The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Asia

  • When not to take ‘agbo’

    According to the World health organisation (WHO), traditional medicine is generally available, affordable, and commonly used in large parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

    WHO estimates that about 80 per cent of the population in developing countries still depends on traditional medicine for their Primary Healthcare (PHC) needs; however, this percentage may vary from country to country.

    In Nigeria, many people, especially in the South-West region, believe and rely on local herbs for medication.

    ‘Agbo’, the Yoruba name for herbal medicines, is a concoction prepared from a variety of herbs and; it is one of the most popular herbal preparations taken for various ailments, especially by the native Yoruba people.

    It has also seen a lot of patronage and acceptance by other tribes too; Agbo can be soaked in water, alcohol or even palmwine before one drink it.

    However, medical experts raise concerns on the after effects of taking Agbo, especially over a long period of time.

    One of such concerns is that it can damage the kidney and liver; also, there are concerns on its preparation which include the handling, dosage requirement for each ailment, shelf live and expiration date.

    Recently, at an event to commemorate the 2019 World Kidney Day on March 14, experts raised awareness on the importance of guarding against acts which can lead to kidney disease.

    The event which was organised by the Renal Dialysis Centre, Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, saw experts also empahsising the need to reduce or even desist from consuming local concoctions, especially Agbo because of the possible resultant effects.

    Dr Chinedu Odum, a Nephrologist, said: “In this environment we talk about herbs and we hear many people say the take Agbo’’ or herbs.

    “They say the herbs clean their system but the truth is that this concoction people are taking, some of them have bad effect on the kidney. It can damage the kidney

    “It is a lot cheaper to prevent kidney damage because once you have kidney damage there is no going back; even those who are rich can’t maintain, afford or keep up with dialysis.

    “They can’t even maintain or afford to have kidney transplantation, not to talk of the masses who are not generally or financially equipped to take care of the disease.

    “So, we want to implore people to be aware of kidney disease but more importantly, to be more aware of the factors that increase the illness.’’

    However, Odum highlighted other causes of kidney disease to include high blood pressure which is the number one causes of kidney disease in Africa and of which many people don’t know that they have it.

    “Apart from blood pressure, diabetics and anyone who has long standing high blood sugar can come down with complications; one of the complications is kidney disease.

    “Also, bleaching; some of those creams have some components which can damage the kidney; they also have components that will increase the risk of diabetes and blood pressure.

    “The environment we live in is also very important; infection in this environment too contributes to kidney disease; so we have people who come down with frequent urinary tract infection.

    “If it is not taken care of, they can have chronic kidney infection which can lead to kidney disease and if that’s not channelled, we will be talking of dialysis,’’ the Nephrologist said.

    Dr John Okoh, Founder and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RDC, confirms that these concoction of herbs have negative impact on vital organs of the body, especially the kidney.

    He urged Nigerians to be aware of the causes and risk factors of getting kidney disease.

    Dr Nkem Achor told NAN that one of the major concerns in consuming Agbo is that one cannot ascertain the dosage and expiration of the mixture, hence the tendency to either under-dose or over-dose.

    “People who take Agbo do not know when it becomes under dose or over dose and this can affect the multisystem functions of the kidney and liver, which are critical to the functioning of the body.

    “Also, it can lead to blood poisoning, gastrointestinal challenges, vomiting, diarrhea, anemia and even death, if mismanaged or not detected early.

    “However, one is not ruling out the efficacy of these herbs, but it is worthy to emphasise that if it is to be taken, it should be after thorough scientific research and approval.

    “Also, the preparation has to follow standard supervised procedure under hygienic circumstances with appropriate dosage requirements spelt out and expiration date written.

    “If these are not adhered to, people will continue to take Agbo indiscriminately; some may get lucky and be healed but a majority will come down with more debilitating and chronic situations which may be too late for hospitals to handle.’’

    Dr. Ebun Bamgbose of the Dialysis/Transplant Unit and Clinical Director of St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, in an earlier interview said that most of the kidney failures, also known as renal failure or end stage renal disease, could be linked to indiscriminate use of these concoctions.

