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Canon Central and North Africa Unveils Groundbreaking Technology with Immersive Experience at GITEX Africa 2024

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Canon’s participation in GITEX Africa is a testament to the company’s commitment to getting closer to its customers and bringing cutting-edge technology with hands-on experience

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 30, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Canon Central and North Africa (www.Canon-CNA.com), a global leader in imaging solutions, makes its debut at GITEX Africa 2024, the largest technology and startup event on the continent happening from 29 – 31 May in Marrakech, Morocco. Canon’s participation at GITEX Africa is set to inspire creativity and innovation, forge valuable partnerships and relationships, and enhance the exchange of knowledge by demonstrating its entire ecosystem of consumer and business products and solutions.

‘WORLD UNSEEN’ EXHIBITION – A FIRST FOR AFRICA

A key highlight of Canon’s participation is the debut of its ‘World Unseen’ campaign in Africa. This is a unique photography exhibition designed to enable people with sight loss to better engage with the visual world. It also challenges sighted individuals to see imagery through different lenses.

The ‘World Unseen’ campaign is a groundbreaking initiative that embodies Canon’s commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in the creative arts field. By offering a sensory-rich experience, we aim to change how both sighted and visually impaired individuals engage with photography, making it an immersive and inclusive art form. The exclusive unveiling of the “World Unseen” exhibition at GITEX, led by Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director & Amine Djouahra, B2B Business Unit Director at Canon Central & North Africa, was inaugurated by Her Excellency Ms. Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family, alongside Mr. Hamid Nabil, the first blind Moroccan student to earn a Ph.D.

Her Excellency Aawatif Hayar, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion, and Family in Morocco, highlighted the importance of the exhibition with the following statement:

“It is an immense honor to be here today at the launch of Canon’s World Unseen photography exhibition. This groundbreaking event marks a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and reshaping how we perceive the world, particularly for those with sight loss. By providing visually impaired and partially sighted individuals with an opportunity to engage with photography through elevated prints, audio descriptions, soundscapes, and braille, Canon is not only making art accessible but also challenging societal perceptions. This exhibition exemplifies how, by adapting our surroundings and approaches, we can remove barriers and empower everyone to participate fully in life. It invites us all to experience images from a different perspective, fostering empathy and understanding, and it stands as a testament to the profound impact that art and technology can have on personal development and social inclusion.”

The campaign believes that photography is an incredibly powerful medium that can push the imagination. It is designed for everyone- blind, partially sighted, and sighted – by transforming how we all experience photography. This exhibition features works from world-renowned photographers and Canon ambassadors Muhammed Muheisen and Yagazie Emezi, from the MENA region. Visitors will experience photography through elevated prints, audio descriptions, soundscapes, and braille for a tactile connection with the powerful images and stories they tell.

According to WHO data, 2.2 billion people have some form of visual impairment globally (https://apo-opa.co/4582Ed9), which puts up barriers to appreciating photography. The ‘World Unseen’ exhibition removes these barriers by offering a unique, accessible, and immersive way to experience and enjoy photography.

Click here to learn more: https://apo-opa.co/4aBBFI8

DEMONSTRATING CANON’S CUSTOMER-CENTRIC INNOVATION 

Canon invites visitors to GITEX Africa to experience this unique, inclusive exhibition

Participation in the event not only demonstrates Canon’s commitment to contributing to the continent’s digital transformation and economic growth, but also provides a unique opportunity to showcase its products and solutions, as well as demonstrate how it is actively contributing to sustainable growth and education initiatives on the continent. 

“Canon Central and North Africa’s participation at GITEX Africa is a testament to understanding and addressing the unique needs of the African region. We are very excited to showcase our wide ecosystem including the latest cutting-edge technologies, providing an immersive and interactive experience for attendees. We have an incredible range of innovative solutions that cater to various industries and applications. These include the wide range of EOS R System cameras & lenses, multicamera technology, and advanced printing solutions. Our goal is to inspire creativity, foster meaningful connections and drive technology advancement across the continent,” says Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central & North Africa

Conference attendees have the chance to explore unique experiential zones that showcase Canon’s offerings, providing an immersive experience that allows participants to interact with cutting-edge technology.As a brand with six offices across Africa offering diverse expertise, Canon has ensured that at GITEX, its entire expertise will be on-ground for partners and end users, fortifying our closer-to-customer strategy.  

