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Amini, Foxconn and Bull Join Forces to Advance Sovereign Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Global South

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Amini

Partnership establishes a new model for locally anchored AI compute capacity, designed for the regulatory, operational, and economic conditions of emerging markets

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Amini (https://www.Amini.ai/), a sovereign AI infrastructure company, today announced a strategic partnership alongside Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn), the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, and Bull, a global leader in high-performance computing, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, to close the sovereign compute gap across Africa and the Global South, giving governments, telecom operators, financial institutions, and energy companies direct access to industrial-grade AI data centre infrastructure they can acquire, install, and operate locally. The partnership marks Foxconn’s first dedicated infrastructure initiative focused on African markets and establishes Amini as its strategic partner across Africa and other emerging economies.

 

Amini operates one of Africa’s leading platforms for locally anchored compute and data capacity, working across multiple markets with governments and enterprises to strengthen domestic AI infrastructure.

Foxconn is the world’s largest AI server provider with its technology-intensive hardware underpinning the global AI economy, including advanced computing systems, server architecture, and modular data centre technologies used by the world’s leading firms. Through the partnership, these systems are made accessible to African and Global South institutions in configurations designed for local operating conditions and regulatory environments.

The partnership is supported by French-government owned Bull as it  builds on its existing collaboration with Amini to support sovereign AI infrastructure projects. Committed to fostering local ecosystems and regionalized AI, Bull brings additional systems integration capabilities with a longstanding experience covering the full spectrum of high-performance and artificial intelligence, from systems and components to platforms and use cases.

The announcement was made at the Africa Forward Summit, hosted in Nairobi on 11–12 May 2026, a high-level convening of heads of state, business leaders, and global institutions advancing Africa’s strategic position in the digital economy.

Speaking at the opening of the Africa Forward Summit on Monday 11 May, Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic of France, said: “[…] this partnership between Amini, Bull and Foxconn for me is a perfect example of this common sovereignty story: African, European and Taiwanese companies. All of us have to face this challenge of sovereignty and reducing our dependencies.”

The market opportunity

The partnership arrives at a defining moment for the global digital economy. Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach USD 1.5 trillion by 2030. Across the Global South, the trillion-dollar demand for AI-enabled services in finance, energy, public administration, and connectivity is materialising faster than the sovereign infrastructure required to serve it. Without locally anchored compute, that demand will be met by external providers, and the economic value it generates will flow outward.

This partnership ensures that Africa and the Global South can acquire, own, and operate AI infrastructure locally, with sovereignty and long-term economic value at its core

Africa’s data centre market is projected to nearly double from USD 3.49 billion in 2024 to USD 6.81 billion by 2030, with installed capacity expected to triple to more than 3,460 megawatts over the same period. The continent’s AI and cloud infrastructure remains concentrated in the hands of a small number of operators. The Amini-Foxconn-Bull partnership signals a shift toward locally anchored, sovereign-aligned AI infrastructure and compute capacity built for African and Global South markets.

The downstream implications are substantial. Locally anchored compute creates skilled employment, strengthens regional technology ecosystems, and retains economic value within domestic markets. Industry estimates place Africa’s AI and data infrastructure value chain at between USD 20 billion and USD 30 billion in revenue by 2030, a figure that compounds significantly when paired with productivity gains across finance, energy, public services, and trade.

Built for African realities: why modular

Traditional hyperscale data centres depend on stable grids, multi-year construction timelines, and capital expenditure profiles that exclude most African and Global South stakeholders.

The modular AI data centre infrastructure provided through the Amini-Foxconn-Bull partnership is engineered for these realities. Systems operate in variable power environments, can be deployed in under 12 months, and scale incrementally with offtake demand. Institutions acquire the capacity they require today and expand over time, in line with usage, and without the cost structure and timeline complexity of conventional builds. Each configuration is designed for full data sovereignty, with data remaining in-country under domestic regulation.

Sovereign capability across the sectors driving African economies

The partnership opens sovereign AI infrastructure to the institutions that anchor national economic activity. Energy and utilities can apply AI to grid optimisation and predictive maintenance. Banks and financial institutions can build risk, credit, and financial inclusion systems independent of external platform dependencies. Telecom operators can run edge AI and network intelligence at scale. In each case, the underlying capability, compute, data, and governance, remains domestically held.

