Africa Outlook - Issue 58

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AFRICA ISSUE 58

Next Stop:

SUSTAINABILITY

Marcopolo South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MASA) is replicating its renowned Brazilian successes in Africa virtue of its lean and localised approach to bus building

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES 18 Uganda: Emerging from the Shadows Ethiopia: Ruralisation Funds Urbanisation

MINOVA AFRICA 80 Building a safer tomorrow

SERVACO PPS LIMITED 112 West Africa’s one-stop industrial shop

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD EXCELLERATE 134

A commitment to client care

ALSO FEATURING: INVESTING IN AFRICAN MINING INDABA | PUMA ENERGY MALAWI | BROLL NIGERIA

Business Travel Guides

A complete guide to Africa’s leading business travel destinations

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UGANDA Uganda is growing in popularity as a tourist destination, with thanks to support from its Government and a vision for the future from the Uganda Hotel Owners Association Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Ryan Gray

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ganda is beginning to emerge from the shadows of its long history, reaching out to improve upon the former glory it held as the ‘pearl of Africa’.

The country is privy to spectacular landscapes, excellent wildlife watching opportunities and welcoming locals, considering the relatively small size of the county it packs a punch against its larger neighbours. Home to the Rwenzoris - Africa’s tallest mountain range - and the source of the Nile, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding ways to spend your free time.

Although the climate is technically equatorial, it is not as uniform as you would expect and therefore it is advisable to pack for a wide range of weather possibilities. You will find that Southern Uganda is more often than not more wet, with rain spreading widely throughout the year. On the

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north-side this is more predictable, with rain predominantly falling from March to June and throughout November and December.

Uganda is both accessible and an affordable option in Africa, making it the perfect destination for business travel. Although the country still has a way to go when it comes to the standards set by slightly more mature destinations such as Kenya and South Africa, it has an authenticity that makes it both an exciting and enjoyable place to spend your trip.

Since 2016 when travelling to Uganda you are required to apply for an online visa prior to your visit to the country, and a single entry tourist visa will last between 30 and 90 days and will cost $50.

Upon entrance to the country you will find that English is widely spoken at varying levels of fluency, as well as lingua franca, making it easy to navigate your way around during your trip.

FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: English, Luganda Area: 236,040 square kilometres Population (2016): 41,490,000 GDP (2017): $88,610 billion Currency: Ugandan shilling (UGX) Time zone: UTC +3 Dialling code: +256 Internet TLD: .ug Climate: Equatorial

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18 See page

Our Business Travel section not only gives executives the complete guide to the world’s most popular and populous locations, but also gives said locations the perfect opportunity to showcase their own businesses, events, venues and services to a truly international audience and readership of more than 185,000 each month.

To share in this unrivalled exposure and to put your own offering on our map, then please contact our Sales Managers, Joe Palliser or Ryan Gray to find out more.

joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 676

ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com

+44 (0)1603 959 672

W E L C O M E

AFRICA

Next Stop: Sustainability AFRICA Our annual bumper edition of Africa Outlook always takes the opportunity to kick-start the new year with a look ahead to the key industrial trends expected to dictate the continent’s economic growth over the following 12 months. And 2018 is certainly no different.

Driven in part by our equally traditional, yearly overview of the Next Stop: Mining Indaba, industries across manufacturing, oil & gas, retail, technology, construction and logistics also help to contribute to one of our biggest ever issues. And by-andlarge, each success story can be accumulated under one recurring theme: sustainability.

The African arm of South American bus building heavyweight, Marcopolo sets the tone perfectly to this end, showcasing the Company’s plan for a localised, lean evolution on the continent; and helping the edition embark on its journey across numerous, similarly focused industry-leaders.

Servaco PPS and Puma Energy - across both its Malawian and Ghanaian operations - help to bridge the industry-CSR gap in ensuring optimum oil & gas provision in an efficient manner; while Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) and DP World Maputo showcase their innovative approaches to port logistics, shipment efficiencies, and trade facilitation.

Sustainability can present itself in all manner of ways of course, and Computech Limited addresses the notion in a more digitised fashion as it lays out its plans to leverage East Africa’s tech evolution. And few businesses are expected to ingratiate themselves into the local fabric of a community more than in the real estate domain. Cushman & Wakefield and its subsidiary, JHI Retail are on hand to shed light on this responsibility, and especially how Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square are striving to evolve one of South Africa’s most populated regions.

And finally, as promised, we make our annual pilgrimage to one of Africa’s most significant ongoing events: the Investing in African Mining Indaba.

Managing Director, Alex Grose is joined by Head of Content, Harry Chapman, and Head of Investor Relations, Kael O’Sullivan to analyse 2018’s expo, and to pave the way for attendees including Minova Africa and Hummingbird Resources to share their own predictions for the sector in 2018. www.africaoutlookmag.com

ISSUE 58

SUSTAINABILITY

Marcopolo South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MASA) is replicating its renowned Brazilian successes in Africa virtue of its lean and localised approach to bus building

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES 00 Uganda: Emerging from the shadows Ethiopia: Ruralisation funds urbanisation

MINOVA AFRICA 00 Building a safer tomorrow

SERVACO PPS LIMITED 00 West Africa’s one-stop industrial shop

CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

EXCELLERATE 00 A commitment to client care

ALSO FEATURING: INVESTING IN AFRICAN MINING INDABA | PUMA ENERGY MALAWI | BROLL NIGERIA

EDITORIAL Editorial Director: Matthew Staff matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com Deputy Editor: Phoebe Calver phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

PRODUCTION Production Manager: Daniel George daniel.george@outlookpublishing.com Art Director: Stephen Giles steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com Advert Designer: Devon Collins devon.collins@outlookpublishing.com Images: Thinkstock by Getty Images

BUSINESS Sales Director: Nick Norris nick.norris@outlookpublishing.com Operations Director: James Mitchell james.mitchell@outlookpublishing.com Heads of Projects: Joshua Mann joshua.mann@outlookpublishing.com Kane Weller kane.weller@outlookpublishing.com Stuart Parker stuart.parker@outlookpublishing.com Tom Cullum tom.cullum@outlookpublishing.com Training Development Manager: Eddie Clinton eddie.clinton@outlookpublishing.com Sales Managers: Joe Palliser joe.palliser@outlookpublishing.com Ryan Gray ryan.gray@outlookpublishing.com Project Managers: Donovan Smith donovan.smith@outlookpublishing.com Josh Hyland josh.hyland@outlookpublishing.com Vivek Valmiki vivek.valmiki@outlookpublishing.com

ADMINISTRATION Finance Director: Suzanne Welsh suzanne.welsh@outlookpublishing.com Office & Finance Manager: Sophia Curran sophia.curran@outlookpublishing.com WEB DESIGN: Hamit Saka IT: James Le-May

OUTLOOK PUBLISHING Managing Director: Ben Weaver ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com Chairman: Mark Weaver CONTACT Outlook Publishing Ltd Woburn House, 84 St Benedicts Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 4AB, United Kingdom Sales: +44 (0) 1603 959 652 Editorial: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel: +44 (0)1603 959 655 Email: matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

www.africaoutlookmag.com Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/africaoutlook Follow us on Twitter - @Africa_Outlook

Matthew Staff

Editorial Director, Outlook Publishing

Enjoy the issue!

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In this issue...

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SHOWCASING LEADING COMPANIES Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world

MANUFACTURING

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MARCOPOLO SOUTH AFRICA (PTY) LTD The Marcopolo Way Driving local industry progression

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NEWS

All the latest stories from across Africa

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Building upon a history of innovation and reliability

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MANUFACTURING Bridging the Manufacturing Gap

Technological transformation creates numerous opportunities in African manufacturing

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP If You Can Make It in Egypt...

Egypt is ready to usher in the era of the startup

BUSINESS TRAVEL GUIDES

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POSITIVO BGH Versatility that Surprises

UGANDA Emerging From the Shadows

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ACTION AUTO Customers for Life

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ELECTRO INDUCTIVE INDUSTRIES Balanced and Sustainable Growth

Providing Zambia with class, performance and reliability

Creating top quality transformers

MINING & RESOURCES

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SECTOR FOCUS Mining Indaba 2018: Africa’s Premier DealMaking Forum The event that the African mining industry needs

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MINOVA AFRICA The Earth, Under Control

Building a safer tomorrow

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ETHIOPIA Ruralisation Funds Urbanisation

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JINDAL MOZAMBIQUE Adding Value to life

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HUMMINGBIRD RESOURCES Low-Cost, High-Grade, Multi-Asset

Growing spirit the Mozambican way

Mine optimisation means business

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AFRICA 100

SIYANDA RESOURCES Safety, Health and the Environment

Making strategic investments to benefit shareholders, employees and communities locally

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T E C H N O L O G Y

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POWERING AFRICA: SUMMIT

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EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OFFSHORE CONGRESS HUB (EPOCH)

COMPUTECH LIMITED The Extra Mile Facilitating East Africa’s tech evolution

SPECIAL FEATURE Mining is Being Driven Green The 2018 Mining Indaba alludes to accelerated lithium excavation

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SERVACO PPS LIMITED Partnership, Professionalism, Solutions

SHIPPING & LOGISTICS

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West Africa’s one-stop industrial shop

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PUMA ENERGY MALAWI Passionate, Pioneering Performance Malawi’s trusted fuel supplier

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PUMA ENERGY GHANA Fuelling Ghana

Thriving in one of Africa’s leading oil & gas producing nations

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CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD EXCELLERATE Accelerated Growth

Making Dar es Salaam the region’s port of choice

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SANDTON CITY & NELSON MANDELA SQUARE (JHI RETAIL) Everything to All People

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BROLL NIGERIA Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Complete real estate solutions

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YUDALA Yu Live Well

Changing the face of the Nigerian retail industry

ZONE FITNESS CLUBS Fitness for All

Providing the best environment to achieve your goals

MCADAM DESIGN GHANA Quality, Innovation and Excellence

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SPACE

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3RD AFRICA ISLAMIC FINANCE FORUM

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4TH ANNUAL AFRICAN INSURANCE FORUM (AIF 2018)

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THE BIG 5 CONSTRUCT NORTH AFRICA

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6TH MOZAMBIQUE MINING, OIL & GAS AND ENERGY CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION (MMEC 2018)

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SCANIA EAST AFRICA LIMITED Partners to the Future

Encouraging a more sustainable transport sector

We Light the Nation Setting the benchmark in electricity excellence

Exploring development opportunities in Islamic finance in Africa

An unmissable platform for professionals wanting to embrace opportunities in Morocco and the wider region

Showcasing and exploring developments in Mozambique’s thriving power and energy sectors

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WAMPEX

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DRC MINING WEEK

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NIGERIA OIL & GAS CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

ENERGY & UTILITIES LESOTHO ELECTRICITY 208 COMPANY

Real estate investment professionals, owners and developers to gather in Nairobi to explore the ROI of efficient buildings

Thriving in the age of disruption

KENYA HORTICULTURAL EXPORTERS (1977) LTD Live Greener, Live Fresher, Live Safer

T R A N S P O R T

Showcasing project opportunities across the African continent

A closed-door event providing direct access to more than 200 decision-makers from the oil & gas domain

Creating sustainable and innovative crop exports

THE PAVILION Home Sweet Home

An ethical pillar of the KwaZuluNatal community

Laying the foundations for significant change

Delivering expertise across the Ghanaian construction sector

A full ‘day-out’ experience

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DP WORLD MAPUTO The Gateway

CONSTRUCTION

A commitment to client care

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TANZANIA INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL SERVICES (TICTS) Expansion is the First Port of Call

F O C U S

New optimism in the mining sector sees leading suppliers sign up for West Africa’s premier expo An annual rendezvous boosting industrialisation of the mining sector

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the who’s who of the Nigerian oil & gas industry

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FINANCE

Citigroup Targets Rapid Middle East and Africa Growth in 2018 Citigroup expects 2018 to be its best year for investment banking in the Middle East and Africa in at least a decade, likely led by Saudi Arabia, a senior executive at the US bank said.

Nigeria, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates would also be the main growth drivers as bond sales, mergers and acquisitions and public share sales pick-up, Miguel Azevedo, Citigroup’s Head of Investment Banking, Middle East and Africa, said.

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“The pipeline in the Middle East and Africa is as good as we have seen since the global financial crisis of 2008,” he told Reuters in an interview, adding that emerging markets represented a larger weight of Citi’s earnings than for others.

“GDP growth for advanced economies this year is approximately three percent, while for emerging markets it is around five percent.

For investment banking, the growth should maybe be even more,” Azevedo said.

In the Middle East and Africa, getting deals done would depend on market stability, but swings in global stocks in recent days represented a correction and were not “enough to put any of these transactions off”.

Citigroup said last month it had won formal approval from Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority to begin an investment banking business there, enabling its return after an absence of almost 13 years.

Several international lenders are seeking to build a Saudi presence as opportunities emerge from reforms to wean the economy off a reliance on oil revenues. Those include privatisations such as the planned listing up to five percent of Saudi Aramco.

Citi was among those invited to pitch for a role in the stock market listing, sources confirmed last month and the bank has already hired former Saudi Fransi Capital executive, Majed al-Hassoun to head its Saudi investment banking business, which it is developing with further hires.

“There is a very significant privatisation push ... this could create the opportunity for investors to deploy capital to develop the industrial base and infrastructure,” he said.

The bank also expects significant opportunities in Nigeria, which has low debt levels and was expected to return to the bond markets in 2018, while Nigerian companies were also forecast to issue bonds and launch initial public offerings, Azevedo added.

Egypt’s outlook was also positive after the 2016 currency devaluation and IPOs were slated in sectors such as industrial and manufacturing and financial services and consumer, he said.

GO TO WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AFRICA

AFRICA ECONOMY

South Africa has until the 2019 Elections to Cash-in on Global Windfall South Africa’s new President, Cyril Ramaphosa must quickly show international investors his Government can implement reforms to take advantage of a weak dollar and growth in China, according to Citi’s head of emerging markets.

The rand, bonds and stocks have climbed to record highs due to what analysts have dubbed the “Ramaphosa rally”, a buoyant market mood that has taken hold since businessman Ramaphosa was elected leader of the ruling African National Congress in December and then President of South Africa.

During Ramaphosa’s maiden state of the nation address, a day after replacing scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma as State President, the rand

ECONOMY

South Africa to Raise VAT for First Time in 25 Years to Plug Budget Hole South Africa will increase value added tax (VAT) for the first time in more than two decades, the Treasury said in a recent meeting, as new President, Cyril Ramaphosa’s Government aims to cut the budget deficit and stabilise debt after years of slow economic growth.

Unchanged since 1993, VAT would increase to 15 percent from 14 percent effective 1 April, the Treasury said in a document laying out its budget plans for the next three years.

surged to a three-year best.

Once the dust settled after the budget, urgent implementation of fiscal and structural reforms was needed to retain investor support, he said.

With commodities globally priced in dollars, South Africa’s chief exports such as gold, platinum and coal earn the country higher revenues when the greenback depreciates, helping to close the country’s capital deficit.

In September the Treasury issued a pair of dollar bonds in overseas capital markets worth $2.5 billion, attracting more than double that in bids.

Ramaphosa is expected to change his cabinet soon and appoint a new Finance Minister to replace Malsui Gigaba, hired in March, 2017 by Zuma in a midnight reshuffle that triggered credit downgrades by all three major rating agencies.

bonds firmed, while retail shares on the stock exchange fell as Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba read his budget speech.

A VAT hike ran the risk of adding a heavy financial burden on the poor ahead of elections next year, but Gigaba said poor households would be cushioned through a zero-rating of basic food items such as maize meal Ramaphosa took over as leader of and beans.

South Africa last week after Jacob “This is a tough, but hopeful Zuma stepped down on orders of budget,” Gigaba said. “We decided the ruling African National Congress, that increasing VAT was unavoidable if bringing to an end nine years of we are to maintain the integrity of our corruption scandals and economic public finances.” mismanagement, despite Zuma The Treasury said the budget deficit is denying all wrongdoing. seen narrowing to 3.5 percent of gross The rand extended gains to 0.81 domestic product (GDP) by 2020 from percent against the dollar, government 4.3 percent in the 2017/18 fiscal year.

GO TO WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AFRICA

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AGRICULTURE

Kenya’s Tea Export Earnings Output is Rising in 2018 Kenya’s tea export earnings are forecast to rise further this year, while total output is expected to improve after a fall in production last year, the Agriculture and Food Authority’s Tea Directorate said.

Export earnings will rise by five percent in 2018 to 135 billion shillings ($1.33 billion), while total output is expected to hit 452 million kilograms (kg) buoyed by good weather conditions, after drought had cut the country’s production in 2017, the directorate said in a statement.

The East African nation is the biggest exporter of black tea in the world, and tea is also the leading source of foreign exchange.

Total export earnings rose to 129 billion shillings in 2017 - the highest in five years - from 120 billion shillings a year earlier, while total output was down seven percent to 439 million kg.

Drought hit many parts of Kenya’s farming areas in early 2017, affecting the output of tea while processing factories received fewer deliveries.

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Botswana Power Plant Expansion Plan Stalls over Terms A planned $800 million expansion of a coal-fired power plant in Botswana by Japan’s Marubeni Corp and South Korea’s Posco Energy has been put on hold due to a disagreement over terms, the energy minister confirmed recently.

RETAIL

South African Consumer Confidence Improves Consumer confidence in South Africa improved slightly in the fourth quarter, reflecting strongerthan-expected economic growth in previous quarters, a recent survey showed.

The consumer confidence index, sponsored by First National Bank (FNB) and compiled by the Bureau for Economic Research, improved to minus eight from minus nine in the second quarter.

“The improvement in consumer sentiment regarding South Africa’s economic prospects correlates with the stronger-than-expected rebound in real GDP growth during the second and third quarters of 2017,” Jason

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Marubeni and Posco Energy were due to start work in January last year on a project to add 300 megawatts to the current 600 megawatt Morupule B plant, which was built by the China National Electric Equipment Corp at a cost of $970 million.

The power station has often broken down, leaving Botswana to rely on diesel generators and imports from South Africa.

Energy Security Minister Sadique Kebonang commented that the Government failed to agree with Marubeni and Posco Energy on a number of issues, notably a proposed $800 million state-backed guarantee to protect the companies’ investments.

“The Power Purchase Agreement has now expired since the project failed to take off within a year from the date of signing as stipulated in the agreement,” Kebonang said.

Muscat, senior economic analyst at FNB, said.

South Africa’s economy grew more than expected in the third quarter as the agricultural sector continued to recover from a severe drought, while mining and manufacturing also improved, lifting hopes the country may avoid further credit downgrades.

The International Monetary Fund cut South Africa’s economic growth forecast for the next two years recently, citing rising political uncertainty that has dented investor confidence.

GO TO WWW.AFRICAOUTLOOKMAG.COM/NEWS FOR ALL OF THE LATEST NEWS FROM AFRICA

AFRICA SHIPPING & LOGISTICS

OIL & GAS

South African Firm, Calabash Freight to use Tanzania-Zambia Railway

Three Firms Bid to set up Fourth Mobile Phone Company in Zambia

South African freight firm, Calabash Freight will start using the TanzaniaZambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) line under an agreement aimed at maximising the line’s usage, the rail company explained.

The line is an important route for copper exports from Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Africa’s top producer, but the firms transporting the metal struggle with rail capacity challenges.

TAZARA spokesman, Conrad

West African neighbours Senegal and Mauritania signed an agreement recently, pledging to work together and split production from a giant new cross-border gas field being developed by Kosmos Energy and BP. The Greater Tortue Complex, which straddles the two countries’ maritime boundary, is estimated to hold more than 25 trillion cubic feet of gas. It is due to come online in 2021 with production to be exported via a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility.

Senegal’s President, Macky Sall signed the inter-governmental cooperation accord with his counterpart, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, during a state visit to Mauritania.

Simuchile said Zambia and Tanzaniabased Calabash Freight Ltd, which focuses on rail logistics, had already started conducting trial runs between the two countries.

Mining firms and other bulk cargo firms in Zambia are expected to transport at least 30 percent of their freight by rail under a new law to revive the sector.

ENERGY & UTILITIES

South Africa Approves Eskom Application to Buy more Renewable Power FINANCE

Barclays Africa Wins Case over $83 Million Payout in South Africa A South African court recently threw out the findings of a public anti-graft watchdog that Barclays Africa unduly benefited from an apartheid-era bailout of another bank and should repay.

The Public Protector had said in a report last year it had found South Africa’s apartheid Government and central bank breached the constitution by giving Bankorp, a bank later acquired by Absa, the retail banking unit of Barclays Africa, a series of bailouts between 1986 to 1995.

Barclays Africa had contended that the real beneficiaries of the bailouts were Bankorp shareholders, the majority of whom were policy holders of life insurer Sanlam.

The South African Government has approved an application by state power utility, Eskom to buy more renewable power from independent producers (IPP), the public enterprises ministry.

The deal ends years of investor uncertainty for projects awaiting financial closure and delaying an estimated 58 billion rand ($4.8 billion) of new investment into the economy.

“I have requested Eskom to work expediently to implement the decision and avoid further delays,” Minister Lynne Brown said in a statement.

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TELL US YOUR STORY

AND WE’LL TELL THE WORLD AFRICA OUTLOOK is a digital and print product aimed at boardroom and hands-on decision-makers across a wide range of industries on the continent.

With content compiled by our experienced editorial team, complemented by an in-house design and production team ensuring delivery to the highest standards, we look to promote the latest in engaging news, industry trends and success stories from the length and breadth of Africa.

We reach an audience of 185,000 people across the continent, bridging the full range of industrial sectors: mining; oil & gas; logistics; resources; manufacturing; construction; engineering; technology; food & drink; retail; finance; and healthcare.

In joining the leading industry heavyweights already enjoying the exposure we can provide, you can benefit from FREE coverage across both digital and print platforms, a FREE marketing brochure, extensive social media saturation, enhanced B2B networking opportunities, and a readymade forum to attract new investment and to grow your business.

To get involved, please contact Outlook Publishing’s Managing Director, Ben Weaver, who can provide further details on how to feature your company, for free, in one of our upcoming editions.

W W W. A F R I C A O U T LO O K M A G . C O M Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 650 Email: ben.weaver@outlookpublishing.com

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BRIDGING THE MANUFACTURING GAP s Africa’s most remote country, the Central African Republic (CAR) is almost completely lacking in technological and infrastructural connections to the countries surrounding it and even further afield.

Although the country’s capital, Bangui, has relatively fast internet and usable mobile reception, it has missed out on many of the technological phenomena that have come Africa’s way over the years. This has had a direct impact on industry developments, manufacturing capabilities and the general infrastructural development.

The rest of Africa and in particular sub-Saharan Africa are on an upward trajectory when it comes to technology-driven developments, with transformations occurring that are creating numerous opportunities.

Sustainable manufacturing

Developments to the manufacturing industry in Africa have never attracted as much attention as they are currently, especially with the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Organisation of African Unity - now known as the African Union - and the vision put in place through Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.

The aspirations laid out within the document clearly outline the predicted attempts to unify industries in order to make the best of Africa and its resources in the future.

In order to achieve a prosperous Africa based on sustainable developments, the continent will need to become integrated and

Is technology the answer when it comes to strengthening Africa’s manufacturing industry and reducing its productivity deficit in the near future?

Writer: Phoebe Calver people-driven to move forward as an influential global player and partner.

At present the continent is witnessing a shift in its most prosperous resources, moving from mining to manufacturing. However, the support needed to ensure that this movement is a success lies within technology and utilising the many new possibilities that it brings.

The challenges that the continent will inevitably face during this period of change can easily be overcome, although enhancements to infrastructure and human capital will be required alongside embracing new technology.

solve many of Africa’s problems.

Although there have been massive leaps forward when it comes to the programmes being used to aid companies and projects, there are still fundamental issues to be dealt with on the continent. For example, it is well known that there are hundreds of millions of people in Africa without power and safe drinking water, therefore it is all about prioritising and planning for future development.

Steady development

It is becoming increasingly clear that the poverty gaps currently seen in Africa could be lessened by technology, and the same can be said of the gaps in industries such as manufacturing where increased efficiency is desperately needed.

Alongside the uptake in efficiencies in manufacturing, the use of technology in schools is making teaching more effective while also readying the next generation. In a selection of schools, teachers now have the ability to work from an electronic tablet which enables them New possibilities to carefully plan their lessons.

There is an endless array of possibilities Following in this vein, companies all available when it comes to technology over Africa will be able to bridge the and the doors it will open for Africa’s gaps in their industries through correct manufacturing industry. programming and organisation, aiding Perhaps the first demonstration of the them in taking the next steps forward to positive impact that technology could successful growth. Alongside industry have on the continent arrived 10 years growth, technology is set to decrease ago with the welcoming of mobiles, and the sizeable income gap between Africa within a short space of time millions of and the rest of the world, even through people were using them. the most basic first steps. Although Fast forward a decade and in many parts of the continent it is mobile phones are just the tip of lacking in the functions of a 21st century the iceberg for the continent, with economy, it has the right building blocks new technologies being used to in place to implement change.

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IF YOU CAN MAKE IT IN EGYPT...

Con O’Donnell, Co-founder and CCO of RiseUp Summit, lauds the rise of entrepreneurship in a country that didn’t even have a word for such innovative startup efforts until recently Writer: Con O’Donnell, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, RiseUp gyptians are known for their perseverance, and that isn’t all that surprising. We’re talking about people whose ancestors practiced innovative thinking in ways that perplex scientists to this day. We’re talking about people who overcome multiple challenges on a daily basis; from battling insane traffic and coping with the devaluation of their currency, all the way through to trying to survive in a tough business climate with a fraction of the resources they actually need.

Startups based in Egypt are more promising than you’d think, not just inside the country itself, but in the MENA region - and very possibly, the world - as well. Young Egyptians like to strike while the iron’s hot; they’re finding more and more ways to exploit every opportunity that comes their way, and news headlines show that these tech-based startups aren’t afraid to grab hold.

For example, homemade food delivery startup, Mumm raised a whopping $200,000 investment from 500 startups just this year. The startup,

STARTUP REACTOR SEEKS OUT STARTUPS: A sign of the changing times Following the successful conclusion of its 4th cycle with its last phase, ‘Startup Nova – Entrepreneurship Explosion’, Startup Reactor has accepted applications for its 5th cycle! Startup Reactor is a sixmonth accelerator programme designed to support innovative startups with high growth potential in Egypt. The programme is a gateway to connecting entrepreneurs, investors and mentors. Building off the success of the 2017 cycle, in addition to the main track open to startups from any industry, the programme also includes several specialised tracks run in collaboration with industry partners. These specialized tracks ensure tailored acceleration experience and provide more focused support to entrepreneurs in key emerging industries.

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The people are ready; they just need guidance

which connects home-based chefs with customers, is now more relevant than ever. Not only does it employ Egyptians, but it offers opportunities to Syrian refugees as well, enabling users to make money from the comfort of their own kitchens.

As for healthcare booking platform Vezeeta, the future is looking bright after securing $5 million in funding from global backers after just two years of operation. The investment, led by Emirati BECO Capital, Swedish Vostok New Ventures, Egypt’s

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Technology Development Fund (TDF) and Jordan’s Silicon Badia, will help the startup expand in the MENA region.

The people are ready

The list of successful startups rising from the Arab Spring goes on and on like this. Innovative thinking is at an alltime high, and these young leaders are continually taking leaps that are not for the light hearted.

Of course, the stories of how these businesses came to be are not fairytales. While, yes, every country

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has its own challenges, the situation in Egypt makes you truly admire the perseverant nature of its youth. These startups (and hundreds of others in the country) haven’t had it easy.

Challenges, such as deteriorating education and inferior business school curriculums still face aspiring entrepreneurs; not to mention the additional funding challenges and legal roadblocks.

What’s more, young Egyptian entrepreneurs are fighting an uphill battle with their culture. Older

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generations still encourage their children to seek employment either in large multinationals or as doctors or engineers; believing that these are the only ‘prestigious’ opportunities for their children, particularly sons. In fact, there wasn’t even an Arabic term for the word ‘entrepreneurship’ until recently.

Add to that the fact that global interest rates are through the roof and that Egypt is now one of the ‘fragile five’ estimated to suffer the most in that regard, and it’s a wonder these startups ever saw the light of day.

A change of mindset

There’s a need for the fundamentals of the education system to encourage more critical thinking, design thinking and innovative thinking. The people are ready; they just need guidance.

For example, there’s a call for a legislation and taxation framework that encourages entrepreneurs to start a business. And it’s paramount that there’s a change of mindset among Egyptian parents when it comes to the employment of their children.

There are a lot of needs, yes, but these wonderfully stubborn young minds keep pulling through. Could you imagine how much they would be able accomplish without all these challenges? Silicon Valley, you’d better watch out.

RISEUP RiseUp was founded in 2013 and it has grown over the years from a grassroots movement to a global phenomenon. The purpose behind RiseUp has remained the same: to connect startups to the most relevant resources worldwide.

RiseUp acts as the glue that fuses ecosystems together to help them realise their ultimate potential.

By connecting stakeholders to local and global networks, and fusing diverse talents and resources, ecosystems are enabled to accelerate, innovate, and grow.

RiseUp’s mission is accomplished through their four products: Summit, Connect, Explore, and Meetup. The summit is a three-day, one-stop-shop, entrepreneurship marathon. From workshops, inspiring talks, and panel discussions to startup stations, pitch competitions, and networking platforms with industry experts; whoever you are, RiseUp will find a place for you.

Over the past five years RiseUp has welcomed 9,566 attendees, 520 speakers, 307 investors, more than 54 nationalities, 110 partners, 22 sponsors, 510 volunteers, and 190 exhibitors.

‘Startups based in Egypt are more promising than you’d think, not just inside the country itself, but in the MENA region and very possibly, the world - as well’

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U G A N D A

UGANDA Uganda is growing in popularity as a tourist destination, with thanks to support from its Government and a vision for the future from the Uganda Hotel Owners Association Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Ryan Gray

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ganda is beginning to emerge from the shadows of its long history, reaching out to improve upon the former glory it held as the ‘pearl of Africa’.

The country is privy to spectacular landscapes, excellent wildlife watching opportunities and welcoming locals, considering the relatively small size of the county it packs a punch against its larger neighbours. Home to the Rwenzoris - Africa’s tallest mountain range - and the source of the Nile, you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding ways to spend your free time.

Although the climate is technically equatorial, it is not as uniform as you would expect and therefore it is advisable to pack for a wide range of weather possibilities. You will find that Southern Uganda is more often than not more wet, with rain spreading widely throughout the year. On the

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FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: English, Luganda Area: 236,040 square kilometres Population (2016): 41,490,000 GDP (2017): $88,610 billion Currency: Ugandan shilling (UGX) Time zone: UTC +3 Dialling code: +256 Internet TLD: .ug Climate: Equatorial

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AFRICA north-side this is more predictable, with rain predominantly falling from March to June and throughout November and December.

Uganda is both accessible and an affordable option in Africa, making it the perfect destination for business travel. Although the country still has a way to go when it comes to the standards set by slightly more mature destinations such as Kenya and South Africa, it has an authenticity that makes it both an exciting and enjoyable place to spend your trip.

Since 2016 when travelling to Uganda you are required to apply for an online visa prior to your visit to the country, and a single entry tourist visa will last between 30 and 90 days and will cost $50.

Upon entrance to the country you will find that English is widely spoken at varying levels of fluency, as well as lingua franca, making it easy to navigate your way around during your trip.

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U G A N D A

The Business End IN RECENT YEARS Uganda has been gaining a lot of attention both regionally and internationally, with thanks to its growing tourism sector.

Jean Byamugisha, Executive Director at the Uganda Hotel Owners Association explains the meteoric rise of Uganda’s tourism industry: “In recent years we have won accolades from international press such as CNN and Lonely Planet magazine. We have been very lucky to have the backing of an incredibly supportive Government that is heavily invested in road infrastructure to destination areas, as well as tight security within the country that has boosted our tourism industry onto its upward trajectory.”

With such renewed interest in Uganda and its tourism industry, the country is positioning itself as the new MICE destination in Africa. At present Kampala is home to major international big name brand hotels such as the Hilton, Marriot, Radisson and it has massively increased its appeal for both the business travel

industry as a whole and MICE. Alongside the growth of its tourism industry and more specifically business tourism, the county has also experienced consistent economic growth in recent years. The country has largely untapped oil & gas reserves as well as a sizable agriculture industry, with coffee as its main export.

A tree-climbing lioness in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The bottom of the Murchison Falls waterfall

However, with the growing tourism sector in the country, the agriculture sector is on course to be surpassed by the services sector which accounted for more than half of the country’s GDP last year.

Kampala, Uganda’s capital

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Mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

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Plot 11, Nambi Road Manyago, Entebbe T: +256 751 123450, +256 750 999 555 E: reservation@saffroneal.com directorsaffroneal@saffroneal.com

www.saffroneal.com

Special Rates Suite – 2 (Room no. 5 & 6) $ 150 Bed & Breakfast Min. 1 Pax – Max. 2 Pax

Executive Room 1, 2, 4 $ 100 Bed & Breakfast Min. 1 Pax – Max. 2 Pax

Standard Room 3 & 7 $ 80 Bed & Breakfast Max 1 Pax

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U G A N D A

The Uganda Hotel Owners Association THE UGANDA HOTEL Owners Association (UHOA) was founded by Dr. BM Kibirige in May, 2000 when he came to the realisation that hotel owners in Uganda needed to come together and create an atmosphere conducive to business.

Until that point in time hotels had been largely ignored by the Government, despite the fact that they had always been the biggest investors within the tourism sector. 18 years later, UHOA now boasts more than 500 member hotels, is well recognised by the Government of Uganda and holds a seat on the Uganda Tourism Board, Uganda Wildlife Authority and Private sector Foundation.

Jean Byamugisha, Executive Director of the Uganda Hotel Owners Association tells us about her vision for the future, and the Association’s support for the tourism industry as a whole.

Africa Outlook (AfO): Since inception, how has Uganda Hotel Association developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?

Jean Byamugisha (JB): Since May, 2000, UHOA has grown in leaps and bounds and expanded its vision for the future. When UHOA was first created, it was purely limited to the needs of the hotel sector. Today UHOA is an advocate for the Ugandan tourism industry because we realise that for the hotels to grow, the entire tourism industry must grow as well.

So today, much of our key objectives and messages are for the overall development of the tourism sector in Uganda with key emphasis on the investment and growth of the

Murchison Fall National Park

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hotel sector. UHOA is also passionate about the capacity building and general welfare of the hotel staff. As the biggest employers in the tourism industry, we aim to create a precedent and lead by example in terms of staff welfare.

AfO: Taking a more general industry stance, how would you evaluate the tourism sector in Uganda now compared to its condition when the Association began?

JB: The easiest way I can explain this is the comparison of night and day; 18 years ago, tourism was largely ignored both by the Government and the private sector. Not only did we receive minimum funding from the Government, tourism was also housed under the Ministry of Trade receiving a lot less attention. Today, Tourism has a standalone Ministry, the Ministry of

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Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities and receives quite considerable funding to support most of the marketing activities for the sector. Tourism is now the biggest foreign exchange earner for Uganda as well as the second biggest employer second only to agriculture. Tourism has also been recognised by Government as one of the three sectors that will drive Uganda’s economy into the middle income status.

AfO: What is in store for Uganda over the course of 2018 and beyond to continue the good work already commenced and to enhance its reputation as a tourism and business travel hub further in the future?

JB: We are putting plans in place for a lot more lobbying and advocacy.

Uganda will continue to lobby and advocate for the tourism sector especially at the international forums in regards to positioning Uganda as

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a MICE destination. UHOA is very passionate about ensuring that we have much better occupancy rates for the hotels in 2018 so we shall be carrying out many domestic tourism campaigns to make sure we have more Ugandans and foreign residents visiting the country. UHOA will also be participating in many international events to meet international hotel investors and encourage them to come and set up hotels within the country so as to facilitate the MICE market of travellers.

