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GWM Day: Trailblazing in Middle East and Driving Worldwide

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TANK 700

Through the appearance of TANK 700 and second Gen H9 at the Jeddah Motor Show, GWM officially opened the curtain of its’ 3.0 strategic development Era in the Middle East

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, November 8, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Great Wall Motor (GWM) (www.GWM-Global.com), as the leading Chinese automotive brand in Middle East Region as well as other major global regions, released its newest initiative for the Middle East –the HOME+CARE strategy and plan a series of core activities with the theme of GWM DAY. Through the appearance of TANK 700 and second Gen H9 at the Jeddah Motor Show, GWM officially opened the curtain of its’ 3.0 strategic development Era in the Middle East, which is also a key step for GWM to deepen its global development and realize its ecological expansion overseas.

Facing the new era of strategic development, released the HOME+CARE strategy

Parker Shi, President of GWM International, emphasized that the Middle East feels like a “second home” for GWM, which have witnessed the company’s overseas growth over the 27 years from 0 to 1. This strategy is at the core of GWM’s long-term commitment dubbed “Four Globalizations”, to creating a brand experience that resonates with local users. “HOME” symbolizes GWM’s dedication to making the Middle East a part of the brand’s extended global family. Meanwhile, “CARE” represents GWM’s promise to deliver reliable, attentive service to its users alongside its rapid growth globally. Winning global trust with user love, GWM has always been on the road to practice.

HOME is an acronym that represents GWM’s spirit of taking root in the Middle East. Each letter has a different connotation. The first and perhaps most significant pillar of the HOME+CARE Plan is “H”-(Heart). This value has driven GWM over the past 34 years, and today, GWM serves over 14 million customers with more than 1,300 sales outlets across over 170 countries and regions globally, its commitment lead to its strong sales performance in 2023. In the first nine months, GWM sold over 850,000 vehicles, with more than 320,000 units sold outside of China, representing a 53% year-on-year growth.

“O” represents Outstanding product quality, which is the base for GWM success in Middle East. Since its first pickup trucks exported to Middle East in 1997, GWM has held the title of China’s top-selling pickup brand, setting a high standard with models like the DEER, Wingle series, and GWM POER. GWM is planning to launch a 2.4T pickup model in the Middle East in early 2024, designed to exceed users’ expectations with remarkable power, performance, and durability.

The third pillar of GWM’s strategy in the Middle East is “M”-(Multiformity), reflected in the company’s efforts to provide a full range of vehicles that meet diverse user needs across all powertrains, all categories and all levels. For GWM, understanding and meeting the unique needs of Middle Eastern users is paramount. The company’s off-road expertise, honed over 34 years, is highly compatible with the demands of the Local market, and GWM is committed to adapting its offerings to suit regional preferences, and focus on “creating experiential value” for users is integral to its brand.

“E “means Enjoyment through experience. GWM’s focus on “creating experiential value” for users is integral to its brand. In addition to GWM’s modification culture, it is also set to open its largest Middle Eastern flagship store in Riyadh on October 31, being the 7th directly operated GWM store by its local partner AMDC. This new facility, combined with the new parts warehouse in Jeddah, will significantly enhance GWM’s ability to serve local customers with top-notch service and convenience.

GWM Technology Day: GWM Off-road Trailblazing in Middle East

Middle East Region has got great potential and appetite for high-end models. In GWM’s 2030 vision, out of the 1,000,000 units sold overseas, 30% of models would be high-end models. Middle East will play a pivotal part in contributing to that target. Hence, GWM decides to roll out its flagship models in Middle East Region as one of the first batch regions overseas.

As the flagship models of GWM, the TANK 700 and GWM HAVAL H9 have got global attention since its debut in China. At the Jeddah Motor Show, the 2 models boasting top notch electrification and off-road technology, i.e. the Hi4-T. It enables the TANK 700 to output 385kW power and 850N.m torque like the king of beast. Thanks to the class-leading 3.0 litre turbo-charged V6 engine coupled with the unique 9HAT electrified powertrain. The TANK 700 looks rugged outside but the refined interior including largely-covered by soft premium materials, 15mm thick seat leather surface, 1000-watt 16 speakers, ANC features and so many features that will sure won the mind and hearts for the audience.

