Latest news with #USD3
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Did Meesho's Valmo really deliver a knockout punch to e-commerce logistics?
India's ecommerce logistics sector is having its 'main character crisis'. For over a decade, big names like Delhivery, Ecom Express, Xpressbees, and Shadowfax raised over USD3 billion from investors and built sprawling parcel networks, riding the e-tail boom like seasoned surfers. But now? The wave has changed. Delhivery — India's biggest e-commerce logistics firm — saw its e-commerce volumes crawl up by just 2% last fiscal. Besides a sluggish
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Did Meesho's Valmo really deliver a knockout punch to e-commerce logistics?
India's ecommerce logistics sector is having its 'main character crisis'. For over a decade, big names like Delhivery, Ecom Express, Xpressbees, and Shadowfax raised over USD3 billion from investors and built sprawling parcel networks, riding the e-tail boom like seasoned surfers. But now? The wave has changed. Delhivery — India's biggest e-commerce logistics firm — saw its e-commerce volumes crawl up by just 2% last fiscal. Besides a sluggish
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Hunting tourism pumps R44 Billion into South Africa's economy,
Amid global debates on ethical travel and wildlife preservation, a new study from North-West University shines a spotlight on an often-overlooked sector that quietly props up South Africa's rural economy: hunting tourism. In the aftermath of COVID-19, tourism economies the world over struggled to recover. But in South Africa, hunting tourism, both domestic and international trophy hunting, has not only rebounded; it has emerged as a critical economic driver. A new study led by Prof Peet van der Merwe and Prof Andrea Saayman from the North-West University titled Assessing the contributions of hunting tourism to the South African economy: a post‑COVID analysis, calculates hunting tourism's annual contribution to South Africa's economy at a staggering USD2.5 billion, or about R44.03 billion. The figure is not just large, it's transformative. Local hunters, who constitutes mostly middle-aged men from provinces like Gauteng, make up the bulk of this economic activity. With each local hunter spending an average of USD3,594 per season, their collective annual spend tops USD718 million. International hunters, often affluent retirees from the United States, spend far more per trip – an average of USD32,663 – primarily on game, trophies, accommodation, and daily rates. Though fewer in number, their spending adds another USD169 million to the tally. But the significance goes beyond raw expenditure. Employing a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM), the researchers found a production multiplier of 2.97. In lay terms: for every USD1 spent, an additional USD1.97 is generated in economic activity. The ripple effect spreads across agriculture, trade, accommodation, transport, and personal services. Perhaps the most striking finding is employment. Approximately 95 000 jobs in South Africa depend on hunting tourism. Many of these roles such as trackers, farm hands and cleaners require limited formal education, making the sector a vital source of income in a country grappling with a 32.9% unemployment rate. Over 60% of these jobs fall within low-skilled categories, underscoring hunting tourism's outsized impact on South Africa's most vulnerable workers. Hunting tourism's lifeblood flows into rural economies, often bypassed by mainstream tourism. Provinces like Limpopo benefit enormously from the inflow, with private game farms – many converted from struggling livestock operations – thriving through sustainable use. Notably, South Africa's wildlife population on private land now exceeds that in national parks, and the study argues that hunting revenue has underwritten significant rewilding efforts. The researchers also point to a powerful conservation dividend. Contrary to popular belief, regulated hunting creates financial incentives for landowners to protect and repopulate wild species. Without such incentives, many might revert to traditional farming, leading to habitat loss and diminished biodiversity. To some, hunting remains morally fraught. But the study emphasises that economic survival for many rural communities hinges on this industry. Importantly, the research does not gloss over ethical concerns. Instead, it calls for measured policy, recognising hunting tourism's proven contribution to jobs, conservation, and poverty alleviation. Moreover, the sector's resilience post-COVID is telling. As international travel resumes, South Africa has found in hunting tourism a niche that not only endures but thrives. It speaks to a broader shift in post-pandemic tourism: towards immersive, exclusive, and, at times, controversial experiences. With sectors like agriculture, hospitality, and logistics all feeding off the hunting economy, the study urges policymakers to acknowledge and protect this value chain. Legislation around land use, conservation, and hunting quotas must be grounded in economic realities, not just ideological preferences. Missteps could jeopardise both wildlife and livelihoods. Hunting tourism may not be everyone's idea of a sustainable economy. Yet, in South Africa's post-pandemic landscape, it is delivering where others have faltered. It supports rural economies, funds conservation, and employs tens of thousands, many of them low-income workers with few alternatives. In a world seeking green growth with social equity, the rifle may be a more unexpected ally than critics care to admit. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project launched
