The local clearinghouse, Namclear, is focusing on the incorporation of ATM card processing into the Namibian system. This follows the smooth incorporation of electronic fund transfers and the clearing of all Namibian cheques.

HARAMBE Holdings is set to make inroads into the region, chief executive Mr David Govere said last week at the firm's 7th anniversary celebrations.

The Erongo Region Small Scale Miners Association (ERSSMA) has received N$8,3 million from the European Commission (EC) to enable them to effectively mine tourmaline gemstones in the region.

HWANGE Colliery Company recently signed an agreement to export 10 000 tonnes of coal fines a month to Konkola Copper Mines in Zambia, managing director Mr Fred Moyo told the annual general meeting.

SABMiller and Molson Coors Brewing Company yesterday, 30 June 2008, announced the closing of the transaction to combine their US and Puerto Rico operations to create MillerCoors.

African Investment Bank (BAI) and the Terminals Managing Society (SOGESTER) on Monday singed an agreement amounted at USD 45 million, for the ehabilitation of the Luanda Port container terminal number two.

The General Secretary of Nigeria Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Comrade Joe Ajaero has maintained that President Umaru Yar'Adua did not carry stakeholders along in his declaration of state of emergency in the power sector.

ACADEMIC activities in the nation's public primary and secondary schools were yesterday paralysed as their teachers complied with the stay-at-home directive by their national body.

A LAST minute effort by Vice President Goodluck Jonathan to convince Niger Delta governors and elders to endorse the appointment of Prof. Ibrahim Gambari as the chairman of the proposed summit on the region yesterday ended in deadlock.

INDUSTRIALIST, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mr. Tony Elumelu and Mr. Arnold Ekpe, Chief Executive Officers of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Ecobank Plc, respectively, top the list of Africa's business leaders' and companies' nominees for the Commonwealth Business Council

Suspended director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Tony Chukwueke will know his fate next week over allegations of impropriety in the administration of the nation's oil blocks under his supervision.

An overall trend towards economic growth in Nigeria masks the fact that millions have been forced into low-wage jobs in the once industrial north, trade experts warn.

At a recent energy and security forum that I attended, energy and defence experts from Europe, Asia and Africa kept asking : "Can Africans manage efficiently revenues from oil to the benefit of their people?

Last week, I wrote critically of the Monopolies and Price Commissioner.

Mombasa port's vision to become a mega port by 2020 and among the 20 most efficient in the world by the year 2010 faces many odds beyond its control, according to maritime experts.

Bulky containers meant to be transported by rail from the port of Mombasa have found their way onto the roads and are said to be a major contributor to damages on the Kenyan roads.

The man credited with running the Safaricom cash machine has opted to retire next year.

The cost of transporting money for financial institutions is expected to drop drastically when a new intelligent money transport box is introduced in the country.

A delegation of top Regional Development Authorities ministry officials heads to Tana River district next week with a basketful of sweeteners aimed at quelling growing discontent over the Sh24 billion Mumias-Tana River Development Authority sugar project.