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Converge Africa proudly announces Amazon South Africa as a Diamond partner

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Converge

Converge Africa 2026 will take place from 4–6 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, welcoming commerce leaders, sellers, technology providers, and industry stakeholders from across South Africa and the continent

Our Diamond Partnership with Converge Africa reflects Amazon South Africa’s commitment to empowering small businesses through practical execution

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, February 24, 2026/APO Group/ –Converge Africa is proud to announce that Amazon South Africa has confirmed its role as a Diamond Partner of Converge Africa 2026, reinforcing its commitment to accelerating digital commerce adoption, marketplace growth, and seller enablement across South Africa.

 

Converge Africa has become South Africa’s leading digital commerce and retail technology conference, bringing together decision makers from eCommerce, fintech, fulfilment, digital marketing, cybersecurity, and customer experience under one roof.

At Converge Africa 2026, Amazon.co.za will deliver a series of seller masterclasses, hands-on workshops, and platform demonstrations aimed at both existing sellers and businesses exploring selling on Amazon for the first time.

These sessions will focus on helping South African entrepreneurs understand how to launch, operate, and scale successful marketplace businesses, from onboarding and compliance, to optimising product listings, leveraging fulfilment options, using advertising and analytics tools, and building operational excellence at scale.

“Our Diamond Partnership with Converge Africa reflects Amazon South Africa’s commitment to empowering small businesses through practical execution, seller capability building, and collaboration,” said Suzelle Abe, Head of Marketplace at Amazon South Africa. “By empowering local entrepreneurs to reach customers nationwide through our marketplace, we’re contributing to small business growth, innovation, and job creation across South Africa. This seller-first philosophy underpins our decision to align with Converge Africa as an industry platform that prioritises execution, and skills transfer, enabling South African businesses to deliver the high standards of service and reliability our customers expect.”

Marketplace success depends not only on access to customers, but on the availability of payments infrastructure, fulfilment and last-mile delivery, advertising technology, data insights, and customer experience capabilities, all of which form core components of Converge Africa’s agenda.

The event’s multi-track structure, spanning fintech and payments, eCommerce, fulfilment, digital marketing, security, and CX, closely aligns with Amazon’s marketplace enablement strategy and its focus on building a resilient, scalable seller ecosystem that can meet the expectations of South African consumers.

“This approach reflects Amazon’s broader commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering innovation, while ensuring customers benefit from a seamless, reliable shopping experience. By investing in seller education and operational readiness, Amazon aims to lower barriers to entry and enable sustainable growth across its marketplace,” adds Abe

Converge Africa 2026 will take place from 4–6 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, welcoming commerce leaders, sellers, technology providers, and industry stakeholders from across South Africa and the continent.

 

 

Converge Africa 2026 4–6 May, CTICC, Cape Town

Frictionless digital commerce. Transacting seamlessly, without borders.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

Energy

Ghana Energy Minister John Jinapor to Speak at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026

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Ghana’s Energy Minister joins MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 as the country advances upstream investment, gas monetization and infrastructure development

DAKAR, Senegal, October 26, 2026/APO Group/ –Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor will participate as a speaker at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 in Dakar, Senegal, from December 1–3. His participation comes as Ghana pursues upstream investment, domestic gas monetization and power-sector reforms to strengthen energy security and attract capital.

 




  

Minister Jinapor’s participation brings Ghana’s experience in balancing hydrocarbon development, electricity reliability and renewable energy investment to a regional forum focused on cross-border infrastructure and resource development. The fifth edition, held at the CICAD under the high patronage of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, will connect policymakers, operators and investors across the MSGBC basin.

Ghana’s latest initiatives combine upstream recovery with major downstream infrastructure plans. On October 20, Jinapor pledged to lead inter-ministerial talks addressing land acquisition, compensation and financing hurdles facing the proposed $28-billion Petroleum Hub in Jomoro, following an agreement between the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation and a United Arab Emirates consortium led by Global Sphere.

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The proposed development includes a 300,000-barrel-per-day refinery, petrochemical facilities and deepwater ports, with construction targeted for early 2027. If delivered, the project could expand domestic processing capacity, support industrial activity and position Ghana as a regional petroleum-products trading hub.

At African Energy Week 2026 in Cape Town, Jinapor also reported $3.5 billion in upstream investment commitments for Ghana’s Jubilee, Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme, and Offshore Cape Three Points fields. The commitments support expansion and drilling campaigns as the country seeks to reverse declining production and sustain output from mature offshore assets.

