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Global Africa Business Initiative’s (GABI) ‘Unstoppable Africa’ 2025 Puts Africa at the Center of Global Growth

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10 months ago

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GABI

New York’s Times Square became the stage for Africa’s economic ambitions today as heads of state, business leaders, investors, and policymakers gathered for Unstoppable Africa 2025, the flagship forum of the Global Africa Business Initiative (GABI) (https://GABI.UNGlobalCompact.org).

The gathering which took place at the Marriott Marquis, in Times Square, marked a decisive shift in the global conversation – from doing business in Africa to doing business with Africa – with energy, critical minerals, healthcare, education, and the creative industries driving a powerful narrative of Africa as the engine of the world’s next wave of growth. The event was held just ahead of the 80th United Nations General Assembly and was hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission. CNN’s Larry Madowo and Al Jazeera’s Folly Bah Thibault returned as moderators.

In his opening remarks at Unstoppable Africa 2025, António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, highlighted Africa’s growing influence at a time of global disruption and opportunity.

“The world meets at a time of turbulence and opportunity, and Africa stands at the centre of that opportunity. Africa is home to the world’s youngest population, has vast energy resources, and extraordinary creativity across sectors -from fintech and agribusiness to fashion and artificial intelligence. Our challenge and responsibility is to turn these extraordinary possibilities into sustainable prosperity, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2063, and the Pact for the Future.”

Ms. Sanda Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary-General and CEO of the UN Global Compact, added: “The time has come to embrace a new narrative for Africa. This narrative is imperative. We are shifting from doing business in Africa to doing business with Africa. Since our last forum, GABI has maintained momentum by convening alongside several African organizations and continues to do so.”

GABI was formed in 2022 to rebalance the way business is done in Africa. Its focus is on sustainable business aligned with Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. GABI prioritizes several themes: Energy, Trade, Digital Transformation, Food Systems, Education, Health, Fashion & Creative industries, and Sports.

GABI and its partners aim to build a strong, inclusive private sector that derisks economies, attracts investment, creates jobs, and promotes prosperous, sustainable communities across Africa.

​​​One highlight was a closed door meeting between the UN Secretary-General, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, H.E. João Lourenço, President of Angola, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Strive Masiyiwa and other African business leaders. Fourteen CEOs and heads of multilateral organizations, representing companies based in 16 African countries with a combined revenue of US$22 billion, called on governments to do more to improve the business environment. They emphasized the need for policies that support industrial growth, regional trade, and long-term investment.

Founder and Executive Chairman, ECONET Global and Cassava Technologies, Strive Masiyiwa said: “Unstoppable Africa has become a powerful platform for African and global leaders, and the world’s biggest companies to engage with Africa.”

Unstoppable Africa has become a powerful platform for African and global leaders, and the world’s biggest companies to engage with Africa

Throughout the day, participants highlighted key priorities for Africa’s development, including expanding access to energy, accelerating clean energy adoption, improving healthcare and education, and supporting creative and sports industries.

Reflecting on Africa’s potential, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, said: “Unstoppable Africa is more than a slogan. It is, first and foremost, a recognition of our potential and a determination to act, to transform the daily lives of African citizens. Building a just, sustainable, and prosperous world will be anchored in shared values, environmental stewardship, and equitable partnerships among governments, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society”.

A trade session explored Africa’s position in a rapidly changing global economy. In light of rising protectionism, tariff disputes, and the weakening of long-standing trade agreements, speakers examined how Africa can adapt to a more fragmented global landscape. World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala set the scene in a fireside chat, noting that global companies are seeking to diversify supply chains and that Africa stands out as a destination for growth. She highlighted opportunities in industries such as textiles and oil palm and emphasized that, with over one-third of key mineral reserves, local processing can support green energy supply chains.

H.E. João Lourenço, President of Angola, highlighted the potential of the Lobito Corridor to boost regional trade and industrial growth. He noted that the corridor connects the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, supports a broad economic zone, and can attract private investment to drive production, processing, and exports across Africa.

H.E. Duma Boko, President of Botswana, called for harmonized laws and systems across Africa to facilitate trade. He emphasized the importance of shared investment in infrastructure, including the Lobito Corridor, and urged stronger public-private partnerships, faster approvals, and streamlined processes to enable business growth.

