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First National Bank (FNB) and WomenIN Festival 2025 Join Forces to Back Bold, Inclusive Growth for Women across South Africa

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6 months ago

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Women

The collaboration includes a range of initiatives designed to create real, tangible value for women

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, November 6, 2025/APO Group/ —First National Bank (FNB) has announced its partnership with WomenIN Festival 2025 (www.WeAreWomenIn.com), as a lead empowerment partner for the iconic event that brings together women from all walks of life for a phenomenal anticipated two days of celebrating women with purpose.

Taking place on 13–14 November at Cape Town’s Newlands Cricket Ground, the Festival brings together entrepreneurs, professionals, creatives, and community builders under the banner: “Limitless: No Labels, No Limits, No Apologies.” For FNB, the partnership isn’t just about presence—it’s about purpose. “As a financial institution, we’re intentional about supporting women in each and every role they play—business owners, leaders, caregivers, and changemakers,” says Nicole Sykes, Head of Women in Business at FNB. “Partnering with the WomenIN Festival 2025 allows us to show up in a way that’s visible, grounded, and future-focused.”

FNB’s decision to align with WomenIN stems from a shared belief – empowering women unlocks broader social and economic impact.

Both organisations are committed to building systems and  providing tools that enable women not just to participate—but to lead, grow, and thrive. “WomenIN is more than a festival. It’s a platform for transformation,” Sykes says. “It encapsulates and mirrors our values around access, equity, and building something bigger than ourselves.”

The collaboration includes a range of initiatives designed to create real, tangible value for women. These include financial wellness sessions focused on money management and wealth-building, dynamic leadership roundtables bringing together trailblazers from across sectors through FNB’s Nav Marketplace and the WomenIN platform.

FNB will also highlight real, authentic stories—like women-led businesses that have grown through its enterprise development programmes—putting a face to the kind of change and impact it wants to scale. The WomenIN 2025 Festival is one aspect of our broader vision: “We’re not just showing up for the two days. We want to create ongoing pathways for women to connect, lead, and build lasting financial independence,” says Sykes. “Our vision is long-term. It’s legacy-focused.”

According to Sykes, it’s a mix of reach, track record, and a deep commitment to being more than just a financial institution. “We’ve built platforms, resources, and support systems tailored specifically for women in business. We’re not new to this. This partnership just takes it further.”

We’re here to walk the journey with women, whether you’re building a business, leading a team, supporting your family and social circles or shaping your future

Nazlee Fredericks-Maharaj, founder of WomenIN, sees the collaboration as a catalyst. “This is bigger than an event or a campaign. It’s a movement, a call to action,” she says. “Together with FNB, we’re creating space for women to dream bigger, grow stronger, and connect in ways that have real impact—building not just confidence and soft skills, but also financial literacy and practical hard skills that empower women to succeed personally and professionally.”

Women entrepreneurs, professionals, and supporters can take part by attending WomenIN Festival 2025 and FNB-hosted sessions, joining FNB’s digital channels for ongoing educational programmes and initiatives tailored to Women in Business, designed to support growth at every stage.

Women across industries and life stages are encouraged to show up, speak out, and step into spaces built for real change.

“This is more than a partnership, it’s a movement. We invite every woman to step into her power, connect, and grow with us. We’re here to walk the journey with women, whether you’re building a business, leading a team, supporting your family and social circles or shaping your future. FNB is your partner in progress,”  emphasises Nicole Sykes, Head of Women in Business at FNB.

Join the Movement

The WomenIN Festival is more than an event—it’s a holistic movement for women who are ready to step into their power, speak truth to systems, and create a future defined by collaboration, sisterhood, and impact.

Download the Full Programme:
WiN Festival 2025 Programme (PDF) (https://apo-opa.co/3WJKJ9o)

Registration for the Festival:
Register Here (https://apo-opa.co/47s0ubl)

Partnership and Sponsorship for the Festival:
Submit Interest (https://apo-opa.co/4hIpEpo)

Purchase Tickets:
Buy Tickets (https://apo-opa.co/4hIzCXP)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Energy

Rand Refinery Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as Silver Sponsor Amid Regional Market Expansion Strategy

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3 hours ago

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May 20, 2026

By

Energy Capital

African Mining Week 2026 will showcase lucrative investment, partnership, and knowledge-exchange opportunities across Africa’s gold downstream sector, as Rand Refinery intensifies its investment and expansion strategy across the continent

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 19, 2026/APO Group/ –Amid a strategy to expand from a South Africa-focused refiner into a pan-African downstream leader, Rand Refinery has joined African Mining Week (AMW), an Influential African Mining Conference, scheduled for October 14-16, 2026 in Cape Town, as a silver sponsor.

Rand Refinery’s participation reflects a broader strategic alignment between the company’s expansion agenda and AMW’s focus on supporting and enabling local beneficiation and promoting artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) responsible sourcing frameworks.