The Photography Application Zone offers the complete input-to-output technology Canon provides, allowing visitors to discover the mirrorless range of cameras and lenses and experience firsthand the precision and versatility of these state-of-the-art imaging tools, as well as explore the range of Canon photo printers. This zone aims to engage photography enthusiasts and professionals by providing them with the tools and inspiration to capture stunning images with unparalleled quality.

The Video Zone features captivating live demonstrations of Canon’s PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera range. This interactive experience highlights the advanced capabilities of the PTZ cameras showcasing their potential in various applications, from broadcast and live events to security and surveillance.

The Workspace Zone features a diverse range of products tailored to enhance productivity in both home offices and small to medium-sized businesses. Visitors can explore Canon’s MAXIFY and color laser printers, as well as B2B offerings such as the imagePRESS series, Uniflow, and PRISMA solutions. These B2B offerings will aid in document digitization and automation of processes, demonstrating how these products can streamline workflow and improve efficiency in work environments.

The Education Zone features the company’s education initiatives, highlighting Canon’s approach to education on the continent, which aligns with Canon’s corporate philosophy, Kyosei, a Japanese concept meaning living and working together for the common good. This zone will demonstrate how we bring to life our commitment to sustainability, how we work together, and our desire to create an environment for everyone to thrive and grow. Our dedicated team focuses on six programmes under the umbrella of Canon’s World of Education: the Miraisha Programme, Canon Academy Juniors, Canon Academy Photo, Canon Academy Video, Canon Print Hub, and the Canon Student Development Programme.

Amine Djouahra, B2B Business Unit Director, Canon Central and North Africa, expressed his enthusiasm upon Canon’s participation, “GITEX Africa 2024 is an incredible platform for us to connect with our valued partners and potential customers from across the African continent. This event represents a remarkable intersection of innovation and collaboration where we introduce cutting-edge technology while celebrating the strength of our local connections. These zones are designed to demonstrate our latest innovations and allow participants to interact with our latest technology. Our goal is to provide hands-on and interactive experiences that inspire creativity, forge valuable connections, and drive technological advancement throughout the region,”.

Canon’s participation in GITEX Africa is a testament to the company’s commitment to getting closer to its customers and bringing cutting-edge technology with hands-on experience. It serves as a strategic move to strengthen the company’s ever-growing presence in the African region.

Canon invites visitors to GITEX Africa to experience this unique, inclusive exhibition.

For more information, please visit Canon’s stands at 1B-30, Hall 1 and 17D-10 Hall 17 at GITEX Africa 2024.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

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Hainan FTP marks 6-month milestone of special customs operations, signs deals during Hong Kong visit

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June 30, 2026

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Hong Kong

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 June 2026 – As the Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) marked the six-month milestone since the launch of its full special customs operations, a Hainan provincial delegation wrapped up a three-day visit to Hong Kong. During the visit, the delegation signed deepened cooperation agreements with several major local chambers of commerce and promoted the latest policies introduced since the island-wide special customs operations took effect.

According to data released by Hainan Province during the visit, Hainan’s foreign trade has surged since the launch of special customs operations. As of June 17, the province’s total goods imports and exports reached RMB 173.98 billion (approximately US$24 billion), up 54.6% year on year. Imports of zero-tariff goods hit RMB 2.645 billion, a 120% jump that generated tariff savings of RMB 440 million. A total of 172,100 new market entities were registered—a 61% increase—including 1,240 foreign-invested enterprises. Zero-tariff items now account for 74% of all tariff lines, benefiting more than 12,000 market entities.

