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 Focused on providing the market with quality materials and solutions that are 100% local, PPC and CHC-SA PrimX Jointless Flooring partnership has become an example of what the future of construction promises to bring to South Africa. With the global pandemic having shown the value that comes with flexibility and innovation to solutions, this partnership raises the design and execution methods of concrete floors.



Traditional concrete floor specifications will require a standard 30MPa mix supplied daily by a ready-mix plant without any specific effort to address shrinkage. This method is limited to 4,5mx4,5 saw cuts or 30x30m (900m2) Steel Fibre Reinforced jointless panels. Depending on the load requirements (e 75KNbtb 150 KN), a slab of 180mm could be constructed. If shrinkage is not addressed, 100m of joints begin to open within months of casting and begin to curl, eventually leaving severe joint damage. Clients begin to carry huge maintenance costs to repair the 100s of joints and damaged equipment while making an effort to manage the hazard this becomes in the workplace. Armed with the knowledge that traditional concrete cracks and curling were a result of the drying due to shrinkage, the partnership between PPC and CHC-SA PrimX Jointless Flooring optimizes the concrete mix for improved shrinkage characteristics presenting a real focus on quality to the South African market.



“Seeking out partners who are invested in the innovation of the sector has been an integral part of our business. Having invested 128 years into the research and development of our materials, the science behind the development and innovation of our materials has been developed to position us as a catalyst that strengthens the capabilities of the sector,” explains Dave Miles, Business Unit Head, PPC Materials.



As a customer-focused business, PPC continues to create a team that is empowered to pioneer new ways of doing business. This includes understanding and facilitating the outcomes and ambitions of the contractor who is determined to be competitive through the inclusion of world-class technology into the construction process. With South Africa’s construction environment being about 30 years behind global developments, the partnership between PPC and CHC-SA PrimX Jointless Flooring propels South Africa’s construction environment forward.



“PrimX provides high-performance SFR concrete with a focus in reducing shrinkage through the addition of special additives, careful mix optimization and quality control throughout the whole production process to ensure a predictable standard for PrimX. Finding a partner who is was able to obtain a quality washed crushed sand as well as washed natural river sand filler was key for our success in South Africa and on the African continent,” explains Brett Meadway, PrimX Technical Sales Manager. “We are uncompromising on the quality, strength and density of the concrete we must receive throughout the project. With testing taking place from supply to final product, we have created an ecosystem that is driven by a commitment to ensuring our product guarantee is achieved.”



&nbsp;“Limited only by day joints, our solution saves 100s of meters of joint damage, allowing for a load requirement of 75 kN btb 150 kN on a 90mm lab. With no additional reinforcement with mesh, construction time for the same size of a slab is approximately 30% shorter! This gives a project manager about a month extra in construction projects while saving clients’ money due to the no curling and controlled shrinkage PrimX floors when cast flat, stays flat for its lifetime,” continues Meadway.



At the forefront of this partnership is a labour force of young South Africans who are provided with training that is on par with their international counterparts who work on similar projects. Jabulani Moeketsi, who has been working on the project since the start describes his contribution to the project, “I have seen what the future of my job will be here in South Africa. Here we are saving time while removing curling and shrinkage in our jointless flooring. Working with my hands and asking questions daily, I have become someone trusted by Brett. I learn and share my knowledge with my team as we watch how what we make, and the quality control measures we put in place give us something we can be proud of.



With the backup support from a concrete engineering team in PrimX’ lab, the ongoing support of PPC and its scientists, a predictable consistent quality in PrimX jointless flooring has been made available in South Africa.

A construction worker pouring a wet concret at road construction site

PPC and CHC-SA PrimX Jointless Flooring propelling SA construction forward

Opinion piece by: Sola David-Borha, Chief Executive of Africa Regions at Standard Bank Group



Africa’s economic recovery can be meaningfully accelerated if policymakers and the private sector step up their efforts to empower women – a group that accounts for more than half of the continent’s population.



While the pursuit of gender equality is primarily a moral obligation, it also makes economic sense. By denying women their full rights and opportunities, we are simply holding back growth and human development.



Interventions aimed at eliminating the economic barriers that women contend with – such as financial exclusion and unequal access to quality education – contribute positively towards poverty alleviation and social upliftment.



This means it is critical that women are better represented in policy-making positions and in executive roles in the private sector.



Although we have made decent progress in this regard over the past few decades, there is a risk that the COVID-19 pandemic will halt or even reverse some of these gains.



Far too many girls have been forced to drop out of school amid the pandemic, and this could have severe long-term consequences. Further, women are likely to bear the brunt of the economic downturn as they are more exposed to informal employment than men, and they remain overly responsible for unpaid household work.



And, at a time when access to funding is critical for the survival of many small businesses, history shows us that women entrepreneurs face significantly greater obstacles than men when it comes to accessing financial services.



To remain on track, and to ensure a rapid yet sustainable economic recovery from the global crisis, it is essential that all stakeholders play their part.



For instance, we are working to improve the representation of women in senior positions across the group. At the end of 2019, women held 37% of board positions and 40.3% of senior management positions. This represents solid progress against our multi-year targets, which include having women hold 40% of the group’s executive positions by 2023.



Internally, we have launched a range of initiatives to support the HeForShe movement. These include information sessions, debates about various aspects of gender equity, sessions to deliberately engage men in the conversation, and the ongoing focus on leadership development programmes for women.



Women are in the majority in our graduate programme, and we are using bespoke development interventions to progress women into senior roles, with a particular focus on our Africa Regions business.



We are also focusing our efforts externally, often in collaboration with other organisations. In partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa, we recently launched the African Women Impact Fund, which aims to empower women fund managers with access to capital and technical assistance.



These women asset managers will in turn invest in primarily female-owned businesses across the continent. The fund aims to raise a total of $100m.



Another initiative focuses specifically on the agricultural sector in Malawi, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda. Working with UN Women, we are addressing gender gaps in the sector while also improving the industry’s resilience to climate change.



This programme aims to reach more than 50,000 women in three years, providing them with entrepreneurial skills and access to affordable technology to increase access to markets and finance. Our projects are supporting women in aquaculture, and in the cultivation of nuts, rice, beans and vegetables.



Importantly, these initiatives also aim to strengthen corporate governance within women-led businesses. This is crucial to the long-term success of any organisation, and will make it easier for women to access funding and grow their businesses. Investors and funding partners are increasingly concerned about environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues.



As we respond to Africa’s developmental needs, Standard Bank is taking guidance from the UN Principles for Responsible Banking, which aim to align the strategies of the banking industry with society’s aspirations, as expressed by the Sustainable Development Goals and other international frameworks.



As a founding signatory of the Principles, we are focused on supporting inclusive and sustainable growth. We believe that this is only possible if Africa’s women are truly empowered.



If we succeed in our collective efforts towards gender equality, Africa’s recovery will be fast-tracked.

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Women empowerment is a major growth opportunity for Africa

By Olga Arara-Kimani, Regional Head, Corporate Affairs and Brand &amp; Marketing



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Introduction</h2>



Mobilising support for female entrepreneurs is a necessary factor in improving livelihoods and transforming the global economy. Studies have shown that, if female entrepreneurs received as much support as their male counterparts, the global economy could experience a boost of $5 trillion<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a>.&nbsp;



However, the sobering reality is that not enough is being done to enable female start-ups to thrive.



According to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) <a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equality" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2020 Gender Gap Report</a><a href="#_ftn2">[2]</a>, women’s economic empowerment is actually worsening, estimating that closing the gender gap in economic participation and opportunity is now 257 years away. This is 55 years longer than what was reported in 2019.



Africa is the only region globally where more women choose to become entrepreneurs than men. However, despite this startling statistic, nowhere near enough is being done to support these females who are determined to establish successful companies. Many face significant obstacles and structural inequalities, with over half of female entrepreneurs citing a lack of financing and limited access to technology in preventing them to scale their businesses.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">An unequal playing field for women</h2>



Small businesses already have a hard time securing financing, but this funding gap is more pronounced when it comes to female entrepreneurs. The African Development Bank estimates a $42 billion funding gap for women entrepreneurs across the African continent. This gap exists at various levels of entrepreneurial funding – including bank loans, angel investment, venture capital and private equity – despite there being more female entrepreneurs in sub-Saharan Africa than men.



