than those from the poorest families. Also, according to a recent report by UNICEF, the number of child refugees has risen 77 percent in 5 years. Further, a Lancet report released yesterday noted that in Sub-Saharan Africa, 66% of children are estimated to be at risk of poor development due to stunting and poverty, while the share is 65% in South Asia. <br /><br />The situation grows critical as an increasingly digital global economy places a large premium on the ability to reason, learn, communicate and collaborate. However, new evidence shows that brain development during a brief window of opportunity in early life has a profound impact on these abilities both for people and economies. The World Bank Group estimates that countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia would have 9 and 10 percent greater GDP per capita today had they eliminated stunting when today’s workers were children. <br /><br />Recognizing that nutrition, stimulation, and safe environments for young children have a direct bearing on learning, health, behavior, incomes, and national economic development, the Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, and Finance Ministers of Cameroon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Pakistan, Senegal, and Tanzania pledged strong action at home on a number of fronts to put tens of millions of children on the right track. <br /><br />FROM COUNTRY STATEMENTS: <br /><br />Cameroon: The Government of Cameroon has been firmly committed to investing in early childhood in Cameroon, with a view to continuing its rapid economic and social development. We intend to reduce the chronic malnutrition rate among under-fives from 32% to 25% by 2019.  To achieve these outcomes, we will continue to pursue a multisectoral approach that creates synergies among our education, health, and safety nets programs focusing in particular on the northern and eastern regions of the country.  <br /><br />Cote d’Ivoire: In May 2016 we launched the National Multisector Plan for Nutrition which will mobilize $470 million to scale up investments in nutrition, of which the Government of Cote d’Ivoire is funding US$70 million. Leaders must guarantee universal access to essential services for the development of young children. <br /><br />Ethiopia: IDA has been a key supporter and partner in our efforts to address the challenges we face in our early years agenda. We are moving forward with an additional US$150 million for a health project which includes a strong nutrition component. We are also requesting US$900 million in additional resources to support the early years agenda in education and social protection. We will complement these national efforts with US$600 million for decentralized services to support local health, education, and agriculture services. <br /><br />Indonesia: Indonesia has a number of efforts to improve results for the early years, including a conditional cash transfer program to incentivize behavior change and promote child development; and an earmarked fund to support early childhood education. Indonesia will also improve institutional effectiveness through harmonized policies and better coordination among different government institutions and civil society. <br /><br />Madagascar: We have accorded priority to the social sectors, focusing specifically on actions that will improve conditions for mothers and children. The Ministry of Education is preparing a new education sector strategy that includes preschool education. We are piloting several types of interventions aimed at reducing chronic malnutrition and our social protection policy includes conditional cash transfers designed to encourage children to attend school and mothers to participate in stimulation activities for young children. <br /><br />Pakistan: Pakistan plans to strengthen political leadership and institutional arrangements, and implement priority early childhood interventions through multiple key sectors at large scale. We plan to aim for innovation and partnerships with private sector using public financing and to commit increased funding from the Government. <br /><br />Tanzania: The Tanzania Social Action Fund provides conditional cash transfers to the poorest 15% of households, to promote prenatal care and pre-primary school enrollment. We are also using results-based financing to improve nutrition outcomes, as well as innovative financing initiatives which leverage the private sector, including the Power of Nutrition. <br /><br />Senegal: Investing in early childhood in Senegal will generate returns through increased internal and external efficiency in education, enhanced productivity, the country’s human resources, employability, and increased revenues in the long term, thus resulting in higher, more sustainable, and more inclusive economic growth. <br /><br />The World Bank Group stands ready to support these countries as they invest in nourishing, stimulating, and protecting their greatest resource. A growing network of committed partners include the Global Financing Facility for Every Woman, Every Child; Power of Nutrition, the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) movement, and the Early Childhood Development Action Network which was launched in April 2016 by the WBG and UNICEF.  <br /><br />* The World Bank’s International Development Association, established in 1960, supports the world’s poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest loans for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor people’s lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the world’s 77 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change for 2.8 billion people living on less than $2 a day. Since 1960, IDA has supported development work in 112 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $18 billion over the last three years, with about 50 percent going to Africa. </span></div>
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World Bank Group President makes strong economic case for Investing in the Early Years

World Bank Group President makes strong economic case for Investing in the Early Years

At a groundbreaking summit at the World Bank Group-IMF Annual Meetings, nine countries today pledged to make a range of major investments...

