Business – KMAUPDATES

Mar32021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

IMG, MTN partner to provide telemedicine services

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, International Hospital Kampala, International Medical Group, MTN, South Africa, UGANDA

3rd March, 2021. Kampala- International Medical Group (IMG) the parent company of International Hospital Kampala (IHK) and International Medical Center (IMC) together with MTN Uganda have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to provide a digital approach to medical access across the country. Speaking at the launch held at the International Diagnostics Center (IDC), the IMG Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Sukhmeet Sandhu said, “As International Medical Group, our mission is to improve standards of healthcare in Uganda through innovation, applied research, education and community-based services. As a result of the fast rise of the digital era, impact of COVID 19 and strategic partnerships like the one we have launched today with MTN, we are now able to realize this dream an...

Mar32021 by Ronald Kabuubi1 Comment

One printer for fast, high-definition CAD and poster production – the new Canon imagePROGRAF TX Series

AFRICA, Business, DUBAI, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, UAE, USA

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, March 3, 2021/ -- Taking CAD, GIS and poster printing to a new level of productivity, Canon Europe (www.Canon-europe.com) today updates its successful imagePROGRAF TX Series of large format printers with five new models: the 24-inch TX-2100, 36-inch TX-3100 and 44-inch TX-4100, plus the multifunctional TX-3100 MFP Z36 and TX-4100 MFP Z36. These new high-speed, high-capacity, multipurpose devices deliver unrivalled print quality, enhanced media handling and advanced security with a familiar workflow, ideal for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) businesses, retail stores and in-house print departments. PROGRAF TX Series for high-speed, high-capacity and unrivalled print quality A new level of productivityWhether for vibrant, high-quality post...

Mar32021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

FirstWave signs Level 1 Partner Agreement with pan-African technology company Moja Access

AFRICA, Australia, Business, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, KENYA, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD

Neil Pollock, CEO, FirstWave Cloud Technology J2-1Download Please find attached release titled “FirstWave signs Level 1 Partner Agreement with pan-African technology company, Moja Access” in consideration for publish. Leading Australian-headquartered, FirstWave has announced the signing of a three-year Level 1 Partner Agreement with Moja Access, part of CSquared Group, a pan-African technology company. With the goal to make commercially driven investments to improve and increase connectivity and internet access in Sub-Saharan Africa. Internet users across these African nations can now be protected on CSquared’s network from cyber intruders, on a consumption basis, at an affordable monthly price. In the initial phase of this partnership, FirstWave has deployed its recently...

Feb272021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Mauritius: JICA provides $289 million support to fight COVID-19 under initiative with African Development Bank

AFRICA, Banking World, Business, INTERNATIONAL, South Africa, World Bank

The loan is a parallel co-financing agreement between JICA and the African Development Bank under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa joint initiative to spur privatePRETORIA, South Africa, February 25, 2021/ -- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has extended an Official Development Assistance loan of up to 30 billion Japanese yen ($289 million) to support Mauritius’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild its economy.The loan, signed on 24 February, is a parallel co-financing agreement between JICA and the African Development Bank under the Enhanced Private Sector Assistance for Africa (EPSA) joint initiative to spur private sector-led sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa. The co-financing arrangement will help the Mauritius government contain the...

Feb272021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

The Alen gas monetization backfill project represents the first phase of the strategic vision to transform Equatorial Guinea into a Gas Mega Hub

AFRICA, Business, Equatorial Guinea, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, February 26, 2021/ -- The Alen gas monetization backfill project represents the first phase of Equatorial Guinea’s Gas Mega Hub masterplan; Launched by the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons in May 2018, the Gas Mega Hub seeks to aggregate gas from upstream producers to deliver it to onshore industry; Equatorial Guinea is currently in discussions with Cameroon and Nigeria to facilitate additional cross-border linkages. The Alen gas monetization backfill project represents the first phase of the strategic vision to transform Equatorial Guinea into a Gas Mega Hub through the development of several offshore gas hubs and monetization of neighboring gas reserves.Aggregating gas from upstream producers and delivering it to onshore industry, the Mega Hub aims to create...

