You are the Author of your Own Story!
The Holstee Manifesto is an inspiration to everyone in need of stimulation and change in their life. Michael Radparvar, co-founder of Holstee, shares his journey as a young social entrepreneur. Holstee is a life style brand that promotes sustainable living by offering responsible consumer choices. Based on the triple bottom line People, Planet, Profit, Holstee […]
Abandoned Houses Prove Golden Opportunity
Miriam, 43, lives in Cañadas del Florido, a low-income neighborhood in Tijuana, Baja California, the northernmost state of Mexico. Three years ago, on any given day, Miriam and her three children would watch criminals, drug addicts, and vagrants frequent the empty house next-door. Their streets were littered with garbage and dead animals. This is not […]
Benefits of Stakeholder Engagement
In 2006, the Indorama Corporation acquired the Eleme Petrochemicals Company (IEPL) from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, as part of a government-led privatisation programme. Indorama is an Indonesian-based manufacturer of petrochemicals and associated downstream products that operates in 19 countries. Located just outside Port Harcourt in the Niger Delta, IEPL is a 360 hectare site, […]
Building a Greener Network
By CDC Established in 1996, as a joint venture between Telenor Mobile Communications and Grameen Telecom Corporation, Grameenphone is today the largest mobile operator in Bangladesh. Grameenphone has a significant workforce, with over 4,900 direct, full-time employees and thousands more employed through its vendor and distribution networks. The company recently rolled out 3G services for […]
Long Term Value Creation Through Environmental and Social Responsibility
By CDC For Adenia Partners, environmental, social and governance (ESG) responsibility is not an afterthought – it is a fundamental part of the firm’s value proposition. Over the past 12 years, ESG management has been built into Adenia’s operating and reporting processes. It is one of the first aspects that the firm looks to improve […]
Innovation To Promote Financial Inclusion
Having a bank account and access to banking services such as saving and borrowing is taken for granted in middle and high income countries. These services are not available in large parts of Africa, where millions of people continue to be excluded from the banking system. Kenya’s Equity Bank is helping to bridge this gap. […]
Constructing 7,500 New Homes
In December 2012, CDC committed US$20m to Phatisa’s Pan African Housing Fund (‘PAHF’) with the aim of catalysing finance for the construction of up to 7,500 new homes over ten years. This will create an estimated 22,500 jobs. FUNDING HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS The Fund will provide risk capital on a joint venture basis with selected local […]
Retail Supply Chains Supporting Indirect Jobs
By CDC Mr Basher is a farmer who supplies fresh vegetables to Agora Supermarkets “I’ve now learnt to think on a broader level. Before Agora, I used to think very traditionally. Now there is a lot of opportunity to expand my business which will help me invest in my children’s education.” BUILDING BUSINESSES It is […]
Expanding Broadband Using Wimax Technology
By CDC Nigeria, with a population of over 155m people, had been starved of extensive telecommunication services until 10 years ago when the industry was liberalised. Since then, mobile phone use has grown impressively – from just 400,000 in 2001 to over 90m GSM subscribers in June 2011 – the highest in Africa. The country […]
Pharmaceuticals in East Africa
By CDC In 2010, CDC committed €12m to the AfricInvest Fund II, which in turn made a €6.8m investment in Kiboko Holdings Limited, a manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceuticals. The benefits of a thriving local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector are manifest – skilled employment, potential for lower-priced products, technology and knowledge transfer. Domestic production in Uganda, […]
Why We Should See Farming as a Business
In 2050 food production almost needs to have doubled to feed the future population of then 10 billion people. As agriculture forms the backbone of Kenya’s economy, contributing 50% to the country’s GDP and employing 70% of the labor force, it holds great potential to increase production levels. Investments in agriculture are critical to let […]
Sustainable Forestry Fund Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa
By CDC CDC views forestry as a strong sector for investment in Africa. Timber offers consistent long-term returns and has side benefits such as preserving biodiversity, protecting against soil erosion and the potential to generate income from carbon trading and sequestration. The sector also provides employment and training opportunities in rural areas. Like many sectors […]
Micro-finance in West Africa
By CDC Liberia is a country that faces many problems. A shortage of entrepreneurs, however, is not one of them. Take Addy Nyemah, a textile trader in the capital Monrovia, for example, or 34 year-old Henry Wellington. HENRY’S STORY Twelve years ago Henry Wellington started his cement block production business after his grandfather had passed […]
Job Creation Through Manufacturing And Retail
By CDC “Foreign investment is very positive. When CDC and the IFC invest in Bangladesh,that makes us hopeful. It’s an indirect impact that makes us feel good. We can use the expertise of Brummer and Partners and CDC in areas we are lacking.” Mustafizur Rahman Shazid, Director of Sales and Marketing, Butterfly Marketing(Importer and manufacturer […]
Financial Inclusion: Reaching Over 1.2M People In Rural India
By CDC In India approximately 75% of poor people live in rural areas and face limited employment opportunities outside the agricultural sector*. Access to financial services will help people move out of poverty, but the geographical challenges in bringing banking to a large rural population are significant. There are currently 180 million people in India […]
Reliable Travel On India's City Buses
By CDC Transport demand in most Indian cities has increased substantially. This is due to both natural population increases and migration from rural areas and smaller towns.* Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh has a typically poor public transport system that holds back economic development. When CDC visited Ujjain in 2010 one traveller told the team: “The […]
Reliable Travel On India’s City Buses
By CDC Transport demand in most Indian cities has increased substantially. This is due to both natural population increases and migration from rural areas and smaller towns.* Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh has a typically poor public transport system that holds back economic development. When CDC visited Ujjain in 2010 one traveller told the team: “The […]
Low-cost Pharmaceuticals In Bangladesh
“We are a least developed country, but in pharmaceuticals, we are ahead” DR. M.A. MALEK CHOWDHURY Director, Industrial Operations In the photo above he demonstrates the infusion bags, used for diarrhoea and post–operations, which are now manufactured by Popular Pharmaceuticals in Bangladesh ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MEDICINES Popular Pharmaceuticals is one of Bangladesh’s largest companies producing […]
Providing Finance To Growing Companies In Sub-Saharan Africa
Towards the end of 2012 CDC committed US$30m to the Investec Africa Credit Opportunities Fund I, sub-Saharan Africa’s first corporate debt fund, which is run by Investec Asset Management. The commitment was the first made by CDC’s debt and financial institutions team. Debt investments, which are made directly to companies and financial institutions as well […]
ESG Standards In Heavy Manufacturing
“I’m proud to say Athi River Steel Plant is one step ahead of any other steel manufacturing company in Kenya. We are the benchmark as far as health and safety policy implementation is concerned. Our safety record has improved tremendously.” IMPROVING ESG STANDARDS The air rings with the jangling sounds of banging metal and the […]