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Lagos, Nigeria: Foremost Nigerian financial institution, Guaranty Trust Bank plc has once again raised the service bar for Nigerian financial institutions with the recent unveil of its ‘Social Banking’ service on Facebook. The new offering which is the first of its kind by any Nigerian Bank allows the public open GTBank accounts and get Customer Service support on Facebook.
Speaking about the innovation, Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc; Mr. Segun Agbaje said the Bank’s objective is to engage the public where they work, live or play and the new service would enable persons on social networks like Facebook commence a banking relationship and perform transactions 24/7, safely and conveniently, without having to leave the platform. According to Mr. Agbaje ‘This novel service presently allows people open GTBank accounts and get customer service support on Facebook and in a couple of weeks we will introduce new service options that include money transfers, airtime purchases and bills payments’. He further affirmed that GTBank was committed to the convenience of its stakeholders and the Bank would continue to introduce value adding alternative channels into the future.
Guaranty Trust Bank has been at the forefront of industry innovations within the Nigerian financial service sector over the last 22 years. The Bank is the first Nigerian institution to have recognized online/social channels as an emerging service point and has over 1 million followers on Facebook; the largest for any African Bank. Additionally, the Bank recently introduced GTBank Mobile Money, a highly secure application that allows customers and non GTBank customers perform transfers and payments from their mobile phones to any mobile phone subscriber within the country.
Furthermore, the Bank’s internet banking platform is one of the most robust in the industry, supporting a wide array of service offerings that include bills payments, own and third party transfers and foreign exchange transfers to any bank account in the world. The Bank’s alternative banking channels were given a Payment Card Industry Standards Council (PCISSC) certification late last year, implying that the channels meet acceptable technical and operational requirements to prevent credit card fraud, hacking and other security vulnerabilities.
Guaranty Trust Bank plc was established in 1990 and has within the last 22 years come to be recognized as one of the most innovative and service focused banks in the Nigerian financial market space. The Bank operates from 200 business locations in Nigeria and has banking subsidiaries in Cote D’Ivoire, the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 07 – The Aspen Institute today announced the creation of the New Voices Fellowship, a ground-breaking partnership focused on identifying the next generation of global development champions focused on issues affecting the developing world.
Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the new $2.6 million initiative will be part of the Aspen Institute’s Global Health and Development (GHD) portfolio and will include specialized support, training, and technical assistance to elevate the stories, research and insights of fellows on global development issues on a variety of communications platforms.
“All too frequently the most powerful leaders and practitioners in the developing world do not have access to global communications platforms to tell their stories in their own words,” said GHD executive director Peggy Clark, who is also vice president of policy programs at the Aspen Institute.
“These unsung heroes can bring “ground truth” to our development efforts and guide us to ever greater effectiveness and impact. Over the next few years donors and governments will make decisions to fund, or not fund, major investments in research, global health and sustainability. The New Voices fellows will give us insights into the most critical programs, solutions and innovations based on their own experiences and research. ”
The 12 Fellows selected each year will be experts in fields relating to global development, including global health and food security. Over the course of a year, the Fellowship will prepare and support Fellows to become recognized thought leaders, helping amplify their insights and ideas rooted in uncommon experience on the ground. They will be given training and support to speak at major events; write conversation-starting op-eds and think pieces for major outlets; and create catalytic social media platforms. The New Voices Fellowship initiative will produce a cohort of go-to, sought-after, new voices that, together, will articulate a fresh, collective vision for the future of the developing world.
The Aspen Institute is pleased to announce Andrew Quinn as the director of the New Voices Fellowship. Quinn comes to the Aspen Institute from Reuters where he served as the US foreign policy correspondent for Reuters and the lead at the State Department covering Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton. Previously at Reuters, Quinn was political editor, Johannesburg Bureau Chief, and China correspondent. He was a global health fellow for the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University. Quinn studied at Harvard University, the University of California, and Columbia University.
“Andrew brings nearly two decades of experience in global issues as a media leader, and a truly global network of contacts in media and development,” said Clark, “We are honored to have him join us to lead this important effort.”
Andrew Quinn added, “Fellows from the developing world will bring both their professional expertise and their personal stories to the conversation about global development, which will have a powerful impact. I am thrilled to be joining Aspen in helping to identify and amplify these important voices.”
