Solar Powered Internet Shops Opened in Gambia

[jpak]

http://www.solarbuzz.com/News/NewsAFPR27.htm

Yesterday the president of The Gambia officially opened two Next-door Internet, Communication and Energy Service (NICE) shops in Wellingara, Gambia. These multi-services shops, which are wireless and solar-powered, provide an affordable range of services for those at the lower end of the economic ladder. NICE brings sustainable development by stimulating entrepreneurship and local economy in cooperation with large NGOs. Sustainable business through sustainable energy NICE International aims to create a sustainable future for everyone.

"This ambition is in line with our mission to ensure a sustainable energy supply for everyone," says Ad van Wijk, President of Econcern and the initiator of NICE International. "Energy is the motor of all economic activity, but the cost of energy plays an important part in the services that people need in daily lives. With these needs as a starting point, we developed NICE as an integrated energy system approach, using robust, energy-efficient technology. This creates cost effectiveness so we can offer high volumes with low margins, making NICE a sustainable business model."

Local entrepreneurship, embedding and ownership NICE is a franchise model that is replicable throughout The Gambia as well as in other countries. The aim is to set up over 75 network cafes in The Gambia, including in rural areas. Local ownership helps to embed the projects locally.

Omar Nije, managing Director of NICE Gambia: "The first two months of the two pilot cafes have been very promising. We are learning a lot and improving the business, which is growing almost on daily bases."

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[Infinite Hope]

1. This would be excellent to have in the U.S. n/t