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Faced with Twitter outrage, StreetEasy is pulling a ‘sexist’ ad
StreetEasy is apologizing for a new ad that some are blasting as sexist.
Last week, the real estate portal rolled out a new campaign called “Find Your Formula” campaign in New York City that parodies the compromises people make in order to find a semi-decent place. The ads consist of jokingly drawn stereotypes of the city’s neighborhoods, like rats and roaches in the East Village or toxic waste in Brooklyn’s Gowanus area.
But there’s one ad in particular from the series that’s striking a chord on Twitter for being sexist because it’s implying that a finance bro should dump his presumably frumpy college girlfriend once he gets a raise and move into the bro-tastic Meatpacking District ‘hood.
“Please tell me that’s a parody,” writes one. Another person adds it’s “gross,” lamenting that StreetEasy’s ad agency should’ve known better. The website is pulling the ad because of the blowback and has issued an apology.
— Taylor Lorenz (@TaylorLorenz) February 22, 2016
“We sincerely apologize to those who interpreted this ad to be anything beyond what our goal was: to parody New York characters to capture the choices that renters and buyers make to live in the city we all love,” the company said in a statement. “The intention of this ad and all the creative in our campaign was never to upset or offend, so this reaction is something that we take very seriously and are taking action to remove it from the campaign’s rotation.”
As for the college girlfriend: She could have done better anyway.
CAMP wants to patent e-commerce for kids with its new Present Shop
CAMP's new Present Shop is trying to give children a safe, supervised and fun way to shop online.
Global green shoots: Where the media and advertising markets are around the world on the road to recovery
Digiday reporters took a (virtual) trip around the world to see how the post-covid economy is influencing advertising and media trends.
Advertisers’ protracted pursuit of cross-media measurement is gathering pace.
It took a minute, but marketers could soon be able to see see what proportion of people saw their ad on online video and TV versus TV only.
SponsoredWhat Discovery learned in 2020 about audiences — and advertiser success
For advertisers, the operative concept regarding TV and video audiences has been that they’re complex, fragmented, but rich with opportunities — and never more so than in 2020. Across a year when so many turned to their television and mobile devices to stay informed, find some relief and share what mattered during quarantine and months of […]
How the world’s biggest advertisers are spending (or not) as industries adapt to the coronavirus pandemic
Digiday analyzed the most recent earnings updates from the top 10 ad spenders in the world — the result are a mixed bag.
Member ExclusiveMedia Buying Briefing: Omnicom launches a retro-style panel to codify post-pandemic consumer types
Consumer mindsets changed radically during the pandemic. Omnicom is working to identify the changes to inform clients' marketing


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Cupertino Chamber of Commerce gives Steve Jobs posthumous award
Cupertino honored Steve Jobs by posthumously awarding him the 2012 President's Award. The award was presented during the city's Chamber of Commerce STAR Awards ceremony this past Saturday, says a report in Patch.
The annual STAR awards recognize citizens who are exceptional in their community service work or leadership. The recipient of the President's Award is decided by Chamber president John Zirelli, a general manager at waste management company Recology. Michael Foulkes, Apple's senior manager for state and local government affairs, accepted the honor on Jobs's behalf.
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Tatarstan Deputy Minister Industries and Trade, and a high level Chinese Delegation visited Punjab Board of Investment and Trade and met with senior officials to discuss business and investment opportunities in Punjab.
Deputy Minister from the Tatar Ministry of Industries & Trade, Denis Valeevduring his visit met with representatives of five Pakistani companies from different sectors to discuss and explore business opportunities. Pakistani companies, Sultan &Kamil (Agri-Auto Industry), Shafiq Automotive Industries (Auto Parts), Ravi Cables (Cables and wiring), Fresh Pack Company (Food Processing) and Technology International (Health, Food), offered Tatarstan Deputy Minister to export their products to facilitate the consumers in Tatarstan.
After the comprehensive meeting session Deputy Minister showed immense interest in auto spare parts, specifically filters and radiators. He requested Pakistani companies to share their product information for his local businessmen, in order to identify the market potential. Hence, Marketing materials were exchanged and the Tatar representative promised to return with positive responses for the collaboration in concerned businesses.
In an another meeting, Chinese Delegation comprising of ten members headed by Zhou Min, Vice Chairman Yantai City Federation of Industry and Commerce)discussed areas of mutualcooperation for promotion of trade and investment between two countries.
Chinese delegation stated that they are looking for local partners in Pakistan and want to invest in different sectors such as food processing, machinery, construction, real estate and commercial area. The delegate further elaborated that one company wants to invest for Beef and fruit processing and get land in Punjab for processing unit whereas the other company of hi-tech machinery wants to invest in machinery and participate in trade show being organized in Pakistan in August regarding machinery & automotive parts. Similarly, the other companies of key areas like construction, electro-equipment and housing also showed their interest to invest in Punjab.
Senior PBIT officials stated that Punjab Board of Investment & Trade is always available to facilitate FDI. Details of SEZ incentives & policy framework were shared with Chinese delegation. PBIT officials assured that the distinguished shareholders will be assisted according to their areas and interest.


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Semiconductor, Software Cross-Border M&A Heat Up, Communications Deals Cool, in First-Half 1996
SNew York, NY--July 30, 1996--Lofty stock prices and increased global competition fueled a 92 percent jump in cross-border acquisitions, joint ventures, and minority investments by semiconductor and software companies in the first half of 1996, according to KPMG Peat Marwick LLP. Nearly $3.1 billion in deals were announced in these technology sectors, compared with $1.6 billion for the same period last year. The number of announced transactions rose to 183 deals this year, compared with 174 in 1995.
Among the largest deals in the first half in these sectors were Japan-based Hitachi's $218 million purchase of Malaysia's LG Semicon, and Canadian-based Corel's $185 million buyout of U.S.-based Novell's Business Applications Division.
Separately, spending on semiconductor targets showed a 138 percent upturn, with $2 billion worth of cross-border deals. Software recorded a 39 percent increase, to $1 billion. In contrast to semiconductors and software, the communications sector experienced a sharp 60 percent decline in cross-border deal spending to $3.9 billion in first-half 1996, compared with $9.8 billion in the same period last year. The number of deals also declined, to 119 transactions from 141.
KPMG's quarterly study of cross-border deals is based on announced transactions. Figures for 1995 have been adjusted for pricing changes, deals that were not completed, and other factors.
Return to Headlines


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With branches shut and telephone services over-run during Covid-19 lockdowns, (previously unwilling) customers have been forced to interact with financial companies via digital channels. NatWest Group, for example, states that it saw over 500,000 new mobile app downloads and 485,000 new online banking customers in the first half of 2020 alone.
Adobe’s 2021 Digital Trends: Financial Services & Insurance in Focus report, carried out in association with Econsultancy, indicates that this shift in customer behaviour is continuing, with 54% of financial services and insurance firms surveyed reporting unusual growth in digital/mobile visitors in the past six months.
Consequently, this digital growth has also opened up new opportunities for companies; 37% of all financial services executives surveyed reporting that digital and mobile currently accounts for half or more of their sales.
A new drive for ‘meaningful digital interactions’
Despite the rise in usage of online channels, financial organisations still need to recognise the need for in-person interactions – as well as take into consideration any shifts in the reasons why customers might seek this out.
For example, Bain & Company notes that, in the US, there has been a rise in retail banking customers using branches to seek out financial advice (rather than to complete transactions that they can now complete online). This has led Citizens Bank to transition some of its branches to ‘advice centres’.
Where customers do want to interact via digital channels, Adobe’s research suggests that there is a new focus on making these moments ‘meaningful’. Forty-nine percent of survey respondents cited “meaningful digital interactions that improve customer’s financial health” as a top priority for their organisation, while 35% also cited “faster time-to-market with new products and services.”
Legacy systems (and silos) are holding back organisations
As well as interactions that go further than basic ‘transactions’ – such as advice that helps customers control their spending, as well as general information on financial topics – customers also want organisations within financial services to understand their specific needs.
However, the research suggests that there are still big barriers preventing financial services from delivering an experience that meets customers rising expectations. Adobe’s survey found that legacy systems remain a big issue, particularly within retail banking, where 61% of respondents cited this as a factor holding back marketing and customer experience. These outdated systems and workflow issues result in silos, and an overall inability to create a joined up CX.
The good news is that there is an increasing recognition of this barrier, and a rising willingness to break through it. In Adobe’s survey, 53% of organisations cited “modernising of core systems/technology stack integration” as a top area of focus for digital initiatives.
While Covid-19 has undoubtedly created momentum within the digital transformation of many financial service organisations, there’s still work to be done in order to maintain it, as well as make further progress once the pandemic has passed.
For more insights and digital trends from the financial services sector, download the full 2021 Digital Trends: Financial Services and Insurance in Focus report.


