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The ‘NEW INFORMAL’ – The Role of Technology in Africa (By Mike Smollan)

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Mike Smollan

Mike Smollan, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Smollan looks at how technology is unlocking informal sector growth in the Region along with the emerging themes driving sector transformation

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 15, 2022/APO Group/ — 

By Mike Smollan, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at Smollan (https://Smollan.com/)

Around the developing world, informal retail continues to be a powerful social force, employing millions of people who might otherwise not have jobs, driving economic activity in spaces that formal business has not penetrated, and providing essential goods and services for the under-served. Giving this sector a deep knowledge of their market – enabling them to stock preferred brands and products, and even offer credit to loyal customers.

In Africa, this sector is remarkably resilient, showing adaptability and innovation by adopting new tools and ways of doing business – seen for example in the uptake of mobile internet and other technologies allowing informal retailers to realise some of the benefits of modern trade on their own terms.

Made up of 68% of the total retail market across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa and comprising 85% of Africa’s labour force, the informal sector is found in a wide range of formats from the spaza shops of South Africa to the air markets of Nigeria and the kiosks in Cameroon. In South Africa the informal economy contributes around 6% of the country’s GDP, employing at least 2,647,000 workers (Stats SA, 2021) with retail sales in the region of $12 billion annually. Outside of South Africa, it’s estimated that informal channels on the continent account for between 40% and 90% of total food sales depending on the country, catering to consumers of all income groups due to its convenience, credit-based payment flexibility and fresh foods.

So to, these spaces have become distribution points for essential financial services that will transform informal retail – driven by products and services aimed at this market from payments to remittances. In turn tech enabled retailers are able to improve their connection to their shoppers, facilitate supplier purchases more efficiently and get access to credit at their fingertips. That said, not all technologies are created equal with five emerging themes driving sector transformation now and well into the future.

Mobile technology drives efficiencies in purchasing and increasing sales with mobile internet penetration projected to reach 51% in 2025

Point of Sale technology facilitates payment as shoppers choose cashless transactions as well as being a valuable source of shopper data. In South Africa iKhoka and Yoco have started to transform the way informal traders do business.

Mobile technology drives efficiencies in purchasing and increasing sales with mobile internet penetration projected to reach 51% in 2025 (Statista, 2021). In Africa the mobile phone is a force for transformation of this sector – allowing for online payments and the use of mobile money, with Vodaphone’s M-PESA, launched in Kenya in 2009, Africa’s most successful mobile money service.

Rising internet penetration is enabling a greater adoption of technologies. While still evolving in Africa as a tool for business purposes, ICT use typically revolves around communication with and purchase from suppliers and also a quick and easy platform for price comparisons for informal retailers to consider when purchasing stock.

The growth of social media, especially WhatsApp, provides an efficient avenue for communication between informal retailers and potential customers. So too, Facebook Marketplace provides a space for the marketing of products with minimal cost and effort from the seller. In turn, social media provides an opportunity for larger suppliers to reach informal retail customers.

Fourth Industrial Revolution technology advancements are unlocking informal trade shopper data some of which may assist businesses that serve the trade. In Kenya, Twiga Foods a B2B logistics platform for kiosks and food stalls do just that in partnership with IBM, analysing sales data from mobile transactions using AI to predict creditworthiness.

With opportunities abounding, there is no doubt that informal markets remain dynamic retail environments. When building a technology-enabled strategy with this sector one must ensure what is built is relevant, usable and effective; adopt a gig economy and digital market research platforms to gather intelligence along with leveraging the technology ecosystem to understand it, the operations, how business is done and what traders require.

Click here to access the full report: http://bit.ly/3hxeqcj

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Smollan.

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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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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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