Africa

Botswana has transformed itself from a sleepy African country to a vibrant democratic economy and as Alan Swaby learns, its national airline is trying to emulate the country’s progress.

It’s an understandable aspiration that developing countries want to be represented on the larger international stage through their own national airline carrier. Understandable, but fraught with danger—at least of the economical kind—as many African countries have discovered to their cost.

The IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) have announced an investment of up to $100 million to support the construction of major infrastructure projects across the Middle East and North Africa.

The investment is part of an effort to stimulate economic growth in the MENA region. The IFC and IDB are each investing $50 million in the Arab Infrastructure Investment Vehicle (AIIV), part of the Arab Financing Facility for Infrastructure (AFFI), a joint initiative of the World Bank, the IDB and IFC.

Ireland’s Providence Resources has confirmed it has received the final payment of US$6 million for the sale of its Nigerian interest, OML 113.

The payment marks the end of Providence’s asset portfolio restructuring, allowing it to focus on its core areas of offshore Ireland and onshore United Kingdom.

Providence divested its Nigerian subsidiary, which holds its interest in OML 113 offshore Nigeria, to Jacka for a total consideration of $16 million, $10 million of which was paid in December 2011, with the balance of $6 million to be paid in April 2012.

Clinicians from across Africa attended a week-long workshop in Durban, South Africa, to learn about image-guided RapidArc IMRT technology.

Doctors and decision makers from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Kenya and Angola gathered at Addington Hospital in Durban, which has treated 250 patients with RapidArc since becoming the first public hospital in Africa to use this technique in 2010.

Ghana’s resource industry is regulated by the government but it is a complex business. For nearly 110 years, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has been working to createthe right basis for addressing key issues relating to the role of mining in national development.

South African logistics group Transnet has unveiled a R300 billion plan which is set to create almost 600,000 new jobs across the economy.

Sujen Padayatchi, managing director of Aspen Logistics Services, tells Jane Alverca why the company can stay cool under pressure better than any other player in the transportation industry.

South Africa-based high voltage power contractor CONCO expects to double its turnover within the next three years. Clive Pillay explains to Gay Sutton how the company is preparing to meet this enormous growth in demand.

Atlas Copco Ghana is at the hub of this global industrial technology group’s West Africa operations. Regional general manager George Apostolopoulos tells John O’Hanlon where the company is striking gold.

While some companies have decreased their investment in sports sponsorship, Old Mutual is finding it an effective tool to reach new frontiers.

The financial services provider has invited cyclists from emerging markets such as Kenya, Swaziland and Namibia to be part of the annual Old Mutual joBerg2c, the country’s longest paired mountain bike stage race, which takes place from 27 April to 5 May this year.