African Review of Business and Technology articles from March 2007

African Review of Business and Technology archives from March 2007

Editor's note.
March 1, 2007... THE FIRST AFRICAN nation to achieve independence, Ghana, is 50 this month. The last half century has seen many changes of fortune, including a dangerous period when the economy almost collapsed, but now the nation seems to be on course once...

The National Ports Authority has started negotiations with the World Bank on a US$3mn assistance programme.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... THE NATIONAL PORTS Authority has started negotiations with the World Bank on a US$3mn assistance programme. MD Togba Ngangana says dredging of the port of Monrovia is the biggest challenge to his administration. He said the 520ft-wide...

Liberia's Moribund National postal service has received an allocation of US$6mn for revamping its nationwide service from the Universal Postal Union.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... LIBERIA'S MORIBUND NATIONAL postal service has received an allocation of US$6mn for revamping its nationwide service from the Universal Postal Union. According to Post and Telecommunications minister, Jackson E. Doe, the support was made...

JSE-listed Super Group, an integrated supply-chain management corporation, has announced the launch of Super Group Equipment.(Briefly)(Super Group Equipment)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... JSE-LISTED SUPER Group, an integrated supply-chain management corporation, has announced the launch of Super Group Equipment. SGE is an equipment solutions company with a comprehensive range of cost-effective products that cater for a wide...

Liberia has Passed the National Forestry Reform Law to pave the way for lifting of UN sanctions on timber.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... LIBERIA HAS PASSED the National Forestry Reform Law to pave the way for lifting of UN sanctions on timber. The Law is expected to create a sustainable forestry sector through regularised commercial logging, community forestry and conservation...

The Government of Senegal has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Microsoft.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... THE GOVERNMENT OF Senegal has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Microsoft. The signing coincided with the opening of the company's Dakar office. It comes just days after Microsoft announced the global release of Windows Vista,...

Wananchi Online Ltd, the largest internet solutions provider in Kenya, has announced today that it plans to extend its ISP offering to the mobile world.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... WANANCHI ONLINE LTD, the largest internet solutions provider in Kenya, has announced today that it plans to extend its ISP offering to the mobile world. "Kenya's youth is fascinated by the internet, especially instant messaging applications,"...

Kuwait's Mobile Telecomms Company (MTC) plans to invest US$10.5bn through its Celtel subsidiary this year to expand cellphone operations in Africa.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... KUWAIT'S MOBILE TELECOMMS Company (MTC) plans to invest US$10.5bn through its Celtel subsidiary this year to expand cellphone operations in Africa. MTC, the fourth-largest Arab telecom company by market value, operates in 14 African countries...

Over 600 families from Kenya's Kibera slums have benefited from a government housing scheme that will see them move to three-roomed flats in April.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... OVER 600 FAMILIES from Kenya's Kibera slums have benefited from a government housing scheme that will see them move to three-roomed flats in April. The Kibera slum upgrading project cost the government Ksh495mn. The flats will be sold at...

Air Zimbabwe Holdings (Pvt) Ltd is embarking on a restructuring exercise that will transform it into one of the leading players on the African continent.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... AIR ZIMBABWE HOLDINGS (Pvt) Ltd is embarking on a restructuring exercise that will transform it into one of the leading players on the African continent. To spearhead the process, five strategic business units have been established namely Air...

Ethiopian Airlines has commenced daily flights form Entebbe International Airport to Bujumbura.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES HAS commenced daily flights form Entebbe International Airport to Bujumbura. Departure time from Entebbe is 12:00 pm local time arriving in Bujumbura at 12:45pm local Burundi time. Departure from Bujumbura is 15:45pm...

Kenya Airways has taken delivery of its fourth B777-200ER.(Briefly)
March 1, 2007... KENYA AIRWAYS HAS taken delivery of its fourth B777-200ER. The airline received the first 777-200ER in 2004 with the second and third of the model type entering service in 2005. The latest 777-200ER will join Kenya Airways' three 777s in...

Tanzania is tops in business survey.(Commercial Review)(Survey)
March 1, 2007... A STEADMAN GROUP survey that gauged 534 business leaders' perceptions on the economy in five African countries reveals that Tanzania excels Kenya and Uganda in profit expectations. While only 62 per cent of Uganda's business executives...

Investor interest is no fad says Imara.(Commercial Review)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR INTEREST in African markets is no fad--it's going to be with us for years to come. That's the conclusion of the Botswana-registered Imara financial services group. As well as Gaborone and London Imara has...

