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www.indoafricatimes.com MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015 Title Code: DELENG18579 RNI NO: DELENG/2014/54666 Postal Registration No.: DN/325/2014-2016 VOL. 02 NO. 12 Page 12 Price `10 pg 02 Visit www.agsmovers.com to view our 128 locations worldwide INTERNATIONAL MOVERS AGS FOUR WINDS NEW DELHI D 84/2 Okhla Industrial area Ph - 1 New Delhi 110 020 T. +91 98 11 11 00 61 / +91 11 43 36 73 00 E. [email protected] Market leader for international removal services in India and Africa. pg 10 pg 04 pg 07 CONTINUED TO PAGE 03 pg 03 Issad Rebrab, Cevital Group CEO. Other nominees for the award included Nigeria’s Wale Tinubu - Oando, Egypt’s Ahmed Abou Hashima – Egyptian Steel, Zimbabwe’s Morgan Nzwere – Seedco among others. “Because their achievements encourage the emergence of competitive African businesses which have the potential of becoming international groups, the nominees - and winners - are selected for demonstrating their commitment and results in four keys areas among them, promotion of the African private Africa's New Economic Environment was the theme of the 2015 Africa CEO Forum that took place on March 16-17, 2015 in Geneva. Centum Investments Company Director Dr. Chris Kirubi has been crowned Africa CEO of the year at the 2015 Africa CEO Forum Awards. Every year, organizers of the Africa CEO Forum hand out awards to companies and investors whose strategy exhibit their fortitude to contribute in the vibrant growth of Africa. Kirubi tied in the top position with Algeria’s sector and strengthening regional integration,” the forum organizers said. The Forum was actually an occasion for the AfDB, and particularly its Private Sector Department, to underline its planned mandate in associating with African countries in "doing business". The President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, was bestowed with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his contribution to the expansion of VESTING INTEREST IN AfricA Africa CEO Forum Awards 2015 THE QUEEN OF HILLS: DARJEELING TIMBERLAND LIBERIA KAKRA NARTEY TO ROCK HARVEST PRAISE 2015! World press flocking to Seychelles Carnival on 24 April, 2015 We are ready to work with the Egyptian Government on reforms

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Page 1: Volume 2 issue 12

www.indoafricatimes.com

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015 Title Code: DELENG18579 • RNI NO: DELENG/2014/54666 • Postal Registration No.: DN/325/2014-2016 • VOL. 02 • NO. 12 • Page 12 • Price `10

pg 02

Visit www.agsmovers.com to view our 128 locations worldwide

I N T E R N A T I O N A L M O V E R S

AGS FOUR WINDS NEW DELHID 84/2 Okhla Industrial area Ph - 1 New Delhi 110 020T. +91 98 11 11 00 61 / +91 11 43 36 73 00E. [email protected]

Market leader for international removal services in India and Africa.

pg 10

pg 04

pg 07

Continued to page 03

pg 03

Issad Rebrab, Cevital Group CEO. Other nominees for the award included Nigeria’s Wale Tinubu - Oando, Egypt’s Ahmed Abou Hashima – Egyptian Steel, Zimbabwe’s Morgan Nzwere –Seedco among others.

“Because their achievements encourage the emergence of competitive African businesses which have the potential of becoming international groups, the nominees - and winners - are selected for demonstrating their commitment and results in four keys areas among them, promotion of the African private

Africa's New Economic Environment was the theme of the 2015 Africa CEO Forum that

took place on March 16-17, 2015 in Geneva. Centum Investments Company Director Dr.

Chris Kirubi has been crowned Africa CEO of the year at the 2015 Africa CEO Forum Awards. Every year, organizers of the Africa CEO Forum hand out awards to companies and investors whose strategy exhibit their fortitude to contribute in the vibrant growth of Africa.

Kirubi tied in the top position with Algeria’s

sector and strengthening regional integration,” the forum organizers said.

The Forum was actually an occasion for the AfDB, and particularly its Private Sector Department, to underline its planned mandate in associating with African countries in "doing business". The President of the African Development Bank, Donald Kaberuka, was bestowed with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" for his contribution to the expansion of

Vesting interest in

AfricAAfrica CeO Forum Awards 2015

THE QUEEN OF HILLS: DARJEELING

TIMBERLAND LIBERIA

KAKRA NARTEy TO ROcK HARvEST PRAISE 2015!

World press flocking to Seychelles carnival on 24 April, 2015

We are ready to work with the Egyptian

Government on reforms

Page 2: Volume 2 issue 12

WassupAfricA02

African Development Bank (AfDB) Vice-President responsible for Sectoral

Operations, Aly Abou-Sabaa, as head of the major delegation dispatched by the Bank to Sharm el-Sheikh to attend the Egyptian Economic Development Conference (EEDC), addressed a large audience on Day 2 of the event, Saturday, March 14, 2015.

In the presence of the Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation, Naglaa El-Ahwany, Abou-Sabaa was speaking as part of a high-level panel of representatives of international financial institutions, on the theme of "How can Egypt's economic development be effectively supported? Views and perspectives".

In addition to the AfDB Vice-President, Jin Yong Cai, Senior Vice-President and CEO, International Finance Corporation (IFC), World Bank Group; Abdlatif Al-Hamad, Director General and Chairman, Arab Fund for Economic and Social

AfDB Vice-President Aly Abou Sabaa: "We are ready to work with the Egyptian Government on reforms"

Development (FADES), Kuwait; Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President, European Investment Bank (EIB); and Hafez Ghanem, Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region Vice-President, World Bank, made up this roundtable.

To his peers from international financial institutions (IFIs) and to the entire audience attending the debate – representatives from the public and private sectors – the AfDB Vice-President called for Egypt to be supported in its growth pathway. Emphasising that Egypt is "the second-largest shareholder in the African Development Bank" and that it had undertaken many reforms, Abou-Sabaa said, "We at AfDB are ready to work with the Egyptian Government on the reforms to which it has committed, especially since bold, courageous measures are needed." He went on to speak on the need to ensure "alignment with the Government's priorities" intended to promote inclusive growth. Abou-Sabaa also referred to the sizeable contracts

currently being negotiated in Egypt for large-scale projects. In a reference to public-private partnerships (PPP), a somewhat new mode of financing in Egypt, he said how important it was to learn from experience across the continent – such as the AfDB, which has developed nearly 50 PPPs in Africa since 2006.

To illustrate the support of the AfDB to Egypt, Abou-Sabaa recalled the approximately US $500 million the Bank has committed for 2015 and emphasized the role that could be played by Africa50, the dedicated infrastructure fund targeting the private sector. The AfDB Vice-President also announced that an AfDB delegation would meet Egyptian authorities shortly to discuss the "best way of targeting investments.”

The economic reform programme that the Egyptian authorities launched in July 2014 should bear fruit in 2015, according to projections: Growth should reach 3.3% in 2015, against 2.5% in 2014, and the budget deficit should be 10%, against 12% in 2014.

The EEDC, which opened on Friday, March 13, closed on Sunday, March 15. More than 2,000 leading figures from all over the world – ministers, heads of government, senior officials, leaders of multilateral development banks and financial institutions, CEOs of multinationals, development economics experts, and more – were in attendance. The goal of the international conference was to capture the interest of investors and set out the vision for the future economy of the country.

AfDB

Vice President of Africa Development Bank, Aly Abou-Sabaa

German Technology Nigeria Limited Opens First Karcher Centre in Nigeria

German Technology Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Salhab Group, has introduced the Karcher range of cleaning equipment into Nigeria markets as it inaugurates its first showroom and service centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Speaking at the launch event, Mr. Axel Stolz, Vice President, International Sales and Marketing, Alfred Karcher GmBH, said “We are very excited at the opportunity to bring our cleaning equipment and solutions to Nigeria. We are offering Nigerians a broad variety of equipment that meet a wide range of cleaning needs across various industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, food and agro, automotive industry etc.’

Continuing Stolz said, ‘The potential of the Nigerian market is huge. We recognize that the country is the largest economy in Africa and as such our headquarters in Germany will be providing all the logistics and support

for the local partner over here. Service is an important sales tool for us. This has necessitated the setting up of a world class after sales center along with this showroom to ensure that we deliver quality product care to customers.”

Alfred Karcher is the world leader of cleaning equipment and machineries from Germany since 1935 with more than 1,400 patents for cleaning machines.

The company which is represented in more than 57 countries is the inventor of Hot Water high Pressure Washer and various other cleaning equipment that are categorized into two groups – Karcher Home and Garden Products as well as Karcher Professional Products.

