Tag Archives: finance

How effective budgeting can help you save and improve your financial health

With the cost of living increasing often, financial education tools such as budgeting tips can greatly assist with navigating financial health. Experian shares a budgeting plan and tips that South Africans can use to better their saving habits!

Four steps to fixing cash flow and help SMEs survive

We are all familiar with the saying in business that “cash is king” and, if that’s the case, then cash flow is the lifeblood of any business.  For small or mid-size businesses, cash flow is a critical component of success. Profits are meaningless without it. The harsh reality is that SMEs who don’t exercise good cash flow […]

African finance heavyweights slated to make an appearance at The Africa Financial Industry Summit

Organised in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the inaugural Africa Financial Industry Summit will be held online this coming 10 and 11 March and gather the most influential voices and institutions in African finance. The Africa Financial Industry Summit’s extensive list of speakers includes executives from the largest banks and insurance companies operating […]

Commitment to sustainability opening doors to post-pandemic capital in Africa

City centre of Cape Town in South Africa. View from the nearby mountain Lion’s Head. Photo Credit Wikipedia

By Wildu du Plessis, Head of Africa, Baker McKenzie The industrials, manufacturing and transport (IMT) sector is being hit hard by COVID-19 disruption, but commitment to sustainability could very well lead the sector to recovery. This is according to Baker McKenzie’s report “Sustainable Success: Exploring environmental, social and governance priorities for industrials through COVID-19 and beyond” which […]

The impact of COVID-19 on finance and investment in Africa

An illustration created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the structure of the coronavirus now named COVID-19. Source: ScienceSource.com

By Morne van der Merwe, Managing Partner, and Wildu du Plessis, Head of Africa, Baker McKenzie Johannesburg The Coronavirus (COVID-19) has resulted in mass production shutdowns and supply chain disruptions due to port closures in China, causing global ripple effects across all economic sectors in a rare “twin supply-demand shock”. With South Africa having just […]

Trends and Events in Africa 2018

Map of the REC Pillars of the African Economic Community. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

by Johan Burger 2018 has been an interesting year for Africa, with various events and trends becoming visible. 2016 saw the effects of the slowdown of China’s economic growth due to its rebalancing of its economy and the end of the commodity price super cycle. 2017 brought some relief. In Africa, 2018 demonstrated a number […]

Friday@Noon on Financial Services in Africa: 2018

by Johan Burger The NTU-SBF Centre for African Studies publishes a weekly newsletter on issues relevant to Africa. This paper is based on issues addressed in the newsletter. The financial services industry in Africa has seen a lot of development throughout the past few years, as was the case in 2018. Mobile telephony has driven […]

How will South African industry deal with tariff hikes and carbon taxes?

African Utility Week to assist Large Power Users to face energy obstacles The proverbial axe is falling on ‘business as usual` as every industry in South Africa, from mining to manufacturing to retail, is cringing at the thought of rising energy tariffs and the impending implementation of a carbon tax. Stemming the tide of rising […]

African Banking innovation sees AfDB approving multi-currency line of credit of USD 300m

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa The African Development Bank has extended the equivalent of USD 300 million to FirstRand Bank Limited to support projects across Africa This week an announcement from Tunis, Tunisia, revealed that the African Development Bank has approved a seven-year multi-currency line of credit for an amount equivalent to USD 300 million to FirstRand […]

Affordable housing rental market looks increasingly attractive

  The South African residential market offers an attractive opportunity in the affordable housing rental segment largely driven by low and middle income earners who do not qualify for bonds and increased demand for housing located closer to areas of economic opportunity. Gerhard Zeelie, Head Real Estate Finance (Residential) at Standard Bank South Africa, says: […]

The 10th Forex Conference & Expo Kicks off this Thursday 15 November in Dubai

  The show will open its doors in Dubai at 10:00 am on Thursday and will cover online trading currencies, commodities, gold, oil, stocks and derivatives, at Jumeirah Beach Hotel Dubai, and will continue until Friday November 16, 7:00 pm. ” Forex for this year 2012 will witness the participation of Swiss banks specialized in […]

Former President of the African Development Bank Babacar Ndiaye to lead Investment Day at this year’s AgriBusiness Forum.