10:26

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) announces Financing of 21 Renewable Energy Projects

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<span style="font-size: large;">The Development Bank of Southern <a href="http://www.dbsa.org/">Africa</a> (DBSA) has financed 21 renewable energy projects since the launch of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPP). This was revealed today at the annual SA Gas Options conference in Cape Town and follows the announcement of South Africa’s Gas to Power Project Information Memorandum (PIM). Ms Lucy Chege, General Manager for Energy Financing at the DBSA, said “The DBSA’s achievements in the renewable energy space confirms our role as an instrumental partner in developing integrated solutions for and on behalf of the Department of Energy’s IPP office and  National Treasury.” <br /><br />This announcement comes two weeks after the release of the DBSA’s financial results which revealed that the bank had delivered a net profit of R2.6bn and sustainable earnings of R1.4bn in the 2015/2016 financial year. In this 12 month period ending March 2016, the DBSA delivered R28bn across the total infrastructure value chain, with development assets now standing at R77bn and total assets at R82bn.  <br /><br />To date, the DBSA has contributed to 2512 megawatts of power being installed on the national grid through the funding of 21 projects across South Africa. This has significantly addressed the energy crisis challenges across South Africa and the region.  Approximately R14.9bn of commitments have been made by the DBSA to support government programmes in the energy space. Some of the successes include the construction of two IPP Peaking power plants in South Africa - Avon 670MW and Dedisa 335 MW.<br /><br />The 21 projects funded by the DBSA with a total capacity of 2512MW are part of SA’s REIPP Programme and the Department of Energy’s s Peakers IPP Programme. All projects are currently operational and delivery power to the national grid. These projects include 5 Commercial Solar Panels, 9 Solar PV’s and 5 wind projects.<br /><br />Approximately R2, 167 billion has been provided to enable the participation by BBBEEE players and local community trusts in various energy projects. Funding has been provided in the form of senior debt, mezzanine debt and BEE funding.<br /><br />The bank has also financed numerous gas fired plants and infrastructure throughout the continent as part of regional integration efforts to address the power crisis. Regional projects include Cenpower, Ghana powership and funded the Bulk Oil Storage Terminal of Ghana.<br /><br /> “The energy portfolio accounts for the banks largest exposure and this signals our commitment to working with all partners and promoting the DBSA’s regional integration and infrastructure programme, says Ms. Chege. <br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA). </span></div>
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The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) announces Financing of 21 Renewable Energy Projects

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) announces Financing of 21 Renewable Energy Projects

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has financed 21 renewable energy projects since the launch of the Renewable Energy Indep...

11:45

There are 1.4bn smokers on the planet today and 1.4bn deemed overweight

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<span style="font-size: large;">Scientists, healthcare providers, policymakers and private sector companies met in Dubai for the first ever Middle East and Africa (MEA) Health Forum on 'Harm Reduction for Healthier Societies'. With a focus on obesity and tobacco, participants at the inaugural forum considered some of the major developments and transformative innovations being adopted to help build healthier societies in these regions. </span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Panelists and speakers discussed how potentially preventable risk factors such as poor diets, high blood pressure, high body mass index (an indicator of obesity and being overweight), and smoking are contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in the MEA region. There are 1.4bn smokers on the planet today and 1.4bn deemed overweight. These numbers are of crisis proportions. As these non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are looming as the greater threat, forum attendees recommended that existing public health policies and strategies be revisited in order to allow the formulation of new, evidence-based measures for harm reduction. They held that such measures including smarter policies based on ongoing robust scientific research. <br /><br />Dr Nasim Ashraf, CEO of the DNA HealthCorp, noted that for the first time in the history of humanity, the new generation of children, the millennials, will be worse off economically and also from a health perspective. And for this to change the whole system needs to change, which is too often skewed towards treatment rather than prevention. <br /><br />In the final remarks summarising proceedings from the discussions there was a consensus that harm reduction should be part of any effective public health strategy in national efforts to lower the health burden associated with smoking and the overconsumption of sugar, saying that these two health issues are widely acknowledged as a leading cause of NCDs. <br /><br />Novel products such as vaping, for example, were 95% less toxic than traditional cigarettes and could simply not be discarded in policy formulation. At the same time, obesity should not be looked at in isolation. Sleep deprivation for example is a contributing factor to an unhealthier lifestyle. <br /><br />Too often policy makers, scientists and industry are working in isolation when they needed to collaborate and engage more closely to develop better solutions.             <br /><br />In its summary the forum called for more alternatives and innovative solutions, including the establishment of an independent research fund or institution to research, evaluate and develop solutions in the area of tobacco. <br /><br />On sugar harm reduction, the Forum noted a consensus that sugar in itself is not harmful when consumed in appropriate quantities. However, the Forum called for the establishment of mechanisms to identify instruments and published studies on health risks associated with the use of sugar in all its forms, broader public health awareness programmes on this issue and smarter regulation when it comes to acceptable sugar levels in consumer products. <br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of IC Publications.</span></div>
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There are 1.4bn smokers on the planet today and 1.4bn deemed overweight

There are 1.4bn smokers on the planet today and 1.4bn deemed overweight

Scientists, healthcare providers, policymakers and private sector companies met in Dubai for the first ever Middle East and Africa (MEA) ...