Mr. Alie Khalil, Managing Director, German Technology Nigeria Limited said, “Our mission is to make Karcher part of everybody’s lifestyle weather at home or at work. We will not only provide equipment but solutions to meet required specific needs for all target groups. We hope to expand our services across Nigeria backed by well-trained service technicians.”

Nigeria Communications Week

Union Savings and Loans launches Business Clinic for SMEsLack of capacity development, as well as the absence of proper business advisory services, have been identified as the major challenges confronting the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

Though the sector has been touted as the catalyst to propel the country’s economic growth considering their source of income, employment and business convenience, many SMEs have failed to realize their potentials because of their inability to adopt strategic plans that can enhance their

businesses.The Managing Director of Union

Savings and Loans, Mr. Philip Mensah, who expressed these sentiments during an official inauguration of an SME Business Clinic for small and medium businesses in the Ashanti Region, said the situation had led to the collapse and poor performance of many small enterprises in the country. The SME Clinic is a novelty programme introduced last year by management of the bank to support the growth of businesses in the country by offering entrepreneurs

free experts consultancy on how to effectively manage their businesses.

According to him, available data from the Registrar General indicates that 90% of companies registered are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s) but most of them struggle to sustain their activities and eventually fold up due to lack of proper planning.

Mr. Mensah therefore emphasized that it was for this reason that Union Savings and Loans introduced the SME Clinic to provide business solutions and advisory services to entrepreneurs to enable them grow their businesses.

He said the package formed part of bank’s philosophy of successfully combining commercial objectives with a strong development agenda by focusing on segments of the market that lacked the needed attention and expertise from the “regular” financial services sector.

The Manager in charge of the Business Division, Mr. Dominic Mensah, under the programme, said SMEs will be provided with regular briefings on the financial market and economic trends in the country, stressing that other services such as Safe Book-keeping, Funds Management, Business Planning and Organizational Structures shall also be provided under the scheme.

Ghanaian Chronicle

Graham E Cooke, President of the World Travel Group, the organizers of the World Travel Awards, has confirmed during the ITB Tourism Trade Fair in Berlin that he would be staging the 2015 Awards in the sought-after holiday destination of Seychelles. Mr. Cooke briefed press and industry players during ITB and also met formally with Minister Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture. and Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board. and their team at ITB which included Bernadette Willemin, the Seychelles

Tourism Board's Director for Europe, and Andre Ciseau, the CEO of the Seychelles Port Authority.

Minister St.Ange welcomed this news saying that this event would fall in the country’s 2015 National Day Celebrations that falls on June 29. "This is our country's national theme - I Love Seychelles - and welcoming such a prestigious world event during our National Day Celebrations is but a bonus for every Seychellois," the Minister said. More information will be made available soon on this year's World Travel Awards ceremony that will be held in the Seychelles for the first time.

Eturbo News

World Travel Awards 2015 could be staged in Seychelles

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015

Page 3: Volume 2 issue 12

(12 seats in Business Class and 112 seats in Economy). These two new destinations will round off the service offering of Equatorial Congo Airlines, which already provides services to and from Cotonou (Benin), Douala (Cameroon), Libreville (Gabon) and Kinshasa (DRC) as part of its regional network.

"The inauguration of these two new flight routes to Bamako and Dakar, just a few weeks after the inauguration of Libreville as a destination and the establishment of a daily flight between Brazzaville/Paris and Brazzaville/Dubai, will see us strengthen our presence on the continent. This year, within the scope of expanding our network and our fleet, we are aiming to transform Maya-Maya Airport into a real Central African hub by offering our passengers a number of rotations and a first-class service," declared Fatima Beyina-Moussa, Managing Director of Equatorial Congo Airlines.

Take advantage of the low prices being offered by ECAir.

Eturbo News

WassupAfricA 03

FRoM page 01

With the 2015 edition of the annual Carnaval International de Victoria marking its fifth anniversary milestone, an avalanche of media houses from the four corners of the world have confirmed that they will to be flocking down to Seychelles once again.

The Seychelles Tourism Board is focusing on attracting quality international media to cover this colorful three-day extravaganza that brings together all the best and most-known carnivals and cultural troupes from the Community of Nations. So far for the 2015 carnival in the Seychelles there will be media delegations coming from France, Germany, Italy, UK, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Hawaii, Mauritius, La Reunion, Turkey, and the Americas among others.

The media plays a very important role in bringing the Carnaval International de Victoria event to the rest of the world, through photos, TV, radio, print, and online articles. This will in turn propel the Seychelles Tourism Board’s mission to market Seychelles as so much more than a sun, sea, sand destination. Delegations coming to participate

Within the scope of expanding its network, Sunday, 22 March 2015 will see ECAir, Equatorial Congo Airlines, the national airline of the Republic of the Congo, inaugurate its new Brazzaville-Dakar via Bamako route.

Bamako (Republic of Mali) and Dakar (Republic of Senegal) are two major West African capital cities. This route, which will run three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday departing from Brazzaville; Wednesday, Friday and Monday departing from Dakar or Bamako) was established in response to a growing demand among our passengers.

This new route represents a crucial and strategic step in our company's expansion process, and it is hoped it will allow us to strengthen the number of exchanges and level of cooperation between Congo, Mali and Senegal, and with the rest of West Africa in general.

Flights to Bamako and Dakar will be operated by Boeing 757-200 and will have a capacity of 148 seats (16 in Business Class and 132 in Economy) until 1 June, then by Boeing 737-700

Huawei Marine Networks has won a contract from the government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to build the Ceiba-2 Submarine Cable System.

The Ceiba-2 Submarine Cable System is expected to be ready for service in the fourth quarter of 2015. Huawei did not reveal the size submarine cable deal.

The submarine cable project will be utilizing Huawei Marine’s Wavelength Division Multiplex (WDM) and Optical Transport Network (OTN) technologies. The 290 km system will feature a design capacity of 8 Tbps and link the capital of Malabo to Bata.

The submarine system will enable

the African continent. Speaking on the occasion

Kaberuka said: "I accept the prize in the name of the people in this room and out there in Africa, people from the government, civil society and the private sector. Africa has a long way to go and together we shall go far.”

Dr. Donald Kaberuka stressed that the private sector is recognized to be one of the key drivers of the evolution of African economies, and the continent is, today, seen as a continent of private investment opportunity -the last evolving investment frontier. According to him, this was compelled by a combination of trade and investment, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which had increased by a factor of seven.

The Vice President of Groupe Jeune Afrique, Amir Ben Yahmed, who is the co-organizer of the annual Africa CEO Forum, added: “Today, our mission is to highlight the success of the African private sector to inspire entrepreneurship among young generations and the leaders of tomorrow”.

The World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have recommended all the oil producing countries to look beyond the oil resources, in the face of dropping crude oil prices on the international market. The event, fascinated some 800 leading decision-makers from Africa and

elsewhere. The Vice President for Africa,

World Bank, Makhtar Diop, stated that the time had come for African oil producing countries to pay thoughtful consideration to the modification of their economies. This, he enlightened, was the only way these oil producing countries could be spared in future declining oil prices on the international market. Mr. Diop also advised the African oil producing nations to investment more in agribusinesses, science and technical education to lift their manpower needs. He used the juncture to repeat his call on African countries to add value to their export commodities, counting gold, diamond, bauxite and cocoa.

The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Donald Kaberuka, who shared the same views expressed by the World Bank chief, added: “We need to create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth on the continent”.

To this end, the bank is set to cultivate its private sector portfolio and play a greater co-investment and co-financing role beyond its annual investment target of around US $2 billion per annum, he said.

Touching on the wide infrastructural gap, Dr. Kaberuka noted that through its private sector window, the AfDB invests in infrastructure, financial institutions, industries and agribusiness, manufacturing and

World press flocking to Seychelles Carnival on 24 April, 2015

Equatorial Congo Airlines to inaugurate new route

Huawei bags submarine cable order from Equatorial Guinea govt

in this year's event will also benefit greatly from the coverage that this large bank of world press will be providing. This is one of points that continues to attract so many countries to register to be present in this annual carnival parade that is known for being the melting pot of cultures.

Local Seychelles business who are supporting the Seychelles Tourism Board in the staging of

this annual cultural event and those with floats in the carnival parade will also be joining the international delegations and will be invited to the pre-carnival press conference for them to meet the press and get the necessary exposure for their businesses.