For Amini, the partnership is a structural step toward redistributing how AI capability is built and held globally. “AI is becoming foundational infrastructure for every economy, yet most of the world still lacks the compute capacity required to participate on its own terms,” said Kate Kallot, Founder and CEO of Amini. “This partnership ensures that Africa and the Global South can acquire, own, and operate AI infrastructure locally, with sovereignty and long-term economic value at its core. The trillion-dollar demand for AI services across our markets will be met. The question is whether the infrastructure beneath it is held with us, or for us.”

For Foxconn, the initiative reflects a deliberate expansion into markets where industrial-scale AI infrastructure has historically been absent. “Africa’s participation in the AI economy depends on infrastructure designed for its conditions, not adapted from elsewhere,” said Jesse Chao, Head of AI & Quantum at Foxconn, during the Africa Forward Summit. “This partnership brings Foxconn’s global capabilities into a market model built for sovereign ownership and long-term operational viability.”

For Bull, the collaboration extends a longstanding commitment to sovereign digital capacity in emerging markets. “Africa and more generally the Global South have the potential to emerge as a global-scale AI hub, by continuing to build regional computing capacity and supply chain independence. Bull is proud, through its partnership with Amini and Foxconn, to be a part of this journey, to develop a sovereign AI infrastructure.” said Alexandre Jouys, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Southern Europe, Middle East and Africa, at Bull. “Our joint solution with Amini reflects a shared conviction that durable digital capacity must be built with the institutions it serves, not delivered to them.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Amini.

 

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WARC reveals insights from the winners of the Cannes Creative Effectiveness Lions 2026

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3 hours ago

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August 12, 2026

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Cannes Creative Effectiveness Lions 2026
Cultural insights, interactive experiences, strategic creator partnerships and platform-native ideas lead to commercial success
12 August 2026 – Strategically integrating cultural insights, interactive experiences, strategic creator partnerships, and platform-native ideas into campaigns are key drivers of commercial success, according to a new report by WARC, the global authority on marketing effectiveness.

‘Creative Effectiveness Lions – Insights from the 2026 winners’, identifies trends and themes common to the winners of this year’s Cannes Creative Effectiveness Lions awards category, which rewards creativity that has also met business goals and driven sustainable impact over time.

Based on WARC’s exclusive access to the jury deliberations and analysis of the entries, the report unearths insights into what makes a campaign both creative and effective, offers a behind-the-scenes view on the strategies that led to success, and provides takeaways for advertisers, agencies, media owners, people and planet.

Commenting on the report, John Bizzell, Content Lead, WARC, said: “This year’s winning Creative Effectiveness campaigns offer valuable insights for marketers, demonstrating how creative excellence can address genuine business and social issues while delivering meaningful growth.”

On the winners, jury president Bertille Toledano, CEO, BETC, Havas Creative Middle East and President of Havas Creative Network, commented: “The jury sought to award Lions to campaigns that delivered genuine impact on real people – the kind of campaigns you would discuss with your mother over lunch. We kept in mind the Creative Effectiveness Ladder to select the most effective creative work that embodied a cultural vision and a clear sense of what the brand stands for. These are the ones I’ll be telling my mother about.”

The three key themes of the Creative Effectiveness Lions 2026 winners are:

  • Rewrite cultural rules, don’t just reflect them

Cultural insight is a strategic business tool that helps brands actively focus on what connects people, and how to respond and innovate. Brands that move beyond surface-level understanding and instead use cultural analysis strategically can unlock new opportunities for growth, relevance and differentiation.

 

Brands should prioritize activation over observation, position themselves as cultural solutions, and focus on value exchange rather than transactional relationships.

Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix winner, Three Words for insurance brand AXA by Publicis France, transformed its home insurance offering to support victims of domestic violence in France by adding the clause ‘and domestic violence’ to its contracts, enabling emergency relocations for those in need.

