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African Energy Week (AEW) 2024 to Shine Spotlight on Angolan Blocks, Project Progress Ahead of 2025 Bid Round

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African Energy Week

Sponsored by the ANPG, Sonangol, Azule Energy, ACREP and Alfort Petroleum, the roundtable discussion serves as a premier platform to gain insight into emerging investment opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producer

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 23, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – slated for November 4-8 in Cape Town – will once again host an Invest in Angola Energies country spotlight session. Sponsored by the country’s regulator the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) and its national oil company Sonangol as well as energy companies Azule Energy, Alfort Petroleum and ACREP, the session will outline strategic investment opportunities and available blocks ahead of the country’s 2025 licensing round.

Angola offers a wealth of block opportunities for upstream players, featuring proven petroleum plays in shallow and deepwater acreage as well as promising deposits in onshore basins. The country launched its first-ever marginal fields for exploration this year, offering five blocks across acreage with proven reserves and commercial potential. The marginal fields not only support production growth at active assets but offers market access to companies of various sizes and capacities. In tandem, Angola offers 11 blocks via its permanent offer program. The program enables investment outside of the confines of traditional licensing rounds, supporting investment through flexibility. These opportunities will be outlined during the AEW spotlight session, with Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas Diamantino Pedro Azevedo set to open the session with a fireside chat.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Angola is not only focused on bringing new projects online by promoting exploration but maximizing output at producing fields

Following a successful 12-block tender which concluded in 2024, Angola is preparing to launch its next upstream licensing round in Q1, 2025. A 10-block bid round offering blocks for exploration in the Kwanza and Benguela Basins, the round forms part of the country’s multi-year licensing program – launched in 2019 – which aims to award up to 50 blocks throughout a six-year period. As of 2023, 27 blocks have been awarded. A senior representative from the ANPG will provide an update on Angola’s block opportunities, unpacking exploration prospects across the country’s onshore, offshore and marginal fields.

On the back of rising opportunity in Angola, a slate of upstream-focused oil and gas companies have either entered or are strengthening their presence across the market. Amidst its privatization – set to be complete by 2026 – Sonangol is gradually transforming into a competitive upstream operator. The company aims to boost national production by investing in projects in collaboration with upstream partners. Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins joins the country spotlight to shed light on projects and partnerships. Meanwhile, Afentra finalized the acquisition of non-operating interests in two offshore blocks this year from upstream company Azule Energy. With the transaction, Afentra increases its stake in Block 3/05 to 30% and in Block 3/05A to 21.33%. The company also qualified as a non-operator in Angola’s 2023 bid round, with a formal agreement already signed for the KON 19 license. Afentra COO Ian Cloke returns to AEW: Invest in African Energy to discuss the company’s exploration agenda in Angola.

As Angola’s largest private oil producer, Etu Energias aims to produce 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2025. The company recently secured $60 million to support asset acquisition in Angola, enabling the acquisition of a 20% stake in Block 14 and a 10% stake in Block 14K. Edson R dos Santos, CEO of Etu Energias, will unpack the company’s acquisition goals during the AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 spotlight session. Additionally, Gianni Gaspar-Martins, Managing Director of Alfort Petroleum, will join the discussion, detailing the role Angolan operators play in driving national output. Having qualified as an operator under Angola’s 2020 bid round, Alfort Petroleum is striving to boost production at KON 8, serving as the block’s operator.

Amid this exploration drive, numerous large-scale oil and gas projects are rapidly gaining momentum in Angola, with recent project milestones underscoring IOC commitment to bringing production online. Energy major ExxonMobil made an oil discovery at the Likember-01 well this year – the first as part of Angola’s broader incremental production initiative. The company could inject as much as $15 billion in exploration and production in the Namibe basin, following commercial drilling success. ExxonMobil’s Lead Country Manager and General Manager Katrina Fisher joins the AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 conversation to discuss the company’s Angolan operations. Additionally, Azule Energy will provide a project update at the country spotlight, with CEO Adriano Mongini leading the discussion. Azule Energy aims to produce 250,000 bpd by 2026 and is accelerating gas monetization through projects such as Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields – Angola’s first non-associated gas project, set to come online in 2026. The country spotlight will also feature Mahesh Swaminathan, Senior Vice President – Global Business Vertical Head at McDermott International. The company secured a contract for the TotalEnergies-led Begonia field development in 2022.

“Angola is not only focused on bringing new projects online by promoting exploration but maximizing output at producing fields. Through its multi-year licensing strategy and proactive approach to marginal field development, the country sets a strong example for other oil and gas producers in Africa,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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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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