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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) to Headline The Africa Debate – United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai

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Africa Finance Corporation

This year’s forum comes as Africa and the Gulf prepare for COP30, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moves from negotiation to implementation, and global capital continues to tilt towards the Global South

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, September 24, 2025/APO Group/ –Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), a leading pan-African trade and investment platform, today announced Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and ARISE IIP as Headline Partners for The Africa Debate – UAE, taking place in Dubai on 30 September 2025 in partnership with the UAE Government.

This year’s forum comes as Africa and the Gulf prepare for COP30, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) moves from negotiation to implementation, and global capital continues to tilt towards the Global South. Designed around real transactions, real actors and real strategy, the programme will examine where the next UAE–Africa opportunities are emerging, what sustained partnership looks like beyond one-off deals, and how to unlock the next frontiers for investment, collaboration and innovation across the corridor.

Confirmed speakers include: H.E. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Foreign Trade, United Arab Emirates; H.E. Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, United Arab Emirates; H.E. João Jorge Matlombe, Minister of Transport and Logistics, Republic of Mozambique; H.E. Dr. José de Lima Massano, Minister of State for Economic Coordination, Republic of Angola; H.E. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, President of the Republic of Somaliland; Gagan Gupta, Founder and CEO, ARISE IIP; Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World; Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Co-Founder and Chairman, Infinity Power; and Admassu Tadesse, Group President and Managing Director, Trade and Development Bank, among other senior leaders.

We are advancing a pipeline across climate-aligned energy, efficient transport and competitive industrial zones with public and private partners

Gagan Gupta, Founder and CEO, ARISE IIP, said: “We are thrilled to be a Headline Partner of The Africa Debate – UAE. The UAE–Africa partnership sits at the heart of ARISE IIP’s growth strategy, linking Gulf capital and logistics expertise with Africa’s industrial momentum to localise value, create jobs and build competitive exports. This forum is the right platform to bring governments, investors and operators together, align policies and finance, and convert strong pipelines into bankable, large-scale projects spanning ports, logistics zones and export manufacturing.”

Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO, Africa Finance Corporation, said: “AFC’s mandate is to mobilise long-term capital and execution capacity for Africa’s infrastructure and industrialisation. The UAE–Africa corridor is central to that mission, bringing together patient capital, ports and logistics expertise, and technology partnerships to deliver projects at scale. The Africa Debate – UAE provides the right platform to align incentives and move projects to bankability – advancing a pipeline across climate-aligned energy, efficient transport and competitive industrial zones with public and private partners.”

Chantelé Carrington, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Africa, commented: “The Africa Debate – UAE provides the right platform to align incentives and move projects to bankability – we are advancing a pipeline across climate-aligned energy, efficient transport and competitive industrial zones with public and private partners. Under ‘Shared Markets, Shared Future’, the agenda stays practical—ports and logistics, industrial zones, renewables and agri-value chains—grounded in clear market insight and targeted matchmaking. My thanks to our Headline Partners AFC and ARISE IIP, to our strategic partners Afreximbank and Standard Chartered, and to our supporting partners and speakers whose expertise will help move high-quality projects from discussion to delivery.”

Participating organisations include: UAE Ministry of Foreign Trade; ARISE IIP; Absa; Afreximbank; Africa Finance Corporation; A2MP – Africa Minerals and Metals Processing Platform; Control Risks; DLA Piper; DP World; Gemcorp Capital; Infinity Power; Lagos Free Zone; Moody’s Ratings; Oyo State Government; Plantations et Huileries du Congo; Premier Invest; S-RM; Spiro; Standard Bank; and Standard Chartered.

View the full programme and apply for accreditation: https://TheAfricaDebate.com/uae. Please note that registration is subject to approval.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

Business

Afreximbank Deepens Commitment to Economic Progress in The Bahamas

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Afreximbank

The roadshow which took place under the theme “Investing in progress through the implementation of the Afreximbank mandate in The Bahamas” built on the current achievements between the Bank and The Bahamas

CAIRO, Egypt, June 1, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) held a high-level roadshow in Nassau, The Bahamas, on 29 May, aimed at deepening engagement with key stakeholders and businesses across the government, the private sector, and financial institutions across the country.

 

Organised as part of the Bank’s broad strategy to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, the roadshow which took place under the theme “Investing in progress through the implementation of the Afreximbank mandate in The Bahamas” built on the current achievements between the Bank and The Bahamas to explore more opportunities for shared prosperity.