Gold winner Pedigree’s Caramelo campaign by AlmapBBDO São Paulo, redefined the concept of ‘pedigree’ and increased the adoption of mixed-breed dogs in Brazil, particularly the culturally significant Caramelo, expanding its total addressable market.

  • Interactive experiences foster deeper brand involvement

Turning brand assets into interactive tools enables brands to deepen engagement, foster participation and create memorable moments for audiences.

Brands should embrace direct consumer participation utilising assets, leverage data to build credibility, and implement meaningful reward mechanisms to drive engagement.

Vaseline, the trusted skin healer’s silver-winning Vaseline Verified campaign by Ogilvy Singapore, engaged directly with creators to address misinformation about its product on social media to ensure safe usage among consumers.

Furniture retailer IKEA’s Hidden Tags silver campaign in Portugal by Uzina, Lisbon, encouraged customers to discover the hidden production dates on their products to build consumer trust and reinforce long-term brand commitment.

  • Strategic creator partnerships and platform-native ideas build brands

Creators are more than paid promoters; they can be authentic advocates who add real value. Platform-specific features earn community buy-in and mean reach continues when spend stops.

Brands should focus on integration rather than interruption, look beyond simple amplification, and meet audiences where they naturally engage.

Uber Easts, the food delivery platform’s silver-winning campaign Football is for Food, by Special US, transformed its NFL sponsorship into a purchase opportunity by embedding itself into the sport, linking football with food.

Bronze-winning campaign ‘U Up?’ by Rethink Canada for IKEA leveraged multiple touchpoints to create unexpected brand interactions into points of purchase for mattresses by turning consumer insomnia into immediate conversation.

WARC’s John Bizzell added: “This year’s jury talked a lot about context, from sourcing to metrics and culture. The jury wanted to see work that included well-sourced, credible data and metrics on what was the business impact. They also wanted to see cultural context – on an international jury, not everyone may understand why an insight is so important for a brand or category. Entrants should bear these factors in mind for next year.”

The full report is available to WARC Strategy subscribers. An upcoming WARC Podcast available from 20 August will discuss the findings.

 

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Energy

ExxonMobil’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Breakthrough Signals New Era of Digital Exploration in Guyana Ahead of Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2027

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5 hours ago

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August 12, 2026

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Etu Energias

As artificial intelligence transforms upstream decision-making, Guyana’s energy sector continues to attract investment and innovation ahead of the Caribbean Energy Week 2027 In-Country Launch in Georgetown on 1 September 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 12, 2026/APO Group/ –ExxonMobil’s announcement that artificial intelligence has identified four new exploration opportunities within Guyana’s prolific Stabroek Block marks a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation. By applying AI to historical discoveries, drilling results and subsurface data, the company is demonstrating how advanced analytics, machine learning, high-performance computing and next-generation seismic imaging can accelerate exploration, reduce costs and improve discovery success rates.

 

The breakthrough comes as Guyana targets crude oil production of 1.3 million barrels per day by 2027 and 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, underscoring the growing role of digital technologies in maximizing resource development alongside continued investment in drilling and infrastructure.

Against this backdrop, the Caribbean Energy Week (CEW) 2027 Guyana In-Country Launch, taking place on 1 September 2026 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel in Georgetown, will bring together operators, technology providers, geoscience companies, investors and regulators to examine the latest developments shaping Guyana’s energy sector and build momentum ahead of CEW 2027 next July. Returning for its second edition, CEW provides a premier platform for advancing investment, showcasing new projects and highlighting the technologies driving the country’s next phase of upstream growth.

Momentum behind AI adoption continues to build. In May 2026, ExxonMobil Vice President of Exploration John Ardill confirmed the company was expanding its use of deep learning, machine learning and high-performance computing to analyze seismic data and identify hydrocarbon-bearing prospects that were previously more difficult to evaluate.

The company is simultaneously advancing an ambitious offshore drilling program. This month, ExxonMobil commenced new drilling activities in Guyana’s Exclusive Economic Zone, including the Whiptail development well and Rockhead-1 exploration well. Earlier this year, the company also sought environmental authorization for the Haimara gas-condensate development and has proposed a 35-well drilling campaign between 2028 and 2033, reinforcing confidence in Guyana’s long-term exploration potential.