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Chesterfield residents and businesses are being encouraged to sign up to a new service which makes it quick and easy to manage a variety of council services online – and stand the chance of winning an iPad.
From signing up for e-billing – meaning they can cut their paper waste - to reporting something that needs cleaning up in their neighbourhood, people can manage and track a range of services by signing up to ‘My Chesterfield’.
Anyone who registers for an account before midnight on 30 April 2021 will automatically be entered into a prize draw and be in with the chance of winning an iPad worth more than £300. Those who have already registered for an account will also be entered into the draw.
Since Chesterfield Borough Council launched the platform in November 2020, over 6,000 residents and businesses have registered for an account so far and the council is urging even more people to sign up to access e-billing and a range of other council services.
Councillor Jean Innes, cabinet member for business transformation and customers, said: “The council has launched this new platform as part of its commitment to provide modern services which people can access anytime, anywhere and from any device, as we know many people want to do things online rather than waiting in a telephone queue or visiting a council office, especially in these times when we need to limit face-to-face contact and non-essential travel.
“We’re pleased to see so many people have registered for a My Chesterfield account already, and we want to see even more residents sign up to the platform. The platform allows you to sign up for e-billing – meaning you can cut your paper waste – and manage a whole range of council services anytime, anywhere and on any device.
“If you get yourself registered before 30 April, you’ll be in with the chance of winning a brand-new iPad too - which would be perfect for accessing your My Chesterfield account. The competition is open to all residents and businesses that have signed up for an account, so make sure you register before the deadline to be in with a chance of winning.”
Registering for an account is quick and easy. Once set up people will be able to use the platform to:
- Manage their Council Tax bills and payments, sign up for e-billing and direct debits
- View bin collection days
- Report an issue, such as noise nuisance
- See information about their local councillor
- Change their address details
- Report something that needs cleaning up on a street, road or park
Business Rates and benefits accounts can also be managed online, with additional services for local landlords and letting agents. Plus, more services and features will be added in the coming months.
Full terms and conditions for the iPad competition.


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Is Samsung Eyeing Smartphone Supporting Cryptocurrencies?
Speculation grows that Samsung is on the verge of launching a smartphone that supports cryptocurrency. Trademark filing on December, 27, following weeks of rumors, added weight to the notion that Samsung has cryptocurrency on its roadmap, and that the next feature to add to its flagship phones, which retail for up to $750, could be a built-in wallet. Simply titled “Samsung Crypto Wallet,” the UK003363431 trademark does not reveal much in detail, but its name is unambiguous enough.
In the “Classes and terms” section of the application, Samsung cites such developments as “Computer software for use as a cryptocurrency wallet; Computer software for cryptocurrency transfer and payment using blockchain technology; Computer application software for smartphones, namely, software to allow users to transfer cryptocurrency based on blockchain technology and pay via 3rd party’s application software.”
With each new iteration of smartphones, such as Samsung Galaxy and Apple’s iPhone, technical improvements are less visible and new features are less common. The integration of a cryptocurrency wallet with its private key stored separately from the rest of the phone’s core operations in a secure enclave gives manufacturers the opportunity to distinguish their handsets from the competition. It also gives users of cryptocurrency a new gadget that they want. To date, however, so-called blockchain phones have been underwhelming.
In comparison with high-end phones, Sirin’s Finney smartphone has been derided in some quarters for its clunky design and mediocre features. In the meantime, the HTC Exodus smartphone, supported by cryptocurrency figures like Charlie Lee, was supposed to ship this month, but still has to deliver. Therefore, the blockchain phone bar is pretty low.
If Samsung were to throw its hat into the ring and try its own crypto-equipped smartphone, it would be very likely to become its most popular device. In October, the Samsung Foundry production wing launched a new 7-nanometer (nm) Low Power Plus (7LPP) process node production process that could reduce its energy consumption by up to 50%. The chip could allegedly have positive consequences for crypto miners using Samsung hardware, as energy costs prove to be a key factor in the profitability of the industry.
As a result of the filing two pressing questions are left to cryptocurrency users: 1. Does Samsung develop a standalone hardware wallet or smartphone integrated wallet?
2. Were the trademark defensively or offensively filed? In other words, is Samsung intending to develop this device in the near future? Companies often file patents and register trademarks prolifically, although only a handful of them will result in a product being placed on the market. Indeed, according to the approval of the Samsung Crypto Wallet trademark, another 42 trademarks were also registered in the UK by the Asian electronics manufacturer.


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Cyber Security: Threats and Challenges of Digital Ecosystems
At a time when businesses are increasingly relying on digital technology for their growth, in particular data integration with suppliers and customers, research by Tata Consultancy Services shows that only 16% of senior IT and risk leaders expressed concern about digital ecosystems when assessing expected cyberattacks.
This indicates that supply chain compromise, social engineering and other attacks leveraging the organization's partners, suppliers and customers - are ranked as a low concern by IT and risk professionals, which is somewhat perplexing.
On a positive note, only one in six respondents stated that their board of directors considers issues related to cyber risk and security only "occasionally, as needed, or never." Getting the Board's attention to address cybersecurity seems to be less of a challenge these days.
Other findings include:
Most companies now find cloud platforms more secure compared to traditional data centers. The realization that building your own infrastructure tends to be less secure is finally maturing among most cyber executives, which is welcome.
The greatest obstacle to cybersecurity initiatives is finding and retaining the right skills. This reflects today's still tight labor market, with record numbers of professionals searching for new job opportunities.
The survey stresses that one way to reduce the likelihood of attacks within digital supply chains is to implement a 'zero-trust' strategy based on the principle of 'never trust, always verify'. That is in line with the industry push for zero-trust, including the US federal government and the White House.
Read more about the research results at Help Net Security.


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Google just signed a licensing deal in Europe that will give Google Play users access to 5.5. million musical works across 35 countries.
The Internet Giant signed the agreement with representatives of Armonia, a massive alliance of musicians and publishers that also features French, Italian, and Spanish licensing groups, and their deal includes tracks by popular artists, such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna, works from Universal Music Publishing’s British and American catalogs, and Sony’s Latin repertoire.
According to the Associated Press (via Businessweek), Catherine Kerr-Vignale of SACEM, a French group whose sole mission is to protect, represent, and provide service for music authors and composers, noted Google’s main competition, a.k.a., Amazon and Apple, have country-by-country licensing agreements:
- Google-Dish wireless service is a go, plans for 2013 launch being hatched (9to5Google)
- Google Q3 earnings call for October 13th (9to5Google)
- Verizon Droid DNA Review: This display gives reality a run for its money (9to5Google)
- LG Nexus 4 teardown finds 4G LTE chip onboard (9to5Google)
- We’re giving away an LG Optimus G on AT&T (9to5Google)
She added that the royalty for publishers and artists was in line with industry standards involving Google rivals like Amazon and Apple’s iTunes. She declined to specify.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


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Pretoria – Trade and Industry Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina has arrived in China, where he is leading a delegation of 51 companies on the fourth leg of the South African Expos in China.
Deputy Minister Masina said the dti will visit the Shanghai Free Trade Zone and the Shanghai Zhanjiang Hi-Tech Park today.
He will also officially open the South African exhibition, where South African companies will showcase their products and services.
The Deputy Minister will deliver the keynote address at a trade and investment seminar that will be attended by potential investors from China.
He will also engage potential investors in the electronic, textile, agro-processing and mining sectors on the sidelines of the expos.
The expos focus on South Africa’s top 10 value added products and investment projects, and seek to promote engagements, enhance exports and to increase market penetration into China.
“South Africa’s major exports to China have traditionally been mining products, iron and steel, heavy chemicals and nonferrous metals exports in the region of $5 billion a year. Through these expos and the companies that we brought, we hope to change this tradition,” said Deputy Minister Masina.
The expos, which kicked off on 20 October, will continue today in Shanghai before conclude in Beijing.
The business delegation was led on the first leg of the trip by the Director-General of the dti, Lionel October. Minister Rob Davies will be part of the last leg of the expos.
Participating companies in the expos are in the sectors of agro-processing, chemicals, plastics, steel and aluminium, among others.


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ORLANDO, Fla. — ActivEngage ranked 117th on Deloitte’s 2014 Technology Fast 500 list of fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and clean technology companies in North America.The company’s revenue grew by 1,025% placing it in the top 25% of tech companies in the U.S. and Canada.
This is the second year ActivEngage was ranked on the Fast 500 list. It also recently ranked on Inc. Magazine's annual Inc. 500/5000 list for the third consecutive year. ActivEngage is a chat client used by dealerships to connect with customers online.
ActivEngage recently launched a new browser-based chat console that allows customers to answer chat requests without having to download any software. It includes features like the option to switch to a mobile device, send pictures in a conversation, monitor conversations and pre-read what a shopper is typing before they hit send.
“Among ActivEngage’s core values is our pursuit to continuously innovate online engagement technology,” said Ted Rubin, president of ActivEngage. “Rather than taking the easy route, we always focus on providing services that transform the way our customers do business online.”


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Smartphone sales experienced the slowest growth rate since 2013 in the three months to June, with Android devices seeing their lowest take-up ever.
According to Gartner, 330 million smartphones were sold in the second quarter of 2015, a year-on-year increase of 13.5 percent.
Budget 3G and 4G devices drove growth in emerging markets, with Eastern Europe and the Middle East and Africa recording the fastest growth.
However, sales fell four percent in China – the first time the country has seen a decline.
Anshul Gupta, research director at Gartner, explained this came as a result of changing buying habits in China, where there has been shift toward second-hand devices.
He said: “China has reached saturation — its phone market is essentially driven by replacement, with fewer first-time buyers. Beyond the lower-end phone segment, the appeal of premium smartphones will be key for vendors to attract upgrades and to maintain or grow their market share in China."
Meanwhile, Android struggled to hold its ground against Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus devices, Gartner said.
Android’s global share was hit following double-digit growth of iOS in the high-end segment, the research house found, with strong sales of Apple devices in China resulting in weak performance of Android in the country.
As a result, Android saw its lowest year-on-year growth of 11 percent, with market share dipping 1.6 percentage points.
Samsung in particular found itself in rough waters as market share in Q2 dipped 4.2 percent and unit sales fell 5.3 percent. At the same time, iPhone sales increased 36 percent, bringing Apple and additional 2.4 percentage points in market share.
In China alone, iPhone sales totalled 11.9 million units during the quarter, a year-on-year increase of 68 percent.
Even so, Samsung still led global sales, shifting over 72 million units to claim a 21.9 percent market share. This was followed by Apple (48m, 14.6 percent) and Huawei, which recorded the highest sales growth rate of 46.3 after selling 25.8 million units.
Android devices continued to dominate global sales as a result, holding an 82.2 percent market share after shifting 271 million units.
By way of comparison, iOS held a 14.6 percent share after selling 48.1 million units, while Windows devices claimed to 2.5 percent share of the market after selling 8.2 million units.
Gupta said: "In light of Microsoft's recent cuts in its mobile hardware business, we'll await signs of its long-term commitment in the smartphone market.
“The low barrier to entry into the Android segment will continue to encourage an array of new players, adding to further disruptions coming from Chinese manufacturing and innovative Internet players with new business models that are not reliant on hardware margins.”