The WEF Gender Gap report states that women cite lack of access to finance as the largest obstacle to entrepreneurship, by far. When we take a closer look at tech start-ups, only two percent of $725.6 million in venture capital funding was invested in women-owned (or led) businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa throughout 2018. This is astounding when research<a href="#_ftn3">[3]</a> has shown that if female-led businesses are supported, be it through mentoring or financial support, they outperform their male counterparts, achieving higher revenues and offering a 35 percent return on investment.



Yet, the issue that we have witnessed with female entrepreneurs is two-fold: not enough financial support is available, and women often lack access to networks and mentorship. Time and time again, studies have shown that having access to a strong network is a critical element in the long-term success of female-led businesses. The Harvard Business Review<a href="#_ftn4">[4]</a> found that stronger and broader networks are linked to smaller gender gaps in business sustainability and improved access to a wide variety of funding sources.



In order to support female entrepreneurs, we must look at tackling both elements to incite real change, from empowering females to believe in their ideas through a positive network to providing them with the financial capabilities to grow a sustainable business.



At Standard Chartered, we decided to tackle these inequalities head on with our Women in Tech Programme (WiT). Running across five markets in Africa and the Middle East, WiT provides women-led start-ups with a platform to grow their business and support their aspirations. Since its initial launch in Kenya in 2017, we have seen continuous growth of female entrepreneurs coming through the accelerator programme, with the bank providing over $500,000 to various programme cohorts in markets including Nigeria, Pakistan, Bahrain and the UAE. Along with financial backing, we provide training, mentoring and access to a wider network of other companies for these entrepreneurs. In just over three years, WiT has become one of the continent’s leading women in technology incubators, aligning with calls for more diversity in technology and providing more opportunities for women to develop entrepreneurial and leadership excellence.



We recognise that there is a growing tech ecosystem across the continent and that many start-ups are embracing the benefits of technology. WiT is a unique programme in that it not only addresses two of the key problems facing female entrepreneurs, but also tackles the digital-gap many female-led entrepreneurs experience. It’s not surprising that most female entrepreneurs we encounter through the programme want or are using technology to grow their business. &nbsp;



A prime example of a digitally savvy WiT cohort member is Bismart Insurance, a web insurance aggregator based in Kenya. Channelling a solution-oriented shift to digital, Bismart Insurance was set up to address and resolve <a href="https://www.nation.co.ke/lifestyle/saturday/Eunice-Maina-Bismart-Insurance/1216-4238896-4poy9v/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">key pain points</a>&nbsp;customers faced when purchasing insurance, including a lack of disclosure of essential information and the absence of a consolidated platform for insurance products. Coupled with its participation in the first WiT Kenya cohort and vision to expand into the digital insurance market, Bismart Insurance efficiently scaled its operations and saw over 100 purchasers by the end of 2017.



We have seen a surge in start-ups that are looking to expand their businesses through eCommerce and digital channels take part in the accelerator programme. The WiT programme is a demonstrated contributor to start-ups with promising business models, leveraging its breadth of expertise and resource to drive and scale their operations. Chief of these start-ups is Chefaa, an Egyptian, AI-powered digital platform that enables chronic patients to order, schedule and refill their recurring medications regardless of location or income. Chefaa participated in the WiT MENA cycle in 2019 and has, to date, raised over $6 million in funding and is in the process of closing an additional $2.5 million in funding. Chefaa is now the second most downloaded application on the Egyptian App Store and the company has subsequently increased their monthly orders by 300 percent since taking part in the WiT programme.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Conclusion</h2>



Despite unfavourable conditions, female entrepreneurs have been fighting their way to the top through increased support from international organisations, local governments, and corporate sponsors. However, adjusting attitudes towards female entrepreneurs in&nbsp;Africa&nbsp;is essential and this is something that we must build on through our networks.



It is also crucial to identify and support policy changes that can facilitate the development of female-led businesses. This is where private sector plays a vital role in providing the necessary training, mentorship, and seed funding that would otherwise be difficult to receive elsewhere. As female-led businesses provide an important flow of capital for local communities, every effort should be made to support and grow these businesses, in service of countless families and communities throughout Africa. Most importantly, we need to inspire girls and young female adults with a business dream to have the confidence to make it happen and know that they will be aided both financially and socially.



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<ul><li><a href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2019/08/08/new-research-finds-that-supporting-female-entrepreneurs-could-boost-global-economy-by-5-trillion/#632a65ba67be">https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2019/08/08/new-research-finds-that-supporting-female-entrepreneurs-could-boost-global-economy-by-5-trillion/#632a65ba67be</a></li><li><a href="#_ftnref2">[2]</a> <a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equality">https://www.weforum.org/reports/gender-gap-2020-report-100-years-pay-equality</a></li><li><a href="#_ftnref3">[3]</a><a href="https://www.bcg.com/publications/2018/why-women-owned-startups-are-better-bet">https://www.bcg.com/publications/2018/why-women-owned-startups-are-better-bet</a></li><li><a href="#_ftnref4">[4]</a> <a href="https://hbr.org/2019/10/the-trillion-dollar-opportunity-in-supporting-female-entrepreneurs">https://hbr.org/2019/10/the-trillion-dollar-opportunity-in-supporting-female-entrepreneurs</a></li></ul>

Olga’s Official Picture

Leveling the playing field for female entrepreneurs in Africa

The story of Hennessy X.O for the past 150 years has been that of an odyssey. An odyssey that began in Cognac in 1870 before taking on the world and sharing the greatness of its blend with different cultures, from East to West.



The ‘extra old’ cognac, intended for the inner circle of Maurice Hennessy and cellar master, Emile Fillioux, has become the emblematic blend of the Maison, defining an entire family of cognacs and setting the standard for excellence that lives to this day.



To commemorate Hennessy X.O’s 150th year, the Iconic cognac maker unveiled its collaboration with Frank Gehry, one of the most important architects of our age, famed for always being open to experimentation and defying categorization.



Inspired by the Charente River and the multi-faceted experience of the blend, Gehry has created an X.O masterpiece carafe that reflects the iconic and meaningful stature of Hennessy X.O to celebrate this milestone. According to Gehry, he had to immerse himself within the history and creativity involved in Hennessy X.O “At first it sounds mystical, but then you go there (Cognac), and experience all that goes into its creation, you see the location on the Charente River, and there’s something magical about it”. A common feature of Frank Gehry designs is the need to establish presence. “It was important to me that it is handmade. Every step in creating Hennessy is handmade, and I wanted everyone to understand how special it is. I tried to create something that has feeling. To take the enormous amount of feeling that goes into making this cognac- all the people involved, all the history involved and express it so somebody who picks up a bottle gets a sense of all that gravitas. It&#8217;s sort of a symbol of beauty and human expression, that can be transferred forever. Whenever you pick up the bottle, you are curious about the cognac”.



The choice of materials for the Anniversary bottles are glass and bronze. The glass sculpture cracks beautifully when removed from the oven and the bronze mold is handmade, so that when the carafe is held, it is able to evoke emotions from all the centuries past.



Mr. Gehry identifies Hennessy as a powerful brand that has existed for a very long time, a symbol that resonates the joy and expression of a lot of people making something beautiful. He describes his collaboration as the very specialness of making art, especially with a brand with integrity. Cognac making is an art, and this contribution of love and attention is to add joy to lives, even in the smallest way. “Hennessy X.O is the cognac for every occasion. Its timelessness means that it exists in a realm beyond fashion”



Mr. Gehry recognizes the contribution of taste, smell and feeling to the inspiration for his design “ All you have to do is open the cap and smell the liquid”. This is testament to the multisensorial experience which has been parsed into seven distinct chapters that flow seamlessly into one another. While these perceptions tend to vary depending on each person’s individual palate and understanding, they typically unfold as sweet notes, flowing flame, rising heat, chocolate lull, spicy edge, wooden crunches and an infinite echo.



<h3 class="has-text-align-center wp-block-heading">ABOUT HENNESSY</h3>



The leader in Cognac, the Maison Hennessy has shined around the world with its exceptional blends for more than 250 years. Built on founder Richard Hennessy&#8217;s spirit of conquest, the brand is present in more than 160 countries.



Based in the heart of the Charente region, Hennessy is also a steadfast pillar of the regional economy, the standard-bearer for a sector rich in expertise. The House&#8217;s success and longevity are rooted in the excellence of its cognacs, each of which is born of a unique process of transmission from generation to generation.