Another session focused on Africa’s growing importance in the global supply of critical minerals essential to the energy transition and digital technologies. Hon. Bogolo Kenewendo, Minister of Minerals and Energy of Botswana, outlined plans to develop local hubs around mines to ensure processing and value addition happen within the country, keeping more economic value in Botswana and strengthening domestic industry.

Mr. Paul Hinks, Chairman and CEO of Symbion Power and HYDRO-LINK, highlighted the strategic importance of rare earths and other critical minerals. He noted global reliance on China for processing and emphasized the growing demand from partners like the United States for alternative, locally processed sources to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Dr. Rajiv Shah, President of the Rockefeller Foundation, highlighted that by the end of the week, 32 nations are expected to sign energy agreements detailing new policies and plans to expand electrification. African leaders also aim to mobilize over $50 billion in affordable finance, supporting Mission 300, the continent-wide goal to accelerate access to reliable power.

An insightful panel on financing Africa’s green industrial future highlighted the importance of local financial leadership in driving the continent’s energy transition. Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50, called for Africans to take the lead in driving the continent’s development while engaging global partners. He emphasized the need for speed and increased investment, noting that African institutional investors manage over US$2 trillion, yet less than 3% is allocated to infrastructure. Increasing this to 5% could significantly close the funding gap. ​     ​

In the side event, the Africa Business Leaders Coalition (ABLC), convened a round table focused on unlocking trade in Africa. 14 CEOs representing over US$20 billion of annual turnover in Africa, shared candid feedback with the Deputy Chair and Commissioner for Economic Development, African Union Commission, Her Excellency, Selma Malika Haddadi, calling for harmonised regulations across the continent.

Day Two of Unstoppable Africa 2025 will continue with discussions on trade, digital innovation, food systems, and investment opportunities across the continent.

Visit HERE (https://apo-opa.co/46xX8lh) for Day 1 event photos and . For speakers’ highlights, visit HERE (https://apo-opa.co/423iPbB). For speakers’ highlights. Follow Unstoppable Africa YouTube channel (https://apo-opa.co/47VasT4) for exclusive content and event highlights.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Global Africa Business Initiative.

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$2.1 Billion and Counting: African Real Estate Is Executing

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4 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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Africa

Ahead of the 17th Africa Property Investment (API) Summit in Cape Town, investment pipelines are converting into a record number of transactions as the continent’s real estate and hospitality sectors move from potential into real momentum

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 21, 2026/APO Group/ –Verified data gathered from across Africa’s real estate investment landscape reveals that the continent’s leading property and hospitality roleplayers completed more than $2.1 billion worth of transactions over the past 18 months, representing one of the most concentrated periods of institutional real estate deal activity in the continent’s history.

 

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/3TraTiH

The 28 transactions (across nine countries and eight asset classes) were closed by API Summit stakeholders from across the institutional property ecosystem – spanning listed capital markets, commercial, residential, hospitality, logistics and alternatives.

The full African Deals Index report – compiled in collaboration with Broll, the data and insights partner for API Summit 2026 – will be unveiled on the opening day of the event, taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 17 and 18 September.

Talk turning to investment action

The deal-making activity is a signal of the much-spoken-about potential for Africa converting into tangible action, driven by enhanced investor confidence.

“This isn’t a forecast – it’s a balance sheet. $2.1 billion in completed transactions tells you African real estate has moved past the conversation about potential and into the discipline of execution,” said Malcolm Horne, Group CEO of Broll Property Group.

Horne highlighted several key shifts reflected in the data.

“What’s notable is where the conviction is coming from: domestic pension capital acting as a structuring investor, not a passive landlord, and green-linked financing becoming a board-level decision, not a marketing line. At Broll, we see this in our own data every day – across the assets we manage, the cost of capital is increasingly tied to the quality of the asset, not just its location.

“That’s the market maturing in real time, and it’s exactly the momentum my team and I are looking forward to presenting and unpacking at API this year.”

The 17th Annual API Summit takes place under the theme Bold Capital. Real Momentum. and is expected to attract over 600 delegates from more than 30 countries.

Niyi Adeyele, Head of Real Estate Finance, Africa Regions at Standard Bank Group, commented on the evolution of real estate sector funding across Africa.

“It remains interesting to track the resilience and the evolution of activities in the sector, from growing capital market activities, to the rapidly increasing participation of domestic capital sources within the African continent from domestic focused institutional capital sources such as pension funds and family offices to pan-African investor platforms that tend to operate across multiple countries.”

