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ANGOLA: THE KUWAIT OF AFRICA

THE BEAUTIFUL CITY: CHANDIGARH

Political and Business Leaders met at 45th World Economic Forum Annual Meeting

RAqUEL’s CUpID pARTY CEL-EBRATEs 5TH ANNIvERsARY

INDIA HAS THE MOST PROMISING STORY

Nigeria's neighbors band together to fight Boko Haram

Jospong Group builds

graduate complex for

KNUsT

Ahead of the NDA government's first full budget, ICICI Bank BSE 0.05 % Chief Chanda Kochhar has said investors are considering 'continuous and quick decision-making' as also for the capital investment plans of the government in

numerous areas counting infrastructure.To attend the 45th World Economic Forum Annual meeting,

Kochhar said everyone is also looking forward to the completion of

the GST legislation and added steps to recover ease of doing business and improve investments.

"In terms of major policy moves, I think what everyone is looking for is the finalization of the GST legislation and the timeline for its implementation.

According to her, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi and his government have voiced their promise to growth-friendly policies,

Wassupafrica02

Ghana’s Talks with IMF on Track

The leader of the government’s negotiating team with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Professor Kwesi Botchwey, has stated that negotiations with the fund are very much on track.

He told newsmen that apart from a few residual information and statistical issues that remained to be resolved, the government and the IMF were reviewing key issues on the 2015 Budget. “Once this has been completed, I expect, and I’m confident, that the fund’s mission will then launch the internal review processes that will culminate in the IMF Board's consideration,” he said.

Prof. Botchwey, a former Minister of Finance, said the government expected the approval of a programme with the IMF in the next few weeks.

He described the negotiations as having gone well so far, considering the difficult challenges and the complex issues that needed to be addressed in the programme.

That, he explained, was against the backdrop of President John Mahama’s concern for the programme to achieve the twin objectives of macroeconomic stability and employment generation during the programme period.

Modern Ghana

Mali government, UN declare country Ebola-free

Bamako (AFP) - The Malian government and the United Nations declared the country free of Ebola after registering 42 days without any new cases of the deadly virus.

"I declare this day... the end of the epidemic of the Ebola virus in Mali," Health Minister Ousmane Kone said.

Ibrahima Soce Fall, the head of the Malian office of the United Nations Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UMEER), confirmed the country "had come out" of the epidemic.

Modern Ghana

Kenya targets Indian and Australian tourists

Seychelles Tourism Board 2015 advertising campaign stamped “I love Seychelles”

Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) has embarked on a reassurance campaign to woo more tourists from India and Australia. A statement by the tourism marketer says the media sessions will assure the various tourism markets that Kenya is safe to visit and invest.

KTB Managing Director Muriithi Ndegwa told Indian stakeholders in New Delhi that travelling to Kenya is still safe. "The Government has taken adequate precautionary measures and there is no restriction to travel to holiday destination resorts at the Coast, Maasai Mara, Amboseli, Mt Kenya and Laikipia for both safari and wildlife excursions,” he said.

He noted that Kenya is blessed with breathtaking scenery, wildlife and an array of culture in addition to exquisite cuisine and hospitable people. Ndegwa noted that despite various concerns, the fall in India’s tourist arrivals during the January–

The Seychelles Tourism Board has adopted the “I love Seychelles” national theme to drive its marketing campaign in 2015.

The national theme launched by James Michel, President of the Republic, will give a fresh touch to the Seychelles Tourism Board’s marketing campaign. In her speech at the Ministry of Tourism & Culture’s annual general staff meeting held on January 13 at the ICCS (International Conference Centre) auditorium, Sherin Naiken, Chief Executive of Seychelles Tourism Board, said that the “I love Seychelles” national theme could not have been a better fit for the Seychelles Tourism Board.

A sentiment largely shared by Alain St.Ange, the Minister for Tourism and Culture, strongly believes that the “I love Seychelles” campaign will bring out a sense of

Cape Town Leads the Way as a Green CityCape Town has scored highly in an African Green City Index released by Siemens. Earlier in 2014, the Mother City was named Global Earth Hour Capital 2014, following the WWF’s Earth Hour City Challenge.

The Siemens report looks at 15 African cities that have committed to improving their environmental footprint and scores each city on factors such as land use, transport, waste, water, and sanitation and air quality.

Cape Town was 'well above average' in the category of land use and was the top-performing African city in this regard. The report states: 'Home to multiple nature reserves containing some of the world’s rarest plant species, Cape Town has the greenest space

in the index. The city boasts an estimated 289 square metres of green space per person, about four times the index average of 74 square metres.'

Much effort has gone into improving Cape Town's public transport in recent years and this, too, has been recognised. 'Cape Town has invested US$5.8-billion over the last six years in developing a new bus-rapid transit (BRT) network. As a result, it is among the top cities in the index for the length of superior forms of transport, such as metro, tram or BRT lines. The city’s superior public transport system measures 0.11km per square kilometre, compared with the Index average of 0.07km.'

Modern Ghana

Professor Kwesi Botchwey

Ashish Thakkar, Sara Yeboah, CNN pick Africa Youth Awards

The Africa Youth Awards, an annual award scheme to recognise the hard work of young Africans is pleased to announce the deserved honorees of its first edition.

Launched in 2014, application for nominations were open through the media which prompted young people from across 15 African countries to nominate young change makers who are changing the destiny and course of the African continent through amazing initiatives.

After several weeks of consultation between the team and nominees; they were asked to submit detailed information of themselves and organisations they represent in order to provide evidence for the works they are doing on the continent.

To read detailed profile of winners of the first edition of the Africa Youth Awards below, kindly visit www.africanviewpointjpurnal.com. These young people work across disciplines, at the forefront of their fields.

The winners and organizations will be featured in a TIME BREAKING DOCUMENTARY on Africa dubbed THE AFRICAN ENGINE as the strategists empowering the economic and human development of Africa.

The Documentary will be featured on YouTube and Television Stations across the globe with the purpose to promote the works this young people under 35 are doing.

On behalf of the Board and Team I congratulate them on this feat and hope they would continue to be a great inspiration to young Africans across the world.

Modern Ghana

September period was less by five per cent. More than 42,910 Indian tourists visited Kenya in the first nine months of 2014. KTB maintains that India is still the biggest market in Asia for Kenya and fifth largest source market into Kenya globally.

“Kenya is coming up with various promotions and activities to highlight the local destinations in the Indian market to attract the ardent travelers seeking to be up close with nature and wildlife,” he said. “India is an important source market of Kenya as a tourist destination. We are here to reassure the travelers that Kenya is open for business and is very safe.”

Ndegwa said a number of key global events like the World PR Forum 2015, World Skal Congress 2015, the World Conference in PR in emerging Economies and the UN World Trade Organization will be held in Kenya.

Eturbo News

“patriotism” and will encourage the involvement of Seychellois in the tourism industry. This campaign will help raise the Seychelles’ profile considerably and strengthen awareness of Seychelles as a destination.

It would also promote local businesses run by Seychellois entrepreneurs.

The Seychelles Tourism Board will take this campaign to another height by launching a series of viral videos and photos competitions on its social media platforms. Visitors

will get a chance to submit entries of their fun-filled holiday in Seychelles and stand a chance to win a lifetime offer as a grand prize. Giveaways and corporate gifts reflecting the “I love Seychelles” theme will also emerge as the Seychelles Tourism Board’s new line of products to market the destination worldwide. Following discussions between Minister Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Tourism Board Sherin Naiken, and PS for Tourism Anne Lafortune, they all agreed that this year's national theme will help to develop more respect for one another and for its visitors. "When we love Seychelles, we should not see any adverse incidents that could make Seychelles lose its safety label," said Minister St.Ange, as he appealed for every Seychellois to embrace this year's national theme.

Eturbo News

MONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

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FRoM page 01

Cameroon, Chad and Niger have launched a regional bid to combat the Boko Haram

Islamists, as their attacks spread beyond Nigeria and concern mounts over the Nigerians' failure to regain control.

The three neighbours have opted for a joint military response to the cross-border threat from Boko Haram fighters and have made veiled criticisms of Nigeria, whose armed forces appear no match for the Islamist group that emerged in 2009.

