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Turner Broadcasting Announces Biggest Kids Programming Line-Up Ever

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Over 730 brand new episodes on CN and Boomerang in 2014

LazyTown brand new Season 4 to premiere on Boomerang

CN’s Animation Generation launches in Kenya!

26 June 2014: Today Turner Broadcasting captivated local children with its kids channels Cartoon Network and Boomerang, during the first MultiChoice Content Extravaganza in Mauritius.

The two channels are all about imagination and fun and this was experienced first-hand as superhero Sportacus from Boomerang’s LazyTown got everybody moving, encouraging children to eat healthy and exercise, while Cartoon Network’s Animation Generation inspired creativity, challenging the children to tap into their creativity by drawing exciting characters.

With a jam packed total of 405 brand new episodes for their African audience still to come between June and December, and a total of over 730 new episodes this year, Cartoon Network and Boomerang are truly offering fresh and entertaining content as part of their biggest programming line-up ever.

On Cartoon Network, DStv channel 301, viewers can look forward to warming up this winter with brand new Original Productions Uncle GrandpaSteven Universe and Clarence; Warner Brothers’ Teen Titans Go!DreamWorks: Dragons Defenders of Berk; and the brand new live action series Incredible Crew. Towards the summer time, from September onwards, kids can expect new episodes of hit shows such as the ever impressing Ben 10, the global hit Adventure Time and the award winning The Amazing World of Gumball. There will also be the Powerpuff Girls Mini-Movie in August for viewers to look forward to!

Included in this winter’s line-up on Boomerang, DStv channel 302, will be Steven Spielberg’s Tiny ToonsRoad Runner as part of the Looney Tunes All Stars stunt, and the show that gets kids moving all over the world: LazyTown launches its fourth season this November. Among some of the brand new shows are The Tom & Jerry Show and CGI Inspector Gadget and new episodes of popular classics are set to continue entertaining new generations such as Scooby-Doo Mystery Incorporated andThe Garfield Show.

“It is another extraordinary year for Turner’s kids channels in 2014 and viewers can expect it to continue in 2015. With a mixture of new original productions and old favourites, our offer has never been stronger. Our shows are truly talent driven and thus made with passion. We look for unique and surprising stories that have great characters which feel authentic to kids and this is more apparent than ever with our upcoming slate.” says Pierre Branco Vice President Southern Europe and Africa for Turner Broadcasting System.

On another front, Cartoon Network will be launching their extremely popular drawing competition, Animation Generation in Kenya Mid-July, 2014. The campaign will target 40 000 learners in and around Nairobi and the theme will be “Ben 10 Protecting the Wildlife”. Learners will be challenged to draw a Ben 10 alien with special powers that will be able to protect and save elephants and rhinos in Kenya against poachers.

In partnership with the Britam Foundation, the initiative aims at inspiring the youth to express their thoughts on the topic of wildlife conservation through their artwork. “We believe that the youth is the present and future of the conservation message and through our initiative we would like to emphasise the importance of wildlife and encourage learners to come up with ideas on how they can be better protected. We are very excited about the launch of our initiative in Kenya!” adds Pierre Branco.

Qalaa Holdings and CPC Holding Saudi Arabia Conclude Signing of Sale and Purchase Agreement for 100%of Sphinx Glass

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Qalaa Holdings (CCAP.CA on the Egyptian Exchange, formerly Citadel Capital), an African leader in infrastructure and industry, and Saudi Arabia’s Construction Products Holding Company (CPC), through its subsidiary CPC Emirates, announced that they have signed today a sale and purchase agreement for the sale to CPC of 100% of Sphinx Glass.

The size of the transaction will imply an enterprise value of around US$ 180 million (EGP 1,280 million), which translates into a cash consideration of US$ 114.2 million (EGP 815 million) for 100% of the shares after deducting debt and liabilities to be assumed by CPC.The transfer of cash and shares is expected to conclude in July.

Qalaa Holdings’ 73.3% stake in Sphinx Glass will result in cash proceeds of around US$ 73 million (EGP 521 million)to Qalaa Holdings after the estimated capital gains tax.

Sphinx Glassis a 200,000-ton-per-annum, state-of-the-art float glass production facility that began full operations in April 2010 and is today one of the largest independently operated float glass producers in the MENA region. In addition to being a key player in the Egyptian market, Sphinx Glass is also a significant regional and international exporter.

