Buksh Energy, Bank Alfalah join hands

KARACHI: Bank Alfalah and Buksh Energy on Thursday joined hands under “Green Financing Partnership” to provide the bank’s classic, gold and premium credit card customers with customisable solar home solutions, said a press release.

The programme has been designed considering the high upfront cost of a solar solution and to make it readily available.

KCA brokers elected

KARACHI: Six licensed cotton brokers of the Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) have been elected unopposed to the advisory committee 2014-15. They are: Abdul Jalil Khan, Faraz, Girdhari Lal Assudomal, Muhammad Naseem, Muahmmad Taufiq Haroon and Taqi Abbas, said a press release.

Unilever CEO lauds Pakistan potential

KARACHI: Unilever CEO Paul Polman views Pakistan as an emerging market with high potential for long-term growth.

The outlook is based on the four-fold growth of the local business in the last eight years and the significant scope to grow especially in rural areas.

Paul Polman, visiting Pakistan for the third time in six years, acknowledged Unilever’s operations in Pakistan to be amongst the best performing business units within Unilever’s global operations. During his visit, he inaugurated a rural customer development initiative in the village of Wagrah in Punjab.

In 2013, Unilever Overseas Holding, which is a majority shareholder in Unilever Pakistan Limited, invested over €400 million ($530m) in Pakistan which is the single largest foreign direct investment in the recent history of the country.

Coca-Cola to create biggest bottler in Africa

JOHANNESBURG: The Coca-Cola Company on Thursday announced a partnership to form its largest soft drinks bottling company in Africa, serving “high growth” countries on the continent.

The Coca-Cola Company together with British drinks giant SABMiller and Gutsche Family Investment, a South Africa private firm, will join forces to form Coca-Cola Beverages Africa.

“The new bottler, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, will serve 12 high-growth countries accounting for approximately 40 per cent of all Coca-Cola beverage volumes in Africa,” said a statement.

It will be majority owned by SABMiller with a 57pc stake, Gutsche Family Investments with 31.7pc and The Coca-Cola Company with 11.3pc.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2014