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HENNESSY CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF X.O. WITH CARAFE DESIGNED BY FRANK GEHRY

Spokesperson: Olga Arara-Kimani, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand &amp; Marketing, Standard Chartered AME



After years of having served as a senior communications practitioner, I’ve learned that the most important attribute of any effective communicator is being able to look at yourself – your people and brands – through the lens of your most important stakeholders.



When we do that we can ask ourselves: what do I need to be doing to instil trust, to inspire, to energise, or to re-assure? Communications is essential to doing all of these things –more so during times of uncertainty.



Amid the current pandemic, communicators need to intimately understand how perceptions and expectations of their organisations and brands have changed – accelerated by fear, anxiety, changing priorities, and all the uncertainty that comes with physical distancing and a future that for many is on hold or ill-defined.



Through our own experience at Standard Chartered and by watching how other organisations have navigated the pandemic, we believe the current crisis is heralding a new era of communications underpinned by an even more relentless focus on the alignment between the needs and interests of our clients, and our own interests.



But more than simply re-aligning what we do and what we say, we need to adjust the lens through which we think about communications – and re-think what makes us relevant in these uncertain times. This means being more sensitive – to clients, partners and employees – more transparent in communicating why we’re doing what we’re doing, being more authentic and human in how we talk to our stakeholders, engaging in the difficult conversations, and being more agile. &nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Communications as a lasting facilitator of trust</h2>



Communicators and marketers serve as the main driver of a corporation’s messaging and play an instrumental role in fortifying existing and potential brand-client relationships. This role was further amplified amid growing concerns surrounding the pandemic as consumers attempted to navigate a ‘new normal’. &nbsp;The pandemic beckoned a fundamental shift in the way brands communicated with consumers, wherein an emphasis was placed on establishing and maintaining trust in brands and what they stand for.



At Standard Chartered, we’ve adapted to the ‘new normal’ by inviting clients, many who are deeply concerned about their finances and their ability to manage them through the pandemic, to take advantage of our wide array of digital services and have marketed these as an efficient method for consumers to conduct their day-to-day banking needs. At the same time, we’re continuing to share regular updates on the status of our operations across our various markets, including our call centre hours, branch closures and our timely transition back to the office.



During the pandemic, we have seen the digital adoption rate for mobile fixed income products has increased dramatically since the we introduced wealth management solutions on our digital bank platforms this year. In Africa alone, the average growth rate was 43 percent in April. The diversification of digital product offerings in investments has given clients the option to choose where to invest based on market volatility during the COVID-19 situation. However, customers still care for an experienced professional who will translate and explain the strategies proposed by the systems, while offering support in the decision-making process.



Without the luxury of face-to-face meetings, Standard Chartered has conducted 30 webinars reaching over 17,500 wealth management clients in AME during COVID-19. The webinars were conducted by the Bank’s economists and investments specialists since April 2020 to keep clients abreast of market developments and investment strategies without the need to meet face to face.



Similarly, we’ve shifted our focus to deliver our suite of external engagement activities through digital platforms. Across our various markets in the Africa and Middle East (AME) region, we’ve hosted virtual roundtables and panel discussions that engage our full range of clientele and facilitate interactions between our industry experts and consumer base.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shift in internal efforts</h2>



This shift in our external strategy was also mirrored in our internal communications efforts, as during uncertain times employees will rightfully look for guidance, re-assurance and information from senior leadership on ongoing developments.



Ensuring that employees receive valuable information while mitigating against panic and misconception across the wider corporation is absolutely essential. Leaders that practice frequent and transparent communications with employees, through words of encouragement and reassurance, are able to instil faith and provide comfort under unclear conditions.



At the bank, we’ve adopted a communications strategy that facilitates robust two-way engagement between employees and the wider team, during a time where a staggering 90 percent of our personnel were working remotely. We’ve been able to share important messages through digital channels and mobile applications, such as WhatsApp and SMS, while organising internal sessions that congregate the wider corporation through accessible platforms, such as Blue Jeans, where we hosted a regional Town hall with over 3,000 participants across Africa and the Middle East.



We’ve also prioritised the creation and dissemination of content that’s of interest, while conforming to physical barriers imposed by the pandemic, to ensure our employees are continuously engaged with the bank’s ongoing activities. In turn, the bank was able to connect thousands of employees through content that drives our key messaging, further inciting confidence in our wider strategy. &nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future of communications is underlined by the COVID era</h2>



Moving forward, brands will be obliged to navigate a post-COVID consumer-brand dynamic that is underpinned by an emphasis on greater credibility and awareness. The pandemic has uncovered a series of consumer-driven considerations that will undoubtedly decipher how brands communicate with their consumers hereafter.



It’s becoming increasingly evident, for example, that consumers are looking to engage with brands that move beyond virtue-signalling and take meaningful action in support of the communities in which they operate. &nbsp;Studies have shown that consumers across the globe are responding increasingly well to acts of kindness and generosity undertaken by their brands of choice, which directly translates to increased engagement. &nbsp;According to a recent survey, over 40 percent of millennial participants believe brands play an important role at this time. What’s more, one in four millennials surveyed believe brands may be as impactful in addressing societal needs as the government.<a href="#_ftn1">[1]</a>



This is equally true for the approach a brand takes to its communications, wherein these acts of kindness and genuine community support must be shared in a manner that is sensitive, yet impactful. The current crisis has further accelerated the need for corporations to evaluate which messages continue to bolster their value propositions, and which messages impede their ability to practice impactful communications with consumers.



The unprecedented challenges incited by the pandemic have placed corporations under a microscope, wherein their communicative efforts and ability to support consumers is heavily scrutinised. Open and continuous communication is more important than ever, not only for our customers, but for employees, too.



Never has communication had a more important role within businesses than today.



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<a href="#_ftnref1">[1]</a> https://berlincameron.com/newevent-all/2020/4/1/millennials-want-brands-to-communicate-more-during-covid-19-crisis-study-finds



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Duncan Willetts

How COVID is teaching us to be better communicators

As we commemorate Women’s Month, we also celebrate remarkable women in the transport sector, while focusing on rail in particular. Given the history of South Africa, rail has always been a male-dominated sector. However, at the height of the 21st century, women have made significant headway in the and pushed the boundaries in the industry.



It is against this backdrop that the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dikeledi Magadzi, in collaboration with the Railway Safety Regulator (RSR) will host a webinar on 25 August 2020. The webinar will provide a platform for industry captains and critical stakeholders to deliberate on pertinent issues including empowerment and equality among other issues. Joined by the Deputy Minister are the RSR Acting CEO, Tshepo Kgare; PRASA Rail CEO, Nosipho Damasane; Transnet Freight Rail CEO, Sizakele Mzimela and the Gautrain’s Executive Manager: Asset and Management Assurance, Nomsa Sivetshe.



The panelists will deliberate on matters concerning gender equity and economic empowerment. The conversion will delve into possible solutions towards economic transformation and social development as driven by the rail sector.



This virtual engagement is the first of a series of roundtable conversations that will discuss matters of economic transformation and social development across all modes of the transport under the theme: “Generation Equality: &nbsp;realising women’s rights for an equal future” and is adapted from the United Nations Women’s theme for 2020: “What Women Want”.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-role-of-the-deputy-minister-of-transport">Role of the Deputy Minister of Transport</h2>



The Deputy Minister is charged with great responsibilities towards the fulfillment of the economic transformation agenda as an apex priority area pronounced by both the President of the Republic, President Cyril Ramaphosa and by the Minister of Transport in fulfilment of the obligations of the 6th Administration’s five year term. This specifically relates to gender equity, women empowerment and the eradication of existing gender relations in society, including the eradication of gender-based violence. Transformation is by itself a very broad proposal in South Africa’s developmental agenda, but the Department of Transport (DoT) Strategic Plan lays emphasis on the following areas from which we take cue in defining the context of the programmes planned:



<ol type="I"><li>Transformation of the South African construction, engineering, aviation, maritime sectors in line with national transformation imperatives, in a manner that broadens economic participation, economic growth and job creation.</li><li>The Department of Transport’s and all its entities’ contribution to broad-based black economic empowerment, business skills development and the growth of small, medium, macro enterprises and cooperatives, with a particular bias towards township, dorpie and rural economies.</li></ol>



This series of programmes will be championed by the Ministry of Transport through the Office of the Deputy Minister of Transport, Dikeledi Magadzi in a quest to contribute to the transformation of the transport industry, by:



<ol type="1"><li>Unearthing good women stories in the different modes and programmes of transport and ensuring publicity of those stories while encouraging positive role modelling;</li><li>Understanding the empowerment and equity related challenges faced by women, girls and women with disabilities in the sector;</li><li>Discussing possible solutions to challenges faced;</li><li>Considering employment equity issues affecting women, young women and women with disabilities across the Department of Transport (DoT) and its entities; and</li><li>Informing the Minister of Transport and the Director General of the salient issues raised in the roundtables for possible action.</li></ol>



This virtual roundtable seeks to encourage conversation about pertinent issues that many women still struggle with to this day and will encourage women to become part of the process of finding helpful solutions.

