Connect with us

Business

IMF concludes Mission to Malawi

Published

on

LILONGWE – A team from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), led by Mr. Tsidi Tsikata, visited Lilongwe and Blantyre from March 18 to April 3, 2014 to conduct discussions for the fifth review under Malawi’s Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement.

The mission held discussions with Finance Minister Maxwell Mkwezalamba, Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor Charles Chuka, Deputy Finance Minister Cornelius Mwalwanda, Secretary to the Treasury Newby Kumwembe, Attorney General Anthony Kamanga, other senior government and RBM officials, a broad range of national stakeholders outside government, as well as representatives of Malawi’s development partners. The mission expresses its gratitude for the constructive spirit in which all its discussions were held.

At the end of the mission, Mr. Tsikata issued the following statement:

“Since our last visit in November 2013, policy implementation has taken place in a difficult environment with mixed results. Against the backdrop of the suspension of substantial external assistance due to the “cashgate” scandal, fiscal policy has been appropriately restrained and has contributed to stabilizing the exchange rate. However, the resulting expenditure compression has taken a heavy toll on the delivery of public services.

“Overall fiscal conditions will remain tight for the remainder of the fiscal year 2013/14, but strong revenue performance and the release of some external financing will allow some relaxation of the stringent constraints observed over the past two quarters.

“In discussing the fiscal outlook, the mission urged the authorities to be mindful of fiscal risks associated with potential contingent liabilities arising from the operations of state owned enterprises, including the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC), the National Food Reserve Agency NFRA, the Malawi Rural Development Fund (MARDEF) and the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA).

“The authorities have made progress in addressing governance and public financial management (PFM) weaknesses, including through implementing the government’s Action Plan. Going forward, it will be important to adapt the Action Plan into a strategic and comprehensive PFM reform program, including by reflecting the findings and recommendations of the preliminary forensic audit report government received in February 2014.

“The mission welcomes the accumulation of international reserves by the RBM and its plans to further boost the level of reserves during this year’s tobacco season in order to provide the economy with a buffer against exogenous shocks. This will also allow the RBM to effectively intervene in the foreign exchange market to manage excessive volatility in the exchange rate arising from the highly season pattern of private foreign exchange inflows.

“Inflation remains high at nearly 25 percent, with the disinflation process complicated by the expansion of liquidity associated with RBM purchases of foreign exchange. The mission therefore recommends that the RBM tighten monetary policy more aggressively.

“Performance in relation to the targets and benchmarks for the fifth review was mixed. Most of the quantitative targets for end-December 2013 were met, including the target on net international reserves and net domestic borrowing by the government. However, the targets on the net domestic assets of RBM and on reserve money were missed by significant margins. The pace of implementation of structural benchmarks was slower than programmed, but almost all are now near completion.

“The mission and the authorities reached understandings on the broad parameters of the budget for the fiscal year 2014/15. Discussions will continue in the coming weeks to firm up the framework that will be presented to cabinet. Since the budget will be submitted to parliament by the government that will be formed after the May 20 elections, the mission proposes to return to Lilongwe in June to confirm the understanding reached during this mission, before it submits its report to IMF management and the Executive Board. Completion of the review would enable Malawi to receive a disbursement of SDR 13 million (about US$20 million) from the IMF.”

The Extended Credit Facility (ECF) has replaced the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) as the Fund’s main tool for medium-term financial support to low-income countries by providing a higher level of access to financing, more concessional terms, enhanced flexibility in program design features, and more focused streamlined conditionality. Financing under the ECF currently carries a zero interest rate, with a grace period of 5½ years, and a final maturity of 10 years. The Fund reviews the level of interest rates for all concessional facilities every two years.

3 Comments
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
3 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
สล็อตเกาหลี

238357 711168Maintain all the articles coming. I love reading through your things. Cheers. 5503

view details
10 months ago

198261 467111conclusion which you are totally appropriate but several demand to be 431725

กระดาษสติ๊กเกอร์ความร้อน

596138 911551Immer etliche Firmen bentzen heutzutage Interimmanagement als innovatives und ergnzendes Gertschaft i. Spanne der Unternehmensfhrung. Denn hiermit wird Kenntnisstand leistungsfhig, bedarfsgerecht und schnell ins Unternehmen geholt. 842631

Business

Dangote Plans 10,000MW Power Intervention, Raises Africa Investment Ambition to $70bn

Published

on

President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has disclosed plans to increase the group’s investment programme in Africa from $50 billion to about $70 billion under its Vision 2030.