    This is because the herbs are mixed with all sorts, including local gin and there are toxic substances in the unprocessed materials and fermentation.

    A research was conducted by Akande IS, Adewoyin OA, Njoku UF and Awosika SO of the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Nigeria.

    The research, “Biochemical Evaluation of Some Locally Prepared Herbal Remedies (Agbo) Currently on High Demand in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria’’, was published in the Journal of Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, affirmed the negative effects of Agbo on the body.

    It said: “Based on these findings, we conclude that though these preparations are potential sources of natural antioxidants, but majority of those being hawked on Lagos metropolis may be harmful to human health.

    “This is because many of the hawkers are likely to be quacks. There is also a need for standardisation of dosage regimens and close scrutiny of pedigree of the peddlers of these herbal remedies by appropriate government agencies,’’ the research prescribed.

    • Ihechu is of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

  • Our mission impartial, says Chair Commonwealth Observer Group

    The chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Dr. Jakaya Kiwete on Monday said the mission will be impartial in its assessment of the general elections beginning from Saturday.

    He said the group will issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on the first set of elections on the 18th of February.

    He said the 18-man observers were drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

    They were deployed to observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes.

    According to the statement, this year’s election will be the sixth time a Commonwealth Observer Group will be observing elections in Nigeria since 1999.

    Kikwete, a former President of Tanzania, made the clarifications in a statement in Abuja against the backdrop of anxiety over the roles of the group.

    He said: “Our Group was constituted following an invitation from the Independent National Election Commission, drawing together 18 eminent persons from across the different regions of the Commonwealth, including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

    “We come in our own individual capacities, bringing a wide range of expertise in the areas of election administration, political development, law, human rights, civil society, gender, youth, as well as media.

    “As a group, we are here to observe the organization and conduct of the election process as a whole, and will form an impartial and independent assessment of its credibility.

    “The Commonwealth Observer Group will consider the pre-election period, polling day itself, as well as the post-election period. Our main task is to assess whether the elections have been conducted according to the national, regional and international standards to which Nigeria has committed itself, including its own laws.

    “On election day, we will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes.”

    The group said it will issue an interim statement on its preliminary findings on the 18th of February.

    It also said it will submit a final report to the Commonwealth Secretary-General and thereafter share with the Government of Nigeria, INEC, political parties, Commonwealth governments before making it public.

    The group expressed hope its presence will confirm the unwavering solidarity of the Commonwealth with Nigeria as the country conducts the elections.

    The group however encouraged all citizens to “play their part in ensuring peaceful and credible elections this weekend.”

     

  • Asia, Nigeria trade volume hits $7.7b

    Nigeria’s trade volume with Asian countries has peaked at about $7.7 billion, the Malaysia High Commissioner to Nigerian,  Gloria Tiwet,  said yesterday in Abuja.

    Tiwet who spoke on behalf of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) also said the group is looking forward to strengthening the trade relations.

    She spoke yesterday when she led the Head of Missions of Embassies and High Commissioner of ASEAN member-states on a working visit to Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama.

    The ASEAN envoys were in the ministry to intimate the minister with the ASEAN Day and Film Festival scheduled to hold between August 8 and 10 in Abuja.

    She said: “For the 2017 the trade volume between ASEAN and Nigeria amounting to $7.7 billion; that is very promising and portrayed good relations between our countries and Nigeria.

  • SMEDAN: Taking entrepreneurship funding to new heights

    Great economies thrive on the strength and capabilities of their Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

    Likewise, development patterns across the globe show the roles played by SMEs in resource mobilisation and the emergence of an industrial economy.

    In Asia, Europe and North America, SMEs play significant functions in the growth, development and industrialisation of their economies as they have been nurtured to achieve that objective.

    However, Nigeria remains an exception as SMEs have largely performed below expectation as a result of poor access to finance, inadequate managerial skills, poor accounting practice, poor infrastructure, policy somersault, multiple taxes, environmental factors, and marketing problems, among others.