New currency for Ghana.(Commercial Review)
March 1, 2007... STARTING IN JULY the Bank of Ghana will introduce a new currency to be known as the Ghanaian Cedi and the Ghanaian Pesewa The old C10,000 currency is pegged to one new GHC. One hundred Ghana pesewas (Gp) = one Ghana Cedi (GHC 1). The old...

Sunny outlook for world economy.(Commercial Review)(Climate Index)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... THE OUTLOOK FOR the global economy has turned rosier: economists' assessments this quarter have improved from the fourth quarter 2006, according to the latest ICC/Ifo World Economic Survey. Overall, economists gave better marks to the outlook...

Zimbabwe invests in uranium.(Commercial Review)
March 1, 2007... THE GOVERNMENT OF Zimbabwe is planning to embark on uranium exploration in a bid to improve foreign currency and energy generation. Three firms have submitted bids for explorations which are being assessed by the government. Exploration works...

WTO boss praises Uganda.(Commercial Review)
March 1, 2007... THE DIRECTOR GENERAL of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Pascal Lamy, urged the Uganda government to add value to agricultural products to make them competitive globally. Lamy, who had made a two-day visit to Uganda, told journalists at the...

Deep-water port for Niger delta.(Commercial Review)(Niger Delta zone)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... IN WHAT IS being described as potentially the biggest marine development in Africa, Nigeria is to boost economic activity in the Niger Delta zone with the construction of a new US$25bn deep-water port. The project is a public-private...

Companies review reaches 10th edition.(Commercial Review)
March 1, 2007... THE 2007 EDITION--10th in series--of Major Companies of Africa South of the Sahara* has been received at the newsdesk. This is an old favourite at African Review, being always the first--quickest, most comprehensive and accurate--reference...

Platinum boosted by SA disruptions.(Commodities)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... PLATINUM MOVED UP through US$1,200 an ounce in first half February on the back of strike action at Angloplats' Modikwa mine in South Africa and disruption to Lonmin's smelter output. The Modikwa strike involving 2,500 workers lasted over...

Kenyan tea prices softer.(Commodities)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... KENYAN TEA PRICES generally have slipped in recent weeks due to the large quantities of tea on sale. However, the lower prices have attracted buyers. Best Broken Pekoe Ones (BP1s) fetched US$2.10-US$2.65 a kg at the 19 February auction...

Cocoa futures up.(Commodities)
March 1, 2007... LONDON COCOA FUTURES saw a sharp rally in February, setting a series of seven-month highs in the third week of the month, before hedge selling shaved off some of the gains. Underpinned by concern about dry weather in West Africa despite...

Gold climbs to nine-month high.(Commodities)
March 1, 2007... AFTER ALMOST TOUCHING a five-and-a-half month high of US$654 a troy ounce in late January, gold subsequently was dragged lower by the end-month/early February sell-off in base metals (see copper). Gold dropped to US$645.20 a troy ounce as the...

Copper claws back losses.(Commodities)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... AFTER FALLING HEAVILY in January and the first days of February, copper prices spent most of February on an upward trajectory. The three-month price on the London Metal Exchange (LME) hit a 10-month low of US$5,255 a tonne on 2 February...

Arabica down; robusta strong.(Commodities)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... NEW YORK ARABICA coffee futures were pushed sharply lower in mid-February after news of a large increase in US green coffee stocks was reported. US green coffee stocks for January were up 10 per cent on the month, and 11 per cent up on the...

Nigeria nears go-ahead for world's largest LNG train.(Oil News)
March 1, 2007... A FINAL investment decision is due to be taken soon for Train 7 at the liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex at Finima, Bonny island. With a capacity of 8.4mn tonnes/year, the planned new train will be the world's largest single train--and the...

Nigeria.(Oil News)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... FRANCE'S TOTAL SAID in February that a little-known oilfield, in the same block as its huge Akpo field, could be large enough for a standalone development. Previously, the firm had only acknowledged drilling two wells at the field, named...

Egypt.(Oil News)
March 1, 2007... AN OFFSHORE GAS discovery made by BP raises the prospects for the construction of the country's fourth LNG train. The firm said the Giza North-1 well found gas in a large channel structure which could hold 28 billion cubic metres. The...

Libya-Tunisia.(Oil News)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... LONG-STANDING PLANS to construct an oil pipeline to allow Libyan crude to be exported to Tunisia are expected to move forward, after Tunisia said it will construct a refinery in the al-Skira region. Bids have been sought for a 120,000...

Angola.(Oil News)
March 1, 2007... FOUR OIL DISCOVERIES have been announced recently, three of them in highly-promising ultra-deepwater blocks. Total made two finds in February, both in its ultra-deep Block 32. Manjericao-1, drilled in 1,977 metres of water, tested over 5,000...