African expert calls on everyone involved in agriculture to step up to the fore for the sake of the entire continent’s development and in the fight against poverty. 12th November 2012, Brussels, Belgium With the AgriBusiness Forum 2012 just around the corner, Babacar Ndiaye, former President of the African Development Bank and founder of the […]

Standard Bank Group leads US$550m Shoreline Natural Resources facility

Standard Bank Group, as mandated lead arranger and bookrunner, has closed a US$550,000,000 syndicated bank guarantee and bridge facilities for Shoreline Natural Resources. This is one of the largest finance deals completed in Nigeria so far in 2012. Shoreline has used the facility to acquire 45% in OML 30, an oilfield in the Niger Delta […]

Standard Bank Group commits R9.4bn to first batch of renewable energy projects

Standard Bank Group has emerged as the leading investor in the first round of South Africa’s renewable energy independent power producer (REIPP) procurement process, backing a total of 11 wind and solar projects. Standard Bank Group will provide comprehensive corporate and investment banking services to all its clients, including underwriting R9.4-billion worth of debt, providing […]

IMN’s 10th Annual South African & African Capital Markets Conference

  IMN’s 10th Annual South African & African Cap Mkts Conference (Microsoft Word) 22-23 November 2012 The Westin Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa   NEW YORK CITY, NY – As we enter this next decade in the event’s timeline, IMN and our event sponsors will build on our excellent reputation as the only ‘must […]

IMF Concludes ECF Review Mission to the Central African Republic

BANGUI, Central African Republic, November 8, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – A mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Mr. Norbert Toé visited Bangui, Central African Republic (CAR), during October 24 to November 8, 2012 to conduct the first review of the three-year program supported under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The mission […]

Abengoa Begins Construction on Two CSP Plants Awarded by the South Africa Department of Energy

– Khi Solar One and KaXu Solar One will be the first concentrating solar power (CSP) plants in South Africa and will use advanced technology specifically developed for the country’s needs – Both plants will be able to store energy and generate power after sunset SEVILLE, Spain, Nov., 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Abengoa, the international company that […]

High-level Seychelles delegation and ProgressSoft at Connected World Forum

after nationwide mobile money launch 1000+ mobile lifeline experts gather in Dubai this month The global payment solutions giant ProgressSoft will share details of the countrywide roll-out of its mobile payment solution in the Republic of Seychelles at the upcoming Connected World Forum in Dubai from 20-21 November.  ProgressSoft CEO, Mr. Michael Wakileh, the Seychelles […]

IMF Concludes Staff Mission to Uganda

  KAMPALA, Uganda, November 6, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team visited Kampala from October 24 to November 6, 2012 to carry out discussions with the Ugandan authorities for the fifth review of their IMF-supported economic and financial program. The mission met with Hon. Maria Kiwanuka, Minister of Finance, Planning, […]

Tánaiste welcomes commitment from Government of Uganda to repay funds misappropriated from Irish Aid

DUBLIN, Ireland, November 5, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, T.D., today welcomed the Government of Uganda’s commitment to repay €4m in Irish Aid funds which was misappropriated by officials in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Finance and Bank of Uganda. […]

Africa: Regional integration can boost FDI, experts at AEC say

KIGALI, Rwanda, November, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – Experts at the ongoing African Economic Conference in Kigali today agreed that Africa would need to strengthen regional integration in order to boost increased Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the continent, because it creates larger domestic markets and stimulates trade, two elements that can attract FDI. “At […]

Airtel Nigeria appoints Segun Ogunsanya as Chief Executive Officer

  Segun Ogunsanya will be responsible for defining and delivering the business strategy and providing overall leadership for Airtel Nigeria LAGOS, Nigeria, November, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – Bharti Airtel (http://www.airtel.com), a leading global telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced the appointment of Segun Ogunsanya as the […]