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Lilian Babirye, the Country Manager of MSC Uganda, has emerged as a leading figure in the logistics sector, particularly in optimizing coffee distribution across Africa. With a career spanning over two decades, Babirye’s journey from an office assistant to a key executive reflects her commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of logistics.

Under her leadership, MSC Uganda has undertaken initiatives to streamline coffee distribution processes, leveraging advanced technology and strategic partnerships to enhance efficiency and quality. Babirye’s insights shed light on the challenges and opportunities in coffee distribution and the transformative impact of logistics solutions in the industry.

Babirye emphasizes the importance of specialized containers and tracking devices in maintaining coffee quality during transportation. MSC’s food-grade containers, equipped with ventilation and tracking devices, ensure that coffee beans remain fresh and uncontaminated throughout the journey. Additionally, the implementation of an online booking system has streamlined the booking process, providing transparency and efficiency for shippers and forwarders alike.

Despite the benefits of streamlined logistics, Babirye acknowledges the challenges involved in ensuring timely coffee shipments from key ports. Infrastructure limitations and import regulations pose significant hurdles, impacting schedule reliability and supply chain efficiency. However, Babirye remains optimistic about the potential of initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) to bolster regional trade networks and support the growth of African businesses.

Babirye highlights innovative approaches such as smart containers, which enable real-time monitoring of cargo conditions, including temperature and humidity levels. By leveraging technology, coffee professionals can ensure the integrity and quality of coffee beans throughout the transportation process, ultimately enhancing the export potential of African coffee.

As the African coffee industry continues to evolve, Babirye emphasizes the pivotal role of logistics in optimizing distribution and export processes. While challenges persist, including trade barriers and competition among coffee-producing countries, Babirye remains committed to driving innovation and efficiency in coffee logistics, thereby contributing to the growth and sustainability of the industry.

Through her strategic leadership and unwavering dedication, Lilian Babirye is spearheading a logistics revolution in the African coffee sector, empowering businesses and fostering economic growth across the continent. Excerpts;

Capital: What are some effective strategies for optimizing coffee distribution in producer countries?

Lilian Babirye: Optimising coffee distribution in producer countries requires effective strategies that encompass various aspects of logistics. One such strategy is the establishment of a robust presence, exemplified by MSC’s collaboration with major stakeholders in the logistics chain. Through this collaboration, MSC provides essential equipment, documentation, and logistical services, facilitating the extended distribution of coffee worldwide. As part of this effort, MSC has implemented several initiatives:

MSC has established three equipment yards in Uganda and two in Kenya. These yards have a significant capacity, capable of holding approximately 1,000 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) in each country at any given time. This infrastructure ensures the availability of necessary equipment for coffee transportation and distribution operations.
MSC has developed an online booking system that streamlines the process for shippers and forwarders. This system allows it to place and monitor bookings seamlessly, from the initial booking stage to the issuance of electronic Bills of Lading (e-BL). By providing transparency and efficiency in the booking process, this system enhances overall logistical operations and contributes to smoother coffee distribution processes.

Capital: How can specialized containers contribute to maintaining coffee quality during transportation?

Lilian Babirye: Coffee containers are food grade containers that are ventilated for aeration and have hooks to enable placing of bulk bags and container dryer bags when required.

Food grade containers are non-smelly, no rust in or out, no oils spillages, no holes, intact floorboard which avoids contamination of any nature thus ensuring quality maintenance.

MSC also has a tracking device solution that enables tracking of containerised cargo from door to door via a satellite visibility.

Capital: What challenges are involved in ensuring timely coffee shipments from key ports?

Lilian Babirye: Infrastructure:

Road conditions.
1. Port infrastructure and equipment that impact the productivity of the port generating port congestion and impact the schedule reliability.
Import regulations from different regions:
1. Fumigation required in some markets.

Capital: What is the current impact of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) on the coffee trade?

