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The dtic, Standard Bank, MTN & DHL Join Forces to Help African Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Compete and Grow Across Borders

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Standard Bank

Multi-stakeholder partnerships to equip African businesses with the finance, digital capabilities, trade knowledge and logistics support needed to succeed in regional and global markets

Our ambition is not only to help SMEs trade more, but to help them grow sustainably, create jobs and unlock new opportunities across the continent

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, August 12, 2026/APO Group/ –South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), Standard Bank, MTN, and DHL (www.DHL.com) have announced a series of strategic partnerships aimed at helping SMEs across Sub-Saharan Africa scale their businesses, access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global trade.

 

Launched under the banner of DHL’s GoTrade, this series of initiatives are aimed at helping African businesses overcome some of the most common barriers to growth, including limited access to finance, export readiness challenges, digital adoption gaps and market access constraints.

Since 2021, GoTrade has launched in more than 50 countries, supporting more than 24,000 SMEs globally, including more than 8,000 women-owned businesses. Across Sub-Saharan Africa specifically, more than 8,000 SMEs have participated in GoTrade programmes and capacity-building initiatives. DHL will be investing 300 million Euro on the African continent by 2030, as part of this investment the company will continue investing programs that extend participation in trade and support sustainable growth.

“Across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), SMEs represent more than 90% of businesses and provide approximately 70% of employment, making them one of the continent’s most important engines of economic opportunity and inclusive growth. Despite their significance, many of our entrepreneurs continue to face barriers related to financing, digital adoption, trade knowledge and market access, limiting their ability to participate fully in regional and global trade.

We are excited to work with our partners to create a collaborative ecosystem aimed at addressing these challenges through practical interventions that support businesses at every stage of their export journey,” said Hennie Heymans, CEO DHL Express SSA.

The partnerships announced bring together complementary expertise from government, financial services, telecommunications and international logistics to create a practical support ecosystem for businesses looking to grow through trade.

The partnership between the dtic and DHL supports the department’s broader objectives around industrialisation, export growth and emerging exporter development. The collaboration will focus on trade education, capacity-building programmes, business clinics, trade missions, corridor activation initiatives and increased awareness of key trade frameworks, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other trade agreements that create new opportunities for African businesses.

“This partnership between the dtic and DHL demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing trade and economic development,” said Acting Deputy Director-General Willem van der Spuy. “By working together with private-sector partners, we can provide businesses with practical support that enhances competitiveness, drives export participation and enables more emerging exporters (especially SMEs) to benefit from regional and global trade opportunities. Government’s role is to convene the right partners around a common framework, and this initiative reflects exactly that: the dtic setting the direction, with DHL and its partners Standard Bank and MTN strengthening delivery on the ground.”

Through its partnership with DHL, Standard Bank will bring its pan-African footprint, trade-finance expertise and cross-border trade ecosystem to help SMEs access new markets and participate more effectively in regional and global value chains. Standard Bank’s role in the partnership is to help SMEs translate export ambition into bankable, executable trade opportunities by combining finance, advisory support and access to trusted trade networks. In addition to banking and trade-finance solutions, the bank will connect businesses to its Export Readiness Programme, which provides entrepreneurs with the knowledge, advisory support and practical tools needed to compete internationally. First launched in KwaZulu-Natal in 2025, the programme has since expanded to Gauteng and the Western Cape.

Standard Bank’s strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) also enables business matchmaking, trade linkages and market-access opportunities between African and Chinese businesses. In 2025, the bank connected clients from four African markets with Chinese importers across product categories including rooibos tea, coffee, cocoa, nuts and wine, helping to unlock meaningful new export opportunities for African businesses.  Standard Bank’s trade and payments capabilities also help SMEs navigate one of the most complex aspects of international expansion: moving money safely, efficiently and across borders. By combining banking infrastructure with trade expertise and partner networks, the bank is helping African businesses participate in global trade with greater confidence.

“Access to finance alone is not enough. SMEs also need access to buyers, markets, trade knowledge and trusted networks. Through our Export Readiness Programme, our international partnerships and our collaboration with DHL, Standard Bank is helping African businesses build the practical capabilities and connections they need to trade beyond their domestic markets. This partnership strengthens our ability to support SMEs across key trade corridors, including within Africa, and to help them grow with greater confidence,” says Bill Blackie, Chief Executive of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank Group.

Through its collaboration with DHL, MTN will help SMEs digitise and grow their operations by providing digital skills training, access to connectivity and cloud solutions that enable secure data storage, team collaboration, remote working and business scalability, digital payment capabilities, online marketing support. The partnership will also provide SMEs with mentorship opportunities, and guidance on expanding into new markets through exporting.

