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Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Leaders Converge in Cairo to Set Momentum Towards Ai Everything Middle East & Africa (Ai Everything MEA) Egypt 2026

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8 months ago

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Egypt

Exclusive launch event at Sultan Hussein Kamel Palace, Cairo, highlights Egypt’s AI ambitions and global collaborations ahead of Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026

Following the show’s announcement last week, Ai Everything Middle East & Africa Egypt (https://www.AiEverythingMEA.com) marked its first milestone moment in Cairo with an exclusive launch event at the iconic Sultan Hussein Kamel Palace. Organised by GITEX GLOBAL and hosted by Egypt’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), in strategic partnership with the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), the launch event served as a precursor to the region’s most empowering global AI tech week, set to take place from 11-12 February 2026.

The invite-only launch event convened senior government officials, global tech executives, and the nation’s most dynamic AI innovators, alongside media, tech, and startup ecosystem guests, underscoring Egypt’s ambition to unlock $42.7 billion in annual AI value by 2030 while positioning Cairo as the global hub of AI collaboration. The discussions explored the pivotal role of Ai Everything MEA Egypt in aligning international expertise with Egypt’s National AI Strategy 2025-30, spotlighting the country’s competitive strengths in outsourced digital services, semiconductors, electronic design manufacturing, public sector transformation, startup innovations and attracting global investments.

Opening the event, Eng. Ahmed Elzaher, CEO, ITIDA stated: “AI today is no longer a trend; it is a core driver of economic and societal transformation. Hosting Ai Everything MEA Egypt is part of Egypt’s mission to remain at the forefront of the global technology revolution. This summit cements our position as a regional hub for innovation and trusted global partner in the AI era.”

Trixie LohMirmand, EVP of Dubai World Trade Centre, CEO of KAOUN International, and global organiser of GITEX and Ai Everything, further added: “AI is going to be the backbone of economic transformation, human capital growth and supremacy for Egypt, and this AI renaissance has brought Ai Everything MEA here. The show’s mission is very clear. We are here to empower the stakeholders, be it the private or public sector, as well as the youth, the talent and the startups. We are very honoured to work with the stakeholders in Egypt, giving us the chance to co-create and curate the AI future for the young talent, the businesses, the SMEs and the industries of Egypt.”

H.E. Dr. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, shared: “Egypt’s selection to host AI Everything Middle East & Africa Egypt reflects the international community’s recognition of our country’s rapid progress and leapfrogging steps in artificial intelligence.”

“This momentum stems not only from the efforts of the Ministry, but from the collective contributions of Egypt’s entire ICT community. Since launching our first National AI Strategy in 2019, Egypt has advanced 46 places in the global AI Readiness Index. Earlier this year, we launched the second edition of the National AI Strategy, built on six key pillars: expanding access to computing resources for startups and SMEs; ensuring robust data governance; developing AI-powered systems to drive sectoral growth; building digital skills as the cornerstone of the strategy; raising public awareness around AI opportunities and risks; and establishing the regulatory and legislative framework to enable a thriving AI ecosystem.”

AI is going to be the backbone of economic transformation, human capital growth and supremacy for Egypt, and this AI renaissance has brought Ai Everything MEA here

The evening concluded with a panel discussion on ‘Egypt’s AI Future’, where industry leaders from IBM, HPE, Deloitte Innovation Hub, Widebot AI, Intella and Plug & Play Tech Centre explored the opportunities and challenges facing Egypt’s AI ecosystem, from scaling startups to strengthening public–private partnerships.

Marwa Abbas, GM and Technology Leader Northeast Africa, IBM, shared, “IBM is pleased to be part of Ai Everything MEA Egypt, where we are showcasing how IBM watsonx and our AI and hybrid cloud capabilities are helping clients in Egypt and across the region to accelerate their digital transformation. Through real-world use cases and industry collaboration, we are demonstrating how AI can drive productivity, innovation, and sustainable growth”

Mohamed Wasfy, Country Manager, Egypt, HPE, reiterated: “At HPE, our engineers are focused on designing very energy efficient AI systems. Among the top ten most energy efficient systems in the world, three are from HPE. We bring to the market ready-made, ready-to-deploy AI systems that can generate ROI in days, not months or years.”

Ahmed Salem, COO & Engineering, AI & Data Lead, Deloitte Innovation Hub, said: “We’ve rolled our AI platforms across 200,000 users. We started to look at alliances, partnerships, other platforms, hyperscalers for reinventing software driven AI.”

