African Review of Business and Technology articles from December 2004

African Review of Business and Technology archives from December 2004

Editor's note.(Editorial)
December 1, 2004... AS THIS DOUBLE issue of the magazine marks the closing of the old year and the start of the new, we are happy to present our seasonal gift--the African Review wallplanner for 2005. This is ideal for the office wall and is a good aid to...

Computer literacy and e-Learning in the Western Cape has received a boost with the gift of 1,050 computers to the University of the Western Cape (UWC).(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... COMPUTER LITERACY AND e-Learning in the Western Cape has received a boost with the gift of 1,050 computers to the University of the Western Cape (UWC). The computers were donated by a Belgian organisation called Close the Gap and shipped...

The winner of the 2004 Africa Investor award for Best Initiative in support of the Millennium Development Goals, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, is the Shell Foundation.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE WINNER OF the 2004 Africa Investor award for Best Initiative in support of the Millennium Development Goals, sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company, is the Shell Foundation. The Shell Foundation's Empowerment through Energy Fund is a striking...

The Nigerian government has given 14 companies, both local and foreign, permission to manufacture recharge cards for the telecommunication sector.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT has given 14 companies, both local and foreign, permission to manufacture recharge cards for the telecommunication sector. The import of recharge cards has been banned with effect from January 2005.

Gateway Bus Company.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... GATEWAY BUS COMPANY is to set up a vehicle body building plant in Kampala, the first of its kind in the country and the fifth in East Africa. The plant will build bus and truck bodies with imported materials from Japan and South Africa and...

Stanbic Bank.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... STANBIC BANK HAS completed a USh41bn upgrade of ite entire branch network in Uganda. This is the largest amount ever spent by a foreign bank in the country. The bank's 66 branches are now online 24-hours a day and customers can access their...

The Scania Distributor in Mavia, Algeria, has sold 150 trucks to haulage company Tonic Emballage.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE SCANIA DISTRIBUTOR in Mavia, Algeria, has sold 150 trucks to haulage company Tonic Emballage. Of these 120 will be assembled, in Europe and 30 by Mavia at the company's plant near Algiers. This contract is Mavia's largest so far since...

Four thousand trees are being prepared by the National Forestry Development Institute in the city of Huambo, with a view to restoring the environment in that central region of Angola.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... FOUR THOUSAND TREES are being prepared by the National Forestry Development Institute in the city of Huambo, with a view to restoring the environment in that central region of Angola. Mainly eucalyptus and pines, the trees are to be planted...

Cadbury Nigeria.(Briefly)(company sales forecast)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... CADBURY NIGERIA SAYS it is aiming for a turnover of US$1bn by 2010 through its Marathon project. Nigeria, which is currently ranked as the second largest manufacturer of Bournvita in the Cadbury Schweppes group, is aiming to surpass India,...

ZTE Corporation of China.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ZTE CORPORATION OF China has said it plans to set up a mobile handset factory in Nigeria and is looking at the Nigerian telecommunications market with a view to finding a partner. Miss Jane Zhoo, chief representative of ZTE Nigeria Ltd said...

Celtel International.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... CELTEL INTERNATIONAL, THE pan-African mobile communications group has launched pre-paid roaming in the Democratic Republic of and the Republic of Congo. Celtel is one of the first operators in Africa to set up prepaid roaming so that...

The central bank of Uganda is using the financial modules of the Oracle E-Business Suite.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE CENTRAL BANK of Uganda is using the financial modules of the Oracle E-Business Suite. The implementation of the inventory, purchasing, order entry and the bank's recurrent and capital budget modules took just four months to complete and...

Honeywell has contracted to work side-by-side with Global Alumina Products Corporation (GAPCO) for a multi-year automation project on the construction of GAPCO's proposed Greenfield Alumina refinery in Guinea.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... HONEYWELL HAS CONTRACTED to work side-by-side with Global Alumina Products Corporation (GAPCO) for a multi-year automation project on the construction of GAPCO's proposed Greenfield Alumina refinery in Guinea. Honeywell will implement...

