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African Development Bank and Angola launch $125 million drive to boost youth entrepreneurship

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African Development Bank

The African Development Bank Group (https://AfDB.org), in partnership with the Government of Angola and the European Union, has launched a $125 million Youth Employment Project (Crescer Project) to spur entrepreneurship and job creation among young Angolans.

The project will create more than 112,000 indirect jobs, support the growth of over 10,000 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and startups, and expand skills development in key sectors, including agriculture, aquaculture, transport, and renewable energy.

Minister of Planning Victor Hugo Guilherme underscored the strategic alignment of the project with the “Angola Vision 2050” and the “PDN 2023-2027” which contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the launch, the African Development Bank’s Executive Director for Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, and ZimbabweEugénio Maria Paulo, praised the government’s commitment to youth empowerment.

“We commend the Angolan government for taking such a decisive step toward investing in young people. By placing youth at the center of national development, the government sends a powerful message: that young people will build Angola’s future,” he said, adding that supporting MSMEs and startups led by young people along the Lobito Corridor stimulates local economies and reduces the pressure of rural-urban migration.

The project will be co-financed by the African Development Bank ($79.08 million in sovereign credit), the Angolan Government ($29.06 million), and the European Union ($16.08 million).

We commend the Angolan government for taking such a decisive step toward investing in young people

The Crescer Project will strengthen the national planning system, public-private partnerships, and public investment, all of which are key drivers of economic growth.

The Project builds on the progress achieved under the government’s flagship programs to support entrepreneurship and the formalization of the economy, namely the Program to Support Production, Diversification of Exports, and Substitution of Imports.

It will create 149,720 jobs (37,430 direct and approximately 112,290 indirect); train 97,569 young people (in digital technologies, climate-smart agriculture, and transportation); expand and accelerate the growth of 10,400 MSMEs; provide Business Development Services to 385 MSMEs and 97 startups; strengthen the capacity of 40 business support organizations; and inject up to $15 million to increase access to finance. At least 50 percent of the beneficiaries will be women.

The Crescer Project comprises three key components: demand-driven skills development, business acceleration, and enhanced access to finance, along with an enabling environment and institutional capacity. These components strengthen the operational environment and develop the capacity of relevant institutions to deliver efficient services.

This intervention complements the ongoing Science and Technology Park project, developed through a partnership between the African Development Bank and the Government of Angola, the objective of which is to contribute to the country’s economic diversification, through scientific and technological innovation, with the construction of the Science and Technology Park (with completion scheduled for November 2025) and the financing of scholarships in scientific and technological subjects from higher education up to doctorate for young Angolans.

This effort reinforces the commitment of the African Development Bank and the Government of Angola to boost the country’s economic diversification through strategic investments in youth, employability, and entrepreneurship.

The African Development Bank has a portfolio of 16 ongoing operations in Angola, with a total commitment of $1.45 billion, covering the following sectors: energy (36.4 percent); water and sanitation (17.08 percent); transportation (0.17 percent), agriculture (14.1 percent), finance (20.15 percent), social (11.63 percent), and environment (0.3 percent).

Since beginning its operations in Angola in 1980, the African Development Bank has approved cumulative loan and grant commitments totaling $3.36 billion.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Deepens Angolan Investment Drive as Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2026 Elite Sponsor

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With close to $1 billion invested in the country and a growing role in energy and infrastructure financing, the institution is positioning itself as a strategic financial partner for Angola

Multilateral finance institution the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) is expanding its role in Angola’s energy and infrastructure sectors, having invested close to $1 billion across the country’s power, rail, logistics and critical minerals industries. Reflecting its growing commitment to the market, the institution has joined the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) Conference & Exhibition as an Elite Sponsor ahead of this September’s event in Luanda.

 

The sponsorship comes as AFC and Angola continue to strengthen their partnership. In 2025, Angola became a sovereign shareholder in AFC through a landmark $184.8 million equity investment commitment, reinforcing the institution’s role in mobilizing capital for strategic projects across the country. Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund also invested $25 million in AFC, further demonstrating the country’s confidence in the pan-African infrastructure financier.

That partnership is already translating into major transactions. In July 2026, AFC reached financial close on a $753 million financing package for the Lobito Corridor Railway Project, serving as Co-Financial Adviser alongside Eaglestone. The financing includes $553 million from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and $200 million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa and will support the rehabilitation, upgrade and long-term operation of the 1,300-km railway linking the Port of Lobito with the Democratic Republic of Congo border.

Beyond transport infrastructure, AFC is also supporting Angola’s upstream oil and gas industry. The Corporation invested $60 million as part of a $190 million debt facility backing Angolan independent Etu Energias’ acquisition of interests in offshore Blocks 14 and 14K. The transaction enabled Etu Energias to acquire a 20% stake in Block 14 and a 10% stake in Block 14K, doubling its net production at the time from approximately 9,000 to 19,000 barrels per day.

AFC’s participation at AOG 2026 reflects its expanding footprint in Angola and creates new opportunities to engage with project developers, operators and government stakeholders. As the country’s premier oil and gas event, AOG has established itself as the leading platform for advancing investment, financing and partnerships across Angola’s hydrocarbon value chain.

Taking place on September 9-10, with a pre-conference program on September 8, AOG 2026 will bring together government officials, financiers, operators, service companies and investors to examine the opportunities shaping Angola’s energy future. As an Elite Sponsor, AFC will showcase its expertise in structuring and mobilizing capital for large-scale African infrastructure and energy projects while reinforcing its long-term commitment to Angola’s economic development.