Women in Rail

WOMENS MONTH WEBINAR ON RAIL

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The pharmaceuticals group says its management agreement with Ukusekela is already bearing fruit.



Nutritional Holdings says its plan to sign an interim management agreement to manage cannabis company Ukusekela Holdings has already borne fruit, with a return to profitability for the first time in several years.



Nutritional, which is a manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical products and a range of natural medicines, says its proposed acquisition of Ukusekela bodes well for growth and future positive cash flows due to the spike in demand for cannabidiol (CBD) products because of their medicinal benefits. It believes that Ukusekela, which is involved in the research and development of the cannabis and herbal market, is strategically placed to take advantage of the recent unprecedented spike in demand and awareness for its immune-boosting supplement and other cannabis-infused products.



 Nutritional plans to tie up with major pharmaceutical companies in Europe and Africa to distribute its CBD products. And while interruptions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic caused production in many industries to come in marginally lower than previous years, it acted as a catalyst to proving sustainability in the group’s new cannabis arm, helping to offset debt.



 Turnover for the year to end-February rose 10% to R41.7 million and it swung to a R7.47 million profit from a R5.4 million loss a year earlier. Earnings and headline earnings per share improved by 183% from a 0.06c loss in 2019 to profit of 0.05c. Its net asset value jumped 67% to 2.19c per share.



 Earlier this month, Ukusekela signed a supply deal with a leading manufacturing and distribution company in Germany. The contract spans three years and is scheduled to begin in the middle of next month with an initial volume of 50,000 units per month for the first year, which will ultimately grow to 200,000 units per month by year three, totaling a contract value in excess of R1 billion.



 Germany is the third-largest medical cannabis market in the world and is currently the frontrunner in Europe.



 The industrial, medical and recreational potential of the cannabis plant is touted as being worth between $150 billion and $250 billion,” the company said. “South Africa could be a world leader in this emerging industry, and Nutritional Holdings under its new regime aims to be the market leader.” Nutritional said it was currently reviewing its dividend policy with the view to creating more shareholder and stakeholder value.



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Nutritional Holdings benefits from cannabis deal

Post By Visa



Over the last 10 years one of the few constants has been the growth of technology and the impact it has had in, not just our personal lives but also, our professional lives. One would be hard-pressed to remember that at the very beginning of the last decade social media was barely as pervasive as it is today. Social media was at the time just becoming a mainstay in many people&#8217;s lives across Europe and the United States, and yet to become as big on the African continent. Fast forward to the year 2020 and we have the privilege of being able to look back and trace the growth experienced by social media platforms. Social media has grown in leaps and bounds connecting people across the world from one continent to the other, reuniting friends and family and opening up many to worlds unknown to them prior.



However, the biggest impact that has been experienced may be the growth of social media as a viable business platform. Gone are the days when social media was simply just to keep up with your favourite celebrities or message your friends, it has now become a bustling marketplace where businesses can not only grow but also start with the simplest of ease.



Today, in Kenya, many businesses have used platforms such as Instagram to drive them towards success. This has been aided by the swift uptake of technology by most of the population – supported by the fact that it is largely youthful, as well as a willingness to take up the entrepreneurial mantle and start sustainable businesses. Nearly all established businesses prior to the age of social media have accepted the value of being present on social media and have opened pages across all the platforms &#8211; hence its conduciveness as a marketplace. Many businesses in Kenya today have begun on platforms like Instagram, whilst some even operate exclusively on the platform.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="682" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHOTO-2020-03-19-21-39-10-1024x682.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-48020" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHOTO-2020-03-19-21-39-10-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHOTO-2020-03-19-21-39-10-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHOTO-2020-03-19-21-39-10-600x400.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHOTO-2020-03-19-21-39-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PHOTO-2020-03-19-21-39-10.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Keyara Organics</figcaption></figure>



One such business that is slowly growing through the use of the platform is Keyara Organics, a platform owned and run by Kenyan media maven Terryanne Chebet. Her business was inspired by the need for a product that could help her deal with her daughter&#8217;s skin condition, eczema. She looked among the existing businesses and was unable to find a suitable product that met her needs. This inspired her to develop the solution on her own and come up with a range of products that filled the gap that she had stumbled upon. Her business is therefore one born of necessity.



“When my oldest daughter was young, I was looking for some suitable products to use for her skin that would not aggravate her condition. That, for me, meant skincare products that were organic and made from natural products. However, as I conducted my search, I was unable to find the kind of products I was looking for – at least locally,” says Chebet. She further adds, “That inspired me to take up the mantle and begin developing the products myself. It is only later that I began to see it as a business opportunity”.



Social media has simply acted as a catalyst for the adoption of online platforms for making sales. It is now becoming the general consumer behaviour to peruse a business’ offering online and make your order without visiting a physical shop. Many small businesses today have experienced a spike in sales from their online platforms. “About 90% of our sales today come from orders made online. There are very few customers who still insist on physically coming to a shop, especially for those of us in the beauty industry where our products don’t require someone to try them before making the purchase,” says Chebet.



It isn&#8217;t just social media that has helped businesses go digital in Kenya but also payment platforms such as Visa. To support a business’s ability to operate without having a physical premise has also meant that payments must follow suit.&nbsp; With the evolution of technology in the payments sector, such as the addition of chip and pin cards as well as contactless cards, more and more customers are looking to make payments using their debit cards. That is supported by three key aspects &#8211; ease-of-use, security and no surcharge. The relevance of digital payments has also been boosted by the Covid-19 pandemic that started in March 2020. To avoid the spread of the disease and flatten the curve, many customers are shying away from making cash payments. These trends have forced businesses to adopt digital payment platforms such as Visa to ensure that they continue to grow their customer base as well as their business.



Once a business is on-boarded onto the Visa platform, they are provided with a point-of-sale (POS) machine that facilitates the process of card payments. They also connected with a financial partner who will execute the payments via their system. Currently, as part of Visa’s Where You Shop Matters campaign, merchants who sign up on the Visa Small Business Hub turn the chance to win USD 200 worth of advertising, if they are among the first 100 to sign up.



“Our local communities thrive when small businesses are successful. Now more than ever small businesses need all the support that we can offer to promote sustainable growth. The global economy won’t bounce back until small businesses bounce back. At Visa, we are proud to support merchants and recognize that many small businesses have been most adversely affected by the pandemic. From eCommerce to security, our “Where You Shop Matters” initiative aims to help support them and champion the local small businesses that serve as the backbone of our communities” said Visa’s General Manager for East Africa, Corine Mbiaketcha. The growth of social media and the digitisation of payments have therefore played a key role in the evolution of the beauty industry in Kenya. Players in the beauty industry must therefore embrace digitisation so as to continue experiencing the benefits and growing their businesses to maximise their potential.

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Digital Payments and their Impact on Small Businesses in the Beauty Industry

Post by Visa



The year 2020 came with lots of hopes and expectations for individuals and businesses, interesting economic projections across most of the world’s thriving industries, a landscape of growth and meaningful insights for what seemed like the most productive year ahead, leading onto the end of yet another decade.



What many did not envisage however, is a global public health emergency – the worst economic downturn since the great depression as described by the&nbsp;<a href="https://blogs.imf.org/2020/04/14/the-great-lockdown-worst-economic-downturn-since-the-great-depression/">International Monetary Fund</a>, a truly global crisis where no country is spared.



Evidently, the impact of the Covid-19 has significantly hindered economic and social development across Africa, with individuals and businesses having to unlearn and learn new changes in lifestyle habits, business restructuring, adoption of innovation and technology and most importantly digitization in the way people live and work. In the last few months, the pandemic have now become a situation countries and people have to live through, with the hopes of an economic recovery. &nbsp;



If Africa is to recover, then a spotlight on small businesses, which make up a large percentage of global and local economies, will be pivotal to this transitioning. This business-led recovery will majorly revolve around digital technology; a catalyst for inclusive growth.