The company specializes in the production of clear and tinted float glass and online coated glass in varying thicknesses. The company recorded EGP 393 million (USD 54.95) in sales in 2013and is currently on target to exceed its budget for the second consecutive year.

“Sphinx Glass was an idea born on the eve of a global recession and commissioned mere months before the start of the 25 January 2011 Revolution,” said Qalaa Holdings Co-Founder and Managing Director Hisham El-Khazindar. “Despite these headwinds, we have worked closely with management and our co-investors to create over375 new jobs and catapult Sphinx Glass into the ranks of both key national players in Egypt and leading regional and global exporters.

“We wish CPC great success in capitalizing on Sphinx Glass’s potential,” he said.

“Sphinx Glass is one of the most technologically advanced plants in Egypt with a strong management team complementing CPC’s existing portfolio of building materials and is a perfect fit with our existing industrial presence in Egypt,” said CPC Chief Operating Officer Riad Kiwan.

“This acquisition is an important step in line with our group’s international expansion strategy, enabling us to capitalize on increasing demand for building materials and glass in Egypt and Africa, where the construction industry is booming with economic progress and increasing urbanization,” he added

Under CPCownership, Sphinx Glass will remain committed to supporting its valued customers in Egypt and in export markets, Kiwan concluded.

CPC is a leading construction products company providing “Complete Building Solutions” for all construction needs. Its product offering ranges from precast, glass & aluminum, steel, ready mix concrete, electric cables, wood & gypsum works, marble & granite, adhesive, construction equipment rental, finishing, steel structures, transportation, electromechanical, renewable energy, along with logistic support to serve the building industry all under one umbrella.

From proceeds of the transaction, Qalaa Holdings and its co-investors will distribute a significant one-time exit bonus to employees of Sphinx Glass, from line staff to senior management.

Qalaa Holdings was advised on the transaction by Arab Legal Consultants acting as the Seller’s Legal Counsel and PharosInvestment Banking SAE acting as the Sell Side Advisor.CPC was advised by Helmy, Hamza & Partners and Crédit Suisse.

Announcement of Eighth Annual Class of Scholars Underscores Qalaa Holdings’ Commitment to Investing in the Future of Egypt

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Seventeen top Egyptian students to pursue graduate educations at elite universities abroad with scholarships from Citadel Capital Scholarship Foundation[1]; awards are conditional on recipients returning to Egypt to work post-graduation

The Citadel Capital Scholarship Foundation (CCSF)*announced yesterday the names of its eighth annual class of scholars. The seventeen members of the 2014-15 class of Citadel Capital Scholars will pursue master’s-level studies at top internationaluniversities and institutes in Europe and the United States. As a condition of acceptance, the recipients of a CCSF scholarship pledge to return to Egypt to work in their chosen field following the completion of their studies.

The scholarship recipients were announced at a reception held on 23 June 2014 in the presence of theHead of Cultural Affairs and Missions Sector on behalf of the Minister of Higher Education, Egypt;the Ambassador of Kenya; the Ambassador ofMauritius; the Ambassador of Congo; theEconomic Attaché of the Netherlands; and arepresentative of the Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan. Also in attendance were representatives from AMIDEAST, CARE, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), among others.

The CCSF is one of the largest private-sector-funded scholarship programs in Egypt; awards are open to scholars pursuing masters and doctoral degrees in all disciplines.

“The task of building a fair, vibrant and prosperous Egypt is a generational task, and one that is particularly relevant at this point in our nation’s history. We are honored to play a part not just by investing in these bright young men and women, but by serving as an example of how a private sector entity can help lead change,” said Ambassador Hussein El-Khazindar, Secretary General of the Board of Trusteesof the Citadel Capital Scholarship Foundation. By conditioning these awards on the scholars’ return to Egypt post-graduation, we are not just making a difference in the lives of 17 individuals, but of 17 communities.”

The CCSF was founded by Qalaa Holdings (formerly Citadel Capital), an African leader in infrastructure and industry, as a part of its commitment to sustainable education and human resource development in Egypt and across the region. The announcement of this year’s class of scholars brings to 122the number of talented young Egyptian men and women who have been granted scholarships to pursue graduate degrees.

 

“From nanotechnology to public policy, heritage conservation to political development, this year’s scholars are a remarkable group of talented young Egyptians who will help our nation tackle opportunities and challenges alike in the decade ahead. It is an honor to play a role in furthering their academic studies,” said Qalaa Holdings Chairman and Founder Ahmed Heikal.

