BY KEVIN GIKONYO A renowned scholar, Harry Markowitz, corralled the Management Portfolio Theory (MPT) in 1952. His empirical literature emphasised on diversification of risk and has been used in many settings. If you happen to be an Olympian in a javelin contest, for example, chances of making to the medal bracket are more when you make many attempts. Many businesses that have become industrial giants have made a mark and survived from periodic income shocks due to the fact that they diversified their income streams. The likes of Samsung, LG, and Apple to mention a few, embraced this concept to…
Author: Editor
BY BENARD AYIEKO The World Bank recently reported that Kenya’s financial sector is the third largest in sub-Saharan Africa. It makes significant contribution to economic growth and job creation. Therefore, there is need for increased support especially at policy level to realize real development associated with financial sector successes such as greater financial inclusion. The introduction of policy reforms in the sector will enable the country to realize meaningful and inclusive economic growth and development. To underline the importance of the financial sector reforms to an economy especially for developing countries like Kenya, the World Bank Group board of executive…
Malawi’s new President, Joyce Banda, has promised to sell off the presidential jet and 60 Mercedes limousines. Ms Banda, according to reports by the Daily Telegraph, said she would be happy to offload the presidential perks adding that she “can as well use private airlines. I am already used to hitchhiking.” In so doing, the 62-year old head of state and second woman to hold the position in the history of independent Africa has sent a strong “signal of intent and her priorities at a time of financial austerity”. This has been a dodgy affair with the Kenyan government. It…
Homeowners at Sultan Palace beach retreat, a luxury development in Kilifi County, will enjoy easy access to their property after the county government invested over Sh100 million in upgrading major infrastructure leading to the retreat. Kilifi County has started works to transform to bitumen standard a 2.5 Kilometre dirt road before December this year. The property’s general manager, Liu Tiancai said the new road will not only benefit Sultan Palace but other developments and the community around. “With the new road in place, home owners and holiday makers will conveniently access Sultan Palace beach retreat, which was previously a challenge , all…
Entrepreneurs and small business must be included in the e-commerce revolution, an exciting opportunity to create jobs and livelihoods all around the world, the UNCTAD Secretary-General said ahead of a meeting on small business and e-trade With the global economy now in its sixth sluggish year of growth, many are hoping that e-commerce can generate the jobs and livelihoods that more traditional work has been unable to provide. Last year the global market for electronic commerce was worth around $22.1 trillion, up 38% from 2013. “E-commerce is a train that has left the station and is quickly gathering speed,” UNCTAD…
Jack Ma, one of the world’s leading entrepreneurs and founder and executive chairman of Alibaba Group, has been named Special Adviser to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) for Youth Entrepreneurship and Small Business. In his new role, Mr Ma will champion initiatives to make it easier for young entrepreneurs and small businesses, particularly in developing countries, to participate in global trade, as well as raise awareness about the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “Mr Ma is an influential and respected pioneer of the Internet era, innovator, entrepreneur, and philanthropist,” UNCTAD Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said. “He brings…
Johannesburg, South Africa African public-private partnerships are fast-tracking education improvement from primary school to university, potentially levelling the playing field for millions of students worldwide. In the face of electricity shortages and over-crowding, African public-private partnerships are integrating technology in education to enhance learning. Broadband supports tablets, laptops, and online courses to reach students with poor or no access to education, improve teacher training, and lower costs, according to a recent report by UNESCO. For example, Africa’s e-learning market has doubled from 2011 to 2016, reaching $513 million, according to a report by market researchers Ambient Insights. South Africa is…
By Victor Adar Entrepreneurship is not for the faint-hearted and this is quite evident from the story of Golden Age Publishing, a high growth enterprise run by Karimi Njoka – a journalist who fortuitously stumbled into the rather unexploited field of publishing and writing biographies. His latest title is Robert Burale’s biography ‘From The Strip-club to The Pulpit.’ “I have been doing this for 5 years now,” she says. “I was head over heels with journalism, but after getting a life-changing opportunity to edit books in a publishing firm, I discovered talents I never knew I possessed –catching snugly tucked…
Kenya losses up to 90% business volume annually in fuel meant for export, which is dumped into the local market. According to Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) Eldoret Depot Manager Eng. Anthony Kigen Sang, the country has lost major markets including Ruanda, Burundi, DRC and Southern Sudan, adding that KPC Eldoret, specifically, is affected due to the loss of the market and is unable to meet Treasury revenue targets A cartel of unscrupulous business people are involved in dumping of petroleum products meant for export, causing delays in product delivery, fuel adulteration and product loss. Sang said this when he met…
Stanbic Bank Uganda Ltd, a subsidiary of Standard Bank Group Limited, has signed a $55 million two-year term loan facility in Dubai. Emirates NBD Capital Limited was the sole co-ordinator and bookrunner of the financing. Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait K.S.C.P, Bank of Baroda, SBM Bank (Mauritius) Ltd and The Commercial Bank (Q.S.C.) joined the transaction as mandated lead arrangers. The financing, which will be used for general corporate purposes, including, but not limited to finance exclusively in the specific sectors of energy, agriculture, mining and quarrying, manufacturing, trade, transport and telecommunications, infrastructure, electricity and water, construction and real estate, was…