The main challenge entrepreneurs are facing in Africa is not the lack of great ideas but the fear of turning ideas into reality. With unemployment in South Africa at an all time high, more and more people are trying to make their own way in the economy.The Africa Digital Entrepreneurship events are about turning dreams into action. The series of events aims to enable digital entrepreneurship and the upcoming ‘Bitcoin Nights’ meet-up in Johannesburg on Thursday, 24 October at The Business Exchange Morningside, 150 Rivonia Road is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the digital assets space.

Business networking is the fast track to success and event sponsors such as Zcoin and OVEX believe that entrepreneurship is the way forward for South Africans. Jonathan Ovadia, Co-Founder and CEO at OVEX, a company helping to create an open, trustless and more efficient financial system says “the vision is to break down the barriers that prevent people from entering the traditional financial system. We believe that wealth-creating investment opportunities shouldn’t only be accessible to the wealthy, but should be available to all.”

The event is facilitated by the United Africa Blockchain Association (UABA), a non-profit leading blockchain education and adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. With the help of sponsors, The Africa Digital Entrepreneurship Series’ goal is to provide relevant content on business and technology that helps people learn and grow professionally and personally.The meet-ups provide a conducive environment for networking and ideas exchange, and attendees can look forward to free drinks, giveaways and prizes. Other sponsors include Divi, which makes it possible for anyone to participate in securing blockchains through their one-click masternodes, challenging the notion that you need technical expertise to participate in the blockchain ecosystem. Centbee, a digital wallet company that believes in the power of people to create an abundant future and æternity, a new blockchain technology, designed to deliver efficiency, transparent governance and global scalability are also part of the sponsors who see huge potential in Africa and are actively championing the digital asset revolution.

The theme of the Johannesburg event focuses on the Digital Asset Economy and anyone interested in tech is welcome to attend FREE of charge and benefit from the networking opportunity and inspiring discussions. Speakers will include Adi Kaimowitz, President and CEO of Virtual Actuary, Maushami Chetty of Novate Legal; Mpho Dagada – Commisioner, 4th Industrial Revolution at the SA Presidency; and Yaliwe Soko, Chairperson at UABA.The event aims to inspire participants to increase their appetite for entrepreneurship and get more knowledgeable about the growing trend in digital assets. Africa is a market ready to adopt new technology but lack of emphasis on digital entrepreneurship opportunities in Africa might result in missed economic opportunities for the next generation.

“It’s important to encourage the youth to explore the option of entrepreneurship as a career path instead of waiting for employment opportunities which may never be available to them.Initiatives such as the Africa Digital Entrepreneurship Series focus on creating awareness and demystifying what it means to run a digital enterprise,” said Heath Muchena, Founder of Proudly Associated, a company working with companies developing blockchain-powered technologies that have use cases focusing on emerging economy development to gain adoption across the continent.Whether you’re a student, professional or fledgling entrepreneur, this event will provide valuable insights and an opportunity to learn, grow, network and be inspired all in one. The meet-up will be a relaxed, no-suits-or-ties sort of event so expect to learn and be entertained. 

"The Africa Digital Entrepreneurship Series connects up-and-coming entrepreneurs in all fields. It’s a fantastic way for those interested in tech and online businesses to build a solid support network,” said Grey Jabesi, host of the Grey Ave Podcast, Africa’s top rated podcast which focuses on survival skills for the 21st century.

By attending this FREE event, attendees will:

Learn about new frontiers in digital innovation

Find out how to leverage technology to broaden participation in the global digital economy

Boost digital asset knowledge including digital asset acquisition and management

Learn how to build a fully remote businessDiscover mentorship opportunities

Interact with other entrepreneurs and build business networks

Meet like-minded innovators and go-getters

Be empowered!

GET TICKETS HERE: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/africa-digital-entrepreneurship-series-tickets-77802321839

Event details: 

Admission: FREE (Limited space so make sure you get there early.)

Date: Thursday, 24 October, 2019

Location:  The Business Exchange, Block 4, 150 Rivonia Road, Morningside, Sandton, 2057 Johannesburg.