His contribution will enrich regional discussions at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, fostering opportunities for cross-border cooperation

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Gas supply and power-sector efficiency remain central to that strategy. Ghana is implementing its Second Gas Processing Plant, while plans for additional offshore infrastructure aim to increase gas availability; the government has also reported savings of $500 million from reducing liquid-fuel imports for electricity generation.

https://apo-opa.co/4jGStFP

Regional integration offers another route to improving supply security. Jinapor recently outlined discussions with Nigeria on exchanging Ghanaian electricity for Nigerian natural gas delivered through the West African Gas Pipeline, while Ghana is procuring a 200 MW battery energy storage system alongside a 200 MWp solar facility.

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These measures complement efforts to address energy-sector liabilities, which exceeded $3 billion at the start of 2025, and improve payments to independent power producers. Ghana’s longer-term plans include expanding renewable capacity, increasing electricity access to 99% by 2030 and developing nuclear power as part of its future generation mix.

“Minister Jinapor’s participation brings valuable perspective on how Ghana is mobilizing investment across upstream production, gas monetization and power infrastructure to strengthen energy security and support industrial growth. His contribution will enrich regional discussions at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026, fostering opportunities for cross-border cooperation, infrastructure development and investment partnerships across West Africa,” says Sandra Jeque, Vice President, Energy Capital & Power.

MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 will also feature Senegal’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum Dr. El Hadji Abdourahmane Diouf; Guinea-Conakry’s Minister of Energy Laye Sékou Camara; Algeria’s Minister of State for Hydrocarbons Mohamed Arkab and Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal; Guinea-Bissau’s Minister of Natural Resources Baldé; and Mali’s Minister of Energy and Water Tiémoko Traoré.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power and held under the High Patronage of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place December 1–3 in Dakar and will convene heads of state, ministers, investors, operators and development partners from Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry. Explore opportunities and secure your participation at www.MSGBCOilGasandPower.com.

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

 




 

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Energy

Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) 2027 Deal Room Targets Joint Ventures, Service Agreements and Offtake Partnerships

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Register as a commercial partner at Venezuela Energy Week 2027 to connect with Venezuelan operators, projects and strategic energy opportunities

International operators, oilfield service companies and strategic partners are invited to register as commercial partners for the Venezuela Energy Week (VEW) 2027 Deal Room, where companies can pursue joint ventures, service agreements, technology deployments, offtake arrangements and other commercial opportunities.

 




 
 

Taking place February 22–25 at the Simón Bolívar Convention Center in Caracas, the Deal Room will bring international companies into direct discussions with local operators, project developers, asset owners and regional leadership. As international companies re-engage with Venezuela’s oil and gas industry, the platform aims to facilitate project-level discussions and establish commercial relationships spanning upstream development, infrastructure, technology and energy supply.

For international operators and investors, the Deal Room provides an opportunity to identify assets and local counterparties for joint development. Venezuela’s push to increase oil production to 1.3 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026 and 1.5 million bpd in 2027 is creating potential openings for companies with the technical expertise, operational capacity and financial resources to participate in field rehabilitation, enhanced oil recovery, drilling and production expansion. Partnerships with Venezuelan operators can provide a route to developing assets and sharing project responsibilities.

Recent agreements demonstrate how partnerships have already begun to take shape. In September, Chevron secured expanded development rights in the Orinoco Belt, underpinning plans by its Venezuelan joint ventures to invest more than $7 billion over five years. Eni also signed a 25-year contract with PDVSA to assume operatorship of the Junín 5 heavy-oil field, giving the company responsibility for its technical, financial and commercial development.

Oilfield service companies and technology providers can pursue commercial agreements supporting these activities. Demand spans drilling and workover equipment, artificial lift, engineering, digital production systems, reservoir technologies, power solutions and other services required to restore production and improve the performance of existing infrastructure.

Commercial partnerships are advancing this area. In September, Halliburton signed separate agreements with Eneva and WESCA covering development opportunities, field evaluation and technical planning, while SLB signed a framework agreement with PDVSA in June spanning field development, digital technologies and workforce training.

The commercial opportunity extends beyond upstream operations. Companies can explore technology and service partnerships supporting gas processing and transportation, refinery rehabilitation, power generation, grid infrastructure and energy logistics, creating multiple routes for international suppliers and specialist firms to establish a presence in the market and for Venezuelan companies seeking to strengthen their portfolios.