Brutal raids, massacres, suicide bomb attacks and kidnappings by Boko Haram have claimed at least 13,000 lives and driven an estimated 1.5 million people from their homes, mainly in arid northeast Nigeria. Officially, all four states, whose borders converge in remote territory at Lake Chad, formed a military alliance that was due to take shape last November to battle Boko Haram. But building a combined Lake Chad force seems to have dropped off the agenda. Cameroon in particular has been critical of what it sees as the Nigerian authorities' passivity in the face of Boko Haram.

'Boko Haram's deadliest act'The move comes after the Islamists seized Baga town on the Nigerian

Nigeria's neighbors band together to fight Boko Haram

The Jospong Group of Companies, a multi-facetted business entity, has constructed a graduate school complex, at the cost of $1.2 million for the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). The complex is named after the Executive Chairman of Zoomlion and Jospong Group of Companies, Dr Joseph Siaw Agyapong.

It comprises offices, conference halls, seminar rooms, and other ancillary services which will make teaching and learning very conducive. Aside from the facility, the company will provide furnishing for the building, a bus, as well as GH¢2 million every year for research work in the school.

Speaking at the inauguration of the school complex in Kumasi last Friday, the Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, Professor William Otto Ellis, lauded the company for recognizing the need to promote human resource development through the school. He said KNUST, in the wake of changing trends in the field of higher education, had expanded its frontiers in terms of the number of programmes, programme content, student numbers and infrastructure base, in order to position the school as a key partner in the development of Ghana and Africa. Therefore, he said, the new complex would provide an identity for the university as well as signify its growth and priorities as the leading tertiary educational institution. Professor Ellis expressed optimism that the bond of friendship between the university and the company would grow from strength to strength, adding that, “we are proud that you sowed a very good cause, which is graduate studies,

Jospong Group builds graduate complex for KNUST

a catalyst for development and social transformation”.

For his part, Dr Agyapong said the success of the company, over the years, had been built around graduates from the KNUST with different specialties. He expressed the hope that the programmes that would be hosted in the new facility would provide great learning experiences for students and facilitate innovation and discovery to develop creative solutions to Ghana’s socio-economic challenges. He said aside from the fact that the facility would benefit the university, it was also an external research department for the Jospong Group, as students would be challenged to research into various areas of sanitation, the outcomes of which would be implemented for national development. He said while the government had taken steps to solve the sanitation challenge in the country by initiating the National Sanitation Day (NSD), the company, in its effort to support the initiative, would also sponsor students to conduct research into other areas of sanitation management.

Additionally, he said, up to 10 students would be sponsored to grow their initiatives on waste management adding that, “Ghanaians need exposure and once you expose the student to other areas, then they will be good at what they do”. Dr Agyapong also pledged the company’s commitment to supporting initiatives as well as fight the sanitation challenge in the country through the capacity building of its staff and in partnership with other government institutions.

Graphic Online

shore of Lake Chad early this month in an offensive that "could be Boko Haram's deadliest act", according to Daniel Eyre, Nigeria researcher for Amnesty International.

Eyre said as many as 2,000 civilians may have been massacred, but Nigeria's army objected to the "sensational" claims and said that the death toll in Baga was about 150.

The Islamists detained "over 500 women and hundreds of children" in a school, one woman who escaped the area told AFP, adding that she had seen "decomposing bodies scattered all over".

US Secretary of State John Kerry joined rights monitors in blaming Boko Haram for "a crime against humanity" on the basis of evidence from the towns in northern Nigeria. Nigeria's army had planned to use the isolated settlement of Baga as one of its key bases to work with a regional force.

However, the other countries are opposed to any major deployment inside a bastion of Boko Haram, which is against Western education and wants to establish an Islamist caliphate.

"The most worrying situation for us today is Nigeria, it's the situation of Boko Haram," Niger's Defence Minister Karidjo Mahamadou said after the fall of

Baga."Since November, we have no

longer been at that post (Baga). We explained to the Nigerians that we could not stay since we did not wish to put the lives of our soldiers in danger," Mahamadou said.

'Kick out the evil forces'Like Niger, Cameroon was strongly opposed to the Baga deployment option and will not send any troops into Nigeria on a permanent basis, security sources said after officials said the army killed 143 Boko Haram fighters who had attacked a military base in the northern town of Kolofata.

President Paul Biya favours the exchange of intelligence reports to enable coordinated operations, but believes each nation should act on its own territory around Lake Chad, the security sources said.

Cameroon has for months complained about the Nigerian army's lack of fight and mass desertions in the face of the Islamists.

"Nigerian soldiers abandon their weapons when they desert their positions," a Cameroonian military officer said early this week. "Those are the weapons with which we are attacked."

For Chad, its battle-hardened army will step in to help "in the courageous and determined response of (Cameroon's) armed force against the criminal and terrorist acts of Boko Haram," the government stated Wednesday after President Idriss Deby received Cameroon's defence minister.

Modern Ghana

administrative efficiency and ease of doing business, as well as safeguarding macro-economic stability and maintaining fiscal discipline.

Kochhar, who heads the country's largest private sector bank, said the government has acknowledged the prominence of foreign capital and its role in bringing in technology as well as international linkages.

A sharp fall in oil prices is expected to handover USD 1.5 trillion of capital to consumers, bringing the US back as global growth engine while India is the most promising story among emerging markets, says a study.

India may overcome China in terms of growth rate in a few years, global analytics and information services major IHS said here on the first day of WEF annual meeting.

Overall, the BRICS gap has broadened as developed economies are taking the lead.

“With many of today’s economic trends reminiscent of the 1980s and 1990s, we are looking at a ‘Back to the Future’ scenario for the global economy,” IHS Chief Economist Nariman Behravesh said.

“Once again the US is a locomotive of global growth, the dollar is resurgent and US oil production is set to be the highest in the world,” he said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

“Everyone right now is talking about the impact of the oil price plunge,” Behravesh said.

The 67 per cent drop in oil prices

in 1985 and 1986 was trailed by a global boom. While three decades later the global environment is changed, and a boom may not be in the offing, the big drop in oil prices will help growth.

On BRICS, IHS said the deviation in the performance of the big developing markets is getting wider. IHS presumes the Russian economy to contract by 4 per cent this year and the moribund state of the Brazilian economy will continue.

The US growth will continue to be solid, in spite of weakness in other parts of the world and dropping oil prices. The US economy should be able to grow by 3 per cent in 2015 without too much trouble. “Strong domestic demand growth will, as it has in the past, provide a strong foundation and buffer for the US economy,” Behravesh said.

Tej Kohli, the Indian-born high-tech entrepreneur, global businessman and passionate philanthropist, called on the 500 business leaders, academics,

opinion formers, and politicians to stop peacocking and stress on the acute and global threat of youth unemployment. Tej Kohli made the observations at a summit for the Tej Kohli Foundation which is fervent about addressing the needs of the disadvantaged; in India its emphasis is on assisting to renovate sight to the 4.8 million blind Indians who could be cured through having corneal transplants.

President Abdelfattah Said Hussein Sisi of Egypt said that the many challenges Egypt faces will not distract him from the imperative of meeting the demands of the country’s twin revolutions.

In a special session, he told participants this entails completing the renewal of national institutions through parliamentary elections in March 2015, revitalizing the social contract through economic development, and addressing violence and extremism.

On Islam, Sisi echoed remarks he made recently at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. “Islam is a religion of tolerance yet over recent

years it has become associated with violence and extremism. It is time to stop and think and consider a religious discourse that sets aside the elements that can lead to misunderstanding. No one has the monopoly of truth and no one should believe their ideas are better than those of others,” he said.

The Co-Chairs of the Annual Meeting 2015 were: Hari S. Bhartia, Co-Chairman and Founder, Jubilant Bhartia Group, India; Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director, Oxfam International, United Kingdom; Katherine Garrett-Cox, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, Alliance Trust, United Kingdom; Young Global Leader Alumnus; Jim Yong Kim, President, The World Bank, Washington DC; Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman, Google, USA; and Roberto Egydio Setubal, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, Itaú Unibanco, Brazil.