text: IT’S GENERATED QUITE a buzz with the Millennial set and been highly visible throughout all social media outlets but Spanish authorities have told the makers of Gik “blue wine” that they can no longer label it as wine. Gik has sold close to 1OO,OOO bottles in 25 countries, but a court ruled that since there is no “blue wine” category among the 17 listed wine products mentioned in Annex VII part II of Regulation 13O8/2O13, Gik cannot be labelled as wine. The troubles began last August when the company’s headquarters were visited by government inspectors who told the company to stop production pending an investigation. Gik will now have to change the labelling on the product to “99 percent wine and 1 percent grape must” to ensure the product meets the requirements of current legislation. “It is absurd because its composition is 1OO percent wine,” Gik said in a statement. The blue hue is created with anthyocyacin, a natural pigment extracted from grape skin, and indigo, a natural dye derived from the woad plant. “When we created Gik, our aim was to innovate in the most traditional sector of our country: wine industry,” Gik stated in a petition on Change.org calling for support in their fight for recognition as a wine. Public support for the company has been somewhat tepid with fewer than 5O supporters signing it as of February 1. Perhaps blue isn’t really an ideal color for wine after all.


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Xbox gaming revenue is mostly down on all fronts, but the Game Pass subscriber base still saw growth.
Microsoft released theirs Second quarter financial results for fiscal year 2023 yesterday, and it showed that Xbox gaming revenue was down 13% overall. Xbox content and services, such as Sales such as first-party software and monetization in third-party games fell 12%, but Microsoft notes that this decline is related to a “strong prior-year comparable.” Given that Xbox year 2022 was lackluster compared to last year, that’s not surprising.
However, the financial results Condition That 12% decline “is partially offset by growth in Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.” Xbox hardware sales are also down 13%. During a earnings conference call, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced that Xbox monthly active users surpassed 120 million during the quarter in question, as reported by IGN. Nadella added that Microsoft expects another year-over-year decline in the next quarter due to a situation similar to this quarter.
Video game sales analyst Benji Sales (on Twitter) offered some comments on those financial results, stating that he was less concerned about Xbox’s gaming revenue and software performance and instead that the hardware decline was alarming.
“I worry less about overall gaming revenue and software performance. They’re on the decline, but that’s to be expected given how poor a year Xbox has had for first-party content. The more worrying thing here is the hardware. So early in a generation, we really should be doing it.” I don’t see any declines.”
I worry less about overall gaming revenue and software performance. They’ve failed, but that’s to be expected given how weak Xbox has been for first-party content in a year
The more worrying thing here is hardware. We really shouldn’t see any declines this early in a generation
— Benji Sales (@BenjiSales) January 24, 2023
As Benji-Sales and many others have noted, the past few quarters have been lackluster for Xbox, but 2023 is shaping up to be the biggest year for Xbox Series X/S yet, with games like Redfall, Starfield and Forza Motorsport expected to release.
We should learn more about some of these games in today’s Xbox Developer Direct, and then about Starfield in a Starfield-specific showcase Xbox is planning.
Do these financial results surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!
https://www.gameinformer.com/2023/01/25/xbox-gaming-revenue-down-but-game-pass-subscriber-base-continues-to-grow Xbox gaming revenue has fallen, but the Game Pass subscriber base continues to grow


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Amazon has been fined $ 5 million (approximately Rs 3.71 crores) for not disclosing the number of Covid cases in the US company to other employees. Earlier, it was discovered that Amazon had failed to inform U.S. workers about the Covid cases.
The number of Covid-19 cases in the workplace in California was alleged to have been withheld from employees. The LA Times reported that the company has agreed to pay fines, improve the way of tracking cases and inform workers and local health agencies about cases on time.
The court ruled that warehouse workers in California must be accurately informed when new Covid cases are reported. California Attorney General Rob Bonda said the fine follows a complaint filed against Amazon alleging that the company did not properly inform warehouse workers and local health agencies about the new Covid-19 cases.
The LA Times also reported that Covid’s Right to Know (AB 685) passed in California last year was the first penalty related to legislation. By law, employers are required to notify workers of the number of Covid-19 cases each day. In addition, Covid-19 cases must be reported to local health agencies within 48 hours.


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M & A wrap: ArcelorMittal jumps ship
ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steelmaker, has unexpectedly pulled out of its joint $5 billion bid with Peabody Energy for Australian miner Macarthur Coal, just a day after the buyers said they had secured a majority of shares.
New Hope Corp, the $5 billion Australian coal miner that put itself up for auction earlier this month is considering a break-up and asset sales amid interest from global resource companies, two sources said.
Foster’s, Australia’s largest brewer, said it expects beer sales to pick up again when the economy improves, fuelling small shareholder anger at the company’s capitulation to a $10.4 billion takeover by SABMiller.
“Ivanhoe Mines Ltd.’s options show investors are becoming more convinced the copper and gold explorer will be a takeover candidate by March,” reports Bloomberg.
Fortune gives a rundown of the latest rumors swirling around Yahoo.
For your morning distraction, Kid Dynamite breaks down Google’s “Trending Now” list.


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Impact Of GST Will Take Time To Show Results, Bibek Debroy Says
The impact of goods and services tax on Indian economy will take time, results will not be visible overnight, according to Bibek Debroy, chairman of the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister.
Noting that GST is a work in progress, Debroy said that when it was introduced, there were people who said the new indirect tax regime would lead to incremental gross domestic product growth of 1.5-2 percent.
"This is regarding the fact that the estimate was done by NCAER (National Council of Applied Economic Research) for the Ninth Finance Commission for terminal ideal GST, whereas GST—which is work in progress—may take 20 years. It is not that you are going to get 1.5-2 percent (additional) GDP growth overnight," he said on Monday.
India's GDP growth rate fell to an over six-year low of 4.5 percent in the second quarter of 2019-20. GST collections have remained mostly below the target.
GST collections stood at Rs 95,380 crore for October, down 5.29 percent from Rs 1,00,710 crore for the same month last year, according to government data.
This was the third consecutive month when GST collections remained below the Rs 1 lakh crore mark, despite the festive season.


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Vietnam’s East West Brewing recently opened the doors to their second brewery & taproom.
In a contrast to their original outlet in the hectic industrial hub of Ho Chi Minh City, this new outlet backs on to the sprawling sandy beaches of Da Nang in the heart of the country offering a seaside ambiance and relaxing views of the South China Sea.
Modelled after traditional craft brewpubs from around the world, the new outlet has a 1,000 sq/m footprint and is divided into four main areas: the outdoor beachside patio, restaurant, rooftop, and two private rooms.
Able to accommodate around 500 guests, the new brewery is an ideal spot for events or just to chill and soak up the beachside ambiance with an ale from the on-site brewery’s diverse range of beers.
As the name suggests, East West Brewing aims to connect people from around the world through its craft beers, while also contributing to Da Nang’s tourism industry, tapping into the global rise in beer tourism.
According to Loc Truong, the General Manager of East West Brewing, the new brewery is not only a must-visit for craft beer enthusiasts, but also for anyone looking to enjoy the open beachside atmosphere and amazing views of the white, sandy Mỹ Khê coast.
East West Brewing’s nine original craft beers are distributed in over 1,000 locations across Vietnam, including restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and convenience stores. The brewery has also recently expanded internationally, with distribution in Taiwan, Korea, Thailand, and Singapore – countries that all have direct flights to Da Nang city.
The company’s commitment to quality and innovation has earned it international recognition and as post-pandemic tourism gathers pace is sure to help attract more visitors to the vacation hotspot to enjoy Da Nang’s growing number of craft breweries.
Location: 1A Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Phuoc My, Son Tra, Da Nang


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Nice Ride spurs spending near stations
As the number of Nice Ride bike-sharing stations in the Twin Cities has grown, so has the economic activity in the areas surrounding them, according to findings from a recent study by the University’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs.
Nice Ride Minnesota is a bike-sharing program offering short-term bike rental and subscription service options that cater to a range of users. Bikes are available at 146 stations, 24 hours a day, throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Since a Nice Ride station selectively increases accessibility around it, researcher Jessica Schoner explained, “Our theory was that people are going to take additional trips to that destination or they’re going to switch destinations and go to [one] near a Nice Ride station, because they can bike there conveniently…and then they’re going to spend money near these stations.”
To measure economic activity, the researchers examined the stations and surrounding land use, business owner perceptions of bicyclists and Nice Riders, and subscriber self-reported spending patterns.
The types of business with favorable opinions of Nice Ride were much more likely to be food-related. Fittingly, preliminary results from the team’s survey of Nice Ride subscribers show their top destinations were sit-down restaurants, coffee shops, bars or nightclubs, and grocery stores.
The findings, Schoner concluded, could potentially drive the way bike-share agencies structure their sponsorship and business partnerships. “They’ll have tangible numbers to go to businesses and say ‘This is what having a station near you does’ and maybe [it will] change their ideas about trading a parking space for a station.”
In addition to Schoner, the research team included Greg Lindsey, Andrew Harrison, and Xize Wang of the Humphrey School. Assistance and funding for the study were provided by Nice Ride, Transit for Livable Communities, Bike Walk Twin Cities, and Bikes Belong.


