Under this partnership, Network International and GIM-UEMOA have reaffirmed their shared commitment to innovation and collaboration in West Africa’s financial technology space

DAKAR, Senegal, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ — 

Network International (Network) (www.Network.ae), a leading payment solutions provider in the Middle East and Africa, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GIM-UEMOA, the regional payment scheme which promotes electronic payments across the banking, financial and public administration sectors in West Africa. This collaboration will drive innovation and enhance financial inclusion across the eight member countries of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

The partnership will help deliver innovative digital payment solutions under the GIM-Pay framework, leveraging the two organisations’ collective strengths. This initiative aims to benefit the population of the UEMOA region by providing secure, seamless, and accessible payment systems that meet the growing demands of businesses and consumers alike.

We aim to harness our combined expertise to empower the UEMOA region with state-of-the-art payment solutions that drive economic inclusion and prosperity

In addition to supporting the financial needs of users within UEMOA, the collaboration will enhance the value proposition of GIM-UEMOA’s affiliated member banks, enabling them to better serve their end customers with cutting-edge digital payment solutions. This offering aligns with the region’s commitment to fostering economic growth and financial inclusion.

“Partnering with GIM-UEMOA represents a significant milestone for Network International. Together, we aim to harness our combined expertise to empower the UEMOA region with state-of-the-art payment solutions that drive economic inclusion and prosperity,” said Dr. Reda Helal, Managing Director & Co-Head of Processing, Africa at Network International.”

“This collaboration with Network International allows for the pooling of infrastructure and solutions to bring cutting-edge digital payment solutions to the West African banking sector. We look forward to the benefits that will be realised for financial services entities throughout the region,” said Minayegnan Coulibaly, Managing Director of GIM-UEMOA.

Under this partnership, Network International and GIM-UEMOA have reaffirmed their shared commitment to innovation and collaboration in West Africa’s financial technology space. This partnership also underscores the importance of alliances in addressing the diverse financial and economic needs of the UEMOA region.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Network International.

These tools allow entrepreneurs to focus on engaging with their customers and growing their business, while GoDaddy supports the technical aspects of presenting their digital presence

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ — 

As the new year gets started, small businesses owners are gearing up for the year to come. To help businesses get started early on to drive their sales growth throughout the year, GoDaddy (www.GoDaddy.com) offers a suite of AI-powered tools designed to help small businesses get found online, streamline e-commerce, optimize marketing strategies, and boost customer engagement in a competitive market.

A New Year, A New Opportunity

As 2025 gets started, businesses have an opportunity to prepare themselves to make the most of digital opportunities to help their business grow. Small business owners are shown to be more open to using artificial intelligence where they believe it will help impact their businesses. GoDaddy’s Entrepreneurship survey global results showed that 68% said they will use artificial intelligence in marketing and 55% said they would use it in business planning and strategy. GoDaddy Airo™ (https://apo-opa.co/40OtuGN), an AI-powered experience, is designed to save small business owners time in establishing their online presence and attract new customers by realizing the benefits of using AI technologies to help their business be more efficient and drive growth.

Build a Strong Digital Presence for 2025

As businesses transition into the new year, setting a solid digital strategy is crucial. Having a professional website tailored for a business can help to raise business visibility and online reach as more people go online first to check where to eat, where to shop and where to visit. With GoDaddy Airo’s customizable experience included with any new domain purchase, along with a new domain, a business can then instantly build a website, logo and more.

With increased interest in building websites and selling online, it’s important for businesses to recognize their specific customer needs

Additionally, GoDaddy’s digital marketing tool (https://apo-opa.co/4hcxRRM) allows businesses to create personalized, targeted marketing campaigns. Businesses can engage with customers by offering exclusive discounts, promoting limited time offers, and creating festive promotions to help drive new customer conversions.

GoDaddy’s SEO tools help businesses optimize their websites for local search, ensuring that they rank higher on search engines and attract more potential customers. These tools can help businesses directly connect with their target audience and integrate with driving sales via social channels, which when integrated together with a website, strengthens a business’ overall digital presence.

Tailored Promotion Strategies for Businesses

Holiday seasons are often a key period for businesses to connect with customers to help drive sales and build revenue. GoDaddy’s tools are designed to help local businesses tap into the full potential of shopping seasons during the year, including peak shopping times. GoDaddy Websites + Marketing with online store makes it easy for businesses to set up an online store as a part of their website with localized payment options, multi-currency support, and a user-friendly design. This enables businesses to cater to diverse audiences and meet their customers’ needs throughout the year and especially during busy festive periods.

“With increased interest in building websites and selling online, it’s important for businesses to recognize their specific customer needs,” says Selina Bieber, Vice President for International Markets at GoDaddy. “The GoDaddy Airo AI-powered experience, helps small businesses get online quickly with a professional website and integrates with social media platforms, helping small business owners create a digital presence without spending hours working on it,” she adds.

Leverage Data with Analytics to Drive Results

Understanding customer behavior and trends can be key to successful customer engagement strategies. GoDaddy’s website analytics offer valuable insights, helping businesses track user activity, measuring campaign performance, and adjust strategies in real-time. By using these insights, business owners can optimize their websites and promotional offers to better cater to their audience’s needs.

With GoDaddy’s digital tools and solutions, businesses can build a robust digital presence while also gain efficiencies by streamlining their operations by automating invoicing, managing inventory, and offering a mobile-friendly shopping experience. These tools allow entrepreneurs to focus on engaging with their customers and growing their business, while GoDaddy supports the technical aspects of presenting their digital presence. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GoDaddy.