The World Economic Forum has commended governments to measure minimum wages, trade union membership, investment in public services and corruption as part of an action plan for undertaking rising inequality.

The WEF has published 14 measures of inclusive growth as it responded to criticism that the assembly of 2,500 business leaders, academic and policymakers has become an exercise in hand-wringing about the gap between rich and poor.

Christine Lagarde, the Managing Director of the IMF, Pope Francis, Jim Kim, the president of the World Bank and Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of

England, are among those who have stressed the need to ensure that the fruits of economic progress are shared more equally. Carney will be taking part in a panel in Davos this week titled: “A richer world but for whom”.

Rick Samans, a member of the WEF board and a former economic adviser to Bill Clinton, said: “There is almost universal agreement about the direction that countries need to go in. It has almost become a mantra. We are coming up with concrete policy guidance.”

The WEF paper says governments should assess 14 yardsticks of progress under six pillars: education and skills; employment and labour compensation; asset building and business investment; corruption and rents; fiscal transfers; and basic services and infrastructure. Using the tool would allow policy makers to have a clearer sense of how well they were exploiting “available policy space across the full spectrum of levers”.

Overall the meeting has conversed security risks and challenges in the Middle East and other regions that are posed by terrorist organisations. It has further discussed the commenced and desired determinations for facing extremism and violence internationally through studying the possibility of cooperation between governments, the business community and the civil society to address the phenomenon of growing extremism and enable decision-makers to take into account the balance between civil liberties and security. The forum took place from 21-24 January.

mONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

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ANGOLA AT A GLANCE

Full Name: The Republic of AngolaPopulation: 20.2 million (According to UN, 2012)Capital: LuandaArea: 1.25 sq km (481,354 sq miles)Major Languages: Portuguese (official), Umbundu, Kimbundu, KikongoMajor Religion: ChristianityLife Expectancy: 50 years (Male), 53 years (Female)Currency: KwanzaMain Exports: Oil, Diamonds, Minerals, Coffee, Fish, TimberInternational Dialing Code: +244

economy grow by 10% annually, thus making it the fifth largest economy in Africa. 97% of exports and 80% of state revenues in Angola come from oil.

Although the country’s oil dependency poses some challenges too. Dependency on oil (95 percent of exports and 75 percent of budget revenues and near half of GDP in 2013) makes the country susceptible to volatility of oil prices. The country lacks human capital and proper infrastructure, and most of the wealth from oil is concentrated

The Republic of Angola, the seventh largest country in Africa is one of the major oil

producer in Africa. After gaining independence in 1975, Angola ranks among the world’s poorest countries, and is trying hard to tackle political and economic hardships left as a legacy of 27 years of civil war.

Despite of being one of Africa’s leading oil producer, most of the Angolan population live on less than US $1 per day. Oil exports and foreign loans have contributed to economic growth. The country is gradually building its infrastructure.

With vast mineral and petroleum reserves, the country’s economy has experienced a double digit growth since 1990s. Inspite of all this, Angola remains one of the poorest nations of the world, with majority of world’s population concentrated mostly in small sector of the population. Angola is also a member nation of the United Nations, OPEC, African Union, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, the Latin Union and the Southern African Development Community.

Rich in oil, diamonds, copper and gold, Angola’s financial system is managed by the National Bank of Angola and the Governor. Moving from a period of unrest due to the civil war to the fastest growing economy in Africa with average GDP growth of 20 per cent between 2005 and 2007, Angola’s economy has undergone huge transformations in the recent years.

Too much OilyThe South African nation has grown rapidly mainly thanks to oil. Oil and diamonds make upto 60 percent of the economy. Crude oil production expanded making its

gaining momentum. Tourism is also on the rise, but a lack of hotels and other accommodations make it an expensive place to stay. Thus there is a need for investments in the tourism sector. Angola has huge potential in manufacturing and labor market. Although setting up a business is not an easy task in the country, the government is working towards improving the business situation of the nation.

The nation’s GDP grew 5.1% in 2013, which are below the target figure, results of the 2014 are still awaited.

Need for DiversificationThe government is taking steps to improve the living conditions with large scale investments being made to provide better access to

ANGOLAANGOLA THE KUWAIT OF AFRICA

in a small sector of the country. The lack of infrastructure and human capital undermines competitiveness, makes the country heavily reliant on imports, creates income inequality and also hampers the growth of the non-oil sector.

Other AvenuesThe non-oil sectors have also started thriving in Angola. Banking, telecom, construction and retail sectors have started doing well. Manufacturing sector is also

Below the EarthRich in mineral resources, Angola has a huge potential in the mining sector. Iron ores, phosphate deposits, marble, granite and quartz reserves are present in abundance. These sectors are still unexplored, and can play and crucial role in the growth of the economy.

Angola’s extra GDP in the year 2013 came from the non-oil energy sector, agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing and construction. The projected growth for 2014 is 7.9% and it is expected to go up further to 8.8% in 2015.

The country also has huge potential in agriculture having the appropriate climate, soil and topography. Angola being appropriate for modern and large scale agriculture and production of wide variety of crops, and having vast underground resources of minerals and other resources, Angola has a huge potential to succeed in other sectors apart from oil.

electricity, water and transport. New foreign exchange currency laws and mining laws have been introduced to modernize financial sector and boost businesses. The authorities have also developed a vision to reduce poverty, the long term vision document entitled Angola Visão 2025. The need of the hour is to reduce the country’s dependency on oil, which will in turn help to stabilize the economy in times of meltdown in the oil and energy sector.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has also been actively involved in Angola. It has provided support to agriculture, environment, social (health and education), and water and sanitation sector.

MONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

BusinessBuzz 05

Canadian firm to open stevia plant in Rwanda

SWIFT will open two new offices in 2015 – in Accra, Ghana and Nairobi, Kenya – as a crucial part of its pan-Africa growth plans. From these offices, SWIFT will manage an expanded presence across the West and East Africa regions.

Christian Sarafidis, Deputy Chief Executive, EMEA, SWIFT, says: “These plans will be a significant milestone for our sub-Sahara business. They recognise Africa’s vibrant economic growth and future potential, and reflect SWIFT’s ongoing commitment to get closer to its customers in these crucial markets.”

SWIFT’s sub-Saharan Africa business, with its head office in Johannesburg, was established more than 30 years ago. In that time, Africa’s economies have changed beyond recognition and there is a growing need for SWIFT to expand to meet new client expectations and business opportunities. Hugo Smit, head of Sub-Sahara Africa, SWIFT, says: “The fact that Africa is rising is evident in various key economic indicators such as GDP growth, FDI and infrastructure investment growth. It is also corroborated by the growth in SWIFT traffic volumes. Such growth requires sound financial systems, securities systems and regulatory compliance. These are all areas where SWIFT can make an important contribution.

“SWIFT’s collaborative

Swift Announces Expansion Plans To Support Vibrant Business Growth in Sub-saharan Africa

approach and ability to offer solutions that benefit the entire community makes it a unique organisation. By opening offices in West and East Africa, we will not only be able to further improve our solution and services offering to customers but will be better placed to support local communities and the development of regional initiatives.”

Six of the ten fastest growing economies in the world are in Africa and economic growth in the sub-Saharan region is expected to rise from 4.7% in 2013 to 5.2% in 2014. Moreover, recent World Bank figures show that capital flows to sub-Saharan Africa have continued to rise, reaching an estimated 5.3% of regional GDP in 2013, significantly above the developing-country average of 3.9%. Recent data from SWIFT supports this trend and demonstrates that its business in Africa has outperformed the total growth of the SWIFT business

A Canadian-based Company, Stevia Life, is set to establish a Stevia processing plant in Rwanda. Stevia is a sweetener that comes from a plant and has no calories.

Plans are in advanced stages, according to Bruce Irambona, the General Manager of Stevia Life Rwanda. Irambona said the proposed site for the plant will be either Rulindo District or Kigali Special Economic Zone. The plant is expected to produce 500 tonnes of stevia per year. Irambona said a kilogramme will cost $150.

