The Federative Republic of Brazil and the Ismaili Imamat - the office of the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims today signed a Protocol of Intentions to support development activities as part of their joint efforts to support the fight against poverty, during the official two-day visit of President of Brazil Lula da Silva to Mozambique.
The agreement of international scope, was signed by the Ambassador of Brazil, Mr. Antonio de Souza e Silva, on behalf of the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil; and the Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Mr. Nazim Ahmad, on behalf of the Ismaili Imamat.
The ceremony took place in the presence of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mr. Celso Amorim.
The ceremony was attended by senior government officials, diplomats and representatives of the AKDN.
The agreement reaffirms the commitment to jointly contribute to the social and economic upliftment of developing countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, including the member countries of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries. Under the agreement, both parties agree to share knowledge and development experience in order to promote programmes, projects and technical cooperation for benefit of developing countries.
Both parties also commit to stimulate a joint action plan with a view to carrying out development initiatives in developing countries of mutual interest, namely in Central and South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East.
During the signing ceremony of the agreement, the Ambassador of Brazil emphasised the importance of the act “as this Protocol of Intentions is applicable not only for Mozambique, but also for other developing countries where the Aga Khan development Network is active.”
“This is a considerable achievement and will significantly enhance our development capacity in Mozambique and other developing countries” said Nazim Ahmad. (AKDN - Maputo, Mozambique, 10 November 2010)
Distinct from Imam of the time, H H The Agakhan, as Imam, The Ismaili Imamat is a hereditary constitutional institution of Muslim leadership, linked to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) by direct lineal descent through Hazrat Ali, his cousin and son in law. The line of Ismaili Imams has continued uninterrupted by hereditary succession from Hazrat Ali through to the present, 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. The Aga Khan is the founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of nine non-denominational development agencies working in over 25 countries around the world, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East, to empower communities and individuals to improve their living conditions and opportunities. The Network’s agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or faith. The AKDN employs approximately 60,000 people, the majority of whom are based in developing countries, and has an annual budget for non-profit development activities of approximately US$ 450 million.
Agreement with Brazil in 2010
There is a related thread:
Institutional activities --> INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN BRAZIL
http://www.ismaili.net/html/modules.php ... l%20brazil
http://www.akdn.org/Content/1026/Brazil ... activities
Institutional activities --> INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES IN BRAZIL
http://www.ismaili.net/html/modules.php ... l%20brazil
http://www.akdn.org/Content/1026/Brazil ... activities
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mahebubchatur
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Uganda Ismaili Ambassador talks on opportunities & risks
His Excellency Amin Mawji, the Ismaili Ambassador, talks about Aga Khan’s vision, objectives, community investments, risks, headwinds and opportunities in Uganda - 20 Sept 2016
“Among Aga Khan community investments in Uganda include: Bujagali Electricity, Aga Khan schools, Serena Hotels, Diamond trust bank, Aga Khan University, Smart Telcom, Daily monitor, The East African News Paper, NTV, Jubilee Insurance and KFM radio.”
He started by saying “ he moved to Kampala three month ago and he was surprised many people in the UK have been asking him of the business opportunity and business landscape in Uganda. He gladly revealed to be a great fan of Uganda and he sees it as a great opportunity and hope.

There are downside risks, challenges and headwinds , but he is convinced that headwinds can be dealt with.
In the old issue of Corruption, Uganda is ranked at 139/168 in Transparency’s Corruption Perception Index and needs to be dealt with.
He appealed to the government to make some people as examples to send a good message.
Uganda has its share of clouds….and mountains, but it is also a country of significant opportunities.

He pointed out that for many businesses small and medium sizes (SMEs), the issue of Access to finance is an issue and investors who bring in finance has a competitive advantage over the local businesses because finance is expensive.
He added Most banks in Uganda has a problem of bad loans that are not performing and it is steadily rising especially in agriculture and construction.

Another area of weakness is the question of inadequate entrepreneurship, managerial and technical skills that are needed for businesses.
This is an area that the Aga Khan is putting in a lot of investment to ensure they educate people for the right fit that uganda needs to go forward.
He pointed out the Infrastructure issue like transport, energy and communication infrastructure. He commended the government for recognising this and there is a lot of investment by the government. Infrastructure has not kept pace with the growth of the economy and population. It needs a focused investment.