The GWM TANK Alliance has been one of the largest off-road enthusiast carnival in this region and globally for GWM

The second Gen GWM HAVAL H9 pictures another scenario for family users as an all-Terrain 7-seater  vehicle for Middle East with extended families. Equipped with the latest generation of high-performance of the 2.0T gasoline+8AT golden power combination for the petrol version,TOD Intelligent 4WD and mechanical locking are standard option, realizing seamless switching from 0-100% torque and easy extrication from special terrain. The new generation of HAVAL H9 comes with its super solid body frame, which is made up of for 99% high-strength steel, including 83% of super high-strength steel in the body skeleton, making the whole vehicle more reliable and safe The long list of safety features make it a perfect tool to guard families who love outdoor life.

GWM Partner Day: Deepen local presence and consolidate distribution partnerships

GWM’s service initiative, GWM CARE, is central to the company’s commitment to after-sales excellence in the Middle East and North Africa. GWM is the first Chinese automotive brand to establish a comprehensive parts center for the Middle East and North Africa (GLOBAL) region. Located in Dubai, this center spans a service radius covering 55 countries across GCC, Iraq and Iran, North Africa, and Central and West Africa, leading the market in coverage. Known for its industry-leading efficiency, GWM’s Middle East warehouse achieves a 92% parts fulfillment rate, setting a high benchmark in availability and operational excellence. The warehouse stocks over 20,000 types of parts across more than 7,000 square meters, supporting GWM’s five main series: HAVAL, TANK, POER, WEY, and ORA. Additionally, local markets maintain a fulfillment rate above 95%, with Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah facility—the largest of any Chinese brand in the region—covering over 11,000 square meters with around 13,000 parts. All components are genuine GWM parts, sourced from certified suppliers like Bosch and ZF, and are quality-validated by GWM or third-party certifications. Efficient staffing supports same-day warehouse processing with near-zero discrepancy rates, ensuring reliable, timely service for GWM’s customers.

In just less than 3 years, by 2025, GWM will further expand its global parts warehouse by 30,000 square meters, increasing parts inventory by 1,000 types and achieving a parts fill rate of 97%. The company is also intensifying its training efforts to ensure that all of its service staff are 100% certified by 2025, enabling them to deliver high-quality, reliable service to users across the region. GWM’s local expansion strategy, in partnership with ADMC, continues to provide value-added customer experience. ADMC currently operates 7 GWM direct stores in Saudi Arabia, with GWM CARE ensuring that customers have easy access to necessary repairs and maintenance.

GWM Family Day: Providing a home-like feel for global users

GWM is also set to open its largest Middle Eastern flagship store in Riyadh on October 31, being the 7th directly operated GWM store by its local partner AMDC. Middle Eastern communities traditionally value family life. To meet their potential psychological needs, in the coming months, GWM plans to launch the “GWM Family Day” at its Riyadh flagship store, inviting GWM users and families to come together to share their experiences and celebrate the journeys they’ve taken with GWM vehicles.

At the opening ceremony, Parker Shi said, “the GWM TANK Alliance has been one of the largest off-road enthusiast carnival in this region and globally for GWM. These gatherings are part of GWM’s commitment to creating a more personal brand experience for Middle Eastern users, ensuring that each user feels part of the GWM family.” Welcoming they become the family of GWM and many happy kilometers to drive, Parker emphasized.

GWM has always been user-oriented. The logic behind it is to keep communicating with users continuously, and deepen users’ understanding of the brand so that users can gradually “know”, “be interested” and “like”. Pushing the highest-level relationship of “trust” and eventually towards global trust is not easy but it is what GWM has been pursuing.

GWM Moving Forward Together With Middle East

GWM DAY comprehensively demonstrates the strength of GWM from the dimensions of technology, partnership, TOC thought, and family-oriented business culture. That’s all the series themes of GWM DAYs conveyed. After years of accumulation and development in the Middle East market, GWM now has covered almost all countries in the Middle East Region with the most comprehensive products lineup, the comprehensive after-sale service system, the reinforced regional office, and most importantly the loyal and engaged owner communities. Since GWM understands that the brand isn’t just about cutting-edge technology, award-winning design, it’s more about people and their aspirations. At GWM, everything starts with, and evolves around people. The brand spirit tagline “Go With More” is the best interpretation of GWM’s vision for ever-pursuing for perfection.

