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Education and office investment to propel Middle East and Africa stationery market close to US$13 billion by 2028

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stationery market

Sector must move beyond paper to meet sustainability demands and counter digital creep

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, August 15, 2022/APO Group/ — 

The future is bright for the Middle East & Africa’s stationery market, with a new report predicting the sector will achieve annual growth of 3.2 percent over the next six years to reach a regional record worth of US $12.93 billion.

The report, by event knowledge partner 6Wresearch, makes for optimistic reading but points to shifts needed if the sector is to reach its full potential with the sustainability of products and supplies a key growth factor.

Growth hotspots

The Middle East will be the region’s strongest performer at a predicted annual 4.3 percent growth, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia being the main driving forces, while Africa’s forecasted 3.1 percent annual growth will be largely propelled by South Africa and Nigeria.

Investment in education is expected to account for two-thirds of the growth, with the remainder attributed to office investment. Growing literacy and the spread of education are pushing the sector forward, but an accelerated adoption of digitalisation could hinder progress. It’s a factor that sector players are advised to heed in forward strategies.

“There is an opportunity for growth, but the increasing adoption of technical devices in schools and colleges means manufacturers of stationery products and office supplies need to remain responsive to industry needs and carefully manage their supply base,” said Syed Ali Akbar, Show Director of Messe Frankfurt’s Paperworld Middle East, the region’s largest international trade exhibition for the stationery, paper, gifts, and office supplies industry.

Change checks

Alongside digitalisation lies the rising demand for sustainable products as suppliers have to live up to new client demands for carbon-limiting supplies and distribution chains.

“These are genuine issues that are here and now, and we have reimagined the role of Paperworld Middle East to address these issues,” explained Akbar. “The show is now also a knowledge-sharing forum and an ideal space to network, share ideas, source new products and discover innovative solutions that are sustainable, promote efficiency and productivity, and are cost-effective.”

When the 2022 show opens its three-day run at the Dubai World Trade Centre on November 15, it will find an expanded product showcase encompassing office and school supplies but also festive decorations and brandable merchandise.

This is now an era where the sector has adopted an approach that goes well beyond paper thereby ensuring a sustainable future

Education and office investment to propel Middle East and Africa stationery market close to US$13 billion by 2028

Office stimulants

Yet in an ironic twist, the growth in office investment, stimulated by tech start-ups regionwide, could help offset the impact of digital adoption.

Office space requirement is rising sharply in Nairobi and Lagos post-Covid and is exacerbated by demand from Africa’s growing start-up community. 6W predicts Africa’s venture capital investments will exceed US$10 billion in 2025, creating greater demand for stationery products.

In the Middle East, the UAE remains a hotbed of activity with post-Covid demand for office space in Dubai surging to a five-year high amid a huge influx of foreign companies looking to expand or relocate in the country. Office units with a combined 480,000 square feet of space were delivered in the first quarter of this year, bringing the city’s supply to 107 million square feet, all of which is expected to generate demand for office stationery supplies.

The Saudi factor

Saudi Arabia also holds out great promise in the commercial office space sector and is actively implementing policies and incentives to encourage international firms to set up shop in the Kingdom.

“It’s estimated that nearly 32 million square feet of office space is being built in the kingdom’s capital to accommodate the multinational corporations relocating to Saudi Arabia,” says 6W research.  “This sudden increase in the number of offices will drive the market for stationery products in the coming years.”

The Saudi government has launched its Program HQ campaign in a bid to attract 500 international corporates to relocate regional headquarters to Riyadh by 2030 and is attracting investors with incentives such as a 50-year tax holiday, waiving quotas for Saudi citizens, and protection against any future regulations. To date, 24 international companies have agreed to establish their regional offices in the Saudi capital, increasing the office space demand and positively impacting the stationery market.

Sustainability

On top of changing regulations within leading jurisdictions, the regional industry must also factor in increasing demands for sustainability credentials for products and services. For the second year running, Messe Frankfurt Middle East has introduced a special Project Sustainability area into Paperworld Middle East where exhibitors’ environmentally friendly products feature along with their ‘eco-credentials.’

“This is a clear sign of the times and one which the entire industry is actively engaged in,” added Akbar. “This is now an era where the sector has adopted an approach that goes well beyond paper thereby ensuring a sustainable future.”

More information is available at: www.paperworldme.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Paperworld Middle East.