11:45

Ecobank renews Partnership with the Global Fund

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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ecobank.com/">Ecobank</a> Transnational Incorporated, the leading Pan-African financial institution, through its Foundation, has renewed its partnership with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria for a further three years. The relationship between the two organisations began in 2011,and the new agreement formalises Ecobank’s support for the Global Fund’s work in Africa.  <br /><br />A selected high-level audience composed of business leaders and development experts were present at the signing ceremony on September 16 2016, in Montreal, Canada. The event, ‘Changing Africa: Enabling growth through the private sector’, led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ecobank Foundation, Ms. Julie Essiam, took place on the side-lines of the Global Fund’s Fifth Replenishment Conference. According to the terms of the agreement, Ecobank Foundation will work with the Global Fund to build the partnership into an engagement and advocacy platform for organisations and individuals who share a vision of accelerating the transformation of Africa.<br /><br />Ade Ayeyemi, Ecobank Group Chief Executive Officer, pledged USD3 million at the Global Fund's Fifth Replenishment Conference in Montreal. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hosted the event attended by Heads of State, government officials and hundreds of private sector and development leaders from across the globe. The Fifth Replenishment raised USD 12.9 billion with a goal of saving 8 more million lives.<br /><br />Mr. Ayeyemi said, “Our job as bankers is to build the technical infrastructure that brings tens of millions more Africans into a more formal financial system. Ecobank’s founding fathers established a Pan-African bank to support Africa’s transformation. We are pleased to renew our productive partnership with the Global Fund. I am confident that we are a step closer to enabling prosperity across Africa.”<br /><br />Through its Foundation, Ecobank will continue to take a prominent role with the Global Fund To Fight against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria on the African continent.<br /><br />Julie Essiam, Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Foundation signed the agreement with Mark Dybul, Executive Director, Global Fund. She said, “The Ecobank Foundation is pleased to be part of a historic moment with the Global Fund and what we are trying to do in Africa, which is to create a “thriving Africa”, and a prosperous continent.  It is important for the private sector to collaborate to ensure that we use our platforms to unlock funds which will deliver sustainable progress and prosperity to Africa.”<br /><br />Programmes supported by the Global Fund partnership have put 9.2 million people on antiretroviral treatment for HIV, provided 15.1 million people with TB treatment and distributed 659 million mosquito nets to protect families from malaria.<br /><br />Mark Dybul, Executive Director, Global Fund said, “We are excited about the Ecobank partnership, which improves the impact of our grants in numerous ways. When you workto advance financial management, all the way down to sub-recipients in rural areas, that’s hugely important for development.”<br /><br />The Global Fund is an organization designed to accelerate the end of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria as epidemics. As a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and people affected by diseases, the Global Fund mobilizes and invests nearly US$4 billion annually to support programmes run by local experts in more than 100 countries and supports attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Ecobank. </span></div>
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Ecobank renews Partnership with the Global Fund

Ecobank renews Partnership with the Global Fund

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the leading Pan-African financial institution, through its Foundation, has renewed its partnership ...