At ITB in Berlin, Minister Alain St.Ange continued the drive by Seychelles to meet the press. Earlier this month, Sherin Naiken, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, was on the CNN Richard Quest program and on BBC TV. Both Minister St.Ange and Tourism Board's CEO Naiken are always working with the press to keep the Seychelles visible on the tourism world and to ensure that Seychelles remains a relevant tourism destination.

The large number of world press coming to cover the 2015 edition of the Carnaval International de Victoria in the Seychelles will all be able to discover the island's natural beauty as they cover the biggest cultural event organized by Seychelles. This can only benefit the tourism industry of Seychelles and of the Vanilla Islands.

Eturbo News

service sectors in Africa.It backs African enterprises to

become more competitive at home and abroad, while continuing to charm foreign investment. A growing demand for private-sector participation through ground-breaking partnerships, presents noteworthy opportunities for growth, synergy and impact, according to him.

For the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic for Africa (UNECA), Carlos Lopes, in spite of the challenges confronting the African continent, the future is brighter than before.

The Founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Mohammed Ibrahim insisted African leaders to generate an environment of policy certainty, rule of law, and regional integration to drive huge investments on the continent.

He made the call at the Africa CEO Forum in Geneva, Switzerland. The Sudanese telecom investor stated: “We always say Africa, but Africa has 54 countries with borders and with customs between them. Some of these are a nightmare to go through.

“We need a single market. The EU is a single market. Trucks move and goods move. We need to break the borders between the African countries, otherwise we will remain 54 countries fighting among ourselves.” Mr. Ibrahim, however, observed that xenophobia did not help drive the course of regional integration, which is why Africa is still lagging behind. Touching on the current energy crises which has plunged 30 African countries, including Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria into darkness, Mr. Ibrahim audaciously blamed the situation on the huge dependence on fragmented hydro dams for electricity supply.

In his opinion, Africa should work as a collective and share some of the bigger hydro-electricity dams such as the Inga in DR Congo, by co-investing in the facilities.

On telecom, Mr. Ibrahim lauded

telecom operators in Africa for connecting the masses to voice and data services, saying, “they have done very well in coverage”.

“To achieve almost 500 million subscribers is a great achievement, but they should continue to investment in the telecom sector,” he urged. Meanwhile, a renowned international economist, Jeremy Rifkin, noted: “Africa is about to enter into a promising new economic era. Even though the stakes and challenges are many, the benefits linked to the creation of a digital Africa constitute a real and significant potential for transformation”.

Other areas are development of intra-African trade, social and environmental responsibility.

"The period of prosperity is over for most of Africa. We realize that untoward winds are blowing on the world economy but to be quite frank, I am as optimistic today as I was yesterday and will be

tomorrow" said Donald Kaberuka bringing the opening ceremony to a close. Mazars Group unveils its policy paper, Africa’s Quest for Strategic Agility. This policy paper addresses the foremost challenges facing Africa by revealing the issues to be undertook as well as the track to follow in order for the continent to enhance its growth dynamics. For each of the continent’s primary development themes, the policy paper underlines the major change drivers as well as the strategic and operational capabilities of the main actors responsible for such changes.

A record attendance that promises the achievement of the AFRICA CEO FORUM whose key aim is to put the limelight on African capitalism and inspire meetings and debate in anticipation of the change that is sweeping the continent and also to grasp the opportunities it is generating for African businesses.

Equatorial Guinea to connect to larger submarine cable systems including WACS, SAT-3, and Main One via Kribi, providing access to European network. It will provide restoration or redundancy routes for existing traffic on Ceiba-1, the direct link between Malabo and Bata, and the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable branch to Bata.

“It is our privilege to support the government of Equatorial Guinea by enhancing their international connectivity though the latest high-speed submarine cable infrastructure,” said Mike Constable, chief executive officer, Huawei Marine Networks.

Balancingact-Africa

Centum Investments Company Director Dr. Chris Kirubi has been crowned Africa CEO of the year at the 2015 Africa CEO Forum Awards

Alain St.Ange, Tourism Minister, Seychelles

mONDAY | mARCH 23, 2015

Page 4: Volume 2 issue 12

countryoftheWeek04

Advertiser's Index

AGS Four Winds.............. Page 01

Paranthaman Exporter .... Page 02

Chadha Power ................. Page 02

PHEL ............................... Page 04

Cycle Expo 2015 ............. Page 05

Modern Agro ................... Page 05

EMAT Africa ..................... Page 08

Mill India Ltd. ................... Page 10

Laxmi Publications .......... Page 11

ISIC .................................. Page 11

Prakash Ameusment ....... Page 11

Agritec Africa ................... Page 12

Officially known as the Republic of Liberia, Liberia is a country in West Africa

bordered by Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast. The country is home to about 4 million people.

Liberia prides itself to be among the founding nations of League of Nations, United Nations and the Organization of African Unity. Liberia is also a member of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The country has seen a number of political upheavals. Recently, the economic stability of Liberia was threatened by the spread of Ebola virus.

Liberia’s modernization came as a result of investment by United States during World War II and also the economic liberalization reforms introduced under President William Tubman.

Most of the Liberian population is young, but a lack of jobs is an issue that the government needs to address at the earliest. The country has although been able to maintain its economic stability, and recorded a growth of 8.1% in 2013. The growth was led by increasing iron ore exports, construction and a robust service sector. Increasing iron ore production and concession-related foreign direct investment (FDI) will continue to support headline growth.

Timber, Rubber and Palm Oil

Forestry is a major sector supporting the Liberian economy. Timber and Rubber exports contribute much to the GDP. The sectors comprise of almost one-third of the GDP, though growth in this sector has been stagnant in the recent years. The PUPs are now being reviewed. Timber production could present a noteworthy growth opportunity once the governance issues are resolved, but it would also benefit from improved roads, bridges, and ports. FDI in the palm oil sector, which could provide up to 80 000 jobs, has not reached its potential due to disputes over land access. The largely subsistence agriculture sector employs more than one-half of Liberians. Some 71% of

farming households engage in rice production, and 40% in cassava, but yields per hectare have not improved since the 1980s and the country imports more than half of its rice.

Manufacturing The manufacturing sector

recorded a substantial growth in the recent past, mainly due to the growing iron ore production by Arcelor Mittal. 25% of the GDP of Liberia comes from the

manufacturing sector and almost 8% of the workforce is employed in the manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector also saw expansion in 2013 with a 50% increase in cement production. Other activities in the sector, largely beverages, woodwork, printing, and various consumer

goods, continue to experience limited growth.

Service SectorService sector contribute

about 44% to the GDP of Liberia and experienced a growth of 9% in 2013. Main activities that comprise the service sector in Liberia include, hotels, government services, real estate, construction, transport and communication. The sector is expected to experience growth as Liberia continues to increase its service capacity.

Foreign RelationsThe European Union is

Liberia’s main export partner, recently joined by countries from the Asian continent and the

United States. The trade balance has widened, with strong imports related to FDI in concession sectors, UNMIL and donor activity, and imported consumer goods. These imports contribute to a large current-account deficit, estimated at 48% of GDP in 2013.

Some improvements have been achieved in reducing barriers to i n t e r n a t i o n a l trade, where Liberia ranks 142nd out of 189 countries in the World Bank’s Doing Business 2014 report. It has gradually reduced the time to export from 20 to 15 days between 2008 and 2012. Time to import has also been

reduced from 17 to 12 days (again, between 2008 and 2012). The

Liberia Business Registration ‘one-stop shop’ can process business registration in 48 hours and has reduced fees and increased transparency, leading to a ranking of 31st on starting a business.

Liberia has participated in global value chains for decades through its export of primary commodities, and the revitalization of this sector after the war has been a key driver of economic growth. Exports have been dominated by three commodities - iron ore, rubber and timber. There is potential for increased valued addition in Liberia. The timber industry supplies wood for a burgeoning

woodworking industry, but quality is still low. While palm oil plantations should increasingly

install refining capacity, it will be only after production increases substantially.

T I M B E R L A N D

LIBERIA

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015

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BusinessBuzz 05Firefox OS comes to Africa with Orange's $40 package dealMozilla's major new ally will sell its Klif phone and six months' network service in 13 countries in Africa and the Middle East. Orange likes Firefox OS's inexpensive hardware requirements and expects to sell millions. The Orange Klif is Firefox OS phone that the French carrier will sell in 13 African and Middle Eastern countries starting in the second quarter of 2015. The price of up to $40 includes six months of voice, text, and data service.The Orange Klif is Firefox OS phone that the French carrier will sell in 13 African and Middle Eastern countries starting in the second quarter of 2015. The price of up to $40 includes six months of voice, text, and data service. Stephen Shankland/CNET.

