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European Union (EU)-funded Project EU4PSL for Private Sector Development in Libya Presents Results

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EU4PSL

An online portal to simplify the establishment of businesses, step-by-step guides for new entrepreneurs, business acceleration programmes and start-up grants for 90 young Libyan entrepreneurs, and a new link between the private sector and Libyan universities are among EU4PSL’s most important achievements since 2019. “E-NABLE”, a €5 million EU-funded follow-up programme, will continue to support private sector diversification, digitalization and financial solutions for businesses in Libya

TRIPOLI, Libya, December 8, 2022/APO Group/ — 

The European Union’s (bit.ly/3uCHRgC) EU4PSL project in support of private sector development in Libya presented its results in Tripoli. Over the past three years, the project contributed to a better business environment, and new job opportunities across Libya, in particular for the youth and women. In a closing ceremony in Tripoli, the EU and its EU4PSL implementing partner Expertise France (ExpertiseFrance.fr), presented key results to key stakeholders and beneficiaries.

Today, we celebrate the conclusion of the European program to support the private sector in Libya, and we all know that Libya has progressed towards economic development through its private sector. I thank the European Union Delegation, Expertise France and the Libyan experts in all sectors for their contribution to reaching the program’s goals. I stress the keenness and desire of the Ministry of Economy and Trade to continue working together for economic recovery, diversification and the development of Libyan competencies,” said Mohammed Al-Huweij, Minister of Economy and Trade in Libya.

The private sector is a crucial driver for innovation, new jobs and economic growth in Libya. This is why it is important to create an enabling business environment, encourage entrepreneurship and ensure favourable conditions for innovation, investment and trade. In Libya, the private sector needs new skills, instruments and opportunities to turn ideas into successful business ventures. With EU4PSL we were able to create new platforms to simplify access to economic institutions and to boost start-ups and young entrepreneurs,” said Francesca Cuccia, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Libya. “The EU will continue its support to Libya’s private sector also in the future.

“EU4PSL, is for us a flagship project that shows the relevance of supporting the development of the private sector in Libya. All the great achievements underline the full engagement of all the implicated Libyan stakeholders participating to a more efficient and supportive business environment, key for the private sector harmonious development” said Julien Schmitt, Country representative and programs director at Expertise France in Libya. “On behalf of Expertise France, we are very honoured for the trust of our national and international partners and we want to reaffirm once again our commitment to continue to support the economic development of Libya.”

Better institutional services and easy access to support for businesses

EU4PSL worked with the Ministry of Economy and Trade, chambers of commerce and other economic institutions to help create a supportive business environment in Libya.

A new online portal called eJraat (ejraat.gov.ly) simplifies business creation procedures and provides a step-by-step guide to administrative procedures and was launched in partnership with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (UNCTAD.org). The involved stakeholders are now taking it a step further by working with the General Commercial Registry on creating a single online window for business registration and other business services.

In partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), (InTraCen.org) Libya was integrated in the Euromed Trade Help Desk (bit.ly/3iPCc4d) portal for facilitating trade and investment in the EU and the Mediterranean region.

EU4PSL worked with the Chambers of Commerce and General Union of Chambers of Commerce to develop their advisory and advocacy functions. A large national survey (bit.ly/3FziC4S) identified the profiles and needs of Libyan enterprises in terms of business knowledge and support services, along with operational recommendations to help the government and international donors better shape their economic support to Libya.

The first Chambers of Commerce White Book lists the top common reform priorities identified by Libyan enterprises owners and managers with concrete proposals for improvement.

With EU4PSL we were able to create new platforms to simplify access to economic institutions and to boost start-ups and young entrepreneurs

Economic empowerment of women and youth

In partnership with local CSOs, EU4PSL held three national women entrepreneurs contests in which €120,000 of grants were disbursed to 36 winners; more than 90 jobs were created as a result of the development of the winning businesses.

The involved CSOs have also teamed up with universities to organise entrepreneurship training boot camps that were delivered to 360 of their students. Top innovative ideas were then selected to participate in 3 national student contests receiving significant financial awards from local sponsors.

A 6-month business acceleration program called Boost it mentored 19 emerging start-ups from 6 different Libyan cities. The participating start-ups received €153,000 in financial support. 84.6 % of them reported an increase in their revenue.

Improved access to finance for MSMEs and start-ups

EU4PSL worked with the Central Bank of Libya and several other financial institutions to support Libyan MSMEs to access finance.

With the support of the leading financial institution Adie France (Adie.org), two microfinance circulars were published by the Central Bank of Libya demanding banks to dedicate 10% of their portfolio to SMEs and adapt their services to meet the needs of micro and small enterprises, thus creating new fund-raising vehicles for business owners.

Six units dedicated to SMEs support were established within Libyan banks and Tadawul Group (bit.ly/3W1CoeR) supported to establish a Venture Capital fund to provide means of financing and investment for the start-up eco-system in Libya.

