THE LAUNCH OF THE 2006 DIAGEO AFRICA BUSINESS REPORTING AWARDS
Six awards to recognise excellence in reporting on business in Africa
London, 21 March 2006
Diageo, the world's leading premium drinks business, today launched the 2006 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards, a set of international journalism awards that recognise excellence in reporting on business in Africa.
Journalists and editors who report on business in Africa are invited to enter six categories, covering print, online, television and radio journalism.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Nick Blazquez, Managing Director, Diageo Africa, said: "Diageo established these awards in 2004 to recognise and reward the best in reporting on business in Africa. As the Commission for Africa identified, negative perceptions of Africa, combined with a shortfall in reliable information on the continent's business environment, are constraining Africa's ability to attract investment.
"Africa is currently experiencing its best economic performance in many years and flows of foreign direct investment to the continent are increasing. But they are still small - less than 3% of the global total and only 11% of $278 billion going to developing countries - and more needs to be done to tell the positive stories coming from Africa."
Dr Blazquez was joined by Anver Versi, editor of African Business and winner of the Best Journalist Award in 2005. Mr Versi said, "Perhaps the most relevant area of African journalism today is business journalism. Few human activities are as dependent on information and analysis as business. Without progress and growth in Africa's business culture, there will be no economic progress, and without economic progress, Africa's transformation will be stilted. The Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards have not only stimulated interest in business journalism, they have also set high standards. These awards are, therefore, of immense value to Africa."
Winners of the six awards - for Best Published Feature, Best Television Feature, Best Radio Feature, Best Website, Best Publication and Best Journalist - will be announced at a gala ceremony in London on 29 June 2006. The closing date for entries is 31 May 2006.
ENDS
For more information and full details of how to enter, visit www.diageoafricabusinessreportingawards.com
Or contact:
Anita Ferns, Awards Secretary, Diageo Africa, Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London, NW10 7HQ.
anita.ferns@diageo.com
+44 (0) 208 978 6506
Bev Burnham, Corporate Relations Manager, Diageo Africa, Lakeside Drive, Park Royal, London, NW10 7HQ.
bev.burnham@diageo.com
+44 (0) 20 8978 6587
NOTES TO EDITORS
Diageo plc
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business. With its global vision, and local marketing focus, Diageo brings to consumers an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across the spirits, wine and beer categories including Smirnoff, Guinness, Johnnie Walker, Baileys, J&B, Cuervo, Captain Morgan and Tanqueray, and Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo trades in some 180 countries around the world and is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com
Diageo Africa
Diageo Africa is active, particularly in brewing, but also in distilling, in the majority of the sub-Saharan African countries. For Guinness, in particular, the connection with Africa is a long one; the first recorded exports of Guinness to Africa were to Sierra Leone in 1827. Now Guinness is brewed in over 20 countries throughout Africa and is exported to many others. The popularity of the brand is going from strength to strength in Africa - Nigeria is the third largest Guinness market in the world. Diageo brands are enjoyed in more than 40 African countries.
Diageo Africa is the second largest Diageo market by volume (after North America), and with 4,500 employees, accounts for around 20% of Diageo workforce worldwide. Our contribution to the continent is significant, with £230 million paid in tax to African governments in the last year.
Several of the larger Diageo companies in Africa are quoted on local stock exchanges. Guinness Nigeria, for example, has over 60,000 shareholders. All of these companies have active corporate social responsibility programmes, covering initiatives in water, health, education and other areas of value to the communities in which we operate. |