Uganda will start exporting cassava starch when a processing factory kicks off next year.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... UGANDA WILL START exporting cassava starch when a processing factory kicks off next year. The US$3mn project will be located at Malaba in the east. It is the brainchild of Todd Teoh, the executive director of the Malaysia-based Tagling Group....

The second international fair for Civil Construction, Information Technology and Transport, was held in Luanda from 6-10 October.(Briefly)
December 1, 2004... THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL FAIR for Civil Construction, Information Technology and Transport, was held in Luanda from 6-10 October. One hundred and thirty national and foreign companies exhibited and there were discussions between government...

South African tourism is partnering with Virgin Atlantic Airways in a marketing campaign designed to highlight the airline as an outstanding travel option to South Africa.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SOUTH AFRICAN TOURISM is partnering with Virgin Atlantic Airways in a marketing campaign designed to highlight the airline as an outstanding travel option to South Africa. 'Virgin Territory Meets South Africa' will feature South Africa's...

Direct air links have been established between Ghana and Uganda.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... DIRECT AIR LINKS have been established between Ghana and Uganda. It is expected that the link will increase trade between the two nations.

Scandinavia bus express is to launch the first direct bus service from Kampala to Mombasa.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SCANDINAVIA BUS EXPRESS is to launch the first direct bus service from Kampala to Mombasa. The new route is aimed at tourists and at the growing number of foreign students who study in Uganda.

Air Namibia has disposed of its biggest liability, its Boeing 747-400.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AIR NAMIBIA has disposed of its biggest liability, its Boeing 747-400. The aircraft is to be modified for VIP use by a royal family in the Middle East. Air Namibia intends leasing an Airbus A340-300 aircraft to operate its international...

Mercator has launched Chameleon--a new-generation air cargo system.(Briefly)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... MERCATOR HAS LAUNCHED Chameleon--a new-generation air cargo system. Owned by the Dubai-based IT division of the Emirates Group, Chameleon takes care of the entire management and monitoring of cargo consignments, from the moment a shipment is...

Manuel takes a long view.(Commercial Review)(Trevor Manuel )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SOUTH AFRICAN FINANCE Minister Trevor Manuel told delegates at the Standard Bank Emerging Financial Markets Conference at Sun City that government policy aimed to be "boring" so that there would be stability, and that, over the long run,...

Doing business in 2005.(Commercial Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BOTSWANA AND SOUTH Africa have developed the strongest investment climates in sub-Saharan Africa, but few African nations are following suit, according to a new report. Doing Business in 2005: Removing Obstacles to Growth, a report...

"Many success stories" says Control Risks.(Commercial Review)(Control Risks Group' study on political and security risk in South Africa)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... CONTROL RISKS GROUP (CRG) launched RiskMap 2005, its annual study and forecast of political and security risks across the globe, in November. The business environment in South Africa is positive, it says SA remains classed as low political...

Meeting the challenge.(Commercial Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... BURKINA FASO, MALAWI, and Zambia have qualified for additional US development assistance through the Bush Administration's Millennium Challenge Corporation. They join Guyana, Paraguay, and the Philippines as eligible for the 2005 Threshold...

New directions for IFC.(Commercial Review)(INTERNATIONAL FINANCE Corp)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE INTERNATIONAL FINANCE Corp says that a combination of adverse factors held real growth in SSA down to just 2.4 per cent in 2003, below the three per cent in both of the two years before. This is far down on the level needed to reach the...

World economy to slow down.(Commercial Review)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... RECENT ROBUST EXPANSION of the world economy will flag somewhat, according to the results of the latest International Chamber of Commerce/Ifo World Economic Survey. "The expectations for the coming six months have again weakened to some...

Readers look forward to a good 2005.(Commercial Review)(economic development survey)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS from a recent African Review survey of executives in business and government throughout Africa reflects a reasonable year in public and private sectors on the continent. Of those who responded, 48 per cent saw improved...

