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Afreximbank and Ecobank partner to simplify trade and compliance for African businesses

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3 weeks ago

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Afreximbank

The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub connects registered businesses across Africa on a single platform, helping them benefit from opportunities in the unified market of 1.4 billion people created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA)

CAIRO, Egypt, December 19, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and Ecobank Group (www.Ecobank.com) have embarked on a collaboration aimed at simplifying trade and compliance for businesses in Africa by integrating Ecobank’s Single Market Trade Hub and Afreximbank’s MANSA Digital Repository Platform.

With the collaboration, African businesses will benefit from seamless shared services across the two platforms, with users of the Single Market Trade Hub able to easily leverage MANSA’s comprehensive database for efficient know-thy-customer (KYC) and customer due diligence (CDD) checks while MANSA platform users would, in turn, be able to directly connect to the Single Market Trade Hub to explore trade opportunities to expand their businesses across Africa.

The Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub connects registered businesses across Africa on a single platform, helping them benefit from opportunities in the unified market of 1.4 billion people created by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). It serves as a one-stop repository for the AfCFTA by providing small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) and corporates with insights about the agreement while its online match-making feature enables importers and exporters to upload their profiles and showcase goods and services they offer, or wish to source, with the aim of finding partners within Africa. Once a match is found, connections are made via the platform and the transaction can be concluded leveraging on Ecobank’s trade and payment solutions in 35 African markets.

The MANSA Digital Repository Platform, or MANSA, is a one-stop-shop for due diligence matters on all African entities. As a centralised digital repository, MANSA seeks to eliminate information asymmetry and to increase intra-African trade and trade with the rest of the world. It drives and promotes good governance culture among African SMEs and creates visibility for their businesses while also supporting African entities to expand, diversify and add value to their export products at both the local and international levels. Entities onboarded unto MANSA are allotted an Africa Entity Identifier (AEI) code which enables them to leverage other Afreximbank products and initiatives.

MANSA is also a key digital solution at the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) marketplace which houses a suite of digital platforms designed as a single window to enable Afreximbank better deliver on its mandate, providing critical services to support and promote intra-African trade and the implementation of the AfCFTA. The platform enables African entities to accelerate their business activities at the ATG marketplace by working with verified information on trusted counterparties.

The new collaboration is, therefore, enabling Ecobank and Afreximbank to provide a central solution to the key challenge of KYC compliance and access to business across 35 countries in Africa. The improved interoperability is expected to further streamline cross-border trade and compliance in Africa, fostering greater financial and economic integration on the continent.

Afreximbank is a pan-African multilateral financial institution established to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade.

Ecobank Group is a leading private pan-African banking group with unrivalled African expertise.

Discover the Ecobank Single Market Trade Hub at www.TradeHub.Ecobank.com and MANSA at www.MANSAAfrica.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.

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Business

Wentors Launches Wentors 2.0 to Advance Women in Technology Globally

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8 hours ago

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January 9, 2025

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Wentors

Program to empower women through mentorship, AI skill development, and workforce innovation

It’s about breaking barriers, unlocking potential, and showing every woman that she has what it takes to thrive

LONDON, United Kingdom, January 9, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Wentors, a leading organization dedicated to advancing women in technology, is proud to announce the launch of Wentors 2.0 – a transformative platform offering highly personalized mentorship, exclusive networking opportunities, and workforce development programs for women. Applications are now open year-round, with participants encouraged to apply by January 18, 2025 to take advantage of available scholarship opportunities. Wentors 2.0 aims to strengthen the global tech ecosystem by equipping women with the tools, guidance, and resources they need to excel.

The gender gap in technology continues to be a significant challenge, magnified by the rapid advancements in AI. Since its inception, Wentors has been dedicated to bridging this divide, impacting over 10,000 women and delivering more than 100,000 hours of mentorship to over 3,000 mentees. Now, as AI reshapes industries worldwide, Wentors 2.0 is stepping up with renewed focus and urgency to empower women to thrive in the evolving tech workforce and lead the way in closing the gap.

“With Wentors 2.0, we’re creating a world where women in tech feel seen, supported, and unstoppable,” said EduAbasi Chukwunweike, Founder of Wentors. “It’s about breaking barriers, unlocking potential, and showing every woman that she has what it takes to thrive. This is a movement you should watch out for, the future of women in technology starts here.”

Tailored for Every Career Stage

Wentors 2.0 offers two membership tiers designed to support participants at different stages of their careers:

Foundational Program: For beginners or aspiring tech professionals, and women transitioning into tech –  

  • Monthly power sessions with senior tech leaders
  • Skill mastery through curated learning paths
  • LinkedIn profile optimization for professional visibility
  • Access to the Tech Innovators Network, fostering a supportive community

Pro Membership: For experienced professionals –

  • One-on-one mentorship with top industry professionals
  • Access to industry-recognized certifications
  • Advanced workshops on personal branding and networking strategies
  • Invitations to exclusive networking opportunities and events

Expanding Accessibility

Speaking at the program’s launch, Flapmax, a key AI development partner, emphasized its commitment to the initiative. “Skill mastery, certifications, and advanced bootcamps all offered by Wentors are the building blocks of thriving tech careers, and Wentors 2.0 delivers these in spades. We believe in this mission, which is why we are proud to offer scholarship opportunities to ensure greater accessibility for women everywhere.”

Inclusivity is at the core of Wentors 2.0, welcoming women from diverse backgrounds and varying levels of experience. The program pairs participants with mentors who align with their goals and career aspirations, delivering tailored learning experiences that boost confidence, nurture growth, and advance careers.