African oil refiners to meet again in Cape Town.(Oil News)
March 1, 2007... EXECUTIVES FROM 39 African oil refineries, who were officially united in Cape Town last year as the African Refiners Association (ARA), will meet again on 6-7 March at the city's Arabella Sheraton hotel. The ARA was formed to investigate...

Executives' calendar.(Calendar)
March 1, 2007... MARCH 13-16 ProPak Africa JOHANNESBURG African International Packaging and Plastics. Specialised Exhibitions, Southdale, South Africa. Tel: +27 (0)11 835 1565 Fax: +27 (0) 11...

Emirates steps up services to Sudan.(Business Travel)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... EMIRATES HAS WIDENED its African footprint by introducing daily flights to Sudan. The airline has increased its presence in Khartoum by introducing an additional flight every Sunday, bringing its service to a daily operation. Operated...

Rwandan hotels to be upgraded.(Business Travel)
March 1, 2007... THE SERENA GROUP has signed a long-term lease with the government of Rwanda to operate the Kigali Intercontinental and Kivu Sun hotels. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The group will inject US$9.5mn to upgrade and expand the accommodation. MD...

Five-star hotel for Kampala.(Business Travel)
March 1, 2007... THE GOVERNMENT OF Uganda has officially handed over 15-acres of land to the Kingdom Hotel Investment (KHI) representative to start construction of a five-star hotel in Kampala. The minister of state for investment, Professor Ssemakula...

Short- but not long-term change predicted.(Business Travel)
March 1, 2007... THE SURPRISE MOVE this past month has been the Bank of Japan's raising of interest rates to their highest point in eight years, which has firmly halted the slide in the Japanese yen. Expect the market to take a few months to back this...

Exchange rates.(Financial Forecast)
March 1, 2007... Exchange Rates The currencies shown below are valued at the middle rates between buying and selling on 26 February. The rates are an indication of the value and are not intended to be used as the basis for transactions. The publisher...

Forecast movements against the dollar.(Financial Forecast)(Statistical table)
March 1, 2007... Forecast movements against the dollar Country 26 Feb 2007 (actual) early Apr 2007 June 2007 Japan (Yen) 121.1 121-125 119-124 Switzerland (Franc) 1.233 1.20-1.24 ...

Ghana celebrates its golden anniversary: Ghana, the first black African country to attain independence from Britain, celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this month. Jon Offei-Ansah looks back on half a century of change and hopes that happy days may well be here again.(Ghana)
March 1, 2007... GHANA BEGAN NATIONHOOD in 1957 full of promise with a rich mix of resources and significant gold and foreign reserves, and experienced the highest per capita gross national product (GNP) of US$170 on the continent. However, years of political...

Ghana's industries face challenges in 2008.(Ghana)
March 1, 2007... THE EU'S NEW trade arrangements will bring more competition for local manufacturers, writes Emmanuel Yartey. Policy makers in Africa need to be cautioned about the serious economic consequences their economies will experience from 2008...

Ghana's Crusading Engineer speaks out: "self-imposed poverty" is how Robert Woode describes the state of modern Ghana. Training and equipping technicians to develop engineering products locally is his recipe for success. The planned new National Machine Tool Centre will be a good start, as Kofi Asante discovered.(Interview)(Interview)
March 1, 2007... THE MD OF Fateio Ltd, Mr Robert Woode, spoke with Kofi Asante recently at his workshop in Accra. He said his popular description as 'Ghana's Crusading Engineer' comes from his advocacy of the need to build local machine-building capacity, an...

Local tourists flock to Kenya's coast and parks: rising incomes mean more local tourists could be attracted to the park and coastal hot spots. This is now a major forex earner writes Mwangi Mumero.(Tourism)
March 1, 2007... LIKE A RISING phoenix, the tourism sector in Kenya has overcome the negative travel advisories of 2003 to record tremendous grown averaging 10-15 per cent annually. Early this decade, some terrorist acts along the coast lead to a drastic...

Aerial survey specialist.
March 1, 2007... FROM ITS OPERATIONAL bases in Nairobi, Kenya and Arusha, Tanzania (plus associated offices in Europe and Africa), Photomap provides a range of services with the use of the latest equipment and highly motivated and skilled staff members for...

West Africa waits for its common currency: the eco, a common currency for five West African nations, will be in circulation by 1 December 2009, according to documents released by the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). Pa Kodwow reports from Accra.(Finance)
March 1, 2007... THE INTRODUCTION OF the eco has already been postponed twice so how likely is it that it will be introduced in December 2009? The date for the introduction of the currency, which will be legal tender in five West African countries within the...