There is also a lack of suitable Industrial parks across the country and more are needed to encourage companies to locate in the right areas. The government has a programme of setting up industrial parks across the country and this shows opportunities.

He pointed out that Uganda compares well on the ease of doing business in East Africa, in some areas like tax collection it is ranking at 70% but on average ranks at 56% against a country with the best practice. Nevertheless, uganda compares well with the rest of the countries in east Africa and it exceeds the rest of Sub Saharan Africa which is a good sign. (Kenya 58.24).


He assured investors that Uganda has done a lot of things right, there is a long way to go but it will eventually get there.

Looking at opportunity, he pointed out the resilient of the economy. Macro-economic stability has been preserved despite internal/external shocks.
Another fact he pointed out is that Uganda has a growing economy with a GDP projected to grow by 4.8% and 5.0% over next two years.

On the general outlook, Uganda can expect to benefit from a triple dividend , he added, which includes
The Youth Dividend
* A young population: Median Age: 15.5 years. Around 70% of the population is under 25! Which is a potential for optimism.
* A growing population: 5.97 children born/woman. At current fertility levels, population will double to 70m by 2031 – possibly 100 million after 2040.

The Oil Dividend
* Production: licenses granted to Tullow, Total and CNOOC for the integrated Lake Albert project. Hope for ‘first oil’ by 2020/2022.
* Pipeline: Decision made to export crude oil through a 24 inch, 1443 km pipeline from Kabaale to Tanga port.
The Infrastructure Dividend
* Roads: Drive to upgrade major roads to bitumen standard, develop road network and bridges. (2016/17 budget $1bn).
* Rail: 1,614km standard gauge railway, connecting Rwanda, Kenya, DRC and S. Sudan. Completion 2018. ($3.2b – mostly China)
* Air: Upgrade of EBB airport ($325m China loan).
* Energy: Power sector poised for growth – 8 eight generation projects scheduled by 2018 (inc 2 large Chinese hydropower units)
He pointed out a few growth sectors which include:
* Agriculture: Significant opportunity throughout the value chain (farming, processing, packaging, logistics, etc). 40% of arable in the whole of east Africa is in Uganda and there is a mismatch with the yields. Opportunities are immense in the entire value chain logistics, packaging, marketing etc.
* Tourism: Huge potential. 51% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas; 11% of the world’s bird’s species (1060 bird species)
* ICT/Services: We can expect increases in telecoms, trade and related business activities.
* Industry / Energy: Sector plays a pivotal role in Uganda’s Vision 2040 targets. Lake Albert basin is expected to become a hub of activity.
He finally ended by saying that H H The Aga Khan take a long term view of investing in the country’s development.
He pointed out the Nation media group was created to provide free and impartial media across Africa which sometimes is mistaken by the government by being too critical.
When Uganda had an issue of energy, the Aga Khan pulled together a group investor to invest in Bujagali and it provides over 46% of the country’s energy.
He further said that all investments are done not on profit only, but on long term sustainable development and all the profits are re-invested back for re-development. The Aga khan encourages competition.

He ended by good news revealing that the Aga Khan is investing in a major world class teaching hospital in Kampala where people in Uganda can get the same services as that in India, Kenya and the West
Link to video https://youtu.be/2cQCc6RrWBo
“Among Aga Khan community investments in Uganda include: Bujagali Electricity, Aga Khan schools, Serena Hotels, Diamond trust bank, Aga Khan University, Smart Telcom, Daily monitor, The East African News Paper, NTV, Jubilee Insurance and KFM radio.”
He started by saying “ he moved to Kampala three month ago and he was surprised many people in the UK have been asking him of the business opportunity and business landscape in Uganda. He gladly revealed to be a great fan of Uganda and he sees it as a great opportunity and hope.

There are downside risks, challenges and headwinds , but he is convinced that headwinds can be dealt with.
In the old issue of Corruption, Uganda is ranked at 139/168 in Transparency’s Corruption Perception Index and needs to be dealt with.
He appealed to the government to make some people as examples to send a good message.
Uganda has its share of clouds….and mountains, but it is also a country of significant opportunities.