Orange will sell the phone with voice and text-messaging services, but it's the 500MB per month of 3G data service that the company thinks will stand out. And even though it's inexpensive, it'll still be profitable for the company, even if customers don't stick with Orange beyond the initial six-month period.

The phone package will go on sale in the second quarter in 13 countries - Egypt, Senegal, Tunisia, Cameroon, Botswana, Madagascar, Mali, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Niger, Kenya, Mauritius and Vanuatu. Orange today has 180 million customers. Orange, which has 97.5 million customers in Africa and the Middle East, also does business in Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Morocco, the Republic of Central Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo, so

Despite the vast opportunities that Africa is presenting to various brands and businesses, communicating with the continent’s one billion consumers can be a challenge due to the various cultures, political situations and language barriers that exist.

This is according to Megan Collinicos, Head of Advertising and

Public Relations for DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa, who says that should messages and channels not be correctly targeted and adapted for this growing market, the success rate of businesses expanding into this region is s i g n i f i c a n t l y diminished.

The African Development Bank has reported that on the back of economic growth in various African territories, rising real incomes will lead to higher

it's a major ally for Mozilla.Maitre wouldn't detail how

Firefox OS phone sales projections, but said, "We expect millions."

Android has taken off, though, even if not everyone can afford it. In the fourth quarter of 2011, only 4 percent of phones shipped with Google's OS in the Middle East and Africa, but by 2014, it rose to 42 percent, GfK said. Meanwhile, feature phone shipments dropped from 80 percent to 49 percent during that period. Mozilla's Firefox OS competes chiefly against Apple's iOS and Google's Android.Mozilla's Firefox OS competes chiefly against Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Mozilla. The Klif won't compete against flagship phones arriving at Mobile World Congress like the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the HTC One M9. But it is a good phone, Maitre said. The phone itself has a 3.5-inch 480x320 screen, a 2-megapixel camera, 512MB of storage, 1300mAh battery and 256MB of memory. Powering it is a 1GHz MediaTek processor that's exclusive to Orange, said marketing director Guillaume de Riberolles.

Balancingact- Africa

consumer spending, which is projected to almost double in the next decade. It is further reported that a growth of 4.5% in per capita GDP compounded annually through 2015 will result in an increase of more than 35% in consumer spending in Africa.

Collinicos points to the recently released Nielsen’s Emerging Market Insights research, which highlights that consumers in Africa are very receptive to marketing messages, with half (48%) of those interviewed confirming that advertising has significant influence on their purchase decisions. The research also revealed that 38% of respondents are motivated to buy a specific product due to promotional activities and that 34% will buy more of or give preference to products from companies that they know engage in corporate social responsibility programs or practices. Word of mouth marketing continues to play a large part in the decision making of emerging-market consumers.

“As we are present in every country in Africa, we have worked hard to understand each individual market and develop individual strategies to suit them. We have seen some of

our greatest success from street activations where we engage in fun activities with the general public. This is especially effective in cities where the traditional advertising landscape is already cluttered. Our service promise is ‘Excellence. Simply Delivered’ and therefore we aim to centre our communication messages and actions around shipping and delivering with excellence. That way it gives the consumer a clear idea of what we do – this enables us to combine brand awareness with brand association, so when consumers need to send a package, they think of DHL,” adds Collinicos.

“It is predicted that internet usage on mobile phones will increase 20-fold in the next five years in Africa, which is double the rate of growth in the rest of the world, and the price of data is set to steadily decrease. This makes digital and smart social media advertising techniques a viable channel to reach your target market. We have in excess of 450,000 fans on Facebook, which allows us to communicate with a large audience in real time, about everything from special offers, shipping tips, promotional activities, sponsorships, sharing our CSR stories and using it as an additional customer service platform.”

African Herald Express

Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced the opening of Park Hyatt Zanzibar, marking the first ever Hyatt hotel on the idyllic East African island and the 36th Park Hyatt hotel worldwide. Park Hyatt Zanzibar reflects the intimate and understated elegance of the Park Hyatt brand while embracing the rich culture, heritage and historical significance of Zanzibar’s unique Stone Town.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar is situated on the beachfront in Stone Town, the historical center of the city and a designated UNESCO Heritage site. As the cultural heart of Zanzibar, little has changed in Stone Town over the last 200 years. The town’s unique blend of Arabic and African cultural influences originate from the 19th century when Zanzibar Island served as a center for the trade of spices. During this period, Zanzibar, also known as the “Spice Island,” was the most important trading hub along the east coast of Africa. Today, the streets of Stone Town are filled with rich aromas of spices, perfumes and local

Park Hyatt Zanzibar officially opens

handcrafts. Park Hyatt Zanzibar is housed in two buildings, one of them Mambo Msiige, a UNESCO heritage building steeped in history, grace and mystique with roots dating back to the 17th century. Mambo Msiige is a typical Zanzibari mansion and an architectural gem, featuring intricate carvings and centered around a peaceful courtyard. The name alone meaning “not to be copied or imitated,” embraces true uniqueness. The new and purposefully built Zamani Residence of the hotel connects to Mambo Msiige, blending old history and contemporary charm, while

Companies should be innovative when marketing on the African continent DHL

embracing Swahili culture with a blend of Arab, Persian, Indian and European influences.

Park Hyatt Zanzibar provides the ultimate haven amongst Stone Town’s labyrinth of winding alleys, bustling markets, mosques and famed Zanzibari doors, featuring magnificent ornate wooden carvings. The town’s key attractions are easily accessible by foot from the hotel’s ideal location, including Forodhani Gardens, the Old Fort, the Old Dispensary, the Peace Memorial Museum, the Palace Museum and the House of Wonders.

Eturbo News

mONDAY | mARCH 23, 2015

Page 6: Volume 2 issue 12

fRaNkLY sPeAKinG06

By kirit soBti, editor, [email protected]

Namibia is, without doubt, a resource-rich country with political stability and a very striking investment atmosphere. But today,

Namibia stands on the edge of an epoch that could bring even superior change. The all-encompassing mineral exploration presently proceeding has the potential to lift the country's growth in so many areas, from unemployment to infrastructure and to health. To attain this, however, necessitate cautious, practical planning and coordination among corporations, Government, and local communities.

The more you dig, the more you gain. Digging deep into the mines for those rewarding mineral resources is indeed worthwhile. The prospects are sunny for mining in Africa. Over 30% of the world’s global mineral reserves are discovered in Africa, yet less than 5% of the total global mineral exploration and extraction budget is capitalized in the continent. The latent for a flourishing mining industry is enormous.

Namibia is, without doubt, a resource-rich country with political stability and a very striking investment atmosphere. But today, Namibia stands on the edge of an epoch that could bring even superior change. The all-encompassing mineral exploration presently proceeding has the potential to lift the country's growth in so many areas, from unemployment to infrastructure and to health. To attain this, however, necessitate cautious, practical planning and coordination among corporations, Government, and local communities.

The country rests its economic solidity to its mineral resources industry with mining being the biggest contributor to the economy in terms of revenue. It accounts for 25% of the country's income. Its support to the Gross Domestic Product is also very significant and makes it one of the largest economic sectors of the country. The government of Namibia is also working diligently toward maximizing the economic potential through the development of its mineral resources wealth.

Against this backdrop, Namibia is the top-ranked mining investment destination in Africa and 25th globally. This is as per the latest annual global survey released by the Canadian Fraser Institute. The institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies 2014, rates 122 mining areas around the world based on their geologic appeal and the extent to which government policies reassure exploration and

MarcEl HilMEr CEO, Forsys

NorMaN GrEEN CEO, Swakop Uranium

China General Nuclear Power Holding Corp (CGNPC), the China based major clean energy corporation which comes under the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council has now started mining for Uranium in Namibia. CGPC’s mining project has been launched in Husab mine, near Swakopmund in western-central Namibia. The operations are expected to start in February 2016. The company has allegedly invested around US$2 billion in the Husab mine. This investment is said to be China’s biggest investment in Namibia till date. The mine which is expected to be operational soon will produce 15 million pounds of Uranium Oxide. China General Nuclear Power Holding Corp took over the Husab mine after acquiring the ownership of Kalahari Mineral and Extract Resources.

Percy McCallum, spokesperson, CGNPC Namibia, said, “We have been clearing the overburden of sand and will start mining ore from May 2015 onwards. We hope to have stockpiled one million tonnes of ore by December 2015.”

Currently, there are 16 different companies working under contract at the site where sand is being mined.