Application to the Fellowship is by invitation only. The 2013-2014 Fellows will be announced in spring 2013.
The Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, DC. Its mission is to foster leadership based on enduring values and to provide a nonpartisan venue for dealing with critical issues. The Institute is based in Washington, DC; Aspen, Colorado; and on the Wye River on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also has offices in New York City and an international network of partners.
by Elizabeth Gasiorowski Denis on 19 November 2012
Maria das Graças Silva Foster is the CEO of Petrobras. In a career that has spanned 31 years, Ms. Foster has served in numerous roles including Gas and Energy Director, CEO and Financial Director of Petrobras Distribuidora. In February 2012, she was elected member of the Petrobras Board of Directors and was chosen to take over the helm of the company.
She also sits on the boards of Petrobras Distribuidora, Petrobras Biocombustível, and is the President of the Board of Directors of Petrobras Transporte, Petrobras Gas and IBP (Brazilian Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuels Institute).
From 2003 to 2005, Ms. Graças Foster was Secretary for Oil, Natural Gas and Renewable Fuels at the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy. During this period, by presidential decree, she became National Executive Secretary of the federal government programme for mobilizing Brazil’s oil and gas industry and Interministerial Coordinator for the national programme for biodiesel production and use.
Maria das Graças Silva Foster
Ms. Graças Foster sits on numerous boards and has received many prestigious awards, notably the Medalha da Inconfidência, awarded to persons who have made an outstanding contribution to social, cultural and economic development. She has been made a Knight Commander of both the Admiralty Order of Merit and the Rio Branco Order of the Brazilian External Affairs Ministry. In April 2009, she received the Tiradentes Medal, the highest decoration of the Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro. In 2008, she was named Executive of the Year by the Institute of Brazilian Finance Executives.
Ms. Graças Foster graduated in chemical engineering from Fluminense Federal University, then completed her Master’s at Rio de Janeiro Federal University. She also has an MBA in economics from Fundação Getúlio Vargas.
ISO Focus+ : Petrobras recently came top in a ranking of the 50 most valuable brands in Latin America and is the 4th largest energy company in the world. From the project stage to construction, commissioning and acquisition of equipment and oil refineries, how important are International Standards to a company of this scale ? What part do they play in day-to-day operations ?
Maria das Graças Silva Foster : Applying International Standards is of strategic importance to ensure competitiveness in our business, since this means that projects, equipment manufacture and construction, assembly and commissioning of new onshore and offshore facilities are in line with international practices, aimed at ensuring quality, operational efficiency and compliance with health, safety and environmental requirements.
Petrobras CEO, Maria das Graças Silva Foster, visits a platform in the Campos Basin.
In day-to-day operations, Petrobras applies International Standards in the various development phases for projects relating to oil and gas production facilities, transport and refining, such as drilling and production platforms, terrestrial and undersea pipelines, storage ships and terminals, refineries, thermal power plants, petrochemical plants, fertilizer plants and biodiesel production plants. They are also applied in the operation, maintenance, inspection and assessment of facilities. These standards cover project requirements, equipment manufacture, construction and assembly, commissioning, quality management, operational security, health, the environment, social responsibility and risk analysis, as well as other aspects.
ISO Focus+ : How does Petrobras apply ISO 9001 in quality management ? How does this standard contribute to making company operations more efficient ?
Maria das Graças Silva Foster : In an oil products market that is growing at an annual rate of 4 %, the Petrobras 2012-2016 Business and Management Plan earmarks a significant part of its investments to satisfying product quality requirements, especially gasoline and diesel.
The ISO 9001 model is a benchmark in quality management and allowed us to identify the interfaces of the company’s vertical processes, enhancing the integration of corporate areas and helping improve the quality of inputs that pass through the company’s value chain up to delivery of the final product, with better and more sustainable results.
The adoption of ISO 9001 was a strategic decision aimed at improving our operations, cutting costs and boosting customer satisfaction. Applying ISO 9001 helped increase asset efficiency, improve processes, enhance flexibility and strengthen our commitment to safety and the environment. Furthermore, factors such as the predictability of the characteristics of products and services, workforce awareness of quality aspects and increased standardization are helping the company achieve results and satisfy market requirements.