He said that accordingly, sectoral activity levels remain positive, with the “growing pace of green field projects in key markets” providing “early indications of a new growth cycle for the sector”.

Investors now have listed, liquid exposure to African real estate, and issuers have a repeatable route to permanent capital

Major moves from domestic capital and DFIs

Domestic pension capital has moved decisively beyond its traditional role as a passive landlord, emerging as an active, structuring investor in African real estate – a shift that will be central to discussions at the summit.

The charge was led by South Africa’s Government Employees Pension Fund (through the Public Investment Corporation and retail property powerhouse Pareto), which concluded commercial, residential and industrial transactions valued at over $343.5 million since the start of 2025.

“Through the Standard Bank Group’s franchise operations across multiple countries, there are observed increase deployment of institutional capital to across key markets driving increased primary and secondary market activities,” said Adeyele, pointing to examples such as Grene Capital’s raising of $100 million from Nigerian pension for property investments in Nigeria and beyond.

Sustainability-linked deal leads the way

Sustainability remains a critical factor in real estate financing considerations – evidenced by the largest transaction completed over the past 18 months.

Standard Bank and its African Regions brand Stanbic (along with Rand Merchant Bank) acted as co-lender on a $300 million green financing facility to facilitate Lango’s bid to become Africa’s first Green Pure Play real estate company, with 90% of its portfolio certified according to international standards.

Amongst several other milestones, the Africa Logistics Property (ALP) Industrial REIT listing on the Nairobi Stock Exchange in March 2026 was notable as East Africa’s first listing featuring entirely IFC EDGE-certified green buildings.

Listed capital makes major moves

REIT capital markets were the second largest asset class by value across the period, accounting for $568.5 million of activity, with the action extending well beyond South Africa’s established counters.

East Africa welcomed ALP’s Industrial REIT (marking the region’s first industrial and first USD-denominated security); Centum’s TRIFIC Dollar I-REIT (the first green, income-distributing USD-denominated) and Acorn Holdings’ build-to-rent D-REIT.

On Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls Stock Exchange, the Pfuma Fund REIT and Eagle REIT both listed, deepening a hard-currency capital market that scarcely existed five years ago.

“Seeing multiple REITs listing on exchanges in one cycle tells you the asset class has crossed from novelty to norm. Investors now have listed, liquid exposure to African real estate, and issuers have a repeatable route to permanent capital,” said Raghav Gandhi, CEO of ALP.

API Summit 2026 – ushering in the next wave of deals

The unprecedented commitment of capital into Africa’s real estate sector takes centre stage when the 17th Annual API Summit convenes. Welcoming the investors, developers, financiers and policymakers behind the continent’s most prominent deals, this year’s event features a new Multifamily Forum alongside the popular Hospitality and Proptech Forums; an impactful main plenary, workshops, deals and meetings rooms and investment showcases, and the 10th edition of the prestigious API Awards.

For more information and to register, visit www.APISummit.co.za

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of API Events.

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ST Telemedia Global Data Centres Delivers on Responsible Scaling, Surpassing 2028 Carbon Intensity Target Three Years Early with Renewables at 83.2%

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9 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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ST Telemedia

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 July 2026 – ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) today published its 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, setting out how the Singapore-headquartered global data centre provider is meeting accelerating demand, including from AI-driven workloads, through infrastructure that is more resilient, efficient and sustainable by design. The report highlights 83.2% renewable energy usage, a 70.5% reduction in carbon intensity from its 2021 baseline, 41.2% improvement in water usage effectiveness (WUE) from the 2020 baseline, and continued progress in embedding ESG considerations into how STT GDC designs, builds, finances and operates its data centres at scale.

The report positions responsible growth as a core business discipline for STT GDC, linking sustainability performance to long-term asset resilience, customer trust and operational excellence. Across its global platform, STT GDC is integrating ESG considerations into capital allocation, site selection, design, operations, risk management and workforce development to support reliable digital infrastructure at scale.

