Business

Sage, a leading global vendor of business management software, said it has won a court cases against a Cameroon firm illegally using its software.

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Ngwa Bertrand

05.Aug.2014

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NJ is the managing partner of Centurion. The firm has grown from 2 lawyers to 35 lawyers, thanks to his leadership, with offices in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, South Sudan, United ArabEmirates and two liason offices in Houston and Toronto. His experience includes advising major companies on investment strategies, the establishment of joint ventures and cooperation structures, privatisation, licensing and related tax, OHADA and Equatorial Guinea law, oil and gas, local content, litigation, negotiations, governance and other matters.

He is particularly active in the structuring, negotiation and implementation of petroleum, mining, LNG, and other natural resource projects in Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Chad, South Sudan, Kenya, Uganda, Mozambique, Angola, Congo and other sub-Saharan countries. His experience has included PSCs, JOAS, service agreements, concessions, oil-field service and drilling contracts, licensing and pipeline and marine transportation issues, including the sale and transportation of LNG.

Drawing from his past experience from his job with the United Nations, he continuously advises governments on judicial modernisation, rule of law issues, training of judges, prosecutors and lawyers in Equatorial Guinea, Chad, South Sudan, Uganda and Niger on a pro bono basis.

He regularly participates in industry-specific conferences and seminars as speaker and moderator. He graduated from University of Maryland College Park and earned a JD from William Mitchell College of Law in the United States. He further holds an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology.

He is an active member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators (AIPN), the Institute for Energy Law (IEL) and the Petroleum Joint Venture Association (PJVA).

He is recognised as a leading oil and gas lawyer in Who's Who Legal: Energy, the Oil and Gas Year Publication recognised him as 'a shrewd, street-smart, savvy dealmaker and major asset' andChambers and Partners recognised him as an 'important player' and a "tremendous resource'-an acknowledgement bestowed upon him by his peers in the industry.

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Ngwa Bertrand

04.Aug.2014

Hits: 2498

There’s a revolution happening in Africa, but it is not a military revolution that requires the commitment of American troops or global peacekeeping forces. Like the shale gas discoveries made in the US a few years ago, similar discoveries happened in Equatorial Guinea nearly two decades ago. Soon after, our country began to realise the dramatic benefits resulting from the development of these resources. Equatorial Guinea is a country roughly the size of the state of Maryland. In 2013 we produced approximately 270,000 bopd.

CHANGE IS PROGRESS: The global energy market is changing, and companies are looking outside of traditional Western markets to identify new and emerging economies. The transformations happening in Equatorial Guinea provide a snapshot of what is happening across the African continent and throughout most of Asia.
In the last several years, some of the world’s largest resource exploration companies, Marathon, Exxon Mobil, Noble Energy and many more have laid the foundation for development and economic growth in many other aspects of the Equatorial Guinean economy. The growth of the Equatorial Guinean economy benefits more than just the business community in the country. It trickles down and is having a positive impact on the entire population in the form of improved infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems. With the essential infrastructure in place, President Obiang is working to transform more than just the economy of Equatorial Guinea.

THE PLAN: Together with international partners, Obiang has created a long-term development plan called Horizon 2020. This plan calls for targeted investments to: strengthen economic growth and the development of structured investments; promote critical social initiatives to ensure a transparent social climate; and develop tools for better monitoring and evaluation of household poverty and living conditions.
To achieve these goals, Equatorial Guinea is partnering with international development experts and committing more than $1 billion to this aggressive plan to improve education, healthcare, gender equality and sewage and water delivery systems.
Right now we are making progress towards these goals and working with our corporate partners to promote corporate social responsibility. One example of this type of programme is the Bioko Island Malaria Control Project, developed by Marathon Oil. Working with local institutions, this project has decreased the malaria caseload on the island by 74 percent and the mortality rate of children under five years old by 64 percent. They also run the Books for Bioko programme that raises funds and provides much-needed school supplies for students in Bioko Island. Since 2004, Marathon employees have raised more than $550,000 in support of this programme.
We want to build a robust and vibrant economy in Equatorial Guinea, not one that is dependant on one single resource or revenue stream. That is why we are taking steps to leverage the economic growth these resources have brought to our country, and use them to bring our people out of poverty.

GLOBAL PROFILE: In order to capitalise on this momentum, the Ministry of Mines, Industry, and Energy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea is hosting the first Equatorial Guinea Economic Forum in Washington, DC on August 8, 2014 (www.egindc.com). This forum is an opportunity for American businesses to learn about the various opportunities in Equatorial Guinea and hear first hand from distinguished government Ministers about doing business in our booming emerging economy.
Equatorial Guinea and the US share many ties, government-to-government, people to people, and business ties. Many Equatorial Guinean’s travel to the US for educational opportunities and then bring their knowledge and skills back to our country to apply them to the many new and exciting opportunities here.

INVESTMENT INVITE: While much progress has been made there is much still to be done. We need more American businesses to invest in many different sectors. We have promising agricultural, financial and tourism industries that will definitely benefit from American business acumen and ingenuity. We are in the process of creating a one-stop shop for business incorporation. We have made it a priority to comply with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and we welcome any technical support from American firms and government institutions. Our infrastructure has improved drastically but we will not stop there.
We welcome the large multinational corporations as well as small- and medium-size enterprises. We still need individuals and companies that are interested in investing in our health care, education, manufacturing, and natural resource exploration. Building out these various sectors will not only create profits for the companies that invest, but it will create jobs and foster economic opportunities for the citizens of Equatorial Guinea.
All of these opportunities and more are on the agenda for discussion at the forum in Washington next week. Equatorial Guinea is open for business. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities we have to offer.

