NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Grameen Foundation USA Releases Village Phone Replication Manual

First Manual to Provide a Proven Model for Establishing Telecommunication Access in Poor, Rural Communities through Microfinance The Village Phone program partners microfinance institutions with telecommunications providers to offer both microenterprise opportunities to the very poor in rural regions, as well as provide the entire community access to telecommunications that are generally unavailable. (CSRwire) Washington, D.C. - Grameen Foundation USA (GFUS...

Source

CSRwire (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

Rural Farmers Can Benefit From Mobile Phone Extension

Liberia’s mobile phone companies are extending services to residents in the 16 counties of Liberia. Lone Star Cell and Libercell now lead the extension of mobile phone services, even though CellCom and Comium are also in the business. Besides providing services in Montserrado County, Lone Star Cell and Libercell are providing mobile phone communication in Maryland, Grand Gedeh, Nimba, Bong, Lofa, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Bomi and Grand Cape Mount Counties respectively. Thi...

Source

Liberian Observer (link opens in a new window)

Rs 1-lakh Tata car to hit the market in three years

Targeting the burgeoning middle-class, Tata Motors will roll out in the next three years its Rs one-lakh car ($2200) involving a low-cost assembly operation, according to Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata. (The car) will be smaller and will be produced in larger volumes, with all the high-volume parts manufactured in one plant...Targeting the larger part of the income pyramid is an important part of what Tata will be doing, the 67-year-old corporate honcho said in an interview ...

Source

webindia123

Region

South Asia

Investors Missing Africa’s Telecoms Boat

Despite phenomenal growth in the cellphone industry, sub-Saharan Africa still accounts for just 1% of global telecoms investments. Of $220bn invested in telecoms in 2003, under $3bn was in Africa. The sector has high growth potential, as the majority of Africans still have no access to telecommunications. For investors who know how to assess the risks and rewards, the potential rewards are matched only by diamonds and other mineral resources, Marcelle says. ...

Source

Business Day (Johannesburg), Lesley Stones (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa

HCL’s low-cost PC to revitalize distribution strategy

HCL plans to market its new low-cost PC by partnering with major web portals for a piece of the fortune at the bottom of the pyramid. After having launched its low-cost PC in the Indian market, HCL is looking forward to injecting new vigor to its existing distribution strategy to tap the huge market potential in the Indian region. With an aim to increase its distribution footprint in the country, the company is all set to work on a two-pronged strategy. As part of ...

Source

DQ Channels (link opens in a new window)

Region

South Asia

’Missing market’ a target for rural growth

THE UN Commission Report Unleashing Entrepreneurship: Making Business Work for the Poor is a critical first step in identifying the important role that the private sector must play to ensure that business will work for the poor, Foreign Affairs ministry chief executive Isikeli Mataitoga says. He made the remarks when he launched a Pacific workshop to discuss the report in Suva yesterday. The Report suggests ways for developing and developed countries to develop partnership throug...

Source

Fiji Times Online (link opens in a new window)

Region

Asia Pacific

Local female microentrepreneur off to USA

Bangladeshi microentrepreneur Shamima Khatun (26) left for New York Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the International Year of Microcredit as a guest of honor. Shamima is one of the four winners of the Global Microentrepreneurship Awards (GMA), organised by the Citigroup Foundation (the philanthropic arm of Citigroup) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). She has been selected as the winner of the Most Innovative Business of the Year ...

Source

Financial Express (link opens in a new window)

Minister Blames Banks over Poverty in Africa

The failure by commercial banks to lend to small and medium-sized businesses in Africa is to blame for rampant poverty on the continent, a Cabinet minister said yesterday. Planning minister Anyang’ Nyong’o hit out at the banks for making return on investment difficult by charging high interest rates on loans. Oracle Business Intelligence The banks rarely touch African businesses and when they do they charge interest rates that make it impossible for ent...

Source

The East African Standard (link opens in a new window)

Region

Sub-Saharan Africa