Biztellers reports that this strategy would witness a major intervention in electricity generation to support industrial growth, to the tune of 10,000-megawatt.

Addressing creative industry stakeholders from Northern Nigeria, including content creators, journalists, bloggers, entertainers and Kannywood stars, Dangote said expanding production, creating jobs and providing reliable electricity were essential to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

He identified inadequate power supply as a major obstacle to the survival of small and medium-sized enterprises, warning that businesses dependent on petrol and diesel generators would struggle to remain profitable. Dangote said the group was considering a 10,000-megawatt power programme across Africa, potentially including Nigeria, alongside an expansion of the generating capacity dedicated to its own operations.

“We initially planned to invest $50 billion. We are now looking at increasing that to about $70 billion in Africa,” he said.

Explaining the ambition behind Vision 2030, Dangote said African businesses must take greater responsibility for investing in the continent and addressing the infrastructure constraints that discourage other investors.

READ ALSO: Chevron Nigeria Emerges Second-best Exhibitor at NAPE 2026

According to him, inconsistent government policies and unreliable electricity remain significant barriers to investment. He said the group had largely addressed the power challenge within its operations by generating its own electricity.

“Across the group, we currently have almost 1,500 megawatts. By the time we complete Vision 2030, that could rise to between 4,500 and 5,000 megawatts,” he said. “That is captive power—electricity for our own operations. Separately, part of the vision is to intervene in power generation with 10,000 megawatts across Africa, potentially including Nigeria.”

Responding to a question about the economic decision that would most improve the lives of ordinary Nigerians, Dangote placed electricity at the centre of the country’s development needs.

He argued that individual households and companies installing alternative power systems would not, by itself, resolve the wider economic problem.

“Installing solar power for yourself does not mean the wider problem has been solved. Other people may not have that option,” he said. “A vibrant economy is driven by small and medium-sized enterprises. Large companies such as ours help sustain those businesses, but SMEs are essential to economic activity. When you generate electricity using diesel or petrol, it becomes very difficult to make money.”

Dangote expressed confidence in Nigeria’s entrepreneurial strength, saying the country had yet to realise the full benefits of its large and dynamic economy. He said businesses had a responsibility to invest and create opportunities, while the government should concentrate on providing policies and conditions that allow enterprises to grow.
“The government’s principal responsibility is to create an enabling environment through good policies. With the right policies, businesses can invest and create jobs,” he said.

The industrialist identified agriculture and solid minerals as areas with substantial potential, particularly in Northern Nigeria, but stressed that the country must move beyond exporting unprocessed resources. He said investment in infrastructure, including ports, could open markets for other producers and make it easier for businesses to develop and export their products.

“It is not only about us; it is about Nigeria and the African continent,” he said. “We should not simply export raw materials and then buy back the processed products at many times the price. That is the pattern we want to change. Without production, we will continue to face economic difficulties. We must build a productive economy.”

Sharing lessons from his business career, Dangote attributed the group’s expansion to focus, financial discipline and the consistent reinvestment of earnings. He said the transition from trading to manufacturing was built around products the group already understood, supported by established customers, distribution networks and market knowledge.

“The logical next step was backward integration: producing the things we were already importing,” he said.

Dangote also urged entrepreneurs to avoid spending anticipated profits and to recognise when a venture was no longer commercially viable.
“Give it your best effort, but when you do the numbers and they are not adding up, you must be willing to leave,” he said.

Despite the challenges facing businesses, he maintained that the group would continue investing and encouraged smaller enterprises to build opportunities around major industrial projects.

“People like us will continue investing. People like you can build businesses around those investments—as suppliers, producers and service providers,” he said.

