Press Digest

May 2, 2012 I Issue No. 95
Press Digest
 English-Language Press 
Liberia: CBL, Credit Union Strategize For Empowerment
The Analyst (All Africa); April 30, 2012
In an effort to buttress the government Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) introduced by
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) and the Liberia National Credit
Union Limited, have embarked on a 2-day capacity building and strategy awareness workshop
that would raise the interest of people to partner with credit unions in the country.
Banking recovery lures funds back to Nigeria stocks
Reuters Africa; April 30, 2012
Signs of a sharp recovery in bank earnings for the first quarter are drawing investors to Nigerian
shares after several years of turbulence in local stock markets following a 2008 banking crisis
that wiped 60 percent off their value.
Tanzania: PBZ Set for Mobile Money Transfer
Tanzania Daily News; April 30, 2012
The People's Bank of Zanzibar (PBZ) plans to introduce mobile money transfer (Z-Pesa by Zantel)
later this year to cater for the rising demand for financial services.
Kenya: Equity May Change Hands to Foreigners
The Star; April 29, 2012
Equity Bank could soon become a foreign majority owned institution if international investors
continue buying its shares at the same rate they have been doing. With only a 7 percentage
point difference before reaching the 50 per cent shareholding mark, foreign investors have been
increasing their stake in the bank at a super normal rate.
Nigeria: CBN Banks Renew Commitment to Agric Funding
This Day; April 29, 2012
In what has been described as a direct response to the growing fears of a food crisis in the
country, the Central Bank of Nigeria and some commercial banks at the weekend renewed their
resolve to rise to the challenge of the rising cost of food through increased participation in
agricultural development in the Nigeria.
Tanzania: Cheap Premium Insurance Takes Off
Tanzania Daily News; April 29, 2012
National Insurance Corporation (NIC) has introduced the lowest life premium cover that caters
for low and middle income earners in a quest to woo the 'wananchi' to purchase life insurance
cover.
Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 2, 2012 I Issue No. 95
Namibia: Central Bank Fails the Poor
The Namibian; April 27, 2012
The Bank of Namibia as a regulating body for commercial banks has failed to control commercial
banks regarding property loans.
Ethiopia: Private Financial Institutions Significant to Enhance Financial Service
Accessibility
Ethiopian News Agency (All Africa); April 27, 2012
Private financial institutions play significant role to enhance better financial service accessibility
in the country, the National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE) said.
Nigeria: Credit to Private Sector Now N14.207 Trillion
This Day; April 27, 2012
Banking sector credit to the private sector increased significantly by 11.3 per cent to N14.207
trillion as at March this year, as against the 12.762 trillion it was the previous month, data
obtained by THSIDAY has shown.
Rwanda: FINA Bank to Expand ATM Network
The New Times; April 27, 2012
FINA Bank is set to install seven more Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to ease the long
queues evident at its banking halls across the country.
Tunisia's Fidelium launches 2 growth capital private equity funds
Zawya.com; April 26, 2012
Fidelium Finance, a private equity manager in Tunisia, recently launched two private equity
funds dedicated to SMEs in the country.
Angola: Insurance Prizes May Reach 1.0 Billion Dollars
Angola Press; April 26, 2012
Insurance prizes at the Angolan market may reach 1.0 billion dollars, the highest figure since the
liberalisation of the sector in 2001, ANGOP has learnt.
Tanzania: Bank of Africa to Support SMEs
Tanzania Daily News; April 26, 2012
Bank of Africa Tanzania has reaffirmed its commitment to develop the Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs), as a way of attaining fast socio economic development in the country.
Libyan wealth fund to appeal against asset seizure in Italy
Reuters Africa; April 26, 2012
Libya's sovereign fund said on Thursday it would appeal to recover around 1.1 billion euros of
assets, including stakes in top Italian companies that were seized in Italy last month at the
request of the International Criminal Court.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 2, 2012 I Issue No. 95
East Africa bourses bet on entrepreneurs
Reuters Africa; April 26, 2012
Three east African bourses aim to set up alternative markets focused on fast-growing companies
this year, a move they hope will also boost liquidity and draw more business.
Nigeria: Fidelity Bank Reaches Out to the Physically-Challenged
Vanguard; April 26, 2012
Newly recruited staff of Fidelity Bank Plc who are currently undergoing their induction in the
bank's training school, at the weekend, demonstrated their readiness to be good members of
the Fidelity family by keying into the bank's vision for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Rwanda: Banks Eager to Embrace New Technology to Cut Costs
The New Times; April 26, 2012
Several local commercial banks are considering the installation of a new banking system aimed
at merging electronic banking services on one platform in an attempt to reduce operating costs.
Tanzania: NHIF Urged to Serve Rural Masses
Tanzania Daily News; April 26, 2012
The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has been asked to make sure that more people
particularly in the rural areas benefit from their services.
Nigeria: Cashless Policy - a Burden or Relief?
This Day; April 25, 2012
Also, the cost of printing new banks notes as a result frequently handling is said to cost the
Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) terrifying amount annually. To address this and many other issues
facing the banks and the nation's economy, the CBN, last year, introduced the cashless economy
policy.
Tanzania: Establishment of Farmers' Bank in Good Progress
Tanzania Daily News; April 24, 2012
The government is working on the final stages of establishing a Farmers Development Bank (FDB)
with the aim of making it easy for farmers and peasants to access loan facilities.
