Africa SMME finalists named

THE finalists for the annual Africa SMME Awards were announced in Cape Town recently and reflected a vibrant and growing small, medium and micro enterprise (SMME) sector on the continent.

The awards event, which is organised by the Africa Centre for Investment Analysis at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, will take place on 21 October in Cape Town. Not only were a record number of entries received for this competition, but entries from outside South Africa more than doubled.In this year’s competition, all entries were submitted to a panel of 10 adjudicators to identify 10 sector finalists.Out of these, the panel determines regional winners, as well as the overall winner, the Africa SMME of the year.An award is also given to the top journalist operating in the SMME sector.In terms of industries, the manufacturing and the information and communications technology (ICT) sectors were the strongest sectors regarding number of entries – attracting about 36 per cent of the entries.For the first time this year, the Africa SMME Awards will include a category aimed at non-profit organisations.The competition is aimed at African SMMEs that have proved their excellence in the international business world.The finalists for the Africa SMME Awards are:Agricultural, Food and Beverage production: Magana Flowers (Kenya), Natural Valley Ltd (Zambia) , Soyaf Soft Drinks (Burkina Faso);Arts & Crafts: Ash-Geo Handmade Training Centre (Ghana), Genuine Leather Craft P.L.C. (Ethiopia), Ngwenya Glass (Pty) Ltd (Swaziland);Banking and Finance: African Investment Corporation inc (Cameroon), ReNaissance Merchant Bank (Zimbabwe);Construction: NRB Construction (South Africa), TAF Holding company (The Gambia);Education, Training and Consulting: Media Works (South Africa), Resolve Workplace Solutions (South Africa), Tjeka Training (South Africa);Environment/ Renewable Energy: Environmental civil Engineering Consulting Centre (Egypt), Polucon Services Ltd. (Kenya), UltraTec Ltd (Uganda);Information and Communications Technology: Aerospace Monitoring and Systems (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Intermap (Pty) Ltd (South Africa); Solar and Communications Equipment Limited (Sierra Leone);Manufacturing: BreatheTex Corporation (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Bumbo (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Neel Industries (Mauritius);Open category: e-Centric Link (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Naphtronics Pty Ltd Inc. Flash Security (South Africa), Tele10 (Rwanda) ;Tourism: Crater Valley Kibale Resort Beach (Uganda), Malealea Trading (PTY) Ltd (Lesotho);NPO: ABC Ulwazi (South Africa), ApproTEC (Kenya), Association Al Amana pour la promotion des Microentreprises (Morrocco);Journalist Award: Frederick Mordi (Nigeria), Stephen Timm (South Africa), Saikah Momoh (Nigeria).- University of Stellenbosch Business SchoolNot only were a record number of entries received for this competition, but entries from outside South Africa more than doubled.In this year’s competition, all entries were submitted to a panel of 10 adjudicators to identify 10 sector finalists.Out of these, the panel determines regional winners, as well as the overall winner, the Africa SMME of the year.An award is also given to the top journalist operating in the SMME sector.In terms of industries, the manufacturing and the information and communications technology (ICT) sectors were the strongest sectors regarding number of entries – attracting about 36 per cent of the entries.For the first time this year, the Africa SMME Awards will include a category aimed at non-profit organisations.The competition is aimed at African SMMEs that have proved their excellence in the international business world.The finalists for the Africa SMME Awards are:Agricultural, Food and Beverage production: Magana Flowers (Kenya), Natural Valley Ltd (Zambia) , Soyaf Soft Drinks (Burkina Faso);Arts & Crafts: Ash-Geo Handmade Training Centre (Ghana), Genuine Leather Craft P.L.C. (Ethiopia), Ngwenya Glass (Pty) Ltd (Swaziland);Banking and Finance: African Investment Corporation inc (Cameroon), ReNaissance Merchant Bank (Zimbabwe);Construction: NRB Construction (South Africa), TAF Holding company (The Gambia);Education, Training and Consulting: Media Works (South Africa), Resolve Workplace Solutions (South Africa), Tjeka Training (South Africa);Environment/ Renewable Energy: Environmental civil Engineering Consulting Centre (Egypt), Polucon Services Ltd. (Kenya), UltraTec Ltd (Uganda);Information and Communications Technology: Aerospace Monitoring and Systems (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Intermap (Pty) Ltd (South Africa); Solar and Communications Equipment Limited (Sierra Leone);Manufacturing: BreatheTex Corporation (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Bumbo (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Neel Industries (Mauritius);Open category: e-Centric Link (Pty) Ltd (South Africa), Naphtronics Pty Ltd Inc. Flash Security (South Africa), Tele10 (Rwanda) ;Tourism: Crater Valley Kibale Resort Beach (Uganda), Malealea Trading (PTY) Ltd (Lesotho);NPO: ABC Ulwazi (South Africa), ApproTEC (Kenya), Association Al Amana pour la promotion des Microentreprises (Morrocco);Journalist Award: Frederick Mordi (Nigeria), Stephen Timm (South Africa), Saikah Momoh (Nigeria).- University of Stellenbosch Business School