But how do we enable African SMEs to become digitally enabled? Clearly, the introduction of technologies can improve SMEs’ productivity, growth and improve quality of life for consumers, in regards to convenience. According to data from the World Bank in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/ForesightAfrica2020_20200110.pdf">Foresight Africa</a>&nbsp;2020-2030 report, GDP growth in the continent could increase by 2% per year if the African Union’s goal of universal and affordable internet coverage is reached, and fast internet could increase the probability of employment to 13.2% from 6.9%.&nbsp;



While this is a major challenge to the growth of Africa’s digital economy and would require years of policy implementation, corporate Africa can begin to support (in their ways) the digital transitioning of SMEs. Digital entrepreneurship has the potential of becoming an instrument of economic revolution for Nigeria’s largely young and business-thinking population for example. The country is home to some of the most innovative startups and small businesses in Africa which provide proof of Nigeria’s digital potential. One of such forward-thinking small businesses is a popular Nigerian indigenous skincare brand, Arami Essentials.



Earlier this year, part of corporate Africa and global digital payments company, Visa had championed a global&nbsp;<a href="http://www.visa.com.ng/">WhereYouShopMatters</a>&nbsp;campaign which focuses on supporting small businesses and canvassing for renewed consumer patronage following the impact of the pandemic on shopping behaviors. Visa had researched consumers’ changing shopping habits since the pandemic and leveraged the results of the report to educate small businesses on the need to also change how they sell and do business. The Where You Shop Matters Initiative is an offshoot of Visa’s study which reveals that consumers are increasingly embracing e-commerce and digital payments over cash, and 42% of consumers started purchasing food for the first time online in Nigeria.



Since the pandemic, consumers now want safer and more convenient ways of shopping and so digital payments have been on the rise in Nigeria. Digital payments allow consumers to shop after-hours, when the traditional stores are closed and to avoid crowds and wailing lines, especially during holiday shopping and so retailers and small businesses are encouraged to embrace it.



One very critical angle to the Where You Shop Matters initiative is the educational fragment. Digital skills are a prerequisite for benefitting from any technology at all and the digital economy at large.&nbsp; With wide digital literacy gaps in Africa, Visa set up a small business resource hub where entrepreneurs can find useful resources for growing their businesses. More importantly, SMEs can do more than just communicate with their customers online – they can find other businesses and create partnerships. This is also one strong element of digitalization for small businesses. The Small Business Hub provides the right visibility and partnerships needed to scale small businesses.



Nigeria based small business, Arami Essentials, had participated in the Where You Shop Matters initiative and was eventually nominated as a Visa merchant. The brand’s progress through the years have been remarkable especially since it began as an online store. The founder and CEO of Arami Essentials, Ore Runsewe, advocates for more education of the benefits of small business digitization which she believes is the reason for the low number of entrepreneurs doing business online.



“There is need for more education on the essence of small business digitization and if we can get a good number of small businesses in Nigeria logged into the digital economy – that would be a great feat. At Arami Essentials, we started on Instagram and then gradually built the website. Setting up the business on Instagram allowed us to reach a wide audience in such little time because we were constantly in their faces; if we had not a digital store there is the unlikelihood of reaching customers outside of Lagos and Nigeria”.



Ore also advocates for online retailers to partner with payment gateway companies to secure customer’s data on their websites and to enable cross-border payments as well. “The pandemic has shown that we need to look at ways to promote the digitization of Nigeria’s and African small businesses – encouraging merchants to join the digital economy” she says.



Small and medium enterprises that have been able to ‘digitally diversify’ have proven themselves to be more irrepressible during the COVID-19 crisis just like Arami Essentials. Those who were not digital as at the eruption of the pandemic had to play catch-up in the midst of an economic crisis.



To support these businesses, we must influence existing and create new technology offerings tailored towards these small enterprises in Nigeria, rolled out with the support of government.



And as the African Union Commissioner Amani Abou-Zeid had also emphasized in the past: “COVID-19 crisis has become the single biggest catalyst for digital transformation and has moved digitalization from a niche market into mass adoption”.



<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnbcafrica.com%2Fbrandcom%2F2020%2F09%2F28%2Fdigitization-a-catalyst-to-the-exponential-growth-of-african-small-businesses%2F"></a>

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Digitization, a catalyst to the exponential growth of African Small Businesses.

Thought Leadership, by Charmaine Mabuza, CEO ITHUBA



The Nation has recently celebrated Women’s month, a custom in South Africa since more than 20 000 incredible women made history in 1956.



The annual national women’s month propels the nation to revisit abandoned conversations relating to the advancement and the protection of women. However, for the women themselves, the battle of fighting for their rightful position in the economy is persistent throughout the year.



There is a great need to examine initiatives and policies that have been introduced in the name of supporting women. While it is necessary to hold government accountable, corporate citizens must interrogate their motive behind women empowerment initiatives. Are we looking beyond compliance and focusing on impact and sustainability?



As an organisation, we have had to ask ourselves such questions. The answer, which advises our approach, lies in the scientific facts regarding the progression of women in our country, and on our core values as a business.



The Employment Equity Act, No 55 of 1998&nbsp;was introduced as the law that promotes equity in the workplace, the law that protects from unfair treatment and any form of discrimination. Yet, despite the general appearance of compliance backed by several policies that appear to advocate for gender parity, a deeper dive into the outcomes of these programmes, reveal a reality of continued disregard of gender equity as a basic human right and a legislative obligation. This is evident in the following facts:



<ul><li>Women make up 51% of the South African population but only 21% of the directors on the JSE-listed companies.</li><li>On average, women in South Africa earn 25% less than men.</li><li>Furthermore, 37.9% of households in South Africa are headed by women and according to StatsSA, 30% of women in South Africa are unemployed.&nbsp;</li><li>There is currently no grant relief measures in place to help sustain unemployed women – there has been no specific amount set aside to relieve women from financial strains even during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite evidence that women were the most vulnerable group. According to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">www.theconversation.com</a>, 33.1% of informal female workers were unable to work in April 2020, compared to 29.3% of their male counterparts.</li></ul>



These alarming statistics and unfavourable gender-equity landscape are exactly why ITHUBA Holdings has been deliberate in implementing women empowerment programmes that are impactful and measurable. In my view, and I am pleased that the position shared by the board of directors of ITHUBA, is that economically active women must be a strategic focus for our country to make sustainable socio-economic progress. If this is our ethical stand, we must lead by example and put our money where our mouth is. At ITHUBA, 60% of our Executive team are women. Women empowerment is an integral part of our business and we are very clear that we cannot have a sustainable economy if women are still on the fringes.



Over the years, I have strived to pull women off the sidelines and ensure that they are fully integrated into decision making positions. This is important to me as a black female leader who is not immune to both racial and gender discrimination. I have ensured that our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) projects are aimed at giving women and girls long-term sustainability.&nbsp;



Such initiatives can be seen in the Female Retailer Development Programme we launched in 2015. ITHUBA has assisted over 100 women to acquire business acumen and skills through the&nbsp;ITHUBA Female Retailer Development Programme. The beneficiaries are women who own spaza shops and supermarkets in townships and rural areas where they also sell National Lottery products.



Through partnerships with reputable institutions such as Regenesys and the University of Johannesburg, we provided them with an opportunity to acquire business qualifications. In October 2019, a group of 14 women graduated at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway Campus, each awarded a qualification in&nbsp;Advanced Social Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation.



No doubt that the skills that these women acquired, together with our ongoing support, are proving to be instrumental in their economic survival as they navigate unchartered waters.&nbsp;Programmes such as the ITHUBA Female Retailer Development&nbsp;are critical in inspiring the economic participation of previously marginalized communities, especially women entrepreneurs. A lot of these women started their businesses not out of passion, but out of a need to survive in a country where the rate of female unemployment is high. Because 70% of entrepreneurs have no formal business qualification and very often no business acumen or exposure to help them grow their businesses, it is up to us as Corporate South Africa to help bridge such gaps, to afford women a stronger footing in an unfavourable business environment.