Stevia is a green, leafy plant originating from South America, mainly Paraguay, used as a natural sweetener in drinks and meals.

By November 2011, Rwanda’s stevia production per hectare was 1.3 tonnes and now it has reached 2 tonnes per hectare every three months under the pilot projects in Ngoma Sector, Rulindo District, Northern Province. The pilot project now covers 42 hectares and employs 250 people. In 2014, 100 tonnes of Stevia were exported to China. The price of dry stevia leaves in Rwanda is $1.5 to $2.6 per kilogramme, depending on the quality and quantity.

BMW brings Connected Drive come to Africa in March 2015 When the BMW i3 and BMW i8 go on sale in South Africa in March 2015 they will have a built-in connection to the Internet. The new BM vehicles will come with a built-in communications box into which a SM card is inserted and the service is called Connected Drive. These on-board Internet services will add to the overall demand for data. BMW suggests that 2015 it will have 5 million of these connected cars globally. The standard Intelligent Emergency Call system offers precise vehicle location and the technology can be used with a different package to gauge the severity of the accident. The TeleServices monitors the car’s data from fluid levels to brake pads. Drivers can establish a connection with their car and using their phone and Remote Services activate functions in the car. From July 2015 it will be possible to buy ConnectedDrive on a monthly or annual basis. The BMW ConnectedDrive Services will be the prerequisite for the additional services RTTI, Internet, Concierge and Remote Services. The pricing will be R4,500 / 3 years and standard on the BMW 5, 6 & 7 Series as well as the BMW X5 and X6. Pricing for the RTTI option is R1, 900 for 3 years and standard with the BMW 6 and 7 Series. Pricing for the BMW Remote Services will be R650 and will be offered as standard with the BMW 6 and 7 Series. Pricing for the BMW Internet Service will be R1,300 / 1 year and will also be standard with the BMW 6 and 7 Series. The pricing for the Concierge Services will be R3,200 / 3 years and standard with the BMW 6 and 7 Series. The system can also detect car accidents, so if someone's incapacitated and can't reach out for help, Verizon Vehicle will automatically send emergency assistance.

The system is up for preorder now at about $15 per month with a two-year contract ($13 for each additional vehicle). Verizon values the equipment at $120, but it's free with the contract. Its debut is slated for around late March 2015.

Balancingact- Africa

globally. In 2014 eleven countries in Africa experienced traffic growth of above 20% and six countries saw traffic grow by more than 30%; in the same period. As a reflection of the strong economic growth across the continent, the rise in payment traffic over the SWIFT network has been very strong. Volumes rose by almost 22% in Africa versus 8% total growth worldwide.

“Payments remain a major focus for SWIFT in sub-Saharan Africa and there is great support from policy makers, central banks and commercial banks for further development of financial market infrastructures. These help to make the intra-regional payments space more competitive, open the way for new products and services to be offered by participating financial institutions and reduce the need for foreign financial intermediation,” says Smit.

SWIFT has been working closely with the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) on its development of the SIRESS payment system. The third phase went live in September, meaning that almost 70 commercial banks in nine countries are now participating in the system. Transaction volumes as well as values over the system are

exceeding expectations and continue to rise. SWIFT is also working with other regions towards their plans for regional payment systems, including the West African Monetary Zone and the East African Payment System. Another crucial area for SWIFT is the securities markets. Outside a handful of countries such as South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, most national securities markets are at a relatively early stage of development. There is huge potential to unlock greater local and intra-regional investment through the use of standardised and harmonised financial market infrastructure.

“With the right financial infrastructure in place and through industry collaboration, Africa has a great opportunity to improve the liquidity and efficiency of its capital markets, leading to cheaper equity funding and greater risk sharing for the continent’s expanding corporates. Robust and efficient securities markets will continue to support foreign investment but also encourage higher levels of intra-African investment. This is good for companies and investors,” says Ian Bessarabia, Head of Business Development, Sub-Sahara Africa, SWIFT. Sarafidis concludes:

“The Sub-Saharan Africa region continues to outpace SWIFT’s global business in terms of traffic volume growth. This fully supports our plans to expand SWIFT’s presence on the continent. Most importantly, we are excited about the potential to grow our business here and further increase the African region’s contribution to the global organisation.”

Modern Ghana

Christian Sarafidis, Deputy Chief Executive, EMEA, SWIFt

Jean Marie Vianney Munyaneza, Agriculture Diversification and Product Development Division Manager at the National Agriculture Export Board (Naeb), said for the stevia processing plant to be set up in Rwanda, there was need to increase the acreage to at least 1,000 hectares. SteviaLife has committed to provide all required inputs, including seedlings, fertilisers and nursery breeding, and Naeb will facilitate implementation.

According to Naeb and SteveLife figures, a stevia farmer can harvest about six tonnes per hectare per year. Stevia plant grows better in areas with reliable rainfall of 1,800 mm per year and alternate sunny and rainy seasons as well as at an altitude of 1,650 and above.

Irambona said trials from 2013

showed that the quality of Rwanda grown stevia was high as it has 14 per cent of rebaudioside A at the very start while some countries have 12 per cent, the minimum percentage. The countries of origin of the plant, like Paraguay, can contain up to 17-18 per cent.

Authoritynutrition.com, a site that helps people make informed decisions about their health, states that Stevia reduces elevated blood pressure, a major risk factor for many serious diseases like heart disease, stroke and kidney failure.

As people become more conscious about the use of ordinary sugar, the use of stevia is gaining momentum. Irambona said more people will embrace Stevia within three years.

New Times

mONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

fRaNkLY sPeaKinG06

By kirit soBti, editor, iateditor@indoafricatimes.com

Have you experienced love at first bite? None of us is unfamiliar to temptation, but nothing makes it vibrant how a strong craving and desire can be felt with a smoother, creamier and chunkier delight. The first thing that bangs you is the tingly tongue sensational chocolate. And when most people think of chocolate, Swiss confectionery houses and Belgian pralines bounce to mind. It’s a colorful scene. But it’s also not the reality.

That chocolate bar you are usually unwrapping from its tickly silver foil perhaps comes from Africa. Cocoa is full-grown in several areas but production is focused in West Africa, specifically Côte d'Ivoire (the world’s largest producer), Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon, which together signify more than 70% of world cocoa production. Togo, Sierra Leone and Liberia produce some amount of cocoa.

It develops from the seeds (cocoa beans) of the cocoa fruits (cocoa pods), which cultivate on cocoa trees. The production of cocoa starts out in the tropical regions around the Equator where the hot and humid climate is well suited to rising cocoa trees.

In some countries of West Africa such as Ivory Coast and Ghana, up to 90% of the farmers depend on on cocoa for their main income. No other country comes to mind more than Ghana when one think of cocoa. And Ghana cannot be thought of without reference to its cocoa sector, which offers livelihoods for over 700,000 farmers in the southern tropical belt of the country. It goes forward to be one of Ghana’s main exports and has been central to its discussions on development, reforms and poverty alleviation policies since independence in 1957.

Recently, the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has furnished $350m to support cocoa processing in Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon and plans a further $400m cash boost in future. The Bank signed a MoU with the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO) to boost the African cocoa sector.

Nigeria is amongst the top cocoa producers in the world, however, due to raw high exports the country reaps far less than it should.

Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria's Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, says that in the 60s

THE DARK FANTASY

GIlbERT KONE KAFANA Minister for Labour and Social Affairs, Ivory Coast

STEpHEN SEmbUyACEO and Co-Founder, Pink Food Industries

A local Ugandan company has now introduced chocolate manufactured in the country itself in Uganda’s market. Till now, the chocolate available in most supermarkets in Uganda were made in Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, Malaysia and Turkey. These chocolates were very expensive, costing atleast 20,000 shillings ($7.25, 5.90 euros), thus making chocolate a luxury in Uganda. "When you were growing up and you had a parent or relative going out of the country, you would always tell them 'you bring me chocolate’," Pink Foods CEO and co-founder Stephen Sembuya said. The company, Pink Foods Industries, is providing chocolates to the Uganda market since May 2014. They are selling chocolates through social media. Pink Food’s main customers include restaurants in Kampala which use the chocolate to make desserts. Also, these chocolates are made available at a comparatively lesser price of 5,000 shillings ($1.80, 1.48 euros). The company was started by Sembuya and Okuye, both friends. The duo is satisfied with the reception of its products in the Ugandan market. Although they were caught by surprise when they started receiving orders from a Swiss factory. "We realized that what we were doing is not as ordinary as maybe we thought it was," said Okuye, adding they've also sold to South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Turkey and Britain. Other African nations are also keen on partnering with Pink Foods so as to provide cheap chocolate to their population. "People are eager to know this kind of chocolate coming from Uganda," said Okuye,"Ghana's interest was so amazing, they were asking even to be agents." The biggest challenge the two friends faced in this startup was the raising of capital, “"Cocoa is very, very expensive to process," said Sembuya.”The would-be financing institutions, mainly the commercial banks, understand one thing: a business with a history, not a business that is starting. Our plan is for the price to come down when we go to large production." Around 100 farmers grow the cocoa which is used by Pink Foods in making its chocolates. The production of cocoa is around 10kg or 400 bars per day. The farmers in Uganda although producing cocoa since generations have never had the opportunity to taste a chocolate. Okuye said, "When we gave our farm manager the first product to taste his face was so amazing, he was saying 'really this is coming out from what we are doing?'"

"The taste of the chocolate and the taste that is familiar to him with the cocoa from the pods is two different things. The foreigners have a higher affinity with a bit of bitter chocolate, whereas Ugandans seem to have a sweet tooth."

This chocolate is made in Uganda

the chocolate companies have a duty to engage with us. We need to build roads, schools, hospitals and social Centres anything that would allow Ivory Coast to progress. this development is necessary for farmers to have a good life, and it is in the interest of the industry to work with us.

No other country comes to mind more than Ghana when one think of cocoa. And Ghana cannot be thought of without reference to its cocoa sector, which offers livelihoods for over 700,000 farmers in the southern tropical belt of the country.

and 70s Nigeria had one of the top cocoa industries. And even though they are still one of the highest cocoa producers they don’t gain full pay back as they export most of it.

“You see the value of cocoa beans is roughly about 10 billion dollars, but the value addition even just from chocolate alone is more than 100 billion dollars. That tells you that we’re only getting a fragment, a small proportion, of the total value,” said Aganga.

Aganga says as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, in order for the country to reach economic and revenue diversification they cannot rely predominantly on oil.

Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwunmi Adesina, says that one of the important fundamentals needed for Nigeria to become a worldwide player in the cocoa industry is concise planning.

“The plan has a clear strategy that we are going to raise our cocoa production as a country from 250 thousand metric tons annually to about 500 thousand metric tons by 2015,” he said.

Adesina says the strategy includes looking at how the country can add value to the cocoa industry, producing products such as cocoa butter, liquor and chocolate.

“The size of that market (chocolate) is over 80 billion dollars every year. Farmers of West Africa don’t get more than three to six per cent of that market. Where Europe and the United States, who don’t grow it, make most of the money,” said Adesina.

“I mean I love chocolate but I’d rather have Nigerian chocolates than the ones that I buy in Switzerland,” he added.

At the same time concerns are raising that the Harmattan wind blowing across Cộte d’Ivoire and Ghana as well as Nigeria could diminish the size of this season’s cocoa crops in those countries continue to fortify the market.

A strengthening of the seasonal wind that brings dry, dusty air from the Sahara typically from December to March across parts of West Africa has elevated apprehension that it is harmful to the cocoa trees.

Cocoa prospects on New York’s ICE came under pressure recently amidst a securer dollar in contradiction of a basket of currencies. A stronger dollar makes dollar-based cocoa more costly in other currencies. Nevertheless, London cocoa, which trades in sterling, benefited from a weaker UK pound against the dollar.

New York March cocoa touched a low of $2,888 a tonne on Jan. 6, before cutting down losses to finish at $2,902 a tonne, down $42 on the day. London cocoa for May delivery dipped to £1,991 a tonne before settling at £2,000 a tonne, a £12 loss on the day, but a £13 gain on the week so far. New York March cocoa had finished at $2,944 a tonne.

If few chocolate lovers recognize the hard work that goes into making their preferred delight, even fewer hard-toiling cocoa bean farmers get to relish the sweet fruits of their toil.

When you were growing up and you had a parent or relative going out of the country, you would always tell them 'you bring me chocolate’, our present price is quite good, low compared to the imported chocolate.

Get your Passports Handy, and Unwrap the World of Chocolate

MONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

traVeL&touRism 07

Set up in 1966, Chandigarh is the first planned city of India and is known worldwide for its architecture and

planned city design. Lush green well planned public places, the most happening party spots with swanky malls and multiplexes, and the only union territory to have an international cricket stadium, this is how Chandigarh is known to most of India. Bordered by the states of Punjab and Haryana, the city is a blend of both. The city is also the first smoke-free city in India.

The city was designed by Swiss architect Le Corbusier, who imagined the city with sweeping boulevards, lakes and gardens and grand civic buildings. Thus, the city came into being in and the architecture still stands the test of time.

For tourists, Chandigarh is the place India like to be seen- prosperous, comfortable and cosmopolitan. The city is also the best place to party, eat, drink and shop.

Sharing borders with the state of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh is situated at the foothills of Shivalik mountain ranges.

The union territory experiences humid subtropical climate: very hot summers, mild winters, unreliable

rainfall and great variation in temperature (-1°C to 46°C).

Majority of the city is covered by dense plantations of banyan and eucalyptus. The city also has forests surrounding it where many animal and plant species like deer, sambars, barking deer, parrots, woodpeckers and other migratory birds could be found.

Gardens, Lakes and City Centers…Chandigarh is famous for its gardens, manmade lakes and well-designed city centers. It is a place for nature lovers, historians, architects or simply tourists who want to enjoy the luxury of urban life. Must visit places in the city include:

Sukhna Lake Le Corbusier’s greatest creation, the lake is among the most beautiful places in Chandigarh. A man-made lake, created by damming the water from Shivalik Hills, the lake is the place that draws people for its peace and quiet.

Rock Garden This place is identical to Chandigarh. Created out of industrial waste, rocks and concrete. Created by artist Nek Chand, the gardens are located on a conserved land. It is said that Nek Chand, the creator of this garden used to work on it in his free time and it wasn’t before 1970’s that the garden

was discovered.

Zakir Hussain Rock Garden Housing some 1,600 varieties of roses, this garden is a must visit for nature lovers. Established in 1967, the garden houses more than 17,000 plants including medicinal plants. It is also one of Asia’s largest rose garden.

National Gallery of Portraits A galore of portraits, speeches, writings and texts of India’s freedom struggle, National Gallery of Portraits is a favourite for history lovers. It houses photographs, recording and an incredible collection of books on freedom movement.

Pinjore Gardens The massive garden was established in the 17th century by architect Nawab Fidai Khan, and later refurbished by Maharaja Yadavindra Singh. It is laid out on seven terraces and gives a royal experience to the tourists. One can take the train which takes tourists to various places in the garden or explore the place on foot.

The Capitol The visionary architect, Le Corbusier envisioned Chandigarh as a living being with different centers representing its body parts. The capitol was thus designed to function as the head of the city, with Shivalik ranges in the north. It houses the High Court

of Chandigarh, also known as the Palace of Justice, the Secretariat known as the Palace of Ministries and Legislative Assembly called the Palace of Assembly.

Food Lover’s DelightNo trip to the beautiful city is complete without experiencing its diverse gastronomic culture. People in the city are big time foodies, and the food habits are mostly influenced by Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh’s food is conventionally spicy and made with lots of oil and ghee. Makkee ki Roti, stuffed paranthas, chana bhaturas and the world famous tandoori chicken are among the famous food items from Chandigarh.

The people of Chandigarh are also very fond of milk and milk based products. Lassi, buttermilk and curd are widely consumed with meals. Like any other Indian city, Chandigarh also has its unique sweets. Roh di Kheer, Jaleb, Malpua and Ballushahi are some of the mouthwatering sweet dishes from Chandigarh and are a must try for foodies.

