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Beijing E-Town Builds an Internationally Leading Demonstration City for Embodied Intelligent Robot Industry

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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 28 August 2024 – As a pioneer in high-quality development for the new era, Beijing E-Town (BDA) is seizing the opportunity to lead the development of the embodied intelligent robot industry. The plan is to build a domestically leading and internationally first-class demonstration city for the embodied intelligent robot industry in two steps.

“By the end of 2026, we aim to achieve full coverage of over ten interactive service application scenarios, attract more than 100 innovative enterprises, gather over 1,000 high-end talents, and reach a mass production capacity of 10,000 embodied intelligent robots. By 2030, we plan to create an embodied intelligent robot innovation ecosystem characterized by ‘full-chain layout, full-stack autonomy, and comprehensive empowerment,’ establishing Beijing as a strategic base, a technological origin, an application demonstration, and a main industrial hub for embodied intelligent robots in China,” stated Kong Lei, Deputy Secretary of the Party Working Committee and Director of the Administrative Committee of the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA), during the main forum on “Industrial Development” at the World Robot Conference 2024 (WRC 2024) on August 22.

To achieve the development goals of the demonstration city, Beijing E-Town will implement the “Five Priorities” plan. In terms of advancing key technologies, Beijing E-Town will focus on critical areas such as the “brain,” “cerebellum,” and “limbs” of embodied intelligent robots. It will support key enterprises in strengthening collaborative research on disruptive and leading technologies, accelerate the construction of an innovative industrial technology system, and seize the high ground in embodied intelligent robot technology.

To this end, Beijing E-Town will create an internationally competitive embodied intelligent “brain,” supporting robot companies in collaboration with AI enterprises to conduct research on key technologies of general-purpose large models in the field of embodied intelligent robots. It aims to develop an AI-based general-purpose model that integrates perception, decision-making, and control, achieving internationally advanced levels in task decomposition, execution task quantity, parameter quantity, and robot task capabilities.

Simultaneously, it will develop a globally leading motion control “cerebellum,” accelerate the development of full-body dynamics control algorithms for embodied intelligent robots, continuously improve the control accuracy of high-dynamic walking, and focus on breakthroughs in key technologies such as dynamic arm grasping, agile operations, and full-body coordinated motion control. Furthermore, it will expedite breakthroughs in integrated hardware-software visual technology.

Additionally, the initiative will deepen the systematic layout of critical “machine limbs,” engage in specialized R&D on high-strength, high-integration bodies, lightweight skeletons, high-precision sensors, and more to achieve internationally leading performance parameters. It will focus on critical components like high-performance dedicated chips, servo motors, and reducers to accelerate core technology breakthroughs, continuously improve the technical innovation system, build an efficient collaborative joint research mechanism, and encourage leading enterprises to form innovative consortia, leading upstream and downstream institutions in collaborative research.

Regarding core product advancements, Beijing E-Town will prioritize key products such as whole machines, core components, and software systems, accelerating the industrialization breakthrough of several essential foundational products, and constructing a three-dimensional product matrix of “whole-zero coordination” and “software-hardware integration.” In April this year, the general-purpose humanoid robot platform “Tiangong” was launched in Beijing E-Town, achieving the world’s first humanoid running with a full-sized pure electric humanoid robot.

Continuing to lead the industry, Beijing E-Town aims to develop high-performance whole machine products, establish the world’s first general-purpose embodied intelligent robot “hardware mother platform” and the first multi-capability embodied intelligent “software mother platform.” It will focus on typical fields such as 3C electronics manufacturing and new energy vehicle production, encouraging leading enterprises to develop low-cost interactive, high-precision, and high-reliability embodied intelligent robot whole machine products for extreme environments.

Moreover, it will guide enterprises in focusing on key components such as dedicated sensors, high power density actuators, controllers, and dedicated chips. Additionally, leveraging the leading role of the innovation highland in the information technology application innovation industry, it will develop a specialized operating system for embodied intelligent robots, and expedite the industrialization breakthrough of several essential foundational products.

From innovative achievements to practical implementation, application scenarios have always been a strong suit of Beijing E-Town. At the Xiaomi automobile factory, over 700 robots serve on the production line, and the country’s first certified AI catering robot has been deployed on the streets; the waterjet surgical robot won the 2024 World Intellectual Property Organization Global Award… “Robotics+” has become the norm here.

Moving forward, Beijing E-Town will advance the “first in application scenarios” strategy, leveraging its strong manufacturing base and diverse industrial application scenarios. It will explore the establishment of a composite layout for embodied intelligent robot applications in urban and industrial settings, take the lead in opening a batch of innovative application scenarios, continuously promote the matching of supply and demand in these scenarios, create a permanent robot exhibition hall, and build a city-level engineering test field. By increasing incentives for first-time applications and solutions, Beijing E-Town aims to provide strong support for the rapid deployment of “embodied intelligent robot+” application scenarios.

