Endeavour Magazine March 2017

MARCH 2017

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KORITE AMMOLITE A Gem Of An Idea THE BRIGADE GROUP Home Is Where The Art Is

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EDITOR’S NOTE Heads of Departments Managing Editor Djamil Benmehidi editor@littlegatepublishing.com Sales Director Alex Smith alexsmith@littlegatepublishing.com

S

pring is in the air once more for those of us in the northern hemisphere - a most welcome development, as I’m sure you’ll agree if you also hail from these parts. For those of our readers in the southern

hemisphere, I’m sure you won’t begrudge us breathing a sigh of relief at the change in season. It’s been a long winter, after all!

Sales Manager Emlyn Freeman emlynfreeman@littlegatepublishing.com

Whether you are drifting into Spring or Autumn, we are all entering a time

Head of Editorial Research Paul Bradley paulbradley@littlegatepublishing.com

recent events around the world. In business as in politics, change continues

Editorial Research Alice Instone-Brewer alice@littlegatepublishing.com

Who’d have thought only 6-months ago that China would step forward as

Editorial Research Steven Weller steveweller@littlegatepublishing.com

inward? Just by taking a glance at the headlines, it is clear to see that 2017

Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com

Like you, we at the Littlegate Publishing office are watching with bated

Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com

In this month’s issue of Endeavour we have once more caught up with a

Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

their stories, and some of the key headlines from the global business news.

Any enquiries or subscriptions can be sent to info@littlegatepublishing.com ENDEAVOUR MAGAZINE is published by Littlegate Publishing LTD which is a Registered Company in the United Kingdom.

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of year characterised by rebirth and renewal – a fitting subject, in of light to occur rapidly, to the extent that it can be hard to keep up with the pace. a champion of globalisation whilst the United States turns away and turns will be tumultuous and fast-moving. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing! breath to see what unfolds next. number of companies and organisations from around the world to bring you Among these are Gibraltar Port Authority, which has succeeded in creating a commercial venture which is worthy of the peninsula’s substantial maritime heritage, and TOFCO – a company that we have worked with in the past, which has long been recognised as one of the go-to names in engineering for Trinidad & Tobago’s world-class energy sector. Also, we sat down with SuperPharm, also of Trinidad & Tobago, to find out how in little more than 10-years they have succeeded in revolutionising the pharmacy retail sector, and last but by no means least, you can read more about the incredible Emirates Palace – Abu Dhabi’s signature seven-star landmark, which is recognised the world over for being the world’s most luxurious hotel.

Littlegate Publishing Ltd does not accept responsibility for

We’re also excited to have gotten the chance to speak to Rob Manley,

omissions or errors. The points of view expressed in articles

the young founder of up-and-coming London-based glow clothing brand,

by attributing writers and/or in advertisements included in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publisher.

Illuminated Apparel. Since Rob’s successful appearance on the hit BBC

Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely

show, Dragons Den, his company enjoyed rapid growth and rising fortunes.

coincidental. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy

Rob’s story is one of what can be achieved with hard-work, determination,

of the information contained within this magazine, no legal

and self-belief – we hope you find it as inspiring as we have.

responsibility will be accepted by the publishers for loss arising from use of information published. All rights reserved. No part

As always, we hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Endeavour Magazine as

of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrievable

much as we’ve enjoyed making it.

system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher.

Copyright © Littlegate Publishing Ltd 2016

DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

Endeavour Magazine | 3

CONTENTS

23

Gibraltar Port Authority

FEATURES

15

The Brigade Group

4 | Endeavour Magazine

15

21

29

37

43

53

61

67

73

81

87

93

Kanu Equipment SA Experience The Support Emirates Palace Seven-Star Luxury Gibraltar Port Authority The Gateway To The Mediterranean Avnash Industries Ghana Ltd An Unstoppable Force The Brigade Group Home Is Where The Art Is ZALORA Group Dedicated Followers Of Fashion Korite Ammolite A Gem Of An Idea SuperPharm Ltd Convenience, Quality, And Service Amarna Consult The Power Of Partnerships American University of Beirut 150 Years Of Academic Excellence BHL Group Lightening The Load Kenya Ports Authority Staying At The Top

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Amarna Consult

ARTICLES 3 Editor’s Note

Business Headlines 6 Middle East 7 Africa 8 Asia 10 Americas 11 Europe Focus 12 Rob Manley – Don’t Stop, Don’t Give Up!

Amazing World 26 The Ocean Cleanup

Taking Back Earth’s Oceans 50 Hyperloop One

The Revolutionary Future Of Transport

TRAPPIST-1 : The Long-Awaited Holy Grail

For Planet-Hunting Astronomers

Automotives 58 New Generation Hyundai I30 Tourer:

Elegance Meets Versatility

47

Emirates Palace Endeavour Magazine | 5

BUSINESS HEADLINES MIDDLE EAST SHAIKH AHMAD LAYS INAUGURAL FOUNDATION STONE OF SILICONE PARK

RISING OIL PRICES EASES PRESSURE ON SAUDI ECONOMIC REFORMS

Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Silicon

Saudi Arabia’s fiscal reforms are looking more realistic and within

Oasis Authority, unveiled the commemorative plaque and laid the

the reach of the broad targets and schedule set by the government,

foundation stone of Silicon Park, a smart city project taking shape at

thanks to recent recovery in oil prices and gradual reforms gaining

the Dubai Silicon Oasis.

traction, according to economists. Growth rebound, higher oil prices

The development, which spans 150,000 square metres, has a construction cost of Dh1.3 billion and is set for completion in 2018.

and reforms supporting non-oil economy are key Saudi priorities in its plans to cope with the new economic realities.

In a statement, Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority said Silicon Park

Structural reforms to attract foreign direct investments and

will comprise 71,000 square metres of office space, 25,000 square

diversification of revenue through investments abroad are also part

metres of commercial space, 46,000 square metres of residential

of the plan. King Salman’s ongoing Asian tour that began on Sunday

area, and a 115-key Radisson RED hotel. The project will also feature

is aimed at building ties with the world’s fastest growing importers

retail and dining outlets, and other facilities. Shaikh Ahmad said that

of Saudi oil and promote investment opportunities in the kingdom,

Silicon Park reflects global trends for smart cities, and incorporates

including the sale of a stake in the state firm, Saudi Aramco. “The

most of the performance indicators of the UAE National Agenda.

budget statement and medium-term reform programme imply three

“In line with the vision of Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al

Saudi policy priorities: easing near-term austerity, supporting higher

Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler

oil prices and introducing non-oil revenue reforms,” said Jean-Michel

of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world, we

Saliba, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

have conceptualized Silicon Park with smart technology at the core of its DNA,” he said in a statement.

DONALD TRUMP’S ANTI-GLOBALISATION RHETORIC IS JUST A ‘PHASE,’ SAYS DP WORLD CHAIRMAN The US president Donald Trump’s anti-globalisation sentiments are just a “phase” and will go away, the chairman of DP World told reporters.

“What Donald Trump wants is fair trade, fair trade versus free trade now,” Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said at the World Government Summit in Dubai. “If you look at the US it is open for every product, so for America … if American products don’t get in easily to China, America will react.”

He added: “They want fair trade and nobody can object and I think these are legitimate reasons behind what you hear, but nonetheless all these anti-globalisation sentiments are going to pass away. It’s a phase. “It’s a phase where everyone is excited. That’s what actually got Donald Trump elected, that feeling that I am losing my job and others are competing with us, unfairly and that is where we are coming from – I think everyone is going to abide by the general agreement on trade and tariffs.”

Mr Trump has talked up protectionist measures taking aim at the likes of China, sparking fears of a trade war with the world’s secondlargest economy, and criticising pacts such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Trump has vowed to re-negotiate Nafta – a trade agreement between the US, Mexico, and Canada.

6 | Endeavour Magazine

NEW CHINESE-BACKED AIIB DEFIES SCEPTICS AND BOOSTS LENDING TO OMAN AND SEVEN OTHER COUNTRIES The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has defied critics by rapidly accelerating its lending programme after its creation a little over a year ago. The AIIB has already made funds available to eight different countries, including Oman, since its launch in mid-January last year. The bank went beyond initial expectations of funding projects only in China and the South East Asian region when it allocated US$301 million to support a capacity expansion programme at the Duqm project in Oman.

“Duqm’s long-term potential is underlined by its mammoth size,” says the Port of Duqm Company. “Covering an area of 1,777 square kilometres, the Duqm special economic zone – which incorporates the Port of Duqm – is by far the largest economic initiative in Oman’s modern history. In the initial phases, only the northern half of the SEZ is being taken in hand for development. This area in itself is large enough to cater to demand for land leases well into the 2035-40 time frame. Development of the southern half of the SEZ will be pursued only thereafter, denoting thus the long-term vision underpinning this giant venture.”

AFRICA ACACIA MINING STRIKES GOLD WITH THE DISCOVERY OF ‘MULTI-MILLION OUNCE’ GOLD STREAM IN KENYA Acacia Mining has struck gold in Kenya, reporting the discovery of a “multi-million ounce” gold stream in the western part of the country.

FTSE 250-listed Acacia said initial tests suggested the find was “one of the highest-grade projects in Africa today” and the first step in defining a gold-rich corridor in the east African country. Acacia reported a resource of 1.31 million ounces at 12.1 grams per tonne, totalling 1.3m ounces of gold. However it expects further drilling work to revise this up to at least 2m ounces by the end of the year.

The company has six drill rigs on site and plans to spend US$12m (£9.7m) this year on further exploring its Kenyan prospect. Brad Gordon, chief executive, said the company was “delighted” with the

hydrocarbon profile of the impoverished southern African country.

Mozambique has vast untapped offshore gas reserves and inland coal deposits but is one of the world’s poorest countries and is in the throes of a financial and debt crisis. Sasol, which recently announced first-half results, said it remained committed to its projects in Mozambique despite the financial challenges the country is facing.

The company said four of 12 planned wells had been drilled and the results had been surprising.

“We always expected to see both oil and gas. We have drilled four wells, two of them gas, two of them oil, all showing positive results. In one of the areas where we expected mostly gas we found gas and oil,” joint Chief Executive Stephen Cornell said on a conference call with journalists. The company has issued a “notice of discovery” to the Mozambican authorities.

result so far.

“Whilst Kenya is a relatively new mining destination we are very pleased with the relationships we have built and the support we have received and look forward to working closely with all stakeholders as we progress this highly promising project,” he added.

GLENCORE PARTNER RESUMES CONTROVERSIAL HUNT FOR OIL IN DISPUTED WESTERN SAHARA WATERS Glencore risks drawing further ire over oil exploration in Western Sahara after one of its partners resumed prospecting off the coast of the disputed territory earlier this month. A ship chartered by private firm New Age Energy spent several weeks conducting 3D seismic scans of the sea floor in what it called “early stage” exploration for hydrocarbons. Glencore owns 18.75pc of the Foum Ognit licence area, with Moroccan state oil company ONHYM holding 25pc, and New Age the remaining 56.25pc.

The survey reopens a debate about the sovereignty of mineral rights in the African territory. Western Sahara’s status is regarded as “undetermined” by the British government. A large part of the country has been occupied by Morocco since 1976, but the local Saharawi people have long campaigned for self-determination. The UN ruled in 2002 that searching for oil in Western Sahara was not illegal, but the exploitation of resulting discoveries would have to respect “the interests and wishes of the people of Western Sahara”.

SA PETROCHEMICALS GROUP SASOL FINDS OIL OFF MOZAMBIQUE South African petrochemicals group Sasol has found promising signs of oil and gas in wells drilled off Mozambique, raising the

ZAMBIA SIGNS AGREEMENT TO DEVELOP ANOTHER 500MW OF RENEWABLE ENERGY The Government of Zambia has signed agreements for a second mandate with Scaling Solar, the World Bank Group program that is helping developing countries procure low cost, privately financed, solar power. This is Zambia’s second engagement with Scaling Solar and it follows successful auctions held in May 2016 for two solar PV plants of up to 50 MW each that attracted some of the world’s top renewable energy developers.

The winning developers and relevant Zambian government agencies are in the process of concluding their agreements, which are expected to be finalized in May 2017, and the World Bank Group’s Board approved a package of financing and guarantees for one of the two winning bidders and will review the same for the second winner in the coming weeks. The new Scaling Solar mandate will begin with an initial procurement round of up to 200 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale clean energy, with subsequent rounds to follow with a goal of developing 500 MW of renewable power. The Request for Qualifications for the second round are expected to be released in late March 2017.

Endeavour Magazine | 7

ASIA PAKISTAN IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS, FOLLOWING DRIVE TO CREATE BUSINESS FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT

TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN CHINA MAY BENEFIT FROM POLITICAL TURMOIL IN US AND BREXIT

The government of Pakistan is focusing on creating a business-

Trade and investment into India could benefit from political

friendly environment that will be a boost to economy and attract

developments in the US and Europe, according to the global law

foreign direct investment in the country, said the Pakistani

firm Baker McKenzie.

Ambassador to the UAE in Abu Dhabi.

“As the US potentially becomes more inward looking and

Speaking at a conference on Pakistan-Economy, Capital Market,

protectionist, and Europe deals with elections and Brexit

Private Equity and CPEC (China Pakistan Economy Corridor),

negotiations, an increasing share of the growth in international

organised by J. Awan and Partners, Moazzam Ahmad Khan said the

trade and investment will by necessity come from intra-Asia Pacific

reforms undertaken by the government have brought in macro-

activity,” said Gary Seib, Baker McKenzie’s chair for the Asia Pacific

economic stability resulting in lower budget deficit, and increased

region.

foreign exchange reserves. “Over the past 3 years, the government

“Not only are business leaders looking more favourably on India

has been able to bring down fiscal deficit from 8.6 per cent to 4.2 per

as a destination to do business in and with, there is an expectation

cent; increase tax-to-GDP ratio from 9.8 per cent to 12.4 per cent

that India’s influence will grow substantially in the region as a result.”

and contain inflation to well below 3 per cent. Our foreign exchange

A new research report released by the law firm showed that India

reserves stand at a comfortable level of US$23 billion. This year

would be one of the “global hotspots” for mergers and acquisitions

Pakistan is set to cross the 5 per cent GDP growth threshold, and is

in the coming years.

projected to grow over 8 per cent in the next decade.”

It forecasts that the total value of mergers and acquisition

He said equities and stock markets have been performing well

transactions – domestic and inbound – will more than double from

with Pakistan benchmark PSE100 index, crossing 49,000 in January

last year to US$49.3 billion in 2019. It also expects to see the flurry

2017 and is set to break the barrier of 50,000 shortly.

of IPOs in India to continue over the next four years.

ASIA RCEP TRADE TALKS RESUME AFTER US DASHES HOPES FOR TPP DEAL

CHINA TO FOCUS ON STABILITY AND ECONOMIC REFORM SAYS SECURITIES REGULATOR

Negotiators from 16 Asia-Pacific countries this month held

China will focus on stable development of its capital markets

their first round of free-trade talks since hopes faded of reaching a

this year, but will press ahead to further open its markets to foreign

separate regional deal after the US pulled out.

companies, the top securities regulator said.

The five-day Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership

“We will not waver from reforms (to make China’s capital

(RCEP) talks in the western Japanese city of Kobe are being attended

markets) more market-based, law-based and international,” Liu

by senior officials from the 16 countries involved, a Ministry of

Shiyu, chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission

Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) official said. The United States

(CSRC), told a news conference in Beijing.

is not part of RCEP, which has been pushed by China. Apart from

Chinese regulators have turned their sights on controlling risks in

Beijing, the planned pact would group the 10 members of the

financial markets as speculative activity and leverage in the economy

Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus India, Japan, South

rise, with the securities regulator vowing to clear out “abnormal

Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

phenomena” from capital markets.

Within days of taking office, President Donald Trump pulled out

The CSRC recently pledged to target “barbaric” leveraged buyouts

of the separate Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), an ambitious free-

and to restrict excessive fundraising by some listed companies, with

trade agreement championed by his predecessor Barack Obama but

a focus on private share placements. Liu said earlier this month that

which Trump claimed was harmful to the US.