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) under its current Director-General DikkoRadda has recognised the need to boost SMEs operations by putting in place strong measures that confront these challenges facing the sector. From the implementation of the One Local Government, One Product (OLOP) Program, National Enterprise Development Program (NEDEP), establishment of the SME Rating Agency of Nigeria, credit information portal, ICT development to implementation of the Nationwide MSMEs Clinic to mention but a few, SMEDAN is helping the Federal Government to realize its vision of improving the economy and lives of the citizenry through skilled entrepreneurship and access to finance.

    The One Local Government, One Product (OLOP) program remains an important input into the development agenda of the present administration. The program was meant to identify and facilitate specialization of unique product or service peculiar to each of the 774 local government areas in the country.

    According to Radda, the pilot scheme and its subsequent stages have been a huge success.

    He explained that under this programme, the agency commenced five pilot schemes in Katsina State for kilishi producers; Anambra State for palm kernel oil producers; Kaduna State for honey producers, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for cassava producers and Osun State for sweet potato producers. Each of these artisans were provided with locally fabricated equipment to mechanize processing.

    Also, workplaces were provided in collaboration with stakeholders to promote hygiene. The overall idea is to make their products more competitive in the market through improved hygiene and better packaging.

    Continuing, he explained that in all the locations, organic clusters involved in producing the identified products are being empowered to increase their level of operations in the areas of capacity building, access to equipment, access to working capital and access to workplace.

    In 2017, SMEDAN began the second phase of the project which covered the 109 senatorial districts in the country and expected to generate over 4,900 new jobs at the end of it.

    Continuing, he said the OLOP program dovetailed into the National Enterprise Development Program (NEDEP), a brainchild of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment anchored by the trio of SMEDAN, Bank of Industry and Industrial Training Fund to address challenges in access to finance & market and enterprenuership skill deficit.

    “ It was designed to generate one million jobs annually. Under the NEDEP, the agency delivered entrepreneurship training to more than 39,000 youths across the country in partnership with the industrial Training Fund (ITF) in what is called “The National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP),” Radda said.

    Another challenge, he listed, is poor access to finance. One of the issues confronting access to finance by MSMEs is the absence of acceptable credit rating platform, especially given the fact that most of the businesses remain informal. In response to this challenge, a Rating Agency was formed known as The Small and Medium Enterprises Rating Agency of Nigeria (SMERAN).

    Managing Director, Rockview Enterprises Limited,Abiodun Lawrence, said the scheme is a launching-pad for MSMEs into the world of financing.  He said the Rating Agency is expected to de-risk the MSMEs and ensure that they have a seamless access to affordable finance with respect to credit and credibility. “This will ensure that they are effectively positioned to contribute to job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation in the country,” Lawrencesaid.

    He explained that SMERAN is a product of collaboration between SMEDAN, Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Nigeria Export – Import Bank (NEXIM). The institutions are working with Dun & Bradstreet, the world’s leading source of commercial information, ratings and insight on businesses for over 150 years, to actualize this project.

     

  • SMEDAN: Taking entrepreneurship funding to new heights

    Great economies thrive on
    the strength and capabilities
    of their Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Likewise, development patterns across the globe show the roles played by SMEs in resource mobilisation and the emergence of an industrial economy.

    In Asia, Europe and North America, SMEs play significant functions in the growth, development and industrialisation of their economies as they have been nurtured to achieve that objective.

    However, Nigeria remains an exception as SMEs have largely performed below expectation as a result of poor access to finance, inadequate managerial skills, poor accounting practice, poor infrastructure, policy somersault, multiple taxes, environmental factors, and marketing problems, among others.

    The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) under its current Director-General DikkoRadda has recognised the need to boost SMEs operations by putting in place strong measures that confront these challenges facing the sector. From the implementation of the One Local Government, One Product (OLOP) Program, National Enterprise Development Program (NEDEP), establishment of the SME Rating Agency of Nigeria, credit information portal, ICT development to implementation of the Nationwide MSMEs Clinic to mention but a few, SMEDAN is helping the Federal Government to realize its vision of improving the economy and lives of the citizenry through skilled entrepreneurship and access to finance.