UNIDO's Industrialisation Day.(Commercial Review)(United Nations Industrial Development Organization )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... UNIDO'S AFRICA INDUSTRIALISATION Day was celebrated on 19 November. The yearly celebration is meant to create global awareness for Africa's industrialisation efforts and to assess the progress made in this direction; it brings together...

A new African oil province?(Oil News)
December 1, 2004... EXPLORATION is about to start onshore in Angola's enclave of Cabinda--a highly promising area which, geologists say, could prove to be a major new African oil province. Australian firm Roc said it will start work in its Cabinda South block in...

Angola-Congo (Brazzaville).(Oil News)(discovery)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Oil was discovered in a deepwater area shared by the two countries. ChevronTexaco's Lianzi-1 well found two oil-bearing reservoirs, one of which flowed over 5,000 barrels/day of light 40[degrees]API crude. The waterdepth was 909 metres. The...

Gabon.(Oil News)(Oil Drilling)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SHELL AND PANOCEAN made a find with the second well on their Awoun onshore block. The well, Awodam-1, found an oil column of "at least 25m" with no gas, Shell said. The well was drilled about four kilometres distant from the companies'...

Shell's Deepwater Bonga field.(Nigeria)(Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Co.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SHELL'S DEEPWATER BONGA field will not be on stream until mid-2005, following another slippage in the development schedule. When the development project was launched, start-up was set for end-2003. Shell said the field's very large floating...

Nigeria/Sao Tome e Principe.(Nigeria)(licensing of offshore blocks)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The first licensing round, offering nine blocks in the formerly-disputed offshore area between the two countries, closed with only Block 1 awarded. A new round, re-offering Blocks 2, 3, 4 and 6, has been launched. Block 1 was awarded to...

Executives' calendar.
December 1, 2004... JANUARY 9-12 Cairo Telecomp CAIRO Fairtrade Messe und Ausstellungs GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany. Tel: +49 (0) 6221 45650. Fax: +49 (0)6221 4565 25. e-mail: ...

Expansion at Entebbe.(Business Travel)(Civil Aviation Authority )(Entebbe International Airport )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE CIVIL AVIATION Authority (CAA) of Uganda is to transform Entebbe International Airport into a world class business centre at a cost of US$160mn over the next five years. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The managing director of CAA told...

Kenya tourism up.(Business Travel)(Growth)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... KENYA'S TOURISM INDUSTRY has experienced a 20 per cent rise in arrivals in the last year. It is the emerging Far Eastern market that has shown the greatest growth, contributing over 50 per cent of the total. According to the chairman of...

Top job at Virgin.(Business Travel)(Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. appoints Simon Harford )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... VIRGIN ATLANTIC HAS appointed Simon Harford as the new chief executive of Virgin Nigeria. In September 2004 Virgin Nigeria became Nigerla's new national carrier. While Virgin Atlantic holds 49 per cent, of the airline the remaining 57 will be...

SAA has its wings clipped.(Business Travel)(South African Airways)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS has announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including levying "appropriate charges" for no-shows and cutting out some in-flight meals. Internally, the airline intends to crack down on overseas trips by staff,...

Dollar slump.(Foreign exchange)
December 1, 2004... THIS IS NO time to play the international currency markets, unless you are an expert with a fortune to lose. The US dollar has fallen dramatically since President Bush was returned, and most commentators expect it to go much further down...

Foreign investors flock to Africa: north and sub-Saharan Africa have shrugged off 2002's FDI downturn. Now UNCTAD says the two regions are real magnets for international private funds. But productivity needs to be looked at south of the Sahara--that's why industrialised Morocco is doing best.(Investment)(United Nations Conference on Trade and Development)(foreign direct investment)
December 1, 2004... AFRICA DID MUCH better than most of the rest of the world in terms of foreign direct investment last year, says UNCTAD. FDI inflows grew by 28 per cent, to US$15bn, in contrast to the sharp fall of 2002. Globally FDI was down again by nearly...