Bruno Lopez, President and Group Chief Executive Officer, ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, says, “The next phase of digital growth will be defined by how the industry resolves the tension between rising demand — particularly from AI — and the finite nature of energy, water and land. Responsible scaling is therefore not a sustainability commitment alone; it is a commercial and operational imperative that shapes where we build, how we design, and how we run our data centre platform. Our 2025 progress reflects disciplined execution of a strategy we have been advancing for years, delivering meaningful improvements in energy efficiency, emissions and resource management across our global platform. As we scale further, we will continue to advance with the same discipline — in the infrastructure we build, the governance that underpins it, and the positive impact we create for the communities and ecosystems we are part of.”

Scaling efficient, lower-carbon infrastructure

STT GDC continued to advance its decarbonisation strategy in 2025, delivering measurable reductions in emissions and improvements in resource efficiency while scaling its global data centre platform to meet rising digital demand. The Group’s approach focuses on embedding sustainability into the design and operation of its infrastructure, enabling long-term performance while managing growing energy and resource requirements. Key environmental achievements include:

Furthered renewable energy adoption, with 83.2% of electricity consumption sourced from renewables, supporting STT GDC’s transition towards carbon-neutral operations by 2030.
Reduced carbon intensity by 70.5% from the 2021 baseline, surpassing STT GDC’s 2028 target three years ahead of schedule, alongside a 15.2% year-on-year reduction in absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Improved energy efficiency across operations, achieving an average Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.44, a 13.0% improvement from the 2020 baseline, reflecting continued optimisation of data centre design and operations.
Enhanced water stewardship, with Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) improving by 41.2% from the 2020 baseline, supported by a balanced approach to managing energy and water use in cooling systems.
Continued progress in sustainable infrastructure, with 48% of its data centres achieving green building certification, reflecting the integration of sustainability considerations across the lifecycle of its facilities.
Building a safe and future-ready workforce

As STT GDC continues to scale its global data centre platform, investing in people, safety and workforce capabilities remains central to delivering reliable and sustainable operations. In 2025, the Group maintained a strong focus on safeguarding its workforce, strengthening organisational capability and supporting the development of future-ready talent to meet the growing demands of the digital economy. Key social achievements include:

Maintained strong safety performance, with zero work-related fatalities and a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 0.1 across more than 41 million hours worked, reflecting robust health and safety management across construction and operations.
Strengthened workforce capability, with an average of 18 training hours per employee, supporting the development of technical, operational and leadership skills across the organisation.
Advanced diversity and inclusion, with 21.7% women representation across the Group, reinforcing ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive and balanced workforce.
Expanded talent development initiatives, including the DC Power Up programme and partnerships with 10 Institutes of Higher Learning across our markets, helping to build a pipeline of industry-ready talent for the growing digital infrastructure sector.
Deepened community and workforce engagement, through skills development programmes and industry-academic partnerships that support long-term talent development and contribute to local economic growth.
Strengthening Governance and Resilience at Scale

Strong governance, disciplined risk management and robust operational controls underpin STT GDC’s ability to scale responsibly in an increasingly complex digital environment. In 2025, the Group continued to strengthen its enterprise-wide approach to governance, embedding ESG considerations into decision-making, risk management and day-to-day operations to support long-term resilience and performance. Key achievements include:

Strengthened governance and ethical business practices, with 100% of employees completing anti-corruption training, reinforcing STT GDC’s commitment to integrity and accountability across its global operations.
Enhanced enterprise-wide risk management, incorporating climate, cybersecurity and operational risks into planning and decision-making, ensuring infrastructure resilience as the Group scales.
Advanced cybersecurity and operational resilience, including strengthened governance, technical controls and preparedness through initiatives such as executive-level cyber exercises and risk assessments across key facilities.
Improved supply chain governance, embedding ESG criteria into procurement processes and reinforcing responsible sourcing practices across its global vendor network.
Strengthened organisational alignment and execution, through the inaugural Group ESG Summit, supporting capability building and consistent application of ESG priorities across markets.
These efforts come as data centre operators face growing expectations to deliver capacity while managing energy, water, climate and cybersecurity risks with greater transparency and accountability.

STT GDC’s 2025 ESG Report reflects a continued evolution in how the Group approaches sustainable growth, with a stronger focus on disciplined execution, operational resilience and long-term performance as it scales its global platform. As digital infrastructure becomes increasingly critical to economies and societies, STT GDC will continue to embed sustainability, risk management and governance into how it designs, builds and operates its data centres.

By working closely with customers, partners and communities, the Group aims to deliver infrastructure that is not only efficient and resilient, but also capable of supporting the next phase of digital growth, including AI-driven workloads, in a responsible and sustainable way.

