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CANEX WKND 2024 concludes in Algiers with over US $540 million in deals committed

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CANEX WKND

The vibrant, four-day event convened 108 exhibitors, 11 masterclasses and close to 4,000 attendees from across 81 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora – featuring creatives, industry leaders, and policymakers

ALGIERS, Algeria, October 28, 2024/APO Group/ — 

The second edition of the Creative Africa Nexus Weekend (CANEX WKND 2024) has drawn to a close in Algiers, Algeria. The vibrant, four-day event convened 108 exhibitors, 11 masterclasses and close to 4,000 attendees from across 81 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the diaspora – featuring creatives, industry leaders, and policymakers.

Participants enjoyed a rich and varied programme of activities, which included live performances, masterclasses, panel discussions, and showcases across sectors such as fashion, music, sports, film, visual arts, and gastronomy. As this year’s edition closes, focus now shifts to the 4th edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) to be held from 4-10 September 2025, in Algiers and expected to attract some 35,000 participants from around the world, offering a new backdrop for the continued expansion and celebration of Africa’s creative industries.

In her closing statement, Executive Vice President for Intra-African Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, Mrs Kanayo Awani, said:

“We commend the Government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria for their commitment to making CANEX WKND 2024 a success. Local participation has been exceptional, setting an exciting stage for IATF 2025 in Algiers. CANEX WKND’s mission has always been to highlight the vast market opportunities within Africa’s creative industry and to nurture their economic potential. We are grateful for the partnerships and deals formed here, and we look forward to continuing this work of exposing our different creative prowess across Africa and the world.”

Among CANEX WKND 2024’s most significant outcomes were deals totaling USD $540 million that were facilitated and agreed. Key among these was a EUR 245 million global facility agreement with New World Television (NWTV) to part-finance the network’s acquisition of media licensing rights for sports broadcasting across 24 African countries. In addition, Afreximbank announced $3 million facility with Mediwood Studios, designed to support the company’s efforts to expand the Tunisian film industry, further positioning the country as a hub for creative production.

These deals reflect Afreximbank’s steadfast commitment to investing in Africa’s creative industries, key drivers of economic growth and employment on the continent, particularly for women and young people.

We are grateful for the partnerships and deals formed here, and we look forward to continuing this work of exposing our different creative prowess across Africa and the world

Reflecting on the outcomes of the event during the event wrap up press conference, MrNassim Mohan Amer, Director of International Cooperation, Algeria, noted that CANEX presented a wonderful opportunity for African creators and innovators as it exposes them to the continent beyond their national borders and further accelerates the vision for AfCFTA’ s intra African trade agenda. He continued that Algeria, having hosted the CANEX WKND 2024 will have learnt a lot as it prepares to host the 4th edition of the IATF 2025, expecting to eclipse expectations and enhance Algeria – Africa trade.

Mr. Ismail Inezarene, Director of Cultural and Artistic Promotion, Algeria, also commended Afreximbank’s partnership with Algeria terming it as a collaboration ‘suited to the needs of the future of Africa – the youth’. Whilst highlighting a remarkable 81 countries that were represented at the event, Mr. Inezarene reassured IATF 2025 attendees and the Algerian public of a more concise collaboration and a seamless participation.

Throughout this year’s CANEX WKND, participants engaged in wide-ranging discussions and collaborations on pivotal topics — from intellectual property rights and market access to the need for policy and regulatory reforms that accelerate the growth of Africa’s creative sectors. The event also provided a platform for capacity building through technical programmes and networking opportunities, enabling African creatives to access new global markets and leverage new partnerships.

For the first time, CANEX Weekend also featured a Ministerial Roundtable, where Ministers from Africa and the Caribbean supported by African Union Commission, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat addressed the opportunities and challenges facing Global Africa’s cultural and creative industries (CCIs). Keynotes by the Africa Union Commission’s Amb. Minata Samate Cessouma, and H.E. Wamkele Mene, the Secretary General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, as well as Afreximbank’s Mrs. Kanayo Awani and other leaders underscored the economic and cultural value of CCIs, particularly for African and Caribbean youth. The roundtable advanced CANEX strategies to mobilize financing, enhance CCI growth, and foster policy-stakeholder collaboration for implementing the AU Plan of Action on CCIs.

CANEX WKND 2024 also showcased key initiatives, including the CANEX Prize for Publishing in Africa, awarded to Cassava Republic Press for Female Fear Factory by Pumla Dineo Gqola. Praised for its impactful cover, elegant layout, and feminist insights, the book powerfully examines patriarchal violence and offers a hopeful feminist perspective.