Lilian Babirye: African governments and businesses are actively seeking new private sector investment to bolster supply chains as the continent pursues industrialisation. MSC’s strategic approach aligns with this objective by facilitating the implementation of the AfCFTA. Through its investments and operational initiatives, MSC contributes to strengthening regional trade networks and supporting the growth of African businesses, thus advancing the goals of economic integration and industrial development across the continent.

Capital: How can coffee professionals leverage the networking opportunities at the African Fine Coffees Conference (AFCC) to improve their distribution strategies?

Lilian Babirye: This question is best for the organisers as MSC only works with clients who transport the commodity.

Capital: What are some innovative approaches or technologies that can be used to improve coffee distribution in producer countries?

Lilian Babirye: MSC offers smart containers to coffee exporters and traders. By smart container we designate it as a standard dry container, equipped with an internet-connected device, designed to generate a wide range of data, e.g. position, movement, temperature, door openings and shocks.

Using this technology, our customers can better monitor the progress and condition of their cargo and get notifications and alerts on critical events throughout its journey.

For instance, customers can track cargo location and continually monitor temperature and humidity levels throughout transport. This feature is essential as a build-up of humidity can detrimentally affect the quality of the coffee beans. Using our smart containers, customers ensure the integrity and quality of their coffee beans from point A to B.

Capital: How does the quality of coffee impact its distribution and export potential?

Lilian Babirye: Like for any food product, if the product is good from the pickup, quality will remain the same during the transport and at the delivery. There are stuffing processes for containers that must be respected by exporters/ producers, and if they aren’t, this can damage the quality of the product.

Capital: What role does logistics play in optimizing coffee distribution, and what are some best practices in this area?

Lilian Babirye: Logistics plays a pivotal role in optimising the distribution of this commodity. Thus, MSC offers a comprehensive suite of hinterland and logistics solutions that bolster the African coffee industry. These encompass road and rail transportation, and warehousing, packaging, distribution, as well as value-added services like quality control and traceability. These solutions are instrumental in maintaining the quality and freshness of coffee beans throughout the storage, packaging, and the effectiveness in the transportation phases.

Capital: What are the potential benefits and challenges for coffee producers in Ethiopia with regards to the implementation of the AfCFTA?

Lilian Babirye: Lilian takes care of Rwanda and Uganda coffee market; however one challenge is that Rwanda or Uganda coffee production compete with Ethiopia’s production and reduce revenue form coffee beans production. Since trade barriers and restriction will be eliminated, facilitating the circulations of goods.

WE PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE — PUTIN’S INTERVIEW TO CARLSON

Opinion

admin

February 26, 2024

WE PROTECTING OUR PEOPLE — PUTIN’S INTERVIEW TO CARLSON

On February 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an exended interview to the famous American journalist Tucker Carlson. This interview became a real breaking news of international politics. It has already been viewed by over hundreds of millions people all around the world.

Since it would be impossible to present the whole interview in the newspaper pages, here are the contents of its main points:

History of the emergence of Ukraine

In 1922, when the USSR was being established, the Bolsheviks established the Soviet Ukraine, which had never existed before.
Lenin transferred to that newly established Soviet Republic of Ukraine some of the lands together with people living there, even though those lands had never been called Ukraine; and yet they were made part of the newly established Soviet Republic of Ukraine. Those lands included the Black Sea region, which was attained under Catherine the Great [as a result of Russian-Turkey wars] and had no historical connection with Ukraine whatsoever.
Under the well-known Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Western Ukraine was to be given to the then Soviet Union. Thus Russia, which was then named the USSR, regained its historical lands.
For decades, the Ukrainian Soviet Republic developed as a part of the USSR, and the Bolsheviks initiated Ukrainianization.
In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed. And everything that Russia had generously bestowed on Ukraine was ”dragged away“ by the latter.

