Day: July 14, 2023

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Carthage Cement: 24% surge in overall sales in first half of 2023

Carthage Cement achieved an overall turnover of 208.546 million dinars (MD) at the end of the first half of 2023, an increase of 24% compared with the same period in 2022, according to the cement plant’s activity indicators published on Friday on the Tunis Stock Exchange website.

The improvement in Carthage Cement’s results is explained by the jump in cement activity sales, due to the increase in sales, both local by +25%, to 158.822 MD, and export by +19%, to 31.284 MD, on 30 June 2023.

Carthage Cement is thus consolidating its position as leader in the cement sector in Tunisia, with an overall market share of 25% during the first six months of 2023.

The same applies to the aggregates business, which has continued to follow an upward trend, reaching a turnover of 11.227 MD at the end of June 2023, representing an increase of 38%.

Similarly, concrete sales rose by 3% to 7.213 MD.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Energy deficit widens 14% as of May 2023 (Energy Observatory)

The deficit of the energy trade balance increased from 3,085 million Tunisian dinars (MD) at the end of May 2022 to 3,519 MD at the end of May 2023, representing a 14% increase (including the fee for exported Algerian gas), as stated in the monthly report on the energy situation in May 2023.

According to the report published on Thursday by the National Observatory of Energy and Mines, the value of energy product exports saw a 37% decrease compared to the end of May 2022, amounting to 1,440 million dinars.

As for imports, their value decreased by 8% compared to May 2022, reaching 4,959 million dinars.

By the end of May 2023, imports of petroleum products dropped 5% in value compared to the same period in 2022, totalling 3,148 million dinars.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Total electricity production down by 5% at end of May 2023

At the end of May 2023, total electricity production fell by 5% to 6912 GWh (excluding self-generation consumed), according to the energy conjuncture note published on Friday by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy. Production for the local market was virtually unchanged.

Algeria’s electricity purchases covered 13% of local market needs during the first five months of the year. Electricity production by the national electricity and Gas company ((STEG) continues to account for the lion’s share, with 99% of national production.

Electricity generated from natural gas (STEG + IPP) fell by 5%, while that generated from renewable energies did not exceed 2.5% of total electricity production.

Electricity sales were up by 2% on May 31, 2023, following a 1% increase in sales to medium-voltage customers. However, sales by high-voltage customers fell by 8%, according to the same source.

In fact, industrial customers remain the largest consumers of electricity, accounting for 62% of total demand from high and medium-voltage customers.

The majority of sectors recorded a fall in sales, mainly the paper and publishing industry (-20%) and the extractive industries (-13%). On the other hand, sales rose in water pumping and sanitary services (+15%), tourism (+16%) and agricultural pumping (+8%).

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Arab Sports Games 2023 (Women’s Volleyball): Tunisia claim silver

The Tunisian women’s volleyball team settled for the silver medal, after succumbing to their Algerian counterparts 0-3 (25-23, 25-23, 25-23) in the final of the 2023 Arab Sports Games tournament held on Friday in Algiers.

In an earlier match vying for the bronze medal, the Jordanian team triumphed over their counterparts from the United Arab Emirates in a five-set encounter, clinching victory with a score of 3 sets to 2 (25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 15-13).

The tournament results for the women’s division are as follows:

Placement game:

Jordan – United Arab Emirates 3-2 (25-23, 25-19, 22-25, 19-25, 15-13)

Final:

Algeria – Tunisia 3-0 (25-23, 25-23, 25-23)

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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National Guard seizes 24 kg of cocaine in Djerba

The General Directorate of the National Guard, on Friday, reported the seizure of 24 kg of cocaine in Djerba.

The Directorate specified that the illicit substance, divided into 24 one-kilogram packages, was discovered in a bag by a maritime guard patrol while maintaining public order on the beaches of Djerba Island.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

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Seychelles launches SDGs Investor Map tool

The private sector in Seychelles has been urged to take advantage of opportunities provided by the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Investor Map tool, which was launched by President Wavel Ramkalawan on Thursday.

The appeal was made by the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Devika Vidot, who described the launch as a milestone.

She said that Seychelles, with its natural beauty, can attract investors on its own but the investor map “provides an opportunity to have a coordinated approach to provide clear guidance in regards to where our resources should be allocated.”

Vidot said that although the government can put in place all appropriate frameworks “make no mistake we will need the role and responsibility of the private sector to capitalise on these evolving opportunities.”

Ramkalawan (centre) who launched the investor map with Minister Vidot and Serumaga, resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme. (Seychelles Nation) Photo License: CC-BY

Now that it has been finalised, the map is attached to an online platform featuring other countries that have also participated in the same process. The link for this platform will later become publicly available.

Private investors in Seychelles are being asked to invest in five main areas namely renewable resources, technology and communications, services, food and beverages and infrastructure.

The chairperson of the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce, Oliver Bastienne, said in his address that “the investor map is a tool that informs and provides an investment route for businesses to achieve what I call wonderful treasures. These treasures are what we call sustainable development goals with good financial returns.”

