Business

Au Cap, Seychelles | AFP | It is the world’s largest seed, and with a shape suggestive of a woman’s hips and myths of love-making powers, the coco de mer is an icon of the Seychelles. With a 10-kilogramme (22-pound) coconut wedged between his feet, experienced nut cutter Christophe Bristol uses …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has suspended the activities of Middle East Consultants and five other Uganda labour recruitment firms for charging illegal registration and placement fees. The acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development James Ebitu has written …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT REPORTER | Procter & Gamble (P&G) President for Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa (AMA), Suranjan Magesvaran was in Uganda last week to re-affirm the company’s commitment to invest more in Uganda. Magesvaran met with the Minister of the Presidency, Esther Mbayo at the Statehouse in Kampala. …

  Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT REPORTER | Businessman Sudhir Ruparelia has been appointed first honorary Consul of the Republic of Nepal. Sudhir was recently confirmed by Bidhya Devi Bhandari, the Nepalese President after he successfully presented his credentials to the Foreign Affairs Ministry. A  billionaire, Sudhir, is the founder …

What is social protection and what does it mean to the common person in a poor country like Uganda? Kampala, Uganda | PATRICIA AKANKWATSA | This is one major question that comes into one’s mind after reading the latest Economic Update released by the World Bank in Kampala on Feb.14. …

  Can the African Continental Free Trade Area succeed where previous free-trade initiatives have failed? Dianna Games weighs up the issues. Africa heads into a historic year in which the long-awaited African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) finally becomes a reality, with trading under the scheme scheduled to begin on 1 …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Many Ugandans are stuck with poor quality jobs, a fix that has seen them work longer hours but with falling earnings, a World Bank report has revealed. The report shows that due to poor quality jobs, value-added is very low even when people work. The report …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda’s economy needs to gradually create more jobs for its fast-growing and youth population. To accelerate economic growth and drive transformation, these jobs will need to bring higher labor productivity, says a new World Bank report launched today. The report, “Uganda: Jobs Strategy for Inclusive Growth,” …

ERA CEO says they must up their game on standards, safety and human resource Kampala, Uganda | JULIUS BUSINGE | At least 130 firms have been cleared to provide services in the energy sector following approval from the industry regulator, Electricity Regulatory Authority. This means that the firms will now …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A financial expert has praised Uganda’s currency stability, thanks to attractive interest rates on government securities and easy access of foreign currency. Eva Othieno Wanjiku, the Africa Strategist for Standard Chartered Bank, said they expected the Ugandan currency to lose more value in June …