Hajiji releasing the blood cockle broodstock at the jetty of the Borneo Beach and Mangrove Resort in Tuaran on Saturday. TUARAN (July 5): The State Government has launched the Sabah Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project that has potential to generate RM34.4 million, based on an estimated landing of 3,240 metric tonnes per year and a return on investment of 7.6 times. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the project would open up new export opportunities for Sabah cockles through downstream activities such as canning, sambal kerang (cockle paste) and blood cockle-based food products. 'For the private sector, this is the best time to invest in seafood processing, sustainable packaging, and the development of Sabah's export supply chain. 'This opportunity is not only profitable but also builds a sustainable future,' he said at the launching of the project at the Borneo Beach and Mangrove Resort here on Saturday. The Chief Minister said the Sabah Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project aligns with the State Government's commitment to ensure the Blue Economy becomes a solid economic foundation for the people of Sabah. The State Government is committed to taking steps in exploring marine and maritime resources as part of efforts to strengthen the state's position in the international Blue Economy landscape. 'The Blue Economy not only has the potential to balance prosperity with sustainability, but by the year 2030, the global value of the Blue Economy is projected to reach USD3 trillion,' he said. The Sabah Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project, to be carried out in two phases, is a collaboration between the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA), the Malaysia Fisheries Department and the Sabah Fisheries Department. The first phase, which has already been completed, involved mapping studies and exploration of blood cockle (Tegillarca granosa) resources conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 at six potential locations, including Tuaran and Beluran, which would kickstart the pilot project. The second phase of the project is scheduled to commence in 2026, involving the transfer of technology and actual field implementation. Hajiji said that a total of 77 aquaculture lots have been identified, comprising 12 in Tuaran and 65 in Beluran covering an area of 1,617 hectares. Each lot will be managed by 10 household heads (KIR), making it a total of 770 KIR as the main beneficiaries, comprising fishery entrepreneurs, rural communities and the B40 group. 'In fact, even if only 40 per cent of the lots operate at optimum capacity, participants can generate a monthly income of around RM4,800 to RM6,500,' he said. 'Certainly, the communities involved will gain sustainable income through blood cockle farming. Youth will also be trained in modern aquaculture skills, producing a new generation of Sabah's marine entrepreneurs. 'Indeed, this project will not only bring significant change to the people, particularly the community involved, but also to the environment and the state's economy. 'Sabah will be developed as the ASEAN Blue Seafood Hub, on par with major producing states such as Perak, Penang and Selangor,' he said. The Chief Minister said the State Government is fully committed to supporting this industry and want the project participants to get continuous training and modern technology. 'I urge the communities in Tuaran and Beluran, as the pioneers or leaders of this project, to fully utilise the acquired modern technology to enhance the capacity and productivity of the aquaculture sector,' he said.
The Star
05-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah launches cockles development project to potentially generate RM34mil in annual revenue
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has launched its Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project, which has the potential to generate RM34.4mil in annual revenue, once fully operational. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this number was based on an estimated landing of 3,240 metric tonnes per year and a return on investment of 7.6 times. He said this project would open up new export opportunities for Sabah cockles through downstream activities such as canning, sambal kerang (cockle paste) and blood cockle-based food products, offering not only profits but also building a sustainable future. 'For the private sector, this is the best time to invest in seafood processing, sustainable packaging, and the development of Sabah's export supply chain,' he said at the launching of the project at the Borneo Beach and Mangrove Resort Tuaran, Saturday (July 5). Hajiji said the Sabah Cockle Resource and Industry Development Project aligned with the state government's commitment to ensure that the Blue Economy becomes a solid economic foundation for the people of Sabah. He said Sabah was committed to taking steps in exploring marine and maritime resources as part of efforts to strengthen the state's position in the international Blue Economy landscape. 'The Blue Economy not only has the potential to balance prosperity with sustainability, but by the year 2030, the global value of the Blue Economy is projected to reach USD3 trillion (RM12.6trillion),' he said. This project, to be carried out in two phases, was a collaboration between the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia), the Malaysia Fisheries Department and the Sabah Fisheries Department, said Hajiji. The first phase, which kickstarts the project, has already been completed and involved mapping studies and exploration of blood cockle (Tegillarca granosa) resources conducted from October 2024 to May 2025 at six potential locations, including Tuaran and Beluran, he said. The second phase of the project is scheduled to commence in 2026, involving the transfer of technology and actual field implementation. Hajiji said that a total of 77 aquaculture lots have been identified, comprising 12 in Tuaran and 65 in Beluran, covering an area of 1,617 hectares. Each lot will be managed by 10 household heads (KIR), making it a total of 770 KIR as the main beneficiaries, comprising fishery entrepreneurs, rural communities, and the B40 group. 'In fact, even if only 40% of the lots operate at optimum capacity, participants can generate a monthly income of around RM4,800 to RM6,500,' he said. 'Certainly, the communities involved will gain sustainable income through blood cockle farming. Youth will also be trained in modern aquaculture skills, producing a new generation of Sabah's marine entrepreneurs,' Hajiji said. He said this project would not only bring significant change to the people, particularly the community involved, but also to the environment and the state's economy. 'Sabah will be developed as the Asean Blue Seafood Hub, on par with major producing states such as Perak, Penang, and Selangor,' he said. Hajiji said the state government was fully committed to supporting this industry and wanted the project participants to get continuous training and modern technology. 'I urge the communities in Tuaran and Beluran, as the pioneers or leaders of this project, to fully utilise the acquired modern technology to enhance the capacity and productivity of the aquaculture sector,' he said.