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Revealed: Netflix’s 10 most-watched original films
David Farnor | On 18, Jul 2020
Extraction has topped the list of Netflix’s most-watched original films.
The streaming giant has become increasingly open about its viewing figures in recent months, as it positions itself as a global force to be reckoned with in the face of growing streaming competition.
Of course, those figures are worth taking with a large pinch of salt. Where before, the streaming giant classed a “view” as someone watching 70 per cent of a movie or a single episode of a show. Now, it’s changed its measurements that it says is more accurate. Now, Netflix will count the number of times that an account chooses to watch a title for “at least 2 minutes”, which it deems as “long enough to indicate the choice was intentional”, as opposed to an accidental click.
By that measure, Extraction racked up 99 million views in the first four weeks after its release, just ahead of Bird Box’s 89 million. Netflix revealed the figures to Bloomberg and, interestingly, the films are led by action movies or thrillers, although comedies such as Murder Mystery also proved popular, as did awards contender The Irishman.
All 10 films were released in the past three years, as Netflix’s continually growing audience means each film will debut to a larger base of subscribers.
Here‘s the full list:
Bird Box 89M
Spenser Confidential 85M
6 Underground 83M
Murder Mystery 73M
The Irishman 64M
Triple Frontier 63M
The Wrong Missy 59M
The Platform 56M
The Perfect Date 48M


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News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.
Darren McFadden: Ex-NFL RB lost out on bitcoin investment
Home page | Tax & Duty Free at the airportBloomberg delivers business and markets news, data, analysis, and video to the world, featuring stories from Businessweek and Bloomberg News.
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Increased freight demand is being cited as the main reason behind a record-setting uptick in trailer orders this January – especially for refrigerated models.
Research firm FTR Transportation Intelligence noted that its preliminary data placed January trailer orders in the 40,000 range for the third consecutive month and, if the numbers hold when final orders are reported, this will be the first time in history that the industry has booked orders at levels in any three-month period.
“The vibrant economy continues to produce sturdy freight growth and fleets are hurrying to add capacity. That has showed up in the truck numbers and even more in the trailer numbers,” noted Don Ake, FTR’s vice president of commercial vehicles, in a statement.
“Motor carriers continue to add trailers as a way to increase total productivity,” he added. “All trailer segments are now looking very bright for 2018. Overall business confidence is surging due to tax reform and it’s making a hot market even hotter.”
According to ACT Research, its preliminary estimate for net trailer orders this January hit 39,100 units, which is a record-setting number, the firm said.
“January net orders came in 22% better year-over-year, and while [39,100 units] is down 15% from December, that’s a comparison to the second-best month in industry history. And it was the best January on record,” noted Frank Maly, ACT’s director of CV transportation analysis and research.
“This continues a string of extremely solid order placement,” he added in a statement. “November and December of last year, along with January of this year, rank as the third, second, and fifth highest order months in industry history. Tight trucking capacity and solid freight rates are supporting both fleet needs and investment ability. Lengthening industry backlogs also encourage fleets to join industry order boards.”
While the majority of trailer categories posted positive year-over-year growth in order levels, the refrigerated or “reefer” segment led the way last month. “Reefer net orders set an all-time monthly record, coming in 250% better than last January,” Maly said.
Bob Costello, chief economist for the American Trucking Associations (ATA), noted in a presentation last week at NATSO Connect 2018 – the annual convention of the trade group formerly known as the National Association of Truck Stop Operators – that refrigerated freight demand in particular witnessed a major uptick in 2017 that’s continued into 2018.
TL freight volumes increased 2.8% in 2017 versus 2016, more than surpassing the weak 0.1% increase in TL volumes that occurred in 2016 versus 2015. By segment during 2017, dry van freight demand went up 2%, flatbed increased 2.2% and refrigerated spiked by 5%. On top of that, dry van demand surged 7% in the fourth quarter of last year and the pace hasn’t let up yet, Costello noted.


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EvaluAgent has announced its latest new feature as part of its cloud-based Quality, Coach and Compliance platform for contact centres.
Its new real-time notification feature is now available for all free and paid customers to utilise.
Built to engage agents and ensure valuable feedback is acted on, real-time notifications automatically alert agents to new feedback via email and from inside the app, whilst evaluators are notified when interactions are assigned to them.
Also, as with the EvaluAgent platform itself, the feature is completely flexible giving you the option to customise service level and set notification preferences.
Jaime Scott, the CEO of EvaluAgent, mentioned: “For us, notifications are really just the start of an exciting series of product announcements we’ll be making over the next few months.”
“In addition to extending the use of notifications for compliance breaches, our hotly anticipated Coach and Feedback module will be available to demo in just a matter of weeks. Perfect timing for contact centres where agent engagement and skills development is high up the list for 2019.”
“I’d encourage contact centres of every size to get started for free or arrange an online demo of our new platform. I’m biased, but it certainly is a game changer.”
Since 2012, EvaluAgent has been developing cloud-based quality and compliance software for contact centres.


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- Apple CEO Tim Cook was granted 333,987 restricted stock units by Apple recently, worth approximately $38 million based on the current Apple stock price.
- Those units, which vest annually starting in 2023, are intended to keep Cook with Apple until at least 2025.
- Cook could earn an additional 333,987 shares in Apple stock — which could vest at 200% of their value — depending on Apple’s performance across that period.
- In total, based on current Apple stock value, Cook has over $110 million in Apple stock.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Apple CEO and billionaire Tim Cook was just granted tens of millions of dollars worth of Apple stock as an incentive to stay on with the company through 2025.
According to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing published this week, Cook received 333,987 restricted stock units in Apple — shares in the company that will vest across three years, starting in 2023. At the current market value, the shares would be worth nearly $40 million.
Apple’s board of directors characterized the stock grant as a “recognition of his outstanding leadership” in a statement, but the role of granting restricted stock units to employees is retention — if Cook were to leave Apple before those shares vest, he wouldn’t receive them.
—Stephen Nellis (@StephenNellis) September 29, 2020
In addition to the retention-based stock grant, Apple’s board of directors also issued a performance-based grant: Should he meet certain goals tied to his performance as CEO, Cook would receive another 333,987 stock units — and they could vest at up to 200% of their value.
In total, should Cook stay with Apple through the end of 2025 and meet his performance targets, he could receive approximately $115 million in stock based on current market value. And given Apple’s stock history, it’s likely that the value when these units vest will actually be much higher than it currently is.
Cook became a billionaire earlier this year, primarily based on his salary at Apple, stock he owns in the company, and earnings from shares he’s sold.
Got a tip? Contact Business Insider senior correspondent Ben Gilbert via email ([email protected]), or Twitter DM (@realbengilbert). We can keep sources anonymous. Use a non-work device to reach out. PR pitches by email only, please.


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A unique effect can be created with GIFs when taking a video snap.
As with Instagram, the stickers can also be pinned to a part of the snap to have them move, rotate or scale along with what they're attached to. Moreover, the new updates bring two new tabs: Friends and Discover.
On Tuesday, parent company Snap announced a new update meant to make it easier for users to view content they want to see. Snapchat had proudly announced this change late past year, and was hoping that the UI refresh will help it not only retain its users, but help it attract some new ones over. Android users have to wait to get this update. Once you receive the update, you'll be able to sort things like Stories, Group Chats, and Subscriptions, allowing you to further customise your own experience on the app.
A couple of weeks ago, Snapchat woke up to a flood of netizens criticizing the platform for a design change it had introduced. But, millions of users have rejected the decision by signing online petitions.
Cyclone Gita has forced emergency services in New Zealand to issue evacuation warnings as 90mph winds hit the island. The full force of Cyclone Gita hit Tonga with 275 kph winds last week causing extensive damage.
On Wednesday this week, Pai, and his two Republican FCC commissioners that do his bidding, indicated the plan is a goer. SpaceX wants to launch satellite internet in 2019, with hopes to carry out the initial tests this year.
Last week, police recommended that Netanyahu be indicted for fraud, breach of trust, and bribery in two other cases. Netanyahu is not now suspected of dispatching Hefetz to extend the offer to the judge, Hadashot TV reported.
She responded to Trump's claims that he would never assault anyone in public by asking to release the security footage. Describing the encounter, Crooks told the Post: "He started kissing me on one cheek, then the other cheek".
Virgin Hyperloop One could become a key part of DP World and NIIF's aim of removing inefficiencies in the supply chain . If you must know, hyperloop has stated that it intends to make this form of transport "affordable for everyone".
The Home Minister Rajnath Singh said civil servants should be allowed to work with dignity and without fear. We also stand, very strongly by the chief secretary, Delhi and all our colleagues in the NCT cadre.
Pappalardo said in the video before saying that he wants to make sure his gun is never capable of taking someone's life. The school shooting has renewed heated debate on whether the United States have should stricter gun regulations.
Amazon acquired the chain of grocery stores specializing in high-end organic foods in June of past year for $13.7 billion. For non-Prime members, the Amazon Rewards Visa Signature card offers 3 percent back on Amazon and Whole Foods purchases.
In 2016, Martin was suspended for four games in violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, testing positive for Adderall. In eight games, Martin had just 421 yards on 144 carries, averaging a dismal 2.9 yards per attempt.
Burnout Paradise is Getting a Remaster this March
The new version is slated for a March 16 release on PS4 and Xbox One, with a PC version coming later exclusively to Origin. Burnout Paradise will deliver the same action-packed experience that gripped gamers when the title first came out.
Iconic British director is 'top of list' for Bond 25
Confirmed reports about the next Bond film should come very soon with the announcement of director and a release date. Boyle has always been in the running to direct a Bond movie, going back to Skyfall and Spectre .
U.S. medals for first time since Thursday
Speaking after the final, Goepper said he changed his initial plan once the high quality of the field became evident. Canada's Alex Beaulieu-Marchand finished a further 1.20 points behind in the bronze medal position.
West Brom footballers apologise for Barcelona fiasco
Once the club's proceedings are complete, the players are each set for the maximum fine of two weeks' wages. All four players apologised for breakinga club imposed curfew and being involved in an "incident".
Samsung launch galaxy S9 phone beat iPhone X
Last year, the Galaxy S8 got Bixby, the company's revamped virtual assistant over S-Voice. The camera features will be optical image stabilizer, laser and dual-pixel autofocus.
Head of Merkel's conservative CDU to step down: party sources
Ms Merkel had to fill the position after current party chairman Peter Tauber announced he was stepping down because of ill-health. Merkel said she wants the party to elect Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer to the post of general-secretary next Monday.


