NEWS FROM ALL AROUND
NEWS FROM ALL AROUND AFRICARecent investments, expansions and milestones.TRANS KALAHARI FIBRE ROUTE COMPLETEDThe last leg of the fibre route of Paratus Botswana was completed in 2024, bringing to fruition the new Botswana Kalahari Fibre (BKF) route. A total of 840km of fibre waslaid between the Namibian border and Lobatse. The route represents an investment of approximately BWP70-million in Botswana and is the largest significant investment inits own infrastructure by Paratus Botswana to date. The BKF completes the last leg of the Paratus-built Trans Kalahari Fibre (TKF) route, which runs from Johannesburg toSwakopmund in Namibia. The new route creates the lowest latency primary transit path through Botswana and Namibia to Europe. The new BKF will connect Botswana andneighbouring countries to various international subsea cables and to the rest of the world. Paratus Botswana and Paratus Namibia have worked closely together in the bidto connect South Africa to the Equiano cable in Swakopmund. According to Africa Practice and Genesis Analytics, commissioned by Google, Equiano is forecast to more thandouble Internet speeds and increase internet penetration by 7.5% in the next three years. Paratus also announced the launch of its Gaborone metro-fibre ring in 2024.LABORATORY FOR ELECTRICIANSSchneider Electric has launched a training lab in Malawi. Officially launched at the Don Bosco Youth Technical Institute facilities in Lilongwe,the Schneider Electric Lab is a modern electrical-installation laboratory, aimed at providing practical training for those pursuing careersin the electrical industry. The Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TEVETA) in Malawi and the DonBosco Youth Technical Institute are the other partners.The lab is equipped with professional Schneider Electric equipment, providing students with the tools and training required to meetglobal standards in the electrical industry. These include industrial wiring solutions and industrial automation solutions. The equipmentwhich students will have access to includes: 24V PLC programming and simulation desktop trainers, three-phase variable speed/frequency drive-training panels, combination of motor-starter-trainer kits and various types of motors. The Schneider Electric Lab formspart of Schneider Electric’s broader commitment to empowering the next generation through education, as outlined in its SchneiderSustainability Impact (SSI) programme that aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aiming to train and empower onemillionpeople by 2025.8
© 2024 KPMG Services Proprietary Limited, a South African company with registration number 1999/012876/07 and a member firm of the KPMG global organizationof independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Limited, a private English company limited by guarantee. All rights reserved.NEWSPROCUREMENT AS A VEHICLE FOR CHANGEA strong message was delivered at the CIPS Africa Conference 2024 that economiesand societies across the continent can be transformed through the implementation ofethical and responsible procurement practices.The two-day conference, hosted by the Chartered Institute for Procurement &Supply (CIPS) at Johannesburg’s Houghton Hotel in May, brought together industryleaders from around Africa to discuss how these practices can help nations developand prosper.The example of Rwanda was cited by a conference participant, noting that huge gainshad been made in combating corruption through its zero-tolerance policy and publiceducationcampaigns that promote ethical behaviour.The CIPS Africa Excellence in Procurement and Supply Chain Management Awardsdelivered a wide range of winners in several categories. These included risk mitigation(Safari.com), collaborative teamwork project (DKT International Nigeria), deliveringsocial value through procurement (FNB), public-sector transformation programme(Transnet), sustainability (Equity Bank Limited), digital technology (Rohloff Group),people-development programme (Rand Water), public procurement (Sentech) and theprocurement team of the year (large organisation) was Builders.AfricaCEOOutlookReport2024More than 130 CEOs in Africa sharetheir views on geopolitics, return-tooffice,ESG and generative AI.KPMG has been publishing a “Global CEO Outlook” for 10 years. In 2024 the first Africa “CEO Outlook Report” came out,carrying the views and insights of the continent’s business leaders.In introducing the publication, Ignatius Sehoole, Africa Chairman and CEO, KPMG in Africa, wrote that, “This year,we place a particular focus on geopolitics, given the recent surge in political tensions over the past year, which hasimpacted the economic side of business. Despite these challenges, the report confirms that African CEOs can unlockopportunities through effective geopolitical risk management, which is crucial for boosting Africa’s economy.”For the first time, KPMG engaged with over 130 CEOs and business leaders across Southern, East and West Africato gain insights into the region’s dynamic business environment. KPMG says its commitment to Africa remains strongas the continent presents numerous growth opportunities in the business environment. Insights from the selectedCEOs highlight both the opportunities and challenges their organisations face. These insights explore important areassuch as how businesses have evolved to navigate the shifting landscape while managing complex economic and geopolitical challenges.In his foreword, Sehoole drew attention to how, “With the evolving workforce dynamics across the African continent, people-related issues remain a key focus for leaders. CEOs haveidentified an interesting link between skills, technology and the reality of ageism, all while navigating a changing environment.”The key findings of the survey were:• CEOs identify technology and generative AI, talent, ESG and geopolitics as the top four risks facing their organisation’s growth prospects• Ethically implementing emerging technologies is a paramount priorityKPMG HAS PUBLISHED AN INAUGURAL “AFRICA CEO OUTLOOK”• 77% of African CEOs highlight ethical dilemmas as a big challenge within their enterprises• Key investment priorities include governance models and transparency protocols, addressing environmental challenges with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion.SCALING INVESTMENT IN AFRICAThe Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Japan Institute for Overseas Investment (JOI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) to drive transformative projects that will accelerate Africa’s energy transition and enhance economic sustainability. AFC is one ofthe continent’s leading infrastructure solutions providers and JOI is an initiative of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).This is one of several programmes designed to facilitate capital flows through insights, risk-mitigating solutions and access to finance. AsKenichiro Hayashi, President of JOI, explained, “Together with AFC, we will provide Japanese companies with the necessary information.”AFC’s presence in the Japanese capital markets continues to grow. In 2022, AFC secured a 9-million dual-currency Samurai termloanfacility, which attracted strong interest from Japanese investors, including Mizuho Bank, MUFG Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui BankingCorporation. In 2019, AFC launched its first Samurai loan facility, raising 3-million and ¥1-billion.9