CSRC would take down law-breaking financial tycoons he called

The move fulfilled a key campaign promise but left allies in Asia on the back foot. The TPP had been seen as an economic guarantee

“giant crocodiles”, saying they will not be allowed to take advantage of retail investors.

of US commitment to the region in the face of the growing influence

China’s crackdown on illegal market activities has intensified

of China, which was not a member. RCEP is seen as a more modest

since the mid-2015 stock market crash that wiped out almost US$3

deal that calls for lower and more limited regulatory standards.

trillion of share value.

8 | Endeavour Magazine

AMERICAS IMF’S LAGARDE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT US ECONOMY The presidency of Donald Trump will have a mixed effect on the global economy, with the United States growing faster but the rest of the world affected by higher interest rates, the managing director of the IMF said. Mr Trump has promised to increase infrastructure spending, reform taxes and deregulate the US economy to help lift economic growth. “From the little we hear, we have reasons to be optimistic about economic growth in the United States,” Christine Lagarde told the World Government Summit in Dubai.

“It is likely that there will be tax reform, it is likely there will be additional investment in infrastructure and as a result of that it is very likely that growth will be up in the US.” The fund revised upward its forecast for the US economy last month, projecting 2.3 per cent growth this year and 2.5 per cent growth next year. The IMF estimates that US growth was 1.6 per cent last year.

A shift in the perception of Canada’s economic performance, which could begin as soon as April, will send tremors through the markets for government bonds maturing in two to 10 years, Benjamin Reitzes, a senior economist at BMO, wrote in a report. BMO doesn’t see the Bank of Canada increasing interest rates before July 2018, yet Reitzes says investors will start pricing in monetary tightening much sooner, sending bond yields higher and prices lower.

“A sea change in the perceptions around Canada is coming, and the persistent bias to be long Canada could catch investors flatfooted,” Reitzes said. “The narrative remains skewed toward potential easing, and ‘when will Canada stumble?’ That’s consistently been our view as well, until now.”

Canada’s economy began its recovery from a downturn in the middle of last year after the wildfires in Alberta. The job market has posted its strongest six-month run in 15 years, BMO argues.

The IMF last month left its global growth forecast unchanged at 3.4 per cent for this year and 3.6 per cent for next year, up from an estimated 3.1 per cent last year.

GLOBALISATION ISN’T OVER, IT IS THE END OF THE ‘GLOBAL ELITE, SAYS GENERAL ELECTRIC CHIEF EXEC The political world may be roiling with revolt against the forces of globalisation, but General Electric Co. says it isn’t giving up.

In his annual letter to investors, Chief Executive Jeff Immelt said the conglomerate’s transformation over the past decade has enabled it to profit from increasingly important international markets for its jet engines and power turbines, while withstanding a growing political movement against the economic effects of free trade.

“Are we witnessing the end of globalization? I don’t think so,” Mr. Immelt writes. “It is the end of the ‘global elite,’ those who see the world only from financial centres or a website.” By contrast, in Mr. Immelt’s view, GE is expanding its footprint in foreign markets for its industrial goods, but not simply seeking out “wage arbitrage” from shifting factories overseas in search of cheaper labour.

“In this period of nationalisation, GE’s competitive advantage will grow. We don’t need trade deals, because we have a superior global footprint,” he writes. “We see many giving up on globalisation; that means more for us.”

WARREN BUFFETT OPENS FIRE ON HEDGE FUNDS AND HIGH FEES IN ANNUAL LETTER Billionaire Warren Buffett, whose stock picks over several decades have made vast gains for investors in his company, told investors today that many would be better off buying cheap index funds than trying to “beat” the market.

In his widely read annual letter to shareholders of his Berkshire Hathaway holding company, the Oracle of Omaha urged average investors to buy regular index funds instead of trying to chase the next hot sector or plough their life savings into high-fee hedge funds.

“When trillions of dollars are managed by Wall Streeters charging high fees, it will usually be the managers who reap outsized profits, not the clients,” said Buffett’s letter.

INVESTORS TOLD TO BRACE FOR A SELL-OFF IN CANADIAN BONDS BY BMO Investors should brace for a sell-off in Canadian bonds because the country’s economy is doing better than most people think, according to BMO Capital Markets.

10 | Endeavour Magazine

“The problem simply is that the great majority of managers who attempt to over-perform will fail. The probability is also very high that the person soliciting your funds will not be the exception who does well,” Buffett wrote. “Both large and small investors should stick with low-cost index funds,” he added.

EUROPE EUROZONE CONFIDENCE SOARS TO HIGHEST LEVELS IN FIVE YEARS

UK RISES TO BECOME THIRD MOST IMPORTANT COUNTRY FOR COMPANY GROWTH PROSPECTS, ACCORDING TO PWC

Eurozone economic confidence rose to the highest level in

The UK has risen a place in investors’ eyes to equal Germany

almost six years in a sign of continued momentum as the European

as the third most important country for company growth prospects

Central Bank prepares to update its outlook for growth and inflation.

in a sign that Brexit has not weighed on the country’s international

An index of executive and consumer sentiment in the region

business standing.

increased to 108 in February from 107.9 the previous month, the

Investors involved in technology and financial industries in

European Commission in Brussels said. That compares to a 108.1

particular gave a high ranking to the UK, which was surpassed only

median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists.

by the USA and China, according to analysis from PwC. One in three

The latest health check on the recovery follows a string

investors included the UK in their top three, up from 19pc last year;

of positive data suggesting the 19-nation bloc is coping with

Germany was also mentioned by a third of investors, down from 39pc

challenges in a potentially tumultuous year. So far, rising support

in 2016. India was deemed to be the fifth most important country

for euro-sceptic parties ahead of national elections in a number of

for corporate growth. The professional services giant gathered

Eurozone countries has done little to hurt growth, with a gauge for

interviews and data from more than 550 global investors and 1,300

economic activity jumping to a near six-year high in February and

CEOs. It also found that London is perceived as the second most

unemployment on a downward path.

important city for growth prospects over the next year, behind New

“Overall, it’s an encouraging reading, it’s slightly weaker than expected, but in general the trend is firmly moving up,” said Florian

York. It was the only European city to enter the top five, which was rounded out by Beijing, Shanghai and San Francisco.

Hense, European economist at Berenberg Bank in London. “The biggest risk facing the Eurozone right now is political. Once that clears, we’ll see just how robust the recovery is.”

‘DISPROPORTIONATE’ DEMANDS FROM BRUSSELS PUTS LSE MERGER WITH DEUTSCHE BÖRSE IN DOUBT The London Stock Exchange’s merger with Deutsche Börse was thrown into doubt last night after the LSE’s board said addressing EU competition concerns would be “detrimental” to the business.

The LSE said the European Commission was unlikely to approve the €24bn deal to create Europe’s largest exchange operator following eleventh-hour demands by Brussels to sell MTS, a key electronic bond trading platform. In a statement, the LSE described the terms outlined by Brussels to clear the deal as “disproportionate” and impractical. “Based on the Commission’s current position, LSE Group believes that the Commission is unlikely to provide clearance for the merger,” it said. The LSE said the MTS platform played a “systemically important” role in the trading of Italian government bonds and other securities, and that divesting the business would “jeopardise” its relationship with regulators.

It claimed that selling MTS would also trigger a fresh wave of regulatory concerns on both sides of the Atlantic and be “detrimental to [the LSE’s] ongoing businesses in Italy and the combined group, were the merger to complete”. The LSE said the company was acting “in the best interests of shareholders” and would not submit an alternative proposal with regards to MTS.

CHANGE OF FORTUNES FOR RIO TINTO AFTER LOSSES ARE TURNED INTO SURGING PROFIT The world’s second-biggest miner Rio Tinto bounced back into profit in 2016, and will pay a much higher dividend than expected and buy back US$500 million of shares. Rio reported an annual net profit of US$4.62 billion for the year to December 31, compared with a $866 million net loss in the previous financial year when key metals prices plunged and Chinese demand slowed, Londonbased Rio said. While the dividend fell 21 per cent to $1.70 a share, reflecting a new policy aligning the payout to earnings, that still exceeded the average estimate of $1.36 in the Bloomberg survey and the company’s minimum payout of $1.10 cents.

Iron ore, Rio’s main profit driver, surged 81 per cent last year as Chinese stimulus supported local steel output, leading to better demand for overseas ore. “Our value over volume approach, coupled with a robust balance sheet and world-class assets, places us in a strong position to deliver superior shareholder returns through the cycle,” said the chief executive Jean Sebastien Jacques. Capital expenditure expected to be around $5bn in 2017 and around $5.5bn in each of 2018 and 2019, Rio said.

Endeavour Magazine | 11

FOCUS ROB MANLEY – DON’T STOP, DON’T GIVE UP!

hat a difference 18-months can make in the life of an

W

The story behind Illuminated Apparel and Rob’s efforts to get

entrepreneur. Today, Rob Manley, the founder and inventor

his business off the ground is a truly inspiring one which shows just

of Illuminated Apparel, a London-based glow clothing

what can be achieved with hard-work, self-belief, determination,

brand, is on the up-an-up. But while he now rubs shoulders with

and a knack for innovation. After having had the opportunity to

business leaders like Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden, a

catch up with Rob, we at Endeavour can state emphatically that it

year and a half ago Rob was sleeping on his office floor and walking

can never be said he didn’t deserve the success he has achieved.

a mile a day to shower at a nearby gym.

Today, Illuminated Apparel - an innovative clothing brand based

After having had the opportunity to catch up with Rob, we at

in London, is on a path to great things, thanks to Rob’s development

Endeavour can state emphatically that it can never be said he didn’t

of his own ‘magic’ product, a glow ink he developed which is so

deserve the success he has achieved.

potent that it has left rivals in the shade.

As anybody who has watched the hit BBC show, Dragons Den

“Illuminated Apparel has invented a unique luminescent ink

will know, few aspiring entrepreneurs face the imposing dragons

which is up to 10 times brighter and lasts 10 longer than other inks

without getting burned. It is therefore telling that Rob Manley is

on the market combined with clothing we create interactive glow in

among the minority who managed to tame Deborah Meaden, who

the dark clothing which you can draw on using light. We offer both

was won over by his backstory, determination, and sheer force of

a clothing range in adults and children’s perfect for a party with

will. With a fist pump and a hand shake, the deal was sealed when

friends or a festival in the summer.”

Rob accepted her offer of a £50,000 investment for a 20% stake in his innovative start-up, Illuminated Apparel.

12 | Endeavour Magazine

However, while both man and company are on an upward trajectory, it hasn’t always been this way, as Rob was quick to

having the t-shits as my only source of income meant that I was not only working but also living in my studio, walking to the gym in the mornings for a shower. This period was obviously very tough but it was my conviction in the idea that kept it going and now I couldn’t be happier that I didn’t give up.”

It was therefore a welcome relief to Rob when he managed to raise initial funding through the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, and the receipt of a start-up loan from Virgin Startup, which to this day continues to provide invaluable support. His appearance on Dragons Den proved to be the gamechanger for Illuminated Apparel, however. Like most small businesses, the company was struggling with cash flow prior to this, and was in need of the kind of exposure to his target demographic that featuring on the show could deliver.

“Dragon’s Den was something that I had always watched growing up and because I have always wanted to have my own business, it was a show that I watched a lot of. Like with any start up business, I was struggling with cash flow and thought it would stress. Back in 2014, his life path was taking him on a different path toward becoming a career estate agent – a line of work which he was altogether less passionate about. It was that same year when Rob took the decision to leave his job and pursue his dream of becoming an entrepreneur.

“I have always been obsessed with inventing my own product and the idea of one day owning my own business. I was working in London as an estate agent and although I enjoyed it, I knew I had to get out and create the business I had always dreamed of.

Illuminated Apparel began in my mum’s kitchen when I started to experiment and stumbled on a unique glow ink.

Like with any new product, there was a lot of teething problems and as I was the only one working on the product to start with, I self-taught not only how to perfect production of the t-shirts but also marketing, selling and accounting in a short space of time.”

Having left school at 16, Rob Manley is proof in the pudding that you don’t need a six figure, or even five figure budget and a

be a great way to get not only the cash injection but exposure for my idea. Obviously I will thrilled to get the investment and the public’s comments since have been overwhelming. It has no doubt increased sales and opened up new possible leads to explore, for example the caravan parks that was mentioned on the program.

Having Deborah’s approval has been fantastic and she has been very supportive.”

The future is looking bright for Rob, and he is understandably optimistic about what is to come over the next 5-years. Illuminated Apparel is continuing to expand, and new product lines are on the horizon. Rob concluded the interview by saying: “We have a lot of plans for Illuminated Apparel, our key motivation is to keep innovating expanding the product range from not just clothing but to other products for example interactive glow wall paper etc. Our goal is to continue being the leader in the marketplace offering fun interactive products which are good value for money.”

university degree to achieve business success. Since appearing on Dragons Den and The Gadget Show back in 2015, Illuminated Apparel is on-course to hit £250,000 turnover in time for the company’s second birthday.

The first year of business was a challenging one, however. As any businessman or women who have risen to the top the hard way will know themselves, the path that an entrepreneur walks is neither straight nor easy. Rather, it is a punishing, up-hill journey which at times will take you to the limits of your endurance, not to mention bank balance.

“There were some really tough times to start with,” Rob said, as he talked about the initial difficulty of setting up his business in London – an unforgiving place at the best of times. He continued: “I then made the decision to move the business out of my mum’s house and back to London. London being as expensive as it is, and Endeavour Magazine | 13

14 | Endeavour Magazine

KANU EQUIPMENT SA WWW.KANUEQUIPMENT.COM 27 (0) 11 923 7000

EXPERIENCE THE SUPPORT WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

As history has shown us time and again, efficient food production and farming is the key enabler of economic growth, and the stable platform upon which societal development can be achieved. if sub-Saharan Africa is to truly realise it’s great, and yet unfulfilled potential, make no mistake about it – fostering a vibrant and sustainable agriculture sector is essential.

Endeavour Magazine | 15

KANU EQUIPMENT SA

It will come as a surprise to few that agriculture is without question

the most important industry across the sub-Saharan African region today - the statistics speak for themselves. Around two-thirds of all jobs on the continent are to be found within farming and agriculture, while for rural communities in isolated and undeveloped regions, farming and agriculture acts as the primary, and in some cases only source of food and income.

T

he continent is facing the looming challenge of how to boost food production sufficiently to meet the needs of a fastgrowing population - a task which will require sub-Saharan

Africa to boost farming output and food production by 60% over the next 15 years. Suffice to say, the pressure is on for Africa’s farmers and its nascent agribusiness sector to maximise the potential of the soil beneath their feet – soil which is fortunately as lush and fertile as the earth is rich and laden with mineral wealth.

Reassuringly, the means are there to not only achieve this goal, but surpass it. Across the South, East, and West of the continent can be found the industrious, hard-working farmers and labourers needed to work the lands, and sources of investment capital and agricultural production expertise are available from a number of international bodies. With regards to the provision of the worldclass equipment and service support needed to transform the sub-Sahara’s arable lands into a continent-wide breadbasket, companies of the calibre of Kanu Equipment are on-hand to meet the agricultural sector’s growing needs.

Over the course of just four years, Kanu Equipment has quickly grown in reputation and stature to become one of the largest and best regarded distributors of heavy equipment and aftermarket spare parts in the sub-Saharan African region. The company’s role as a key partner to the mining and construction sector, for which it has supplied equipment on behalf of world-class brands such as Liebherr, is well-known, but increasingly Kanu is also developing a reputation among firms operating in the agricultural sector, which is no less impressive.

16 | Endeavour Magazine

KANU EQUIPMENT SA As is the case with its mining, construction, and forestry arms, Kanu Equipment supplies an extensive portfolio of branded

our colleagues, we can then support our customers. That’s what’s embedded in our organisation.”

machines and equipment on behalf of world-class brands such

Kanu Equipment’s dedication to delivering an unrivalled

as Bell Equipment, among others. However, while the company

customer experience has helped the company to capture great

has built a reputation as a leading distributor of quality branded

swathes of the agriculture market share from its rivals in less than

products, this alone hasn’t been the key to Kanu’s success. Rather,

half a decade. Since it opened its doors for business in 2012, after

it is the implementation of a customer-focused business model

starting life as an equipment and service provider to the Congolese

that has set the company apart, designed to go above and beyond

construction sector, Kanu’s customer-centric and unrivalled

the expectations of the customer through the delivery of superior

professionalism saw the company expand rapidly into new

service which extends far beyond the point of sale. The company’s

industries across the West and South of the continent. The Kanu

mantra is ‘Experience the Support,’ and as Kanu Equipment’s CEO

name, which was inspired by an old African tale, Kanthu N’Khama,

and Founder Stephen Smithyman told us, it is this ethos around

meaning “hard work pays”, is a fitting one for the company, which

which the entire company has been built:

has worked tirelessly to help their customers reduce operating

“Our slogan is ‘experience the support’ – the key to our success,

costs and improve productivity.

