Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Canon returned to International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2022 to showcase its broadcast and cinema production solutions

Published

on

Canon

Addressing the growing demand for solutions that support remote and live production, Canon showcased its customizable multi-camera setup

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, September 20, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) showcased its solutions-based proposition at IBC 2022 – the leading international forum for content creation, management, and delivery. Canon’s stand reflected the huge changes that the industry has experienced in the past few years, with a growing need for streamlined crews and low-cost content creation resulting in the rise of remote and virtual production systems. Visitors saw Canon’s Live Production Imaging Ecosystem, XR studio and VR solution in action and got their hands on the latest products, such as the EOS R5 C, XF605 and PTZ cameras, in its touch and try zone.     

Amine Djouahra, Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa said:

“It was great heading back to IBC to experience our latest innovations together with our key African customers. When we attended in 2019, the content creation and production industry was a completely different space. The pandemic has pushed the industry to advance its virtual and remote production capabilities to support smaller crews or even stand-alone operators. At Canon we follow closer to customer strategy and IBC 2022 gave us a fantastic opportunity to interact with our customers, giving them exposure and hands-on training with our latest products and technologies at the exhibition. We have been working hard to push the boundaries with our integrated solutions and ensure we understand the customers’ challenges, requirements & goals in the African continent”.

The customers were given exposure and hands-on training with our latest products and technologies at the exhibition specially at the touch & try area

Canon’s Live Production Imaging Ecosystem  

We have been working hard to push the boundaries with our integrated solutions and ensure we understand the customers’ challenges, requirements & goals in the African continent

Addressing the growing demand for solutions that support remote and live production, Canon showcased its customizable multi-camera setup. From large format cinema cameras to remote control PTZ cameras, visitors to the stand saw how they could configure a unique multi-cam setup that meets their needs. Canon Ambassador and filmmaker, Sébastien Devaud talked them through how this works in practice. Canon’s latest PTZ cameras – which supports a range of IP protocols – was paired alongside high-end cinema cameras such as the EOS C300 Mark III and XF605 professional camcorder using Canon’s XC protocol and output on its professional reference monitors, to showcase the possibilities for live and remote production.

(L-R) Canon ambassador and filmmaker, Sébastien Devaud talked through Amine Djouahra, Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa on how the multi- cam setup works in practice at IBC show 2022

XR Studio

XR Studio solutions are changing the game for high-end content creation, offering a high quality and more efficient set up for filmmakers. Partnering with Mo-Sys – a manufacturer of virtual production solutions – Canon showcased how its XR solution software communicates with lens and camera data on its professional cinema cameras. Demonstrated with various products such as EOS C500 Mark II and Flex Zoom lenses, the solution enables a high-resolution LED backdrop to react as the camera and lens are operated. Director and cinematographer, Brett Danton, spoke about how he has used Canon kit to support his recent work, captured using extended reality (XR) methods.

VR Zone

For those who wanted a break from the trade show floor, visitors could immerse themselves in a variety of VR content captured with the Canon EOS R5, EOS R5 C and RF 5.2mm F2.8L DUAL FISHEYE Lens. VR solution provider Invelon created two VR experiences: either take a journey on the back of a quad bike through a beautiful holiday destination or be transported backstage with a rock band and experience the sensation of ambisonic audio with VR headsets provided by Varjo and powered by PCs from Lenovo.

International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) 2022

IBC was from 9 – 12 September 2022, in Amsterdam.

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

Business

Afreximbank Posts Robust Q1 2026 Results with 25% Growth in Net Income and Improved Profitability

Published

on

Afreximbank

The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment

The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate

CAIRO, Egypt, May 22, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) announced its results for the three months ended 31 March 2026. The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment.

 

The Group continued to expand its lending activities in Q1 2026, resulting in total credit exposure growing by 2% to reach a portfolio of US$42 billion, up from US$41 billion as of 31 December 2025. This performance reflects Afreximbank’s leading role as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in financing trade and trade-enabling infrastructure, and its strategic contribution to economic resilience across Africa and the Caribbean.

Average loans and advances for Q1 2026 stood at US$32 billion, up 8% compared to the same period in the prior year, driving the recorded growth in interest income. The Group’s liquidity position remained strong, with cash and cash equivalents of US$5.6 billion, representing 14% of total assets, consistent with FY2025 and above the Bank’s strategic minimum.

Asset quality also remained strong, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio at 2.40%, broadly in line with 2.43% at FY2025 and below industry average.

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.6 billion at 31 March 2026, up from US$8.4 billion at FY2025, supported by internally generated capital of US$268.9 million and new equity investments received during the quarter, underscoring the Bank’s continued ability to mobilise capital from its shareholders in support of its growth and development mandate.

The Group delivered strong profitability during the quarter.  Notwithstanding declining benchmark rates, total interest income rose by 14% year-on-year to reach US$813.6 million, while net interest income increased by 24% to US$510.0 million, compared with US$411.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. The Group’s cost-to-income ratio remained contained at 19%, well within the Group’s strategic ceiling of 30%. As a result, Profit for the period increased to US$268.9 million, up from US$215.4 million in Q1 2025.

The Group continued to maintain a strong capital position, with a capital adequacy ratio of 23% as at 31 March 2026, in line with the Bank’s long-term capital management targets.