Mohamed Nabil, CEO of WideBot AI, creator of the most accurate Large Language Model (LLM) in Arabic; and Nour Taher, CEO of Intella, the groundbreaking AI startup that recently made headlines for its $12.5 million Series A funding; both shared insights on raising the global competitiveness of Egyptian startups as well as the recent successes in attracting funding and scaling business. The insightful discussions were moderated by Karima El Hakim, Country Director in Egypt and Director in Africa, Plug & Play Tech Centre, Cairo’s leading startup hub.

A Global AI Tech Week Accelerating Egypt’s AI Ambitions

Ai Everything MEA Egypt 2026, hosted by Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, in strategic partnership with ITIDA and powered by GITEX GLOBAL, will convene leading AI enterprises, startups, investors, and policymakers from 60 countries at the NCIEC in Cairo.

The event features a line-up of acclaimed international AI experts and leaders sparking thought-provoking discussions on building next-gen AI infrastructures and responsible scaling, alongside frontier showcases in AI, semiconductors, cybersecurity, digital health, fintech, and more. The show also hosts one of the largest startup and investor gatherings, setting the stage to accelerate global tech partnerships, attract investment, and announce Cairo’s role as the epicentre of AI innovation in the Middle East and Africa.

For more information, access the website: https://www.AiEverythingMEA.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ai Everything Middle East & Africa.

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Afreximbank Posts Robust Q1 2026 Results with 25% Growth in Net Income and Improved Profitability

Published

9 hours ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

Afreximbank

The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment

The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate

CAIRO, Egypt, May 22, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) announced its results for the three months ended 31 March 2026. The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment.

 

The Group continued to expand its lending activities in Q1 2026, resulting in total credit exposure growing by 2% to reach a portfolio of US$42 billion, up from US$41 billion as of 31 December 2025. This performance reflects Afreximbank’s leading role as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in financing trade and trade-enabling infrastructure, and its strategic contribution to economic resilience across Africa and the Caribbean.

Average loans and advances for Q1 2026 stood at US$32 billion, up 8% compared to the same period in the prior year, driving the recorded growth in interest income. The Group’s liquidity position remained strong, with cash and cash equivalents of US$5.6 billion, representing 14% of total assets, consistent with FY2025 and above the Bank’s strategic minimum.

Asset quality also remained strong, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio at 2.40%, broadly in line with 2.43% at FY2025 and below industry average.

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.6 billion at 31 March 2026, up from US$8.4 billion at FY2025, supported by internally generated capital of US$268.9 million and new equity investments received during the quarter, underscoring the Bank’s continued ability to mobilise capital from its shareholders in support of its growth and development mandate.

The Group delivered strong profitability during the quarter.  Notwithstanding declining benchmark rates, total interest income rose by 14% year-on-year to reach US$813.6 million, while net interest income increased by 24% to US$510.0 million, compared with US$411.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. The Group’s cost-to-income ratio remained contained at 19%, well within the Group’s strategic ceiling of 30%. As a result, Profit for the period increased to US$268.9 million, up from US$215.4 million in Q1 2025.

The Group continued to maintain a strong capital position, with a capital adequacy ratio of 23% as at 31 March 2026, in line with the Bank’s long-term capital management targets.

During the quarter, Afreximbank continued to demonstrate its counter-cyclical role in response to external shocks. In March 2026, the Bank launched a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help member countries mitigate adverse spillover effects from the Gulf crisis. The facility is designed to support liquidity, stabilise trade and payments, and address supply-side disruptions, particularly in energy, tourism and aviation, fertilisers, food and other critical imports.

The Bank also continued to deploy targeted financing and advisory support to strengthen trade flows, industrial capacity and economic resilience across Africa and CARICOM. Regional integration received further momentum following South Africa’s ratification of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in February 2026, bringing one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies into the Bank’s membership and giving the Bank full continental coverage.