During the Hong Kong visit, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Hainan Provincial Committee (CCPIT Hainan) signed separate deepened cooperation MOUs with the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Under the MOUs, the parties will establish a regular liaison mechanism for the periodic exchange of economic and trade information, and will promote collaboration in areas including professional services, green finance, the digital economy, supply chain management, and cultural tourism. Mutual enterprise service desks will be set up to provide consulting services regarding policies and projects. The parties will leverage their complementary strengths to help Chinese mainland enterprises access overseas markets via Hong Kong, while facilitating Hong Kong companies’ entry into the Chinese mainland through Hainan.

The delegation also held talks with the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, exploring ways for British and American businesses to leverage Hainan’s value-added processing tariff exemptions and multifunctional free trade accounts to position themselves in regional supply chains and cross-border investment and financing. HSBC, De Beers, and other British firms are already active in Hainan, and the UK served as the Guest of Honor country at the 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo.

According to industry analysts, amid the shifting international trade landscape, Hainan is leveraging Hong Kong’s “super-connector” role to accelerate its integration with global capital and business networks, while simultaneously offering the Hong Kong business community a policy testing ground for entering the Chinese mainland market.

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Africa’s Grid Constraints Come into Focus as Regional Markets Push Toward Integration

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4 days ago

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June 26, 2026

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Africa

Regional power pools are advancing and renewable pipelines are growing, but the regulatory and financial architecture needed to connect them remains the continent’s most critical infrastructure gap – an issue central to the Power Africa Today conference at AEW 2026

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, June 25, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s electricity demand is projected to nearly double to 2,291 TWh by 2050, requiring an estimated $30 billion in transmission and grid infrastructure investment to unlock and integrate new generation capacity. Yet across the continent, grid systems are struggling to keep pace with rapidly expanding supply pipelines and rising demand.

In Nigeria, repeated nationwide grid collapses as recently as February 2026 underscore the fragility of aging transmission infrastructure. In East Africa, tower failures along the 428 km Loiyangalani-Suswa line temporarily stranded output from Lake Turkana Wind Power – Africa’s largest wind installation. Meanwhile, demand growth pressures are accelerating across North Africa, where electricity consumption is expected to rise by around 50% by 2035, driven by urbanization, desalination projects, and climate-related temperature increases.

Despite these constraints, generation investment continues to accelerate across Africa, particularly in renewables, gas-to-power and hybrid systems. However, without equivalent investment in transmission and interconnection, much of this new capacity risks being underutilized or stranded. This growing imbalance between generation and grid capacity is driving a sharper focus on system-wide planning and regional market design – issues that will be central to the newly launched Power Africa Today conference at African Energy Week 2026. The platform will bring together policymakers, utilities, investors and developers to explore how regional interconnection, cross-border trading frameworks and financing structures can better align generation growth with grid expansion.

Power Markets Experiment with Reform

Alongside infrastructure challenges, Africa’s electricity sector is undergoing gradual – but uneven – market reform. Most countries still operate vertically integrated systems dominated by state utilities, but a growing number are introducing competitive frameworks to attract private capital and improve efficiency.

Zimbabwe opened its electricity market to full private participation across generation, transmission and distribution in 2025, targeting $9 billion in new investment. South Africa is advancing one of the continent’s most ambitious grid expansion programs, with plans for 14,500 km of new transmission lines and 133,000 MVA of transformer capacity by 2034, alongside mechanisms designed to crowd in private financing. Kenya, meanwhile, has introduced open access regulations enabling independent power producers to wheel electricity directly to multiple off-takers, reshaping how generation assets interface with the grid.

Interconnected electricity markets are the foundation of Africa’s industrial future

Regional Integration Remains Fragmented

Efforts to connect Africa’s fragmented power systems are progressing, though at different speeds across regions. In Southern Africa, the World Bank’s RETRADE SAPP program, approved in 2025, is deploying $12 million to strengthen renewable integration and transmission capacity across 12 member states. In East Africa, the Ethiopia–Kenya–Tanzania Electricity Highway is now in trial operations at up to 2,000 MW, marking a significant step toward a more interconnected regional grid.