Africa attracts growing global capital: the goals of sustained growth and poverty reduction are contingent on higher inwards direct investment, says Moin Siddiqi. How to achieve that is the problem.(Investment)
December 1, 2004... IN TODAY'S COMPETITIVE global economy, emerging market countries must attract sizeable private capital inflows (bonds, equities and bank loans) in order to fund major infrastructural projects, which in turn, underpins future growth prospects....

It's on the cards: ICT market analyst BMI-TechKnowledge has published a comprehensive report covering the banking card market in South Africa and global events in this environment.(Banking)
December 1, 2004... ALTHEA BACCHIALONI, PRINCIPAL analyst and author of the report, says that the research profiles the major technological players in the local card sector, all the technological aspects around chip-based cards--and includes a quantitative...

Tying it all together: enterprise resource planning software may be a misnomer. After all, it doesn't do much planning and the resource bit is arguable. But if we focus on the enterprise, we'll see why this is such a hot topic, explains Karen Young.(Information Technology)
December 1, 2004... ERP, OR ENTERPRISE resource planning, sounds like such a great idea it's almost irresistible; integrate all departments and functions across a company into a single computer system that can serve all those different departments' particular...

The paper powered office.(Information Technology)(OKI Europe Ltd. services)
December 1, 2004... OKI, THE BUSINESS printed-communications specialist, supports the growing belief that the paperless office is far from happening. Extensive research first suggested that the office without paper would be imminently upon us. However this has...

Product partnership.(Information Technology)(United Kingdom's Astel partners with Acer Inc.)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... UK-BASED IT distributor, Astel, has announced a partnership with Acer, to distributed its product range in Africa. Acer is a leading producer of notebooks in EMEA and Astel channel partners are now offering these notebooks, PCs and...

Thirty years of innovation.(Information Technology)(Printronix Inc. turns 30)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... PRINTRONIX, A LEADING manufacturer of integrated enterprise printing solutions for the supply chain, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since it pioneered line matrix technology in 1974, the company has delivered countless innovations to...

US grant for Ugandan study.(Information Technology)(International Finance)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE US GOVERNMENT has given Uganda a grant of US$318,000 to fund a feasibility study for integrated IT networks for government-related functions. The feasibility study, which was requested by the Uganda government, represents the first...

The nation gets well connected: cell phone subscriber numbers are going through the roof as connection charges come down. Bola Olowo reports from a nation that just can't stop talking.(Information Technology)
December 1, 2004... THREE YEARS ON from the introduction of GSM mobile phones to Nigeria, the market is still as attractive and as competitive as ever. For Nigerians, having been denied telephone services for so long, owning a telephone, especially a mobile, is...

Global IT company proves its commitment to Nigeria.(IT News)
December 1, 2004... NOT ONLY IS HP the only global hardware company with a physical and significant presence in Nigeria, but it is also investing heavily in people and equipment including PC servers, portable computing products, laserjet printers and inkjet...

Internet offers provider offers array of applications.(IT News)(Junisat offers W3A satellite system )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... JUNISAT IS A leading internet service provider based in Lagos that has clients all over Africa. It has launched its new application W3A satellite system that brings to Africa key applications such as distance learning, telemedicine, internet...

On-spec off-road: there has never been more choice facing the off-road vehicle buyer in Africa. So never before has it been more important to plan just, how and where, and how often the vehicle will be used. Watch out for rapid depreciation of some makes and models, too.(Vehicles)
December 1, 2004... LANDROVER DEFENDERS AND Toyota Land Cruisers remain the 4X4 vehicles of choice of government departmental transport managers throughout Africa--including the military. There is scarcely a community anywhere where they cannot be patched up and...

New municipal bus fleet for Ekurhuleni.(Vehicles)(DaimlerChrysler South Africa Proprietary Ltd. supplies transportation equipment to the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality )
December 1, 2004... THE PEOPLE TRANSPORT Division of DaimlerChrysler South Africa proudly handed over 18 new 0 500M 1725 60-seater Mercedes-Benz buses to Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality at the Germiston Stadium recently. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We...