“Digital transformation is a critical enabler of business growth and competitiveness,” said David Behr, MTN Group Chief Enterprise Business Officer. “By combining MTN’s reach and digital capabilities with DHL’s international trade expertise, we can help SMEs embrace technology, improve business performance and access new opportunities across Africa and beyond.”

Together, the partners aim to create a stronger pipeline of export-ready businesses equipped to compete in increasingly interconnected markets. The collaborative initiatives are expected to support entrepreneurship, job creation and economic inclusion across African markets.

“African SMEs have the ambition and innovation needed to compete globally, but they cannot do it alone. Success in international trade requires access to the right combination of knowledge, finance, technology, policy support and logistics capability. By bringing together the strengths of the public and private sectors, we are creating an ecosystem that will help more businesses become export-ready, connect to international markets and contribute meaningfully to Africa’s economic growth agenda. Our ambition is not only to help SMEs trade more, but to help them grow sustainably, create jobs and unlock new opportunities across the continent,” added Heymans.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of DHL Express.

 

Business

Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as Platinum Partner as Cameroon Expands Its Energy Value Chain

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African Energy Chamber

Cameroon’s national hydrocarbons company will use its Platinum Partnership at AEW 2026 to highlight investment across refining, gas development, regional energy cooperation and the wider transformation of the country’s petroleum sector

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 25, 2026/APO Group/ –Société Nationale des Hydrocarbures (SNH) will join African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Platinum Partner, placing Cameroon’s national hydrocarbons company at the heart of discussions on how African producers can expand investment, strengthen energy security and build greater value around domestic resources.

 




 
 

Taking place October 12–16 in Cape Town, AEW 2026 will bring together governments, national oil companies, investors and industry leaders from across the continent. For SNH, the partnership comes as Cameroon advances projects extending well beyond conventional upstream activity, from new refining infrastructure and gas development to cross-border energy cooperation.

A major focus is the CSTAR refinery and tank farm project in Kribi, which SNH describes as a strategic component of the transformation of Cameroon’s petroleum sector. The planned refinery will have a capacity of 30,000 barrels per day and is being developed near the Kribi Deep Sea Port. Following board meetings in Dubai in May, SNH said the CSTAR entities reviewed operational and financial priorities and adopted resolutions aimed at implementing the planned infrastructure at the Mboro site, with the company positioning the development as part of efforts to strengthen Cameroon’s petroleum infrastructure and energy sovereignty.

 

Gas development is another area where SNH is pursuing opportunities with regional implications. In February, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea signed a unitization agreement covering the Yoyo-Yolanda transboundary gas field, following years of negotiations. SNH and Equatorial Guinea’s GEPETROL signed the agreement alongside Chevron, which is involved in the project. SNH has described the field as holding an estimated 2.5 trillion cubic feet of gas, with the development concept including two export pipelines and separate processing facilities at Bipaga in Cameroon and Punta Europa in Equatorial Guinea.

SNH represents the kind of African national energy institution that is increasingly important to the continent’s next investment cycle

 

The agreement illustrates the regional dimension of Cameroon’s hydrocarbons strategy, while also highlighting SNH’s role as the state’s implementing arm in energy-sector development. The company’s mandate covers the promotion of the national petroleum and gas domain, negotiation and monitoring of petroleum and gas contracts, commercialization of the state’s hydrocarbons and development of gas projects for power generation, domestic use and exports.

 

At the same time, Cameroon is seeking to reinvigorate its upstream sector. SNH launched a new promotion cycle for nine free blocks in August 2025, spanning the Douala-Kribi-Campo and Rio del Rey basins, with the company reporting in June 2026 that the results of the call for expressions of interest had been published.

 

“SNH represents the kind of African national energy institution that is increasingly important to the continent’s next investment cycle,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Its role extends from resource promotion and commercialization to major infrastructure and regional gas projects, creating multiple entry points for investors, technology providers and financial partners. As a Platinum Partner, SNH will bring Cameroon’s broader energy ambitions directly to the companies and institutions shaping Africa’s energy future.”

 

With its participation at AEW 2026, SNH will have an opportunity to engage investors across the full hydrocarbons value chain – from exploration and production to refining, gas monetization, logistics and regional cooperation – while positioning Cameroon as a market for projects that can translate its existing resource base into greater domestic and regional value.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

 




 

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VitrA Tiles Introduces “The Code” concept and the New Codes of Design at Cersaie Fair

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VitrA

VitrA Tiles showcased The Code concept and innovations to industry professionals through Material Intelligence approach at Cersaie 2026

BOLOGNA, Italy, September 25, 2026/APO Group/ –VitrA Tiles (www.VitrATiles.com) attended the International Exhibition of Ceramic Tile and Bathroom Furnishings Cersaie 2026, which took place in Bologna, Italy on September 21-25, where it hosted architects, designers, customers, and industry professionals. Designed around the Material Intelligence concept, VitrA Tiles showcased its 2027 collections and innovations.

