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China open more doors to foreign stock investors

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SHANGHAI – China has relaxed rules to allow more foreign participation in its main stock market, in the latest step towards liberalizing the financial system in the world’s second-largest economy.

From Thursday, foreign investors on the Shanghai stock exchange will be allowed to invest in more products and can invest up to 30 percent in a single company, up from 20 percent previously.

The move comes just days after the People’s Bank of China, the central bank, doubled the daily trading band of its currency, and after it earlier this month provided an explicit timeframe for the liberalization of the country’s deposit rates.

The country’s stock markets showed muted reaction to the latest change on Thursday but analysts said it highlighted the overall direction of the reforms.

“We’re at the point where developments of this kind represent important forward steps,” said Tom Gatley, a senior analyst at GaveKal Dragonomics in Beijing.

With immediate effect, the exchange raised the shareholding limit for Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (QFII) and Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors (RQFII) in a single company to 30 percent from 20 percent, according to new rules by the exchange published on its website late on Wednesday.

The QFII and RQFII schemes are the main channels of foreign investments in China’s stock markets. As of end-February, China had issued total quotas of $52.3 billion under the QFII program and 180.4 billion yuan ($29 billion) under the RQFII program, which allows investments using offshore yuan.

The Shanghai bourse also said foreign investors would now be permitted to trade asset-backed securities, when-issued debt and bonds issued by Chinese policy banks for the first time. They can now also participate in the preferred share program, which is expected to be launched soon, it said.

“The move comes at a time when China’s stock market is quite weak and regulators hope to attract more foreign investment,” said Zheng Weigang, a senior trader at Shanghai Securities.

“However, compared with China’s large capitalized stock market, the overall amount of QFII and RQFII investment accounts for only a limited portion, so the impact of the new rules may be limited.

“Besides, because of lackluster growth of China’s economy in recent quarters, foreigners’ interest in China’s stock market is also not that strong, and that will also limit the impact of the new rules.”

The CSI300 index of top Chinese companies on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges .CSI300 was up 0.3 percent on Thursday while the Shanghai Composite Index .SSEC was up 0.4 percent.

YUAN, INTEREST RATE REFORM

On Saturday, the PBOC widened the daily trading range for the yuan, which analysts said suggested regulators believe the economy is stable enough to handle more promised reforms going forward.

The PBOC’s governor said earlier in the month that the country’s deposit rates are likely to be liberalized in one to two years – the most explicit timeframe to date for what would be the final step in freeing up banks to set their own interest rates.

On capital market reforms, China has been widening channels for investors buying mainland stocks, bonds and money market instruments.

Last year, China doubled the overall quota of the QFII scheme to $150 billion and said it would expand the RQFII pilot program to London, Singapore, Taiwan and other unnamed locations. The RQFII scheme is currently available through designated institutions in Hong Kong.

However, foreign interest in Chinese equities has been tempered in recent years by concerns that onshore markets are driven primarily by speculation on policy direction and stimulus spending instead of business and economic fundamentals.

Investors also cite corporate governance issues as a problem. Analysts say a lack of clarity about how Beijing will tax profits from QFII investments has also restrained more conservative investors.

China is aiming to transform its commercial centre Shanghai into a global financial hub on par with the likes of London and Singapore by 2020 but analysts say there is still a long way to go.

“If you want people to take you seriously as a financial centre, then you have to allow non-Chinese people to participate in the whole range of capital instruments,” Gatley said.

“There are other things substantially more important for making Shanghai a credible financial hub, notably capital account convertibility. That’s the major one.”

– REUTERS

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Tinubu Moves To Transform Tragedy To Prosperity With Livestock Investment

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Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is of the view that his administration’s renewed focus in driving international and local investments into livestock sector of the agricultural value-chain will end the crisis of farmer-herder clashes, eradicate hunger and poverty in addition to promoting economic prosperity.

President Tinubu said this Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil at the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Nigerian Government and the JBS S.A, one of the top three largest meat processing companies globally.

“What we are doing right now is that we are solving a problem that afflicted humanity in that part of Africa, clashes between farmers and migrating cows that have caused some life and bloodshed when there is a modern, civilized way to solve those problems and even bring a successful economy out of it.

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“We are trying to turn a situation of tragedy, hopelessness into economic opportunity, see through problems and see the opportunity that is involved in it.”