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Disney Springs is definitely the place to be for the holidays this year with all of the new offerings. One of the new additions this
4 new stores coming to Disney Springs this summer!
The Town Center area of Disney Springs opened yesterday along with 23 new retail stores and 7 new restaurants. We are now learning about 4


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When a brittle supply chain snaps, customers don’t get their products, companies lose revenue, brands are sullied, and the company suffers.
China Labor Watch says Apple must take more responsibility for improving labor conditions; Apple says it has.
The delivery service muscled up for Christmas to avoid delivery problems, but demand came in below expectations.
Reverse factoring can raise the risk profile of supply chains to dangerous levels, and could even cause a systematic financial failure.
Poor distribution by Target reportedly meant that shelves lacked basic products.
Some workers' comp doctors have found a new way to dispense drugs from their offices at two to three times the price charged by pharmacies.
Citigroup says falling oil prices are exposing projects that were either poorly executed or bad ideas to begin with.
It's not only multinationals that will benefit from the canal's new capacity, accommodating ships more than twice the current maximum size.
CEO Jeff Immelt tells investors that 40% of the company's energy portfolio is going to be hurt by lower oil prices.
OPEC says crude oil demand will drop to 28.92 million barrels per day in 2015, more than 1 million bpd less than it currently produces.


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Taxi firms outside London could be forced to hike their prices by a fifth if Uber wins a high court battle this week that would mean they pay VAT on journeys.
A ruling is expected to be handed down on Friday after the ride-sharing app sued Sefton council in Merseyside over VAT terms for operators outside London.
It comes after Uber revealed this week that it would hand £615m to UK tax authorities to settle an unpaid VAT claim following an investigation by HM Revenue and Customs.
Currently, private hire operators do not pay VAT as the individual drivers are usually classed as independent, self-employed contractors and do not meet the required earnings threshold. However, recent court rulings have prompted questions over that arrangement.
Uber was forced to raise its prices in March after the 20% tax was applied to rides booked through the app. The switch came about in response to a high court ruling last December that confirmed its drivers were classed as “workers” controlled by Uber rather than independent contractors and therefore the app was directly taking the bookings.
That made Uber the principal for tax purposes, with revenues high enough to warrant paying VAT. Other operators in the capital were also legally required to follow suit and contract directly with passengers to provide the journey and pay the tax.
The original ruling applied to Uber’s London business, but a spokesperson for the company told the Guardian it had applied the changes across the UK and it “considers that the PHV [private hire vehicle] regulation in the rest of England, Wales and Northern Ireland is substantially the same as London”.
The company is asking the high court to declare any licensed operator accepting a booking anywhere in the UK to also be classed as the principal contractor and therefore liable for VAT – potentially leading to a price rise in minicab fares across the country.
The hearing began on Thursday morning and a decision is expected on Friday.
Layla Barke-Jones, a partner in the dispute resolution team at the law firm Aaron & Partners, is acting on behalf of a group of Merseyside taxi firms, including the Sefton-based Delta Taxis, to counter Uber’s court move.
She said: “This case is a very important one that could have repercussions for the entire private hire industry in England and Wales, and in particular on passengers during this cost of living crisis.
“Due to the wider significance of the case, we have successfully applied on behalf of our clients to be interveners and look forward to representing their collective views in the high court.
“It is our intention to argue against the declaration sought by Uber from being made and we hope to protect the traditional models of the private hire industry that have existed before and after the 1976 [Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions)] Act came into force and differ significantly from what app-based services, like Uber, offer.
“On behalf of our clients, we are seeking to prevent the unnecessary changes that will ultimately impact everyday people if the declaration were made.”


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A Workington hat shop owner has won the top enterprise award from a West Cumbrian business developer
The Confederation for British Industry said it supports Scotland staying in the UK because the proposals for independence "lack clarity".
Judge quashes the latest planning permission for a new freight storage and distribution facility at the airport.
Footwear made in west Cumbria is being spotted on the feet of the very famous. Rihanna is one of two stars who've been seen wearing trainers made by New Balance, who have a factory at Flimby near Maryport. The company has increased production and jobs. Hannah McNulty reports.
When you think of Rihanna and Pharrell Williams you probably don't think of west Cumbria.
They're two of the celebrities who've been spotted wearing New Balance trainers, which are made at the factory in Flimby.
Sales are up and more staff have been taken on.
New Balance manufactures trainers at its factory in the village of Flimby on the west Cumbrian coast. 245 people are employed there and around one million pairs are currently produced there every year. Sales have been steadily rising, up 24% last year and projected to rise 10% this year.
That's been helped by singers Rihanna and Pharrell Williams being seen in the trainers. The US brand is owned by an American businessman. The Flimby factory is the only major sports shoe manufacturer in the UK. Andy Okolowicz is the factory manager:
Chanel have announced they will be taking on 100 new staff in the Borders.
Bruno Pavlovsky, the company's fashion president, made the announcement on a visit to the Barrie Knitwear factory in Hawick.
He praised their efforts since the luxury goods firm took over the from Dawson International in October 2012.
– Bruno Pavlovsky, Fashion President of Chanel
"The people here have been fantastic. They have been so supportive of all the developments, working extra shifts to build this extra success and to continue that we need to find new people. We need to recruit."
The 100 new jobs would add to the existing 176-strong workforce at Barrie Knitwear.
The Barrie brand of cashmere clothing will launch next month and will be sold at 40 of the world's top clothing stores.
A dedicated boutique will open in Paris in June with a London store also being considered.
Work starts today on bringing super-fast broadband to homes and businesses in Windermere, nine months ahead of schedule.
The roll-out of fibre-optic broadband to the Cumbria region is planned over the next eighteen months.
An ambitious plan to bring thousands of new jobs and hundreds-of-millions-of-pounds into Cumbria's economy has been unveiled.
The county's Local Enterprise Partnership is bidding for a share of Government cash to invest in growth opportunities around the M6 Corridor and also in the nuclear industry.
Fiona Marley Paterson reports.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has unveiled its financial plan for the country for the next ten years.
– Cllr Peter Thornton, Leader of the South Lakeland District Council
"At the moment far too many young people in South Lakeland have to leave home and go work elsewhere. This proposal will mean - if this comes off- young people will be able to stay here, work here and live here"
– Charles Crewdson, Gilbert Gilkes and Gordon in Kendal
I'm the recipient of a Regional Growth Fund bid or a Regional Growth Fund - so I am already being able to expand the factory as a result of that, take on more people to do research and development and younger apprentices and all the rest of it. Now that hopefully is what other people will be able to do across Cumbria with the plan focusing and supporting the Regional Growth Fund effort."
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has unveiled its financial plan for the county for the next ten years.
Cumbria's LEP, in conjunction with local councils and businesses, is asking the Government for a £23.57million share of £1billion.
What the Cumbria LEP is proposing to do:
- Help manufacturing, nuclear, and tourism businesses bid for Regional Growth Fund money to expand their business and employ more people
Develop the M6 corridor, between the Lake District National Park and the Yorkshire Dales National Park
Create 15,000 jobs and boost Cumbria's economy by £600million by 2023
Although many villages are struggling to keep local services open, one community in the Lake District are proving that it can be done.
People in Ennerdale Bridge have already rallied round to re-open their local pub and have now received a large grant to turn a disused forestry building into a village shop with space for community activities.
Cumbria's Local Enterprise Partnership has unveiled its financial plan for the county for the next ten years.
It includes plans for thousands of new jobs by focusing on manufacturing, the M6 corridor, tourism and the nuclear industry.