I believe, is the support we give to our customers in these territories

Whatever equipment or machinery it is that an agribusiness

where we do business. The customers, when we first started the

or farmer may be using, Kanu offers an array of brands in the

business, always complained about that they had no support, no

aftermarket space to ensure that it can be repaired. In addition

availability of spare parts; nobody had really cared after the deal

to this, the strategic placement of Kanu Equipment’s branches,

was done. And we really care about our customers. Our whole

particularly in Western Africa – arguably the company’s leading

existence is orientated around the support we can give to them,

market – along with its linguistic ability to provide support

and the support we can give to our staff.

in both Anglophone and Francophone countries, means that

Our slogan means that through supporting our staff, supporting

18 | Endeavour Magazine

whether your tractor breaks down in the Ivory Coast or Ghana,

maintenance support is only a short distance away.

“Currently, West Africa ignites a strong desire to invest in agriculture—with holdings of products like sugar cane, cotton or bananas—but mining is growing rapidly too. These companies will choose Kanu Equipment because they have already seen the quality of our work in other industries. The fact that we have loyal, dedicated customers who have been with us for years proves that we provide a high quality, affordable and reliable service.”

Over the medium to long-term it is difficult to predict whether Africa’s agricultural sector will manage to maintain its impressive rates of growth, but Smithyman is optimistic about what the future holds for the company. As is the case with its mining and construction divisions, Kanu Equipment’s agricultural equipment and service offerings are set to take the East African market by storm. Certainly, this is a sound move on the part of Kanu, bearing in mind how the region is presently the fastest growing region in the world.

If Kanu Equipment succeeds in achieving its goals, the company will be listed on a European stock market by 2020, and will have succeeded in covering the African map with the Kanu brand – going by its achievements already seen in such a short space of time, you wouldn’t bet against them.

ALL YOU NEED FROM A SINGLE SOURCE CASE IH IS YOUR SUGAR CANE PRODUCTION PARTNER. For every step of the sugar cane production process, Case IH has your equipment demands covered. From land clearance and crop establishment to harvesting the cane and hauling it to the mill, we can offer you high output machines that perform with precision and provide

the reliability you need to run a professional operation day after day, month after month, in the toughest conditions. Draw on our decades of experience producing professional equipment for the most demanding of crops. Discover how Case IH, the sugar cane full-liner, can support your business demands.

www.caseih.com Endeavour Magazine | 19

20 | Endeavour Magazine

EMIRATES PALACE WWW.KEMPINSKI.COM/EN/ABUDHABI/EMIRATES-PALACE 00971 2 690 7928

SEVEN-STAR LUXURY WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

The glittering metropolis of Dubai has long captured media attention and column inches for its extravagant and ostentatious reputation for gold-standard luxury. However, whilst Dubai has made the headlines, Abu Dhabi has flown under the radar by comparison. You would do well not to judge a book by its cover, of course – for all Dubai’s conspicuous wealth, it is Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE and its centre of political power, that has come to be recognised as the world’s richest city.

Endeavour Magazine | 21

EMIRATES PALACE

In a region which is famed the world over for being a playground

for millionaires and billionaires, it says much when something emerges of such eye-watering lavish expense and luxury that it raises even Emirati eyebrows. And yet, that is exactly what Emirates Palace – the crown jewel of Abu Dhabi – has achieved in recent years. Endeavour Magazine caught up with the General Manager of Emirates Palace, Holger Schroth, to find out more.

S

ituated on its own private beach in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace is one of only two seven-star hotels in the world. What is there to say? Dubai’s Burj Al Arab aside, the

breath-taking sight of Emirates Palace is utterly without rival. The Palace, with its wonderfully intricate architecture and stonework, has been modelled on a sumptuous palace that could have been

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lifted from the pages of the Islamic Golden Age. Emirates Palace truly is the last word in luxury, such is its opulence and attention to the smallest detail, and is an example of what can be achieved if you have a US$3.5 billion budget with which to build the world’s most decadent hotel.

When asked to elaborate, Holger explained: “Emirates Palace is more than a mere hotel; it is a living landmark. Unlike landmarks in other countries, we are a landmark you can actually stay in and feel a part of history. But we do much more than provide a night’s respite to tourists visiting or people travelling for business. Our property hosts preeminent events, such as annual international sporting events, training camps and sessions, industry conferences, local gatherings and so many weddings, Emirates Palace sits in the heart of the capital as a symbol of the nation’s past, adjacent to its future and as a symbol of UAE heritage.

Locally, regionally and nationally, people view us as the must-see tourist destination, while businesses utilise our event space when

www.adnhcompassme.com 109767, Abu Dhabi, UAE 22 | Endeavour Magazine

the want to make a lasting impression on clients by hosting their affairs in a setting that is widely regarded as the very quintessence of Arabian culture.”

Emirates Palace is widely regarded to be a glittering legacy

been decorated with 13 different colours of marble, ranging from

left behind by the late President, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al

sunrise yellow to sunset red – much like the different hues of the

Nahyan, who originally commissioned construction of the hotel in

desert surrounding Abu Dhabi. Then, there are the golden horns

2001. The Palace is as colossal in size as it is luxurious, occupying

and chandeliers that it houses in abundance, along with a further

a surface area of one million square metres of floor space - more

1,002 Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and an expanse of gold, silver,

than ten times that of Buckingham Palace. And if this alone wasn’t

and glass mosaics. If this spectacular entrance wasn’t already

impressive enough, much of this space is laid with the finest

enough, there is a second VIP entrance to the Palace exclusively

imported marble, and gilded with 6,000m2 of 22-carat gold leaf.

for the use only of visiting royal figures from other Persian Gulf

There is little doubt that Emirates Palace has succeeded in its

countries, one modelled in an Arc de Triomphe fashion, through

creator’s goal of showcasing not only the beauty of Arabian culture

which their motorcades pass through.

and architecture, but in also demonstrating the unimaginable wealth and splendour of the city of Abu Dhabi.

Such opulent décor also extends to the Palace’s 302 grand rooms, which themselves come with floors of inlaid marble and soft

The designers of Emirates Palace understood that first

carpeting. Recessed ceiling lighting almost imperceptibly illuminate

impressions count, which is why no expense has been spared in

a muted colour-scheme inspired by the desert sands outside. While

ensuring that a visitor’s first experience of the Palace is nothing

the Palace is clearly aimed at an exclusive high-net worth clientele,

short of otherworldly. Upon entering the Palace’s main atrium,

guestrooms are divided into Coral (110m²), Pearl (140m²) and

guests are greeted by the sight of one of the tallest domes in the

Diamond (220m²) categories.

world - larger even than the dome of St. Peter’s cathedral in the

In addition to these guestrooms, there are 92 suites, which are

Vatican. However, this colossal gold-gilded dome – one of 114 to

include 20 Khaleej suites (110m²), 20 Khaleej deluxe suites (165m²),

be found in Emirates Palace – is not the only spectacle to greet

four Royal Khaleej suites (110m²) and 16 three-bedroom palace

guests.

suites (680m²). A stay in one of the Palace’s luxury suites will come

Every effort has been made to highlight the grandeur of the

at great cost, but will provide an experience that is unlike anything

Palace. The atrium interior, like that of the entire structure, has

else guests will have ever experienced. This is as it should be - the

EMIRATES PALACE Emirates Palace is also the official guest palace of the government

Emirates Palace delivers: “The key is visibility so I always ensure

of Abu Dhabi, after all, and is well accustomed to hosting heads of

I make daily tours of the properties extensive grounds (over one

state and their entourages. The highest floor has six rulers’ suites,

million square metres) and engage with the team. Training is the

which are out of bounds to all except members of the Emirati royal

fundamental element of any successful enterprise and at Emirates

families.

Palace we have a dedicated department who works diligently

Emirates Palace has been awarded its seven-star rating for

throughout the year ensuring that each and every one of our

good reason, and it’s spacious, elegant rooms are furnished to the

employees not only develops the skills that will aid them to carry

highest levels of comfort, and decorated in warm tones to create

out their duties to the best of their ability, but also to develop

a welcoming atmosphere that will instantly put guests at ease.

life skill that they will practice way beyond their time at Emirates

Irrespective of which size room or suite guests stay in, however, all

Palace.”

are spacious, elegant and furnished to the highest levels of comfort.

Take turndown service, for example – while the guest is away,

This comfort, whether being offered to heads of state, business

staff put a sachet of lavender between the sheets to perfume them.

people or newlyweds, is matched by an equally high standard of

When they are done, they then tuck the lavender under the pillows

service. As one might expect, guests can call upon a 24-hour butler

so that the fresh scent will lightly linger as the guest sleeps at night.

service, and can rest easy in the knowledge that every possible step

Other small but significant services at the Palace, which is managed

has been taken by the hotel’s staff to make their stay an experience

by the elite global hotelier, Kempinski Hotels and Resorts, include

which will last a lifetime. When you are operating a hotel with

the bath butlers standing by to prepare one of seven baths listed on

a reputation for being the most luxurious in the world, the devil

the bath menu. For guests who are feeling particularly lavish, there

is always in the smallest detail – one must always go above and

is even the option to have a bath tub filled with champagne at your

beyond to meet the expectations of an elite clientele.

leisure. There is even a pool and beach service, where attendant

In this respect, through its 2000 well-trained and passionate

staff members are on-hand to clean guests’ sunglasses, cool them

staff, whom Holger considers to be the key to the hotel’s success,

with soothing sprays of water, and supply fruit sticks, as they rest

24 | Endeavour Magazine

either near the 1.3km private beach or the two pools which stretch out to a length equivalent to several football pitches.

Quite simply, everything about Emirates Palace exists to exceed the wildest expectations of even the most discerning of guests. With such luxuries as the Emirates Palace Spa, recognised as the best in the world only last year, Kobe beef in its BBQ Al Qasr restaurant, genuine Albino caviar - only 6kg produced per year at £30,000 per kilo, of which the hotel has two kilos - and 52in plasma screens in each room, truly, Emirates Palace is a must-visit location, whether you are visiting Abu Dhabi for business or pleasure.

Holger concluded the interview by noting his excitement about what’s to come for Emirates Palace. With further improvements in the pipeline, Emirates Palace will not cede its standing as the first word in luxury anytime soon. He said: “We are continuously upgrading and improving our facilities to maintain our high standards. We recently renovated Emirates Palace Spa, and in October 2015 we upgraded our alfresco beachside restaurant, BBQ Al Qasr with new kitchens and a revamped lounge area.

We are also in the process of planning numerous special projects for next year and beyond, which we are very excited about

From bedspreads to bathrobes, from high tea table attires to blissfully resigning to the pillows- you can’t spell luxury without the perfect linen.

This is exactly why Tuscany Linen, ever since 2001 has gone out of the way to intertwine luxury with adept functionality as they craft their masterpiece to perfection. Tuscany linen surpasses the basic need into providing not only snug comfort but also aesthetically appeasing collection of the wildest artistic variety- be in hue or print.

and will expand upon at the appropriate time.” advt23Feb17_ver3_curves.pdf

1

26-Feb-17

10:56:52 PM

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Endeavour Magazine | 25

AMAZING WORLD THE OCEAN CLEANUP TAKING BACK EARTH’S OCEANS

W

hen you think for a moment about what our species has

size and scale of the oceans that cover over 70% of Earth’s surface.

managed during our short time on Earth, it’s difficult not to

Suffice to say, without the 41,050,000sq. km expanse of water,

come to the conclusion that we’re capable of some pretty

which plays such a critical role in the carbon cycle that regulated our

astonishing stuff when we put our minds to it.

We’ve set foot on the moon and travelled to the bottom-most depths of the world’s deepest oceans, and through incredible feats of science and engineering we have succeeded in mastering

climates and weather systems, life as we know it simply would not and could not exist on Earth.

With this in mind, how is it that mankind has shown such disregard and an utter lack of respect to our oceans?

the world around us. Sadly, our accomplishments have undeniably

There is perhaps no better example of the growing maritime

come at a devastating cost to our planet which is as shameful as our

pollution crisis than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – one of five

greatest achievements are brilliant. If ever there was an example of

colossal floating rubbish patches trapped in the swirling, churning

this, we need look no further than the marine pollution crisis which

waters of the five major ocean gyres – colossal vortex-like systems

now blights the world’s oceans – a grossly overlooked problem far

made up of circular ocean currents in the Atlantic, Indian, Pacific

more severe than many realise.

Oceans.

Few of us venture far beyond the shoreline of the countries

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a shameful monument to the

which we call home, so it can be difficult to truly comprehend the

modern world, but it isn’t the solid mass that the name suggests.

26 | Endeavour Magazine

Rather, it is a 10-metre-deep marine soup of plastic and man-

of 100-kilometre long floating

made detritus, stretching out a distance twice the size of France’s

barriers, anchored to the ocean

landmass.

floor. These V-shaped barrier

This toxic legacy of modern society has had a predictably

networks are designed to interact

devastating impact on marine life, and is responsible for killing over

with natural ocean currents,

one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year. The

funnelling plastic debris towards

effect that it must have on fish stocks and other marine life, whilst

a central point where the plastic

unknown, is surely just as devastating.

can be extracted by a platform

The dilemma surrounding how exactly mankind is going to clear up this mess has perplexed the world for decades – how on earth can

and stored for transportation and recycling.

so much rubbish be scooped up and disposed of? Fortunately, up-

The great work on the

and-coming young minds like Boyan Slat – a brilliant Dutch inventor-

part of The Ocean Cleanup

entrepreneur - are beginning to find solutions where older minds

foundation

have fallen short. Boyan Slat is the founder of The Ocean Cleanup,

as the humble beginnings of

a foundation responsible for developing innovative, affordable

a campaign to rid our oceans

technologies capable of collecting and extracting the plastic debris

of debris and pollution, rather

that litters the world’s oceans.

than an end solution, however.

Since it was founded in 2013, Ocean Cleanup has developed

should

be

seen

One of the criticisms of Boyan

a number of initiatives aimed at addressing the crisis, including the

Slat’s

high-profile Project Kaisei; a research project which is in the process

is that it cannot yet capture

Ocean

Cleanup Array

of assessing the true mass and distribution of the ocean’s plastic

plastics that have degraded into

debris. Recently, the foundation embarked on a ‘Mega Expedition’

miniscule microplastics – a form

– an endeavour that saw approximately 30 vessels cross the Great

of debris accounting for around

Pacific Garbage Patch, using manta trawls and carrying out aerial

90% of all plastics in the ocean

surveys to measure the concentration and spatial distribution of

today. Additionally, the ocean

plastics. This survey was conducted ahead of a large-scale clean-

surface is but the surface of

up of the area planned for 2020, which will utilise Boyan Slat’s

the problem; researchers and

signature innovation, the Ocean Cleanup Array: a passive network

marine experts have found that the pollution crisis facing our oceans extends to microplastics and synthetic fibres being frozen into ice cores, and all manner of unpleasantness which will prove difficult to rectify.

Still,

the

technologies

developed by Boyan and The Ocean

Cleanup

foundation

represent a step in the right direction. Here’s hoping that his great work is a sign of things to come.

Endeavour Magazine | 27

28 | Endeavour Magazine

GIBRALTAR PORT AUTHORITY WWW.GIBRALTARPORT.COM 350 200 46254

THE GATEWAY TO THE MEDITERRANEAN WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

The sight of Gibraltar, fondly nicknamed ‘The Rock’ after the 1,398-foot high limestone rock foundation that has awed mariners and sailors since the time of the Ancient Greeks, is one which continues to evoke powerful feelings in those who set eyes upon it even now, more than 3,000-years later.

Endeavour Magazine | 29

GIBRALTAR PORT AUTHORITY

Located near the south-western tip of Europe on the Iberian

Peninsula, Gibraltar is a place with a maritime heritage that few other such locations in the world can equal. Former glories and nostalgia from the old days of empire have little bearing on Gibraltar’s relevance today, however - in so competitive a globalised world, there is no room for such sentiment.