Governorates represented by this year’s class include Fayoum, Alexandria and Cairo; students from 12 governorates have won CCSF Scholarships since the foundation was first endowed, studying in fields including medicine, engineering, architecture & design, telecommunications, environmental studies, molecular biology,economics, human rights, law, business, development and education. 

“We take a very wide view on what constitutes our duties as responsible investors,” said Qalaa Holdings Co-Founder and Managing Director Hisham El-Khazindar. “In that sense, we are careful to invest in education not for the direct benefit of our firm or our subsidiaries, but for the benefit of the communities in which we do business — be they major urban centers or rural areas.

 

“We believe across our footprint in the imperative of educational reform and funding — and that the private sector has a duty to both their nations and their shareholders to not just advocate for world-class education systems, but to also make direct contributions in any way they can,” El-Khazindar said.

 

In addition to supporting community-based vocational training initiatives at the subsidiary level, Qalaa Holdings has also endowed the Citadel Capital Services Center, while El-Khazindar has personally endowed the Khazindar Business Research and Case Studies Center, both at the American University in Cairo.Rift Valley Railways (RVR), the primary investment of Africa Railways, Qalaa Holdings’ subsidiary company for investment in the African railway sector, also offers training programs in management and entrepreneurship to further encourage sustainable development and private enterprise in the neighboring communities.

 

Recipients of Citadel Capital Scholarships have attended top international institutions including Harvard, Stanford, Duke, Wharton, Pratt, the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia universities in the United States; Oxford, Cambridge, the University of London, University College London, Imperial College Londonand the London School of Economics in the United Kingdom; Lund University in Sweden; University of Heidelberg in Germany; University of Helsinki in Finland;Ghent University in Belgium; and ESADE Business School in Spain,among other top universities and institutes. 

 

The 2014-15 Class of CCSF Scholars includes:

 

Name

University

Field

Mahmoud Hassib

University of Pennsylvania

LLM

George Anis

New York University

LLM

AmrArafa

Geneva

LLM

Mahmoud Sarhan

Cornell University

MSC, Environmental Development

Khaled El-Samman

Durham

Heritage Conservation

Yasmine El-Garf

Columbia

MA, Political and Economic Development

Amr El-Shawarby

Warwick

MSc, Economics

Mohamed Abu Aziza

Sussex

MSc, Economics

Randa El-Borollosy

Wharton

MBA

Ahmed Farouk

IMD

MBA

AmiraAboulSeoud

Harvard

MBA

Sherif Assaf

Duke

MBA

Karim Malak

Columbia

MA, Middle Eastern Studies

Maher Rashwan

Queen Mary University

MSc, Dental Materials

Ahmed Nazeem

UCL

Mechanical Engineering

Moataz El-Kharashi

KU Leuven

Nanotechnology

Nadine Salib

Tufts

MA, Public Policy

 


[1]The Citadel Capital Scholarship Foundation is an independent non-profit foundation endowed by Qalaa Holdings (then known as Citadel Capital) in 2007. The CCSF will in future be known as the Qalaa Scholarship Foundation.

 

Citadel Capital Name change to Qalaa Holdings

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Earlier this year, Citadel Capital transformed its business model from a private equity firm to an investment company that will focus on core subsidiaries in energy, cement, agrifoods, transportation and mining. As part of the transformation and to reflect our new corporate identity, from (23rd June  2014 ), the company will be known as Qalaa Holdings in the English language. Qalaa is a direct transliteration of the Arabic word for “citadel”; moreover, Qalaa has been the firm’s Arabic name since it was founded in 2004. 
 
The company will continue to be a long-term investor in Africa’s infrastructure and industrial sectors, helping build a better tomorrow for more than 1 billion citizens.
 
 
A formal launch of the new branding will be announced later this year. However, going forward please refer to the company by its new name Qalaa Holdings (previously known as Citadel Capital). 
 

Unilever hands over Blue Band school bus

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KAMPALA, Uganda – Hard work, resilience coupled with a ‘Never say Die’ attitude finally brought a smile to pupils, parents and management of Kitante Primary School in Kampala.

For all their wits, the government aided school was rewarded with a 37-seater school bus after they emerged best in the Blue Band Schools Puzzle Challenge.

The objective of the campaign that started in December 2013 was to educate consumers and children on optimal nutrition, as well as the importance of spreading Blue Band on every slice of bread as it contains fats and vitamins that kids need to grow.

