Category: Charities / Businesses / Friends

African Businesses, Finance for PPPs & entrepreneursLeave a comment

African (frontier market) risks associated with PPP infrastructure

imadahmed

and how they can be mitigated. Compiled by a PPP transactions advisor to Rwanda (me). Barriers to private investment in African infrastructure: Country political risk –          Eg. medium or high likelihood of terrorist attacks, war, corruption, riots, strikes Risk of expropriation Payment risk Insolvency for state off-takers such as state utilities Inflation/currency depreciation Currency convertibility Risk mitigants and Rwanda’s experience: Country political risk – Solution: State to improve security internally by having a strong law enforcement agency and also by pursuing sustainable and fair domestic and foreign policy – Rwanda surveyed as the African country where citizens feel most safe according … Continue reading African (frontier market) risks associated with PPP infrastructure

Africa, African Businesses, Finance for PPPs & entrepreneurs1 Comment

Stories private equity is looking for in Africa

imadahmed

Businesses: –    The business model is scalable –    There is a compelling case that there is large latent/unmet demand for the product/service –    Competition is underperforming/non-existing and barriers to entry are high –    Competition for financing a given firm is low (don’t want to enter a bidding war) –    Strong personal relationships with management –    Strong balance sheets for financial institutions (diligence their Accounts Receivable and recovery rates) –    Strong Debt Service Coverage Ratios for mature businesses Economies: –    Rapid growth in the urban middle class – rapid demand growth from the latent baseline –    Large domestic market –    Rule … Continue reading Stories private equity is looking for in Africa

African Businesses, Quality Chemicals (Ugandan pharmaceuticals)Leave a comment

Explanation of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS

imadahmed

In this post we will discuss the The Doha Declaration on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement & public health, and how it affects the scope of intellectual property laws set out for the first time in international law for WTO Members by the TRIPS Agreement in 1994. The need for a clarification of the scope of the TRIPS agreement arose because of the potential conflict of two matters of public interest: 1) The matter of providing incentives to those who innovate solutions which have the potential to improve public health 2) The matter of making … Continue reading Explanation of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS

African Businesses, Charities / Businesses / Friends, Published Features, Quality Chemicals (Ugandan pharmaceuticals), TLG Capital, TLG Capital (Zain Latif)Leave a comment

Unraveling the World’s Best-Kept Secret

imadahmed

Fletcher Features Imaduddin Ahmed | March 23, 2010 Medium-sized investments in sub-Saharan enterprises will help develop the region more than hand-outs, and return profit, say London financier and Kampala-industrialist In 1995, New York had more mobiles than the entire continent of Africa. This year, in spite of the low GDP per capita of the continent, it will have as many mobile phones as the USA. Nigeria, according to UNESCO, produces more feature films than the USA. More than 80% of African countries are politically stable, and the average return on foreign investment into Africa is about 30%. Yet, in the … Continue reading Unraveling the World’s Best-Kept Secret

Human rights, Women's rightsLeave a comment

Women’s Action Forum national convention, Lahore 1982

imadahmed

The Friday Times | Nov 17, 2006 Courtesy: Lala Rukh. Women’s Action Forum, taken at WAF’s national convention in Lahore in October, 1982. What began as spontaneous reactions to Gen Zia ul-Haq’s anti-women laws developed into life-long struggles for equality, education and health. Between them, these women have either founded or worrked for Simorgh, Shirkat Gah, ASR, Aurat Foundation, SAHE, Lahore Grammar School and the National College of Arts. Standing from left: Farida Sher, Najma Sadeque Second row: Samina Rehman, Rukhsana Rashid, Farida Shaheed, Ghazala Rehman, Fareeha Zafar, Nighat Said Khan, Aban Marker-Kabraji First row: Humaira Rehman, Khawar Mumtaz, Sultanat … Continue reading Women’s Action Forum national convention, Lahore 1982

Pakistan, Pakistani Initiatives1 Comment

Story time

imadahmed

The Friday Times Imaduddin Ahmed | April 3, 2006 The Alif Laila Book Bus has inculcated the reading habit in thousands of children “The classroom our primary school-goer enters is bereft of colour. Stark walls stare her/him in the face and dilapidated desks and chairs must do. . . In walks the teacher, who must shout if she is ever to be heard by what has now become a medley of high-pitched sound . . . Lessons commence with facts being repeated by fifty odd disinterested voices, each trying to outdo the other in loudness . . . and so … Continue reading Story time