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» Rahsia Menang 4d Magnum
Rahsia Menang 4d Magnum
Rahsia Menang 4d Magnum on Technology News and Updates AdmaTechnology.com at Friday, April 18, 2014
Stylish phone with a sleek body parts excellence and performance backed-powered phones.
Continuing the successful launch of the previous series, the LG Optimus L3, LG Optimus L5 and LG Optimus L7, LG Mobile Indonesia is taking the stylish range of phones [...]
Through Vietnam blog site, Tinthe.vn, it was reported that the latest generation iPhone that was allegedly named the iPhone 5S will have a 12 megapixel camera.
In addition, Apple also improve low-light photography feature so image quality in low-light [...]
PT. Samsung Electronics will soon bring the Samsung Galaxy S4 in the Indonesian market.
And starting Thursday, pre-orders already open. Read Samsung Galaxy S4 Can Ordered Today.
Yesterday (18/04), in Publico, Senopati, Jakarta, the features found on [...]
Google has finally released Google Now app for Apple devices, the iPhone and iPad.
Quoted from Techradar, Tuesday (30/4), as a whole, Google Now in the both iOS device that is very similar, and no different with the launch for Android.
For those who [...]
Theory that claims the existence of super-particles.
Researchers at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Switzerland has detected a rare decay of a particle that could undermine the theory of super-symmetry, one of the main theories in physics.
Given the importance to always be vigilant when surfing the internet, here are some practical tips from Microsoft Indonesia.
- Lock your computer and other accounts with strong passwords, as well as a unique four-digit PIN on the mobile phone.
- Do not [...]
Ranked first App Store in just 2.5 hours After released.
Rovio as Manufacturer game Angry Birds released an announcement about the success of Angry Birds Star Wars is the latest game that they controlled the first rank App Store.
Amazingly, this position [...]
Screen sharing or screenshots into its own excitement for BlackBerry users. But how do I do this on the BlackBerry 10 platform?
Like on iOS and Android, BlackBerry 10 does not require an additional application for taking screenshots.
Quoted from CNET, [...]
Have you ever felt annoyed when someone you do not know to keep trying to be your friend on Facebook? Several steps were quoted by CNET, Friday (11/02), the following could be a solution.
1. Log in to your Facebook account and select the down arrow in [...]
WhatsApp application certainly already be familiar to your ears.
This free application brief message seems to be trying to compete with the popularity of the BlackBerry Messenger application.
BlackBerry Messenger BBM-voice that presents, WhatsApp seems [...]
Who does not know the game Battlefield series. Games were popular through its multiplayer mode has a slick visual images and an interesting storyline.
According to an official invitation received by Gamespot, Electronic Arts and DICE plans to celebrate [...]


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In this fourth story of results on research and innovation, we introduce you to ClusterFY.
They want to make SMEs in Europe more competitive and innovative by encouraging cooperation between clusters and business networks.
The Lithuanian partner explained how their clusters find it hard to compete on the international market because of their small size. Yet, their Dutch partner inspired them to think of clusters in a new way to solve this problem; start with a societal need.
Have a look.
Getting proper recognition
In March 2019, ClusterFY was mentioned as a good example of promoting internationalisation activities through clusters in the European Cluster Policy Forum paper.
We asked Rima Dijkstra how that made her feel: ‘We are very proud to have been noticed by the European cluster policy makers. This recognition allows the ClusterFY project to be noticed by all member states representatives responsible for the national cluster policies as well as European and international cluster experts.’
What has changed since the interview?
- The Lithuanian partner has come up with suggestions to encourage cross-sectorial cooperation amongst clusters in their draft action plan
- The project partners, together with experts, have prepared joint policy recommendations on cluster policy development, key enabling technologies and cluster internationalisation issues
- All project partners have drafted their regional action plans
More results in research and innovation
If you've missed them, read through some of the articles we published earlier this week:
- Cooperation results in fashion innovation
- The power of island communities
- Bringing digital services to rural areas
One of iBuy’s good practices – Ventspils Reiss prior market consultation process – has been selected for the European week of cities and regions in October.
In October project is organizing an online conference in 2 sessions on accessibility and interregional cooperation in research innovation and exploitation.
Watch the webinar recording on Centres of Competence that took place on 25 September 2020.
The final REFORM event will showcase the successes of the participating regions. The event will be part of the Urban Mobility Days 2020.
The REFORM session on regional and metropolitan planning will be part of the Urban Mobility Days, which will take place online from 29.09-02.10.2020
Online workshop on 13 October by JRC and Interreg Europe explores the benefits and challenges of interregional cooperation and S3 implementation.