AfO: Finally, looking forward, if we were to speak again in three-five years’ time, what progress and development would you hope and expect to be able to report back, both in regards to the Uganda Hotel Association as an entity, and in regards to the business travel industry in Uganda as a whole?

JB: I would imagine that in threefive years time UHOA will have more than 1,000 member hotels. UHOA will be the strongest private sector association in Uganda and the biggest advocate for the tourism industry. In the next five years, I really hope to see Uganda as one of the biggest MICE destinations in Africa. We should be able to compete with giants like South Africa in this regard.

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U G A N D A

Out & About

Take the road less travelled...

Lake Bunyonyi in Uganda, Africa

UGANDA IS ESPECIALLY recognisable for the array of spectacular wildlife that can be found across its equally incredible landscapes, both of which have served as a major driver of employment and investment.

With tourism providing such a major driver for growth in the country, it is also being used to fight poverty. You will notice a large number of specific tourism companies during your time in the country, often selling traditional products such as arts and crafts and traditional attire.

Some of the most popular tourist attractions in Uganda are found in the form of game reserves, historical sites and natural tropical forests with endless surprises to be discovered.

When exploring in your spare time, you will discover that Uganda truly has a prime location within the African Great Lakes region, with a number of water bodies that are increasingly popular spots for tourists.

Due to its extensive bodies of water, boating is an increasingly popular pastime that is commonly carried out on Lake Victoria, Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi, Kazinga Channel and the River Nile.

This offers the perfect opportunity to see the sites and explore the local nature, including the likelihood of spotting buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles and birds.

As well as a spectacular array of activities just waiting to be discovered, Uganda will also surprise you with the level of its hospitality. Depending on the requirements of your stay, there is something for everyone and particularly the ever-increasingly popular business tourism industry.

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Plot 5 Binayomba Avenue, Bugolobi, Kampala, Uganda +256 414 251 182 | +256 787 433 710 info@safariuganda.com | info@wildplacesafrica.com www.safariuganda.com | www.wildplacesafrica.com The Uganda Safari Company | Wildplaces Africa

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www.journeysuganda.com

Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari 14 Days Price: $4690 Per Person From 4 to 12 People

Best Of Uganda Safari 12 Days Price: $2455 Per person From 4 to 12 People

Apes and Aves Safari 11 Days Price: $2585 From 4 to 12 people

Uganda Primate Safari 10 Days Price: $1960 From 4 to 12 people

Excluded in the Price • Visas and all international • Gorilla and chimp Permits • Any other activity / service not mentioned in the itinerary

Teachers House, Bombo Road, Suite 302 | Office: +256702947522 | Mobile: +256782531915 | Email: info@journeysuganda.com | WhatsApp: +256782531915

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U G A N D A

Outlook Recommends “Tourism has also been recognised by Government as one of the three sectors that will drive Uganda’s economy into the middle income status.” - Uganda Hotel Owners Association

NATIONAL PARKS Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

HOTELS

WILDLIFE SANCTUARIES

Kampala Serena Hotel Sheraton Kampala Speke Resort Munyonyo

Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary Uganda Wildlife Education Centre Budongo Forest Reserve

Murchison Falls National Park

RESTAURANTS

RETAIL

La Chateau Brasserie Belge Paradise Grill Restaurant 7 Hills Revolving Restaurant 26

Kidepo Valley National Park

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The Acacia Mall Victoria Mall Freedom City Mall

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oyager African Safaris will give you an inside out tour of Uganda, best described

by Sir Winston Churchill as the “Pearl of Africa”.

Our personalized services will leave you feeling as though you are a part of a typical African extended family!

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BMK House - Voyager Suite, Plot 2 - 4 Wampewo Avenue, Kololo.

P.O. Box 36453, Kampala - Uganda *Tel: +256 414 268675 *Fax: +256 414 286269 *Cell: +256 712 441832

Mailto: voyager@discoverafrica.co.ug Wildlife Safaris

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SPECIALISTS IN ORGANIZING MEMORABLE SAFARIS IN EAST AFRICA

OUR OFFERS • • • • • •

We specialize in Gorilla Tours to Uganda and Rwanda We do Airport Transfers Car Hire / Car Rental Services Safaris and Tours We book Uganda Hotels and Lodges We organize Excursions to Jinja, Kampala, Ngamba Islands, Entebbe

Tel: +1 760 807 1456, +256-703 203 341 | Email: info@ugandagorillatour.com | www.ugandagorillatour.com

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U G A N D A

Transport Links

UGANDA IS SURPRISINGLY nimble when it comes to transportation and finding your way around the country, with the most popular method being through booking with one of the many companies available to transport you from meeting to meeting in your own car or bus depending on the size of your party.

If you were to choose this manner of transportation, you are likely to save copious amounts of time that could have been wasted in looking for where to go and arranging transportation.

Of course there are many other

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options available. In Kampala in particular - as well as other destinations - the boda-boda is a very good way to get from place to place.

Perhaps more recognisable as the mode of transport for the adventurous type, these small moped type vehicles with cushions on the back are a cheap form of transport often used by locals.

Although it will provide you with an authentic experience, do take caution if you choose to try this as they are often involved in accidents.

Depending on the area in which you are staying, you will find that

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Uganda has a good public bus system that runs on fixed routes in the form of minibuses or commuter vans. You will find that both forms are relatively cheap and efficient when running between the major centres.

The roads you are met with in Uganda are in good condition in comparison to many located in subSaharan Africa, although they have deteriorated in patches. Many of the minor roads are made of hard-packed soil and although predominantly fine, if there have been heavy rains then they can quickly become treacherous.

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Katwe Tourism Information centre (KATIC) P.O.Box 99, Katwe – Kasese – Uganda Tel: +256 752 618 265 +256 753 393 450 +256 752 397 354 Email: katic.org@gmail.com Wek: www.katic.info

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UPENDO

AFRICAN ART & CRAFTS Be Proud Of Your Culture – Be Proud Of Your World

KATIK is a community tourism enterprise formed in 2005 with the aim of conserving the surrounding natural resources for sustainable tourism with the intent of enhancing economic and conservation benefits for the community.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS: • Lake Katwe - learn about the skill of salt mining as well as a chance to directly interact with the salt miners • Lake Munyanyange - a saline lake is just outside the national park’s boundaries but belongs to Kazinga Wildlife Sanctuary WHAT WE OFFER • Bird Watching - Katik offers experienced bird guides to take you around Lake Munyanyange, • Village Walk - The tour to Katwe Salt Lake gives a unique insight into the fascinating, yet tough process of salt mining which provides an alternative income for the community UPENDO is an association based on love for humanity. UPENDO Art & Craft wants to ensure that the vulnerable social group members become self sustaining and has engaged its member into income generating activities through discovering their hidden treasures / potentials and use them to improve their livelihood.

www.katwe-council.com

Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp Providing eco-friendly accommodation at the foothills of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp P.O Box 280, Kisoro, Uganda Phone, Manager: +256-774-954956 / +256-782-306973 Email: info@amajamberecamp.com

www.amajamberecamp.com

africanartandcraftlango@gmail.com | upendoartandcraft@yahoo.com www.upendoucts.org

info@giftofnaturelodge.com

A beautiful home far away from home

Exquisite accommodation for gorilla loving tourists including bird watching, local community tours in the beautiful mountainous villages of western Uganda

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U G A N D A

Landmark Attractions

Murchison Falls National Park

“Murchison Falls Conservation Area ( MFCA ) comprises of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu and Karuma Falls Wildlife Reserves. This is where the Nile explodes through a narrow gorge and cascades down to become a placid river whose banks are thronged with hippos and crocodiles, waterbucks and buffaloes. The vegetation is characterised by savannah, riverine forest and woodland. Wildlife includes lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, hartebeests, oribis, Uganda kobs, chimpanzees, and many bird species.”

- murchinsonfallsnationalpark.com

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

“Home to almost half the world’s surviving mountain gorillas, the World Heritage–listed Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of East Africa’s most famous national parks. Set over 331 sq km of improbably steep mountain rainforest, the park is home to an estimated 340 gorillas: undoubtedly Uganda’s biggest tourist drawcard.” - Lonely Planet

Lake Bunyonyi

“Lake Bunyonyi, also called the place of many little birds, is located in south western Uganda, between the two districts of Kisoro and Kabale close to the border of Rwanda.”

- lakebunyonyiuganda.com

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Mengo Palace

“Built in 1922, this small palace is the former home of the king of Buganda, though it has remained empty since 1966 when Prime Minister Milton Obote ordered a dramatic attack to oust Kabaka Mutesa II, then president of Uganda. Led by the forces of Idi Amin, soldiers stormed the palace and, after several days of fighting, Mutesa was forced into exile. The building’s interior cannot be visited, but the notorious underground prison here is open to tours.” - Lonely Planet

Source of the Nile River

“The birthplace of the mighty Nile river (or one of them anyway…), here the water spills out of Lake Victoria on its journey to the Mediterranean flowing fast from the get-go. It’s estimated no more than 5 percent of water here will end up in Egypt. There’s a landmark identifying the source and a few restaurants and bars, which can make for a nice place for a sunset beer. Exploring the source by boat (per person USh50,000) is another popular option.”

- Lonely Planet

Kasubi Tombs

“Situated on Kasubi hill, within Kampala, Uganda, the Kasubi Tombs site is an active religious place in the Buganda Kingdom. To the Baganda the Kabaka is the unquestioned symbol of spiritual, political, and social state of the Buganda nation. As the burial ground for the previous four Kabakas, therefore, the Kasubi Tombs is a place where the Kabaka and others in Buganda’s complex cultural hierarchy frequently carry out important centuries-old Ganda rituals.” - Kasubitombs.org

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E T H I O P I A

ETHIOPIA Ethiopia has leveraged its age-old traditions and charm to generate modern-day economic prosperity

he ability to remain current and relevant in an ever-changing world is a challenge that all companies, countries, and even individuals, struggle to achieve. But as one of the oldest hosts of human life on the planet, Ethiopia

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thrives as a visitor destination as a result of its historical aesthetics and charm.

Located in the so-called Horn of Africa to the east, it is the most populous landlocked country in the world and the second most populated country on the continent; situated in a -

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literally - scorching cauldron of culture, tradition, religion and - progressively - business.

The mountainous terrain and vast landscapes aren’t what you’d ordinarily associate with the notion of urban infrastructure; each of its cities - including the capital, Addis

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Ababa - sprawled across undulating, picturesque backdrops. However, as an age-old inhabited land trying to turn its hand to modern infrastructural evolution, the overall balance serves up a treat for fortunate travellers.

On the tourism side, the appeal comes from the former untouched, natural elements that best typify the country. However, for the growing business travel segment, the organic aesthetics are increasingly becoming an added bonus to the economic opportunities that await.

And it’s certainly not as if the country is abandoning its roots in order to promote urbanisation.

Rather, Ethiopia is optimising its reputation for agricultural prevalence to bridge the gap between the country and the rest of the world.

FACTS & FIGURES

Languages: Amharic Area: 1.1 million square kilometres Population (2016): 102.4 million GDP (2017): $195.8 billion Currency: Birr (ETB) Time zone: UTC+3 Dialling code: +251 Internet TLD: .et Climate: Tropical monsoon

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Walia Tour and Travel offers a variety of services within the scope of the tours and travel industry in Ethiopia and provides package tours and VIP flights in collaboration with our sister company National Airways.

Our intention of starting our tour and travel agency is to make profit from the industry and we will do all that as per the permitted Ethiopian law in order to achieve our business goals, aims and ambitions.

T: +251 116 63 87 78 | C: +251 911 20 17 22 | E: bemnet1993@gmail.com

www.waliatourandtravel.com

E T H I O P I A

The Business End CHIEF AMONG ITS exports remains the produce that Ethiopia is most famous for. As the birthplace of the coffee bean, the country still produces more coffee than any other nation on the continent; a continent that is renowned for its prowess in the sector.

Broadening the analysis further, agriculture actually accounts for as much as 85 percent of the entire labour force, and while - inevitably - much of these operations are conducted by SMEs and small-scale farmers, there is a greater economic significance that derives from its success.

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Purely by having such an influential international export, the country’s GDP achieves sustainability which, in turn, has a positive knock-on effect on the wider economy and the overall development of infrastructure outside of the agricultural domain.

Especially in more urbanised areas, and Addis Ababa above all, the urban districts that now exist are comparable to any cities you would find in the west or in South Africa, facilitating an ever-expanding swathe of visitors entering the country for business purposes.

Natural agriculture and energy

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resources have driven the country’s international appeal so much, in fact, that Ethiopia has had to introduce one of the continent’s most expansive and recognised airlines in order to cement this connection with the rest of the world.

Ethiopian Airlines is a familiar presence in London, New York, Paris and any other major economic heavyweight you’d care to think of and, complemented by its equally extensive domestic network, it is the perfect indictment of how far Ethiopia has come on the global stage.

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ETHIODER TOUR AND TRAVEL Ethiopia…the best place to be P.O.Box 102126 E: info@ethioder.com T: +251 116 630363 | F: +25116631373 C: +251 911 218180 |+251 911 913783 www.ethioder.com

Welcome to this different world Imagine an ageless land, interesting and picturesque, abounding with birds and wildlife. Majestic views of mountains and lakes. Gracing these magnificent landscapes are the soul of this country – its friendly people. Spectacular sights and intriguing encounters with unique cultures. Charming village scenes and bustling markets. Fascinating flora and fauna. It’s the adventure of a lifetime – an awe-inspiring, memory-making experience.

Discover Ethiopia, Africa, the way it was meant to be seen… in a personalized tour designed around your interests and hosted by Ethioder Tours and Travel..

We give you an experience you’ll treasure a life time. We will take you to “the best place to be”.

OUR RANGES OF SERVICES ARE AS FOLLOWS; ≥ Personalized and package designed Tour on Cultural, natural and historical Tours ≥ Birding & fishing safaris ≥ Vacation travel, themed group travel, seminars ≥ Provide assistance and support to professional conferences incentives, corporate events, congresses, customized tours,

≥ Renting of Tourists and Off-road and other kinds of vehicles ≥ Trekking and photographic safaris ≥ Flying safaris ≥ Hotel reservation

Sidama Lodge Exclusive Self Catering Accommodation in Addis Ababa

Despite being located in the heart of the city of Addis Ababa, Sidama Lodge is an island of tranquillity away from the hustle & bustle associated with a capital city. Just down the road is our partner hotel at Atlas Square, the Sidama Inn is a beautful self catering hotel.

Cape Verde Street, Bole Sub City, Addis Ababa Tel: +251 116 1879 46 | Fax: +251 116 1879 60 manager@sidamalodge.net | sidamalodge.net

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E T H I O P I A

Out & About WHEN LOOKING AT the country from a business travel perspective, Ethiopian Airlines’ significance shines through even more prominently.

While the country does inevitably have appeal as a tourist destination, the majority of visitors entering the country each year do so with tourist landmarks as a bonus in mind, rather than as the primary objective.

Instead, business is often the reason for travel in the first place, and the major cities have responded in kind by creating a concerted - albeit authentic - offering across areas of hospitality, cuisine, leisure and transport.

For those with plenty of time on their hands, the natural aspects are still the most spectacular feature of Ethiopia however. Its mountains, jungles, rivers, caves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites may be a far cry from the boardroom but are not as far geographically as you might think.

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Addis Ababa itself is situated on the cusp of such natural settings while urbanisation to the north and south are similarly engulfed by pursuits that can quickly take you off the beaten track.

In the north, Axum, Lalibela, Bahir Da and Gondar edge you closer to the stunning Simien Mountains, while in the South, Shashemane, Wondo Genet, Awasa, Araba Minch and Jinka are just a stone’s throw from indigenous Ethiopian tribal villages.

Once again capitalising on its own make-up, some of Ethiopia’s leading businesses to keep in mind prior to your visit, include tour operators. Air Tour Kenya, FKLM Tours, Habesha Tours & Travel, Grand East Africa Eco Tour, Travel Ethiopia and Elmi Tours are just a select few - and the cream of the crop - on hand to guide you off the streets, and into the wilderness.

If a restaurant, bar and five-star accommodation are preferable to a

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barbecue, campfire and tent, then not to worry, there are plenty of those too.

Predominantly staying true to its local traditions once again, cuisine embraces a mixture of meat, vegetables and spices and the national dish, Injera, is a must try!

Peak city life is saved for the country’s urban accommodation though. As the aforementioned deluge of international visitors continue to grace the country’s shores, a host of market-leading hotel chains are responding with an offering up there with the best in Africa.

The Ramada Hotel, Luxury Collection Addis, Reliance Apartment, Zeist Lodge, Abay Minch Lodge and Sidama Lodge give just the briefest glimpse of the diversity that now exists from a hospitality point of view in the country; ensuring that luxury, comfort, leisure, pleasure and business are all embraced within a locally-sensitive setting.

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P.O. Box 8186. Addis Ababa Ethiopia Tel: + 251-118-965-612 Fax: + 251-116-630-449 Mob: + 251-911-198-543 | +251-911-251-189 Email: info@dynastyethiopiatours.com bogale@dynastyethiopiatours.com

www.dynastyethiopiatours.com

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Outlook Recommends “Ethiopia’s excellent network of national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other tourist attractions can be explored [and] a varied selection of exciting destinations awaits the visitor to Ethiopia.” - Ethiopia Tourism Board

TRANSPORT

TOURS

HOSPITALITY

Ethioder

Sidama Lodge

Dynasty Ethiopia Tours

Ramada Addis

Travel Ethiopia

Sheraton Addis Hotel: The Luxury Collection

Tropic Air Kenya FKLM Tours Ethiopia Habesha Tours & Travel National Airways Ethiopia Encapsulating the “spirit of a rising nation”, National Airways Ethiopia thrives as an industry leader virtue of its commitment to principles of quality, safety and respect. Catering for both passenger and cargo requirements in a country as well linked to the rest of the world as any in Africa, the carrier has proven itself a dynamic aviation facilitator putting its clients and people first. Operating out of the heart of the capital, Addis Ababa’s Bole International Airport, its variety of offerings across both aeroplane and helicopter travel means that all demographics of customer are catered for, in linking Ethiopia to more than 150 destinations worldwide.

Zeist Lodge

Grand East Africa Eco Tour & Car Rent

Elmi Tour Ethiopia

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Reliance Apartment Hotel

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Abay Minch Lodge Hotel

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AFRICA C FUN ADDIS HOTEL, 2, ADDIS ABABA, OROMIA +251-116-530043or +251-930-33-71-33 or +251-930-33-72-33 info@cfunaddishotel.com | www.cfunaddishotel.com

T: +251116675776 | F: +251116675775 marketing@mychoiceethiopiatour.com

Explore Ethiopia, The Land of Origins!

*

www.mychoiceethiopiatour.com

Cell: +251941616561/2 +251924304010 / +251929 923132 R#303, 3rd Floor, Dawit Bldg, Gurd Shola, Yeka Sub-City, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Bole Medhane Alem Cathedral, Addis Ababa

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E T H I O P I A

Outlook Recommends FOOD & DRINK Yod Abyssinia Traditional Food 2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant

Bahir Zaf

MUSEUMS

RETAIL

Red Terror Martyrs Museum

Salem’s Ethiopia

National Museum of Ethiopia

Merkato Chiromeda Market

Casa Museo di Rimbaud

ART & CULTURE Eros Addis Fusion Restaurant & Lounge

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Asni Gallery Harar National Museum National Theatre Art Gallery

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LALIBELA TRAVEL AND TOURS

• Air Ticket Sales • Car Rental • Standard/Tailor-made Tours • Trekking • Hunting • Safaris and Sightseeing • Hotel Reservation and much more Ras Abebe Aregay Avenue, Bedilu Building Ground Floor Suite #015/01, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Email: book@lalibelatravelandtours.com Sales: +251 11 553 3799 | +251 11 515 8600 +251 11 515 1747 Fax: +251 11 551 0097 Management +251 11 515 1753 | +251 11 551 4403 www.lalibelatravelandtours.com

ETL Tour and Travel is a company with “interest based tour packages” that our clients find unique and intriguing. It is a company that is “One Stop to Magic“, a stop to the magical place called Ethiopia, a country named “Best Tourist Destination 2015”.

ETL’s activities include Tour, Travel and Ticketing, Car Rent, Reservations and Booking services.

Due to its “strategic alliance” scheme it has also extended to provide DHL services to its clients, businesses around the area and with a wider business relationship with DHL.

Birhana adra Africa Mall ; 2st floor; in-front of Bola MedhaniAlem Church near Edna Mall.

Phone: +251 11 667 0667 Mobile: +251 91 021 7091 Fax: +251 11 667 0180 Email: info@ethiotourline.com

www.ethiotourline.com

Outlook Creative Services Outlook Publishing’s awardwinning in-house team is now utilising its extensive production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

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E T H I O P I A

Transport Links

AS OF 2016, Ethiopia boasted more than 60 airports around the country, largely thanks to the growth of Ethiopian Airlines. Chief among them though, and highly likely to be your target destination when arriving in the country, is Bole International Airport.

Both the airline and the airport are initiatives driven by the Ethiopian Government and as such have proved integral to the overall growth of the country’s tourism and business travel segments; and by proxy, its economy.

Bole International Airport then offers connections to each of the 60 regional hubs, as well as to the rest of the world. Specifically in Africa, it is

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continentally significant in connecting to the majority of all capital cities.

So much is this the case in fact, that passengers on their way to other East African nations can enjoy a week stopover in Ethiopia at no additional cost; epitomising the centricity and influence of the country and its foremost transport asset.

Once in the country, moving from place to place can become a little more complicated, but the country is once again replying accordingly via extensive improvements to its rail and road networks.

The likelihood is that the majority of your work will remain in Addis Ababa

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Bole International Airport

anyway, in which case your feet or the intra-bus services will suit just fine.

But if your stay truly is a nationwide one, then the country’s railways and aforementioned flight connections are more than apt.

Back in Addis Ababa though, should your stay be medium-long-term, then the car may be the best way to go.

Buses are comprehensive and cheap but are also slow and often wait until they are full, rather than adhering rigidly to timetables.

And with a car, you can always go that extra mile to explore the less urbanised areas too!

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E T H I O P I A

Landmark Attractions

Lalibela

“I have always questioned God’s existence, but in the northern Ethiopian town of Lalibela, I was presented with fairly substantial evidence. Officially Christian since 330AD, Ethiopia claims to be the oldest Christian country in the world. And despite being ravaged by poverty, faith has remained strong over the centuries; Lalibela’s medieval rock-hewn churches are clear proof of that.” - BBC

Simien Mountains

“The Simien Mountains National Park in Northern Ethiopia is an exotic setting with unique wildlife and breath-taking views on a landscape shaped by nature and traditional agriculture. The natural beauties of this region have always filled visitors from Ethiopia and abroad with awe. The traditional lifestyle of the rural population and their survival in a rather harsh climate... makes for the most striking impressions a visitor will have when trekking in the Park and its surrounding rural area.” - Simien Mountains National Park

Harar

“With 368 alleys squeezed into just one sq km, the old walled city of Harar in eastern Ethiopia is a colourful maze that begs exploration. Its thick, five-metrehigh walls were erected in the 16th century as a defensive response to the neighbouring Christian Ethiopian Empire, but today Muslims and Christians share the city in peace.”

- Al Jazeera

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Gondar

“From kings and churches to emperors and castles: another not-to-be-missed stop on Ethiopia’s Historic Route is what has been called the ‘Camelot’ of Africa: Gondar. Nestled in the foothills of the Simien Mountains in north¬western Ethiopia, Gondar... rose to prominence after Ethiopia went through a long period without a fixed capital, [and] emerged in the seventeenth century as the country’s largest settlement.” - EthioVisit.com

Rock-Hewn Churches of Tigray

“While the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are the most dramatic buildings, the cliff churches of Tigray show the most dramatic landscapes and the longest Christian tradition. Unknown to the world outside, these churches were first described by the British explorer Ivy Pearce as ‘the greatest of the historical-cultural heritages of the Ethiopian people’.”

- National Parks Safaris Ethiopia

Danakil Depression

“Bubbling volcanoes light up the night sky, sulphurous mounds of yellow contort into other-worldly shapes, and mirages of camels cross lakes of salt.

Lying 100m and more below sea level, the Danakil Depression is about the hottest and most inhospitable place on earth. In fact it’s so surreal that it doesn’t feel like part of earth at all.” - Lonely Planet

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AFRICA is a leading business-to-business publication promoting and showcasing the leading companies across an array of sectors on the continent.

Appearing in both digital and print, the publication is aimed at boardroom members and hands-on decision makers, reaching more than 185,000 business executives.

Each month we feature leading companies and business executives by profiling their operations and success stories. Covering areas of best practice, capital investments, the supply chain, innovation and continuous improvement, we aim to promote all that is good about the industry and the region, with your company taking centre stage throughout it all.

Producing business profiles across the full range of sectors and every corner of the continent, Africa Outlook is the platform to promote your business success.

Read on for this month’s profiles.

Phoebe Calver, Deputy Editor phoebe.calver@outlookpublishing.com

If you want to enjoy the exposure and coverage we can offer, please feel free to contact us to discuss the opportunity further.

Tell us your story and we’ll tell the world.

Matthew Staff, Editorial Director Tel: +44 (0) 1603 959 655 matthew.staff@outlookpublishing.com

M A R C O P O LO

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The MARCO

s a 100 percent subsidiary of Marcopolo SA in Brazil, one of the world’s biggest bus body builders, Marcopolo South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MASA) continues to replicate the Group’s domestic successes in one of its key global markets.

The partner organisation was founded in 1949 and is listed on the Brazilian Stock Exchange; and over the past 70 years has evolved and migrated on a worldwide scale to

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Marcopolo South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MASA) is replicating its renowned Brazilian successes on a continent strongly benefitting from the Company’s lean approach to bus building

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Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

become an industry leader, producing more than 350,000 units on five continents - a world-class benchmark.

Concurrently, MASA has witnessed an exponential growth in its operations as a result of enhanced tender attainment and customer loyalty in a country that has taken Marcopolo to its heart and that offers an abundance of export opportunities too.

“With the objective of reinforcing the core business, the Marcopolo Group is structured in three main business units: Marcopolo embraces

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OPOLO Way the fabrication of buses and coaches; Volare is an independent business unit under the Group specialised in the fabrication of midi-buses; and finally, Moneo is the financial service provider,” lists South Africa General Manager, Mikel Ecenarro. “Last but not least, the Marcopolo Foundation is the social development arm of the Group where founding members’ values are converted into socioeconomic development projects.

“All together they stand for a solid group, offering a wide range of

products and services worldwide.”

From South Africa specifically, MASA has capitalised on the robustness and reliability of its products and their seamless fit with local requirements.

Consequently, thousands of vehicles have been delivered over the decades to countries all over the continent as either a main contractor or relaying for the OEM chassis builders.

Ecenarro continues: “Marcopolo adopts two different approaches when it comes to identifying new opportunities. There is a commercial

structure in Dubai that takes care of the LHD markets in Africa, while MASA here in South Africa takes care of the RHD. It is a well-coordinated team that is constantly seeking new opportunities to present the three brands to customers on the continent.

“In a practical way, we create a market matrix (crossing customer requirements and Marcopolo Group’s product portfolio) and study the best way to offer the most suitable product in each case. In most of the cases this exercise is done together with the

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– BUILD IN AFRICA FOR AFRICA – SERVICE IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY: The Cage cc was established in 1996 in the Industrial area of Alberton. The company, Customers and products have grown from strength to strength ever since. Now more than ever THE CAGE cc is proud to supply competitive products to “LARGE” trailer industry.

We have a personal relationship with our clients and suppliers and therefore we can provide them with their business requirements in giving them a product with the best quality.

A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH: The Cage cc headed up by Deon Reyneke since it’s inception is situated in Alrode, Alberton, In Gauteng, South Africa. And is fully geared to produce just about any type of “Large”

Trailer. We strife our self into servicing the more particular customer especially in the Bus Luggage Trailer Industry and the custom build units. The Cage cc also has a complete separate division for the repairs and service of Trailers. We as The Cage cc would like continue in keeping our clients that’s why our goal is to deliver quality products.

CUSTOM BUILT TO PERFECTION: The Cage cc are the best known in the industry for supplying quality newly build trailers, like Bus Luggage Trailers, Tri-axles, Super Link and Tautliners. The Cage cc prides itself in building standard and custom trailers as well as refurbishing and rebuilding of trailers. We also repair and service trailers.

WE SPECIALIZE IN: • Fitment of Bus Tow Hitches • Bus Luggage Trailers (Local and Cross border) • Tri – Axles • Super Links • Taut Liners • Walking Floors • Ridged Bodies • Drawbar Trailers • Pup Trailers • Super Link Side Tippers • Login Trailers • Skeletal Trailers • Low Beds • Customize Trailers.

KTS Properties 11 Jurie Street Alrode 1449 T: +27 11 908 0147, +27 82 559 1969 F: +27 86 513 5294 E: enquiries@cagetrailers.co.za deon.cage@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cage3657 www.cagetrailers.co.za

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Transforming visions into new products and services

OEM, putting together experience and vehicle specs to perfectly suit customer expectations.”

A move forward

Primarily feeding MASA’s growth is the wider Group’s three continuous improvement pillars of being peopledriven, internationalisation, and lean manufacturing principles.

“These three master strategies combined have raised a 15,000-employee company, with manufacturing capacities on five continents and a powerful engineering mindset, resulting in a wide product range portfolio,” Ecenarro says.

“But most importantly it defines the ‘Marcopolo Way’ and a passion for the brand on behalf of all stakeholders involved.”

Applying such an ethos in Africa, MASA’s progression since operations begun on the continent in 1996 has been representative of the Group’s overall development across all other

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regions. In 1999, the Company was awarded a tender to build buses for Great North Transport as a platform and milestone which prompted the creation of local manufacturing facilities, and the rest is history.

Ecenarro continues: “During the first years of production and sales, a combination of locally-assembled units and imported CBU (completely built-in unit) and PKD (partially knocked-down) settled the Marcopolo footprint in terms of product quality and service standards. The products were gradually adapted to local market requirements in a joint effort of our headquarters’ engineering department and the local team.

“Meanwhile, product expansion and diversification-wise, Marcopolo has used four different strategies to identify customer requirements; to design the required solutions; and to adjust global mobility trends to specific market conditions.”

The four aforementioned strategies

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or more than 20 years, The Cage CC has thrived from its base in Gauteng, South Africa, as one of the country’s leading manufacturers of bus luggage trailers.

Taking the process a few steps further through the complementary provision of repair, maintenance and refurbishments of all types of trailers, the Company has even moved into bus tow-hitch fittings more recently to complete its turnkey offering.

Established in 1996 in the industrial area of Alberton, the Company’s products and consequently - customer base have gone from strength to strength on a year-on-year basis.

Now, more than ever, the Cage CC can proudly boast a repertoire that includes the supply of competitive products to the region’s large trailer industry.

“We have a personal relationship with our clients and suppliers and therefore we can provide them with their business requirements in giving them a product with the best quality,” the Company explains.

Service has always been The Cage’s first and foremost priority, quickly cementing the business’s status as a force to be reckoned with.

Headed up by Deon Reyneke since its inception in Alrode, the emphasis has been on complete client satisfaction, epitomised by its desire to be fully geared-up to produce almost any type of large trailer.

The Company continues: “We strive to service

each particular customer in the bus luggage trailer industry and across custom-build units. The Cage CC also has a completely separate division for the repair and service of trailers and our goal is to always deliver quality products in-keeping with our clients’ demands.”

The Cage CC’s products are renowned for being built to perfection and it has become the best known in the industry for the supply of its new-build trailers which include bus luggage trailers, tri-axles, super link and taut liners.

From this initial platform, the Company’s expertise then facilitates a whole host of additional customised options from its experienced and expert workforce; leaving no stone unturned and no client unsatisfied.

To this end, The Cage CC can look forward to a positive future in the ongoing provision of the following industry specialties: fitment of bus-tow hitches; tri-axles, super links, taut liners, walking floors, ridged bodies, drawbar trailers, pup trailers, super link side tippers, login trailers, skeletal trailers, low beds, and customised trailers.

T +27 11 908 0147, +27 82 559 1969 E enquiries@cagetrailers.co.za deon.cage@gmail.com

www.cagetrailers.co.za

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AFRICAN AUTO ENTERPRISES

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frican Auto Enterprises’ partnership with Marcopolo has been going strong since 2008, supplying plastic components at competitive prices.

The Company, established in 2000, offers unparalleled expertise in vacuum thermoforming to customers from a variety of industries, and its professional knowledge and skilled craftsmanship comes from years of dedicated work and service to its loyal customers.

Driving forward with an innovative outlook and a 2018-2022 strategic plan

refer to new product creation, new generations, facelifts, and localisation.

The former, as it sounds, leverages internal skills and experience to identify future needs and to transform them into a vision represented by new products and solutions; while new generations accounts for reconfigurations of existing products in line with ever-changing industry demand and technological advancements.

Lower level transformations facilitate the facelift element of product portfolio evolution, while finally - localisation ensures that all regional requirements and regulations are adhered to and implemented within the Company’s products; as opposed to adopting a standardised international approach.

A recent example embracing a number of these facets has seen a renewed positioning in the coach sector, segmenting the product family in both heavy and light vehicles.

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Thermoforming is a low-cost alternative to injection moulding for producing plastic parts, offering a greater degree of versatility in the finished product.

Both thermoforming and injection moulding have the ability to produce parts in volume with the accurate replication of the original parts.

Additionally, “within 2018, Marcopolo will bring new solutions to the African markets, in terms of both local, manufactured products and also those coming from overseas in CBU or PKD format”, Ecenarro adds. “Servicewise, MASA is also prepared to make a move forward. Actually recognised as the best after-sales service supplier in South Africa, we are on our way to create a closer look at stakeholder requirements (end users, operators, municipalities, maintenance teams, etc.) and bring new value-adding solutions to the fore.”

The power of information

Thriving as a global group with local targets, the business is able to share best practices from adjacent regional subsidiaries before implementing the best solution applicable to each respective presence point. In 2018, for MASA, this will translate into a more innovative outlook that aligns to the 2018-2022 strategic plan and that looks

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Your Proficient Partner in Plastic Products!

Contact us for all of your THERMOFORMING, INJECTION MOULDING & FIBREGLASS needs!

We are market leaders in Thermoforming, Injection Moulding & Fibreglass and currently supply both interior & exterior finishes to all the major bus & coach, armored vehicles and automotive commercial companies in Southern Africa.

African Auto Enterprises 3rd Floor, Harrack House 171 Eloff Str Ext, Selby T: (+27) 011 493 3264 E: mark@aaenterprise.co.za vanessa@aaenterprise.co.za www.aaenterprise.co.za

Driving You

COOL Supplier of passenger and driver’s seats to the commercial passenger transport industry, covering the bus and rail markets.

Crisp-Air is a respected manufacturer and distributor of quality automotive aftermarket air conditioner (AC) systems for passenger cars, bakkies, trucks, special conversion vehicles (passenger, ambulances, military vehicles) and buses.

Products and services • Manufacture and supply of AC systems for light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles including buses • New AC installations • Servicing of AC units • Repairs & maintenance of AC units

Tel: 082 411 5151 084 821 3555 Email: info@seatking.com www.seatking.com

Why use us?

