Nestle Recognizes work on sand dam technology in Kenya with prize money worth over KES 9 million

 

Excellent Development and its Kenyan partner African Sand Dam Foundation receive the Nestle CSV 2012 Awards, which will give a further boost to spreading the technology across water stressed areas in Sub Saharan Africa.

Nestle S.A announced the winners of the Creating Shared Value Prize 2012 at the annual Nestle Creating Shared Value Forum held this year in New Delhi, India. The runner up award with a prize money of more than KES 9 million (CHF 100,000) was given to Excellent Development, a UK based not for profit organization and its Kenyan partner, Africa Sand Dam Foundation.

Together, Excellent Development and ASDF work hand in hand to promote sand dams around the world. This Nestle CSV Prize is a recognition of the work done by these two NGOs on pioneering the sand dam technology and the benefits it creates for rural communities. Present at the ceremony to receive the Prize were Simon Maddrell,  Executive Director of Excellent Development,  Cornelius Kyalo and Andrew Musila from ASDF.

Since 2002, Excellent Development and its partners have supported 3,863 self- help group members from 104 communities in Kenya to build 347 sand dams. Since then, group members have dug 1,344 km of terracing, enabling them to grow more food, and planted more than 830,000 trees. This has directly benefited 23,294 members and their families - impacting 342,500 people across Kenya.

The Africa Sand Dam Foundation, based in Eastern Kenya, works with local communities, organized in self -help groups to address their water and food priorities. The communities build sand dams, which are the most cost effective method of capturing rainwater and can be built anywhere where there are seasonal rivers with sandy sediment. They invest at least 40% of the resources needed to complete the project. Once these dams are built they can provide a year round source of water for both drinking and for irrigation purposes.

Every two years, innovative schemes related to nutrition, water and rural development are short listed for the Nestle Creating Shared Value Prize. This year, Nestle has selected one winner and two runners up to share the total prize money of CHF 500,000 (KES 45 million).

The CSV Prize highlights examples of Creating Shared Value in which the funding award helps innovative and commercially viable initiatives to scale up and achieve financial sustainability. Building on Nestlé’s foundations of compliance and sustainability, CSV is the company's approach to doing business. It aims to create value for the company's shareholders at the same time as for the communities in which it operates.

 

The Prize is open to individuals, governmental and non-governmental organizations, academia and social enterprises. This year, more than 600 applications from 76 countries were received. The Board selected an overall winner and two runners up.

The winner of the first prize was Fundacion Paraguaya de Cooperation y Desarrollo, Paraguay and the other runner up was Arcenciel, from Lebanon, who received CHF 300,000 (KES 27 million) and CHF 100,000 (KES 9million).

To learn more about the Excellent Development project, follow the link below:

http://www.nestle.com/Media/MediaLibrary/MediaVideos/Pages/VideoNewsSingle.aspx?guid=1_nq1wjloj

 

 

 

Epson achieves another first with the introduction of HD-Ready 3LCD projector with iPod docking station

Epson has introduced into the local market the first HD-Ready 3LCD home cinema projector featuring an iPod docking station, leveraging on the company's experience to position itself as the global leader in the projector market.

With this latest product users will not need to download apps or clip on attachments but will simply connect their iPods, iPhones or iPads to the docking station built into the projector.

 

The MG-850HD, which comes with inbuilt 10W stereo speakers, can play music, videos and photos, as well as TV programmes and feature-length films previously downloaded from iTunes, on a large, cinematic scale that can reach up to 300 inches. Its versatile connectivity also means that content can be viewed from traditional Blu-ray, DVD, PC, TV and gaming sources.

 

Epson Regional Sales Manager – East Africa Mukesh Bector said the projector is targeted at film enthusiasts, sports lovers and gamers who are keen to have cinema experience at home, providing convenience with the plug and play functionality that allows users to set up and use the projector quickly and easily.

“Epson continues to stretch the boundaries of innovation as is clearly evident with the MG-850HD. The user-friendly menu, for example, has been designed to help viewers navigate with ease, while a unique remote control design features a stylish button layout and backlight for ease of use while watching content in the dark,” he said.

Harnessing Epson's latest technologies, the projector delivers top quality white and colour light output of 2,800 lumens and a high contrast ratio of 3,000:1, ensuring high quality images are projected, even in daylight. Epson's 3LCD technology ensures that images are clear, bright and easy on the eyes.

 

Whatever the angle of the actual projector, users can easily align the projection to ensure a straight and correct image with its user-friendly horizontal keystone slider.

The projector is now available in the Kenyan market.

 

 

Smart Phones Boost LG Profits despite dip in Home Electronics Earnings

Company Reports Third Consecutive Quarter of Solid Net 

LG Electronics (LG) has reported a solid third-quarter performance with the third consecutive quarter of positive net income and all four companies recording strong operating profits. Better-than-expected performance in the mobile and home appliance businesses helped offset a slight decline in overall year-over-year sales for the third quarter.