ISO Focus+ : Petrobras emphasizes its commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability and is listed on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Could you give us more information on the company’s environmental commitments and, in particular, describe how International Standards such as ISO 14001 (environmental management) help in this ?
Maria das Graças Silva Foster : Petrobras’ performance is closely linked to its deep commitment to the environment, the safety of its operations and facilities and the health of its workforce. This commitment is expressed in the company’s mission statement: “To act in a safe and profitable manner, with social and environmental responsibility, on the domestic and international markets, providing products and services that satisfy the needs of our customers and contribute to the development of Brazil and the countries in which we operate.”
To do this, the company links productive processes to health, safety and environment (HSE) corporate guidelines approved by the Executive Board and embodying modern HSE management practices focused on the company’s activities. The guidelines form the basis of the entire HSE management system developed for Petrobras Units, which are certified to Brazilian Standards NBR ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001.
At present, in pursuit of continual improvement in HSE management, Petrobras is working on a new challenge aimed at obtaining a single certification to NBR ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 for the entire company. This will lead to greater dynamism and homogeneity in our productive processes, making them safer, healthier and more sustainable.
ISO Focus+ : Why did Petrobras participate in drafting social responsibility standard ISO 26000 ? How is the company applying this standard ?
Maria das Graças Silva Foster : Acting with social and environmental responsibility is one of the strategic corporate pillars at Petrobras, together with growth and profitability. This commitment is expressed in our mission statement and corporate vision, and determines how the company exercises its activities. We saw the opportunity to participate in drafting the International Standard on social responsibility as strategic.
We worked alongside the international working group for ISO 26000 from the initial meeting in 2005 and were invited by Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT), ISO member for Brazil, to represent Brazilian industry in 2006. The company consolidated a successful partnership with the ABNT and the Brazilian delegation for disseminating the content of the standard by holding 15 seminars in all regions of the country. After ISO 26000 was released, in December 2010, a further seven seminars were held to present the standard to industry federations in the main capital cities of Brazil. The principles and themes discussed internationally in relation to ISO 26000 contributed to the formulation of the company’s policies and guidelines on social responsibility. In addition, Petrobras has been promoting a series of training courses, talks and workshops on the standard for its workforce.
ISO Focus+ : Petrobras specialists are members of a number of ISO technical committees, such as ISO/TC 67, Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries, and ISO/TC 28, Petroleum products and lubricants. Tell us a little more about Petrobras’ participation in international standardization. How important is this participation to the company ?
Maria das Graças Silva Foster : Petrobras participates in ISO, the leading organization for international technical standardization, with 249 representatives on technical committees, subcommittees and working groups. This is done through ABNT, in which Petrobras employees act as representatives of Brazil.
The company also participates in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), another international organization for technical standardization, with 15 representatives, along similar lines to its participation in ISO. We also participate in the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the international technical regulations body for maritime issues, with 23 representatives. And we have 14 representatives on the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers/Standards Committee (OGP/SC), responsible for assisting ISO/TC 67 by drafting basic texts for international technical standards in the petroleum industry.
Our participation in these organizations involves preparing International Standards and regulations jointly with representatives from other countries and companies. These standards and regulations are used extensively on the international market, where Petrobras works with technical requirements that satisfy quality, safety, health, environmental, deadline, cost and local content standards.
ISO Focus+ : You are one of the few women who are at the helm of one of the largest companies in the world. At the Women Leaders’ Forum held during Rio+20, you encouraged women in management positions to be aware of, and take action to combat, prejudice. You also pointed out that the oil sector is naturally dominated by men, stating that 84 % of the Petrobras Holding workforce are men and only 16 % women. We could say the same about standardization ! In your opinion, how would gender diversity benefit business ? How can we change our viewpoint and involve women more ?
Maria das Graças Silva Foster : With a great deal of determination, women have been making conquests in the world of work. In Brazil, 60 % of the workforce are women. In 1980, this figure was only 38 %. We managers, especially women, in companies where we play a leadership role, must be constantly aware of, and combat, all and any kind of prejudice. If companies accept prejudice, this constitutes a destructive administrative act, leading to the loss of competitiveness and resulting in other consequences damaging to the development of the business itself. In a highly competitive global market there is no room for gender bias.
