Legatum, a private international investment group and Omidyar Network, a philanthropic investment firm, announced the selection of 10 companies as finalists of the 2011 Africa Awards for Entrepreneurship of which 5 are Technology companies hailing from various parts of Africa. The selected 5 Tech companies for the finals are: Unique Solutions Company Limited from Gambia, Expand Technology from Mauritius, First Atlantic Semiconductor & Microelectronics from Nigeria, Cellular Systems International from Senegal and Securico from Zimbabwe.
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Kenya Petroleum Refineries Limited has implemented a new solution from IBM to increase the productivity and efficiency of the company’s oil refinery operations in East Africa. The solution, based on IBM Maximo asset management software, will allow KPRL to better utilize its production equipment, facilities and IT systems to reduce risk and control costs. The agreement was finalized by IBM’s business partners Computer Source Point Ltd and Powertech IST Data.Read More…

Bytes Document Solutions, the distributor for Xerox in 26 African countries appointed Linxia to distribute its range of Xerox multifunction devices (MFDs) and printers in the Republic of Mauritius and surrounding Indian Ocean islands. “We have extended our partnership to Linxia’s 300 channel partners, and we are supporting them out of South Africa, with a regional Xerox reseller programme. That infrastructure is a key factor in the success of Xerox in the region, since Mauritius is increasingly serving as a hub for the Indian Ocean islands.”Read More…

Hitachi Data Systems plans to acquire Shoden Data Systems (Shoden), a leading provider of data center technology solutions in South Africa and across the sub-Saharan African continent subjected to approval from respective authorities in the African countries in which Hitachi Data Systems and Shoden conduct operations. “We are very excited about the prospect of joining the Hitachi Data Systems family,” said Marc Trevenen, managing director, Shoden Data Systems.
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Absa Capital, in affiliation with Barclays Capital offers corporate and investment banking services, acting as an intermediary between, and adviser to, suppliers and users of various forms of capital in South Africa and across the continent. The Challenge • Accurately assess and manage core client static data in support of both the Absa Group and Barclays Capital’s Advanced Internal Ratings Based (AIRB) approaches to Credit Risk reporting • Leverage the shared client static data across both the Absa Group and Barclays Capital to support collaboration with other business units both locally and internationally.Read More…

According to the latest report on broadband market, Frost & Sullivan recognises iBurst DRC with the 2011 West and Central Africa Frost & Sullivan Growth Leadership Award. Since its market entry in December 2008, the company has rapidly become one of the largest internet service providers (ISP) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s broadband market, successfully competing with more established CDMA operators and GSM. At the end of 2009, iBurst DRC had enjoyed dramatic uptake of its broadband services, reaching over 5,000 subscribers in less than 12 months.Read More…

SAP, the world’s leading provider of business enterprise application software appointed State Informatics (SIL) as the first “service partner for large enterprise” in Mauritius. SIL will provide SAP implementation and consulting services throughout the Republic of Mauritius and the entire African region. “This agreement is a testimony of the trust relationship between SIL and SAP, the world’s leading provider of enterprise application software, with very stringent benchmarks. Read More…

Leading South African distributor Esquire Technologies bagged the distribution rights for leading PC and Personal Audio brand SonicGear for the Southern Africa market. SonicGear provides a range of innovative audio products that consistently stay ahead of consumer trends and demands. In the process quality and superb styling remain top of mind while ensuring that the products are targeted to mass markets and remain affordable.Read More…

SAP has recently announced the appointment of Marius Moantsoga to the position of Regional Director for Francophone West and Central Africa. Marius will oversee SAP’s activities in the region and ensure that revenue targets are achieved. He will also focus on growing SAP’s footprint within Africa by developing the channel. “The best-run businesses globally run on SAP, and our goal is to expand our partnerships to governments and businesses in Africa,” says Moantsoga. “I look forward to this challenge, and what lies ahead for us on the continent.”Read More…

Toshiba strikes golden results by investing heavily in its channel partners which lead Toshiba an unprecedented market penetration in East and West Africa. In Kenya alone, Toshiba achieved high sales figures, and has doubled the units sold in August than in comparable periods in the company’s history. “I am confident that this is a direct result of the clear steps that we have taken to build and nurture our channels in sub-Saharan Africa, and that we are going to continue to enjoy considerable growth as we build on these in the future,” says Nelo Neves, channel manager, Toshiba Africa.Read More…

IBM continued its march in the african continent and it recently opened its new branch office at Luanda, Angola, after opening branches at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Dakar, Senegal, in the first half of 2011. With the establishment of branch office in Luanda, IBM has increased its direct presence in more than 20 African countries, including South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.Read More…

Leading telecom operator in world, Airtel recently announced the selection of IBM to manage the computing technology and services that power Airtel’s mobile communications network spanning 16 African countries. On the finalisation of the agreement, IBM will deploy and manage state-of-the-art information technology (IT) infrastructure and applications to support Airtel’s goal of taking affordable and innovative mobile services to remote locations in Africa. Read More…