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Africa’s top hospitality investors headline the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) programme

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Africa Hospitality Investment Forum

They include Olivier Granet, Managing Partner & CEO, Kasada Capital Management, Alyshia Mangalji, VP Europe & Africa, Westmont Hospitality Group, Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director, CG Corp Global and more

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 24, 2023/APO Group/ — 

With the agenda of the Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF) (https://www.AHIF.com) just announced, the event’s organiser, the bench, has confirmed that several of Africa’s largest and most influential hospitality investors will be present and live on stage. They include Olivier Granet, Managing Partner & CEO, Kasada Capital Management, Alyshia Mangalji, VP Europe & Africa, Westmont Hospitality Group, Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director, CG Corp Global and more. Investors of their calibre can help to fund projects that create thousands of jobs and boost international tourism, which is a major source of export revenue for many African countries.

Their presence, alongside numerous other hotel owners, has attracted top hospitality executives, government ministers, officials, bankers, consultants, and industry experts from over 50 countries to network and discuss the most pressing issues affecting the development of hotels across the continent.

The AHIF program will cover a wide range of topics, including global risks and their impact on Africa’s hospitality industry, achieving net-zero targets, implementing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, access to capital, transformational travel, hotel development challenges and opportunities, hotel financing criteria, successful tourism entrepreneurship, operational excellence, the importance of human skills, alternative accommodation, emerging market dynamics, the latest trends, the future of hospitality investment in Africa and more.

The AHIF program will cover a wide range of topics, including global risks and their impact on Africa’s hospitality industry

The event is further enhanced by AviaDev Real Estate, which overlaps with the last day of AHIF. It offers high-level discussion and case study presentations on successful airport real estate projects. Pre-set appointments will connect the owners and operators of African airports to those with the finance, expertise, and contacts to help them maximise revenue from their airport infrastructure, including from hospitality, as well as retail, cargo, warehousing, and other activities.

A highly influential speaker line-up (https://apo-opa.info/3IAqLam) also includes:

  • Hon. Peninah Malonza OGW, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife Kenya
  • Haitham Mattar, MD MEA & SW Asia, IHG Hotels & Resorts
  • Peter Greenberg, Travel Editor, CBS News
  • Rajan Datar, Host of BBC Travel Show & BBC World News
  • Pat Thaker, Economist Intelligence Unit
  • Thomas Mundy, Head of Capital Markets Strategy & Research EMEA, JLL
  • Jameel Verjee, Founder & CEO, CityBlue Hotels
  • Catherine Hendry, Principal: Property Finance Africa, Nedbank
  • Srividya Jagannathan, Manager Consumer and Social Services, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group
  • Vimbai Masiyiwa, CEO, Batoka Hospitality Group
  • Karim Cheltout, Regional Vice President, Lodging Development Africa & All-Inclusive EMEA, Marriott International
  • Trevor Ward, Managing Director, W Hospitality Group
  • Billy Cheung You Tung, Chairman of the Board, Century Park Hotel and Residences Ltd
  • Dupe Olusola, CEO, Transcorp Hotels
  • Hamza Farooqui, Founder & CEO, Milat Investments
  • Wytze Van den Berg, VP EMEA, BWH Hotels
  • Daniel Silke, Political Futures Consultancy

… and an array of other impressive individuals, discussing more topics such as empowering women, green tech, and regional sourcing.

We feel honoured to have such an exceptional list of speakers for this year’s Africa Hospitality Investment Forum,” said Matthew Weihs, Managing Director of the bench, which organises AHIF. “Their expertise and unique perspectives will undoubtedly produce enlightening discussions on the key issues shaping the African hospitality industry. Thanks to their engagement and our commitment to providing a platform for industry leaders to connect and collaborate, AHIF will continue to play a vital role in driving investment and growth in the sector.”

For more details about AHIF, which takes place on 12th – 14th June in Nairobi, and to register for the event, please visit www.AHIF.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Hospitality Investment Forum (AHIF).

Energy

Libya Energy & Economic Summit: Over $20B in Deals Highlight Renewed Global Confidence

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The annual Libya Energy & Economic Summit drives multi-billion-dollar oil, gas and renewable deals, fostering international partnerships to expand Libya’s energy infrastructure and investment pipeline

TRIPOLI, Libya, July 3, 2026/APO Group/ –The Libya Energy & Economic Summit (LEES) has established itself as Libya’s premier gateway for upstream capital, consistently unlocking multi-billion-dollar oil, gas and renewable energy agreements since its 2021 launch in Tripoli. The summit has become a central mechanism for turning policy momentum into bankable energy projects.

 

The upcoming 2027 edition of LEES will build directly on this trajectory, expanding Libya’s investment pipeline across hydrocarbons, renewables and infrastructure while deepening international participation following record deal activity in 2026.