Kenya Reinsurance eyes 15-20 pct growth this year
Reuters Africa; April 24, 2012
Kenya Reinsurance is targeting 15-20 percent growth in both revenue and profit this year, with
its biggest challenge coming from managing its investment portfolio, where income dropped last
year, its managing director said on Tuesday.
South Africa: Medshield Enters the Short-Term Insurance Market
Biz-Community; April 23, 2012
Broker partners of Medshield Distribution Services will shortly be able to offer quotes for shortterm insurance cover to their clients.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 2, 2012 I Issue No. 95
Nigeria: Customers Now to Open Bank Account With Zero Kobo
Leadership (All Africa); April 23, 2012
As part of its financial inclusion strategy, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has
mandated banks across the country to open accounts for customers with zero balance. This
move is to promote easy access to banking services for the unbanked public.
Private equity billions flow into East African companies
The Star; April 22, 2012
For most entrepreneurs, their business is their most valued asset. They would prefer to run it
their own way without outside interference, after all, isn't that why most of them opted for selfemployment. Selling out part of the stake is out of the question, but it could be the only option
to get the much needed capital in a market where financiers are few. Global and local Private
Equity firms have been lining up with billions of cash willing to invest in Kenya, and the trend is
catching on.
Kenya: MobiKash to Join PesaPoint ATM Network
The Star; April 22, 2012
Mobile-banking service, MobiKash is counting on a deal signed with PesaPoint Limited, to
replicate the success of rivals M-PESA and Airtel Money in providing round the clock services.
 Revue de Presse Francophone 
Maroc: Selon Bank Al-Maghrib, hausse du nombre de paiements par cartes
Libération; 1er mai 2012
Le nombre de paiements par cartes, y compris les paiements sur guichets automatiques
bancaires (GAB) et ceux en ligne, s'est établi à 17,2 millions d'opérations, soit une hausse de
21,8% en nombre et 22,7% en valeur, selon Bank Al-Maghrib.
Tunisie: Les banques encouragées à provisionner, même les classes 0 et 1
Actu News; 30 avril 2012
La Banque Centrale vient d’envoyer une circulaire aux banques de la place, leur demandant de
constituer des provisions, à caractère collectif, pour tous les crédits de classe 0 et 1,
normalement non provisionnées.
Sénégal: La BRVM poursuit sa tendance à la hausse, à la fin mars
Agence de Presse Sénégalaise; 30 avril 2012
La tendance à la hausse de la Bourse régionale des valeurs mobilières (BRVM) s'est poursuivie
jusqu'à la fin-mars, avec les indices BRVM 10 et BRVM Composite, qui ont respectivement
progressé de 2,59% à 177,09 points et de 3,29% à 152,56 points, annonce CGF Bourse.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
May 2, 2012 I Issue No. 95
Afrique: Accès aux services financiers - Les trois quarts des pauvres dans le monde
n'ont pas de compte en banque
Le Soleil; 28 avril 2012
Selon une enquête réalisée en 2011 auprès d'environ 150.000 personnes dans 148 pays, plus de
2,5 milliards de personnes dans le monde ne possèdent pas de compte en banque. Environ 75 %
des adultes gagnant moins de deux dollars n'en disposent pas non plus.
Madagascar: Institution financière - Un projet de banque régionale pour Anosy
L’Express de Madagascar; 28 avril 2012
L'institution financière régionale d'Anosy a obtenu l'appui de l'AFD. Cette ressource l'aidera à
atteindre son ambition de devenir une banque régionale. Ambitieuse, l'institution financière
régionale d'Anosy veut devenir une banque régionale. Elle ne veut plus se limiter au prêt, mais
également assurer le rôle de dépôt.
Tunisie: Finance islamique - De nouvelles opportunités de partenariat
La Presse; 27 avril 2012
La finance islamique, un nouveau concept monétaire qui se développe aujourd'hui dans
plusieurs pays arabes, dont l'impact est prévisible dans l'armada des mégaprojets réalisés un peu
partout dans le monde. La Tunisie, qui a déjà adopté ce nouveau régime financier, parallèlement
au régime habituel, s'attend à court, moyen et long terme à une certaine innovation et à une
efficacité dans le financement des projets de développement socioéconomique.
Côte d'Ivoire: Les professionnels plaident pour un partenariat banques et
établissements financiers / téléphonie mobile
Fratmat; 26 avril 2012
La 4ème édition du salon de la monétique et des services bancaires (SimBank) a ouvert ses
portes ce 24 avril 2012 à l'espace Crrae-Umoa, à Abidjan-Plateau. À cette occasion, le président
de l'Association des banques et établissements financiers de Côte d'Ivoire (Apbef-Ci),
Diarrassouba Souleymane, a plaidé pour un partenariat entre les banques et les établissements
financiers, et les opérateurs de téléphonie mobile.
For more news on African financial sectors please click here.
Pour plus d’actualités sur la finance en Afrique veuillez cliquer ici.
Compiled by:
Alessandro Girola I Research & Knowledge Manager I [email protected]
Rim Nour I Research Officer I [email protected] (English-language press)
Olivier Vidal I Research Assistant I [email protected] (French-language press)
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]