Service for Project Sidebar Archives — Page 45 of 61

1 Jul 2014

TMEA Logistics Innovation for Trade Fund (LIFT)

Incentivising innovations in the logistics sector to foster pro-poor trade in the East African Community
Informal business in the retail sector in East Africa is estimated to represent between 70% and 80% of sales in the region. As a result, “small-scale farmers have found themselves marginalised by the distribution sector and its new practices, and very poor households (for example, slum dwellers) are often paying more per unit for basic products than wealthier households” (World Bank). Moreover, supply chain issues remain a massive challenge – transporting products to market can involve road and railway difficulties and governance issues that can prevent goods crossing international boundaries.
Nevertheless, the EAC has huge potential: it has fast-evolving dynamics including rapid population growth, increasing urbanisation, macroeconomic stability and growth potential. It is increasing foreign and regional investment across sectors. Furthermore, the EAC’s regulatory advances and strong trade blocs make importing easier and enhance supply chains.
Supporting TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) in maximising this potential, Nathan is managing the Logistics Innovations for Trade Challenge Fund (LIFT, 2014 – 2016). LIFT is a $12m challenge fund designed to challenge businesses, private sector organisations and civil society organisations from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda to develop ideas aimed at promoting innovation in the transport and logistics sector in order to foster trade across East Africa.
LIFT aims to reduce the risk of investing in disruptive innovative technologies or improved practice; improve the efficiency of transport and logistics by catalysing innovation in the transport and logistics industry, particularly through ICT use, to boost efficiency; empower private sector and civil society organisations to advocate for the removal of regulatory barriers that restrict competition; and increase competition by enabling SMEs to compete against the cartels of large firms that currently dominate the industry.… Read More

1 Jul 2014

West Africa, Impact of Road Transport Industry Liberalization

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Advisory Services, Competition & Economic Regulation, Economic & Regulatory, Infrastructure Project Development & Finance, International Development, Service for Project Sidebar | 0

The movement of goods in West Africa is plagued with difficulty. The most active area for movement comprises the member countries of UEMOA (West Africa Monetary Union) and Ghana, a trade partner and gateway for neighboring francophone countries. At the … Read More

1 Apr 2014

Private Enterprise Programme – Zambia

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Financial Sector Development, International Development, Private Sector Development, Service for Project Sidebar, Women's Economic Empowerment | 0

Nearly 15 years of strong growth has resulted in Zambia becoming a middle-income country. Yet levels of poverty have remained intractably high (60.5% in 2010). A major reason why growth has not resulted in greater reduction in poverty levels is … Read More

25 Mar 2014

Indian Gaming Industry Report, 2009-2010, Released

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: ., Advisory Services, Economic & Regulatory | 0

Recession and Public Policies Curb Industry Growth December 10, 2009?Dr. Alan Meister, author of the annual Indian Gaming Industry Report, attributes the slower growth of Indian gaming in 2008 to the recession. The slowing growth pattern of previous years, however, … Read More

24 Mar 2014

Lao PDR-U.S. International and ASEAN Integration II

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Expertise, International Development, Private Sector Development, Service for Project Sidebar | 0

Lao PDR joined the WTO in 2013, intends to be a middle-income economy by 2020, and has a fast-growing economy. As a land bridge for trade blossoming among ASEAN neighbors and beyond, the country is well-situated to benefit from open … Read More

28 Feb 2014

Consumer Cost-Benefit Analysis of Automatic Payment Program

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Finance & Securities, Litigation and Expert Services, Service for Project Sidebar | 0

The FTC charged a lender with deceptively marketing an auto payment program that it claimed would save consumers money without disclosing the associated fees. A Nathan expert prepared an analysis of the economic costs and benefits to consumers who participated … Read More

24 Feb 2014

Bahamas, Due Diligence for the Southern Air Charter Company Limited (SACCL)

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Service for Project Sidebar | 0

Nathan Associates was hired by the Inter-American Investment Corp. to conduct due diligence of a proposed expansion of the Bahamian company Southern Air Charter Company Ltd. (SACCL). Nathan advised SACCL on its plan to acquire two additional aircraft for the … Read More

1 Feb 2014

Independent Engineering Review and Construction Supervision of TCBuen Container Terminal (Colombia)

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Asset Performance Assessment & Monitoring, Infrastructure Project Development & Finance, International Development, Service for Project Sidebar | 0

As of 2007, the Port of Buenaventura was the only port on Colombia’s Pacific coast to handle international cargo. From 1996 to 2006, the port experienced annual container traffic growth averaging 11.5 percent per year, but the available port facilities … Read More

26 Jan 2014

Oman Broadband Company

by Nathan Webmaster | posted in: Advisory Services, Economic & Regulatory, Infrastructure Project Development & Finance, International Development, Service for Project Sidebar, Transaction Advisory Services & Project Finance Structuring | 0

The Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Sultanate of Oman to establish Oman Broadband Company (OBC) was developed as a new state owned vehicle to provide broadband telecommunications services to economically unviable areas. Nathan was responsible for developing the … Read More

7 Jan 2014

Canada, Analysis of Wholesale Broadband Pricing

A major Canadian telecommunications company received assistance from Nathan with submissions to the Canadian Radio-television and Communications Commission’s review of wholesale telecommunications policy. Nathan analyzed international practice in regulating wholesale broadband prices and in setting thresholds for forbearance for dominant … Read More