The mine is also expected to increase the country’s exports value by 20 percent, which is about 1.7 billion Namibian dollars (145 million U.S. dollars) to government’s revenue annually.

More than 6, 000 temporary jobs were created during the construction phase, while more than 1,600 permanent jobs. This is about an increase of 17 percent in employment in the mining sector.

When Husab becomes operational, it will be the second largest uranium mine in the world with an output estimated to be 15 million pounds (6,800 tons) of uranium oxide annually, more than what is currently being produced in Namibia.

Namibia has huge quantities of Uranium. In fact, it was ranked as the fourth largest producer of Uranium in 2011. Australia was ranked No. 1 followed by Canada and Kazakhstan. Although the production in the African nation reduced to 7.1% in 2012. Uranium obtained by mining is usually used in Nuclear Power Plants. Uranium was discovered for the first time in 1960s in Namibia. Rio Tinto was the first company to obtain the rights of the Rössing deposit in 1966. The mine is the longest running and also the largest open-pit Uranium mines in the world. It is located in the Namib Desert near Arandis.

China’s major firm to mine for Uranium in Namibia

Norasa is one of the very few uranium projects in the world that is construction ready with a mining licence. The completion of the feasibility study confirms the robustness of Norasa's economics. We believe that the study results will attract strategic partners and investors, and provide us with alternatives for the next phase of Norasa's development.

The more you dig, the more you gain. Digging deep into the mines for those rewarding mineral resources is indeed worthwhile.

investment. Globally, Namibia edged out Queensland in Australia, British Columbia in Canada and Colorado in the United States.

Namibia has panoptic mineral deposits. Its diamonds and uranium are world-class and so are its gold, copper, lead, zinc and other base metals, with a wide variety of semi-precious stones and many types of dimension stone which are also found in profusion.

In the 2013 survey, Namibia was appraised as the second best mining investment destination in Africa. According to the report, Namibia exhibited perfection in terms of its policy factors - moving up in this regard from being ranked 34th globally in 2013 to a ranking of 20th last year - based on its legal and tax environment and other factors such as infrastructure and costs. According to the report Namibia’s open-door policy at all levels of government in most ministries is accompanied by perhaps one of the best and most co-operative geological surveys in the world.

It also spotlights the country’s free economic style and the fact that all areas are open to mineral digging. The African continent as a whole improved its presentation from 2013 - lifted by policy score improvements in Angola, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Botswana. Botswana was ranked just below Namibia, while Zambia was ranked in third place on the continent. Though, South Africa has fallen out of the top ten mining investment destinations on the continent and dropped 11 places to 67th globally. The survey was conducted between August 26 and November 15, 2014 and includes the responses of 485 mineral exploration and development company executives from around the world. Exploration budgets reported by companies participating in the survey totaled US$2.7 billion last year and US$3.2 billion in 2013.

According to a local investment group, Namibia will see a 5.7 percent economic growth this year, low inflation and higher mining output coupled with foreign investment. “For this year, we expect to see economic expansion of 5.7 percent driven by an ongoing construction boom in Namibia, which is likely to continue for a number of years, as well as major foreign direct investment inflows into the mining industry,” IJG Securities Namibia stated in its economic preview.

“As the construction boom slows, a major boom in mining output is to be expected, as the new mines, currently under construction, start and ramp up to full production levels,” IJG Namibia said. Inflation is set to “fall dramatically” through 2015 on account of cost-push factors deriving from tumbling oil prices, the publication noted.

Through the first half of the year, inflation is expected to slow to 4.1 percent from the current 4.6 percent. According to IJG Namibia, the country’s inflation will go down by around 4.7 percent in 2015, well below the 5.4 percent level seen in 2014.

“Sustained low interest rates in South Africa are likely to keep rate increases on hold in Namibia through 2015, and the most likely scenario for the country sees interest rates flat until mid-2016,” economic analyst Rowland Brown stated.

Abundant opportunities exist in this sector. Even though the Ministry of Mines and Energy has issued more than 100 EPLs only a limited number of these EPLs are active. Therefore many possibilities are present for exploration and other mining activities. Value addition is an added profitable area for investment in this sector. Potential investors can put up processing and manufacturing plants to add value to various high value mineral products that are mined locally.

In terms of value addition in the area of diamond

The Husab Project indeed has what could be called the Big Five every explorer wishes to find, namely grade, depth, metallurgy, location and size. While the mineralogy appears to be simpler than that at Rssing, with less marble, this deposit has remained hidden from previous discoveries due to a two to three metre cover of gravel.

tHe UnDisPUteD CHAMPION

mining, Namibia now has 7 diamond cutting and polishing factories engaging a substantial number of people. Value addition is exhilarated in refining of base metals and other minerals, like manganese, processing of marble and granite, and cutting and polishing of precious and semi-precious stones. Good predictions for development of the jewelry industry exist and are cheered.

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015

Page 7: Volume 2 issue 12

trAVeL&touRism 07

THE QUEEN OF HILLS

DARJEELING"The one land

that all men desire to see,

and having seen once-by even a glimpse would

not give that glimpse for the

shows of the rest of the world

combined" said Mark Twain

The beautiful town of Darjeeling, nestled among the hills, with Mt. Kanchenjunga overlooking the town is the perfect getaway from the hectic

and mundane life of the city. Situated in the Mahabharata Range or the Lesser Himalayas, at an average height of 6,710 ft, Darjeeling is also dearly called the ‘Queen of Hills’.

Covered with plantations of tea, the hill station is undoubtedly one of the major attractions of the state of West Bengal. One can gaze at the towering peak of Kanchenjunga, explore the remains of the colonial-era, visit Buddhist monasteries or just take a relaxing stroll along the tea plantations. The town in always bustling with tourists and when spirits start to give way a hot steaming cup of Darjeeling is never far away.

You can catch a ride at the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, where those cute little steam engines still chugs up and down the hills.

Darjeeling in the postmodern era boasts of the six T’s- Tea, Teak, Tourism, Toy Train, Tiger Hill and Trekker’s Paradise.

TEA ROOMDarjeeling cuisine is rich and diverse in taste because of the diverse population of the region. The local residents of Darjeeling were Lepchas, alongwith there are Gorkhas and also a significant population of Sherpas and Bengalis which can be found in Darjeeling.

Rice, noodles and potatoes make the staple diet of the region. Momos, Thukpas, Alu Dum, Dalle, Churpee, Shaphalay and Sael Roti are some of the famous foods of the region. Alu Dum is a very famous, typical Nepali and Bengali snack item or a side dish. It is prepared by boiling cut potatoes in a thick gravy and mixing dried red chili powder in it along with onion slices, few cloves of garlic, some mustard oil and sometimes even red color. Watch out! It can be quite hot but very tasty.

The Darjeeling Tea is famous worldwide and no one can compete with the strong aroma and subtle taste that it offers. Darjeeling is also the only place where one gets the original ‘Champagne of Teas’.

Tiger Hill: Situated at an altitude of 3000 metres, the Tiger Hill is one of the undisputed tourist destinations in Darjeeling. The place offers a breathtaking view of the Kanchenjunga Hills and is a trekker’s delight.

Ghum Monastery: The monastery was founded in the late 1800s by Lama Sherab Gyatso. The monastery is frequented by many tourists on their visits to Darjeeling. A 5m tall clay statue of the Maitreya Buddha is the highlight of the monastery.

Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park: The zoo is the only specialized zoo in India and is famous for its conservation and breeding programs of Red Panda, Snow Leopards, Tibetan Wolfs and other highly endangered animals of the Eastern Himalayan region.

Senchal Lake: The Lake is a famous picnic spot. Located at an altitude of 8,160 ft atop a hill the lake provides a peaceful environment to spend time with your loved ones.

Happy Valley Tea Estate: If you want to see the processing of the world famous Darjeeling Tea this is the place to be. Situated at a distance of about 3km from the city, the region boasts of about seventy tea gardens.

Lebong Race Course: Lebong is the smallest yet highest race course in the world and is situated at a distance of about 8km from the mall.

TOURIST’S DELIGHTS

01

02

03

04

05

06

At a GlanceLocation: 27°13’ N to 26°27’ N Latitude and 88°53’ E to 87°59’ E LongitudeArea: 3,149 sq kmAltitude: 6710 ftTemperature: Max- 14.9° C, Min- 8.9°CRainfall: 3092 mm per annumBest Season to visit: March to mid-June and October to DecemberLanguages Spoken: Hindi, Gorkha, Bengali, Nepali, Tibetan and EnglishNearest Railway Station: Darjeeling (Narrow Gauge) and NJP (Broadgauge)Nearest Airport: Bagdogra

mONDAY | mARCH 23, 2015

Page 8: Volume 2 issue 12

taLkiNGtecHnoLoGy08

Africa’s petroleum and petrochemical industry faces many challenges,

including climate change issues, fuel security and the falling oil price. These will be addressed at the upcoming Petro.t.ex Conference and Exhibition, a major mid- and down-stream event focused on showcasing products, services and business opportunities across Sub-Saharan Africa. Petro.t.ex Africa is a component of the multi-sector South African Industry & Technology Fair, and takes place at Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand from 20-22 May 2015.