Highlights of the results for Afreximbank Group are shown below:

Financial Performance Metrics

Q1’2026

Q1’2025
Gross Income (US$ million)

874.1

784.9
Net Income (US$ million)

268.9

215.4
Return on average equity (ROAE)

13%

12%
Return on average assets (ROAA)

2.62%

2.38%
Cost-to-income ratio

19%

16%

 

Financial Position Metrics

Q1’2026

FY’2025
Total Assets (US$ billion)

41.7

42.3
Total Liabilities (US$ billion)

33.0

33.9
Shareholders’ Funds (US$ billion)

8.6

8.4
Non-performing loans ratio (NPL)

2.40%

2.43%
Cash/Total assets

14%

14%
Capital Adequacy ratio (Basel II)

23%

          23%

 

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, heightened geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the Group delivered a resilient first-quarter performance, underpinned by disciplined balance sheet management, sound asset quality and strong capital and liquidity buffers. The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate. Our swift launch of the US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme further underscores Afreximbank’s counter-cyclical role in supporting member countries during periods of disruption. We remain focused on stabilising trade flows, easing liquidity pressures and advancing the industrial and economic transformation of Africa and the Caribbean.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Via Licensing Alliance Expands Voice Codec Program with New Licensee, New Licensors, Publishes Comprehensive Pool Rate Structure

Published

15 hours ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

Via Licensing Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 May 2026 – Via Licensing Alliance (Via) today announced continued momentum for its Voice Codec patent pool, including the addition of a new unnamed licensee and new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP, further growing the program’s patent stack and market penetration from its initial five, large global licensors.

The addition of the new licensee, unnamed at this time, reflects growing industry adoption of the collaborative licensing pathway Via’s Voice Codec program creates for accessing IP rights to critical voice technologies. This addition reflects a growing market uptake of advanced voice technologies, including EVS and IVAS, driven by rising demand as 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies are adopted worldwide.

Additionally, Via continues to prioritize transparency and has published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, providing further clarity and predictability for implementers and to the broader market. For implementers, the full rate structure allows for complete visibility as they consider the appropriate royalty structure to choose from to meet their product level costs, evaluate future growth paths for their product lines, or plan their geographical expansion plan needs. This level of disclosure not only reduces uncertainty in licensing decisions but also enables more consistent benchmarking, reinforcing confidence in fair, market-aligned SEP licensing practices. The program’s royalty rates are listed on Via’s website at https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#license-fees.

The addition of the new licensors indicates increased interest from patent holders in licensing their voice technology SEPs through highly efficient, aggregated licensing vehicles such as patent pools. Future growth in both the licensor list and the number of patents consolidated through the pool license will continue to enhance the value of the Voice Codec License for implementers. Via’s Voice Codec program licensors are listed here: https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#licensors.

Via’s Voice Codec pool covers Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), which supports voice communications across more than one billion and growing active devices globally, as well as Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), which will play a central role in next-generation voice and spatial audio applications.

“We are pleased to welcome these new entrants to our pool, which signal continued growth and momentum our Voice Codec program,” said Kevin Mack, President of Via Licensing Alliance. “This pool license offers strong value relative to other market options and represents the only collaborative licensing solution for EVS and IVAS technologies, making it a smart and efficient pathway for companies seeking to license critical voice capabilities.”

EVS remains a foundational technology for high-quality voice communications in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks, with adoption continuing to expand as 5G, 5G-Advanced and future network iterations reach global scale. As spatial audio and advanced voice technologies expand into 6G and a broader range of non-cellular devices, the importance of IVAS technologies is expected to increase, with Via’s pool offering an early and effective licensing pathway.

For more information about the Voice Codec patent pool, including information for prospective licensees, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

About Via Licensing Alliance:
Via Licensing Alliance is the collaborative licensing leader, dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via has operated dozens of licensing programs for a variety of technologies. Via is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. For more information about Via, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

 

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Joint statement welcoming the Republic of Togo’s announcement on Visa facilitation for African nationals

Published

16 hours ago

on

May 22, 2026

By

Togo

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda

LOMÉ, Togo, May 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) welcome the announcement by the Government of the Republic of Togo, under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, regarding measures to facilitate visa-free entry for all nationals of African States holding valid passports, as announced by the Minister of Security on 18 May 2026.

The announcement was made in Lomé on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026, the continent’s premier trade and business platform, which has brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, and stakeholders from across Africa to advance dialogue on intra-African trade, investment, and regional integration.

Throughout the engagements, participants underscored the importance of facilitating the movement of African citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors as an important enabler of intra-African trade and economic cooperation. Against this backdrop, the announcement reflects the growing continental momentum towards strengthening connectivity and deepening African integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank, to which Togo is a State Party and a Member State, envision a continent where goods, services, capital, and people move more freely across borders in support of an integrated African market. Measures that facilitate mobility and connectivity continue to contribute towards advancing the broader mandate of both institutions; the attainment of the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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