The roadshow follows an approval by the Board of Directors of Afreximbank of a financing facility of up to US$ 5-billion for the Caribbean region, including The Bahamas. This approval signals Afreximbank’s commitment to advancing the objectives of the Global Africa agenda by strengthening commercial and financial ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

In less than three years of operations within the CARICOM, Afreximbank has demonstrated a strong commitment to economic development in the region, especially in The Bahamas

The event was officiated by the Honourable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas and well attended by the business community in The Bahamas, provided a platform for Afreximbank to showcase its suite of financing, advisory and trade facilitation solutions available to businesses and institutions in The Bahamas and to foster stronger institutional partnerships.

Speaking at the roadshow, the Prime Minister said: “Economic growth must translate into broader economic participation, ensuring that more Bahamians have the chance to build businesses, create jobs, and share in the country’s progress. We have made some progress in this area, but continuing to strengthen access to capital through institutions such as the Afreximbank is an important part of our ongoing efforts.”

“This roadshow also reminds us of the importance of regional and international cooperation at a time when many economies are navigating uncertainty,” he added.

While making his opening remarks, Mr. Ihejirika said: “In less than three years of operations within the CARICOM, Afreximbank has demonstrated a strong commitment to economic development in the region, especially in The Bahamas by supporting key projects across critical sectors. To date, the Bank has facilitated approximately USD 140 million in infrastructure financing through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, while also extending USD 30 million in support to the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) sector. These investments underscore Afreximbank’s mandate to drive sustainable growth, enhance economic resilience, and expand opportunities for businesses and communities throughout The Bahamas.”

Other notable speakers who attended the event include Honourable Michael B. Halkitis, Minister of Finance and Honourable Ginger M. Moxey, Minister of Grand Bahama, Mr. Atario Mitchell, President, Bahamas Stripping Group of Companies and Mr. Kino Simmons, Managing Director CAT Island Development Company.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Business

African Electric Vehicle (EV) platform Spiro raises $215M in equity to scale electric mobility and energy infrastructure across Africa

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Africa

Following years of optimization across its product portfolio, technology and energy ecosystem, Spiro has moved past the proof-of-concept phase and stands ready to execute its next chapter of pan-African expansion

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 1, 2026/APO Group/ —

  • Leading scale-up Spiro has secured a landmark $215M investment round backed by major institutional investors including Impact Fund Denmark, and Equitane.
  • With Spiro already operating across seven of Africa’s fastest-growing urban markets, this transaction positions Spiro among the continent’s leading clean infrastructure platforms. This investment will accelerate the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, industrial footprint and next-generation electric vehicles (EV) infrastructure across high-growth African markets.
  • As African economies push to reduce dependence on imported fuel, reinforce energy and industrial sovereignty, and modernize urban transport systems, global investors are increasingly turning to scalable EV infrastructure platforms.​

Scaling Africa’s next-generation mobility and energy ecosystem

 

Spiro (www.Spironet.com) announces a $215M investment round to accelerate the deployment of its electric mobility and battery-swapping infrastructure across Africa. Building on the support of long-standing institutional partners such as FEDA, Spiro’s latest equity round draws global capital from Europe and Africa, confirming growing global confidence in scalable infrastructure-led business models across emerging markets.

 

Following years of optimization across its product portfolio, technology and energy ecosystem, Spiro has moved past the proof-of-concept phase and stands ready to execute its next chapter of pan-African expansion. This investment will support the expansion of Spiro’s battery-swapping network, strengthen its industrial and assembly footprint, accelerate technology development and support the company’s entry into new high-growth African markets.

 

Global investors back Africa’s fast-growing mobility and energy transition

 

As Africa’s urban population and mobility needs continue to surge, electric vehicles and battery-swapping ecosystems are rapidly emerging as one of the continent’s most promising infrastructure and energy investment opportunities.

 

Reducing dependence on imported fuel, strengthening energy and industrial sovereignty and modernizing urban transport systems are becoming strategic priorities across the continent, positioning EV infrastructure as a key pillar of Africa’s economic resilience and industrial development.

 

Spiro has become a major driver of local industrialization, value creation and manufacturing across African markets with 6,000 sustainable direct and indirect jobs

Driven by rising fuel costs, increasing demand for affordable transportation and growing policy support for clean energy solutions, investors are increasingly backing scalable EV platforms capable of supporting Africa’s next phase of urban and industrial growth.

 

For riders, the economic impact is immediate: operating a Spiro electric vehicle can reduce daily mobility costs by up to 40%, generating savings of up to $2 per day compared to fossil-fuel motorcycles.

 

Recent third-party verified lifecycle assessment results conducted on Spiro’s operations in Kenya further highlight the environmental impact potential of EV infrastructure deployment across African cities:

  • Spiro’s electric bikes deliver a 72% reduction in climate impact compared to fossil-fuel motorcycles, equivalent to approximately 19 tons of CO₂ emissions avoided over a vehicle’s lifespan.
  • The study also identified an 80% reduction in ozone depletion potential and a 20% reduction in particulate matter emissions, underscoring the role electric mobility can play in improving urban air quality and reducing public health risks across rapidly growing cities.