• National coverage • Long established business (more than 35 years) • We come to your premises for servicing and repairs in major cities in SA • Competitive pricing • Excellent after sales service • ISO accredited • Local manufacturer • 100% black owned level 1 BEE supplier

5 Cypress Dr, Glen Anil, Durban Brunton Circle, Modderfontein, Johannesburg Bella Rosa St, Belville, Cape Town Dbn : +27 31 569 2439 Jhg : +27 11 609 2140 CT : +27 21 824 0815 Email : sivesh.naidu@crispair.co.za

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“While on the outside it might look like the industry of bus building hasn’t evolved too much, there are plenty of trends being driven...”

“The employment strategy at MASA is based on meritocracy, training and experience... and this means that we try to hire the best professionals we can...”

in capital expenditures and has recently upgraded capacities within its factory, and has equipped said factory with the latest technologies and machinery.

Simultaneous updates of its ERP system has compounded internal, structural improvements to this end and last but not least, “MASA is restarting its lean thinking strategy this year”, Ecenarro emphasises. “We have hired a new KPO (Kaizen Promotion Officer) and also appointed a new consultancy company that will help the company to go lean.

“It is a systemic and strategic approach that will cover all of the Company’s processes and manufacturing (both direct and indirect).”

Key strengths

to react to pertinent industry trends.

“While on the outside it might look like the industry of bus building hasn’t evolved too much, there are plenty of trends being driven from two main sources: bus operators looking for higher efficiencies, and endusers looking for a better travelling experience,” Ecenarro says.

Inevitably, digitalisaiton is first and foremost among these resultant trends, as the GM explains: “It’s here to stay! Operators are keener on implementing telematics on their vehicles while the full system includes FMS reading from the chassis - a typical GPS system that locates the unit within metres of precision - and GPRS communication systems embedded that offer online information to the operator’s control centre.

“This combined information allows our customers to read the operation online, to understand the behaviour of vehicles and drivers, and also to make an intelligent management of assets.

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The power of information to operate, maintain and out-perform is already available.”

From a passenger perspective, Wi-Fi and USB chargers further adhere to the tech era’s demands, while the second big trend is seeing the builder of a chassis or body take care of their own products, allowing operators to focus their efforts on capturing new customers.

Lean thinking

Marcopolo is not just reacting to trends but dictating and pioneering them in many cases, as is witnessed across the building materials used during buses’ manufacture.

Heightened usage of new cloths and plastics in the interior complements a change in the structure make-up which now comprises more steel, stainless steel, aluminium and derivatives.

Facilitating each of these new strategies and indeed its own ongoing growth, MASA continuously engages

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MASA was initially incepted as a manufacturing facility triggered by South African demand, and the faith shown in the Company has been repaid ever since virtue of concerted localisation strategies and efforts.

Encompassing personnel, supply chain and CSR considerations, the ability to perform to global standards, but as a local entity is no easy achievement, but has been accomplished nonetheless.

From a workforce perspective, MASA initially leveraged Brazilian personnel to build the culture and expertise but this has long since evolved into a more complete local investment strategy, and when it comes to hiring, the Company overcomes competition challenges via the proposal of self-tailored training programmes and ongoing partnerships with local academic institutions.

“The employment strategy at MASA is based on meritocracy, training and experience,” says Ecenarro, “and this means that we try to hire the best professionals we can, independent of their country of origin and based on the value they can offer to the

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“...our big leaps in lean transformation will... offer stakeholders even more quality across both our supply chain and customer base.”

68 Malcolm Moodie Crescent Jet Park, Gauteng Tel: +27 (0)11 397 8731 Email: manager@proseat.co.za

Company. However, there has been a tendency in the past few years to rely more on local people for middle and top management and during 2018 the last Brazilian expatriate will finish his cycle and from then on all contracts will be local.”

Now an active and integral member of South Africa’s overall localisation strategy, MASA’s supply chain ethos and formulation of business partnerships has followed suit in recent times, in accordance with BBBEE initiatives; complemented further by its dedicated CSR foundation’s numerous initiatives.

Ecenarro details: “These are usually related to the collaboration of the Company in basic and technical training programmes in schools near the factories. There are also seasonal initiatives to help those with basic hygienic, food and health necessities though.

“This aligns with a strategic country initiative that Marcopolo has had the

MASA partner MASA partner, Proseat uses ISRI, the only ISO rated (IATF16949, ISO14001, ISO18001) seat manufacturer in South Africa.

honour of co-leading in Brazil called Caminho ad Escola (“On my way to School”). Running for more than 10 years, it is an initiative that provides a reliable and safe means of transport to protect the country’s most valuable future asset: its children.”

As a result of this initiative, thousands of new buses have been

ISO 14001:2004 IATF 16949:2016 www.isri.co.za

built to safely transport children in rural and city areas to their nearest schools, and it has proved to be a scheme that epitomises both the manufacturing skills and ethical attributes of the Company.

In Africa, such a combination has resulted in a wide product range portfolio in all market segments, making it the highest manufacturing capacity on the continent (able to build as many as 1,600 units a year).

Ecenarro concludes: “Looking forward, we can also identify our aftersales service as a key strength and I expect differentiators like this to lead to the industry recognising Marcopolo as the most professional company on the continent in the future.

Professional, efficient, cost-effective, customer-focused and facilitating the best mobility experience; our big leaps in lean transformation will then offer stakeholders even more quality across both our supply chain and customer base.”

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Seamless

Positivo BGH has built a trusted reputation in Africa after only four years of operations on the continent, surpassing expectations at every turn and providing exceptional service to its customers

REALITY

Writer: Phoebe Calver

Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

VERSATILITY that Surprises

ositivo BGH is renowned for providing reliable and innovative technology products and services, especially for educational purposes, achieved through adapting to the diverse needs of its clients and end users to transform their lives.

In its formative years the Company positioned itself in Argentina as a leading sales entity within the PC market, and as it became more established Positivo BGH branched out to enter both Latin America and Africa.

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The Company is the result of a joint venture between two prominent groups operating within South America, named Positivo Tecnología of Brazil and BGH S.A. of Argentina. The former was a particularly intriguing company with an illustrious history in the education sector, founded by teachers and professionals with the prerequisite that it would always be about providing the best education.

“Then there was the equally impressive BGH, an Argentinean Company with more than 100 years

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of experience in the manufacturing and technology sector,” begins Juan Ignacio Ponelli, Chief Strategy Officer of Positivo BGH. “Between the two groups we were handed a total of 140 years of experience to tap into, not only in the education sector but also technology and manufacturing.”

Over the years since the joint venture was established in 2011, Positivo BGH has started to expand its activities more prominently into manufacturing and developing technology, including computers and smart phones.

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“Not only do we have an excellent track record in our educational services, but we now are well renowned in manufacturing consumer products for global brands,” adds Ponelli. “For instance, if you were to buy a Sony smart phone in Argentina, it will be made by us, and the same can be said for both Toshiba computers and Samsung monitors.

“This is something that we are hoping to continuously improve upon and roll out in Africa as we move forward and expand upon our services.”

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The two groups joined forces seven years ago after realising that they would be able to bring out the best in each other’s service offering; initially setting out to solely provide operations within Argentina and only for computers programmes. However, due to the Company’s unbounded success, it now delivers one of the biggest programmes for educational technology around the globe.

“Around four years ago we had achieved our business targets for Latin

America and subsequently decided it was time to expand the business,” explains Ponelli. “We knew we wanted to go global with the business, and decided that Africa was the place for us to start.”

A competitive advantage for the Company is the fact that it has emerged successfully from a developing country, and was therefore used to running its operations in harsh environments and volatile economies.

Ponelli continues: “We knew that Africa held a unique value proposition

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for our Company and therefore started to develop our business in Africa, starting with a contract in Rwanda in 2014.”

A year after its move into Africa, the Company’s factory in Rwanda was delivering 150,000 units and proved to be a raving success. Since setting its high standards of delivery from the off, Positivo BGH has continued to deliver on its promises to the local community.

“As well as delivering our service to the industry, we also wanted to help make a difference locally and therefore have made an effort to employ locals,” affirms Ponelli. “More than 95 percent of our staff are local and we have had to put a lot of training hours in to ensure that the standards of service and skill meet the requirements of our clients.”

Due to the fact that this was the first time the industry was being developed in the region, a lot of developmental processes were required, all of which proved to be incredibly successful.

“After our first year we went on to participate in a tender in Kenya, involving an ambitious digital literacy programme,” states Ponelli. “We won the tender in a JV with a local university in order to bring the best of the local knowledge and the technology and experience from our side in these types of projects.

“The required installations were carried out in the school classrooms and by the end of the project we trained more than 16,000 teachers with the required skills to make it a success.”

Expansive services

Despite the success experienced during the past four years in Africa, the Company is still very much in a developmental role.

“If we continue to experience the success we have up to this point, soon we will announce further expansion within Africa,” adds Ponelli. “When looking back at our growth portfolio,

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“More than 95 percent of our staff are local and we have had to put a lot of training hours in to ensure that the standards of service and skill meet the requirements of our clients.”

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we started out with the intention of working with computers and educational programmes.

“However, since starting up operations in Africa we have expanded our services; for instance in Rwanda we are providing smart electricity metres this Q2 and are steadily providing technology for a more efficient measurement and distribution of energy.”

Although Positivo BGH has experienced some difficulties in terms of electricity voltage and structures, as previously mentioned it is used to dealing with this sort of environment and therefore is the perfect Company to come up with solutions.

“With thanks to years of experience, we have established the importance of implementing a strategy that involves engaging with local partners to build strong relationships,” explains Ponelli.

“In doing this, we ensure that the entire structure within the industry is

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being strengthened and not just our Company portfolio.”

Long-term planning

When starting a project, the Company has always made it clear that it is planning for long-term outcomes as a part of being a local player.

Ponelli affirms: “Our customers appreciate this aspect of our business and they know that we are not just going to give them a product or service and within one year have completely disappeared, we will be there for them whenever we are required.

“We pride ourselves on delivering high quality products and services at an affordable price, while having the opportunity to develop our services and offering through expansion into new regions.”

An advantage for Positivo BGH when it comes to entering new markets and remaining competitive is

its flexibility and ability to customise a product, differing from some of the larger companies in operation.

“We will often sit down with our customers to explore their needs and the direction they would like us to take them in,” continues Ponelli.

“We ensure that we deliver the right products for the right performance, but at an affordable price.”

As well as its locally focused work, the Company is looking to branch into providing more end-to-end solutions for bigger corporations as its track record of this service in Latin America was held in high regard.

Ponelli concludes: “Moving forward I hope that we will continue to experience growth both in our local work and larger-scale projects while also expanding our offering across Africa, engaging with local partnerships and continuing the transfer of knowledge and skills for many years to come.”

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CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE

Action Auto is on a mission to achieve lasting relationships with its customers, utilising its history of success and innovation to develop a unique team Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

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ince it was established in 1997 Action Auto has been focused on working with customers for life, achieving this through inspiring loyalty via its brands, service delivery and passion.

The Company is the sole authorised franchise dealership located within Zambia for Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAF), recognised for its outstanding skill and expertise in selling all new Isuzu Pickups and Isuzu Trucks.

After one short year of operations within the industry, Action Auto was awarded Outstanding Dealer of the Year by DELTA and following on from that opened a second branch in Kitwe to cater to the expanding mining business in that region.

“In order to retain our high standards from the offset, we have repeatedly ensured that all of our staff are continuously trained in the various technical programmes required for top-class service,” Michael Bentley, Managing Director at Action Auto.

“Over the years we have adapted our processes and philosophies in order to align with the General Motors Difference (GMD), all of which fell perfectly in line with the customercentric goals of our Company.”

Every member of staff at Action Auto has to learn these processes as a major part of their induction, and they are constantly improved upon as technology and customer needs evolve.

Bentley continues: “Continuous development of our staff and refresher courses for our process guidelines are pivotal components to the success of our business. Without commitment and passion from our dedicated team we undoubtedly would not have reached the point we are at today.”

At present the core operations of the business involve distributing and

selling the new line vehicles in Zambia, as well as providing service, maintenance, warranty, parts & fitment and full aftersales support to customers. This fits perfectly into the Company’s mission to ‘create customers for life’, achieved through always putting the customers vehicle needs and vehicle ownership satisfaction at the forefront of every action.

Reputation for innovation

Isuzu has always been a perfect fit for Action Auto to work with, with the brand continuously developing and updating its vehicles in order to better the technology, safety, comfort, styling and off-road capabilities to provide a better experience for the customer.

“Over the years Isuzu has established a reputation for innovation, toughness, reliability, functionality and appeal, and with its recent addition of three new models it now offers an even wider selection to suit customers’ requirements,” adds Bentley. “We know that safety is a key feature for Isuzu and the vast majority of its ranges feature electronic stability control with elements such as brake assist, traction control, SRS, electronic brake-force distribution and anti-lock braking systems.”

Michael Bentley, Managing Director

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Action Auto has established a name for itself as one of the best and most trusted dealerships in the business, and its longstanding relationship with Isuzu is continuing to strengthen this.

“We have a reputation for repeat custom due to both the excellent after-sales service and class-leading products available with thanks to Isuzu,” Bentley affirms. “Isuzu vehicles continue to boast class-leading features, such as best-in-class payload on double cabs and towing capacity, as well as an array of digital solutions to improve the ease of driving for the customer.”

Performance and durability

It is important to recognise that Zambia is a commodity-based economy and in recent years has felt the pressure of sustained low copper pricing and high inflation. Price is a big factor in this industry and with the current tax treatment of imported

vehicles, the purchase of older vehicles is becoming increasingly incentivised.

“Price is an important factor to take into consideration when customers are looking to make a purchase,” Bentley describes. “Like many African countries, the ownership of a vehicle is seen as an aspiration and especially when that purchase comes straight from the showroom floor.”

When considering these factors in Zambia, Isuzu has established a place for itself in the market that is synonymous with class, performance and durability and is therefore the first choice when it comes to purchasing a new vehicle.

“We want to sell the best possible product to our customers at Action Auto and have found ways to achieve this without breaking the bank,” continues Bentley. “Investments from companies such as GMSA and IMSAF - specifically in South Africa have enabled us to take advantage

A passion for vehicles

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of existing trade protocols and subsequently we were able to reduce the importation costs of vehicles from South Africa to Zambia, passing the savings onto our customers.

“We continue to listen to our customers’ needs and suggestions at all times, and always proceed to send the relevant information back to the Isuzu development team to ensure customer satisfaction.”

Sourcing talent and CSI

Action Auto has set incredibly high standards since its services began and its approach to hiring is exactly the same; always on the lookout for young raw talent.

“The majority of our talent is sourced from graduates or high school leavers and we go on to develop and train them through continuous on-the-job training,” explains Bentley. “For each year we set aside a significant training budget for our team, enabling us to use

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We’re more than a bank, we’re a business partner.

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both local and international training programmes that are relevant to each field of work that we undertake.

“We have found that this keeps our staff motivated and loyal to the Company as we are repeatedly providing them with new opportunities to grow and advance their career at Action Auto.”

The majority of Action Auto’s employees have been with the Company for many years, and as a proudly Zambian Citizen Empowered entity, sourcing local talent is increasingly important and helps contribute to the “Zambia Plus” Government Initiative Programme introduced in 2016.

Bentley adds: “We strongly feel that we are making a positive contribution to our country through developing skilful and talented Zambians.

“Our team is incredibly passionate about vehicles and we like to encourage that outside of the workplace too. This has manifested

charities such as Chawama Cheshire Homes for the aged and homeless and Human Service Trust. Protecting and sustaining Zambia’s diverse wildlife is also a passion that Action Auto helps fund through its support of Honorary Wildlife Officers and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

It all comes down to people and Action Auto’s desire to be customer and people focused at all times, eventually building a culture in which the consumer becomes part of a family.

“We pride ourselves on the outstanding service that we deliver, A major sponsor of local motorsport attention to detail and years of itself in the form of an internal experience that enables peace-of-mind programme where we encourage for our customers,” concludes Bentley. our employees that are interested “This is how we create and keep in rallying to take up the sport with customers for life and we are looking sponsorship.” forward to spreading this ability The Company has been a major further afield in the future, with the sponsor of the Zambia Motor Sport opportunity to expand our efforts into Association for many years, the Zambia countries such as the DRC, Mauritius 7’s Rugby team and also supports and Reunion Islands.”

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Balanced and Sustainable

GROWTH Electro Inductive Industries has demonstrated a commitment to supplying its customers with quality products, while striving to continuously improve its processes thanks to a wealth of experience in the industry Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Vivek Valmiki

lectro Inductive Industries (EII) is a company built upon principle, focusing mainly on providing the market with a quality product, priced competitively and delivered on time to the customer.

Over time the Company has kept its focus on these principles, basing its continuous improvement strategies around meeting these objectives and this has inevitably contributed towards the overall success at EII over the years.

“Initially Electro Inductive Industries was established on the proviso of working as a transformer repair and refurbishment business,” begins Syndney Mabalayo, Chief Executive Officer at EII. “The Company was established in 1999 when we predominantly refurbished transformers for Eskom as a starting point, before evolving into a full-scale transformer manufacturer for polemounted transformers, distribution transformers and miniature substations.”

The Company is part of a joint ownership with Eisomark Pty (Ltd) and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and has strived to establish itself in the industry through providing an instrumental service to the local market; setting itself apart as the only majority black owned and managed company in South Africa’s transformer manufacturing sector.

Anticipating customer requirements

Over the years the majority of product improvements for the Company have involved being completely on top of the anticipated customer requirements, then setting out steps to meet those requirements.

“We have found that in this regard a major requirement of our customers is the need to reduce electrical losses that are attributed to transformers,” explains Mabalayo. “We quickly discovered that this was representing a significant revenue leak for our customers, and this has led us to become one of the leading manufacturers of low-loss transformers.”

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s a long time leader in Southern Africa’s steel and sheet-metal industry Topsteel has become a name synonymous with quality, innovation and cost-effectiveness; subsequently partnering with a host of similarly industry-leading operators in the region.

Once such partner is Electro Inductive Industries with whom Topsteel has been a proud associate for a number of years courtesy of both companies’ commitment to technology and innovation.

To EII and indeed all other partners and clients, Topsteel offers a differentiating one-stop shop experience.

With services that include laser cutting, CNC punching, welding, deburring and grinding, cold saw cutting, drilling and rolling; being able to cater for all client needs has made the business a go-to operator.

Second to creating these low-loss transformers, perhaps the most significant industry trend that the Company is monitoring is the move away from mineral oil insulated transformers to a natural vegetable oil.

Mabalayo adds: “To that end, we have invested significant sums of research & development funding in order to discover the options available for our customers; helping us to stay completely abreast of the industry developments.”

In-house training

At present the Company’s operations are predominantly based throughout South Africa, still supplying electrical utilities to its original customer Eskom.

This is as well as supplying various municipalities, private sectors and contractors in the country.

“With thanks to our account management, we are working to identify and target new potential customers both within and beyond our borders,”

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Efficiency and cost-effectiveness are two of the primary benefits that derive from Topsteel’s turnkey status, while the business has also become renowned for a series of industry and regional firsts.

...we have invested significant sums of research and development funding in order to discover the options available for our customers; helping us to stay completely abreast of the industry developments

As such the Company is the proud owner of the first fully-automated fibre laser in the Western Cape.

The Topsteel proposition inevitably encourages and facilitates long-term collaboration and partnerships such as the one enjoyed with EII; a relationship that, in this case,xxxxxxxxxxx was actually borne at Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx inception.

“We are proud to be associated with the success and technological innovation of Electro Inductive Industries,” Topsteel Director, Edgar Kock affirms.

“We remain committed to this sound business relationship and to being a valued contributor to the EII value chain.

“With our enhanced and modern steel processing machine technology we will continue to add value to the EII bottom line in the future.”

www.topsteel.co.za

Xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxx

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TA METAL FABRICATION

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nspired by his vision to create jobs for others and being his own boss, Tony Arendse set out to fulfil his lifelong dream and started his own company in 2013.

Through sheer determination and hard work, assisted by friends and family, he made Ta Metal Fabrication what it is today: A successful company, proud to be partnering a “giant” such as Electro Inductive Industries.

By supplying the two “giants” of the transformer industry with oil cooled radiators, Tony and his dedicated team are moving forward towards new, bigger projects.

Office +27 21 905 9699 Cell (Tony) +27 82 897 0022 E tonyarendse.tametal@telkomsa.net

continues Mabalayo. “Perhaps from a more geographical point of view, our strategy has been geared towards achieving new growth outside of South African borders and to this end we have been able to identify potential partners with a better understanding of their markets.”

When it comes to tackling new markets, the customer strategy for the Company is to create an intimacy that means it is close enough to provide them with exceptional service.

Therefore the aforementioned account management is geared towards that process, ensuring that even in places that the Company doesn’t have a physical presence, it can still perfectly understand the environment.

When it comes to identifying the right people to lead the Company onwards, its approach to hiring identifies those that will make it a world-class transformer manufacturer with specifically outstanding customer service.

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WILEC

... our strategy has been geared towards achieving new growth outside of South African borders and to this end we have been able to identify potential partners with a better understanding of their markets

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ilec, a division of ACTOM (Pty) Ltd, established in 1953, is Africa’s largest manufacturer and supplier of input materials and technical solutions to the electric rotating machine, transformer and general industries.

Wilec serves predominantly the motor, generator and transformer industries with conductor, insulating materials and complementary products providing solutions in reverse engineering, component manufacturing and insulation kitting.

Some of the brands exclusively represented include Isovolta (insulation materials), Elantas (resins such as Epoxylite®, Dobeckan®, Elmotherm®, ELAN-Protect®), Pucaro/Figeholm (transformer insulation materials) and Comem (transformer auxiliaries), Envirotemp™ (Ester Dielectric Fluid for Transformer application). Wilec also distributes NSK and FAG bearings.

T: +27 11 629 9300 (Head office)

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“We have worked hard to ensure a productive work environment that promotes innovation, further training and an excellent working environment,” affirms Mabalayo.

“We provide our people with an environment that will allow them to both grow and prosper.”

In order to achieve this environment the Company is providing exceptional in-house training for the young engineers, with structured training programmes and a mentor assigned to each of them.

Mabalayo continues: “We recognise the importance of developing our own talent pool and through this programme we are able to identify potential new recruits that we can further develop and turn into worldclass engineers.”

A productive work environment breeds innovation

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Investment opportunities

We have worked hard to ensure a productive work environment that promotes innovation, further training and an excellent working environment

In order to become the world-class transformer manufacturing company that it is recognised as today, EII has worked on significant research & development projects with thanks to global partners that have a cemented leading position in the field of transformer design and manufacture.

“To that end we have been lucky enough to partner with Siemens in order to set up a new factory that we now jointly operate with the company,” continues Mabalayo.

“With thanks to our partnership with Siemens, we are now making significant improvements with the latest equipment in order to successfully equip our new factory with state-of-the-art technology to make us even more competitive.”

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Outlook Creative Services

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Outlook Publishing’s awardwinning in-house team is now utilising its extensive production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

The aforementioned new factory will enable the Company to manufacture and power transformers, while also investing heavily in modernising the technology within its current facilities to ensure that EII stays ahead of the industry curve.

“Alongside the investment in new equipment and facilities, we are also making efforts to strengthen our administrative processes,” explains Mabalayo. “In doing that we are better able to serve our customers, enabling us to successfully achieve our customer focused strategy.”

Differentiating focus

Stemming from its customer-centric approach to operations within the industry, EII has undertaken many projects to involve itself heavily in corporate social responsibility. A great recent example is its involvement in assisting schools in the Western Cape with much-needed resources, such as school furniture, computers and other

Moving forward our long-term vision is to become the leading transformer manufacturer on the continent

various learning materials.

“As well as our work with schools, we have also created a supplier development programme which targets small and micro-enterprises,” states Mabalayo.

“We are able to assist them with grants, equipment and most importantly business expertise.”

The care that it puts into projects and achieving the best for customers is a huge differentiating factor for EII, placing a lot of focus on understanding the value that customers seek and ensuring that it is unwaveringly geared towards meeting and exceeding expectations.

“Moving forward our long-term vision is to become the leading transformer manufacturer on the continent and we hope that in the next five years, we will see great benefits from our recent investment in facility upgrades,” concludes Mabalayo. “Maintaining our focus on hiring the right people and training them to a high level of skill will continue to make us a leader in the field for many years to come.”

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Mining Indaba 2018:

AFRICA’S PREMIER

DEAL-MAKING FORUM When mining companies source investment, not only do the companies themselves benefit, but Africa does too; and no event facilitates such widespread, continental industry progression than the annual Investing in African Mining Indaba Writer: Matthew Staff

ince Euromoney acquired the Investing in Mining Indaba conference, the esteemed gathering’s credence has escalated to new heights, and in 2018 the upward trajectory continued as a 15 percent increase in attendees came together to discuss the biggest trends in continental mining and resources.

Arriving from as many as 95 different countries - again an increase on 2017’s 84 - the global significance of the event is affirmed beyond doubt in a climate crying out for knowledge sharing and innovation. Diversification of attendees

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was a similarly positive trend as well though, with 37 percent emanating from the mining executive world, 17 percent comprising investors, and 25 percent from Governmental positions; something which Managing Director, Alex Grose believes contributed to the best instalment of Mining Indaba yet.

“Since Euromoney acquired Mining Indaba, the event has undergone significant changes and investment to take it back to a focused deal-making forum while supporting the needs of Africa’s mining industry,” he says.

“In 2018 there was a more deliberate balance between investors, mining

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companies, government and service providers, and this really came to fruition with features like the Junior Mining Showcase where 50 junior mining companies, all with projects in Africa, were for the first time hosted in the middle of the event in a focused deal-making area.”

Head of Investor Relations, Kael O’Sullivan adds: “The Investor Relation programme was also expanded in 2018, providing investors with even more meetings with mining companies across the week.”

For the first time ever, Mining Indaba also worked in tandem with

community and civil society groups in 2018 to define a common vision for sustainable development in the continental sector.

“This meant the 2018 event played host to even more dialogue than ever before,” enthuses Head of Content, Harry Chapman.

Africa Outlook spoke with Grose, O’Sullivan and Chapman about the key take-home messages from this year’s groundbreaking Indaba.

Africa Outlook (AfO): What specific industry trends dictated the key talking points at this year’s

event and in what ways did the event address these?

Alex Grose (AG): The themes of any year are driven by the research done with all the key stakeholder groups in the months leading up to the event.

This year the industry told us that exploration projects were beginning to shoot up across the continent once more, which is why our overriding theme for the whole event was providing a platform for sustainable junior, mid-tier and major growth.

For that reason our Investment Battlefield was expanded to enable 22 junior mining companies to pitch

their projects to leading investors, and hosted the final on the Main Stage.

Harry Chapman (HC): Sustainable development was a key theme at the 2018 Mining Indaba, being discussed not only at the packed Sustainable Development day on Tuesday, 6 February, but also featuring in many conversations throughout the event.

Addressing the lack of trust between communities and mining companies, looking ahead to community engagement and working together to define a sustainable vision of Africa’s mining sector, these themes came up regularly throughout the week, and is

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clearly going to continue to be a big theme going forwards.

Given the changing political landscape across the continent, a key theme at the event was cooperation and knowledge sharing between governments. The Intergovernmental Summit hosted panel sessions between African and non-African governments, to ensure that African governments have improved interaction with governments outside the continent.

AfO: Could you also talk me through some of the speakers at Mining Indaba 2018 and what you feel they brought to the table in terms of industry knowledge and international expertise?

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“For five days the world’s most influential investors, CEOs from the world’s largest mining companies, mining ministers from a majority of African nations, government representation from key countries, and top media brands all meet to share insight and knowledge with each other.”

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HC: For 2018 the Main Stage moved away from static presentations, and instead focused on interviews with industry visionaries to give the audience the opportunity to really delve into their wealth of experience.

We were delighted to host a fireside chat between Anil Agarwal, Group Chairman, Vedanta Resources, and Evy Hambro, Chief Investment Officer, Natural Resources and Managing Director, BlackRock, where they discussed strategies for long-term shareholder value and where growth can be found in the mining sector.

One highlight included H.E.Olusegun Obasanjo, the former President of Nigeria and Chairman of the Brenthurst Foundation and author of the Zambezi Protocol, who delivered a keynote

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address entitled “Partnership: A New Narrative for Africa’s Mining Industry”.

AG: With the introduction of the Intergovernmental Summit, Mining Indaba saw the number of ministers speaking on the programme increase from 28 in 2017, to 36 in 2018. African countries represented included Angola, Malawi, Ghana, Zambia, Botswana and Senegal, with global representation from Venezuela, Russia and Ecuador.

Kael O’Sullivan (KOS): 2018 also marked the introduction of Mining 2050, focusing on where companies should be investing in the age of disruption. Industry leaders such as Michelle Ash (Chief Innovation Officer, Barrick) and Donovan Waller (Group Head of Technology, Anglo American) discussed the latest disruptive technology and innovation strategies.

issues unfolding over the next 12 months?

AfO: What other new and fresh AG: This is an extremely exciting impetuses were added to the time for mining in Africa: President Indaba schedule this year?

Mnangagwa has recently said AG: The Junior Mining Forum that Zimbabwe may lift the 51 provided emerging mining companies percent ownership/ “indiginisation” with the opportunity to present and requirement for platinum and diamond take part in panel discussions with mining companies. In Angola, newly leading experts across the three days. elected President, Joao Lourenco HC: 2018 also saw the Franco-Mine has also made moves to win the trust programme move to within the Mining and support of the global investment Indaba programme, a platform for community. Angola sent a ministerial exchanges in French, discussing recent delegation to Mining Indaba. or planned changes to mining codes Of course, in South Africa, Cyril in African countries, as well as recent Ramaphosa returned from the developments and best practices.

World Economic Forum saying that KOS: Additionally, the World Gold “Investors are applauding the dawn Council took part in Mining Indaba for of a new era and are waiting for us the fir st time in many years, hosting to follow through with reforms and a session and reception highlighting policy changes”. He has also said that gold’s value as a strategic asset and its SA cannot afford to miss out on the positive contributions to economies commodities boom that could unlock and society, attracting key figures from the mining industry. across the African mining sector.

Our aim at Mining Indaba is to provide a platform where the sector AfO: From a more general industry can debate the big issues, to enable perspective, what do you feel are connections to be made, and most the biggest challenges and trends importantly to create the ‘space’ for influencing the mining industry in Africa these engagements. We are mining at present, and how do you see these event professionals, not mining analysts.

However, we bring together many commentators and experts at Mining Indaba who discussed this and made predictions about the year ahead.

AfO: Similarly, from the Mining Indaba’s perspective, what are your aspirations and expectations for Mining Indaba moving forward and how would you like to see it grow from 2018 onwards?

AG: Mining Indaba is a global platform. For five days the world’s most influential investors, CEOs from the world’s largest mining companies, mining ministers from a majority of African nations, government representation from key countries, and top media brands all meet to share insight and knowledge with each other. No other event creates the networking platform that is Mining Indaba.

Looking to the future, we want to continue to deliver the event that the African mining industry needs, and connect mining companies with investors. We believe that when mining companies source investment, not only do the companies themselves benefit, but Africa also benefits.

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THE EART Under Control

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Minova is the trusted partner of choice in sub-Saharan Africa and is continuing to create, develop and deliver exceptional mining services to its customers Writer: Phoebe Calver Project Manager: Donovan Smith

inova Africa’s longstanding roots go back to 1975, when Fosroc - a UK based company - established Fosroc Mining International Group in South Africa and began to manufacture grouts for both mining and construction industries in the country.

Since that point in time the business has experienced exceptional growth organically, as well as through strategic acquisitions. However, the main focus of the Company has never deterred from serving the mining industry, predominantly through the use of rock support systems.

“We changed the Group name to Minova Africa in 2003,” begins Nathan Williams, General Manager at Minova Africa. “Since 2007 we have also been a part of Orica, a company that is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and is the world’s largest supplier of mining explosives; ensuring throughout that we have retained our own branding and predominantly independent operations.”

Although Minova Africa has retained its focus on serving the mining industry, it has made moves during the past two years to extend its presence within geotechnical and construction through the utilisation of applications and product expertise.

“Our product portfolio has experienced a steady growth since the launch of our flagship product named Lokset Resin Capsules, made specifically for rock-bolting,” explains Williams. “We have expanded to manufacture a range of encapsulated and bulk cement grouts for rock bolting, rock surface protection and underground cavity filling.

“Our associated sub-contractors also manufacture mining backfill binders, stemming capsules for blast-holes and several variations of rock bolts and wire mesh that are set to Minova formulations or designs.”

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stablished in 1907 as the Natal Chemical Syndicate (NCS), NCS Resins has since emerged as the largest manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins in Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. The Company is now a part of the continentally significant, Synthesis Chemical Holdings (SynChem).

NCS Resins manufactures and supplies a complete range of high quality resins, gelcoats, accessories, and processing equipment suitable for all fabricating methods to support the composites industry. All resins are manufactured according to ISO 9001: 2008 Quality Management Systems.

Since its inception, market-leader, NCS Resins has built its reputation on technological innovation, the highest level of customer service, and outstanding technical support. Our clientele over the past 58 years include more than 1,000 customers from the construction, marine, sanitary ware, decorative, fashion, electrical, automotive, mining, and corrosion industries.

Pump for cement grouts

In the present day with its combination of rock bolts, resin and cement grouts and drill rigs, Minova has reached a point of unrivalled understanding when it comes to rock bolting issues, ensuring the Company is able to support its customers with the optimal rock bolting strategies for their needs.

We are the preferred resin supplier to Minova, the global leader in the manufacture and supply of minebolt capsules for ground support and geotechnical solutions for mining, tunnelling and surface civil engineering projects.

NCS Resins has a well-equipped, stateof-the-art analytical laboratory providing specialised analytical services in the field of reverse engineering and nondestructive analyses. Mechanical testing is a critical step in the development of composite products and for certification by government and other regulatory bodies. Results from mechanical testing enable specifiers to select composite materials that will best withstand service conditions products must endure.

Understanding customer needs

In order to understand the needs, problems and objectives of its customers and their industries, Minova maintains close contact which will enable it to develop and adapt systems in order to perfectly suit the required needs.

“These adaptations are included within our products themselves, as well as the general manufacturing and service quality that we are able to offer,” continues Williams. “Some examples of this can be seen in the development of both Conbex and Fillcem backfill binder systems, where we had to make adjustments in order

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T +27 31 713 0600 E exports@ncsresins.com Stope supported with Conbex backfill

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MA-72 rock bolt successfull installed with resin capsules

to meet the requirements of deep, wide-reef gold mines and our spin-tostall resin capsule bolting processes.”

Many of the Company’s products have grown through innovations and site-specific changes that have led them to international use and success.

Innovations and new techniques are also introduced through communications with Minova Africa’s sister company, which are then rolled out and enable customers to stay up-to-date with the leading global practices.

“The most recent example of this is the use of Tekcrete Fast M, a product that was developed in the US for the stabilisation of shock-damaged structures,” adds Williams. “The products are now rapidly growing in popularity and usage in Africa, providing our clients with ultra-fast, ultra-strong spray-on reinforcement to use on exposed rock surfaces.”

Product development is always at the forefront of Minova’s work and following in that vein, the Company

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is also looking to the future of the mining industry through greater use of technology. This looks set to include remote control and automated equipment and processes, alongside digitalisation allowing decisions to be made in real time and based on reliable data.

“We know that this will enable mines in the future to achieve higher safety levels, faster mining and lower costs,” affirms Williams. “We’re extremely excited to see these developments falling into place and are already witnessing the benefits of the significant investments made by our parent company, Orica, in its digital technologies.”

Integrative projects

Within its realm of expertise, Minova Africa is currently involved in a selection of exciting projects including work on slim-hold drilling, cement developments and resin capsule insertion systems.