CANEX Shorts, a film competition for young African and Diaspora filmmakers, honoured three winners: Francis Y. Brown from Ghana for Room – 5, Brian Obra from Kenya for We Shall Not Forget, and Thomas Mpoeleng from Botswana for Silent Screams. Selected from 147 entries, each winner received a cash prize.

In a “CANEX Presents the Angels” pitch session, angel investors committed $350,000 to support three creative businesses. Leading investor Moji Hunponu-Wusu pledged $250,000 to Cameroonian designer Kibonen Nfi, with an additional $100,000 from a consortium investing in pitches from Zimbabwean Pam Samasuwo-Nyawiri and Thulani Ngazimbi, as well as Kibonen Nfi.

For more information on the concluded CANEX event:

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Energy

Venezuela Energy Week Confirms 19 August Date for Houston Industry Showcase

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Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August, convening U.S. energy leaders ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The organizers of Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) have confirmed that the Houston Industry Showcase will take place on 19 August 2026 at The Post Oak Hotel. Officially supported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA, the event will bring together U.S. energy companies, investors and policymakers to explore commercial opportunities ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas in February.

The showcase will feature Minister of Hydrocarbons Paula Henao as a keynote speaker, providing an update on Venezuela’s energy priorities, investment agenda and opportunities for international partnership. Her participation underscores the country’s commitment to strengthening engagement with global industry as it seeks to expand production and unlock new upstream investment.

Bringing together exploration and production companies, independent operators, oilfield service providers, engineering firms, technology companies and financial institutions, the Houston Industry Showcase will examine opportunities across exploration, production optimization, infrastructure rehabilitation and field development.

As Venezuela works to increase oil and gas production, demand is expected to grow for the technical expertise of U.S. service providers in drilling, well intervention, completion services, production optimization, artificial lift, digital oilfield technologies and infrastructure rehabilitation. Houston-based industry leaders – including SLB, Halliburton, Baker Hughes, Weatherford and a broad network of EPC contractors, equipment manufacturers and specialized service companies – are well positioned to support the modernization of mature fields, improve operational efficiency and deliver the technologies and services needed for future upstream projects.

The Houston event follows a successful Industry Showcase in London, which brought together international investors, operators and energy service companies to explore Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape. Building on that momentum, the Houston edition will deepen engagement with the U.S. energy industry and strengthen commercial dialogue ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2027.

Venezuela Energy Week – the country’s largest energy investment platform to date – has been confirmed for 22–25 February 2027 in Caracas. Organized by Energy Capital & Power, the event will bring together government leaders, investors and industry stakeholders from across the global energy value chain.

To register for the Houston Industry Showcase on August 19, visit https://apo-opa.co/4g0TncR. To learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities for the showcase or to secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 in Caracas, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery
Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/4hkvteE).

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

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Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) Secures New Patent for Smart Stabilization System from Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

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IsDBI

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Institute (IsDBI) (https://IsDBInstitute.org) is pleased to announce that the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has granted a new patent for its innovative Smart Stabilization System.

 

The patent was granted on 10 July 2026 under Singapore Patent No. 10202250873B for the invention titled “A Computer Network Stabilization System and Method.” The patent application was filed on 1 September 2022 and was formally granted following a comprehensive review process.

This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development

The Smart Stabilization System is a pioneering digital market infrastructure designed to stabilize asset markets by intelligently managing supply-demand gaps and mitigating excessive volatility. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms and advanced simulation models, the system is designed to anticipate supply and demand imbalances and implement programmable stabilization measures before they escalate into market disruptions.

Unlike traditional stabilization mechanisms that rely on capital reserves, buffer funds, or external interventions, the Smart Stabilization System introduces a next-generation framework for achieving autonomous market stabilization through proactive and programmed stabilization mechanisms. By incorporating distributed ledger technology and cryptographic trust mechanisms, the platform enhances transparency, trust, and operational resilience for digital asset and commodity markets.

The successful patent grant reflects IsDBI’s growing contribution to technological innovation and its commitment to developing knowledge-based solutions that address contemporary economic and development challenges.

Since filing the patent application back in 2022, the Institute has continued to advance the Smart Stabilization System through ongoing development and testing, aimed to expand its practical applications and support future capitalization opportunities. These advancements have positioned the system as a potentially transformative solution for enhancing stability and resilience in increasingly digital and interconnected economies.

Commenting on this occasion, Dr. Sami Al-Suwailem, Acting Director General of IsDBI, said, “The grant of this patent by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore further strengthens the Institute’s position as a leader in developing innovative knowledge-based solutions that leverage modern technologies to address complex development challenges. This achievement reflects our commitment to translating pioneering research into practical solutions that contribute to economic resilience and sustainable development.”

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

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Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

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The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 

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