West Africa is also moving toward deeper integration, with permanent synchronization of the West Africa Power Pool expected in 2026. Analysts, including the African Finance Corporation, argue that such synchronization is critical to unlocking large-scale hydropower potential and industrial demand across the region. Longer term, full synchronization between the Eastern and Southern African power pools – targeted for the end of 2026 – could create one of the world’s largest cross-border electricity trading corridors.

Building Bankable Financial Architectures

While interconnection is advancing, infrastructure alone is not enough to create investable electricity markets. Investors consistently cite the lack of standardized offtake structures, creditworthy counterparties, and cross-border payment guarantees as key barriers to scaling capital deployment.

New models are emerging to address these constraints. Africa GreenCo, operating across Zambia, Namibia and South Africa, is helping to aggregate independent power producers under a single creditworthy intermediary, standardizing power purchase agreements and reducing counterparty risk. At a broader level, AUDA-NEPAD estimates that Africa requires around $30 billion in additional investment to complete priority transmission corridors and establish three fully interconnected regional trading blocs by 2030.

“Interconnected electricity markets are the foundation of Africa’s industrial future,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The question at Africa Energy Week is not whether integration is possible – the evidence is already there. The question is which regulatory frameworks and financial structures will get projects to financial close, and which markets will be ready when capital is looking to move.”

The Power Africa Today conference will run alongside AEW 2026, taking place October 12–16 in Cape Town, and will focus on the regulatory, financial and infrastructural architecture needed to build interconnected electricity markets capable of attracting institutional capital and delivering reliable, cross-border power at scale.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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African Development Bank Group and La Francophonie Sign Partnership Agreement to Promote Youth Employment in Francophone Africa

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4 days ago

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June 26, 2026

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The agreement was signed during a meeting between the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, and African Development Bank Group President, Dr Sidi Ould Tah in Paris, France

PARIS, France, June 25, 2026/APO Group/ –The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and The International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) on Wednesday entered a strategic partnership to strengthen digital skills, employability, and entrepreneurship of young people and women in five African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Guinea, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar.

 

The agreement was signed during a meeting between the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo, and African Development Bank Group President, Dr Sidi Ould Tah in Paris, France. The agreement will address a major challenge faced by countries in the Francophone world and across Africa: providing young people with access to opportunities offered by the digital economy and fostering the emergence of a new generation of entrepreneurs.

The partnership calls for the implementation of training programs in digital professions and entrepreneurship, in fields such as web and mobile development, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analysis. Participants will also receive guidance toward employment and self-employment, as well as support for innovation and business creation, notably through training camps, prototyping activities, and partnerships with incubators and accelerators.

The African Development Bank Group and OIF will also work with national authorities in these five countries and training institutions to sustainably strengthen local capacities and promote ownership of the programs by national stakeholders. An initial pilot phase, lasting 12 to 24 months, will be rolled out in the five partner countries, followed by a gradual expansion to other member states depending on the results achieved.

The African Development Bank Group is pursuing a bold agenda based on “Four Cardinal Points” developed by Dr Ould Tah, the third of which is ‘Turning Demographics into a Dividend.’ This is about strategically converting Africa’s rapidly growing and youthful population into a decisive engine of inclusive growth, productivity, and innovation through large-scale investment in human capital—particularly youth and women.

 

It sees Africa’s growing young population not as a risk, but as a major asset. With the right policies and investments, this potential can create jobs, help small businesses grow, bring more informal businesses into the formal economy, and equip young people with the skills needed for the future. By investing more in education, science and technology, vocational training, entrepreneurship, finance, and digital tools, Africa can help its people drive economic transformation, stay competitive, and build lasting, resilient growth.

The OIF said the agreement marked the first concrete step in its initiative to mobilize innovative and additional funding for its most impactful projects.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

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