NATO’s expansion to the East

After the collapse of the Soviet Union our borders should be along the borders of former Union’s republics. But we never agreed to NATO’s expansion and moreover we never agreed that Ukraine would be in NATO. We did not agree to NATO bases there without any discussion with us.
We were promised, “no NATO to the East, not an inch to the East’, as we were told. And then what? They said, ”Well, it’s not enshrined on paper, so we’ll expand.“ So there were five waves of expansion, to the Baltic States, the whole of Eastern Europe, and so on. In 2008 at the summit in Bucharest they declared that the doors for Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO were open.
Sovereign Ukraine, which gained its independence as a result of the Declaration of Independence, and, by the way, it says that Ukraine is a neutral state, and in 2008 suddenly the doors or gates to NATO were open to it.
They [NATO countries] are trying to intimidate their own population with an imaginary Russian threat.

Causes of the Ukrainian conflict

When did the developments in Ukraine start? Since the coup d’etat and the hostilities in Donbass began, that’s when they started [in February 2014]. And we are protecting our people, ourselves, our homeland and our future.
In 2014, there was a coup, they started persecuting those who did not accept the coup, and it was indeed a coup, they created a threat to Russian speaking population in Crimea which we had to take under our protection.
They [Ukraine] launched a large-scale military operation, then another one. When they failed, they started to prepare the next one. All this against the background of military development of this territory and opening of NATO’s doors.
We have repeatedly proposed to seek a solution to the problems that arose in Ukraine after the 2014 coup d’etat through peaceful means. But no one listened to us. And moreover, the Ukrainian leaders who were under the complete US control, suddenly declared that they would not comply with the Minsk agreements, they disliked everything there, and continued military activity in that territory.
Former leaders of Ukraine, Germany and France said openly to the whole world that although they indeed signed the Minsk Agreements, they never intended to implement them.

Nazism in Ukraine

After gaining independence, Ukraine began to search, as some Western analysts say, its identity. And it came up with nothing better than to build this identity upon some false heroes who had collaborated with Hitler.
Ukrainians are part of the one Russian people. They say, ”No, we are a separate people.“ Okay, fine. If they consider themselves a separate people, they have the right to do so, but not on the basis of Nazism, the Nazi ideology.
Ukraine announced that the Russians were [and a law was adopted] a non-titular nationality, while passing laws that limit the rights of non-titular nationalities in Ukraine. Ukraine, having received all these southeastern territories as a gift from the Russian people, suddenly announced that the Russians were a non-titular nationality in that territory. Is it normal? All this put together led to the decision to put on end to the war that neo-Nazis started in Ukraine in 2014.

Istanbul’s Agreements

We prepared a huge document in Istanbul that was initialed by the head of the Ukrainian delegation. He affixed his signature to some of the provisions, not to all of it.
As soon as we pulled back our troops from Kiev, our Ukrainian negotiators immediately threw all our agreements reached in Istanbul into the bin and got prepared for a longstanding armed confrontation with the help of the United States and its satellites in Europe.
During the negotiations we did agree that – we have it all in writing – neo-Nazism would not be cultivated in Ukraine, including that it would be prohibited at the legislative level.
After we withdrew our troops from Kiev the other side [Ukraine] threw away all these agreements and obeyed the instructions of Western countries, European countries and the United States to fight Russia to the bitter end.

Negotiations with Ukraine

President of Ukraine issued a decree prohibiting negotiations with us. Let him cancel that decree and that’s it. We have never refused negotiations indeed.
Up until now there has been the uproar and screaming about inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield. Now they are apparently coming to realize that it is difficult to achieve, if possible at all. In my opinion, it is impossible by definition, it is never going to happen. It seems to me that now those who are in power in the West have come to realize this as well. If so, if the realization has set in, they have to think what to do next. We are ready for this dialogue.

For the full text of the interview, please follow: ethiopia.mid.ru/en/press_center/embassy_s_news/interview_to_tucker_carlson