Applications Now Open

Applications for Wentors 2.0 are now open year-round, with participants encouraged to apply by January 18, 2025 to take advantage of available scholarships. While the program operates on a rolling basis, participants will join structured cohorts designed to maximize collaboration and learning opportunities.

To apply and for more information, visit https://premium.wentors.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Flapmax.

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Business

SUNRATE Expands Beyond Global Payments in 2025 by Introducing New Treasury Solutions

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11 hours ago

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January 9, 2025

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SUNRATE
Newly Launched “Trading and Hedging” Solutions to Empower Businesses with FX Trading, Hedging Strategies and Products
SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 9 January 2025 – SUNRATE, the global payment and treasury management platform, kickstarts the new year by introducing new treasury solutions – “trading and hedging” for businesses worldwide. These solutions are launched through Sunrate Markets Pte. Ltd., which holds a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
 
Mr. Joshua Bao, co-founder of SUNRATE, said, “Being awarded the CMS license by MAS was an important milestone, but it was even more critical for us to go-to-market (GTM) with products and services that deliver significant value to our customers. With our vast experience in global payments and foreign exchange (FX) and the numerous product iterations based on customer feedback, we are confident that our customers will be able to leverage unparalleled global presence, accessing all their trading and hedging needs in one place.”In addition to the CMS license, SUNRATE is one of the few companies in Singapore that also holds a MAS license as a Major Payment Institution (MPI) for Account Issuance Service, Domestic Money Transfer Service, Cross-border Money Transfer Service, Merchant Acquisition Service, and E-money Issuance Service. Its dual-license status attests to its strong compliance and governance framework, credentials, and competencies, as well as know-how, while enhancing its capabilities in the area of global B2B payments and treasury management.Mr. Yumi Zhang, Head of Global Markets at SUNRATE, said, “With geopolitical risks set to affect the world economy and global businesses more than ever, it is imperative that we work even closer with our customers to apply various strategies to hedge and protect against any market volatility, especially in emerging markets. In addition to the fast, secure, and cost-effective global B2B payment products and services that we offer, businesses, particularly those engaged in B2B trade, will appreciate the insights and stability that we can bring to them with our new offerings.”

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Business

Hong Kong’s Innovations Radiating Impact at CES 2025

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14 hours ago

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January 9, 2025

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CES
Largest-ever delegation of homegrown tech companies capturing global attention and potential business opportunities
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 8 January 2025 – Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) marked significant presence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas, where a largest-ever delegation of 51 tech companies and institute at Hong Kong Tech Pavilions is capturing the attention of industry leaders, corporate partners and venture capitalists from global markets for business leads and investment opportunities. 

 Organized in collaboration with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) and supported by the Hong Kong Electronics Industries Association (HKEIA), the delegation, brought together an array of cutting-edge solutions across advanced electronics, green tech, life & health sciences, and more. Home-grown solutions from HKSTP including smart irrigation system Rocket 2.0 by Full Nature Farms, assistive wearable Seekr by Vidi Labs, and World’s smallest 3-axis Micro Gimbal Stabiliser by Vista InnoTech, together with Mobile Ankle-foot Exoneuromusculoskeleton, a telerehabilitation device by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Thecon Technology, have been recognised by the CES Innovation Awards 2025.Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, remarked on the overwhelming success, “As an incubator, our ultimate goal lies in advancing the life of humankind. Be it breakthroughs to showcase at premier exhibitions like CES, or bridging between tech and talent with initiatives as Innovation Mixer does, HKSTP has been expanding our global footprint with great momentum in maximising salient achievements and potential opportunities over the years, that promises collaboration and confidence in carrying out our commitment to cultivate the I&T scene.”Part of its broader strategy to enable Hong Kong tech companies to scale globally and endow sustainable impact, HKSTP will be building on the momentum from CES, and continue the Innovation Mixer US expedition in San Francisco to actively engage with ambitious talent; and also in paving way for the second cohort of the Global Booster Programme, catered for stellar tech companies from Hong Kong to embark on an intensive six-month journey in the Silicon Valley to connect with all sorts of resources for technological advancements.About Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) was established in 2001 to create a thriving I&T ecosystem grooming 13 unicorns, more than 15,000 research professionals and over 2,000 technology companies from 25 countries and regions focused on developing healthtech, AI and robotics, fintech and smart city technologies, etc.Our growing innovation ecosystem offers comprehensive support to attract and nurture talent, accelerate and commercialise innovation for technology ventures, with the I&T journey built around our key locations of Hong Kong Science Park in Pak Shek Kok, InnoCentre in Kowloon Tong and three modern InnoParks in Tai Po, Tseung Kwan O and Yuen Long realising a vision of new industrialisation for Hong Kong, where sectors including advanced manufacturing, micro-electronics and biotechnology are being reimagined.Hong Kong Science Park Shenzhen Branch in Futian, Shenzhen plays positive roles in connecting the world and the mainland with our proximity, strengthening cross-border exchange to bring advantages in attracting global talent and allowing possibilities for the development of technology companies in seven key areas: Medtech, big data and AI, robotics, new materials, microelectronics, fintech and sustainability, with both dry and wet laboratories, co-working space, conference and exhibition facilities, and more.Through our R&D infrastructure, startup support and enterprise services, commercialisation and investment expertise, partnership networks and talent traction, HKSTP continues to contribute in establishing I&T as a pillar of growth for Hong Kong.More information about HKSTP is available at www.hkstp.org.

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