A unique 500 piece puzzle entirely devoted to nutrition was distributed to over 700 schools countrywide. Schools competed to complete the highest number of puzzles through their students collecting puzzle tokens which were made available under the label lid of special promotional packs of Blue Band for parents to purchase.  Each child was also issued with an information booklet with the brand’s call to action and nutritional information.

The National Grand Prize of a 37- seater school bus was at stake for the school that collected the most tokens and KitantePriamry School from Kampala emerged top having collected at total of 29,900 tokens.

Speaking during the handover of the bus valued at UGX 150 million, IsaacLutwama Nsubuga,theCustomer Marketing Manager at Unilever Uganda said that they are fully committed towards empowering families with knowledge to enable them make informed nutritional decisions.

“Today, we see an interesting trend where by children continuously influence their feeding habits. So by reaching out to children in a fun and engaging platform such as this, we believe that families will increasingly make informed nutrition decisions,” he said.

He added; “I would like to congratulate the management and staff of Kitante Primary School for the effort they put into this campaign. We believe this bus will ease your field trips.”

Quoting their school motto; ‘The struggle continues for the great horizons’, Mrs. Jane Ssemugoma the Head teacher, Kitante Primary School said that the efforts the parents and teachers put into the campaign enabled the school to knick the ultimate prize.

“We were well aware that we were competing against so many schools from all over Uganda. As a school, we decided to boost the campaign by injecting UGX 1 million that was used for buying Blue band for our pupils. We encouraged every pupil to participate and we are lucky that we have numbers here,” she said.

She showed her appreciation to Unilever for coming through with the promise adding that they will use the bus to enable the pupils get more exposure and knowledge through field trips.

Florence MuhumuzaKyoshabire, the Supervisor Education Services at Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) who represented the Executive Director,Jennifer Musisi said that Blue Band has continued to be the leading magarine because it recognizes the importance of nutrition especially amongst children.

“How many companies do we have out there? Very many. Only a few of them think of education. So that is why we thank Unilever for engaging our society by empowering our children with useful nutrition knowledge. As KCCA, we thank them for up lifting the standard of education in our city,” she said.

The Schools’ Puzzle Challenge also rewarded the top school and teachers from the four regions of Uganda with cash prizes, schools project support. The top three pupils from each region were also rewarded with cash prizes that will be used for school fees.

The Hillary Kakooza from Kitante Primary School and Ramadan Asea from Future Foundation Primary School earned the fully paid trip to United States of America after collecting the most tokens in a Blue Band promotion.

British Airways Launches New Look Interiors and Celebrates With A Million Seats from £39 to European Destinations

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  • Entirely new look and feel for cabins on 95 short-haul aircraft
  • Club Europe 2:2 configuration retained with stylish makeover
  • Extra seats with low fares

British Airways has unveiled newly-designed seats and cabin interiors for its short-haul aircraft flying across its European and domestic networks from Heathrow and Gatwick.  To celebrate the airline has launched a special offer of a million seats from £39 each way, as part of a return fare.*

Fitting-out work begins this week on the first of the 95 Airbus short-haul aircraft**, installing elegant new designs that take inspiration from the airline’s most recent fleet entrants, the A380 and Boeing 787.

The elegant charcoal grey leather seats are slimmer and ergonomically designed to enable the addition of extra seats in the Euro Traveller (economy) cabin to allow more low fares.

Innovative design maximises personal space and comfort, with chair backs devised to provide more knee space for the customer behind. Customers can also make use of an eye-level seatback tablet-holder, which can also provide storage for magazines.  A four way moveable headrest provides comfort and support.  And the seat back table moves in and out to provide optimum positioning.

The new Club Europe, featuring a silver British Airways speedmarque on the front wall, will maintain its 2:2 configuration with the middle seat free. The seats will be bridged with a stylish new ‘central console’ table, providing Club customers with improved functional space. This table provides inlaid leather mats for drinks, snacks and personal devices, freeing up the main table for work or a meal. 

Contemporary LED lighting systems, inspired by the airline’s newest long-haul cabins, will include blue tones for boarding, a relaxing candlelit mood for dining and a restful gentle white for cruising and landing.

As part of its investment in short-haul for Club Europe customers, British Airways has also recently invested in significant re-designs of its domestic lounges in Belfast, Glasgow and Edinburgh.  

