Coe, who chairs the London Olympic Games organising committee, said he would help bring the games to Africa once the London 2012 Games were over.
"It is not without challenges, but I believe we should look as a family of sport what we can do to help Africa to stage the Olympic Games and encourage the world to bring it to the continent.
“Africa is a powerhouse continent for Olympics and Paralympics and I think the most enduring images over many Olympic and Paralympic Games were those that focus on African competitors," said Coe, who was on a visit to Tanzania.
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Coe, who won gold in the 1500m at both the 1980 and 1984 Olympics, said that he himself had been inspired by African athletes and that Africa should also host the IAAF World Championships.
"I was inspired by someone like (former Kenyan athlete) Kip Keino and, if you look at the current clutch of top-class athletes, it is very important that the Athletics World Championships should come to Africa."
It was widely believed that South Africa would make a bid for the 2020 Olympics with Durban touted as the city most likely to put itself forward as a host. The Government however made it clear that alleviating poverty had to take priority, although the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee later said the country would bid to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games and the 2024 Olympic Games.
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]]>The company will be hoping the Chevrolet TrailBlazer will provide more success after sales volumes of Chevrolet models more than doubled in 2011, says Malcolm Gauld, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for General Motors South Africa.
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“This great product will further strengthen our Chevrolet product portfolio offering which has rapidly expanded over the past two years. The response from customers has been very favourable with our Chevrolet sales volumes growing by over 50 percent in 2011 versus 2010. ”
The second generation of the TrailBlazer was unveiled at the Dubai Motor Show in November 2011. Gauld added that General Motors were “very excited about the addition of the TrailBlazer into our already strong line up of Chevrolet products in the South African market.”
The TrailBlazer model line-up and pricing would be announced closer to the time of launch, Gauld said.
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>Red tape between neighbouring countries means that South African retailers such as Shoprite and Woolworths are spending thousands of dollars a week to import goods across borders.
Shoprite reportedly spends $20,000 a week in import permits to truck meat, milk and other goods to its stores in neighbouring Zambia. Woolworths meanwhile pays full tariffs to transport food and clothing to its franchise stores within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional trade bloc because some documentation costs too much.
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The issue has been a focus of African leaders – with a recent Union summit in Ethiopia calling for a continental free trade area by 2017, which would mean more countries will have to align their policies and institutions to create an Africa-wide market not bound my extensive documentation and fees.
"It is clear that Africa is not reaching its potential for regional trade," said Obiageli Ezekwesili, World Bank vice president for Africa and a former Nigerian minister.
"African leaders must now back aspiration with action and work together to align the policies, institutions and investments needed to unblock (trade) barriers," she added.
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>Current CEO Nick Badminton has announced that he will leave his role at the end of this financial year to spend more time with his family.
It comes at a time when Pick n Pay is facing increased competition in the face of US firm Walmart’s aggressive entrance into the South African market, which took at 51 percent stake in Massmart last year.
Despite consumer spending increasing, Pick n Pay saw its profits tumble in the first half of 2011 after heavy investment in more distribution centres and a shopper reward scheme.
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"The most important and significant changes necessary to transform Pick n Pay have now either been made, or are well advanced in their implementation," said Badminton in a statement.
“I feel that I’ve now completed what I set out to do and looking ahead, it’s an appropriate time for the board to select a new CEO, and with the executive team, to continue rolling out and embedding the changes the business needs to make.
"I think that it’s a good time for me to take a sabbatical to spend some quality time with my family and my bicycle,“ he added.
The company said Deputy CEO Richard van Rensburg would be responsible for operations until the new CEO is found, with Chairman Gareth Ackerman taking the role of executive chairman responsible for strategy.
Pick n Pay has said international and national candidates will be considered for the post.
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>Street View, a feature of Google Maps, now includes 30 Cape wineries in total with Boekenhoutskloof Winery, Groot Constantia, Hartenberg, Môreson, Rustenberg Wines and Warwick the latest to be added.
Google Street View allows online users to explore places around the world through 360-degree street-level imagery thanks to images taken by Google cars and trikes. It is currently available in more than 30 countries worldwide.
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Google will be collecting images for Google Street View of Botswana in the coming weeks, capturing destinations such as Gaborone, Francistown and the country’s most famous tourist and wildlife destinations like Chobe National Park and Moremi Game Reserve.
“We are delighted to be updating Street View with more Cape winelands imagery and look forward to bringing our cutting-edge Street View technology to Botswana”, said Julie Taylor, Head of Communications and Public Affairs for Google, sub-Saharan Africa.
