Kenya Airways costs cut help narrow half-year loss to $37m.

 
 Kenya Airways chairman Michael Joseph (left) and CEO Sebastian Mikosz during the half-year results release on November 17, 2017. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG .

By The EastAfrican More by this Author
 

Kenya Airways has narrowed its half-year net loss to Ksh3.8 billion ($36.7 million) compared to Ksh4.8 billion ($46.2 million) for a similar period in 2016, on reduced costs.

The national carrier's operating profit for the six months ended in September rose by 52 per cent to Ksh1.44 billion ($13.9 million) from a year earlier.

The airline reduced its overheads by 8 per cent to Ksh5.2 billion ($50 million) in the period, which saw its revenues decrease by 0.4 per cent to $526 million. 

"We have kept our fleet costs in check. Going forward, we look to grow our routes strategically. We shall be extremely cautious about our cash spending," chief executive Sebastian Mikosz told investors at a briefing in Nairobi on Friday.

Passenger numbers grew by 3.3 per cent to 2.31 million with KQ's intra-Africa traffic improving by 6.7 per cent. However, Kenya's political uncertainty had had a dampening effect, Mr Mikosz said.

Restructuring

KQ shares were suspended from trading at the Nairobi Securities Exchange on Wednesday for two weeks to allow for listing of new shares after the company completed a $2 billion debt restructuring with some loans having been converted into equity.

"The capital optimisation is done. It was a decision based on compromise. As KQ chairman, I will be managing a bunch of bankers and government people. Will that be easy? I don't know," said Michael Joseph on Friday.

"We're not going to do stupid things going forward. We'll learn from our mistakes. Our key focus is growing sales and keeping a lid on costs. We have a good team now."

Reported by Mugambi Mutegi and Hellen Githaiga.

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Benki ya kilimo kusaidia mageuzi ya Kilimo Njombe.

 

 

Na mwandishi wetu, Njombe

Benki ya Maendeleo ya Kilimo ya Tanzania (TADB) imesema imejipanga katika kusaidia kuchagiza kusaidia Mapinduzi ya Kilimo kutoka kilimo cha kujikimu kwenda cha kibiashara ili kuchangia kwenye ukuaji wa uchumi na kupunguza umaskini kwa wakulima mkoani Njombe na Tanzania kwa ujumla.

Ahadi imetolewa na Mjumbe wa Bodi ya Wakurugenzi ya TADB, Bibi Rehema Twalib wakati alipouongoza ujumbe wa Benki walipomtembelea na kufanya mazungumzo na Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Njombe, Mhe. Christopher Ole Sendeka mkoani Njombe.

Bibi Twalib alisema kuwa TADB ilianzishwa mahsusi kwa ajili ya kuunga mkono juhudi za kuinua ukuaji wa uchumi na kupunguza umaskini nchini Tanzania ili kuisaidia Serikali kuharakisha maendeleo ya sekta ya kilimo ambayo inaajiri zaidi ya asilimia 75 ya watu wenye uwezo wa kufanya kazi nchini na pia kutoa kiasi cha zaidi ya  asilimia 65 cha mali ghafi kwa ajili ya viwanda vya nchi.

Aliongeza kuwa Serikali iliamua kuanzisha Benki ya Maendeleo ya Kilimo Tanzania (TADB) ili kusaidia kukabiliana na mapungufu hayo na kuhuisha upatikanaji wa mikopo katika sekta ya kilimo ili kuleta mapinduzi katika  kilimo nchini.

“Katika kuhakikisha tunafikia malengo ya Serikali Benki imedhamiria na kujizatiti kuhakikisha inachangia kwa kiasi kikubwa katika  kuleta Mapinduzi yenye tija katika Sekta ya Kilimo nchini kwa kusaidia upatikanaji na utoaji wa fedha ikiwa ni pamoja sera nzuri zitakazosaidia maendeleo ya kilimo nchini” alisema.

Akizungumza na ugeni huo, Mkuu wa Mkoa huo, Mhe. Christopher Ole Sendeka alisema kuwa ujio wa Benki hiyo mkoani Njombe kutahamasisha shughuli za kilimo mkoani humo hali itakayochochea maendeleo ya kiuchumi na kijamii mkoani Njombe.

Kwa mujibu wa Mhe. Ole Sendeka, mkoa wa Njombe umejaaliwa rasilimali nyingi kwenye sekta ya kilimo ila changamoto za ufinyu mkubwa wa upatikanaji wa fedha mikopo kwa ajili ya maendeleo ya kilimo zinarudisha nyuma juhudi za wakulima mkoani humo.

“Naishukuru Serikali kwa kuianzisha TADB kwani hali ya ukosefu wa mitaji ya uhakika inachangiwa kwa kiasi kikubwa na mikopo mingi kutoka taasisi za fedha kuelekezwa zaidi kwenye upande wa biashara za bidhaa na kuwasahau wakulima na wasindikaji wa mazao, hivyo tunaamini TADB itasaidia kutatua changamoto hii,” alisema.

Bw. Ole Sendeka alitoa wito wa wakulima mkoani humo kuchangamkia fursa hizo za mikopo ya gharama nafuu inayotolewa na Benki ya Kilimo ili waweze kuongeza uzalishaji na hivyo kujihakikisha kipato cha uhakika.

 

Kwa upande wake, Meneja Ufuatiliaji na Tathamini ya Mikopo wa TADB, Bw. Dickson Pangamawe alisema kuwa TADB inatoa mikopo ya aina tatu ambayo ni Mikopo ya Muda Mfupi (Hadi Miaka Miwili (2)), Mikopo ya Muda wa Kati (Zaidi ya Miaka 2 hadi Miaka Mitano (5)) na Mikopo ya Muda Mrefu (Zaidi ya Miaka 5 hadi Miaka Kumi na Mitano (15)).

Kwa mujibu wa Bw. Pangamawe mikopo hiyo ni ya riba nafuu ambayo inalenga katika kuchagiza na kusaidia Mapinduzi ya Kilimo kutoka   kilimo cha kujikimu kwenda cha kibiashara ili kuchangia kwenye ukuaji wa uchumi na kupunguza umaskini.

“Dhima ya Benki yetu ni kuhakikisha tunawezesha maendeleo na kufanikisha mapinduzi ya sekta ya kilimo kwa kutoa mikopo ya muda mfupi, wa kati na mrefu kwenye miradi ya kilimo Tanzania inayolenga kukuza uchumi, kuhakikisha usalama wa chakula na kupunguza umasikini wa kipato,” alisema.

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