Latest news with #SIIC
IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Joburg speaker reinstates council's independent investigation committee as pressure mounts
Johannesburg speaker Margaret Arnolds has reversed her predecessor Nobuhle Mthembu's decision to review the operations of the city's Special Independent Investigation Committee. Image: Kamogelo Moichela / IOL Politics City of Johannesburg Speaker Margaret Arnolds appears to have bowed to mounting pressure from some councillors in the government of local unity to revoke the disbandment of the Special Independent Investigation Committee (SIIC). The SIIC's establishment was placed under review without any authorisation by the council by Arnolds' predecessor and former ActionSA councillor Nobuhle Mthembu, according to a letter written by Al Jama-Ah Gauteng provincial chairperson Thapelo Amad to the new speaker last month. Mthembu was voted out in June as speaker and resigned from ActionSA last week. In the letter, seen by Independent Media, Amad complained that Mthembu had indicated that she would complete such a review of SIIC by May 30 and that this clearly showed that she was not advised that she was usurping the review powers of the council in terms of the Municipal Systems Act. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The committee was established in June 2023 to investigate the lawfulness or otherwise of the establishment of the city's Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS), as well as allegations of improper and unlawful conduct on its part. On Monday, Arnolds wrote to the SIIC chairperson, senior counsel Pule Seleka, revoking correspondence sent to him on April 30 by Mthembu. She said the earlier suspension by Mthembu was therefore neither procedurally nor legally valid. Seleka was appointed in April last year to investigate allegations of corruption by GFIS officials. In her letter, Arnolds said the work of the SIIC must resume with immediate effect and proceed to conclusion in line with its original mandate, and that she would further appreciate it if the committee expedited the issuing of the investigation report in part or in full. 'Upon careful review of the applicable council resolution, it is evident that only the council, as the body that constituted the committee, holds the authority to suspend or dissolve its operations. The previous suspension was therefore not procedurally or legally valid,' she wrote. The SIIC was set up after complaints relating to allegations of fraud, corruption, maladministration, and breach of law by the GFIS and others. In particular, its establishment as a separate unit or department and its inherent powers without approval by the council, the appointment of the GFIS head without compliance with the applicable recruitment processes, and the unlawful investigations it conducted against senior officials and councillors. The SIIC was empowered to inquire into, make findings and recommendations, and report on the allegations of fraud, corruption, maladministration, and breach of law in the establishment of the GFIS as a separate department, allegations of fraud, corruption, maladministration and breach of law in the appointment of its head as well as allegations of fraud, corruption maladministration and breach of law regarding the implementation of rogue, clandestine, and unlawful investigations. In his letter, Amad said Mthembu's purported review was irregular and unlawful, and it therefore falls on Arnolds as her successor in title, to withdraw her letter, and cause her to face disciplinary action for contravening a council resolution, which established the SIIC. He also warned Arnolds against seeking permission from Mayor Dada Morero before withdrawing the letter as this would be unlawful and may contravene the separation of powers doctrine. 'We further advise you that since the SIIC has commenced working, you would be liable for wasteful expenditure in terms of the Municipal Finance Management Act if you allow its operations to be stopped without an investigation report because you approved its terms of reference,' Amad told Arnolds. In addition, he said to avoid such an eventuality, Arnolds should request the SIIC to conclude its outstanding hearings and consolidate its gathered evidence into a part one investigation report for council consideration and seek further authorisation for its part two investigation. Amad said he believes such a staggered approach is required in the circumstances, as any attempt to collapse the SIIC's operations without any investigation report having been submitted to the council may have far-reaching implications for her. In an earlier response last week, Arnolds said Amad's letter was so unfortunate that it left the impression that her office had failed, refused, or neglected to consider it. 'As you are aware, that I was the MMC: Finance at the time Councillor Mthembu stopped the SIIC from conducting its business as per the council resolution, as the new re-appointed speaker, I had to understand the rationale behind Councillor Mthembu's instructions to the SIIC,' explained Arnolds. She added that as part of understanding the rationale, she had to consult with various internal stakeholders and that the consultations are still ongoing.