The Nigerian leader called on the company to see the considerable potentials in what he called the $2.5billion livestock investment opportunities in Nigeria, especially with its huge population and tap into it, given JBS S.A’s globally recognized expertise in the area of guaranteeing food security.

“We’ve heard so much about you in terms of the reputation, and we believe in the partnership we are forging today.

“Food security is extremely important. As we talk right now, there is hunger. However, there is huge hope. And you are one of those hopes that we are looking at.”

President Tinubu told the JBS top executives that Nigeria is ready to do business with them, assuring them of a good return on their investment.

Prior to his visit to Brazil, President had commissioned a team of Nigerian officials and private sector players to take the advantage of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio to conduct a study tour of Sao Paulo, Brazil and explore the opportunities in livestock development, meat processing, seed development and multiplication for key grains.

In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Muhktar Mahia, who led the delegation, reported to the President that the team embarked on guided, extended and intensive tours of companies on the scale of their global reach, the integrated nature of their operations as well as the deployment of advanced technology. He added that from their interactions with various companies, JBS S.A. was chosen being the second largest meat processing company in the world with the capacity to process 33,000 cattle daily and over eight million birds daily, using advanced zero-waste practices. The company employs over 200,000 people across its subsidiaries in more than 50 countries in the world including United States, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia among others.

Wesley Batista, founder and President of the JBS group, said the company is the largest employer of labour in Brazil with over $79 billion dollars revenue already in year 2024.

“We are glad to work with Nigeria to work together to develop the livestock industry there. We think it’s a good opportunity for our business in Nigeria and Africa as we believe Nigeria can be the center of supply of protein to many countries in Africa. We look forward to working with you. We are almost in December and this year is almost gone. We hope to be in Nigeria as soon as possible,” the founder and Chief Executive said.

Other members of the delegation included Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security Hon. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, Co-chairman Presidential Livestock Reform Committee, Professor Attahiru Jega, the Secretary of the Committee, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahya, and the Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Aisha Rimi.

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NANTA Champions Nigeria’s Tourism Revival With ₦742m Investment

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The National Association of Nigeria Travel Agencies (NANTA) has disclosed an investment of ₦742 million over the past three years to position Nigeria as a premier tourism destination at the annual World Travel Market (WTM) in London.

Speaking in Lagos on Thursday, NANTA’s immediate past president, Mrs. Susan Akporiaye, revealed that the funds were used for exhibition pavilions, magazine publications, and logistical support for members attending the prestigious trade show.

“In three years, NANTA has spent ₦742,226,100 to deliberately put Nigeria on the global tourism map at the WTM. This was achieved with only skeletal support in 2022 and 2023,” Akporiaye said.

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According to Akporiaye, the association received minimal support in its early years of participation.

In 2022, La Campagne Tropicana Beach Resort and Air Peace contributed by placing advertisements on the Nigerian pavilion and in the association’s magazine. By 2023, Ibom Air joined the effort, supporting NANTA with adverts, while La Campagne Tropicana maintained its support.

The 2024 edition, however, marked a turning point. Akporiaye noted that for the first time, Ibom Air went beyond advertisements to co-exhibit, alongside Eko Hotels and Sabre Travel Network. Their contributions made Nigeria’s representation at WTM more robust and impactful.

“Sabre Travel Network also supported us, so we had their graphics, as well as Ibom Air’s, displayed on our stand. Their contributions made our 2024 participation very grand,” she added.

Akporiaye highlighted that 90% of the funds for WTM participation came directly from NANTA members, underscoring their commitment to Nigeria’s tourism development.

“This shows that we are true patriots, and we deserve national recognition for our efforts,” she said.

NANTA began attending the WTM in 2022 to fill the gap left by Nigeria’s absence from the event for over 10 years.

The association saw the need to promote the country’s tourism potential and create international business opportunities for its members.

“It’s been a wonderful and successful three years that NANTA has participated in WTM, filling the gap left by Nigeria’s absence for over 10 years. We are glad to have handed over the baton of Nigeria’s participation at WTM to the Nigerian government this year,” Akporiaye said.

Through its participation, NANTA has secured affiliations with international tourism boards, organized product training for members, and raised awareness about Nigeria as a destination.

These efforts have also led to partnerships with global airlines and travel boards, fostering significant growth for members’ businesses.

“Our participation at WTM has helped members’ businesses grow significantly. We have formed partnerships with airlines and travel boards worldwide.