One of Petrobras’ 10 values, defined in the Strategic Plan for 2020, is respect for human and cultural diversity based on three principles : combatting discrimination, promoting equality of opportunity, and respecting differences. Petrobras participates in the gender equality programme launched by the federal government’s special women’s policy agency. In 2010, we adhered to the Women’s Empowerment Principles, a UN document listing seven principles giving companies practical guidelines for promoting gender equality in the workplace, in the market and in the community.
About Petrobras
Petrobras is a Brazilian integrated energy company with over a million shareholders, operating in the oil, natural gas, and biofuels sectors in 27 countries.
As the largest deep water operator in the world (22 % share of worldwide operations), Petrobras’ pre-salt oil and gas discoveries opened up a new exploration frontier with the potential to put Brazil among the world’s leaders in terms of oil and gas reserves. Petrobras currently has proven reserves of some 16 billion barrels of oil (SPE criteria), and this figure could double over the next few years as new discoveries are made.
Petrobras is one of the few companies with output of over 2.6 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boed). Its strategic plan forecasts a rise in domestic and foreign output to 5.7 million boed by 2020, an increase of 115 %.
The global public offering launched in September 2010 raised the company’s capital to BRL 205 billion, funding earmarked for projects covered by the 2012-2016 Business and Management Plan and amounting to USD 236.5 billion. In 2011, the company’s net profit reached USD 20 billion.
Today, Petrobras’ system has around 84 000 employees. According to projections, by 2014, around a million direct and indirect jobs will be created in Brazil in the domestic oil and gas sector.
The Football Association will take no action against Mark Clattenburg following Chelsea’s allegations that he racially abused John Obi Mikel.
No evidence: The FA said in a statement that The FA does not believe that there is a case for Mr Clattenburg to answer.
• Clattenburg cleared of wrongdoing by FA • Mikel charged with misconduct over post-match incident • Clattenburg consulting lawyers over possible legal action • FA: Ramires, Chelsea’s only witness, ‘acted in good faith’ • Read the FA’s full judgment
Clattenburg was accused of using “inappropriate language” by Chelsea after the fractious 3-2 defeat against Manchester United. Specifically, Chelsea’s evidence to the FA alleged that Clattenburg said to Mikel “shut up you, monkey”.
The FA’s judgment reveals that midfielder Ramires was Chelsea’s only witness. Mikel himself did not hear the alleged insult, there was no video evidence to support the claim, and Clattenburg’s fellow officials – who are all connected via earpieces and microphones – denied hearing the alleged insult.
An FA statement read: “Having considered all of the available evidence it was the opinion of David Waters QC, independent counsel, that the evidence of Ramires was not supported by any other evidence. Moreover it was contradicted by other witnesses and does not cross the evidential threshold required to bring a charge against Mark Clattenburg.
“Having considered Counsel’s opinion, and in view of all the circumstances of the case, The FA does not believe that there is a case for Mr Clattenburg to answer.”
The FA have also charged Mikel with misconduct over the heated exchanges which followed the United game, when a Chelsea delegation entered the referee’s changing room.
“Mikel has been charged … for an alleged breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to his side’s game against Manchester United,” read an FA statement.
“It is alleged that in or around the Match Officials’ changing room at the end of the fixture, Mikel used threatening and/or abusive and/or insulting words and/or behaviour”. Mikel has until Friday Nov 30 to respond.
Speaking of his relief, Clattenburg said: “To know you were innocent of something but that there was the opportunity for it to wreck your career was truly frightening.
“Racism has no place in football and this experience should not discourage those to speak out if they genuinely believe they are a victim of abuse. However, there are processes that should be adhered in order that any investigation can be carried out in a manner that is fair for all parties involved.”
It is understood that Clattenburg is now consulting his lawyers over the possibility of taking legal action against Chelsea.
“I know first-hand the ramifications of allegations of this nature being placed into the public domain ahead of a formal process and investigation,” he said. “I hope no referee has to go through this in the future.”
Chelsea have accepted the FA’s decision, adding in a statement: “Chelsea FC has a duty of care, as do all employers, to act responsibly when such allegations are reported by employees.