If you want to sponsor this event or for more information, contact:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

JOHANNESBURG-South African businesses need to capitalize on the potential that exists in bio-metric enabled cashless transactions as they can now embed Software Development Kits, SDKs, into their own apps to biometrically enable the apps to validate identities while a customer is registering, logging on or processing a cashless transaction. Business Development Director for local bio-metric authentication specialists, Fides Cloud Technologies, Craig Hills says, “the major barrier to the adoption of bio-metrics for retail and other transactional activities in the last decade has been the need for additional hardware to verify identities but with modern SDK’s, that can be a thing of the past.”

Hills, who will be speaking on the subject of Bio-metrics in the cashless system and future possibilities at the 2019 Cashless Payments Summit taking place at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg on the 7th and 8th of November, added that the introduction of relatively cheap smartphones with cameras which have sufficient quality to capture a bio-metric image, has allowed for bio-metrics to be included in any customer engagement strategies both in branch and remotely at retail shops.

Still on how retail service providers can benefit from modern cashless payment systems which are constantly innovating, innovative bitcoin company Centbee CEO, Angus Brown, said “retailers and other businesses need to take advantage of the fact that South Africans are in the top five global adopters of cryptocurrency.”   

Looking at how some retailers, especially smaller one’s view cryptocurrencies, Brown said, ‘They do not need to understand how cryptocurrencies work – they just need a Bitcoin Payment Processor, which acts like an acquiring bank to handle all this for them”.

Brown, who will also be speaking at the 2019 Cashless Payments Summit said paying by scanning a QR code is becoming ubiquitous and in some countries is now the de-facto payment type while BitcoinSV is currently processing at the speed of thousands of transactions per second, and provides instant confirmation – completely suitable as a payments clearing and settlement network.

This year, the Cashless Payments Summit, being organized by Vukani Communications will also feature speakers like Farieda Mayet from Huawei who will showcase new developments in technological infrastructure that enable a successful digital economy, Brett Williams from Zapper will be evaluating how and why banks and retailers need to collaborate in the cashless system.  Arthur Matsaudza from stock exchange listed digital solutions giant, Cassava Smartech, which owns Ecocash will be looking at the constant race to innovate, deliver and thrive despite a myriad of operational challenges in the cashless sphere while Reneitte Van der Merwe from ABSA, will be talking about cashless payments in the informal economy. Tracey Sibanda for Vukani Communications

One of the fears that wealthy people are grappling with is being part of the next big thing in the large scale of investments.

Property is highly saturated these days, the interest rate is making some investments unattractive and offshore savings are reeling off the issues of the economic downturn in some countries.Investment in startups seems to be one of the niche that is becoming an attractive topic in the investment arena. It gives rich people an opportunity to acquire as much equity in the next big ideas.

The first ever business investment event that actually connects companies to investment opportunities is launching on the 05th of July this year.The event gives 20 emerging companies the opportunity to showcase their idea to an audience mix of private and public investors.

The auction model allows investors the opportunity to indicate business they deem fit and would like to invest in. Invited to the event are business development specialist and analysts as well as successful business entrepreneurs to educate startups.Our angle is to engage crowdfunding corporations and access their investment database to give diversity to the investment pool. We invite private investment companies and extend invitations to government funding agencies to balance the chart. Finally, we structure a sponsorship plan that directly pays the most outstanding business at the meeting. These gives numerous opportunities to businesses with great ideas.

In order to increase the spectrum of the event and create awareness and support for South African business internationally. We do a business investment call with investment corporations who are willing to sponsor African businesses. We have 5 representatives from 5 international investment agencies in America, London, Canada, and Germany all attending this year event. The biggest in the list of invited investors is C5capital. The Investment engagement platform created by BIM to give international investors the opportunity would boost tourism and attract foreign Investors in the country.

We welcome all emerging industry leaders and market shifters who believe they have a great idea to be part of the inaugural event this year.Businesses and investors alike can register on the beta site reserved for the event at www.empowerproject.co.za to be part of the event.

There is still a large number of South Africans who lack basic financial literacy, which is also part of the reason that many struggle to get rid of debt, become financially stable and develop a savings culture.

In celebration of National Book Week, taking place from 4 — 10 September, online insurance and financial comparison platform, Hippo.co.za, selected their top five personal finance books to help consumers save money.