Where once the peninsula’s value was entirely military in nature, serving as a bristling naval fortress and defensive gateway into and out of the Mediterranean, today, Gibraltar’s strategic usefulness is built upon its considerable commercial value.

I

t is perhaps only natural how, in keeping with The Rock’s unique history, Gibraltar remains a magnet for maritime traffic. Gibraltar is a bustling hive of commercial activity and a fast-growing

tourism hub, but it is thanks to the same quirk of geography that once made it so coveted a military asset that has seen the territory grow to become a prime location for bunkering – the principal activity for which the Port of Gibraltar is best known. Great volumes of maritime traffic pass through the Strait of Gibraltar as they set sail for the world’s arterial shipping lanes, and of this passing traffic, somewhere in the region of 9,000 ships call into port with over 63% of those for bunkering.

“Gibraltar is a bustling commercial centre, and with approximately 60,000 vessels transiting the Strait of Gibraltar each year, of which approximately 15% call into the port, the Rock has developed into a major bunkering port – the largest in the Mediterranean,” said Bob Sanguinetti, the CEO of Gibraltar Port Authority and Captain of the Port of Gibraltar. He continued: “Gibraltar is a maritime ‘Centre of Excellence’, located at a crossroads between the Mediterranean and Atlantic shipping lanes. The Port of Gibraltar is ideally placed to provide a wide range of services to vessels of all sizes and types, including bunkering, crew changes, hull cleaning, surveys, provision of stores and spares, among others - and with over 245 million gross tonnes of vessel calls per year, this is clearly the case.”

Even in spite of the slowdown in global economic activity and

30 | Endeavour Magazine

Gibraltar Office: +350 200 44 101 enquiries@euroshipsupplies.com

www.euroshipsupplies.com

Gibraltar’s largest ship chandler, Euroship Supplies Ltd, offers the widest range of products and services to the international shipping, maritime and local industry, Government procurement contracts and Ministry of Defence.

We operate from the largest warehousing and cold storage facilities in the area which are totally dedicated and designed for ship supplies. Our warehouse facility is over 15,000 mtr3 with refrigeration and freezing capacity/storage for over 230 tonnes of chilled/frozen goods.

Endeavour Magazine | 31

GIBRALTAR PORT AUTHORITY

the overcapacity of cargo shipping which continues to blight the

2017 to ensure that the Port of Gibraltar keeps providing the best

sector, it is telling that in 2016 the Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA)

possible support to the shipping community.”

reported an increase in the number of vessels calling at port for the

The matter of meeting such challenges whilst overseeing the

second successive year – a doubly impressive achievement, taking

day-to-day management of one of Europe’s most iconic ports has

into account the stiff competition from rival ports in the region. This

fallen to Gibraltar Port Authority (GPA), which was established

positive trend doesn’t only reflect the number of vessels calling to

in 2005 to consolidate and further develop the port’s standing

bunker, however, but also the sharp rise in the number of visiting

as a maritime centre of excellence. In-line with its remit, ”to

cruise ships and super yachts: clear evidence that a far-reaching

build on Gibraltar’s unique geographical position, and provide

marketing campaign designed to increase tourism numbers, and a

a vital link between all shipping stakeholders in order to deliver

number of multi-million-dollar investments aimed at modernising

the best possible service to visiting ships,” GPA provides an

and upgrading Gibraltar’s amenities and attractions have borne

extensive portfolio of shipping services. Suffice to say, the list of

fruit.

responsibilities that are required of the Port of Gibraltar and the

On this, Sanguinetti said: “An increasing number of superyachts

Gibraltar Port Authority is exhaustive, and to ensure their effective

have taken advantage of the new berths at the recently

and efficient delivery requires a superior level of commitment,

commissioned Mid Harbour Marina to extend their stay on the

flexibility, and transparency from Gibraltar Port Authority and its

Rock. The GPA also recorded a rise in ship-to-ship transfers in the

54 highly-trained staff. Furthermore, the sheer number of vessels

bay, off-port limit transfers, and in occupancy rates at the Eastern

that enter and leave Gibraltar’s territorial waters means that a

Anchorage. The challenge will be to continue the growth trend, and

strong emphasis must be placed on safety of navigation, through

an aggressive marketing campaign and direct engagement with ship

the Authority’s monitoring and direction.

owners to better understand their needs, will continue throughout

32 | Endeavour Magazine

Meet these responsibilities it does, and it does so through its

commitment to professional excellence. Gibraltar Port Authority and Port of Gibraltar have a strong reputation in this respect, and cooperates closely with stakeholders and the wider maritime industry in Gibraltar, as well as with a number of global partners, including ship owners, operators, and cruise operators. The forging of such strong relationships has proved to be fundamental to GPA’s success over the decade since it was established, as has the strong support from the Government of Gibraltar which has facilitated much-needed infrastructure and facilities improvement.

Additionally, the Gibraltar Port Authority is also a long-standing committed

member of the

International

Bunker Industry

Association (IBIA), which acts as the voice of marine fuel suppliers and the end-user, for which the Port Authority recently hosted a prestigious conference.

In terms of what the future holds, there are a number of plans which, upon their completion, will further enhance the Port of Gibraltar’s operations and capabilities. Summer 2017 will see the installation of a state-of-the-art Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) system which will greatly enhance the port’s safety of navigation operations.

The system, which is being installed by Kongsberg Norcontrol, will

If it’s time to fill up, It’s time for Gib Oil Our Western Arm Terminal in Gibraltar is a superior dock in the Med with capacity to berth the very largest of megayachts.

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Western Arm Superyacht terminal 36o 08’43”N 05o 21’56”W

Marina Bay yacht terminal 36o 08’55.6”N 05o 21’24.5”W

Endeavour Magazine | 33

GIBRALTAR PORT AUTHORITY

be housed in a new four-storey port tower, designed to provide

made an announcement last year on the signing of a bunker

sweeping views over the busy Strait of Gibraltar and entrance

market development agreement with Shell, a significant milestone

into the Bay of Gibraltar. When asked to elaborate more on the

on the road to delivering LNG as a bunker fuel to ships at anchor

project, Sanguinetti said: “In addition to increased functionality, the

in Gibraltar. This is also part of the Port of Gibraltar’s strategy

contract (for the VTS system installation) includes a comprehensive

to provide the widest range of marine services as it looks to the

maintenance package, together with the benefits of software

future,” concluded Commodore Sanguinetti. He finished by saying:

updates/upgrades over the course of the next five years, with

“In March 2016, the Government of Gibraltar invited proposals

future-proofing for the proposed introduction of e-Navigation.

for the design and construction of a land-based marine fuels

It also includes four high-specification infra-red CCTV cameras

storage and bunkering facility with a minimum storage capacity of

further-enhancing the port’s VTS team’s ability to monitor and

225,000cbm in the Mediterranean bunkering hub. This once again

control shipping in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.”

reinforces the Port of Gibraltar’s green credentials and aspirations

The most exciting development in the pipeline, however, is a plan

to remain the premier bunker port in the Mediterranean and, more

for the design and construction of an LNG bunkering facility, which

widely, a ‘centre of maritime excellence’ at the strategic gateway to

upon its completion will allow the Port of Gibraltar to deliver LNG

the Atlantic Ocean.”

as a bunker fuel to ships at anchor – a move which will set Gibraltar and its service offerings apart from any of its Mediterranean rivals.

Interest in using LNG as a bunker fuel has risen following the implementation of EU policies aimed at increasing the use of this clean, low-emission fuel across all forms of transport.

“HM Government of Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Port Authority

Gibunco Ship Agency is the largest of its kind strategically located in the crossroads of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, in the ports of Gibraltar, Ceuta, Algeciras, Las Palmas and Tenerife.

We also provide worldwide ship agency services from the Gibunco Ship Agency co-ordination centre in Gibraltar.

For over 50 years, we’ve delivered high quality, efficient and cost effective services to the shipping industry, targeted at saving you time and money.

34 | Endeavour Magazine

 WWW.TARIK.GI  ALL@TARIK.GI SHIP CHANDLERS • SHIP AGENTS & BUNKERING • PRIVATE MOTOR YACHTS & SAILING VESSELS

Tarik Shipping cater for various services such as crew changes, off port limits and ship repairs. Tarik Shipping owns a skips company and are Marpol approved for the removal of garbage from vessels.

Tarik Shipping own and operate their own fleet of harbour crafts and workboats in order to supply vessels with provisioning, crew, fresh water in the bay and off port limits.

Endeavour Magazine | 35

36 | Endeavour Magazine

AVNASH INDUSTRIES GHANA LTD WWW.AVNASH.COM 00233 303-214384

AN UNSTOPPABLE FORCE WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON

Rolling with the punches and adapting to different demand is the only way to ensure that your business remains buoyant and successful, something that the founding chairman of Avnash Industries Ghana Limited knew only too well.

Endeavour Magazine | 37

AVNASH INDUSTRIES GHANA LTD

Whatever industry you’re in, you’ll understand that staying

abreast of changing demands and needs is vital to secure a loyal customer base and in the case of Avnash Industries Ghana Limited (Avnash), a total change of direction lead to the creation of a fantastically versatile operation.

I

n October of 1960, the founding chairman of Avnash came to

Producers of Finest Quality Palm/Kernel Oil

the glorious land of Ghana, with a vision of starting a career as a trader in Accra central market, a decision that would lead to him

becoming a manufacturer, as apposed to simply a trader. Starting out with textile looms as the main source of income, it eventually became apparent that there was a greater need in Ghana, for food.

Structural economy changes are nothing new, but making the switch from textiles to food production was no easy task, given how vastly different the industries are, but with a commitment to providing Ghana with what it was so desperately crying out for, the challenge was met with excitement and tenacity, “Loyal to our nation we remained, but now to man’s most basic necessity: food.”

With an already enviable reputation in the business sector behind him, the chairman went on to formally found Avnash in

Crude Palm Oil • Palm Kernel Oil

2001 and the name itself offers a fantastic insight into what was, is and will always be important to the company, “In 2001, Avnash was formed; the name deriving from ‘Avinash’, Sanskrit for ‘indestructible’. The removal of the “i” to form Avnash signifies a selfless service to our beloved Ghana.”

It’s rare to find a company with a romantic element intrinsically

OUR PALM, OUR FUTURE 38 | Endeavour Magazine

woven into its fabric, but that’s exactly what we have here. Rather than simply looking for a profitable industry that would provide

AVNASH INDUSTRIES GHANA LTD

wealth, the chairman actively sought to contribute to the wellbeing

But what exactly does Avnash produce? Well, it’s proud to offer

of the nation that he was proud to call his home and what’s more,

essential products that make everyday living so much simpler and

the mission and vision that he drilled into the company make it

more enjoyable!

even more admirable.

With a mission in place that seeks to “maximise the use of local

There are three core business lines being produced by Avnash, the first of which is premium cooking oil, called Golden Drop,

resources”, there can be no doubting just how important the hands-

“Our 500 MT per day edible oil refinery converts crude palm oil

on approach is at Avnash. While so many other set-ups might seek

into various fractions, principal of which is vegetable cooking oil.

to import from outside, in order to lower costs and maximise

With vitamins to address deficiencies and a golden colour to match

profitability, that’s notably not the case here, as regional resources

our Gold Coast, our Golden Drop is truly the mind, body and soul

are considered to be of the highest quality and value. Add to that a

of Ghana.”

vision of “bringing prosperity to the common man” and you start to understand just what a vital service Avnash provides.

We’ll get to the actual products shortly, but when you consider that Avnash is determined to use local suppliers and manufacturers,

Any other company might have negated the vitamin-enriched element, to keep costs low, but with a deep and invested understanding of what the people of Ghana need, this was never a consideration, making Golden Drop a household favourite.

where possible, there is little doubt that, as a company, it IS bringing

OLY soap is the next item that Avnash is so proud to produce

prosperity to the common man. Buying products that have been

and let’s not underestimate the importance of being able to have

nurtured and developed by local people will not only improve

clean clothes and a hygienic body at the drop of a hat. It’s a basic

the lives of those suppliers directly, but will also help to keep

human right and a necessity,

the economic stability of Ghana in place, with regular injections

“Our 100 MT per day soap plant uses by-products from the oil

of capital, that are then sunk back into burgeoning industries.

separation process to produce an array of soaps. Under our flagship

40 | Endeavour Magazine

brand OLY, we combine local, herbal extracts with natural oils to

with a view to making life that bit more comfortable, enjoyable

make bathing a rich experience for all. The brand currently boasts

and sustainable, it’s little wonder that all of these products are so

variants in the laundry and pure body categories.”

loved. Just realising that one man had a vision to offer his fellow

Talk about diversification with a vision! Seeing an opportunity

countrymen access to quality, life-improving products proves that

to minimise wastage from the oil production side of things, the OLY

the intrinsic stewardship for Ghana and its people that runs through

branch of production is nothing but inspired and offers a fantastic

the core of Avnash is not just a selling point or a buzz-phrase; it’s a

array of personal and laundry soaps that grace most homes in

beautiful, considered love affair.

Ghana.

Last, but not least, is Royal Farmers Rice, a brand that is loved and respected throughout Ghana, “Our 500 MT per day rice mills situated in the paddy heartlands of Tamale in the Northern Region are the largest in Africa. A stateof-the-art unit with technology from Buhler, along with support of our 29,000 farmers have pioneered a collaborative effort to scale up crop growth in a move towards import substitution. In honour of our countrymen and countrywomen harvesters, without which this dream would not be possible, Avnash remains one with its ROYAL FARMERS.” We think you can now understand why Avnash enjoys such a golden reputation. Offering the basics, at affordable prices and

Endeavour Magazine | 41

42 | Endeavour Magazine

THE BRIGADE GROUP WWW.BRIGADEGROUP.COM 91 80 4046 7666

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS WRITTEN BY ALICE INSTONE-BREWER

Brigade Meadows, Brigade Metropolis, Brigade Gateway... Property developers are in the business of creating buildings, but the Brigade Group are dedicated to creating experiences.

Whether residential or commercial, the company and their founder, Mr M.R. Jaishankar, believe in creating spaces and environments that improve people’s ways of life - a vision which has changed the cityscape of Bangalore.

Endeavour Magazine | 43

THE BRIGADE GROUP

The Brigade Group, established in 1986, is one of South India’s

leading property developers. Their operations span across South India, including work in major cities such as Chennai, Chikmagalur, Hyderabad, Kochi and Mysore, but their most striking projects remain in the city that homes the hub of their operations – Bangalore. Housing their iconic head offices, Bangalore has grown with the Brigade Group, now featuring whole residential and commercial areas designed and built by the group as self-contained environments, all sporting the Brigade name and created in promotion of their ideals.

L

ike most companies, the Brigade Group didn’t start at the top; it had a difficult beginning, achieved by the tenacity of their founder. Jaishankar came from a family of coffee planters –

a far cry from the urban planting he does today. He grew up in Karnataka in the town of Chikmagalur, where his family name had become synonymous with integrity and hard work for the past 100 years. Whilst their businesses sound a world apart, the lessons about work ethics he learnt here continue to benefit the Brigade Group today.

When Brigade began as an idea, property development in India was a different animal to the one it is today. The industry was disorganised and treated with mistrust; kickbacks and cut corners were commonplace, with companies focusing on short-term profit rather than thinking about the long-term success of their business.

In this atmosphere, there were only a few companies attempting to build a different reputation – this was a challenging scenario to enter as a new business, but to Jaishankar’s eyes, the challenge looked like an opportunity: a niche to be filled, and an industry ready to go on the rise, if its needs could be met.

A TALL ORDER In 1986, Brigade Investments was founded, with only one project on its slate – an office tower, of which there was only one other of its type in Bangalore. Even then, the company was

44 | Endeavour Magazine

THE BRIGADE GROUP ambitious, setting out to make the building 14 stories high – the

Promise. This promise set out assurances of quality free-hold

property became known as Brigade Tower.

properties, fully cleared by the authorities, with high standards

Looking back on these early yet ambitious beginnings against

of construction in faster-than-usual delivery time. These were

what they have now achieved, Jaishankar reflects; “From making

ambitious claims, but the company lived up to its promises, winning

Bangalore’s tallest commercial building by a private player way back

the trust and respect that was lacking in the current industry, and

in 1986, to still holding the record with [Bangalore’s] World Trade

their gamble began to pay off. Brigade became the first property

Center, we believe in creating buildings that leave an impression

developer in South India, and the second in the country, to get an

on time.”

