Hyatt Hotels Corporation disclosed that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with seven hotel developers in Africa which is to be opened in the coming three years. The Seven Hotel of Hyatt Regency which is in the pipe line would bring the total number of Hyatt-branded hotels to 15 by 2021.
Currently, there are eight Hyatt regency Hotels which are operational in Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa, Algeria, Kenya, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
“Hyatt has been focused on growing its brand presence in the Africa, with gate way cities and tourist destinations being one of most important development strategies, said Tejas Shah, regional vice president of development of sub-Saharan Africa, Hyatt.
As Hyatt Regency this is a milestone in expanding the existence in the African market as Hyatt increasingly is gaining popularity with leisure travelers.
“We are proud to be working with Hyatt again to introduce its brands to the global city of Manchester,” said Tejas Shah, regional vice president of development sub shahran Africa, Hyatt.
Tourism in Africa is projected to increase and drive job opportunities for over 3.5 million people in the next 10 years, as the number of tourists expected to grow by 4.4 percent in the coming 15 years.
“Africa, and particularly East Africa, remains a focus for Hyatt with an increasingly favorable business climate and heightened tourism spend, encouraged by relaxed,” Shah adds.
Dakar-Senegal, Marrakesh-Morocco and Cairo- Egypt are among the new destinations where the Chicago-headquartered Hyatt’s opens its door until 2021.
According to the UNWTO Tourism 2018 Edition, international tourist arrivals in sub-Saharan Africa have grown by 5.8 percent from 2005 to 2017, which is well above the global average of 4.2 percent. Furthermore, the continent saw a sustained growth of 8.6 percent in international tourist arrivals last year visa rules, travel incentives, and a growing middle class.
“The opening up of more Hyatt in Africa can make to serve our esteemed customers to provide the highest level of service beside the direct and indirect job drive created by this hospitality industry”, the Vice President stressed.
Hyatt plans to double African presence
Nisir Micro Finance doubles loan amounts
Nisir Micro Finance SC plans to increase its loan total from 200,000 to 400,000 birr as part of its five-year strategic plan to support young entrepreneurs starting this year. They also plan to deploy tech-based banking services.
Established in 2015, with 215 shareholders with 14.7 million birr in paid-up capital, the company wants to reach the ‘Missing Middle’ class in Addis Ababa to support new business and improve existing ones through their five branches.
Nisir provides loans for small and medium business (SME) and was able to mobilize over 450 million birr in five years of operation. In order to reach a majority of the public, the company plans to deploy modern financial technology to become more accessible. This makes Nisir the first among microfinance institutions to render core-banking, mobile banking, Internet banking, and ATM services.
The company also plans to increase the number of customers to 10,000 and mobilize over 850 million birr to benefit more youth. They found that eighty percent of those taking loans are between the age of 18-34.
”Nisir is targeting youth because they have been the reason for our existence,” said Binyam Tadesse, Board secretariat of Nisir Micro finance SC.
Nisir Micro offers loans service for students of higher institutions to buy laptops at low interest rates.
According to the board of secretary, the company can process all types of loans within a week, which is faster than most banks.
The National Bank of Ethiopia (NBE), is drafting a directive to allow Microfinance Institutions to operate like regular banks.
NBE’s data shows that the total assets of the 38 MFIs, , have reached 76.5 billion birr. Their total loan amount is 51.7 billion birr. Their assets have grown by 26 percent.
In five years, the company has grown to employ 70 people in five branches. 
Shipping Enterprise postpones truck purchase
The Ethiopian Shipping and Logistics Services Enterprise () postponed the opening of the bid document for the procurement of 150 brand new heavy duty trucks in relation to the bid document adjustment on axle load.
Wondimu Denbu, deputy CEO of the Enterprise for Corporate Service, told Capital that the international bid was expected to be opened in the current week, while in connection with bidders who wanted further clarification about the bid document on the point of axle load the opening has been postponed for the third week of October.
He said that the enterprise has targeted removing some trucks that are not suitable for operation which it handles on the import export corridor mainly on the Djibouti outlet.
Due to that the state multimodal monopoly is looking to purchase 150 heavy duty trucks to improve its service and replace the old ones.
