BiD Network
Kenya's small and medium-sized businesses can tap into a Sh1.7 billion regional fund launched by a group of local and international companies.It will be made available in loans and business development assistance through managerial training.Dubbed 'Aspire Kenya', the initiative has been jointly established by GroFin, an African specialist business developer and financier, and Shell Foundation. Small Ugandan and Tanzanian firms will also benefit.
GroFin will co-ordinate the disbursement of the money and manage the fund.
"The main aim is to "build better businesses" a cross the SME sector. It is already open for business and actively looking for SMEs that require both business development assistance and finance," said Kenneth Onyando, GroFin's Kenya country director.
The model is designed to replicate a similar one run in South Africa by the two companies, which the group says is a success.
The concept is meant to finance SMEs by making loans available without necessarily demanding a collateral in the range of from Sh3.6 million to Sh71 million. The Kenyan chapter is co-financed by Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), which has put in Sh426 million.
Other investors in strategic partnership include the Netherlands Development Company (FMO), an international development bank which invests in risk capital in companies and financial institutions in developing countries.
Also involved are CDC of Britain, Triodos Renewable Energy Development Fund and BIO, a Belgium government development financial institution.
The group target SMEs in all sectors but has a 40 per cent focus on SMEs in the energy sector and 10 per cent in those involved in clean energy activities.
In advancing loan the group will provide managerial skills by seconding their trained personnel to inject managerial skills into business, thus taking care of their finances.
Said Mr Onyando: "SMEs lack the business skills, track record and/or collateral to meet the existing lending criteria of local banks. By delivering a combination of business development assistance and finance, Aspire Kenya can overcome those problem."
The loans will be channelled through the Commercial Bank of Africa at the prevailing market interest rate, but with repayment pegged on performance.
GroFin will co-ordinate the disbursement of the money and manage the fund.
"The main aim is to "build better businesses" a cross the SME sector. It is already open for business and actively looking for SMEs that require both business development assistance and finance," said Kenneth Onyando, GroFin's Kenya country director.
The model is designed to replicate a similar one run in South Africa by the two companies, which the group says is a success.
The concept is meant to finance SMEs by making loans available without necessarily demanding a collateral in the range of from Sh3.6 million to Sh71 million. The Kenyan chapter is co-financed by Commercial Bank of Africa (CBA), which has put in Sh426 million.
Other investors in strategic partnership include the Netherlands Development Company (FMO), an international development bank which invests in risk capital in companies and financial institutions in developing countries.
Also involved are CDC of Britain, Triodos Renewable Energy Development Fund and BIO, a Belgium government development financial institution.
The group target SMEs in all sectors but has a 40 per cent focus on SMEs in the energy sector and 10 per cent in those involved in clean energy activities.
In advancing loan the group will provide managerial skills by seconding their trained personnel to inject managerial skills into business, thus taking care of their finances.
Said Mr Onyando: "SMEs lack the business skills, track record and/or collateral to meet the existing lending criteria of local banks. By delivering a combination of business development assistance and finance, Aspire Kenya can overcome those problem."
The loans will be channelled through the Commercial Bank of Africa at the prevailing market interest rate, but with repayment pegged on performance.
(1)
FEASIBILITY AND VIABILITY REPORT ON THE PRODUCTION OF POTASH FROM COCOA POD HUSK INGHANA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Potash has a wide range of industrial uses, some of which are summarized below:
Fertilizer i.e. KCL
Some uses of Potash
Potash obtained from ashes of agricultural wastes, referred to as organic potash, has marked advantage over mined potash, especially in the food industry, in being totally free from arsenic.
It has been estimated that a retrieval of 20% of the cocoas pod husk on the farms annually could lead to the production of some 1,000 tones of potash, worth more than $10 million. To achieve this, according to our estimates, would require a total capital outlay of some $2 million consisting of 40% in fixed capital and 60% in working capital.
Some of the major attractions of the project are:
· A Rate of Return on Investment (ROR) of more than 300%
· A Payback period of less than a year after full o0peration
· A Break-even Capacity Utilisation point of about 15%
· A Discounted cash flow rate of return of more than 200%
A novel plant design is also proposed to make it possible for the same plant for the potash production to be used for the production of other potassium salts such as the chloride for fertilizers, as well as the nitrate, the soleplate and the phosphates.
The project has the potential of providing jobs to many rural dwellers of our country and help, substantially, the government poverty alleviation efforts, while supplementing the nation’s revenue from the cocoa industry.
PROJECT ENGINEER
(2)
FEASIBILITY AND VIABILITY REPORT ON THE PRODUCTION OF ALUMINIUM SULPHATE (ALUM) INGHANA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Bauxite, one of the major raw materials for alum production abounds inGhana Ghana
A plant capacity of 50,000 tonnes per annum, sufficient to provide about 25% of the current demand of the West African sub-region in alum, has been projected.
It is estimated, that a total capital investment (TCI) of four million dollars ($4,000,000.00) would be required of which three million, two hundred thousand dollars ($3,200,000.00) would be for fixed capital (FC).
Preliminary economic analysis of the project indicates a rate of return (ROR) on investment of around 60%; a pay back period of less than two minimum of 150 direct jobs would also be created.
(3)
COMPANY’S PROFILE
1st Director & Project Engineer
PhD (Baku ), M Sc. (Lvov
Petrochemical Engineering, Kinetics and Catalysis of Heterogeneous Systems, Mechanical Separation Processes.
Research Areas
(i. Mineral Beneficiation and Separation
(ii. Product Development
Status
Shares covered > 48%
Shares uncovered > 52%
· The project is a partly Start-up & partly developing
project.
Name of the Company
Though the above two “POTASH & ALUM” projects
are start-ups, there are other 20 small scaled products
selling on the Ghanaian Market under the company of
NOTREDAME INDUSTRIES inAshanti , Ghana
Conclusion
Presently, interested financiers and shareholders (either venture or credit facilitators) are being sought for, after which an agreed management team will be constituted to run the plant.
Contacts:
Douglas Akonortey
(External Relations Officer)
University Post # 629, Tech –Kumasi
Ph No: +233 (0)24 287 8629
Email: Douako@yahoo.co.uk