More from yesterday...

Next we met with Mr. Ben Christiaanse, CEO of the National Micro-
Financing Bank, NMB. This determined Dutchman has truly
revolutionized banking in Tanzania - utilizing his experience from
banking in Holland.

Until they arrived, NMB was 100% gov't owned, and focused on banking &
payments mainly. NOW that they are privatized, they are only 51%
gov't owned AND can focus on financing as well!

NMB is the #1 bank in Tanzania, with the most branches across the
country, they are the most profitable, and biggest bank - balance
sheet wise. One year ago... NO ATMs! Now NMB has 100. All this was
made possible by using "Dutch Know How."

1) You can change an organization very fast by using your background
& experiences.

2) Make sure you have a solid ground to start from (good IT is tres
important for banking).

3) Have good training programs for your employees.

Christiaanse says, "Nothing we do here is NEW," it is just new to
Africa.

Marketing & Branding did not exist, so they sponsored the National
Football (soccer) Team & provide leather soccer balls with the NMB logo.

Christiaanse has worked with agricultural cooperatives to help their
business. With some help, in Southern Tanzania, where they produce
CASHEWS, the farmers were able to receive 30 - 40% more $$$ for their
crops than the previous year. Everything was repaid, as well as the
interest acrued! That is how successful the farmers were as a co-op...
Strength In Numbers!

"I am convinced that what we do, as a bank, is the best way that we
can develop a country," Christiaanse told us, as he referred to
himself as a 'bloody Dutchman'.

Because saving is a foreign concept and they would like to move the
banking culture away from borrowing, they introduced the "Hippo-
Bank"!!! (Hippo instead of 'piggy' to fit in with the Muslim culture.)

Reginald Mengi

Philanthropist, Entrepreneur, and a man who has really made SOMETHING
from nothing.

Born in a mud hut in Northern Tanzania, Mengi would struggle for one
meal a day, shoes were hard to come by, he walked long distances to
school in BARE feet. Poverty was a CHALLENGE to him, not a problem.

Mengi says, "You must believe in yourself, that you have power to make
things move." Just like the childhood story of The Little Engine that
could, I think I can, I think I can, I think I CAN. I MUST and I
WILL. Mengi is an exceptionally inspiring/motivational individual
with multi-faceted perspectives.

BUSINESS
(Mengi's perspectives con't...)

Having no capital is NOT a problem, but a CHALLENGE. Mengi told us
about his story, how he built himself up & is continually trying to
build Tanzania. Some entrepreneurial advice from Mengi...

1) You need to WORK HARD. Even while you're still employed by
another company.

2) When you go to work for yourself... Think BIG, but Start Small.

3) You need a destination in mind for yourself. People don't usually
know where they are going in their lives. Don't go through life lost.

4) Make a Plan for Your Journey

5) The moment you accept anything less than #1, You Fail. Put the
highest price on yourself & your position.

One for the women... Walk with Intent & Confidence.

6) Believe in yourself AND your delegations, delegate with trust. You
also must build a sense of BELONGING in the people you've recruited.

Lastly...
Now that you've made your money, you need to remember to GIVE back.
Give back to the People and give back to the Environment. Social
Responsibility is a growing necessity in our world today.

*** You should definitely Google or Wikipedia Reginald Mengi ***

Business Meetings

(Picture: from the left is Reginald Mengi, then Ambassador Mwakawago, and Bruce)

Today we had the pleasure of meeting two very busy businessmen, both
of whom are playing an extremely important role in the development of
Tanzania.

All thanks to the help of our friend, Ambassador Daudi Mwakawago & our
professor, Bruce Bachenheimer.

First, I will tell you about our meeting with Reginald Mengi. Above is
a picture taken at the Holiday Inn where Mr. Mengi treated us all to
lunch (this was not the Holiday Inn we are used to back home, but a
really good, nice, fancy one). I had some yummy plantains, salad, Indian beef, and shared a delicious shrimp & ginger stir-fry with Sarah.

Brainstorming Session with Bruce

Later in the morning we had a brainstorming session with Prof.
Bachenheimer to exchange our thoughts, ideas, and feelings on the
business opportunities for Tanzania.

Lots of students expressed feelings of wanting to develop business
plans for
Improving the quality of life, expanding education & social
development of children, and overall improving the economy &
attraction for tourists in Dar Es Salaam.

Later today we will be meeting with the National Micro Finance Bank.

FISH Market

HUGE FISH

Day Five

We started our morning at the fish market.

It was really an interesting process: bringing in fish from the small
boats, hundreds of women and some young men stripping & gutting the
piles of fish, there's suppliers to the side with large blocks of ice,
and tables & tables of large fish layer out for buyers.

Look at the HUGE fish in the above post!!!