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Rock bolts are colour coded for length identification

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240 Beyers Naude Drive Blackheath Johannesburg South Africa

Tel:

+27 11 476 5238 +27 11 476 5436 Fax: +27 11 476 9302 Email: fatima@o2lighting.co.za

Kuilfontein Sand & Stene CC

CLAY TAMPING FULL BLAST FORWARD – 100% ORGANIC – 100% SAFE – HIGHLY COST EFFECTIVE

Kuilfontein Sand & Stene P.O. Box 1896, Nigel, 1490 SA T: +27 11 819 6012 | 6013 | 6008 +27 71 690 6523 | + 27 71 690 4752 +27 73 452 9525 | + 27 83 268 4939 E: kuilfonteinsandstene@gmail.com

~ 30 Years in Association with Minova ~

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“At present we are working to integrate our Autorock drill rigs, special drill steels, drill bits and high-tensile steel rock bolts in order to develop our slim-hole drilling capabilities,” continues Williams. “Alongside that we have also worked on a large-scale project that involves the filling of a huge cavity that was threatening to destabilise the shaft on a deep-level gold mine.

“We’ve been able to successfully modify our Tekseal cement foam in order to pump it into the cavity which lies at more than 3,000 metres underground.”

Timber pack prestressed with PS1

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“...we are working to integrate our Autorock drill rigs, special drill steels, drill bits and hightensile steel rock bolts in order to develop our slim-hole drilling capabilities.”

The Company is dedicating large amounts of time to the development of its products, including Capcem K40P cement and its Minova Quick-Chem resin capsule insertion system for mechanised operations.

Williams adds: “We are working hard to build upon the improvements made in recent years to secure the cap to the resin capsule, which we are achieving through mechanising the entire process.”

Alongside its expansive projects on current products, the Company is also looking into the new industrialisation

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of yielding rock bolts. Specifically, these rock bolts can accept both large and rapid rock movement and are increasingly required within South Africa’s deep mines, as well as mines and tunnels within soft rock.

Williams states: “As well as the work we are carrying out here on Yielding rock bolts, Minova Global is pursuing these developments in the USA, Europe and Australia.”

Through working with one of the Company’s manufacturing partners, it’s developing sophisticated coupling technology that will enable faster

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representation via a combination of agents and distributors,” explains Williams. “It has become a rule to closely study the potential on a projectby-project basis, weighing up the possible outcomes alongside country risk.”

In order to handle this new uptake and wider spread of business, the Company is implementing an array of new training programmes, using both internal and external expertise.

“Taking into account our training programmes, we also wanted to implement a business coaching programme for our leading lights,” adds Williams. “This predominantly involves web-based, weekly one-toone coaching sessions that we feel are truly benefitting our employees and their skills.”

The combination of its long history as a solutions provider within Africa

Secura rock bolts

installation times at a reduced cost and is providing encouraging results to move forward with.

Expanding industry presence

Within the Minova Global organisation, Minova Africa’s primary responsibilities are situated within South Africa; however, it is also expanding its services with customers in Zimbabwe, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, the DRC and Ghana.

“We are actively expanding our presence in Africa, and have been able to achieve this through direct

and the Company’s ability to remain up-to-date with current trends, has provided it with a unique leading position in the industry.

“We will continue to provide longterm, new and future clientele with the ability to work together with our team at Minova to create value-engineered, cost-effective, innovative and safe project solutions,” concludes Williams.

“We feel optimistic for the future of African mining and will continue to work tirelessly to sustain this future, working on safer, more efficient and automated solutions.”

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Seamless

ADDING VALUE

REALITY TO LIFE Jindal Mozambique has negotiated the coal mining recession successfully and can now turn towards both business and national development as the industry gathers momnetum Writer: Matthew Staff

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he recession in the coal market affected the entire value chain across the commodity’s supply and demand between 2013 an 2016, making the need for a localised, strategic, flexible approach to recovery all the more significant.

Fortunately for Jindal Mozambique, such philosophies have been an integral part of the wider Jindal structure in Africa for decades.

Back in those more challenging times, international coal rates fell from $250-300/MT to as low as $90/MT, but a change of tack and an agile approach to diversification meant that Jindal Mozambique negotiated the challenge better than most.

“Being a dynamic organisation helped us to survive even during these difficult times,” affirms Country

Jindal Mozambique’s vision is to be a globally-admired organisation that enhances the quality of life of all stakeholders through sustainable industrial and business development.

Manager, Chandra Singh. “We had to revise our short-term as well as longterm goals in order to accommodate the constantly fluctuating international

coal market, but we have taken certain measures towards reorganising strategies required to produce coal more efficiently even at lower selling prices.

“We have renegotiated many of our large contracts with suppliers and service providers to allow us to create win-win situations for all stakeholders involved with our business. Meanwhile, we strived hard to reduce our overall cost of production by introducing radical changes throughout our organisational structure.”

The rising prices of coal in the international market now have given hope to all coal exporters for 2018, Jindal having placed itself in a prime

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STEVLUC JOBBING SERVICES

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tevluc Jobbing Services is staying true to its mission of remaining a reliable and efficient operator at the forefront of Africa’s construction industry through a mixture of transparency, quality and hard work.

Since inception in 2003, the Company has established a trusted and reliable reputation in the market across its everexpanding array of clients, employees, suppliers and contractors.

Based in Mozambique and growing in alignment with the country’s own infrastructural development, the end result has been a mutual respect between Stevluc and beneficiaries of its services; ultimately becoming a pioneer in bringing best value building services, enacted by expert professionals.

Dumper haulage from mine to wash plant

position to strike now that the iron is hot. Accordingly, the Company has decided to increase the existing mining capacity as well as its coal processing capacity to 3.6 million tonnes per annum; in line with its overall expansion plan of reaching 10 million tonnes per annum.

monitoring system across locations of business activity in order to better analyse and control our emissions.

Furthermore, we are planning to install GPS tracking systems in our equipment and machinery allowing us to monitor, analyse and improve their performance.”

Capital expenditures to facilitate Improved performance capacity enhancements and operational Much of this expansion will be excellence are no new thing for targeted towards Jindal’s ongoing Jindal; its dedication to continuous work at Chirodzi Mine, a project that improvement indicative of the success it began back in 2012 and that has an has enjoyed over the years. estimated resource of 2.7 billion tonnes To this end, a whole host of additional of coal as certified by an independent investments are in the pipeline over the technical assessor. course of 2018 and beyond to compound The opencast mine has an expected its reputation and to capitalise on a lifecycle of 25 years, and has long been strengthening market. the Company’s headline act.

“We have also implemented SAP “We have now planned an modules across all our locations in extension to this pit that would order to streamline our processes allow us to increase our mining and effectively analyse our business,” capacity over the next five years,” Singh offers as a further example. “We Singh explains. “We are also in the also have a plan in place to replace process of upgrading the environment our existing fleet of HEMMs that have

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“Stevluc has always ranked among the leading firms in the industry, and has successfully completed some of the most challenging and iconic projects in the Country,” the Company affirms.

Placing special emphasis on ethics, staff retention and empowerment, long-lasting relationships, health & safety, and continuous improvement; the resultant turnkey offering ensures customer satisfaction from beginning to end.

The Company continues: “Stevluc Construction builds a diverse range of projects for both Government and private clients under a variety of project delivery methods including: consultation services; construction management; design-build development; preconstruction services; and purchasing and supplying.

“Stevluc has been able to establish itself as one of the considered construction companies in the region because of the principles followed throughout its development. [And] apart from the projects that we manage, meticulous planning and expert knowhow goes into the management of the Company itself.”

T +258 82 249 6810 E info@stevelucjobbing.org stevelucjobbings@gmail.com

www.stevlucjobbings.org

ROOFING • CEILINGS • ELECTRICALS • PLUMBING • SUPER STRUCTURE • CONSULTANCE

• Specialist Roofing Material • Construction Material • IBR Roofs • Galv Sheets Of All Sizes • Bolts and Nuts • Bearings • Roof Timber • Plywood all Sorts of Electrical Material • Angle Irons • Galv Pipes • Steam Pipes • PVC Pipes • All Sizes of Re-Bars

T: +258 82 249 6810, +258 86 769 0323, +258 84 725 7415 E: info@stevlucjobbing.org, stevenc@stevlucjobbing.org, emilia@stevlucjobbing.org

www.stevlucjobbing.org

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Coal products from the wash plant

worked for more than four years now and are thus nearing the end of their lifecycle.

“Finally, we have a plan to construct a single 2x75MW coal-fired power plant at the pit head for our internal operational consumption as well as to provide power to the Mozambican Government. This will then be distributed to the local areas through the central grid.”

Equipping the local community

The construction phase of the power plant is expected to start at the end

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of the year and alludes to a significant driver of Jindal Mozambique’s growth.

It’s not simply the case that Jindal is reacting to the country’s mining potential and trends, but in large part the Company is actually driving such initiatives and socio-economic development.

Singh details: “We know that Mozambique is one of the richest countries in Africa in terms of mineral resources. With the discovery of large natural gas deposits in Mozambique, heavy investment is expected in this sector. Vale has increased the overall

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production capacity and developed a dedicated freight corridor from Moatize to the port of Nacala to increase annual exports [to this end].

“Also, the Mozambique Government has given green signals to many infrastructure projects throughout the country. Large projects like Macuse Rail line from Macuse port to Chitima in Cahora Bassa district would provide more avenues to coal exporters and create a lot of employment for Mozambican citizens.”

The recent announcement of an $8 billion investment into a coral floating LNG development project is set to create similar socially-enriching benefits in the country, as both an economic and business development facilitator.

And with Jindal’s expansion plan in place, the Company too will be contributing to Mozambique’s allencompassing skills development goals.

“We are planning to partner with local manpower outsourcing agencies to provide us with the required skill-sets at the mine site, all the while giving preference to local content,” Singh says. “With

increasing Government regulations with regards to the import of skillsets into Mozambique, it has become imperative for almost all players in the mining industry to develop local talent.”

Consequently, the Company has planned to initiate a training centre for employees and the surrounding communities; complemented by numerous training programmes to aid areas of language training, and industrial and vocational up-skilling.

“Our aim is to equip the local community with basic skills of artisans so that they can earn a livelihood apart from simply getting employed at the mine site,” Singh concludes. “We are also planning training programmes to develop the skill-sets necessary for our business that would help us reduce the gap between the skills required and skills available in the future.”

Such selfless and more broadly poignant initiatives will not only help the business capitalise on upcoming opportunities through its capacity expansion project, but will continue to assist Mozambique as a country in its overall economic development strategies.

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Low-Cost, High-Grade, Multi-Asset With a further 5,000 kilometres of exploration ground in Mali and Liberia, and revenues building, Hummingbird Resources looks forward to a busy and progressive 2018 Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Donovan Smith ince inception in 2005, Hummingbird Resources has successfully transitioned from a pure exploration operator to a multi-project entity thriving in the fastest-growing gold region in the world; the Birimian Greenstone Belt.

In little more than a decade, the development and production Company has evolved exponentially to now boast a 6.4 million ounce (oz) gold inventory; complemented by a mineral footprint that includes one producing mine in Mali and significant expansion potential.

“This is in addition to the largest gold resource in Liberia which is currently at feasibility stage,” picks up the brains behind

Hummingbird’s origins and subsequent growth, Dan Betts. “In terms of our project portfolio now, Hummingbird owns 80 percent of the producing Yanfolila Gold Project in Mali, with the Government of Mali owning the remaining 20 percent.” Production commenced in December, 2017 on budget and on schedule and we are currently ramping up to commercial production, which is expected by the end of Q1 2018.

“Yanfolila is expected to produce 132,000oz of gold in the first full year of production with very low cash costs of US$700 per ounce and there is significant upside to the current life of the mine.”

A proactive, flexible and knowledge-driven approach

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Inevitably, much of Hummingbird’s recent efforts have been directed towards Yanfolila as the fastest route to cash-flow, but the Company is by no means a one-trick pony, as epitomised by its aforementioned, adjacent 80 percent ownership of the Dugbe Gold Project in Liberia.

Betts continues: “Dugbe is a 4.2 million ounce gold project which is at the Definitive Feasibility Study stage following robust economics indicated in a PEA in 2013. It provides scale and significant longer-term growth potential.

“Additionally, Hummingbird has a 34 percent shareholding in AIM-listed, Cora Gold which is a West African gold exploration company and provides potential nearby satellite deposits for Yanfolila.”

Such a portfolio after just 12 years of development is testament to the proactive, flexible and knowledgedriven approach of a business that

spent a number of years exploring the Liberian jungle as a private company, as it assessed the best route forward. Later listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2010, Hummingbird went on to act upon the 800,000oz of gold discovered at the Dugbe site, before further exploring and developing the deposits which now exist as a large open-pit gold project with a 4.2Moz resource.

Meanwhile, “in Mali, we acquired an excellent asset from Gold Fields”, Betts recalls. “Following a welltimed acquisition we successfully right-sized the project to a one million tonne per annum mine, and following optimisation initiatives which indicated that we could deliver a highly profitable, high-margin, high-grade open pit mine.

“This enabled us to successfully raise US$75 million to fund construction and we subsequently brought Yanfolila to production on budget and on schedule.”

Tackling opportunities and problems head on

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IMAGRI

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MAGRI is among the leaders in mining and industrial construction in Mali and its sub-regions.

Based in Bamako since 2005, The Company has experienced considerable growth, expanding its presence to the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso with WACOM CI and WACOM BF respectively.

Thanks to that deployment, The Company consists of an African Group operating in its own environment, and taking advantage of the resources and logistics synergy to flow in the lead triangle range of its activities.

The Company’s responsiveness, professionalism and expertise has enabled it to be in the very best position to its most demanding clients, performing on projects with Hummingbird Resources in Komana.

T +223 20 79 62 85 E contact@imagri-ml.com

www.imagri-ml.com

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Construction of mining and industrial infrastructures

CIVIL WORKS – STEEL STRUCTURE AND MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY - PIPING Our corporate group operating in the triangle range between Mali, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast, give us the highest responsiveness regarding site projects ordered by some of the most demanding clients.

• Mining projects • Power plants (diesel, HFO) • Fuel storage area • Airports, industrial buildings • Plants and powerhouse installation • Equipments assembly and mounting

MALI: + (223) 20.79.62.85 BURKINA FASO: + (226) 74.08.97.77 IVORY COAST: + (225) 67.77.67.87 Mail: contact@imagri-ml.com www.imagri-ml.com

Optimisation and growth

Hummingbird’s capitalisation of both sites epitomises the Company’s ethos of hitting opportunities and problems head on and with open minds in order to find optimum solutions; leveraging a team that comprises very experienced engineers and geologists as well as more business-focused personnel to ultimately create a blend of ideas and inputs from a project perspective.

“Optimisation and growth have always been integral parts of our strategies for our projects, both from organic exploration and by acquiring a development stage project; further unlocking the value and progressing them up the development curve to production as we have demonstrated in Mali,” Betts explains. “When we acquired Yanfolila from Gold Fields in 2014 it was targeted to be an 80,000oz per annum project, but we completed drilling and optimisation initiatives and as a result we are now on track

Gold prices are on the rise

to produce 130,000oz in our first full year of production and 107,000oz per annum over the life of mine.

The optimisation doesn’t stop there either, as Hummingbird now focuses on bringing the higher-grade resources near its CIL plant into the mine plan, with a view to increasing the life and production rates of each mine.

Betts adds: “In the same vein, in Liberia we were the first company to carry out systematic exploration which resulted in us growing an initial discovery of 0.8 million ounces into a 4.2 million ounce deposit after only three drill campaigns. We are currently evaluating options at Dugbe which have increased immeasurably by a combination of higher gold prices and us now being a producing company.”

Now that Yanfolila is a fully-fledge producing mine, Hummingbird can turn its attentions to building up to

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commercial production and to aspects of lifecycle optimisation. The Gonka deposit located just five kilometres from the Yanfolila processing plant is a prime example, with the potential to add 30,000oz each year for six years to add an extra US$24 million to the NPV, by adding high grace ounces into the mine plan from year three onwards.

“We also have more than one million ounces currently outside of the mine plan and there is underground potential at Yanfolila once the open-pit is complete,” Betts continues. “In addition, Cora Gold (in which we have a 34 percent interest) is currently drilling assets within truckable distance of Yanfolila which could provide satellite deposits for the site. With a further 5,000 kilometres of exploration ground in Mali and Liberia and revenues building, we certainly have enough to keep us busy during 2018!”

HUM team and ROM pad, December, 2017

Young and hungry

As Hummingbird engages in the ramp-up at Yanfolila and the upside of its large resource in Liberia, there is always still one eye kept on lookout duty for any future, potential opportunities on the horizon.

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Betts emphasises that not a month goes by without considering an additional project: “It’s by turning over 100 stones that you find what you’re looking for.”

An apt metaphor in the mining domain, such a philosophy is applied to both exploration and business development in this case, and by being so completely aware of its surroundings, there is also a more concerted understanding of how the market is moving or may move in the future.

Betts adds: “We can’t control how the market moves or the industry shifts but what we can control is our operating costs and we do so by maintaining a strict discipline to operate at the lowest possible cost.

Therefore, reinvesting wisely to add value and offer shareholders optimum returns is our focus. We are a business first and foremost but one that

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Hummingbird’s Dugbe project in Liberia, which contributes significant exploration upside... signifying an even more exciting decade of growth to come

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operates in the gold industry.”

The Company’s board and management team consequently contribute acumen across business and mining in equal measure; the latter expertise deriving from a track record of mining discoveries across 61 different projects in Africa. On the ground in Mali alone, around 750 skilled and knowledgeable individuals strive to make a positive impact during steady state production, and not only that, but they are almost entirely locally sourced too.

“We aim to hire quality local personnel and help advance their careers through training and internal promotion,” Betts affirms, “as a business grows on the quality of its staff, we are always looking to hire the best quality personnel into all roles”.

He continues: “Hummingbird is a Company run with a young and hungry team who want to grow the business and are all

committed for the long-term. From a corporate perspective we have been very successful at attracting capital in bad markets and we are now well set in a stronger gold price environment with a newly operating asset.”

Yanfolila is thriving as a low-cost and high-grade open pit operation comprising one of the highest margin gold outputs in West Africa; while Hummingbird’s 4.2 million ounce Dugbe project in Liberia, which contributes significant exploration upside, isn’t even factored into the Company’s share price as of yet - all signifying an even more exciting decade of growth to come.

Betts concludes: “In the future I would like to report that we are a multi-mine company focusing on lowcost production, offering excellent shareholder returns: A Company that is proud of its culture, invests in its people, and the communities that it works within.

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SAFETY, HEALTH Seamless AND THE

REALITY

ENVIRONMENT Siyanda Resources is seeking to establish a globally competitive resources company, achieved through acquiring high quality strategic assets with a view to unlocking value and growing its business Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

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iyanda Resources (Pty) Ltd was formed in 2004 by a group of black mining engineers and industry professionals who commenced operations in the coal industry, with a core focus on utilising its expertise in delivering value.

Since that point in time it has matured and the Company has shifted its attention onto the acquisition and management of acquired assets for optimal performance within the industry.

One of the initial successes achieved

by Siyanda was through the acquisition of a struggling asset, which it then went on to turn into a highly profitable entity while also extending the useful life of the asset.

Over time the focus of the Company then moved onto UG2 Chrome extraction, where it considers itself industry experts and currently holds strong equity positions in which it manages and operates the business for significant value.

“We consider ourselves as pioneers and leaders in UG2 Chrome extraction and have continuously produced the best operational expertise in this environment,” explains Imraan Osman, Director of Business Development & Corporate Finance. “At Siyanda, we are also the largest producer of Ferrosilicon globally, and have recently entered into the PGM environment through the acquisition of Union Mine from Anglo Platinum.”

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BWF ENVIROTEC

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WF Envirotec is committed to providing total customer satisfaction in all aspects of business, providing products and services that our customers view at the highest value in the industry. We are dedicated to find and implement the most cost effective solution to the needs of our valued customers.

We take responsibility to protect the health and safety of our employees and commit ourselves to active environmental protection and sustainability for the industry and future generations. With service forming a part of our core business, we are committed to the goal of customer satisfaction.

BWF Envirotec is not just a filter bags supplier, but can also carry out maintenance of the bag houses and dust collector where the filter bags are installed.

BUSINESS DIVISIONS SIYANDA RESOURCES

COAL

MANGANESE

DENSE MEDIA SEPARATION BRICK MANUFACTURE

CHROME

REFINERY SERVICES REFRACTORY SERVICES

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When it comes to making these investments, Siyanda has come to adopt a multi-pronged approach.

This has primarily manifested itself from the Company’s core experience in mining and metal processing, and subsequently it has centred its efforts on collective participation in this sector with its association with the local communities and labour.

Osman continues: “Through the development of meaningful strategic partnerships with some major industry players, coupled with local communities and employees, we have been able to unlock significant value.

“We have also ensured that we have active operational participation in every business we work with, alongside a heightened awareness of control within the safety environment, leadership development and empowerment, deployment of technological enhancements and supply chain cost optimisation.”

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T: +27 11 814 2820 E: info@bwf-envirotec.co.za

www.bwf-envirotec.co.za

www.bwf-envirotec.co.za

Since May 2017, BWF Envirotec Group has also had a majority share on the African continent. BWF Envirotec, South Africa specialises in manufacturing and distributing filter bags and filter cloths as well as in providing services.

The experienced team around Yolandi Serfontein, Chief Executive Officer, takes care of a wide range of industrial sectors.

These include, among others, not only mining, and cement and petrochemical industry, but also the power plant, steel, food and pharmaceutical industry. The primary focus is on the South African countries of Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania, Nambia and Zimbabwe.

Customised services, ranging from filter bag installation, including supply of supporting cages and comprehensive accessory components form the core competences in the service area. These services are provided in conjunction with a network of established specialists.

Yolandi Serfontein Chief Executive Officer BWF Envirotec, South Africa BWF Environmental Dynamics SA (Pty) Ltd. P O Box 164 No 5, 1st Avenue, Vorsterskroon Nigel, 1490, South Africa

Phone: +27 (0) 11 814-2820 Fax: +27 (0) 11 814 2783 Direct Fax: 086 574 2735 info@bwf-envirotec.co.za

The plant is situated in Nigel, Gauteng province, in the so-called “East Rand”, part of the strong economic area of Johannesburg.

BWF Envirotec has already had a successful presence in South Africa for more than a decade. BWF Envirotec filter bags are therefore in use for instance in the continent’s two largest coal-fired power plants. These retain the fly ash generated during the combustion process and ensure efficient dust separation and neutralisation of noxious gases.

“It is a pleasure to be able to welcome our new colleagues in South Africa on board BWF Envirotec Group. Our aim, together with Yolandi Serfontein’s team, is to consistently further expand our site and our market share. This applies to the South African market and the potentials in the neighbouring regions”, says Dr. Philipp von Waldenfels, Managing Partner BWF Group.

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DMS POWDERS

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ormed in April 2006, Dense Medium Separation Powders (Pty) Ltd was established under new ownership as a fully Black Economic Empowered company.

The Company continues to be the world’s leading producer and marketer of ferroslicon powders for DMS applications. The Company’s production expertise is coupled with experienced product technical support, long-term customer relationships and an intimate knowledge of global logistics.

Maintaining its leadership by continuously investing in its production facilities, the Company’s employees and ongoing research and development work maintains and builds key relationships with its customers and industry relevant businesses by hosting regular technical symposiums.

T +27 16 360 5200 E marketing@dmspowders.com

www.dmspowders.com

Sustainable value creation

The main areas of interest for the Company at present lay within platinum metal groups (PGMs), base metals (manganese), energy (coal, uranium, oil & gas) and industrial minerals.

“We have centralised our efforts on both greenfield and brownfield operations,” adds Osman. “Each of the projects we have acquired is set on a long-term basis, with the optimisation of assets being the main goal.”

A great example of Siyanda’s sustainable value creation is through its Koornfontein coal project; with thanks to its internal expertise, the Company was able to turn a lossmaking business into a raving success, extending the useful life of the asset from three years to 10.

Osman adds: “Upon the divestment of this asset at a later stage, significant value was unlocked and returned to the employees of the business and local community.”

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Werksmans’ more than 200 lawyers and over 20 practice areas are a powerful team of independent-minded individuals who share a common service ethos.

The firm’s success is built on a solid foundation of insightful and innovative deal structuring and legal advice, a keen ability to understand business and a strong focus on achieving the best legal outcome for clients.

“We have centralised our efforts on both greenfield and brownfield operations.”

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Consistent quality Ferrosilicon for Dense medium Separation. Technology which enables the high through-put superior efficiency and increased flexibility With nearly seventy years in the Ferrosilicon business, and a 100% Black Owned company, DMS Powders, formerly a division of Samancor Ltd, is the foremost supplier of FeSi today.

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Another key project that is currently being undertaken is the establishment of a ferrochrome smelter, in which the Company is targeting the utilisation of advanced technologies in order to target energy reduction and improve furnace utilisation.

“In addition to the aforementioned project, we are working with international partners in order to install new technologies that will substantially improve recoveries in the PGM process environment and unlocking significant value for each business,” continues Osman. “When it comes to operations in the chrome business, the Company is currently in the middle of advanced engagements with a third party specialist, hoping to see improved yields from the chrome extraction process.

“We are also working with a local mineral processing research institute in order to explore the numerous opportunities available when it comes to unlocking value from ferro-platinum.

We know that achieving results are the base-line of every business and that is how we differentiate ourselves from our competitors.”

downstream process value chain. In order to exploit this value chain, it has embarked on a process with a view to identify growth opportunities and new markets which can make use of its commodities.

“In terms of Ferrosilicon, we are working on exploring the opportunities to deliver our products in new international markets,” explains Osman.

Significant industry trends “Further to this, we have completed In order to stay ahead in such a pilot testing on new products through competitive market Siyanda recognises the use of enhanced technologies in that it needs to be a disruptive force order to secure new regions to branch within the industry, thinking outside into at international levels.” the box and driving forward innovation At present Siyanda has operational and progress. assets within South Africa and continues to explore opportunities there, In terms of the use of its commodities such as chrome and however, its commodities are marketed ferrosilicon, Siyanda is continuing and utilised globally by the continuous to keep ahead of the upstream and search for value accretive markets.

“In terms of Ferrosilicon, we are working on exploring the opportunities to deliver our products in new international markets.”

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Thought leadership

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When it comes to finding the right people to handle the tough and everchanging markets Siyanda operates in, its hiring approach is centred on finding high potential individuals with strong core values.

“We support these individuals through offering them leadership development in the form of empowerment and accountability,” adds Osman. “We ensure the Company maintains flat operational structures which enable our teams to meet the high standards required for accelerated individual growth and development.”

At the core of Siyanda’s responsibilities is the safety and wellbeing of its people, and in addition its identity is defined by both its passion and drive towards the successful transformation of the mining industry.

“We are fully focussed on our

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At the core of Siyanda’s responsibilities is both the safety and wellbeing of its people

thought leadership, continuously seeking to empower people and present opportunities to develop leadership within businesses,” concludes Osman. “At Siyanda, our passion is further driven by a fervent commitment to social economic development, despite being a

smaller organisation we contribute meaningfully to this.”

“It is my hope that moving forward, Siyanda will be recognised as an ambassador for the meaningful transformation occurring within the mining industry for many years to come.”

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Mining is Being Driven

As the world’s automotive heavyweights battle to the front of the EV grid, the mining sector has found itself embroiled in the melee as companies look to unearth greener power source alternatives to fossil fuels

By Rachel Speight, Partner in the Mining Group, Mayer Brown International LLP he buzzword at this year’s annual Indaba mining conference in Cape Town was “lithium” and the hype centred around the explosion of the global electric vehicle (EV) industry powered by lithium-ion batteries; the green energy storage technology of choice for the industry.

But it is not only lithium that is benefitting from this boom, but also a range of other metals required in the manufacture of components for electric vehicles including cobalt, graphite, copper, manganese, PGMs and nickel, not to mention the rare earth metals.

All of these metals are suddenly in hot demand as car makers turn to green technologies rather than

diesel cars to try to meet increasingly tough emissions targets like the CO2 targets of 95 grams of CO2 per kilometre in the EU which must be met by 2021. This means a flood of electric cars are due to hit the market in the next few years.

Volvo has announced that by 2019 every car it sells will contain a hybrid or electric engine and Ford Motors has said that it will double its spending on electrified vehicles bringing 40 electrified vehicles to market by 2022.

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Volkswagen has also entered the race stating that up to 25 percent of its total 2025 production could be made up of fully electric vehicles. Toyota, which pioneered hybrids but long resisted battery-only cars, changed tack last year and has since unveiled plans for a new range of pure-electric models.

Not to mention the EV darling - Tesla - who plans to launch its long-awaited mass-market Model 3 electric car in the coming months.

Rising to the challenge

Despite all this talk though, EVs are currently a relatively tiny part of the total new car market (amounting to just less than one percent of global car sales) as manufacturers and consumers still struggle with poor charging infrastructure, high battery costs and electric vehicles’ still limited driving range.

But the EV share of the market is inevitably set to grow spurred on by plans like those set out by the Chinese Government in 2015 to put at least five million electric vehicles on Chinese roads by 2020, which has been echoed by the mayors of Paris, Madrid, Mexico City

and Athens who have said they plan to ban diesel vehicles from city centres by 2025, while the French and British governments aim to end the sale of new gasoline and diesel vehicles by 2040.

In Europe, so called ‘green cars’ benefit from subsidies, tax breaks and other perks, while combustion engines face mounting penalties including driving and parking restrictions.

With this pressure to increase EV production, car manufacturers and others have expressed concerns about how demand for metals such as lithium will be met from the handful of current suppliers (like Albemarle, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chiles and Chinese producers, Tianqi Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium) and concerns that raw materials such as cobalt are too concentrated in areas such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and therefore dependent on the stability of that country. But given the abundance of lithium and some of the other metals needed to support the growth of the EV industry, miners have risen to the challenge and a range of new sources of these metals were announced at Indaba.

‘The mining industry has for a long time been seen as the archetypal bad boy for environmentalists so it is interesting to see a recognition that our growing need for green technologies to combat emissions will not be able to move forward without the mining industry.’

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Green credentials

‘Lithium exploration is also taking place across the continent in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and Egypt.’

Lithium is currently mined in South America, Australia and China but Zimbabwe is already the fifth largest lithium producer. And this position may increase as Prospect Resources has announced growth plans for its flagship Arcadia lithium project just outside Harare and a number of other lithium project are said to be finalising feasibility studies in Zimbabwe.

Lithium exploration is also taking place across the continent in Mali, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and Egypt with a number of these explorers announcing their plans at the Indaba conference. There was also chatter at the conference around a number

of new graphite projects in Tanzania and Mozambique and cobalt projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Namibia as well as rare earths in Malawi. All of which are fuelled by the global demand for electric vehicles.

The mining industry has for a long time been seen as the archetypal bad boy for environmentalists so it is interesting to see a recognition that our growing need for green technologies to combat emissions will not be able to move forward without the mining industry. There can be no electric vehicles, hybrid cars, solar panels, wind turbines or hydropower and the transition to low-carbon energy systems will not be achieved without the mining industry. The questions around whether the EV is a truly “green” solution in terms of its manufacture and power supply, is a debate for another day but at least EVs and the raw materials they require give the mining industry an opportunity to display its green credentials in contrast to the fossil fuel industry.

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Partnership, Seamless Professionalism, Solutions

REALITY

Servaco PPS has grown exponentially over the past two decades to become Ghana’s, and indeed West Africa’s, primary industrial facilitator with customer satisfaction at its core Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Josh Hyland

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Celebrating its 20th year in 2018, the Company’s rise to full turnkey status is all the more remarkable when analysing its humble beginnings; where the initial entity, Process & Plant Sales Ghana Ltd

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Subsequently, by virtue of capital injection and strategic investments in 2013 and 2014, Servaco PPS has since gone on to establish a unique identity, not just in Ghana, but across the wider region; and now offers more than 100 products from 16 of the world’s leading industrial brands.

“This is more than any other local supplier in West Africa, enabling the Company to meet customers’ industrial needs right across the supply chain,” introduces Managing Director, Rudolph Matey. “Servaco PPS’ sales team are experts in their fields; trained engineers who appreciate their customers’ needs and understand the very latest innovations and technology to help increase their productivity.

“Over the years, Servaco PPS has grown steadily to become

a leading supplier of industrial consumables and services to the mining, quarry and construction; industrial; oil & gas/marine; and power, water and telecom sectors in West Africa.”

Thriving as both a flexible and customisable facilitator of each respective industry, and indeed a turnkey provider able to oversee all industrial applications; strategic hubs in Ghana, Burkina Faso and Sierra Leone now host a knowledge staff and expertise that represents a sector yardstick in the region.

Rudolph continues: “Our current business activities are focused on four sectors: power, water and telecom; mining, quarrying and construction; oil, gas and marine; and general industrial.

“The former especially is booming in West Africa with more than 25 power generation, transmissions and distribution companies in West Africa.

To this sector, Servaco PPS serves power generations, barges, renewable energy producers, telecoms companies, power transmitters and distributors, and community water and sanitation plants.”

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INDUSTRIAL AND ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS PROVIDER.

WEST AFRICA’S CHOICE FOR SMART SOLUTIONS

No. 3 Becca villa. Spintex Road P. O. Box SR 95, Spintex Road, Ghana Tel: +233 (0) 302 812 680 Mob: +233 (0) 233 700 891 E: sales@automationghana.com www.automationghana.com

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The Company’s diversification programme is on course to reduce its over-exposure to the risk associated with the mining industry

Of course, the second facet of mining, quarrying and construction forms a pivotal portion of West African economy; as does the oil, gas and marine domain where Servaco PPS serves ports, harbours and docks as well as a host of oil exploration and production companies, oil refineries, gas processing plants, floating barges and many more operators.

“West Africa is home to some of the continent’s fastest growing economies, many of which are fuelled by the vibrant marine, oil and gas industries,” Rudolph says. “Oil & gas exploration in selected countries has resulted in many opportunities for these states, which are at different stages of economic development.”

Total quality

The final strand addresses the rapid industrialisation that is occurring across the region at present in conjunction with all aforementioned sectors. Transforming both businesses

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segment - are beginning to match up to Servaco PPS’ previously paramount attentions which focused largely on mining and construction domains.

“Our diversification programme is on course to reduce our overexposure to the risk associated with the mining industry and the oil & gas sector seems to be the sector with most potential for the growth of our business,” Rudolph confirms in demonstrating agility as part of the Company’s continuous improvement ethos. “Throughout the and indeed wider economies, Company’s evolution, our continuous the opportunities arising from improvement strategies have centred industrialisation are rife and Servaco on the total quality management PPS consequently represents countless concept (TQM) which focuses primarily global brands as sole distributers, on customer satisfaction, employee agents or dealers to this end. involvement, process enhancements, Oil refineries, flour mills, sugar and communication. Essentially, mills, plantations, pharmaceuticals, Servaco’s total quality management breweries, manufacturing, agriculture, is something that is integrated into transport and cosmetics reflect just a every practice within the Company in minute percentage of this particular order to strive for excellence within all division, and - alongside the oil & gas business components.”

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T +233 (0) 302 812 680 E sales@automationghana.com

www.automationghana.com

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rocess & Plant Automation Ghana Limited is an Electrical Engineering Solutions provider with expertise in industrial and building automation. Setup in 2003 in Ghana by Ing. Kweku Asmah, the business now has more than 120 employees who combine to deliver services across West Africa and beyond.

We have collaborated with Servaco PPS since PPA was incorporated.

Equipping industries with turnkey solutions, the Company has built strong links over the years with leading, global automation device manufacturers in order to provide the most cost-effective solutions; complemented by guaranteed local support and training.

Process and Plant Automation Limited is among the most established engineering and technical solutions providers in Ghana with more than 14 years of experience

in delivering small to complex projects in various sectors of industry including manufacturing, food & beverage, mining, oil & gas, telecommunications and energy, as well as for commercial properties.