ISO 9001:1994 certification. Later, in 2000, Brigade became an

At the time, Bangalore was a city prime for development, yet low on space. People were used to living in houses – one or two

ISO 9001-2000 organisation - among the first property developers to do so in the country.

story properties with their own land. Jaishankar believed the city was ready to grow and flourish, but without the space, he needed

HOMES, NOT HOUSES

to encourage people to move in the direction they were reluctant

However, such assurances alone weren’t enough to change

to adopt: upwards. Like Brigade Tower, they needed to reach for

people’s way of life or inspire a developing city. The Brigade Group

the sky

is about more than creating houses and shops – it is about creating

Trying to set a trend for a new way of living is no easy task,

homes and ways of life.

especially for a new business. From a Rs. 10 million loan from

“We strongly believe that the buildings we make should also

the State Bank of India (an unheard-of amount for a property

positively impact the communities around them,” expresses

development company to receive) they invested in market research

Jaishankar. “Whether it is our famed integrated enclaves like

and their communication department, focusing on all-India media

Brigade Millennium, Brigade Metropolis and Brigade Gateway, or a

campaigns to promote their vision, and developed the Brigade

best-in-class World Trade Center and the much-loved Orion Mall,

46 | Endeavour Magazine

we work hard to ensure that once you move in, you experience a

size. This mall has also been an entry gate for many premium

life on a par with some of the best cities in the world.”

international brands in South India.

“My vision and objective through my company is not just

With a little over 5 years in Brigade Group, Mirchandani has

building better homes or offices…but providing a better quality of

played a key role in positioning Brigade Group as one of the

life for people who use them, through the development of world-

country’s leading commercial developers, and has seen the size

class neighbourhoods that will enrich the lives of anyone living or

of their office space portfolio gradually rise by more than 300

working within these self-contained environments.”

percent to over 12 Million sq. ft. in various stages of development.

Overseeing the Brigade Groups’ commercial business is Vishal

Standing out in this portfolio, the Brigade Group has developed the

Mirchandani, CEO of Retail and Commercial. Mirchandani shares

iconic World Trade Center Bangalore and Kochi and has licences to

the group’s vision of creating self-contained living experiences,

develop three more World Trade Centers in Chennai, Hyderabad

and has been spear-heading the Group’s ever ambitious plans for

and Thiruvananthapuram.

growth in these areas. New malls and retail arcades have been

These World Trade Centers provide the best corporate addresses

added to most of Brigade’s self-made districts which include the

in their cities, and are part of Brigade’s aggressive growth plan for

Orion Mall at Brigade Gateway, Orion OMR Mall at Brigade Golden

the office business across their geographies, which will include

Triangle, the Arcade at Brigade Metropolis, the Arcade in Brigade

tech parks that will offer work lifestyles to the employees. Another

Meadows and upcoming Arcade at Brigade Orchards.

part of these plans is the development of Brigade Tech Gardens

Under Mirchandani’s leadership, the Orion Mall, the second

in Brookefield, Bangalore. The largest office space development

largest mall in Bangalore, has grown to become one of the leading

by Brigade Group, the gardens are a joint venture between the

malls in the country, and its popularity is still growing. It has won

company and GIC Singapore, whilst the master planning is being

several awards, and has been acclaimed as one of India’s best

done by Seattle based architecture firm NBBJ. The project, like all

managed malls – quite an achievement in a country of India’s

of Brigade’s corporate spaces, aims to offer the best to companies

Endeavour Magazine | 47

THE BRIGADE GROUP and their employees both in terms of work spaces and lifestyle.

There are several elements behind the Brigade Group’s success.

Perhaps the most important is people. From the offset, they have employed top professionals in their fields. “We go to great lengths to partner with some of the best-known architects, master planners, contractors, suppliers and consultants in the industry, to ensure you get a high-quality product. Our demanding recruitment standards also mean that you have a team of highly-qualified professionals who are motivated to take the company to new heights.”

This strong team is coupled with the provision of strong tools in the form state-of-the-art technology, which benefits both their employees and clients. “We are known in the industry for having a hunger to learn and adapt new technology. We were among the first to use in-house pre-cast technology, introduce an online portal to track your project progress and payments and create an online booking platform for home-buying.”

From these, the Brigade Group offer something everyone wants – a good product. Their residential properties are customisable and unique, offered on a built-to-suit and ready-to-occupy basis.

Meanwhile, their retail projects are built in strategic locations, carefully planned to generate footfall whilst satisfying visitors with convenient access, imaginative architecture and a well-balanced brand mix. As for their office spaces, Brigade has created some of the best addresses the regions it operates in, providing suitable options for companies of all sizes.

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS Despite their vast output and success, the Brigade Group aren’t a corporate machine – they are a group of professionals who are passionate about architecture, beauty, and with that, art.

There is art in everything they do, from landscaping to interiors to selling, both in the details and process of their design, and more recently, quite literally present in murals. Artists in Karnataka were commissioned to create murals on many of their buildings, both in commercial venues and offices, and this embrace of art has now spread into Brigade Group’s own head offices – sketches, paintings, photographs and even sculptures fill the building, with their doors always open to members of the public who wish to come in and appreciate them.

This artistic bent is reflected in the Group’s creative architecture and livable, lovable environments. While creating these positive environments, the Brigade Group also invests in the betterment of the society. For example, they supported the re-development of the 3-acre Sangolli Rayanna Park in Subramanya Nagar, Malleswaram, and also redeveloped 24 acres Sitharampalya lake in Whitefield, Bangalore and in keeping with their passion for the arts, assisted the creation of India’s first interactive music museum, the Centre for Indian Music Experience (IME). They have also renovated playgrounds, police stations, churches and lakes.

48 | Endeavour Magazine

THE FUTURE The Brigade Group are currently working on projects in eight different cities, but their main focus remains on Bangalore, which they will continue to develop alongside themselves.

“I aim to make Brigade Group a world-class organisation and a name to reckon with in the property development …We intend to continue to focus on innovation and maintain our present momentum on all fronts. We also intend to continue to use technologically advanced tools, in order to continue to enhance our architectural, design, construction and development capabilities.”

The early, ambitious Brigade Investments was dissolved in 1997, and all of the Group’s operations were consolidated by merging them into Brigade Enterprises Pvt Ltd in 2004. What started out as a five-person team has grown to over 1000 people strong, achieving what they set out to do by the values set down at the beginning, despite the challenges along the way. Having started out as a new company in an untrusted market, trying to convince wary people to embrace a new way of living, Brigade are now the first word in creating enviable habitats that the people of Bangalore and South India can rely on.

AMAZING WORLD HYPERLOOP ONE THE REVOLUTIONARY FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

I

t has been said by the great and the wise that the world we live in today has

changed more quickly in the last century or so than the 1,000-years preceding. Taking into

account

the

incredible

strides forward that have been made technologically speaking, it’s difficult to disagree with this idea.

Just 100-years ago, aviation was in its infancy, while motor cars were little more than an expensive novelty for the few who were able to afford one.

When it came to trains, steampowered rail networks were still considered the pinnacle of ingenuity and a symbol of national power for the select group of empires with the resources

and

capability

to

build them. What a difference a century can make, as the emergence of Hyperloop One has recently shown.

As anybody who grew up with the animated sitcom, The Jetsons, will know very well, the idea of high-speed travel in tubes is not a new one. In fact,

© hyperloop | one

you may be surprised to know that a plausible concept has existed for

In the words of Elon Musk himself, the world-famous business

decades, in the form of the ‘very high speed transit system’ (VHST),

magnate and inventor, and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Hyperloop

which was originally proposed in 1972 – a system which combined

One is a “cross between a Concorde and a railgun and an air hockey

a magnetic levitation train and a low-pressure transit tube. However,

table”. According to preliminary research, the revolutionary system

while VHST was plausible, the resources which would have been

will enable commuters to travel from London to Edinburgh or LA to

needed to actually implement it made the system unviable at the

San Francisco in 35-minutes, meaning that passengers would travel

time. Tesla and SpaceX’s new Hyperloop One system on the other

a 350-mile route at an average speed of around 600 mph, with a top

hand - a pneumatic tube transportation system based loosely on

speed of 760 mph.

VHST – has legs, and has once more placed super-futuristic train networks in the headlines again.

50 | Endeavour Magazine

Most importantly, Hyperloop One, while expensive, is financially feasible. According to a white paper, the construction of the system

© hyperloop | one

over the proposed distance would cost US$6 billion for a passenger-

maglev train systems so expensive. Hyperloop One will have had

only version, and US$7.5 billion for a larger-diameter version capable

some of the air sucked out to lower the pressure. Much like high-

of transporting passengers and vehicles. Transportation analysts are

altitude flying, such a system means there’s less resistance against

more cynical, however, and are of the opinion that construction costs

the pod moving through the tunnel, making it much more energy

for the system would quickly spiral several billion dollars overbudget,

efficient – a trait that’s highly desirable in any transit system.

due to construction, development and operation costs.

We’re still a few years away from being able to use the

The science behind Hyperloop One is fascinating, and centres

Hyperloop to get from A-to-B, but there has been great progress

around removing the greatest obstacle to achieving high-speed

in the last year, and the first full-size Hyperloop One test is set to

movement: friction. Hyperloop will move away from the traditional

take place in Las Vegas - the site of its previous demo in May 2016,

wheel system by using air bearings for pods instead. In laymans

very shortly this year. The trial will seek to propel a prototype about

terms, pods travelling with Hyperloop will do so floating on air. This

500m along a track. A number of governments have shown great

is much like current maglev systems, like those used by maglev trains

interest in Hyperloop, particularly in Abu Dhabi, who are eager to

in Japan can achieve super speeds of over 500km/h maglev.

use the systems to shuttle passengers and freight across the UAE.

Another concept from Hyperloop Transportation Technologies

And with the system set to be rolled at from 2020 onwards, it is

uses passive magnetic levitation, meaning the magnets are on the

likely that Hyperloop will be part of the everyday fabric within the

trains and work with aluminium track a system which would remove

next decade or so.

the need for powered tracks with copper coiling, which makes Endeavour Magazine | 51

52 | Endeavour Magazine

ZALORA GROUP WWW.ZALORA.COM 603-2035 6622

DEDICATED FOLLOWERS OF FASHION WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON

You might have heard the expression ‘you can’t please all of the people, all of the time’, but the Zalora Group, Asia Pacific’s leading fashion destination, would beg to disagree. Endeavour Magazine put it’s most stylish foot forward and took a closer look at this groundbreaking operation that makes staying ahead of the curve look like child’s play.

Endeavour Magazine | 53

ZALORA GROUP

It’s no secret that fashion is a fickle and hard to

master industry, but every so often, a market giant comes along that makes it look so easy and the Zalora Group (ZG), is one such operation.

F

ounded in 2011, by Rocket Internet, you might be forgiven

people’s experiences of clothes shopping, but also to change the

for considering ZG to be a relative newcomer to the fashion

way consumers think of online purchasing as a whole. This kind of

industry, but when you have a great product, a ready and

innovative thinking, with consumer satisfaction driving it, shouldn’t

waiting consumer base and an innovative approach to market

be unique, especially not in the fashion industry, which is so

domination, five years may as well be a lifetime of experience and

beholden to positive reviews and customer happiness, and yet, it

knowledge. It also doesn’t hurt to be part of a massively successful

is a rarity.

parent company,

It’s when you start looking at how the management team at

“The company has a presence in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia

ZG thinks that you begin to understand that consumer satisfaction

& Brunei, the Philippines, Hong Kong and Taiwan. ZG is part of

equates to so much more than healthy profits and impressive

the Global Fashion Group, the world’s leader in online fashion for

returns. Ole Daniel Nitter, Operations Director of Zalora Indonesia,

emerging markets. ZG’s localised sites offer an extensive collection

summed up the corporate mentality perfectly when he said,

of top international and local brands and products across apparel, shoes, accessories and beauty categories for men and women.”

“Zalora allows me to be part of building a great company and also have a leading role in shaping the booming ecommerce

It’s suddenly not hard to understand why ZG has enjoyed

industry and related ecosystem in Indonesia. It is for sure, tough

such gargantuan success, in a relatively small space of time, as it

and challenges are massive, but this also allows for real impact,

has taken a blanket approach to fashion, offering something for

personal growth and a string sense of doing something that really

everyone and excluding nobody. In addition to the inclusive nature

matters!”

of the portfolio, there are customer service mandates in place which really set ZG apart from its competitors, “Offering up to 100-day free returns, speedy deliveries as fast

But it’s not just Ole that has identified what an impact that ZG can and does have on the ecommerce industry, as Parker Gunderson, Group CEO, reiterated Ole’s thoughts,

as three hours in some markets, free delivery over a certain spend

“Innovation and teamwork are two elements that I love about

and multiple payment methods including cash-on-delivery, ZG is

our culture here at Zalora. We are playing a lead role in developing

the online shopping destination with endless fashion possibilities.”

fashion ecommerce in Southeast Asia and so it’s very exciting to

Can you imagine being able to order a new wardrobe and have

be working with such a bright group of people, who enjoy working

it on your doorstep in just three hours? ZG did and have made it happen in some of their territories, in a bid to not only improve 54 | Endeavour Magazine

together to find new ways to better serve our customers.”

In a bid to make sure that customers are only ever delighted

ZALORA GROUP

with the products and services received from ZG, is constantly

Home & Living. Its network of companies conducts business in a

evaluating which markets are most profitable and deserve the

large number of countries around the globe with more than 36,000

most development and commitment, which has lead to Vietnam

employees at the end of 2015.”

and Thailand, two former locations, being sold off. Don’t see this

Well, no wonder ZG has been so successful! Far from being

as a sign of trouble in paradise though, as any responsible business

a small company that tried to grow by keeping up with current

will shed less successful territories in order to reinvest the capital

trends, it was gifted with years of experience and focused industry

into areas that are proving to be far more viable.

knowledge, right from the word go, not to mention access to

Learning more about Rocket Internet, the company that founded ZG, you get a far better sense of just how the organisation

a global network of ready and waiting consumers, but even this wouldn’t be enough to sustain a flailing operation.

has risen to such stratospheric levels of success, despite the

Through dedication, hard work and a commitment to always

intense competition and flighty nature of the fashion industry.

be surpassing the expectations of demanding clients, ZG has

Working under the strapline of “Incubation. Investment. Growth.

streamlined, where necessary, to be a lean and effective fashion

We enable entrepreneurship.” Rocket Internet makes no bones

industry machine. Offering consumers the world over access to

about its commitment to creating global companies that can not

top designer brands and international labels, with generous return

only stand up to the trials of competitive markets, but also outlast

periods, lightening-fast delivery times and quibble-free ordering,

competitors whilst doing so.

there really isn’t any aspect of the fashion industry that ZG isn’t

“Rocket Internet builds and invests in Internet companies that

dominating. With a commitment to expanding consumer reach

take proven online business models to new, fast-growing markets.

through mobile apps, ZG looks set to continue strutting its stuff

Rocket Internet focuses on four industry sectors of online and

and owning the marketplace and we look forward to observing

mobile retail services that make up a significant share of consumer

their future successes.

spending: Food & Groceries, Fashion, General Merchandise and

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Find out more about our award-winning services and solutions for retailers by connecting with us at global_marketing@apllogistics.com or visit us at www.apllogistics.com today.

56 | Endeavour Magazine

Endeavour Magazine | 57

AUTOMOTIVES NEW GENERATION HYUNDAI I30 TOURER: ELEGANCE MEETS VERSATILITY

T

his year’s Geneva International Motor Show will be the stage

The overall length of the Tourer is 4,585 mm (5-door version:

for the unveiling of the New Generation Hyundai i30 Tourer –

4,340 mm), and the height is 1,465 mm (1,475 mm with roof rack).

the latest member of the i30 family, and one which maintains

The overall width of the vehicle is 1,795 mm and wheelbase of

the timeless design of its five-door sibling, and the characteristic

2,650 mm are the same as the five-door version.

elegance and style that this model is well-known for.

“Designed, developed, tested and manufactured in Europe, the New Generation Hyundai i30 is Hyundai Motor’s DNA car in Europe,” says Thomas A. Schmid, Chief Operating Officer at Hyundai Motor Europe. “The i30 is more than just a model – it is a family of cars, consisting of four body types with unique characters united by a coherent, timeless design. With the new i30 Tourer we are now introducing the next body type, offering elegance and versatility for everyone.”