11:42

Balozi Seif awataka viongozi wa chama kujipanga

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<span style="font-size: large;">Viongozi na Wanachama wa Chama cha Mapinduzi {CCM } ngazi ya Matawi Nchini wameagizwa kujipanga vyema ili kuhakikisha Viongozi watakaowachagua wakati utakapowadia wa uchaguzi ndani ya chama hicho hapo mwakani wana sifa sahihi zitakazokidhi mahitaji yote ya kuwatumikia wanachama hao katika kipindi cha miaka Mitano ijayo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Mjumbe wa Kamati Kuu ya Halmashauri Kuu ya Taifa ya CCM Balozi Seif Ali Iddi alitoa agizo hilo wakati akizungumza na Viongozi wa Kamati za Siasa za Matawi ya Mangapwani na Mangapwani Bondeni katika mkutano wa kuwashukuru wanachama hao baada ya kumalizika kwa uchaguzi Mkuu uliopita.<br /><br />Balozi Seif Ali Iddi ambae pia ni Mwakilishi wa Jimbo la Mahonda akiambatana  pamoja na Mbunge wa Jimbo hilo Mh. Bahati Ali Abeid na Madiwani wa Wadi zilizomo ndani ya Jimbo hilo alisema CCM ikiendelea kujipanga vyema kwenye chaguzi hizo itakuwa na uhakika wa kuendelea kuongoza Dola ya Watanzania katika miaka mingi ijayo.<br /><br />Alisema wapo baadhi ya wapinzani walijipenyeza kwenye chaguzi za Chama hicho mwaka 2012 na kuomba Uongozi wakitumia hila na ujanja wa fedha na hatimae kuwayumbisha Viongozi na Wanachama wakati  wa kupanga safu ya utekelezaji wa Ilani na Sera za CCM.<br /><br />Mjumbe huyo wa Kamati Kuu ya CCM Taifa aliwapongeza Wana CCM na Wananchi wa Mangapwani kwa uamuzi wao walioufanya mwezi Oktoba mwaka 2015 na Machi 2016 wa kuipa dhamana CCM iendelee kuongoza Dola ya Tanzania katika chaguzi zote mbili ile ya Zanzibar na ya Tanzania.<br /><br />Balozi Seif alisema kazi inayowakabili Wananchi kwa hivi sasa ni kuelekeza nguvu zao katika kuimarisha miradi ya Kiuchumi na Maendeleo na kwa upande wa Uongozi wa Jimbo hilo tayari umeshajipanga kuhakikisha changamoto zinazowakabili Wananchi wa Maeneo hayo zinapatiwa ufumbuzi muwafaka.<br /><br />Alisema yeye pamoja na Mbunge wake Mh. Bahati watashirikiana na viongozi wa Jimbo hilo ngazi ya Jimbo na Matawi katika ujenzi wa Jengo Jipya la Ofisi ya CCM Tawi la Mangapwani Bondeni litakalolingana na hadhi ya Chama chenyewe.<br /><br />Balozi Seif aliwahakikishia Viongozi na Wanachama wa CCM wa Tawi la Mangapwani Bondeni kwamba yeye binafsi pamoja na Viongozi wenzake atasimamia maandalizi ya kuanza kwa msingi wa ujenzi wa Jengo hilo ili kuondoa kiu ya muda mrefu waliyokuwa nayo Wanachama hao.<br /><br />Naye Mbunge wa Jimbo la Mahonda Mh. Bahati Ali Abeid aliwathibitishia Wanachama  na Viongozi wa Matawi hayo kwamba juhudi za awali zimeanza kuchukuliwa katika mwanzo wa kuzitafutia ufumbuzi changamoto zinazowakabili wananchi wa maeneo hayo.<br /><br />Mh. Bahati alisema katika utekelezaji wa ahadi, Ilani na Sera za Chama cha Mapinduzi za kusimamia upatikanaji wa huduma za Maji safi na salama kwa wananchi wa Matawi hayo Uongozi wa Jimbo hilo umeanza harakati za kuliondosha tatizo hilo sugu linalowakabili Wananchi hao.<br /><br />Alisema ulazaji wa mabomba ya maji katika mradi maalum ulioanzishwa unatekelezwa katika Vijiji vya Kiomba Mvua, Fujoni na Mangapwani na kilichobakia kwa wakati huu ni Mamlaka ya Maji Zanzibar { ZAWA } kukamilisha uwekaji wa Mashine ya kusukumia Maji katika kisima kilichochimbwa kwenye eneo hilo.<br /><br />Mbunge huyo wa Jimbo la Mahonda alifafanua zaidi kwamba juhudi hizo za uimarishaji wa miundombinu  katika Sekta ya Maji zimechukuliwa kwa makusudi na Uongozi wa Jimbo hilo kwa kushirikiana na Mamlaka ya Maji Zanzibar baada ya kubaini kwamba Kisima kilichokuwa kikisambaza huduma ya maji katika kijiji hicho kiliopo Mfenesini kuzidiwa mara dufu.<br /><br />Akigusia uhai wa Chama cha Mapinduzi Mh. Bahati aliwakumbusha Wanachama wa Matawi hayo kuhakikisha wanalipa ada zao kama kawaida bila ya kusibiri kusukumwa kufanya hivyo ili kukipa nguvu chama chao kiweze kutekeleza majukumu yake kama kawaida.<br /><br />Mapema Mke wa Mwakilishi wa Jimbo la Mahonda ambae pia ni Mjumbe wa Kamati ya Siasa la Wilaya ya Kaskazini “B” Mama Asha Suleiman Iddi waliwanasihi Wazee wa Vijiji hivyo Kuanzisha Kamati ya maadili itakayosaidia kutoa elimu kwa vijana waliojitumbukiza katika matumizi ya Dawa za kulevya.<br /><br />Mama Asha alisema inasikitisha kuona jitihada kubwa zilizochukuliwa na Uongozi wa Jimbo hilo kwa kutumia fedha nyingi katika kuwapatia ushauri nasaha vijana hao kwenye nyumba za kurekebisha tabia { Sober House } hatimae ziligonga mwamba.<br /><br />Alisema Kamati itakayoundwa katika Kijiji hicho cha Mangapwani itapaswa kwenda kujifunza kwa Kamati kama hiyo iliyoanzishwa katika Kijiji cha Fujoni ambayo imeleta mafanikio makubwa katika kukabiliana na wimbi la vijana waliojitumbukiza katika wimbi la matumizi ya dawa za kulevya.<br /><br />Mama Asha alieleza kwamba Vijana wa Fujoni walioamua kuacha dawa hizo     tayari hivi sasa wamekuwa na mafanikio makubwa katika muendelezo wa mradi wao wa Uvuvi unaokidhi mahitaji yao ya kimaisha baada ya kupatiwa msaada wa Boti pamoja na Mashine yake.<br /><br />Othman Khamis Ame</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Ofisi ya Makamu wa Pili wa Rais wa Zanzibar</span></div>
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Balozi Seif awataka viongozi wa chama kujipanga