Port security is not plain sailing: on 1 July this year the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code became mandatory for all ships and port facilities involved in international trade. Despite the overall optimism over implementation, there remain regional pockets in which progress has not been as rapid as might be hoped.(Transport)
December 1, 2004... AFTER THE 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on targets in New York and Washington in the US, and the subsequent terrorist strike on the French oil tanker Limburg off the coast of Yemen in October 2002, the issue of security for ships at sea...

Bid for Apapa container terminal.(Portcon international bid for Apapa container terminal)
December 1, 2004... PORTCON INTERNATIONAL IS the only African port authority to bid for one of Nigeria's prime port facilities, the Apapa container terminal. The company, founded on the expertise of Africa's largest port authority, the National Ports Authority...

Heavy handling specialist opens Nairobi office.(Transport)(Paterson Simons & Co (Africa) Ltd expands)
December 1, 2004... HEAVY LIFTING, CONSTRUCTION equipment and materials handling specialists Paterson Simons & Co (Africa) Ltd has announced the opening of a new subsidiary in Nairobi to cover sales and service into the Eastern Africa region. Paterson...

Air cargo network serves the world.(Cargolux airlines introduce new routes)
December 1, 2004... IN RESPONSE TO clients' demands and postive market developments, Cargolux, one of Europe's leading all-cargo airlines, has in recent months announced a number of new services between Africa and Europe. The additional Cargolux gateways include...

Developments at Durban station.(Transport)(Protekon KZN Project Services' contract with Metrorail to expand lifting shop)
December 1, 2004... PROTEKON KZN'S PROJECT Services division is playing a major role in the provision of a new independent and expanded rolling stock lifting shop at Durban station for Metrorail. Norman Freeman, who heads the Protekon KZN Project Services'...

Remote options: Ronald Watts reviews some of the issues arising from any attempt to extend power grids across Africa's vast rural areas.(Power Supply)
December 1, 2004... THERE IS NO doubt that rural people throughout Africa want to be connected to the national grid so that they can benefit from the advantages of electricity. However, from a national perspective there are a host of other issues. Because of the...

No payment, no light, says NEPA: "pay up or I take the light" is NEPA's new approach to its major customers. But it is conscious that it needs to take care of its small ones, says Bola Olowo.(Nigeria)(Nigeria Electric Production Authority)
December 1, 2004... AS PRESIDENT OBASANJO presented his 2005 budget in October 2004, he was honest enough to admit that Nigeria is yet to attain the status of having power by flicking a switch. He said what the government had done so far "is not enough". He...

A powerful presence in Southern Africa.(Nigeria)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ONE OF THE largest providers of generator sets in Southern Africa, Cummins Diesel SA is supplying both primary and reserve power for scores of projects in many sectors including mining, exploration, construction, agriculture, general...

Doing well with NETWAS: everyone needs potable water, and water-well development issues are common all over the world. NETWAS International is a Nairobi-based information network that shares knowledge throughout the region.(Water Supply)(Network for Water and Sanitation)
December 1, 2004... THROUGHOUT AFRICA SEVERAL dozen water wells are being sunk as you read this issue of African Review. Most of the practical problems like where to bore are common, and the water resource-development sector is better served than any other in...

Rural solutions: Ninham Shand is best known for its consulting engineering services in South Africa. But the company is also making a major contribution to the improvement of rural water supplies, and wastewater treatment, elsewhere in Africa.(Water Supply)(Ninham Shand Consulting Services)
December 1, 2004... NINHAM SHAND OF South Africa is a company with extensive experience of engineering water supply works across the continent. Participation in the enormous ongoing Lesotho Highlands Water Project, SAICE's "Project of the century", is the scheme...

New CAT ATs join the fleet.(Construction News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AFTER AN IN-DEPTH analysis of all trucks available in the local market, the South African construction company, WBHO, has added four Caterpillar 725 articulated trucks (ATs), supplied by Barloworld Equipment Construction, to its existing...

