Kreston SA’s Post

Moving on to the next priority as the Chair of #CPTPPCanada2024 Commission! 🇨🇦   In this role, Canada wants to increase utilization of The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership benefits for groups that have been traditionally underrepresented in trade, such as women-owned firms, and Indigenous businesses! 🌟   Learn more about Canada’s three priorities as the #CPTPP Chair for 2024: https://lnkd.in/eyqeHBwG   Trade Commissioner Service | Service des délégués commerciaux | #CPTPPCanada2024 

In the ever-evolving realm of the financial sector, the imperative to attain B-BBEE compliance becomes a strategic necessity. Embracing B-BBEE is not just a commitment; it signifies a principled dedication to inclusivity, social responsibility, and economic transformation. This ethical alignment not only positions businesses in harmony with South Africa's empowerment objectives but also amplifies their credibility, competitiveness, and long-term viability. Through B-BBEE, financial institutions actively contribute to a more equitable and flourishing future, ensuring that the dividends of economic growth are equitably shared among diverse communities. - M Achary #Izala #YellowBrickArmy #compliance #verification #bbbee #financialsector #financialcharter #ethicaltransformation

New year, new role! Thanks for the post Te Hono and a good prompt to let my network know I am now Director at ASB ACCESS. We have been pursuing a design-led approach to how we can better support high potential modern #foodandfibre businesses, so this debt capital or #venturedebt fund will help accelerate #exports and boost NZ's economy by #exporting higher value goods. The dozens of high growth businesses we spoke to told us the same thing - it's not just about ACCESS to larger working capital lines but ACCESS to advice and international connections. I am looking forward to the new challenge and supporting this sector. #entrepreneurship #venturecapital #bioeconomy #foodtech

Embrace B-BBEE for a sustainable future in South Africa The journey towards a more inclusive business economy in South Africa begins with understanding and incorporating B-BBEE practices. For SMEs in particular, B-BBEE compliance is not just a statutory requirement, it is a strategic move for sustainability and growth. Besides contributing to the economic participation of previously disadvantaged groups, B-BBEE compliance comes with multiple benefits including: 1/ Access to government and big business supply chains 2/ Competitive advantage in tender procurements 3/ Improved investor appeal Are you leveraging B-BBEE for your business growth? Join the conversation and share your insights. #BBBEE #SMEs #SustainableBusiness

Prudential Vietnam Assurance Private Ltd. stands as a beacon of conscience and empathy, embodying a 23-year old legacy of ‘Listening. Understanding. Delivering.’ to manifest a brighter future of its workforce and also the people of Vietnam. The firm has demonstrated preeminence in its entirety as of late, particularly through its robust and firm foundation in the areas of revenue growth, innovativeness, people, and CSR, making it well-deserving of being one of Asia’s Most Influential Companies. As it advances towards becoming a purpose-driven organisation, the breadth of care and investment it has made via diverse initiatives, programs, and activities illustrates hope for a more sustainable tomorrow. Check out the FULL story below https://lnkd.in/gTdcZYXi For more stories, FOLLOW ACES Awards #ACESAwards #ACESAwards2023 #awardsandhonors #awards #leadership #sustainability #successstories #successful #entrepreneurship #leaders #asia #businessnews #digital #motivation #inspiration #bestoftheday #financialinstitute #investment #finance #insurance #Prudential #Vietnam

Calling all export innovators: if you’re currently stuck between a rock and hard space (i.e. you have the market demand but you can’t access capital to scale up and meet it) then the ACCESS initiative from ASB Bank might be worth checking out.

