Greenlight Planet Inc., a leader in solar home energy products across rural Africa and Asia, has launched a new line of solar lanterns: the Sun King Pro 400, Sun King Pro 300, and the Sun King Pico Plus. The new devices are more powerful replacements of the company’s existing best-selling solar lamps, boasting dramatic increases in brightness and phone-charging capacity, at lower cost, while retaining popular elements like their famously flexible and indestructible design. Greenlight Planet CEO T. Patrick Walsh says the improvements are a direct response to the evolving priorities of the company’s customer base. “It’s been nearly 10…
Author: NBM CORRESPONDENT
The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) in Nairobi and the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Executive Education (HKS Executive Education) have partnered to offer a pioneering suite of courses designed to transform leadership in Africa in response to the need for visionary and effective leadership commencing March 2018 and comprises of two back-to-back courses. “I urge public and private sector leaders across East Africa, and beyond, to join us at our state-of-the-art facilities in Nairobi for this innovative program showcasing the expertise of two outstanding educational institutions committed to advancing our…
Diversified and services-led economies have had a good year whereas hydrocarbon-dependent African economies continue to be plagued by the aftershock of the oil price slump. This is according to the ICAEW’s (the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) latest report. In Economic Insight: Africa Q4 2017 launched last month, the accountancy and finance body points to braking of overall growth as a result of problems in the big economies (Nigeria, South Africa, Angola). The report, commissioned by ICAEW and produced by partner and forecaster Oxford Economics, provides a snapshot of the region’s economic performance. The report focuses on…
While many economists believe the global economy has recovered from the Great Recession and global GDP growth is stable, young adults continue to suffer from its lingering effect, which presents a challenge to fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) providers, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. According to GlobalData’s Q1 2017 global survey, 68% and 67% of Generation Xers and Millennials respectively are concerned about becoming unemployed, compared to only 58% for Baby Boomers. “Many young people coming of age during the 2008 recession, particularly in Western countries, saw wages cut and jobs disappear while living costs continued to rise.…
The two banking giants have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation and exploring opportunities to fund development projects in Africa. Given China Development Bank (CDB)’s focus on infrastructure finance for roads, railways and dams, Barclays Africa will leverage the MoU to unlock opportunities in order to strengthen its contribution towards Africa’s economic growth and development. Barclays Africa will also extract synergies from the CDB’s focus on inclusive finance to provide capital to SME’s and low income communities. In addition, Barclays Africa and CDB will explore reciprocal training and development opportunities for their respective investment teams. In…
The African Development Bank conducted the first of a series of capacity development sessions on debt management for Ethiopia from December 4-8, 2017 in Addis Ababa covering several themes including loan negotiations and management, domestic debt and capital markets development, and enhancement of analytical and evaluation advisory capacity, among others. Skills and competencies acquired through the training will enable the Government to improve debt management and increase domestic resources mobilization, notably through the development of domestic debt and capital markets. Furthermore, Government authorities will apply the acquired skills to rigorously assess the risks associated with various financing options, leading to…
To help speed up travel and transportation in the Southern Africa country, the Board of the African Development Bank has approved a loan of $153 million to the Government of Namibia to upgrade a 210km stretch of railway in the west of the country. The support will also finance the upgrade of a section of the road from the capital, Windhoek, to its international airport. The two interventions are part of the priority projects identified in the government’s Harambee Prosperity Plan, an action plan launched in April 2016, to support priority interventions identified in the Government’s national development plan. The…
BY kosta Kioleoglou The prolonged and uncertain election period has seriously challenged Kenya’s economy and property market. The turmoil of the extended Presidential election triggered several side effects that were developing behind the scenes. The country’s bad economic performance with several microeconomic factors showing signs of weakness and unsustainability are now monopolizing the local and international analyst’s interest. Over the last few months a big number of reports have been giving negative signs for the Kenyan property market and the Kenyan economy. The property market has been under pressure for almost two years. Marginal price increases which are now further…
Africa Plantation Capital, the “New Business of the Year 2016” award winner is proud to announce its nomination in three categories for this Year’s KNCCI Mombasa Business Awards 2017! Best Agribusiness Company, Customer Focus, Best Growth Strategy Africa Plantation Capital has been operating successfully in Kenya over the past 2 years, with the establishment achieving an amazing growth ratio. Its main objective is to provide sustainable plantation management services. The company has already established its first large scale bamboo project and now is in the process of creating a second one as part of its state of the art bamboo plantations in…
BY BENARD AYIEKO Shelter, food and clothing are the traditional basic human needs – they are the fundamental elements that one requires for survival and normal mental and physical health. Housing is one of the essential human needs and the constitution guarantees every citizen the right to access adequate housing, and to reasonable standards of sanitation. It is often said that the Kenyan Constitution is the most progressive document in the world partly because of the provisions in Chapters four and six on the Bill of Rights and Integrity and Leadership respectively. The Constitution in Chapter four under Article 43,…