Daily News Egypt
21-07-2025
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
PM Madbouly chairs meeting on developing Egypt's sugar sector
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly on Monday reviewed efforts to develop the country's sugar industry, with a focus on boosting local production and reducing reliance on imports, his office said in a statement. Madbouly chaired a meeting in the city of New Alamein attended by the ministers of supply and agriculture, as well as officials from the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Authority and the state-run Holding Company for Food Industries. The meeting discussed the state's strategy for growing the sugar industry, especially with the increase in sugar beet cultivation in areas managed by the Future of Egypt authority. It also covered the development of various industries linked to sugar production and opportunities to maximise their benefits. The prime minister's spokesperson, Mohamed El-Homsany, said the meeting aimed to ensure a stable supply of sugar for the local market, particularly in light of global supply chain challenges. The officials also discussed efforts to implement environmental remediation plans in various sugar factories across Egypt to comply with environmental standards and achieve sustainability. The challenges facing these factories and plans for future modernisation and expansion were also on the agenda. During the meeting, Salah Fathy, the managing director of the state-owned Sugar and Integrated Industries Company (SIIC), presented his company's capabilities and its factories that produce sugar from both sugarcane and sugar beet. He noted that SIIC owns eight sugarcane factories in the governorates of Minya, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, and Aswan, in addition to an integrated industrial complex in Giza that refines sugar and is involved in chemicals, distillation, perfumes, food industries, and the manufacturing of paper and wood from sugarcane waste. Fathy reviewed the company's sugar production volume and the capacity of its factories to utilise by-products from sugarcane and beet, including molasses, fodder, bagasse, and animal feed. These by-products are used to produce ethanol, yeast, bio-fertilizers, food-grade carbon dioxide, natural vinegar, folic acid, organic solvents, and organic fertilizers, as well as energy, particle board, pulp, paper, and MDF wood. He also presented the company's vision for increasing the productivity of sugarcane per acre and reaching the maximum capacity of its factories to meet the state's sugar needs and increase the financial returns for farmers.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
US firm commits 25cr for IIT-K startups in aerospace, defence
Kanpur: US-based venture capital firm- Foxhog Ventures Corp- announced a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) investment of Rs 25 crore to support innovative startups incubated at the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur through the institute's Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In addition to the CSR investment, a dedicated CEO Fund, operated by Tarun Poddar, CEO of Foxhog Ventures, will offer research and development grants to newly incubated startups aligned with Foxhog's social impact mission. Recently, Poddar had visited IIT Kanpur on June 11, where he engaged with student entrepreneurs and early-stage ventures and pledged strategic support to bolster India's innovation ecosystem. The visit included an insightful presentation by Deepu Philip, professor-in-charge (Incubation & Innovation), SIIC IIT Kanpur, highlighting SIIC's vision and milestones. Piyush Mishra, COO and CFO of SIIC, was also present during the engagements. As part of the visit, a select group of SIIC-incubated startups presented their products and technologies, showcasing innovations in defence and aerospace, agritech, and sustainability. Speaking on the occasion, Poddar said, "Innovation with purpose has the power to change lives and nations. We see immense potential in India's youth-led startup ecosystem, especially in critical sectors like defence, aerospace, agritech, and sustainability. Our CSR initiative at IIT Kanpur is a step towards nurturing this talent and creating meaningful social impact. I am also proud to announce that our CEO Fund will also offer R&D grants to mission-aligned ventures. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " The CSR funds will be directed towards startups working in defence and aerospace, agritech, and sustainability. Foxhog Ventures will explore further capital infusion through equity, debt, and convertible notes, forming part of a wider commercial investment strategy. Prof Deepu Philip said, "At SIIC IIT Kanpur, we believe in empowering cutting-edge tech-product oriented startups with the right mentorship, capital, and infrastructure partnership will amplify our efforts to translate breakthrough ideas into scalable product-based solutions that will power our country's rapid growth." A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between IIT Kanpur and Foxhog Ventures will be prepared, under which IIT Kanpur will play a key role in evaluating, mentoring, and monitoring the startups receiving support, ensuring rigorous technical due diligence and alignment with national priorities.