    The One Local Government, One Product (OLOP) program remains an important input into the development agenda of the present administration. The program was meant to identify and facilitate specialization of unique product or service peculiar to each of the 774 local government areas in the country.

    According to Radda, the pilot scheme and its subsequent stages have been a huge success.

    He explained that under this programme, the agency commenced five pilot schemes in Katsina State for kilishi producers; Anambra State for palm kernel oil producers; Kaduna State for honey producers, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for cassava producers and Osun State for sweet potato producers. Each of these artisans were provided with locally fabricated equipment to mechanize processing.

    Also, workplaces were provided in collaboration with stakeholders to promote hygiene. The overall idea is to make their products more competitive in the market through improved hygiene and better packaging.

    Continuing, he explained that in all the locations, organic clusters involved in producing the identified products are being empowered to increase their level of operations in the areas of capacity building, access to equipment, access to working capital and access to workplace.

    In 2017, SMEDAN began the second phase of the project which covered the 109 senatorial districts in the country and expected to generate over 4,900 new jobs at the end of it.

    Continuing, he said the OLOP program dovetailed into the National Enterprise Development Program (NEDEP), a brainchild of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment anchored by the trio of SMEDAN, Bank of Industry and Industrial Training Fund to address challenges in access to finance & market and enterprenuership skill deficit.

    “ It was designed to generate one million jobs annually. Under the NEDEP, the agency delivered entrepreneurship training to more than 39,000 youths across the country in partnership with the industrial Training Fund (ITF) in what is called “The National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP),” Radda said.

    Another challenge, he listed, is poor access to finance. One of the issues confronting access to finance by MSMEs is the absence of acceptable credit rating platform, especially given the fact that most of the businesses remain informal. In response to this challenge, a Rating Agency was formed known as The Small and Medium Enterprises Rating Agency of Nigeria (SMERAN).

    Managing Director, Rockview Enterprises Limited,Abiodun Lawrence, said the scheme is a launching-pad for MSMEs into the world of financing.  He said the Rating Agency is expected to de-risk the MSMEs and ensure that they have a seamless access to affordable finance with respect to credit and credibility. “This will ensure that they are effectively positioned to contribute to job creation, wealth creation and poverty alleviation in the country,” Lawrencesaid.

    He explained that SMERAN is a product of collaboration between SMEDAN, Bank of Industry (BOI) and the Nigeria Export – Import Bank (NEXIM). The institutions are working with Dun & Bradstreet, the world’s leading source of commercial information, ratings and insight on businesses for over 150 years, to actualize this project.

     

  • ISIS threatens U.S. over Jerusalem decision

    ISIS threatens U.S. over Jerusalem decision

    Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ( ISIS )has threatened attacks on U.S. soil in retaliation for the Trump administration’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

    One of the group’s social media accounts reported on Thursday without much details on one of its accounts on the Telegram instant messaging service titled: “Wait for us” and “ISIS in Manhattan”.

    The group said that it would carry out operations and showed images of New York’s Times Square and what appeared to be an explosive bomb belt and detonator.

    “We will do more ops in your land, until the final hour and we will burn you with the flames of war which you started in Iraq, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Afghan. Just you wait.

    “The recognition of your dog ‘Trump’ (sic) Jerusalem as the capital of Israel will make us recognise explosives as the capital of your country,” it said.

    Washington triggered widespread anger and protests across the Arab world with its decision on Jerusalem.

    The disputed city is revered by Jews, Christians and Muslims alike, and is home to Islam’s third holiest site.

    It has been at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades.

    Read also: UAE urges Arabs, Muslims to unite over U.S decision on Jerusalem

    Islamic State was driven out of its Iraqi and Syrian capitals this year and squeezed into a shrinking pocket of desert straddling the border between the two countries.

