Press Digest

January 22, 2013 I Issue No. 129
Press Digest
 English-Language Press 
Rwanda: Microfinance Institutions Urged to Embrace IT
The New Times (All Africa); January 22, 2013
Microfinance institutions should embrace the use of information technologies (IT) if they want to
be helped by the central bank to monitor and manage their financial operations. "We want to
help our people manage their financial affairs. We have a financial inclusion policy and strategy
that sets out our approach to promoting financial inclusion," the Rwanda National Bank
governor, Claver Gatete, said.
Tanzania: Bank Deposit Interest Rates Now On the Rise
Tanzania Daily News; January 22, 2013
Depositors have all reason to smile as they now envisage to earn more returns from the money
banked in financial institutions, thanks to competition that has lifted up interest rates. This
means people who deposited their money in banks during the past 12 months reaped some
better interest earnings than those they earned before. The trend follows high deposits demand
to create disequilibrium which went against the law of demand and supply to favour saving and
fixed account holders.
Kenya: Banks warn ATM cards skimming still high
The Star; January 22, 2013
There is no relief for bank consumers yet as cases of ATM card fraud in Kenya seem to be rising
at an alarming rate. Kenya Commercial Bank last week sent out messages to some of its
customers asking them to hand in their cards, an indication the bank could be the latest victim of
fast emerging ATM card fraud schemes.
Uganda: Mobile Money Agents Fear Losses
Independent; January 21, 2013
Moses Ihoza, the chairman of Uganda Mobile Money Agents Association, an association that
houses 12, 000 agents says they are demanding a stable infrastructure network that will support
the growth of their business.
Rwanda: Central Bank Moves to Fight Fraud in Payment System
The New Times; January 21, 2013
The National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) will introduce a new system to ease cheque payments and
fight forgery. Amb. Claver Gatete, Governor BNR, said the initiative would link all commercial
Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
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15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
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Weekly Press Digest
January 22, 2013 I Issue No. 129
banks to the central bank through an electronic system, which will help to carry out transfers
and compensations in a short time compared to today.
Uganda: Entrepreneurs Advised Against Rush for Loans
East Africa Business Week (All Africa); January 20, 2013
With the country's unemployment levels growing, a number of people are resorting
entrepreneurship to make ends meet. However, most of these entrepreneurs lack sufficient
knowledge to run and maintain these businesses and as a result a substantial number of these
ventures do not live to see their second birthday. There are a number of reasons often given for
the closure of these businesses, ranging from high costs of doing businesses and others but the
most common has to do with the difficulties in accessing credit.
Nigeria: NCRIB Steps Up Effort to Sack Fake Insurance Brokers
Leadership; January 20, 2013
The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has embarked on a fresh initiative
to increase its oversight functions which aim at breaking the ring of operations of quacks in the
system and send them out of operation.
Nigeria: Decline in Bond Yields Helps Stock Market to Sustain Rally
This Day; January 20, 2013
Renewed interests of portfolio managers in the equities market as a result of the decline in the
bond yields and bargain hunting by investors helped the Nigerian equities market to sustain its
momentum last week.
Zimbabwe: Kasukuwere Warns Foreign-Owned Banks Again
The Standard (All Africa); January 20, 2013
Addressing members of the Youth Empowerment Trust in Nyanga last week, Kasukuwere said he
was targeting the banks namely Barclays, Stanbic and Standard Chartered which are still to
comply with the indigenisation law. "These three banks are on top of the list among others. All
foreign banks must comply with the indigenisation law," he said.
Ghana: NHIA Moves to Set Up Health Insurance Learning Centre
The Chronicle (All Africa); January 18, 2013
Ghana will soon become home to a health insurance knowledge centre, which will provide
expertise and training on health insurance to many countries and institutions across the world.
The move to set-up the institution was put forward by the National Health Insurance Authority
(NHIA), with support from its development partners.
Cameroon: AFREXIMBANK to Expand Financing in Cameroon
Cameroon Tribute; January 17, 2013
The African Import Export Bank, AFREXIMBANK plans to enlarge it financing in Cameroon from
the banana and oil to other sectors of the economy. The President and Chairman of the Board of
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
January 22, 2013 I Issue No. 129
Directors of the bank, Jean-Louis Ekra declared yesterday, January 16, 2013 after discussions
with Prime Minister, Head of Government, Philemon Yang at the Star Building in Yaounde.