Feb252021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

BBI is good for business, President Kenyatta says

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, KENYA, POLITICS

NAIROBI, 24th February 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) constitutional reform process will better the business environment in the country. - President Uhuru Kenyatta gives his address at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani where he unveiled the 750 winners of the 'MbeleNaBiz' business plan competition and launched the 2020 to 2024 Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) strategic plan. The President said reform proposals such as the seven-year tax holiday proposed by the BBI will guarantee the survival of business start-ups in the country. President Uhuru Kenyatta launches the 2020 to 2024 Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) strategic plan at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. “In fact, the BBI initiative, w...

Feb242021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

Who is Yolanda Cuba, the Newly appointed Vice President for the Southern and East Africa MTN Market?

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, MTN, South Africa, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA

At the tail end of last year, MTN group announced changes to the regional structure and the Group Executive Committee in which Ms. Yolanda Cuba was appointed as the MTN Group Vice President for the Southern and East African (SEA) MTN markets effective 1 January, 2020. This announcement coincided with yet another Woman rising to the position of Vice president; H.E Kamala Harris and similarly to her story of firsts, Yolanda Cuba is also the first woman to be confirmed in this position in MTN history! Yolanda Cuba, The new MTN's Vice President for the South and East African Markets Named one of the youngest CEOs of a JSE-listed company at the age of 29, Yolanda Cuba has gone on to become one of the Key business leaders in Africa today. As a young group CEO of the publicly listed Mvelap...

Feb222021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

MTN Uganda Announces the MTN Foundation Youth Empowerment Program Winners

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL, MTN, South Africa, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD

MTN Foundation Uganda has selected 100 youths for its Youth Empowerment Program. A call for applications was put up at the end of last year and close to 2000 applicants took a shot at the exciting offer. The full list of winners is available at https://www.mtn.co.ug/impact/youth-program. The Program that will be conducted by Ubunifu systems, a software Development firm, will equip the selected youths with the technical skills to empower them to solve communities’ pressing challenges using technological expertise. The Five MTN #ForGood winners will be the pioneer beneficiaries of this intensive program that is a building block to Uganda’s Fourth Industrial revolution. Monday 19th February 2021- Kampala, Uganda: At the end of last year, the MTN Foundation Uganda launched an exci...

Feb212021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

MTN announces annual sponsorship for record breaking athlete Joshua Cheptegei.

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, MTN, Sports, UGANDA

The athlete has inked a one year sponsorship deal with the telecom giant As part of the sponsorship deal, shs100million will go towards his foundation that is working to develop and provide a platform for young and budding athletes. In addition, MTN also announces a performance package for the athlete if he wins an Olympic Gold, or any other medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. There is also a performance incentive for any other world records he breaks. Saturday, 20th February 2021 – Mbale, Eastern Uganda: MTN Uganda has announced a generous one-year sponsorship deal for record breaking athlete Joshua Cheptegei. Following several years of support to athletics in Uganda, Cheptegei becomes the first individual athlete to ink such a deal with the telecom giant. As p...

Feb202021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

NEW PRAU GOVERNING COUNCIL TAKES OVER OFFICE

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, PRAU, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD

KAMPALA UGANDA: The Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU) had the new Governing Council take-over its leadership at a handover function held at the Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday, 19th February 2021. The new Prau governing Council led by their President Mr Stephen Mwanga (left) with the Minister of Information,Communication and National Guidance Hon. Judith Nabakooba.PRAU Photo The handover ceremony was graced by the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Nabakooba Nalule Judith who applauded PRAU for being a strong association that has been successfully governed for the last ten years the Minister of ICT & National Guidance has been patron. Ms Yvonne Mpanga being sworn in as the Director,Discipline as Juma Yusuf K. Walusimbi (Mr) Past President and C...