Business

Rockwell Automation Announces Collaboration with Mimosa Mine and Mine Elect on Cybersecurity and Modernization Initiative in Zimbabwe

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Rockwell Automation

Project supports mine’s digital migration journey to strengthen operational resilience

HARARE, Zimbabwe, September 1, 2026/APO Group/ –Rockwell Automation (www.RockwellAutomation.com), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced a new collaboration with Mimosa Mine and Mine Elect to support the mine’s ongoing modernization program in Zimbabwe.
 




 

Mimosa Mine, a platinum‑group metals (PGM) and base metals operation located in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe, is undertaking a multi‑year digital migration initiative aimed at modernizing its operations and improving the resilience of its industrial infrastructure. As part of this journey, the mine recently upgraded its operational technology (OT) network and sought support for secure connectivity, cybersecurity (https://apo-opa.co/3UxzrqS) risk management and long‑term digital sustainability.

Through the project, Mimosa Mine is expected to benefit from improved visibility across its operational networks, stronger safeguards for critical systems and a more resilient digital foundation to support reliable and efficient mining operations over time. The scope of work focused on strengthening network architecture, improving security segmentation and establishing more secure mechanisms for system access, data transfer, monitoring and recovery.

This collaboration brought together global industrial expertise and local knowledge to support a mining operation that is actively investing in its digital future

“This project reflects a growing focus across the mining sector on operational resilience and cyber risk management as digital technologies become more deeply embedded in day‑to‑day operations,” said Rodrick Naidoo, country director for English‑speaking Africa at Rockwell Automation. “By working closely with Mimosa Mine and our local partner, we were able to align technology, governance and skills to support the mine’s broader modernization objectives while addressing the realities of an operational mining environment.”

A key element of the collaboration is Rockwell Automation’s long‑standing partnership with Mine Elect, a Zimbabwe‑based Rockwell Automation specialty distributor with deep experience supporting the mining and industrial sectors locally. Mine Elect provided local engineering, implementation and onsite support, helping to connect global capabilities with in‑country execution.

“We embarked on this digital transformation journey more than three years ago with the upgrade of key OT infrastructure, which included the migration of Mimosa’s legacy OT networks to Ethernet/IP,” said Dr. Blessing Mahomva, managing director of Mine Elect (https://apo-opa.co/4xstXfB). “Our role during this critical phase was to ensure the project was delivered in a way that was practical, sustainable and aligned with Mimosa’s operational priorities. This collaboration brought together global industrial expertise and local knowledge to support a mining operation that is actively investing in its digital future.”

Delivering industrial digital and cybersecurity initiatives in mining environments (https://apo-opa.co/4yj6KwF) presents unique challenges. Mining operations combine legacy systems, harsh physical conditions, safety critical processes and limited downtime windows, all which place constraints on how modern technologies can be deployed. In addition, the growing convergence of operational technology and information systems increases exposure to cyber risk, requiring careful design, sequencing and validation to avoid operational disruption.

“This project supports our broader digital migration journey by strengthening the resilience and security of our operational systems,” said Lloyd Shamu, head of technical services at Mimosa Mining Company (https://apo-opa.co/4zQv3n5). “Having partners who understand mining operations, the local context and the importance of secure, reliable infrastructure has been critical as we continue to modernize the way we operate.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rockwell Automation.

 




 

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South Africa’s Government-Business Partnership Opens New Mining Investment Opportunities Ahead of African Mining Week (AMW) 2026

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Etu Energias

African Mining Week 2026 will connect key decision-makers across South Africa’s mining sector with global investors to forge new and strengthen existing public-private investment partnerships

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, September 1, 2026/APO Group/ —South Africa is stepping up efforts to attract investment into its mining sector, with President Cyril Ramaphosa launching Phase 3 of the Government-Business Partnership, a public-private initiative designed to accelerate economic growth, investment and job creation. Mining has been identified as a key pillar of the new phase, alongside energy, transport and logistics, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture.
 




 

The initiative targets GDP growth of more than 3% and the creation of one million additional jobs by 2030, with the mining sector positioned to play a central role in achieving those objectives.

 

Within mining, Phase 3 targets R50 billion in capital expenditure by February 2028 and the rollout of South Africa’s national mining cadastre system by March 2027. The digital platform is expected to streamline mining-rights applications and help address administrative and project-implementation bottlenecks, supporting efforts to attract new investment and improve the sector’s contribution to economic growth.

 

Mining currently contributes approximately 6% of South Africa’s GDP and supports around 470,000 direct jobs, with each mining job supporting an estimated five to 10 dependents. The urgency of accelerating investment was underscored by President Ramaphosa, who said the country’s current growth rate remains insufficient to meaningfully expand employment, with 8.5 million people unemployed and roughly 300,000 new job-seekers entering the labor force each year.