    The forces fighting Islamic State in Iraq and Syria now expect a new phase of guerrilla warfare there.

    Militants including people claiming allegiance to Islamic State have carried out scores of deadly attacks in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the U.S. over the past two years.

    NAN

  • ‘295 Nigerians on death row in Asia’

    No fewer than 295 Nigerians are on death row in prisons across about eight Asian countries, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has revealed.

    LEDAP, an organisation of lawyers and law professionals engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights, the rule of law and good governance in Nigeria, made this revelation on Saturday, during activities to mark the 13th World Day against the use of the Death Penalty.

    It named the countries to include China, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Others are Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

    The organisation called on the federal government to abolish the application of the death penalty for drug-related offences and reminded it and Nigerian foreign missions of their legal obligations under the Vienna Convention on the Consular Rights Services, to provide consular support to its citizens that are in conflict with the law abroad.

    LEDAP’s National Coordinator, Barrister Chinonye Obiagwu, said: “Data collected independently by LEDAP showed that nearly 120 Nigerians are facing the death penalty in Chinese prisons, and over 170 in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, etc and five in Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia.

    “33 countries and territories retain the death penalty for drug crimes and it is estimated conservatively that over 16,500 Nigerians are in prisons abroad and nearly 350 of them are facing the death penalty.”

    The group said Nigeria is a signatory to a number of international instruments including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights which prohibits the imposition of the death penalty for any but the ‘most serious’ crimes.

    It emphasised that drug offences do not meet this threshold, and that only crimes involving intentional killing can be ‘most serious’.

    Obiagwu revealed that LEDAP had litigated over 35 death penalty cases on appeal, out of which nearly half of the prisoners were exonerated. She added that the NGO is producing a documentary on the innocents on death row to be titled “The Exonerated”.

    She continued: “There is an urgent need for the government to through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to track and support its indigent citizens facing the death penalty abroad, and their families.

    “This is no longer an emotional issue but an issue of balancing the prospects of harsh punishment that does not even deter crimes, with the risk of wrongly executing innocent people. We will continue to insist with other abolitionist campaigners that the death penalty is itself inhuman and degrading, and to apply it in situation where there is high risk of mistaken conviction is utterly unacceptable in the 21st century.”

    Obiagwu further questioned the fairness of trials Nigerians face abroad. She said: “Most of the Nigerians convicted abroad did not receive fair trials because most of them did not have lawyers to defend them, the trials are held in languages they do not understand, in many cases no interpreters are provided and more importantly, consular support services are lacking.”

    LEDAP called on the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that consular services are provided to every Nigerian facing a criminal charge abroad. The group urged the ministry to recruit and train legal attachés in all its missions, especially in South-East Asia, to ensure that no Nigerian is on death row aboard.

    The NGO further warned all the 58 retentionist nations including Nigeria of the dangers of continued use of the death penalty. LEDAP and hundreds of exonerated ex-death row prisoners in Nigeria and aboard called on the federal government to make concerted effort to abolish the death penalty in Nigeria and be responsive to the plight of its citizen’s aboard.

  • JCI fetes Asia business community

    The Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCIN) has concluded plans to host a business forum – ‘Let’s go to Asia’ on Setember 27, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

    Let’s go to Asia is a prelude to the centenary anniversary of JCI holding in Kanazawa, Japan.

    The forum is offers a platform of opportunities to promote business relationships between young Nigerian business leaders and Asian companies.

    On the initiative, JCIN National President Mr Seun Osikalu said: “Our members invest a lot of resources on their various travels around the world for JCI programmes and conferences. These events provide enormous opportunities for our members to establish lifelong relationships and we want our members and interested members of the public to take deliberate advantage of such opportunities. We have partnered with Asian trade and commercial missions in Nigeria to come sell their countries and they are excited at the prospects that the forum offers.”

