Sony launches portable projectors in the market

By SmartNews

Sony Professional, in association with Anisuma Traders, today unveiled a range of Sony portable projectors in the Kenyan market to help broaden the scope of data and video production in the market.

Speaking during the launch, Sage George, Sales Manager, Sony Professional Solutions MEA, said that the launch of the new innovative projectors in the Kenyan market reaffirms Sony’s commitment to consistently deliver superior product offering and technologies to our consumers.

“The Sony’s product range features our latest innovations such as 3LCD Laser projectors and BrightEra^TM display panel technology. As a company, we believe that the range of Sony projectors will give consumers the opportunity to experience and interact with our latest technologies and products in the Kenyan market,” added George.

The projector range includes desktop and portable projectors E and D series, F series installation projectors and S series Short Throw and Ultra Short Throw projectors.

The E and D series of portable projectors, combine outstanding performance with low total cost of ownership. From delivering professional presentations on the move to engaging education audiences, these projectors are designed to meet the specific requirements of particular applications.

For larger and more demanding venues requiring the brightest projections and highly sophisticated features, Sony F series of installation projectors such as VPL-FH36 and VPL-FHZ700L deliver powerful performance, long life and low maintenance.

Sony also has a separate range of projectors designed for specialized settings such as classrooms, offices and open-plan meeting areas. The S Series Short Throw and Ultra Short Throw Projectors, like the VPL-SW225 and VPL-SW630C make great presentation partners for these environments, displaying big, bright images without having to be placed far from a screen, whiteboard or wall.

The projectors, as well as other Sony products, are available through Anisuma Traders, the authorized distributor of Sony electronic products in Kenya, both at their stores, and at all major supermarkets and electronic shops throughout the country.

National Bank’s Half Year Profit Up 32%

By Patrick Omune

National Bank has recorded a half-year profit before tax of Ksh. 1.248 billion, 32 percent up from the Ksh. 944 million posted same period last year.

Speaking while announcing the results, National Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Munir Sheikh Ahmed said the growth was as a result of improved revenues from balance sheet growth, cost management and better management of credit risk.

“We are pleased with these strong first half results, which are as a result of the operational improvements that we have made across the business and the new businesses and products that we have introduced. This is a testimony that our five year transformation agenda is strongly on course. Our focus on efficiency has also brought the cost-income ratio down further. ”

“All business units have contributed to this robust performance, particularly Business Banking and National Amana which continue to show strong growth. We look forward to continuing this performance in the second half of the year,” he added.

The net interest income was up by 15% over the same period last year, driven by the growth in customer loans and advances. Customer deposits also registered significant growth driven by CASA and transactional banking solutions in line with the bank’s strategy.

“Our priority is to strategically position the business to focus on diversified customer revenue streams and optimize and automate personal and business banking processes with specific focus on turnaround time and deepening of client interactions. We aim to maintain our market share momentum through quality service and product innovation,” said Mr. Ahmed.

The five - year transformation program which began in 2013, entails a number of projects that broadly include organizational structure changes, innovation and development of products and customer value propositions, deploying an effective sales model, expansion of the distribution network, centralization and automation of service delivery, enhancing the Bank’s risk management capabilities and diversifying the bank’s portfolios, among other things.

The Bank recently announced strategic partnerships with Kenswitch, the national payments switch provider, and Post Bank Savings and Postal Corporation as it moves to enhance its distribution networks across the country. The Bank also recently launched Micro Finance Business, Bancassurance, Premium Banking Service and Platinum and Credit cards.

The new partnerships now provide all National Bank customers access to 1,200 Kenswitch’s ATMs services across East and Central Africa and also provision of Agent banking services at the 99 Post Bank Savings branches and 470 Postal Corporation outlets countrywide.

Emirates offers upto 25% discount to Kenyan travellers

By Mike Omuodo

Emirates, a global connector of people and places, is offering Kenyan travellers up to 25 percent discount on Business Class and Economy Class fares to a range of exciting destinations around the world.

The special fares will apply when booked between August 27^th and September 6^th 2014 for travel period starting August 27^th until December 3^rd, 2014.

The rafts of savings mean that passengers can fly economy class, for example, form Nairobi to Dubai from as little as $564. Other destinations include Guangzhou from $984, Ahmedabad from $440, Mumbai from $452, Beijing from USD1239, Hong Kong from $977, Istanbul from $543, London Heathrow from $958, Washington DC from $1147 and New York from $1147. 

Emirates is also offering discounted Business Class return fares from $1836 to Dubai,   $2225 to Guangzhou, $1657 to Ahmedabad,  $1669 to Mumbai, $3905to Beijing, $2218 to Hong Kong, $2145 to Istanbul,  $2603 to London Heathrow,  $3354 to Washington DC, and $3354 to New York City.

Announcing the new promotional fares, Emirates Country Manager for Kenya Anita Kongson said: “We would like to make it as easy and convenient as possible for our customers to spend precious time with family and friends, or to enjoy well-deserved and affordable vocational or business trips. These offers provide an opportunity to travel to a wide number of popular destinations at greatly discounted fares and we invite all our customers in Kenya to take advantage of these fantastic value-for-money deals.”

“What’s more, some of the destinations included in this offer, such as Bangkok, Mumbai, London, and Beijing, are serviced by Emirates’ iconic A380 aircraft, which offers a unique travel experience,” she added.  

All the above fares are inclusive of taxes, quoted on a return basis, with a minimum stay of three days and a maximum stay of one month. Blackout dates from 11-30 October 2014 apply for travel to Hong Kong and Guangzhou. 

In addition to the value fares Emirates Customers on board the aircraft can experience Emirates’ famous hospitality and service from its multi-national cabin crew, enjoy more than 1600 channels of on-demand audio and visual entertainment on its ice entertainment system, gourmet cuisine and generous baggage allowances. Economy Class customers get 30 kg, Business Class get 40 kg and First Class customer 50kg.

Emirates operates double daily flights between Nairobi and Dubai and onward to more than 140 destinations in 81 countries across six continents, and it’s the world’s largest operator of Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft.

EK 719 departs Dubai International Airport every day at 1045hrs and arrives at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 1445hrs. The return flight, EK720, leaves JKIA at 1640hrs and lands in Dubai at 1040hrs.  Second flight EK 721 departs Dubai International Airport every day at 1505hrs and arrives at JKIA at 1905hrs. The return flight, EK722, leaves JKIA at 2250hrs and lands in Dubai at 0450hrs.