“We did not take the decision to lodge a formal complaint with the FA lightly and followed the correct processes and protocols throughout. The club carried out a thorough investigation, led by outside legal counsel, using all information available to us. As the FA makes clear, it is not uncommon for investigations to lead to no disciplinary charge being brought.”
Last week, the Metropolitan Police dropped its own investigation into the Clattenburg allegations.
“Inquiries were made and no victims have come forward. The matter will remain as a recorded incident. Without a victim and/or any evidence that any offence has been committed, the matter cannot currently be investigated.
“If the situation changes and a victim and/or evidence to support an allegation of a crime comes to police attention, then further inquiries will, if appropriate, be made.”
The police investigation was launched after the incident was reported to them by the Society of Black Lawyers. Its chairman, Peter Herbert, accused the FA of “institutional racism” over its failure to refer the allegations against Clattenburg to the police.
The FA’s investigation found the following:
“The evidence for the allegation came from one witness, Ramires. Ramires, whose first language is not English, explained that his instinctive reaction was to seek confirmation from John Obi Mikel as to what the referee had said.
“John Obi Mikel, who was being spoken to by the referee, was much closer to the referee than Ramires and did not hear what it is suggested was said to him.
“Three other witnesses, i.e. the other Match Officials, to whom everything said by referee was relayed via their communication equipment, are adamant the alleged words were not uttered.
“There is nothing in the video footage to support the allegation.
“For completeness, but of lesser weight, two other players, whose first language is English and were in the vicinity, did not hear anything untoward.”
Having entrenched the Help-Change-A-Life, its premium corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, in the Lagos market for the past one year, Shoprite has extended this initiative to Little Sisters of the Elderly Poor, Enugu, making a total of 10 homes that have benefited so far.
Since inception, the institutions that have benefited from the initiative are Red Cross Motherless Babies Society, Lagos; Orphan Youth Group, Lagos; Living Fountain Orphanage, Lagos; Heart of Gold Children Hospice, Lagos; Red Cross Motherless Babies, Enugu; Little Saints Orphanage, Lagos; SOS Children Village, Lagos; Modupe Cole Home and School, Lagos, and Ile School for the Handicapped.
In the last couple of months, the Help-Change-A-Life CSR campaign had donated over N2million to voluntary institutions across the nation especially in Lagos and the figures are bound to increase as more retail stores are opened.
The initiative is Shoprite and its customers™ way of contributing and giving back to the society in which they operates. Shoprite provides a platform for its customers to contribute to the needs of the greater community by simply collecting change from any of its willing customers. The responses have been overwhelming, proving once again that customers are happy to join Shoprite in supporting the plight of the less fortunate people.
Little Sisters of the Elderly Poor, Enugu, a religious congregation taking care of the elderly poor people received N120,000 from Shoprite and its customers in Enugu in October 2011.
Acknowledging the kind gesture of the brand and its teeming customers across the state, Sister Philomena Monica, Superior at the Little Sisters of the Elderly Poor said, as a big family with the elderly, the vouchers will be of a great help to us. Our wish is to give them the best of everything, both in health and when there is sickness.
For instance, she said it will soon be Christmas, and some of the elderly would like to have some portable radios. With the help of the vouchers we will be able to provide these presents for them.
She however, hoped that other corporate bodies would borrow a leaf from Shoprites book and extend their CSR initiatives towards the home to enable it take good care of the elderly who are still a part of the society. As a big family, we would like corporate organisations to assist us in every area. We need a car for the home and a water tanker. These are just a few items that could make life meaningful for these poor elderly ones, she added.
Speaking on the choice of the Home Mr. Fabian Abaratu, Manager Shoprite Enugu stated that the organisation was chosen in view of its roles in assisting the physically challenged and impoverished members of the society due to circumstances of age.
He said The organisation was chosen after a critical survey of the challenges they are facing in coping with this section of the members of the society. The challenges include building a modern lifter that will convey those of them who can not walk again, building a complex that will have separate apartment with all the necessary conveniences, purchase of modern game/sports and gymnastic equipment, maintaining accurate balanced diet for such aged people and provision of adequate clothing for the members of the Community.
He said, this charity donation is one of the Community based activities of Shoprite to impart positively on the environment where retail business is going on. Precisely, this donation is from shoppers (customers), staff and management of Shoprite Retail Supermarket in Nigeria. It is our plan to continue this donation on a monthly basis and of course spot out other less privileged members of the society within and around Enugu to effect the donation, he emphasised.