During the quarter, Afreximbank continued to demonstrate its counter-cyclical role in response to external shocks. In March 2026, the Bank launched a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help member countries mitigate adverse spillover effects from the Gulf crisis. The facility is designed to support liquidity, stabilise trade and payments, and address supply-side disruptions, particularly in energy, tourism and aviation, fertilisers, food and other critical imports.

The Bank also continued to deploy targeted financing and advisory support to strengthen trade flows, industrial capacity and economic resilience across Africa and CARICOM. Regional integration received further momentum following South Africa’s ratification of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in February 2026, bringing one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies into the Bank’s membership and giving the Bank full continental coverage.

Highlights of the results for Afreximbank Group are shown below:

Financial Performance Metrics

Q1’2026

Q1’2025

Gross Income (US$ million)

874.1

784.9

Net Income (US$ million)

268.9

215.4

Return on average equity (ROAE)

13%

12%

Return on average assets (ROAA)

2.62%

2.38%

Cost-to-income ratio

19%

16%

 

Financial Position Metrics

Q1’2026

FY’2025

Total Assets (US$ billion)

41.7

42.3

Total Liabilities (US$ billion)

33.0

33.9

Shareholders’ Funds (US$ billion)

8.6

8.4

Non-performing loans ratio (NPL)

2.40%

2.43%

Cash/Total assets

14%

14%

Capital Adequacy ratio (Basel II)

23%

          23%

 

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, heightened geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the Group delivered a resilient first-quarter performance, underpinned by disciplined balance sheet management, sound asset quality and strong capital and liquidity buffers. The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate. Our swift launch of the US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme further underscores Afreximbank’s counter-cyclical role in supporting member countries during periods of disruption. We remain focused on stabilising trade flows, easing liquidity pressures and advancing the industrial and economic transformation of Africa and the Caribbean.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Continue Reading

Business

Via Licensing Alliance Expands Voice Codec Program with New Licensee, New Licensors, Publishes Comprehensive Pool Rate Structure

Published

on

Via Licensing Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 May 2026 – Via Licensing Alliance (Via) today announced continued momentum for its Voice Codec patent pool, including the addition of a new unnamed licensee and new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP, further growing the program’s patent stack and market penetration from its initial five, large global licensors.

The addition of the new licensee, unnamed at this time, reflects growing industry adoption of the collaborative licensing pathway Via’s Voice Codec program creates for accessing IP rights to critical voice technologies. This addition reflects a growing market uptake of advanced voice technologies, including EVS and IVAS, driven by rising demand as 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies are adopted worldwide.

Additionally, Via continues to prioritize transparency and has published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, providing further clarity and predictability for implementers and to the broader market. For implementers, the full rate structure allows for complete visibility as they consider the appropriate royalty structure to choose from to meet their product level costs, evaluate future growth paths for their product lines, or plan their geographical expansion plan needs. This level of disclosure not only reduces uncertainty in licensing decisions but also enables more consistent benchmarking, reinforcing confidence in fair, market-aligned SEP licensing practices. The program’s royalty rates are listed on Via’s website at https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#license-fees.

The addition of the new licensors indicates increased interest from patent holders in licensing their voice technology SEPs through highly efficient, aggregated licensing vehicles such as patent pools. Future growth in both the licensor list and the number of patents consolidated through the pool license will continue to enhance the value of the Voice Codec License for implementers. Via’s Voice Codec program licensors are listed here: https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#licensors.

Via’s Voice Codec pool covers Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), which supports voice communications across more than one billion and growing active devices globally, as well as Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), which will play a central role in next-generation voice and spatial audio applications.

“We are pleased to welcome these new entrants to our pool, which signal continued growth and momentum our Voice Codec program,” said Kevin Mack, President of Via Licensing Alliance. “This pool license offers strong value relative to other market options and represents the only collaborative licensing solution for EVS and IVAS technologies, making it a smart and efficient pathway for companies seeking to license critical voice capabilities.”

EVS remains a foundational technology for high-quality voice communications in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks, with adoption continuing to expand as 5G, 5G-Advanced and future network iterations reach global scale. As spatial audio and advanced voice technologies expand into 6G and a broader range of non-cellular devices, the importance of IVAS technologies is expected to increase, with Via’s pool offering an early and effective licensing pathway.

For more information about the Voice Codec patent pool, including information for prospective licensees, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

About Via Licensing Alliance:
Via Licensing Alliance is the collaborative licensing leader, dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via has operated dozens of licensing programs for a variety of technologies. Via is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. For more information about Via, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

 

Continue Reading

Business

Joint statement welcoming the Republic of Togo’s announcement on Visa facilitation for African nationals

Published

on

Togo

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda

LOMÉ, Togo, May 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) welcome the announcement by the Government of the Republic of Togo, under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, regarding measures to facilitate visa-free entry for all nationals of African States holding valid passports, as announced by the Minister of Security on 18 May 2026.

The announcement was made in Lomé on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026, the continent’s premier trade and business platform, which has brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, and stakeholders from across Africa to advance dialogue on intra-African trade, investment, and regional integration.

Throughout the engagements, participants underscored the importance of facilitating the movement of African citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors as an important enabler of intra-African trade and economic cooperation. Against this backdrop, the announcement reflects the growing continental momentum towards strengthening connectivity and deepening African integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank, to which Togo is a State Party and a Member State, envision a continent where goods, services, capital, and people move more freely across borders in support of an integrated African market. Measures that facilitate mobility and connectivity continue to contribute towards advancing the broader mandate of both institutions; the attainment of the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Continue Reading

Trending