Africa Business, Author at AfricaBusiness.com

30Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South African red tape may not be that bad

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa A report this week reveals that entry as a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) is not so restrictive after all. And according to Gerrie van Biljon, Executive Director of Cape Town-based Business Partners, the general sentiment in South Africa’s business landscape is that the environment is plagued by challenges that hinder commercial activity. Further,in recent months much has been said about the significant red tape that hampers business growth in the country, however, despite all the negative reports, South Africa’s business environment is performing significantly well in key areas. Van Biljon then refers to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2012 Report, which ranks countries across the globe according to how easy or difficult it is for a local en...

29Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

Western Union Announces Commitment to Design and Launch a New Financial Platform for NGOs

President and CEO Hikmet Ersek announces commitment at the Clinton Global Initiative to help NGOs bridge the last mile JOHANNESBURG, South-Africa, October 29, 2012/African Press Organization (APO)/ – The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) (http://www.westernunion.com), a leader in global payment services, today announced its commitment to creating a financial platform specifically designed to meet the payment needs of non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the people they serve. Logo Western Union: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/western-union.jpg The platform, Western Union® NGO Global Pay, will be created to help NGOs overcome the ‘last mile’ and bridge the gap between funds that need to be disbursed and the people who need them...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

North Africa Telecommunications Report Q4 2012

NEW YORK, Oct., 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue: North Africa Telecommunications Report Q4 2012 http://www.reportlinker.com/ Includes 3 FREE quarterly updates BMI View: The North African telecoms markets are recovering from the political and social upheavals of 2011. The more mature Moroccan and Tunisian markets still offer the best opportunities in terms of risks and rewards with respect to investment, and nascent mobile value-added services markets are beginning to take off, with mobile money and gaming highlighted this quarter. Algeria is more of a risk as the government appears set on taking control of all three mobile operators while continuing to persecute foreign investors and equipment sup...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, Zimbabwe News

Zimbabwe to establish new power projects by 2013

by Wallace Mawire Zimbabwe's Ministry of Energy and Power Development has announced new projects to be implemented in 2013 to boost power capacity. Minister Elton Mangoma told delegates at the second edition of the ZimBuild2012 infrastructure financing summit of the proposed initiatives. He said that his ministry has achieved in coming up with a legal and institutional framework to improve generation capacity. "The establishment of an independent regulator, the Zimbabwe Electricity Regulatory Authority (ZERA) is to facilitate a cost reflective tariff policy which is in line with SADC dictates," Mangoma said. He told delegates that Zimbabwe is to establish a 100MW solar power plant in Gwanda. He said negotiations were at an advanced stage and they expect to establish the pla...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

Extreme Networks Announces Innovative Ethernet Solution for Intelligent Physical Security

Solution includes portfolio of intelligent Ethernet switches designed to reduce installation costs and improve operations through automation SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Oct. , 2012 – Extreme Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXTR) today introduced an Ethernet-based physical security network solution designed to help reduce installation, operational costs and truck rolls, and simplify operations associated with networked physical security systems, including integrated alarms, IP surveillance cameras, door locks and related elements. Extreme Networks physical security network solution, delivered in conjunction with top-tier technology partners, supports surveillance and perimeter security, intelligent buildings, traffic cameras, equipment alarms, and tracking. Software intelligence embedde...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

South Africa News

South Africa Holiday Ownership Expert Stuart Lamont to Speak During Timeshare and Fractional Event GNEX 2013

The Executive Chairman for Club Leisure Group will give his viewpoints of the South Africa shared ownership industry during Perspective Magazine’s third annual timeshare and fractional industry event. Orlando, FL, October, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Perspective Magazine announces that Stuart Lamont, Executive Chairman, Club Leisure Group will provide his expertise regarding the South African vacation ownership market during the Third Annual Global Networking Expo, GNEX 2013 – The Global Meeting of Minds. “GNEX 2013 is a refreshing initiative for visionaries to collectively redefine resilience protocols in turbulent times,” said Mr. Lamont. The Club Leisure Group comprises a variety of leisure and accommodation clubs, structured around the needs of its members. The Clubs acquire o...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Angola News, Madagascar News, Mauritius News, Seychelles News, South Africa News, Tanzania News, Zimbabwe News

SADC initiative to harmonize seed policies advanced

by Wallace Mawire The Southern African Development Community (SADC) initiatives on harmonization of seed policies are at an advanced stage with only a few countries still to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The initiatives are being conducted under the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Harmonized Seed Security Project. According to Dr Lindiwe Sibanda, FANRPAN CEO and Head of Mission, farmers in the SADC region remain seed insecure due in part to conflicting seed laws, regulations and procedures. These are reported to hinder the timely movement of seed across the region's borders. Sibanda says as a solution, FANRPAN has proposed the seed policies harmonization to increase seed flow across national borders. She says there is n...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Togo News

AIR Delivers Digital Communications Solutions Conference in Togo

American International Radio, Inc. opened doors to Central and Western Africa by bringing the first ever regional telecommunication conference in the area. Rolling Meadows, IL, October, 2012 --(PR.com)-- This year’s three day event was addressed to both governmental organizations and industrial companies customers from Togo and the surrounding countries including Benin, Niger, Mali, Gabon, Chad, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast. The meet, held at the Hotel Mercure Sarakawa in Lomé, was attended by over 70 participants who were introduced to the latest product and solution offerings from Motorola Solutions, AIR, Barrett Communications and Zetron, including Mototrbo, TETRA, and SafeMobile’s most recent release RadioPad and RadioPod. Day one of the regional conference held 30 plus...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

Would Social Media lead to emotional blandness

(Cairo, Egypt, 24th of October 2012) Social media penetration in Egypt is a staggering 68.21% from total online population (Facebook focused). People spend more time browsing their friend's profiles than actually engaging in conversation or meeting with them face to face. As more and more time is spent in browsing the countless statuses updates shares and likes life becomes flat and with it flattens humanitarian feelings. Reflecting on personal experiences, news on Syria's massacres and the sad loss of 100's have become equal to news of new born and birthdays as the reaction on facebook for both negative and positive activities is "Like" and "Share". Let's study what is "like" and "Share", for a moment. In a not so distant time "like" used to express our agreement on an action. I...

26Oct

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Morocco News

elec expo, EneR Event & Tronica Expo 2012 with an ever higher quality of trade visitors

3,312 visitors from 42 countries discussed business with 138 exhibitors The 2012 edition of elec expo, EneR Event & Tronica Expo, organised under the patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, has closed its doors on 20 October 2012 after 4 days of professional meetings and debates. 3,312 professional visitors of 42 countries and 138 exhibitors of 9 countries discussed business in this quality driven event. Exhibitors praised the even higher quality of the trade visitors. The opening ceremony had been honored by the presence of 3 Moroccan ministries (energy, industry and housing), the top management of FENELEC and representatives of UBIFRANCE as well as 52 African buyers from 14 countries, amongst them energy ministers, managing directors and prominent buyers from the publ...