Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the leading infrastructure solutions provider on the continent, and Italian development finance institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA (CDP) (www.CDP.it) have signed a EUR50 million loan facility agreement on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai. The financing will play a crucial role in supporting AFC’s investments in renewable power, energy efficient projects and climate-resilient infrastructure. The 10-year facility will enable AFC to accelerate its efforts […]

The President of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), Akinwumi Adesina, called on African business leaders to take advantage of investment opportunities in Africa and decarbonize their industries more quicky during the COP28 global climate conference in Dubai. “Africa is a very reliable destination for investment,” since the continent has a “dominant position in terms of green metals, the critical metals that will support storage and energy systems,” Dr Adesina said […]

By Mike Smollan, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer, Smollan (https://Smollan.com). As per the Edge Global Insights Report 2023 - overall, the retail industry this year has navigated the lingering effects of the pandemic, embraced digital transformation, addressed sustainability concerns, and tackled supply chain challenges. Coupled with the disentanglement of major market dynamics from the clutter that is, supply chain disruptions, rising inflation and the pros and cons of new tech. As […]

Since early discoveries of oil and gas in Africa, European operators and service providers have made substantial investments in unlocking the continent's hydrocarbon resources. Amid global market changes – whereby energy demand outweighs supply and efforts to diversify value chains pinpoint new producers – Africa’s oil and gas landscape has become an increasingly attractive investment destination. The upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum in Paris – organized by Energy […]

“Every woman, every mother must be able to turn on the gas cooker and cook a decent meal like anywhere else in the world”—Adesina; African Development Bank to scale up contribution to clean cooking solutions; “Lack of access to clean cooking is a stain on humanity”—Birol. Africa requires $4 billion in annual investment, to provide  250 million with clean cooking energy,  says the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Fatih […]

African Development Bank Group President Dr Akinwumi Adesina (www.AfDB.org) has warned that a new EU carbon border tax could significantly constrain Africa’s trade and industrialization progress by penalizing value-added exports including steel, cement, iron, aluminium and fertilizers. Adesina said, “With Africa’s energy deficit and reliance mainly on fossil fuels, especially diesel, the implication is that Africa will be forced to export raw commodities again into Europe, which will further cause de-industrialisation […]

Helmsman Quality and Technology Services Company Ltd. (HQTS) (www.HQTS.com), a leading provider of third-party quality assurance services, has entered into an agreement with the Petroleum Authority of Uganda (PAU) and the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) to perform Pre-Export Verification of Conformity Assessments on specialised equipment and materials for oil and gas projects in Uganda. Uganda hosts some of East Africa's largest petroleum production projects, with two primary initiatives: […]

Emaswati get to own 24.99% of FNB Eswatini (www.FNBSwaziland.co.sz) through the sale of shares by the FirstRand Group. The listing of FNB Eswatini on the Eswatini Stock Exchange shows strong support for the local capital market and the potential for Emaswati to continue developing the Eswatini economy. The Group has decided to sell shares to local shareholders, in a move that will benefit broad base of Emaswati who are beneficiaries […]

With a Euro 48.5 million contribution from the European Union (EU) received through its Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO), WFP was able to respond to the severe food crisis in eight countries of West and Central Africa during the 2023 hunger gap and beyond. Food insecurity has reached a 10-year high in West and Central Africa with over 47 million women, men and children unable to meet their basic food and […]