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African Development Bank Holds First Industrial and Trade Business Opportunity Forum in Egypt

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African Development Bank

Egyptian businesses keen to increase business and deepen integration with other African countries

CAIRO, Egypt, February 24, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org), in collaboration with the Egyptian Commercial Services (ECS) department of the Egyptian Ministry of Industry and Trade, has ended its first Industrial and Trade Business Opportunity Seminar (IT-BOS) dedicated to establishing business relationships with Egyptian manufacturers and exporters.

The one-day seminar, held on 22 February, saw record attendance from participants who expressed a high-level of interest in strengthening ties with and exploring new business opportunities within Africa.

The meeting brought together industrial, agricultural, and private sector experts from 105 large Egyptian manufacturers and exporters with significant domestic and regional investment activity. The participating companies represented a wide sector of industrial and export councils, namely from the medical, fertilizers, building materials, engineering and chemical industries, mining, food processing and packaging sectors.

Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, African Development Bank Director of Industrial and Trade Department, delivered the opening address on behalf of Solomon Quaynor, Vice President of Private Sector, Infrastructure, and Industrialization.

He highlighted the purpose of the seminar: “to establish solid business relations and explore collaboration opportunities with the Egyptian industrial business community for growth in the domestic market and to deepen Egyptian regional integration in Africa.” He then presented the African Development Bank’s Ten-year strategy, highlighting the “High 5” strategic priorities with a focus on private sector development and job creation.

The meeting brought together industrial, agricultural, and private sector experts from 105 large Egyptian manufacturers and exporters

“African investments in Africa are below acceptable levels, Africa has endless business opportunities that are often unknown to businesses in neighboring countries – a cardinal sin in this information technology age. We should develop a common manual of doing business to facilitate intra-Africa trade we should proactively address the sources of high cost of doing intra-Africa business,” underscored Ambassador, Mohamed El-Badry, Assistant to the Minister for African Affairs.

Dr. Eng. Sherif El Gabaly, Head of the African Affairs Committee in the Egyptian Parliament, applauded the Bank and ECS for organizing the “timely meeting” with the Egyptian private sector. He added that Egypt has a longstanding and deep relationship with the African development Bank Group as a founding member and as the second largest shareholder of the Group, however, the country has so far mainly benefited from the public sector window. He highlighted that Egypt has a strong private sector with cutting edge ideas and talent; and urged the Bank to “support non-sovereign operations which will provide impetus to Egypt’s strategic industrial sectors.”

The seminar was a great opportunity for the companies to proactively share their aspirations, challenges, and opportunities in accessing and growing exports in African markets and exploring potential collaboration areas.  

Dr. Yousery El Sharkawy, Chairman Egyptian African Businessmen Association, encouraged Egyptian private sector community to “know the Bank, stay close and knock on the Bank’s door, as it is committed to Egypt’s sustainable growth and a heightened role in Africa’s regional integration.” He added that Egypt has a realistic sense of the ample trade and win-win opportunities with sister African countries, shown by the Country’s leadership’s emphasis on expanding Egypt’s regional alliances.

“This event is the first of its kind, in its focus, timeliness, and the high level of private sector participation from the most strategic Egyptian manufacturers. We want a series of this event to be organized regularly to nurture the business relationship that we have established today,” indicated Dr. Ghada Ali, a member of the Egyptian Parliament Economic Committee.

Yehia El Wathiq Bellah, Minister Plenipotentiary and Head of the Egyptian Commercial Representation stressed that the Bank’s Ten-year strategy is aligned with Egypt’s 2030 Vision which calls for a balanced, knowledge-based and export-based market economy. Hence Egypt should explore opportunities for private sector financing from the African Development Bank, he noted.

Samuel Kamara, Country Program Officer for the Egypt office represented the Bank’s Director General of North Africa, Mohamed El Azizi presented Egypt’s Country Strategy Paper for 2022-2026. Participants also heard presentations on the Bank’s financing instruments and modalities, as well as its private sector engagements in establishing special agro-processing zones in Africa. While the Bank’s footprint is established in twenty member countries, Egypt is yet to access the Bank’s expertise and financing in this sector, they heard.