UPS gives powerful protection: no matter how fast technology moves, we're still constantly at risk from our failing power systems. When thousands of businesses in America can be without power after major incidents, it's certain that power issues should be top of mind for African executives, says Karen Young.(UPS for IT Systems)
March 1, 2007... WE ALL TAKE power for granted. We flick a switch and things happen. Except for the times that they don't, of course. When it's our domestic lighting, we curse and search for the candles and storm lamps. However, when our businesses are...

Caterpillar offers a 1200 kVA UPS system.(UPS for IT Systems)
March 1, 2007... CATERPILLAR OFFERS THE 1200 kVA/960kW 60 HZ uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system with flywheel-based technology, providing the industry's smallest available footprint in tandem with superior capacity and performance. The system features...

Superior power protection for medium and high-density rack environments.(UPS for IT Systems)
March 1, 2007... EATON CORPORATION HAS introduced Powerware brand 9140 uninterruptible power system (UPS) for EMEA markets, a rack-mounted system with a revolutionary compact design that delivers reliable and efficient power protection for...

UPS Buyers' Guide 2007: Africa's annual where-to-buy guide.(Directory)(Company overview)
March 1, 2007... SECTION ONE -- Suppliers of software and their local agents, page 27 SECTION TWO -- Contact details of African agents listed by country, page 32 PLEASE MENTION AFRICAN REVIEW WHEN CONTACTING YOUR SUPPLIER Section One Albit...

Renewable energy to power telecoms: the successful use of alternative sources of power in Kenya has implications for markets in other developing nations. The telecommunications sector in particular is feeling the benefits, as Stephen Williams reveals.(UPS)
March 1, 2007... THE IMPACT OF last year's drought in East Africa, one of the severest to hit the region in generations, was felt across all economic sectors. The telecoms' industry was no exception. In Kenya, the two leading mobile phone companies, Celtel...

Better planning with VoIP and PoE: how the MGE UPS system facilitates new voice and data network applications, and saves both cost and space.(Company Focus)
March 1, 2007... IMPLEMENTATION OF POWER over Ethernet (PoE), IEEE standard 802.3af, greatly facilitates VoIP deployments. It allows powering of the phones as well as protection of the whole installation directly from the switching/distribution closet. These...

Pick some brains before you pick a printer: if you are buying a printer or an MFP your best course of action is to listen to word-of-mouth recommendations, advises Maki Nagao, Product Manager for Kyocera Mita.(Company Focus)
March 1, 2007... THERE ARE MANY different sources of information that you might consider when you want to buy a particular printer or MFP. Although these may be useful, there is rarely a better reference than personal recommendation. Users are exposed to...

Four banks become first amongst equals: in a personal and exclusive interview, African Review asks the Chief Executive of First Inland Bank PLC, Okey Nwosu, how his bank is shaping up and what competitive advantages he has over his peers. Mr Nwosu also reveals the bank's ambitious plans, especially in the area of advanced computer technology.(Nigeria)(Interview)(Company overview)
March 1, 2007... FIRST INLAND BANK PLC is one of the 25 Nigerian banks that met the new capital requirements under the radical new policies of Central Bank Governor, Charles Soludo. Four banks came together to form First Inland Bank PLC and the complexity of...

Overseas investors wooed by power sector: the tortuous process of unbundling Nigeria's huge power generation, transmission and distribution sectors was described at a two-day investment forum late last year. London was chosen as the venue because it is hoped that much of the necessary funding and advice will come from the UK.(Nigeria)
March 1, 2007... A SPECIAL POWER Sector Investment Forum was organised by PowerCap Ltd in association with the Commonwealth Business Council in London at the end of November last. Covering 'Nigerian power sector reform, privatisation and the way ahead' the...

Sales promotion in Southern Africa: "look beyond the price tag" says Scania to its old and new customers in Africa. Distributors from 10 countries were invited to make side-by-side comparisons late last year. Heavy construction and distribution trucks were launched at the same time.(Vehicles)
March 1, 2007... SCANIA'S HEAVY trucks were put through their paces at the Gerotec military test track near Johannesburg last October. A special Test & Drive Week was arranged so that the company's own managers and many independent sales staff from nine...

Africa's big 3 expo opens doors to billions: a new trade expo, slated for Johannesburg's Gallagher Estate in June, will provide a gateway to African oil and petrochemical markets worth billions.(Trade Shows)
March 1, 2007... WITH THE WORLD-WIDE demand for oil and petrochemicals continuing to soar, new and lucrative business opportunities are opening in Africa--and South Africa will provide the ideal gateway for global suppliers looking to exploit the boom. ...