 

In terms of volumes, the latest market information indicates that Africa produces 1000tpa of mined gold (more than any other continent), with large-scale mining (LSM) and ASM being almost evenly balanced (500tpa production each). On its current trajectory, African ASM volumes are expected to eclipse those of LSM.

 

The focus on ASM as a transformational imperative is valid, and Rand Refinery is an active participant in the precious metals supply chain, working alongside other upstream and downstream actors to ensure that the communities and countries with gold resources benefit in a sustainable manner.

 

Under the theme Mining the Future: Unearthing Africa’s Full Mineral Value Chain, AMW 2026 offers a critical interface between refiners, miners, regulators, and financial institutions, as African countries intensify efforts to capture more value from responsible mineral production.

 

A key pillar of Rand Refinery’s 2026 strategy is its expansion into high-growth gold markets beyond South Africa. In January 2026, the company partnered with Ghana’s Gold Coast Refinery (GCR) to support the Ghana Gold Board to locally refine artisanal and small-scale (ASM) gold and elevate responsible sourcing standards in West Africa. The partnership also positions Rand Refinery in a rapidly growing and historically fragmented supply segment: ASM operations, enabling the company to enhance traceability and strengthen compliance with global standards for ethical sourcing and anti-money laundering.

 

The partnership potentially allows the monetization of ASM supply streams in the formal gold ecosystem, complementing Rand Refinery’s established role in refining output from responsible large-scale producers. AMW 2026 represents a timely platform for the company to provide an update on its projects and contribution to Africa’s gold sector.

 

As demand for regional refining capacity expands, along with central bank buying programs, companies such as Rand Refinery will be crucial.

 

Central bank gold purchases are projected to average around 585 tons per quarter in 2026, underscoring sustained global demand. In Africa, gold now accounts for approximately 17% of total reserves – up from less than 10% in 2022–2023 – while physical holdings increased from 663 tons in 2022 to an estimated 738 tons in 2025.

 

This upward trajectory is driving demand for trusted refining and value addition services, positioning Rand Refinery as a key partner in the region. Against this backdrop, AMW provides a strategic platform for central banks and gold buyers to engage directly with one of the world’s largest integrated single-site precious metals refining and smelting complexes and strengthen regional beneficiation and national reserve strategies.

 

At AMW, Rand Refinery executives will participate in panel discussions and networking sessions, engaging stakeholders on partnership opportunities that support a more integrated, transparent and value-driven African gold ecosystem.

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

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Events

Thailand’s SUBCON Expo Hits $705 Million in Parts Trade as Global Manufacturers Seek New Suppliers

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1 day ago

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May 19, 2026

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SUBCON Expo

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – SUBCON Thailand — ASEAN’s largest industrial sourcing expo — closed its 20th edition with an estimated USD 705.5 million in parts trade (approximately 23 billion baht), as manufacturers worldwide pushed deeper into Southeast Asia to broaden industrial partnerships. The event ran May 13–16 in Bangkok, drawing more than 50,000 participants and generating over 9,600 business matching pairs. It is co-organized by the Thailand Board of Investment (BOI), the Thai Subcontracting Promotion Association, and Informa Markets Thailand.

“SUBCON Thailand is not only the largest trade exhibition in ASEAN. It is a mechanism the BOI uses to connect Thai entrepreneurs to global supply chains, at a moment when massive global industrial restructuring is forcing every country to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers,” said Mr. Narit Therdsteerasukdi, Secretary General of the Thailand Board of Investment. “Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand’s economy in the years ahead. We will develop SUBCON into a platform that elevates their capabilities and plants Thailand more firmly on the global industrial supply chain map — in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation.”

Companies said SUBCON Thailand let them source across electric vehicles, semiconductors and advanced electronics, automation and robotics, medical devices, and aerospace — finding buyers, suppliers, and industrial partners across all of them — in a single venue.

“SUBCON Thailand serves as a key platform where automotive and electronics companies connect and explore business opportunities. Through business matching sessions, good potential has been identified to deepen collaboration with Thai entrepreneurs and enhance local industry partnerships,” said Mr. Paulino Mendoza, Team Lead Global Processing Manager, BMW (Thailand) Co., Ltd.

“SUBCON Thailand is where Thai manufacturers prove their quality to the world. Business Matching connected us with buyers and partners we would not have found elsewhere. This is how Thai companies build the confidence to compete internationally,” said Ms. Waranchalee Suwanpimolkul, Assistant Managing Director, S.K. Polymer Co., Ltd.

Many BOI-network companies left with concrete results — procurement agreements, follow-up negotiations, and technology partnerships. Business Matching drew the highest satisfaction scores of any activity at the show, reflecting how central buyer-supplier connectivity is to the event’s appeal. The results point to broader confidence: companies at the show said Thai manufacturers are internationally competitive on quality and ready to integrate into global supply chains.

Looking ahead, the BOI plans to widen SUBCON’s scope — targeting AI, advanced electronics, modern vehicles, and logistics. The BOI will also expand Business Matching to reach a broader set of industries and build closer ties between Thai companies and overseas investors.