 

Phase 3 forms part of a broader national ambition to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock South Africa’s critical minerals potential. The country holds approximately 80% of the world’s platinum group metals and ranks as the world’s largest producer of chrome and manganese, creating significant opportunities for investors across exploration, mining, processing and related infrastructure. South Africa is also seeking to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in iron ore potential, further expanding the pipeline of opportunities for international and domestic capital.

 

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 – the Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will bring together global investors, financiers, mining companies and government decision-makers in Cape Town from October 14–16. The event comes at a critical juncture as South Africa seeks to translate its vast mineral endowment into new investment, production, infrastructure and jobs while improving the regulatory environment needed to support long-term project development.

 

AMW 2026 will feature senior figures from across South Africa’s mining and investment ecosystem, including Deputy Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Seiso Joel Mohai, Rand Refinery CEO Dean Subramanian, Transnet Freight Rail CEO Russell Baatjies, Gold Fields Executive Vice President: South Africa Benford Mokoatle, Minerals Council of South Africa CEO Mzila Mthenjane, Standard Bank Managing Principal and Coverage Head for Resources & Energy Shirley Webber, and Executive Head for Energy, Infrastructure and Mining, Business and Commercial Banking Deerosh Maharaj, among other industry leaders.

 

Through high-level discussions, project showcases and networking sessions, AMW 2026 will examine South Africa’s evolving regulatory environment, expanding project pipeline and investment opportunities across the mining value chain. The conference will provide a platform for investors and industry stakeholders to explore how public-private partnerships, domestic capital and international investment can accelerate the next phase of South Africa’s mining growth.

 

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

 




 

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Energy

Halliburton Repositions for Venezuela’s Upstream Revival at Venezuela Energy Week 2027

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Etu Energias

Halliburton will join Venezuela Energy Week as a Platinum Sponsor as international operators accelerate efforts to restore production, reactivate drilling capacity and rebuild the oilfield services ecosystem

CARACAS, Venezuela, August 27, 2026/APO Group/ –Halliburton has joined Venezuela Energy Week 2027 as a Platinum Sponsor, bringing one of the world’s leading oilfield services companies into a market where international operators are moving to restore production and expand upstream activity. Taking place February 22–25 in Caracas, Venezuela Energy Week comes as a new investment cycle is creating fresh demand for drilling, well services, reservoir evaluation and production technologies.
 




 

Halliburton has already begun repositioning its Venezuelan operations for the changing market. In April, Chairman, President and CEO Jeff Miller said the company was discussing commercial terms with customers and had visited its Venezuelan facilities, which he said were in better condition than expected. In July, Venezuela’s Supreme Court ordered the restart of Halliburton’s operations and the return of previously seized assets, removing a significant legal obstacle to the company’s reactivation. Halliburton has since posted new positions in Venezuela, including roles in Maturín covering logging and perforating maintenance and supply-chain procurement, as well as a technical sales position in Zulia.

The timing reflects growing demand for oilfield services as Venezuela moves to reactivate mature fields, expand drilling and bring new investment into production. Halliburton’s capabilities span the full well lifecycle, including drilling, formation evaluation, well construction, completion and production, with services such as well intervention, cementing and stimulation increasingly important as operators work to restore aging wells and infrastructure. As new investment moves from agreements into field activity, Halliburton is positioned to provide the technical expertise and equipment required to translate Venezuela’s resource potential into additional production.

The investment environment is also changing. Venezuela’s January 2026 reform of the Organic Hydrocarbons Law opened new avenues for private participation in primary hydrocarbons activities, including operating and production contracts under which private companies can assume technical, operational and financial management. Subsequent regulations issued in July established the framework for royalties and the integrated hydrocarbons tax, while oil companies have been working to migrate existing agreements into the new regime.

This evolving framework is creating an increasingly important role for international oilfield service companies capable of supplying technology, equipment and technical expertise at scale. Halliburton’s renewed engagement comes as Venezuela moves from regulatory reform and investment agreements toward the practical work of drilling wells, restoring production and expanding field capacity.

At Venezuela Energy Week 2027, Halliburton will bring its renewed Venezuelan presence into discussions on the practical requirements of production growth, from drilling and well construction to completion and intervention. Its Platinum Sponsorship will place the company at the center of conversations around how Venezuela can rebuild oilfield capacity and translate new investment into additional barrels.

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

 




 

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