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Africa Tech Festival 2025 concludes with a call for policy harmonisation and collaboration to secure Africa’s digital future

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Africa Tech Festival

This year’s festival brought together technology leaders, policymakers, global innovators, founders, investors, and future talent for three days of critical dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 14, 2025/APO Group/ –The closing day of the 28th annual Africa Tech Festival 2025 (https://AfricaTechFestival.com/) delivered a clear message: Africa is on a technology trajectory unlike anything seen before, and its potential is limitless. With the world’s youngest population and a rapidly expanding digital economy, the continent is charting its course toward digital sovereignty.

This message was reiterated in the headline keynote, Closing the Talent Gap to Power Africa’s AI Economy, which emphasised that Africa’s digital transformation depends on embedding foundational digital literacy and AI skills across education systems. Along with moderator Dr. Miriam Altman, panellists Mary Mahuma (Philip Morris SA), Sipho Mtombeni (Google), and Shamiela Letsoalo (Naspers/Ecommerce Forum SA) highlighted the need for critical thinking, problem-solving, and adaptable “AI-enabled” workers across all sectors. They pointed to scalable talent models and partnerships as catalysts for preparing Africa’s youth for emerging digital careers.

Data excellence was in the spotlight at the AI Summit, with Building Africa’s Data Backbone – Governance, Infrastructure and Interoperability, focusing on the foundations required for continental-scale digital growth. SenthilKumar Velayutham (African Development Bank), Matis Pellerin (Oracle), Caitlin Tallack (The AI Collective), James Turuthi (TESPOK), and Matthias Reusing (Delegation of the EU to the African Union) emphasised that harmonised data regulation, interoperable systems, and aligned regional standards are crucial for unlocking innovation, supporting AI development, and enhancing Africa’s digital resilience.

Africa Tech Festival 2025 has proven that when innovation, investment, and policy align, transformation follows

Policy as a catalyst for African startups took centre stage at AfricaIgnite, where Kunbi Tinuoye (UrbanGeekz), Nikita Thakrar (Included VC), and Natalie Miller (XRGlobal) called for gender-equitable investment environments and coordinated cross-border regulation to expand capital access beyond the continent’s major hubs. Speakers noted that Africa’s next wave of high-growth ventures will depend on investor diversity, streamlined regulation, and policies that reflect the realities entrepreneurs face across 54 markets.

The AfricaCom panel Collaboration in Action – Fostering Telco Partnerships to Drive Digital Inclusion brought together leaders from MTN, Standard Bank, RMB, and the Mobile Ecosystem Forum to explore how cross-industry alliances are extending connectivity, enabling digital commerce, and supporting the continent’s broader inclusion agenda.

In addition to the sessions taking place at the main venue, the Next Gen Talent Summit at UVU Africa celebrated Africa’s emerging innovators, showcasing the young entrepreneurs and digital talent shaping the continent’s future technological progress.

Reflecting on the successful conclusion of the event, Kadi Diallo, Portfolio Manager for Africa Tech Festival, noted, “Africa Tech Festival 2025 has proven that when innovation, investment, and policy align, transformation follows. Over three impactful days, Africa Tech Festival 2025 reaffirmed Africa’s position not only as a participant in the global technology landscape but as a continent shaping how innovation can be inclusive, responsible, and transformative.”

Across all four programmes – AfricaCom, AfricaTech, The AI Summit Cape Town, and AfricaIgnite – this year’s festival brought together technology leaders, policymakers, global innovators, founders, investors, and future talent for three days of critical dialogue, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing. Framed by the central themes of responsible innovation, inclusive investment, connectivity for development, and policy harmonisation, Africa Tech Festival 2025 featured high-level keynotes, policy-shaping panels, fireside chats, startup pitches, and cross-industry networking designed to accelerate Africa’s digital progress.

Africa Tech Festival has once again reaffirmed its role as the premier platform where Africa’s technology ecosystem comes together to collaborate, co-create, and shape the continent’s digital future.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Tech Festival.

Energy

Seychelles Targets Energy Investment Push as Minister Jérémie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Speaker

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African Energy Chamber

Seychelles energy minister will speak at AEW 2026, positioning her to highlight reforms, renewable projects and investment opportunities as the island nation advances its transition toward a diversified energy system

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –Marie-May Jérémie, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources for Seychelles will participate as a speaker at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. Her participation underscores the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s small-island energy transition agenda.

Minister Jérémie’s presence at AEW 2026 comes at a critical time as Seychelles accelerates efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The event provides a platform to attract investment, strengthen policy alignment and showcase bankable projects, positioning the country as a viable destination for private-sector participation in island energy systems.

Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments

In May last year, international finance institution the World Bank approved the Renewable Energy Acceleration Program, a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing the grid and increasing renewable energy penetration to 15% by 2030. The program focuses on unlocking private capital while strengthening transmission infrastructure to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.

Project development is gaining traction in the country, particularly in innovative technologies suited to Seychelles’ land constraints. The 5.8 MW Seysun Lagoon floating solar PV project, developed by independent renewable power producer Qair, is under construction and expected online in 2026.

Alongside renewables, Seychelles continues to pursue upstream opportunities to diversify its economy. The government approved new exploration entrants in 2025 and extended exiting petroleum agreements, while securing an infrastructure partnership with China. Multilateral estimates suggest over $800 million in investment will be required over the next 25 years.