Chandigarh has everything of modern India, it is fashionable, happening, vibrant, beautiful, comfortable and peaceful, and here the radiance of nature and heart are within our reach.

BASIC FACTSName : Chandigarh Country : IndiaEstablished : November 1, 1966Area : 114 km2

Population : 9,00,635 (2001 Census)

Literacy : 81.9%Language : Hindi, Punjabi, English

mONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

taLkiNGtecHnoLoGy08

Experience a world of innovations and explore the avenue of sourcing the

best of IT products & solutions for the growth of your enterprise including Mobile Application Services, Cloud Computing, SAAS, Big Data Management, KPO, BPO, LPO, e-security, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment, Bio Informatics, Engineering Design, Travel, Hotel, Hospitality, Logistics, Transportation, Educational, Pharma, e Governance, and much more... under one roof.

The exclusive bazaar will have over 150 Indian IT companies catering a host of solutions with value additions, three dimensional growth in skills, technology and expertise.

The organizers, Electronics and Computer Software Export

Promotion Council, (ESC) India's apex ICT export promotion organisation will host around 400 IT buyers from plus 75 countries converging for business networking and creating a WIN WIN situation by providing a unique business opportunity to both global buyers and Indian exhibitors to interact and forge business alliances, strategic networking, joint ventures, business tie ups.

INDIA IT SHOW 2015 will facilitate building of competencies by providing Indian participants an in-depth understanding about technology, market development and demand dynamics which assists in strengthening their foothold globally. The 15th high tech edition of INDIA IT SHOW will be visited by global IT fraternity including Latin America,

Africa, CIS, ASEAN, SAARC, North America, Europe, Japan, Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, etc.

A truly B2B landmark event which will delight the participants, exhibitors and delegates with its persona and character.

The Indian software industry has brought a paradigm change in the global information technology (IT) landscape in recent years. Among the IT segments, software and services have emerged as the fastest growing sector of India’s exports. India has been instrumental in sharply shifting the fundamentals of the digital economy away from commodities to technology and value added services. Software exports from India have of late drawn significant attention around the world. Many countries are realising that they could considerably reduce their

overall project costs by sourcing software from India, which is capable of providing total solutions in a host of sectors of the economy.

To meet the global aspirations of Indian software industry, the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC) has created a brand INDIASOFT, a unique global networking international IT event comprising of both exhibition and conference. INDIASOFT is meant to create awareness about the capabilities and core competencies of Indian Software and Services Industry and to facilitate joint ventures, collaboration and strategic alliances for outsourcing with overseas buyers.

INDIASOFT would sharply focus on major industry segments that require software and services such as Business Services, Communications, Entertainment & IT, Finance, Banking & Insurance, Government & Public Services, Logistics & Distribution, Manufacturing, Oil, Gas & Mining, Retail Businesses, Educational & Scientific Institutions, Travel & Transport, IT Training etc. Therefore, the horizon of doing business at INDIASOFT is fairly well-spread and wide.

Till now, ESC has organized 14 editions successfully in various IT hubs of India. The Council is organizing the 15th edition of INDIASOFT series called INDIA IT SHOW 2015 on 12th and 13th February, 2015 at New Delhi, India. Around 150 Indian IT companies will be displaying a world of innovations and plus 400. IT buyers from over 70 countries are expected to visit INDIA IT SHOW

2015 to forge business alliances, market tie –ups, etc. More details are available at the exclusive website < www.indiasoft.org >.

INDIA IT SHOW 2015 - Experience a world of innovations and explore the avenue of sourcing the best of IT products & solutions for the growth of your enterprise including Mobile Application Services, Cloud Computing, SAAS, Big Data Management, KPO, BPO, LPO, e-security, Banking, Finance, Insurance, Telecommunications, Media & Entertainment, Bio Informatics, Engineering Design, Travel, Hotel, Hospitality, Logistics, Transportation, Educational, Pharma, e Governance, and much more... under one roof. It will facilitate building of competencies by providing Indian participants an in-depth understanding about technology, market development and demand dynamics which assists in strengthening their foothold globally. The 15th high tech edition of INDIA IT SHOW will be visited by global IT fraternity including Latin America, Africa, CIS, ASEAN, SAARC, North America, Europe, Japan, Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, etc.

A truly B2B landmark event which will delight the participants, exhibitors and delegates with its persona and character. Electronics & Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), the organizer of this show is India’s apex trade promotion organisation which is entrusted to facilitate India’s electronics and information technology exports to global markets. As a link between the Government and member exporter, ESC provides a platform for interaction on policy issues.

INDIA IT SHOW 2015A MUST VISIT DESTINATION FOR THE GROWTH OF YOUR ENTERPRISE

MONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

trysomethiNGNeW 09UPCOMING

The more you know, the higher you are likely to go in life.

tHougHt oFtHe WeeK

India Stonemart

India Stonemart is a 4 day event being held from 29th January to the 1st February 2015 at the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre in Jaipur, India. this event showcases products like Stones, Machineries, tools & Consumables etc. in the Building Construction, Natural Stones industries.

Date: 29 Jan-01 Feb 2015 Venue: Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre, Jaipur, India.

India Art Fair

India Art Fair is an event that aims to promote the emerging Indian art market. this event boasts of having quality art on display and draws visitors from not only India but from all across the world. In the last edition, this event was a roaring success when hundred thousand visitors from 17 cities in India and 67 cities from all across the world visited the event and around 84 galleries exhibited from 20 countries. this event therefore is one of the most premium events for the Indian art market. India Art Fair will arrange for special sessions where renowned experts from the art world will hold discussions on key issues that are of prime importance today in the global art scenario.

Date: 29 Jan-01 Feb 2015 Venue: NSIC Exhibition Complex, New Delhi, India.

Annual Conference of Paediatric Society

the Annual Conference of Paediatric Society, organized by the Dreamz Conference Management Pvt. Ltd will take place from 29th January to the 1st February 2015 at the the Grand Hotel New Delhi in New Delhi, India. the conference will cover areas like Paediatric Hip” and majority would agree that the hip, although regularly featuring in several similar forums still remains an extremely important topic to deliberate and discuss about.

Date: 29 Jan-01 Feb 2015 Venue: The Grand Hotel, New Delhi, India.

INTERNATIONAL PLASTICS EXHIBITION & CONFERENCE

It is a 6 day event. this event showcases products like the Exhibition will showcase the latest technological developments in the field. It will also offer a world of exciting global technological know-how, consulting and joint venture opportunities. the focus will be on exploration, innovation, expansion and co-operation etc. in the Household Consumables industry.

Date: 29 Jan-03 Feb 2015 Venue: The Exhibition Center, Coimbatore, India.

prepration Method1. Preheat oven to 400°F.

2. Mix the garlic granules, onion powder, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper in a small container.

3. One at a time, brush the pita breads with olive oil, cut into 8 wedges (same pattern as cutting a pie or a pizza). Kitchen shears makes this step easy.

4. Arrange the pita wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet, and sprinkle with the seasoning mix.

5. Bake in a 400F oven for 7 to10 minutes.

Handy French1. Come with me! Viens avec moi!/ Venez avec moi! (polite).

2. What do you need? De quoi avez-vous besoin?

3. I need some information. J’ai besoin de renseignements.

4. I would like some coffee. Je voudrais du café.

5. Is there a public phone here? Y a-t-il un téléphone public ici?

BenefiTs of indian GOOSEBErry (AmLA)it is a translucent fruit with many therapeutic benefits. it's considered to be one of the most important plants in ayurvedic medicine and is a unique balance of sour, sweet, pungent and bitter. it's rich in Vitamin C and also loaded with a range of polyphenols, Polyphenols are antioxidants that prevent damage to free radicals in the body and fight different types of cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

bOOSTS HAIR GROWTHAmla is rich in iron and has antioxidants which reduce hair loss by not allowing free radicals to damage hair follicles. Amla also enhances hair growth and prevents premature graying. Eating fresh amla or applying its paste to the roots of your hair improves both growth and color.