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

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Sputnik Africa Joins African Energy Week 2026 as Media Partner

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Sputnik Africa joins African Energy Week 2026 as a Media Partner, expanding international coverage of Africa’s energy investment opportunities and partnerships

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 28, 2026/APO Group/ –Sputnik Africa has joined African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as an official Media Partner, expanding the event’s international media reach ahead of the conference taking place on October 12-16 in Cape Town. The partnership strengthens global visibility for Africa’s premier energy investment platform.

As an official Media Partner, Sputnik Africa will help amplify discussions surrounding investment opportunities, policy developments and commercial partnerships emerging from the conference. The collaboration broadens AEW’s engagement with audiences across Africa and internationally while expanding coverage of major announcements, strategic dialogues and project developments taking place throughout the event.

The 2026 program features an expanded agenda focused on investment mobilization across the energy value chain. Town Hall sessions will examine fiscal reforms and regulatory competitiveness, while the Upstream E&P Forum will address frontier exploration, gas development and regional cooperation. dedicated finance, downstream and technology tracks will further explore infrastructure investment, AI adoptions and digital transformation.

Country spotlights will showcase licensing rounds, upstream opportunities and national reform programs from African producers seeking new investment. These sessions will provide international companies and financial institutions with direct access to policymakers and project developers while highlighting commercially attractive opportunities spanning hydrocarbons, power generation, infrastructure and emerging energy technologies.

African Energy Week has always been about connecting Africa’s energy opportunities with global investors, technology leaders and strategic partners

As such, Sputnik’s participation reflects its growing presence across the continent through multilingual news coverage and regional broadcasting platforms. Publishing in English, French, Swahili and Amharic, the outlet covers diplomacy, business, infrastructure, technology and economic developments affecting African markets while expanding distribution through digital platforms, FM radio and institutional media partnerships.

In recent months, Sputnik Africa has expanded coverage of Russia-Africa economic cooperation, infrastructure investment, transport connectivity and energy collaboration. The platform has also reported extensively on discussions surrounding nuclear energy, industrial development, AI governance and broader Global South partnerships, reflecting growing international interest in Africa’s evolving economic landscape.

The organization has steadily expanded its physical footprint since establishing its first African editorial center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2025. The bureau serves as a production hub for English and Amharic programming while supporting locally produced reporting and strengthening the organization’s long-term presence on the continent.

Operational growth continued through the launch of FM broadcasting services in Ethiopia before expanding radio operations into additional African markets, including Burkina Faso. Sputnik Africa has also broadened institutional engagement through journalism training initiatives and educational partnerships, including collaboration with the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana under its SputnikPro program.

“African Energy Week has always been about connecting Africa’s energy opportunities with global investors, technology leaders and strategic partners. Sputnik Africa’s participation as a media partner expands the reach of those conversations, helping showcase the projects, policies and partnerships that are driving the continent’s energy future to audiences across Africa and beyond,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber.

The partnership between Sputnik Africa and AEW 2026 reinforces the conference’s commitment to engaging a broad international media network capable of showcasing Africa’s investment story to global audiences. By expanding coverage across multiple languages and regions, the collaboration supports greater visibility for investment opportunities, policy reforms and commercial partnerships shaping Africa’s evolving energy sector.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Afreximbank’s largest ever bond issuance raises US$1.5 billion

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The transaction attracted strong demand from international investors across the UK, Europe, Asia and the United States, with the order book peaking at US$3.8 billion

CAIRO, Egypt, July 28, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (https://www.Afreximbank.com/) has successfully priced a US$1.5 billion dual-tranche Reg S/144A senior unsecured benchmark Eurobond, marking its first US dollar public bond issuance since July 2021 and its largest bond issuance to date. The bond was issued in two tranches: US$750 million with a 5.5-year tenor, maturing in January 2032, and US$750 million with a 10-year tenor, maturing in July 2036.

This successful issuance shows the confidence that investors continue to place in Afreximbank and in Africa’s growth story

The transaction attracted strong demand from international investors across the UK, Europe, Asia and the United States, with the order book peaking at US$3.8 billion. The issuance was approximately two times oversubscribed, with demand evenly split across both tranches. Supported by the robust demand, Afreximbank tightened pricing by 37.5 basis points on each tranche, resulting in final yields of 6.25% for the 5.5-year tranche and 7.125% for the 10-year tranche.

This successful return to the US dollar public bond market follows the Bank’s issuances in alternative formats and currencies in recent years, including Samurai bond issuances in 2024 and 2025 and a Panda bond issuance in 2025.Commenting on the transaction, Chandi Mwenebungu, Afreximbank’s Managing Director, Treasury and Markets, and Group Treasurer said, “This successful issuance shows the confidence that investors continue to place in Afreximbank and in Africa’s growth story. For us, this is a clear sign that the market continues to believe in Afreximbank’s work and in Africa’s economic prospects. Our role remains to connect capital to the opportunities that will drive trade, industrialisation and growth across the continent.”

HSBC Bank plc acted as the Global Co-ordinator, while Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft and MUFG Securities EMEA plc, acted as Joint Lead Managers and Joint Bookrunners. This transaction marks another milestone in Afreximbank’s funding journey and underscores the bank’s continued ability to access international capital markets on competitive terms while connecting global capital to Africa’s long-term growth story.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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