both Archives - AfricaBusiness.com

26Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

A company that knows how to make things look easy

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Alcatel-Lucent has a success story to tell. Its stories, references and activities in Africa in 2012 is a lesson for many other organizations who what to make it big on the continent. In a recently published document Alcatel-Lucent shares references, successes, achievement and activities in Africa; as well as vision of African Market and broadband according to Daniel Jaeger, Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent in Africa. News from Algiers, Algeria reveal that broadband for Africa, realize the potential of a connected world and tackle rural inclusion. I – Alcatel-Lucent presence, activities and foot print in Africa. II- Broadband in Africa, vision and view according to Daniel Jaeger Vice-President of Alcatel-Lucent Africa. III - Alcatel-Lucent’s pres...

20Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News

A ten-year strategy to support the development of social protection systems in Sub-Saharan Africa

STORY HIGHLIGHTS Social protection, which comprises both social assistance and social insurance programs, is a powerful tool to reduce poverty and vulnerability The World Bank has a new 10-year strategy for social protection in Africa (2012-2022) The vision is to help governments build country-owned national social protection systems Social protection, once thought of as exclusive to rich and middle-income countries, is being increasingly employed in low-income countries in Africa, where policymakers are recognizing its potential as a powerful tool to reduce poverty, vulnerability, and social inequality. The food, fuel and financial crises of 2008 have shown the vital role that social protection can play in cushioning poor and vulnerable households from shocks. Acro...

20Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

AE-AMD Renewable Energy And Tenesol/SunPower Begin Work On Two Solar Projects In South Africa

Projects are Part of Government's IPP Procurement Program JOHANNESBURG and SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- AE-AMD Renewable Energy, a joint venture between the Spanish AMDA energia and the South African Alt-E Technologies, and Tenesol, a SunPower company (NASDAQ: SPWR), today announced two South African ground-mounted solar power projects totaling 33 megawatts (MW). Both projects, which Tenesol will construct, are located near Douglas, South Africa in the Northern Cape Province. Herbert, a 22-MW project, has begun construction, and groundbreaking for the 11-MW Greefspan project will begin in the coming weeks. They are both part of the South African government's Independent Power Producers Procurement Program and completion for both projects i...

13Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

Higher Data Penetration Creates New Opportunities in South Africa

BOSTON, Dec., 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Cloud services, mobile advertising and mobile apps will be some of the highest growth segments in the South African market, contributing half a billion dollars in new revenue from 2012-2017, according to a new report from Pyramid Research (www.pyr.com). South Africa Telecom Market Forecast analyzes the South African telecom market in some detail, highlighting several key areas of growth now that traditional voice services revenue is flattening. The report focuses on three main areas of growth – mobile apps, enterprise cloud services and mobile advertising – and their influence on the South African market. Download an excerpt or purchase the report here. "South Africa is a key market in the AME region not only because of its size, level ...

13Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Morocco News

“Circum Central Atlantic, Northwest Africa and Mediterranean: Your Net-based Source for E&P Opportunities”

Oil & Gas Marrakech Conference and Exhibition will be held in the Marrakech Congress Palace, Morocco. As one of the most important technical events in Morocco, it is an ideal opportunity to focus on the progress of the oil and gas industry across this region, an area known for its diversity, opportunity and capacity for growth. Northwest Africa in general and Morocco in particular are on the eve of a very ambitious exploration drilling programs tapping on both conventional and non-conventional hydrocarbon potential. This will provide exciting time for the forthcoming years to all actors of the Oil and Gas industry in the region. The petroleum industry in Morocco has reached a new maturity. New frontiers are being opened, a new modern database is being acquired and new play concepts h...

12Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy, South Africa News

JinkoSolar to Supply 81 MW WBHO-Building Energy in South Africa

SHANGHAI, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), a leading global solar power product manufacturer, today announced that it has signed a contract with fix price to supply WBHO-Building Energy (Pty) Ltd. ("WBHO-BE") with 81 MW of photovoltaic (PV) modules for the solar PV park project in Gamagara Local Municipality, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. The project will be developed, designed, constructed and commissioned by WBHO- BE and is, so far, the largest project in African Continent and one of the first approved under the South African government's Renewable Energy Program. JinkoSolar will deliver a total of 344,540 PV high quality solar panels for the project, which is expected to generate...

4Dec

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

Energy, Green Energy

SunPower Corporation to Supply Toshiba with 20.1 Percent Efficiency Solar Panel for Japanese Market

New 20.1 Percent Efficiency Module Continues Toshiba’s High Efficiency Leadership in Japanese Residential Market SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ: SPWR) today announced that it will supply Toshiba with its new world-record efficiency solar panel beginning in December, extending Toshiba’s solar efficiency leadership in the Japanese residential market. SunPower’s new E20/250NE solar panel features a 20.1 percent efficiency rating delivering 250 watts per 72-cell module, and will be marketed exclusively by Toshiba in the Japanese homes segment. The module features the all-back contact Maxeon™ solar cell designed and manufactured by SunPower Corporation which offers world-record efficiency. Since SunPower first partnered with Toshiba in 2010, it has de...

27Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

The call to make Cape Town a ‘Smart City’ is getting serious

By Thandisizwe Mgudlwa Further calls to make Cape Town a 'Smart City' continue to increase. One of the people in the forefront of these calls is Chris Whelan, CEO of business think-tank Accelerate Cape Town. Whelan says, “Developing a ‘smart city’, where information and communication technology (ICT) is leveraged to provide excellent service and which significantly contributes to a business environment conducive to both foreign and domestic investment, is an important part of positioning Cape Town as Africa’s global city, a city of innovation and inspiration.” According to Whelan, enabling technology exploitation in education, healthcare, transport, and safety and security all contribute to the development of a ‘smart city’. “One of the most exciting steps the city is taking...

17Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, South Africa News

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: "Investors who select good locations, efficiently manage their assets and look after their tenants can reap good returns from affordable housing rentals. Rentals in the affordable housing rental market can typically offer returns of between 8.5% and 9% after tax, assuming conservative gearing and taking moderate capital ...

16Nov

By Africa BusinessNo Comments

African News, Senegal News

Africare to outline essential role of civil society, small-scale farming and best practices at this year’s AgriBusiness Forum

Agri2012 - AfriCare (Microsoft Word) Leading American NGO spotlights small-scale farming for a result-driven future for Africa’s Agri-Food sector. “Across Africa it is the small entrepreneurs and businesses that drive community livelihoods and national economic development. Yet without adequate financing or access to buyers, producers associations are not able to sell their products to increase their incomes and bolster their livelihoods. Furthermore without knowledge of the markets, they are unable to secure the inputs and technology needed to increase production,” explains Gwen Young Senegal Country Director for Africare who will be presenting Africare’s vision at this year’s AgriBusiness Forum taking place in Dakar, Senegal from 25-28 November 2012. Focused on establishing s...