“The key focus of the conference are the updates for the liquid fuel and downstream industry,” says organiser Bette McNaughton. “It

will also cover numerous current topics such as the overall status of the liquid fuel industry in South Africa, climate change, alternative fuels, and the revised Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Codes for the retail fuel market.”

State of SA’s Oil IndustryAbout 95% of South Africa’s

crude oil demand is met by imports from the Middle East and Africa. However, with estimated reserves of over nine billion barrels of oil beneath South Africa’s coastlines, many drilling and business opportunities exist, which could also give the country some small measure of independence from imports.

Avhapfani Tshifularo, Executive Director of the South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA), describes the current state of the oil industry as ‘resilient’, but with a constant need to adapt. He will deliver the opening keynote address on The

Overall Status of the Liquid Fuel Industry in South Africa.

“Oil is a strategic asset and key to South Africa’s growth; the rapid fall of the oil price – from over $100 to just over $50 per barrel – does affect the industry, but we need to be flexible to continue to function. The Petro.t.ex conference will play a major role in informing the industry about these changes and provide a vital platform for discussion,” says Tshifularo.

The Who and What of the Petro.t.ex Conference

Implications of the Revised BBBEE Codes for the retail market will be presented by Bakang Moeketsi, CEO of the South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association (SAPRA).

“The promotion of broad-based black economic empowerment is a primary objective, as is the need to achieve a globally competitive mining industry that benefits all South Africans,” says Moeketsi. “The revised Codes

PETRO.T.Ex AfRICA ADDRESSING SA’S CHALLENGES

combine management control and employment equity into one element, as does preferential procurement and enterprise development, thus reducing Scorecard elements from seven to five.”

Dr Rod Crompton from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) will discuss fuel security and the hi-jacking of tankers. Truck hijackings have increased by 10% to over 1 200 incidents last year, costing the road freight industry about R1.2 billion.

The effects of the falling oil price on the economy will be discussed by Carmen Nel, an economist at Rand Merchant Bank.

Another important topic is alternative fuels, presented by Jason Gifford from the steering committee of the Southern African Biogas Industry Association. Alternative fuels include biodiesel, electric vehicles, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas and hydrogen.

Other topics for discussion

For more information on the conference contact Bette McNaughton:Tel +27 (0)11 234 1196 – Email: [email protected] more information on Petro.t.ex contact Serean at Exhibition Management Services. Tel+27 (0)11 783-7250. Fax +27 (0)11 783-7269. E-mail: [email protected]:www.exhibitionsafrica.com

About Petro.t.ex Petro.t.ex showcases new developments, projects, technologies and innovations, market trends and challenges facing the petroleum industry in Southern Africa. This biennial event provides a powerful networking platform for the ‘Who’s Who’ of the downstream petroleum industry.

The event attracts a wide range of exhibitors, visitors and delegates including senior management from leading oil companies, refinery operators, government representatives, NGOs, fuel wholesalers and retailers, consultants, industry associations, engineers, project leaders, financiers and other industry role players. include:

• Clean fuels and maximising sustainable development opportunities, presented by Professor Jim Petrie, Director of Energy and Green Economy from the Department of Economic Development and Tourism of the Western Cape Government

• Climate Change presented by Deborah Ramalope, Chief Director: Climate Change Mitigation

• The role of independent storage suppliers presented by Muziwandile Mseleku, CEO of Burgan

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015

Page 9: Volume 2 issue 12

trysomethiNGNeW 09uPCOMING

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always

to try just one more time.

tHougHt oFtHe WeeK

Sustain & Build Africa

The Conference is going to be an immensely novel concept of a conference where the focus will be on the topic of Africa’s sustainable energy industry. The conference will help the participants of the event to understand how they can develop new and sustainable projects and ensure the success of these projects. The conference will throw major light on the latest developments made in the Africa’s sustainable energy market.

Date: 24-25 Mar 2015 Venue: Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa

Joint AUC-ECA Annual Meeting

It is organized by the united Nations Economic Commission for Africa. The conference will cover areas like Planning, Mobilizing and Financing for Development.

Date: 25-31 Mar 2015 Venue: United Nations Conference Centre, Addis Adaba, Ethiopia

Upstream West Africa Summit

It is organized by the Vale media group. The conference will cover areas like West Africa’s Key Oil Producing Countries Are Expected to Continue to List among Those Countries Whose Economies Are Expanding at the Fastest Rate on the Planet.

Date: 23-25 Mar 2015 Venue: Labadi Beach Hotel, Accra, Ghana

Powering East Africa meeting

It is organized by the Clarion Events Ltd. The conference will cover areas like This Meeting Is Vital to Discussing Action Points in unlocking the Current Deadlock and Opening up Transmission for Investment. It Will Also unite Financiers, Donor Organisations, Power Developers and Regional Governments in a Closed Meeting to Examine What Crucial First Steps Must Be Taken to Solving the Transmission Crisis.

Date: 25-27 Mar 2015 Venue: Windsor Golf Hotel & Country Club, Nairobi, Kenya

Securex West Africa

It is a leading event of the region that presents security products and equipments, security services and solutions, commercial security systems and solutions, homeland security systems, cyber security technologies and solutions, fire extinguishers, fire security services, safety products and equipments and other range of security essentials and requirements. It is the largest event of its kinds in West Africa and is known to present emerging technologies and solutions, pertaining to safety and security, to all the visitors.

Date: 24-25 Mar 2015 Venue: Eko Exhibition Centre, Lagos, Nigeria

african ginger cake ingredients • 21/3 cups all-purpose flour• 21/2 teaspoons baking powder• 1 teaspoon salt• 1cup unsalted butter, at room temperature• 11/2 cups sugar• 4 eggs, at room temperature• 1cup chai concentrate, such as Oregon Chai

For the glaze • 11/2cups powdered sugar• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon• 1/2 teaspoon ginger• 1pinch black pepper• 11/2 - 21/2 tablespoons chai concentrate, as needed

• 1/2cup crystallized ginger (Optional)

directions1. Set a rack in the lower third of the oven and

preheat to 350°.2. Prepare a bundt pan by brushing with melted

butter and sprinkling with flour, tapping out the excess flour.

3. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together. Set aside.

4. Cream the butter and sugar till creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, mix thoroughly, stop and scrape as you go to ensure even mixing.

5. Add the flour mixture and chai alternately, beginning and ending with the flour in three parts and the chai in two parts. Mix thoroughly after each addition.

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for about 40-45 minutes, until the top springs back when pressed gently with a finger. Cool on a rack for about 20-30 minutes, depan and cool completely. (Place in freezer at this point to aid in glazing).

7. To make the glaze, sift the powdered sugar with the spices and stir in the chai extract, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, to form a smooth, thick yet pourable glaze. It should be thick and ropy to cling to the cake. Set the cake on a rack over a plate and spoon the glaze in a circular fashion over the cake. Let it fall in place or smooth with an offset spatula, as you like. After a few minutes, spoon the dripped glaze from the plate back over the cake. Press the crystallized ginger onto the glaze as it sets, if using.

4. Intestinal Worms - The seeds of papaya too possess medicinal properties. They are very good in treating intestinal worms in the body.

5. Constipation - Papaya helps in preventing constipation and aids in digestion. The enzyme papain is a digestive enzyme that helps in natural digestion.

6. Colon - Its juice helps in curing infections of the colon by clearing the pus and mucus from it. You need to take it regularly to heal quickly.

7. Weight Loss - It is low in calories and high in nutritional values. Hence, it is a good food for those who want to lose some weight.

8. Morning Sickness - In pregnant ladies, regular consumption of a small slice of

Health Benefits of Papaya

papaya helps to cure nausea and morning sickness.

9. Osteoporosis - It contains anti-inflammatory enzymes that help in relieving pain for those who are suffering from arthritis, edema and osteoporosis, and it also possesses anti-cancerous properties that can help prevent cancer.

10. Immunity - It is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C that help in boosting the body’s immunity and hence is very good for those who are suffering from fever, cold or flu.