Entrepreneur
05-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
IIT Kanpur's SIIC and SBI Foundation Launch 'Startup Innovations for Social Good' Initiative
The program will support 30 startups—24 in the early stage and six in the growth stage—across three crucial sectors: agritech, healthcare, and cleantech. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur's Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC), in collaboration with the SBI Foundation, has launched the 'Startup Innovations for Social Good' initiative under the SBIF Innovators for Bharat program. The initiative, supported by SBI DFHI Limited and SBI Ventures, aims to nurture impact-driven startups that address some of India's most pressing societal challenges. The program will support 30 startups—24 in the early stage and six in the growth stage—across three crucial sectors: agritech, healthcare, and cleantech. Over a span of 18 months, selected startups will receive structured incubation support, expert mentoring, and performance monitoring to ensure sustainable and scalable impact. Prof Manindra Agrawal, Director, IIT Kanpur, said, "SIIC/FIRST IIT Kanpur has always had a solution-oriented and future-ready approach to strengthen India's startup ecosystem. This program, supported by the SBI Foundation, is a uniquely-curated collaborative initiative that will help enhance the impact of the startups, empowering communities and ultimately contributing to economic growth and societal well-being." The initiative also promises startups opportunities for networking and follow-on investments through curated workshops and roadshows, promoting indigenous innovation to meet critical unmet needs. Prof Deepu Philip, Professor-in-charge of Innovation and Incubation, SIIC-FIRST, IIT Kanpur, added, "This collaboration focuses on developing transformative capabilities across AgriTech, Healthcare, and CleanTech to achieve a wider impact. FIRST IIT Kanpur has a proven record with over 400 incubated startups, and this joint initiative adds to our legacy of nurturing innovation." SBI Foundation, the CSR arm of State Bank of India, is driving the program under its broader Innovators for Bharat initiative. Sanjay Prakash, Managing Director, SBI Foundation, stated, "This initiative will be a cornerstone in identifying, funding, and nurturing startups that will lead the next wave of Agritech, Healthcare, and Cleantech innovations. Our partnership with SIIC, one of India's top incubators, reflects our commitment to social progress through innovation." The initiative was officially launched at IIT Kanpur in the presence of several dignitaries including Prof Amey Karkare, Sanjay Prakash, Kapil Kaul, and others who reaffirmed their commitment to fostering innovation for social good. This partnership sets a significant precedent in leveraging academic and corporate collaboration to fuel India's journey toward sustainable development and inclusive growth.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
IIT-K's SIIC joins hands with US centre to drive global access for startups
Lucknow: Equipping companies from India with the tools, knowledge and networks necessary to successfully expand operations in the US market, the Startup Incubation and Innovation Centre (SIIC) at IIT-Kanpur has been named as a key partner in the establishment of NMexus , a first-of-its-kind global business accelerator and commercialisation centre based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The initiative was officially unveiled by New Mexico governor Michelle Lujan Grisham at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland, just outside of Washington, DC, this week. Its primary goal is to attract foreign direct investment and assist international companies from India, the Middle East, Europe and Asia in establishing a strong presence in the US market. The announcement cements New Mexico's reputation as a global science and technology hub, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). With companies from India joining the state's innovation landscape, India becomes the 15th foreign country to invest in New Mexico, further enhancing the state's global appeal. According to reports, the NMexus Centre in Albuquerque's Mesa del Sol innovation district has welcomed its first cohort of companies, featuring a diverse mix of businesses from India and Oman. The participating companies include Zonap Engineering India, Alligator Automations, DCirrus Inc, Supreme Technology, American Grain Corporation, Oliver Merino LLC, and Ardic, marking a significant step in the growth of the region's innovation ecosystem. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo The centre is expected to serve up to 40 companies annually, generating approximately 1,500 new jobs and an economic impact of over USD 400 million in the next five years. "The NMexus Centre signals to the world that New Mexico is open for business," Governor Grisham said. SIIC at IIT-K had signed an MoU with NMexus Centre in April 2025 to support Indian startups entering the US market. It will provide NMexus with access to a curated pipeline of high-quality, market-ready startups. In return, startups incubated at SIIC will benefit from NMexus' soft-landing infrastructure, mentoring, regulatory support, and business development services tailored for the North American market. Professor-in-charge, SIIC, IIT-K, Prof Deepu Philip said, "This partnership will allow our innovators to access international markets more seamlessly and help position Indian technology on the world stage." CEO, SIIC, Anurag Singh said, "Through NMexus, we are building a bridge between Indian innovation and the US opportunity. This collaboration opens new doors for our startups — offering the critical infrastructure and support needed to scale globally and sustainably." SIIC at IIT-K is one of India's oldest and most active incubators. With a focus on deep-tech innovation, SIIC provides a dynamic startup ecosystem through funding, mentorship, and strategic partnerships — both in India and globally.