Keith Williams, British Airways’ executive chairman, said: “The short-haul landscape has changed enormously in recent years. To stay competitive and keep offering customers choice, great fares and great service, we are giving our cabins a radical makeover. There will be a new look, but the traditional British Airways’ comfort, elegance and value will remain.”

The new cabin is a testament to British design. The new seats are manufactured by B/E Aerospace in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland, the leather for the seat covers and pads on the ‘central console’ is supplied by Andrew Muirhead& Son Ltd in Glasgow and the decorative stitching on the Club Europe seats has been developed by Prototrim, a car seat design and dressing specialist based in Milton Keynes.

The new interiors, to be fitted across the Airbus fleet over the next 12 months, are the most dramatic of a series of changes to the airline’s short-haul flights. It has already introduced a range of new fare options including hand-baggage only, semi-flex and day returns, which are proving enormously popular with customers.  Following the success of day return fares from London, the company will today start rolling out day return fares for European travellers coming to London.

The new cabins will also deliver significant environmental benefits, saving an estimated five per cent in CO2 per passenger/km, contributing toward the airline’s target of reducing net carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050.

To enhance its short-haul services British Airways is in discussions with Inmarsat about leading Europe in a new era of broadband in the air. Starting with UK domestic routes they intend to roll-out Europe’s first ground-based 4G broadband network giving customers the internet access they expect on the ground while in the air.

Vivo Energy turns to Rift Valley Railways for Regional diesel transportation

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Vivo Energy Kenya Managing Director flags off train transporting diesel by operator Rift Valley Railways. Looking on is RVR Group CEO Darlan De David. Vivo Energy Kenya is the frontrunner of RVR’s tank-wagon restoration programme that the company is implementing in partnership with a number of major oil distributers and transporters in the region. 

RVR’s expanded capacity to ferry diesel provides VEK with safer, more sustainable and efficient option
Friday, 13th June 2014, Nairobi….Vivo Energy, the distributor of Shell branded fuels and lubricants, has today announced a shift to transporting more of their diesel by rail following increased availability of specialized fuel transportation tanks by rail operator Rift Valley Railways.
This follows a massive rehabilitation programme that will see 255 disused fuel-ferrying tanks brought back into service at RVR’s workshops in Kampala, Nairobi and Mombasa. 
RVR currently moves 10,000 tonnes of automotive diesel and other liquid products that have converted to the use of rail such as crude palm oil for various clients in Kampala, Jinja and other destinations. 
RVR plans to acquire a further 100 tank wagons, which, when added to the 100 currently in operation, will bring the number of fuel-carrying wagons in service to 450 by the third quarter of next year. 
Vivo Energy Kenya is the frontrunner of RVR’s tank-wagon restoration programme that the company is implementing in partnership withmajor oil distributers and transporters in the region.  
The initiative has put in place enhanced security measureswhich withrail’s strong safety record will see Vivo and other downstream oil marketers in Uganda begin moving more bulk fuel by rail. 
Vivo has placed orders for 55 wagons to be delivered over the next four months. The company currently transports 4 million litres of diesel per month by rail to Uganda and Kenya but plans to double these volumes in the near term. 
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Speaking at an event to launch the programme, Vivo Energy Kenya Managing Director Polycarp Igathe lauded RVR for its improved performance.
 
“It is pleasing to see RVR improve its capacity to ferry fuel through this tank-wagon expansion programme. Increasing the movement of goods using rail rather than road produces fewer emissions and makes our roads safer due to reduced traffic”, he said.
 
Rift Valley Railways’ Group CEO, Darlan De David explained, “In addition to expanding the capacity of rail to haul fuel through this rebuilding programme, we will be adding over 30 locomotives to our fleet this year which will considerably boost our motive power”. 
 
He said the rehabilitation of 73kms of worn railway tracks between Nairobi and Mombasa and rebuilding of failing bridges near Jinja has seen the lifting of speed restrictions in many section and slashed transit time between the port and Nairobi by six hours. 
“RVR will continue to invest in improving our operating efficiencies and in solutions for more bulk transportation of different types of cargo to ensure that railway is a true catalyst of growth in regional economies,” De David added.
 

Big Brother Africa Season 9 Auditions Announced

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The ninth edition of Africa’s biggest reality series BIG BROTHER AFRICA kicks off in September and already fans are asking…who will the new housemates be? Who will find their names and their faces gracing newspapers? Who will become the subject of drive time radio and just who will find themselves trending on all social media platforms?

