Press Digest

November 8, 2011 I Issue No. 70
Press Digest
 English-Language Press 
Kenya Starts FTSE-based Stock Indexes, Eyes Bonds
Reuters Africa; 8 November 2011
Nairobi Securities Exchange has launched two stock indexes in conjunction with FTSE
Group, and said on Tuesday it planned to start one for Treasury bonds next year.
Rwanda: Agriculture Development Bank in the Pipeline – PM
The New Times; 8 November 2011
The government has ambitious plans that will see the agricultural sector transformed in
the next six years, with an agricultural development bank set up to streamline the
sector's credit processes.
Nigeria: First Bank Provides Recipe for Future Banking
Leadership; 8 November 2011
First Bank Nigeria PLC has provided a recipe that would shape the future of the banking
industry with the presentation of a research report by its research chair entitled: 'Fifty
years of banking sector reforms in Nigeria, past lessons and future imperatives.'
Zambia: 'Banks Not Offering SMEs Long Term Loans'
Time of Zambia; 8 November 2011
The Bankers Association of Zambia (BAZ) has said Zambian commercial banks have not
been offering long term loans for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) because there
are no long term deposits for both current and savings accounts.
Rwanda: Bank of Kigali to Introduce Deposit-Taking Teller Machines
East African Business Week; 7 November 2011
Bank of Kigali (BK), Rwanda's most capitalised commercial bank will introduce 20
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) that will accept deposits and allow customers to
withdraw money in its quest to ease access to banking services.
Rwanda Moves to Visa Cards
East African Business Week; 7 November 2011
Rwanda is moving from a cash economy to a cashless one, whereby most of goods and
services will be purchased using an electronic Visa debit card. This was revealed to the
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
November 8, 2011 I Issue No. 70
East Africa Business week last week by Maureen Byamugisha, a customer care
Representative of Commonwealth Finance Solutions Rwanda, a company which is selling
the debit cards on behalf of Bank of Kigali.
Zimbabwe: Insurers Urged to Restore Confidence
The Herald; 7 November 2011
The insurance industry has been challenged to come up with strategies to restore
confidence in the sector after most people lost their contributions due to hyperinflation
and the adoption of the multi-currency system in 2009.
Zimbabwe: Local Mobile Banking Rises
The Herald; 7 November 2011
The use of advanced electronic transaction processes has grown significantly in this
country, reflecting rising confidence in the banking sector by the transacting public.
According to the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono, during the
period January to August this year, the financial sector recorded electronic transactions
worth a cumulative US$21 billion.
Sudan: Central Bank Gets $150 Million in Credit Line From Egypt's NBE
Sudan Tribune; 6 November 2011
The National Bank of Egypt (NBE) announced that it has extended $150 million in credit
line to the Bank of Sudan (BoS). Tarek Amer, NBE"s CEO, said that $100 million of the
total sum will be devoted to energizing investments and the remainder for bolstering
external trade.
West Africa: New Ecowas Insurance Scheme Takes Effect January 2012
The Daily Observer; 4 November 2011
The Gambia National Bureau of the Ecowas Brown Card Insurance Scheme has
announced that the newly updated and secured version of the Ecowas Brown Card will
come into effect in 1st January 2012.
Kenya: New Health Policy Rules Set to Raise Insurance Costs
Business Daily; 4 November 2011
Health insurance premiums could go up as the industry regulator moves to implement a
rule requiring that policy prices are set by certified actuaries.
Nigeria: Bank of Agriculture Provides N1 Billion for Rural Microfinance Banks
Daily Champion (All Africa); 3 November 2011
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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
November 8, 2011 I Issue No. 70
National Project Coordinator for Rural Finance Institution building Programme (RUFIN),
Alhaji Musibau Azeez, said the Bank of Agriculture has provided N1 billion for on-lending
to Micro Finance Banks (MFBs) in remote areas.
Nigeria to issue diaspora bond in 2012
Reuters Africa; 3 November 2011
Nigeria will issue a diaspora bond next year to raise funds for infrastructure and
development projects, the head of its Debt Management Office (DMO) said on Thursday.
Zimbabwe: CBZ to Chip in With Long-Term Credit
Financial Gazette; 2 November 2011
CBZ Bank Limited, Zimbabwe's biggest commercial bank by balance sheet, says it
managed to mobilise long-term funding from international investors to finance
infrastructure rehabilitation and related industries through a three-year bond issued to
the market recently.