It is for this reason that ITHUBA has committed to programmes like the female retailer development programme, that we support women across the country through, entrepreneurship, fitting employment opportunities and education. We cannot ignore the importance of tackling gender inequality at grass-root level by empowering girls at an early stage. Through the Eric and Charmaine Mabuza Scholarship Foundation, we have ensured that we offer an opportunity to study at tertiary level to as many girls as possible.



In 2018, we launched the ITHUBA Graduate Programme, aimed at empowering the youth through skills development and hands-on experience, with a large focus on young women development. In our current 2020 intake, 83% of the graduates on the Programme are female. We believe that early exposure to business equips women for leadership roles, and instrumental in bridging gender gaps in the workplace.



We aim to sustain this momentum of empowering women across our footprint consistently. Presently, ITHUBA has 9000National Lottery retail terminals across the country and over 180 000 handheld devices. Our value to advance and empower women continues to propel ITHUBA forward, especially in a time of persistent income inequality.&nbsp;



As a female-led organisation, we appreciate the pivotal role to contribute to the prosperity and gender parity of our country. More importantly, we believe that the policies that have been developed to empower women should be accompanied by a consistent impact measure that stretches beyond the women’s month campaigns.

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Women Empowerment – Consistency, Impact, and Measure are key

Is your passport holding you back? The luxury of holding a <a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/second-passport?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">second passport</a> is fast becoming a necessity amongst High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI). The demand for citizenship by Investment programmes has grown increasingly in recent years amongst wealthy Africans looking to expand their opportunities and global reach.&nbsp;



There is a lot to consider when evaluating your investor visa options and there is no “one size fits all” approach. The cost of such programmes can range from just over $100,000 to a few million dollars, so it’s imperative investors make the right decision.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Simple but ineffective&nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>



Whilst every country’s passport comes with its own visa-free travel list, a simple measure of how many countries it grants access to does not tell the full story. The “quality” of those countries matter. Access to France, for example, is more important than Kiribati in most people’s view.



While “quality” is important when making an investment decision on a second passport, combination and fit with your current passport also matters. It’s what that second passport adds in terms of additional country access that gives you the value and return for your investment.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What is the real value?</h2>



La Vida Golden Visas, a private consultancy firm, headquartered in London, have developed a unique&nbsp;<a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/passport-investment?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">Passport Value Report</a>&nbsp;that goes beyond simply counting visa free countries. It helps prospective investors to see not only the true value of their existing passport but critically the incremental value of the second passport to consider as an investment.&nbsp;This is done through a combined measure of GDP (“wealth access”) and visitors (travel popularity) of the countries added through such investment in a second citizenship.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The problem for Nigeria and South Africa</h2>



Take the <a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/nigeria-passport-visa-free-access?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">Nigerian passport</a> as an example. Nigerian citizens have visa-free access to 54 destinations. That’s a modest 23.7% of the 227 countries and territories worldwide. It’s one of the lowest ranking passports among many of its West African neighbours, with Ghana at 73, Cameroon at 61 and Cote d&#8217;Ivoire at 67. But the story does not end there. Nigeria’s visa-free list mainly consists of other African countries. It does not include destinations such as Europe, USA, China, or the UK. Places where many Nigerians may strive to do business or visit for leisure. The shocking reality is that the visa-free countries Nigerians have access to equate to just 2.1% of the world’s GDP and 3.1% of the world’s international travel popularity.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1013" height="1024" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-1013x1024.png" alt="" class="wp-image-47908" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-1013x1024.png 1013w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-300x303.png 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-100x100.png 100w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-600x607.png 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-297x300.png 297w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-768x776.png 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians-80x80.png 80w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/wealthy-nigerians.png 1272w" sizes="(max-width: 1013px) 100vw, 1013px" /></figure>



<a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/passport-investment-south-africans?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">South African passport</a> holders do slightly better. They gain access to a higher number of visa-free destinations at 112. Nearly 50% of the world perhaps? But let’s not get too carried away. In terms of “quality” this still only represents 20.2% of the world’s GDP and likewise misses out on visa free access to most of Europe, the UK, USA and China.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47909" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kawana_Bay_Room_1.jpg 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How to Fix the Problem</h2>



La Vida offers eight second <a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/country?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">citizenship by investment programmes</a> but one of our most popular solutions amongst our African investors is that of Grenada, in the Caribbean. <a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/grenada?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">Citizenship by Investment in Grenada</a> is a fast, efficient and straightforward process, taking as little as 60-90 days to process. Grenadian citizenship provides many benefits, including visa-free travel to over 140 countries, no tax on worldwide income and no wealth, gift, inheritance or capital gains tax. There is no interview, education, language test or management experience required, and dual citizenship is permitted. The entire process can be completed remotely.&nbsp;



Importantly, Grenada is also an E-2 visa treaty country with the USA, meaning approved E-2 visa applicants are eligible to start a business and live in the USA with their family. Processing time for the E-2 visa is usually only two months.&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What value does Grenada add?</h2>



Pair a Grenadian and Nigerian passport and the world begins to open up. You gain access to 163 destinations worldwide, which includes the UK, EU Schengen zone, China and Russia. Now you have visa free access to 58.7% of the world’s GDP, a huge improvement on the 2.1% that a standalone Nigerian Passport offers.&nbsp;Pair Grenada with South Africa and access to the world’s wealth climbs from 20.2% to 60.2%. Arguably increasing opportunity three-fold. According to Paul Williams, CEO of La Vida, ‘’Grenada is an effective solution for many nationalities. Almost all our African investors applying for Grenadian Citizenship have chosen the real estate investment route. With no need to visit Grenada during the application process, minimal processing fees and no physical residency requirement, investors are finding this a very appealing option.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Real Estate and Kimpton Kawana Bay&nbsp;</h2>



La Vida offers a selection of Government approved real estate projects, but there has been one clear choice for most of our applicants which is the popular <a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/investment/caribbean-grenada-resort-1?utm_source=Forbesafrica&amp;utm_medium=article&amp;utm_campaign=Kawana_Bay">Kimpton Kawana Bay resort.</a> Ideally located on the world-famous Grand Anse beach, with magnificent views over the Caribbean Sea, the Kimpton Kawana Bay resort is the newest 5-Star luxury resort in Grenada. Currently under advanced construction and set for practical completion mid-2021, the resort will be run by the boutique operator Kimpton® Hotels &amp; Restaurants, part of IHG (Intercontinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s largest hotel chains. The freehold condominiums are priced from US$220,000, comprising of one-bedroom suites and studios and include up to two weeks free usage per year. In addition, your property is put into the hotel rental pool, earning an annual return on your behalf via Kimpton. Investors can also disinvest after five years and recoup their initial property investment.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="591" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-1024x591.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47911" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-1024x591.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-300x173.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-600x346.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-768x443.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-1536x887.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/PorteCochere_05_Final_small-2048x1182.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Tom Scott, Managing Director of Kimpton Kawana Bay, recently stated, ‘’In 2019, 54% of all CBI real estate applications in Grenada were for Kimpton Kawana Bay, illustrating the confidence investors have in our project. We have seen a continued high level of sales in 2020, especially from our Nigerian clients”. &nbsp;



Aside from the investment, Grenada enjoys a growing economy and stable democracy. Its citizens have access to top schools including 90% tuition fee discounts at Grenada’s, St. George’s University, the world’s largest offshore American accredited medical school. This has been another attractive feature of the countries Citizenship by investment programme.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Grenada Citizenship by Real Estate Investment Highlights:</h2>



<ul><li>Gain a second passport and visa-free travel;</li><li>Own high quality, five-star, deeded freehold real estate;</li><li>Owners receive two weeks personal usage each year;</li><li>Owners will receive a share of hotel revenue;</li><li>Gain access to St. George’s Medical School;</li><li>Gain access to the USA’s E-2 visa programme;</li><li>Prices start from $220,000&nbsp;plus application fees.</li></ul>



Website Links:



<ul><li><a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/investment/caribbean-grenada-resort-1">https://www.goldenvisas.com/investment/caribbean-grenada-resort-1</a></li><li><a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/nigeria-passport-visa-free-access">https://www.goldenvisas.com/nigeria-passport-visa-free-access</a></li><li><a href="https://www.goldenvisas.com/passport-investment-south-africans">https://www.goldenvisas.com/passport-investment-south-africans</a></li></ul>



Social Media Links:



<ul><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/lavidagoldenvisas/">https://www.instagram.com/lavidagoldenvisas/</a></li><li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/lavidagoldenvisas">https://www.facebook.com/lavidagoldenvisas</a></li><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/la-vida-europe/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/la-vida-europe/</a></li></ul>

Model room balcony view web

Wealthy Africans, How Valuable is Your Passport?

