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Hutchison Ports commences a port expansion project in Karachi Port, Pakistan with US$240 million, thus bringing total investment in the country to US$1 billion.
Eric Ip, Group Managing Director of Hutchison Ports confirmed the commencement of construction of the second phase of Pakistan Deep Water Container Port project to achieve a handling capacity of 3.2 million TEU upon completion.
With this new investment, Ip added that Hutchison Ports’ total investment in Pakistan will reach US$1 billion, providing direct employment to over 3,000 staff and supporting thousands working in the ports and shipping sector. The terminals contribute over US$96 million annually to the government in the form of taxes and concession fees.
Ip also highlighted the technologies and industrial best practices that Hutchison Ports has introduced to the country.
- Establishment of a Regional Operations Centre to provide ship planning function for Hutchison Ports’ operations in the Far East.
- Deployment of technologies such as remote-controlled ship-to-shore cranes and semi-automated yard cranes.
Ip reiterated Hutchison Ports’ commitment to Pakistan. It has been playing a pivotal role in facilitating the economic growth of the country, as well as supporting the development of Karachi Port into a major hub for trade and transport in Asia.
Hutchison Ports is the port and related services division of CK Hutchison. It is the world’s leading port investor, developer and operator with a network of port operations in 52 ports spanning 27 countries throughout Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australasia.
Recently, the company achieved a cumulative global throughput of 1.3 billion TEU, the world’s first operator to have achieved such a milestone.


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Varanasi, Oct 22 (KNN) The 26th India Carpet Expo which showcased work from different parts of the country concluded here yesterday, generating business worth over Rs 550 crore.
Around 308 Exhibitors from different parts of the country participated in this export oriented fair where 300 buyers from 57 countries registered their attendance, said a report.
Organised by the Carpet Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC), the fair held at Varanasi’s Sampurnanand Sanskrit University generated business worth over Rs 500 to Rs 550 crore.
According to CEPC Chairman Siddh Nath Singh, the event was beneficial to medium and small exporters who cannot afford to display their products in overseas exhibitions.
It also displayed the capability of India in producing and supplying quality products on time.
The four day long event which is considered to be one of the largest Handmade Carpet Trade Fairs in the world was held from October-18 to 21.

domain: news


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Lost Reavers maintenance scheduled for next week
Posted on 3 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Nintendo has announced that there will be maintenance occurring next week on all online services for Lost Reavers. The downtime for the game will be as follows:
-9PM PST to 11PM PST (June 29th)
-12AM EST to 2AM EST (June 29th)
-5AM to 7AM in the UK (June 29th)
-6AM to 8AM in Europe (June 29th)
Disney Magical World 2 coming to Europe October 14th
Posted on 3 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS, News | 1 Comment
After the news yesterday that Disney Magical World 2 was headed to Australia there were many questions about a European version of the game. Nintendo has announced that Disney Magical World 2 will be heading to Europe this fall and it will be launching on the same day as in North America: October 14th.
Below is the tweet from Nintendo of Europe making the announcement:
— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) June 22, 2016
New commercials and promo video for Story of Seasons: Good Friends of Three Villages
Posted on 3 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS, Videos | 0 comments
Today, Marvelous revealed 2 new TV commercials in preparation for the upcoming launch of Story of Seasons: Good Friends of Three Villages. The 2 commercials each include elements from the game but are only 15 seconds long. In addition to the commercials, Marvelous also released a longer promotional video that contains some gameplay footage.
Story of Seasons: Good Friends of Three Villages launches 23 June in Japan with no current plans of a Western release. Here are the commercials and promo video:
Finally, here’s the promo video:
Pokemon Sun & Moon new information coming June 2nd
Posted on 3 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS, News | 29 Comments
Update (5/20): Timing of the next update has been announced. News will be shared at the following times:
– 6 AM PT
– 9 AM ET
– 2 PM in the UK
– 3 PM in Europe
Original (5/18): Excitement has been growing within the community of Pokemon fans after the first trailer for Pokemon Sun & Moon was released earlier this month, showing footage of the three new starter Pokemon available in the upcoming games.
The news for the games will continue as today the Japanese Pokemon Twitter has confirmed that brand new information about Sun & Moon will be released on June 2nd 2016. There are no hints yet about what this information might be but fans can be happy knowing that the wait for more news will not be too much longer.
More Puzzle & Dragons X gameplay footage released
Posted on 3 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS, News, Videos | 0 comments
This morning CoroCoro magazine released 2 new gameplay videos for Puzzle & Dragons X. This adds to the videos they released on the upcoming game just a few days ago. The two new videos which you can find below showcase some different gameplay and give more insight as to what the game will be like when it releases in Japan on July 28, 2016.
The first video shows some enemies catching up to the player and then a battle with them. In addition, there is also a boss battle shown in the video. The second video contains gameplay showcasing the towns and environment of the game. It walks through towns, shops, and other facilities such as a library. Check out the videos below:
Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice heads to Europe on September 30
Posted on 3 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS, News | 0 comments
Earlier this month it was announced that Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice would release September 27 in North America. Up until now European fans have been in the dark about when they would receive this newest offering from everyone’s favourite hedgehog.
Today Nintendo announced that the release date for Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice in Europe is September 30.
— Nintendo UK (@NintendoUK) March 30, 2016
Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow information (Europe)
Posted on 4 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS eShop, News | 6 Comments
Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are releasing on the 3DS virtual console later this month and their respective pages have finally gone live in the European and North American eShop.
The pricing details for Europe have been revealed through this. There is now confirmation that the price of the games in Europe will be £8.99/€9.99.
Also revealed are the language options for the games. English, French, and Spanish are the options in North America. The options in Europe are English, French, Spanish, German and Italian.
Update: Xenoblade X maintenance – Splatoon maintenance scheduled for tonight
Posted on 4 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Update: Maintenance for Xenoblade Chronicles X is also planned. It will take place during the following times:
– 5:30 PM PT – 7:30 PM PT
– 8:30 PM ET – 10:30 PM ET
– 1:30 AM in the UK – 3:30 AM in the UK
– 2:30 AM in Europe – 4:30 AM in Europe
Nintendo announced that the Splatoon online servers will be down for some maintenance tonight (tomorrow morning in Europe and Japan). All online services will be affected and the maintenance schedule is as follows:
– 5 PM PT – 7 PM PT
– 8 PM ET – 10 PM ET
– 1 AM in the UK – 3 AM in the UK
– 2 AM in Europe – 4 AM in Europe
Pokemon GO new information
Posted on 4 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in Mobile, News | 16 Comments
Recently it was revealed that there will be a Pokemon GO panel at this year’s Game Developers Conference in March. The panel is scheduled as follows:
- Europe: 12AM (March 15th)
- UK: 11PM (March 14th)
- North America (ET): 6PM (March 14th)
- North America (PT): 3PM (March 14th)
- Japan: 8AM (March 15th)
However despite this upcoming panel, some of the new details about the game have been released through Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper which published an interview with Pokemon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara. Ishihara shared that Pokémon GO would first launch in Japan, Europe, and North America, and then South America, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East at a later date. In addition to this, he revealed that the Pokemon Company is working on another large project besides Pokemon GO but did not share the platform it was for.
Nintendo Network maintenance schedule for next week
Posted on 4 years ago by Matthew(@matthewburr) in 3DS, News, Wii U | 2 Comments
Nintendo has announced the schedule for Nintendo Network maintenance happening next week. At some poor both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS online services will be affected. There will be two maintenance periods.
The first period will affect online play and leaderboards for both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. The schedule is:
– 9 PM PT (Monday) – 12 AM PT (Tuesday)
– 12 AM ET (Tuesday) – 3 AM ET (Tuesday)
– 5 AM in the UK (Tuesday) – 8 AM in the UK (Tuesday)
– 6 AM in Europe (Tuesday) – 9 AM in Europe (Tuesday)
The second maintenance period will affect online services for the Nintendo 3DS and the schedule is:
– 1 PM PT (Monday) – 6 PM PT (Monday)
– 4 PM ET (Monday) – 9 PM ET (Monday)
– 9 PM in the UK (Monday) – 2 AM in the UK
– 10 PM in Europe (Monday) – 3 AM in Europe


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HP’s Project Moonshot Aims to Increase Efficiency in Servers
In its never-ending quest to build green IT and power efficient servers, HP is using Calxeda EnergyCore ARM Cortex CPUs in its new server line. The Calxeda technology is specifically designed for “emerging extreme low-energy” needs, so what does that mean for the future of servers? I have a few ideas …
HP has dubbed its new server line HP Redstone Server Development Platform, and the company plans to use ARM CPUs and Intel Atom CPUS “as well as others,” according to HP. I’m not entirely sure what other kind of mobile CPUs HP could be using (perhaps AMD’s APUs?) but it’s clear HP is openly building something experimental. HP admitted it’s “proof of concept,” but so far it’s incredibly impressive — HP has shoved more than 2,800 of these little servers into a single rack, which boasts a “97 percent reduction in complexity.”
The HP Redstone Server project, which will be available to select customers only in the first half of 2012, is part of HP’s Project Moonshot, which is a …
multiyear, multi-phased program that builds on HP’s experience powering the world’s largest cloud infrastructures and 10 years of extensive low-energy computing infrastructure research from HP Labs, the company’s central research arm.
But we need to think bigger than tiny servers. Server farms based on this kind of technology have the potential to shake up the entire high-tech server industry, especially the SMB. Right now, mobile CPUs are becoming increasingly impressive — just look at the A5 CPU on the iPad or the Nvidia Tegra 2 dual-core chips inside Android tablets. These ARM CPUs are playing HD 3D video games and multitasking, and they do it with minimal energy or space usage — and they’re relatively cheap.
If HP’s trend catches on, data centers could literally become data closets again. Right now, HP’s implementation of ARM CPUs don’t seem to be modular, but in a short time, servers could slide in and out like traditional blade servers, but they’d be the size and shape and size of an iPhone or iPad instead of a pizza box. Such an advancement would cut down on not just energy, but also materials and, potentially, downtime, which could make everything cheaper. Backup servers could be as easy to store as a stack of DVDs.
HP’s move to mobile CPU servers is wrought by its desire to go green and reduce complexity, but I also see it as a confirmation that consumierzation of IT is affecting more than just the way we access our data and work. It’s affecting the way we think about building complex things. Maybe in 2030, we’ll all have a little data closet of our own, with 2,800 servers humming away.
What really remains to be seen is performance. HP hasn’t benchmarked it yet, but it has plans for lab testing in January 2012. Whether these racks perform best as file servers, firewalls, NAS or virtualization clusters remains to be seen. But make no mistake, this is definitely the start of something very cool and very new.


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Government borrows 58% of target despite 74% more direct tax collections
While at the weekly auction of government securities earlier in the day on Friday, it mopped up Rs 31,000 crore in long-term and short-term debt at an average price of 6.15 per cent, later in the day, the revenue department said the net personal income tax and corporate tax collection jumped a full 74 per cent to Rs 5.70 lakh crore so far this fiscal, driven mainly by advance tax and TDS payments.
GST Council's clarifications could spell relief for companies
GST Council has issued two clarifications that would provide relief to companie...
GST Council: No GST on petrol, diesel yet, compensation cess till 2026
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman highlighted that the cess collecte...
Centre to present options to states for meeting compensation shortfall at GST Council meeting
The GST compensation is calculated as per the formula provided in the Compensation Act and is released on a bi-monthly basis. However, due to the pandemic, states’ revenues and amounts coming from compensation cess have taken a hit, while compensation due from the Centre has increased.
New Excise Policy: High Court seeks response from Delhi government
Senior counsel Darpan Wadhwa, representing the petitioner, said that the new Excise Policy introduced home delivery of liquor which may impact the business of retail vendors.
Papad, irrespective of shape, is exempt from GST, says Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs
"Papad, by whatever name known, is exempt from GST vide Entry No. 96 of GST notification No.2/2017-CT(R). This entry does not distinguish based on the shape of papad. This notification is available at cbic.gov.in," the CBIC said in a late night tweet, which quoted Goenka's tweet.
After almost 13 days of blockade, trucks have started moving to Mizoram
Following economic blockade clamped by some organisations after July 26 violent clashes which killed seven persons and injured over 70, movement of trucks was stopped leading to shortage of essential commodities and medicines in Mizoram.
GST rate structure rationalisation on govt's agenda, definitely going to happen: CEA Subramanian
"The GST, the way it got created with actually five rates was basically excellent because now we are seeing the impact on GST's amounts that are coming in...the policymakers then must be given credit for actually being practical enough to say, let's get it going first," he said at a virtual event organised by industry body Assocham.
Government collects Rs 1.01 lakh crore from excise, Rs 2.41 lakh crore from income tax in Q1
Giving details of direct tax collection, Chaudhary said in the first three months (April-June) of the current fiscal year, nearly Rs 1.21 lakh crore and over Rs 1.20 lakh crore was collected as corporate tax and personal income tax (PIT) , respectively.
RBI should not print money to finance fiscal deficit: Pinaki Chakraborty
In an interview with PTI, Chakraborty -- the director of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) -- said that high inflation is certainly a concern and there is a need to stabilise inflation to a level which is manageable.
Centre taking up reforms despite pandemic: Nirmala Sitharaman
"The sum and substance of what began in March 2020 with Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PM-GKAY) has again been extended from this March till November, and the Central government has been very proactive in responding to the challenges (caused by COVID-19)," Sitharaman said.
A Deloitte Partner explains how GST impacted manufacturers, service providers differently
"Whatever complexity arises, it is from the fact that the entire compliance process in GST is a digitised process. There are no manual processes. When you have a digitised process, it is very convenient to certain sets of people and very inconvenient for certain other sets. It's the latter category that's finding compliance difficult."
CBIC to honour taxpayers' contribution to GST success
“On the eve of completion of 4 years of the GST, it has been decided to honour the tax payers who have been a part of the GST success story… this step marks the first effort by the government to directly communicate to the GST taxpayers for their contribution,” the Board said in a statement Wednesday.
Hike in fuel prices due to excise duty imposed by Centre, says Sitaram Yechury
Speaking to ANI, Yechury said that when international prices were much higher, the prices domestically were much lower.
Chances of any further excise duty cuts remain minimal: Upasna Bhardwaj, Kotak Mahindra Bank
"The import-side inflation is continuously hammering, which is more reflected in the WPI for now. But we are seeing some pass through in CPI as well."
Central govt's tax collection on petrol, diesel jumps 300% in six years
Central government's tax collections on petrol and diesel have jumped over 300 per cent in the last six years as excise duty on the two fuels was hiked, the Lok Sabha was informed on Monday.
View: How Modi government can tame the skyrocketing fuel prices
Despite the bold indirect tax reform of 2017, no consensus has been reached yet on including petrol and diesel within the goods and services tax’s (GST) ambit. Until fuel is included in GST, it will continue to suffer from double taxation, leading to a burden on consumers and the wider economy.
Congress slams govt over rise in fuel prices, demands rollback of central excise duty hike
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi attacked the Centre over the rise in fuel prices, saying people are suffering due to inflation while the Modi government is busy in tax collection.
View: Arrests for alleged tax evasion isn't a joke, time taxman gets a new textbook
Given the fact that arrest under tax laws has become a fairly regular affair, it is necessary that GoI comes out with detailed guidelines on situations where arrests can be resorted to. Such a safeguard is necessary, so that the honest taxpayers do not end up worrying whenever there is a knock on the door.


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AT least 83 percent of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) surveyed in the Philippines said they are confident in their industry prospects for the next 12 months, according to the Philippine CEO Survey 2023 conducted by PwC Philippines in collaboration with the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP).
Based on the survey, 83 percent of the 157 CEOs who answered the online survey expressed optimism about their industry prospects for 2023.
However, businesses face threats from inflation, macroeconomic instability, cyber risks, and supply chain constraints.
The survey had 39 percent of the CEOs saying they believe their company will be highly exposed to the threat of inflation in the next 12 months; 35 percent said they will be highly exposed to supply chain constraints;
and 31 percent said they will be highly exposed to macroeconomic volatility.
Moving forward, businesses have their respective strategies to mitigate potential economic challenges and volatility in 2023.
For one, 42 percent of the CEOs said their companies are considering raising prices of products and services in the next 12 months; 39 percent intend to diversify their product/service offering; while 28 percent plan to reduce operating costs.
Currently, 54 percent of the CEOs are already reducing operating costs to cushion the impact of potential economic challenges and 49 percent are already diversifying their products/service offering.
Despite these potential economic threats, 79 percent of the CEOs expressed confidence that their company will experience revenue growth in the next 12 months, while 87 percent said they are confident their company will experience revenue growth in the next three years.
Key growth drivers
Meanwhile, the CEOs said that infrastructure development, domestic consumption, and the (business process outsourcing) BPO and services sector will be the “key growth drivers” of the Philippine economy in the next 12 months.
The survey showed that 59 percent of the CEOs said infrastructure development will be a key growth driver; 59 percent said domestic consumption would spur the country’s economic growth; while 38 percent said the BPO and services sector would drive the Philippine economy.
The executives were asked to evaluate the Philippine government, and 64 percent of the CEOs said the government is forging stronger relationships with other nations; 62 percent said the government is performing well in the area of infrastructure development and 46 percent said it is
performing well in promoting foreign investment.
In contrast, only 3 percent of the CEOs said the government performs well in fighting corruption; only 19 percent said the government is doing well in managing interest rates; only 31 percent said the government is doing well in terms of managing inflation; and only 34 percent agreed that the government is doing well in promoting trade.
In a statement on Monday, MAP and PwC said that although the CEOs believe that the government’s performance in infrastructure development, forging stronger relationships with other nations, and promoting foreign investments have been satisfactory so far, there is still “room for improvement.”
The CEOs suggest that the government prioritize improving the ease of doing business in the Philippines and enhancing technology and infrastructure across the country to further boost collaborations with other countries.
“The government’s support is crucial in ensuring that businesses continue to thrive amid the challenges. We need to work together towards a more favorable business environment that fosters innovation and growth,” said Roderick M. Danao, Chairman and Senior Partner of Isla Lipana & Co./PwC Philippines.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes


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The internet has proven to be the gateway for a whole host of exciting technological innovations in the past couple of decades, with the online world opening up a range of possibilities.
It has transformed how we do so many things; from working and playing games, to shopping and even interacting with each other. In terms of the latter, video conferencing tools have become hugely important and their prominence is expected to grow even further in the years ahead.
In rude health
The video conferencing market is in rude health at the moment, with research published by Insight Partners detailing how it was valued at $5,970.3 million in 2019. However, it is anticipated that the sector will expand significantly in the next few years, with its total value reaching $12,005.7 million by 2027.
The report explained how the rising number of small and medium-sized businesses in both developed and developing countries may have played a role in such trends, with many of the firms establishing several offices as they look to expand. As such, the businesses are seeking to use video conferencing technology in order to bring teams from different regions together.
UC Today recently reported on research by Vyopta, which revealed that 68 percent of businesses now intend to hold their future meetings over video all of the time, or plan to at least offer it as an option to participants. Some respondents added that the technology was vital for one-to-one service, while others said it was useful for team collaboration.
A natural progression
But just how have we reached the point where video conferencing has become so prominent? The idea of making conference calls using phones has been around for years, so it could be said that using video services to do the same is simply a natural progression.
Furthermore, it has been made possible through the major strides seen in both internet connectivity and live streaming technology in recent years. The latter has been embraced by a range of industries and used in many ways, with a number of music artists for instance using it to showcase performances online. As an example, K-Pop group BTS recently held a live-streamed event which, according to Music Business Worldwide, attracted almost one million viewers. Online casino brands like Betway offer games including roulette and blackjack in this format, for example. Through such services, participants can interact with dealers via a high definition video link. The gaming world has also fully embraced live streaming as well, with platforms like Twitch giving people the chance to interact and watch each other play the latest titles.
Considering the impact that streaming has had in the entertainment world, it perhaps makes sense that business has embraced it too. New innovations related to the technology are emerging all the time as well, with Google Meet for example offering AI-related services that can cancel out background noise within chats.
A future in politics?
However, while video conferencing technology may have evolved significantly and been actively embraced by many businesses, could it be used in other areas? For instance, could it be a viable option for remote summits or meetings between senior officials in the political world?
If reports are to be believed, the technology is already having an impact in that regard. For instance, earlier this month, The Hindustan Times revealed that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese president Xi Jinping, were set to meet virtually on a video conference being held in the middle of November. Elsewhere, British politics has embraced the technology in recent weeks, as the BBC detailed how conferences held by the leading parties have been replaced by events and speeches over systems such as Zoom.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has also been making use of the technology in recent weeks, with the TASS news agency in the country revealing how he held a video conference with the leader of Moldova.
Of course, the fact that many different areas are embracing video conferencing does beg one key question – could the technology ultimately have a positive impact in terms of the environment?

CO2 in the atmosphere just exceeded 415 parts per million for the first time in human history >> https://t.co/UPLp69NPtL See how much CO2 can be saved by replacing just one traveling business meeting with a Zoom meeting [Blog Post w/ #Infographic] https://t.co/zy0ktBoi3Z
— Zoom (@zoom_us) May 13, 2019

Zoom examined this issue last year and provided some estimates around how the technology might impact on an organisation’s carbon footprint. It suggested that a round trip from San Francisco to New York to meet a customer in-person might generate 1,515 lbs of carbon dioxide, with that including issues like air travel, taxi rides, a hotel stay, and eating out. In contrast, a journey to a local office for a virtual meeting was estimated to generate just 9 lbs of carbon dioxide in total.
It was predicted that it would take 32 trees one year to offset the carbon dioxide from the in-person meeting, while one tree would need just two months to offset the emissions generated by the virtual event.
Here to stay
At this point, it looks like video conferencing is well and truly here to stay and – if Zoom’s own research is to be believed – that may not be a bad thing from an environmental perspective.
The technology is having a transformative impact on many areas and appears to offer some significant green benefits as well. It will be fascinating to see if the market does go on to reach the heights predicted and also how sectors continue to embrace it in the months ahead.


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PURCHASE, NY – PepsiCo's proposed acquisition of its two largest anchor bottlers, The Pepsi Bottling Group (PBG) and PepsiAmericas (PAS), may bump up its fleet size to make it the largest beverage fleet in the U.S. Coca-Cola Enterprises currently tops the fleet segment at 28,038 vehicles, based on Automotive Fleet's Top 300 Commercial Fleets listing.
With the combined total of PBG and PAS' fleet numbering more than 15,000, PepsiCo's fleet would slide into the top spot (based on size) at approximately 35,165 vehicles (20,165 currently).
Though Interstate Brands Corp. comes in third in the food & beverage company fleets, it falls much farther behind at 8,638 vehicles.
Upon acquiring the outstanding shares of the two bottlers, PepsiCo would handle distribution of about 80 percent of its total North American beverage volume, including both its direct-store-delivery and warehouse systems, according to an April 20th statement released by the company.
"Consolidating the bottling businesses with our franchise company would create many benefits," said PepsiCo Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Indra Nooyi. "We could unlock significant cost synergies, improve the speed of decision making, and increase our strategic flexibility. We would be able to present a more unified face to our retail and food service customers, which would better position us to provide customized solutions, as we do at Frito-Lay, and to take to a new level our 'Power of One' program of bundled food and beverage offerings."
The Pepsi Bottling Group is based in Somers, N.Y., while PepsiAmericas is located in Minneapolis.
More information about the proposal is available at www.transactioninfo.com/pepsico.


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Despite the recession Eastern ports are seeing a steady rise in the amount of cargo container shipping traffic. Charles Moorman, CEO of Norfolk Rail said the use of freight is estimated to increase by 80 percent by 2025. Does this make you hopeful for Maine’s ports?
“If our businesses are going to be able to compete and get their goods to market they can’t continue to put them on big rigs and transport them on the roads because it costs too much. They need other options available to them; rail, ports and airports. I think we are going to get a balanced transportation presentation with rail and our ports being a big part of it. I’m excited about this administrations initiatives and what we are doing here in the state of Maine.
“Cargo container business has increased, and will continue to, even if the economy is flat. Businesses are shipping more because of the cost of transporting their goods using diesel or gas is higher than shipping. Passing transportation costs on to consumers is not a good business practice. Consumers pay for value. Businesses understand their predicament and are realigning by shipping their goods because it is more efficient. Portland, Eastport and Searsport can be major players. There is a bond issue to help improve these ports come November.
“Maine is the doorstep to North America. You have to come in and out of Maine’s corridors in order to get into North America from Europe. And Europe is the in-between stop to Asia. That puts us on the front line for import and export opportunities.
"If you look at the map of Maine with 17,000 million acres of forestlands, there are three major veins running through the state. The first is Downeast – Northern Maine that the port of Eastport serves. The second is Millinocket–Katahdin region that Searsport will serve, and the third is Portland and Southern Maine, which has Portland’s cargo port.
“We have a three-port strategy based upon these veins of economic development and traffic. The more we can help facilitate that three port strategy the more we can help businesses who can then employ more people.
"It will go a long way to help our pulp and paper companies, which are diversifying producing biofuels. They remain a major manufacturing base in the state.
“Once the three-port strategy is in place, traffic generates traffic, more business opportunities and economic development will follow.”
What’s is the update on the Downeaster?
“I was really pleased that the Congress nearly doubled the appropriation for rail. The original four billion was closer to eight billion. We don’t have a national rail policy, let alone a regional policy. We, in Maine, want to do more.
We have a plan before the Department of Transportation to expand the Downeaster to Brunswick, with a stop in Freeport. Then we have a connection on the Eastern Railroad to go on to Rockland. We have proposals to connect our ports in Searsport with rail, and Eastport with rail.”


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This article is more than 1 year old
Sacré bleu! Apple, Nokia, Samsung et al end their three-year sulk over 'home taping' tax
Big names decide they DO want a say in copying levies
Three years after stomping out, big tech manufacturers have returned to talk to the French government about private copying levies.
In France, an official working group, La Commission de la Copie Privée, sets the rules on which products will have copying levies slapped on them. Manufacturers and importers also had seats at the table – presumably arguing against levies on their own products – but walked out in protest in late 2012 over "repeated abuses" and a succession of "decisions leading to continuously increasing prices of electronic devices for consumers."
Levies are tariffs imposed by national authorities on goods typically used for copying, such as blank media, recording equipment, and scanners. The money collected is used to compensate rights holders that lose earnings when copies are made without their authorization. But French consumers already pay much more than their neighbors... in some cases seven times as much.
It appears that the manufacturers – which include Apple, Ericsson, Sony, Nokia, LG, Dell, Intel, Lenovo, Acer, Brother, HP, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and Xerox – feel there is more to be gained by being back on the inside.
In an official statement, Digital Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron and Fleur Pellerin, Communications Minister welcomed five professional organizations, AFNUM, FEVAD, SECIMAVI, SFIB, and FFT – who count all the companies listed among their members – back into the fold.
The ministerial pair said it was a positive sign and that the "goodwill of all stakeholders" will allow the commission to move forward with its work. Each of the organizations has a vote on decisions – AFNUM, the Alliance Française des Industries du Numérique, has two due to its size – but are not always unanimous in their opinions. FEVAD represents e-commerce and distance selling, FTT is the French Federation of Telecoms, SECIMAVI is the union of consumer electronics, and SFIB speaks for the IT industry. Nonetheless, for most of the groups involved, expecting them to approve increased levies is like expecting turkeys to vote for Christmas. ®


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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) recently published a report demonstrating that 42 companies at over 750 locations have installed more than 320 megawatts of photovoltaic electrical capacity.
This marks a shift in the solar sector, with major domestic companies bringing on solar power to cut costs. The top 20 companies account for almost 280,000 kilowatts of solar power generating capacity, or about $47 million in electricity annually, with over 1.2 million solar panels.
It also means many hundreds of millions of dollars in utility bill reductions for these businesses. The total installed capacity can power around 50,000 households.
Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Costco (NASDAQ: COST), for example, have more rooftop solar capacity installed than the whole state of Florida. What’s interesting is that this isn’t just a trend; rather, it is a cost-effective measure that also provides some insurance against blackouts.
Walmart’s 144 solar systems provide a capacity of 65,000 kW. Back in September, it installed a 3.3 MW project in Buckeye, Ariz.
Costco has around 62 systems offering 38,900 kW spread across five states; Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) has 124 systems generating 36,474 kW.
Kohl’s has been using 100 percent renewable energy to meet power needs for the past several years. It hopes to have 200 solar systems on retail rooftops by 2015.
IKEA also showcases solar power in roughly 80 percent of its U.S. stores, with around 21,495 kW in capacity. And, unlike Kohl’s, IKEA is not bothering to purchase renewable energy credits in its ‘green’ effort; they’re just doing the real thing.
The top ten companies are:
Walmart (NYSE: WMT)
Costco (NASDAQ: COST)
Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS)
Macy’s (NYSE: M)
McGraw Hill (NYSE: MHP)
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)
Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS)
Campbell’s Soup (NYSE: CPB)
Walgreens (NYSE: WAG)
The full report can be found here.


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FacePhi is looking to increase its business activity in its home country thanks to a new partnership with NewThink.
The latter is a consultancy and systems integrator focused on helping companies with their digital transformations. And its work covers a number of technological areas, including app development, analytics, AI assistants, and digital identity management.
The firm also has “extensive knowledge of biometrics”, according to FacePhi CRO Jorge Sanz. Commenting in a statement, Sanz explained that for FacePhi, the partnership “represents an important opportunity to incorporate our technology within the extensive portfolio of clients that NewThink boasts.”
Sanz added that the partnership will help FacePhi to “reinforce [its] position on a national level” in areas including travel, transportation, and finance, among others.
As a pioneer in the selfie-based onboarding boom – and a vendor of a wide range of additional biometric solutions – FacePhi is already one of Spain’s most prominent tech firms. The identity specialist was designated as a strategically important company by the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Tourism last month, enabling it to offer special visas to Highly Qualified Professionals from outside of the country.
For NewThink, meanwhile, the partnership will allow it to enhance its identity verification offerings for the companies it works with.
“NewThink is proud to work with the most advanced technology for user identity verification, and to contribute to promoting the digitisation process in different business sectors,” commented NewThink co-founder and CEO José Vicente Hernández.
News of the partnership comes shortly after FacePhi’s announcement that it will be participating in a government-led initiative to assess the potential benefits of a four-day workweek in the new year.
December 22, 2021 – by Alex Perala


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Cadbury Schweppes, the world's biggest confectionery maker, signed an agreement yesterday with Vietnam's leading food maker Kinh Do, giving it access to the company's extensive distribution network.
Vietnam's confectionery market is seeing double-digit growth but Cadbury has not yet had a share of the rising sales.
Kinh Do, which started life as a snacks producer and now offers a wide range of candies, cakes, baked goods, and even ice-cream, is the clear market leader however, and will give the multinational nationwide exposure.
In turn, Kinh Do says it is looking forward to learning from the multinational's marketing experience, and potentially gaining access to its international markets although Cadbury told AP-Foodtechnology.com that it has no plans to share its international sales network, despite suggestions made by the local media.
But Kinh Do has repeatedly stated its ambitions to expand overseas. It has previously joined up with PepsiCo to run joint promotional campaigns and mutual distribution of products and also owns the Walls ice-cream brand since 2003.
Tran Kim Thanh, chairman of Kinh Do, said that the cooperation with Cadbury was an opportunity to "create new products for our customers…and may give future access to foreign markets".
Thanh added that the Vietnamese firm needed to prepare for greater competition ahead of Vietnam's access to the World Trade Organisation.
For Cadbury, distribution of its confectionery products will start immediately, although it did not reveal which of its brands will be launched in Vietnam. The firm already claims a world share of around 10 per cent of the global confectionery market with brands like Dairy Milk, Halls, Trident, Clorets, Bassetts and Trebor.
"Any Cadbury products would instantly be attainable nationwide once they get access to Kinh Do's comprehensive network," said Denise Mullett from market research firm Customer Insights.
She added however that there is very low chocolate consumption in Vietnam and hard candies are more popular.
Kinh Do is one of few successful local food brands. The company reported a 22 per cent rise in net profit in 2005 to VND91.1 billion (€4.5m).


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After the tremendous success and multiple bagged awards with its prominent presence at this year’s ISE2022, Infocomm Vegas 2022, and Infocomm India 2022, WyreStorm is exhibiting in yet another important show, Gitex 2022, the Middle East’s premier technology gathering, which promises to be even bigger and better than ever.
Wyrestorm at GITEX 2022
WyreStorm Technologies, an Award-Winning Audio Visual Solutions Manufacturer, will join with its regional representative, Innovation Platform Solutions L.L.C (IPS), in Dubai, the technology hub of the Middle East, to showcase its latest solutions and technologies at GITEX 2022 at booth H6-8 in DWTC.
Innovation Platform Solutions L.L.C is a leading added value audiovisual distributor covering GCC and Egypt through offices in 4 different countries, specialized in supplying the latest technologies covering the Middle East and North Africa regions and offering readily available stock in an array of technologies, as well as training, and qualification.
”Smart and innovative solutions in the field of AV and ICT is our model and when it comes to design, our technically trained, highly motivated, and long-experienced team guarantees to provide up-to-date, cost-effective design and specification services based on the customer’s best interest.” Says Mohammed Abu Zainah, IPS Managing Director. “Our wealth as a value-added distributor to WyreStorm is to bring a lot of support benefit to our clients and channel partners, including providing our technical expertise in solutions designs and consultation, in addition, we offer local warranty and support for all our products.” concludes Abu Zainah.
“We are thrilled to be part of one of the largest technology gatherings for this year, and excited to showcase our technologies in terms of AV Signal Distribution and Unified Communications. WyreStorm is proving itself to be a big player in the AV Manufacturing field, and its local and steady growing presence in the Middle East & Africa is asserted with national representation and continuous support around the region.” explains Hatem Bitar, WyreStorm’s Regional Sales Manager.
The Gulf Information Technology Exhibition, or GITEX Global, takes place in the Dubai World Trade Center annually, with the promise of exciting tech opportunities and delivery of some of the most revolutionary products and services to transform the digital landscape. The purpose of this event is to bring together some of the most influential companies and groundbreaking technologies under one roof and identify emerging opportunities and latest products.
This year, the event promises to be jam-packed, attended by more than 250,000 people from over 140 countries, the event brings together many of the sector’s brightest minds and greatest innovators to discuss the state of the space, showcase new products and identify emerging opportunities.
Visit https://gitex.com/ for more information.


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What is Bitcoin Cash and why should you care about it?
Bitcoin Cash may be a newcomer in the cryptocurrency scene, but it is already one of the most important players in this market. It is now valued at over $12 billion, only trailing Bitcoin and Ethereum by market cap, which is impressive if you consider that it was only created on August 1. But, how did we end up here?
Bitcoin Cash arrives as a result of disagreements in the Bitcoin scene regarding the direction of the oldest cryptocurrency. Most backers supported an in-place upgrade (soft fork) of Bitcoin to improve scaling issues, while a faction argued that the proposed solutions did not go far enough to address their concerns, which is why it decided to go the nuclear route on August 1, hard forking Bitcoin and introducing Bitcoin Cash in the process.
The group behind Bitcoin Cash had a very interesting approach to the hard fork, as it decided to keep the transaction history of Bitcoin intact in its new implementation. The result? Everyone who had Bitcoin at the time of the hard fork received the same amount in Bitcoin Cash automatically -- for free.
More exactly, if you had 10 Bitcoin when the hard fork took place on August 1 you would end up with 10 Bitcoin and 10 Bitcoin Cash afterwards. The Bitcoin Cash amount may not be visible to everyone, depending on exchange or wallet support for the new cryptocurrency, but the coins were allocated to Bitcoin owners.
Basically, for every Bitcoin that existed on August 1, an equal amount of Bitcoin Cash was created by the hard fork. That number now stands at around 16.48 million. At a value of around $730 per Bitcoin Cash, we have a market cap of around $12 billion. That is how Bitcoin Cash finds itself on the cryptocurrency podium.
How is Bitcoin Cash different?
Basically, Bitcoin Cash comes with a much larger block size, of 8MB, which allows more transactions to be processed at a time. Bitcoin's block size is currently 1MB, which is highly restrictive now that it has become so popular, so speedy transactions tend to be expensive to perform as a result.
And the direction of Bitcoin is unclear at this stage. Implementing a scaling solution known as SegWit2x, which basically doubles the block size to 2MB and changes how some data is stored on the network, is among the most desirable outcomes, but that is not yet set in stone.
In the long run, however, many things can happen. Bitcoin Cash may have embraced that change, but its success depends on how much hashing (computing) power it will manage to get behind it and how many cryptocurrency users choose to support it. Investor support at this stage is nowhere near as Bitcoin, with only a handful of exchanges offering Bitcoin Cash while most sit on the sidelines watching it unfold.
Meanwhile, Bitcoin has the hashing power it needs, but it lacks a definitive plan -- that is fixed -- for a scaling solution everyone can agree on. The upside is that its value has not been hit by the launch of Bitcoin Cash, so investors are still confident in it. But it remains how much of what's been said stays true as we reach the point of implementing a beefy scaling solution.
Should you bother with Bitcoin Cash?
This is a tricky question to answer, because, honestly, no one really knows what the future will bring for either cryptocurrency. For those who already own Bitcoin Cash things are easier, because there is no real downside to holding on to it or selling it now at market value.
If, on the other hand, you want to buy Bitcoin Cash, the risk is significantly higher. The market is extremely volatile and there is no way of knowing for how long the price will stay at the current level. You might find yourself in the middle of a massive correction soon, or its price will continue growing in the next couple of days. Only time will tell.


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photo by Nathan Laliberte
Think electric cars are only for tech-savvy bachelors in Silicon Valley? Think again—they’re on these very roads. With global concerns over oil supply, the ever-increasing price of gas, and a decade-long “green” initiative still going strong, more and more eco-conscious Americans—and, yes, Westchesterites—are opting for zero-emission vehicles.
Enter Aaron Kwittken, a successful entrepreneur and longtime Armonk resident. At just 40, Kwittken has made a name for himself in the ultra-competitive world of public relations. His firm, Kwittken + Company, which he founded in 2005, has quickly risen to the top of the ranks as one of the most prestigious and well-respected PR firms in Manhattan. He can often be seen on CNBC, Bloomberg, and FOX Business as a commentator on crisis management.
In addition to heading his own firm, Kwittken is a self-professed adrenaline junkie. His latest acquisition is the first highway-capable, fully electric vehicle offered in America. With a 0-60 time of 3.7 seconds, it also happens to be a bona-fide rocket ship.
As a 40th birthday present to himself, the competitive triathlete and proud father of two purchased a Tesla Roadster. Say what? A Tesla Roadster, an electric—and ridiculously fast—little sports car made by Tesla, a small California-based company founded in 2003 and headed by PayPal co-founder Elon Musk.
Kwittken is quick to point out that his decision to purchase a Tesla was not done in haste. “I was very skeptical at first,” he says. “In fact, when I stepped into the dealership, I was only marginally convinced the Tesla was for me. During the test drive, my wife screamed a lot —that’s when I knew I wanted the car.”
Being a die-hard endurance athlete, Kwittken jokes his Roadster ideally should have come equipped with a built-in heart-rate monitor. “It is that fast,” he says. Its ultra-lightweight body, handcrafted out of carbon fiber, makes the car incredibly nimble around curves.
Because of its dubious status as a six-figure electric vehicle (starting price: $109,000), the Tesla occupies an ambiguous space between overpriced sports car and eco-friendly green machine. “My kids love it, but my wife calls it a death trap,” says Kwittken. In fact, his kids, ages seven and 10, are such ardent fans that Kwittken frequently coerces them into hand-washing his car on weekends. “They are little and so is the car—it works perfectly,” he explains. “Plus, I give them five bucks apiece.”
Charging the Tesla is not as complicated as you might think. It plugs in to nearly any outlet through a deceptive “gas cap cover,” and Kwittken notes it gets 245 miles per four-hour charge. That is about three carbon-free round trips from Armonk to downtown Manhattan. It also happens to be so whisper-quiet that Kwittken had to have a deer whistle mounted on the front bumper. “They just don’t hear me coming,” he says. “I also have to keep honking at squirrels.” The absence of any cacophonous exhaust roar is because, well, there isn’t a combustion engine, let alone an exhaust pipe.
The Tesla’s cabin is short on decorative fluff but long on functionality. Kwittken aptly describes the interior as “no-frills and very Web 2.0,” with its own iPod port. “It has one speed—fast!” says Kwittken.
“During the test drive my wife screamed a lot—that’s when I knew I wanted the car.”
For Kwittken, electric car ownership has not come without some playful jeers from friends and colleagues. “When I first got the Tesla, one of my buddies asked me if I could make it to the train station without running out of juice,” he says. For his misinformed friend, Kwittken offered a quick g-force-inducing spin around the block in his Tesla. “I knew he was just envious,” he says.
While his Tesla has been problem-free, Kwittken admits that his decision to purchase an electric car was a leap into uncharted waters. With big oil companies on the prowl and electric technology still in its nascent stage, nobody can say for sure what the future holds for the electric car movement. Kwittken knows his decision was bold, but he kind of likes it that way. “I think of my Tesla as an immensely complex character—kind of like Tony Soprano.”
Nathan Laliberte is a writer and former resident of Hastings. He currently resides in New York City with his faithful dog, Meatball.


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MOBILE MARKETPLACE SOFTWARE DEVELOPER
Mini adventure at the Opera OPERA MINI browser has achieved 500 million page views a day from 32 million active users. The company said that its average page views a day in September were up 233 per cent year-on-year, while the active user base soared by 68 per cent over the same period.
It confirmed the average user is downloading 6MB of data via the browser a month, although given that Opera compresses web pages by as much as 90 per cent before delivering them to the browser, the actual usage is much, much higher than that 6MB figure makes it sound.
MOBILE MARKETING & ADVERTISING
Jumbuck superpowers 3 chat and flirting 3 UK HAS launched two new mobile social services: Power Chat and Fast Flirting. Both are supplied by Jumbuck. Power Chat ties into Jumbuck’s global chat community, offering live chat, photos and profiles, as well as the ability to have private chats and send virtual gifts. Meanwhile, Fast Flirting is billed as the first ‘global speed dating mobile community’, meaning users get ten
minutes of private text chat with each person they choose to flirt with. Fast Flirting also allows photos and virtual gifts, as well as avatars. “Because Jumbuck is connecting carriers worldwide, 3 users are always assured of hundreds of people online at any time for quick chat and fast flirts,” said Jumbuck SVP of sales and marketing, Ted Verani.
SEND YOUR NEWS TO TIM.GREEN@INTENTMEDIA.CO.UK www.mobile-ent.biz
November 2009 43


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EABSC Gazes at the Sunshine Across from the Discomfort of the Eye of the Storm
Daryl Wilson, CEO of East African Bottling Share Company (EABSC), arrived in Ethiopia just last year. Originally from south Africa, he was Managing Director of Nairobi Bottlers of Kenya for nine years before coming to Ethiopia. With 27 years in the business, Daryl Wilson has seen the troughs and the picks of the industry even before the turn of the century. He is already overseeing construction of two epic factories in Hawassa and Sebeta with an outlay of a staggering USD300 million. The two factories will triple the volume of coke products in Ethiopia, besides launching new products. He says Ethiopia is the fastest growing beverage consumer market in Africa. Nonetheless, the humorous CEO is not all that excited. The company already lost over 15Pct of its sales revenue due to the new Ethiopian excise tax regime and COVID-19. EBR’s Ashenafi Endale spoke to the CEO on various issues.
EBR: How do you evaluate the impact of COVID-19 so far, in terms of production and sales?
Daryl Wilson: COVID-19 is disrupting everything globally and Ethiopia is not an exception. The number of cases is exponentially increasing. The economic impacts will take long time to heal. But from business perspective, our company took the initiative very early. We are protecting our employees as best as we can. We are also supporting the public at large. We supply sanitizers we produce, masks and other equipment for our staff and community continuously especially around where our factories operate – Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa.
As a responsible manufacturing company, we have been doing what we can for Ethiopia’s population. The impact of COVID-19 is severe and most of the 110 million people are suffering. We are supplying consumption items like flour, pasta, our products and household support for free, especially for the community significantly affected by COVID-19.
Consumer behavior is also shifting from eating and drinking since most of the restaurants, hotels and bars are closed. More than 50Pct of our sales volume goes through eating and drinking outlets. So, we have been forced to find a way to stay in touch with our customers at home. This is really a very tough time and environment. But we are also highly optimistic. The last couple of weeks were good for us, although the hiking number of COVID-19 cases remain a worry.
From the economic perspective, the country is going to take long to revive from the impacts of COVID-19. Even if COVID-19 was to disappear tomorrow, its economic impact would be around for long. But we are striving to make the company adaptive, flexible, and agile. We are trying to do what it takes to find the consumers and provide them with what they want for the right price. We are trying to keep on working, safely.
A lot of people stay home due to COVID-19. Individual revenues also might be affected. Is beverage consumption increasing or declining under COVID-19? How is the consumer landscape changing?
Consumption has definitely dropped. People are not generating more income and outlets like cafes, restaurants and bars are also closed. Just before COVID-19 came, the government introduced the new excise tax. The introduction of the new tax regime increased excise tax from 14Pct of revenue to 25Pct of revenue. It significantly increased the cost of our products. We could not absorb the price increments.
We are the highest tax payer in all sub-Saharan African countries we operate in. Inflation in Ethiopia is way above 25pct and COVID-19 came on top of that. The demand is dropping and we are not at the right level we want yet. We would have been way better, had it not been for the excise tax and COVID-19. The Excise tax reform put us in a perfect storm. Our profit has been plummeting drastically lately, especially after the introduction of the new excise tax in Ethiopia.
How badly has the excise tax directive affected your revenue?
Very badly. The projection we submitted to the Ministry of Finance estimated revenue drops of 15Pct due to the new excise tax. But now it has dropped by way more than that. For example, the amended excise tax as a percentage of revenue makes Ethiopia the market with the highest excise tax across the countries where Coca-Cola Beverages Africa operates (13 African markets in total). For example, it is eight percent in Kenya and 11Pct in Uganda. Ethiopia’s Excise tax is now 25%, up from 14% before the tax revision.
Prior to the new excise tax framework that was adopted in February this year, the excise tax in Ethiopia was based on 30Pct of cost of production (which translated to 14Pct of revenue). If the company does take a price increase commensurate with an attempt to mitigate the increase in tax, we anticipate a volume loss of at least 15Pct in the first year.
We do not welcome the risk of a 15Pct volume loss since the impact on our business would force us to restructure the organization with possible direct permanent job losses and additional indirect job losses in our value chain. While the excise tax reduction on sugar does cushion the impact slightly, the net impact is still of great concern.
The price of soft drinks almost doubled in Ethiopia over the last decade. Is it because of the inflation in Ethiopia or just part of an international trend?
The price of raw materials and a lot of commodities in the international market showed a dramatic increase. Coupled with foreign currency shortage, these trends resulted in a spike in local price. The cost of foreign currency in Ethiopia and especially the depreciation over the last six months has contributed a lot.
So, we were supposed to find a way to absorb as much of the price spiking effects of inflation, devaluation and tax raises as we could just not to transfer the price increase to consumers. We have been taking in price increases over the years but we do not usually choose to adjust price due to inflation. But so far, our price adjustment is insignificant compared to the price we have absorbed. We believe the beverage industry has a potential. There is great prospect and opportunity and we are very happy to have this opportunity. The people and the market are both growing, while the economy has big future and reforms are coming through. We are doing great expansion investments.
How big is East African Bottling Share Company (EABSC) in terms of revenues, profit and employment opportunities?
We have been here for 60 years. Currently, we employ 2,040 directly and around 50,000 people indirectly. We have factories in Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Sebeta and Addis Ababa. New factories are underway in Sebeta and Hawassa. There is another sister company in Ambo, Ambo mineral water factory.
Our revenue has been a success. That is why we have been in Ethiopia for 60 years and are currently investing USD300 million in Ethiopia. Since 2010, Coca Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA) has invested an estimated USD150 million in Ethiopia. The business contributes an estimated USD217 million to the economy annually in salaries, taxes, manufacturing, distribution and local shareholder profits. Ethiopia is a great country with growing market; so, we will keep investing and expanding. Our market share in Ethiopia is also high, compared to others like Pepsi. We are maintaining that by introducing new products like the sugar free products we recently launched.
Talking of sugar free products, did you introduce them because of the shortage of sugar supply in the country?
No. The amount of sugar we are getting from the sugar corporation is small and declining. Importing sugar is also very expensive. But that is not the reason for producing sugar free brands. A lot of Ethiopians who frequently use our soft drinks want sugar free products. It is due to the demand from consumers.
The beer industries in Ethiopia are linked to barley farmers, in a direct value chain. Currently, the Ethiopian government is privatizing sugar factories. So do you have plans to buy one of the factories and get yourself directly involved in the supply chain?
We would be really happy to invest in one of them and we are waiting for the government to come back to us. We know sugar is a critical ingredient and we want to add value to our products by engaging in the backward value chain. Good quality local sugar is what we want.
Did you propose to the government that your company is willing to participate in the acquisition?
Yes. We expressed our interest to the government and we are waiting until the government goes through the due diligence and finalizes the next steps of the privatization process. We will get the government’s feedback at the end of this month.
Has EABSC merged with Ambo mineral water?
When we formed Coca Cola Beverages Africa, three companies came together. The first one was the Coca Cola Company, which has big interest. The second is South African Beverages (SAB), which engages in non-alcoholic beverages. The third is Gutsche’s Family investment (GFI). SAB owned ambo mineral water. So when the parents merged, the companies became members of Coca Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), the current company. So, Ambo Mineral Water is a sister company of EABSC. We are working on designing a way to synchronize the sister factories and organizations of EABSC and Ambo Mineral Water in the future. CCBA owns and operates EABSC and Ambo Mineral Water in Ethiopia.
There were individual shareholders in EABSC. Who are the current shareholders?
CCBA is the major shareholder in EABSC. The chairman has small shares but EABSC is fully owned by CCBA. CCBA group was formed three and half years ago. We now have 40pct market share in the African beverage market. We have presence in 13 countries. We employ 16,000 people. We lead the Ethiopian market with an overall market share of over 60pct, although the market share varies from region to region.
What are your management and marketing philosophies?
We work hard to reach our customers through below the line and above the line strategies. We advertise products to the market we serve, which is growing faster in Ethiopia. Our strategies capitalize on the ways that help us get closer to our consumer whether it is for the sugar free, sugar containing or Ambo products. We connect to customers across the ages and other differences.
How do you see the market dynamism in Ethiopia?
It is an immature market in terms of availability. There is market competition; but there are not enough brands and products in the market. There are only 15 types of products in Ethiopia’s market, lower than other markets like Kenya. It is a virgin market with a dynamic and growing demand. While consumption of soft drinks is comparatively low, demand is growing as middle class broadens and spending rises. We invest a lot and launch more products to tap into the market.
Our marketing strategy depends on the regions and what the consumer needs. We usually use below the line marketing strategies to connect more with the consumer. Our marketing strategies vary from Dire Dawa to Bahir Dar. We strive to satisfy the needs. We spend in excess of USD10 million annually for marketing and advertising.
We hear branch and marketing managers of the company are paid high salary and benefits. Is it related to performance or just the organizational scale?
First, we always invest a lot of money in educating our staff. We pay them good money and make sure they are happy. We maintain the best trained professionals in order to stay competitive in the market and satisfy the customer. Incentivizing employees is the major mechanism towards that end. Investing in people is the secret behind our success.
People are always behind the success of any organization. Despite doing the right thing, many companies fail because they are unable to find the right people. The success of our organization is based on our ability to make our employees stay motivated. Even under the current situation, when many companies are facing challenges, we are making sure our employees are getting better salary and benefit packages. Employees must have benefit packages that match their efforts.
The beer and bottled water markets have been growing in recent years. Especially the beer companies work aggressively on marketing strategies that include providing furnished bars and restaurants and refrigerators for bars and restaurant owners to sell their products. Do you think the consumer is fundamentally shifting away from coke and soft drinks?
We also provide cafés, bars and restaurants with tables, refrigerators and many other equipment, including providing fully furnished premises with our brands. So, we are doing exactly what those companies are doing. They are growing; we are also growing. That is why we are investing USD300 million at a time.
In fact, the number of consumers slightly declined in relation with the price increment that followed the excise tax increase. But a new kind of consumer segment is also emerging. That is why we introduced a number of new products including the sugar free products.
Defective products are often found in the market. Are there substantiated defective products at the company or are those claims part of the market competition from the sector? How do you evaluate the competition?
We welcome competition because competition makes us vigilant to technological changes such as digital machinery. However, avoiding defective products in the market is impossible.
But there is also frequent occurrence of outdated Coca Cola products, especially in the regional towns. How do you inspect expiry dates?
Expiry date is very important for us and we manage it very effectively. We are better compared to many other countries. Consumers and sellers keep expired products at home and we collect it from the market.
EABSC is also engaged in the bottled water business through the Dasani bottled water. But the number of bottled water companies in the country tripled in a short time and the market is already crowded. Do you think Dasani is a viable investment?
We want to avail what the consumer wants and we will keep expanding the bottled water business. The bottled water market is highly competitive and we want to provide high quality water at a good price. We will invest more in the expansion of our bottled water business to give the consumer more options. We will definitely have new products in the coming couple of months in this sector.
Are there currently other new products and brands in the pipeline?
Definitely. Once the Sebeta plant is finalized, it will give us more production lines and more options of products for the consumer. New brands and brand extensions will be launched from the new Sebeta factory.
At what stage are the expansion projects? Has COVID-19 affected expansion plans?
Sebeta will be operational at the start of next year. It will be operational by September. It is 60pct complete. Currently, we are trying to meet the Ethiopian demand with existing factories. It might be delayed by two months. But we have not changed our expansion plans for Ethiopia, even under COVID-19.
How much do the Sebeta and Hawassa new plants cost?
Both plants cost USD300 million. Our factory in Hawasa is big. But Sebeta will also have six production lines apart from the plastic recycling factory. Sebeta will be the biggest in the group. When the two are finalized, our total production in Ethiopia will be tripled.
How do you evaluate the support of the Ethiopian government in terms of incentivizing the expansion projects?
We are undertaking big expansion projects, including the new factories worth USD300 million. This is a big investment and that is why we are concerned about the excise tax. It significantly affects us and our new investments. But we are also hopeful because we are getting good support from regional governments where we have new operations like in Bahir Dar, Sebeta and Hawassa.
We are so happy with their support and we are making sure the community gets what they want. The community is also happy with the schools, clean water and other support we provide. We are the biggest company in the sector and I am sure there are many opportunities we can explore with the Ethiopian government. We are investing heavily despite the market being uncertain at times. But we have governmental support in various aspects.
How do you evaluate the investment climate in Ethiopia?
We are a very big and responsible company and we have many options to invest in any other country we want. Ethiopia is the best place to invest. We believe in the country, in the future, in the opportunities and in the reforms. We are currently investing USD300 million; we would not make such a decision lightly. It is a big country, a lot of opportunities; the middle class is increasing, with great reforms coming through. So we are very happy to continue investing in Ethiopia.
In fact, the Coca-Cola Company and CCBA have clearly demonstrated our commitment to investment in Ethiopia as well as our confidence in the growth of the Ethiopian economy. However, the quantum of our investment commitments was decided based on our projected returns under very different circumstances prior to the new Excise tax that stands at 25Pct of revenue.
Policy certainty as well as tax regimes are critical for businesses to calculate investment opportunities with the degree of accuracy required by shareholders in terms of reasonable returns on investments. Government assurance, in this regard, would be highly valued.
What are the challenges you face frequently in Ethiopia?
The single biggest challenge is the shortage of foreign currency. It is difficult to operate without importing some ingredients and equipment. Accessing foreign currency became the most difficult thing in Ethiopia, especially since the last six years. Foreign currency shortage has become worse, especially under COVID-19.
The second problem is the Excise tax regime in Ethiopia. We are very keen to support the reform and very willing to pay tax as a responsible company. The issue of tax is sensitive in Ethiopia because this is a highly taxed country. We are also the most taxed company in the 13 African countries where CCBA operates.
How about power outage? I know that your company had a plan to become power-self-sufficient. Did you achieve that?
Power remains a big challenge throughout the country. We usually rely on generators. It is an expensive way of producing but we have no option. But currently, we are working on solar energy for our factories in Sebeta and Hawassa. We are also looking into replenishing water usage. We are very sensitive to water efficiency. We recycle and replace the water we use for every bottle.
What is your back up plan to compensate the market fluctuations due to COVID-19?
Under COVID-19, the biggest challenge is getting to the consumer. The consumption trend is shifting because a lot of people are staying at home. So we have to find a way to reach the consumer at home. We have installed a call center to directly contact the consumer. This would help us find the consumer at home. We are also making sure that our products are available at any place and time across the country.
We make sure that we are supplying the right product for the right price. Staying at home, people are not eating and drinking at cafés and restaurants; but this will change. The economy is also opening up from the first COVID-19 hit, but I believe the economy will revive soon. But we will continue our effort to find the consumer at home.
Do you have plans to partner with franchises in the fast food business?
We have plans along that line, if we can get good partnership and good agreement.
The Ethiopian government is planning to launch stock market in three years time.
Do you think your company will be listed?
Should the need arise, we will take any opportunity. We will consider any option in this regard. We are an African based global company. We will definitely be listed.
How do find Ethiopia’s policy in profit repatriation?
It is challenging. We are unable to take out dividends for a number of years because of the foreign currency shortage in Ethiopia. We are reinvesting it because we are not able to send out any dividend to shareholders. We hope the situation will change as the economic reforms succeed and tackle the foreign currency problem. Once more foreign currency is available, the policy will also change.
What are your recommendations for big companies in Ethiopia, particularly in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? Do you think the community is benefiting?
Definitely. We are providing clean water, schools, job opportunities and many more. We provide as much as we can and the community recognize that. That is why communities most welcome us everywhere our factories are planted. We allocate millions for the communities, every year.
We also donate for the Red Cross organization. We are also supplying food and drink donations for communities where our factories are operating; these places are: Dire Dawa, Bahir Dar and Addis Ababa. We gave away more than ETB11 million, particularly over the last two months since the onset of COVID-19 in Ethiopia.
A lot of companies discharge CSR only when it is convenient for them. Why don’t you allocate a certain fixed percentage of your revenue or profit to continuously and constantly reach beneficiaries through an institution?
We do not reap the benefits and go away but we are giving back to the community, as a responsible company. We are supporting the community and giving special attention to key initiatives throughout our operation. For instance, we understand the importance of youth education.
We have built two state-of-the-art school blocks at Shimbit Elementary School in Bahir Dar, benefitting 1,600 students at a total cost of USD220, 000. We have almost completed constructing a similar school at our new factory in Sebeta at a total cost of USD236,000 following consultations with the Sebeta community to understand the community’s needs. We have invested USD31, 000 in a bursary programme for outstanding university students from low income families and run a Graduate in Training (GIT) programme for the past 11 years, benefitting 275 employees to date.
We are undertaking various projects that address the community’s problems. For instance, we just set up new factories that recycle plastics. Plastic is a great package but it also degrades the environment. We established the plastic recycling company PETCO (PET Recycling Community Organization) as an NGO subsidiary. We have set up around 70 plastic collecting centers across Ethiopia, to make it easier particularly for women plastic collectors.
The plastic recycling company was established four months ago. The Poly Ethylene Terephthalate (PET) factory took USD160, 000 injection from the Coca Cola Company. We will subsidize the collection and recycling operations. In Ethiopia, we have facilitated the collection of more than 6,000 tons of PET from the environment. Moreover, we want to support the waste management objectives of local governments by making recycling more accessible; and as CCBA, we are confident that we will reach the 100Pct PET collection and recycling target well ahead of the 2030 target. EBR
9th Year • July 1 – July 15 2020 • No. 88


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I mean, you would add it to the calculation however it falls out with out affecting the margin so there is no cause to do it for margin calculations. Similar issues apply to the relation between an organization like apple and their clients. The general reputation of the App retailer vs the Google’s Play store should be indication sufficient when are automated extensions such as seller ratings shown that the “walled backyard” is for security, whereas also producing excessive margins. Other than in sure financial companies, corresponding to lending, “margins” (e.g. “interest”), on monetary transactions and companies are blissfully limitless. I assume Epic is happy to pay for the infrastructure Apple built.
The American Hospital Association, in its own report, said hospitals are treating sicker sufferers who delayed care earlier within the pandemic, and the higher acuity rates are placing a greater burden on workers and creating “unsustainable” monetary challenges. “I am concerned that the iMessage on Android would merely serve to remove and obstacle to iPhone families giving their children Android telephones,” Craig Federighi, Apple software senior vice president, wrote in 2013. Downes, the Georgetown University professional, stated the decide has to put herself within the shoes of customers. He says the most important risk to Apple’s App Store isn’t court docket instances, however possible new laws.
He also famous that security and infrastructure costs, in addition to revolutionary features, reduce into its profit margins. Kaufman Hall mentioned its median hospital working margin index of negative zero.98% for the year thus far reflects seven straight months of losses. “July was a disappointing month for hospitals and put 2022 on tempo to be the worst monetary 12 months hospitals have experienced in a lengthy time,” said Erik Swanson, senior vice chairman of information and analytics. It is an open secret that the App Store is a big revenue and profit driver for Apple however to date Apple has not disclosed figures that escape exactly how profitable the App Store is.
Apple is disputing the accuracy of Barnes’s calculations and urging a decide to restrict public discussion of App Store revenue, as the companies head right into a high-stakes trial Monday in Oakland, California. Epic, maker of the blockbuster sport Fortnite, is making an attempt to point out that the App Store is run like a monopoly with its commission on developers of as a lot as 30%, whereas Apple insists it doesn’t abuse its market power. On the financial success of Fortnite, Sweeney said he attributed plenty of the sport’s success to the truth that it was free.
Apple generates income from the App Store by charging both a 15% or 30% fee to developers for paid app downloads, in-app-purchases and subscriptions. Epic is attempting to level out that Apple is making extra earnings as a end result of it holds a monopoly over the iPhone and iPad app market. Epic desires the court docket to pressure Apple to decrease fees and permit other cost systems and various app shops to operate on iOS. This determine comes from a court testament from an Epic Games professional witness Ned Barnes.
Apple also stated that Epic was trying at the wrong market and cannot present anti-competitive conduct within the gaming market — customers can swap to Android, Microsoft Xbox or Sony Playstation. Here’s the red flag I really have with the 78% determine; most people I know don’t pay for apps at all. Their apps are typically free they usually pay for services like Netflix or the product like Sony Connect for my headphones.
What they can not do is supply in app purchases without Apple getting a cut. They aren’t ‘shopping for’ the product from the vendor after which selling it to the customer. They just facilitate the transaction, and hold 30% of the selling worth for doing so. The solely revenue they have for the transaction is the 30%. Because so far as I can see, their 10-Q breaks margins down by Products and Services, however nothing more granular, just as I advised. And they additionally break various other metrics down by product class, but those are very excessive level classes, similar to all Macs, iPhones, iPads, or “Wearables, Home, and Accessories”, again, simply as I suggested.
Barnes mentioned he obtained documents “prepared by Apple’s Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis group and produced from the files of Apple CEO Tim Cook.” Apple’s ongoing battle with Epic Games revealed that the App Store had a revenue margin of 78% in 2019, based on Bloomberg. The global tech company, nonetheless, advised senators that the company does break down revenue and profit figures for its services individually. Anti-trust law permits some anti-competitive practices if they are for ‘respectable enterprise purposes’.
“I don’t suppose they’re likely to win,” mentioned Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a regulation professor at Vanderbilt Law School. However, she said the case might have already served a useful purpose – “drawing consideration to a few of Apple’s practices that many builders see as abusive.” The trial, which started in California on May 3, is predicted to last a couple of month. It centers on whether or not Apple’s management over its App Store system unlawfully locks out competitors. Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac.
The court docket will use this piece of proof, along with different pieces of evidence, to resolve whether or not the App Store is an unlawful monopoly . Making a crap ton of money on a service just isn’t incorrect UNLESS you make that crap ton of cash by way of anti-competitive means. In truth, I would think that if Apple deliberately operated the App Store at a loss, that may be stronger proof of “Anti-Competitive” Behavior.


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The next iteration of the popular action fighting franchise is now called Guilty Gear Strive. It has already entered its beta test phase and a few testers have shared their reactions about the game. They were pretty much impressed of its new mechanics, but there are big differences from its predecessor, Guilty Gear Xrd. One of those is the amount of combo chains players can dish out in a round.
According to the Official PlayStation Magazine (July 2020 Issue), Strive now has a new rule to follow and some fans might not like what they will hear.
The new rule for Strive is that combos will now be a lot shorter, but the advantage is that every hit deals a lot of damage to make up for it. The tension meter, which is used for overdrive moves, easily fills up now compared to previous titles. This new game is more on quick exchanges of blows between fighters instead of dishing out a lot of combo chains to make it look flashier. Each attack will be deadly, so expect to choose your attacks wisely this time around.
There is also the RISC system, which means blocking too long will allow your opponent to strike you easily with a counter-hit. This forces players to go on offense more rather than raising your shields up. Getting trapped in a corner has been resolved as well. If players slide down the edge of the screen, the wall will be broken instead, which causes a stage transition. The attacking player will get a buff for their efforts, but it returns both fighters to neutral positions.
The Junkyard Dog is the biggest change to the core gameplay. Gatling combo system still exists in this game, but it has less freeform now, which is the reason why players cannot do tons of combo chains. Arc System Works is looking for simplicity now rather than going for complex moves.
Guilty Gear Strive will launch sometime in 2021. It will be available on PlayStation 4 and PC.


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U.K. Stocks Rebound From Three-Day Drop; Burberry Surges
U.K. stocks climbed, rebounding from a three-day selloff, amid speculation a downgrade of Spain’s credit rating will encourage the country to seek a bailout and as U.S. jobless claims slid to a four-year low.
Barclays Plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS) gained more than 4 percent as the European Union was said to delay the introduction of tougher Basel bank-capital rules. Burberry (BRBY) Group Plc surged a record 13 percent after the luxury-goods maker reported an acceleration in sales growth. Direct Line Insurance Group Plc rallied 7.4 percent on the first day of trading after its initial public offering.
The FTSE 100 (UKX) Index rose 53.04 points, or 0.9 percent, to 5,829.75 at the close in London. The gauge has advanced 11 percent from this year’s low on June 1 as the European Central Bank unveiled a bond purchase program to support euro-area nations seeking aid. The FTSE All-Share Index also climbed 0.9 percent today, while Ireland’s ISEQ Index slipped 0.3 percent.
“It’s no secret that the market wants to see Spain ask for a bailout,” said James Hughes, chief market analyst at Alpari U.K. Ltd. in London. “What we are now seeing in the market is that any bad news for Spain is positive for the euro zone.”
S&P reduced Spain’s debt rating to one level above junk at BBB-, citing mounting economic and political risks. The downgrade by the ratings agency comes after Spain announced a fifth austerity package in less than a year and published details of stress tests of its banks.
U.K. stocks extended gains after a report showed the number of Americans filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance payments fell to the lowest since February 2008. Applications dropped 30,000 to 339,000 in the week ended Oct. 6, according to the Labor Department. Economists in a Bloomberg survey had forecast 370,000 claims.
The Federal Reserve said in its so-called Beige Book late yesterday that the U.S. economy was expanding “modestly” last month, buttressed by improvements in housing and auto sales.
Barclays (BARC), the U.K.’s second-largest bank, rallied 4.8 percent to 232.65 pence, RBS increased 4.2 percent to 273.8 pence, Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY) climbed 2 percent to 39.25 pence and HSBC Holdings Plc, Europe’s largest bank, rose 1.3 percent to 597.2 pence.
The EU may push back when lenders need to start phasing in tougher Basel capital rules by as much as a year after warnings that pressing ahead with the original timetable may drive up costs, according to three people familiar with the talks.
Burberry jumped 13 percent to 1,136 pence, the biggest gain since its 2002 IPO. Britain’s largest luxury-goods maker posted a 1 percent increase in sales at stores open at least a year in the second quarter, an improvement on the unchanged performance the company reported on Sept. 11. The retailer also increased its guidance for the second-half retail and wholesale operating margin.
The results are “reassuring,” Louise Singlehurst, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, wrote in a report to clients. “Second quarter like-for-like growth implies an acceleration in the last three weeks of September.”
Analysts at Seymour Pierce Ltd. raised their recommendation for Burberry to buy from hold.
Direct Line rallied 7.4 percent to 188 pence after RBS sold 450 million shares in the U.K. insurer, about a 30 percent stake, for 175 pence each. Britain’s largest government-owned lender raised 787 million pounds ($1.3 billion) from the IPO, which had been forced by EU regulators.
Tate & Lyle (TATE) Plc gained 1.2 percent to 697 pence after Societe Generale SA upgraded the maker of low-calorie sweetener Splenda to buy from hold and increased its price estimate for the shares 24 percent to 805 pence. Analysts cited the potential for an upgrade and re-rating in the next six months.
Wolseley Plc (WOS) added 1.7 percent to 2,694 pence, the first advance in five days. Goodbody Stockbrokers initiated coverage of the building-materials company with a buy recommendation and a share-price estimate of 3,400 pence. The analysts said Wolseley was the best option in the European materials industry to bet on a recovery in U.S. construction.
Bumi Plc (BUMI) surged 39 percent to 259 pence, a record gain, as Indonesia’s Bakrie family offered to buy back the coal assets it helped bring to the London market with Nathaniel Rothschild in a $3 billion deal two years ago.
The Bakrie Group, a palm oil-to-property-empire started in 1942, offered to exchange a 23.8 percent stake in Bumi Plc for 10.3 percent of Jakarta-based PT Bumi Resources. The group also made a conditional proposal to buy back the remaining 18.9 percent in Bumi Resources in cash by Christmas and to make an offer for Bumi Plc’s 84.7 percent stake in PT Berau Coal Energy Tbk within six months.
WH Smith Plc (SMWH) paced declining shares, dropping 3.2 percent to 631 pence. The book and magazine retailer said Chief Executive Officer Kate Swann will step down after nine years in 2013 and named Steve Clarke as her replacement. The shares fell even after the company reported full-year pretax profit of 102 million pounds, beating analyst estimates.
Home Retail Group Plc (HOME) jumped 6.4 percent to 105 pence, the highest since April, amid speculation that Swann, who left Home Retail’s Argos unit in 2003, could return to the retailer. The stock is the second-most shorted among western European retailers, after Ocado Group Plc, with 15 percent of shares outstanding on loan, according to data compiled by Markit.
“I can understand why the shorts have got nervous at the prospect,” said Nick Bubb, an independent retail analyst in London. “She would be the ideal person to replace Terry Duddy if Home Retail needs a new CEO, but it’s not often that people go back to work for companies they’ve been at in the past.”
Greggs Plc (GRG) lost 4.1 percent to 495.5 pence after the U.K. bakery reported a 2.6 percent decline in same-store sales in the 14 weeks to Oct. 6.
In Ireland, Independent News & Media Plc (INM) plunged 30 percent to 9 euro cents, the lowest level since at least 1988. Trading volume in the shares surged to more than six times the three- month average. Chairman Leslie Buckley last week sold shares in the Dublin-based publisher to avoid triggering a mandatory takeover bid by ally and biggest shareholder Denis O’Brien.
To contact the reporter on this story: Sarah Jones in London at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andrew Rummer at firstname.lastname@example.org


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It’s a beautiful morning to wake up and smell the roses. Monterey Car Week has kicked off, it’s summer in the northern hemisphere, and your morning digest of important, bite-sized pieces of car news is here. Today, motorsport could be part of the Olympics, car part sourcing just got more stringent, the Nissan Frontier gets an extension of life, and more. Welcome back to The Morning Dump.
Ask What Your Country Can Hoon For You
Planning for the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics is well underway, and Reuters reports that some new sports are on the table. If you’re wondering what that has to do with a car website, I’ve bolded the really important bit below for emphasis.
Flag football and cricket have been shortlisted along with baseball-softball, lacrosse, breakdancing, karate, kickboxing, squash and motorsport.
Motorsport, huh? Hot damn. Whenever the Olympics decide to add a new sport, it must first pass approval by local organizers, at which point it gets kicked up to the International Olympic Committee for top-level confirmation. Then, and only then, is a new Olympic sport born. As Jalopnik notes, the FIA has pushed for karting to be included at the Games for a few years now, so it could be something along those lines.
Regardless of what form it takes, the prospect of motorsport being on the roster is cause for excitement. Sure, the Race of Champions is amazing and conceptually similar, but making motorsport an Olympic sport would open it up to entirely new audiences. I say the more people interested in going fast, the better.
Supply Chains Just Got More Complicated, But For A Good Reason
Cheap car parts imported from China are about to experience new complications. While this doesn’t sound great for consumers, it’s actually a good thing. See, China isn’t exactly known for a spotless human rights record, and Reuters reports that America is stepping up enforcement of sourcing regulations.
Increased inspection of products destined for auto assembly plants by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) could signal difficult times ahead for automakers who will need solid proof that their supply chains are free of links to a region where the U.S. believes Chinese authorities have established labor camps for Uyghurs and other Muslim minority groups.
When legislation targeting products that may have been made with forced Uyghur labor was established last year, it initially focused on stuff like clothes and solar panels. Now, it’s reportedly expanding to auto parts, raw materials, and lithium-ion batteries. Stuff that could really hit the auto industry hard if the proper documentation isn’t in place, as violations could slow the trickle of parts needed to build new cars. Even in a rebounding market, it’s still worth it—consumer ease shouldn’t come above others’ well-being when ethical issues exist.
Now, before you go accusing me of pointing out other countries’ problems while conveniently ignoring issues at home, just know that it goes both ways. For one, I’d prefer if my license plates weren’t made using prison labor. Everyone deserves to work voluntarily and with dignity regardless of background.
If you fancy the new Nissan Frontier but don’t yet have the scratch for one, don’t worry—you may have just been given a little more time. Automotive News has obtained an internal memo that claims “production of the current-generation midsize Frontier at Nissan’s factory in Canton, Miss., has been extended two years beyond its previously expected redesign, now carrying into the 2029 model year.”
So, what spurred the change? As with most extended model cycles today, it may have something to do with the shifting tides of propulsion. Basically, Nissan may need more time as it builds out EV production:
In the memo, Nissan didn’t offer suppliers a reason for the life cycle extension, but one supplier briefed on the matter, who asked not to be identified, told Automotive News that the previously planned changeover would have come just as the Canton factory is gearing up to build new Nissan and Infiniti electric vehicles.
Simplifying the introduction of new models assembled at the same plant is an entirely prudent reason for extending the Frontier’s lifecycle, and it’s not like the Frontier is on the bleeding edge of midsize truck tech. The last one had a 17-year model cycle, and the new one is refreshingly old-school compared to the likes of the Toyota Tacoma, Ford Ranger, and GMC Canyon.
Faraday Future, Which Still Exists (???), Delivers Its First $309,000 Car To A Customer
I bet you haven’t thought about Faraday Future in a while. Electrek reports that Faraday Future’s first consumer model has finally been delivered, the first $309,000 FF91 2.0 Futurist Alliance (yes, seriously). Does this mean that Faraday Future has shaken off its tumultuous past of executives leaving, models being delayed, and the founder filing for personal bankruptcy? Hardly. It seems that Faraday Future is riding the coattails of all-AI everything, the popular tech buzzword of the moment that has an uncertain future. Per an earlier press release:
As FF officially enters the 2.0 stage of development, the Company believes that the future development of products and technology in the spire mobility industry will be characterized by FF’s four new trends of All-AI, All-Hyper, All-Ability, and Co-Creation.
In case it wasn’t blatantly obvious, none of these words actually mean anything. Sure, they’re shiny, but cars don’t run on hype. Will artificial intelligence buzzwords be enough to differentiate Faraday Future from the litany of ultra-luxury EVs coming to market? I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
(Editor’s Note: I love that somehow, Faraday Future survived long enough to get in on the AI hype. Bullshit just comes naturally to that company. —PG)
If motorsport makes it into the Olympics, what specific disciplines would you like to see? While something along the lines of karting makes sense, Olympic rallycross sounds like it could be just the tightest thing ever. However, maybe you’re a touring car fan, or want to go completely bonkers with something like Stadium Super Trucks. There really are no bad options here.
(Photo credits: Garage 56, Amazon, Nissan, Faraday Future)
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