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Africa Proptech Forum set to connect real estate and tech, and fast-track African property innovation

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Africa Proptech Forum

With the theme of this year’s API Summit, ‘IMPACT’, the forum will delve into how effective strategy and execution can drive success in Africa’s property sector

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 10, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Proptech, the convergence of property and technology, is now widely recognised as a pivotal force behind innovation and efficiency in real estate. It is reshaping how properties are developed, managed, and experienced. This transformation is particularly relevant in Africa, where the adoption of proptech is still in its early stages, with opportunity aplenty and a competitive advantage for early adopters.

As the API Summit 2024 approaches, industry leaders and innovators are gearing up for the Africa Proptech Forum (APF), the continent’s only pan-African Proptech Summit, set to take place on 20 September at the Westin Hotel in Cape Town.

Peter Clark, Managing Partner at REdimension Capital, says the integration of technology is a game-changer for the industry at large. “Real estate management teams are increasingly seeing how technology and innovation can deliver enhanced results within their portfolios by improving operational performance, driving asset values, and creating more sustainable outcomes. APF is a finger on the pulse of the proptech industry, ensuring that stakeholders stay informed and connected as the future of the built environment continues to be reshaped by technology.”

Waldo Marcus, Industry Principal at MRI Software SA and lead sponsor of APF, says the ever-growing number of property-related businesses introducing technology platforms and solutions to enhance their tenant, client, and employee experience is a clear testament to the advancements made in the Proptech industry. The dynamic regulatory and economic landscape guides property industry leaders to focus more on flexible and scalable technology adoption, which will future proof their businesses, protect them, and generate real value. The Africa Proptech Forum plays a crucial role for us in the growth and innovation of the Proptech industry by ensuring that stakeholders stay informed and connected in this rapidly evolving sector. This is why MRI continues its lead sponsorship and participation in the event. 

APF features the latest innovations and proptech trends critical to the future and sustainability of South Africa’s real estate sector

Kfir Rusin, Co-CEO of admyt, an industry sponsor for the event, says real estate is undergoing a significant transformation with a shift from traditional leasing models to a more holistic focus on client experience and operational efficiency. “Proptech is central in driving change by enabling more seamless customer interactions, advanced data utilisation, and the development of sustainable, resilient, and more cost-effective operations. APF is a vital platform that connects real estate tech businesses, property service providers, and landlords, playing a significant role in pushing the industry forward and building momentum for more innovation.”

Coinciding with the 15th Annual API Summit, this premier event is dedicated to exploring the transformative impact of Proptech on Africa’s real estate sector and bringing together decision-makers from the technology and formal real estate sectors. It provides an essential platform for stakeholders to connect, share insights, and explore the latest advancements in real estate technology. With the theme of this year’s API Summit, ‘IMPACT’, the forum will delve into how effective strategy and execution can drive success in Africa’s property sector.

A highlight of this year’s Africa Proptech Forum is the APF Start-Up Competition, presented in partnership with Burstone. This competition is designed to identify, showcase, connect, reward, and support innovative, early-stage African Proptech companies. It offers a unique opportunity for start-ups to pitch their business ideas to industry leaders, venture capitalists, and potential customers.

Graham Hutchinson, Managing Director, South Africa, Burstone Group, a sponsor of the competition, explains, “APF features the latest innovations and proptech trends critical to the future and sustainability of South Africa’s real estate sector. For us, innovation is about more than the latest technology; it’s a mindset that encompasses the way you engage with clients, structure deals, and manage costs.”

By bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders from the technology and real estate sectors, the 2024 APF aims to create a space where ideas can be exchanged, partnerships can be formed, and the future of African real estate can be shaped.

The Africa Proptech Forum is a must-attend event for anyone interested in the future of real estate in Africa. For more information and to register for the Africa Proptech Forum, visit API Summit (https://apo-opa.co/3XiCbGk).

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.

