The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) said it has elected Ugandan native Kaddu Kiwe Sebunya to serve as its new President. Sebunya will focus on advancing a clear policy agenda for wildlife as part of Africa’s future, ensuring the continent’s blueprint for development and growth includes space and protections for Africa’s natural heritage. “I am excited to be stepping into the role of president at a time when Africa’s economies are surging, and when important decisions are being made as to how Africa should manage its natural resources responsibly and with accountability,” said Sebunya. “The continent is undergoing a profound change,…
Author: Editor
Stanbic Bank Botswana, in collaboration with Business Botswana and in association with Accpro Accountants, University of Botswana’s Department of Economics and Motswedi Securities will review the National Budget at its 5th Annual forum countrywide. The forum is meant to unpack the National Budget following its delivery by the Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Kenneth Matambo. The National Budget reviews continue to be a strong practice in Botswana and are aimed at simplifying the budget to clients who seek further expert analysis and an understanding of factors affecting local economic growth. It is against this background that Stanbic…
De Beers said its first rough diamond sales of year improved dramatically from the last sight of 2015 buoyed by a number of factors including good response from the U.S which resulted in the firming of polished prices. In a new initiative–where by the diamond mining major publishes its sales figures to improve transparency–the company stated that it realised a sales value of US$540 million in the Cycle 1 of 2016. This was better that US$248 million raised from Cycle 10 2015. “A positive holiday season in the US from a retail perspective, low levels of rough diamond purchases by…
The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) in a joint collaborative effort with the Botswana government of Botswana represented by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Science and Technology and the Botswana Innovation Hub (BIH) has announced that the next Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) event will be held in Gaborone, Botswana in June 2016. IPA is a landmark programme of the AIF, whose purpose is to increase the prosperity of Africans by catalysing the innovation spirit in Africa. IPA celebrates its 5 year milestone in helping to shape the innovation landscape in Africa. To date, IPA has attracted more than 6 000 innovators…
ALROSA, the Russian partially state-owned diamond mining company said its rough diamond sales are planned at the level of USD 3.5 billion for next year as it looks to cement its status as the world’s leading producer. In a statement the company, which is scouring for diamonds in Botswana’s Orapa kimberlite region together with Botswana Diamonds, said Supervisory Board reviewed and approved the budget of the company and ALROSA Group for 2016. “The 2016 mining operations plan is drawn up in accordance with ALROSA’s Long-term Development Program. Diamond production by ALROSA Group is expected at up to 39 million carats,”…
Gem and jewellery industry leaders and top government officials – including U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana Earl R. Miller and Botswana’s Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources Kitso Mokaila – celebrated the opening of GIA’s expanded lab and education facility in Gaborone on Tuesday, Jan. 19. The expansion supports GIA’s continued beneficiation efforts by bringing value-added services to gem-producing countries. “Botswana plays a significant role in the diamond industry as one of the largest producing countries – both by value and volume,” said Susan Jacques, GIA’s president and CEO. “Much of the benefit of that…
Element Six Technologies Ltd has begun (12 January 2016) legal action in Singapore against IIa Technologies Pte. Ltd alleging infringement of its patents concerning synthetic diamond material. Element Six believes that certain of its patents for proprietary synthetic diamond products and their method of manufacture have been infringed (in particular Singapore patent numbers 115872 and 110508). It is therefore taking this action to defend its intellectual property rights and business interests. The patents in question relate to production of material which has a combination of high-optical transparency in the visible and infra-red spectral regions and low-crystalline stress, which is…
Lovers of stand-up comedy will on Thursday, January 28th witness yet another historic comedy event when Phenyo The Master records his comedic talents on DVD at Pavillion for a night of healing, in non-stop laughter. One-man standup comedy shows are a worldwide phenomenon, having launched many a career for standup comics internationally. After successful recording of Mawee’s 1 man, Major Moves Comedy is back, this time with Phenyo The Master. The Mochudi-born comedian’s 1 man show is an event not to miss with an all new critically acclaimed and very hilarious comedy package, full of humor. Joining him to open the…
Brand South Africa’s CEO Kingsley Makhubela has announced the appointment of Linda Sangaret as Chief Marketing Officer of the country’s official marketing and reputation management agency. Sangaret has recently concluded a decade long tenure as South African Tourism’s Country Manager in France. During this time, she was key to South Africa’s efforts to position the country as a destination of choice for French tourists. Between 2000-2005, Sangaret held the position of Global Communications and Marketing Manager at the Societe Generale Investment Bank in France and was responsible for the implementation of the Bank’s communications and marketing strategy in Asia and…
The Botswana economy has gone into a recession as sluggish diamond industry led to contraction in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the third quarter of 2015. New data from Statistics Botswana showed the country’s Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) decreased by 3.5 percent in the third quarter of 2015 compared to an increase of 4.0 percent accrued in the same quarter in 2014. Equally, the estimated GDP at current prices for the third quarter was P37 800.7 million compared to a revised level of P37 757.5 million registered in the second quarter of 2015. The estimated GDP at constant 2006…