Business Sustainability… The interplay between Relationship Building and Business Opportunities, lies in understanding the importance of #Trust and #Communication in their ecosystems. Business #Sustainability is based on all #Stakeholders sharing an appreciation of the same objectives, seeing the #Value in the power of their partnership and understanding their shared vision for #Prosperity. This #ValueCentric model is in alignment with Africa Sustainable Trade. As well as the relationship with Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) and the commitment to creating viable business platforms which emphasise #bilateral trade and industries essential for economic development and investment. The trust built within the intersectionality of these relationships, guarantees services and products relevant to the business environment, where loyalty and connection are integral to business success. What is the #ValueProposition you are adding to the business #Marketplace and to life? UK in Nigeria Savvitas Ray Atelly,frpa Dr. Ebere Njoku Ini Abimbola, FSPIN, M.CIoD Lere Baale

We’re really pleased to share the news of ACCESS, ASB Bank's new initiative lead by Paul Gestro 👏   This unique programme is designed to help innovative food and fibre businesses with demonstrated proven potential, secure a path to growth and success.   It provides access to a ringfenced allocation of higher risk debt capital (venture debt) to deploy to New Zealand’s modern food and fibre technology and brands that have an addressable export market, and is supported by provision of advice and connections offshore. An exciting part of this initiative is the development of international accelerator and investment platforms that power up the growth of New Zealand’s modern food and fibre businesses📈. If you want to be part of building this ecosystem, know potential global partners or would like to know more about the programme, connect with Paul or email asbACCESS@asb.co.nz. ASB Bank Future Food Aotearoa (FFA) New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) New Zealand Food Innovation Network #TeHono #ASBBank #ACCESSInitiative #InnovationInBusiness #FoodandFibre #PathToGrowth #NewZealandEconomy #BusinessDevelopment

One of the foundations of AI(and challenges in Africa) is building data sets. × data sets that are not imbalanced, because imbalance creates bias in the model. × data sets that are accurate and of good quality +data sets that accurately reflect the reality +data sets that are not outdated. We still have some way to go

Most people get their ideas about AI from the media which can lead to unrealistic expectations and fears. This makes it hard to create proper laws and regulations, hindering responsible AI development. We need a clear and accurate understanding of AI to move forward effectively. #AI definitions come from either technical experts focusing on functionality or policymakers comparing AI to human intelligence. We need to drop the idea of a performance race between humans and machines and focus on the way the two cooperate. I like the #OECD definition of AI which is clear, concise, and focuses on current capabilities while emphasizing human control and avoiding speculation. "An AI system is a machine-based system that can, for a given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or decisions, influencing real or virtual environments." This shared understanding fosters collaboration between scientists, policymakers, and businesses, allowing for effective implementation of AI regulations and measurement of its impact. ⭕️Defining AI helps businesses and countries to track their progress and improve their use of this technology. Collaboration helps refine these definitions. This knowledge empowers firms and policymakers to harness AI's potential and create effective regulations. ⚠️Understanding AI is crucial for both businesses and policymakers. It empowers them to: Harness AI's potential: By knowing the capabilities and limitations of AI, firms can effectively integrate it into their operations. Create effective regulations: Informed policymakers can craft regulations that support responsible AI development and avoid hindering smaller companies. 🚫Without this knowledge, regulations might favor large tech companies and hinder innovation for smaller players- (Coughs in Neoliberalism). Let’s not even talk about the potential perils of an unregulated AI/Big Data landscape(Hello, Analytica)! 📝Talk about AI's economic impact is mostly speculative due to its recent and limited adoption. Measuring its true impact requires consistent data collection, currently achieved through surveys and economic statistics, which are still significantly underdeveloped in the case of EA. There is also the AI & Productivity paradox: https://lnkd.in/d5ebCbYv we should expect a time lag from adoption to witnessing actual profitability in the statistics. #Bigdata forms the basis for AI and can originate from a number of different sources. I think the call to action here is for more local ownership, production and architecture of data (#Data sovereignty https://lnkd.in/daCEytXT) However the call to not regulate, is uncalled for.  I think we need more NUANCED policy development and regulation. #IsTheAIinTheRoomRightNoW #FocusOnAfrica BBC News