In 2026, the fourth edition of LEES delivered its most significant upstream package to date: a $20 billion, 25-year Waha Concession amendment between Libya’s National Oil Corporation (NOC) and TotalEnergies alongside ConocoPhillips. The agreement targets a production increase to 850,000 barrels per day through redevelopment of mature assets including North Zella and NC-98, fully financed through foreign capital under an enhanced recovery and infrastructure upgrade framework.

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At LEES 2026, NOC Chairman Masoud Suleman signed a MoU with Chevron to evaluate oil and gas exploration opportunities, field development and enhanced recovery initiatives, later expanding cooperation to assess unconventional resources across the Sirte, Murzuq and Ghadames basins. Suleman also oversaw a letter of intent between NOC subsidiary NAGECO and TGS to expand multi-client seismic acquisition programs and generate high-resolution subsurface data supporting future licensing rounds and exploratory drilling.

At the government level, Minister of Oil and Gas Dr. Khalifa Abdulsadek formalized a Libya-Egypt petroleum cooperation MoU aimed at strengthening technical collaboration, infrastructure development and capacity building across the oil, gas and mining sectors. During the summit, the Libyan Council for Oil, gas and Renewable Energy signed a strategic partnership with Business France focused on expanding private-sector participation and supporting Libyan SMEs.

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LEES has become the decisive platform for converting Libya’s energy potential into structured, bankable investment opportunities across hydrocarbons and renewables

The 2024 edition of LEES acted as a platform for advancing projects already under development, most notably showcasing progress on TotalEnergies’ 500 MW Sadada solar PV project with the General Electricity Company of Libya (GECOL), first announced during the inaugural 2021 summit. The project remains a cornerstone of Libya’s renewable energy strategy, supporting grid stabilization and diversification away from oil-dependent power generation in partnership with the Renewable Energy Authority of Libya.

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Beyond solar, 2024 also formalized Libya’s international upstream reopening through the launch of a national licensing round, drawing qualified interest from majors including Eni, Repsol and BGN Energy. Additional outcomes included exploratory discussions on a Malta-Libya undersea renewable energy interconnector, designed to evaluate cross-Mediterranean power exchange potential and long-term grid export opportunities, reinforcing Libya’s positioning as both a hydrocarbons exporter and emerging regional energy hub.

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The inaugural LEES 2021 marked Libya’s reintegration into global energy investment flows after a prolonged hiatus, featuring the announcement of TotalEnergies’ 500 MW solar partnership with GECOL and parallel gas-flaring reduction initiatives across western oilfields. Infrastructure-focused agreements, including upgrades linked to the Misrata Free Zone, further supported logistics and export capacity expansion. Initial discussions involving ConocoPhillips, Hess Corporation and other international operators laid the groundwork for subsequent upstream rehabilitation efforts and the wave of large-scale investments that would follow in later editions of the summit.

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“LEES has become the decisive platform for converting Libya’s energy potential into structured, bankable investment opportunities across hydrocarbons and renewables,” says James Chester, CEO, Energy Capital & Power. “The 2027 edition will build on this momentum, further accelerating international capital inflows and long-term sector partnerships.”

Join industry leaders at the Libya Energy & Economic Summit 2027 in Tripoli and explore investment opportunities in one of Africa’s most dynamic energy markets. LEES 2027 offers a premier platform for partnerships, innovation and sector growth. Visit www.LibyaSummit.com to secure your participation. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

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

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Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo’s (SNPC) Maixent Raoul Ominga to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026

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The award recognizes decades of leadership by the SNPC Director General in shaping the company’s growth and investment strategy, while strengthening the Republic of Congo’s position in Africa’s energy landscape

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 2, 2026/APO Group/ –Maixent Raoul Ominga, Director General of Société Nationale des Pétroles du Congo (SNPC), has been named the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026. The honor recognizes more than two decades of service to Congo’s national oil company and a leadership career that has helped transform SNPC into a stronger, more diversified and increasingly influential energy company.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest distinction presented during the African Energy Awards, held annually as part of AEW. The non-voting category recognizes individuals whose careers have left a lasting mark on Africa’s energy industry through sustained leadership, institutional development, investment promotion and contributions to regional cooperation.

Few leaders know SNPC as intimately as Ominga. Joining the company in 2001 in the finance and accounting department, he steadily rose through the ranks before being appointed Director General in 2018. Reappointed in 2022 and again in 2025 following the adoption of SNPC’s revised corporate statutes, his continued tenure reflects sustained confidence in a leadership style centered on long-term institutional growth, operational discipline and continuity.