“In addition to Street View being useful to internet users and businesses in Botswana, we also want to help Botswana showcase its extraordinary national parks and wildlife destinations to the rest of the world”, she added.
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>Digital TV Research says that the number of homes in the region receiving digital TV will rise from 25 percent – the figure at the end of 2011 – to 54 percent by 2017.
At the end of last year, 7.2 million Sub-Saharan African homes received pay TV services, which included 6.1 million who received subscription-based direct to home (DTH) satellite TV. The combined pay TV total is set to double to 14.1 million in the coming five years, with subscription services delivered by digital terrestrial television (DTT) contributing 5.2 million of these.
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Premium direct-to-home services accounted for 4 million DTH subscribers at the end of last year. By 2017, the report estimates the overall total number of premium DTH subscribers in sub-Saharan Africa will reach 8.2 million and 4.7 million of those located in South Africa.
The study also showed that 38 million households in sub-Saharan Africa now have a television (around a quarter of its population), but this is set to rise to 30 percent in 2017.
“Governments are opening up to investment, which involves several pioneering foreign TV players. Populations are growing fast and incomes per capita are on the rise, creating a burgeoning number of middle class consumers,” said the report’s author, Simon Murray.
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>Warren is quoted as saying “Last year we opened about 70 KFCs. This year we plan to up the ante. The opportunities in Africa are enormous," in South Africa’s Business Day newspaper.
KFC aims to be in 20 countries throughout the continent and focusing on establishing successful supply chain partnerships, the company said.
US company Yum! Brands, which owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, owns more than 36,000 restaurants in more than 110 countries and had a reported turnover in South Africa of about R8 billion last year.
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Warren also added that Pizza Hut restaurants would be returning to South Africa by the end of the year.
KFC said it planned to expand into seven more African countries this year. "Stores are already being built in Angola and Malawi, with KFC outlets to be added in Tanzania, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar," said Warren. The fried chicken specialist opened restaurants in Zambia, Ghana and Kenya in 2011.
By the end of this year, KFC aims to be in 20 countries throughout Africa. Part of this expansion plan was to establish successful supply chain partnerships, the company said.
Elsewhere in the food industry, Famous Brands, the owners of brands such as Steers and Wimpy, opened 60 restaurants in SA and 18 elsewhere in Africa in the three months to December. Spur’s expanded its restaurant number to 364 last year, too.
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]]>
The Nairobi office will act as MasterCard’s liaison office for customer banks, business associates and consumers in its main markets of Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Ethiopia and Uganda, as well as across the rest of the East African region, bringing the organisation’s knowledge of electronic payments best practice to these markets.
Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, welcomed MasterCard’s announcement. “We are pleased to welcome MasterCard to East Africa and in particular to Kenya, as we see the region’s growth path continue. MasterCard’s products will see the benefits of inclusion into the financial system extend to many more East Africans, giving them the opportunity to transact electronically with people and companies and so keep their precious money safe and secure, helping to build prosperity for their future.”
“Nairobi’s reputation as an African commerce, trade and development hub made it a strategically sound location for MasterCard to establish its regional headquarters. We believe it is a natural recognition of Kenya’s role as the financial heart of the East Africa region,” said Daniel Monehin, Area Head, East & West Africa and Indian Ocean Islands, MasterCard Worldwide.
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Bringing the benefits of electronic payments to people across the African continent is a primary focus for MasterCard. “East Africa, and indeed Africa as a whole, has always been heavily reliant on cash – both in the consumer and corporate sectors,” says Charlton Goredema, Vice President and Market Manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands for MasterCard Worldwide. “This dependence is costly – the costs of printing notes and keeping them secure are significant – and cash payments restrict an individual or company’s economic activity to their immediate geographic area.”
MasterCard has already been active in the Kenyan market working with banks and other business organisations to advise on developing payment solutions that are best suited for Kenyans. Most recently, in collaboration with Airtel & Standard Chartered Bank, the world's first virtual card that operates off a mobile wallet was launched in Kenya.
“PayOnline is a unique virtual card payment solution, developed specifically to address the needs of consumers in Kenya. At the Mobile World Congress 2011 this product was awarded top honours as the Best Mobile Money Product or Solution. PayOnline makes it possible for Kenyan Airtel clients to shop online, even if they do not have a bank account,” says Goredema.
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]]>The airline will operate flights three times a week from Johannesburg to the Chinese capital, with the journey taking approximately 15 hours.
The new route will mean South Africa is an aviation hub between South America and China, linking linking three of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa).
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A comprehensive strategic partnership was formed between South Africa and China in August last year, with the Asian country being one of South Africa’s largest trade partners.