1. The Total Money Makeover, by Dave Ramsey
   This book is a great financial guide, especially for those who wish to get out of debt. The book provides practical advice on several aspects such as how to start an emergency fund, pay off debt, pay off your home early and save for your children’s education. The seven-step approach has sold close to 5 million copies and earned the book a spot on the New York Times’ Best Seller list for over two years. The book can be purchased online for under R200, a small investment for a lifetime of practical financial change.
   
   
2. Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robin, Joe Dominguez and Monique Tilford
   Although released in 1992, the book stays relevant today as it does not merely give the general “do this, not that” advice when it comes to personal finance, it goes into the psychology of money, provides insights into why we spend money on things and how to focus on money in terms of life instead of looking at it in terms of material possessions. This realistic approach helps with the guilt that comes with spending, as it looks at necessary and healthy spending based on your personal financial position. The e-book can be purchased for under R185 online.
   
   
3. I Will Teach You to Be Rich, by Ramit Sethi
   This book, released in 2009, is probably one of the simpler books in terms of breaking down practical personal finance tips. It not only provides tips and tools to help manage your finances better, but also provides saving suggestions and ideas on how to make additional money with hobbies and passion projects. Some criticised the book for being a bit too simple, but most preferred it as it provided them with a simple and realistic way of handling their personal finances. You can find the e-book, paperback and summary version online for R224, R193, and R30 respectively.
   
   
4. Get a Financial Life, by Beth Kobliner
   Whilst most people have learned the tips and tricks of managing their finances by the time they have reached their middle ages, many could have been in better financial positions had they received these tips at a younger age. This book targets the younger adult who has managed to gain some buying power and who is on their way to managing their lives on their own. The book provides tips from dealing with student loan debt, to saving for a home to considering health and other insurance. There are several paperback versions online from about R116.
   
   
5. Personal Finance for Dummies, by Eric Tyson
   This best-seller by a renowned financial counsellor and author takes you through sound financial advice from complex topics such as investing and taxes to simpler tips on getting out of debt, budgeting and saving. This book is for anyone who wants a better understanding of how financial matters impact their lives and who wants to give their personal finances a complete overhaul. It is the pricier option of all, but nonetheless a great short-term investment that could yield long-term financial benefits.

For those who want some quick reads and tips particularly in relation to insurance, personal finance and saving, also consider reading some of the articles at http://www.hippo.co.za/blog/.

-- Ends --

Established in 2007, Hippo.co.za is South Africa’s leading comparison website that helps consumers save money by comparing a range of South African providers across financial products such as Car Insurance, Household Insurance, Life Insurance, Medical Aid and more. Hippo.co.za is free to use and saves consumers the time and hassle of shopping around for the best deal since the Hippo.co.za website instantly retrieves real-time quotes from the different providers using the latest Internet technology. You could save hundreds of Rands per month* on your Car Insurance alone by using Hippo.co.za to compare before you buy or switch to a new provider.

Hippo.co.za makes money by simply charging its partners a fee when a customer chooses to find out more about their products. The results consumers see, and the order in which they are presented, are in no way influenced by the fee Hippo.co.za charges its partners or any other factors other than the price of the product being compared. 

For more information, visit us on www.hippo.co.za, connect with Hippo.co.za on LinkedIn, http://www.linkedin.com/company/hippo-comparative-services-pty-ltd/, like us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/HippoSA, and follow us on Twitter, @Hippo_co_za and YouTube, http://www.youtube.com/user/hippocompare.

Hippo Comparative Services (Pty) Ltd is an authorised financial services provider (FSP number: 16357).

Terms and Conditions apply.

*Based on 2016 independent market research conducted by Kaufman Levin Associates.

Sources

1. http://www.librarything.com/work/119639/reviews/120650346

2. http://lifehacker.com/five-best-personal-finance-books-1682899925

3.  

   https://books.google.co.za/books/about/Personal_Finance_For_Dummies_Mini_Editio.html?id=0tvupSkxr_cC&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Countless individuals continue to question the real benefits behind being a law abiding, tax paying citizen of this country, when a multitude can hardly make ends meet on a monthly basis. This shouldn’t come as a shock to many with everything that’s going on in the economy. The rand is not doing great, our favourite friend on the rise sin tax is not helping much and of course we need sugar tax to stay healthy and fight obesity in the opulent parts of South Africa before it spreads to the poorer parts of the country.  