Balozi Seif awataka viongozi wa chama kujipanga

Viongozi na Wanachama wa Chama cha Mapinduzi {CCM } ngazi ya Matawi Nchini wameagizwa kujipanga vyema ili kuhakikisha Viongozi watakaowa...

11:24

NORWEGIAN CHURCH AID (NCA) WANOGESHA TAMASHA LA UTAMADUNI HYDOM.

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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span lang="EN-US">NA IMANI NSAMILA</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kila mwaka shirika la Four Corner Culture Program (4CCP) huandaa tamasha la kiutamaduni ili kukuza na kuenzi tamaduni halisi za kitanzania . <br /><br />      Tamasha la mwaka huu limekuwa lakipekee sana kutokana matukio mablimbali ya kimaendeleo na kiutamaduni yaliyofanyika .Ambapo Shirika la Norwegian Church Aid kwa kushirikiana na 4CCP Hydom walizindua  miradi mabli mbali ya maendelea katika sekta ya maji (Visima)ili kupunguza tatizo kubwa la maji linalo wakumba wananchi wa wilayani Mbulu mkoani Manyara na mkoa jirani wa Singida.</span></div>
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NORWEGIAN CHURCH AID (NCA) WANOGESHA TAMASHA LA UTAMADUNI HYDOM.

NORWEGIAN CHURCH AID (NCA) WANOGESHA TAMASHA LA UTAMADUNI HYDOM.

NA IMANI NSAMILA Kila mwaka shirika la Four Corner Culture Program (4CCP) huandaa tamasha la kiutamaduni ili kukuza na kuenzi tamadu...