“SUBCON Thailand is a mechanism the BOI uses to put Thai entrepreneurs at the center of global supply chains — and to keep them there. The world is going through the biggest industrial shift in a generation. Every country is racing to build a stronger base for its own manufacturers. Thai entrepreneurs will be the backbone of Thailand’s economy, and we intend to make SUBCON the platform that gets them there — in AI, semiconductors, modern vehicles, and automation,” Mr. Narit said.

USD conversions based on an exchange rate of 32.6 baht per USD.

Thailand Board of Investment
Established in 1966, the Office of the Board of Investment (BOI) has continuously played an essential role for over 60 years in promoting value-adding investment for the country, from both foreign and Thai investors, to enhance national competitiveness and drive towards a new era of sustainable and balanced growth.

Investment Services Center — PR Section, The Office of the Board of Investment (BOI)

555 Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Tel. +66 (0) 2553 8111, Fax: +66 (0) 2553 8222

 

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Business

President Mahama, Africa Finance Corporation’s (AFC) Samaila Zubairu and Global Business Leaders to Headline The Africa Debate in London

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1 day ago

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May 19, 2026

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Mahama

This year’s extraordinary speaker line-up includes H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, and AFC’s President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, alongside global business leaders and investors shaping Africa’s next chapter

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 18, 2026/APO Group/ –Invest Africa (www.InvestAfrica.com) is pleased to announce Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) as Headline Partner for the 12th edition of The Africa Debate, taking place on Wednesday, 3 June 2026 at the Guildhall, London.

 

This year’s extraordinary speaker line-up includes H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, and AFC’s President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, alongside global business leaders and investors shaping Africa’s next chapter.

As the UK’s leading forum for high-level dialogue on Africa’s economic future, The Africa Debate 2026 will convene over 800 senior leaders from government, finance and industry under the theme: ‘Redefining Partnership: Navigating a World in Transition’.

As the global order evolves and new economic and geopolitical realities emerge, discussions will focus on how to accelerate investment, unlock growth and strengthen development outcomes through a new era of collaboration.

This year’s speaker line-up reflects the breadth of voices shaping Africa’s next chapter, from heads of state to the stewards of global capital.

Highlights include:

H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana
The Rt. Hon. Baroness Chapman of Darlington, Minister for International Development and Africa

Key ministers include:

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Ghana
Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resource, Republic of Ghana

Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance, Republic of Ghana

Hon. Judith Salvio Kapinga, Minister for Industry and Trade, United Republic of Tanzania

H.E. Taiwo Oyedele, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria

With AFC as our Headline Partner, we have a bold, visionary institution that understands what long-term, bankable investment in Africa truly looks like

 

Dalu Ajene, CEO & Head of Coverage, Africa, Standard Chartered

Runa Alam, Co-Founder & CEO, Development Partners International
Haythem El Maayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank

Dr. Awele V. Elumelu, Co-Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation
Claver Gatete, Under Secretary General & Executive Secretary, UNECA
Amadou Hott, Chair, Africa Advisory Board, Vision Invest

Kola Karim, Group Managing Director & CEO, Shoreline Energy International
Leslie Maasdorp, Chief Executive Officer, British International Investment
Zemedeneh Negatu, Chief Executive Officer, CBE Capital Investment Bank and Chairman, Fairfax Africa Fund

Hardy Pemhiwa, President & CEO, Cassava Technologies

 

Commenting on AFC’s partnership with Invest Africa, Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of Africa Finance Corporation, said: “We are entering a decisive period for Africa and the global economy. As trade routes, supply chains, and industrial capacity are being reshaped, Africa has a historic opportunity to move from the margins of the global economy to a more central role in powering future growth, resilience, and industrial competitiveness.

Realising that opportunity will require mobilising capital at scale toward the infrastructure, energy systems, logistics networks, and industrial ecosystems that enable productive economies to grow and create jobs.

The Africa Debate comes at an important moment to deepen partnerships, align long-term capital with long-term opportunity, and accelerate the practical solutions required to help build the Africa our children will inherit.”

Chantelé Carrington, CEO of Invest Africa, added: “The world is in transition, and Africa is no longer waiting to be invited to shape it. From the race to secure critical minerals and redefine development finance, to the urgent need to unlock energy access and accelerate digital transformation, this year’s Africa Debate puts Africa’s priorities first.

With AFC as our Headline Partner, we have a bold, visionary institution that understands what long-term, bankable investment in Africa truly looks like. Together, we are convening a conversation that goes beyond rhetoric, focused on the partnerships, the financing models, and the structural shifts that will define Africa’s next decade.”

Confirmed Partners of The Africa Debate Include: Africa Finance Corporation (Headline Partner), Absa Group, Afreximbank, Africa GreenCo, Brand South Africa, FirstBank UK Limited, Invest Durban, London Stock Exchange Group, Manufacturing Africa, Premier Invest, Rawbank, S-RM, Société Nationale d’Électricité (SNEL), Standard Bank Group and Standard Chartered.

To register as a delegate for The Africa Debate, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/4dqVaqk.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.

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