Feb202021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

KCCA launches the reconstruction of Naguru Vale Road

AFRICA, Buganda Kingdom, Business, EAST AFRICA, Infrastructure, INTERNATIONAL, KCCA, Tony Elumelu Foundation, UGANDA, WORLD

. Kampala,Naguru,Uganda Kampala Capital City Authority today launched the reconstruction of Naguru Vale Road . KCCA Executive Director Mrs Kisaka Dorothy waves as she launches the reconstruction.Photo: KCCA According to the Authority's Executive Director Mrs Kisaka Dorothy, "This is a 600M road that will be reconstructed in four months. Kcca has over 600km of paved roads of which 70% are in fair and poor condition",she said. Part of the road to be reconstructed. "Works involve pothole patching, sectional repairs and rehabilitation of the roads",. These works shall be done by in house teams and qualified contractors.She added. KCCA Executive Director Mrs Kisaka Dorothy waves as she launches the reconstruction.Photo: KCCA Kisaka could not hide her excitement as she...

Feb192021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

OPEC Fund extends $50m for poverty reduction in Tanzania

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, TECHNOLOGY, WORLD

The project will build rural infrastructure to boost economic opportunities and improve access to social services for more than 900,000 peopleVIENNA, Austria, February 19, 2021/ -- The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) (https://OPECFund.org) has signed a US$50 million loan with Tanzania to finance the ‘Fourth Tanzania Poverty Reduction Project’. The project will build rural infrastructure to boost economic opportunities and improve access to social services for more than 900,000 people.Although Tanzania has made progress in reducing poverty over the past decade, around 26 million people – close to half the total population – live on less than US$1.90 per day. The Tanzanian government has launched a number of programs to tackle this challenge, including so...

Feb122021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBER7 Comments

Cotton Hovers at 2-1/2-Year High, Irish Home Prices Rise Faster in December, Sensex Ends Flat Ahead of Key Data, Russian Ruble Depreciates after CB Decision

AFRICA, Business, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD, World Bank

Cotton Hovers at 2-1/2-Year HighCotton futures have been trading around 86 cents a bushel, close to levels not seen since August 2018 after the USDA lowered ending stocks estimates for the 2020/21 crop year and projected an increase in US exports. Still, the USDA left US production unchanged but traders bet it will be cut in March. The world’s supply has been disrupted since December, when the Trump administration banned cotton imports from the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps saying it uses the forced labor of detained Uighur Muslims.Irish Home Prices Rise Faster in DecemberResidential property prices in Ireland rose 2.2 percent in the year to December 2020, following a 0.2 percent increase in the previous month. House prices advanced 1.8 percent, after a 0.2 percent gain in No...

Feb122021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Latvia Posts Largest Current Account Surplus in Nearly 12 Years, India Inflation Rate at 16-Month Low, Albania Inflation Rate Slows to 5-Year Low, Venezuela January Inflation Rate at 2665%

AFRICA, Business, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD, World Bank

Latvia Posts Largest Current Account Surplus in Nearly 12 YearsLatvia recorded a current account surplus of EUR 266 million in December of 2020 compared to a deficit of EUR 81 million in the same month of the previous year. It was the largest current account surplus since June of 2009, as the goods gap narrowed to EUR 93 million from EUR 255 million a year ago; while the services surplus fell to EUR 148 million from EUR 202 million. Meantime, the primary income surplus surged to EUR 164 million from EUR 95 million, aligned with the increase in secondary income to EUR 46 million from EUR 39 million. Considering 2020 as a whole, the country’s current account surplus amounted to EUR 842 million, from a deficit of EUR 195 million in 2019.India Inflation Rate at 16-Month LowRetail price inflat...

Feb122021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Moody’s earnings at 1.91 USD, Enbridge USA earnings at 0.56 USD, Brazil Economic Activity Expands the Least in 8 Months, India Industrial Output Unexpectedly Rebounds

AFRICA, Business, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD, World Bank

Moody's earnings at 1.91 USDMoody's (MCO) released earnings per share at 1.91 USD, compared to market expectations of 1.94 USD.Enbridge USA earnings at 0.56 USDEnbridge USA (ENB) released earnings per share at 0.56 USD, compared to market expectations of 0.46 USD.Brazil Economic Activity Expands the Least in 8 MonthsThe IBC-Br index of economic activity in Brazil advanced 0.64 percent from a month earlier in December of 2020, slowing from an upwardly revised 0.68 percent expansion in November and compared with market expectations of a 0.4 percent rise. It was the weakest economic activity growth since a recovery began in May. Year-on-year, the Brazilian economy rose a non-seasonally adjusted 1.34 percent, following a downwardly revised 0.81 percent contraction in the prior month. In 2020,...

