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BMW Designworks Helped Bring the Fast-Paced and Sporty Motorsport Lifestyle Alive in TECNO Spark 9 Pro Sport Edition

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TECNO

Designers from this innovation studio of the BMW Group recently shared how design language differentiates this new smartphone – TECNO SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition, and how key elements highlight the personality of its young users

HONG KONG, Hong Kong, October 19, 2022/APO Group/ — 

TECNO (www.TECNO-Mobile.com), a stylish and fashionable tech brand, recently released another masterpiece that furthers its efforts on its fashion tech brand path – the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition designed by Designworks, a BMW group company.

With its dynamic and distinctive design, as well as its vibrant color palette, the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition became an instant hit among the young and passionate trend-setters who always seek to show their unique personality and style to elevate themselves from the crowd.

Thanks to BMW Designworks’ future-oriented design, new elements of cross-industry design collide in this phone and are reflected in its colors, materials and finishes. Combining the design language of vitality and strength, as well as first-class automobile design experience, the Sport Edition was built to be an icon of young and trendy culture, while also providing sheer selfie pleasure and extraordinary user experience with its 32MP front camera, MediaTek Helio G85 chipset and the 6.6″ 1080P Full HD large screen.

“Working together with a company like TECNO is inspiring because it gives us the opportunity to focus on another user experience – the smartphone –  that has become essential to our everyday lives, and is now so embedded in, and connected to our mobility infrastructure.” said Andre De Salis, Creative Director, Industrial Design at Designworks.

Meeting Yearn For Speed With Future-Oriented Philosophy

Central to BMW Designworks’ philosophy in this design task is to predict the future by creating it. Based on Andre De Salis’ insight into the current state of society and young people, nowadays the youth generation are active and on the move as the world rapidly changes, “It’s much like the fast-paced and sporty motorsport lifestyle. ” He said.

To meet the needs of the youth even the impulse that they themselves may not even be aware of, the Designworks creatives designed the Sport Edition with a look that reflects today’s changeable and flexible consumers, and their quest for change and speed, or rather efficiency.

“Crisp edges and dynamic angles give the appearance of speed and sportiness – creating an energetic and unapologetic design language,” highlighted Cheryl Pelly, Lead Designer, CMF Design at Designworks.

Another manifestation of the future-oriented design in this model is the choice of color scheme, which features youthful blue and pure white.

Crisp edges and dynamic angles give the appearance of speed and sportiness – creating an energetic and unapologetic design language

“Something we drew inspiration from was the idea of an icy crystal talisman,” said Sandy McGill, Lead Designer, CMF Design at Designworks. “Recalling the power and drama of the superhero, while also using a bold and bright blue color to express elements of the metaverse, both representing peak futuristic abilities and the SPARK core principle of endless possibility.” she added.

Feeling the Power of Performance through Dynamic Elements

Another distinct feature of the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition is an intricate and unique triangular texture. As Sandy McGill explained, the triangles are intentionally dynamic and multi-dimensional, to create a graphic that looks alive and in motion.

These external features were designed to reveal the story of the phone’s internal capabilities and diverse functionality. The SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition sports an extraordinary 32MP ultra-clear front camera and a 50MP back camera, both equipped with cutting-edge AI image optimization and restoration tools for ultra-clear and intelligent photographic experience. It is also empowered by MediaTek Helio G85 Chip Engine, a generous 5000 mAh battery and 18W flash charger to provide powerful and smooth using experiences.

“With the dynamic and energetic elements, the story of the Sport Edition can shine through at a glance, revealing the features of high performance of this superior device.” Cheryl Pelly highlighted. Through these elements, the phone parallels the speed and stability of a sports car.

Manifesting the Bold and Passionate Youth Self Through Distinctive Details

Gen-Z demographic prizes unique, distinct design features that are not only trendy, but also boldly express their personality to the world. As BMW Designworks’ designers have discovered, although there is a difference in scale, both smartphones and cars are extremely personal to their users. Users not only form close, emotional relationships with them, but also express themselves through them.

Creating those opportunities for them to do so naturally became a key emphasis in the SPARK 9 Pro Sport Edition.

“By adding distinctive colors to the edge of the camera lens, this phone ensures that the phone’s unique design is visible at all times.” said Cheryl Pelly.

The unique and outstanding design of the SPARK 9 Pro Edition plays strongly on the current trend of freely expressing who individuals want themselves to be. It is also a notch up from earlier SPARK models, offering users not just an eye-catching color palette or premium textures, but a highly individualistic design exclusive that appeals to young users interested in a vibrant and trendy aesthetic. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TECNO Mobile.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Sonangol

Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

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