No matter how you look at it, there’s something for everyone to complain about and not that much to be ecstatic about. Pick yours!  

The increasing interest rates, price of electricity and food costs are enough to bankrupt a newly graduate with no form of savings to tap in. The sad reality is, that’s the majority of this class of person. At the beginning of every year, numerous entry-level jobs are filled with new graduates with little or no backup plan; just a new qualification and a desperate need for employment to kick-start their prosperous futures.  

It is not long after starting their first jobs when they realise, that this way of life, might just be harder than they thought. New income earners also have many “social needs” to satisfy, so that they can be or form part of the young, successful and educated generation of the republic.  This is their future.  

The need for a reliable set of wheels, which is justifiable for many since various occupations require travelling; a convenient and safe place to live; work-appropriate outfits and a social life with like-minded individuals all make up this natural phenomena.  

Unfortunately, all the above must-have “social needs” come with very attractive price-tags and soon after accumulating one or all of these, young people enter into the adult world of debt. Simple and easy, or so it seems. This leads to bad credit ratings among the youth when faced with the simplest of financial difficulties and regular payments cannot be made to cover everything they have on credit and soon they are listed on all the credit bureaus. If no financial education is gained at this point, young people will easily find themselves in the dark world of blacklisted adults – and it’s tough to get out of this hole.       

Once you have more debt than you can afford, you are nearing serious financial trouble. Pay-up whatever you can and close accounts which do not make financial sense and at the same time speak to your creditors and explain what you are doing and enlist their help.  If you can afford to buy a new dress monthly using cash, or even every second month, there is no reason to have a clothing account that lures you into taking more clothing on credit each month.  More than what you need. As you free up your budget, set aside as much as you can to deposit into a tax free savings accounts. This is where you start.  

All the investment returns earned in these accounts are completely tax-free. The National Treasury released draft regulations governing tax free savings account transfers stating that from 1 November 2016, investors will be able to request a transfer of amounts within a tax free savings account without incurring a reduction of their annual and lifetime limits. Investors will also be able to transfer existing savings from one product provider to another during the life of a tax free savings account - maximum R500 000.  

Another option to consider is investing your hard earned money into funds known as unit trusts. Unit trusts offer you exposure to a range of assets like shares, bonds and property which are selected and managed by investment professionals. The fund is divided into equal units, hence “unit” trusts and as an investor you own a number of units in each fund. The price of these units depends on the value of all investments within a fund.  

Saving for your future should start today. By putting away little at a time, each month you can be one of the happy young adults that banks are more than willing to grant a home loan to albeit stringent requirements need to be met and thereby enabling you to achieve more in your life;  when many are faced with difficult financial situations.

Event organiser Kinetic has confirmed that industry-giant Performanta has signed on as platinum sponsors for this year’s anticipated 6th edition of their successful flagship event; the IT Leaders Africa Summit.

The event, taking place from 18 - 19 March 2015 at The Maslow Hotel in Johannesburg, is set to go beyond your usual routine business conference, evolving to deliver on a more exciting, topical, trendy and current platform, utilising both the latest technologies coupled with the latest in conference trends internationally.

Together with Performanta, the event aims to deliver an expert-lead agenda that features an educational conference program backed by the latest in technology workshops and demonstrations. 

Performanta’s workshop; Safeguard your organisation now, your wallet will thank you later; focuses on measuring your organisation against the industry on 10 information security and privacy measures, derived from real-world assessments.

Performanta Consulting was established by Anthony Olivier 4 years ago, aligning information security consulting services to the Performanta Technology & Services stable. Performanta Consulting has provided services to primary South African banks, insurance companies, brokers, mining companies, service and retail organisations. Their key differentiator: senior, qualified, experienced consultants, integrated frameworks and fair pricing. Furthermore, the team has assisted in addressing security problems in seventeen African countries and has a thorough understanding of the continental landscape.

As thought-leaders in the industry, they are amongst the most active South African participants in industry conferences, blogs and podcasts.An expert-led advisory panel will lead the summit with industry giants Robert Sussman, co-founder and joint-CEO of Integr8; Hugo Timmerman, Head of IT Southern Africa at British American Tobacco; and Tunde Coker, MD of Rack Centre (A Jagal Group Company).