Unlike previous years, this year’s entry process is slightly different as potential housemates are invited to come in their numbers for auditions in their respective country venues. Auditions will take place at Sheraton Kampala Hotel on 7th – 8th July 2014.  

AfricaMagic has always been associated with unearthing, nurturing and recognizing talent from around the continent; and Big Brother Africa is one of the shows that have become known for transforming ordinary citizens into stars.

“We are very grateful and remain pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming response that the show has been receiving over the years. We look forward to the selection of our potential housemates coming in large numbers to auditions at the specified venues and take that chance at being the next Big Brother star,” says M-Net Africa Regional Director (West Africa) Wangi Wa-Uzoukwu. “The fact that the fans truly adore the show is all the motivation we need to keep it fresh and that is always made possible by the enthusiastic and fun-loving young Africans who will answer to Big Brother. We are rearing to go and we know that this will definitely be another exciting season that is full of quality entertainment!” she adds.

Her sentiments are echoed by Endemol MD Sivan Pillay who says, “We have been producing this series for M-Net for a number of seasons now and as partners, together we have seen this show grow to the phenomenon that it has become. We hope the season will be even better as we strive to improve on our offering season after season. We will not hold back on the quality and exciting unpredictability that has become synonymous with Big Brother Africa. Audiences and fans can expect yet another high quality production and of course, another group of fun-loving housemates who will keep you guessing on who will be left standing come day 91.”

MultiChoice Africa CEO Nico Meyer says: “As MultiChoice Africa we are always pleased to welcome each new season of Big Brother Africa onto our platforms and we applaud its amazing success and ability to bring together audiences from all across the continent. The inclusion of Rwanda in this season is even more exciting as this displays that our reach and growth into the various sub-Saharan markets is going from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing further growth as well as the impressive social media presence that the show enjoys.”   

All persons over the age of 21, who are citizens of one of the participating countries and have a valid passport, can enter Big Brother Africa 9. If you are open-minded, bold and adventurous, that’s even better! Previous editions of Big Brother Africa have boasted huge cash prizes for winners and this it is no different as the prize money is USD 300 000.

Remember, entries are open to the following 14 countries: Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA 8 will be screened live 24/7 on DStv channels 197 and 198 while GOtv audiences will see highlights of the show, which begins on Sunday 7 September and is scheduled to run for 91 days. Big Brother Africa is produced by ENDEMOL SA.

Audition Details:

Casting Information:

  • Botswana – Gabarone (Cresta President Hotel):                                                                       4 and 5 July 2014
  • Ethiopia – Addis Ababa (Capital Hotel and Spa):                                                                        30 June 2014
  • Ghana – Accra (Holiday Inn Hotel Airport):                                                                                  5 and 6 July 2014
  • Kenya – Nairobi, The Hilton Nairobi:                                                                                               3 and 4 July 2014
  • Malawi – Lilongwe (The Crossroads Hotel):                                                                                30 June and 1 July 2014
  • Namibia – Windhoek (Hilton Hotel):                                                                                               8 and 9 July 2014
  • Nigeria – Lagos (Protea Hotel Leadway, Ikeja):                                                                          30 June and 1 July 2014
  • Rwanda – Kigali (The Lemigo Hotel)                                                                                               9 July 2014
  • Sierra Leone – Free Town (The Country Lodge Complex):                                                    9 July 2014
  • South Africa – Johannesburg (The Pyramid Venue and Conference Center):              30 June and 1 July 2014
  • Tanzania – Dar Es Salaam (New Africa Hotel):                                                                             11 and 12 July 2014
  • Uganda – Kampala (Sheraton Hotel):                                                                                             7 and 8 July 2014
  • Zambia – Lusaka (InterContinental Hotel):                                                                                   4 and 5 July 2014
  • Zimbabwe – Harare (The Meikles Hotel):                                                                                     12 and 13 July 2014

HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT YOWERI MUSEVENI TO MEET GLOBAL INVESTORS AT LANDMARK LONDON CONFERENCE

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London, June 10 2014:  His Excellency Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, will be one of a number of African leaders who will converge on London in October to meet with global investors and project developers at the inaugural Global African Investment Summit.

The Global African Investment Summit is designed specifically to present global investors with bankable projects in Africa.  Representatives of some of the biggest asset managers and pension funds, who are looking to increase their exposure to Africa’s emerging markets, will meet with H.E.Museveni and senior representatives from relevant ministries and parastatals.