“Our greatest achievement at WTM is drawing Nigeria’s attention back to the need to exhibit at the global travel market,” Akporiaye said.

The initiative has also inspired members to expand their horizons into global Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) events.

 

 

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CSR: Dangote Cement Fuels Education With Support Projects At Lagos Schools

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Dangote Cement Plc, a leading cement manufacturer, has donated multi-million Naira educational support projects to secondary schools in Lagos as part of its social investment initiatives.

The company in a statement explained that the move is aimed at complementing the government’s efforts in providing quality and sustainable education in the state.

It was gathered that the projects were commissioned and handed over to various schools in the Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area, align with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on education. These goals focus on ensuring inclusive, equitable, and quality education, as well as promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

The projects, warmly received by both teachers and students, include 100 dual school desks for Ilado Community Junior High School and Wahab Folawiyo Senior High School, alongside a refurbished and fully equipped Chemistry Laboratory at the Government Senior Secondary School, Ikoyi.

ALSO READ: Dangote Cement Ibese Fetes Host Communities’ Senior Citizens

Also donated were reading tables, chairs, and bookshelves for the library at Government Junior Secondary School, Ikoyi.

A celebration also took place at Falomo Junior High School and Ireti Senior Grammar School, both in Ikoyi, where the company donated 20 brand-new desktop computers to the ICT departments of the schools.

At the event at Government Junior College, Ikoyi, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, Arvind Pathak, explained that social investment is a key part of Dangote Cement’s operations.

He said the company is dedicated to giving back to society and supporting the sustainable development of local communities, especially in areas where it operates.

Pathak’s address was delivered by Wakeel Olayiwola, the Head of Social Performance at Dangote Cement Plc.

He said, “education holds a pivotal role in the development and empowerment of the youths in the country. As a cornerstone for societal advancement, it serves as a critical tool for personal growth, economic development, and national progress. An educated youth population not only fosters individual success but also contributes significantly to the nation’s overall wellbeing.

“At Dangote Cement, we believe that providing quality education to our youth is vital and should not be left solely as the government’s responsibility. Thus, we aim to partner with the government to enhance educational development in this regard.

“The projects we are handing over today are part of our 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme for selected schools within the neighbourhood of Dangote Cement Plc’s Head Office in Ikoyi, Lagos. These projects were selected based on need assessments in collaboration with the schools.”

As a responsible corporate entity, Pathak noted that Dangote Cement’s commitment to societal wellbeing, with investments in four key areas: Education, Healthcare, Infrastructure, and Economic Empowerment programmes.

“This year, our plants in Ibese, Ogun State; Obajana, Kogi State; Gboko, Benue State; Okpella, Edo State; and our Pan-African operations have launched several social investment projects. These efforts contribute to the quality of life in our host communities and support sustainable national development,” he added.

Pathak thanked the Lagos State Government, the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, and the school management teams for their collaboration in identifying the schools’ needs and ensuring the timely completion of the projects.

Dr. Idowu Olufunke Oyetola, Tutor General and Permanent Secretary of Education District 3, Lagos State Ministry of Education, who was represented by Bolaji Rotimi Ajayi, Director of School Administration, praised the long-standing partnership with Dangote Cement, noting that the schools selected for the donations were fortunate beneficiaries. “We hope for more collaborations that will positively impact education,” she added.

The principals of the recipient schools expressed their gratitude after the formal handover of the projects.

Odunlami Olubunmi, Principal of Ilado Community Junior High School, Ikoyi, thanked Dangote Cement for the new desks, stating that the donation would significantly improve the learning environment for the students, helping to prepare them for a brighter future.

Bamidele Ayotunde, Principal of the school with the refurbished laboratory, urged other businesses to follow Dangote Cement’s example in supporting local schools, pointing out the positive impact of the laboratory’s renovation on the school’s learning environment.

The Principal of Ireti Senior Grammar School, Ikoyi, whose school received the new desktop computers, described the donation as a positive development and expressed hope for more support in the future.

Pupils also shared their appreciation for the contributions. Abiola Jamaudeen, a lab prefect at Government Senior College, Ikoyi, promised that the laboratory would be used to its fullest potential and well-maintained.

Lawal Rumayzo Abdulsalam, a student at the school, said the new library equipment would foster better reading habits and create a more conducive environment for learning, ultimately preparing them for success. Some students even performed special songs to welcome the Dangote team to their schools.

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