The event also features over 35 speakers, keynotes, panel discussions and numerous educational workshop sessions hosted by key industry providers, all sessions led by some of today’s most notable individuals who are shaping the IT landscape in South Africa and beyond.

Speakers, just to name a few, include; David Visser, CIO of Coca-Cola Southern Africa; Anthony Hlungwane, Group IT Director of Mr Price Group; Sal Laher, CIO Eskom; Rocky Gwewera, Global Head of Infrastructure Architecture at Sasol; Stephan Ekbergh, CEO and founder of Travelstart; and Sunil Joshi, MD and CEO of Neotel.

Some sponsors and partners include; Telkom Business, HP, Performanta and Blue Coat Systems, SITA, Airwatch, Kofax, Dimension Data, Neotel, Meso Systems, Sage Pastel Accounting and ERP Africa, and Blackberry.

For more information on the event to register to attend or to sponsor, visit www.itleaders.co.za or contact the event organisers Kinetic on +27 21 180 4700.Follow the event and stay up to date on Twitter. @ITLeadersAfrica and join in on the conversation using #ITLAfrica.

Varying degree of capital protection, reduced risk and volatility, tax efficiency; minimum investment of R10,000 assures widespread access in investment community

Johannesburg, March 2, 2015: South Africa’s investors will now have far greater access to the asset diversification and protection attributes of structured investment products through the launch of the iStructure product line, which offers innovative structured products designed by four local and international banks.

Available through a countrywide network of financial advisers, iStructure will enable retail investors to invest in market-linked, pre-packaged, fixed-term investment products that provide varying degrees of capital protection, the potential to earn positive returns in most market conditions, tax efficiencies and reduced risk and volatility.

iStructure has been launched by iTransact, the country’s only index product investment platform for financial advisors, which is a leader in the distribution of exchange traded funds and listed notes, portfolios and retirement annuities. iTransact is part of Automated Outsourcing Services (AOS), one of the country’s largest independent administrators of units trusts, ETFs, ETNs, hedge funds and structured products. 

Barclays Africa, Investec and international banks Societe Generale and BNP Paribas have put together the structured products that will be available to investors through lump-sum investments of as little as R10,000.

“We want to give retail clients exposure to structured products through different types of wrapper that are suitable to their investment objectives and financial capacities,” said Lance Solms, the head of iTransact, stressing that globally, structured products are recognized as an important component of a well-diversified investment strategy, offering opportunities that traditional investments, such as unit trusts, cannot offer.

“By commoditising structured products, we have made these innovative and flexible investment solutions available to retail investors. This is really bringing the tools used in a modern portfolio within the reach of the ordinary investor. ”

iStructure products only available through investment advisers; aiming for R1 billion a year take-up by investors

Financial advisors will also ensure that the products are suitable for investors.

According to Solms, it is hoped that uptake of the products will exceed R1 billion year within the next year as investors recognise the variety and value they add to the investment options available in the market.

Initially, the structured products being offered by the four banks will be linked to the performance of the well known indices or stocks, such as the FSTE/JSE, Top 40 Index or Apple Inc, but there are plans to diversify further at a later stage.

Most of the products will be for investment terms of five years, although some will have shorter terms. Fee transparency is an important feature of the new products, with all fees being decided upfront and the remaining funds being fully invested. 

“With local and international share markets performing strongly over the past few years, these products can enable investors who have made good profits to protect their gains and retain exposure to the markets,” said Solms. “Structured products are designed to work for investors in most market conditions, with capital protection being an important factor. We are targeting investors who don’t need their investment for five years, allowing the structured product investment strategy to work for them.”

Barclays Africa, Investec, Societe Generale and BNP Paribas see strong potential for structured products to gain attraction among South Africa’s retail investors.

“We are very excited to partner with ITransact as a provider of an investment product for their retail network through a life insurance wrapper,” says Haris Contaroudas, Managing Director at Societe Generale Corporate & Investment Banking. “Smart Trend is a capital guaranteed momentum strategy aimed at investors who expect the JSE Top 40 index to rise over the next five years, while being protected against downward trends.“

“The launch of a dedicated multi- issuer structured product platform is an important first for the South African market and is just another milestone in ensuring that investors and advisers ultimately have a wider choice from which to choose when making their vital asset allocation calls,” said Ryan Sydow, Head of Retail, Structured and Risk Solutions at Barclays Africa.

