Ugandan firm gets African ICT award

Thursday, November 17, 2005

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A Ugandan based computer company, Crystal Clear Software Limited, has won the African Small Micro and Medium Enterprises (SMME) 2004 Award.
The company was recognised for showing a balance between business skills (70 per cent of total weight) and social agenda (30 per cent total weight) in the Information, Communication and Technology sector.

Crystal Clear Software Limited was registered in Uganda in 1998 as a software company that develops, markets and supports a micro-finance software package called Loan Performer. Loan Performer, specially developed for MFIs is meant for tracking loans and savings.

The software is now a leading product in the micro-finance industry, recognised by institutions like the World Bank, UNDP and many donor organisations.

Today, there are almost 200 micro-finance institutions (MFIs) using the Loan Performer software in 50 countries all over the world. The software has been translated in four different languages: Russian, Spanish, French and English.

The SMME Awards, organised annually by the African Centre for Investment Analysis of the University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa recognises excellence among small and medium businesses in Africa.

The Director Crystal Clear, Mr Hans Verkoijen, received the award from the South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe in Johannesburg recently.

The company has had a turnover growing from Shs67 million in 1999 to Shs180 million in 2002 and Shs425 million last year. After initial ups and downs, the company reached financial sustainability in 2004.

Earlier this year, Crystal Clear Software Limited received the silver award as number One exporter in the category of ICT Exports from Uganda at the 5th President’s Export Awards.

The company also won “The Investor of the Year Award 2003” for the “Best Software Development for the year 2002-2003.”

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Source: African News Dimension