11. Shampoos - Shampoos containing papaya are very good to control dandruff.

12. Menstrual Irregularities - It helps in controlling the menstrual irregularities in women. Papaya helps to ease menstrual

cramps and helps in promoting regular flow of menstruation.

1. i can’t afford it. Je n'ai pas les moyens.

2. i'm not interested. Je ne suis pas intéressé.

Handy French3. i don't want it.

Je ne le veux pas.

4. Please clean my room. Veuillez nettoyer ma chambre.

5. She is eating dessert. Elle mange du dessert.

6. They are eating some pizza. Ils mangent de la pizza.

The Ambassador-designate of the Republic of Senegal, Mr. El Hadji lbou Boye presenting his credential to the President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on March 18, 2015

PicTurE oF THE wEEk

General Motors South Africa will be the only manufacturing site outside of the United States to build the Hummer H3 vehicle.

1. Skin - It is great for the skin and can be used as a face pack to get its benefits. It helps to get rid of acne and skin infections as it helps to open clogged pores. The fermented flesh of papaya also called as papain helps to dissolve the dead cells, giving fresh and glowing skin as a result. It is good to cure the skin infections and wounds that don’t heal quickly.

2. Cholesterol - As it is a fruit that is rich in fiber it lowers blood cholesterol levels. It contains enzymes that help prevent oxidization of cholesterol, which in return helps to prevent heart-attacks.

3. Anti-ageing - The antioxidants in papaya help in controlling premature ageing. This quality of the papaya helps you to get a younger look.

Papaya enjoys a rich history, and has been used since very long for medicinal uses in day to day life. The Mayans used to worship papaya trees and called it the “Tree of Life”. It is said to be one of the favourite fruits of Christopher Columbus. The story goes that when his crew landed in America after a long sea voyage on meager meal, the native people welcomed them with extravagant feast, which caused digestive problems. The natives took the voyagers to the forest and offered them papaya and they got cured. The leaves, seeds and the milk of the papaya tree are used to cure intestinal problems and kill intestinal worms and parasites.

mONDAY | mARCH 23, 2015

Page 10: Volume 2 issue 12

thefAsHionistAs10

Starr FM Celebrates Stars Again

Stars are seen as a major influences to society, whether it be negatively or positively. They carry some level of inspiration and serve as idols or role models for some people depending on what they are recognized for.

Starr FM,in collaboration with Tic Tok GH and Carmudi Ghana, celebrated a group of individuals who stars in their respective

Advertisement please email to

[email protected] call at

+91 8595166674+91 9350564995

To book your

fields. This celebration was held at the Bedouin Lounge on the 5th of March 2015 in East Legon, and it gave glory to the award-winning disc jockey, DJVyrusky, who recently won the awards for the Best Club DJ and Best Event DJ respectively.

The turnout was impressive, and the event was graced with appearances from big shots

such as AhuofePatri of Kalibos Comedy and Mama Ba of Crystal TV. Other celebrities who were acknowledged included supporting disc jockeys DJ French Kiss and DJ Dennis.

Their colorful ground activation caught the attention of many club patrons. Carmudi also showed appreciation and gratitude to their existing customers who were at the celebration and also opened arms to welcome prospects who sought to enjoy the service for the first time.

White Sunday, another heart-stirring event organized by the same lots is yet to be witnessed at the shisha lounge in Osu on Sunday, the 5th of April 2015. This celebration is taking a different turn and it is to surprise the crowd of the celebrities to be present. Its most definitely going to be a glorious event as these joint parties never disappoint.

Modern Ghana

Bruce Melodie's spectacular album launchFast rising singer-songwriter Bruce Melodie, proved he is a superstar in waiting after a spectacular launch of his 8-track album dubbed Ntundize. The concert which was held at the Kabeza-based Kaizen Club attracted a huge crowd that filled up the nightclub.

With seasoned emcee Martin Kasirye aka Tino in charge, the concert started at 10pm with thrilling performances from an array of local artistes, before Melodie stormed the stage at 11:30pm to deafening screams from his fans. The singer, who is among the 10 Primus Guma Guma Superstar 2015 finalists, was spectacular on stage as he performed along with his band.

Melodie had strong vocals and delivered an exceptional performance. He wowed the audience with his hits, Telephone, Inderorerwamo, Hello and Ndakwanga, among others. He also did a rendition of songs by other artistes, such as, Jason Derulo, among others.

Guests were treated to live performances and were left yearning for more. Despite the sound problems, Melodie’s album

contemporary gospel songs including one hippy worship medley and three jamming gospel highlifes. The worship medley combines original songs from Kakra's own collection with popular local worship tunes in a breath taking rendition that evokes the presence of God in any environment.

Currently, her first Music Video of the “EYE ADOM” track is receiving massive air play on most TV stations especially, Metro TV, Multi TV’s Adom TV and TV3. “EYE ADOM” is a smash track that resonates with our everyday experiences with God.

Kakra Nartey is not just blessed with singing but, anointed and given the grace to write songs as she composed majority of the tracks on her debut album and this is what she

Ntundize, Ndakwanga, Camera Yi Mana, Ntujya Uhinduka, among others. Audiences were treated to performances by local talents, who had come to support their colleague such as Giggy, T-Rock Saxo, Christopher Muneza, Uncle Austin, Eric Senderi, Jay Polly, Ama G The Black, Dream Boys and Hope Irakoze, among others.

Meanwhile, the crowd was overwhelmed when the Primus Guma Guma Super star (PGGS4) winner Jay Polly, stormed the stage and performed his popular track, Deux Fois Deux. The concert ended at dawn. Melodie, 22, is one of the few local artistes who have garnered popularity in a short time due to his great vocals.

New Times

launch concert was successful.“I’m impressed by the big

number of people who came for my concert. I want to thank everyone here who came to support me—I love you and may God bless you all,” said Melodie, before adding, “I request people to support Rwandan music because it’s good and unique.”

Clarisse Keza, a Goma-based businesswoman, who attended the singer’s concert, said:”I’m a big fan of Bruce Melodie’s music and I have attended several of his concerts, including the most recent ones in Musanze and Rubavu. His is a talented singer and well-behaved. People should support his talent.”

Melodie’s 8-track production includes some of his hit tracks,

promises to give all patrons of this year’s Harvest Praise.

She has been in the background for quite some time, singing mainly in church choir - with the coveted Harvest Gospel Choir.

For those who have had the opportunity of enjoying her ministration over and over again,

they describe her music as the setting for a tangible visitation of God. Contemporary, yet so close to heaven as she basks in the anointing of God. Singing all her life from childhood, Kakra Nartey is blessed with a very soothing voice professionally suitable for worship and praise - a total package, coming with a well-built image and stage presence as one cannot sit still under her ministration. Kakra Nartey’s Music Career started from home, growing up as a little girl, she joined her mother to sing Methodist hymnals and from age 10, Kakra Nartey started to mount church platforms, hence very used to the public space of performances.

Modern Ghana

new GosPeL Music DiVA KAKrA nArtey to rocK

HArVest PrAise 2015!Kakra Nartey, Ghana's new gospel

sensation is billed to perform at Ghana’s most wanted and biggest

gospel music platform, Harvest Praise 2015.Joining Nigeria’s gospel music icons

Nathaniel Bassey and Uche Agu, Kakra Nartey will be ministering to her fans and many gospel music lovers songs from her debut album “MASE BI”.

Harvest Praise 2015 comes off this Easter Friday, 3rd April, at the Accra International Conference Centre and Kakra will also be sharing the stage with local group performers including the celebrated Harvest Gospel Choir and Winneba Youth Choir.

Kakra Nartey’s “MASE BI” features 6

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015

Page 11: Volume 2 issue 12

sPorts2WatCh 11

The National Volleyball Federation is currently in talks with three corporate companies as they bid to secure sponsorship for the league, the Genocide memorial tournament and the annual Carre d’AS tourney.

Christian Hatumimana, the Executive Secretary of the National Volleyball Federation told Times Sport that they cannot reveal the names of the companies now so as not to jeopardise negotiations, but they are looking for Rwf80m for the three competitions.

“What I can tell you is that the talks are positive and we hope to strike a deal soon. We need Rwf40m for the league and another Rwf40m for the genocide memorial as well as the Carre d’AS tournaments,” Hatumimana said adding that if they manage to secure these funds, then they will organise another tournament.

Sports Associations with the

Volleyball federation needs Rwf80m for 2015 season

South Africa end World Cup knockout hoodoo with quarter-final rout of Sri Lanka

Team Rwanda still best side in Cameroon race

exception of the National Cycling Federation always struggle to attract sponsorship, something that some sports analysts blame on poor management of Sports organisations and lack of marketing skills.