Continue Reading

Business

Chevron Nigeria Emerges Second-best Exhibitor at NAPE 2026

Published

on

Chevron Nigeria won the second-best exhibitor award at the just-concluded 2026 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) conference and exhibition at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Biztellers reports that Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, FNAPE, NAPE President (2025–2026) and Managing Director/CEO of Ingentia Energies Limited, presented the award to Chevron, during the awards dinner on November 12, 2026.

The award is in recognition of Chevron’s outstanding exhibition, where visitors to its booth, particularly students, took part in Geology/Geophysics presentations and quizzes, word games, and Human Resources/Nigerian Content presentations and quizzes, with gifts for winners and participants.

Commenting on the award, the leader of the Chevron’s exhibition team, Dr. Victor Anyaegbudike, Manager Communications, Chevron companies in Nigeria and the Mid Africa Region, commended NAPE for its commitment to hosting the annual conference and exhibition. He noted that Chevron has operated in Nigeria for over 60 years, contributing to the country’s growth and development and making human investments that yield long-term, transformative returns.

READ ALSO: Tinubu, Shettima Head to Jos for APC Presidential Campaign Rally

“At Chevron Nigeria, we drive innovation and investment to open up opportunities for growth, jobs, productivity and lasting value. Forums like the NAPE conference and exhibition matter because they bring government, academia, students and industry together around shared goals and a better understanding of one another,” he remarked.

Victor noted that Chevron is committed to building productive, collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships, grounded in trust, with governments, partners, customers, communities and employees. “We believe that affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy is vital to a more prosperous and sustainable world,” he said.

Attendees at the NAPE conference and exhibition included representatives of the Federal Government of Nigeria, industry regulators, industry leaders, academics, and students from tertiary institutions across the country.

Continue Reading

Business

NGX Gains 1.36% as Market Capitalisation Climbs to ₦163.80trn

Published

on

NGX: Transactions maintain bearish trend with 0.0% loss

The Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) recorded a 1.36 per cent weekly gain as its market capitalisation increased to ₦163.80 trillion at the close of trading on Friday, November 13, 2026.

The NGX All-Share Index (ASI) rose to 252,269.16 points, pushing the market’s year-to-date return to 62.11 per cent.

The performance reflected a positive trading week for the equities market, with 43 listed companies recording price appreciation, compared with 29 in the previous week.

SEE MORE:NGX Market Cap Falls to ₦163.65trn As All-Share Index Drops

According to the Exchange’s weekly market report, investors traded 8.03 billion shares valued at ₦185.36 billion in 160,836 deals during the week.

This represented a significant increase in trading volume from the 2.83 billion shares exchanged in 192,158 deals in the preceding week, although the total value of transactions declined from ₦208.41 billion.

The Financial Services Industry dominated trading activities, accounting for 4.85 billion shares worth ₦95.79 billion. This represented 60.45 per cent of the total equity turnover volume and 51.68 per cent of turnover value.

The Agriculture Industry followed with 2.24 billion shares valued at ₦22.78 billion, while the Consumer Goods Industry recorded 260.99 million shares worth ₦11.89 billion.

Further details of the market performance showed that 39 equities declined during the week, compared with 57 in the previous week, while 64 equities closed unchanged against 60 recorded in the preceding period.

On the gainers’ chart, Champion Breweries Plc emerged as the best-performing stock, appreciating by 27.27 per cent, while LivingTrust Mortgage Bank Plc recorded the biggest loss, declining by 18.53 per cent.

Meanwhile, trading in Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) stood at 1.21 million units valued at ₦278.97 million in 3,351 deals, compared with 1.46 million units worth ₦381.82 million in 4,085 deals in the previous week.

The fixed-income segment recorded 156,612 units valued at ₦177.88 million in 41 deals, against 21.99 million units worth ₦20.60 billion in 48 deals recorded in the preceding week.

The Exchange also recorded the listing of two commercial paper instruments issued by Thrive Agric Limited.

The instruments comprised ₦3.17 billion Series 1 (Tranche A) and ₦2.09 billion Series 1 (Tranche B) Commercial Papers, with a combined value of approximately ₦5.26 billion.

 

 

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

3
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x