Entrepreneurship streamlined within education curricula

EU4PSL, together with Lyon 3 university (bit.ly/3Y4Dmc2), developed an accredited entrepreneurship module that is now being taught at 9 Libyan universities. The delivery of this module was made possible by training and coaching 44 professors across the country with the support of the South Mediterranean University (SMU) (SMU.tn) in Tunis.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation units were also created within 11 universities. The staff of these units were coached on how to run practical incubation programmes to support undergraduate students to upgrade their skills and begin their careers.
Eight Junior initiatives (Juniorenterprises.org) were created inside partner universities promoting entrepreneurial skills among students and closing the gap between their academic studies and the labour market.

EU4PSL has also initiated work with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research on a national roadmap for supporting entrepreneurship within higher educational institutions and bridging the gap between graduates and the labour market in collaboration with the Mediterranean Universities Union (UNIMED) (UNI-MED.net).

After the successful completion of the EU4PSL (2019-2022) and its preceding project, SLEISDE (2016 -2020), the European Union will continue to support private sector and economic development in Libya through the E-NABLE (E-NABLE.ly) project (2022-2025), implemented by Expertise France. E-NABLE will focus on economic diversity, sustainability, and digital governance in Libya.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Expertise France.

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Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Leads up to €2 Billion Syndicated Facility in Largest-Ever Global Loan Syndication for Bank of Industry

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The transaction is a record global loan syndication for BOI, and marks the largest capital raise in its history, setting a new standard for developmental finance across Africa

LAGOS, Nigeria, December 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, today announced its role as Global Coordinator, Lead Co-Arranger, Underwriter, Bookrunner, and Guarantor in the successful syndication of an up to €2 billion facility for Bank of Industry (BOI), Nigeria’s largest and most impactful development finance institution. The transaction is a record global loan syndication for BOI, and marks the largest capital raise in its history, setting a new standard for developmental finance across Africa.

Proceeds of the facility will be used for general corporate purposes including to finance trade and trade related projects of eligible corporates in Nigeria. The facility was syndicated at two levels with AFC, Standard Chartered Bank, African Export-Import Bank, First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, FirstRand Bank Limited, acting through its Rand Merchant Bank division (London Branch), Mashreqbank PSC, SMBC Bank International PLC, Absa Bank (Mauritius) Limited, Absa Bank Limited (acting through its Corporate and Investment Banking division) and Export-Import Bank of India London Branch acting as part of a senior syndicate, together raising an initial €1.43 billion. Following this, AFC led a general syndication, through which an additional €447 million was raised, bringing the total transaction to €1.9 billion, representing an oversubscription of 87%. The facility is expected to further grow to €2 billion.

This landmark global loan syndication is significant for Nigeria and BOI, as the institution was able to successfully tap the international capital market at a time when credit is scarce and prohibitively expensive. It also highlights market confidence in BOI and AFC as leading financial institutions, demonstrating the power of collaboration and innovation between African financial institutions. 

This successful syndication is a significant milestone achievement, not only for BOI but for Africa’s financial landscape as a whole

“This successful syndication is a significant milestone achievement, not only for BOI but for Africa’s financial landscape as a whole. We are proud to have played a central role in this historic global loan syndication, solidifying AFC’s position as a trusted bridge between global investors and infrastructure projects in Africa,” said Banji Fehintola, Executive Board member & Head of Financial Services at AFC. “Our sincere appreciation also goes to our Joint Coordinator and partner Standard Chartered Bank and all other banks that participated in making this transaction a huge success,” he added.

“This financing, the sixth international capital raising for BOI, is the largest fundraising in our history and the largest syndication in the history of African development finance institutions. A key constant in achieving this success is the continued support of our international funding partners, including AFC. We are grateful for the unique role that AFC played to make this transaction a success,“ said Dr. Olasupo Olusi, the Managing Director of BOI.

As part of the syndication, AFC leveraged its A3 (stable outlook) investment-grade rating, recently affirmed by Moody’s, to bring together an international consortium of financial institutions. The transaction aligns with the Corporation’s mission to provide pragmatic solutions that close the continent’s infrastructure gap, accelerate industrialisation, and enhance Africa’s economic resilience against global economic challenges.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

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Board Accepts Carlos Tavares’ Resignation as Chief Executive Officer

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Stellantis

The process to appoint the new permanent Chief Executive Officer is well under way, managed by a Special Committee of the Board, and will be concluded within the first half of 2025

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, December 3, 2024/APO Group/ —

  • Creation of Interim Executive Committee to be chaired by John Elkann
  • New CEO will be appointed in the first half of 2025
  • Full year 2024 financial guidance confirmed

Stellantis’ success since its creation has been rooted in a perfect alignment between the reference shareholders, the Board and the CEO

Stellantis N.V. (“Stellantis” or “the Company”) (www.Stellantis.com) announces that the Company’s Board of Directors, under the Chairmanship of John Elkann, accepted Carlos Tavares’ resignation from his role as Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect.