The area will precisely identify the needs of various fields such as manufacturing, livelihood, special equipment, and more, conducting application demonstrations in “embodied intelligent robots + industry,” “embodied intelligent robots + elderly care,” “embodied intelligent robots + emergency response,” “embodied intelligent robots + education and entertainment,” and “embodied intelligent robots + specialized fields.”

In terms of “leading” in the corporate hierarchy, Beijing E-Town will focus on nurturing leading enterprises in the embodied intelligent robot industry, supporting a group of companies that play a leading role in the embodied intelligent robot industry chain. It will gather leading enterprises with core technologies and independent intellectual property rights and cultivate innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting the integrated development of large, medium, and small enterprises and fostering the growth of embodied intelligent robot companies.

Beijing E-Town will also implement an “industry ecosystem pioneering” plan, closely aligning with the entire development needs of the industry chain, enhancing data, platforms, services, and capital resources, and continuously creating an environment that attracts talent from near and far. The goal is to build the largest and most information-dense open-source embodied intelligent dataset in the industry, a phased open-source sharing model, and a “rainforest-style” full-industry-chain ecosystem for embodied intelligent robots characterized by “resource coordination, element aggregation, and innovative collaboration.”

Kong Lei explained that, as the permanent venue for the World Robot Conference, Beijing E-Town has established the “Five Ones” working mechanism: “one park, a batch of platforms, one center, one fund, and a group of talents,” to accelerate the construction of a national hub for the robotics industry.

At last year’s World Robot Conference, Beijing E-Town released a three-year action plan for high-quality development of the robotics industry. Guided by this plan, Beijing E-Town has accelerated the aggregation of innovative elements, significantly improved innovation capabilities, fully released innovative vitality, and continuously strengthened innovation entities.

To date, it has more than 100 robot ecosystem enterprises, over half of which are specialized and innovative enterprises, with a total output value of nearly 10 billion yuan, accounting for 50% of the city’s robotics industry. It has achieved independent control over key components such as precision reducers and high-performance servo starters and made innovative breakthroughs in products like specialized intelligent drilling machines.

Particularly in the embodied intelligent robot industry, Beijing E-Town has focused on building high-energy innovation platforms represented by the Beijing Embodied Intelligence Robot Innovation Center and has established leading companies such as UBTECH, along with key component companies like Chietcom, Tsino-Dynatron, and Lingzu Times, essentially forming a complete embodied intelligent robot industry chain that covers core components, main bodies, and applications.

Kong Lei stated that as the main hub for high-end industries in Beijing, Beijing E-Town has established the “44637” development framework, which includes four national strategies as its guidance (focused on building a national highland for the integrated circuit industry, continuously creating the world’s first high-level autonomous driving demonstration zone, constructing a high-quality national information technology application innovation base, and establishing the country’s first data infrastructure pilot zone at a high standard). It also consolidates and strengthens four leading industries (new-generation information technology, new energy and intelligent connected vehicles, biotechnology and big health, robotics and intelligent manufacturing), comprehensively deploys six future industries (future information, future health, future manufacturing, future energy, future materials, and future space), enhances three integration empowerments (digital-physical integration, industrial-financial integration, and cultural-scientific integration), and builds seven support systems (industrial organization, innovation cultivation, resource guarantee, talent services, open collaboration, urban vitality, and party leadership).

Moving forward, Beijing E-Town will consistently adhere to the principle that “what the country needs is what E-Town will do, what enterprises need is what E-Town will facilitate, and what talent needs is what E-Town will provide.” With a more open stance, more precise policies, more efficient services, higher-quality ecosystems, and a more sustainable environment, Beijing E-Town aims to provide comprehensive, full-process, and all-element support for talent investment, business development, and enterprise innovation.

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South Sudan Targets New Energy Investment as African Financing Options Expand

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The launch of the Africa Energy Bank, regional banking partnerships and upstream exploration activity bring new financing opportunities into focus at SSOP 2026

JUBA, South Sudan, November 9, 2026/APO Group/ –South Sudan is seeking new investment to expand oil production, develop exploration acreage and strengthen petroleum infrastructure as African financial institutions increase their focus on energy project financing. With 14 exploration blocks available and plans to raise crude output from approximately 174,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 230,000 bpd in the near term, the country is targeting capital for both new developments and existing producing assets.