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Five Years After Expansion, Qianhai Opens a New Chapter in Institutional Opening-Up

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September 1, 2026

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Hong Kong

SHENZHEN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 31 August 2026 – September 6 marks the fifth anniversary of the promulgation of the Plan for Comprehensive Deepening Reform and Opening Up of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone (“Qianhai Plan”). Just days earlier, on August 26, Qianhai celebrated its 16th anniversary. Coming one after another, the two milestones provide a window through which to view the development of this 120.56-square-kilometer area. On August 20, the Authority of Qianhai announced that since its expansion in 2021, Qianhai’s regional GDP had risen from 175.57 billion yuan to 331.81 billion yuan, while total imports and exports had grown from 378.05 billion yuan to 757.43 billion yuan — both figures nearly doubling or more than doubling.
Behind these numbers is the sheer scale of institutional innovation. As a frontline of China’s opening-up, Qianhai has continued to introduce and refine policies, with 111 institutional innovation outcomes now replicated and promoted nationwide. The General Administration of Customs has introduced two rounds of dedicated support policies to address the challenges facing Qianhai’s development. Qianhai was the first in China to pilot a customs model featuring “direct access at the first line and smart connected supervision”, allowing goods to be directly released at the port, with declaration and inspection carried out after they arrive at the comprehensive bonded zone. The number of items required in customs declarations has also been reduced from dozens to just over ten.
 




 
The progress in Shenzhen-Hong Kong cooperation is even more visible. The number of Hong Kong-funded enterprises has grown from more than 8,000 in 2021 to over 11,000 today. Technology commercialization platforms established by five Hong Kong universities have successively begun operations in Qianhai, incubating 193 projects in total.

Gary Wong Chi-him, a Hong Kong resident working at the Qianhai Authority, has experienced these changes firsthand. He said that more and more people from Hong Kong have been coming to Qianhai over the past five years. “There’s a saying in Shenzhen: once you come, you’re a Shenzhener. I felt that sense of belonging from my very first day,” he said. “Qianhai has created an environment where Hong Kong and Shenzhen are deeply intertwined. Even while living and working in Qianhai, you can still feel the atmosphere of Hong Kong, so I had no difficulty settling in.”

Jacqueline Ho, CEO of Hong Kong-funded sci-tech innovation company Synovate Technologies, said the company set up at the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub in 2019 and has benefited from its ongoing talent recruitment services. “Qianhai has helped us connect with upstream and downstream partners such as Siemens, allowing us to establish a foothold in the hard-tech sector in a short time,” she said. The company has obtained around 50 independent intellectual property rights to date and was named to the Forbes China Emerging Tech T30&30 Selection this year. Qianhai is now home to 532 key AI enterprises, including SmartMore Information Technology, Pony.ai and Fengyi Technology, among a growing group of companies that have established and expanded their businesses here.

For Lin Zhifeng, General Manager of China (Qianhai) Internet Exchange, the most notable sign of Qianhai’s growing international reach was the establishment of the China Center for Promoting APEC Data Cross-Border Flow Cooperation at the end of July. The center he works is the only national-level Internet exchange center in South China. In the five years since its establishment, it has served more than 270 enterprises. Its Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cross-Boundary Data Validation Platform has helped mainland SMEs secure more than HK$260 million in financing in Hong Kong. Its secure and convenient cross-border data channel has benefited more than 300,000 Hong Kong residents, making it easier for them to transfer medical records across the border after receiving treatment in Shenzhen.

Five years into its expansion, Qianhai has gradually established a clearer path toward institutional opening-up. Every breakthrough reflects the same underlying approach: turning institutional differences into new opportunities created by opening-up, and translating the alignment of rules from paper into practice. “Qianhai, Pulse with the World” is more than a city slogan; it is a vivid testament to the five years of reform and opening-up in this dynamic part of Shenzhen.

  




 

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Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) and Export-Import Bank of Pakistan (EXIM Bank of Pakistan) Sign Reinsurance Agreement to Strengthen Pakistan’s Export Sector

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September 1, 2026

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ICIEC

Through the agreement, ICIEC will provide reinsurance support for eligible export transactions, helping enhance risk-sharing capacity, facilitate access to credit, and enable Pakistani businesses, including SMEs, to pursue opportunities in regional and international markets with greater confidence

 




 

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, August 31, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) (https://ICIEC.IsDB.org/), a Shariah-based multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank Group, has signed a Reinsurance Agreement with the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan (EXIM Bank of Pakistan), marking another milestone in the partnership between the two institutions.

This agreement marks an important step in strengthening Pakistan’s export ecosystem

Signed during ICIEC’s mission to Pakistan, the agreement will strengthen Pakistan EXIM’s risk-mitigation capacity and expand its ability to support Pakistani exporters through export credit insurance solutions.

Through the agreement, ICIEC will provide reinsurance support for eligible export transactions, helping enhance risk-sharing capacity, facilitate access to credit, and enable Pakistani businesses, including SMEs, to pursue opportunities in regional and international markets with greater confidence.