Optimism abundant in Namibia.
March 1, 2007... APPROXIMATELY HALF OF Namibia's exports are generated by the mining sector, particularly the production of diamonds. Most of the rest come from food processing, principally fish and livestock products. And tourism is a fast-developing forex...

Angola has ambitions to join the oil elite: Angola, one of the world's few untapped and growing oil provinces, with excellent prospects for more hydrocarbons discoveries, has attracted billions of dollars in foreign investment from the international oil companies (IOCs) during the past decade. By Moin Siddiqi, Econmoist.(Oil & Gas)
March 1, 2007... AFRICA'S fast-expanding economy has ambitions of becoming an oil elite. By joining the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on 1 January 2007--the cartel's first new member in 35 years--the Angolan government hopes to gain...

Trends in power station technology: 'which fuel?' is the first question utility companies have to ask. Increasingly the choice is being made for them in the parts of Africa where there are no options at all.(Power Supply)
March 1, 2007... THREE OUT OF four Africans have no access to mains power, and in rural areas the situation is much worse. The International Energy Agency calculates that global power output will nearly double by 2030, but very little of this increase will be...

Environmentally friendly engines use biodiesel.(Power Supply)
March 1, 2007... AS PART OF its commitment to environmental responsibility, JCB has announced that from 1 January 2007 all JCB Dieselmax engines have been approved for the use of B20 Biodiesel (20 per cent Biofuel). Currently the JCB Dieselmax engine...

Reconstruction of SA's electricity distribution on track.(Power News)
March 1, 2007... THE ESTABLISHMENT OF six wall-to-wall regional electricity distributors (Reds), which will replace the current distribution system managed by state energy utility Eskom and South Africa's 187 municipalities, is on track to be completed by the...

Loan for Kenya.(Power News)(Brief article)
March 1, 2007... THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT has loaned Kenya Ksh3.3bn for the Sondu Miriu power project in Kisumu. Once commissioned later this year, the project will add 81MW into the national grid. The phase 2 of the project will input 60MW while the third...

Volvo Penta: 100 years of business.(Power News)
March 1, 2007... VOLVO PENTA WAS established in 1907--the year the company produced its first marine engine. Volvo Penta probably has the richest innovation history in the marine world, with such innovations as the Aquamatic sterndrive, Duoprop...

Green power for remote GSM sites.(Power News)
March 1, 2007... MOTOROLA HAS ANNOUNCED signing an agreement with the GSM Association and MTC Namibia to conduct a trial for wind and solar power systems to support remote GSM cell sites. This is expected to run from April through July. The trial...

Record profits in big machines: early results suggest 2006 was a record year for the manufacturers of construction machinery. Africa's commodity boom helped in no small way. The R & D results of years like this will be seen at bauma in April.(Construction)
March 1, 2007... AHEAD OF 2007'S biggest construction and mining machinery exhibition in Munich from 23-29 April the world's top plant builders are falling over themselves to say how well they are doing. The construction boom in the Middle East seems to...

New trucks focus on comfort and safety: Kyran Casteel looks at what's new in the world of ADTs, and what will be launched at the forthcoming bauma.(Mining)
March 1, 2007... THIS IS AN is an exciting year for Terex Equipment Limited: it is the 25th anniversary of the start of articulated dump truck manufacture at the company's plant in Motherwell, Scotland. However, indications at this stage are that the birthday...

Juniors spend exploration funds on high risk targets: mining is one of the continent's biggest foreign exchange earners and new exploration projects are underway in many nations. Kyran Casteel presents an overview of some of the most promising ventures.(Mining)
March 1, 2007... WITH THE RECENT attention focused on the dark side of diamond mining and on the difficulties posed by sustainable large scale mining, it seems appropriate to point out that, in the last eight years, Africa has built seven new gold mines with...

Osborn on track with a South African first.(Mining)
March 1, 2007... SOUTH AFRICA'S FIRST locally-manufactured and commerciably available cone crusher track unit has been launched by Johannesburg-based bulk materials handling and minerals processing specialist Osborn. It features an Osborn Telsmith 38 SBS...

Kimberley Process aims to end conflict diamonds: the findings of the Kimberley Process review visit to Ghana, and reports from a United Nations' Group of experts on Cote d'Ivoire have found that diamonds mined in the rebel-held territory are entering international markets through Ghana.(Mining)
March 1, 2007... THE WORKING GROUP on Statistics (WGS) reported that the Kimberley Process in 2006 monitored US$37.6bn in rough diamond exports representing more than 500mn carats of rough diamonds. Participants issued 59,000 certificates to accompany those...