These services are made up of four divisions, and the first consists of electrical and instrumentation design with construction offerings that embrace the design, installation, testing and commissioning of low voltage power systems, infrastructure control systems and industrial process instrumentation systems.

The industrial automation arm involves the use of Programmable Logic Controller for processes such as System Integration, Scada Development, Tank Management, Packaging, Water Treatment Plant Integration, Underground Mining Crane Control by using brands such as Allen Bradley, ABB, Siemens and Omron.

Another section addresses the supply of industrial components and materials driven by a procurement department that ensures the ongoing purchase of best quality products at the best possible price. Brands include; Chint, Terasaki, Fluke, Phoenix Contact, Helukabel and Allen Bradley.

Training and development of electrical engineers remains the Company’s most valuable input to the Ghanaian industry as a country’s development is dependent on the skills of its manpower.

By meeting clients’ needs, PPA edges closer to its overall vision to be West Africa’s No.1 choice for smart solutions with a mission to transform the lives of stakeholders by providing unique electrical and automation services.

Innovation, training and exceptional customer service are the business concepts for our operation.

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he business relationship between SPX Flow Technology and Servaco started around six years ago between SPX and PPS, as we were known then. Both companies underwent some internal changes (for the better), but both entities kept their core values and strengths and these are what contribute to our cohesion.

Servaco is the voice and hands of SPXFlow in Ghana, specifically for mining sites. The historical relations that existed between the individual major mining houses and SPXFlow have been refined: PPS currently representing us in Accra (Tema), Tarkwa and Takoradi.

These are the bases from which we do frequent site visits, executed by the PPS field representative and the Ghana Sales Engineer from SPXFlow, who visits Ghana every second month.

Some of the key services undertaken include, but are not limited to, corrosion and wear prevention services

Becoming leaner, more efficient, less wasteful and more resourceful are similar strategies being applied to this strive for excellence at present which in turn is having a positive effect on employee morale and wider industry reputation.

Value stream mapping is an additional technique being adopted here as each step within every process, in every division of Servaco PPS is honed off the back of comprehensive data in order to improve internal efficiencies and external quality of service.

“Value stream mapping is a great tool to help identify areas of waste, to reduce process times and to improve overall current processes,” Rudolph states. “To be ahead of the competition, we adopt the use of latest technologies such as this to improve our business operations, while engaging in specialisation - rather than generalisation - across our selling approach.”

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Acclaimed recognition and reputation

Central to the business’s success is the technical service provided in support of its products, which is facilitated by continuous innovations such as value stream mapping and lean supply. The second key barometer of Servaco PPS’ success though is its portfolio of projects; all of which have been attained through a competitive bidding and tendering process.

“Some of the key services undertaken for our clients include, but are not limited to, corrosion and wear prevention services for major mining clients in Ghana, Burkina Faso & Mali; project procurement for soap manufacturing for the Unilever plant in Ghana; conveyor belting splicing for key mining installations; grinding media supply to mining companies; and process automation and calibration of equipment for the oil & gas industry,” Rudolph lists. “Additional major contracts

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SPX Flow can offer material handling solutions to a wide range of clients with unique needs. We are regarded as the founder company of mixing technology, boasting thousands of installations all over the world, answering the harsh challenges that the African ores, climate and site conditions put to our equipment. The Lightnin-brand geared drive is well-known for its robust design and features that make it the drive of choice for the majority of CIL, CIP and BIOX® plants in Ghana.

As market leaders in the field of heat exchangers, we offer the APV-brand of heat exchangers, well known in the industry.

Petroleum clients need go no further than our industry champions Plenty-and Bran + Luebbe-brands.

SPX Flow offers globally supported service solutions.

T +27 11 207 3700 E Louis.Wessels@spxflow.com

www.spxflow.com

… we ensure your processes keep flowing

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Centrifugal Pumps Gear Pumps Rotary Lobe Pumps Submersible Pumps

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Plate Heat Exchangers

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Metering Pumps Process Pumps

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Mixing Solutions

SPX Flow South Africa, Growthpoint Business Park, Midrand, South Africa Tel: +27 11 207 3700 Louis.Wessels@spxflow.com www.spxflow.com

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“One of the sources of our acclaimed recognition and reputation in the industry is our skilled employees,” he details. “Through a dynamic, research-driven and experienced team, Servaco PPS stands out in most areas. We have created an environment where we see the team as a family. We show a lot of interest even in the personal lives of the staff body.

“Staff training which involves both local and overseas training is key to maintaining the level of competence that the market demands to enhance business competitiveness.

And, importantly, all our staff are locally recruited, based on our local manpower development policy.”

Enhancing competitiveness

in place for 2018 then include the supply of mining chemicals; grinding media; conveyor belting; laboratory equipment; the supply of analytical and testing equipment; and welding equipment and consumables for our various clients across our four main sectors.”

Since 2013, such projects have been confidently achieved with the support of extensive, internal capital investments; not just on the tech front as previously explored but also across areas of equipment, facilities, administration, and even human resources.

Resultantly, the Company has witnessed the unveiling of new ERP software, a new fleet of vehicles, office renovations and expansions, warehousing enhancements, and a series of customer-focused administrative improvements.

Ultimately though, as Rudolph emphasises, the Company’s greatest asset remains the latter aspect of human capital.

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Servaco PPS’ supply chain strategy cuts an equally considered and localwhen-possible mould, helping to align the Company with likeminded organisations and decision makers to ultimately ensure safety and quality for the end user.

Trust and loyalty are therefore vital when forming such alliances and Servaco can thankfully allude to a number of long-term relationships based on values of communication, risk sharing, speed of delivery, flexibility, cost effectiveness and, of course, ability.

“The structure and quality of our relationships, networks and alliances among all supply chain partners are based on communication, trust and collaboration to ensure that a sustainable supply chain remains a strategic advantage for us,” Rudolph emphasises. “And while Sevaco may be local once again in its nature in this regard, we are always open to global sources in order to cover a wider array of possibilities to meet customer requirements.

“As such, the Company has developed standing business relationships with major brands in the

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T: +27 11 393 6773 | F: +27 86 731 6725 For technical and quality information please email: techsupport@leongjinspecialsteel.com

industry, called Principals. This has been the bedrock of our uniqueness; a strong pillar to our growth; and pivotal for acquiring new resources, sharing business development costs, enhancing competitiveness, dividing risks, setting standards, and entering new markets.”

Ultimately, Rudolph intends on leveraging these partnerships and indeed Servaco’s own unique capabilities to stay on top and to remain West Africa’s leading industrial

solution and support provider.

Achieved as a customer-centric entity, the business can leverage 20 years of experience and reputation establishment to compound this drive; but the ambition doesn’t just stop here, as the MD describes in relation to the Company’s four-pronged growth barometer moving forward.

“Alongside profitability, margin management and cost efficiency, disciplined provision of quality solutions remain central to Servaco’s

market success,” he says. “To ensure sustained profitability in the long run, adequate investment has been planned over the next three years, especially into the service provision section of our business.

“To promote quality of earnings and earnings growth, Servaco PPS is prioritising two profit sources in the coming years; service income and commission income. Servaco will increase the resilience of its business model by continuing the expansion of its service and commission earning businesses, which are comparatively capital-light.”

Through the successful implementation of each facet, the Company will once again find diversification and differentiation in an industrial domain so saturated across West Africa. A one-stop shop that puts customers first, Servaco PPS looks set to retain its status as West Africa’s major turnkey, industrial enabler.

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Passionate, Pioneering

Performance Sowing the seeds for even more concerted growth in the future, Puma Energy Malawi continues to embed itself into the country’s domestic development plans from both an industrial and environmental perspective Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Josh Hyland

s Malawi’s leading oil industry operator and with the backing of a globally significant Puma Energy International Conglomerate with Press Corporation Limited, Puma Energy Malawi is compounding its longevity in the country with a series of investments and improvements.

Entering the market in the 1950s - then as Shell - the evolution that has occurred over the following 60plus years has leveraged its parent

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Company’s multinational petroleum reputation for growth, diversification and product line development.

Puma Energy Malawi’s Managing Director, Davies Lanjesi introduces: “Puma Energy’s activities in the midstream sector include the supply, storage and transportation of petroleum products, and the Company’s day-to-day activities and growth are underpinned by extensive investment in infrastructure which in turn optimises supply chain systems and captures value for Puma Energy as both asset owner

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and marketer of products. “[Meanwhile], Puma Energy’s downstream activities include the distribution, retail and wholesale of a full range of refined products. We have a reputation of trust and commitment to all customers and vast experience of understanding the Malawian market.

The Company is involved in supplying petroleum products to a wide spectrum of business sectors including industry, transport, construction, agriculture and mining.”

Operating a total of 60 retail sites across all corners of the county, as well as a fuels and lubricants depot in each of the two regions, and a comprehensive fleet of bulk delivery vehicles; the Company’s influence in Malawi is epitomised by long-term agreements with the Government for the supply and storage of fuels.

“We are therefore positioned as a competitive national marketer of both fuels and lubricants,” Lanjesi continues. “And furthermore, Puma Energy Malawi is indisputably an industry leader in health & safety practices and in environmental standards. We believe that good health, safety and environmental performance is an integral part of efficient and profitable business management.”

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Such considerations and commitment to continuous improvement across all facets of the business help to facilitate a more flexible approach to the industry - its fluctuations and trends. At present, the escalated use of renewable energy serves as an apt example to this end, and Puma Energy Malawi is replying in kind through the installation of renewable power sources at its retail sites in the near future. The business is also a key stakeholder in the introduction of ethanol-driven vehicles in the country as a further renewable step forward.

“In summary, Puma Energy Malawi arguably has the best grasp of the sector, and the best nationwide distribution network, and in the event that emergency supplies are required, Puma Energy Malawi also has the size, resources and staff commitment to implement a number of contingency plans which place a high priority on ensuring that our customers do not run short of products.”

Unprecedented set of services

Over the years Puma Energy Malawi’s concerted development has been driven and guided by three core company values, encapsulating passionate, pioneering and performance.

The first ‘P’ ensures the delivery of quality products and services via a workforce that is committed to increased prosperity of stakeholder communities.

“Puma people work hard to deliver the best possible value,” the Company affirms, “and we deliver performance through people that are dynamic and enthusiastic. We care about customers and are committed to best practice standards. Puma people bring their A-game to work every day”.

The concept of being pioneering is perhaps the most critical facet, especially given the duration of time that Puma Energy has managed to remain so in Malawi.

KABULA

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abula Industrial Safety Specialist Ltd’s mission is to make Malawi a safer, better and healthier place to live.

Working hand-in-hand with other service providers, the Company aims to provide an excellent and affordable service that will reduce the risk of accidents in the community and to enhance the quality of life for the people it serves.

The Company takes great care in developing high quality health & safety standards, focusing its efforts on assisting several industries including oil & gas, manufacturing, retail, healthcare and logistics, working with a range of esteemed clients.

T +265 1 843 501 E kabulasales@gmail.com

Malawi Market Overview and Industry Landscape MALAWI

Phase 1

MALAWI COUNTRY OVERVIEW Population Population growth GDP growth rate GDP per capita, PPP Inflation rate Average e xchange rate to the USD Corporate tax rate Corruption Perception Index (CPI)

GDP COMPOSITION Agriculture Industry Services

Malawi map showing major cities and towns

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# m m3 m m3 m m3 m m3 m m3

195 278 74 10 4 366

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KEY INDUSTRIES Agriculture, Financial & i nsurance,

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DOWNSTREAM Retail sites Retail volume B2B volume Aviation volume Other volume (Lubes) Total

STORAGE County Storage capacity (oil products) m3

13,847

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Puma Energy Malawi’s Managing Director, Davies Lanjesi: “We are pioneering. Puma people are entrepreneurial. Always innovating, they’re prepared to try fresh approaches in order to respond to customer needs and market opportunities in a flexible way.”

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Kabula Industrial Safety Specialists Ltd. Specialists in: Fire Protection and Personnel Safety Kabula Industrial Safety Specialist Ltd. is a 100% wholly owned Malawian Company established in 1989 with the sole purpose of supplying safety equipment and providing back-up services for different safety equipments.

It has a well trained and conversant technical team which is highly qualified and specialized in the field of fire safety.

What we do best is: • Safety risk assessment • Fire Drills • Installation and maintenance of fire alarm, detection and suppression system, • Installation and maintenance of petroleum measuring equipment (sole distributor of Rigana equipment) • Chubb fire fighting equipment (complies with SANS 1475) • People protection equipment • Personnel and safety training Kabula Industrial Safety Specialists LTD; P.O. Box 30022, Chichiri, Blantyre 3, Malawi; T:+(265) 1 843 501 | F:+(265) 1 843 401 | kabulasales@gmail.com

Nelson Customs Clearing and Freight Handling

Your Visibility is Our Concern

OUR SERVICES Signage Fabrication Digital & Screen Printing Shop Fitting & Branding Promotional Materials Outdoor Advertising

Blantyre Office Leslie Road Mt Pleasant P.O.Box 31181 Chichiri Blantyre 3, Malawi +265 (1) 879 335/ +265 997 296 152 +265 888 410 123 Kingstone P.N. Chule, Managing Director Nelson Customs Clearing and Freight Handling Blantyre, Malawi

Cell: +265 888 877 498, +265 999 877 498 Skype: Kingstone Chule Email: neccfreight@ymail.com

Lilongwe Office Area 47 Petroda Filling Station Along Mchinji Road +265 995 269 005/ +265 999 942 712 +265 888 942 712

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“Puma people are entrepreneurial,” to this end, the Company adds.

“Always innovating, they’re prepared to try fresh approaches in order to respond to customer needs and market opportunities in a flexible way.

Puma people lead the way and make a difference.”

Applying these overriding philosophies across all regions of Malawi from very strategic locations, it is no surprise that the Company has evolved to become a preferred fuel supplier in Malawi; its leadership position attributed to both excellent customer service and safety practices that have led to the Puma Energy name becoming synonymous with notions of trust, commitment and - of course - project success.

Lanjesi explains: “In recent times, we have continued to upgrade our retail network and built new retail sites on a yearly basis. Our experienced staff are always meeting potential customers and project developers. A few of our new retail sites includes Bangwe retail site which was commissioned in the last quarter of 2016 and Kameza site which was commissioned in first quarter in 2017.

“We are also in the final stages of opening another modern retail site in the capital city of Malawi which will offer an unprecedented set of services to our customers at Palm Rock Shopping Centre.”

Over the years, Puma Energy has also enhanced its reputation through projects such as the Paladin Uranium

Since 2013, Puma Energy Malawi, in partnership with journalists, retail leaders and community leaders, has planted trees in various locations of the country

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Mine which consumed as much as 15 percent of gas oil in the country at peak production. No matter the project though, every customer reports positively about the Puma Energy experience, noting a lack of supply interruption and a personable partnership as two main contributors to the mutually-beneficial relationship.

Market leadership

Projects don’t just revolve around industrial application though. An integral facet of Puma Energy’s strategy in each country of operation has been its willingness to ingratiate the business into each nation’s local fabric. And Malawi is no different, as seen through a number of CSR projects entered into over the years, comprising safety programmes aimed at improving road safety for children, and an environment-focused tree planting project which began back in 2013.

As ever, ongoing improvement is the name of the game from this perspective, with the business never shy to invest where necessary. From an operational perspective, this is recently transpiring in the form of numerous technological, equipment, facility, administrative and personnel refinements.

“On the technology front, we are operating a fuel card system that is pre-loaded with values for our customers at National Bank,” Lanjesi details. “The customers use the card to pay for fuel and lubricants from our retail sites anywhere in Malawi. This innovative solution is secure, reliable and environmentally friendly and our customers receive real-time reports on the usage of the card and fuel utilisation for their vehicles among other reports.

“Equipment-wise, we have purchased state-of-the-art trucks to service our aviation customers at the two international airports, Chileka and Kamuzu. The service vehicles

All staff members are Malawians

will facilitate refuelling of any size of aircraft that will land at the airports now and into the medium-term.”

Restaurant and shop upgrades at some retail sites epitomise the facility strand of Puma Energy’s investment drive in Malawi while the business is also a pioneer in the installation of water tanks at sites to ensure the availability of water for customers.

Sustainability is also addressed visa the supply of standby diesel generators.

“Finally, the Company puts great emphasis on recruiting and retaining local talent,” Lanjesi adds. “In fact, all the staff members at the moment are Malawians, but we do receive various coaching and guidance from our regional office.”

A similar localised focus is adopted from a supply chain management perspective too, aiding levels of

efficiency and enrichment in equal measure.

And when every human resource, CSR, supply chain and operational structure is combined, it makes Puma Energy Malawi’s decades of dominance all the more understandable.

“In the years to come, Puma will increase its market leadership position to a significant level ahead of the next competitor,” Lanjesi concludes.

“Importantly for our future in Malawi though, Puma will have planted more trees to address the severe deforestation in the country.

“Since 2013, Puma Energy Malawi, in partnership with journalists, retail leaders and community leaders, has planted trees in various locations of the country. The prevailing plan is to plant up to one million trees.”

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Ghana Despite being part of an extensive global entity, Puma Energy is looking to enable Ghanaians with a fuel service that is locally focused, high quality, low cost, and impeccably delivered Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Josh Hyland

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s a global, integrated, midstream and downstream energy giant, Puma Energy unsurprisingly boasts a turnkey service remit comprising the most advanced technologies; but has established a key differentiator in being able to apply these best-in-class solutions to local markets.

Of the 48 global presence points, one such local market is Ghana which the Group entered into in 2006. Capitalising on the country’s status as one of the continent’s leading oil & gas producers and a key midstream location, Puma Energy has subsequently built a repertoire of four terminals, more than 80 retail sites, and almost than 170,000 cubic metres of storage capacity.

Managing Director (MD), Myles

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Bouvier-Baird introduces: “We first invested in Ghana in 2006 through CBM/SPM (that is, Conventional Buoy Mooring/Single Point Mooring systems) in a build-operate-transfer agreement. Control of this system, which imports more than 80 percent of the nation’s refined petroleum product, was officially handed over to Government in mid-2016.

“Although we’ve been in Ghana for more than 11 years, it’s only in the past couple of years that we’ve become visibly present, following the rebranding of UBI Petroleum to Puma Energy. Since then, we have expanded rapidly to become the fourth largest oil marketing company in the country.”

The Company’s core functions in the present day focus on its distribution capabilities, emphasising downstream operations including retail, B2B,

aviation, bunkering, LPG and lubricants. And through its UBI Group affiliation and subsequent link to Blue Ocean Investments - the second largest bulk distribution company in Ghana - midstream operations are also accounted for virtue of the aforementioned, vast storage and terminal assets.

Bouvier-Baird continues: “When we first invested in Ghana, our focus was on offshore mooring systems, enabling the country to import more than 80 percent of its fuel.

Also, since rebranding from UBI Petroleum to Puma Energy less than two years ago, we have grown our retail service station network from 16 filling stations to almost 90 so we can provide Ghanaians with access to top quality fuels at an extremely competitive price.”

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FIRST ATLANTIC BANK

A sector.

t First Atlantic Bank, we provide bespoke banking solutions for the entire petroleum and energy

Our mantra is speed, execution, service delivery with cutting-edge professional understanding of the sector, with an attitude of partnership in all our banking relationship with our clients.

With our years of avid experience, our aim is to become the bank of choice to the upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.

T +233 30 268 0825/6 Toll free numbers: 0800 11011 (Vodafone) 18228 (MTN)

www.firstatlanticbank.com.gh

Meet local demand with global supply

we form a passionate, pioneering and performance-driven Puma Energy that Through Blue Ocean investments, rewards the performance of our agile, Puma Energy has also invested heavily efficient, youthful and driven team. in jet fuel infrastructure, which has “We never settle and always want seen the Company’s airport market to find ways to do more and do better. share grow from zero to more than And most of all, we have fun: work 60 percent in three years. A bulk LPG hard; play hard!” storage facility and automated LPG This ethos inevitably has a positive bottling carousel has also been added personable influence on project to the portfolio to affirm this element; tender processes, in forming mutually and to cement the Group’s current beneficial partnerships with clients and status as a turnkey provider. contractors alike.

In Ghana alone, Puma Energy now In 2017 alone, the Company supplies products to nine out of 10 resultantly completed the rebranding regions domestically, while also being of almost 40 retail service stations, present throughout West Africa and leveraging its broad supplier network even further afield in the Subcontinent. to provide a one-stop shop approach “Locally, Puma Energy Distribution to each project.

Ghana Limited is 100 percent owned “As far as new projects go, Puma by the UBI group.UBI Group is made of Energy looks for opportunities where up two different entities: Blue Ocean there is growing demand for petroleum Investments which is a bulk distribution products but supply is somehow limited company, and Puma Energy Distribution or restricted,” Bouvier-Baird adds. “Our Ghana, an oil marketing company,” strategy is to meet local demand with Bouvier-Baird explains. “Together, global supply through investments

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in infrastructure. We already have the supply, so we simply invest in the infrastructure needed to link demand with that supply in countries whose demand is highest.

“We are always looking to grow our various business lines, and 2018 will see us focus particularly on the introduction of LPG through bottle recirculation, along with an aggressive expansion of our lubricants offering in this highly competitive market.”

Investment in infrastructure

Puma Energy Ghana also intends to continue investing in its retail offering via the launch of an exciting convenience partnership and the introduction of a Puma Energy fuel card in partnership with a major bank.

And the investments don’t just revolve around the service offering either, but equally throughout the Company’s internal processes, structure and technologies in order to facilitate its own rapid growth.

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“We never settle and always want to find ways to do more and do better. And most of all, we have fun: work hard; play hard.”

“Investment in infrastructure is central to Puma Energy’s business model worldwide.”

“We are always looking to grow our various business lines, and 2018 will see us focus particularly on the introduction of LPG through bottle recirculation, along with an aggressive expansion of our lubricants offering in this highly competitive market.”

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“Investment in infrastructure is central to Puma Energy’s business model worldwide. In Ghana, however, Blue Ocean Investments has made significant investments in infrastructure to benefit the industry; especially in the area of product storage,” Bouvier-Baird details. “As the number one customer of Blue Ocean, Puma Energy benefits from the security of supply that Blue Ocean’s 170,000m3 of storage across four depots has; consisting of gasoline, gasoil, JET A1 (aviation fuel) and even LPG. This will help us ensure the safe, swift and reliable supply of petroleum products to our customers at very competitive prices.

“Moreover, Puma Energy has invested millions of dollars into improving the standards of retail filling stations. In Ghana, Puma Energy has taken over, renovated and rebranded more than 30 retail filling stations in

2017 alone, giving Ghanaians improved access to top quality fuel at very low prices. Consumers in Ghana can now use less cash for better quality fuel.”

Blue Ocean Investments has similarly invested in Kotoka International Airport’s fuel storage infrastructure, increasing Ghana’s premier airport’s storage capacity from 1.5 million litres to more than 10 million litres.

Meanwhile, even more internally, on the tech front, Puma Energy has partnered with Ebits, a global refuelling solutions provider, to adopt its online platform, Av.R. across its aviation operations; a solution that will provide the Company with a real-time overview of all transactions to speed up decision-making, processing times and problem solving efficiencies.

“We also now have a terminal management system that is tied in to our order-to-cash process that ensures that every litre lifted from

our depots is accounted for and released to the right customer,” the MD adds in reference to administrative improvements. “This enables us to be sure of the specific driver and truck that lifted the product and thus ensures accuracy of invoicing.”

Competitive environment

To effectively harness and implement all ongoing investments and projects, Puma Energy has in place a comprehensive human resource strategy which not only emphasises the best person for the job but, where possible, the most socially responsible and localised hiring decision in each case.

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“We place a heavy local emphasis on our employment strategy and in Ghana, we have more than 98 percent Ghanaian nationals as staff,” BouvierBaird says. “Although we bring global expertise to aid our operations, these are significantly enhanced when combined with brilliant local minds who understand the terrain. The result is highly effective execution. It’s a great synergy of local know-how and global experience that brings about otherwise unreachable results.”

The same philosophy is applied to the Company’s supply chain management strategy, and as Bouvier-Baird notes, by surrounding itself with locally experienced and knowledgeable personnel, Puma Energy is better equipped to foresee and overcome various industry challenges; such as that seen by the downstream market’s recent deregulation in 2015.

He recalls: “It created an increasingly competitive environment which we believe is healthy for both the industry and the consumer; forcing all oil marketing companies to be more efficient with operating costs and to

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look for ways to integrate themselves to improve product costs.

“Luckily we are ahead of the curve here due to our partnership with Blue Ocean Investments.”

The integrated supply chain achieved through the Blue Ocean Investments partnership ultimately assures not just top quality provision of products - which should be expected of Puma Energy regardless - but at the lowest possible prices.

Bouvier-Baird concludes: “In the future, we would like Puma Energy to be recognised as one of the top oil marketing companies in Ghana, respected by both the consumer and the business customer. We should have an even wider retail network with impressive standards and a growing non-fuel offer; while we also hope to be one of the top suppliers in mining and bunkering.

“We are here to fuel Ghanaian journeys; this is very important to us. Although we’re global, we are dedicated to understanding the Ghanaian market as well as possible, and providing what consumers truly want: high quality fuel at a competitively low cost, and with an impeccable service.”

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Accelerated Seamless

GROWTH REALITY Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate has been thrown in at the deep end in Nigeria, but the country’s ongoing economic downturn has resulted in a real estate industry crying out for a provider of such global repute Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

hen Cushman & Wakefield decided to enter the Nigerian market with the added support of Excellerate Property Services, the vision to become the country’s leading real estate services provider was clear, and its appeal was undoubted. Propelling this vision into reality amid an economic downturn since inception in 2016 has been an altogether more

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challenging prospect, however.

The resultant Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate proposition has so far overcome the odds though, virtue of a brand name that resonates both in Africa and on a global scale, and a service offering that puts the client first.

“The Company was first registered in 2014 but we didn’t really start actively working or hitting the ground until 2016,” Managing Director, Jemil Dawodu recalls and affirms. “In 2014

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we only had one property which we would use as an entry property into the market, but when I came in, in 2016, and as the affiliation was completed, we started growing as a bigger name with a weightier brand.

“We had a bigger international affiliation and with that came access to a lot of blue-chip clients. And we leveraged that and have since then seen our span of expertise and consultancy services grow; but unfortunately this has all come during

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Lake Points Towers is just one of many projects epitomising Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s dynamism, diversity, experience and repute in the market

an economic downturn in the country.”

Nevertheless, the newly merged Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate entity has proven itself dynamic, diverse, experienced and reputable enough to weather the storm and is now in a perfect position to thrive as the market begins to stabilise.

“A lot of projects are coming back onboard and companies are seeing that Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate has a new, dynamic service range

Lake Point Towers

to offer,” Dawodu continues. “Our range includes facility management services of course but also property management, valuation and also a lot of work on the transaction side too (disposals, acquisitions, lease renewals, etc). We also now advice on clients’ asset portfolios in relation to market prices, and what they’re spending; helping to lessen wastage and aligning their portfolios as best as possible to the current market.

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ARABELLA

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rabella Landscape Limited was established in 1990 and has built many landscape and public realm projects throughout Nigeria for its clients.

Over the past two decades, the Company has provided innovative landscape designs, outstanding construction and excellent maintenance services.

We collaborate with clients, architects, property developers and facility managers to provide truly inspirational landscapes that stand the test of time.

Lake Point Towers

“We’ve carried out such works for big companies including Sage, Oracle, Huawei, ExxonMobil, Unilever and MasterCard, which is testament to the level of client care we ensure, so that each client gets the service they want.”

Quality of said service then becomes an added differentiator on Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s part, quite quickly fostering an environment where clients will be seeking out the provider, rather than the other way round; a rarity given any company’s relative newness to a country.

Jemil Dawodu, Managing Director

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A local company with a global presence

Once again, it is Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s accumulated experience and reputation across Africa - and indeed the world - that has led to such an immediate uptake in a new domain; compounded by concerted, hard work on the Company’s part to ingratiate itself more personably through oneto-ones, personal introductions, and relationship-building discussions with prospective partners and clients.

“And naturally it works the other way too, and we’ve picked up partners here based on Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s relationships elsewhere in Africa, or even as far afield as China,” Dawodu says. “We are a local company with a global presence and that has been our main selling point here over the past year or so.”

The Company’s hub may be in the business epicentre of Lagos, but its reach is national, and even regional when it comes to service provision and client commitment. However, it is indeed the appeal of Lagos that lends itself most suitably to Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s expertise; the rent statistics, property saturation, and lucrative nature of the area crying out

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Arabella Landscape is consistently associated with a high standard of service, quality and personal attention to its clients’ expectations, as evidenced by our membership of the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI).

E info@arabellalandscpe.com

www.arabellalandscape.com

for a worthy, knowledgeable facilities and property manager.

Dawodu adds: “Nigeria is such a vast, vibrant and dynamic country and economy and it’s such a shame it’s going through a recession at the moment, but the market will pick up and when it does, we’ll be in a position of strength to capitalise on the potential of Lagos and Abuja, without closing the door to other districts or countries too.

“There is a problem in terms of quick turnarounds on opportunities of course, but not on our side, and when we see an opportunity, we go for it,

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Outlook Creative Services Outlook Publishing’s awardwinning in-house team is now utilising its extensive production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

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Lake Point Towers

and there are no footprint hindrances from this perspective.”

Any market - its opportunities and its challenges - need to be understood and embraced in order for a Company to conquer it and this is where Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s experience of similar situations all over the world comes to the fore.

While competitors potentially struggle to negotiate the tougher times, or fail to differentiate themselves in a temporarily strained sector, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate is able to hone in on the industry in its present state, and adapt its approach to service provision accordingly.

“I think we’re at the forefront of companies who bring experience to clients of how to deal with this particular market and environment from experiences in London and Europe as a whole. We bring that experience here to see how we can help a lot of clients get through this difficult time,” the MD explains.

“Then, furthermore, in times like

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this especially, because Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate is such a wellknown name globally, people want to be associated with the brand, and to either leverage or share in our success and growth in Nigeria.

“When clients or business partners are assessing our pedigree, the brand name speaks for itself.”

Long-term view

Mr Osinowo

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The transference of such positive feedback and status to physical projects and business needs to be completed in order to achieve the Company’s vision of West African success, and while the sector simmers gently under the surface in the meantime, there are already

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more concrete signs of development appearing.

An exciting property in Liberia emphasises the long-term regional goals of the business, while locally, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate is already in talks with likeminded, aspirational developers in regards to new Grade A offices in some of the most affluent areas of Lagos.

Dawodu details: “We’ve been able to get such a client onboard recently, virtue of the brand name and our wealth of experience in being able to deal with a situation in a downturned economy. We could get across to the developer that we don’t just look at current rent prices and the current situation, but take a more sustainable, long-term view of what can be afforded in the market.

“We are already being identified as a key player in the Nigerian market and we hope to grow the brand

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name’s influence even further moving forward.”

Currently refining its service delivery, its software tools, and levels of productivity and quality to achieve this ambition, Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate is also reviewing its reporting structure internally so that preparedness and communication are heightened throughout a negotiation

and management process.

Simultaneously, the Company is also working hard to ingratiate itself more dedicatedly to the local fabric of Nigeria, holding on to its cemented global repute while showcasing its ability to act entrepreneurially, sensitively, and responsibly in accordance with local trends and regulations.

Encapsulating ideas of human resources and CSR within this strategy, the ultimate goal over the coming years is to match unrivalled service delivery and unmatched international experience, with an ever-improving Nigerian portfolio to become the best in the business, in West Africa.

“Our biggest differentiators come down to two main attributes,” Dawodu concludes. “First and foremost is client care, which is key because if the client isn’t happy then we can’t make any money. So to ensure that the client is always happy, we enact our second differentiator which is the quality of delivery of services we provide to each of them.

“This combination, always conducted in compliance with international standards and local expectations, will help in our goal of becoming the largest and best of our kind in Nigeria; affirming Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate’s status as bestin-class and a foremost provider across Africa.”

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S A N D TO N C I T Y & N E L S O N M A N D E L A S Q UA R E ( J H I R E TA I L )

EVERYTHING to All People or more than 40 years, Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square have mirrored the growth of Sandton itself, as the former grow to become among the country’s leading precincts, and the latter evolves into a position of Gauteng’s financial hub.

Established initially in 1974 after an initial proposal to optimise the land for residential purposes was discarded, few could have imagined the influence that the Liberty, Liberty two degrees and Paretoowned Sandton City would have in the Johannesburg municipality; its

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Sandton City’s growth over the past few decades has both mirrored and driven Sandton’s own development, and the former’s master plan looks to ensure that the evolution doesn’t stop here Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joshua Mann initial allotted 30,000 square metres of space growing over the past four decades to its current footprint that totals almost 250,000sqm.

“40 years ago the Sandton area was primarily made up of smallholdings and agricultural land, and there was very little or no housing in the area,” recalls Preston Gaddy, Regional General Manager for Cushman & Wakefield

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Excellerate, whose retail division, JHI, oversees the ongoing management of Sandton City. “So back then, Sandton City was a totally Greenfield development but with a whole lot of ambition. The right fundamentals were put in place and as the area grew from a residential perspective, so too did the popularity of the centre.”

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The Centre now has everything from five-star hotels to medical facilities

Initially the centre served as a grocery anchor with the likes of Woolworths, OK Bazaar, domestic fashion outlets, and independent retailers making up the tenant portfolio. And while many are still present at Sandton City to this day, the overall scope and tenant demographic of both this centre and Nelson Mandela Square have expanded exponentially.

“It’s nice to have those original founding tenants still trading in the centre, but it’s also been great to see Sandton City’s growth and we now have everything from five-star hotels to medical facilities, and concentrated corporate office spaces; to form what is now an epicentre of major corporates and retailers,” Gaddy explains.

“Simultaneously, the infrastructure and roads surrounding Sandton have been upgraded accordingly over the years, as has the services infrastructure which has evolved remarkably.

“To this end, Sandton city has become the precursor for a lot of development that has gone on around

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the area, while we continue to adapt to be more in-tune and aligned with what this growing customer base needs and wants.”

The introduction of a new office tower, standing at 10-storeys is a four-star, green-rated building called The Atrium on 5th, has accounted for the increasing business influence that Sandton City has in the region, while its expansion of the Southeast corner to take overall space towards the 150,000sqm mark is an indictment of the appeal and attraction that exists for the precinct.

And on the periphery, infrastructural development has been catered for and complemented by the rapid rail Gautrain’s close proximity - a blessing for shoppers coming from further afield - and indeed an imminent new shuttle service offered by Sandton City itself, which will grace the surrounding Sandton area, seven days a week, picking up and dropping off frequenters of the CBD.

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“Sandton is essentially the new financial hub of the country, despite Johannesburg itself,” Gaddy states.

“Jo’berg CBD was previously the financial hub but now Sandton itself has become the financial hub with most of your major global corporates housed on Sandton City’s doorstep.

Companies like Alexander Forbes, EY, Discovery, Webber Wentzel and a host of global heavyweights are situated at our front door and that commercial development is a great positive for the mall.”

Its enhanced accessibility and evergrowing consumer base translates into up to two million shoppers entering Sandton City each month, with an additional 900,000 frequenting Nelson Mandela Square.

And of course, to ensure complete satisfaction for each and every one of them, the emphasis is always on ensuring the best quality tenants to greet said customers as they walk through the door.

“It’s all about gaining continuous

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insight into brands that are hot and those that are not, and identifying the right ones at the right time,” Gaddy says. “We therefore work hard not just to ensure the best international retailers are present, but that they are in the right place, and to this end we have worked hard to develop certain areas into small villages dedicated to specific sectors; our diamond walk for example is a tailored area comprising up-market jewellery and fashion chains and ultra-luxury brands, including, Burberry, Gucci, Dolce & Gabanna, Guess and Giorgio Armani.”