This development marks an important strategic milestone for PAIX Data Centres as it continues to expand its network in West Africa to meet the growing demand for high-quality digital infrastructure

DAKAR, Senegal, January 27, 2025/APO Group/ — 

PAIX Data Centres (www.PAIX.io), a leading data centre provider in Africa, is proud to announce the construction of a new state-of-the-art data centre in Dakar, Senegal. This development marks an important strategic milestone for PAIX Data Centres as it continues to expand its network in West Africa to meet the growing demand for high-quality digital infrastructure.

PAIX Data Centres is already operational in Accra, Ghana, Nairobi, Kenya and Djibouti.

Benefits for the region and customers

Four submarine cables are already connected to Dakar (ACE, MainOne, SAT3, SHARE) and more cables are currently being installed (2Africa), making the data centre a key access point for customers looking to serve the region’s emerging markets.

The PAIX Dakar data centre will provide essential digital infrastructure to support innovation and economic growth in West Africa.

Businesses will benefit from access to reliable connectivity and high-quality colocation services, helping to strengthen their competitiveness and resilience.

A state-of-the-art data center

To set up the infrastructure, PAIX Data Centers purchased the land to build the buildings to house the data center equipment. The goal is to have a modern facility offering approximately 918 m² of usable space and critical power of up to 1.2 megawatts. The first phase of the project is scheduled to be operational in 2026, marking a milestone in the development of digital services in the region.

The new PAIX Dakar data center will provide a robust and secure infrastructure to host IT equipment. This state-of-the-art facility is designed to deliver optimal performance, exceptional reliability and flexible solutions tailored to the needs of local and international businesses. The main features of the PAIX Dakar data center are:

• 1.2 MW of IT load to ensure sufficient and stable power supply for critical operations.
• 900 square meters of colocation space offering flexible and scalable solutions for a variety of hosting needs.
• 330 bays to house a wide range of IT equipment in a secure and controlled environment.

The construction of this new data centre in Dakar demonstrates our commitment to the development of digital infrastructure in West Africa

Environmental Commitment

PAIX Data Centres has made a series of environmental commitments and is continually working to design high-performance data centres that take advantage of the latest design innovations.

Operational strategies aim to optimise the maximum use of local resources, operating at the most efficient temperatures and saving cooling water consumption in water-stressed regions.

PAIX Data Centres is committed to using 100% renewable energy in the construction of its data centres by 2030.

Economic and Social Commitment

PAIX Data Centres and its investor Africa50 (established by 32 African governments, including Senegal) are committed to providing best-in-class data centre solutions that meet the evolving needs of customers and contribute to the growth and prosperity of Senegal and West Africa.

Job Creation

The construction and operation of the PAIX Dakar data centre will create jobs in Senegal. Nearly 200 workers will be involved in building the infrastructure, while around 20 employees will work full-time to operate the data centre in Dakar. In addition, the new data centre will create business opportunities for suppliers, including architects, engineering consultants, contractors and maintenance companies.

Global Gateway

PAIX Data Centres is a member of the European Global Gateway Business Advisory Group and works in collaboration with the European Union to foster the development of digital infrastructure on the African continent. Supporting secure and resilient digital infrastructure is essential to unlocking economic development opportunities and attracting investment to African countries as well as ensuring the protection of digital sovereignty, security, democracy and fundamental rights.

QUOTES

• Boubacar Fall Sy, Managing Director of PAIX Data Centres Senegal, said: “The construction of this new data centre in Dakar demonstrates our commitment to the development of digital infrastructure in West Africa. We look forward to providing local and international businesses with world-class colocation and connectivity services, facilitating their digital transformation.
• Mohsen Chirara, Managing Director of Arc Informatique, said: “PAIX, with its African experience and expertise is a sure answer with an approach of a neutral actor. All the best in your project”
• Norman Albi, Managing Director of AFR-IX Telecom, said: “This new data centre of PAIX Data Centres will further strengthen the digital infrastructure of the region, providing local and international businesses with a solid platform for innovation and growth. This new data centre will also be crucial for AFR-IX telecom’s networks, enabling more robust and faster connectivity for our customers. We are delighted to see this initiative come to fruition and look forward to continuing to support the technological development of Senegal and West Africa as a whole.”
• Yankhoba Ndiaye, Managing Director of Dariss Consulting, said: “The launch of the new PAIX Data Centres data centre comes at a crucial time to support the rise of cloud computing in Senegal. This initiative is essential to meet the growing needs for technological infrastructure and to position Senegal as a digital hub in West Africa.

Dariss Consulting is particularly enthusiastic about this ambitious project. Indeed, it will offer us the opportunity to expand the capabilities of our clients, by providing them with more efficient and secure data storage and management solutions. This will significantly contribute to Senegal’s digital sovereignty, by strengthening the country’s autonomy in the management of its data and reducing its dependence on foreign infrastructure.

We are confident that this data center will become a strategic pillar for Senegal’s technological development, supporting local companies in their digital transition and attracting international investment in the information and communication technology sector.”

• Wouter van Hulten, CEO of PAIX Data Centres, says: “PAIX Data Centres’ investment in the PAIX Dakar data center positions it at the crossroads of connectivity between West Africa, Europe and South America. The strong network hub created by the aggregation of multiple submarine cable landing points connecting to terrestrial cables makes Dakar a very attractive gateway. We have received strong interest from our connectivity, CDN, social media and cloud customers looking to serve the emerging markets accessible by these cables. We plan to develop thriving cloud and content magnet hubs in Dakar.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of PAIX Data Centres