 

Powering Africa’s mobility revolution at scale

 

With operations across 7 African markets (Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon) and further plans to expand local production and enter new markets such as DRC and Ethiopia, Spiro is building one of Africa’s most advanced EV and battery-swapping ecosystems.

 

Spiro’s industrial footprint includes flagship manufacturing plants in Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, alongside a state-of-the-art battery recycling facility in Nigeria. Combining locally adapted vehicle design, affordable battery-swapping infrastructure and integrated maintenance ecosystems, Spiro is making electric mobility commercially viable at scale for African riders.

 

Spiro’s technology platform is supported by its R&D center, 150+ engineers and 30+ proprietary patents. The company is actively expanding beyond urban transport into a distributed clean-energy utility network that supports national renewable energy goals while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. Its innovations include IoT-enabled, solar-powered swap stations, alongside secondary-life battery applications designed for stationary renewable energy storage.

 

Investor quotes

“This past year marked a defining strategic milestone for Spiro. Across seven active markets, our deployment of 100,000 electric vehicles and 2,500 smart-swap stations has turned sustainable mobility into an affordable, everyday reality. Spiro has become a major driver of local industrialization, value creation and manufacturing across African markets with 6,000 sustainable direct and indirect jobs. Supported by our global pool of investors, we are entering our next growth chapter to deliver clean, cost-effective energy and transport alternatives to millions of riders across the continent”, stated Gagan Gupta, Founder of Spiro and Chairman of Equitane.

 

“We are investing in Spiro and bringing Danish pension capital into one of Africa’s most promising growth markets because we see potential for significant commercial growth in Spiro and electric mobility across Africa, as well as measurable climate impact. That is exactly the type of investment we want to make,” says Lars Bo Bertram, CEO of Impact Fund Denmark.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Spiro.

 

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Energy

Etu Energias Strengthens Angolan Footprint, Returns to Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 as Champion Sponsor

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Etu Energias

The company is advancing redevelopment projects, deepwater acquisitions and long-term production targets, reinforcing its position as one of Angola’s fastest-growing indigenous upstream players

LUANDA, Angola, June 1, 2026/APO Group/ –Angolan oil company Etu Energias is making its return to the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition – taking place September 9-10 with a pre-conference day scheduled for September 8 – as a Champion Sponsor, underscoring its expanding role in the country’s upstream landscape. The sponsorship comes as the company accelerates redevelopment campaigns across mature assets, deepens its offshore portfolio and pursues ambitious long-term growth targets aimed at strengthening Angola’s production outlook.

 

Already holding a prominent position within Angola’s oil sector, Etu Energias has implemented a series of 2030 goals centered around strengthening production at mature assets, restoring production and exports at onshore acreage, participating in ‘golden blocks’ and establishing partnerships with international players. These align closely with its own target of reaching 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2030 while supporting Angola’s goal of sustaining output above one million bpd in the long-term. Recent milestones reflect these ambitions.

In May 2026, the company – alongside partners Poliedro, Kotoil, Falcon Oil and Prodoi – completed drilling and testing operations at the Espadarte 7ST2 well at Block 2/05 in the Lower Congo Basin. Initial tests showed stabilized production at around 2,000 bpd and 2,500 bpd, reinforcing the commercial viability of the Greater Espadarte – the last development area of the block. The partners are planning to drill one more appraisal well before finalizing the development plan.

At the same time, Etu Energias has continued to strengthen its offshore portfolio through strategic acquisitions. In March 2026, the company acquired a 20% and 10% stake in Block 14 and 14K respectively through a $310 million transaction. The deal was financially backed by Chariot and Shell Western Supply and Trading and marks another step in the company’s transformation from a domestic producer into a more diversified upstream player with exposure across multiple basins and production environments.

Beyond upstream projects, Etu Energias continues to expand its downstream portfolio through the development of service stations across the country. In the local content space, the company invests extensively in workforce development, education and skills transfer. This month, Etu Energias announced the first results of its STEM Program – spearheaded by ADPP Angola with the support of Etu Energias, the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency and its Block 2/05 partners. The $412,000 program strengthens technical and scientific education in the country, with more than 8,000 students set to benefit by 2028.

As a Champion Sponsor of AOG 2026, Etu Energias will join government officials, operators, financiers and technology providers in Luanda to discuss the future of Angola’s oil and gas sector. Taking place at a pivotal moment for the country’s upstream industry, the conference serves as a platform for advancing investment, strengthening partnerships and supporting the exploration and redevelopment activities needed to sustain Angola’s long-term production goals.

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

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