    Also, the National Director of Business Affairs, Mr Jide Benson said: “We reckon that since a large delegation of our members will be attending the week-long world congress in Kanazawa Japan, which will be an opportunity for direct interaction with business organisations and people in the Asiatic regions – Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Phillipines, Malaysia, Japan and others – so we thought it fit to be equipped with the right information and knowledge before departure. The region, being the hub for manufacturing and production, has a lot to offer discerning business people.”

    The event is a fee for interested persons and is open to members and non members seeking opportunities to be tapped in Asia and JCI Nigeria is proud to see the need and take the lead.

    The Junior Chamber International is a world federation of  young (community  and business) leaders that provide development opportunities for active citizens to create positive change.

    Entrepreneurship is one of the ideals that the organisation promotes sand the LTGA is geared towards this area.

  • JCI Nigeria fetes Asia business community

    The Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCIN) has concluded plans to host a business forum – ‘Let’s go to Asia’ on Setember 27 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos. Let’s go to Asia is a prelude to the Centenary anniversary of the JCI holding in Kanazawa Japan. The forum is a platform of opportunities to promote business relationships between young Nigerian business leaders and Asian companies.

    On the initiative, JCIN National President, Mr Seun Osikalu, said: “Our members invest a lot of resources on their various travels around the world for JCI programmes and conferences. These events provide enormous opportunities for our members to establish lifelong relationships and we want our members and interested members of the public to take deliberate advantage of such opportunities. We have partnered with Asian trade and commercial missions in Nigeria to come sell their countries and they are excited at the prospects that the forum offers.”

    Also, the National Director of Business Affairs, Mr Jide Benson said: “We reckon that since a large delegation of our members will be attending the week-long world congress in Kanazawa Japan, which will be an opportunity for direct interaction with business organisations and people in the Asiatic regions – Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Phillipines, Malaysia, Japan and others – so we thought it fit to be equipped with the right information and knowledge before departure. The region being the hub for manufacturing and production has a lot to offer discerning business people.”

    The event is a fee for interested persons and is open to members and non members seeking opportunities to be tapped in Asia and JCI Nigeria is proud to see the need and take the lead.

    The Junior Chamber International is a world federation of young (community and business) leaders that provide development opportunities for active citizens to create positive change.

    Entrepreneurship is one of the ideals that the organisation promotes sand the LTGA is geared towards this area.

     

  • Heineken gains from Tiger in Asia, Europe

    Heineken NV (HEIN.AS), the world’s third-largest brewer, announced better-than-expected earnings for the first half on Monday, helped by robust growth of its Tiger brand in Vietnam and rising beer sales in Mexico and parts of Europe.

    The Dutch brewer, whose Heineken lager is Europe’s top seller, increased profit on a like-for-like basis in all regions except Africa, but also saw a squeeze on U.S. margins. It said it expected faster sales growth in the second half of the year but maintained its full-year forecast for revenue growth, which will be slower than in 2014.

    Heineken shares surged by as much as 4.5 percent to a three-month high after the results and were among the strongest performers in the FTSEurofirst 300 index .FTEU3 of leading European stocks.

    “It’s a positive mixed bag. Some margin pressure in Africa and Americas, but central and eastern and western Europe good against tough comparables,” said Trevor Stirling, beverage analyst at Bernstein Securities.

    Stirling has an “outperform” rating on the stock, with potential for further emerging markets gains relative to larger rivals AB InBev (ABI.BR) and SABMiller (SAB.L), whose emerging market progress, he said, was largely priced in.

    Those rivals are also more exposed to China’s slowing economy than Heineken, which is focused more on Southeast Asia.

    Asia-Pacific was again Heineken’s fastest growing market in the first half. It saw double-digit sales expansion in Vietnam, the region’s third-largest beer market, driven by demand for Tiger beer, which Heineken has been promoting harder since acquiring full control of Asia Pacific Breweries in 2013.

    With breweries from Mongolia to New Zealand, Asia-Pacific accounts for almost 20 percent of Heineken’s operating profit.

    Heineken also enjoyed solid sales in Mexico, but saw lower margins in the United States – where it imports Heineken and Mexican beers – due to higher marketing costs as it promoted cider and other new products.