“The New Generation i30 Tourer speaks the language of the i30 family in terms of design, and it carries the new Hyundai family identity – the Cascading Grille,” explains Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Design Centre Europe. “The tapering roofline and the dynamic proportions give the Tourer an almost coupé-like silhouette. The sleek and dynamic profile is further emphasised by a rich chrome frame surrounding the side windows.”

HIGH VERSATILITY WITH ONE OF THE BIGGEST BOOTS IN THE SEGMENT The i30 Tourer’s sleek design does not compromise boot space, however - with 602 litres of space and 1,650 litres with the seats folded, it has one of the biggest boots in the segment. Versatility is further enhanced by the additional storage space beneath the boot floor with several compartments.

58 | Endeavour Magazine

BEST-IN-CLASS STANDARD SAFETY PACKAGE Much as you might expect, Hyundai Motor has packed the New Generation i30 Tourer with some great tech, which includes some of the latest active safety and connectivity features available today. The i30 offers best-in-class standard active safety with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Driver Attention Alert, High Beam Assist and Lane Keeping Assist System always on board.

Using camera sensors, the Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) fitted in the i30 operates in three stages. Initially warning the driver visually and acoustically, it controls the brake according to the collision danger stage, and applies maximum braking force to avoid a collision or minimise damage when a collision is unavoidable. The optional pedestrian recognition uses a front radar and avoids or mitigates the consequence of an impact with a pedestrian.

Additionally, Driver Attention Alert (DAA) is a driver protection feature which helps monitor driving patterns in order to detect fatigued driving and prevent potential accidents, and Smart Cruise Control (ASCC) keeps a constant speed and distance from the vehicle ahead by automatically accelerating and braking up to 180 km/h. If the traffic comes to a halt, the system applies the brake until the car comes to a standstill and accelerates to the desired speed as soon as the road is clear. The Blind Spot Detector (BSD) with Lane Change Assist monitors the rear corners and, if

DYNAMIC AND EFFICIENT POWERTRAINS The powertrain line-up of the i30 Tourer consists of downsized turbocharged engines to enhance efficiency and responsiveness (preliminary fuel consumption in l/100 km for the Hyundai i30 Wagon range: combined 5.8 – 3.6 l/100km, CO2 Emissions 135– 95 g/km*). Customers can choose from two petrol engines and one 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine with 110PS. The Tourer is available with Hyundai’s all-new turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, the 1.4 T-GDI delivers maximum power of 140 PS and the new three-cylinder 1.0 T-GDI that delivers maximum power of 120 PS.

DRIVING DYNAMICS The engineers of Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Centre in Germany enhanced the driving dynamics of the New Generation i30 in a rigorous testing programme throughout Europe and on the famous Nürburgring Nordschleife. The highly rigid and light body with 53 % Advanced High Strength Steel provides the basis another vehicle is detected, a visual alert appears on the exterior mirrors, while the Rear-Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) system reduces the risk of collision with approaching traffic when reversing out of narrow areas with low visibility by alerting the driver visually and acoustically.

The Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) alerts the driver of

for good ride and handling characteristics, and the fact that it is combined with 10 % more direct steering and a newly developed chassis means the driver can enjoy dynamic driving together with high levels of comfort.

MADE IN EUROPE

unsafe movements at over 60 km/h by sensing the car’s position.

Designed in Hyundai Motor Europe’s Technical Centre in

It warns the driver before inducing corrective steering to guide the

Rüsselsheim, produced in Nošovice, Czech Republic, and tested

driver back to a safe position. The Speed Limit Information Function

on the Nürburgring, the third generation i30 family is built on the

(SLIF) identifies road speed signs and displays the speed limit in real

infrastructure that Hyundai Motor has developed over the last 25

time, and last but not least a High Beam Assist (HBA) detects both

years in Europe. It aims to continue the success of the two previous

oncoming vehicles and vehicles in the same lane ahead at night

generations of i30, which have sold more than 800,000 cars in

and changes to low-beam as appropriate, reducing blinding effects

Europe since 2008.

on other drivers. Whenever there are no vehicles detected HBA automatically re-activates the high beams, maximising the driver’s range of vision.

SMART AND CONNECTED The i30 Wagon offers customers a spacious and elegant interior with a horizontal layout and free floating screen for the infotainment system. The eight-inch touch screen of the new generation navigation system offers state-of-the-art connectivity features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and LIVE Services. A wireless charging system for smartphones with the Qi standard is available as well. As an alternative, customers can choose between different audio options, including the audio system with a five-inch capacitive LCD touch screen with integrated dynamic rear-view camera, Bluetooth connectivity and My Music functionality.

Endeavour Magazine | 59

60 | Endeavour Magazine

KORITE AMMOLITE WWW.KORITE.COM 1-800-917-2228

A GEM OF AN IDEA WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON

When it comes to the glamorous world of gemstone discovery and jewellery creation, there is one company that seems to be leagues ahead of competitors in terms of innovative designs and beautiful materials, which is why Endeavour Magazine wanted to take a closer look at KORITE. Endeavour Magazine | 61

KORITE AMMOLITE

Founded in 1979, KORITE has risen through the ranks to become Canada’s premier and most respected coloured gemstone discovery operation, thanks to its single-minded approach to harvesting and displaying ammolite.

I

n fact, the company vision says so much more than we ever could, in terms of how focused it is, “To colour the world with KORITE ammolite, Canada’s

gemstone, recognised for its unique provenance, high quality, rare vibrancy and talisman-like energy.”

With a targeted vision such as this, it makes sense that the mission statement of the operation talks exclusively about celebrating the incredible gemstone, through amazing jewellery designs and high-end collectibles, but what exactly is ammolite?

Derived from ammonite, a fossilised material that is notable for its unusually vibrant colours and stunning composition, finished ammolite has all the aesthetic superiority of its parent material, but in a more polished and presentable way.

“Ammolite is an official gem, certified by the World Gemstone Federation, one of three in the past 300 years. Rare because of its limited discovery in Southern Alberta’s Bearpaw Formation, KORITE is a truly unique and authentic ammolite gem that has bold vibrancy, positive energy and a natural history.”

With control over more than 90% of the ammolite resources in the world, it comes as no surprise that KORITE is so successful, knowledgeable and respected in the industry, after all, if you

62 | Endeavour Magazine

KORITE AMMOLITE

surround yourself with one specialist product, you’re going to

forward designs for its signature KORITE jewellery. Distinctly

quickly become an expert in it! Don’t think that a single-minded

colourful and deeply emotive, the new direction will help grow the

approach to harvesting means an unethical approach though, as

business to secure its leadership in the industry.”

that couldn’t be further from the truth as KORITE stands by,

So, KORITE is a market leader, has monopoly over the lion-share

“Environmental and ethical mining practices, eco-responsible

of the natural resources in the world, thanks to ownership of the

leadership, manufacture, design and community support to the

largest commercial mine and now, has an incredibly experienced

highest standards of sustainability, design, craft and citizenship.

and industry-expert management team in place, but that’s not all.

The company, its discovery team, craftspeople, designers and sales

With a smooth finish and gorgeous aesthetics that are said to rival

professionals stand by quality and professional confidence at every

black opals for their colour and fire, ammolite is entwined in legend,

stage of its intimate Canadian operations.”

folklore and even spirituality,

With a fantastic heritage in the industry already, a new

“Recognised as the most influential stone of the millennium,

management team came as a welcomed refresh and brought new

ammolite is celebrated internationally, by Feng Shui masters for its

knowledge into the fold that would prove to be fantastically useful

significant properties. Only KORITE Canadian ammonites combine

for future projects. Martin Bunting, a respected retail executive,

the excellent properties of the ammolite gemstone and the good

has been brought in as CEO, alongside Jay Maull, a mining and

fortune of the shell together in one beautiful and very special fossil.

jewellery professional, who was appointed as company President.

The gem symbolises good luck and prosperity, enhances clarity,

The introduction of these two top-level executives in 2015

promotes cooperation and encourages wisdom.”

heralded a new dawn for KORITE and to say that the future looks set to be dazzling, would be a trite understatement,

Filled with vibrant colours that correspond to key Feng Shui principles, it’s no surprise that ammolite is treated with respect and

“New management introduces new and exciting opportunities

reverence, or that KORITE has made such an effort to protect its

to evolve the brand by exploring refined, on trend and fashion-

interests, primarily by announcing that it owns and runs the only

64 | Endeavour Magazine

legal ammonite-producing mine, the reach of which is now being

marketplace through hard work and innovation, there is a sense of

extended by a huge five acres.

having stumbled upon an unusually progressive organisation,

With demand from 28 countries for this amazing and diverse

“From responsible harvest at its award winning excavation to

gem, there’s no mistaking that the extra acres are needed, but

finished jewellery and decor statement pieces sold around the

Canada itself is also seeing a huge increase in demand, thanks to

world, the company stands by quality and professional confidence

the 150th birthday celebrations being held in 2017,

at every stage of its International operations. We have now

“Canadians can bring out their true colours with ammolite in preparation for Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in 2017 and

become one of the most loved and respected coloured gemstone companies, with a far-reaching signature jewellery brand.”

KORITE is proud to be the official jewellery supplier licensee for

Just as ammolite can be traced back 71-million years and has

Canada 150. The ammolite gemstone is set in beautifully designed,

a long and traceable history, we get the feeling that KORITE has

Canadian symbolic keepsakes and jewellery as a new collection of

many more years of successful mining and design ahead of it. The

everyday wearable accessories. Promoting Canadian patriotism,

Canada 150 celebrations and increased mining facilities are just

there will be 21 keepsakes to collect, set in silver plate or sterling

two amazing developments to happen to KORITE in 2017 and it’s

925 silver.

only just begun, so we can only imagine the stratospheric levels of

KORITE encourages Canadians to share the ammolite keepsakes

success that await the team as the year progresses.

with friends and family locally and abroad to spread the message of unity, independence and cultural diversity in Canada.”

It’s not a rarity to find a forward-thinking company that produces inspiring, gorgeous products, but when you couple that with a genuine commitment to environmental stewardship and a desire to make a global impression on a highly competitive

Gemstones & Jewellery Online » www.pointersgroup.com

Dragon Sculptures wall hand made with Canadian Ammolite and other world gems

Providing Rare Gems and Art since 1964

Endeavour Magazine | 65

66 | Endeavour Magazine

SUPERPHARM LTD WWW.SUPERPHARM.CO.TT 001 (868) 675 5666

CONVENIENCE, QUALITY, AND SERVICE WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

It is truly a measure of success when a company enters the market and not only goes on to become leader of its field within less than a decade, but has so transformative an impact that its brand becomes synonymous with the industry in which it operates.

Endeavour Magazine | 67

SUPERPHARM LTD

The SuperPharm story began a little over 10-years ago in 2005

– a vintage year for Trinidadians, who were watching with delight as the swashbuckling Soca Warriors went on their famous run through the qualifying stages to reach the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

It was also during this year that SuperPharm made its entrance into Trinidad & Tobago’s retail pharmacy market, with the glamorous opening of its Westmoorings store – the first of a further seven which have since opened in Diego Martin, Gulf View, Marabella, Maraval, Price Plaza, Trincity, and Valsayn.

SuperPharm is by no means the first retail chain of its kind to

media and ministers as they entered the building for the first time.

open for business in Trinidad & Tobago but there is certainly no other

Everyone was wowed.” Over the weeks and months that followed,

brand in its field that has come close to matching its achievements.

another staff member Abigail, noted how the branch had the same

Long before the high-profile inauguration of its first outlet, the

effect on everybody who walked through the outlet’s doors, and

owners of SuperPharm were quietly planning to revolutionise the

especially on those who found out about its most talked about

industry that it would later come to dominate, and they planned to

feature – the drive-thru window:

do so by combining international standards of quality and service with a dash of Trinidadian flair.

“I worked in the store for a couple of years, mostly on the night shifts. The night shifts were hard but fun, you’d be amazed

Perhaps Glenn Maharaj, SuperPharm’s CEO, said it best, when

to see what people came to buy at those late hours. We even had

he explained: “We were the first convenience pharmacy concept

customers drive up to our window placing KFC orders only to

to come to Trinidad, and the first brand to enter the market and

realise they got into the wrong drive through line. There was not

truly elevate the standard of the market. On a structural level,

one night that passed where a customer did not bring a smile to

SuperPharm is comparable to any global retail business, and this is

your face with their requests.”

reflected in the way that we do business day to day.”

This much-loved SuperPharm hallmark, which can be found at

Upon visiting one of its stores, it is easy to see what Glenn means.

all of its branches, is no mere novelty however. Rather, the drive-

Aesthetically speaking, SuperPharm stores are strikingly similar in

thru is a perfect example of SuperPharm’s dedication to making it

appearance to the traditional ‘big box’ US-based pharmacies, with

as easy as possible for the customer to come and buy medicines

the intention of creating an exciting, larger than life feel around

and groceries.

the brand. Take the Westmoorings outlet, for example: the new

The company’s commitment to convenience and quality

store had a visibly powerful effect on those who attended its

came about as a result of detailed preliminary research, which

inauguration because, prior to this, nothing like it had ever been

was conducted to ensure that SuperPharm would hit the ground

seen before. And if it had, certainly not in the retail pharmacy

running when it opened its doors for business. A considerable

market. The surprise on the faces of attendees is something Vandra

amount of time, energy, and resources were invested in the process

Balroop, one of SuperPharm’s first staff members, remembers all

of planning store design and layout, brand strategy, and product

too well: “The opening day was crazy as you saw the faces of the

selection. Many questions were raised during this consultation

68 | Endeavour Magazine

period, but one question came up above all others, time and time again: what should SuperPharm be to its customers? It soon became apparent that to be valuable to the community, its stores would have to be about convenience.

In light of this, SuperPharm went on to take its focus on convenience to a whole new level. The opening hours of its stores were extended beyond what was being offered by any of its marketplace rivals. SuperPharm is open until 11pm, 7-days a week, each and every day of the year, barring Christmas Day. Mr. Christian Mouttet, SuperPharm’s Chairman, elaborated on this further, when he stated: “Value is about more than price, and we were able to focus on convenience as adding value. SuperPharm focuses on being available and open when our customers want us to be open, as opposed to what’s convenient for us.”

This customer-first approach also extends to the placement of SuperPharm’s stores, which have been carefully located to ensure that they were convenient for the communities in which they operated, and also its extensive range of in-store products and services. The company’s consumer base is made-up of a broad cross-section of Trinidadians of all ages and from all backgrounds, and it is therefore essential to ensure that customers know they can visit a SuperPharm branch and find what they need.

Endeavour Magazine | 69

SUPERPHARM LTD In terms of store layout, we have three points of demarcation

are now in our HR, Operations, Marketing, Development, Finance,

in our stores: our pharmacy, beauty section – which will soon see

and Category Management. We have top-level professionals at

beauty advisers working in-store, and the market, which offers

executive and managerial levels, and with these foundations we

grocery goods and fresh foods to go. If you picture going into a

can really push forward in our commitment to our purpose. There

SuperPharm ‘big box,’ you’ll see these three sections of the store.”

are highly skilled people in each functional area needed to run our

SuperPharm’s rise to the summit of its industry has been

business. And this puts us in a position of great not only when it

impressive, and there is no doubting that Glenn has influenced the

comes to managing team operations, but also future growth and

direction of the company since he joined three years ago. Before

expansion.”

he became CEO of SuperPharm, Glenn cut his teeth with Prestige

SuperPharm’s professional and friendly team, who play so

Holdings Ltd, where he was directly responsible for overseeing all

important a frontline role as ambassadors for the company,

KFC and Pizza Hut franchises in Trinidad & Tobago. His exposure

have been another critical component in SuperPharm’s rise. In

to these world leading retail brands has allowed him to utilise this

the communities in which SuperPharm operates, customers

experience to create a locally-developed brand which adheres to

are drawn to the great customer service and relationships that

the international standards.

exist between both sides. This is no coincidence. People skills

“Our focus as a business is how can we improve the customer

are taken into consideration during the recruitment process, but

experience when they are in our stores, and we have created a whole

more important is the staff training scheme which follows. In this

organisation-wide infrastructure to find solutions. In terms of our

respect, SuperPharm has invested heavily so that its staff can bring

organisation, this is what I feel differentiates us from everybody

out their best, and begin to unlock their true potential. Mr. Mouttet

else, taking products and store aesthetics out of the picture for a

elaborated: “I think a large part of the success of the business from

moment,” said Glenn. He continued: “SuperPharm’s organisational

the very start was about trying to attract the best people that we

structure is made-up of some of the best talent in the country, who

could, but then not just deploying them into the workplace without

70 | Endeavour Magazine

going through training to understand the business, and how to interact with customers at that level of service that we want to offer.” He feels that for the most part SuperPharm can be proud of their service record in what can sometimes be a somewhat difficult labour market.

