CMAG’s mission is to foster deeper relationships between Africa and global markets, and thereby enable the creation of resilient and diversified critical minerals supply chains

LONDON, United Kingdom, November 14, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Global leaders in the critical minerals industry have today launched the Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG) (www.CMAGAfrica.com) to foster deeper relationships between Africa and global markets, empower companies operating in Africa’s critical minerals space, and thereby unlock Africa’s full critical minerals potential.

Sub-Saharan Africa is believed to be home to approximately 30% of the volume of proven critical minerals reserves globally. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that, as markets around the world place an ever-greater emphasis on green technology, demand for nickel will double, demand for cobalt will triple, and demand for lithium will rise tenfold. If harnessed properly, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that increased commodity revenues alone could increase Sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP by 12% or more by 2050.

CMAG has been launched to empower these stakeholders with the tools, knowledge, and relationships they need in order to succeed

Despite Africa’s central role in the global critical minerals industry, African policymakers, business leaders, and citizens struggle to influence vital discussions around policy and supply chains. Global businesses keen to seize the opportunities presented by Africa’s critical minerals also face high barriers to entry owing to a lack of relationships on the continent and limited local knowledge. CMAG’s mission is to foster deeper relationships between Africa and global markets, and thereby enable the creation of resilient and diversified critical minerals supply chains that benefit the communities in which they are extracted, as well as to accelerate economic development through the capture of value-adding activities.

CMAG will also work with industry and governments to help remove barriers to market entry across Sub-Saharan Africa, create more enabling business environments, promote sustainable growth and localisation of benefits, and support the creation of green value chains on the continent. CMAG will act as a bridge between the private and public sectors while enabling greater interconnectivity with Western markets.

The CMAG team, which includes global leaders in the critical minerals industry with a track record of delivering results and tangibly influencing policy, will add value by offering members access to funding and networking opportunities, advocating for CMAG members in discussions with governments, regulators, and other stakeholders, as well as providing messaging and branding support to help members position themselves as global industry thought leaders.

Veronica Bolton Smith, CEO at CMAG, says, “I am delighted to be part of a world-class team determined to foster deeper relationships between Africa and global markets and put Africa at the heart of international discussions surrounding critical minerals and associated supply chains.”

“There is a huge opportunity for African businesses and governments to become global leaders in an industry which is of ever-increasing significance to the world economy, something that would be to the benefit of communities across the continent. There is an equally large opportunity for international firms to ramp up their exposure to African markets and capitalise on the enormous growth potential Africa offers. CMAG has been launched to empower these stakeholders with the tools, knowledge, and relationships they need in order to succeed.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Critical Minerals Africa Group (CMAG).

New Infobip research reveals generational shopping preferences ahead of Black Friday

CASABLANCA, Morocco, November 13, 2024/APO Group/ — 

New research from global communication platform Infobip (www.Infobip.com) highlights how different generations want to communicate with businesses and brands ahead of Black Friday. When at least 86% of all generations expect targeted and relevant communications, according to Infobip’s research, retailers need a personalized approach for each generation of shoppers.

Black Friday is the start of the Christmas shopping season. Millions of consumers search for deals online, providing retailers with a growing opportunity to increase sales and strengthen brand presence. Even a 5% increase in customer retention can boost profits by more than 25%, according to management consultancy Bain & Company.

However, brands must get customer communications right to enhance loyalty and grow sales

However, creating an appropriate omnichannel strategy to communicate with consumers across four generations can be challenging. Get it wrong and brands may lose sales or even loyal customers. Infobip’s Generational Messaging Trends Report reveals the communication preferences of each generation:

• Baby boomers: are less accepting of repetitive content where, 40% want more varied communications versus 8% of Gen Z, but favor chat apps more than Gen X (68% compared to 57%) 
• Generation X: 73% of Gen X prefer to receive product and service updates compared with just 55% of Gen Z
• Millennials: younger generations are more open to new communication channels, where 60% of millennials are happy to make purchases through chatbots
• Generation Z: 83% expect a brand to understand them as individuals, and 65% want a two-way dialogue with the brands they buy from

Ivan Ostojić, Chief Business Officer at Infobip, said: “Our research shows that most shoppers, no matter their age, want brands to engage with them like with a friend through conversational channels and say it will increase their loyalty. However, brands must get customer communications right to enhance loyalty and grow sales. That’s why Infobip has analyzed what each generation prefers and published a new report and a playbook to help retailers and ecommerce firms make the most of the shopping season.”

Read the report: https://apo-opa.co/3CnAvod

Recent award wins include:

• Infobip named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) 2024 for the second year running (June 2024)
• Infobip named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies (March 2024)
• Infobip ranked as number one Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) provider, in the inaugural MetriRank CPaaS Report from Metrigy (Dec 2023)
• Omdia Ranks Infobip as Leader for the second year running in its CPaaS Universe Report (Nov 2023)
• Infobip named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) 2023 (Sept 2023)
• Infobip named a Leader in the IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Communications Platform-as-a-Service (CPaaS) 2023 Vendor Assessment (May 2023)
• Infobip named a leader in the CPaaS Leaderboard, Juniper Research (March 2024)
• Infobip named a leader in the CCaaS Leaderboard, Juniper Research (Dec 2023)
• Infobip named a leader in the Juniper Customer Data Platform Leaderboard Report (July 2023)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Infobip.