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The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SMEDAN) has begun a three-day capacity building training for 100 entrepreneurship teachers in Damaturu, Yobe. SMEDAN Director-General, Mr Olawale Fasanya, stated this at the inauguration of the training exercise on Tuesday in Damaturu.
The exercise is being implemented under the agency’s Mind Shift Entrepreneurship Programme-National School Entrepreneurship Programme (N-SEP) .
He said the participants drawn from basic and post basic schools were being trained with the expectation that they would step down what they learn to their students and pupils at the end of the exercise.
Represented by Dr Yinka Fisher, Fasanya noted that the training was pertinent and timely, considering the dearth of white collar jobs in the country.
“The concept is designed to inculcate into the students the intelligent and intellectual consciousness of environment to enable maximise existence and potential.
“Today’s education should therefore be predicated on the philosophy of creating jobs, i.
e. turning the students from being job seekers to job creators.
“It is no more go to school, get good grades and get a good job.
“It is how to go to school, get good grades and acquire skills of being your own boss – starting your own business,” he said.
He said the programme, which commenced in 2017 had so far been implemented in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), adding that the remaining states would benefit from the programme before the end of 2022. Fasanya said the agency would also introduce school entrepreneurship competition for secondary schools in the country in 2023. In his remarks, Alhaji Yakubu Sani, Director, Entrepreneurship, Business and Sustainability, state Ministry of Wealth Creation, Empowerment and Employment Generation, thanked SMEDAN for the gesture.
He said unemployment, especially among the youths has been identified as the major causes of insurgency and other violent crimes.
Sani said the state was ready to take ownership of the programme, adding that the ministry had concluded arrangements to provide soft loans to women and youth entrepreneurs.
Mr Masudur Rahman, the Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, has solicited the collaboration of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to explore opportunities in the nation’s various sectors.
Rahman said this during a visit to the Director-General of SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, in his office on Monday in Abuja.
He said that the collaboration would help to grow the economies of both countries.
Rahman said that Nigeria and Bangladesh could collaborate in the textile, pharmaceutical, , energy and Information Communication Technology (ICT) industries.
He said that Bangladesh had comparative advantage in most of the sectors, while entrepreneurs in Nigeria could tap into experiences of their contemporaries in the country.
Rahman said the partnership would also improve the intra-trade volume of both countries.
He noted that his country has experienced progress in micro-economic growth.
”Nigeria will be holding an SME multilateral platform event in October.
”We look forward to enhancing the intra-trade between the countries because there will be huge opportunities from the event.
”As a diplomat, bureaucrat, I am convinced that entrepreneurs will find their way out to do meaningful businesses that can help the two economies and bring about growth,” Rahman said.
Responding, Fasanya said that Nigeria’s economy was similar to Bangladeshi economy.
The director-general said that SMEs in the country had a lot to learn from their Bangladesh counterpart.
He said that the country would be hosting SME summit in October to facilitate exchange of ideas.
Fasanya said that both countries could collaborate in various areas to explore the benefits to the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
The director-general said that the proposed SME centre would help coordinate activities for exchange of ideas, innovative technology and markets.
”We have a lot to learn from you because you have been able to develop faster and in terms of economic variables in Bangladesh.
”We will look at all areas that we can collaborate,” he said.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), says it will continue to create opportunities for MSMEs to penetrate local and international markets.
The Director-General of SMEDAN, Olawale Fasanya, said this at the opening of the Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) Opportunity Fair 2022 in Benin on Wednesday.
Fasanya said lack of access to market was one of the challenges that was preventing MSMEs from expanding as well as being competitive.
“The idea of the Opportunity Fair is to impact MSMEs, It is a way to assist them to access market, technology, finance, networking, capacity building.
“If all these are put in place, it means their businesses will run better.
” He said the fair was a one -stop shop to solve the challenges of MSMEs as the different regulatory and business promotion bodies as well as financial institutions were on ground to provide support.
Also speaking, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, said that one could not underscore the fact that MSMEs were the engine of any economy, as they remained the largest employers of labour.
Obaseki said the theme for the Fair, ‘Expanding Market Access for Nigerian MSMEs’, reinforced his administration’s objectives to partner with private sector to promote enterprise and skills development in the state.
”‘In Edo, we have been intentional in creating the right atmosphere for the development of small businesses, which have been anchored on the state skills development drive.
” The governor was represented by Hon Afishetu Braimoh, the Commissioner for Industry, Trade and Cooperative in Edo. The governor urged MSMEs owners attending the Fair to leverage the platform provided to showcase their products, services and innovation.
Speaking in his capacity as Commissioner, Braimoh said the state had initiated a project tagged “Farm to Table” where 20 made in Edo products would be promoted to the shelter of top shops in the state.
Braimoh said that the Fair would help MSMEs tackle challenges of lack of market information, access to market as well as harnessing of export potential.
Represented by Mrs Evelyn Imode, the Director, Trade and Promotion in the ministry, the Commissioner said, “this exhibition is a clarion call on all Edo people to improve their patronage of goods and services made in the state.
” “MSMEs activities in the state range from processing to production of consumer goods, from supply of input to the real estate, distribution, and creative industries, among others.
” In her remarks, wife of Edo Governor, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, who declared the Fair opened, commended the organisers as well as sponsors for providing an opportunity for MSMEs to grow their businesses.
Obaseki said that Edo government was passionate about the growth and sustainability of MSMES, noting that the Production Hub in the state had provided a space for businesses to enjoy minimum cost of production.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says it plans to establish Business Information Centres in all the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.
Mr Olawale Fasanya, the Director General, SMEDAN, said this at a stakeholders’ dialogue on the implementation of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NSMEs) Policy in Plateau on Thursday in Jos. According to Fasanya, the gesture would enable small scale business holders; particularly those at rural levels have access to information about our programmes.
He said that the gesture would deepen the agency’s reach and bring its presence to bear in rural areas.
”We have a lot of programmes; there are huge funds for people to access but the problem is lack of access to the right information.
”So, part of the strategy we want to use to solve this problem is to have business information centres across all the LGAs. ”We cannot be everywhere, but we will work with states and LGAs to see how we can deepen our reach,” he said.
The D-G said that most of the programmes were geared toward the people at the grassroots, since they formed bulk of where MSMEs were located in the country.
”Most of our programmes are directed at the grassroots people, because our current survey shows that out of the 39.6 million MSMEs that we have in Nigeria, 96.7 per cent of them are in the informal sector.
”Majority of Nigerians are in that class, and we cannot afford to neglect them.
”Currently, we are giving conditional cash transfer to people at the bottom of pyramid, but lack of adequate information has been a serious issue,” he said.
On the stakeholders’ dialogue, Fasanya said that it was aimed at getting feedback and suggestions from stakeholders at the state levels, with a view to improving on the agency’s intervention.
”We are here to harvest inputs from stakeholders, which we believe will assist us to decide on impactful intervention programmes for MSMEs ”We don’t have to assume that we know it all, because it makes it better when you come out like this and hear from the stakeholders.
”Things are changing every day, so this interaction will help us to feel existing gaps, resolve some of the challenges confronting MSMEs and the best way is to hear from the stakeholders,” he said.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and iTEKKU, an online marketing platform, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to upscale Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) profitability and growth in the country.
Director-General, SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, at the MoU signing on Tuesday in Lagos, said the idea was to improve the competitiveness and scalability of Nigerian MSMEs in spite of the economic challenges facing the country.
He said the development would provide some value and incentives such as medical insurance at a subsidised rate and advisory services for MSMEs. He said with the MoU, MSMEs would be given access to carry out commercial transactions with consumers, providing solutions to their marketing problems.
Fasanya added that the businesses would have access to interact with consumers directly by displaying information, business profiles and product offerings; also able to communicate with consumers, validating payments and other activities.
“We are excited that it is young people like you that are driving these, because part of our priority clientele are women and youths.
“We want to make sure that we work with a lot of youths with innovative ideas that can easily impact the ecosystem as we believe that you will put all your energy into this.
“There would be other initiatives that would come to complement the package, so it is not just a market place but a place MSMEs would come aboard and benefit from some incentives,” he said.
Commenting on the partnership and its benefits to MSMEs in the country, the Co-Founder, iTEKKU, Mr Olupitan Ayomide, said the company was committed to boosting MSMEs in Nigeria by upscaling them on their platform, also improving the goals of SMEDAN.
He explained that merchants, consumers and resellers, logistics and last mile delivery, credit (buy-now-pay-later) and payment systems were among the stakeholders connected to their platforms.
“iTEKKU, an online market, is a social commerce platform that enhances the concept of Business to Consumer (B2C) and provides an opportunity for MSMEs to expand.
“MSMEs are the lifeline of any economy, especially in emerging markets like Nigeria, yet, this segment of the market has limited access to the customers that require these products and services.
“Our approach seeks to address these challenges through the ITEKKU Marketplace.
“iTEKKU is solving problems across various sectors majorly targeting the MSME for them to scale up their businesses by exposing them to the markets, users that would come on our platforms to buy from them.
“They do not have to go through the stress or issues of having to do their marketing personally for themselves.
“They have a platform now where they can come and upload their catalogues for services that they offer and have access to users that can reach them and buy the products and services,” he said.
The Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on Thursday certified 150 Business Development Service Providers (BDSPs) to improve the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Hajia Mariam Katagum, at the virtual presentation in Lagos, said the certification programme for trained and practicing BDSPs was important for the continuous growth of MSMEs in the country.
Katagum, represented by Mr Adewale Bakare, Director, Industry Development, FMITI, said the Ministry was in the forefront of efforts to establish a platform for enthroning professionalism with the BDSP ecosystem in Nigeria.
She said it was agreed by the ministry and other relevant stakeholders within the MSME sub-sector in Nigeria that only certified BDSPs would be allowed to deliverer capacity building, mentorship, counselling and other forms of BDS to MSMEs in Nigeria.
She added that SMEDAN would post the names of the second batch of the certified Business Development Service Providers on its website.
Katagum stated that there would be posting of other social media handles and special advertisements in major newspapers in Nigeria for all current and potential users of BDSPs in Nigeria.
She urged certified BDSPs to use the opportunity to solve the challenges comfronting MSMEs in Nigeria.
Director-General, SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, said the certification would ensure that both existing and potential BDSPs had the opportunity to prove their technical competence towards supporting MSMEs in Nigeria.
“The posting on other social media handles and special advertisements in major newspapers in Nigeria for all current and potential users of BDSPs in Nigeria to draw from will be effected as soon as possible.
“In addition, to show commitment and sincerity of purpose, the Agency will ensure that, going forward, being a certified BDSP will now be one of the criteria for bidding for capacity building programmes in the Agency,” he said.
He revealed that SMEDAN in its determination to address the challenges confronting the MSMEs in Nigeria in a holistic manner,was implementing the One Local government One Product (OLOP) initiative in one hundred and nine (109) senatorial districts in the country.
“This ambitious effort of the Agency is based on the successful implementation of the pilot phase of the OLOP programme in Katsina, Kaduna, FCT, Osun and Anambra States three years ago.
“The intervention activities under OLOP, among others, include access to workspace, equipment support, access to working capital, and capacity building,” he said.
He added that in the same vein, the agency was implementing the Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) for micro enterprises in Nigeria.
“This programme is aimed at formalising a majority of the nano and micro enterprises that are mostly operating in the informal sector.
“This programme, which involves capacity building, registration of the micro enterprises with the CAC, provision of micro insurance, opening of bank accounts and provision of grants (N50,000 each) has so far been implemented in 22 States where over 40,000 entrepreneurs have been impacted,” he said.
Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Chistianah Adeyeye, said NAFDAC had created 50 per cent discount for MSME registration to encourage more participants in the profession.
Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Muhammad Nami, represented by the Director of State, FIRS, Mr Abubakar Muhammed, commended the effort of the awardees and assured them of the service’s continuous collaboration.
He said the service had introduced a lot of polices and platforms such as 10 per cent discount for about 20 million business development services.
The Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan Africa Atlantic University, Dr Peter Bamkole, commended SMEDAN for its professionalism, saying that the network would ease challenges encountered by MSMEs in Nigeria.
He urged participants and awardees to operate with due diligent, adding that they would be recertified every three years for proper checks and balances.
The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, (SMEDAN), will empower 50 people living with disabilities ( PLWDs), in Katsina State with N2.5million.
Mr Fisher Adeyinka, Deputy Director, Partnership and Coordination Department, of SMEDAN, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria , during a two-day workshop organised for them on Wednesday in Katsina.
He said that each of the beneficiaries who were drawn from the 34 local governments of the state would be given N 50,000. He said the money would be disbursed to the PLWDs at the end of the training workshop organised in collaboration with the Katsina State Government.
According to him, the workshop was aimed to broaden the knowledge of the beneficiaries on the various business enterprises they intended to establish.
Adeyinka said that the training was to assist them to know how they can establish the businesses of their choice.
He said: “We felt there is always ability in disability, that was the reason why we organised the special training for the physically- challenged persons.
“We have already organised the maiden edition of this programme in Lagos, while Katsina State is the second place that we are doing this.
” Fisher stated that the training will help the participants to up-scale their skills.
NAN reports that the theme of the workshop was: “Institutionalised Support for People Living With Disabilities.
Stakeholders call for cNAN) Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have called for collaborative efforts with the view to promoting food security and nutrition in Nigeria via agribusiness.
They made the call on Wednesday in Lagos at the Agribusiness Food Security and Nutrition summit organised by the publishers of a media outfit, MSMEs Today.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the event was organised to deliberate on issues that are aimed at tackling the menace of food insecurity in the country.
The summit’s theme was: “Meeting the Food Security and Nutrition Needs of the Nation through Sustainable Agriculture,” and was attended by policy makers, agriculture experts, farmers associations and the private sector.
Mr Amadi Ihekwumere, the event’s convener, said it was a clarion call to put the issues of agribusiness and food security on the front burner.
He said: “We feel that as a publication we have an obligation to play our own part in terms of how we support what the government, the private sector, and MSMEs are doing on the agriculture front.
sector is supposed to be a sector that should be ranking as high as the oil and gas sector in Nigeria in terms of supporting the economy.
“The sector is pivotal in providing jobs and creating employment, and also being able to attract investment and attract foreign exchange by the export of agro-produce.
“And we feel obligated to create a platform like this, where we will bring stakeholders in government, both policymakers, business leaders, practitioners, and stakeholders who are engaged in diverse value chain aspects of agriculture.
“This is to discuss the issues that are very critical to either the growth or the downward trend of the sector and how to tackle them.
“Therefore, we are here to consider what concerted actions, policies, synergies, and collaborations that we require to bring on board in order that we will be able to actualise our nation’s Food and Nutritional Security Plan in the agric.
sector,” Amadi said.
The Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) Mr Wale Fasoya, said the agency was ready to support all MSMEs in the sector.
Fasoya, represented by the Director, Partnership and Coordination, Dr Friday Okpara, said, “As a government agency, we are extending our hands of fellowship, to all the associations that are here, and all the private sector bodies also.
“As an agency, we support farmers as cooperatives and not individually to bring out their best in food security and productivity.
“SMEDAN understands the importance of agriculture, hence the formation of a full fledged department of agribusiness development and extension services to boost the sector’s productivity.
“So, we appeal to all farmers association to come to SMEDAN for all necessary help and collaboration they may need,” Fasoya said.
Mr Mohammed Adama of accounting firm, KPMG, represented by Mr Akintoye Alawode, saidin his keynote address that the agric.
sector had a lot of untapped potentials.
“There has been a lot of talking about agriculture, but we just never seem to be able to realise the potential.
So we need look at it with the statistics around Nigeria’s agricultural landscape.
“We need to refresh our memories on how much potentials we are sitting on in the agric sector.
And let us also look at some of the challenges that are preventing us from realising these huge potentials.
“There is no doubt in which direction we should go.
Agriculture has to be in the forefront and it is not just emphasising the fact that it has to be in the forefront but there is a lot of urgency to it now.
“We must do something now to ensure food security in the country,” Alawode said.
Dr Ezra YakusaK, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), represented by Mr Samuel Oyeyipo, said NEPC was ready to support the export ambitions of farmers.
“Permit me to inform this gathering that the NEPC has concluded the implementation of Export Expansion Facility Programme (EFP) of the federal government of Nigeria to bring export related businesses back to their feet.
“We also want you to know that the Exporters Expansion Ground (EEG) has been redesigned to serve Nigerian exporters better.
“These steps were taken to create market access for many Nigerian products.
“The council wishes to identify with the vision of this programme and assure it continues to partner with any agency or private sector.
This is especially on issues related to the development and production of agro-exports from Nigeria to all countries of the world,” Yakusak said.
SMEDAN, NAOWA train 50 Army officers’ wives on entrepreneurial skills
SMEDAN trains soldiers’ wives on entrepreneurial skills in Lagos Third The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) in partnership with the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) on Tuesday started a two-day training on capacity building for NAOWA members.
During the programme tagged: Institutional support for NAOWA which was holding at the Military Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos State, SMEDAN promised to give grants to NAOWA members to start their own businesses.
The Director-General (D-G) SMEDAN, Mr Olawale Fasanya, while speaking on the purpose of the workshop said that the training was designed to enhance the capacity of NAOWA members in the state.
“The capacity building workshop is aimed at forging a formidable collaboration that will make a significant impact on the welfare and well-being of members.
“It is to empower wives of our gallant officers both standing and fallen heroes, especially, those at the lowest rung of the ladder.
” He said that the programme would strengthen the capacity and sharpened the skills of members as regards to how they could manage and run their businesses.
“We will help members grow their businesess and those who are not doing anything, we will assist them in starting a business.
“The programme is not only on capacity building, at the end, the wives of the officers will be given some grants to enable them manage their businesses well.
“The training will help create jobs and reduce poverty among our officers’ wives.
” Fasanya was represented by Dr. Friday Okpara, the Director in charge of Partnership and Coordination of the agency.
The National President of NAOWA, Mrs Salamatu Yahaya, in her address urged her members to see the empowerment as a leverage to carve out a niche to becoming successful entrepreneurs and inspirational business women to others.
She said, ” It is a fact that when you empower a woman, you have empowered the whole family.
“The programme is coming at the right time given the challenging situation in our dear country, it will help curb poverty.
“Having appropriate business skills will raise our standard of living and productivity.
” Yahaya was represented by the Acting Chairperson, 81 Division, Lagos State, Mrs Laraban Ben-Onyeuko.
She thanked the D-G of SMEDAN for considering her members worthy beneficiaries of SMEDAN’s Institutional Support Programme for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
In an interview with Onyeuko, she said the programme would assist women in the barracks to be comfortable.
“The training will teach our women how to do businesses and how to improve on them.
“Women are the front burner of every household, we must be doing something to support our husbands.
“We will be empowered with accounting skill and how to turn our one kobo to one naira.
” According to her, in the next few years, women in the barracks will become millionaires.


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Opay and Palmpay have responded to a ban by banks on 32 financial companies, stopping them from transferring funds.
- NIBSS told banks to stop using non-deposit payment services for sending money.
- This decision was made because of worries about these financial firms holding onto customer money.
- 32 financial businesses are involved. Companies like Paga and OPay said they are officially Mobile Money Operators.
Nigeria’s Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) recently told banks to remove non-deposit payment services from the instant payment transfer system.
NIBSS issued this instruction on December 7, 2023, in a notice signed by Ngover Ihyembe-Nwankwo, their executive director.
In the notice, NIBSS said this move is to handle regulatory concerns about financial institutions not allowed to hold customer funds.
But, these financial companies can still receive money.
What financial institutions does the NIBSS order affect? They include Switching Companies, Payment Solution Service Providers, and Super Agents.
NIBSS warned banks that allowing these institutions on their transfer channels goes against Central Bank of Nigeria’s rules from February 2014.
To be clear, these companies can send money to banks but can’t hold customer funds because of their licenses.
Therefore, banks should remove these companies from their transfer systems for sending money out, but not for receiving money.
After the announcement, names like Kuda and Opay were mentioned as being affected.
Companies like Palmpay and PiggyVest were also said to be impacted.
These fintechs have denied these claims in different press releases.
Paga’s CEO Tayo Ovioso said on X that reports claiming Paga was affected by the ban on transfers to PSSPs were incorrect.
Paga, a licensed Mobile Money Operator, can hold deposits, unlike PSSPs.
Paga is not on the affected list.
Opay also told its customers it’s not under this restriction.
In a statement on X, Opay said it’s not impacted by the NIBSS circular. They are a Mobile Money Operator licensed by CBN and insured by NDIC.
Palmpay also asked people to ignore false information about the NIBSS notice.
Here’s a complete list of companies banned from electronic transfers by NIBSS: [List of companies]
Earlier, tucnigeria.org.ng reported that President Bola Tinubu’s aide, Dada Olusegun, said reports about NIBSS planning to delist money transfer banks like Opay and Kuda are false.
On December 7, the aide tweeted that the report is untrue and asked the public not to spread it to avoid panic and harm to businesses.
List of affected companies:
- Xpress payments
- Accelerex Network
- Itex Integrated Services Limited
- Flutterwave Technology Solutions Limited
- Interswitch Limited
- First Apple Limited
- 3Line Card Management Limited
- Paystack Payments Limited
- Team Apt
- Kadick Integration Limited
- Venture Garden Nigeria Limited
- Arca Payments Company Limited
- QR Payments Cyberspace Limited
- Vas2nets Limited
- CrowdForce Microsystems Investment and Development Limited
- Bud Infrastructure Limited
- Capricorn Digital NetApps Technology Limited
- SPay Business
- Yello Digital Financial Services
- Nomba Financial Services Limited
- Woven Finance
- Paysure Technologies Limited
- Leadremit Limited
- Irofit Technologies Limited
- Nip Virtual Bank
- NibssUSSD Payments
Fake news alert:
- Ignore reports claiming NIBSS will delist Opay, Moniepoint, Kuda, etc.
- This is false information and could cause panic and harm businesses.


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This week, Newgen Men, the British Fashion Council and Topshop-sponsored young designer initiative that provides London-based menswear talents with mentorship, financial support, and a platform to showcase their collections, announced its list of recipients for fall/winter 2013. Launched in 2010 under the Newgen umbrella – the women’s division of which has supported the likes of Mary Katrantzou, Christopher Kane, and Jonathan Saunders – Newgen Men has awarded sponsorship to eight up-and-coming talents. Christopher Raeburn, Shaun Samson, Lee Roach, and Sibling have all been awarded catwalk sponsorship. Martine Rose and Matthew Miller have earned presentation sponsorship and Bunney and William Richard Green will show their collections in the exhibition format.
Indeed, Newgen Men has championed a unique group of designers for its FW13 shows, which, running from January 7-9, will mark only the second season for London’s men’s fashion week, formally known as London Collections: Men (in years past, London’s menswear designers showed the day after the women’s ready-to-wear collections wrapped). Raeburn, a Newgen veteran and 2011 British Fashion Award winner, has gained international success with his ethical, British-made designs and garments crafted from re-appropriated military materials. Shaun Samson impressed when he showed his new-age grunge looks during last season’s Men show, a joint effort between Fashion East and Topshop. And Sibling, a quirky London favorite designed by Sid Bryan, Joe Bates, and Cozette McCreery, has garnered a cult following with their tongue-in-cheek men’s knits (think panda sweaters with matching fur-topped masks, fair isle jackets and gilded jumpsuits). Lee Roach brings a clean, minimal aesthetic to the mix and Matthew Miller has, in the past, shown smart, English tailoring mixed with punchy prints. “Each of these names brings a very distinct aesthetic to mind, all radically different,” said Style.com’s Tim Blanks, who serves on the British Fashion Council’s Menswear committee, in a press release. “But if I had to tease out a common thread, I’d say it was unconventionality. I know the very idea is a London cliché, but when you see the fully realized way that Newgen’s winners challenge the ordinary, the cliché becomes something impressively intelligent and vital.”
Last London men’s week was an interesting one. There’s unique balance between the city’s historic Savile Row tailoring and its vibrant, often rebellious young designers. However, one must question how London’s men’s week (which actually lasts three days) will fit into the international fashion schedule. In the past few years, the pre-fall and resort seasons, both of which were once afterthoughts shown to editors in intimate salon presentations or press appointments, have gained momentum. These transitional seasons have proven to be big moneymakers for brands and are now an essential part of the fashion schedule — both from a market and fashion-show standpoint. But with many editors now having to attend resort and pre-fall shows, as well as the bi-annual men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections and couture, the schedule is getting a little manic, to say the least. So one must wonder if London’s second men’s week, which will come just after pre-fall and before Milan’s men’s shows and Paris Haute Couture, will be able to attract international editors and hold its own. With any luck, menswear editors and buyers will rise to the challenge, as London’s talent pool is an exciting one. But it will certainly have to fight for its place on the over-stuffed fashion calendar.