Post content by Visa



In the digital age, more people have access to some form of mobile device over a bank facility and this is nowhere more evident than in Sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, it must be noted that Sub-Saharan Africa is technologically agile and mobile-first. When looking into mobile phone usage, Africa is the home of mobile money users with at least half of these users originating from our continent. As a result of the current economic climate, mobile money systems are now including millions of people who were previously excluded from mainstream financial services via digital pay. This of course opens up a whole host of opportunities for both SMEs and Visa with regards to eCommerce and the digital space.



In this new norm, the Covid-19 era has pushed more businesses to join the digital age. This move has the potential to not only grow their current earnings but to also reduce expenditure and increase overall consumer base and consumption. The potential to boost and grow a business’ earnings with the use of mobile payments is overwhelming since they are significantly more cost effective than point of sale transactions. Also, when customers scan QR codes associated with a purchase, merchants can seamlessly accept payments through their mobile phones and directly into their bank accounts, instantly and hassle-free.



Visa published the Covid-19 CEMEA Impact Tracker as a way to highlight the effects of the pandemic and show how the company was leading from the front in curbing the strain felt by SMEs as a result of the pandemic. One of the ways Visa did this was by upskilling SME merchants on the value of digitising. By continuously working to provide the most secure and convenient digital payments solutions, such as frictionless eCommerce solutions and contactless payments, Visa has given consumers the confidence to shop via eCommerce and given merchants a new lease on life and the means to continue to thrive in a competitive and evolving world. Visa presents a plethora of unique opportunities for entrepreneurs who are willing to harness emerging technologies and tailor them to the needs of both their businesses and Sub-Saharan Africa as a whole.



Although Sub-Saharan Africa predominantly remains cash-based, Covid-19 has proven that the need for safe, reliable, and convenient financial services is of the utmost importance. Today, consumers expect to be put at the forefront and this in turn means services that are seamless, frictionless, on-demand, mobile-enabled and customisable to suit their daily needs. Because of this, a cashless and digital society is gaining notable traction in the financial sphere. Visa’s recent study has shown that in a post Covid-19 world, the driving growth in digital payments could deliver blanket benefits to various sectors including SMEs, which may ultimately stimulate long-term economic growth.



About Visa Inc.



Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) is the world’s leader in digital payments. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, reliable and secure payment network &#8211; enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. Our advanced global processing network, VisaNet, provides secure and reliable payments around the world, and is capable of handling more than 65,000 transaction messages a second. The company’s relentless focus on innovation is a catalyst for the rapid growth of digital commerce on any device, for everyone, everywhere. As the world moves from analog to digital, Visa is applying our brand, products, people, network and scale to reshape the future of commerce. For more information, visit <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/gwH-CVOy8AUxmNMZSytTyD?domain=usa.visa.com">About Visa</a>, <a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/BQ6tCXDAjLsXjVm9umad5p?domain=visa.com">visa.com/blog</a> and



<a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/iVPYCYEBkWuLmE59SZi2ia?domain=twitter.com">@VisaNews</a>.

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Digital Transformation: A Key Driver of Business Success

The global pandemic has had a profound impact on the digital landscape in Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as across the world. The value of connectivity seems even more pertinent for social and economic wellbeing, especially in this “new normal” era of social distancing and staying at home. COVID-19 has also shown us how vital access to fast and reliable internet is to individuals and businesses.



The mobile industry in Sub-Saharan Africa has risen to the challenge of keeping everyone connected during these uncertain times, However, the pandemic has highlighted that there is much more to improve for the future.&nbsp;



Mobile connectivity is central to our recovery and <a href="https://www.gsmaintelligence.com/">GSMA Intelligence</a> reveals that only 28% of Africa’s 1.3 billion citizens currently subscribe to the mobile internet – compared to the global average of 48%. This is a staggering number of people still not connected during a&nbsp; pandemic. Now, more than ever is the time to close this digital divide.



Whilst the world paused, the GSMA, the people behind MWC Barcelona and the global voice of the connectivity industry, set to work to ensure connectivity continued to thrive. So launched the GSMA Thrive Series of virtual events, free-to-access virtual experiences for the digital ecosystem. Attendees will discover conversation guided by technology visionaries, forums to create policy, networking opportunities to forge partnerships – and a packed exhibition list of technology that will define the future and advance business strategy.



GSMA Thrive Africa, brings together the continent’s leaders to create Africa’s most influential technology experience – working to the belief that when everyone and everything is intelligently connected, we can power a better future together. And now is the time to really make that happen.



During GSMA Thrive Africa, over 80 speakers will discuss the theme of Leadership for Connectivity and the continent’s ambitions to create a digitally connected and inclusive future for all. Over the next five years, the region anticipates several important milestones to achieve this goal: half a billion mobile subscribers by 2021, 1 billion mobile connections in 2024 – and 50% subscriber penetration by 2025. Despite the economic uncertainty created by the COVID-19 crisis, operators in the region will invest $52 billion in infrastructure rollouts between 2019 and 2025. As the number of smartphone connections in Sub-Saharan Africa reaches 678 million – we will get ever-nearer to our goal of building a more connected world and a better,&nbsp; safer future.



The technology world can not ignore the introduction of 5G networks and its impact across the continent. 5G was launched sooner than expected across the region in 2020 as a result of COVID-19. While this opens up benefits such as faster and more reliable connectivity for business verticals including banking, transport, education and health – there is still significant unused 4G capacity and relatively low adoption of 4G amongst individuals. The opportunity here, while 5G rolls out, is for operators and other stakeholders to increase 4G uptake. This will involve strategies to make 4G devices more affordable and the provision of relevant digital content to drive demand for enhanced connectivity services.



This rise of connectivity for all, will also lead to the Generation of Digital Citizens. As we move forward across the digital horizon, GSMA Thrive Africa looks at how technology and mobile connectivity can open up a world of opportunity for more diversity, success across STEM sectors and unleash potential in everyone, no matter their background.



GSMA Thrive Africa’s biggest goal is to connect the full digital ecosystem to advance the world’s digital economy and fuel innovation. Under the theme of Accelerate Africa, the event will explore the ways that connectivity and the mobile industry drives a social impact and contributes to economic growth. In 2019, mobile technologies and services generated 9% of GDP in Sub-Saharan Africa. The mobile ecosystem also supported almost 3.8 million jobs and made a substantial contribution to the funding of the public sector, with $17 billion raised through taxation. It is anticipated that by 2024, mobile’s contribution will reach around $184 billion as countries increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by the increased take-up of mobile services. Accelerate Africa uncovers opportunities to drive partnerships and growth within corporates, brands, investors and tech hubs. It will also explore what Africa needs to achieve to build an ecosystem for startups to thrive.



The importance of the mobile industry’s contribution to Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy is significant and will continue to be so. In fact, it is predicted that mobile’s contribution to GDP will rise to $185 billion by 2024. Mobile internet users are also expected to increase from 29% of the population to 39%. The biggest increase is for IoT which sees total connections rising from 5.2 billion in 2019, to 11.5 billion by 2025. Over the next five years, it is also expected that half of the population will subscribe to mobile services.



As well as the themes mentioned in this article, we will also talk about the Health of the Internet – how we can all use data for doing good, while building trust into the DNA of every digital product and device. In addition, we will uncover key insights around how mobile technology is empowering a sustainable and ethical future in our theme, One People, One Purpose. Whilst Building Wakanda explores how future tech is reimagining our lives with AI, Mixed Reality, Drones, Robotics and 3D printing.



Our challenges have never been more complex, connectivity has never been more important, one thing is certain – we are all in this together. The GSMA is honoured to continue to build bridges in times of need. Later this month technology innovators, digital creators and policy leaders will gather together on<a href="http://www.gsmathrive.com/africa"> one URL</a>



We are honoured to work with our founding partners of GSMA Thrive Africa: Mastercard, MTN, Orange and ZTE.&nbsp;



Leading brands supporting #GSMAThrive Africa also include our headline theme sponsors:&nbsp; Huawei, Intelsat, MFS Africa, Safaricom. Supporting theme sponsors: Access to Finance Rwanda, Africa50, Comviva,&nbsp; Facebook, Famoco and Standard Bank.