These developments are creating growing opportunities for AI developers, digital technology providers, seismic specialists, engineering firms and oilfield service companies that can support increasingly data-driven exploration and field development activities.

As the first official milestone on the road to Caribbean Energy Week 2027, the Georgetown launch will provide a platform for industry leaders to examine the technologies, partnerships and investment strategies driving Guyana’s next phase of growth while strengthening collaboration across the Caribbean energy sector.

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

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Business

SOKOYO Advances Global Solar Street Lighting Capabilities

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6 hours ago

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August 12, 2026

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SOKOYO

BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 12 August 2026 – SOKOYO, a top manufacturer of solar street lights, has installed 252 sets of lighting units in QatarEnergy’s solar power project in Ras Laffan and Masaieed in Qatar.

Installation of SOKOYO’s split solar street lights for the project being built by Samsung C&T Corp. was completed in July. The arrangement of solar panels was customized at the customer’s request for ease of maintenance.

“SOKOYO provided us with a specially customized solution for our power station,” said Ms. Kathy, senior procurement manager for Samsung. “The entire solar street lighting system consistently met our expectations for brightness, battery life and overall reliability.”

SOKOYO, founded in 2008, has manufactured more than 1 million lighting units installed in a wide range of settings across SoutheastAsia, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

The company manufactures its own LED modules, solar panels, batteries, light housings and light poles. They have third-party certification for European Union and other safety and reliability standards, which qualifies them for export to global markets.

SOKOYO is regularly appointed to bodies that establish national and industry standards.

SOKOYO’s product line includes all-in-one solar street lights, all-in-two solar street lights and split-type solar street lights. They can be controlled remotely with IoT technology to improve safety and efficiency. Using solar power makes them immune to disruptions in supplies of oil and gas.

As the industry evolves to focus on “system-level R&D,” SOKOYO is reducing customer costs by enhancing reliability and resistance to heat and cold. To improve efficiency, it is developing smart lighting and IoT applications. It is promoting modular production, intelligent manufacturing and standardized process management.

The research team has seven engineers, some with more than two decades of industry experience. They develop technology for a wide range of environments and customer needs.

SOKOYO has experience in markets including Thailand, thePhilippines, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. It has developed technology to cope with heat, humidity, sandstorms and low light during extended rains, a challenge in central Africa and other areas.

In Uganda, SOKOYO supplied 1,000 light sets to help improve safety on a busy expressway between the capital, Kampala, and the eastern industrial center of Jinja. They provide the first nighttime lighting on a 22-kilometer section of road crowded with trucks, buses and motorcycles.

In Yemen and the United Arab Emirates, SOKOYO lights use LED modules developed to cope with heat, sun and sand.

The company supplied more than 2,000 light units to Saudi Arabia’s planned high-tech city of NEOM as part of the Saudi 2030 Vision plan.

Customers can use SOKOYO’s test facilities to try out different light configurations. Lights can be tested on roads of up to four lanes in an1,100-square-meter darkroom. Designers and urban planners can ensure light is distributed effectively, eliminating dark areas on the road and improving safety.

Batteries are tested to confirm they resist crushing, heat and cold, vibration, overcharging or being dropped. LED modules are drenched in salt spray for up to 72 hours to make sure they resist corrosion.

SOKOYO has been chosen for bodies that formulated eight national and industry standards including the “General Technical Specification for Solar Photovoltaic Lighting Devices” in 2025 with definitions and standards for split-type and integrated solar devices.

SOKOYO products have third-party certification that they meet standards of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and other bodies.Its batteries meet the requirements of the CB scheme under the IEC, recognized in more than 50 countries. Tests confirm they withstand overcharging, high temperature, vibration, impact and short circuit.

The company’s solar panels received IEC certification that they meet standards for electric shock protection, temperature changes, damp, heat, humidity, hail impact and other factors.

SOKOYO participates in efforts to improve the industry’s reputation by promoting “zero false labeling” and reliable products that refuse to cut corners.

SOKOYO pays attention to the environment. Its products are designed to minimize light pollution and limit disruption for wildlife, stargazers and the public.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

 

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