With the new Ikeja store about to go into full operation in the next couple of weeks, it is sure another source of income to support the initiative.
Shell Malaysia today announced the first oil production from the deepwater Gumusut-Kakap (GK) field, located about 120km offshore Sabah, Malaysia.
This early production, achieved on November 18th, 2012, is ahead of the completion of the GK’s Floating Production System (FPS). This is made possible by an innovative linking or tie-back of two of GK’s production wells to the Kikeh production facility, the country’s first deepwater development also offshore Sabah, operated by Murphy Sabah Oil.
The GK field, located in waters up to 1,200 metres deep in Blocks J and K, is being developed using 19 subsea wells with oil to be exported via a pipeline to the Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal in Kimanis. The project will eventually employ the FPS — the region’s first deepwater FPS — once it is fully on stream, currently expected end 2013. The GK Kikeh tie-back early production option is an interim measure that is expected to bring an additional 25,000 barrels of oil per day to Malaysia.
“We are delighted that we have started production from the Gumusut-Kakap field.” said Iain Lo, Chairman of Shell Malaysia.
“The tie-back is an innovative solution that will allow us to produce from the GK field ahead of the completion of the FPS, currently being fabricated by Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MMHE) in Johor. We thank Murphy for their partnership and cooperation that has enabled this opportunity. We look forward to ramping up the production once the FPS goes on stream.”
Projects such as GK are critical to the industry’s long term sustainability in Malaysia as the country develops its deepwater resources. Shell is playing an active role in developing a deepwater service industry in Malaysia by bringing its technology and expertise into the country. The company began deep water exploration and production research in the 1960s and has been a global leader in deepwater exploration and production for the last 30 years.
In January last year, Shell announced an investment of RM5.1 billion to further develop oil and gas facilities across the country. The major part of which were three projects that included a new diesel processing unit at Port Dickson refinery, a new solid wax plant at Shell Middle Distillate Synthesis (SMDS) in Bintulu, Sarawak and the GK deepwater development offshore Sabah. The wax plant is now operational while the Port Dickson and GK projects are ongoing.
The Gumusut and Kakap fields were combined into a single development under a Unitisation and Unit Operating Agreement signed by co-ventures Shell Malaysia, Murphy Sabah Oil, PETRONAS Carigali and ConocoPhillips Sabah Ltd in 2006. Shell Malaysia and ConocoPhillips Sabah Ltd each hold 33% interests in the development, PETRONAS Carigali has 20% and Murphy Sabah Oil Company Ltd has 14%. Shell Malaysia upstream company, Sabah Shell Petroleum Company, is the operator of the development.
Operating as production sharing contractors to PETRONAS, Shell Malaysia’s exploration and production companies are engaged in the exploration for and efficient development and extraction of crude oil and natural gas from offshore Sarawak and Sabah, with onshore operations and offices in Miri, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur. Shell also builds and operates the infrastructure needed to deliver hydrocarbons to market.
The pioneer of Malaysia’s exploration and production sector, Shell drilled Malaysia’s first commercial oil well in Miri, Sarawak in 1910. The company’s upstream base is still located in Miri after a century of operations.
Unilever Chief Executive Officer, Paul Polman is scheduled to arrive in Colombo today. Accompanying Polman will be Chief Operating Officer, Harish Manwani, and Executive Vice President of South Asia, Nitin Paranjpe. During this visit, Polman will be inaugurating Unilever Sri Lanka’s new manufacturing facility in Horana. In order to meet the growing needs of the Sri Lankan consumer, Unilever Sri Lanka invested US $50 million in a new manufacturing facility located in the BOI Zone in Horana. While Unilever currently manufactures 95% of the products its markets in Sri Lanka, this new facility will enable the company to further extend local manufacturing, as well as deliver faster product innovations and improve production and environmental efficiency. Furthermore, the Company will now be in a position to actively pursue export.
Polman will also be addressing the employees to share his vision and direction for the company and the expectations from Unilever Sri Lanka towards Unilever’s global ambitions. He is also is expected to review Unilever Sri Lanka’s short and long term growth plans with Unilever Sri Lanka’s leadership and give his input on the plans for Sri Lanka to go forward as a key market in South Asia.