ImpROVES EyESIGHTStudies have shown that eating amla improves eye health, cataracts and also reduces intraocular tension which is the pressure you feel in the

The classic pump. Think of these as the Little Black Dress (LBD) of the shoe world. They usually go with everything under the sun, are perfect for work and play and could there be an easier way to take your look from day to night? Invest in two pairs, one black because black can do no wrong and one nude to lengthen your legs and make you feel like a Greek goddess. You can go for rounded or pointy tips and as high or low as you’d like!

ballet flats. The most fun part is the endless choices you have with styles, materials and colours. Really, the sky is your limit! Speaking of sky, ballet flats really do make you feel like you’re walking on a cloud, don’t they? If that doesn’t make this a type of shoe every woman should own, we don’t know what does.

Riding boots. Nothing looks as chic as a white tee, a pair of jeans, a leather jacket and riding boots! So go out there and get yourself a pair in black...and maybe one in chestnut brown too.

His Excellency Idriss Raoua OUEDRAOGO in a conversation with General (Retd) V.K. Singh, the Minister of State of External Affairs of the Government of India discussing ways to boost and reinforce bilateral relations between Burkina Faso and India

pICTURE OF THE WEEK

eye. High level of carotene present in amla is known to improve vision related conditions.

ImpROVES DIGESTIONAmla is high in fiber and helps in regularizing bowel movement. It reduces constipation and stimulates the secretion of gastric juices. It also improves digestion and allows for more nutrient absorption.

DIAbETES mANAGEmENTAmla is rich in chromium which is therapeutic for diabetic patients. It stimulates insulin production which

ingredients » 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic granules » 1 teaspoon onion powder » 2 teaspoons oregano » 1 teaspoon paprika » 3/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper » 1/2 teaspoon salt » 1 -2 tablespoon olive oil » 6 pita breads (6 inches)

helps in reducing blood glucose levels. Chromium also enhances the effect of beta-blocker and thereby helps in reducing LDL cholesterol which is the bad cholesterol. It improves appetite

IT pREVENTS AGEINGHigh antioxidants in amla prevent cells from free radical damage.

REDUCES INFECTIONS Amla has antibacterial and astringent attributes which means it helps in increasing a person's immunity and protects the body from various infections.

SAvORY PITA CHIPS aFRiCan Cuisine

all of africa was colonized by foreign powers during

the “ scramble for africa”, except ethiopia and Liberia.

Wedges. What better way to show off your pedicure than with a pair

of comfy yet glamorous wedge heels. They are so easy to

walk in, look fantastic with practically anything and

are the best of both worlds. Do we need

any more reasons to label this a type

of shoe every woman should have?

Sandals. Flip-flops are perfectly fine for the beach and a few other places

but when you’re out and about, a pair of sandals look so much nicer. A great lazy day look is a slouchy tee, shorts and thong sandals. Pure bliss!

A statement pair. These are also called “happy shoes” and are basically just an outrageous pair that transform an otherwise boring outfit into...well, a statement outfit! They may not go with most #things you own but that’s the point. Whether it’s a floral pair or a pair with polka dots, studs, animal print or just something in a blinding

neon colour, a statement shoe has the ability to lift your spirits up and turn a bad day around. It’s almost as good as a cupcake!

Oxford shoes. If sneakers are not your style, here’s a wonderful alternative. There’s just something about a pair of Oxford shoes! Maybe it’s the vintage look they exude, or their masculine vibe or how they look just as fabulous on a dress as they do on a pair of pants. Oh they are pure magic and every woman needs a pair!

in Her sHoes !!

mONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

thefasHionistas10Raquel’s cupid party celebrates 5th anniversary

Lexis Bill and Star Initiate Xfitness CampaignThis past weeakend saw celebrities and journalists participating in activities of fitness and wellness towards staying healthy and fit for the year 2015.

This comes as an initiative from Mr. Kwame Sakyiamah, a.k.a Lexis Bill, of Joy FM and host of “Drive Time show. Obssessed with creating awareness about the apparent increase in cardiovascular related deaths, especially of young people, Lexis launched the 2015 fitness campaig.

Speaking in an interview with the paper, Lexis Bill observed that, this is his personal initiative towards a promoting wellness for Ghanaians, especially young individuals to be exercise cautious.

“Most young people died last year through High Blood Pressure. Exercise is a means of living a healthy life style. Everybody needs to be pushed to take a step forward towards being motivated to take up exercise as their life style.” he stressed.

Mr. Bill said that, the initiative is an annual campaign which would be in collaboration with corporate Ghana.

It would be recalled that last year saw prestigious celebrities in various professions lost their lives as a result of cardiac arrest and it is a wakeup call for Ghanaians to invest in their life styles.

The Ghanaian Chronicle

Tigo Tanzania tunes into needs of music loversEast African telco Tigo Tanzania has announced the launch of a music streaming service that will provide Tigo customers access to over 36 million songs. According to a statement Tigo Music provides access to unlimited music to customer's smartphones and was formed in partnership with Deezer.

Tigo brand manager, William Mpinga said through pre-paid data bundles from January 24, Tigo customers will be able to access more than 36 million tracks, including African and Tanzanian artists. Mpinga added that Tigo would also be sourcing new and local content through a new venture with the digital music company, Africa Music Rights, which funds, acquires and manages music rights across the African continent.

In the statement Mpinga said Tigo Music would allow local artists the opportunity to earn

Ghana Hosts Mercedes-Benz Fashion FestivalSomeworld fashion designers are expected in Ghana as Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival, one of the most celebrated fashion events in the world, gets underway in Accra this May.

Ghanaian company Global Ovations Group has got the fran-chise to stage the Africa version of the event in Ghana this year.

It is anticipated that this event will bring some of the names that matter in world fash-ion to Ghana.

Mercedes-Benz Africa Fashion Festival 2015 is the best place to see the world's most innovative fashion brands under a meticu-lous set up with unprecedented media coverage and more within just four days,' Gideon Raji, CEO of Global Ovations Group, announced on Monday.

With the idea of the 'global community' in mind, the 2015 edition of the event is dubbed 'The World Edition'', and fashion designers from across the world will be converging in Accra to cele-brate fashion on a global platform.

Modern Ghana

Organizers of the prestigious Vodafone Ghana Music Awards Festival, Charterhouse, has announced it is inviting musical works for this year’s competition.

This year’s event is the 16th edition and the orgnizers are inviting works from musicians and record labels that were released between January 1st to December 31st 2014 for nominations for the

The ‘RAQUEL’S CUPID PARTY’ is back again and this year it’s going to be even BIGGER with EXPLOSIVE performances from Raquel plus more, this year the songbird Celebrates the 5TH anniversary .The ‘Raquel’s Cupid Party’ has been selling out more and more each year and happens every 14TH February (Valentine’s Day) at the +233 Jazz Bar and Grill. It’s the one show that Patrons fly from various Countries just to attend. It welcomes all age groups of age, Couples, Single’s, Friends, and Families etc. Each year; the ticket comes with Chocolate’s, Exclusive Condoms, Champaign, Wine, Chops, A full course meal, Flowers on order, CD’s and a soft or energy drink, as well as a night of Love songs, Live Band Music and Comedy.

Each year has seen a different set of Celebrities; Stephanie Benson, Okyeame Kwame, EL, Trigmatic, Sarkodie, Sandra Huson, Ofie Kudjo and more. This year is definitely going to be a successful one as Raquel keeps us in suspense of all the goodies that will be offered. This show is one not to miss!!!Modern Ghana

extra payment from their songs listened to through the service.

"Tigo Tanzania is a company built on innovation. We are excited to be the first telecommunication company in Tanzania to give our customers such access to unlimited music," he said.

"As a digital lifestyle brand, our goal is to impact the music industry by providing a platform that not only allows for easy access to content by local artists, but also train our musicians on important issues such as intellectual property rights and marketing. This is our way of supporting local talent and growing the local music industry." he added.

The introduction of Tigo Music in Tanzania follows the success of its launch in Ghana in 2014 and Latin America in 2013.

Balancing Act- Africa

event which will be held in April 2015.

A statement from the

organizers said: “Artistes and artiste’s managers are advised to download the nomination forms from the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards website – www.ghanamusicawards.com or pick up the forms from Charterhouse office at North Industrial Area.”

