As the airline industry battles to keep afloat amid the smallest growth in international passengers in five years, Africa has emerged as one of the three strongest markets, according to data provided by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA). 

IATA’s latest data on passenger growth, based on figures gathered in July, found that the number of people flying internationally hit  0.7%, compared with 4.2% growth earlier in the year and 8% the previous year, leading to gloomy forecasts of anticipated losses worth $5.2bn this year and airline failures. In contrast, Africa’s internal passenger growth was 18% during the same period; growth in travel between Africa and the Middle East continued to be strong at 6.9%, and travel between Africa and the southwest Pacific was 9.7%. This means Africa has become a business travel hub that may see major international airlines shift their focus here for future growth.

Motlanthe: We are Indebted to Mbeki

South Africa President, Kgalema Motlanthe has hailed his predecessor Thabo Mbeki for his service to the nation. “For all that he has done for South Africa, for our continent and for the advancement of the global community, we remain forever indebted,” said Motlanthe. He was speaking in a televised address to the nation early this week. He also expressed appreciation to the ministers and their deputies who served under President Mbeki for their dedication to serve South Africa. Motlanthe assured the country that he will carry out his duties as President with “dignity, commitment and humility.”

 Northern Uganda: The New Grain Basket  

Northern Uganda is re-emerging as the richest farming and grain basket region of Uganda, a situation that is precipitating economic recovery in the region. Prior to the 21-year-old civil conflict, the region grew crops including upland rice, millet, sorghum, cassava, groundnuts, beans, sweet potatoes, simsim, soybean, coffee, tea and cotton. In addition, the region comprising of Gulu, Lira, Pader, Kitgum, Amuru, Amolatar and Apac districts, was famous for the zebu cattle, goats and chicken. With the Juba peace process on course, a new feeling of buoyancy in the economy and agriculture is building investor’s confidence. This development has led all the major banks and micro-finance institutions in a rush to have a footprint there by opening branches in towns within the region.

Mortgage: Banks in Nigeria Target Informal Sector 

Through formation of housing co-operatives, Nigerians in the informal sector will now have access to mortgage policies from the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). Acting Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed, said the sector had been neglected because it lacked access to formal title on housing property. “FMBN intends to pay real attention to housing cooperatives as the major strategy to bridge the credit gap faced by this disadvantaged group. This particularly applies to professional groups such as teachers, nurses and religious groups,” said Ahmed. Mr. Ahmed also said the bank would initiate dialogue with the National University Commission (NUC) and labour representatives, to finance a mortgage scheme for academic and non-academic staff of private universities in Nigeria. “The resultant socio- economic goal is that these people should be able to own houses built with the micro-finance fund,” Ahmed said.

Kenyan Wins Schweppes Africa Concours d’Elegance 2008 

The Annual Schweppes Africa Concours d’Elegance 2008 was held in Nairobi over the weekend. The event, where vintage motor vehicles and bikes are entered to compete in different categories is the only one of its kind on the continent.  Participants enter their motors to compete for the most points based on age, beauty, engine performance, maintenance and presentation. Kenyan Julia Wilcox won with her 1952 MG TD Model car. The event brought together participants from several African countries including Mauritius, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.   

East Africa E-tourism Conference Upcoming 

Nairobi will in two weeks time host the first ever e-tourism conference and seminar in the region. The  event  will attract  27 local and international presenters including many of the world’s leading e-tourism firms and experts. The sessions will include but not limited to e-marketing, e-commerce, real time reservations, web-design and multimedia. The event is meant to open up the east African tourism sector to global competitiveness.