Sandton City certainly isn’t exclusively up-market from a market demographic or retail variety perspective though, as Gaddy continues: “Then we also have plenty of international brands such as Zara and H&M, and a lot of strong local retailers as well. It’s all about variety for everyone.

“We are not just targeting the ultra rich. We want to speak to every range of customer, as Sandton city wants to be everything to all people.”

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FIDELITY SECURITY GROUP The Power of Integration Fidelity Security Group is Southern Africa’s largest integrated security solutions provider and the industry leader in protection innovation.

Excellence in service delivery and implementation are fundamental to our impressive track record. By keeping abreast of the latest trends and technological developments globally, and continuously evolving and innovating, the Group remains a frontrunner in the security solutions market.

Through a bouquet of services and related products the Group can tailor make a solution for any requirement.

T 011 763 9000

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ENERGY INSIGHT

E

nergy Insight specialises as an energy management company for the mining, industrial, commercial and retail sectors.

We are proud suppliers of critical power monitoring and power quality mitigation solutions.

Engineers hold specialist qualifications as Certified Energy Managers with the Association of Energy Engineers and Green Star Accredited Professionals with the Green Building Council of South Africa.

Energy Insight has been nominated as a 2018 Critical Power EcoXpert MASTER, the highest level of esteem in Schneider Electric’s partner programme, joining an elite group of 22 Critical Power EcoXpert companies globally that have achieved Master level designation for 2018.

T +27 12 345 5215 E info@energyinsight.co.za

www.energyinsight.co.za

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Energy Insight offer Energy and Utility Management Services for the Mining, Industrial, Commercial and Retail sectors based on cost-effective utility metering and sub-metering solutions, including electricity, power quality, water, gas, compressed air, steam, diesel etc. Together with in-house developed, meter-agnostic Energy Management Software – eiEnterprise, Energy Insight provide turn-key solutions that are custom fitted to suit any requirement.

Specialist Engineering Services Include: • eiEnterprise Energy Management Software • Energy Trending, Reporting and Statistics, Utility Bill Verification, Business Unit Cost Allocation, Real-Time Dashboards, Tariff Analysis, Energy Management Hosting Services (www.myenergybill.co.za)

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• Utility Management services • Tenant billing services

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Analysing, identifying and placing the right tenants, in the right places, at the right time, and targeted to the right customer is therefore a balance that needs to be addressed on an ongoing basis; especially as trends and preferences can change so quickly.

But again, that’s where diversification comes into its own, and in April, the precinct is even introducing its first level-two ‘Family Friendly Zone’ - a unique, entertainment-based, fair-like area - to ensure that all segments of consumer are given an experience beyond simply a shopping trip.

Jonathon Sinden, Chief Operating Officer for Liberty 2 Degrees adds: “The proof is in the statistics and our trading densities at Sandton City are in most cases 30 percent higher than the industry benchmark. And this will hopefully be compounded over the next year as we introduce companies like Lego, Starbucks and Tod’s to the centre.”

A thrilling experience

The importance of creating an ‘everything to everyone’ hub makes good business sense of course, but it is also increasingly necessary for the shopping mall fraternity, in an industry that is increasingly veering towards digitisation.

Numerous big brands - including Adidas or Puma in the athletic domain or even a McDonald’s in the food sector - are choosing to solely open up in a mall such as Sandton City, while the growing trend surrounding ecommerce and online retail adds an

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extra dynamic to consider.

However, Gaddy emphasises that the solution is to embrace technology and to optimise it, rather than to oppose it.

He details: “The popularity of online retail in South Africa is gaining some momentum and we’re mindful of that, and that’s why creating experiences and wowing shoppers is important.

To this end, things like free Wi-Fi, ticketless parking, and entertainment facilities are important and we work hard to create these unique offerings for visitors.”

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Sinden continues: “They have to have a thrilling experience when they walk into the centre. If people just wanted to shop they could do that from their computers but that’s why diversification is important in order to create an overall experience and day out.”

A concerted expansion to the Sandton City food court, the aforementioned unveiling of its family area, and certain retailers’ stunning upgrades of their own outlets adhere to this notion of progression, while a click and collect facility is being considered as an addition to the

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remit in the months to come from a technological perspective.

Meanwhile, digitalisation is playing an equally prominent role behind the scenes too as Liberty two degrees, Liberty Pareto and Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate look to employ the best tools possible to analyse customer footprints, visitor data and tenant preferences.

“We’ve changed our foot-count system to a camera-based facial recognition system from which we can pull valuable demographic data; alongside data taken from our parking systems and Wi-Fi usage,” Gaddy explains. “And later this year, we will also launch our mobile app which will aid customers both before and during their trip to Sandton City.”

The master plan

The influence and development occurring from within Sandton City is clear for all to see, but equally important to JHI is the centre’s ongoing influence on Sandton itself.

Consequently sitting on the board for the Sandton Central Improvement District and working closely with neighbours on issues such as transport and security, the precinct takes on the responsibility of helping to make the area as clean, safe and accessible as possible.

“We engage with the hotels that are on our doorstep and the convention centre too, to ensure we’re aligning with our neighbouring sectors and keeping the precinct safe,” Gaddy includes as part of a much wider allencompassing CSR ethos.”

Sinden adds: “We also have a strong procurement policy driven by Cushman & Wakefield Excellerate where we promote black economic empowerment, while using the centre as a platform to showcase local artisans and artists as part of our local enrichment policy.”

Subsequently ingratiating itself into the local fabric of Sandton, the

ongoing prevalence of Sandton City and Nelson Mandela Square to the local region is undoubted, but this isn’t to say that JHI won’t continue to promote further growth in the years to come.

Gaddy concludes: “We are always looking to improve and we have major plans for changing certain areas of the mall and to embrace a more pedestrian ingress into the area. We are of course then continuously changing the tenant mix too and will be introducing a host of new retailers over the coming months; capitalising on contemporary trends such as affordable luxury and the growing leisure scene.

“It all contributes to our master plan for the next three-five years which speaks to the centre becoming even more open, even more user-friendly and even more diverse; to exist not just as a place to part with money, but a place to enjoy a full, relaxing day-out experience.”

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s the oldest, firstgeneration shopping centre in KwaZulu-Natal, The Pareto-owned Pavilion shopping centre has become renowned in the industry and the region for being first to the punch; an attribute that holds all the more prevalence in a sector moving as fast as retail is at present.

Boasting a great lineage of worldclass outlets that have evolved in alignment with The Pavilion over the past 25 years, the centre has managed to defy competition and fluctuating trends to maintain pole position from a performance, expansion, strategy and aesthetic perspective in order to maximise shareholder returns.

General Manager, Nisha Kemraj introduces: “Pavilion was modelled on European architecture and these structural feats have been superbly maintained in their original design for the past 25 years. Within these confines, one of the fundamental principles adopted in all disciplines, has been being the first to market.

“This is the golden thread that allows all activities to be staged and created within the different facets under management.”

Serving not just as a retail facilitator but a social enabler, The Pavilion’s ability to ingratiate itself into the fabric of the local community has been vital to its success; an unwavering commitment to corporate social responsibility epitomised by it being the first super-regional to create new school blocks and to develop new buildings for NGOs. Numerous investments and contributions to charities maintains the centre’s positive reputation in KwaZulu-Natal, subsequently making it the go-to provider for customers in search of all strands of retail offering.

“Of extreme significance is the fact that fashion houses have launched their first stores at The Pavilion,” Kemraj cites to this end. “Cotton On,

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The Pavilion has leveraged its owner, Pareto’s reputation for ethical, strategic growth to become the region’s foremost shopping mall Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

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Shimansky and Clarks to name a few have been introduced to the South African consumer at The Pavilion.

“The team is also very passionate about driving and executing new marketing campaigns. International soapie stars from series’ like Bold and Beautiful have made appearances in the Fountain Court arena. Allowing activation of various insta-meets, instatours and the like solidifies our position as the first to react to market trends and adopt new methods of marketing to our consumers.”

From this strong platform, a host of yearly-additions, expansions and diversifications can be made, and 2018 will be no different as the centre welcomes upgrades to restroom facilities, two trading nodes for the addition of H&M to the site, and the creation of an additional retail link amounting to 3,500 square metres of shopping space.

Sustainability is key

Inevitably, a plethora of new, exciting brands are lined up for this new section within The Pavilion, making it an apt time to reflect on how far the facility has come over the past 25 years to reach the socially significant status it enjoys today.

“The centre opened in October, 1992 with a footprint of 75,000 square metres of space, before subsequent expansions of 25,000 square metres were actioned in 2002,” Kemraj recalls.

“An additional 8,000m2 was added to the footprint in 2005 and the final space that The Pavilion currently offers consumers now sits at an impressive 122,768 square metres.

“The design has continually changed over the years resulting in the creation of a first-generation super-regional.

Of great significance is the design and creation of the 11 domes that sit majestically in the African sky.”

Pareto Ltd. “Pavilion is proudly owned, managed and developed by Pareto Ltd. Being the largest unlisted property investment company in SA, Pavilion is one of 10 super regional centres within the investment stable. Our core business is property and asset management proudly boasting a portfolio that comprises of the largest and most sought-after retail investment class in South Africa. With prized assets being Sandton City and Menlyn Shopping centre in the stable it goes without saying that best practice is the order of the day with property management philosophy and business planning activities.

“Pareto has a strong internal development arm which allows for development of our shopping centres to be actioned with seamless ease.

The investment planning and development phase is well managed and well thought out with short term, medium term and long term design projects under way for all properties in the management stable. To this end Pavilion has been upgraded, modernised and expanded over various phases.

“Pareto is an ethical institution that’s prides itself on great brand and reputational management and it therefore goes without saying that The Pavilion culture scape is one that is a subset and an extension of the parent company.”

- Nisha Kenraj, General Manager, The Pavilion Shopping Centre

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THOMPSONS SECURITY GROUP

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he Company was founded in 1939 by the Thompsons family in the Vaal Triangle. It has followed a progressive growth cycle over the past seven decades and evolved from a company that focused on the provision of security officers to a full security provider. The same values on which the Company were founded are still entrenched through the founding family’s continued involvement on both a strategic and operational level.

The Thompsons Security Group has taken a proactive stance to economic development, particularly towards Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment. A strategic decision was undertaken in 2002 that gave expression to this commitment in the formation of Thompsons Khusela.

The structure was a true empowerment scheme as it granted long serving employees within the Company an interest in a newly formed company with very little exposure to risk, with the Thompsons family providing the infrastructure, financial backing and continued mentorship.

Thompsons Khusela is now strategically positioned as one of the foremost providers of comprehensive security solutions that are: • Underpinned by best-in-class systems and processes • Implemented by trained security officers • Supported by leading-edge technology

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Being an industry leader of course comes with its responsibilities, but such expectations have always been met head-on. In the present day, considerations have largely revolved around two core, poignant hot-topics: sustainability and technology.

Regarding the former, Kemraj details: “Corporate governance and transformation are high on the agenda for Pavilion management.

We adopt and subscribe fully to our corporate charter and value system.

Our approach to business is based on a simple premise of providing superior customer service while delivering stellar results to all shareholders.

“And therefore sustainability is key to all engagements, whether tenant, consumer, customer, retail or investment-based.”

Resultantly, all fundamentals are in place to treat challenges as opportunities, and to then approach said opportunities with an open mind, and often with technology as the prime indicator of how best to move forward and maximise growth.

“Being industry leaders, we have often gone to market first with new technology,” Kemraj continues.

“Recent introductions include parking guidance systems, measuring carbon

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emissions with vehicle recognition in place; electric charging pods; vacuum system-automated spike barrier entry and exit; tri-gen multi-fuel generators to cover the entire mall’s trading floor plates; e-waste management zones; and the conversion of old lighting technology to new, white LED units.

“However, the most significant single component capital investment was the introduction of the chilled water air-conditioning system. The introduction of individually-controlled access panels allows tenants to log onto the building management system

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An everchanging retail dynamic

and manage, control, read usage data, print data, view temperature points, set timers, improve efficiencies and reduce costs.”

Protecting stakeholder investments

From an expansion point of view, The Pavilion Shopping Centre has recently unveiled a new state-of-the-art Virgin Active health facility with an additional parking capacity of 220 bays to supplement the current ratio.

Glancing forward, the centre will also, “undoubtedly” usher in the creation of two additional trading

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nodes allowing for the introduction of 18 new retailers; representing a thirdphased scheme that will be executed as part of the mid-term design strategy.

“This will boast new entrance features and enhanced visual and visible shopping experiences, and showcases our ability to react to market changes and preferences; the ever-changing retail dynamic allowing for multiple points of flexibility,” Kemraj explains. “Simultaneously, operational efficiencies are constantly improved upon with the bar being raised across every delivery point.

“Cost management, sustainability and improved efficiencies are always

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the focal strategic points, noting however that joint ventures and skills development are equally high on the agenda.”

Encapsulating the latter point is The Pavilion’s motto of growing places and growing people through its internal placement and employment strategy.

With defined staff retention and enhancement programmes in place, turnover of individuals has always been extremely low, compounded by the Pareto effect which makes the centre a trusted, BEE-aligned, employer and partner of choice.

Kemraj concludes: “Our primary differentiator is that we believe in actively managing and living the ethos

of sustainable relationships. All facets of our business model encourage sustainable transactions. We believe firmly in executing our partnership strategy to enable the delivery of stellar results and superior customer service to all stakeholders.

“Additionally, our focus on refurbishment and developments are strategically phased to limit the impact on tenants’ tradability and the consumer experience. It is common knowledge that development is invasive and results in lost market share over the construction period. Therefore, to avoid development fatigue we localise construction nodes to ensure continuous unhindered retailing; protecting stakeholder investments and limiting trading impairment to the best of our ability.”

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mid a backdrop of Nigeria’s first recession in a quarter of a century, it’s not all doom and gloom for the country’s industry elite, and in the property management and development domain, there are some who are managing to negotiate the challenges.

Broll, as one of the continent’s leading real estate operators, is one such Company swimming against the tide to an extent. While not immune to the tribulations of an economic downturn, the Company is utilising its expertise and reputation to remain as strong and profitable as possible throughout the period; placing it in a prime position to strike while the iron is hot once the situation stabilises.

Chief Executive Officer, Bolaji Edu explains: “Since July, 2015, the Nigerian economy has slowed down drastically entering into recession in 2016 and this has impacted the real estate market and indeed Broll Nigeria, but despite this we have still been able to grow and consolidate in certain sectors and services.

“As well as maintaining our position as the leading retail property manager in Nigeria we have also become a leading commercial property manager, and despite the economic downturn, our tenant rep business within corporate real estate division has expanded over the past 24 months.”

Such an unexpected and rare success story can be attributed to Broll Nigeria’s growing recognition in the corporate domain for its provision of professional real estate services. And these services, as well as the Company as a whole, have managed to consolidate, improve and diversify against the odds.

An increase in employment figures has been achieved as a result of the Company’s growing and commercial broking, and corporate real estate operations; while simultaneous investments into its financial and support teams have helped to enhance

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Resilience in the face of ADVERSITY Broll Nigeria is bucking the trend of a nation at present by growing and diversifying in the face of economic uncertainty Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Stuart Parker internal and external control and risk management.

Edu details the subsequent, current service remit: “Broll Nigeria operates three main service lines across property management, facility management and CRES (commercial real estate services), and we have been expanding our property management portfolio to include commercial offices in addition to retail.

“Meanwhile our facility management division has recently added a number of green-rated Grade A offices and warehouses to the portfolio and the CRES division continues to provide strategic real estate advice to multinational and large Nigerian corporates.”

management services in a number of high-class Grade A, with more developments to come on board over the next two years particularly in Lagos.

“In addition, we are working on a number of pan-African mandates with Broll Property Group and CBRE,” Edu adds, “and even though the recession and the changing requirements of our clients is providing challenges, we have continued to ensure that we can provide complete real estate solutions, and have been ensuring that the skills are in place, in-country, to provide the services required by our clients.”

Complete real estate solutions

From a footprint perspective, the traditional hub of Lagos continues to be complemented not just by projects in Abuja and Port Harcourt domestically, but also by projects in neighbouring Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Cameroon to aid international progression Across the board though, Broll Nigeria provides leasing and property

Bolaji Edu, CEO

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Emerging from recession

Atlantic House

We now offer the full range of services across property management, facilities management, project management, leasing, investment sales and purchases, tenant rep, corporate real estate, strategic consulting, research, and valuation and advisory facilitation.

Edu continues: “The recession has meant that global companies are taking a more critical look at their real estate holdings and requirements in Nigeria and are looking for a more strategic and advisory service. This has been the catalyst for Broll to invest in our corporate, strategy and advisory teams. The recession has made clients more cost-conscientious and they are looking for advisors who are able to provide a total real estate solution and end-to-end services.”

Reductions in disposable income have inevitably contracted the market and especially the retail sector, but with every challenge there is an opportunity and Broll Nigeria has

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As part of these ambitions, Broll continues to invest in its operations and systems: “Broll’s proprietary facility and property management platform, ‘Broll On Line’ continues to be rolled out to our major clients across Nigeria. This helps to provide best-in-class property management and facilities management services and efficiencies, as well as cost savings for our clients,” Edu details. “We have also invested in our finance and management teams, utilising the support of Broll Property Group to assist where necessary. The use of BOL and other technology has increased as we have moved to more automated systems helping to reduce the risk of human error or mistakes.”

Numerous systems have been introduced adjacent to its BOL implementation to address risk management considerations, affirming the Company’s position at the forefront of wider industry development in Nigeria.

Understandably, this philosophy is largely people-driven.

“We have in the past recruited Nigerian real estate practitioners who have experience abroad, and returned to Nigeria,” the CEO says. “Training is important and where the skill-set does not lie in Nigeria we work closely with both Broll Property group and CBRE Abayomi Oyewumi Babafenwa Omoniyi to ensure that we are able to provide the right standard of services to our clients.

“Broll also has a long history in Nigeria of working with educational institutions and has provided facility management and other services to schools in Lagos and Ogun States.”

Embedding itself so dedicatedly Bunmi Clinton Marian Igbinovia into Nigerian industry, even through troubling times such as these, is what leveraged this trend to enhance its will set Broll apart from many of its leisure and entertainment expertise, competitors in the years to come. as well as its knowledge in industrial Established in the country in 2004, sector in accordance with the country’s and representing CBRE in the country overall diversification ambitions. since 2006, the Company has gone

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from strength to strength courtesy of its turnkey service range and ever-diversifying clientele, and such differentiators become all the more important when the sector is less receptive.

Cornerstone

“Our growth to a position as a leading real estate services provider in Nigeria provides the ideal platform for the next stage as Nigeria emerges from recession and re-emerges as an international investment destination,”

Edu concludes: “With this in mind, it is hoped that in the coming years Broll will still be recognised as the leading, real estate service provider in Nigeria, and that our reach will also expand to other West African countries.”

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YU LIVE WELL In the space of two years Yudala has taken its unique approach to the masses, reaching great levels of success as a trusted retailer

t only two years old, Yudala has established a position for itself within the Nigerian retail market that is both unique and thriving.

As a composite retail outfit that operates in an online and offline capacity, the wholly Nigerian-owned business takes into account the needs of the local market before placing itself at the centre of it.

“Our first step into the market came after an in-depth study of Nigerian trade and the realisation that the vast majority of trade in the country was happening offline,” explains Wole Ogundare, Managing Director of Yudala. “At that point we were completely convinced to set up physical stores in both the southwest and southeast of the country.”

In the present day across the length of Nigeria the Company has 22 stores, an achievement that is no mean feat in just 24 months.

“We have built a solid reputation that has put us in the position to tap into the online space successfully, while still fulfilling the needs of our customers,” Ogundare states. “We are working hard to ensure that both

our online and in-store operations are integrating well, utilising our stores as both procurement ventures and warehousing opportunities.”

This has been made easier by the fact that the Company is able to deal directly with the manufacturer, therefore missing out the middle-man when it comes to carrying out market trade.

“Alongside ensuring quick and easy procurement, we have also carried out a lot of work with our after-sales team,” continues Ogundare. “For example, we wanted to ensure that if a customer makes a purchase and there is a problem, the product can be swapped in a quick and efficient manner; an aspect that is increasingly important and appealing to our customers.

“It is because of efforts such as these that we are beginning to see a lot of repeat patronage, an aspect that is setting us apart from the competition.”

Securing success

In a very short space of time the Company has established what works for it and the determining factors that are securing its success in the market.

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n Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, a culture of celebration is intertwined with every day’s hustle and bustle. This good spirit is the bedrock of every event, good or bad, and is perhaps the reason the country ranks high on the list of the happiest places in the world.

Brian Munro Limited is a British - owned company established in Nigeria in 1951 and is very much in the business of keeping this culture alive. The company specialises in the importation and marketing of premium wines & spirits and is a sole distributor for many worldfamous brands e.g. Barton & Guestier wines, Campari, American Honey, Jagermeister, Skyy Vodka, DGB wines, Bollinger Champagne, Mateus Rose wines, Greenall’s, Bulldog and Opihr Gin, Glen Grant Whisky, Delamain Cognac amongst many others.

Integrating the online and in-store proposition seamlessly

“We have found that warehousing and logistics are pivotal to our success,” adds Ogundare. “By retaining complete order within our warehousing facilities, we ensure that everything is carried out with both speed and order and subsequently is what will provide us with the repeat custom that we desire.”

In order to help achieve this Yudala has spent time and money on perfecting its logistics and warehousing capabilities, an activity that has really galvanised the business and allowed it to achieve major growth in a short space of time.

When it comes to finding the right people to ensure that these efforts are successfully utilised, the Company has had to go through a difficult and stringent process.

Ogundare describes: “We have learnt from our mistakes when it comes to the hiring process, and in the past we have found that a lack of drive and in some cases experience is a real

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issue. However, now we know how to spot it and that in itself has proven to be instrumental in enabling us to source the right talent.”

Approximately 99 percent of the employees currently working for Yudala are local and through consumer training trips and workshops, those employees now have an edge over the competition.

“We have a strategy that focuses on hiring the right people as we know that similarly to our data and value chain, you are only as strong as your weakest link,” explains Ogundare.

“We are tirelessly working to ensure that every aspect in the chain of our business is solid.”

Brian Munro also locally manufactures food products such as Munro Glucose D, Munro Icing Sugar, Munro Corn Flour and Munro Custard. All these products are household names in millions of homes all across Nigeria.

The company boasts of over 500 staff on its payroll Pan Nigeria and, since its foundation in 1951, has been committed to the development, reward and fulfilment of its workforce year in and year out.

Brian Munro’s wealth of experience and depth of understanding of the Nigerian market has paved the way for its continuous growth and the success stories behind its great portfolio of brands.

Consumer behaviour

When determining the changes that need to be made for success within the market, consumer behaviour is one of the main aspects that the Company will study.

“We also use big data as a form of

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“We welcome ideas from every level of the business, which I believe will lead us to become the number one company in the ecommerce space within the next year-and-a-half.”

analysis to use to our advantage and I can’t overstate how important it has been to us in both our online and in-store work,” continues Ogundare. “Due to the fact that we are involved in both of these aspects of the market, we like to monitor the way that they interact and connect in all aspects of our business.”

Alongside studying the retail activities of its customers, towards the end of 2017 the Company created a large-scale brand campaign to aid the

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creation of a brand that people can trust and want to shop with.

“We are incredibly aware that whatever we do as the brand will massively impact the way we are viewed by our customers and competition,” explains Ogundare.

“During the past two years, we have worked hard on our brand perception and are now reaping the rewards; and people trust the high standards that we will deliver to them.”

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As a relatively young company that is part of a larger group, Yudala is finding its feet when it comes to aspects such as corporate social responsibility (CSR). Although the Company has been unwavering in its mission to hire locally, it is getting in-sync with its parent Group on the subject of CSR. “At present we are spending time studying the work we would like to do in this area, and are awaiting the opportunity to go out as Yudala on

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“Sometimes it is due to a lack of knowledge or apathy, but in some businesses staff will always come up with excuses to get around getting things done,” continues Ogundare.

“Therefore the first rule that we wrote down as a Company was to ensure there were no excuses.

“There is nothing wrong with people encountering an issue, however, we have encouraged our staff to come up with a way to solve it and created a skilled group of problem solvers.”

For such a young company its skilled workforce and determination sets it apart from the competition and is one of the driving forces behind Yudala’s success.

“We welcome ideas from every level of the business, which I believe will lead us to become the number one company in the ecommerce space within the next year-and-a-half,” concludes Ogundare. “We understand the needs of our customers and have the technological advancements in place that mean our service is secondto-none.”

our own projects,” Ogundare affirms.

“We would like to work on alleviating the poverty that surrounds us with the under-privileged, and I’m sure that we will begin this work in no time.”

Workplace culture

Since opening its doors two years ago, Yudala has operated under a no-excuses culture and that is one of the defining factors you will notice amongst its people.

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REALITY FITNESS For All Zone Fitness Clubs is a family-owned business that has expanded its portfolio to become a household name in South Africa, creating a supportive atmosphere in which clients can reach their fitness aspirations

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ith a true passion for fitness and a combined 15 years of industry experience, Herman Blackie and Liesl Albers decided to utilise their passion through the creation of Zone Fitness Clubs.

More than 16 years later Zone Fitness is a household name in South Africa, having quickly grown into the available market space by offering fully equipped gymnasiums, complete with a professional service and a friendly atmosphere at an affordable rate.

“We are a family owned business, with our ownership shared between four family shareholders and three executive directors,” Explains Herman Blackie, Sales and Marketing Director at Zone Fitness. “Each member of the ownership structure are directly involved with the day-to-day running of the Company, placing copious amounts of their time and effort into the business.”

Both the facilities and services on offer consist of an extensive range of strength equipment, toning, supercircuit and cardio equipment such as treadmills, bikes, rowing machines and cross trainers.

“At present we offer beginner, intermediate and advanced exercise programmes for our clients, alongside a variety of group training classes,” continues Blackie. “Our classes include aerobics, yoga, dancing, pilates, boxing for fitness and core-burn; this allows us to cater for all fitness levels, while assisting members in reaching their fitness goals.”

Zone Fitness currently has 23 branches with two more set to open this year, all of which has been achieved through operating a no-frills, low-cost gymnasium model.

Blackie adds: “We have vehemently ensured that we aren’t following the international trend of reducing staff members in order to reduce costs; instead we focus on delivering excellent member service with a full staff compliment.

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Herman Blackie, Sales and Marketing Director at Zone Fitness

Brand evolution

A defining philosophy for Zone Fitness has always been the acknowledgment that what is good for one club, may not necessarily be true for another.

“Obviously the fact that we run multiple branches over a vast area, with more than 700 staff means standardisation is necessary in parts,” Blackie describes. “However, each separate entity then requires its own innovative spirit when faced with challenges, and it is important that our management staff are able to take note and be brave enough to make difficult decisions for their club.”

As the Company places so much trust in its employees, investing in human capital to nurture has been at the forefront of Zone Fitness’ evolution over the years.

Blackie states: “We have had to work hard to move from a small familyrun business to a corporate Company, while still retaining our strong family ethos.

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“We consistently achieve this by setting our strategies three years in advance, asking ourselves what we will need from technology, staff and procedural points of view three years from now. This enables us to make the right investments now so that we can progress and grow into our structures.”

Alongside its three year advancement plans, the Company upgrades its facilities and equipment every five to seven years in order to create a continuous and optimal experience for its clients’ fitness journey.

Working relationships

Zone Fitness and its success are a result of sheer determination and passion to make a difference within the industry, coming from humble beginnings where equipment was refurbished, to its current state with the newest ranges.

“We have developed a close

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working relationship with Impulse Equipment from China, and are able to work alongside them in order to update the products for our local conditions,” affirms Blackie. “We have also placed paramount importance on our relationships with landlords, due to the fact that they fund the bricks and mortar component of our facilities.”

In order to successfully operate a low-cost gym, the ability to cut good rental deals is the starting point for us in any new project and enables the Company to sustainably provide our customers with affordable offerings.

Blackie explains: “We enjoy building long-term relationships with landlords, enabling them to pencil us in for any new developments they may be planning in the future.”

Second to its relationships, technology also plays a vital role in the management and success of the business and over time the Company has been making significant improvements to its systems.

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“We ensure that our financial systems with Sage are constantly updated and our KRS Club software with Khanyisa Real Systems has served us well for the past 15 years,” adds Blackie. “Recently we have been able to roll out their new cloud based system named KRS Intensity into all of our clubs, allowing users to interact with their accounts and profiles online.

“With thanks to platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, we are easily and effectively able to communicate with our clients effectively to build solid and lasting relationships.”

Monitoring trends

In order to stay at the top of its game within the market, Zone Fitness pays close attention to the fitness trends that are attracting a lot of buzz and attention internationally.

“A very prominent fitness trend at the moment is functional movements that are performed at a level of high

The Zone Fitness management team

intensity, and ideally held within a group environment,” describes Blackie. “In order to embrace this style of training we chose to dedicate a studio space with new equipment and tripled our daily class offering for this style of training, all of which was received well by our members.”

The Company has also kept up-todate with employee trends and offers both internal and external training to its entire staff in order to enhance their skills.

“We have a solid culture of internal promotion within the Company to fill newly available positions and it is only when we cannot find a suitable candidate that we look elsewhere,” continues Blackie. “This strategy has proven to be very effective when it comes to staff retention, providing them with opportunities to grow within the Company and supporting our family owned feel.”

Over the years the Company has firmly established itself within the South African community as a facility that provides fitness for all.

“We cater for members from all walks of life and of every level of fitness and are constantly evolving our facilities and goals for the betterment of the clients,” concludes Blackie. “Looking forward we are hoping to expand our national footprint by at least three new clubs every year, retaining our key philosophy and focus in the future.”

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Seamless

REALITY

Computech employees participating in the Standard Chartered Marathon, having fun outside the office

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Computech Limited is demonstrating ongoing entrepreneurial flair and an enthusiasm for technological innovation in order to combat a rapidly shifting IT landscape Writer: Matthew Staff Project Manager: Kane Weller

omputech Limited’s evolution over the past 30 years has been largely representative of the development of computing in general, the Company applying its wide range of technological expertise in an East African region progressing at a rapid pace.

The privately held Company, from its Kenyan, Zambian, Ugandan, Rwandan and Tanzanian hubs, has placed an equally prominent emphasis on wider skills development in the region over the years in order to ensure not just business growth, but overall infrastructural development.

“Computech offers a wide range of products and services and we are able to cater to all our customers’ technology needs from our extensive portfolio, no matter how simple or complex. Our hardware divisions provide high-end compute, storage, and networking, as well as PCs, laptops, and printers. Our software division offers cyber security, cloud solutions, Microsoft, and custom

technology, while we also do structured cabling. Our services division provides managed services, outsourcing teams, maintenance contracts, and SLAs, and we also offer customers leasing options,” introduces Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, Hassan Popat.

“Our offices across East Africa work closely to provide our regional customers with all of these services as they require them, and when it comes to served sectors, we are industryagnostic.”

Boasting plenty of expertise across domains including banking, finance, telecoms and essentially any other sector that suits Computech’s portfolio, the business is able to provide on-the-ground resources and solutions wherever the need arises.

To Popat’s mind, such flexible, turnkey capabilities can be attributed to three core continuous improvement philosophies: people, customer service, and IT expertise.

He explains the former: “Our key philosophy has focused on investing in people. We’ve invested significantly in training, developing expertise, and building our knowledge base; and are proud to have an exceptional team with some of the most qualified experts in the region.

“Secondly, we pride ourselves on providing superior customer service.

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HP ELITEBOOK X360 1030

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We have often had team members travel hundreds of miles, work all night, and wake up in the middle of the night, in order to meet our customers’ needs. We take pride in going that extra mile to give our customers the best service.”

The final consideration regarding IT is a living, breathing dynamic and becomes all the more complex as Computech’s customers’ needs intensify. The ability to adapt accordingly is therefore paramount and adhered to via the Company’s strategy of partnering with vendors best placed to provide bestin-class solutions in alignment with the industry’s rapid pace of development.

Microsoft, HP and Cisco speak for themselves as apt partners to fit the bill.

Value-added services

When Popat was an MBA student at Carnegie Mellon in 1983, IBM introduced the first PC, an unveiling he was sure would revolutionise the world, and that kick-started his

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dedication to not just following the industry, but playing a part in driving it.

He recalls: “When I moved back to Nairobi in 1987, I founded Computech Limited and we started with only two people, selling IBM computers. My objective was to provide state-of-the-art technology, to bring expert knowledge to the East African market, and to provide the best customer service.

“Our very first customer was Jubilee Insurance and we worked on a project to connect IBM PCs to the mainframe.

Since then, we’ve achieved many more milestones and completed many bigger, more complex projects of which we are proud.”

1994 saw the Company appointed as the first HP-authorised distributor in East Africa, and 1996 saw the business diversify and expand. 1999 ushered in the first of many international expansions in Uganda and Tanzania, and the turn of the millennium, 2010 and 2013 broadened the regional footprint further into Rwanda and Zambia.

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MITSUMI DISTRIBUTION

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stablished in Kenya since 1996, MITSUMI Distribution is an award-winning IT, CE and TELCO distributor in Middle East & Africa.

As an authorised distributor for a wide range of leading global IT brands, the Company’s growing brand portfolio includes Dell, HP, Canon, Hitachi, Dell EMC, Huawei, Toshiba and Samsung to name but a few.

Moving forward, the Company will strive to nourish and grow its vendor partner and reseller partner relationships across Middle East & Africa, with the aim of exceeding their expectations each and every day.

T +254 20 374 4921 E sales@mitsumidistribution.com

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Spreading technology across the world.

Mitsumi Distribution provides a wide range of supply chain solutions for all categories of Information Technology products (PCs, PC building blocks, networking, storage, and enterprise solution products), Consumer and Lifestyle products (Telecom, Entertainment products and Digital Printing Machines) for the leading brands which have been dominating for years.

We have 12 warehouses and 8 service centers in Middle East & Africa and a strategic motherhub warehouse located in Jebel Ali, Dubai. These capabilities help us reduce turnaround time in distributing products to the MEA markets. MITSUMI’s credit facilities to partners also consolidated its leadership advantage in MEA. MITSUMI has a first-mover advantage in Africa since the company was the first to establish a chain of in-country presence in Africa ranging from facilities like warehousing, stocking points and support service centers in 1996.

MITSUMI Distribution Head Office: 12th Floor Mitsumi Business Park | 67 Muthithi Road | Westland’s | Nairobi | Kenya Tel: +254 733 612 230 / +254 722 493 712 / +254 20 374 4921 Email: sales@mitsumidistribution.com, www.mitsumidistribution.com East Africa: Kenya | Tanzania | Ethiopia | Uganda | Rwanda West Africa: Nigeria | Ghana | Cameroon North Africa: Algeria Middle East: United Arab Emirates | Qatar | Kuwait

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projects, and another part of our portfolio which we have recently expanded is software to cover areas of cyber security which is a key area of importance today.”

Further diversification into healthcare via a partnership with GE Health, and finance through products such as ATMs will add further strings to the Computech bow, with the intention to expand these services to cover hardware, software, and solutions. As ever, the business remains vigilant to any upcoming IT landscape fluctuations as epitomised by trends including big data, the Internet of Things, and cyber security at present, and is wellpositioned to partner with leading institutions in these areas.

A trusted advisor

Group Chairman, Hassan Popat, giving a speech at a Computech event

Peaking in 2010, the development ever since has been achieved upon a backdrop of increased market saturation and unseen-before industry innovation, but the vision has remained the same: to be Africa’s most respected and trusted provider of technology for business, and to enable high-performance organisations to work and communicate better, faster and more profitably.

“Our customers tend to be mid-large sized companies - both regional and international - and over the past 30 years we have worked with more than 5,000 on a variety of projects,” Popat says. “We are now looking to broaden our customer reach both by industry and geography, ensuring we have team members with industry-specific knowledge and that we have industryspecific products and services.