22:00

Carlson Rezidor on Track to achieve More than 23,000 Rooms in Africa

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<span style="font-size: large;">An accelerated African growth strategy for <a href="http://www.carlsonrezidor.com/">Carlson</a> Rezidor , one of the world’s largest hotel groups, is on track to achieve its target of more than 23,000 rooms open or under development in Africa by the end of 2020.<br /><br />Rezidor’s President and CEO, Wolfgang M. Neumann, who is a speaker at the Africa Hotel Investment Conference in <a href="http://www.africa-conference.com/">Kigali</a>, Rwanda, says the hotel group launched its accelerated African growth strategy in 2014 with ambitions to double its portfolio in Africa by the end of 2020. “Africa has always been close to our hearts. We were the early movers on the continent in 2000 when we established our dedicated business development base in Cape Town.<br /><br />“Today, Africa is our biggest growth market with a fully functional Area Support Office in Cape Town since 2016. We also converted our joint venture company with the four Nordic Government Development agencies, AfriNord, from a mezzanine debt funding facility to a minority equity investment vehicle to support our strategy and owners.”    <br /><br />Rezidor first entered Africa in 2000 when it opened its first Radisson Blu in Cape Town. Today Carlson Rezidor’s footprint in Africa has grown to include 69 hotels open and under development in 28 countries, incorporating more than 15,000 rooms.  <br /><br />Neumann says in the past 24 months Carlson Rezidor has signed a new hotel deal in Africa every 37 days. “Of course, we are aware that it is not just about signing. It’s really about delivering the pipeline. We have opened a new hotel in Africa every 60 days over the past two years. This year, we have already opened six Radisson Blu hotels and expect to open a Park Inn by Radisson in South Africa in the next six months. We intend to keep up this momentum of signings followed by successful openings.”  <br /><br />The six hotels opened in 2016 include Radisson Blu hotels in Nairobi, Kenya; Marrakech, Morocco; Maputo, Mozambique (first residence in Africa); Abidjan, Ivory Coast (first airport hotel), Lomé, Togo; and the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre in Kigali, Rwanda, East Africa’s largest convention centre and host to the 2016 Africa Hotel Investment Forum.<br /><br />Carlson Rezidor Senior Vice President Business Development Africa & Indian Ocean Andrew McLachlan, says Radisson Blu leads the way with more hotel rooms under development than any of the other 85-plus hotel brands active in Africa today, according to the W-Hospitality Report. “Our ambition is to be the leading player in the travel and tourism sector across the continent.”<br /><br />Exciting new developments on the cards for Carlson Rezidor in Africa include the signing of the first Radisson RED, which is expected to open in Cape Town in the course of 2017, as well as the signing of the first Quorvus Collection to be built in Lagos, Nigeria, expected to open in 2019.<br /><br />Carlson Rezidor aims to open 15 or more hotels in South Africa and Nigeria alone by the end of 2020, incorporating its full brand portfolio, ranging from the Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson RED, and Park Inn by Radisson.<br /><br />McLachlan says Africa presents an opportunity for Carlson Rezidor to grow its resort portfolio under Radisson Blu and Quorvus Collection in locations such as Mauritius, Seychelles, Zanzibar, East Coast of Kenya and Tanzania and the Cape Verde Islands.<br /><br />He adds that the challenges experienced in Africa are no different to those experienced in other emerging markets. “Generally-speaking, the owner class in Africa today is typically a local, first-time owner and local professional team with limited or no hotel development experience. This means the learning curve is high and expensive. In addition, there is a high demand for imported products and equipment in many of the markets. To mitigate these risks, we offer hotel turnkey design and build contractors to ensure the owners and their teams have significant support when it comes to delivering each hotel.”<br /><br />“Water and electricity are the two most expensive running costs in African hotels today and we are constantly looking at ways to design and operate our hotels with a view to saving costs and improving results, as part of our responsible business strategy,” says McLachlan.<br /><br />Notably, 77% of Carlson Rezidor’s hotels worldwide have been eco-labelled and the hotel group has recorded a 22% energy saving since 2011 and a 29% water saving since 2007 across Europe, the Middle East & Africa. The hotel group is particularly focused on conserving the planet’s scarce water resources and its Blu Planet initiative is aimed at providing safe drinking water for children in disadvantaged areas in partnership with international water aid charity, Just a Drop.<br /><br />Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group also partners with IFC, a member of the World Bank Group that focuses on private sector development, to promote the design and construction of green buildings in emerging markets. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Through the partnership, Carlson Rezidor will use the EDGE eco-analysis software for all of its future hotel projects in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. As 40% of the world's carbon emissions are generated through the construction and operation of buildings, designing green hotels supports the industry's responsibility to meet COP21 targets.<br /><br />Expanding its footprint into Africa also means creating employment for the local population in each country, with an emphasis on developing women to leadership positions. “Many hotel jobs do not require tertiary education and present opportunities for locals to be trained and upskilled to fulfil particular roles,” says McLachlan.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. </span></div>
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Carlson Rezidor on Track to achieve More than 23,000 Rooms in Africa

Carlson Rezidor on Track to achieve More than 23,000 Rooms in Africa

An accelerated African growth strategy for Carlson Rezidor , one of the world’s largest hotel groups, is on track to achieve its target...