Feb122021 by Ronald KabuubiNo Comments

MTN Foundation Lights up More Schools across Uganda

AFRICA, Business, EAST AFRICA, EDUCATION, HUMAN INTEREST STORIES, INTERNATIONAL, TECHNOLOGY, UGANDA, WORLD, World Health Organization

The MTN Uganda Foundation, together with Fenix International Uganda as an implementing partner are set to light up other 56 schools with 200 kits in 24 districts under their “Light up A Village Project”. Under this project, the MTN Foundation has donated an overall total of 560 solar kits worth 380 million. Fenix International Uganda will install and maintain the kits. Acute power shortages even when connected to the national grid is the biggest challenge that students face especially when they have to study at night. Thursday, 11th February 2021- Kampala, Uganda: The MTN Uganda Foundation in partnership with Fenix International Uganda are set to light up more schools in an ongoing project dubbed “Light up a village”. With an extra donation of 190 solar kits, 56 schools from 24 d...

Feb62021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Plans for National Bank of Malawi to acquire Akiba Commercial Bank delay due to Covid 19 pandemic.

AFRICA, Business, COVID-19, WORLD, World Bank, World Health Organization

According the bank’s recent published cautionary statement, the transaction was expected to be finalized last month. National Bank’s Board Chairperson George Partridge has confirmed of the delay adding that the transaction has been delayed due to among other factors, travel restrictions imposed to curb the spread of the pandemic

Feb52021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Malawi: A cement-gate case involving Norman Chisale and 3 others committed to High Court from the Senior Resident Magistrate Court.

AFRICA, BREAKING NEWS, Business, CRIME

The case according the Director of Public Prosecution, Steven Kayuni, was too complex to be handled at a lower court. There are 7 counts relating to the illegal importation of 800,000 bags of cement for former President Peter Mutharika. They include fraud, money laundering, abuse of office & smuggling. Other co-accused are Muhammed Chunara, Peter Mukhitho & Rosa Mbirizi.

Feb52021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Australian Shares Lift 3.53% Weekly, NIKKEI 225 Jumps 1.3%, South Africa Forex Reserves Slightly Fall in January

AFRICA, Business, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD, World Bank

Australian Shares Lift 3.53% WeeklyThe ASX200 gained 75 points or 1.11% to 6840.50 on Friday, while closing 3.53% higher for the week and trading near 11-month highs, tracking US equities higher amid upbeat corporate earnings results and a continued decline in first-time claims for US unemployment benefits. Meantime, RBA Governor Phillip Lowe said in his address to the house of representatives committee that the RBA will keep buying state and federal government bonds after the current buying program completes in April, noting that bond purchases have helped to lower interest rates and meant that the Australian dollar is lower than it otherwise would have been. Among individual stocks, Newscorp surged 13.19% after posting its most profitable quarter in at least seven years thanks to a stro...

Feb32021 by TUMUTEGYEREIZE WILBERNo Comments

Latvia Industrial Output Growth at Over 1-Year High, Zambia Private Sector Shrinks the Most in 4 Months, Ether Hits Fresh All-time High, Ghana Private Sector Grows for 6th Month

AFRICA, Business, EUROPEAN UNION, INTERNATIONAL, WORLD

Latvia Industrial Output Growth at Over 1-Year HighIndustrial production in Latvia rose 4.7 percent year-on-year in December of 2020, up from an upwardly revised 3.1 percent increase in the previous month. It was the strongest expansion in industrial activity since September of 2019, driven by manufacturing (5.1 percent vs 4.8 percent in November) and mining & quarrying (15.2 percent vs 20 percent). At the same time, output fell much less for electricity & gas supply (-0.6 percent vs 9.9 percent). In 2020, industrial activity shrank 1.7 percent compared to the same period a year earlier.Zambia Private Sector Shrinks the Most in 4 MonthsThe Stanbic Bank Zambia PMI fell to 47.7 in January of 2021 from 49 in the previous month. The latest reading pointed to the sharpest contraction i...