“All completed entries should be submitted to the offices of Charterhouse,” the oranizers added.

This year, the general public has been given the opportuity to also nominate their favorite artistes and songs by downloading nomination forms from the event website www.ghanamusicawards.com and submitting thereafter.

“This will give artistes the

2015 Vodafone Ghana Music awards Call for nominations

opportunity for their musical works to be considerd for nomination for the 16th edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.

Deadline for submission of entries is February 1, 2015,” the statement said.

The Ghanaian Chronicle

MONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

Women football league due Jan 31The national women football league is set to kick off on January y 31 according to Felicite Rwemalika, the head of women football in the country.

Thirteen teams will take part in the six-month league. They include defending champions AS Kigali, Inyemera, Rambura, Yuvia, Bugesera, Rugende, Nyagatare, Freedom de Gacyenye, Kamonyi, Academic Girls, Atletico Huye , The Winners and Mutunda. Rwanda women football league is sponsored by Fifa through an annual grant of $70,000 (Rwf48 million).

However, Rwemalika says the money is not enough to cater for the teams throughout the season. He said they were exploring ways of securing additional sponsorship.

“We are supposed to cater for transport, meals as well as playing kit. We hope the corporate world will respond positively so as to build on Fifa’s support and help take women football in Rwanda to the next level,” Rwemalika said.

National women football league started in 2006.New Times

sPorts2WatCh 11

Group A of the 2015 African Cup of Nations was blown wide open when Congo beat Gabon 1-0 at the Bata Stadium.

A goal from Prince Oniangue three minutes after half time saw Congo to victory and to the top of Group A with four points.

Gabon have slipped to second place with three points while the goalless draw between Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso early in the day means the former are third with two points and the latter last with one point.

In essence any one of the four teams can still qualify for the knockout stages when they meet

AFCON 2015: Congo stun Gabon to blow open group A

on their group's last matchday on January 25.

Looking at the game between Gabon and Congo, the Gabonese side only have themselves to blame as they dominated the possession stakes and had the more shots on goal.

Football, however, is a cruel game and Gabon were made to pay for their numerous missed opportunities in front of goal.

Gabon stated their prowess as early as the fourth minute when a 25-yard shot from Frederic Wagha Bulot was tipped over the bar by the keeper.

On the 20 minute mark Gabon

created a great opening with their slick passing when Malick Evouna broke behind the defence, but he failed to beat the keeper in a one-on-one.

Five minutes before the break Levy Clement Madinda produced some wonderful skill as he dribbled his way past three Congo defenders only for his 14-yard shot to skim the wrong side of the upright.

The second half saw Gabon stunned early on after some poor defending at a corner-kick allowed Prince Oniangue to poke the ball home from a goalmouth scramble, 1-0.

That was about the only

2011 All Africa Games gold medalist Hermas Cliff Muvunyi is determined to strike more gold in the 11th All African Games slated for September 4–19 in Republic of Congo. Muvunyi was the only athlete to win two medals in the 2011 All Africa games in Maputo, Mozambique after grabbing gold in the men’s 400m-T46 and silver in 800m-T46 category, respectively.

“I always work to be a better athlete, I’m feeling really fine and training very hard to not only retain the gold medal I won in 2011 but also land another gold in 800m-T46,” Muvunyi said adding that he has fully recovered from the knee

Muvunyi keen on All Africa Games gloryinjury he suffered recently . The 26-year old, who is widely regarded as one of the best athletes in the

country, is also set for the 6th IPC World championships qualifiers in Tunisia due March 19-26. The 6th edition of the IPC World championships will be held from October 22-31, 2015 at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar. The 2015 All Africa games will also be used as the occasion to mark the 50th anniversary of the Games, as well as their return to Brazzaville, which hosted the first edition in 1965. Muvunyi will be competing in All Africa Games for the third consecutive time after his debut during the 9th edition in 2007 in Alger, Algeria.

New Times

significant attack Congo mustered in the entire match, but they made it count, unlike Gabon who continued to waste chance after chance in front of goal.

In the 58th minute Levy Clement Madinda came close to equalising with a powerful 30-yard shot, but it sailed over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later Frederic Wagha Bulot missed a sitter from 16-yards out as he skewed his shot wide with an empty net at his mercy. It was not to be for Gabon who only have themselves to blame as the game ended 1-0 in favour of Congo.

Modern Ghana

mONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015

eNCouNteR WitH eDitor12

Owner / Publisher / Editor: Mr. Kirit Sobti from 3rd Floor, Plot No. 3, Block PSP-IV, Service Centre Opp. Sector-11 (Extn.), Rohini, Delhi-85Printed at LIPEE SCAN PVT. LTD. 89 DSIDC SHED Okhala Phase 1, New Delhi

Africa has huge potentials in the energy sector, but somehow these potentials have not been banked upon properly. With more and more investors around the world interested in investing in renewable and clean energy how does this forum intend to attract investors to Africa and put Africa on the global energy map?

Africa has been of interest to the foreign markets for years. The Africa Future Energy Forum will attract key stakeholders including foreign investors to explore opportunities in all aspects of generating future energy. The forum is unique as it will offer a platform for open discourse across sectors and groups without focusing on ideological debate on public versus private investment or fossil fuel versus renewable energy. While dealing with the specific energy issues, the forum ultimately aims to catalyse the new energy paradigm that can serve as a basis for sustainable growth of Africa.

Africa faces huge gaps in investment and infrastructure, which hinders the growth of the energy sector. What are the main concerns that need to be addressed to help Africa sustain and increase its capacity in producing?

Some of the main concerns are: » Lack of access to electricity. Progress

towards this goal has been very slow. It

is estimated that USD 228 billion worth investments are needed to allow universal access to electricity

» Lack of development towards transport and information and communication technologies which hinders investments into the energy sector

» Lack of investing in their own economies » Local stakeholders and governments in

many countries are realizing this and working towards this goal.

Among other problems, large scale unemployment is also a major concern in Africa. A boost to the energy sector may mean availability of jobs. Does this forum plan to address this issue?

The forum brings together major stakeholders from policy makers, technology providers, financers and project developers along with end-users. We are trying to build this as an annual platform for developing and moving forward on key projects. More projects and more innovations create more opportunities and in turn more jobs.

Many African nations deal with the problems of insurgency, extremism and terrorism and other safety issues. Is it safe for investors to invest in Africa?

Security remains an ongoing issue in the region. Despite this issues, there are substantial

investments into the region not only in energy but also in other sectors. The governments are playing a vital role in realizing this as a major hindrance and are making security and good governance one of the top priorities for the respective countries.

We should not see Africa as a block with the above issues since there are pockets that are unsafe or face challenges to deal with and at the same time there are many places in the continent that are very secure and that are ready to take advantage of the investments and development opportunities that are there. Those countries that are facing challenges of insecurity, investors cannot wait to address this challenge completely. This can be done simultaneously Average growth across the continent was just under 5 % in 2014 and is projected to touch 6 % in 2015.

What opportunities will the forum provide to businesses interested in entering the energy sector in the African continent?

The forum is a platform to connect with people who drive energy policy, technology and business forward in Africa. For those exploring opportunities to enter the energy sector, the forum gives an overall insight into different areas of future energy as well as access to major financers of projects. The forum also brings NGO’s to give their perspective of the energy sector that would in turn foster CSR activities.

CATAlYSING THE NEw ENERGY PARADIGM

Mr. Ajay Bhojwani Managing Director, MCI Middle East, Dubai

The transformation experienced by the African continent has surprised everyone round the world. The energy sector has added a new shine to the continent and many events are being organized focused on the successful sector in an endeavour to promote its imperativeness. In an exclusive interview to Indo Africa Times, Mr. Ajay Bhojwani, Managing Director, MCI Middle East, Dubai gave an insight on the mounting potential of energy in Africa and how the events give a boost to it. He also highlighted Africa Future Energy Forum, a flagship event organized by MCI Middle East, Dubai to be held in March presenting a platform to policy makers, technology providers, financers and project developers to connect and collaborate.

MONDAY | JANUARY 26, 2015