The full 2025 ESG Report is available at https://www.sttelemediagdc.com/about-us/our-esg-progress

About ST Telemedia Global Data Centres
ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) is one of the fastest-growing data centre providers with a global platform serving as a cornerstone of the digital ecosystem that helps the world to connect. Powering a sustainable digital future, STT GDC operates across Singapore, the UK, Germany, Italy, India, Thailand, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam, providing businesses an exceptional foundation that is built for their growth anywhere. For more information, visit https://www.sttelemediagdc.com/

 

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London Showcase to Bring Venezuela’s Energy Opportunities to Global Investors Ahead of 2026 Summit

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10 hours ago

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July 21, 2026

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A high-level London industry showcase on July 30 will bring together UK and European investors, financiers and energy leaders to explore emerging opportunities across Venezuela’s oil, gas and power sectors ahead of Venezuela Energy Week 2026

LONDON, United Kingdom, July 17, 2026/APO Group/ –As Venezuela accelerates efforts to revitalize its energy sector and attract international investment, Venezuela Energy Week 2026 will host an exclusive Industry Showcase in London on July 30, bringing together investors, financial institutions, international oil companies, commodity traders and energy executives for market intelligence, networking and partnership development ahead of the flagship conference taking place this October in Caracas.

 

Designed as a strategic preview of the main event, the London showcase will provide UK and European stakeholders with first-hand insight into Venezuela’s evolving investment landscape while creating opportunities for commercial dialogue with industry leaders, potential partners and key decision-makers.

Home to the world’s largest proven oil reserves and significant natural gas resources, Venezuela is entering a new phase of energy development focused on increasing production, expanding gas commercialization and modernizing critical infrastructure. Ongoing reforms and renewed international engagement are creating opportunities for companies able to provide capital, technology and technical expertise.

The timing is particularly significant as several UK and European energy companies continue to strengthen their presence in Venezuela. UK-based majors Shell and BP are advancing key natural gas developments, with Shell preparing for 2027 drilling at the Dragon offshore gas project and BP signing agreements in April to develop the Cocuina-Manakin offshore gas field, marking its return to the Venezuelan market. Spain’s Repsol recently announced plans to increase production from its Venezuelan assets, while Italy’s Eni is relaunching a heavy crude project in the Orinoco Belt. France’s Maurel & Prom, meanwhile, remains a key partner in strategic assets such as the Urdaneta Oeste field. On the trading and commercialization front, Geneva-headquartered energy trader Vitol has renewed its engagement with Venezuelan crude exports, reflecting broader international interest in reconnecting the country’s resources with global markets.

Against this backdrop, the London Industry Showcase will highlight Venezuela’s re-emerging investment potential while creating a platform for strategic networking and direct engagement with government leaders, national energy companies, regulators and private sector partners.

The event is expected to attract representatives from investment funds, export credit agencies, commercial banks, private equity firms, commodity traders, engineering companies, technology providers and UK-based independent energy companies exploring opportunities across Venezuela’s energy value chain.

The showcase will also provide an exclusive preview of Venezuela Energy Week 2026, including ministerial dialogues, executive forums, technical conferences and dedicated business-to-business networking sessions designed to connect international investors with the decision-makers shaping the country’s energy future.

Taking place on October 26–29, 2026 in Caracas, Venezuela Energy Week serves as the country’s premier platform for advancing investment across the oil, gas and power sectors. By bringing the conversation to London – one of the world’s leading financial and energy centers – the Industry Showcase builds momentum ahead of the flagship event while strengthening ties between international capital and one of the world’s most resource-rich energy markets.

To participate in the London Industry Showcase on July 30 or secure your place at Venezuela Energy Week 2026 in Caracas this October, contact info@venezuelaenergyweek.com to learn more about delegate, sponsorship and partnership opportunities.

Supporting Venezuela’s Earthquake Recovery

 

Our thoughts are with the people and communities affected by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. As the country begins the long process of recovery, we encourage members of the global energy community to support relief and reconstruction efforts through the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela, which channels contributions from individuals, companies and organizations to emergency assistance, essential services and long-term rebuilding efforts.

 

To learn more or make a contribution, please visit the CAF Recovery and Reconstruction Fund for Venezuela (https://apo-opa.co/3RKKqfz).

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

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