“We’ve added value-added services which we believe customers need and want, such as high-level design and implementation of large-scale

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Our people are our biggest asset, so as part of Computech 3.0, we are investing heavily in our team through training, experience, and bringing together our teams across five countries

In particular, Computech has been monitoring cloud developments, custom software, application development, leasing, cyber security and managed services in an attempt to diversify its remit in the midst of the changing IT outlook.

“We’ve added more cloud-related offerings to our portfolio and we were Microsoft WECA’s (West, East and Central Africa) Partner Of The Year 2017 for Cloud Productivity,” Popat affirms. “Over time, we’ve seen customers demand increased managed services as they look to outsource IT requirements and we have teams based at several client sites.

“Furthermore, we are increasing our leasing options to provide customers with more flexibility and payment terms. Cyber security has been a hot topic globally for 2017, and future trends we’re monitoring include big data, IoT and blockchain technology.

IT is continuously changing, and we adapt constantly to keep up with new trends. We see ourselves as a trusted advisor to our customers and so our team continues to keep track of major changes happening which inform our key decisions.”

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Internally, Computech has made a series of investments and structural improvements to facilitate its own service and business growth; entailing software enhancements, new offices in Tanzania and Uganda, multifunctional facility refurbishments and an investment into Computech 3.0 - a transformation programme designed to enhance operations, streamline processes, increase efficiency, and reduce complexity. Computech 3.0 reflects the focus on continuous improvement, from internal digital transformation, to growing the portfolio and further enriching the customer experience.

Popat adds: “Our people are our biggest asset, so as part of Computech 3.0, we are investing heavily in our team through training, experience, and bringing together our teams across five countries. Given that we have six offices in five countries, we are introducing secondment opportunities

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Kenya CEO, Dipak Galaiya, addresses the audience at a joint Computech & HP Enterprise event

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where our employees are able to get experience in different African countries.

“Also included in Computech 3.0 is the redefinition of our company culture and all our HR processes.

We hope our culture of innovation, teamwork, and fun helps us to attract and retain the best talent. We are looking to digitise elements of the hiring process and are working with new partners who offer advanced technology and AI to simplify hiring and to identify the best candidates.”

The very best offerings

Over the past 30 years, Computech Limited has worked with some of the region’s leading companies

across industries and projects as an indictment of the Group’s strategy and efforts. Offering expertise to high profile clients including the Government of Tanzania, the Government of Uganda and a host of the region’s leading banks, services firms and telcos across East Africa, the business consistently demonstrates acumen across the entire process and across a range of technological requirements.

Voice and video collaboration, networking, security, switching and routing, data centre design and installation, LAN & WAN connectivity, security installation, and infrastructure development represent just a small sample of the services provided to this

Dipak Galaiya & Monish Mukherjee at a partner event, showcasing Computech’s portfolio and partners

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end; each compounded by refined and honed logistical expertise to ensure distribution is efficient and timely.

“We track every step of the delivery and implementation process and communicate with customers so that they are kept up-to-date with their projects,” Popat assures. “It is important for us to understand where the bottlenecks are in the process so that we can continue to refine and improve our ways of working.

“We work with international vendors, distributors and delivery companies, and sometimes factors that are out of our control impact our deliveries to customers. However, we are developing methods to better influence and measure all the steps

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Computech Kenya kicking off Computech’s 30th anniversary celebrations at Employee Day

The beginning of a new era - celebrating achieving a milestone 30 years and embracing the future

along the delivery chain and have successfully reduced delays by as much as 50 percent as a result.”

Once again alluding to Computech’s overriding goal and pride to provide exceptional customer service, this top priority drives each and every improvement to the business and its portfolio; and this focus will continue in the years to come to maintain its position as the best in the region.

“We work with leading global companies, ensuring that our portfolio is comprised of the very best offerings in the business, and that this is frequently updated to offer new solutions,” Popat continues. “We have a very strong brand and our customers and partners recognise us as one of the leading players in the region because they have seen what we are capable of achieving.

“They see the value in our business, in our teams, and in our future. Our customers see us as a trusted advisor and a partner, not merely a supplier.

We are honoured to have such great partnerships with leading global and African businesses. We look forward to further building the brand and our organisation to be even stronger over the next 30 years.”

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TA N Z A N I A I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O N TA I N E R T E R M I N A L S E R V I C E S ( T I C T S )

Seamless

REALITY Expansion is the First

Port of Call For Tanzania International Container Terminal Services, 2018 will be focused on returning the Port’s volume growth, in order to meet the ever-broadening capacity requirements of the East and Central African region Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Callam Waller

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ver the past year, Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) has enjoyed a multitude of success stories in line with its ongoing goal to remain the largest specialised container terminal in the country.

Chief among said successes was the realisation of the Company’s ambition to handle more than 500,000 TEUs (twenty foot equivalent units) in 2017, and as this statistic was surpassed, it represented a much more allencompassing gauge of growth, volume, client loyalty, capacity and continuous improvement.

“This was in addition to other success stories as well though,” Chief Executive Officer, Jared Zerbe interjects. “In 2017, we also signed a new lease agreement with the Government; we introduced a new shipping line which started calling at our Terminal; we formed a partnership with Ms Ecobank to facilitate our customers’ payments in Tanzania as well as the transit countries of DRC, Rwanda, Zambia and Uganda; and we completed our new data centre.”

Jared Zerbe, CEO

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TANZANIA INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL SERVICES (TICTS)

TECHNOLOGY ASSOCIATES

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“We have evolved into a group, which adapts to environments, transforms our customers and redefines IT benefits, leading the regional IT & ATM Card Payments industry for a number of years,” says Dar es Salaam-based Mr Mesam Rizvi, Managing Director, TA Tanzania.

Our engagement with financial institutions, public sector organisations, healthcare, manufacturing companies, educational institutions, as well as Africa’s burgeoning telecom industry, has seen us deploying the region’s most accomplished mission-critical data centre infrastructures, large-scale data networks, as well as infrastructure software and security solutions.

The CEO presents a sounvenir to Kota John Captain during her vessel maiden voyage

The latter advancement was complemented by an upgrade of TICTS’ terminal operating system as a testament to the Company’s application of technological innovation in the continuous improvement process. And all aforementioned elements combined helped to contribute to double digit throughput growth, reinforcing TICTS’ status as the largest specialised container terminal in Tanzania - a position it has enjoyed for most of its 18-year tenure since inception at Dar es Salaam Port in 2000.

As the largest specialised container terminal in Tanzania, TICTS manages the container handling activities at Berths 08, 09, 10 and 11 and the Inland Container Depot at Kurasini. Since 2000 TICTS has handled more than five million TEUs which is more than 75 percent of the Tanzania Sea Trade. It has also played a significant role in the supply chain to and from Tanzania and the landlocked countries in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.

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T +255 22 1245945

mrizvi@techno-associates.co.tz

Hutchison Ports Hutchison Ports is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator, with a network of 52 ports in 26 countries across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia.

Over the years, Hutchison Ports has expanded internationally into other logistics and transport-related businesses including cruise terminals, airports, distribution centres, rail services and ship repair facilities.

In 2016 the Hutchison Ports network handled a combined throughput of 81.4 million TEU worldwide.

Tanzania International Container Terminal Services (TICTS) operates the container terminal in the Port of Dar es Salaam.

“Over the years since 2000, TICTS has made more than US$100 million in investments which have significantly improved productivity and efficiency to the Port’s users,” said Zerbe.

Over the past year, there have been numerous significant capital expenditures which range from the

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data centre unveiling to a plethora of additional tweaks to the Terminal’s facilities, equipment and service technologies.

Zerbe details: “These include, on the tech side, a landside digitalisation project (LDP) and e-payment processes related to online banking and PoS

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www.mowara.com

Mowara Limited was established 10 years ago as Logistics Company with merely 5 vehicles meant for transportation of Transit cargo. Since then we have built a reliable infrastructure and have invested in new fleet acquisition catering for both Transit (international) cargo and domestic cargo providing reliable logistics and transportation solutions.

MOWARA LIMITED, P.O. Box 43061, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Plot no. 316, Tom Estate Area, Nelson Mandela Road +255 222 850 725 +255 787 255 255 Email: info@mowara.com Fbadli@mowara.com

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TANZANIA INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL SERVICES (TICTS)

solutions; on the admin side, LDP and turnstile projects; and from a facility perspective, equipment additions and upgrades to the yard and workshop aimed at creating additional space.”

The port of choice

As a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports, under the multinational conglomerate, CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, TICTS’ specialties across vessel discharge and loading, container storage, warehousing, container stuffing and destuffing, and customs verification have epitomised the flexibility and scope that has facilitated its growth over the past 18 years.

“TICTS is one of the most efficient

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terminals in Africa and has one of the best terminal operating systems allowing us to serve our customers more efficiently and accurately than other regional terminals can,” Zerbe noted a year ago. “Our customers can rely on us to handle things efficiently, having confidence in our systems and corporate governance as well as security of our facilities, which - for developing countries - is especially important.”

Customer reliability is certainly not a given though, and TICTS has made concerted efforts over the years to hone its processes and facilities in order to remain contemporary, relevant and ahead of the industry

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curve for its clients’ sake.

“Over the past year, we have enhanced control measures by building key supplier partnerships focusing on tight controls on time and attendance,” Zerbe explains regarding process enhancements. On the investment side of things, “we have invested in additional cargo handling equipment, especially empty container handlers and forklifts”, the CEO continues.

“2017 was about stabilising the ongoing business, but 2018 has very much been focused on growing throughput and making Dar es Salaam Port the port of choice for the East and Central African region.”

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opportunities head on, not only does there need to be an emphasis on up-scaling, but also up-skilling. And TICTS has responded in kind via the appointment of a new Head of Human Resources and Administration that will keep current employees at the forefront of all pressing regulations, while at the same time identifying fresh talent to usher in the next few years of Terminal progression.

“We need to work to develop existing staff members to help them build up their abilities and knowledge,” Zerbe stated. “We also have the advantage of having as our majority shareholder the world’s largest port operator, so we send many of our employees for training at our headquarters and regional centre.

Zerbe hands over a trophy to the Trade Union Chairman for breaking monthly records

2017 was about stabilising the ongoing business, but 2018 has very much been focused on growing throughput and making Dar es Salaam Port the port of choice for the East and Central African region

To this end, TICTS has increased the Terminal’s capacity by removing old equipment and by relocating its workshop. An additional redesign of the gate-house driveway, and a more strategic management of how traffic flows into the Terminal, have also complemented its overall capacitybroadening targets.

“We need to continue to invest and become smarter and more efficient,” Zerbe has emphasised. “We note that in our industry in Africa there are more and more ports being developed, and especially in East Africa there are a lot of competing regional ports planning expansions. Also, as the world’s shipping industry consolidates, there will be more competition regionally and our customers will be in a stronger position.”

He picks up: “The ability to increase yard capacity and efficiency is vital in order to handle increased volumes.

TICTS has the required cargo handling equipment, technology and expertise to handle these volumes. But now just needs more space and improved cargo clearance processes from stakeholders in order to reduce high dwell times.”

Evolving the Port

Such changes on an internal note are all the more poignant given recent regulatory transformations enacted in Tanzania. For example, the new Tanzania Shipping Agencies Act has established the Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation to regulate marine transport in the country.

To meet these challenges and

“We have short, medium and long-term staff development plans to promote employees to more advanced positions as they grow in ability and skills.”

Supply chain management will take on extra prevalence over the coming 12 months too, with these small - yet significant - tweaks critical as the industry and region gains pace simultaneously.

Zerbe concludes: “Over the next 12 months, positive developments will continue at TICTS. We aim to remove old TPA quay cranes; identify additional space outside the Port; improve the gate process; further streamline the landside operations; and continue to cooperate with stakeholders - both public and private - to further enhance the Port’s operations.”

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The Seamless

GATEWAY REALITY

DP World Maputo is changing the landscape of Southern Africa’s shipping for the betterment of all, achieving success through strategic investment and a cemented plan for future growth Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Eddie Clinton

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aputo is looking set to become the shipping hub of Southern Africa, providing shortened logistical connections and lessened supply chain costs that will dramatically change the industry landscape within the region.

DP World Maputo has made significant investments, with support from MPDC’s channel dredging investment, to lay the foundations for significant change.

The terminal has experienced a complete redesign and continues to expand, ensuring it not only accommodates Mozambique’s immediate market, but also offers an alternative for South Africa, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana.

“We have found that this development has provided a massive opportunity for the logistical players operating in Maputo to take advantage and expand their services,” begins Tejas Nataraj, Chief Executive Officer at DP World Maputo. “Furthermore our Company sees the development of the ‘logistics ecosystem’ all along the Johannesburg to Maputo corridor including warehousing, trucking, depots and cold storage - as the next logical step in the process. Currently intermodal services along this corridor are still vastly underdeveloped, providing numerous opportunities for logistical players to take advantage of.”

Not only will the upgrades to DP World’s container facility benefit the people of Southern Africa through lower-cost goods, but also by creating thousands of jobs and opportunities for affiliated businesses.

Nataraj continues: “We feel this is incredibly important when it comes to the economic development of the region, predominantly as the region should not have to fall prey to the cost of inefficiency due to a lack of competitive alternatives.

“The new upgrade to our container facility, alongside the dredging of its

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Investments continue to safeguard the future prosperity of the port

approach channel, quays and turning basins, will provide trade with another gateway and wider access to markets that include China, the east coast of the US, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.”

Regaining status

With thanks to a successful combination of investments, the container terminal operated by DP World is set to regain its status as a major container port.

“Our current target is to rapidly ramp-up our capacity to one million twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) per year,” explains Nataraj. “We will do this steadily over the next few years in order to meet with the increasing market demand we are witnessing, all of which is made possible by the substantial investment in infrastructure, equipment and systems within the terminal.”

In addition to the phenomenal changes to the physical infrastructure

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of DP World’s container terminal, it is upgrading its Terminal Operating System (TOS) to replace the remaining physical paperwork systems with electronic processing.

“With thanks to our new operating system we will be able to substantially cut down on processing time and delays, while also dramatically improving the safety and security of the terminals employees, visitors

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and cargo,” affirms Nataraj. “On the operational side we have also invested in six new RTGs, all of which have already improved our productivity.

“We have recently completed our landside development, which completely refurbished the old terminal, added our new rail siding and 5ha of new yard. This has increased our terminal capacity from 150k TEU to 350k TEU per annum.”

It is estimated that by the end of 2019 the first phase of the Company’s quay development will be completed which includes the complete overhaul and dredging to 16m of 308m of quay with three new STS cranes being installed. Following this will be the extension of 400m of new quay.

“We are already active in our attempts to change the outdated perception of Maputo as being both a costly and logistical challenge,” adds Nataraj. “Now the Company is gradually collaborating with ‘prime movers’ that are happy to support the development of the Maputo-southern Africa corridor.

“I am confident that we will continue on in this vein to change perceptions and that Maputo will be able to establish itself as a truly viable alternative trade route.”

The challenges facing the movement of containerised cargo at present are not dissimilar to those that were faced when Maputo was first being

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Developing the terminal’s infrastructure to support trade, cargo and shipping

promoted as a gateway for bulkmineral exports.

“It took a lot of dedicated time and determination for all the relevant players to see the benefits that Maputo has to offer,” explains Nataraj. “Now bulk mineral exports at Maputo are a great success story, with cargo owners and shippers reaping the rewards of being part of a superior export link.”

Progressive attitude

DP World Maputo’s port plans to have 600 reefer plugs in place by the next citrus season (April, 2018), making up a large part of its drive to bring citrus exports back to the port.

“Maputo is recognised as the natural geographical port to best serve the citrus industry in Mpumalanga and Limpopo,” adds Nataraj. “Our first step in achieving progress was to build the physical capacity to handle the industry via road, rail and the port, then going on to ensure that the exporters were

being offered an attractive package.”

One of the hindrances that DP World has encountered is the historical perception that it is both costly and a logistical challenge for those trying to use it.

“We have decided to see this as an opportunity, rather than something that can act as a handicap to us,” adds Nataraj. “Now that we have developed the terminal’s infrastructure in order to support trade, cargo owners and shippers can now benefit from a geographically superior option and a terminal operator that is active in collaborative projects that will deliver mutual benefits to both parties.”

Tackling future issues

The opportunities available with thanks to the new Maputo corridor are abundant for all to see, however, the Company required the initial momentum to enable it to bring about substantial change.

Nataraj affirms: “We have already witnessed substantial change and an exponential increase in the interest amount of cross-border requests regarding the ability of Maputo to provide the long-awaited alternative option to that seen in Durban.”

Through its substantial investments, the Company has tackled potential border delay issues head-on. An example of this is the 1,500 metres of rail siding in the terminal which will eliminate border crossing delays, due to the fact that cargo is railed directly into the terminal operational area.

“We are working hard to ensure that our investments are going into the right places for our customers and the future of the port,” concludes Nataraj.

“I hope that as we continue to grow at the rate we have experienced recently, with large volumes of cargo moving through the port, and I feel very optimistic for the future of DP World Maputo.”

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McAdam Design Ghana Ltd is excelling in the delivery of top class Project Management and Consultancy Services in the sub Saharan region Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Stuart Parker

Peter Quartey-Papafio, Director of McAdam Design (Ghana) Ltd

cAdam Design (Ghana) Ltd, linked to McAdam Design Ltd based in the UK, is a privately owned, limited liability company, specialising in providing project management, design and construction supervision services.

Working in collaboration with its local construction partners in Ghana, the Company has assisted its clients for the past four years using its technical expertise and innovative spirit. This has led to the delivery of projects in a multitude of sectors, specifically including infrastructure associated with industrial development, water supply and treatment, wastewater and sanitation, housing and energy.

“The genesis of our idea to embark upon a new project management and design consultancy business began with a family visit to Ghana in 2010,” explains Peter Quartey-Papafio, Director of McAdam Design (Ghana) Ltd. “At the time the UK was in the middle of a recession and we noticed this was a huge contrast to Ghana’s booming economy, with a -GDP growth of more than 10 percent and numerous

opportunities for infrastructural development at that time.”

Following assessments based on key factors such as the country’s booming economy, political stability and its close links with the UK, Ghana was found to be an attractive location to establish a new consultancy business.

“Between 2010 and 2013 I spent time investigating the viable sectors that we would target, meeting with potential clients and forming strategic alliances with associations and key local consultants in Ghana,” adds QuarteyPapafio. “These alliances were formed with companies that held a similar ethos of client-focused and quality delivery for service as McAdam Design.”

“Over the years we have been able to differentiate ourselves from other design consultancy companies by taking time to fully understand our clients’ needs and particularly the commercial considerations of their projects.”

Quartey-Papafio continues: “We recognise the importance of the financial viability for our solutions, alongside technical feasibility, ‘value engineering’ is at the core of all of our design solutions.”

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ESPCO LTD

250m3 elevated water tank under construction, Akwatia

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SPCo Ltd (Engineering Services Provision Company Ltd) is a leading civil/structural engineering consulting firm with extensive local and international experience in design, design review, construction supervision and project management.

ESPCo has Directors and engineers with considerable experience in structural, pavement, geotechnical, highway/transport and environmental engineering and special expertise in large, shallow and deep foundation design, machine foundation vibration analysis, liquefaction analysis and nonlinear finite element analysis.

Over the years, ESPCo has been involved in various projects on airports, aviation, power, transportation, real estate and high-rise buildings.

T +233 20 855 8252, +233 24 437 2743 E info@espco-gh.com

www.espco-gh.com

Quartey-Papafio continues: “Since that point in 2015 we have evolved through the widening of the sector-base that we serve. We now provide our project management, design and construction supervision services on projects ranging from the development of large industrial parks and housing projects and prestigious mixed used sites to development projects in the oil and gas sector.

Early development

During the early stages of its establishment in Ghana, the Company focused strategically on the water sector rather than spreading itself too thin by trying to enter a multitude of other sectors such as roads, housing, energy and oil & gas.

“In Northern Ireland McAdam Design is one of the leading civil engineering consultancy firms that specialises in both water and wastewater sectors,” states Quartey-

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Papafio. “We wanted to develop our initial offering in Ghana to reflect the strength of the UK company.”

This strategy proved to be successful during the Company’s early stages, leading it to win its first contract in 2015. The contract comprised an 18 month consultancy commission with Ghana Water Company Limited, acting as the Employers Representative on the US$65 M Akwatia Water Expansion Project.

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Industry knowhow

One of the key factors to the Company’s success has been the development of strong relationships with clients, enabling them to fully understand their required needs and ensuring that McAdam Design delivers commercially and technically viable solutions.

“Many of the projects that we are currently working on are long-term schemes with phased development timelines,” adds Quartey-Papafio.

“Some of these projects will take up to

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ESPCo (read E.S.P.Co) is a world-class civil and structural engineering consulting firm with considerable local and international experience.

With clients all over the country and beyond, ESPCo provides services in the following engineering fields: • Structural analysis and design (earthquake analysis) • Pavement and geotechnical engineering • Transportation & highway engineering • Airport and railway engineering • Infrastructure/Industrial planning and engineering • Construction supervision Over the years ESPCo has built a solid reputation in design, construction supervision and project management of real estate, aviation, transportation, power and high-rise building projects. The Company provides engineering solutions to its clients with excellence and integrity.

OFFICE ADDRESS CT DTD 35, No 5 Mankralo Close East Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

T: +233 208 558 252, +233 244 372 743 www.espco-gh.com info@espco-gh.com

4000 m3 ground reservoir under construction, Akwatia

10 years before they reach completion.

“We work closely with our clients throughout the duration of their projects and beyond, guiding them through inception, feasibility, design, procurement, construction and commissioning. At present these clients include BlackIvy, Rendeavour, LMI Holdings/Murphy Construction and Zen Petroleum, who are developing a mixture of large greenfield sites, large housing developments, water

and wastewater infrastructure, as well as fuel supply, distribution and retail facilities.”

McAdam Design’s team of specialists have significant industry knowhow which is shown in the way the projects have been successfully carried out for our clients.

“Our success is clearly demonstrated by the instrumental role of the McAdam Design team in a number of prestigious projects currently taking place in

Ghana,” Quartey-Papafio affirms.

“We are acting as project managers for US client BlackIvy LLC’s WestPark Industrial Development Project, a 400-acre US$200 M greenfield site located near Takoradi we are providing Traffic, Geotechnical, Procurement and Construction Supervision services.”

One of the most recently awarded contracts is to provide project management services to Zen Petroleum - a large independent Ghanaian fuel supply, distribution and retail company - also offering technical support to aid the proposed development project to construct 20 filling stations in Ghana this year.

Stable platform

Ghana has provided a stable platform from which the Company is able to build its portfolio and range of services. There are a tremendous amount of exciting opportunities ahead for McAdam Design within the sub-Saharan region that Ghana is located in.

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Forward-thinking strategies are increasingly important to the Company

Quartey-Papafio states: “Our strategy for identification of potential infrastructural projects in other regions is achieved through collaboration with our partners - both consultants and contractors - who either have a presence or knowledge of opportunities in other regions.”

A good example of this in action is seen in the Company’s current business development within Kenya, which is exhibiting GDP growth of more than five percent.

“Following on from the identification of the opportunities available to us, we have submitted a number of tenders alongside a South African consultant partner,” Quartey-

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Papafio says. “Success in our business development activities will enable us to provide consultancy services for water and wastewater schemes delivering them directly to public bodies in Kenya.

“At present we are also part of the Design-Build-Fund team, acting as Designers for a large US contractor who is seeking to secure a significant infrastructure scheme in the subSaharan region. We have also been taken on board as Designers for a prominent Ghanaian contractor for a large renewable energy project. Key Design-Build contractors will provide a significant portion of the growth of our business in Ghana.”

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Expansion into the growing renewable energy market in Ghana is seen as a promising move for the Company and a new string to its bow.

“We plan to leverage our relationships with consultant partners and clients in order to win work in other countries through the model we’ve employed in Ghana,” explains Quartey-Papafio. “With thanks to our strong and highly experienced team, we feel very optimistic about the future.”

Looking forward, predictions from respected experts such as the McKinsey Global Institute and Deloitte show substantial growth in the subSaharan Africa region, driven by a

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West Park Industrial - Early works

“Following on from the identification of the opportunities available to us, we have submitted a number of tenders alongside a South African consultant partner.”

West Park Industrial - Simulation of complex project

“We plan to leverage our relationships with consultant partners and clients in order to win work in other countries through the model we’ve employed in Ghana.”

Key Contact: Peter Quartey-Papafio ppapafio@mcadamdesign.co.uk Tel: +44 7825 141733 Company address: Ghana: Reroy Offices PO Box 8503 Accra – North UK: 1C Montgomery House 478 Castlereagh Road Belfast BT5 6BQ

Company phone number: UK: +44 28 90 402000 Ghana: +233 55 346 9385 Company email address: admin@mcadamdesign.co.uk Company website: www.mcadamdesign-ghana.com www.mcadamdesign.co.uk

young population, a growing consumer sector and rapid urbanisation over the next five to 10 years.

“We hope that this will provide us with an environment in which we can secure commissions on many of the numerous infrastructural development opportunities which will arise,” concludes Quartey-Papafio. “McAdam Design is very well positioned to secure significant work in both Ghana and the wider region. Our aim is that we will be one of the leading multi-disciplinary professional services construction consultancy company in Ghana within the next 3 years and more widely in other regions in sub-Saharan Africa after that.”

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Live Greener, Live Fresher, Live Safer

Kenya Horticultural Exporters (1977) Ltd has experienced tremendous growth within the industry and is now a market leader in exports to the UK and further afield Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Joshua Mann

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enya Horticultural Exporters (1977) Ltd (KHE) is a company borne out of humble beginnings, starting its time in the industry as a small-time greengrocer. However, with thanks to an innovative spirit and a drive for progression in 1965, the Company has become one of the most established exporters within the industry today.

At that point in time the Company was exporting between 50 and 100 kilos per week of Asian Veg to the UK market. it has now progressed to producing over 150 tonnes per week that are ready for export.

“We have proudly grown from a little greengrocer, to a large-scale exporter and the development we have experienced in the past 50 years has been thanks to the tireless efforts of both the Patel and Dhanani families,” begins Snehal Patel, Executive Director at Kenya Horticultural Exporters (1977) Ltd. “At KHE we ensure that we achieve strong leadership in all aspects of good agricultural practice, while also caring for the environment.”

The Dhanani and Patel families have worked together to achieve the success that we see today, including

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setting up of Wealmoor in the UK

by Rati Dhanani, when he decided to emigrate to the UK. Wealmoor is now responsible for controlling and marketing the entirety of KHE’s exports into the United Kingdom.

With thanks to its strategic partnership with Wealmoor, KHE now supplies to some of the most recognisable supermarket chains, which include some household names like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, ASDA and Co-op.

“As far as our work in the UK is concerned, we allow Wealmoor almost complete control of our exports to the country,” explains Patel. “At present 90 percent of our export products go to the UK, and having found such success there we have begun to explore opportunities further afield.”

Due to the fact that the Company has such a long and established relationship with Wealmoor, it doesn’t need to explore other options within the UK and at present KHE is looking closely at avenues within Europe and the Middle East, looking into strategic marketing for each potential area and in line with this we have entered into key partnerships to further both our product and market profiles. The most significant being a partnership

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ince opening its doors in 2007 Cyber Trace has had one priority: keeping you, your vehicle and your business safe on the roads of East Africa. The Company’s advanced and easy-to-use technological solutions allow monitoring of assets and people ensuring their safety and security while in transit.

To add to its product portfolio, the Company is focusing on fuel monitoring and has embarked on various IoT programs that are related to smart farming, which involves crop and livestock monitoring, workplace monitoring, greenhouse monitoring and farm data analysis.

T +254 725 311 033, +254 733 570 050 E info@cybertrace.co.ke

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Thika Wax Works Ltd is a manufacturing and trading company based in Nairobi, Kenya and serving the East African region.

The founders of the Company have been actively involved in the chemicals and allied products industry since the 1950s’; having a vast experience of over 60 years!

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PACKAGING SOLUTION USING HOTMELT GLUE GUN AND GLUESTICK AN EASY, FAST AND ECONOMIC SOLUTION FOR STITCHING BOXES FROM PACKHOUSE TO MARKET FOR HORTRICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE INDUSTRIES. FOR BOTH MANUAL AND AUTOMATED APPLICATION • COST OF EQUIPMENT FROM LESS THEN US$ 100.00 (US$ ONE HUNDRED) • HOTMELT USE IS CHEAPER TO OTHER ALTERNATIVES LIKE STAPLE PINS AND CELLOTAPE • HOTMELT GIVES A CLEAN AND STRONGER BOND FOR CARTON ERACTION. • CARTONS LOOK CLEAN AND NO RISK OF CONTAMINATION FROM PIN RUSTING • CAN TOLERATE A WIDE RANGE OF TEMPERATURE -4C TO + 50C AND IS NOT AFFECTED BY COLD STORE MOISTURE • NON-TOXIC AND HAZARDOUS TO HUMANS. • NO PLASTIC POLLUTION. • CONFIRMS TO ALL INTERNATIONAL FOOD ORGANIZING BODIES FOR USE IN FOOD INDUSTRY • MANY FARMS HAVE CONVERTED FROM USE OF ALTERNATIVES TO USE OF HOTMELT GLUE

Location THIKA WAX WORKS LTD NUMBER 10, HOMABAY ROAD INDUSTRIAL AREA

Mailing Address P.O.BOX 30185 – 00100 NAIROBI, KENYA info@thikawaxworks.com

Call Us On LANDLINE: 020-2418600 MOBILE: +254-771-206901/2, +254-722-206902, +254-774-206900, +254-733-336902

www.thikawaxworks.com

INDUSTRIES WE SERVE:

AGRICULTURE – BRUSH – CONSTRUCTION – GENERAL

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stablished in 2013, Innovative Apps has developed a reputation as a leading global provider of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), financial management solutions (FMS) and technology solutions.

The Company’s size and influence has grown significantly during this time, developing strong relationships with major software authors, EPICOR, which has helped it to be established as the global number one partner for EPICOR. Forging alliances with a number of other reputable software vendors and strengthening its development team ensures the Company has the necessary flexibility and customisation its clients require.

The Company aims to create smart solutions to answer all business needs, striving for professional consulting to complement business strategy and overall management.

with Surexport, a Spanish company to grow raspberries on their behalf and also a tie up with XPOL to market our product profile into the rest of Europe.

Currently KHE is operated and run by the Patel Family however, its partnership with Wealmoor is still stronger than ever.

Key changes and investments

As with all the companies operating within the export industry, KHE has had to ensure that it remains adaptable and consistently ahead of the industry curve.

“As much as possible we try and pack and label at the source, rather than bringing the produce to our HQ facility in Nairobi,” explains Patel. “We have set up fully fledged packing and labelling facilities at or very close to our farming operations. This means that as soon as the product is harvested, it is within very close reach to a packing facility where it can be pre-cooled quickly, packed and labelled if required.

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“The earlier the product gets into your cold chain, the fresher and longer it will last. This also enables us to ensure that product once harvested is on the retailers’ shelves within 36 hours.”

KHE is the only Exporter within the East African region to invest heavily to produce its own modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), which extends the shelf life of products by three to four days. Unlike most food products, fresh fruits and vegetables continue to breathe and respire after being harvested.

This action of breathing consumes oxygen, produces carbon dioxide, water vapour and heat. The key to extending the shelf life of the product is to reduce the rate of respiration without affecting the freshness, this is done by both maintaining the cold chain and using “customised MAP Packaging”.

“In our MAP Production Facility, we have state of the art equipment which

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The Company’s business model centres around consulting, technology, training and dedicated support, and as a professional consultancy firm, the Company adds value to any business by firstly listening, secondly giving sound advice and thereafter creating a solution that’ll empower its clients.

Innovative Apps’ strategic combination of technology, business applications and highly experienced and insightful consultants can help you successfully achieve your business goals.

The Company’s professional and experienced team work with clients to rapidly implement the right solution, identify improvement opportunities, analyse business problems, capture business requirements, add value to existing systems as well as manage change.

T: +254 20 214 3254, +254 20 257 3710 E: info@theinnovativeapps.com

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“In recent times especially, we have been working on our packaging facilities in order to keep up-to-date with the demanding market we are operating in and in response have brought our facilities closer to the source.”

“Each of our product varieties are continuously monitored, with new vegetable varieties being tested to taste and resistance to diseases. ”

“We have worked tirelessly to develop an ambient packaging which allows the retailer or customer to retail the product at ambient temperatures for longer periods of time than other exporters can achieve...”

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is used to measure the respirations rates of our products at different temperatures,” adds Patel. “Retailers have display and storage shelves operating at different temperatures and this enables us to create packaging to work at these temperatures including ambient.

“We have the ability to change the design of a bag with the click of a finger depending on the respiration rate, the growing region or the moisture content of the product to maximise on shelf life.”

Production monitoring

KHE is gradually developing an impressive array of technologies to increase the success and shelf life of the products that it’s exporting; not only is its packaging regularly tested but also all stages of the growing process. This also helps us self asses our environmental impact in all our productions areas with a goal of reducing our carbon footprint every year.

“Each of our product varieties are continuously monitored, with new vegetable varieties being tested to taste and resistance to diseases,” explains Patel. “We also ensure that our farms are working to the TNC and LEAF standards of soil management,

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use of compost and reduction of pesticides.”

The Company also has to take into account aspects such as sustainable crop rotation and the use of biological controls for varietal development, alongside efficient water management.

The latter is becoming increasingly important in particular, not only when it comes to creating the right atmosphere for product growth but also when it comes to cost efficiency.

Patel states: “Our quality improvement programmes are dramatically improving the quality of our crops, post-harvest controls environment, and varietal selection susceptibility moving forward which amongst other benefits leady to a reduction in food waste and give the consumers of our products additional time to use them.”

Upward growth trajectory

The Company has not forgotten to give back to the community and have invested in various projects via the Waitrose Foundation - with its office is located within KHE’s HQ. Key projects have included two maternity wards, a School, a dispensary, a girls dormitory, housing girls from all over the country and a recreational facility for our employees that houses a computer

Quality improvement programmes enhance crop quality

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pol is a service provider based in The Netherlands at the heart of the global agricultural business.

The Company works as a trade platform, managing the total supply chain from the grower to the final consumer, an inclusive business approach which makes the supply chain more efficient.

With knowledge of the cooled global supply chain, the Company prefers to work with experienced partners.

Therefore it is a clear choice that one of the preferred growers is KHE Kenya.

www.xpolplatform.com

room, library, clinic, prayer room and a canteen. These projects are chosen by committee made up of the labour force themselves based on the surrounding communities’ needs.

“Our model of working is most definitely different to that of other exporters and this is what sets us

“Our model of working is most definitely different to that of other exporters, alongside our technological expertise.”

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Fresh from the grower to the consumer

Xpol global service provider Want to know more?

www.xpolplatform.com apart,” explains Patel. “Although the Company has experienced immense growth and success over the years, there is still a long way for the dedicated team to go.”

Despite the success the Company has achieved so far and would like to achieve in the future, none of it would have been possible without its key partners and suppliers to which the Company personally thanks all of them for the support giving so far and hope for their continued support in the future.

“We have set objectives for the future in order to continue on with our upward growth trajectory,” concludes Patel. “We have already started on the automation of our growing techniques in order to maximise our yield over the course of the year. This is alongside the management of our packaging processes which I hope will continue to aid us in becoming the most popular company in the industry and increase our global footprint.”

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PARTNERS to the Future Scania’s ‘customer first’ philosophy in East Africa is facilitating a seamless expansion across the region as it looks to replicate its global reputation for quality transport manufacturing Writer: Matthew Staff | Project Manager: Eddie Clinton

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renowned global manufacturer of transport vehicles throughout the decades, Scania’s international reputation is topped only by its local dedication, as it is evidencing across its East African operations.

