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The role of financial services in achieving financial inclusion in Rwanda and beyond (By Dr. Reda Helal and Benjamin Mutimura)

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Rwanda

The momentum of financial inclusion programmes is progressively strengthened as financial institutions, businesses and consumers embrace cashless convenience and digital payments that are secure and seamless

KIGALI, Rwanda, May 15, 2024/APO Group/ — 

By Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa and Co-Head Group Processing, Network International (https://www.Network.ae) and Benjamin Mutimura, CEO, I&M Bank (Rwanda) Plc.

The momentum of financial inclusion programmes is progressively strengthened as financial institutions, businesses and consumers embrace cashless convenience and digital payments that are secure and seamless. Technology development broadens the scope of delivery of financial services, and the advantages of digital payments manifest in providing easy access to the masses, reducing travel and queuing times, quicker transactions and seamless money movements that are cashless.

Currently, Rwanda is a prime market for digital payments, with a young population of which 69 per cent is below the age of 30, and the second-highest population density in Africa. With 87 per cent mobile penetration and an accelerated mobile payments market that grew over 450 per cent [1] during the pandemic, the cashless economy is expected to expand further. In 2022, the number of fund transfers through mobile payment channels amounted to 310 million transactions. In November 2022, the value of these transactions also rose by 41 per cent, from RWF 4.7 trillion to RWF 6.6 trillion, as reported by the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR). The country has set an ambitious target to achieve full financial inclusion by 2024.

Rwanda’s Vision 2050 and the National Strategy for Transformation 2017–2024 set the aspiration for the country to become a strategic hub for financial services in Africa. The growth of the fintech sector is vital to achieving this goal as it encourages the use of digital payments by Rwandan residents. Fintech is a huge contributor in propagating cashless systems and promoting financial inclusion.

A study commissioned by Access to Finance Rwanda in 2022 to assess the “data analytics capacity of Rwanda’s financial institutions, regulators and other local service providers” showed that Rwanda’s financial sector produces a lot of data but only a handful of stakeholders are turning data into insights. Such a limited data-driven culture and the lack of use of data to build products and solutions will severely hinder the financial services sector.

The report states this constitutes a missed opportunity to understand the profiles and needs of clients, optimise business performance, and predict future results while creating efficiencies.

In a radically changing market such as Rwanda, digital payments are of prime importance, specifically in the context of contactless payments and mobile wallets. These unlock significant benefits for consumers for fast, easy, and secure transactions.

Network’s partnership with I&M Bank was formed to reinforce the bank’s digital-first strategy and leadership in the Rwandan market. Through this partnership, Network will offer a variety of payment products and services including credit and prepaid card hosting and processing, along with robust security protocols and a sophisticated API gateway to provide customers value-added services that will enable their financial services with data and analytics, hyper-targeted loyalty management solutions, and tokenization, among other benefits.

In a world where contactless payments and digital wallets are fast becoming the norm, services such as tokenization, customer loyalty management, data streaming, customer profiling and data analytics are simplifying and bringing innovation to commerce and payments. The Rwandan economy has already begun to see the benefits of such innovation, which ushers more citizens into the formal financial system. This will pave the way to making the country an important hub for financial services in the region, with superior banking frameworks that are on par with international standards.

Knowledge dissemination will play a vital role in laying out the foundation for a paradigm shift towards digital payments in the country, which is inclusive and resilient

New and superior digital banking experiences that leverage technological innovation will ensure financial inclusion in its truest form. The World Bank’s Rwanda Economic Update [2] suggests that financial services can play a larger role in increasing financial inclusion with the help of innovation. Challenges like the digital divide, limited infrastructure, and financial literacy gaps persist, but policymakers should enhance regulatory frameworks, improve financial and digital infrastructure, and expand government support to foster a digital-friendly environment, according to the report.

As the country tries to reach its financial inclusion target in 2024, knowledge dissemination will play a vital role in laying out the foundation for a paradigm shift towards digital payments in the country, which is inclusive and resilient.


[1] https://apo-opa.co/3V2hy12

[2] https://apo-opa.co/3V18wl1

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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PAPSS

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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