“The aim is to catalyse investment into Africa through a trusted forum that focuses on real opportunities,” said Paul Sinclair, Director of The Global African Investment Summit.

“If you want to attract the world’s best investors you have to profile your country on the world stage.  London, as a global financial hub, presents the perfect location for African governments to meet and discuss with investors from across the globe.” Mr Sinclair added.

H.E. Museveni will be joined by the Presidents of Rwanda, Tanzania and Ghana and President OlusegunObasanjo, former leader of Nigeria, as the heads of the formal government delegations.  The Global African Investment Summit will provide the opportunity for the governments to attract investors into key sectors including agribusiness, power, natural resources and transport infrastructure.

“Investors from across the world will be looking at these projects; African governments will be seeking those partners who can bring the most value to their countries in terms of funds, expertise, technology and job creation.  Leveraging the power of the global market creates a win-win for African governments seeking to secure maximum benefits for their countries.”  Mr Sinclair concluded.

Uganda Shippers sensitized on new EAC Customs Developments and procedures

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Uganda Shippers Council today held  a comprehensive one day training of Ugandan shippers and freight forwarding agents on recent Regional Customs developments and procedures including; Single Customs Territory, Electronic Cargo Tracking System and Electronic Single Window System.  This has arisen out of high trade logistics costs in the EAC.

African economies generally have the highest trade logistics costs in the world and the EAC is not an exception to this trend. In a recent study, estimates for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda placed the average cost of trade logistics services at the equivalent of a tax of between 25 and 40% on value added. The key factor for the ability of a country to participate in supply chains is the efficiency of local trade facilitation and logistics services. Improving logistics performance and facilitating trade have been estimated to have positive effects in expanding country trade, increasing trade impacts of lowering remaining border barriers by a factor of two or more. For landlocked countries to increase exports, infrastructure to facilitate rapid entry is required. However, landlocked countries are challenged by a lack of sites for production, low level of skills and high costs of power.

Delays still exist on the logistics chain with 52.4% of respondents indicated that they sometimes experienced delays while 33.3% indicated that they often experienced delays when moving shipments[1].  A lot of concern also exists on the manner with which disputes between shippers and government agencies are handled with some 36.4% of respondents indicating that they are not satisfied with the manner with which complains and disputes are handled. The trading community does not receive adequate and timely information when regulations change with 56.5% of respondents indicating they rarely receive accurate and timely information when regulations change

In light of this, Uganda Shippers Council, supported by TradeMark East Africa, is implementing a project to enhance competitiveness in the supply chain for importers and exporters (cargo owners) in Uganda. 

The training was held at the Holiday Express Hotel in Kampala and facilitated by Uganda Revenue Authority and coordinated by the Uganda Shippers Council whose obligation is to ensure that the Ugandanshippers (i.e importers & exporters) are kept up to date with information which promotes efficiency in the logistics environmentand of supply chains in international trade.

Speaking at the opening of the training,Uganda Shippers’CouncilChairman Charles Kareeba thanked participants for attending the training which was so enlightening. “This information is quite timely for us as major stakeholders in the trade industry, and more so now than ever when we participate in the East African Community integration. Various policies have been tailored to ease the integration and create equal opportunities for all member states, it is these various initiativesthat will facilitate faster clearance of cargo and reduce the cost of doing business in the region”

Stephen Magera, Asst. Commissioner International Trade- URA said “ amongthe many benefits of the Customs developments and procedures, the shippers in Uganda should be assured of a swift process of managing goods in transit by providing real time feedback to the business community;  reduction in transit time and the cost of doing business; elimination of duplication of processeswhereby the assessment and collection of tax revenues on  consignments is done at the first point of entry”.

TradeMark East Africa is supporting Uganda Shippers Council on capacity building with a grant worth $130,000. The project aims to effectively represent shippers, design/implement program based interventions including advocacy; to develop position papers pertinent to shipping and logistics for example commissioning studies into East African alternative transport networks, review multi-modal systems including railways & shipping on Lake Victoria which in the past were viable alternative modes of transportation for Ugandan shippers; to improve compliance by shippers and freight forwarders to port and transit procedures in order to reduce costs of penalties arising from documentation and processing errors by shippers and forwarders.

 


[1]East Africa Logistics Performance Survey 2012 by Shippers Council of Eastern Africa1