“The introduction of aviation links between nations nurtures economic activity,” said SAA CEO Siza Mzimela, “with domestic and regional benefit within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) expected to pay dividends both in terms of trade and tourism.” Mzimela added that the substantial demand for tourism and trade to China will contribute to the success of the new route.
“Introducing direct flights between China and South Africa will promote tourism and trade, not only to South Africa, but also to all the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other African countries. South Africa and neighbouring destinations such as Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe are already popular destinations for Chinese tourists.”
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>With 49 percent market share, MTN is the premier operator in Ghana which is one of Africa’s fastest growing markets. In 2011, it grew by around 18 percent in the country to serve over 10 million subscribers.
This announcement marks the extension of the first managed services contract between Ericsson and MTN, originally signed in 2009 in connection to the rollout of MTN's 3G network in Ghana. Under the extension, Ericsson is responsible for network operations, field maintenance and optimisation.
Jon Hoffmann, the Chief Technical officer, MTN Ghana said, “Our first two years together achieved the results we were hoping for: we could focus on subscriber growth, and Ericsson delivered network reliability and efficiencies.”
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MTN will retain full ownership of the network and responsibility for its strategic direction, while Ericsson will manage the network operations, optimisation and field maintenance for MTN’s 3G sites.
"MTN and Ericsson collaborate in many areas across this and other regions for several years now and in Ghana we are especially pleased to have been part of the journey towards 10 million subscribers,” says Valter D`Avino, Head of Managed Services Ericsson.
“With Ericsson continuing to run the operations of the network, MTN will be able to dedicate even more time and focus on delivering innovative products and services relevant to the needs of their customers."
Globally Ericsson has signed more than 300 managed services contracts in more than 100 countries. Ericsson manages networks on behalf of operators that serve over 850 million subscribers worldwide.
African Business Review is now available on the iPad. Click here to download it.
]]>South Africa’s communications regulator, ICASA, has refused the right for satellite TV network TopTV to broadcast pornographic channels.
The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) did not provide reasons for the decision not to allow the channels Private Spice, Playboy Europe and Adult XXX.
Despite pornographic materials including videos and magazines being legal, regulators have blocked the bid for sexually explicit channels on cable TV networks.
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"We advise that the Council of the Authority...decided, after careful consideration, to refuse On Digital Media (Pty) Ltd's application for the authorisation of (the proposed) video channels," ICASA reportedly stated in a letter.
On Digital Media owns TopTV, which said it did not wish to comment until knowing ICASA’s reasons behind the decision.
It is not the first time sexually explicit channels have been met with a backlash, as broadcaster DSTV had to cancel its adult-owned channel application after disapproval from government officials and outrage in the South African public.
]]>The cash needed to fight hunger has increased by 50 percent, with East and Southern Africa showing the largest rise in funding needs due to the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa which includes Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.
The organisation said it was looking to raise nine percent less funds than in 2011 as funding needs in Pakistan and Haiti have reduced.
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"The list of countries includes many long standing or so-called 'silent' emergencies, but the crisis in Somalia and in other countries in the Horn of Africa accounts for nearly one-third of the total amount," a UNICEF report said.
The report added that UNICEF expects to help about 97 million people in 25 countries and territories this year.
]]>COLUMBUS, Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Main Street Fairness (AMSF) in Ohio announced today the launch of the Ohio Main Street Leadership Council (OMSLC) to represent small businesses across the state in their effort to remedy an online sales tax disparity. Ohio's brick and mortar retailers of all sizes collect and remit sales tax. Currently, online retailers competing with Ohio businesses are not collecting sales tax at the point of sale. Two bills in Congress – the Main Street Fairness Act in the Senate and the Marketplace Equity Act in the House – aim to close this loophole and in doing so have the potential to create an estimated 11,000 Ohio retail jobs.
According to a recent study conducted by the University of Cincinnati, achieving parity on tax collections between retail stores and internet retailers would allow the state to recapture 11,000 direct retail jobs – a figure that rises to 15,000 when the indirect effects of spending and re-spending are taken into account. The UC study also states that the online tax loophole cost the state of Ohio more than $200 million in 2011 and a total of $1.1 billion for 2007 through 2012.
The study was conducted by UC's Economics Center for Education and Research on behalf of Focus on Ohio's Future, a non-profit research entity powered by the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants in partnership with the Alliance for Main Street Fairness.
Local retailers and business leaders have joined together to form the Ohio Main Street Leadership Council to educate the public and elected officials about how the online sales tax issue affects their businesses.