Following the presentations, the Bank’s team engaged in business-to-business meeting towards the development of a comprehensive pipeline of Egyptian manufacturing and export projects eligible for potential Bank financing. The event was moderated by the Bank’s Principal Industrial Program Coordinator, Dr. Ghada Abuzaid, and Samuel Mugoya, Advisor to the VP Private Sector, Infrastructure & Industrialization.

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

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Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) 2024 Strategic Track to Drill Down on Angolan Investment, Local Content Opportunities

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Angola Oil & Gas 2024 returns to Luanda from October 2-3 under the theme ‘Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola’

LUANDA, Angola, August 6, 2024/APO Group/ —

Global projects developers, independent E&P firms and regional investors are expected to enter the Angolan oil and gas market in the coming months as new blocks become available across onshore, offshore and marginal fields. In addition to accelerating exploration, new entrants signal fresh opportunities for collaboration and local contract opportunities.

The Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference – returning for its next edition from October 2-3 in Luanda – will feature a strategic track as part of its main conference agenda. The track will examine Angola’s investment outlook, strategies for enhancing local content and the role of women in the oil and gas industry. Stakeholders from both the global and local market stand to gain crucial insight into projects, opportunities in natural gas production and the business environment in Angola.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; national oil company Sonangol; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Angola’s Namibe Basin is one of the final frontiers for oil and gas exploration, representing a significant unexploited hydrocarbon province. While minimal exploration has been conducted to date, seismic studies have shown promising results. Notably, Blocks 41, 42 and 43 in the Kwanza and Namibe basins are covered in their entirety with a 2D seismic dataset, with significant syn- and post-rift potential across the entire basin identified. A panel discussion on Frontier Exploration: Charting New Paths for Investment during AOG 2024 will explore the strategic potential of the basin, with speakers delving into block opportunities and partnership prospects.

In tandem with oil production efforts, Angola is making strides towards attracting investment across the natural gas industry. The country has a target to increase the share of gas to 25% of the energy mix by 2025 and is promoting exploration opportunities, infrastructure development and monetization solutions. Major projects include the Angola LNG plant – which celebrated its 400th cargo in 2023 – and the Quiluma and Maboqueiro development, Angola’s first non-associated gas project. The project will come online by 2026 and will serve as feedstock for the Angola LNG plant. During AOG 2024, a panel discussion on Beyond Oil: Angola’s Rise as a Gas Powerhouse will examine investment opportunities across the gas industry.

Up to $60 billion will be invested in Angola’s oil and gas industry in the next five years. The country’s enabling business environment and market-focused fiscals have played an instrumental part in attracting foreign capital to the market. A six-year licensing round launched in 2019 provides regular access to block opportunities while engagement with IOCs ensures ongoing review of licensing structures and fiscal terms. AOG 2024’s strategic track will feature a session on Perspectives on Investment: The key to Doing Business in Angola. The session will unpack the country’s business climate, including regulatory frameworks, industry procedures and rules of engagement.

As the country’s oil and gas industry grows, so do opportunities for Angolan SMEs and operators. As a mature producer, Angola’s industry success is largely attributed to the competitiveness of its domestic players. The Angolan government is driving local content through the Angolanization initiative, which strengthens national entrepreneurship by granting local service providers preference to oil and gas contracts. The initiative places local content at the forefront of projects by prioritizing the utilization of Angolan products and services. AOG 2024 will further explore this initiative through a panel titled Empowering Angola Talent: Local Content Strategies to Unlock Angola’s Human Capital.

Given the vital role women play in strengthening Angola’s oil and gas industry while driving project forward, the conference will also feature a panel discussion on Sailing into the Future: Women Steering the Ship of Angola’s Oil and Gas Evolution. The session will explore the contributions and future potential of women in the industry, with topics such as leadership, technical expertise and more featured.

AOG 2024 features a multi-track program that offering a comprehensive overview of the country’s oil and gas value chain. To download the program, visit https://apo-opa.co/3SCYLIq. For more information on panel discussions, speakers and topics, visit www.AngolaOilandGas.com.

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

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Invest Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government Announce Strategic Partnership for The Africa Debate – UAE

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The event, taking place on 31 October in Dubai, will serve as a platform to explore and capitalise on the burgeoning opportunities along the UAE- and broader Gulf-Africa trade and investment corridor

The UAE is already the fourth-largest investor in Africa, and we are excited to work with the government to bolster commercial ties across the continent at this critical time

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, August 6, 2024/APO Group/ —

Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com), a business network promoting trade and investment in Africa, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates to host The Africa Debate-UAE (https://TheAfricaDebate.com/UAE). The event, taking place on 31 October in Dubai, will serve as a platform to explore and capitalise on the burgeoning opportunities along the UAE- and broader Gulf-Africa trade and investment corridor.