Maixent Raoul Ominga represents the kind of steady, visionary leadership that has helped transform SNPC into a more resilient and forward-looking national oil company

Under Ominga’s leadership, SNPC has evolved from a traditional national oil company into a broader energy player with an expanding upstream portfolio and growing regional profile. The company continues to hold interests in many of the Republic of Congo’s largest producing assets while participating in new discoveries that have reinforced the country’s long-term exploration potential.

A defining feature of Ominga’s tenure has been a strategic shift toward long-term value creation through gas monetization. Under his direction, SNPC has played a central role in supporting the Congo LNG project, helping position the Republic of Congo among Africa’s emerging LNG exporters and accelerating the country’s transition toward large-scale gas development.

Institutional transformation has been equally central to his leadership. Ominga has overseen organizational restructuring, strengthened corporate governance and placed greater emphasis on operational performance, while steering SNPC toward increased use of domestic capital markets to reduce reliance on international lenders and strengthen local financial capacity. He has also prioritized workforce development, greater gender inclusion in leadership and the development of internal capabilities supporting gas and new energy initiatives.

His influence has extended well beyond SNPC. A longstanding advocate for stronger collaboration among Africa’s national oil companies, Ominga has consistently promoted regional partnerships, African financing solutions and energy sovereignty as essential to unlocking the continent’s long-term investment potential. This vision has helped elevate both SNPC’s regional profile and the Republic of Congo’s role in Africa’s evolving energy landscape.

Ominga’s leadership has also been recognized beyond the energy sector. In 2026, he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Ligue universelle du bien public, recognizing his leadership, commitment to the public good and contributions to economic and social development. The distinction reflects a leadership philosophy that extends beyond commercial performance, emphasizing institution-building, human capital development and the role of energy in supporting national progress.

“Maixent Raoul Ominga represents the kind of steady, visionary leadership that has helped transform SNPC into a more resilient and forward-looking national oil company,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “His commitment to building local capacity, strengthening governance and positioning Congo’s energy sector for the future makes him a deserving recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. We congratulate him on this well-earned recognition.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) and Centre of Islamic Finance, Compliance and Advice (CIFCA) Forge Strategic Partnership to Advance Islamic Finance in Tanzania

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The collaboration aligns with the strategic priorities of both institutions to support the development of robust, ethical, and inclusive financial systems grounded in the principles and values of Islamic finance

BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 2, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (www.IsDBInstitute.org) and the Tanzania-based Centre of Islamic Finance, Compliance and Advice (CIFCA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in advancing Islamic finance, capacity development, professional certification, research, and knowledge dissemination.

The MoU was signed on the sidelines of the 2026 IsDB Group Annual Meetings, held from 16-19 June in Baku, Azerbaijan. The partnership seeks to leverage the complementary strengths of both organizations to promote excellence in Islamic finance education and professional development in Tanzania, while contributing to the broader objectives of sustainable and inclusive economic development beyond IsDB Member Countries.

 

As Tanzania is not an IsDB Member Country, the MoU allows the IsDBI and CIFCA to explore cooperation on a range of human capital programs that serve the Muslim community and contribute to the progress of the Tanzanian economy at large.

 

CIFCA plays an important role in accelerating financial inclusion and driving the development of Shariah-compliant financial systems across Tanzania. Endorsed by the Government of Tanzania as an Islamic finance advisory body, CIFCA collaborates with key entities like the Bank of Tanzania, and the Capital Markets and Securities Authority. It facilitated the launch of landmark projects, including checking and certifying major public Sukuk listings on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. Furthermore, CIFCA also offers professional certifications and training programs to build local academic and professional capacity.

Human capital remains one of the most critical pillars for the sustainable growth of Islamic finance

 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDB Institute, emphasized the importance of investing in talent and knowledge as key enablers of a vibrant Islamic finance ecosystem. He said, “Human capital remains one of the most critical pillars for the sustainable growth of Islamic finance. Through this partnership, we look forward to working closely with CIFCA to promote knowledge, professional excellence, and innovation that can enhance the developmental impact of Islamic finance.”

 

Mr. Aref Mbarak Nahdi, Chairman of CIFCA highlighted the significance of the collaboration in fostering globally recognized professional standards and competencies within the industry. “This partnership reflects our shared commitment to nurturing future leaders and practitioners who can contribute meaningfully to the continued advancement of Islamic finance and its role in addressing contemporary economic and social challenges,” he noted.

 

The collaboration aligns with the strategic priorities of both institutions to support the development of robust, ethical, and inclusive financial systems grounded in the principles and values of Islamic finance.

 

As Islamic finance continues to expand across diverse markets, the partnership is expected to contribute to the development of skilled professionals, enhanced institutional capacity, and greater knowledge exchange that will ultimately strengthen the industry’s ability to serve society and promote sustainable prosperity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI).

 

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