Don your thinking caps 2010 is now literally around the corner with less than a year to kick-off. If you're the sort who can always think of a brilliant money-making idea then this will definitely be your time to shine. Africa is anticipating thousands of tourists from outside the continent to arrive for one of the biggest sporting events in the world. Tourists from all corners of the globe, in between joining in the football fun, will be browsing in and around shopping malls and strolling along streets and popular site-seeing spots to see what African treasure might tickle their fancy. South Africa Tourism has been doing its homework as well, hosting campaigns in Kenya and Nigeria in order to spread the 2010 love; countries outside Africa can expect a number of visitors during the period as well. Now is the time to put your ideas into action and make this event work to your benefit because, truthfully, there's a ton of cash to be made - all you need is the perfect idea. However, it would be wise to ensure your idea is also sustainable once the whole 2010 gravy train leaves Africa. If it is, then tourists will return, and will encourage their friends to visit us. If it is not, and simply a ploy to rip them off, they are unlikely to ever return - and they will spread the word. If you, however, plan on just enjoying the spectacle, then do sit back and enjoy the ride. Cheers! Sindy Peters, Content manager Send all your Africa marketing news to africanews@bizcommunity.com. Top stories
Marketing
 South African Tourism's current marketing campaign in Nigeria is not centred primarily on the forthcoming FIFA World Cup next year in South Africa, says Phumi Dhlomo, SA Tourism regional director: Africa and Domestic Markets. The campaign also aims to further drive tourists' into the the country after the event. Read more >>2010 FIFA World Cup
 [Proffesor Ndawonde] PORT ELIZABETH: Three Visitor Information Centres (VICs) were launched in Nelson Mandela Bay on Thursday, 30 July 2009 to ensure tourists arriving in the city for the 2010 FIFA World Cup get the best advice and information. Read more >> [Dr Nikolaus Eberl] When the Local Organising Committee announced the 2010 brand bromise to be “Ke nako (it is time) - Celebrate Africa's Humanity” at the preliminary FIFA Draw held in Durban, pundits were quick at writing off this slogan as full of hyperbole and devoid of substance. Read more >>Advertising
[Dumisani Ndlela] Advertising agency, Axa Corporate Images, has launched a monthly, advertising-only magazine called Necessity Magazine. Read more >> Branding
 [Sean McCoy] Nigeria is a nation of 140 million people that has just embarked on a branding revolution. Marketers and advertisers that grasp this have the potential to realise enormous success; the rest will watch from the sidelines and later ask themselves, 'How did we miss it?'. Read more >>CRM
 ABUJA: The newly built call centre established by Zain Nigeria in Abuja has commence operations. The facility has started taking calls from customers and plans to be formally commissioned in the coming weeks. Read more >>CSI
[Carole Kimutai] The first Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Kenya Awards will be held in June 2010. Companies will be awarded for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services and projects that create a high social and environmental benefit for the community and the business. Read more >> Digital
Recent damage to the SAT-3 submarine cable that links Nigeria to the outside world has disrupted Internet and other services in the country. Read more >>[Sylvain Beletre] Ghana wants to position itself as one of the premier BPO destinations in Africa. The first GASSCOM International BPO Conference And Exhibition was held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana on 22 - 23 July 2009 under the theme "Outsourcing to Ghana, Africa's Golden Gateway". Read more >> [Issa Sikiti da Silva] When it comes to the issue of registering domain names South Africa is doing well, with some 60% of the continent's total of registered domain names. The rest of Africa, more than 50 countries, shares the continent's other 40% of about a million top level domains. Read more >> Education and Training
Wits Business School's Centre for Entrepreneurship and the Centre for Business Development at the University of Johannesburg hosted a symposium entitled ‘Best practice in entrepreneurial development' yesterday, 28 July 2009. The symposium attracted individuals from Africa who exchanged best entrepreneurship practices. Read more >>Magazines
 Fidelis Zvomuya, editor of the quarterly magazine, Dairy Mail Africa, won the category for Best Climate Change News Story from Developing Countries, in a competition hosted by the Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP). Read more >>Media
NAIROBI: At the community centre in Mukuru, a slum in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, teenagers spend hours engrossed in a video game, but they are not battling other-worldly forces with super-human weapons; instead, they are finding their way through a familiar-looking city, trying to negotiate real-life situations and learn how to avoid HIV infection. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] State broadcasters, Malawi Television (TVM) and Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) received allocations after operating for two years without government subventions. Read more >> Mobile