Following ten successful editions of The Africa Debate in London, Invest Africa is excited to take the conference to the UAE – the largest investor in Africa among the GCC states. This year’s programme will spotlight investment opportunities along the UAE- and broader Gulf-Africa trade and investment corridor, featuring sessions on financial services, logistics and supply chain optimisation, energy and infrastructure, and ICT and digital transformation. The event will bring together global businesses, private and public investment bodies, thought leaders, and policymakers for a series of insightful debates on UAE-Africa relations in 2024 and beyond.

Chantelé Carrington, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Africa said: “Our partnership with The Ministry of Economy – UAE is a testament to our commitment to facilitating meaningful business connections and fostering two-way trade and investment between the UAE and Africa. The Africa Debate – UAE will not only spotlight investment opportunities but also provide a robust platform for dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders. The UAE is already the fourth-largest investor in Africa, and we are excited to work with the government to bolster commercial ties across the continent at this critical time in Africa’s growth story.”

H.E. Juma Alkait, Assistant Undersecretary for International Trade Affairs, Ministry of Economy – UAE said: “The UAE has long recognised the strategic importance of Africa as a key trade and investment partner. By collaborating with Invest Africa, we aim to deepen our engagement with African markets and explore new avenues for economic cooperation. The Africa Debate has already established itself as a premier platform for promoting Africa-forward initiatives and investment, and we are excited to bring this prestigious event to Dubai. We look forward to welcoming 300+ vetted industry leaders to advance UAE-Africa partnerships and drive mutual growth.”

The conference will feature a series of breakout sessions focusing on:

  • Financial Services
  • Logistics and Supply Chain Optimisation
  • Energy and Infrastructure
  • ICT and Digital Transformation

As global businesses, investors, and policymakers converge in Dubai, The Africa Debate – UAE will serve as a crucial nexus for those seeking to engage in trade and investment along the UAE- and broader Gulf-Africa corridor.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

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Togo: the African Development Bank grants a loan of over USD 26 million to develop key agricultural sectors through private-sector investments

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The aim is to provide the country with an industrial hub for processing agricultural products and establish a business zone to offer opportunities to young people and women in the Kara and Savanes regions

As well as consolidating the achievements of the first phase of the project, it was essential to support the structure of the Togo Agro-Food Processing Zone Project (Togo Agropole)

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, August 5, 2024/APO Group/ —

The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) have approved a loan of US $26.55 million to Togo to implement the second phase of the Agro-Food Processing Zone Project.

The aim is to provide the country with an industrial hub for processing agricultural products and establish a business zone to offer opportunities to young people and women in the Kara and Savanes regions, in the north and far north of the country, respectively.

The project, approved in Abidjan on 19 July 2024, will also help to attract a significant level of private investment into key agricultural sectors, such as rice, maize, soya, sesame, cashew nuts and broiler chickens.

The funds come from the Transition Support Facility, an African Development Bank Group mechanism aimed at countries in transition, and will support investments that encourage inclusive agricultural growth that creates jobs and reduces food imports into the small West African country located on the  Atlantic Ocean.

“As well as consolidating the achievements of the first phase of the project, it was essential to support the structure of the Togo Agro-Food Processing Zone Project (Togo Agropole) with a second phase. This will focus on the construction and operationalization of the agro-industrial park (the central hub), including building a network of infrastructure (various roads and networks, administrative buildings, electrification, water and fibre optics) to create the right conditions for establishing private businesses,” said Wilfrid Abiola, the African Development Bank’s Country Manager in Togo.

Among others, the project will support the creation and operationalization of the company that will manage the agro-park and the construction of an agro-industrial park in Broukou (in Doufelgou prefecture, in the north of the country) by opening roads, developing electricity and street lighting networks, and building an administrative, financial, civil protection and access control centre.

The project will also fund the purchase of small agricultural equipment for vegetable-growing plots, particularly for women. The plan is also to build the capacity of agricultural producers, including women, in production, processing, storage and marketing to help them find markets and sell agricultural products. 

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

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