He pointed out that for many businesses small and medium sizes (SMEs), the issue of Access to finance is an issue and investors who bring in finance has a competitive advantage over the local businesses because finance is expensive.
He added Most banks in Uganda has a problem of bad loans that are not performing and it is steadily rising especially in agriculture and construction.

Another area of weakness is the question of inadequate entrepreneurship, managerial and technical skills that are needed for businesses.
This is an area that the Aga Khan is putting in a lot of investment to ensure they educate people for the right fit that uganda needs to go forward.
He pointed out the Infrastructure issue like transport, energy and communication infrastructure. He commended the government for recognising this and there is a lot of investment by the government. Infrastructure has not kept pace with the growth of the economy and population. It needs a focused investment.

There is also a lack of suitable Industrial parks across the country and more are needed to encourage companies to locate in the right areas. The government has a programme of setting up industrial parks across the country and this shows opportunities.

He pointed out that Uganda compares well on the ease of doing business in East Africa, in some areas like tax collection it is ranking at 70% but on average ranks at 56% against a country with the best practice. Nevertheless, uganda compares well with the rest of the countries in east Africa and it exceeds the rest of Sub Saharan Africa which is a good sign. (Kenya 58.24).


He assured investors that Uganda has done a lot of things right, there is a long way to go but it will eventually get there.

Looking at opportunity, he pointed out the resilient of the economy. Macro-economic stability has been preserved despite internal/external shocks.
Another fact he pointed out is that Uganda has a growing economy with a GDP projected to grow by 4.8% and 5.0% over next two years.

On the general outlook, Uganda can expect to benefit from a triple dividend , he added, which includes
The Youth Dividend
* A young population: Median Age: 15.5 years. Around 70% of the population is under 25! Which is a potential for optimism.
* A growing population: 5.97 children born/woman. At current fertility levels, population will double to 70m by 2031 – possibly 100 million after 2040.

The Oil Dividend
* Production: licenses granted to Tullow, Total and CNOOC for the integrated Lake Albert project. Hope for ‘first oil’ by 2020/2022.
* Pipeline: Decision made to export crude oil through a 24 inch, 1443 km pipeline from Kabaale to Tanga port.
The Infrastructure Dividend
* Roads: Drive to upgrade major roads to bitumen standard, develop road network and bridges. (2016/17 budget $1bn).
* Rail: 1,614km standard gauge railway, connecting Rwanda, Kenya, DRC and S. Sudan. Completion 2018. ($3.2b – mostly China)
* Air: Upgrade of EBB airport ($325m China loan).
* Energy: Power sector poised for growth – 8 eight generation projects scheduled by 2018 (inc 2 large Chinese hydropower units)
He pointed out a few growth sectors which include:
* Agriculture: Significant opportunity throughout the value chain (farming, processing, packaging, logistics, etc). 40% of arable in the whole of east Africa is in Uganda and there is a mismatch with the yields. Opportunities are immense in the entire value chain logistics, packaging, marketing etc.
* Tourism: Huge potential. 51% of the world’s population of mountain gorillas; 11% of the world’s bird’s species (1060 bird species)
* ICT/Services: We can expect increases in telecoms, trade and related business activities.
* Industry / Energy: Sector plays a pivotal role in Uganda’s Vision 2040 targets. Lake Albert basin is expected to become a hub of activity.
He finally ended by saying that H H The Aga Khan take a long term view of investing in the country’s development.
He pointed out the Nation media group was created to provide free and impartial media across Africa which sometimes is mistaken by the government by being too critical.
When Uganda had an issue of energy, the Aga Khan pulled together a group investor to invest in Bujagali and it provides over 46% of the country’s energy.
He further said that all investments are done not on profit only, but on long term sustainable development and all the profits are re-invested back for re-development. The Aga khan encourages competition.

He ended by good news revealing that the Aga Khan is investing in a major world class teaching hospital in Kampala where people in Uganda can get the same services as that in India, Kenya and the West
Link to video https://youtu.be/2cQCc6RrWBo
Re: Uganda Ismaili Ambassador talks on opportunities & r
What has this to do with Brazil?mahebubchatur wrote:His Excellency Amin Mawji, the Ismaili Ambassador, talks about Aga Khan’s vision, objectives, community investments, risks, headwinds and opportunities in Uganda - 20 Sept 2016