Industry experts, influencers, and pioneers from the world’s top pharmaceutical hubs will gather at the inaugural CPHI Middle East – the most comprehensive pharma convention in the region

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, November 13, 2024/APO Group/ —

• Industry experts from across 100 countries will descend on Riyadh this December for launch event of most comprehensive pharma convention in the region
• Stage set for international collaboration, upscaling, and regional market entries, while health and environmental interplay come under the microscope

Industry trailblazers from over 100 nations across Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East will gather in Riyadh this December to collaborate on advancing the future of the pharmaceutical and biotechnology sectors in Saudi and other countries like Jordan, Morocco and Armenia.

Industry experts, influencers, and pioneers from the world’s top pharmaceutical hubs will gather at the inaugural CPHI Middle East – the most comprehensive pharma convention in the region – when it runs at the Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Centre from December 10-12. The landmark event, which has the support of the Saudi Ministry of Health, will be a dynamic platform for international collaboration, where local, regional, and international professionals can interact, share insights, and forge meaningful business partnerships.    

“The geographic footprint of both the exhibitor profile and conference speaker platform holds the promise of transformative outcomes of groundbreaking ideas and collaborative initiatives,” said Mundhir Al-Hakim, Exhibition Director of CPHI Middle East. “The event’s diverse lineup includes the biggest names in pharmaceutical manufacturing, biotech development, and contract and clinical services who are poised to revolutionise the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare delivery.

“CPHI Middle East is not just a regional event; it’s a global stage for the pharmaceutical industry. With over 70 per cent international participation, we’re creating a truly global hub for knowledge sharing, partnership building, and innovation, said Mundhir Al-Hakim.

The event will spotlight international collaboration via its comprehensive knowledge-sharing programme, which spans four stages dedicated to The Future of Pharma, Innovation, Next-Gen Bio, and Discovery. All four are designed to accentuate the latest trends, with delegates gaining valuable insights into current challenges and opportunities shaping the pharmaceutical sector.

With more than 30,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors anticipated across 30,000 square-metres of exhibition space, CPHI Middle East will be where the future of pharma unites

Many prominent speakers are set to speak at the event next month, discussing a wide range of current and pressing topics around the future of healthcare, biotech, incentivising and investing in R&D, commercial sector growth, and innovations driving the next generation of pharmaceutical advancements. Professor Peter Pitts, President and Co-Founder of the Centre for Medicine in the Public Interest and a visiting Professor at the University of Paris School of Medicine with experience as a former member of the US Food & Drug Administration, will be bringing a wealth of knowledge to discussions on the urgency of sound science and post-pandemic healthcare policy.

The global experts will network with regional influencers including Mosaed Alkolief, Strategy Advisor at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties; Dr Hana Sboul, Secretary General of the Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers; Dr Abdelali Hauudi, Chairman of Strategy & Business Development at King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Saudi Arabia; and Chokri Jeribi, President of the Chamber of CRO Tunisia. International companies will also be presenting successful case studies of their thriving businesses in KSA at the event.

International exhibitors like Sartorius, Julphar, Zeta Pharma, Caregen, Sartorius, SimSon Pharma Ltd, Soficopharm, UNT Pharmaceuticals, Berry Global and many more will line up alongside some of the Middle East and North Africa’s biggest industry names. The geographic interplay will set the groundwork for the event to prove a hive of international collaboration for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) discovery and production planning across the MENA region, the world’s fifth-largest pharma market and one that is projected to grow at an annual rate of 10 per cent over the next eight years. CPHI Middle East will connect global suppliers of raw materials, machinery, packaging solutions, and contract services with regional visitors and partners.

The event is also seen as an unparalleled opportunity for global leaders to scout partners that can help them establish a presence in Saudi Arabia, where the pharmaceutical market is projected to reach US$11.5 billion by 2032. The Kingdom’s National United Procurement Company (NUPCO) requires bidders to have a registered Saudi office, creating a landscape ripe for partnerships that can boost domestic pharma production to its national vision targets from the current 20 per cent to 40 per cent by 2030. Healthcare and life sciences are among the most significant sectors in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The event will also focus on Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to be a global biotech leader, with the country planning to achieve self-sufficiency in vaccine production, biomanufacturing, and genomics.

Organised by Tahaluf, the Kingdom’s fastest-growing business event organiser, CPHI Middle East marks a significant milestone for the region’s rapidly expanding pharma sector. Partnered with the Events Investment Fund, the event aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, prioritising healthcare and life sciences as key sectors.

“We expect this event to be a melting pot of ideas and partnerships,” added Al-Hakim. “With more than 30,000 visitors and 400 exhibitors anticipated across 30,000 square-metres of exhibition space, CPHI Middle East will be where the future of pharma unites to build partnerships that extend across the Middle East and the world.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of CPHI Middle East.