In terms of what the future holds for the company, it is clear to see that SuperPharm is only heading in one direction – up. Glenn Maharaj is certainly optimistic, and he believes that so long as the company can continue to stay ahead of the curve, its future is restassured. There are plentiful growth opportunities within Trinidad for the company, and over the medium-term SuperPharm intends to maximize its potential by expanding out through opening new stores, beginning with two new stores in the east and centre of the country.

The biggest development to come, however, will be the rollout of SuperPharm’s new concept called Presto. The concept incorporates Fresh Foods to Go including rotisserie chicken, a bakery, food, drinks, snacks and many convenience items.

In 2012, Sagicor, an innovator in the group health industry, introduced a new and convenient solution to minimise the out of pocket expenses for prescription drugs, vision and dental care—our CariCARE card!

And now, with our extensive list of providers throughout Trinidad and Tobago, we are pleased to announce the launch of our loyalty programme, beginning April 2017.

Contact Sagicor today!

Endeavour Magazine | 71

72 | Endeavour Magazine

AMARNA CONSULT WWW.AMARNACONSULT.COM 001 (758) 450 0227

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

Construction and engineering can be a tough, rough-and-tumble game, especially when the marketplace is as challenging as it is in St. Lucia currently. The St. Lucian economy has been mired in a prolonged slump, and its construction and engineering sector operators have found themselves treading water on more than one occasion. Amarna Consult Limited (ACL), however, has been an exception to the rule, and has enjoyed great success thanks to the powerful bridges it has built with a network of fellow partners and suppliers around the world. Amarna’s Managing Director, Akhnaton St. Rose, told us more.

Endeavour Magazine | 73

AMARNA CONSULT

It is telling that even over the course of what has been a pretty tough decade, Amarna has risen from its humble beginnings in St. Lucia to become a respected name in its field in the Caribbean. More than this, though, the company has reached out across the globe, and become a name that is highly regarded over continents.

A

marna has established a reputation for excellence as a Civil, Structural & Geotechnical Engineering firm, and has further developed its repertoire to include Architecture, Project

Management, Construction and Development services. As its portfolio of successfully completed projects shows, Armana has a penchant for delivering optimised and quality controlled designs at speed, and, most importantly, at value. It goes without saying that, to achieve this, ACL consistently offers a high degree of productivity and efficiency, and a design process, which combines cutting-edge technologies with the best and brightest talent the industry has to offer. Not that this tells the whole story, however.

“We live like human beings who wish to enjoy everything we can. It’s not all about business and maximising profit for us. It’s not about egos. We prefer a simpler life of just partnering with people we like working with. We’re a small outfit based in St. Lucia that has gained the ability to work internationally, but there is no limit to what we want to do. We’re very ambitious and have very open minds,” said Akhnaton. So just how is it that a small engineering consultancy operating solely in a St. Lucian market develops a reputation for excellence, grows into a regional establishment and is now conducting business and knocking on the door of international markets on every continent? The answer is simple, in Akhnaton’s view: partnerships, collaboration, and a customer-first approach to doing business.

He explained: “We have gone from being a local and regional operator to having a truly international reach, and this is thanks to our loyal, dedicated and exceptionally skilled team here at

74 | Endeavour Magazine

home, along with the strong partnerships that we’ve built with key

constructed over this project, with the first building structure

companies and suppliers around the world. I think that is the thing

consisting of a six-storey block with post tensioned slabs and

that excites all of us the most right now – the ability to export our

reinforced concrete moment frame on ductile iron piles. Since this

services globally.

project, several folks have started coming to us to ask us to provide

When pursuing ambitious projects, like a Design-Build proposal

a Value Engineering service to them too. This value engineering

for the Royalton Resort in Antigua that we are currently preparing,

service, which doesn’t compromise on build quality, is probably the

we will strategically partner and associate with other companies

achievement I’m most proud of.”

with whom we can share mutually beneficial relationships. For

The rest, as they, is history. It was as a direct result of this

instance, our in-house Engineering & Architectural capabilities

breakthrough that Amarna became acquainted with companies

mesh well with the specialist skills available within Complete

like SpeedFloor and Coles Associates – two of the company’s

Marine Services Limited (CMS) based in St. Lucia for piling and

closest collaborations to this day, with whom it shares a powerful,

marine construction; Kee-Chanona Limited (KCL) out of Trinidad

and some might say symbiotic relationship. Akhnaton doesn’t

& Tobago for tall building construction; and SpeedFloor USA

see other technically sound and thriving companies as rivals, but

operating out of Ohio who bring one of the lightest, fastest, easiest

rather as resources to learn from or partner with, harmoniously and

and safest to construct, light gauge steel (LGS) composite flooring

collaboratively to the benefit of all. He doesn’t believe in competing.

systems in the world to the table. In short, we partner with like-

He just believes in the company and loves his craft.

minded companies with whom we can share mutually beneficial

Amarna’s reputation as one of the best in the business has

relationships. In so doing, the interaction is enjoyable, effortless

been hard-earned, and Akhnaton is under no illusion as to what has

and potently efficient.”

made the company’s rise to the top possible in so short a period of

It is through collaborating with its small but incredibly strong

time: it’s small, crack team of professionals.

network of international partners that Amarna has managed to

“Our team is priceless. They are ambitious, hardworking,

operate across territories that Akhnaton and his team could only

intelligent, productive and still keep on striving to improve,”

have dreamed of working in ten years ago. Whether as a project

explained Akhnaton proudly. He continued: “Our staff are more

consultant, or a design-build contractor, or a partner to either, the company has taken on residential, government and commercial projects across a great many countries, which has enabled the company to continue generating revenue at a time when the marketplace at home in St. Lucia remains stagnant. Undoubtedly, Amarna’s international outlook is what has enabled the company to survive.

The company’s rise to prominence was no accident. Up until 2011, the company was all but confined to the Caribbean market, but a chance contract from a St. Kitts-based company which was having a resort built on the island changed everything, as Akhnaton explained: “One of the largest Engineering Consultancies in Thailand had completed the Civil & Structural Engineering Design for a resort project in St. Kitts, and as a locally based engineer I was asked to review their proposal. After studying the design drawings, we proposed a more efficient structural solution for the building slabs, piling and foundations, which would enable construction cost estimates to be reduced from US$200 million all the way down to US$160 for the entire resort. CMS also played a major role in finalizing this solution.

Upon our submission, we were invited to Thailand to make a presentation to the engineers who had come up with the original design. However, we found that they weren’t too keen on incorporating our recommendations in a revised design. In the end we were engaged as the Civil & Structural Engineering Designers and were able to help the developer realize tremendous savings.

To date more than 100,000 sq. ft. of building floor area has been Endeavour Magazine | 75

AMARNA CONSULT important than anything else really for the success of our company.

through the European Patent Office for an innovative new LGS

They must be healthy, happy, and comfortable at work and at

structural flooring system – a product that he believes could prove

home. I try my best to show each team member that I am genuinely

revolutionary. With the help of its Madrid-based patent agent ABG

concerned about their well-being.

Patentes and business planning consultants HM Consultores in

I try to find out the three things that team members like doing most – love doing most, in fact. If we are all doing what we

Aveiro, the current goal is to establish multiple production lines, the first of which is to be in Portugal.

love, then it doesn’t feel like work, because it just isn’t. To ensure

“Traditionally, light-gauge steel used for composite flooring

efficiency, everybody works in specialist roles that best fit their

systems is one-way spanning. However, by using a two-way

interests and which they are most happy to do. This goes for

spanning system it basically utilises more efficiently the various

technicians, engineers, architects, administrative staff – everybody

materials engaged in supporting the floor loads, particularly the

here at Amarna.”

concrete. By developing compressive stresses in orthogonal

As is often the case with industry leading companies, there is

directions within the concrete topping in a horizontal plane, a

an overt recognition at ACL that its staff are the key to its long-

much lighter structure that can span much greater distances than

term future, which is why the company goes to great lengths to

traditional ones may be achieved. This will benefit clients, in that

invest in its team in order to help them achieve professional and

the lighter structure requires less materials, which drastically

personal self-actualisation. There is also an ingrained culture of

reduces cost,” Akhnaton concluded, on this subject.

openness and collaboration, which has led to the sharing of ideas

With no planned development path to speak to, Amarna is

and information, and an environment in which staff can make

unusual, in that it is drifting with great buoyancy at the top of its

recommendations to senior management and the leadership team

field. And with more as-of-yet undiscovered opportunities out

for the betterment of the company.

there for the company, both at home and abroad, one only has

In terms of what the future holds for ACL, these are optimistic times. The company is set to take a giant stride forward over

to imagine what further success lies ahead for Akhnaton and his remarkable team over the years to come.

the coming months and years, following its patent application

With our pluralistic cultural background here in the Caribbean, it is inevitable that our Architectural expressions be eclectic. The challenge now is to generate a style which can be embraced by all of us here in the Caribbean as our own, since that would reflect to the world that we have become a cohesive, independent and unified Society. We must therefore distill from the wide variety of Cultural influences an Architecture, which has popular meaning.

Interisland Architects and Planners Limited (IAPL) – (formerly NLBA(WI)Ltd. in association with Interisland Architects and Planners and NLBA Architects Ltd. Trinidad) has been providing a complete range of architectural services in the East Caribbean since 1946.

76 | Endeavour Magazine

INTERISLAND ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS LIMITED

Practicing in the Caribbean since 1946

Distinctive ArchitecturalLIMITED Style born INTERISLAND ARCHITECTS AND PLANNERS IAP INTERNATIONAL INC. out of the Caribbean climate and Formerly NLBA(WI)Ltd. inan association with Interisland Architects and Planners and awakening awareness of our rich NLBA Architects Ltd. Trinidad. historical and cultural heritage in an era of post-Colonial Independence.

Practicing in the Caribbean since 1946.

The work of the Firm reflects the emergence of a distinctive Architectural Style born out of the Caribbean climate and an awakening awareness of our rich historical and cultural heritage in an era of post-Colonial Independence.

We offer full architectural and interior design services from project formulation and inception, design, development, construction documentation and contract administration through to final With our pluralistic Cultural background here in the Caribbean, it is completion inevitable thatand ourpost-construction Architectural expressions be eclectic. The challenge now is to generate a style which can support services. be embraced by all of us here in the Caribbean as our own, since that would reflect to the world that we have become a cohesive, independent and unified Society. We must therefore distill from the wide variety of Cultural influences an Architecture, which has popular meaning.

Interisland Architects and Planners Limited (IAPL) – (formerly NLBA(WI)Ltd. in association with Interisland Architects and Planners and NLBA Architects Ltd. Trinidad) www.iapl.lc has been providing a complete range of architectural services in the East Caribbean since info@iapl.lc 1946.

1

(758)452-9300 (758)452-0430 P.O.Box 2147, Gros Islet Saint Lucia, West Indies

AMAZING WORLD TRAPPIST-1 : THE LONG-AWAITED HOLY GRAIL FOR PLANET-HUNTING ASTRONOMERS

H

ave you always found Captain James T. Kirk’s swashbuckling

of the neighbouring TRAPPIST-1 system and its seven temperate

galactic adventures to be terribly exciting? Or perhaps you

planets, each of which look like earth, and are similarly located in

have a more serious interest in the universe that goes beyond

their solar system’s galactic sweet-spot, is one of the most important

such sci-fi geekery. Either way, if you tick one of these boxes, it

scientific events in recent times. It is for good reason that a number

would be safe to say you’ll have found this month to be an especially

of scientists are in agreement that the “holy grail for planet-hunting

momentous one.

astronomers”, has been found.

NASA’s incredible announcement surrounding the detection

Located a mere 39 light years away, which in relative terms is

of a new solar system capable of supporting life was a genuinely

the street just around the corner as far as galactic distances go,

historic moment for the world. Granted, it wasn’t quite the dramatic

TRAPPIST-1 heralds the beginning of a new era of space science.

announcement that many had hoped for – there is no confirmation

In case you were wondering just what all the fuss is about, and

of alien life just yet, after all. Undoubtedly, however, the discovery

what it is about this particular solar system that has gotten NASA

78 | Endeavour Magazine

and the science community so

to the sun would render them nothing more than flaming balls of

weak at the knees, here’s the

rock wholly unsuitable for life, TRAPPIST-1 is an ultra-cool dwarf

answer: While astronomers have

star of limited luminosity and sufficiently low temperature to ensure

detected countless solar systems

that they fall within what’s known as the habitable zone – a region

over the past half century, and

around a star where temperatures are neither too high or too cold,

a growing handful of planets in

but just right so liquid water can exist. And of the seven, scientists

the last decade, warm, rocky

believe that three of them are so perfectly situated that there is a

‘Earthlike’ planets have proved

good chance liquid water may exist on the surface.

to be something of a rarity.

Water is a pre-requisite for life to exist so even if life hasn’t yet

In fact, up until TRAPPIST-1

taken hold in any of these three worlds, it’s entirely likely that it might

was found, scientists only had

evolve in the future. Just to be certain, though, NASA is planning to

four known terrestrial planets

utilise the James Webb Space Telescope to find out which chemicals

to study – the four in our own

exist there, including water, oxygen, ozone, methane, and others

solar system here in Sol. Now

– key indicators that will give us an idea of whether life has yet

though, researchers can observe

taken root.

a further seven planets that are

Another similarity that TRAPPIST-1’s planets share with earth

much like our own, and what’s

is size. NASA has been carefully observing the planets for at least

more they now have the perfect

a year, and has ascertained that each of the seven planets in the

laboratory with which to study

system are between 0.77 to 1.09 times the radius of the earth,

alien worlds. And most excitingly

making them almost identical to our home in size. One crucial

of all? There is a very real chance

difference in the view of NASA however is that the planets could

that any one, if not all of these

be tidally locked to the star – in other words, one side of the planet

mysterious alien worlds could be

is always facing the star. If this is the case, it would mean that once

a home to extra-terrestrial life in

side of the planet in question has perpetual daytime while the other

some shape or form.

has permanent night, and would be subject to wild temperature

But let’s elaborate further on

extremes and weather patterns entirely unlike anything on earth.

why this is so. The orbit of the

But for now, this is all speculation. Only with the passing of time

seven planets in TRAPPIST-1

and a great deal of thorough research will we find out the nitty gritty

are very near to their star; closer

characteristics of our new-found neighbours. Here’s to hoping that

than Mercury is to our very own

one day our great-great-great-great grandchildren will be able to

sun, in fact. But whereas in our

pop their by shuttle and see for themselves!

own solar system such proximity Endeavour Magazine | 79

80 | Endeavour Magazine

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT WWW.AUB.EDU.LB 961-1-340460

150 YEARS OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

Lebanon, and its cosmopolitan capital of Beirut, has for more than a century drawn visitors from all over the world to its shores. For so small a country, Lebanon, with its rich cultural and historical offerings, temperate climate, and world-famous cuisine, has a reputation far greater than its size, particularly in the Arab world, where it is almost universally held in the highest regard.

Endeavour Magazine | 81

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

Once regarded as the ‘Switzerland of the East’ during the 1960’s,

because of its renowned prosperity and global standing as a commercial and banking hub, Lebanon and its people went on to endure great tragedy following the eruption of a 16-year civil war between 1975-1990. Quite aside from the horrendous human cost, the civil war led to the utter destruction of the country’s formerly-wealthy economy.