As GWM continues to grow its footprint in the Middle East, it remains dedicated to the mission of “With the Middle East, for the Middle East.” Through its innovative products, dedication to service, and commitment to creating an enjoyable driving experience, GWM is well-positioned to become a leader in the Middle Eastern automotive market as a leading global brand. By cultivating strong relationships with users, partners, and communities, GWM is not just building a brand – it is building a community that is going with more tech, more style, more experience and more love for its 14 million users worldwide, with more generations to come.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GWM.

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Lekki Port, Lekki Freeport Terminal, Lagos Free Zone Launch COSCO Shipping, Ocean Network Express (ONE) & ZIM Lines Services

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COSCO Shipping

The launch of the services was signaled by the arrival of the E A Centaurus at Lekki Deep Sea Port on Friday, November 8, 2024

LAGOS, Nigeria, November 11, 2024/APO Group/ — 

In what could be described as a major boost to the Nigerian maritime sector and international trade, the management of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited (LPLEL), Lekki Freeport Terminal, and the Lagos Free Zone (https://LagosFreeZone.com) have launched the COSCO, ONE (Ocean Network Express), and ZIM alliance services at Lekki Deep Sea Port.

The launch of the services was signaled by the arrival of the E A Centaurus at Lekki Deep Sea Port on Friday, November 8, 2024. The E A Centaurus, with an overall length of 277m and a container handling capacity of 7,000 TEU, is also the largest COSCO vessel to call Nigeria. It docked at the port at about 10:30 a.m.

The Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Freeport Terminal, Christophe Cassang, explained that the launch of the service marks a crucial milestone in the terminal’s development and capacity expansion. He added that the launch of the service demonstrates the company’s commitment to becoming a leading maritime hub in West Africa.

We are realizing our vision of driving significant cargo volumes and further positioning Lekki Port to enhance the Nigerian maritime sector and improve business efficiency

“Through the strategic partnership with global shipping leaders such as COSCO, ONE, and ZIM, we are strengthening our position on the international stage and opening new opportunities for trade and industry in Nigeria and the region. Lekki Freeport Terminal is run by a well-trained workforce, passionate about meeting challenges of the future, and is equipped with the most advanced technology and state-of-the-art infrastructure designed to meet the growing needs of the shipping lines and of our customers,” said Cassang.

In his remarks during the ceremony, the Managing Director of Lekki Port, Du Ruogang, described the launch of the new shipping line services as a true testament to the company’s commitment to Nigeria’s maritime future. Ruogang noted that the berthing of the E A Centaurus marked the first of bi-weekly calls to Lekki Deep Sea Port by COSCO, ONE, and ZIM shipping lines. He described the launch of the COSCO, ONE, and ZIM shipping lines as a symbol of the company’s unwavering dedication to positioning Lekki Port as a transformative force in the Nigerian maritime Industry.

“After 18 months of commencement of commercial operations and continued efforts, we are proud to welcome COSCO, ONE, and ZIM shipping lines to Lekki Port. With the bi-weekly calls of the consortium, we are realizing our vision of driving significant cargo volumes and further positioning Lekki Port to enhance the Nigerian maritime sector and improve business efficiency across the country. The achievement is not the end but rather the beginning,” he said.

In her statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos Free Zone, Adesuwa Ladoja, described the launch of COSCO, ONE, and ZIM shipping lines services at Lekki Port as a momentous occasion and significant achievement not only for Lekki Port and Lekki Freeport Terminal but also for Lagos Free Zone as it is bound to attract more foreign direct investment (FDI) to the zone.

“From one shipping line, we now have four shipping lines calling at the Lekki Deep Sea Port; it is significant because we now have more options that allow more customers access to the state-of-the-art facilities at the Lekki Port. It also allows the growth of enterprises in the Lagos Free Zone and, in fact, the entire Lekki economic axis. The companies can bring their raw materials through any of the four shipping lines and move them straight into the factories for production. They can also export finished goods to other parts of Africa and, indeed, the world. This is the economic rejuvenation we are all looking for, and Lekki Port and Lagos Free Zone are happy to be doing our part”, she said.

In their reaction, the COSCO, ONE, and ZIM shipping line representatives expressed their excitement about partnering with Lekki Port and Lekki Freeport Terminal. They expressed satisfaction with the world-class infrastructure and facilities available at the port. The companies were represented by the Deputy Managing Director of COSCO Shipping Lines Nigeria Limited, Rex Wang, Director, Ocean Network Express (Nigeria) Limited, Stefan Pedersen, and Managing Director, Lansal, Todd Rives.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Lagos Free Zone (LFZ).

