Robert Baissac, CEO of TPC Limited, one of Tanzania’s largest enterprises in the sugar sector, talks to Jayne Alverca about the unique potential of the industry to support East Africa’s development goals.

Sugar is a staple output of Tanzania’s agricultural sector and has a key role in supporting the country’s economic development. Nestling in the alluvial valleys below Mount Kilimanjaro is the 16,000 hectare estate of TPC Limited, which produces almost one third of Tanzania’s total sugar output.

Bazlan Osman, group chief financial officer of Telekom Malaysia, talks to Jayne Alverca about the company’s achievements and challenges in one of the world’s most competitive markets.

2011 has been an excellent year for Telekom Malaysia (TM). Despite fierce competition, the company has continued to attract new customers and maintained its leadership position in the broadband segment with 1.7 million customers in June 2011, showing growth of almost 12 per cent over the previous year. 

Jeff Daniels looks at what Peugeot in South Africa is doing to change perceptions and win a greater share of the market.

In South Africa, the perception of all things French is positive but pricey. Think of such iconic representations of France as food, wine, perfume and fashion and nobody disputes their quality. It’s just that they are often thought of as being in a price bracket that is more gift than everyday commodity.

Otto Energy has been producing oil from its assets in the Philippines for the last three years, and has fantastic prospects going forward: it is all about balance, say its senior executives.

The Arab Spring has been a time of both excitement and uncertainty for many companies operating in the Middle East. Despite this, Switzerland-based food and confectionary company Nestlé is investing some $160 million into its manufacturing, distribution and skills base in Egypt, and progressing a new initiative to promote nutrition education among children.

Supplying services to South Africa’s mid-market appliance and retail sector, Laser Logistics has been re-engineering its business and developing a comprehensive logistics capability. CEO Warren Hewitt explains to Gay Sutton how this has been achieved.

AT&T has indicated for the first time that its proposed merger with T-Mobile USA may not go ahead.

Dallas, Texas-based AT&T and T-Mobile parent Deutsche Telekom have announced the withdrawal of their merger application from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), following an announcement this week by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski that he was moving to block the deal.

Such a move would create a major obstacle to the merger in the near term.

Automotive giant Toyota has announced an investment of more than £100 million into one of its UK manufacturing sites.

The investment will be made at Toyota’s Burnaston, Derbyshire factory, to manufacture new generation hatchbacks.

Manufacturing the C-segment family sized hatchback models will create up to 1,500 additional jobs in the next two years.

Commenting on the news, the UK’s prime minister David Cameron said: “This major announcement from Toyota is fantastic news and a massive vote of confidence for UK manufacturing.

Statoil Canada has announced it is investing $1 million into research expertise in reservoir engineering.

The investment is to be matched by the Research & Development Corporation (RDC), and will create the Statoil Chair and Statoil Associate Chair in Reservoir Engineering at Memorial University, Newfoundland, fostering the development of a new Petroleum Engineering research program in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science.

Statoil Canada and RDC will each contribute a total of $1 million over the next five years.

The UK’s Weir Group has agreed to acquire US-based Seaboard Holdings for $675 million (£431 million).

Based in Houston, Texas, Seaboard manufactures engineered wellhead and pressure control equipment for the oil & natural gas exploration and production industries. The company also provides a range of field and support services, including equipment rental for the onshore oil & gas drilling, completion and production markets.