Doing Business in Africa wins Best TV Feature 2009

Fri, 03 Jul 2009

CNBC Africa landed a major international award in London last night when presenter/producer Sue Beukes, cameraman Thabo Mathebula and editor Amanda Diergaardt walked away with the Best Television Feature 2009 for the programme ‘Doing Business in Africa’ at the Africa Business Reporting Awards.

Now in their sixth anniversary year, the Africa Business Reporting Awards celebrate journalists and news organisations who have gone the extra mile to reveal the dynamism of African industry. Despite the global economic downturn, characterised by shrinking capital flows and volatile commodity prices, submissions for the Africa Business Reporting Awards reveal a continent that is still alive with opportunity.

Judges commented on the programme ‘Doing Business in Africa’ by saying: ‘This is high-quality reporting. It's extremely well filmed to the highest technical standards and the producers have done their homework ensuring excellent access to top-level interviewees. This is a comprehensive, lively and thoughtful piece, which leaves the viewer wanting to see more.’

‘Doing Business in Africa’ unearths the secrets and important dealmaker points, when it comes to doing business in Africa covering a different African country every episode - from Namibia to Nigeria and Botswana to Burkina Faso - every third Monday of the month at 20h30.

Paul Walsh, Chief Executive Officer of Diageo plc, and chair of the judging panel, said: ‘The current economic environment demands new ways of looking at African business. In a world marked by slowing industrialised economies, Africa offers immense opportunities for technology firms, FMCG companies, and power and water companies - to name just a few sectors. Our perspectives on Africa must change too, or we will miss one of the greatest opportunities to do great business, to develop new markets and to enrich the lives of almost 1 billion consumers – a population equal to that of India’.

Gary Alfonso, Chief Operating Officer of CNBC Africa, says: “’Doing Business in Africa’ delivers on what CNBC Africa is doing every minute of every day in Africa – and that is changing perceptions and mindsets about the economic and business possibilities on this incredible continent. The high production values of the programme also deliver on CNBC Africa’s promise to the business news environment - which is to give Africans their own voice on the global economic platform”.

CNBC Africa’s Kenya Bureau presenter/producer Terryanne Chebet was also nominated in the television category.

‘Doing Business in Africa’ is produced through a sponsorship partnership with Blue Financial Services, which is also expanding into Africa.