Third-quarter net profit of USD 138.57 million with operating profit recording USD 195.06 million showed significant improvements from the loss in the same period last year. Third-quarter revenues fell 4 percent year-over-year to USD 10.93 billion due to the continuing decline of feature phone sales and overall weak demand.

LG Home Entertainment Company third-quarter 2012 sales of USD 4.84 billion were led by an increase in LCD TV sales, offsetting sluggish global demand. Percentage sales attributed to 3D TVs and LED TVs increased quarter-on-quarter with unit sales growing in most regions. IT products led by IPS monitors and monitor TVs also increased from the previous quarter. Operating profit of USD 78.5 was unchanged from third quarter 2011. In the fourth quarter, the company plans to increase sales of LCD TVs by expanding marketing of CINEMA 3D Smart TVs and enhancing its premium brand positioning with the new Ultra HD TV.

LG Mobile Communications Company improved significantly in the 2012 third quarter, recording operating profit of USD 19.42 million due in large part to healthy sales of LTE smartphones in Korea, Japan and the United States. In addition, Optimus L-Series continued to expand into 3G markets, contributing to the sales increase. Revenues increased by 5 percent quarter-to-quarter to USD 2.16 billion as shipments exceeded 14 million units, an increase of 9 percent from the previous quarter. The company expects to further increase its shipments and revenue in the fourth quarter with the global launch of the Optimus G superphone and sales of Optimus Vu: 2 in Korea.

LG Home Appliance Company reported improved sales and operating profit from the same quarter last year. Revenue increased 6.4 percent year-over-year to USD 2.53 billion and operating profit of USD 113.86 million reflected strong sales in the United States as well as emerging markets. With global appliance demand stagnant, the fourth quarter will be challenging but additional marketing promotions and new model launches should help offset the situation.

LG Air Conditioning and Energy Solution Company posted a 3 percent year-over-year sales decline to USD 859.66 million while profitability increased slightly from the same period the previous year. The company expects worldwide demand to remain sluggish but the trend toward more energy efficient products should help drive demand in its commercial air conditioning systems business.

African Markets Outpace Peers in Freight and Logistics Industry

The African continent continues to outperform its peers, posting impressive growth statistics in the recent Cargo Market Analysis for the third quarter according to a report by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

 

It was also reported by the association that African airlines transporting freight in the region witnessed a 10.2 per cent increase in demand in August, building on the 2012 positive growth trend

 

 According to Alan Cassels, Managing Director of DHL Express Equatorial Africa, this positive growth bodes well for business in the region as it translates into economic growth for the continent.

 

Cassels says that the increasing freight volumes in the region can be linked to improved business and consumer confidence as the airline industry performance tracks developments in the global economy.

 “It is extremely positive that emerging markets such as those in Africa continue to outpace the Western economies and, set against a backdrop of continued global economic uncertainty, job stagnation, a very challenging European environment and a global debt crisis, this shows the continued and increasing importance of Africa,” said Cassels.

 He says that the growth in both cargo and freight volumes could be linked to the fact that many businesses, both locally and globally, are looking to Africa for expansion and with the new discoveries of gas and oil fields in Southern and Central Africa, coupled with the technology and healthcare boom, there is an expected improvement in regional trade expansion.

 

The IATA Cargo Market Analysis report pointed to an increase in the number of air freight routes between Africa and the Middle East, with the highest rate of 17.9 per cent recorded in February. In contrast, the route between Europe and the Middle East only showed 1.4% growth over the same period.

The report noted that during the first quarter of the year, the revenue earned from cargo leaving Africa was $45.8 million, with inbound revenues totaling $333.7 million.

“While Africa only contributes 3 per cent of the global economy, it is growing the fastest. 28 of the 52 countries have 5 per cent average economic annual growth and countries like Ghana, Ethiopia, Liberia, Mozambique, Niger and Uganda could potentially grow up to 10 per cent.”

 

Cassels did however caution against complacency. “Sub-Saharan Africa undoubtedly provides numerous opportunities for both SMEs looking to reach out globally, and international companies looking to expand. However, there are still numerous challenges around infrastructure, labor relations and the ease of trade within the region which need very urgent attention.”

 

LG'S HOM-BOT SQUARE ROBOTIC VACUUM CLEANER MAKES ITS INTERNATIONAL DEBUT

Next-Generation Advanced Vacuum with "Corner Master" Cleans Up the Competition                      

 LG Electronics’ HOM-BOT SQUARE robotic vacuum cleaner made its global debut in Place Beaubourg, Paris, where it demonstrated to an international audience what the next generation of robotic cleaning technology would bring.

“Helping consumers lead more convenient lives with smart technology is what LG is all about,” said Moon-bum Shin, Executive Vice President and CEO of the LG Electronics Home Appliance Company. “HOM-BOT SQUARE is contributing toward this goal in a large way on the strength of its innovation and competitiveness in this growing market.”