He said that “the private sector should build on the current momentum on maximising wealth not only for itself but for the Seychelles community as a whole. This is what we call investment with an impact. The investor map is designed to enable Seychelles to identify impact investments and emerging priorities through local evidence-based insights.”

The resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Seychelles and Mauritius, Amanda Serumaga, said that the investor map is a tool that UNDP has on a global platform.

“This platform is larger and it’s a call of a series of initiatives by the UNDP as part of the United Nations, aimed at establishing comprehensive mechanisms for financing the sustainable development goals. The 2030 agenda goes beyond the scope of a single UN agency or government. It represents a shared responsibility and undoubtedly the attainment of sustainable development requires collaboration,” she added.

“It is our hope that the private sector in Seychelles perceives this map not merely as an incoming competition but rather as an opportunity to mobilise resources and technology, expand their businesses and tap into emerging markets including those within the African continental free market area,” said Serumaga.

The identified and emerging Investment Opportunity Areas will serve as a foundation for partnerships in implementing tangible and viable solutions to support the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Seychelles citizens returning home can embark on any airline without electronic disembarkation form

Seychelles passport holders will now be allowed to board any airline coming to Seychelles without having to fill in an electronic disembarkation form, said a top government official on Thursday.

The announcement was made by Vice President Ahmed Afif in a cabinet press briefing with reporters.

“The important change that we are making is that we are giving a directive to all airline operators in Seychelles and their control point outside of the country that for any person with a valid Seychelles passport checking in at those territories, it will no longer be necessary for them to have an authorisation from the Seychelles Electronic Border Systems (SEBS) before entering the country,” explained Afif.

Prior to the announcement Seychelles passport holders had to get an authorisation after filling out their electronic disembarkation form to be allowed to board any airline.

“What we are saying is that a person should not be refused entry into Seychelles simply because they have not filled out an electronic form. You will embark and when you reach Seychelles you will have to fill in your electronic form. A terminal will be placed at the airport to do the procedures. This will cause a short delay compared to passengers who had filled theirs before disembarkation,” he added.

Nevertheless, he encourages all Seychellois to fill in their electronic disembarkation form before they embark but if they have not done it that will not be a reason for any airline to stop them from embarking.

The Vice President told reporters that the cabinet of ministers also approved the change of the name of the Immigration Border Control System to Seychelles Electronic Border System (SEBS) and not Travizory.

“It was called travel authorisation because, at the time it was introduced, people needed an authorisation from the health authority to enter Seychelles during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Afif said that this is not relevant anymore for Seychellois. However, foreign travellers coming to Seychelles must have a valid passport, travel itinerary, proof of accommodation, and apply for their travel authorisation online on the SEBS. Foreign workers returning to the country also need to use the SEBS to provide their valid work permits and other relevant work information.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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Seychelles signs SADC Charter for fisheries monitoring and control centre

Seychelles is set to partake in more regional cooperation in its fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing with the signing of the Charter for the SADC Fisheries Monitoring Control and Surveillance Coordination Centre (MCSCC).

The SADC Council of Ministers approved the Charter in August 2017 in Pretoria, South Africa, and entered into force on April 8, 2023. The Charter aims to provide a legal framework for establishing and operationalising an institution that will coordinate measures relating to fisheries monitoring control and surveillance (MCS) in the SADC region.

The Charter was signed by Seychelles’ minister for fisheries, Jean Francois Ferrari, in a ceremony on Friday. Seychelles became the 12th SADC member state to sign the Charter.

The deputy chair of the regional technical team for SADC, Julie Bibi, told the press that joining the Charter will help Seychelles to increase its regional coorperation.

“We will have a regional vessel registry, where if a vessel is licensed in a country, we will be able to know through communication with other member countries. We plan to have a regional VMS (Vessel Monitoring System) through which we will be able to share data. There will be a lot of capacity building that will also help member countries to increase capacity in MCS,” said Julie.

Through the years, Seychelles has made progress in monitoring, control and surveillance matters by improving the implementation of trade-related measures to prevent IUU fishing and reorganising the setup of the MCS department to allow the performance of crucial international obligations.

“Fisheries plays a critical role plays in the livelihoods of the Seychellois people, our economy and more so in the SADC region. The signing of the MCSCC Charter emphasises this importance and you will understand why we place that much importance on giving life and authority to this Charter,” said Ferrari.

“Fisheries has played and continues to play a vital role in the socio-economic development of Seychelles. It accounts for a large part of exports and is a source of foreign exchange earnings, contributes to food security and balanced nutrition,” he continued.

Seychelles has one of the highest levels of fish consumption per capita, ranging between 48 to 65 kilogrammes, and more or less entirely produced by the artisanal demersal fishery. The sector also has a substantial multiplier effect, supporting employment throughout the processing and marketing chain and other ancillary fishing activities.

Source: Seychelles News Agency

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