Dr. Khalid Khalafalla, Chief Executive Officer of ICIEC, said: “This agreement marks an important step in strengthening Pakistan’s export ecosystem. By combining ICIEC’s reinsurance capacity with EXIM Bank of Pakistan’s local expertise, we can expand the protection available to exporters, enhance their access to finance, and help Pakistani businesses, particularly SMEs, compete more confidently in regional and global markets. It also reflects our commitment to working with national export credit institutions to unlock new trade opportunities and support sustainable economic growth across our Member States.”

The agreement further reinforces the long-standing cooperation between ICIEC and Pakistan and reflects the shared commitment of both institutions to expanding the availability of effective risk-mitigation solutions for the country’s exporters. ICIEC looks forward to building on this partnership with EXIM Bank of Pakistan and supporting the continued development of Pakistan’s export sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC).

 

 




 

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Afreximbank strengthens regional leadership with new appointments across Africa and the Caribbean

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September 1, 2026

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These appointments are integral to Afreximbank’s growth ambitions and its efforts to accelerate intra-African trade, industrialisation and regional integration

CAIRO, Egypt, August 31, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has announced senior leadership appointments and confirmations to strengthen regional operations, deepen client engagement, and enhance delivery of the Bank’s mandate across Africa and the Caribbean.
 




 

These appointments are integral to Afreximbank’s growth ambitions and its efforts to accelerate intra-African trade, industrialisation and regional integration. By strengthening leadership across its regional platforms, the Bank is positioning itself to expand market coverage, improve transaction execution and deepen engagement with clients and stakeholders across Africa and the Caribbean.

Mr. Eric Intong Monchu has been appointed as Group Managing Director, Client Relations and Regional Operations, based in Cairo, Egypt, after serving in the role in an acting capacity. In this position, he will lead the Bank’s client relations and regional operations functions, strengthening coordination between business development, client coverage, and transaction execution.

Mr. Kudakwashe Matereke has been appointed Director, Regional Operations, Anglophone West Africa, based in Abuja, Nigeria. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Director, Regional Operations, East Africa. Mr Matereke brings extensive experience in trade finance, business development, and client relationship management, and will lead regional business development, client coverage, and stakeholder engagement.

Each appointee brings valuable experience and deep knowledge of African and Caribbean markets

Mr. Humphrey Nwugo has been appointed Director, Regional Operations, Eastern Africa, based in Kampala, Uganda, following a similar regional operations role in Southern Africa. He brings extensive experience in banking operations, syndications, corporate finance, and regional execution, and will oversee the Bank’s regional operations, market coverage, and client engagement in Eastern Africa.

Mr. Peter Adeshola Olowononi has been appointed Director, Regional Operations, Southern Africa, based in Harare, Zimbabwe. Prior to his appointment, he served as Director, Client Relations, Anglophone West Africa. Mr. Olowononi brings extensive experience in client coverage, transaction origination, and regional business development, and will lead the Bank’s operations and strategic engagement across Southern Africa.

Mr. Roy Reid has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, Caribbean Office, in Bridgetown, Barbados, effective 15 July 2026. Prior to his appointment, he served as Senior Advisor at the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica. Mr Reid brings more than 20 years of experience across government advisory, financial services, investment management, fintech, and business development, and will support the Bank’s operations, regional coordination, and stakeholder engagement across the Caribbean.

Collectively, the appointments strengthen the links between client coverage, regional operations and transaction execution. With most of the appointees progressing from within the Bank, they bring strong institutional knowledge, established client relationships and a clear understanding of Afreximbank’s strategic priorities. This continuity will support faster execution, greater responsiveness to market needs, and delivery of the Bank’s growth, trade, and development targets across Africa and the Caribbean.

Speaking on the appointments, Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank, stated: “These appointments highlight the depth of leadership and professional talent within Afreximbank, as well as our commitment to placing experienced executives at the centre of executing the Bank’s development mandate: a mandate to change the structure of African trade. Each appointee brings valuable experience and deep knowledge of African and Caribbean markets. Above all, each shares a strong belief in the Bank’s founding philosophy that Africa’s development destiny lies with Africans and that our collective mission is to restore the dignity of the African.”

The Board of Directors, management and staff of Afreximbank extend their congratulations to Mr Intong Monchu, Mr. Matereke, Mr. Nwugo, Mr. Olowononi and Mr. Reid on their appointments and wish them success in their respective roles.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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