The Volleyball federation is unlucky in that unlike other local Sports Associations, they don’t get any grants from the International Volleyball Federation or the African Volleyball Association.

Hatumimana says the Federation is run on a ‘shoe string’ budget with members and well-wishers contributing for the league and other competitions.

Meanwhile Inatek are currently leading the league table with 12 points after 4 matches, Rayon Sport and Kigali Volleyball club are second and third respectively while APR is 4th with 8 points but the army side has a game in hand.

New Times

Much of the talk leading up to this match had been about South Africa’s “chokers” tag. A.B. de Villiers’s team has liberated itself from that tag by overcoming a very experienced Sri Lankan side. Although the islanders had won the World Cup in 1996 and reached the most recent two finals in 2007 and 2011, this happened to be a fascinating duel ending ‘knockout hoodoo’ by South Africa.

South Africa crushed Sri Lanka by nine wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground on 18th March to reach the World Cup semi-finals to face either New Zealand or the West Indies. Chasing just 134 to win, South Africa reached the target in the 18th over with opener Quinton de Kock making an undefeated 78. When Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and decided to bat, the first act in the nightmare of every South African cricket fan

Team Rwanda Cycling has maintained their number one position as the best side in the general classification at the ongoing Tour du Cameroon at stage 5 from Bonaberie to Limbé, a total distance of 94km.

Emile Bintunimana finished fifth after arriving in the leading peloton alongside eventual winner Jérémie Nzeke of Cameroon alongside a total of the top 19 riders who all clocked 2:22:20 but were only separated by microseconds.

Rwandan riders Abraham

Ruhumuriza was 10th while Nathan Byukusenge, Hakuzimana and Patrick Byukusenge were 13th, 16th and18th respectively. Cameroon’s Clovis Kamzong has maintained the yellow jersey from day one and has a 48 second advantage over second-placed Rasmane Ouedraogo of Burkina Faso.

Meanwhile, Joseph Biziyaremye finished eighth in stage 2 of the ongoing Tour International de Setif after posting 2:36:54, microseconds behind winner Mekseb Debesay of Bike

Aid from Germany after covering a total distance of 115.5km.

Jean Bosco Nsengimana, Janvier Hadi, Jeremie Karegeya, Bonaventure Uwizeyimana were 25th, 29th, 36th and 40th respectively while Valens Ndayisenga was rested for this route. Today, Team Rwanda in Cameroon will compete in stage 6 from Limbé to Doula, a total distance of 122km while Team Rwanda in Algeria will continue to compete in stage 4 of the Tour International de Setif.

New Times

seven wickets between them, which decimated Sri Lanka rather than the first-rate pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Duminy claimed a hat-trick, the ninth in World Cup history and first by a South African, creating a total collapse in which Sri Lanka lost. The hat-trick would not have been possible without the sportsmanship of Nuwan Kulasekara, who walked despite not being given out caught behind by umpire Rod Tucker.

There was one final twist remaining, though. A freakish rain break that delayed de Kock's response to the measly target. Unlike 23 years ago in an SCG knockout, South Africa could look at the rain fall in a relaxed manner. De Kock came back out after the break to score 78 off 57 either side of the supper break and end the game with 32 overs to spare.

had been played out. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir taking four for 26 and off-spinner JP Duminy, taking there for 29. South Africa needed just 18 overs to overhaul the 2007 and 2011 finalist's meagre total of 133, and win by nine wickets.

It was a sad way for Mahela Jayawardene's international career to end, while it also brought to close Kumar Sangakkara's career in the 50-over game, though he will continue playing Tests.

Many expected this to be the most keenly fought of the four World Cup quarter-finals. It has taken seven tournaments but South Africa have won their first knockout World Cup match. This victory in a major tournament will enable the South African team to shed the dreaded tag of chokers. Surprisingly, it was the spin of Imran Tahir and Paul Duminy, with

mONDAY | mARCH 23, 2015

Page 12: Volume 2 issue 12

eNCouNteR witH eDitor12

Owner / Publisher / Editor: Mr. Kirit Sobti from 3rd Floor, Plot No. 3, Block PSP-IV, Service Centre Opp. Sector-11 (Extn.), Rohini, Delhi-85Printed at LIPEE SCAN PVT. LTD. 89 DSIDC SHED Okhala Phase 1, New Delhi

Thank you for making time to talk to us. Can you first of all tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became the CEO of GIPC?

My name is Mrs. Mawuena Trebarh. I have over 15 years’ experience with a stellar career in the corporate environment in Ghana. I have been recognized through a number of national awards for having established benchmarks for excellence in corporate affairs, investor relations management, stakeholder and reputation management in critical sectors of the economy specifically mining and telecommunications.

What is GIPC and what is her mandate?The Ghana Investment Promotion

Centre (GIPC) is a government agency responsible under the Act of the Ghanaian Parliament (ACT 865) 2013; to encourage and promote investments in Ghana, to provide for the creation of an attractive incentive framework and a transparent, predictable and facilitating environment for investment in Ghana and other related matters.

As a government agency that provides professional service and support for both local and foreign investors, can you tell us how you go about in accomplishing this task?

The GIPC through our operations, create an enhanced, transparent and

responsive environment for investment and the development of the Ghanaian economy through investments. We also encourage, promote and facilitate investment in all sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

Can you tell us some of the resources and support services GIPC provides for investors?

Our resource and support services include but the following; Hand holding services (From

Registration through to Business set-up)

After care Services Land bank Services and Research and Investment Department

Services (e.g. Profiling Banbkable Local Projects for Foreign Investment)

Are there incentives GIPC offers investors and what are they?

The GIPC recommends investors for incentives which are approved by the Ministry of Finance. Some of these incentives include;a. Tax holidays for specific sectorsb. Locational incentives (Tax rebates)c. Immigration quotas (Work and

Resident Permits) andd. Import duty exemptions on Industrial

Plant, Machinery and Equipment.

What role does GIPC play for investors to be guaranteed safety and

maximizing of profit in Ghana?Ghana is a safe investment

destination. The GIPC Act 2013 guards investors against expropriation of private investments provided for under law and are buttressed by the Ghanaian Constitution. Some of which include;1. Free transferability of capital, profits

and dividends2. Insurance against non-commercial

risk; Ghana is signatory to the World Banks’s Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

3. Double Taxation Agreements (DTAs); to rationalize tax obligations of investors in order to prevent double taxation. (These have been signed and ratified with several countries).

How favourable are investments in Ghana and how can potential investors take advantage of them?

Ghana can boast of having one of the best locations on the African continent to do business. Conditions present include; Political stability, a growing economy, increasing consumer demand and accessibility to wider West African markets and we are by these opportunities inviting potential investor from all over the world including Ghanaians in the diaspora.

In which areas of the Ghanaian economy do you see significant opportunities for investment?

All sectors of the Ghanaian economy appear viable, however some of our priority sectors include;i. Manufacturingii. Agriculture and Agro-processingiii. Energyiv. Oil and Gas andv. Services

What is the outlook for foreign direct investment in Ghana?

We anticipate continues increase in FDI’s over the medium to long term, driven by our consistently stable political environment and abundance of opportunities for the foreign investor.

What are some of your challenges as CEO of GIPC?

I don’t really use the word challenges; I see challenges as rather as opportunity. I think the challenge that I have is the challenge to project the right image of Ghana, to create the right experiences for the investor both domestic and international so that they feel that this is the best place to invest and finally ensure that there are tangible results. The challenge also is to coordinate with all the other institutions because it’s not GIPC alone that must create that image, the experience and the result but, taking the challenge and turning it into an opportunity.

Interviewed by Francis L. Sackitey, Accra Ghana

"One of the best locations on the African continent to do business"

The West African country Ghana is without doubt a country full of investment opportunities. But what is more attractive about Ghana is the system the Ghanaian government has put in place to not only attract both local and foreign investment but to also, help potential investors to easily navigate their way in getting their companies registered and also to operate appropriately. By an act of parliament, the Ghanaian government has established the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), to promote and encourage investment in Ghana. Indo Africa Times caught up with the affable CEO of GIPC Mrs. Mawuena Adzo Trebarh, the sister of BBC’s late Komla Dumor of Focus on Africa fame, to ask her about herself and her role in attracting foreign investment into the country.

Mrs. Mawuena Adzo trebarhCEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Center,Ghana

MONDAY | MARCH 23, 2015