 




  

The upcoming South Sudan Oil & Power (SSOP) conference – scheduled for November 24-25, 2026, in Juba – will serve as the premier venue for investors, development finance institutions (DFIs) and project developers to structure funding, forge partnerships and allocate capital across the nation’s evolving energy value chain.

South Sudan Advances Upstream, Infrastructure Opportunities  

South Sudan’s investment pipeline spans exploration, enhanced oil recovery, refining, crude transportation and power infrastructure. With an estimated 3.5 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, the country is seeking to attract new operators and technical partners to develop available acreage while improving production efficiency across mature fields.

Regional national oil companies are already advancing exploration activities. The South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC), through its subsidiary Strategic Fuel Fund, holds a 90% interest in Block B2 alongside national oil company Nile Petroleum Corporation (Nilepet). SANPC is preparing further exploration work, including a planned 2D seismic campaign, creating opportunities for geophysical contractors, equipment suppliers and technical service providers.

Nilepet is also pursuing investment in downstream infrastructure, including a proposed 350-kilometre crude pipeline connecting the Tharjiath oilfields in Block 5A with the Paloch oilfields in Blocks 3 and 7. The company is seeking strategic investment partnerships for refinery development and the pipeline project, alongside plans to expand fuel storage, distribution and LPG infrastructure.

Development Finance Expands Investment Options 

The formal establishment of the Africa Energy Bank on October 31, 2026, marks a significant development in regional energy financing. Created by the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation and Afreximbank, the institution has $5 billion in authorized capital and is expected to begin financing projects in 2027.

The bank aims to address funding gaps across Africa’s oil and gas sector, with an initial focus on regional infrastructure, including pipelines, refining and domestic energy development. Its establishment could create additional financing options for South Sudan’s petroleum projects, although no funding commitments to the country have been announced.

Beyond the AEB, development finance institutions are already supporting South Sudan’s wider energy infrastructure. The World Bank is financing the $53 million South Sudan Energy Sector Access and Institutional Strengthening Project, which includes grid expansion in Juba and support for decentralized electrification. Meanwhile, the African Development Bank Group has approved $153.66 million in financing for the Uganda–South Sudan electricity interconnection project, supporting regional power trade and improved electricity access.

Afreximbank also maintains a trade finance partnership with South Sudan’s Kush Bank, which was appointed as an intermediary in 2023. The arrangement provides a framework for trade finance instruments, including letters of credit and bank guarantees, that can support equipment imports and commercial activity. Access to these instruments could benefit domestic suppliers and service companies participating in the energy sector.

SSOP 2026 Connects Energy Projects with Global Capital 

As South Sudan seeks to accelerate production growth and expand its energy infrastructure, SSOP 2026 will provide a platform to connect priority projects with regional and international financiers.

Returning as the country’s official energy investment platform, the conference will bring together government representatives, national and international oil companies, development finance institutions, commercial banks, private investors and technology providers to explore financing structures, investment partnerships and project development opportunities.

Held under the theme Resource Renaissance – Energy-Fueled Growth for a New Generation, SSOP 2026 will focus on mobilizing capital across exploration, production optimization, refining, petroleum transportation and power infrastructure, supporting South Sudan’s efforts to translate its energy resources into commercial development.

For more information, visit https://SouthSudanOilPower.com/.

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

 




 

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Zambia–Lobito Railway Moves Towards Financial Close as President Hichilema Meets Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Leadership

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Project advances towards financing with preferred EPC bidders selected and letters of intent covering approximately 2 million tonnes a year signed

LUSAKA, Zambia, November 6, 2026/APO Group/ –His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, has received a delegation from Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), led by its President and Chief Executive Officer, Samaila Zubairu, to review progress on the Zambia–Lobito Railway Project. AFC, the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, is the lead sponsor and developer of the project.

The approximately 830-kilometre railway will connect Chingola in Zambia’s Copperbelt to Luacano in Angola, where it will link with the existing Benguela Railway and provide direct access to the Atlantic Ocean through the Port of Lobito.

 




 
 

A strategic component of the broader Lobito Corridor initiative, the project has reached several important development milestones. AFC last month announced preferred bidders for the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the Angolan and Zambian sections, following an international competitive tender. The project has also signed memoranda of understanding and letters of intent with prospective railway users covering approximately 2 million tonnes of freight a year.

Every tonne that leaves Zambia unprocessed takes jobs away with it

In addition to providing a direct Atlantic export route for Zambia’s copper and critical minerals, the project is being developed as an integrated economic corridor supporting agricultural exports, petroleum logistics, manufacturing and regional trade. Transit from the Copperbelt to the Port of Lobito is expected to take approximately seven days.