21:53

Ambition and opportunity in IT in Africa

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<span style="font-size: large;">The potential gains to be made from the rapid growth of the African digital economy cannot be overstated. An estimated 360 million mobile devices, $75billion in annual e-commerce sales and a $300billion internet-driven boost to GDP is forecast by 2025.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Yet conventional wisdom would dictate that the current lack of legacy Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure in Africa is a barrier to realising this enormous digital growth. While mobile internet access on the continent has been increasing rapidly, a recent report stated that fixed internet connections account for only about 10% of all internet connections in most African nations. And although recent years have seen advances in internet accessibility (such as undersea cabling connecting Africa to the rest of the world), there are still many parts of the continent that have no internet access whatsoever.<br /><br />However, instead of a barrier, IT providers entering African markets should instead see this as a significant opportunity. Many governments are recognising the important role that ICT infrastructure plays in economic growth and are explicitly promising to harness the power of modern technologies, such as high-speed internet access, to empower their citizens and boost their economies. Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Kenya, to name but a few, have developed ambitious ICT strategies and policies to achieve these high-level goals.<br /><br />There is certainly scope to gain project funding for expansive ICT projects across a multitude of countries and many foreign investors remain committed in the longer term. Furthermore, businesses that invest now to lay the groundwork for ICT infrastructure will undoubtedly reap the rewards as these markets reach maturity. Just think about those who invested in mobile infrastructure in Africa 10 or even 20 years ago and consider the massive returns they are seeing now.<br /><br />Leapfrogging to innovative tech solutions<br />In a sense, a lack of existing infrastructure can be seen as beneficial in so far as there is no need for ICT solutions to be constrained by old-fashioned ways of thinking about, and engaging with, technology. Without the burden of these embedded 'old school' approaches that plague many more mature markets, there is the opportunity for innovative technology providers to start with a clean slate and provide leading-edge solutions that directly address the communication needs and day-to-day realities of many Africans.<br /><br />The most well documented example of this willingness to "leapfrog" technologies is, of course, Kenya-based Safaricom's M-PESA mobile money solution. In a market with high mobile device penetration, but very little retail banking infrastructure, M-PESA gave millions of Africans their first bank accounts by turning virtually any mobile phone into a money transfer device.<br /><br />Since then, fuelled by burgeoning start-up hubs in Nigeria and Kenya, there has been a surge of African start-ups, covering everything from <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RKcYkRkjappW8Lrn5XXrf8aIFXmsTFhUpiQgOAnWtIW6A5s3SLhQqXBq5_P4qlkayT0wLrMs0t0U7lzJZZhmJ5N2KREafouBo6HOim-6Gmlg2YORsKPHI77SHvT_JJqqNYHjZKLhOgGdBFWEy_6ijyhdIjxN4q7hgvuAcTL_uFY=&c=3X3SoDnAqih6NmoiuVeAfJoXFqOIP9DNdKiMFlXqkooDjYsmSiMs8Q==&ch=NvW0c9PffoH8zL1GpB54aevqjx00hi22XnYg_vtuv40GviayGRmJZA==">fashion</a> to <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RKcYkRkjappW8Lrn5XXrf8aIFXmsTFhUpiQgOAnWtIW6A5s3SLhQqXBq5_P4qlkacorW9zqGvO84XEQL9iSJD7rHJGMHTubJJzbJp0oZdRmzhxLFs0CgomP-BArcx_7raUgfdKjitll7cCOtlqgghh513GkdD_2dwl23n7xY9SA=&c=3X3SoDnAqih6NmoiuVeAfJoXFqOIP9DNdKiMFlXqkooDjYsmSiMs8Q==&ch=NvW0c9PffoH8zL1GpB54aevqjx00hi22XnYg_vtuv40GviayGRmJZA==">shipping</a> and <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RKcYkRkjappW8Lrn5XXrf8aIFXmsTFhUpiQgOAnWtIW6A5s3SLhQqXBq5_P4qlkaGscwiAX5qGooRQl92f3R_UIcbEl3U-sCFI4Q8OWpsX6pd4auI3boxLGoVd0WITF4RR4gKqzPYGlhaiEf9tHQ40-C7oI_wCc2yq0OJrwkEeo=&c=3X3SoDnAqih6NmoiuVeAfJoXFqOIP9DNdKiMFlXqkooDjYsmSiMs8Q==&ch=NvW0c9PffoH8zL1GpB54aevqjx00hi22XnYg_vtuv40GviayGRmJZA==">employment </a>solutions. And, because these solutions specifically cater to markets that are encountering technology for the first time through a mobile device, they can bypass many of the intermediary technological steps and unlock true innovation more quickly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This means that many home-grown tech solutions are developing to tackle local issues, such as the video-on-demand platform <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RKcYkRkjappW8Lrn5XXrf8aIFXmsTFhUpiQgOAnWtIW6A5s3SLhQqXBq5_P4qlkaGYoza2ATDAsH70K-cV7wG9H81PD14oMR913q6WUkvabCvOCHb_aprK8aSyjENHybf-A24EcVdDO5lcg4XwQAPqAqB9NaD5f_LliIBf0-UdM=&c=3X3SoDnAqih6NmoiuVeAfJoXFqOIP9DNdKiMFlXqkooDjYsmSiMs8Q==&ch=NvW0c9PffoH8zL1GpB54aevqjx00hi22XnYg_vtuv40GviayGRmJZA==">iROKOtv</a>, which was created to address piracy problems arising in relation to Nigerian films, or the <a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RKcYkRkjappW8Lrn5XXrf8aIFXmsTFhUpiQgOAnWtIW6A5s3SLhQqXBq5_P4qlkaBIW73PU7zeQU68jtKtSlER790VvCxuhYpO_JEtKUExbkPRqN0iks96L6UwQxznuJ6DxN_YnYqklrx4WMsHQKHwFZbN3bARvoj1KjOpIYzAQ=&c=3X3SoDnAqih6NmoiuVeAfJoXFqOIP9DNdKiMFlXqkooDjYsmSiMs8Q==&ch=NvW0c9PffoH8zL1GpB54aevqjx00hi22XnYg_vtuv40GviayGRmJZA==">BRCK</a> portable Wi-fi hotspot and battery extender device used to address wireless internet dead zones.<br /><br />On the other end of the scale, big business in Africa is also embracing technology's power to stay ahead of the game in world markets. Engen Petroleum, as an example, employs technology to help ensure excellence in its operations. The highly competitive and dynamic petroleum industry makes it even more necessary for the company to use software solutions that drive efficiencies and improve profitability at the same time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With over 1,000 retail sites in South Africa alone, Engen needed to address technical challenges it faced when processing a monthly average of 26 million sales transactions from convenience sites around the country. Working with SAP, the company has improved operational efficiency to collect income from turnover levies. Improved data compression and query performance has given the company the edge it needs to analyse high volumes of data and gain insight into opportunities and risks across its large retail network.<br />Seize the day<br />There are two ways to look at the future of IT in the African continent. Either as a difficult and onerous job, because of a lack of legacy infrastructure and building block tech systems, or as a blank page, rich with opportunity in a set of nations intent on economic prosperity, digital expansion and citizen-empowerment.<br /><br />Providers that take the latter viewpoint stand to take advantage of huge financial rewards and significant growth. But perhaps the bigger incentive is extraordinary technological innovation, which will positively impact the lives of millions of Africans throughout the continent.<br /><br />Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of SAP Africa.</span></div>
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Ambition and opportunity in IT in Africa