The process to appoint the new permanent Chief Executive Officer is well under way, managed by a Special Committee of the Board, and will be concluded within the first half of 2025. Until then, a new Interim Executive Committee, chaired by John Elkann, will be established.

Stellantis confirms the guidance it presented to the financial community on October 31, 2024, in respect of its full year 2024 results.

Stellantis’ Senior Independent Director, Henri de Castries, commented: “Stellantis’ success since its creation has been rooted in a perfect alignment between the reference shareholders, the Board and the CEO. However, in recent weeks different views have emerged which have resulted in the Board and the CEO coming to today’s decision.”

Chairman John Elkann said: “Our thanks go to Carlos for his years of dedicated service and the role he has played in the creation of Stellantis, in addition to the previous turnarounds of PSA and Opel, setting us on the path to becoming a global leader in our industry. I look forward to working with our new Interim Executive Committee, supported by all our Stellantis colleagues, as we complete the process of appointing our new CEO. Together we will ensure the continued deployment of the Company’s strategy in the long-term interests of Stellantis and all of its stakeholders.” 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Stellantis.

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Shakwa Nyambe Ranked as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for Oil and Gas in Namibia by IFLR1000 2024 Rankings

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Shakwa Nyambe

IFLR1000 is an internationally esteemed guide that ranks leading lawyers and firms based on their expertise and impact across practice areas

WINDHOEK, Namibia, December 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Shakwa Nyambe, the Managing Partner of SNC Incorporated (www.SNCLawGroup.com), has been recognised as a Highly Regarded Lawyer for Oil and Gas in Namibia by the IFRL1000 rankings of 2024. He is specifically recognised for his exceptional work in the practice area of Projects: Energy, with a focus on the Oil and Gas industry, further cementing his reputation as a world-renowned Energy, Oil and Gas, Natural Resource and Commercial Lawyer.

IFLR1000 is an internationally esteemed guide that ranks leading lawyers and firms based on their expertise and impact across practice areas. Being ranked as a Leading Lawyer for Oil and Gas by this global institution places Shakwa among the most influential individuals in Namibia’s Oil and Gas sector and highlights his invaluable contributions to the field.

Shakwa Nyambe’s recognition is a reflection of his understanding of the complexities of the Oil and Gas industry and his ability to provide innovative solutions to clients navigating the challenges of this sector. As the Managing Partner of SNC Incorporated, a full-service energy, natural resources, corporate & commercial law and dispute resolution law firm, Shakwa has built a legacy of excellence in the legal and commercial sectors. His experience encompasses, advising international corporations, state-owned enterprises, governments, and individuals in oil & gas, renewable energy, and mining projects, and provision of legal services in matters ranging from mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions, and corporate governance to project financing as well as rendering advisory services on general commercial matters.

To be acknowledged as a Highly Regarded Lawyer by IFLR1000 in Namibia for my work in Energy and Oil & Gas is a profound honour

Shakwa is the President-Elect of the Association of International Energy Negotiators (AIEN) for the period 2024 – 2025 and will take over the Presidency for the period 2025 – 2026. His qualifications include, amongst others, a Master of Laws (LLM) in Oil and Gas Law with Professional Skills from the University of Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, a Postgraduate Diploma in Drafting and Interpretation of Contracts from the University of Johannesburg and an Executive Diploma in Global Business (Master’s Level) from the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

His expertise and strategic guidance have made him the go-to advisor for international oil companies, energy companies, mining companies. multinational corporations and local entities engaged in Namibia’s energy development.

This acknowledgment comes at a critical moment for Namibia, as the country is emerging as a significant player in the global energy market, driven by transformative discoveries in the Orange Basin by major international companies. Shakwa’s legal and strategic leadership has been instrumental in helping stakeholders capitalize on these opportunities while ensuring compliance with Namibia’s regulatory landscape.

Commenting on the rankings, Shakwa Nyambe stated, “To be acknowledged as a Highly Regarded Lawyer by IFLR1000 in Namibia for my work in Energy and Oil & Gas is a profound honour. It reflects not just my efforts but the dedication of the team at SNC Incorporated and the trust of our clients. This motivates me to continue raising the bar for legal and business excellence in Namibia’s oil and gas sector.”

As a globally recognized thought leader, he frequently engages in high-level dialogues on energy, corporate and resource law, sharing insights that shape policy and practice in Namibia and internationally.

As Namibia continues its rise as a frontier oil and gas producer, Shakwa Nyambe exemplifies excellence, driving the sector forward with vision, expertise and an unwavering commitment to his clients.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of SNC Incorporated.

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