Gaborone Gets World Cup 2010 Facelift

18 September, 2007 in Botswana, World Cup 2010

source: Mmegi

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
CORRESPONDENT

“Rome was not built in a day,” so the saying goes, but Cabinet here has decided to accelerate infrastructure development that would turn Gaborone into a cosmopolitan city in the next 12 months to attract World Cup 2010 teams.

A new look international airport, road networks, and four Five Star hotels are among some of the new facilities to be erected in the city in 12 months.

Massive infrastructure planned for Gaborone includes a Five Star hotel to be built near the Sir Seretse Khama Airport as well as the expansion and refurbishment of the airport to international standards.

Unveiling the national strategy for Botswana towards the World Cup 2010 at a poorly attended meeting at the Gaborone Sun on Friday, Tourism, Environment and Wildlife Minister, Kitso Mokaila, said cabinet has already committed itself to accelerating developments.

“The design of the new look airport is quite fascinating. It is not something that you are used to seeing. The runway also [continue reading]

This surgery school operates on the cheap

18 September, 2007 in Botswana

source: Globe and Mail
HAYLEY MICK
From Friday’s Globe and Mail
September 14, 2007 at 9:08 AM EDT

‘Allan in Canada! Can you hear us?”

The voice crackles out of the computer speaker, filling the small office in Toronto Western Hospital where Allan Okrainec, a 31-year-old general surgeon, bends over his laptop.

“I’m here, Alemayehu,” Dr. Okrainec says loudly into a small headset. “Can you hear me?”

This has been Dr. Okrainec’s Tuesday routine for the past six weeks: First, establish a reliable Internet connection between two doctors’ offices in Toronto and Botswana.
Dr. Allan Okrainec simulates minimally invasive surgery in Toronto while a doctor in Botswana, shown on the projection screen, learns the technique.

Then, teach a small group of eager Botswana-based surgeons the basics of a minimally invasive surgical technique that is increasingly common in Western nations due to its health benefits – but rarely used in Africa.

Laparoscopic surgery, also known as “keyhole surgery,” involves inserting a [continue reading]

Metropolitan Allays Mogae`s Fears

18 September, 2007 in Botswana

source: Mmegi

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
CORRESPONDENT

Metropolitan Botswana human resources and PR manager, Choice Pitso, has allayed President Festus Mogae’s fears that the business could still be managed from South Africa, making life difficult for local CEOs.

Pitso’s comment follows Mogae’s concern that was expressed at a function to celebrate Metropolitan’s 10th anniversary at Phakalane Golf Estate Resort last week.

Pitso admitted to Monitor on Friday that for a while the 10-year-old insurance company had a number of its functions managed from South Africa. However the spokesperson said things have changed and more functions transferred to Botswana. She confirmed that when the company started in 1997 it had only two departments in Botswana with the rest managed from South Africa.

“Now we have five departments. Now the only function still being run from South Africa is actuarial services. This department is responsible for pricing Metropolitan products. It is a very complex function. We cannot even outsource it from a local company because there is not one here. Even our competitors do not have the function. The university does not offer it as a course. It will take a while to bring that function to Botswana due to human resource shortage here,” Pitso explained.

Pitso added that besides the actuarial services, only [continue reading]

International Financial Services Centre Certifies Two More Companies

18 September, 2007 in Botswana, Business

source: Mmegi

BUSINESS REPORTER

The fledging Botswana International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) recently certified two new companies to add to its growing list of affiliates.

According to the organisation’s annual report for 2007, an asset management company and finance company will become operational in the New Year.

The two new companies are Runway Asset Management (RAM), which leases aircraft on the African market, and Enterprise Fedha Finance Company (EFFCO), which specializes in leasing and asset-backed financing.

The report says RAM sponsors have identified a significant pipeline of leasing and asset management opportunities in Africa. The company, which provides aircraft to clients utilising a value-added model focusing on financial structuring and active asset management, already has clients in Angola, South Africa, Nigeria and Jordan.

Naturelink, a subsidiary of Imperial Holdings of South Africa, will operate the aircraft.
The IFSC says the other company, EFFCO, will offer a wide range of financial products including [continue reading]

Investment boost for SA

18 September, 2007 in South Africa

source: News24
17/09/2007 19:58 – (SA)

Pretoria – France is to invest about €400m in the next four years to help South Africa with service delivery, job creation and environmental and sustainable development, French ambassador Denis Pietton said on Monday.

“In terms of service delivery, we will help with providing development assistance,” the ambassador said at the Africa Dialogue Lecture series under the topic ” Franco-African Relations” in Pretoria.

Pietton said France could help Africa to have a bigger say in global issues by bringing to the international agenda issues that African states considered important, like reform of the United Nations Security Council, global climate change and HIV/Aids.

He added that France also [continue reading]