Finnfund’s investee got Algeria’s 2008 National Environmental Award
02/09/2008
Algerian fruit juice producer NCA Rouiba 's (Nouvelle Conserverie Algérienne) investment in environmental management system has been successful and the company was awarded the National Environmental Award 2008. NCA Rouiba favours clean technologies and recycling.
The NCA Rouiba (Nouvelle Conserverie Algérienne), a portfolio company of AfricInvest, has won the National 2008 Environmental Award. The award rewards the company’s commitment to protecting the environment. NCA has been ISO 14001 certified since March 2008.
NCA is considered as one of the leaders in the market of fruit juices in Algeria. It has had an environmental management office since 2002. According to its general manager, Mr Slim Othmani, the activities of the company are based on the use of natural resourced by favouring clean technologies, as well as recycling technologies, and by adopting systems of prevention of pollution risks.
NCA Rouiba invested in environmental management systems
“We have undertaken significant investments regarding the respect of the environment and the prevention of pollution risks”, said Ms Nadia Ferhat, director of environmental quality management at NCA. “We make sure that all equipment acquisitions fulfil the environmental standards and each treatment station is equipped with a neutralization tank”.
The national environmental prize was dedicated this year to the industrial company, after it had been given the two previous years to the research sector. The NCA Rouiba won the prize over twenty Algerian enterprises nominated for the award. The winner was rewarded with a trophy and a cheque for one million dinars (11 300 euros) in June. The jury, composed by various environmental experts, praised NCA Rouiba for its program of improving the environment and its quality by introducing the ISO 9000 and 14000 certificates, environmental management systems and the consolidation of the environmental performance contract.
AfricInvest important to the African SMEs
Finnfund has invested in NCA Rouiba through AfricInvest fund. AfricInvest began its operations in 2004 targeting small and middle-sized companies. The possibilities for unlisted African SMEs of securing long-term funding for business development are very limited in comparison to the large companies. The SME sector’s role in creating jobs and in developing the economy of the entire continent is significant.
AfricInvest is funded by European development financiers. Apart from Finnfund, investors include Netherlands' FMO, France’s Proparco, Belgium’s BIO and the European Investment Bank.
Read more about AfricInvest: Finnfund website, AfricInvest website
For more information at Finnfund, please contact Mr Pekka Juusela, Senior Investment Manager, tel. +358 9 3484 3342, firstname.lastname@finnfund.fi