Having earned his Master of Arts in Economics and MBA in Finance and International Marketing from the University of Cincinnati, Polman began his career with Procter & Gamble in 1979. He spent 27 years at the company, culminating in the position of Group President – Europe, in 2001. Prior to joining Unilever, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Nestlé from 2006, and the Executive Vice President for the Americas from February 2008. Polman succeeded Patrick Cescau as the Chief Executive Officer of Unilever in January 2009.
TEXT: Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Gaza’s Palestinians
Following is the verbatim English text of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza that was reached on Wednesday with Egyptian mediation. The text was distributed by the Egyptian presidency.
Agreement of Understanding For a Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
1: (no title given for this section)
A. Israel should stop all hostilities in the Gaza Strip land, sea and air including incursions and targeting of individuals.
B. All Palestinian factions shall stop all hostilities from the Gaza Strip against Israel including rocket attacks and all attacks along the border.
C. Opening the crossings and facilitating the movements of people and transfer of goods and refraining from restricting residents’ free movements and targeting residents in border areas and procedures of implementation shall be dealt with after 24 hours from the start of the ceasefire.
D. Other matters as may be requested shall be addressed.
2: Implementation mechanisms:
A. Setting up the zero hour for the ceasefire understanding to enter into effect.
B. Egypt shall receive assurances from each party that the party commits to what was agreed upon.
C. Each party shall commit itself not to perform any acts that would breach this understanding. In case of any observations Egypt as the sponsor of this understanding shall be informed to follow up.
Italian oil major Eni is misleading shareholders over the company’s commitment to end gas flaring in Nigeria, according to a new report by an international delegation of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), following a recent fact finding mission to the Niger Delta. Gas flaring is illegal in Nigeria.
The report, entitled ‘The reality behind EU ‘energy security’, examines the environmental and social devastation caused by European oil multinationals Eni, Total and Shell in Nigeria.
Internal documents obtained by the delegation reveal that Eni was warned in 2005 by its consultants that gas flaring has “adverse”, “long-term” and “irreversible” impacts on health and the environment. Despite being aware of the dangers, Eni continues to flare gas.
In May 2011, Paolo Scaroni, Eni’s chief executive assured shareholders during Eni’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) that the company planned to reduce flaring in its oil operation at Kwale to “zero” by June 2011 and the company has since stated: “We do not flare gas.”
However, the delegation documented ongoing flaring from at least five “flare stacks” at the Kwale processing plant. Contrary to what Eni declares on its website, gas flaring is continuing also at Ebocha oil facility.
The delegation also documented the extensive damage caused by leaking oil pipelines and forced displacement. The community of Goi has been forced to abandon its land because of major recent oil spills in 2004, 2008 and 2009, by Anglo-Dutch oil giant, Shell. In 2006, Total reportedly forced local residents in Egi off their land. Total’s divisive practices have increased inequality and fuelled conflict in Egi, leading to the death of two people and wounding of several others.
Affected communities are demanding that the companies should be held accountable, provide adequate compensation for the damage caused and restore the land. A local resident told the delegation: “We want our land back. Nothing good came out of petroleum exploration. Petroleum can’t give us food. We want the oil to remain in the ground”
“It is vital that UNEP’s emergency measures and recommendations for cleaning up the Delta and protecting human health are implemented”, say Nick Hildyard from The Corner House, one of the members of the delegation. “Environmental audits are needed in all the territories where oil exploration is taking place. The oil multinationals, their home states and the Nigerian government all bear heavy responsibility for the environmental devastation in the Niger Delta”
The delegation also recommended a major rethink of the European Union’s so-called ‘energy security strategy’. “The EU is the world’s largest energy importer. Twenty per cent of the oil traded internally is coming from Nigeria”, said Elena Gerebizza. “Yet despite the clear imperative to keep fossil fuels in the ground if catastrophic climatic climate change is to be avoided, the European Union intends to rely on importing fossil fuels for decades to come. The EU’s ‘energy security’ policy is not only killing Nigerians: in the long term, it is jeopardising everyone. Priority must be given to a just transition away from fossil fuels.”
Maria das Graças Silva Foster 
csrwatchinternationalnigeria 