Africa

Lafarge Cement Zambia Plc is a subsidiary of Lafarge, the world's largest building materials supplier and a major player in the Zambian construction industry. And its product is in no less demand from neighbouring countries, as John O’Hanlon learned from newly-appointed CEO Fola Esan.

International power and automation technology group ABB intends to expand its mining interests in South Africa with the acquisition of the mine hoist related business of local manufacturer Coilmech, for an undisclosed sum.

ABB plans to incorporate the acquisition into subsidiary ABB South Africa’s process automation portfolio for customers in the mining sector.

South African president Jacob Zuma told an audience in Belgium today that South Africa offers mining investors huge growth potential and proven economic and political stability.

In Antwerp for the third annual European Union-South Africa summit, Zuma said the successful hosting of the 2010 Fifa World Cup had "demonstrated to the world that we are a country that can deliver on its undertakings."

France Télécom has bought a 40 per cent stake in Méditel, Morocco’s second-largest mobile operator, for €640 million, marking the first step in its strategy to boost its presence in African markets.

Méditel (Médi Télécom) is the second biggest global telecoms operator in Morocco, with licences for fixed, mobile and 3G telephony. It has been active in the telecoms sector since 1999.

With over 10 million mobile subscribers and a market share of 37 per cent, Méditel achieved sales of over 5.3 billion dirham (€465 million) in 2009.

Trading electronically makes great strategic sense for buyers and suppliers alike; but technical complexity can be a barrier to realising the benefits of enhanced supply chain visibility, as David Grosvenor explains.

The priority of most private investors is to see a healthy return on their outlay—with ethical considerations coming second. But the two do not have to be mutually exclusive, as Becky Done finds out from Lawrie Smith, co-founder of ethical investment company Greenleaf Global.

The Brussels-based EFQM, formerly the European Foundation for Quality Management, has had a busy 12 months—and its schedule for the coming year doesn’t look to be any less hectic either. Becky Done finds out what changes the Foundation has made in order to reflect today’s business environment, and how it is looking ahead to tomorrow.

South Africa’s construction boom has proved a lucrative time for a raft of new elevator and escalator companies. The rise in demand prompted Schindler South Africa, one of the established players, to review its approach to business. Pankaj Sinha, newly appointed managing director, tells Andrew Pelis how the company has transformed its operations.

Landing the World Cup brought some difficult decisions for the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) when planning the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. Project manager Alex van Niekerk outlined these to John O’Hanlon.

Sometimes success brings problems rather than rewards; but as Alan Swaby learns, the resourceful manager will find ways of solving them.