“Structured products are under utilised in the South African retail market compared to their European and US counterparts, yet their attributes lend themselves to being a well suited vehicle to use in the unsophisticated retail arena (for example explicit capital protection). Even the fixed terms nature of the products can be seen as positive (not a view shared by many detractors who see the terms as barrier to investing), given it stops investors, especially those with low market composure, from not staying the course.  

We look forward to being a participant and product provider on iStructure and look at the opportunity, not only to have investors support our product, but also to educating investors and advisers alike as we interact with them via this platform, Sydow concluded.”  

According to Investec’s Brian McMillan, Investec Structured Products has seen a distinct increase in the appetite for structured products attributable to four main factors; namely indexation, offshore access, yield pick-up and preservation of capital.

“The South African market has grown substantially since 2008 as investors have realised the benefits of capital preservation products, and the loosening of exchange controls has also seen investors accessing product issued offshore.” he said.  “Investec Structured products believes that the efficiency and accessibility granted to the South African financial advisor market via the iTransact platform will see an increase in the awareness and issuance of structured products in South Africa as a result.”

Commenting on behalf of BNP Paribas, Azad Mahavar, Head of UK, Nordic and CEEMEA Sales, Structured Equities & Commodities, said:  “BNP Paribas Structured Products provide simple, transparent access to a broad choice of asset classes aiming at capital preservation through a range of innovative structures. 

This allows private investors to build a diversified portfolio that is truly orientated to their individual needs and market views. Through iStructure, we now have in place the foundations to support our clients in ensuring they can continuously meet the needs of their customers. BNP Paribas is delighted to be chosen by iTransact as one of the four product providers at this important milestone.”

ABOUT ITRANSACT AND ISTRUCTURE iTransact is a division of Automated Outsourcing Services (AOS) which is one of the largest independent administrators of South African and international units trusts, mutual funds, ETFs, ETNs, hedge funds and listed structured products. Assets under administration exceed R140 billion. The iTransact investment platform was founded to combine all of AOS’ experience and technology to easily and efficiently distribute low cost index products and their benefits to financial advisers and their clients. iStructure adds a third leg to the ITransact product range which already includes the innovative “iSave” (ETFs and ETNs) and “iRetire”(Regulation 28 ETF portfolios). The iStructure range brings state-of-the-art structured products from banks such as Barclays Africa, Investec, Societe General and BNP Paribas within reach of retail investors who now have access to sophisticated investment products previously in the domain of institutional and high net worth individual investors.  

Issued on behalf of:  iTransact

Client contact:          Lance Solms Tel. 

No.:                        + 27 86 143 2383

email:                     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Editorial contact:      Kerry Botha

Tel. No.:                 083 263 0644

email:                     This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

FinMark Trust together with the Bank of Lao PDR, and the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) of Lao have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 6 November 2014 for the FinScope Consumer Lao 2014 survey. The FinScope Consumer survey, the first of its kind in Lao, which is a nationally representative study on how individuals source their income and how they manage their financial lives will commence in November 2014 and is due for completion in January 2015.  The survey is a priority in “Making Access Possible (MAP)” and part of the “Making Access to Finance more Inclusive for Poor People (MAFIPP)” programme.   The survey sample entails 255 villages representing rural and urban communities with eight families in each village to be interviewed. The survey will focus on information related to agriculture, income and expenses for rural people, savings, investment in the family business, household construction, loans, money transfers, infrastructure and ICT access.   This survey on financial services accessibility in the country, intends to address the shortage of available information on the demand for financial services among the poor households.. The NSB views the survey as contributing to the review and implementation of the Seventh National Socio- Economic Development Plan as well as planning for the next five years in Lao.

FinScope

FinScope was launched in 2002 by FinMark Trust (www.finmark.org.za).  Its purpose is to establish credible benchmarks on the use of, and access to, financial services in South Africa.  It is designed to highlight opportunities for innovation in products and delivery. The FinScope survey is a comprehensive and national representative study on financial inclusion, looking at how people source their income and manage their financial lives. It has been implemented in 19 countries (11 in SADC, 5 non-SADC Africa and 3 in Asia). The FinScope survey is currently being implemented in 3 more countries in Asia and 4 in the SADC region (1 first cycle and 3 repeat surveys).  