A

nd yet in spite of this trauma, and the sporadic bursts of

services to students and build new infrastructure. The university

political violence that have flared up intermittently since, it

has grown and we are preparing a new strategic plan as well as

says much of the resilience of the Lebanese people that the

a campus master plan that will be implemented over the coming

country is once again one of the richest in the Middle East by

years. The most important goal in the strategic plan is to move AUB

measure of GDP per capita, and that its world-famous university,

from being a teaching-centred research institution toward being

the American University of Beirut has maintained its reputation for

a premier research institution in the region. AUB has reinstated

academic excellence.

tenure this year by a decision of the Board of Trustees. When tenure

Founded in 1866, the American University of Beirut (AUB) is

is implemented, hopefully in a year or so, the university will be able

one of the oldest centres of higher education in the Middle East,

to attract and retain qualified faculty who are excellent researchers

having originally been founded by American missionaries in 1866

and at the same time great educators.

as the Syrian Protestant College, an independent institution with

In the last 15 years, AUB has grown considerably, from about

a focus on medical studies. In 1920 the college was renamed the

5,000 students to more than 8,600 students, including graduate

American University of Beirut, and it has since gone on to build

and undergraduate students. Because of this, we need more space

an illustrious academic heritage that is virtually unmatched in the

on campus to accommodate students, faculty, and staff.”

region.

The University, which was granted institutional accreditation in

For many years, AUB has appealed to a wide regional and

June 2004 by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle

international cross-section of students, thanks to its educational

States Association of Colleges and Schools in the United States

philosophy, standards, and practices on the American liberal arts

and reaffirmed in 2016, includes six faculties: Agricultural and

model of higher education. The University encourages freedom of

Food Sciences, Arts and Sciences, Engineering and Architecture,

thought and expression and seeks to graduate men and women

Health Sciences, Medicine (which includes the Rafic Hariri School

committed to creative and critical thinking, life-long learning,

of Nursing), and the Suliman S. Olayan School of Business. In total,

personal integrity, civic responsibility, and leadership.

there are currently more than 130 bachelor’s, master’s, MD, and

A teaching-centred research university, today, AUB has around

PhD degrees on offer to students, all of which are taught in English,

800 lecturers and instructors, and a student body of around 8,000

barring of course studies in the Arabic Department and other

students, and continues to pursue

language courses.

“We try to improve at all levels and want to improve our 82 | Endeavour Magazine

AUB has all but recovered its élan and cosmopolitan spirit, in

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT

spite its past troubles and the volatility that continues to plague

“Our students are often involved in community development

tracts of the Middle East. Americans are signing up for Middle

programs that widen their minds and move them to help others,

Eastern and Arabic-language studies, while Arab students who

which is one of AUB’s ultimate missions.

want an American education, but have difficulties in obtaining visas or are reluctant to go to the United States, are coming to AUB.

We also have scholarship programs that support needy but academically qualified students from Lebanon and from the region.

Today, AUB is competing with top American universities like

Under these programs, students are required to be civically engaged

Cornell, Texas A & M, Georgetown and the University of Arizona

and to participate in the service of the community so as to enhance

for the pool of students, faculty members and projects in the Arab

their leadership skills. They do that with the help of CCECS. Such

world. However, four advantages that AUB has over its wealthy

programs include the USP/USAID scholarship program, the Middle

American competitors is that: “we know the Middle East and speak

East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and the MasterCard Foundation.

the language better than they do. AUB costs a lot less than its U.S.

We recently started another program (or phase II) of MasterCard

counterparts. We have continuity and are not going away. Also,

Foundation for supporting underprivileged students, particularly

AUB has brand recognition throughout the region as far as the

from sub-Saharan Africa. The number of students supported by

Bedouin village at the tip of Oman.”

the scholarship programs will soon reach about 500. Recently we

What with AUB being the respected institution that it is, and

also got involved through CCECS with some international agencies

something of an elder statesman in Lebanese society, contribution

contributing to relieve the effects of the Syrian refugee crisis by

to community development and support programs are at the heart

building schools or sending our faculty members to teach at schools

of AUB’s activities. It goes about this through the university’s

built by NGOs.”

Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service (CCECS), that reaches out and encourages students to contribute to the community.

84 | Endeavour Magazine

ESCO Eastern Scientific Company s.a.r.l

Endeavour Magazine | 85

86 | Endeavour Magazine

BHL GROUP WWW.BHLGROUPINT.COM 260 968 888 000

LIGHTENING THE LOAD WRITTEN BY AMY BUXTON

If you think that logistics and transportation doesn’t require a human touch, you’re about to be proven wrong, as Endeavour Magazine took a look at BHL Group and we were surprised by what we discovered!

Endeavour Magazine | 87

BHL GROUP

Founded back in 2004 in Zambia, BHL Group (BHL)

had a vision to offer tailored transportation and logistics, alongside other ‘value-added services and facilities’, but this is no ordinary operation.

Y

ou won’t find surly drivers, uninterested office staff and poor

committed to honouring our agreements with our clients on time,

customer service here, as there is a deep-seated commitment

and at all levels, while remaining professional at all times.”

to not only providing the most innovative logistics solutions,

And there’s the crux of the matter. Professional and personable

but also to building genuine and long-lasting relationships. Don’t

can go hand in hand and actually, SHOULD, if you want your

confuse personable interactions with a lack of professionalism,

business to succeed. Offering cost-effective transport and logistics

however, as BHL works to a fiercely polished mission statement,

solutions might not, on the face of it, sound like an opportunity

“BHL is a dynamic entity currently offering total logistical

to develop close bonds and valuable friendships, but when you

solutions within Zambia and sub-Saharan Africa with the norm of

consider that logistics is all about reliability, trust and fulfilling

business currently conducted in but not limited to Zambia, DRC

promises, suddenly, there is a far more personal element at play.

and Namibia. We are renowned for our ability to bring logistical

BHL recognised this from its inception and strived to inject more

management methodologies to greater heights through our

amiable working practices from day one,

experience. Our mission is clear; to provide you with optimal

“Honesty, transparency and objectivity in dealing with

transport and logistical solutions throughout Zambia and sub-

clients are non-negotiable founding principles at BHL. We have

Saharan Africa, by combining loads when possible, ensuring that

also developed a powerful contractor base, which is both an

the vehicles for your product are optimally utilised and maintaining

empowerment initiative and beneficial to clients’ organisations.

all stock levels on a weekly, monthly basis.”

Each client is treated as an individual and offered real time

Claiming such levels of expertise and actually living up to

management solutions pertinent to their organisation. We give

them are two different things and whereas some lesser operations

peace of mind and time to focus on core business, while we manage

might make lofty claims as to the success and knowledge of

clients’ transport and logistics needs.”

their enterprise, in order to win new clients, BHL has no need to

By taking the time to really get to know and understand its

make false statements. Its reputation speaks for itself, just as the

clients, BHL is able to offer tailored solutions, as apposed to trite

relationships the team has solidified do,

promises and gives them cause to sit back and relax, knowing

“The relationships that have been established over the last

their products are in the best and most competent hands, but

couple of years between BHL and various local and cross-border

what exactly are the fantastic services that BHL offers on a day-

companies are an example of many successful and reliable

to-day basis? What vehicles are they sending out to make clients’

relationships developed between supplier and client. We are

lives that bit easier?

88 | Endeavour Magazine

BHL GROUP Naturally, a transport and logistics company ill have an impressive fleet of large vehicles, but we weren’t quite prepared

that this isn’t a company that simply sits back and waits for new developments to come to it.

for BHL’s collection. 100 side-tipper lorries, 60 flatbed trailers,

160 vehicles might sound like a lot, but as demand for

countless log and woodchip carriers and a host of front-end loaders

services grows, so too must the fleet, which is why a programme

mean that BHL are quite literally, ready for anything. Add to this the

of expansion is already at the planning stage and also, why new

rebuilding division that looks after older vehicles and carries out

depots are being built. The success of any transport and logistics

accident repair work and you’ll see that BHL is beholden to nobody

company is predicated on being able to get from a to b quickly,

or nothing for its success, which could be the key!

safely and in a cost-effective manner, which is why farms are being

While smaller, or less equipped transport companies might

converted into pivot operation centres, to offer even more bases.

have to send vehicles out for repair, impacting on client promises

The beauty of a company such as BHL is that relationships

and delivery schedules, BHL manages everything in-house. If the

have been built along the way, not after the fact. Recognising

team says they will be somewhere and ready to transport goods,

that a personable approach and genuinely invested interest in the

you can sleep soundly knowing that they will and if a vehicle breaks

successful continuation of clients’ companies was key to securing

down unexpectedly, an alternative will be sourced from the fleet

valuable contracts and trusted contacts has meant that BHL

quickly and with minimal disruption to schedules. What’s more,

has grown organically and in line with real time demand for its

with three fully equipped depots in Ndola, Solwezi and Walvis Bay

unique services. By investing in itself, always looking for ways to

and a central office in Katima Mulilo, there will always be a location

work smarter and never breaking promises to clients, BHL has

that is convenient for clients.

secured itself a place in the logistics hall of fame and we look

So what can the future hold for a company that already seems to have it all? In terms of a sterling reputation, an enviable fleet of vehicles and relationships that will last forever, BHL have really cornered the market, but we don’t think you’ll be surprised to learn

90 | Endeavour Magazine

forward to seeing what new innovations they come up with in the coming years.

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087 700 2810 Endeavour Magazine | 91

92 | Endeavour Magazine

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY WWW.KPA.CO.KE 254 722 208674

STAYING AT THE TOP WRITTEN BY DJAMIL BENMEHIDI

For many years, the Kenyan Port of Mombasa – a maritime economic powerhouse which has long been recognised as the eastern gateway into Africa – has stood head-and-shoulders above its regional rivals, and is recognised as the third largest port in Africa, behind only the ports of Durban and Richards Bay. Endeavour Magazine | 93

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY

However, times are changing, and as Africa industrialises rapidly, a

number of ports are set to emerge, such as Tanzania’s Port of Bagamoyo, which will challenge the historical hegemony of the Port of Mombasa and the body tasked with managing it, Kenya Ports Authority.

I

n the face of such competition, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) is presently facing the greatest challenge in its history. That being said, however, while the proposed Port of Bagamoyo in

Tanzania will, with its 20million containers per year capacity, be the

Wishing the Kenya Ports Authority the very best in its development programmes.

statistical equal of the Port of Mombasa, KPA has a few tricks of its own so as to ensure that it is Kenya, not Tanzania that remains ‘the hub of Africa.’

As you might expect of a quasi-governmental body which has overseen the maintenance, operations, and continued improvement of one of the African continent’s most important ports, KPA has learned a thing or two about what it takes to operate at an elite level over nearly four decades. KPA’s remit requires it to effectively manage and regulate Port of Mombasa, and a portfolio of smaller ports situated along Kenya’s coastline, and has played a key role in working to ensure that port facilities are sufficiently modernised and capable of handling the increased traffic in the present day trade environment.

“Located in the Northern Corridor, the Port of Mombasa is

Over 25 years experience in discharging and bagging of grains and fertilizers.

the biggest asset in Mombasa County and is of great historical

Inter-Globe Services Limited, P. O. Box 83259 - 80100, Mombasa , Kenya.

Telephone: 041 – 2221036 / 2221037 Cell : +254 738 770202 Email: admin@interglobe.co.ke

for Kenya and the landlocked East and Central African countries of

94 | Endeavour Magazine

importance, with roots tracing back to the 19th century - a time when the dhows once called at the Old Port on the north side of Mombasa Island. It offers essential international maritime linkage Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC. As a result, it is important that we implement the right development programmes with the ultimate aim of making the Port of Mombasa among the best ports in the world.”

KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY The East African economic miracle of the past decade and a

resource planning systems, a water front system and community-

half has seen the region boast annual GDP growth rates that have

based system all available on the web. It is the only port that is fully

surpassed even those of the roaring South-East Asian economies,

developed with modern equipment, hence making it the principal

and naturally, this has led to a significant increase in traffic volumes.

Port in the region.”

Granted, this is good for business, but equally, it has placed an

Additionally, as it bids to deliver an improved customer

increasing strain on the facilities and infrastructure of Port of

experience via improvements to interaction and customer response

Mombasa, which were not designed to handle such heavy cargo

times, KPA has taken the decision to offer a 24-hour service at the

traffic.

Port of Mombasa, “in order to ensure superior levels of service,

At present, the Port of Mombasa has close to 20 berths, each

and help ensure KPA can keep handle more traffic, maintain better

with a capacity to handle more than one million TEUs, while two

longstanding relationships with customers, and keep abreast of

recently constructed container berths provide a further 1.2 million

global shipping trends and.”

TEUs. These statistics are undoubtedly impressive, and yet over the

Harbour expansion

medium to long-term it has become apparent that Port of Mombasa

Of course, there is only so much that can be done and only

will be unable to accommodate the continuing growth in container

so much that can be spent to improve a site, and in the case of

traffic, which has been rising at a rate of 11%, in spite of the vast

Port of Mombasa, it is becoming unfeasible to invest in and expand

sums of money that have been poured into updating the port with

the seaport any further. With the looming threat of a giant new

the latest technologies in a bid to streamline internal processes,

neighbouring seaport hanging over it, KPA opted to take drastic

and improve accuracy and reliability.

action to maintain Kenya’s maritime economic dominance by

“KPA’s IT strategy is driven by its vision to achieve a rating

announcing plans to build a second seaport, the Port of Lamu

among the top 20 ports in the world in terms of reputation and

– a new facility which upon its completion will rival the Port of

performance for the Port of Mombasa. To achieve this, we have

Mombasa in terms of size and scale.

adopted a fully-integrated IT strategy that encompasses enterprise

The Port of Lamu, which is situated around 340 km north-east

www.mitchellcotts.co.ke

Locally renowned and globally respected Mitchell Cotts is the name to reckon with, in Freight and logistics industry in Kenya. We continue to provide logistics solutions to all players in the industry and with the economy soaring in several sectors, we are proud to be part of that growth process.

Having successfully curved our niche in Kenya, we are now putting concerted efforts to replicate the same standards in all our regional hubs i.e. Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and environs.

Our experienced and efficient team ensures that we are always able to keep up with our clients changing needs, hence provide tailor made solutions.

Being part of the LINK network continues to be a plus in solidifying strong partnerships and growth.

What more can we say, but welcome you to the home of logistics solutions.

Mombasa HQ : +254 730 111 000 Nairobi : +254 730 110 000 Email : info@mitchellcotts.co.ke sales@mitchellcotts.co.ke

The home of logistics solutions

Warehousing • Airfreight • Collateral Management • Transport • Motor vehicle handling • Container Freight Station (CFS) • Project Cargo • Customs Brokerage • Distribution • Ocean Freight • Transit Shed

96 | Endeavour Magazine

of Mombasa, is being built by China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), following the signing of an agreement with KPA back in August 2014 to complete the multi-billion-dollar project.

The new seaport, which is expected to enter operation in 2020, will become a key part of Kenya’s Lamu port Southern Sudan-Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) project, where it will serve as both a catalyst for economic growth and a gateway to the open oceans for the landlocked states of South Sudan and Ethiopia.

With Kenya’s economy expected to continue posting high rates of 5-7% growth over the years to come, it is clear that these are exciting times for Kenya, and indeed the wider East African region.

The Northern Corridor will continue to function as the artery through which cargo shipping laden with riches enter into East Africa before then returning to the busy sealanes to continue their journeys. The throngs of ships that enter the Port of Mombasa, along with the development of the highly-promising Port of Lamu facility are certainly signs that as the world’s advanced economies splutter and stagnate, Africa is a future engine of global economic growth in the making.

Proudly associated with Kenya Ports Authority, ISS is one of the world’s leading maritime and logistics service providers, dedicated to providing high-quality marine-based services to all our clients.

Covering every key port worldwide, our global network provides an unparalleled global resource. We cover a diverse customer base across the oil, cruise, navy, container and dry-bulk commodity sectors.

Inchcape Shipping Services has been present in Kenya for over 50 years and is a leading provider of agency services within the region. Benefiting from a positive rapport between the company and local authorities, we provide a well-coordinated, reliable, tailor-made service to all our customers.

ISS Kenya provides: • Full range of Port Agency & OPA Services • Liner husbandry services • P&I and Claims • Marine & Cargo Surveys • Shipping Line Agency Services

Inchcape Shipping Services Kenya Limited Inchcape House, Archbishop Makarios Cls. Off Moi Avenue, P.O. Box 90194, Mombasa, Kenya

Landline: +254 41 2221885 / 2227802 Mobile: +254 722 205030 / 733 622000 Email: isskenyaenquiries@iss-shipping.com

A World of Local Expertise www.iss-shipping.com Endeavour Magazine | 97