Regulatory reform is central to this transition, with Seychelles introducing an independent power producer framework to open the market to private developers. Standardized power purchase agreements, grid access reforms and strengthened public-private partnership structures are being implemented to improve transparency, reduce risk and accelerate project bankability across solar, storage and emerging wind opportunities.

“Minister Jérémie’s participation highlights the strategic importance of island nations in Africa’s broader energy transition,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments. Her insights will be critical to advancing dialogue on resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the continent.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Business

Canada–Africa Financing Forum to Convene Investors and Decision-Makers in Cape Town – May 14, 2026

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Ateau Zola

This timely Forum comes on the heels of commitments announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, deepening Canada–Africa commercial ties and expanding investment partnerships

TORONTO, Canada, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –The Canada–Africa Chamber of Business (https://CanadaAfrica.ca) will convene investors, financiers, policymakers, and industry leaders in Cape Town on May 14, 2026 for the Canada–Africa Financing Forum—a high-level platform focused on unlocking capital and accelerating deal flow across African markets.

Registration is open (http://apo-opa.co/4vZN6oV)

This timely Forum comes on the heels of commitments announced by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, deepening Canada–Africa commercial ties and expanding investment partnerships. The program connects leaders from venture capital, private equity, and institutional investors to examine where capital is moving—and where the next opportunities lie—supported by Canadian project partners with proven capacity to deliver on-the-ground.

Delegates will engage directly with finance and investment decision-makers, following the program opening, featuring messages from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Prime Minister Mark Carney, in addition to high-level Ministerial representation.

This Forum is about capital deployment, not just conversation

“This Forum is about capital deployment, not just conversation,” said Garreth Bloor, President of the Canada–Africa Chamber of Business. “We are convening investors, institutions, and project leaders who are actively shaping transactions across Africa—and connecting them directly with Canadian partners who are ready to work together.”

The Canada–Africa Financing Forum reflects the Chamber’s role as a privately financed, market-led platform advancing Canada-Africa trade and investment through world-class networking and information-sharing events.

Why Attend

  • Direct access to active dealmakers and capital allocators
  • Insights into where capital is being deployed and key players delivering major projects
  • Opportunities to build partnerships across Canada and African markets
  • Participation in a curated, high-level environment focused on execution

Secure Your Place

Space is limited and demand is strong.

Apply to secure your place (http://apo-opa.co/4vXb9oz)

Read More and View the Program (http://apo-opa.co/4vZN6oV)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business.

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Energy

Siemens Energy Expands Angola Footprint as Senior Vice President (SVP) Waheed Abbasi Joins Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026

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Energy Capital

From FPSO power solutions to local service capacity, Siemens Energy is scaling its role in Angola at a time when the country is pursuing gas expansion

LUANDA, Angola, April 28, 2026/APO Group/ –Waheed Abbasi, Senior Vice President, Gas Services: Europe and Africa at Siemens Energy, has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference and Exhibition as a speaker. Abbasi’s participation comes at a time when Siemens Energy is deepening its footprint in Angola through major power infrastructure and local capacity investments, positioning itself as a key enabler of the country’s evolving oil and gas market. At the event this September (9-10), Abbasi is expected to bring insights into how power technology and gas infrastructure are converging to support Angola’s next phase of industry growth.

With a long-standing presence in Angola, Siemens Energy has played a central role in strengthening power and infrastructure systems through projects in the oil, gas and renewable energy sectors. The company is currently developing an 80 MW power generation plant for the Kaminho FPSO – part of the first large deepwater development in the Kwanza Basin. The FPSO, currently 50% complete, will be installed in 2027 with first oil produced from the Cameia field in 2028. By integrating advanced power generation systems into offshore infrastructure, Siemens Energy is supporting more efficient, lower-emission production while ensuring reliable operations in deepwater environments.

At the same time, Siemens Energy has strengthened its on-the-ground presence with the launch of its Angola Service Shop in 2026. The facility brings service execution, project support, training and critical spare parts closer to customers, enabling faster response times and improving operational reliability across Angola’s oil and gas sector. By anchoring its services locally, Siemens Energy is not only supporting existing projects but also building the infrastructure needed to sustain long-term industry growth, reinforcing supply chain resilience and technical capacity within the country.

Siemens Energy’s activities in Angola form part of a broader continental strategy, with the company active in more than 50 African countries and leading initiatives across power generation, renewable energy and hydrogen development. This pan-African footprint positions Siemens Energy as a key partner for governments seeking to balance industrial growth with energy transition goals. In Angola, this is particularly relevant as the country looks to diversify its energy mix while leveraging its hydrocarbon resources to drive economic development.

Angola’s strategy to increase the share of gas in its energy mix to 25% is creating new opportunities for companies like Siemens Energy to deploy gas-to-power solutions. The start of key projects, including the country’s first non-associated gas project – led by the New Gas Consortium –, is expected to unlock greater gas flows, supporting both LNG exports and domestic power generation. As gas availability increases, the need for efficient power generation, grid infrastructure and industrial energy solutions will become more critical. Siemens Energy’s technology portfolio, spanning gas turbines, power systems and integrated energy solutions, positions the company to play a central role in enabling this transition.

Stepping into this picture, Abbasi’s participation at AOG 2026 comes at a time when Angola is aligning upstream growth with downstream and power sector expansion, creating a more integrated energy ecosystem. The event will provide a platform for discussions around gas monetization, power infrastructure and industrial development, areas where Siemens Energy is actively contributing.

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

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