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Botswana innovator Sarah Molema has been shortlisted for the Aurora Tech Award 2024

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Aurora Tech Award 2024

Aurora Tech Award 2024 Shortlist recognizes women founders challenging gender inequality in IT; Winners will be announced on International Women’s Day 2024

GABORONE, Botswana, January 24, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Sarah Molema, the innovative founder of Deaftronics (Pty) Ltd in Botswana, has been shortlisted for the 2024 Aurora Tech Award, a prestigious accolade honoring women founders combating gender inequality in the tech industry. Chosen from 649 applicants, Molema’s inclusion as one of the 20 global finalists not only highlights her personal achievements but also signifies Botswana’s growing impact in the technological world. Her leadership at Deaftronics is pioneering in aiding the deaf community, driven by a strong belief in their right to unhindered access. This recognition is a testament to her significant contributions and a proud moment for Botswana.

Founded in 2020 by inDrive, a US-headquartered global mobility and urban services platform, the Award supports women entrepreneurs who are using technology to develop their communities, with the overarching goal of challenging gender inequality in IT.

Ekaterina Smirnova, Executive Director of the Aurora Tech Award, remarked, “Our venture capital partners have meticulously evaluated each of these submissions, which showcase the increasing participation of women IT leaders who are enhancing the quality of life in their communities, despite the challenges. This year’s Awards celebrate the work of these founders, and highlight both the diversity of projects and the vital role of local role models in inspiring change. The inDrive team passionately advocates for gender equality in IT. We are proud to recognize and support women through awards that honor their achievements, and actively promote their impactful contributions.”

Molema’s inclusion as one of the 20 global finalists not only highlights her personal achievements but also signifies Botswana’s growing impact in the technological world

Three cash prizes will be awarded to the winners: $30,000, $20,000 and $10,000 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively. In addition to the prizes, the entrepreneurs will gain access to the driver mentorship program.

The winners of the 2024 Award will be announced at an online ceremony on March 8th, 2024 at www.AuroraTechAward.com. Please register here (https://apo-opa.co/3UbzLti) to watch the ceremony.

Aurora Tech Award 2024 shortlist

  1. Daniella Castro from Brazil: leader of Huna, a startup focused on the development of cutting-edge AI models for the early detection of chronic diseases in women.
  2. Marwa Hage from Colombia: her startup, Munily App, uses software to create secure and connected communities.
  3. Candace Chen from Taiwan: CEO & founder of Fluv, a pet care marketplace for urban pet parents in Asia.
  4. Joselyne Del Rosario from Ecuador:her startup, DREx, is developing a platform that unlocks the potential of sustainable finance, avoiding E.S.G. greenwashing practices, and building in  traceability and transparency.
  5. Nadejda Anpilogova from Kazakhstan: co-founder of Your Accessible Guide, an ecosystem of inclusive digital products designed to develop accessible tourism for people with disabilities and special needs.
  6. Maria Dmitrieva, based in Kazakhstan: CEO & co-founder of EcoDisclosure, a premier company revolutionizing the way businesses approach environmental, social, governance (ESG) scoring and disclosure.
  7. Sandra Montes Pérez from Spain: with the ScrapAd startup, a marketplace platform for recyclable materials.
  8. Paula Monticelli from Argentina: through her startup, CryptoMate, she wants to improve access to web3 with innovative digital solutions.
  9. Rim Jourdan from UAE: her startup, Skatch, is a professional platform for blue and gray-collar workers. Focusing on the MEA region, Skatch aims to help technicians, workers, vendors or other professionals with lower education levels to secure jobs, and upskill through AI, gaming and community building.
  10. Aidana Aituarova from Kazakhstan: as founder of Porte Tech, she contributes to the sustainable development of her hometown. Her company’s ESG-friendly web application with automated “key to all doors” helps to reduce financial and time costs by integrating RFID cards, parking remotes, paper passes and magnets in one application.
  11. Hannah Töpler from Mexico: founder and CEO of Intrare, a social tech that builds proprietary AI to eliminate bias from recruitment. Intrare’s mission is to match millions of refugees, marginalized women, LGBTIQ+, and other diverse talents with fair jobs, to break the poverty cycle.
  12. Firouza Eshonova from Uzbekistan: creator of Mila4AI, an app that aids those with speech disorders to improve their speaking ability. The app employs AI to prescribe oral motor and articulation exercises without needing a therapist present during their treatment, giving those who live in places that lack access to speech therapists an opportunity to improve their condition.
  13. Assem Tazhiyeva from Kazakhstan: founder of Ozim Platform, a social project dedicated to supporting families with children who have special needs, by connecting them with research-based educational and psychological resources.
  14. Aira Mongush from Cyprus: her startup, Mathhub, seeks to create global high value deep tech projects, building accessible tech education and reinforcement Learning and Group theory applications in Machine Learning Research.
  15. Chinwendu Nweke from Nigeria: founder of Bridge Merchant Enterprises. Her vision is to see world hunger and poverty eradicated using technology and people-empowered solutions.
  16. Alena Shchavleva based in Indonesia: founder of Effelp, a startup that matches up  a patient’s needs for help and support with the resources available in his/her surroundings.
  17. Megan Lam from Hong Kong:  co-founder & CEO at Neurum Health. She is excited about meaningful changes in mind and lifestyle health.
  18. Jasmijn Kok from Netherlands:  founder of Nina.care, a database of reliable and loving nannies and au pairs. Her super-fast app arranges everything in no time. 
  19. Folake Owodunni from Nigeria: her startup, Emergency Response Africa, is dedicated to making healthcare accessible in Africa.

The panel of judges will include prominent female IT entrepreneurs, the winners of last year’s Aurora Tech Award, and key industry experts. Prominent members of the jury include Ms. Sadaf Abid, a social entrepreneur and CEO of Kashf Foundation (Pakistan); Leonor Cogneau, Head of User Experience at Carsome (Malaysia); Mai Medhat, CEO and co-founder of Eventtus (Egypt); Charlot Magayi Founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves (Kenya); Sullyen Almeida, Principal at monashees;  and Tatyana Terentyeva, General Counsel at inDrive.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of inDrive.

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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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