[Dumisani Ndlela] A market-share battle is intensifying in Zimbabwe, where two previously-underdog mobile network operators are taking on leader, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe. Read more >>  LAGOS: Zain Nigeria has launched a new product that allows customers on its network to choose their tariff plans. The product, called Zain Joli, allows pre-paid customers to determine their spending patterns by choosing specific packages. Read more >>Harare: Econet says MTN is welcome in Zimbabwe after reports that Africa's biggest cellular company was keen to invest in the country. Read more >>[Lesley Stones] Opposition to the high cost of making a cellphone call from one network to another is rising, with SA now being derided for falling behind Namibia in its prices. Read more >> Pan-Africa mobile operator Zain, and Ericsson, in an initiative coordinated by the GSM Association, plan to extend the mobile network coverage in the Lake Victoria region and launch a safety and security initiative. The coverage will comprise the area of the lake where 80% of fishing activities take place. Read more >>NAIROBI: Zain is conducting a strategic review of its African assets with the aim of maximising shareholder value and will consider approaches that achieve that, Zain chief executive officer Dr Saad Al Barrak said. Read more >>Online Media
 The United Nations Alliance for Civilizations has launched an online network that provides users with educational materials and resources on tolerance and civic education. Read more >>Production
 NEW YORK: Focus Features is accepting entries for its second Africa First Program. The deadline has been extended till Monday, 17 August 2009. The program plans to award five emerging filmmakers with US$10,000 in financing. Read more >>Public Relations
 According to the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), despite the current financial crisis causing a decline in membership, the organisation is growing in Africa. Membership statistics released earlier this week revealed that the IABC Africa region had the highest growth (37.84%) and retention rate (85%) in the world, year on year. Read more >>Retail
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has announced fresh measures to assist poor countries in tackling the global economic downturn. The IMF says it will increase lending by up to US$17 billion between now and 2014, and will suspend interest on some loans to low income countries until 2011. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] Old Mutual, the sole foreign counter in the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE), last week, jerked the Malawi All Share Index (Masi) into motion after months of inaction moving it upwards to 4954.28 points from 4952.11 representing a 2.17 points push. Read more >> [Gregory Gondwe] Malawi's resident representative for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Maitland Macfarlan announced last week that Malawi will benefit from the body's rescue plan, to help countries fend off the world economic crisis. Read more >> [Cam McGrath] CAIRO: Egypt receives some of the highest annual solar radiation in the world, yet the desert country remains heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Read more >> GOMA: Charcoal profits are helping to fuel the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where militia groups and some segments of the national army control the production of and trade in the commodity, say officials. Read more >>[Amy Lieberman] Remittances to developing nations are expected to fall from an estimated US$305 billion in 2008 to US$290 billion in 2009, threatening the “lifeline” that sustains some of the world's poorest countries and people, according to Dilip Ratha, lead economist in the development prospects group of the World Bank. Read more >> TV
Zain and Multichoice Kenya have entered into a partnership that will enable DSTV customers pay their subscription fees through Zain Zap. Speaking during the launch, Zain Kenya managing director Rene Meza said DSTV customers would not be charged for paying through Zap. Read more >>[Gregory Gondwe] Multichoice Malawi has entered a pact with the National Bank of Malawi where its clients will use the bank's service centres across the country to pay their subscriptions. Read more >> LONDON: BBC World News will be hosting a new series - Africa Business Report - from the end of August 2009. The programme, sponsored by Skye Bank, plans to focus on business in Africa, examining the people, businesses and products as well as the issues, challenges and opportunities for companies trading there. Read more >>Media
 Although they need each other, the relationship between the media and civil society has not been at its best in post-apartheid South Africa, and both parties would do well to cultivate a more professional and respectful relationship. Read more >>SOUTH AFRICA Eileen Sandrock newly appointed CEO of Sasani Africa - more info
"Advertising is a bit like playing make-believe." - Hartman Jule"When people aren't having any fun they seldom produce good advertising." - David Ogilvy"A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well." - Jeff Bezos
Print - Print any item in this newsletter. Email - Email any item in this newsletter. Comment - Comment on any item in this newsletter. | | Advertisement:
|