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Afreximbank approves US$200 million Facility to support BUA Industries Limited (BIL) expansion plans

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Afreximbank

The first tranche of $150 million was disbursed on October 16, 2024

CAIRO, Egypt, November 11, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$200 million Corporate Finance Facility in favour of BUA Industries Limited (BIL) to support its expansion plans.

With Afreximbank’s support, BUA can increase investments to strengthen industrial capacity and meet regional demand

BIL is a Nigerian conglomerate with diversified business interest spanning across, sugar and cement manufacturing, flour milling, oil milling, port logistics, real estate development, oil and gas, and shipping. The first tranche of $150 million was disbursed on October 16, 2024.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that the facility will provide critical financial support to a leading Nigerian conglomerate as it pursues its expansion plans, thereby boosting its industrial base and Nigeria’s export manufacturing capacity.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact through job creation, import substitution and export diversification – thereby boosting Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).”

On his part, Alhaji Abdul Samad Rabiu, CFR, CON, Chairman of BUA Industries Limited, said that the $200 million corporate finance facility marks a crucial step in BUA’s commitment to industrializing Nigeria’s manufacturing, infrastructure and energy sector for local use and export. “With Afreximbank’s support, BUA can increase investments to strengthen industrial capacity and meet regional demand. Our goal is sustainable growth that boosts Nigeria’s self-sufficiency and Africa’s global trade presence, creating jobs and building economic resilience,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Ecobank Partners with Nium to Unlock Real-Time Cross-Border Payments Across 35 African Markets

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Ecobank

Nium announces its partnership with Ecobank, a pan-African financial solutions leader, bringing real-time cross-border payments to 35 markets on the continent

SINGAPORE, Singapore, November 11, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Nium (https://apo-opa.co/3Cl0CMy), the leading global infrastructure for real-time cross-border payments, announced a partnership with Ecobank Transnational Incorporated. (www.Ecobank.com), the leading independent pan-African financial services group, to enable seamless cross-border payments across 35 African markets for more than 32 million customers. This partnership is set to revolutionise the region’s payments landscape by enabling faster, more efficient international payments for businesses and consumers alike.

Nium’s real-time payments infrastructure will be integrated into Ecobank’s existing banking operations, empowering Ecobank to enhance its services for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Ecobank will connect its existing Swift workflows to Nium, gaining access to real-time transfers, updates, clearing, settlement, and payment tracking, without the need for complex API integrations. This will significantly reduce waiting times for cross-border payments, enabling businesses to make faster payments to over 220 markets, including over 100 countries with real-time capabilities.

Partnering with Nium allows us to enhance our service offerings and provide our customers with faster, more efficient cross-border payment solutions

Ecobank is a critical financial partner in sub-Saharan Africa. Through this partnership, Ecobank’s customers across the region will benefit from an enhanced payments experience that allows faster and more efficient cross-border transactions, unlocking new opportunities for SMEs to connect with global markets.

Anupam Pahuja, General Manager and Executive Vice President for APAC, Middle East and Africa at Nium, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Ecobank and introduce Nium’s cutting-edge real-time payment capabilities to Africa. This collaboration represents an important step forward in expanding our global payments network, and we are proud to support Ecobank in delivering faster, more efficient payments for its customers across the region.”

Partnering with Nium allows us to enhance our service offerings and provide our customers with faster, more efficient cross-border payment solutions. By leveraging our unique API-based payment platform, this collaboration is a significant step towards advancing financial inclusion and connectivity across Africa and enabling businesses to thrive in a global marketplace,” said Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group.

Ecobank can exchange its existing SwiftMT & ISO20022 messages with Nium to initiate payments on the real-time platform, accelerating business growth and improving the speed and accuracy of cross-border payments for African businesses.

The partnership also aligns with Nium’s broader strategy to enhance global financial inclusion, enabling access to real-time payments in regions where traditional banking systems may be slow or unreliable. Through this collaboration, Ecobank is now better equipped to provide an unmatched cross-border payment experience for its customers, while Nium continues its mission to democratize access to the world’s largest real-time payments network.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

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