Serving Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ethiopia as well as its core Kenyan and Tanzanian operations, the Company’s significance in the region has been driven by both industry innovation and social enrichment; and the ultimate culmination makes Scania one of the pioneering operators across the manufacturing/transport/supply chain intersection.

“Today, Scania’s business includes selling trucks - both new and used - as well as buses and gensets. We also have an extensive network of service centres to support our customers throughout the region,” introduces Chief Executive Officer,

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Per Holmstrom. “Additionally, we also offer service contracts for servicing and maintenance of vehicles, an in-house fleet management service, driver services including coaching and driver training, and 24-seven roadside assistance.”

The former fleet management facet is especially indicative of the differentiation and value-add approach that Scania has established in East Africa; allowing owners of vehicles to track the usage and performance of their vehicles while on the road, in real time.

“To complement the high quality products that we sell, we also have a network of workshops across Kenya and Tanzania where customers can bring in their vehicles for servicing, repair and maintenance,” Holmstrom continues. “Our after- sales support then ensures our customers have maximum uptime while optimising the use of their vehicles.”

ANDREWS APARTMENTS

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ndrews Apartments offer serviced apartments, luxury suites, and meeting room facilities in Westlands, Nairobi for business and personal travellers.

The apartments for rent are conveniently located, well decorated, and offer many amenities to provide a home away from home during your stay.

All the apartments and suites feature a living room, dining areas, bathroom, balcony area, and fully equipped kitchen for a comfortable and convenient place to relax and entertain.

T +254 20 4252000, +254 714 425200, +254 727 878783 E reservations@andrews.co.ke

www.andrews.co.ke

PINNACLE SYSTEMS LTD

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innacle Systems specialises in the sale and service of fleet management and road safety equipment and has been among the industry leaders in all types of control equipment.

The Company’s mission is to develop and deploy innovative solutions to assist fleet-dependent companies to reduce their fleet operating costs and equipment downtime by maintaining a highly trained, motivated and competent technical team, as well as stocking adequate spares for after-sales service.

The Company has a flexible and highly trained team of technicians who are readily available to carry out installation, service and repairs at premises, providing first-class customer support through every step.

Office Lines: +254 723 880 757, +254 20 201 0432, +254 20 2020963 E info@pinnaclesystemskenya.net

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WHO WE ARE Pinnacle Systems Ltd is a customer-centric leader in providing sales, installations and services in the Control Equipment industry with more than a decade of experience in delivering working and enviable solutions to clients.

We are an agile business partner in the industry steadfast in Developing and Deploying innovative solutions which guarantee Fleet-dependent companies reduce fleet Operating costs and Equipment downtime.

Lunga Lunga Road - Industrial Area (Next to House of Manji) P.O Box 9596-00100 Nairobi,Kenya E: info@pinnaclesystemskenya.net Office Line: +254 723 880 757 T: +254 20 201 0432, +254 20 2020963 www.pinnaclesystemskenya.net

GPS TRACKING/FLEET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM We supply and install approved industry leading GPS fleet management devices geared to increase efficiency & safety while decreasing fuel costs.

Our state of the art fleet management devices are designed to offer integrated solutions which guarantee our client the following outcome: • Ease & Convenience of fleet management • Control & Flexibility • Operational efficiency • Security & peace of mind

AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS AUTOGRADE ONLINE DIGITAL SPEED LIMITERS Whether you are seeking to have you vehicles fitted with speed limiters to conform to standard regulations or save on fuel cost, you can be assured we can deliver the solution to satisfaction. We supply and fit majorly the two classifications of the Auto-grade Speed Limiters.

AUTOGRADE DASS - 86 For all vehicles equipped with mechanical accelerator pedal.

AUTOGRADE SAFE DRIVE For all vehicles equipped with electronic a ccelerator pedal.

SECURON SEAT BELTS We are the authorised agents and resellers of Securon ECE Regulation 16 compliant seatbelts in the East African Region.

Features • ALR’s (Automatic Locking Retractors) • ELR’s (Emergency Locking Retractors)

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Providing a harmonious and enabling environment for all staff members

While certain regulatory or consumer nuances inevitably exist in each portion of Scania’s East Africa portfolio, the primary goal is to make its services as standardised and streamlined as possible in order to retain the identifiable quality and consistency expected of the business.

Thus encouraging customer confidence and repeat business, it also facilitates more seamless transitions into new countries as is currently being seen in its newer markets of Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.

No matter where Scania’s journey takes the business though, the ethos remains the same.

Sales Director, Tom Leakey states: “We have continuously kept our focus on after-market support by bringing our services closer to the customer in our service network expansion.

“Our commitment to the ‘customer first’ philosophy has given reassurance to our customers that we are partners to the future.”

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Win-win solution

Scania’s evolution in East Africa can be traced back to 1973 in affirming its long-term presence in the region; initiating when Scania CV AB delivered 200 tipper trucks to the Chinese authorities to enable the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia railway line, as well as a further 100 trucks to the Tanzania Cotton Authority.

More branches, fleet increases, service diversification and international expansion then occurred over the following decades until 2013 when Scania CV AB incorporated as a wholly-owned subsidiary to serve the burgeoning Eastern African region.

“This brought together the Kenyan and Tanzanian operations forming what is now Scania East Africa Limited,” Holmstrom recalls. “Since then and over the years the technology we have has evolved and become more intelligent, and this in turn has offered our customers a better insight into how their vehicles are operating over time.

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“In particular, this is the case for our fleet management service which now collects even more data for customers and helps them make more informed decisions on how to operate their vehicles.”

The overall focus in more recent times has subsequently blossomed into establishing a supporting framework for customers - as part of its customer first ethos - and running long-term contracts with key multinationals to compound these capabilities.

Leakey adds: “There is also extended collaboration with our customers’ customers and the buyers of transport solutions where we establish a win-win solution where the transporter and the buyer of the transport solution both benefit from reduced operating costs.”

Fully equipped

Scania’s aforementioned fleet management system epitomises the growth that the Company has

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7E fE PR D TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH 3CANIA %AST !~ICA

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Excellence in performance and efficiency.

Omnitrac MSD II Omnitrac MSS II

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SPEDAG INTERFREIGHT

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eading global logistics company, SPEDAG INTERFREIGHT is part of M+R SPEDAG Group (Switzerland) and offers freight forwarding, customs clearance, terminal & warehouse storage, and distribution services to clients across East Africa.

The Company’s dedicated fleet, facilities and workforce facilitates the highest quality of personalised logistics services at the most competitive price.

enjoyed in recent years; highlighting an adherence to the most modern of customer requirements, and a willingness to get ahead of the industry curve from a technological and capital investment perspective.

Having won an award in Germany for its best-in-class tachograph system, this commitment to fleet management has been acknowledged as simple and advanced in equal measure and sets the tone aptly for the business’ general approach to service improvement and overall growth.

“As of this year we opened up a workshop in Nakuru and Eldoret which are two major towns that sit along the northern corridor. The northern corridor is a trade route that links the landlocked countries of Eastern Africa to the port of Mombasa which is a major port of entry into the region. The workshops are very strategic for us as they are along the long haul route that serves Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia where our clients operate,” Holmstrom explains. “The workshops are fully equipped with trained staff so customers are assured of the same good quality of service that they would get from any of our other branches.

We are also planning to open a new workshop in Mombasa and a new headquarters and high-tech workshop in Nairobi.”

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Logistics enterprises generally have to operate on slim margins, making investments into technologies and heightened efficiencies both challenging and vital. As showcased by the fleet management side though, Scania has more than risen to the challenge and has introduced a plethora of functions that address vehicle position, fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, speed control, braking behaviour and a host of additional parameters through its system.

Shared principles

Such innovations are synonymous with the Scania brand on a global scale, but where the Company goes on to differentiate itself further is through its localisation strategies; ingratiating itself into each respective region according to the values and trends seen there.

From an employment perspective this has made Scania an employer of choice; and an “equal opportunity employer” at that.

“We constantly strive to ensure we are wholly inclusive and our longterm goal is to provide a harmonious and enabling environment for all of our staff,” Leakey affirms. “For the most part, our staff are local and with our roots seated in research & development - it is part of our

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Our ability revolves around minimising costly downtimes and unnecessary frustrations for customers; via a commitment to handling and coordinating every shipment with a sense of urgency. This core value is instilled in every one of our employees.

Dilip Bhandari CEO East Africa T +254 730 155 000

www.spedaginterfreight.com

global culture to constantly develop individuals through training.

“We have in-house and external training which we encourage all staff to take based on their individual needs and goals. Employees are thus nurtured and coached to realise their full potential and are encouraged to bring out innovative ideas.”

Leakey goes on to emphasise the role that wider enrichment and sustainability plays within the overall Scania proposition; the Company proactively ensuring an improved landscape for future generations.

He continues: “Just like in every sector, transportation of goods and services should be conducted with a focus on reducing harm to the environment. This is where Scania provides the solutions by producing low emission engines, optimising on fuel consumption and extending service intervals to reduce the amount of waste oil disposal.

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Every day, the people at Spedag Interfreight are doing their utmost to serve you, to ensure that your supply chain is running on highest quality standards and with maximum efficiency. We are your dependable partner for transport and logistics solutions.

www.spedaginterfreight.com

Spedag Interfreight Kenya Ltd. Spedag Interfreight Building Mwakilingo Street Mombasa +254 730 155 000

“This to us is key and we are looking at working closely with partners who share the same principles.”

Holmstrom concludes: “We work hand-in-hand with clients to help them reduce their cost of operations. We have service contracts and with our A more sustainable way fleet management system, we are The global shift towards sustainability also able to have discussions with our - both inside and outside of the factory customers on how best to improve - requires equally global players such “We also separate our rubbish vehicle performance, and to maximise as Scania to be a pioneer and to set an so we do our bit in making sure the uptime. To complement all this, we example. right waste is disposed of correctly,” also offer driver training and coaching “This not only touches on the CEO adds. “In the coming year, for all our customers, where drivers production and our supply chain but we plan on initiating more initiatives are trained on how to be safe drivers, also our staff as they are the driving towards sustainability and to be an how to pick up on warning systems, force of the company,” Holmstrom industry leader in this area.” and how to optimise a vehicle’s says. “We ensure continuous Despite being a leader, this isn’t performance on the road.” development to our staff through to say that improvement is a solo Leakey adds: “In the future, we training and coaching to keep our pursuit. In fact, Scania makes a point certainly hope that we will have standards high and ahead of the pack.” of engaging concertedly with clients achieved our main objective which The recent launch of a gas-powered and clients’ clients in order to hone and will include but is not limited to having engine is a prevalent example and perfect each service and each process Scania products as a household step in the right direction for transport enhancement. name in the East African Region. solutions; while locally, processes like This constant collaboration before, We also hope to have an impact on oil drainage in workshops have been during and after sale consequently encouraging a more sustainable way adopted to avoid seepage into the remains a foremost differentiator for of doing business in the transport ground which would harm soil quality. the business across its flagship remit. sector.”

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Seamless

REALITY WE LIGHT the Nation

Lesotho Electricity Company has worked tirelessly to build a successful network that provides reliable and environmentally friendly electricity across the country, improving quality of life to both people and businesses alike Writer: Phoebe Calver | Project Manager: Donovan Smith

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he Lesotho Electricity Company (LEC) is a 100 percent governmentowned entity, established in 1969 to supply environmentally friendly electricity to the people of Lesotho.

Prior to LEC coming to fruition, electricity provision in the country was under the control of the Government of Lesotho. The aforementioned service was provided by a small coalfire generating plant, used to supply a limited number of domestic customers located within the Maseru West and Old Europa areas.

After a monitored increase in demand for electricity was noted, both the Government of Lesotho and Eskom of South Africa entered into an agreement in which both parties would work together to supply Lesotho with quality electricity.

“In February, 2005 after many years of success in the industry, we entered into a power purchase agreement with Electricidade de Mocambique,” explains the Company on its website. “Since this point we have bought our electricity from Muela Hydropower station, as well as purchasing electricity from Eskom through a 22kv line from Matatiele as Qacha’s Nek is the only district not connected to the national grid at present.”

In the present day, LEC remains the sole supplier of electricity operating within Lesotho, as well as holding the title of one of the first parastatals in the country.

“Our Company operates under the obligation to supply power to all customers within our service territory,” continues the Company. “Over the years we have come up with a series of stringent values to achieve excellence for our customers, including safety and quality consciousness, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, zero tolerance to corruption, responsiveness to employee needs, a teamwork-centred approach, and remaining adaptive to change.”

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KR Consultants was founded in 2001 in Lesotho to address customer’s needs in photocopier repairs and supply of consumables. It further extended its services by performing electrical works in installation, village electrification, construction of power lines and general electrical maintenance and further more into Building Construction.

Our trades are 60% Lesotho Government orientated through Lesotho Electricity Company, Ministry of Works and 40% from private sectors.

Masowe, Industrial Area P.O. Box 1943 Maseru, Lesotho E: info@kr.co.ls | finance@kr.co.Is T: +266 2221 4700

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COMNET FOUNDATION

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omnet’s foundation in Lesotho dates all the way back to 1991, when it was established to focus on servicing the ICT market and since then the Company has expanded its portfolio to provide end-to-end ICT solutions to financial institutions, public & private sector institutions and individuals, priding itself as one of the biggest ISPs in Lesotho.

One of the Company’s prominent clients over the years has been Lesotho Electricity Company. This relationship, spanning close to two decades, has resulted in deliverance of state-of-theart IP infrastructure solutions, including Installation of fibre backbone and implementation of disaster recovery solutions and storage area networks.

Ensuring the provision of safe and reliable electricity

T +266 222 19100 E sales@comnet.co.ls

www.comnet.co.ls

Facilitating connections

The Company has worked closely with the Government on its rural electrification roll-out programme over the past few years, and it subsequently has facilitated the connections required to reach new customers on the electricity grid.

“We are the sole custodian of the electricity grid in Lesotho and therefore have the mandate in place to sustainably manage the grid and its associated assets,” adds the Company.

“We perform all the required functions in order to provide the most reliable, sustainable, affordable and quality supply of electricity to our customers.”

At present there are six separate business categories and two domestic among LEC’s varying customers, with a total number of people served at 192,589 and rising.

“We carry out the sale of our electricity through both prepaid and post-paid meters, used to generate our revenue,” continues the Company.

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We are the sole custodian of the electricity grid in Lesotho and therefore have the mandate in place to sustainably manage the grid and its associated assets

“The processes we carry out for each customer category include vending and billing respectively.”

The vending process is carried out over a selection of platforms, utilising the different technologies available to the Company. However, the billing aspect is achieved through manual invoicing for larger customers on a post-paid arrangement basis.

Transmission network

When it comes to ensuring the provision of safe and reliable electricity to the people and businesses of Lesotho, the role of transmission and distribution is invaluable.

“The transmission network is there to evacuate power from the generation sources available, including Muela Hydropower, Eskom and EDM to the LEC load centres,” the Company describes.

“The supplies from Muela, Eskom and EDM are transmitted through the 132kV lines to Maputsoe Substation and Mabote Substation respectively.

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Comnet is a leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Service Provider and Software Developer that provides ICT based solutions and consultancy services in Lesotho.

Comnet (Pty) Ltd Corner of Maluti and Kingsway Road Maseru West Lesotho E: sales@comnet.co.ls www.comnet.co.ls

Outlook Creative Services

Outlook Publishing’s awardwinning in-house team is now utilising its extensive production skills to offer a full and bespoke range of editorial, design and marketing services via its new Outlook Creative Services division.

Moramo Civils’ aims to be a leading contractor in the kingdom of Lesotho, always striving for quality and excellence in Electrical works, Road construction and Building construction.

T: +266 2233 2550 C: +266 587 80712, +266 587 13234 F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T: www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

www.moramocivils.co.za

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“The various transmission lines that we work with have varying voltage levels of 132kV, 88kV, 66kV and 33k, at that point the transmission voltages are moved onto distribution voltages in one of the 45 substations we have in our portfolio.”

The various substations are pivotal in the chain of supply of electricity across the country, with each separate distribution network delivering power to the Company’s valued customers.

The Company adds: “Our distribution networks range from the voltage of 11kV to 220V and 380V, and provide the core to the business.

Without them we would not function.”

In order to maintain the functionality of both the transmission and distribution networks, the Company performs both planned and unplanned network maintenance in order to keep assets in the best working order.

“Our planned maintenance is carried out upon the identification of issues through inspection, oil analysis, infrared scanning and a variety of other tests that are subsequently rectified before a failure in the system occurs,” continues the Company. “The majority of critical maintenance that we are faced with will be the refurbishment of dilapidated switchgear, worn out pole structures and the upgrade of conductors.

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We are looking forward to continuing our work on these projects in the hope of continued service for those living in both rural and urban Lesotho for many years to come

“Our unplanned maintenance is currently dominating the planned maintenance, and will often appear in the form of an emergency power outage. This can be caused by many factors such as an ageing network, harsh weather conditions and the vandalism of a network - which unfortunately has increased over time.”

Alongside testing, the other departmental roles within the Company include the testing of installations, surveying, generating quotations and implementing service connections. All of these activities relate directly to the success of customer connections and the constant supply of their electricity, ensuring that the Company is able to comply with its service manifesto.

Continued service

In recent years it has been particularly important to the Company to both reduce the dependence on diesel generators and supply rural areas with

electricity, especially when they are located in isolated regions away from the National Grid. The introduction of mini hydropower plants has been instrumental in achieving this, although it does technically fall outside of the general scope of LEC’s original business.

The Company explains: “We have begun our work on this on a very small scale in Semonkong and Mantsonyane in order to monitor the success and requirements placed upon the hydropower stations.”

When this project was in its introductory stages, LEC was also running two stations named Tsoelike and Tlokoeng. However, both of these stations had to be decommissioned due to operational issues.

The Company concludes: “We are looking forward to continuing our work on these projects in the hope of continued service for those living in both rural and urban Lesotho for many years to come.”

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POWERING AFRICA: SUMMIT

E V E N T

F O C U S

Showcasing project opportunities across the African continent

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 28 February - 2 March WHERE: Washington D.C., US WEBSITE: www.poweringafrica-summit.com

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THE 4TH POWERING Africa: Summit is a platform to showcase power, trade and infrastructure investment opportunities across the African continent. The meeting engages decision makers from the American and African public and private sectors to explore how project bankability can be increased.

In 2017 the Powering Africa: Summit welcomed 500 investors to Washington DC from across North America, Africa and Europe to present energy projects, discuss investment opportunities and build relationships within the international power community.

This year’s Summit will showcase

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project opportunities across the African continent, presented by some of the sector’s most respected decision-makers. Visit www. poweringafrica-summit.com or email PA-S@energynet.co.uk

Africa

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www.poweringafrica-summit.com

EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OFFSHORE CONGRESS HUB (EPOCH)

E V E N T

BGS GROUP HOSTS the Exploration and Production Offshore Congress Hub on 5-6 March, 2018 in Rome, Italy. The closed-door format gives direct access to 200plus decision-makers, including representatives from: • Exploration & production companies • Drilling contractors • EPC contractors

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 5-6 March WHERE: Rome, Italy WEBSITE: www.oilepoch.com

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F O C U S

A closed-door event providing direct access to more than 200 decision-makers from the oil & gas domain A separate session is dedicated to updates in West African Offshore oil & gas, covering risk assessment, politics of oil & gas business, and a perspectives overview. Delegates from this region include Ocean Deep Drilling ESV Nigeria Limited (ODENL), Westfield Energy Resources, Doris Engenharia Angola, Seplat Petroleum, and Obijackson Group.

Among other confirmed speakers and delegates are Statoil, Hellenic Petroleum, Subsea 7, TechnipFMC, Halliburton, Schlumberger, European Commission and many others.

All represented companies work internationally.

The business programme comprises sessions dedicated to offshore in the Mediterranean and West Africa; offshore drilling and subsea engineering; safety, environment

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and health issues; and others. For a full programme, please contact the organiser.

Exhibition packages are also available for the Congress. Due to the limited competition policy, one sector could only be represented by one company. Thus, you would not have competitors around you. What is more, all printing, shipping and installing of roll-up banners is done by the organisers to facilitate your participation.

To get more information, visit our website www.oilepoch.com or phone +31 20 80 87 321 For readers of the February issue of Africa Outlook, a special discount is available by promo-code ‘Africa’ – just notify your manager. The discount cannot be added to any other price reduction options.

S PA C E

E V E N T

F O C U S investment have on the African market, brought to you by the organisers of the annual Africa Hotel Investment Forum.

Real estate investment professionals, owners and developers to gather in Nairobi to explore the ROI of efficient buildings

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 13-14 March WHERE: Radisson Blu, Upper Hill, Nairobi, Kenya WEBSITE: www.space-conference.com

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ALTHOUGH THE GREEN building movement is in its infancy in subSaharan Africa, the past year’s developments show that great work is already taking place, with more than 25 projects in the pipeline for green accreditation. The temptation to avoid sustainability on the grounds of cost is a huge misconception.

Environmentally friendly materials and building methods prove not only better for the environment, but also cost-effective, and more profitable in the long-term.

To address these issues, we introduce SPACE: A two-day business conference exploring the business value efficient and smart build

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More than 40 confirmed international speakers will share their industry knowledge and insights and help you discover: • How and where to secure green finance for your investment and development • How to identify, select and source the right sustainable materials at the right price • How to approach and incorporate efficient build into the design conversation • What ROI you can generate from green buildings • How the various accreditation standards for construction differ and learn which is best for you • How to ensure payback on your investment with efficient property maintenance Taking place at the Radisson Blu, Upper Hill Nairobi on 13-14 March, you will join 150 carefully selected decisionmakers from companies like the World Green Building Council, Axis Real Estate, Verde Hotels, International Finance Corporation (IFC), JLL, Standard Chartered Bank, Kenya Green Building Society and many more for 14 hours of learning and unmissable networking opportunities; where you will be able to discuss deals with the business professionals set on developing projects that can boost efficiency without breaking the bank.

3RD AFRICA ISLAMIC FINANCE FORUM

E V E N T

F O C U S

Exploring development opportunities in Islamic finance in Africa FOLLOWING THE HUGE success of its first and second editions in 2016 which attracted more than 420 delegates, the 3rd Africa Islamic Finance Forum will return 20-21 March,

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 20-21 March WHERE: Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria WEBSITE: www.africa-if.com

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located in Lagos, Nigeria, and hosted by the Ministry of Finance Nigeria in collaboration with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

This exclusive, invitation-only event is designed specifically for the benefit of local and international market players to explore development opportunities in Islamic finance in Africa, focusing on building the market and exploring the huge potential through inward investment and international collaboration.

With full government support and hosting some of the most influential decision-makers in the industry from countries including Nigeria, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Sudan, Kenya and beyond, the event will feature extensive discussions on investment opportunities in key African markets.

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Nigeria and the wider African region are core areas for the development of Islamic finance with the large Muslim population and exceptional natural resources. Specifically, given Nigeria’s status as a leading member of the Islamic Development Bank, the drive for investment into Nigeria and the important steps being taken towards economic recovery in Nigeria and through the region; the timing of the conference provides a much-needed platform for opening Islamic finance to Nigeria’s business community.

The Africa Islamic Finance Forum will also act as an unparalleled platform for networking opportunities as well as the centre stage to be at the very forefront of Africa’s flourishing Islamic finance sector. For full details and for information on how you can apply to attend, please visit www.africa-if.com.

Addressing the challenges and growth opportunities ahead for Islamic finance in Africa

20-21 March 2018 Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria

Media Partner

An exclusive 10% discount is available to Africa Outlook readers on sponsorship and exhibition packages contact us today to discuss more: Paul Gilbert pgilbert@gep-events.com +44 1737 784950

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Hosted by

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Gold Sponsor

4TH ANNUAL AFRICAN INSURANCE FORUM (AIF 2018)

E V E N T

F O C U S

Thriving in the age of disruption

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 5-6 April WHERE: Radisson Blu Hotel Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa WEBSITE: http://ins.fextons.com/

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THE AFRICAN INSURANCE Forum is the leading event in the insurance industry, offering two days of fresh and exciting content to address the market-critical issues affecting your business today and in the future.

Incorporating two days of cutting-edge content, the Forum is the pinnacle of innovation and strategic thinking in the Insurance business.

The African Insurance Forum now in its 4th edition has steadily become a gateway for the global and regional Insurers to establish a local network as they seek ways to increase insurance penetration in the continent.

The 2018 African Insurance Forum will provide delegates with an

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unparalleled opportunity to learn about the rapidly changing insurance landscape in the growing markets of Africa. Come meet and network with industry leaders who encounter - and solve - the same challenges you see every day.

Join the 4th African Insurance Forum 2018 to hear from the most forward-thinking leaders about which tools and strategies they are implementing and which best practices will bring innovation and digital strategy to the core of your organisation today.

4th Annual African Insurance Forum “Thriving in the Age of Disruption " The African Insurance Forum is the leading event in the insurance industry, offering two days of fresh and exciting content to address the market-critical issues affecting your business today and in the future.

Incorporating two days of cutting-edge content, the Forum is the pinnacle of innovation and strategic thinking in the Insurance business.

April 05 – 06, 2018 Radisson Blu Hotel, Sandton Johannesburg

THE BIG 5 CONSTRUCT NORTH AFRICA

E V E N T

F O C U S

An unmissable platform for professionals wanting to embrace opportunities in Morocco and the wider region

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 10-12 April WHERE: Parc des Expositions de L’Office des Changes, Casablanca, Morocco CONTACT: elishadessurne@dmgeventsme.com WEBSITE:

www.thebig5constructnorthafrica.com

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“THE TOTAL ESTIMATED value of active projects in Morocco last year had increased by around 9.2 percent compared to the previous year.

Today, there are more than 200 active construction projects with a combined estimated value of US$49.8 billion,” reveals Event Director for The Big 5 North Africa, Muhammed Kazi.

He continues: “Like the construction sector in Morocco, The Big 5 Construct North Africa exhibition is expanding. In 2018, we will have even more local and international exhibitors, and almost four times the number of educational workshops we had last year. The event will be a truly unmissable platform for all those industry professionals that

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want to embrace the growing business opportunities in Morocco and the wider region.”

Running from 10-12 April at the Parc des Expositions de l’Office des Change in Casablanca, The Big 5 Construct North Africa 2018 will host more than 170 exhibitors across five product sectors: Building Interiors, Building Materials & Tools, MEP Services, Concrete & PMV and Windows, Doors & Facades.

The second edition of the event will also feature more than 35 CPD (Continuing Professional Development) certified workshops.

Free-to-attend, the educational sessions presented by renowned experts will provide attendees with professional development points - or PDUs - that can be added to their profile through their trade associations.

Almost 3,000 Moroccan construction professionals visited the launch event in 2017, sourcing innovative construction products from 24 exhibiting countries. The event also offered 24 hours of networking opportunities, more than 200 meetings as part of its global meetings programme, and 11 free to attend and CPD-certified educational workshops.

Organised by dmg events Middle East, Asia & Africa, The Big 5 Construct North Africa 2018 edition is expected to draw more than 4,000 industry professionals at the Parc des Expositions de L’Office des Changes in Casablanca from 10-12 April, 2018.

10 - 12 APRIL 2018 PARC DES EXPOSITIONS DE L'OFFICE DES CHANGES, CASABLANCA

Leading building and construction event dedicated to the North African market Introducing five new sector events to find products easily BUILDING INTERIORS

• Kitchen & Bathroom • Marble, Ceramic & Stone • Surface & finishes • Lighting • Sealants, Adhesives & Coatings • Flooring

CONCRETE & PMV

BUILDING MATERIALS & TOOLS

• Construction Tools • Machinery & Equipment • Metal & Steel • Wood, Plastic & Composite • Aluminum

MEP SERVICES

• Heating, Ventilation & Air conditioning • Plumbing & Water Technology • Electrical Systems • Security & Fire Protection • Solar Energy

WINDOWS, DOORS & FACADES

NEED MORE INFORMATION BEFORE YOU SIGN UP? • Formwork & Scaffolding • Cement • Construction Equipment & Machinery • Construction Chemical

• Aluminum Composite Panel • Windows • Doors • Aluminum Machinery • Glass & Glazing • Powder Coatings • Sun protection systems CO-LOCATED:

FREE VISITOR ENTRY

ERIC CHAN PROJECT MANAGER T: +971 4 438 0355 D: +971 4 445 3730 E: ericchan@dmgeventsme.com ORGANISED BY:

6TH MOZAMBIQUE MINING, OIL & GAS AND ENERGY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION (MMEC 2018)

E V E N T

F O C U S

Showcasing and exploring developments in Mozambique’s thriving power and energy sectors

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 25-26 April WHERE: Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre, Maputo, Mozambique CONTACT: Sergio@ametrade.org WEBSITE: www.ametrade.org/mmec

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AME TRADE LTD, in partnership with the National Hydrocarbons Company of Mozambique, ENH, and the Ministry of Mineral Resources & Energy brings you the 6th Edition of the Mozambique Mining, Oil & Gas and Energy Conference and Exhibition (MMEC 2018).

MMEC 2018 will take place from 25-26 April, 2018 at the Joaquim Chissano Conference Centre, Maputo. MMEC 2018 will continue to showcase and explore developments in our country’s thriving oil & gas, mining and energy sectors and to also focus attention on the potential opportunities, lessons learned by key investors and the creation of new business partnerships.

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MozaMbique Mining, oil & gas and energy ConferenCe and exhibition

25-26

APril 2018

REGISTER TODAY www.aMetrade.org/MozMeC

JoAquim ChissAno ConferenCe Centre

mAPuto | moZAmBique

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WAMPEX

E V E N T

F O C U S

New optimism in the mining sector sees leading suppliers sign up for West Africa’s premier expo

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 30 May - 1 June WHERE: AICC, Accra, Ghana CONTACT: garywright@dmgeventsme.com WEBSITE: www.wampexghana.com

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WAMPEX WILL BE a key focus in 2018 for mining growth across the region following renewed commitment from governments and increasing levels of investment.

Top suppliers have already signed up to be part of next year’s premier mining expo for West Africa which is celebrating its 24th year.

Following the turnaround in mining commitment from both governments and mine owners over the past 12 months, the expo already looks set to attract a record number of exhibitors.

“We are pleased to see that some of the biggest suppliers have already agreed to be part of WAMPEX 2018 and we believe this reflects

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the increased investment agenda across West Africa,” said Brad Hook, Commercial Director at dmg-ems Africa, the organiser of WAMPEX. “West Africa offers huge opportunities for suppliers as we see the mining sector emerge from three years of reorganisation and streamlining.

“We are forecasting more than 1,400 buyers and decision makers will attend the expo, an increase over our last show,” says Hook.

Sunbabsco Ltd, Mantech Mining Services and Interplast are three market-leading companies set to attend and exhibit at this year’s event; sharing their experiences of an African mining sector that has seen three years of change. But as global commodity prices came out of their slump this year, governments are recognising that mining is key to future income.

For example, in Nigeria, where oil has dominated foreign investment for a decade, its Government last month reaffirmed its intention to seek new international partners to boost its under-developed mining sector.

WAMPEX 2018 runs alongside the West African Mining & Power Conference, WAMPOC, where senior government and industry heads and influencers discuss policy, legislation, challenges and market developments.

BE PART OF WEST AFRICA’S MINING RESURGENCE www.wampexghana.com

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Organising partners:

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Supported by:

Y C O M MISS

DRC MINING WEEK

E V E N T

F O C U S

An annual rendezvous boosting industrialisation of the mining sector DRC MINING WEEK celebrated its 13th edition in 2017; the only mining and industrial expo and conference providing market intelligence, strategic solutions and innovative technologies to improve mining operations in the DRC by engaging Government and key stakeholders. It provides turnkey solutions for mining operations and limitless business opportunities to local

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 13-15 June WHERE: The Pullman Labumbashi Grand Karavia Hotel, DRC WEBSITE: www.drcminingweek.com

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and international mining professionals and suppliers.

The three-day programme features our best ever line-up: a three-day conference for international and national stakeholders to gain knowledge and share insights; a CEO roundtable and matchmaking; business to government (B2G); South African Pavillon; Zimbabwean Pavilion; technical workshops; golf day; technology displays; demonstration opportunities; and an exclusive site visit to the biggest mine of the region (biggest copper discovery in 2016).

This year the conference focuses on the new approach to invest into mining.

What are the tools that can be used to jump on the train of encouraging commodity pricing that start to give some light at the end of the tunnel for mining stakeholders? From copper to gold outlooks, investment innovations, updates on the key and new projects, tips to diversify your activities beyond mining, skills development, and last but not least an exclusive power focus day; our mining experts will guide attendees through their latest findings and advice.

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Why sponsor or exhibit in 2018?

• Demonstrate thought leadership by highlighting your business to the DRC and international mining professionals • Consolidate your market presence in the DRC and the region • Network with top-tier mining decision-makers, affiliates, industry experts and leaders • Increase exposure and brand awareness to the DRC mining community and beyond • Get in front of your target market and extend your message beyond the exhibition

What to expect in 2018:

To secure your stand or sponsorship opportunity contact: jeantite.oloumoussie@spintelligent.com

Tel: (+27) 21 700 3508

benjamin.weinheimer@spintelligent.com

Tel: (+27) 21 700 3515

Ready to your solutions to the mining industry in the DRC? THE LARGEST MINING AND INDUSTRIAL EXPO & CONFERENCE

+ 150 service & technology suppliers | +2500 sqm indoor and outdoor expo | +4000 attendees | +3 international pavilions | +40 countries represented | +1000 business connections with the online matchmaking platform | +100 product demonstrations | +50 VIP'S from all over Africa

DRC MINING WEEK EXPO & CONFERENCE

13 – 15 June 2018 The Pullman Lubumbashi Grand Karavia Hotel, DRC

TO SECURE YOUR STAND OR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY CONTACT JEANTITE.OLOUMOUSSIE@SPINTELLIGENT.COM | (+27) 21 700 3508 OR BENJAMIN.WEINHEIMER@SPINTELLIGENT.COM | (+27) 21 700 3515 WWW.DRCMININGWEEK.COM

NIGERIA OIL & GAS CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

E V E N T

F O C U S

Don’t miss this opportunity to meet the who’s who of the Nigerian oil & gas industry

EVENT DETAILS WHEN: 2-5 July WHERE: ICC, Abuja, Nigeria WEBSITE: www.cwcnog.com

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The Nigeria Oil & Gas International Exhibition is a vital platform for Nigerian SMEs and international partners, where Nigeria Content initiatives are planned and contracts THE NIGERIA OIL & Gas are established and often signed.

Conference & Exhibition, now in its Initially, international players 17th year, will be returning to Abuja dominated the exhibition with only from 2-5 July, 2018. The annual meeting a handful of indigenous exhibitors. of industry stakeholders will once However, indigenous players and again gather more than 700 industry SMEs now make up 85 percent of the professionals to network and explore exhibiting companies at NOG. new business opportunities within the The Nigerian Content Seminar industry. provides a platform for legislators, With the support and participation the NCDMB, investors and oil & gas of the Ministry of Petroleum businesses to convene and celebrate Resources, NNPC, its subsidiaries and the Nigerian Content achievements the Nigerian oil & gas industry, NOG realised since the enactment of the has become part of the institutional Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Content framework of the industry and Development Act; and to discuss the has been at the forefront of policy challenges that remain in Nigerian announcements and strategic Content implementation, explore discussions for the past 16 years. solutions and share case studies.

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For more information on how we can work with you in providing a plethora of completely flexible and customisable production services, please visit www.outlookpublishing.com/creative-services

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Stephen Giles +44 (0) 1603 959 656 steve.giles@outlookpublishing.com

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