Currently ESLSE has about 440 trucks including the 215 trucks, from one of the popular brand Renault Trucks, a French automotive company. The Renault trucks are high quality, but the others are not in good condition, according to experts.
Besides the 215 Renault trucks that were purchased about four years ago the enterprise had a collection of 230 that came from different organizations when the enterprise formed under amalgamation of the historical Ethiopian Shipping Lines, the Dry Port Services Enterprise and the Maritime and Transit Services in 2012.
“The trucks are very old as per our current study 123 trucks will be removed during the current budget year. After one trip to Djibouti they have to go to maintenance, which is uneconomic for the enterprise,” Wondimu said.
He said that the current bid opening is postponed due that the enterprise took time to get clarification from Ethiopian Roads Authority (ERA) and Ministry of Transport, who are responsible for giving clarification for maximum axle load capacity for trucks in the country.
“We have mentioned the axle load capacity that is not in use in the country because bidders want clarification that we should approach the two government organizations for more clarification and provide the information to bidders,” the Deputy CEO explained. He said the bid will be opened on October 20.
Yoseph Tamiru, Pavement Management Team Leader at ERA, told Capital that ESLSE has been requested to import 4 axle load capacity truck that is not allowed in the country. This means they were looking to import the combination of 4 axle trucks, according to the expert at ERA.
He said that his authority explained the issue to ESLSE.
“In the current condition we allowed tri axle that means the combination of three axle and we have also told them that they can buy trucks designed based on the tri axle,” he explained.
Yoseph remembered that the agreement that Ethiopian signed under COMESA and other treaties the four axle truck is not allowed to be driven on the street.
He said that the crucial issue is putting axles on combination line. It might be seven or eight axle trucks shall import but the maximum combination of axle must not be more than three axles.
ESLSE planned to increase the axle and enable to load more tonnage since the weight disburse on every axles since the number of axles has increased.
Such kind of four axle trucks are not driven in the countries where they are made, according to Yoseph argued. Over loading is the challenge of road designed life, while ERA is doing its best to control axle load.
As per the country law the maximum axle load allowed is 58 tones, but mostly trucks in the country load 40 tones.
ESLSE is also leasing trucks from private transporters besides using its own. In the past budget year ESLSE, which is one of the mega public enterprises tabled on the latest privatization process on partial sales, has earned 1.7 billion birr.
Roba Megerssa, CEO of ESLSE, said that in the current budget year the enterprise has targeted to transport 7.5 million tons in commodities, which was 4.5 million tons in the past budget year.
USAID funds $2 mln for youth
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), earmarked two million USD for building the potential of youth activity in selected higher institutions partnering with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and Save the Children.
A one-year initiative which is being implemented by Save the Children, partner and six selected universities: Bahir Dar, Hawassa, Jigjiga, Jimma, Mekelle and Semera to equip graduates with the skills necessary to pursue and land appropriate job opportunities.
“The initiative helps our country to have competitive graduates in the market in compliance with the 15-year education road map to ensure quality education and jobs,” said Hirut W.Mariayam, from the Ministry of Higher education and science.
The capacity building will focus on high-order thinking skills, positive self-concepts, self-control and social skills to strengthen graduates’ employability. The activity will facilitate learning exchanges between universities at the national level as well as cross (inter) institutional peer exchanges while also developing a digital platform to link employers with educational institutes.
The support will address some of the existing gaps between the skill sets of university students and the demands of the job market they will face after graduation.
The six partner universities will in turn, create partnerships with Technical and Vocational Education and Training institutions (TVET) in their geographic regions to address skills mismatches, improve graduates’ employability and create partnerships with the private sector and potential employers. Brandeis University from Massachusetts, USA will provide technical support during the implementation of this initiative in partnership with Save the Children.
“We believe investing in education is one of the best investments we can all make as this initiative will support Ethiopia’s Journey to self-reliance in line with the country’s education system reform,” said Sonjai Reynolds-Cooper, Director of USAID’s Education and Youth office.
Through this initiative, the partner universities and TVET colleges will be able to produce graduates with market relevant skills and experiences.