Ugandan fund invests in housing.(Construction News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... ALTHOUGH UGANDA'S NATIONAL Social Security Fund (NSSF) is investing in the country's housing sector, statistics from the Department of Housing indicate that there's a shortfall of 500,000 houses in the country. The statistics show that...

Afribuild launched with a new face.(Construction News)(Exhibitions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AFRIBUILD 2005, DUE to take place at South Africa's Sandton Convention Centre from 17-19 September next year--will have a 'Refurbishment and Facilities Management' theme. Showcasing the latest achievements, best practices and innovations...

AEM releases annual business outlook.(Construction News)(Association of Equipment Manufacturers)
December 1, 2004... THE CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY manufacturing industry is anticipated to close out 2004 with robust business growth, followed by continued but more moderate gains in 2005, according to the annual forecast of the Association of Equipment...

Shake up in the gold sector: Harmony's bid for GoldFields is a controversial attempt to create the world's largest gold producer. Priscilla Ross reports.(Mining)
December 1, 2004... GOLDFIELDS' TAKEOVER OF Canadian junior IAMGold, which has an indirect interest in the Sadiola and Yatela mines in Mali operated by AngloGold, was an interesting shakeout in the international bidding for IAMGold. But now Harmony (which...

South Africa: in for the long haul; Empowerment through partnering is a key driver in the transformation of Southern African mining, but not the only one writes Kyran Casteel.(Mining)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2004... THE INNOVATIVE WAYS in which democratic South Africa has, since 1994, addressed the mining industry's specific domestic socioeconomic issues, the attraction of investment, and global concern with sustainability are surely of great interest...

Brick making basics: Dr Terry Mabbett describes a sophisticated craft that was developed in Egypt more than 5000 years ago--and is still a mainstay of the rural economy in countries like Nigeria and Zimbabwe.(Construction)
December 1, 2004... THERE IS NOTHING more basic than making bricks. Man scoops soil from the earth's crust, mixes with water moulds the brick and fires it using energy originally from the sun. Bricks thus made are used to build protection against the elements....

Dump truck decisions: bell's reciprocal manufacturing link with John Deere will bring advantages all round, writes Kyran Casteel.(Construction)(Bell Equipment of South Africa's collaboration with Deere & Co.)
December 1, 2004... THINK EARTHMOVING AND mining trucks; think Southern Africa; think markets. Sure. But think again. For South Africa also manufactures and exports articulated dump trucks (ADTs) while mines in Namibia and South Africa have energised the...

AC power drives on.(Construction)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... WORKING WITH DRIVE train suppliers, Palabora Mining, Rossing Uranium and Kumba Resources (then Iscor) introduced and developed trolley-assisted haulage in their open pits. Mains power was fed from a trolley line to the DC electric drive...

A banking revolution in Africa and the Middle East: massive changes are sweeping through the banking and financial services sector in Africa and the Middle East. Those institutions quick to adopt the latest technology are well placed to stay ahead of the pack.(Helping you stay in the lead)
December 1, 2004... THE FINANCIAL SERVICES industry across many parts of Africa and the Middle East region has undergone massive liberalisation over the last few years. From Cairo to Cape Town and out to the oil-rich Gulf, the market is slowly being prised open...

Source systems and Basel II: Tanmoy Bhattacharjee, Consultant, Banking Products Division, i-flex solutions, looks at the sweeping changes that Basel-II promises to bring to the banking space and some of the capabilities that information systems in general, and source systems in particular, must have to meet Basel-II recommendations.(Helping you stay in the lead)(Accord on the International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards)
December 1, 2004... THE NEW CAPITAL Accord (Basel II) goes way beyond plugging the gaps in the capital reserve framework as laid down in the previous accord. It combines on acknowledgement of the innovations in risk management and control techniques that banks...

CLS--plugging risk.(Helping you stay in the lead)
December 1, 2004... Since its launch, continuous linked settlement (CLS) has emerged as the preferred means of eliminating settlement risk in cross-border FX transactions. V Srivatsan, Consultant, Banking Products Division, i-flex solutions, provides an overview...