Tunisia: New 'Microcred' Institution in Nation
Tunis Afrique Presse (All Africa); January 17, 2013
The European Union (EU) delegation in Tunis and the MicroCred organisation signed on Thursday
in Tunis, a contract of subsidy worth 1.8 million euros for the creation, very shortly, of a microfinance institution called "MicroCred Tunisia".
 Revue de Presse Francophone 
Cameroun: Les capitaux des banques agricole et des PME libérés
Cameroon Tribune (All Africa); 20 janvier 2013
Annonce faite vendredi dernier à Yaoundé par le ministre des Finances. La Cameroon Rural
Financial Corporation (Carfic) et la Banque camerounaise des Pme (BC PME S.A), devraient
démarrer leurs activités cette année.
Algérie: Les facteurs qui freinent l'essor de l'assurance agricole
La tribune; 20 janvier 2013
Les mesures prises jusqu'ici pour encourager les agriculteurs à souscrire des polices d'assurances
n'ont, en fait, données que de piètres résultats. Pour preuve, le taux d'assurances agricoles n'a
pas enregistré d'augmentation sensible. Il n'arrive pas à dépasser les 10%. Ce manque
d'engouement s'explique par plusieurs facteurs.
Maroc: Les cartes bancaires ont de plus en plus la côte auprès des marocains
Libération; 19 janvier 2013
Les opérations de retrait d'espèces et de paiement par des cartes bancaires locales et étrangères
au Maroc ont atteint 211,2 millions en 2012, pour un montant global de 180 milliards de dirhams
(MMDH) qui est en progression de 16,3 % par rapport à l'année 2011, selon le Centre monétique
interbancaire (CMI).
Le Kenya maintient son B+
Les Afriques; 19 janvier 2013
A moins de trois mois des élections de mars 2013, le Kenya s’est vu confirmé sa note B+/B par
Standard and Poor’s. Les craintes d’une crise électorale et le faible niveau de développement ont
été les facteurs contraignants de cette note. Les points forts du pays restent la poursuite d’une
croissance robuste, la diversification de l’économie et un marché domestique de la dette en
croissance.
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]
Weekly Press Digest
January 22, 2013 I Issue No. 129
Tunisie: Microfinance - Naissance d'une nouvelle institution de crédit
La Presse; 18 janvier 2013
«Si le marché du microcrédit était, avant le 14 janvier, très contrôlé et plutôt fermé, aujourd'hui
les choses ont changé, et on remarque un grand intérêt porté à la question de la part des
gouvernements qui se sont succédé depuis cette date», a souligné M. Régis Meritan, conseiller
économique à la délégation de l'UE en Tunisie, lors de la conférence de presse qui a succédé,
hier, à la signature entre la délégation de l'UE et l'Organisation de la microfinance Micro Cred
d'un contrat de subvention d'un montant de 1,8 million d'euros, enveloppe qui servira au
financement de 50% d'un projet relatif à la création d'une nouvelle IMF.
Sénégal: Un représentant de producteurs prône la mise en place de crédits
d'investissement
Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (All Africa); 17 janvier 2013
Le président du Cadre de concertation des producteurs d'arachide (CCPA), El Hadji Ibrahima
Niasse, a demandé la mise sur pied d'un Fonds de garantie pour l'obtention de crédits
"investissement, afin de propulser le développement de cette filière.
Afrique du Nord: Les banquiers du Maghreb favorables à l'intégration financière
Magharebia; 14 janvier 2013
Les pays du Maghreb ont pris la semaine dernière des mesures importantes en faveur de
l'intégration économique. Pour les spécialistes régionaux et internationaux, cette initiative sera
un moyen de renforcer l'emploi.
For more news on African financial sectors please click here.
Pour plus d’actualités sur la finance en Afrique veuillez cliquer ici.
Compiled by:
Alessandro Girola | Research & Knowledge Manager | [email protected]
Rim Nour | Research Officer | [email protected]
Olivier Vidal | Associate Research Officer | [email protected]
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Making Finance Work for Africa Secretariat
www.mfw4a.org
c/o African Development Bank
15 Avenue du Ghana, BP 323
1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisia
Tel. (+216) 7110 3953
Fax: (+216) 7133 4484
[email protected]