We’re also delighted to continue working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and CNBC International as official partners of #GSMAThrive Africa – ensuring this gathering truly changes the boundaries of connectivity. <a href="https://www.gsmathrive.com/africa/">Access to Thrive Africa 2020 virtual event is free and takes place on Tuesday 29 September &#8211; Thursday 1 October. You can register and get involved now.</a>

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Thrive Africa – the continent’s most influential technology experience

By: Kabelo Makwane



The debate on whether to adopt cloud computing within organisations has been settled, with cloud not only essential for business success, but also for the survival of businesses in the post COVID-19 future.



Never was there a time in the evolution of cloud technology such as during the COVID-19 lockdown where the benefits of cloud have stood front and centre. The pandemic has highlighted the need to build an intelligent resilient business, which leverages the use of data and cloud enabled platforms to drive customer engagement.



There are ample opportunities for companies in every industry to use the cloud with the benefits of these scalable solutions now being taken more seriously than ever before. Increasingly, businesses are turning to these scalable solutions to stay lean and competitive where the modern business requires greater flexibility, more agility and new opportunities for innovation.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Future-ready, resilient businesses</h2>



According to the Vodafone Business Future Ready Report 2020, characteristics of future-ready businesses include: A positive attitude to change, being open to new technology, actively planning for technology futures, setting detailed strategies, keeping up to date with emerging trends, and being adaptable.



Future ready businesses recognise the fast-growing power of customers and they’re using data, brand purpose and social responsibility in response to the new normal to adapt. This challenge isn’t going away anytime soon. In fact, it’s only going to accelerate.



The current and increasingly difficult economic situation has forced companies to be quicker when responding to changes in the marketplace. The flexible and customisable cloud computing solution can provide many useful advantages to help companies manage their businesses.



By moving to online ways of working – an important positive catalyst for the acceleration in cloud adoption and e-commerce, omni-channel forms of ensuring that a business’s customers can still buy and access the goods and services they want and need. It is inevitable that most businesses will need to have an online digital presence as a route to market



Data and digitalisation are transforming businesses across the value chain – from design and inception through to manufacturing and distribution. Cloud computing, with embedded capabilities such as big data and analytics, platform capabilities, machine learning and artificial intelligence has made it easier for enterprises to build products and services based on data-driven insights by leveraging cloud platforms.



The use of predictive analytics to model consumer buying behaviours, developing sound credit and risk management models, predicting movement and footfall patterns, gaining deep insights to drive value offers and consumer loyalty has enabled businesses to bring a personalised brand and buying experience which have fundamentally reshaped business models.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Your technology partner of choice</h2>



As businesses continue their pursuit of digital transformation projects – putting emerging technology into action, businesses must have clarity of strategy on at least five essential elements of cloud computing, consisting of migration speed and strategy, hyper-scale integration, modernization, management and innovation, to solve problems, create new and unique experiences and accelerate business performance.



This is why over the last decade, Vodacom Business has created an end-to-end multi-cloud portfolio, underpinned by the traditional practices of IT services management, to enable enterprises and SME’s to easily adopt and integrate cloud services.



We ensure that our client’s de-risk their cloud adoption journey, starting from simple co-locating in our enterprise class data centres, to our hybrid cloud capabilities which offer enterprises choice in how to embark on their journey.



Vodacom Business has a breadth of portfolio from partnering with global leaders to providing a one-stop shop, while preparing enterprises and SME’s for the digital world of tomorrow.

Kabelo Makwane

Cloud Services Essential for Driving Post-COVID Business Resilience

By Larry Light, CEO Arcature Brand Consulting



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignleft size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Larry-Light.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-47704" width="165" height="165" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Larry-Light.jpeg 400w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Larry-Light-300x300.jpeg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Larry-Light-100x100.jpeg 100w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Larry-Light-150x150.jpeg 150w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Larry-Light-80x80.jpeg 80w" sizes="(max-width: 165px) 100vw, 165px" /><figcaption>Larry Light, CEO Arcature Brand Consulting</figcaption></figure></div>



Brand revitalization requires finding and satisfying a new, important customer need. Brand success requires being the best at something relevant and differentiated. It means never taking your eye off of changing customer needs.



As veganism and vegetarianism diets become more embedded into people’s lifestyles, anything plant-based is now perceived as good. Plant-based foods and beverages are seen as healthy and planet-friendly, an image that appears to override the idea that processing also takes place in their production.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47705" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Series_Hero_1920x1080.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Margarine is a non-dairy spread that was previously marginalized due to its hydrogenation, which turns polyunsaturates into saturates and trans-fatty acids. Because of hydrogenation, and its non-buttery texture and taste, margarine sales declined over the last decade. But, now margarine is morphing into healthier fare, as margarine is naturally plant-based. And, hydrogenation is no longer used to make margarine firmer and texturally closer to dairy butter. Current alternative butter brands made from plants contain healthy unsaturated fats. Brands, such as Blue Band, that were derided as pale non-dairy substitutes are now desired as manufacturers update and revise ingredients. Margarine has now become a darling of the alternative dietary regime crowds.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47699" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_11_1920x1080.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Margarine has an interesting past. France’s first president (1848-1852), Napoleon III, the nephew Napoleon I, asked for an alternative to butter due to food shortages that affected feeding the French army. A chemist, Hippolte Mege-Mouries created “oleomargarine” and the rest is history.



Unilever built a global margarine and spread business that included over 100 brands including Flora, I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter, Blue Band. In 2017, after a very high-priced bidding war, investment firm KKR walked away with the prize, offering Unilever approximately US$7.7 billion (€6.8 billion). The acquired business was set up under a new corporate entity called Upfield.



Ordinarily, the terms brand revitalization and private equity are not commonly used in the same sentence, so kudos to KKR. Rather than starve the former Unilever brands, KKR saw an opportunity that could not be overlooked: the appeal and profitability of plant-based foods. With some recipe changes and new marketing, KKR could leverage its portfolio as a healthier and more sustainable way to eat.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47701" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_22_1920x1080.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Some products were jettisoned, but this was to be laser-focused on the brands that fit the overarching portfolio’s new positioning. This new positioning is clearly articulated on Upfield’s website… “We are the largest plant-based consumer products company in the world and we have embarked on a journey to deliver a ‘Better Plant-Based Future’ to the benefit of our customers and consumers alike.” Along with this statement is the commitment to sustainability including a policy paper titled, “A Better Plant-Based Future.”



According to Financial Times, Upfield is determined to change the image of margarine. By focusing on the sustainability of margarine, Upfield is altering its ingredient lists by “…reducing each product to around five natural ingredients to create cleaner labels.”&nbsp; Financial Times reports that originally KKR intended to “…strip out inefficiencies but decided on a new strategy after spotting consumer appetite for ‘sexy’ plant-based foods.” Apparently, Upfield made the correct decision, as its net sales grew 1.3% in 2019. And, The Good Food Institute reported “… sales of plant-based alternatives to meat, dairy and eggs rose 11% year on year in the US to $5 billion in 2019.”



In the US, Earth Balance is one of Upfield’s biggest competitors. Earth Balance is a two-decades-old enterprise that makes vegan alternative butter spreads, nut butters and snacks. Its products are vegan, plant-based and non-GMO. The products have been designed to create “… a conscious, rewarding way of living.” As part of its philosophy is its original commitment to being “ethically plant-based.” The palm oil it uses is a non-GMO, non-hydrogenated oil. Earth Balance is involved in the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), committed to environmentally and socially responsible palm oil production.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47702" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_29_1920x1080.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



Upfield is also focused on sustainable palm oil. Upfield states that it, too, sources 100% of its palm oil from physically certified sustainable sources. Additionally, as part of its investment, Upfield is pouring €50 million into a new Food Science Centre in Wageningen, the Netherlands, that will focus on sustainability, health, and taste in plant-based food, according to foodnavigator.com.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://www.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-47706" srcset="https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080-600x338.jpg 600w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://cms.forbesafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Tomi_6_1920x1080.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The current eating scene is undergoing vast alterations. There are no clues as to which dining and cooking behaviors will last or fall away fast. What is clear is that the appeal of plant-based food alternatives is a growing customer desire. Revitalizing a brand by focusing on satisfying changing customer habits and attitudes keep brands relevant for enduring profitable growth.

Author: Contributor

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA