CNBC Africa wins at 2009 Africa Business Reporting Awards

6 Jul 2009

CNBC Africa's presenter/producer Sue Beukes, cameraman Thabo Mathebula and editor Amanda Diergaardt walked away with the Best Television Feature 2009 award for the programme ‘Doing Business in Africa' at the Africa Business Reporting Awards. Diageo announced the winners at a gala ceremony held on Thursday, 2 July 2009, in London.

CNBC Africa wins at 2009 Africa Business Reporting Awards

Judges commented on the programme ‘Doing Business in Africa' by saying, "This is high-quality reporting. It's extremely well filmed to the highest technical standards and the producers have done their homework ensuring excellent access to top-level interviewees. This is a comprehensive, lively and thoughtful piece, which leaves the viewer wanting to see more."

‘Doing Business in Africa' aims to unearth the secrets and important dealmaker points, when it comes to doing business in Africa covering a different African country every episode every third Monday of the month at 8:30pm.

Paul Walsh, chief executive officer of Diageo, and chair of the judging panel, said: "The current economic environment demands new ways of looking at African business. In a world marked by slowing industrialised economies, Africa offers immense opportunities for technology firms, FMCG companies, and power and water companies - to name just a few sectors. Our perspectives on Africa must change too, or we will miss one of the greatest opportunities to do great business, to develop new markets and to enrich the lives of almost one billion consumers - a population equal to that of India".

Gary Alfonso, chief operating officer of CNBC Africa, says: "'Doing Business in Africa' delivers on what CNBC Africa is doing every minute of every day in Africa - and that is changing perceptions and mindsets about the economic and business possibilities on this incredible continent. The high production values of the programme also deliver on CNBC Africa's promise to the business news environment - which is to give Africans their own voice on the global economic platform."

CNBC Africa's Kenya Bureau presenter/producer Terry-anne Chebet was also nominated in the television category.

‘Doing Business in Africa' is produced through a sponsorship partnership with Blue Financial Services.

“We are proud to be associated with CNBC Africa who have provided high-quality reporting to the continent,” said Blue executive chairman, Dave van Niekerk. “Blue Financial Services is a pan African micro-financing institution with a presence in several African countries, and through CNBC Africa, Blue has managed to reveal to the world the potential of doing business in Africa; a continent with massive opportunities.”

For more information, go to www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com.