With sharp right-angles being found in practically every building in the world, LG engineers based the new HOM-BOT on a square, different from the circular design of most robot cleaners. The cleaner’s unique square design, hi-tech sensors and newly improved brushes (1.5cm longer than those in the previous model) are collectively called Corner Master and enable HOM-BOT SQUARE to more effectively reach areas that other cleaners simply ignore.

Corner-detecting sensors supply the cleaner with spatial information, telling it when the edge of the room has been reached, when to turn and when to stop. Sensitive Dual Eye 2.0™ camera sensors scan the floor, sampling multiple images per second and then analyze the information to generate an accurate map of the space – even with the lights off. Onboard ultrasonic and infrared sensors allow the HOM-BOT SQUARE to detect and easily avoid obstacles in its path.

LG’s HOM-BOT SQUARE also features Turbo Mode, which allows the user to manually set cleaning functions to the specific requirements of their flooring. And Smart Turbo Mode enables the cleaner to detect the type of flooring and change its own settings automatically.

Visitors to LG’s HOM-BOT SQUARE launch event in France were given the opportunity to play a live version of LG’s dust-killing internet game. Participants used a remote to navigate the vacuum cleaner around a course and vacuum up simulated dust characters. Those who “caught” the most characters in the allocated time took home a new HOM-BOT SQUARE cleaner.

Launching first in France, HOM-BOT SQUARE will be available in other European markets in the fourth quarter followed by its global launch in 2013.

 

 

 

Sony ups stakes in digital camera market by releasing high quality, pocket-sized Cyber-shot RX100

 

  Sony, the leading consumer electronics brand, continues to up the stakes in the digital camera market, targeting an increasingly growing population of amateur photographers in the Kenyan market. Its latest offering the Cyber-shot RX100, features a host of powerful features packaged into a sleek, compact aluminium body designed to offer high quality, lightness and luxurious looks in a deceptively strong package, making it ideal for consumers on the go.

Despite its diminutive size the RX100 inherits many advanced imaging features from Sony’s Alpha ‘α’ range of A-mount and E-mount camera families, making it an accomplished partner for travel, portrait or street photography. At a time when the popularity of the Internet is seeing more consumers choose to document nearly every aspect of their lives through social networking sites and blogs, the RX100 makes the perfect companion for those wanting to take good pictures but lacking the experience in professional photography.

With impressive picture quality and intuitive, comfortable control options, the RX100 is ideal as a step-up from point-and-shoot cameras. This camera features the world’s first 1.0-type EXMOR CMOS sensor with a resolution of 20.2 effective megapixels and a bright F1.8 lens making it the perfect fit for a compact, pocket-sized second camera for enthusiasts who want to capture pristine stills with refined defocus effect and Full HD video while they are on the move.

Specially developed by Sony, the sensor has an area that is around four times larger than the 1/2.3-type imager in regular point-and-shoot cameras. Capturing far more light than small-sensor cameras, it is the key to beautiful, detail packed images and Full HD movie clips with very low noise.

Similar to high-performance D-SLR optics, the lens features seven-bladed circular apertures. This makes it easy to produce pro-style ‘defocus’ effects, with subjects in sharp focus against a smoothly-blurred background. The lens is also equipped with an Advanced Aspherical (AA) glass element that contributes to the camera’s extremely compact dimensions without sacrificing optical performance or resolution.

In addition to that, the BIONZ image processor maximises shooting responses while assuring exceptionally clean, natural images. It also extends image sensitivity, allowing clear handheld images in dim light. Speedy burst shooting at up to 10 frames per second (full-resolution) makes grabbing split-second photo opportunities easy, while the high-speed autofocus locks onto the target in as little as 0.13 seconds.

Experienced photo enthusiasts will appreciate the unique Control Ring that surrounds the lens body. Allowing smooth, fingertip adjustment of exposure, zoom, Picture Effect and other functions, it makes versatile D-SLR-style creative control over the image easily accessible.

For the not-so-experienced photo enthusiasts Sony has made it easy to fine-tune images with a wide range of manual adjustments, whether shooting stills or Full HD video. Fine tuning the look of the image is made easy with a choice of six Creative Styles to suit the scene or the user’s personal preference. Picture Effect offers an inspiring choice of 'in camera' effects that can be previewed on the LCD screen, including Toy Camera, Partial Colour, Pop Colour, HDR Painting, Miniature, Illustration, Watercolour and Other (Note: real-time preview is not available with all Picture Effect settings).

Just like a D-SLR camera, there is a choice of auto and manual focus modes for even greater control over the image. The camera offers artistic options to expand shooting possibilities for enthusiasts and novice photographers alike.

Shared with the latest Alpha ‘α’ range of A-mount and E-mount cameras, Auto Portrait Framing makes it simple to capture personality-packed photos of family and friends. The Cyber-shot™ RX100 does all the hard work, automatically detecting faces and cropping the scene to create tighter, pro-style compositions without sacrificing pixel count.

The new Cyber-shot™ RX100 digital compact camera is currently available in Anisuma showrooms and other Sony distributors countrywide.