The Ohio Main Street Leadership Council members include:
Gordon Gough, Executive Vice President for the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants stated, "It's not fair that our brick and mortar retailers have to collect sales taxes, but online retailers do not. This bill will not only help local Ohio retailers, but it will create jobs and increase investment in our local communities."
John Marshall, the owner of Grismer Tire which has stores throughout the Columbus and Dayton areas, said "E-Fairness is critical to my business. If this law passes, I could finally compete on a level playing field against online tire stores and expand my business."
Dale Edman, the Vice President of Columbus-based Wasserstrom Restaurant Supply's E-Commerce Division stated, "E-Commerce is a critical tool for business since many people first look online when purchasing a product. That's why it's important we make sure that all companies are playing by the same rules."
Cincinnati-area retailer Ian Budd, owner of ICB Audio and Video, urged Congress to act decisively, "Congress should close this abusive loophole now that is hurting Ohio businesses and siphons money from our state. The longer that they wait, the more small businesses like mine are suffering."
Jim Schwatz, President of Robin James Jewelers in Cincinnati said, "The formation of this leadership council represents the years of frustration for small business owners like me who have been operating at a competitive disadvantage. It's time that we unite as a collective voice so Congress can hear our concerns."
Carol Hughes, the Executive Director of the Springboro Chamber of Commerce, called for politicians to encourage Ohio job growth, "We should encourage investment and job growth in companies that grow their businesses in Ohio, not grant a competitive edge to online retailers that invest nothing in our state."
Toledo business owner Neal Felstein, owner of Woodville Surplus said, "People need to understand that this is not a new tax. These bills will just enforce the law that is currently on the books so that online stores collect sales tax just like we do."
"Customers will often come into my store, use my staff to find the product they want, scan it with their smart phones, and then buy it online because there is no sales tax. I'm all for the free market, but this loophole is driving away customers and hurting Ohio retailers," said David Lewis, owner of Cleveland-based Lewis Electronics.
The Ohio Main Street Leadership Council urges Ohio's elected officials to support marketplace fairness in Congress and will continue to educate citizens across the state.
To learn more about Main Street Leadership Council in Ohio, visit http://standwithmainstreet.com .
To view a copy of the University of Cincinnati study, visit http://www.focusonohiosfuture.org/.
Local business leaders available for interview by request. Contact Reid Vineis:
Reid Vineis
(614) 654-1123
vineis@sppgrp.com
SOURCE Ohio Council of Retail Merchants
]]>Actualmente, el Grupo Solare es responsable de la operación de siete hoteles en São Luís en las categorías budget (Soft Inn), económico (Expresso XXI) y midscale (Solare Hotéis e Suítes), con un total de 858 habitaciones. Además de estos, opera el hotel de lujo Gran Solare Lençóis Resort, con 242 habitaciones, en la ciudad de Barreirinhas, localizado a la vera del Parque Nacional de Lençóis Maranhenses.
La Compañía asume la operación de los emprendimientos a partir del 1o de abril de 2012 manteniendo la estructura y base operativa de Solare, que también administrará los hoteles adquiridos por BHG en Belém do Pará durante 2011.
"El turismo de negocios viene aumentando de forma exponencial en todo el Nordeste debido a las innumerables inversiones que se están haciendo en la región. La adquisición del Grupo Solare será fundamental para que podamos posicionarnos de forma estratégica tanto en Pará como en Maranhão", afirma Pieter J. F. van Voorst Vader, presidente de BHG S.A – Brazil Hospitality Group.
Con la adquisición, BHG totalizará 45 hoteles entre propios y administrados, con 8.322 habitaciones distribuidas en 15 estados más el Distrito Federal, además de los 12 hoteles en desarrollo, que agregarán 2.329 habitaciones a la red en los próximos años, lo que elevará el número de habitaciones propias y administradas a aproximadamente 10.700 a fines de 2014.
Quienes somos:
BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group es una de las principales empresas de hotelería de Brasil; tiene hoteles propios y administrados divididos en las categorías 3, 4 y 5 estrellas. La compañía es responsable de la marca Golden Tulip en América del Sur.
BHG es una compañía de capital abierto con acciones negociadas en Novo Mercado de BM&FBovespa con el símbolo BHGR3.
Asesoría de Comunicación
BHG S.A. – Brazil Hospitality Group
Fernanda Pannunzio
fpannunzio@bhg.net
+55 (11) 3577-2302/+55 (11) 9668-7249
FUENTE BHG S.A. - Brazil Hospitality Group
]]>AAPA Centennial 'Spring Conference' Speakers Will Focus On Raising Priorities For Freight Infrastructure
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Congressman John Mica (R-FL) will be honored on March 20 as the American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) "Port Person of the Year" during the association's 100th anniversary Spring Conference event, March 19-20, at The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel.