The project’s commercial strategy targets approximately 5 million tonnes of annual freight at steady state, comprising petroleum products, agricultural commodities, copper, cobalt, zinc and other industrial cargo. AFC is targeting financial close in 2027.

Discussions focused on continued collaboration between AFC and the Government of Zambia on the project’s next steps, including the railway’s right of way and land for associated agricultural, petroleum and freight-handling facilities. The meeting also considered rail sector policy measures to support the corridor’s long-term competitiveness, including integration with the Zambia Railways network and the Chingola–Ndola line.

President Hichilema reaffirmed the railway’s importance to Zambia’s economic development and regional integration. He said: “The Zambia–Lobito Railway is central to our vision of transforming Zambia into a competitive regional hub for trade, manufacturing, agriculture and mineral value addition. By connecting our productive sectors to international markets more efficiently, we can reduce logistics costs, attract investment and create jobs. We welcome AFC’s progress and will continue working closely together to advance this strategic project.”

Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said: “Every tonne that leaves Zambia unprocessed takes jobs away with it. This railway changes that. Starting in Chingola, it gives Zambia a seven-day route to the Atlantic and every reason to process, manufacture and add value at home. With preferred EPC bidders selected and strong interest from freight users, we are now working with the Governments of Zambia and Angola, the African Development Bank, the Government of Italy and our other partners to reach financial close. We are building a railway. Zambia will build an economy on it.”

AFC continues to work with the Governments of Angola and Zambia, the European Union, the United States Government, the Government of Italy and the African Development Bank, alongside Italian development finance institution CDP and Italian export credit agency SACE, to bring the Zambia–Lobito Railway into construction.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

 




 

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Mukuru Partners with Flash to Add 170,000 Cash Pay-in Points Across South Africa

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New partnership brings remittance payments into township, peri-urban and rural spaza shops nationwide

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, November 6, 2026/APO Group/ –Mukuru (www.Mukuru.com), a leading financial services provider, has partnered with Flash, a payments technology company with an extensive network of spaza shops across South Africa, adding 170,000 cash pay-in points where customers can now pay for their Mukuru remittance orders. The network includes Flash’s broader merchant footprint, giving Mukuru access to locations through Flash and its partner networks. These new locations are now operational, reducing the time and distance many customers currently travel to make a payment.

Previously, customers often had to travel to banks or dedicated payment outlets to pay for their Mukuru orders. Now, they can simply visit a spaza shop close to home, work or where they usually shop.

For people in townships, peri-urban and rural areas who rely on cash and have traditionally had limited access to formal pay-in points, particularly South Africa’s migrant communities, this change removes a real barrier and makes it easier to send money home. With these pay-in points inside spaza shops, Mukuru’s services become part of places people already go, meaning fewer extra trips and more timely payments.

Every additional pay-in point represents one less barrier for a customer trying to send money home

“Every additional pay-in point represents one less barrier for a customer trying to send money home,” said Erone Kyte, Commercial Manager: Cross-Border Remittances at Mukuru. “Our partnership with Flash gives us the scale to bring Mukuru’s services into the everyday spaces our customers already know and trust. It’s a meaningful step in making remittances simpler, more accessible and genuinely closer to the communities we serve.”

For Mukuru, working with Flash means reaching even more customers in underserved urban, township, and rural areas. By leveraging Flash’s established network, Mukuru can now offer cash pay-in options where they didn’t exist before. The expanded network is expected to help more people access Mukuru’s services, support growth in its South African customer base, and make cross-border payments more convenient.

Rens Rezelman, General Manager for Flash’s Merchant Division, commented, “Flash works to bridge the digital product and payments gap between businesses and consumers across the country. Launching Mukuru across our network presents another opportunity to bring a familiar brand closer to the people who need it most.”

The sector is now recognised as a R750 billion  industry. According to data tracked by Trade Intelligence, total turnover recently reached R197 billion, growing at roughly 15% annually. Research confirms that traditional trade and spaza shops are growing faster than large supermarket chains, with almost 80% of South African households shopping at these traditional trade outlets regularly. (https://apo-opa.co/4iDwZr8) Bringing Mukuru payments to these stores is a natural fit and helps shop owners draw in more customers and offer more services to their communities. Mukuru and Flash will build awareness of the new pay-in option through store, digital, and community promotions in the coming months.

This partnership is part of Mukuru’s ongoing drive to make cash pay-ins easier and improve access to remittance services for people living and working in areas with limited formal financial services. Over the past two years, the company has made similar moves to make its payment network bigger and more accessible across the region.

Mukuru customers looking to pay closer to home can easily find their nearest participating Flash pay-in point using the Mukuru app or website.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mukuru.

 

 




 

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