Huawei released its 2020 Annual Report stating that growth slowed, but the company’s business performance was largely in line with forecast. Huawei’s sales revenue in 2020 rounded off at CNY891.4 billion, up 3.8% year-on-year, and its net profit reached CNY64.6 billion, up 3.2% year-on-year.
Despite operational difficulties brought about by US sanctions in 2019 and 2020, Huawei has continued to invite KPMG to independently and objectively audit our financial statements. The document produced by KPMG is a standard unmodified audit opinion. No matter the circumstances, we will continue to embrace transparency by disclosing operational data to governments, customers, suppliers, employees, and partners.
In 2020, Huawei’s carrier business continued to ensure the stable operations of more than 1,500 networks across more than 170 countries and regions, which helped support telework, online learning, and online shopping throughout COVID-19 lockdowns. Working together with carriers around the world, the company helped provide a superior connected experience and moved forward with more than 3,000 5G innovation projects in over 20 industries like coal mining, steel production, ports, and manufacturing.
Huawei reaffirms commitment to creating greater value for customers and society in the face of adversity
Global deal activity declined by 4.5% in February 2021
A total of 5,013 deals (mergers & acquisitions, private equity and venture financing) were announced globally during February 2021, which is a month-on-month decline of 4.5% over the 5,247 deals announced during January, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Aurojyoti Bose, Lead Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Although some countries are showcasing improvement in deal-making sentiments, market conditions still remain volatile in some of the key markets. In fact, the decline in February is primarily attributed to the subdued deal activity in the US and China.”
An analysis of GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database reveals that North America accounted for the highest share of deal volume in February followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America. While North America and Europe witnessed decline in deal volume by 12.7% and 1.8%, respectively, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America registered growth in deal activity by 3.9%, 24.8% and 32.6%, respectively.
Ikhaya Automation Systems partners with UNICEF to aid safe vaccine delivery across Africa
Ikhaya Automation Systems (Ikhaya), specialist leaders in temperature monitoring solutions for the pharmaceutical industry among others, has partnered with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to aid vaccination efforts across Africa. As an accredited UNICEF supplier as of January 2021, Ikhaya will be supplying specially manufactured, preconfigured and automated temperature monitoring and control solutions. These systems will ensure that the cold chain on essential medications, such as the Covid-19 vaccine, remains intact, a challenging prospect in the African market.
“Many medications, and especially the Covid-19 vaccinations, need to be kept within very narrow and specific temperature ranges, otherwise they could be rendered ineffective and possibly even be dangerous. With our solution, designed specifically for the African market, UNICEF can reduce wastage, improve efficiency and speed efforts to achieve herd immunity,” says Praba Moonsamy, Managing Director at Ikhaya.
US, Ethiopia launch new $2.2 billion phase of the productive safety net program
The United States joined the Government of Ethiopia and development partners to launch the next five-year phase of the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP). The PSNP is the Government of Ethiopia’s multi-billion-dollar food security, public works, and social safety net program for millions in need across Ethiopia.
The PSNP was first established with U.S. support in 2005. As the largest donor, USAID’s contribution accounts for over $550 million.
The launch represents a total additional $2.2 billion investment by the government and Ethiopia’s international partners in PSNP. Over the next five years, the PSNP will reach up to nine million people each year as it provides food assistance and services that will lift vulnerable families out of poverty.
Minister of Finance Ahmed Shide and Minister of Agriculture Oumer Hussein launched the new, fifth phase of PSNP with heads of agencies from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), World Bank, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, World Food Program, UNICEF, Irish Aid, and the Netherlands at a ceremony in Addis Ababa.