Ambition and opportunity in IT in Africa

The potential gains to be made from the rapid growth of the African digital economy cannot be overstated. An estimated 360 million mobile...

17:25

Aggreko brings 100 MW of ADDGAS-generated Power to Benin

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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.africa.aggreko.com/">Aggreko</a>  has won a bid to supply 100 MW of ADDGAS-generated power to Benin.</span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />The one year contract will support the country’s national grid with energy generated from ADDGAS – an add-on technology, which substitutes a significant portion of diesel fuel with natural gas.<br /><br />With an annual GDP growth of nearly 6% and a rapidly expanding industrial sector, power demands across Benin are increasing exponentially. In its role as the national power utility and system operator in Benin, Société Béninoise d'Energie Electrique (SBEE) is working to bring high quality electricity to the country’s 10 million inhabitants by increasing generation capacity and further developing transmission and distribution networks.<br /><br />In response to the public tender process, Aggreko’s bid was the only one to include an ADDGAS option. By maximising available fuel types, SBEE will be able to make significant savings over the duration of the contract as a result of the flexible ADDGAS solution.<br /><br />Aggreko is also installing specialist high voltage equipment as part of its turn-key offering.<br /><br />Aggreko has a strong and established relationship with SBEE having previously supported the national grid at various intervals over the last 12 years, providing an interim solution to Benin helping to maintain economic growth in the country.<br /><br />“We signed with Aggreko because Benin can count on its ability to mobilise within the contractual deadlines and on its experience as an operator” said, Mr Laurent Tossou, Managing Director of SBEE.<br /><br />“Aggreko’s proposition considers Benin’s availability of gas, while also allowing production units to operate with diesel only. The additional production capacities will enable the Beninese government to fulfil a daily structural deficit ranging between 40 and 60 MW per day for more than a year.”<br /><br />Managing Director, Aggreko Africa, James Shepherd, said:  “We are delighted to be working once again alongside SBEE to bring reliable power to the people of Benin. By delivering this fast-track power, we are helping to provide a more consistent and reliable energy supply to the people of Benin, while helping to support the economic growth in the country.”<br /><br />The 100 MW is expected to be mobilised by the end of the year.<br /><br />With around 2.3 GW currently installed across 34 African countries, Aggreko is the largest supplier of modular, mobile power to the African continent. This new project will bring the company’s total generating capacity to 2.4 GW across Africa.<br /><br />It will create more local jobs with the recruitment and training of a local workforce specialised in the power industry, a critical sector for the future development of the continent.<br /><br />Distributed by APO on behalf of Aggreko plc. </span></div>
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Aggreko brings 100 MW of ADDGAS-generated Power to Benin

Aggreko brings 100 MW of ADDGAS-generated Power to Benin

Aggreko has won a bid to supply 100 MW of ADDGAS-generated power to Benin. The one year contract will support the country’s national g...

17:20

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