Celebrating its first century as the Western Hemisphere's leading trade association representing port authorities, AAPA selected Rep. Mica to receive its most prestigious annual award based on his leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, six transportation subcommittees (several of which are crucial to America's seaports), and his staunch support of maritime and port infrastructure policy and investment priorities.
Nominated last fall for "Port Person of the Year" by both the Port of Jacksonville and the Port of New Orleans, AAPA's Executive Committee approved Rep. Mica's nomination at its Jan. 18 meeting in Tampa.
In addition to receiving AAPA's "Port Person" award, Rep. Mica will give a keynote address during lunch. As part of his remarks, he is expected to discuss what he and his congressional colleagues have been doing to pass comprehensive surface transportation reauthorization legislation, just announced as The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, and expand employment opportunities to build the nation's infrastructure.
"Chairman Mica understands that increased federal funding in land- and water-side transportation infrastructure is an essential and effective utilization of limited resources that will pay long-term dividends through increased trade, sustainable job creation and tax revenues," said AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle. "We greatly appreciate leaders who understand and support our industry, and I'm very pleased AAPA is honoring Chairman Mica with the 'Port Person of the Year' award for our centennial year."
Rep. Mica represents the 7th Congressional District of Florida and is currently serving his 10th term in office. Last July, he rolled out an outline for The American Energy and Infrastructure Act, which for the first time in surface transportation reauthorization history includes a maritime title. Due to the nation's budgetary challenges, Rep. Mica is committed to enacting a long-term reauthorization of federal transportation programs to allow for more efficiencies, better planning and flexibility for state governments to prioritize transportation projects.
Introducing the congressman will be Virginia Ports Authority Executive Director Jerry Bridges, who is AAPA's 2012 chairman of the board. "By selecting Chairman Mica as AAPA's 'Port Person of the Year,' we're recognizing a highly visible and effective national leader who understands the critical importance of ports and who doesn't shy away from including maritime and seaport challenges as he seeks solutions to the myriad transportation problems facing this nation," said Mr. Bridges. "With his focus on ports, our often 'invisible' industry is beginning to enter the popular consciousness as a worthwhile investment today to reap the economic benefits for generations to come."
Each year, AAPA presents its "Port Person of the Year" award to an individual or individuals who have made significant contributions to the port industry. Recent award recipients include: Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) - 2011; Adm. Thad W. Allen, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard (U.S. "Port Person") and The Honourable David L. Emerson, P.C., former Minister of Industry, International Trade and Foreign Affairs for the Government of Canada (Canadian "Port Person") - 2010; Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-CA) - 2009; U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) - 2008; Panamanian President Martin Torrijos - 2007; U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins (R-ME) - 2006; and U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta – 2005.
Other speakers for this year's AAPA Spring Conference include political analyst, author and publisher Charlie Cook; International Finance Corporation senior finance officers Ari Skromne and Han Cao; U.S. Rep. Janice Hahn (D-CA); port industry economist John C. Martin; Canadian Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer; and Adam Snider, transportation reporter for Politico Pro.
AAPA anticipates more than 200 legislators, governmental staff members and port industry leaders and staff will take part in the two-day conference. Additionally, AAPA will hold its Centennial Celebration Dinner the evening of March 19 for more than 600 invited guests.
WHO: U.S. Rep. John Mica, Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
WHAT: Addressing U.S. transportation infrastructure policy issues at AAPA's centennial Spring Conference event luncheon.
WHEN: Luncheon presentation on Tuesday, March 20, 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.; other featured conference presentations on both March 19 and 20.
WHERE: The Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel, 999 9th Street NW, Washington, D.C.
MEDIA: Credentialed journalists interested in covering AAPA's Spring Conference for media purposes are asked to contact Aaron Ellis, aellis@aapa-ports.org, to obtain a media pass.
About AAPA
Founded in 1912, AAPA today represents 150 of the leading seaport authorities in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean and more than 250 sustaining and associate members, firms and individuals with an interest in seaports. As a critical link for access to the global marketplace, each year Western Hemisphere seaports generate $8.6 trillion of economic activity, support the employment of tens of millions of people and import and export more than 7.8 billion tons of cargo including food, clothing, medicine, fuel and building materials, as well as consumer electronics and toys. To meet the growing demand for trade, the AAPA and its members are committed to keeping seaports navigable, secure and sustainable. For more information, visit www.aapa-ports.org.
~Seaports Deliver Prosperity~
SOURCE American Association of Port Authorities
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