Press-Service of the Russian Embassy in Ethiopia

Name: Eyob Mohammed

Entrepreneurs

admin

February 26, 2024

Education: 10+

Company Name: Emu Furniture

Title: CEO

Founded in: 2021

What it does: To sell various types of home furniture

Headquarters: Jemo 1

Startup Capital: 300,000 Birr

Current Capital: 1,500,000 Birr

Number of Employees: 2

Reason for Starting the Business: To deliver high-quality work

Biggest Perk of ownership: Ensuring profitability through quality work

Biggest Strength: Effective delegation of tasks

Biggest Challenge: Financial constraints

Plan: Expansion of branch operations

First Career: Hotel Management

Most Interested in meeting: None

Most Admired Person: Binyam Belete, Founder of Mekdonia

Stress Reducer: Prayer

Favorite Book: Bible

Favorite Pastime: Spending time with family

Favorite Destination: Jerusalem

Favorite Automobile: Ford Pickup

About debts

Doing Business

admin

February 26, 2024

One thing that keeps many people up at night is debt. Debt is a major cause of stress, but not all debt should keep you up at night worrying. In fact, some forms of debt should let you dream of a more financially secure future. All debts are not the same; there are good debts and bad ones. If a debt increases your net worth or has future value, it’s good debt. If it doesn’t do that and you don’t have cash to pay for it, it’s bad debt.The next question is then, how do you know you have too much debt? To find out, an accepted formula is your debt-to-income ratio.Add up all your monthly debt payments and divide them by your monthly gross income to get your debt-to-income ratio. For instance, if you have a ETB 15,000 monthly mortgage, ETB 2,000 car payment and pay ETB 3.000 a month for other bills, your monthly debt is ETB 20,000.If your gross monthly income is ETB 40,000, it means your debt-to-income ratio is 50%. It also means you should be losing sleep. Anything over a 43% debt-to-income ratio is a red flag to potential lenders. Evidence suggests that borrowers with a higher ratio are more likely to have problems making monthly payments. In most cases, you can’t get a mortgage if your ratio is over 43 percent.That’s bad, because mortgages are probably the best form of debt!Good debt allows you to manage your finances more effectively, to leverage your wealth, to buy things you need and to handle unforeseen emergencies.Examples of good debt are taking out a mortgage, buying things that save you time and money, buying essential items, investing in yourself by borrowing for more education or to consolidate debt. Each may put you in a hole initially, but you’ll be better off in the long run for having borrowed the money.There is probably no better debt than a mortgage. For one thing, you must live somewhere. For another, you might as well live somewhere that gains value every year.
If for example you buy a home for ETB 2,350,000 and it appreciates 3% a year, it will be worth ETB 4,850,000 when your 30-year mortgage is paid off.  If it appreciates 4% a year, that initial ETB 2,350,000 investment will be worth ETB 6,490,000.Now that’s good debt to have.These are basically offshoots of a mortgage. You get a loan using at a relatively low interest rate using your house as collateral.
A lot of consumers use that to pay off other higher-interest debts, while some use it to make home improvements like solar panels that could save money on utility bills and increase the value of your home.The only stress comes from the prospect of having your house foreclosed if you can’t make the payments.
Now, your chances to become financially well off are much better if you start your own company and work for yourself. Small business loans are tougher to get because they are riskier to the lender.
Almost one-third of small businesses fail to survive their first two years, but if you have enough ambition, savvy and luck, borrowing money to start your own business could be the best investment you’ll ever make.
Anything that decreases in value the minute after you buy it is bad debt. Unfortunately, that describes many of life’s necessities, like clothes, automobiles and the flat screen TV you need to watch the Champions League.If you can’t pay cash for them, you should at least consider settling for off-brand clothes and 43-inch TV. Here are examples of bad debt.
While in Ethiopia we are only using debit cards, in many other countries, credit cards are used commonly. Credit cards can ruin your financial health, and interest rates are the silent killer. Figuring them out is confusing, and that’s fine with credit card companies. In the USA, the average household with credit card debt has a balance of $16,784, according to a 2016 NerdWallet survey. That indicates a lot of people are way over the recommended 30% credit utilization ratio.
Car loans are generally considered bad debt. On the other hand, if the interest of the loan is relatively low and you need a car to get to work, you may consider going for it. The most financially prudent move is to avoid a Mercedes when a Hyundai will do. If you want to eventually can afford that expensive car, you will need your dents to be good debts.
Remember, many small holes can sink a big ship!

Source: Bill Fay, Debt.org

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