 




 
 

“Every material has a code. Material Intelligence dechiphers it.” This statement lies at the core of VitrA Tiles’ design approach, where it reinterprets naturally available materials through the combination of research, advanced technology, and design expertise. Adding on the aesthetic and technical potential of nature, VitrA Tiles transforms them into original surfaces to create new inspirations for contemporary architecture.

Three design languages

The Code concept represents three design languages to create Resincode, Geocode, and Metacode collections, which will be available to the visitors of Cersaie at the VitrA Tiles booth.

Resincode inspired by the porous, mineral-rich texture of natural concrete with natural transitions and layered surface effects, lending a minimalist, balanced, and refined surface aesthetic to contemporary interiors. Geocode draws inspiration from Spanish limestone, marble, quartzite, and gneiss, bringing the diverse geological heritage of natural stone to ceramic surfaces through a contemporary interpretation, featuring four distinct surface typologies: Alba, Imperio, Rio, and Merano. Metacode, with three distinct surfaces in gold, iron, and copper tones, brings the subtle tonal transitions and soft reflections of a patinated metal texture to ceramic surfaces, blending industrial character with a refined aesthetic.

New Technologies

At Cersaie 2026, VitrA Tiles also showcased its V-Flex and V-Tone innovations alongside its new collections.

V-Flex, powered by Välinge’s Ceraloc® locking technology, represents a tile installation solution which requires no adhesives. Thanks to its special side profiles, the system allows mechanical tile bonding, promising up to five times faster application, unlike conventional bonded tile applications. It supports precise alignment, even grout lines and a clean, professional finish. Individual tiles can be removed and replaced when needed, offering significant advantages to simplify maintenance and repair processes. It also offers acoustic comfort. V-Flex is recommended for retail stores, store chains, showrooms, offices, hotels, educational facilities and commercial spaces.

Focusing on tonal differences in ceramic manufacturing, V-Tone maintains color consistency and design integrity across different surfaces. The integration of V-Tone technology into VitrA Tiles’ production lines is continuing.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VitrA Tiles.

 

 




 

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Energy Capital & Power (ECP) Establishes United States (U.S.) Base to Drive Energy Investment Across the Americas

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Etu Energias
Energy Capital & Power has established a presence in Houston, strengthening its position as a bridge between international capital and energy opportunities across the Americas
HOUSTON, United States of America, September 25, 2026/APO Group/ –Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (https://EnergyCapitalPower.com) – a leading event organizer and media company in the energy and mining sectors – has established an office in Houston, marking the latest step in its strategy to connect international capital with energy and mining opportunities across the Americas.

 




 
 

This strategic move builds on ECP’s growing network of operators, investors, financial institutions and technology companies in Houston, the world’s energy capital. The new base will strengthen ECP’s ability to connect U.S. capital, expertise and technology with projects and investment opportunities across Africa, South America and the Caribbean.

ECP has built strong relationships in Houston through our events and roadshows over the past five years, and establishing a permanent presence allows us to deepen that engagement

ECP has been hosting industry and investment-focused events in Houston since 2021, including the U.S.-Africa Energy Forum, and has built a growing network across the city’s energy and investment community. Most recently, more than 700 people attended the Venezuela Energy Week Houston Showcase in August 2026, bringing together companies, investors and industry leaders to examine Venezuela’s emerging energy and investment opportunities. The series of engagements has helped establish the city as an important hub for ECP’s global growth strategy.

The Houston base will support ECP’s expanding portfolio across South America and the Caribbean. ECP’s events portfolio includes Venezuela Energy Week, which brings international investors, operators and service companies together around opportunities across Venezuela’s oil, gas, power and infrastructure sectors; and Caribbean Energy Week, which connects governments, investors and developers around investment opportunities across the region’s evolving energy landscape.

“ECP has built strong relationships in Houston through our events and roadshows over the past five years, and establishing a permanent presence allows us to deepen that engagement. As our activities grow in the Americans and Africa, Houston gives us a strategic base from which to connect international opportunities with U.S. capital, technology and expertise,” states James Chester, CEO, ECP.

The Houston presence forms part of ECP’s broader international expansion strategy, complementing its operations in Africa and growing presence in Europe. The company recently established its UK entity in London, reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events in the UK and Europe.

The move also comes as ECP scales its global reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. Key platforms include Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; and South Sudan Oil & Power. These platforms are complemented by investor forums, licensing-round roadshows and other capital-focused engagements that ECP has hosted since 2016, creating direct channels between governments, project developers, operators and international investors.

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

 




 

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