Editorial contact:
FinMark Trust  Nitha Ramnath (Ms) Communication Manager

Tel:  011 315-9197 / 0829214769 Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

About FinMark Trust

FinMark Trust, an independent trust based in Johannesburg, South Africa, was established in 2002, and is funded primarily by UKaid from the Department for International Development (DFID) through its Southern Africa office.  FinMark Trust’s purpose is ‘Making financial markets work for the poor, by promoting financial inclusion and regional financial integration’. FinMark Trust does this by conducting research to identify the systemic constraints that prevent financial markets from reaching out to these consumers and by advocating for change on the basis of research findings. Please visit www.finmark.org.za for more information.

With a little over a month left to reserve your seat for the Trade Finance Conference 2014, diarise 5 & 6 November where you will have the opportunity to network with decision makers in the trade finance field.

Hosted by Trade Conferences International, at Focus Rooms, Sunninghill, Johannesburg; trade finance experts will be sharing their insights and knowledge on the newest developments and advancements in the industry at the Trade Finance Conference 2014.Take advantage of this favorable opportunity to build lasting business connections and be in the know on the latest regarding trade finance.

A look at the expert speaker panel addressing the Trade Finance Conference 2014
• Harry Kaplan – Chief Executive Officer, American Trade & Finance Company
• Paul Masemola – Managing Director, MiSEC Advisory
• Robert Brine – Risk Lead, IQ Business Group
• Michael Shackleton – Senior Legal Executive, Credit Intel
• Francois Visagie – Head: Structured Trade and Commodity Finance, Absa Capital
• Richard Harvey – Seasoned Trade Finance Structurer and Deal Maker in Southern Africa, First National Bank
• Vanessa Miller – Managing Director, VM Consulting
• Yusuf Ali Khan- Trade Head for Africa, CitiBank
• Tsepo Tsotetsi – Documentary Trade Product Manager – Africa division, Standard Bank
• Graham Megaw – Head: International Banking Finance and Operations Support Services, Bidvest Bank
• Meluleki Nzimande – Partner in International Trade, Webber Wentzel
• Lodewyk Meyer – Director, Norton Rose Fulbright

“Attending the conference will be a great opportunity to network and build industry contacts,” says project manager of the conference Jason Joseph, “while getting a global view on trade finance.”

Email Jason to get more inside scoop on the event. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit www.tci-sa.co.za to receive the registration form which can be electronically completed and submitted. There are group booking discounts available! Call 011 803 1553 to find out more.

Website: www.tci-sa.co.za/unlocking-south-africas-international-trade-finance-potential

Do you want to gain a global perspective on pricing and billing? Do you want to get value from your pricing strategies? Do you want to meet your customers’ expectations and retail them regardless of price changes? Have you acquired enough price negotiation skills? How many pricing models and billing systems have been exposed to? You will be provided with answers on these important questions at the Pricing & Billing Conference on 19 & 20 November at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

The conference does not promise a panacea for all pricing and billing challenges, but it will explore vital aspects that will enable you and your company to maintain a healthy and balanced relationship with your customers. It will provide you with tools to efficiently structure your prices at the same time not upsetting your company/customer relations and ensure growth on profit margins.

Network and take advantage of this opportunity to compare notes and interact with your fellow colleagues and professionals working in various sections such as product pricing, transfer pricing, payments processing & pricing, markets pricing & risk, transactional products pricing, actuarial pricing product development, product market research, risk & capital management, commercial billing & support, billing management, business analysis, core banking projects, client value management, value optimisation, customer relationship management, client profitability, sales & marketing, underwriting, auditing, accounts, transaction & forex products, business enablement & wealth, customer service & billing, costing & pricing analysis, billing & IT, procurement & supply chain, revenue management, financial planning, wholesale billing services, billing & production.

Trade Conferences International is well known in the financial industry, with more than 1200 delegates attending our financial events during the past 12 years.

To register, visit our financial conferences website at www.financialconferences.co.za to download the brochure, complete the registration form and fax it to us on 086 582 2981, or email it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information please contact Naison Chilenge, Project Manager at TCI on +27 11 803 1553 or alternatively email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.tci-sa.co.za/gain-a-global-perspective-on-pricing-billing-strategies