Recent agreements reflect growing momentum in these areas. In September, GE Vernova signed a strategic alliance with PDVSA to rehabilitate electrical infrastructure serving Venezuela’s oil industry. More recently, Baker Hughes partnered with PDVSA, Venezuelan engineering company Lindsayca and Fulcrum LNG to pursue gas processing, transportation and commercialization projects.

Offtake and supply agreements offer another route for strategic participation. Companies can negotiate arrangements linked to specific oil, gas or refined-product assets, while international trading and downstream partners can explore supply relationships connected to Venezuela’s expanding production and processing capacity. Trading companies Vitol and Trafigura have already secured agreements to purchase and market Venezuelan oil, while international refiners are increasingly pursuing direct supply relationships with PDVSA.

The Deal Room will also provide direct access to the institutions shaping project development and commercial activity, including the Ministry of Hydrocarbons, PDVSA and its operating leadership. These relationships can help companies identify counterparties, clarify project requirements and develop commercial frameworks around specific opportunities.

As international activity accelerates across Venezuela’s energy sector, the Deal Room offers companies a focused setting to identify partners and convert market interest into concrete commercial relationships.

International operators, service companies and strategic partners can register to engage as commercial partners at the Venezuela Energy Week 2027 Deal Room. To engage as a commercial partner email info@venezuelaenergyweek.com or visit https://apo-opa.co/4z16kLV for more information.

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

 

 




 

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Business

Africa50’s Nabil Saimi Joins MSGBC 2026 as Senegal’s Project Pipeline Draws Infrastructure Capital

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Africa50 invests in projects at their earliest stage, with power and midstream gas among its priority sectors

DAKAR, Senegal, October 22, 2026/APO Group/ –Nabil Saimi, Senior Investment Director for the Project Development Fund at Africa50, will speak at MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 in December. His confirmation brings one of the continent’s leading infrastructure investors to the Dakar conference, with a focus on the earliest and most decisive phase of the project cycle: when concepts become bankable assets. Africa50’s model is built around carrying projects from development through to financing, an approach well matched to the basin’s expanding pipeline of gas, power and infrastructure projects.

 




 
 

Africa50 was set up by the African Development Bank (AfDB) alongside African governments and now has 33 shareholder states, with Senegal, Mauritania and The Gambia among them. The platform has mobilized close to $9 billion in investment across the continent, according to Senegal’s Presidency. Its Project Development business invests equity at the preparation stage to ready projects for financiers, generally targeting developments worth more than $100 million, with power, transport, midstream gas and information and communications technology as priority sectors.

Senegal has been central to Africa50’s power portfolio. At its 2017 shareholders meeting in Dakar, Africa50 partnered with national utility Senelec under a joint agreement to develop the 120 MW Malicounda combined cycle power plant and select its strategic sponsor. The €154 million plant entered commercial operation in August 2022, adding 8% to Senegal’s generation capacity, and was built with the ability to run on the country’s own gas once supply is available. In April 2026, an Africa50 delegation met President Bassirou Diomaye Faye in Dakar and reaffirmed its support for Senegal’s development priorities.

Project development is gathering momentum across the organization. In September 2026, Africa50 appointed former International Finance Corporation (IFC) regional director Cheick-Oumar Sylla as CEO of its Project Development Fund, a key appointment under its 2030 roadmap. Separately, the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa Project Development Fund (AGIA-PD), managed by Africa50, secured $50 million from Italy’s Cassa Depositi e Prestiti and France’s Proparco in 2026, adding to the $118 million raised at its first close in August 2025 as the fund targets $400 million.

Africa50’s reach now extends deeper into gas and grid infrastructure across the continent. In 2026, the platform unveiled partnerships in Tanzania covering LNG and electricity transmission, while a $20 million commitment from British International Investment took its Infrastructure Acceleration Fund to roughly $330 million in total commitments. Both areas carry weight in the MSGBC basin, where LNG exports and gas-to-power plans are shaping the region’s next phase of development.

Plants such as Malicounda were built with domestic gas in mind, and the basin’s next generation of power and gas infrastructure will depend on capital committed early in development. Saimi’s participation strengthens MSGBC 2026’s focus on connecting the region’s project pipeline with the investors able to advance it.

Organized by Energy Capital & Power (ECP) and held under the High Patronage of Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 takes place December 1-3 in Dakar and will convene heads of state, ministers, investors, operators and development partners from Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry. Explore opportunities and secure your participation at www.MSGBCOilGasAndPower.com.

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

 




 

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