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Ngwa Bertrand

04.Aug.2014

Hits: 2363

Inhabitants of Njeke, a village in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu division were on Thursday 24 July all smiles as they received a water scheme from the South West Development Authority (SOWEDA). The village has gone for more than 25 years without pipe borne water. As such, they were at the mercy of their neighbouring villages for the precious liquid.

Handing over the water scheme that was constructed in a period spanning from May to July 2014, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome told the people of Njeke Village that for the project to last and serve its intended purpose, they must all work together to ensure its proper management. He stated that with the government policy to transform Cameroon to an emergent economy by 2035, it is the place of SOWEDA to accompany the government towards the realization of this lofty dream and projects like the Njeke water scheme is an indication of progress.

The project that cost FCFA 20.5 million has been achieved thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. On the functionality of this water scheme, SOWEDA Infrastructural Engineer, Ashu Stephen, explained that it has a pumping skim that is designed using renewable solar energy. "Contrary to diesel engines that were used in the past and posed fueling problem to the villagers, we have used solar energy in Njeke wihch is the first of its kind in Manyu. Solar energy is affordable naturally and there will be no problem to the villagers. We installed the direct radian source collector and it shall pump water only during the day using energy from the sun" he stated.

Receiving the Njeke Water Supply Scheme, the First Deputy Mayor of Eyumojock, Ndip Nelson Mboh expressed gratitude to SOWEDA for a job well done and lauded the structure for its Developmental leadership throughout the South West Region. The Chief of Njeke village HRH Arrah Thomas Takang thanked SOWEDA for the water that has brought smiles on the faces of all his subjects. He promised to ensure sustainability of the water as it shall be appropriately used.

A ten man management committee was installed by the Chief Executive Officer for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh who presided over the handing over event. He cautioned them to work for the interest of Njeke village. The committee members have as task to mobilize villagers to participate in community work, put in place a realistic management maintenance action plan and raise funds for the maintenance of the water scheme.

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Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

Hits: 4439

Inhabitants of Njeke, a village in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu division were on Thursday 24 July all smiles as they received a water scheme from the South West Development Authority (SOWEDA). The village has gone for more than 25 years without pipe borne water. As such, they were at the mercy of their neighbouring villages for the precious liquid.

Handing over the water scheme that was constructed in a period spanning from May to July 2014, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome told the people of Njeke Village that for the project to last and serve its intended purpose, they must all work together to ensure its proper management. He stated that with the government policy to transform Cameroon to an emergent economy by 2035, it is the place of SOWEDA to accompany the government towards the realization of this lofty dream and projects like the Njeke water scheme is an indication of progress.

The project that cost FCFA 20.5 million has been achieved thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. On the functionality of this water scheme, SOWEDA Infrastructural Engineer, Ashu Stephen, explained that it has a pumping skim that is designed using renewable solar energy. "Contrary to diesel engines that were used in the past and posed fueling problem to the villagers, we have used solar energy in Njeke wihch is the first of its kind in Manyu. Solar energy is affordable naturally and there will be no problem to the villagers. We installed the direct radian source collector and it shall pump water only during the day using energy from the sun" he stated.

Receiving the Njeke Water Supply Scheme, the First Deputy Mayor of Eyumojock, Ndip Nelson Mboh expressed gratitude to SOWEDA for a job well done and lauded the structure for its Developmental leadership throughout the South West Region. The Chief of Njeke village HRH Arrah Thomas Takang thanked SOWEDA for the water that has brought smiles on the faces of all his subjects. He promised to ensure sustainability of the water as it shall be appropriately used.

A ten man management committee was installed by the Chief Executive Officer for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh who presided over the handing over event. He cautioned them to work for the interest of Njeke village. The committee members have as task to mobilize villagers to participate in community work, put in place a realistic management maintenance action plan and raise funds for the maintenance of the water scheme.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

Hits: 4992

Inhabitants of Njeke, a village in Eyumojock Sub Division in Manyu division were on Thursday 24 July all smiles as they received a water scheme from the South West Development Authority (SOWEDA). The village has gone for more than 25 years without pipe borne water. As such, they were at the mercy of their neighbouring villages for the precious liquid.

Handing over the water scheme that was constructed in a period spanning from May to July 2014, the General Manager of SOWEDA, Dr. Eneme Andrew Ngome told the people of Njeke Village that for the project to last and serve its intended purpose, they must all work together to ensure its proper management. He stated that with the government policy to transform Cameroon to an emergent economy by 2035, it is the place of SOWEDA to accompany the government towards the realization of this lofty dream and projects like the Njeke water scheme is an indication of progress.

The project that cost FCFA 20.5 million has been achieved thanks to the funding provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. On the functionality of this water scheme, SOWEDA Infrastructural Engineer, Ashu Stephen, explained that it has a pumping skim that is designed using renewable solar energy. "Contrary to diesel engines that were used in the past and posed fueling problem to the villagers, we have used solar energy in Njeke wihch is the first of its kind in Manyu. Solar energy is affordable naturally and there will be no problem to the villagers. We installed the direct radian source collector and it shall pump water only during the day using energy from the sun" he stated.

Receiving the Njeke Water Supply Scheme, the First Deputy Mayor of Eyumojock, Ndip Nelson Mboh expressed gratitude to SOWEDA for a job well done and lauded the structure for its Developmental leadership throughout the South West Region. The Chief of Njeke village HRH Arrah Thomas Takang thanked SOWEDA for the water that has brought smiles on the faces of all his subjects. He promised to ensure sustainability of the water as it shall be appropriately used.

A ten man management committee was installed by the Chief Executive Officer for Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh who presided over the handing over event. He cautioned them to work for the interest of Njeke village. The committee members have as task to mobilize villagers to participate in community work, put in place a realistic management maintenance action plan and raise funds for the maintenance of the water scheme.

Details

Ngwa Bertrand

31.Jul.2014

Hits: 3679