Developing new IT systems is fraught with danger at the best of times; but as Alan Swaby learns, when you harness the power of 98 different customers, you become a force for change.

Not all are tainted, by any means, but in the UK a large number of IT projects for government departments or other public bodies are either long overdue, way over budget or both. As such, the sheer size of a commissioning agency is no guarantee of success—so it’s no bad thing to take a look at how it is being done successfully in a different arena.

Greatship (India) Limited believes that technology, leadership and excellence in execution hold the key to expanding its offshore support business. Jane Alverca reports.

Ghandour Cosmetics is bringing glamour to Ghana and beyond. Founder Tanal Ghandour, who acts as managing director, talks to Jayne Alverca about the impact the company is making on African markets.

For the past 30 years, South African snack food manufacturer Frimax Foods has been using its local knowledge to provide innovative products to consumers across the country and beyond. Jane McCallion finds out the key to success for this family-run business.

Exxaro Resources is South Africa’s largest listed empowerment enterprise by a long way, a position it has consolidated in just five years of operations; and its mid to long term strategy is nothing short of visionary.

Yousif Mirjan, managing director of Dubai-based marble contractor, Dar Al Rokham, talks to Gay Sutton about creating the architectural heritage of the future, and expansion beyond the Middle East.

Alpine Lounge, South Africa’s premium furniture manufacturer, has survived four decades of dramatic changes. Now, its flexible and innovative strategies are taking it through a whole new set of challenges.

London, UK-based Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) has announced plans to acquire the shares of Kazak thermal coal producer Shubarkol Komir that it does not already own.

ENRC, which currently owns 25 per cent of Shubarkol, said that its directors have unanimously approved to exercise rights to acquire the 2,638,103 outstanding shares for up to $600 million, plus assumed debt of $50 million.

Canada’s Daylight Energy is to be acquired by Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production Corporation (SIPC) for approximately C$2.2 billion.

Daylight is a growing intermediate oil and liquids rich natural gas producing company with a high quality suite of resource play assets in Western Canada.

Dubai-based Dragon Oil has announced the signing of a deal through which it will earn a 55 per cent interest in the Bargou Exploration Permit offshore Tunisia.

The farm-in agreement, which has been signed with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perth, Australia-based Cooper Energy, will also give Dragon Oil operatorship of the permit in any development phase.

The Bargou Exploration Permit is located in the Gulf of Hammamet in the Mediterranean Sea, covering an area of 4,616 square kilometres with predominantly offshore exploration prospects.