Zimbabwe: Insurance Firms to Set Up Housing Fund
Financial Gazette; 2 November 2011
Government has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with insurance industry
firms which could result in a US$45 million housing bond, The Financial Gazette can
reveal.
Nigeria: E-Payment - ATM Fraud Down By 98.5 Percent - CBN
Leadership (All Africa); 2 November 2011
The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that fraud on Automated Teller Machines (ATM) has
reduced by 98.5per cent even as it is working to reduce the cost of providing electronic
payment services to the public by 30 per cent.
Moody's Downgrades Five Egyptian Banks
Albawaba; 2 November 2011
Moody's Investors Service in a major move has downgraded the local-currency (LC)
deposit ratings of five Egyptian banks following the downgrade to B1 of the Egyptian
government bond ratings.
Nigeria: CBN, Group Collaborate On E-Payment Fraud
Leadership (All Africa); 1 November 2011
The Electronic Payment Providers Association of Nigeria is collaborating with the Central
Bank of Nigeria and other stakeholders and experts both within and outside Nigeria to
design strategies for combating e-payment fraud in the country at its second Annual
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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
November 8, 2011 I Issue No. 70
Payment Systems and Fraud Conference for West Africa taking place on November 1 and
2, 2011 at the Civic Centre Victoria Island, Lagos.
 Revue de Presse Francophone 
Forte exposition des banques est-africaines à la cybercriminalité
Les Afriques; 8 novembre 2011
Une récente étude du cabinet Deloitte révèle que seulement 40% des banques en
Afrique de l’Est ne sont pas assez préparées contre les menaces informatiques. Axé sur
des entreprises au Kenya, en Ouganda et en Tanzanie, ce travail, qui a compté
différentes industries, a surtout sondé des sociétés financières.
Tunisie: Réorganisation de l'activité des établissements de microfinance
WMC; 8 novembre 2011
Le gouvernement de transition s'est engagé à restructurer le système des microcrédits à
travers la mise en place d'un nouveau cadre juridique adapté; une orientation qui
s'explique par le rôle actif assumé par le mécanisme des microcrédits dans la réalisation
d'une justice sociale en facilitant l'accès des catégories démunies au financement
bancaire, indique la TAP.
Namibie: Une réelle banque des PME bientôt en lice
Les Afriques; 5 novembre 2011
Une banque, exclusivement destinée à répondre aux petites et moyennes entreprises
(PME), sera bientôt opérationnelle en Namibie. Le gouvernement namibien a jusqu’à la
fin du mois de novembre pour démontrer à la Banque de Namibie, devant délivrer un
agrément, qu’il est prêt à mettre en place la Namibia Bank Ltd for SME.
Afrique: « Ruby Premium Account » un produit bancaire 100% femmes
Réussir; 4 novembre 2011
United Bank for Africa (UBA) a créé un produit haut de gamme pour répondre au besoin
de la clientèle féminine. Cette offre est dénommée « Ruby Premium Account for Women
».
Madagascar: Crédit immobilier - Les banques renforcent la supervision
L’Express de Madagascar; 4 novembre 2011
L'accès à l'immobilier nécessite un important financement, principal blocage pour les
ménages malgaches. Face à la situation, les institutions bancaires s'efforcent de mettre
au point des produits financiers pour permettre l'acquisition d'un terrain ou d'un habitat.
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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
November 8, 2011 I Issue No. 70
Nigeria: Services d’e-paiement : La Banque centrale va réduire le coût
Réussir; 3 novembre 2011
En vue de la mise en place d’une politique économique sans numéraire, la Banque
centrale du Nigeria (CBN) a promis de collaborer avec les opérateurs afin de réduire le
coût des services de paiement électronique à destination du public de 30 pourcents.
Angola: La bancarisation atteint 11% de la population en 2010
Agência AngolaPress; 2 novembre 2011
Le processus de bancarisation en Angola a atteint en 2010 seulement 11 pour cent de la
population totale (estimée à 18 millions), malgré l'investissement des institutions
financières dans l'expansion de l'activité, avec l'ouverture constante de nouvelles
succursales bancaires dans les 18 provinces.
Congo-Kinshasa: Journée de l'épargne - La BCC s'adresse aux enfants
Radio Okapi; 1er novembre 2011
La Banque centrale du Congo et la Coopération financière allemande ont lancé lundi 1er
novembre la journée internationale de l'épargne, avec pour thème « Epargner en RDC
pour mon avenir, oui c'est possible ». La Banque centrale veut particulièrement
sensibiliser les élèves congolais sur les bénéfices de l'épargne.
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]