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Innovative, cost-effective and sustainable solutions for startups on the Epson stand at GITEX Africa

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3 years ago

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Epson

Epson innovates products to enable time saving, energy saving, cost saving and the reduction of a business’s carbon footprint

CASABLANCA, Morocco, May 29, 2023/APO Group/ — 

At the opening of GITEX Africa (www.GITEXAfrica.com), the long-awaited technology event, Epson is on hand with a range of high-performance products, specifically designed for small businesses and startups, offering them reliability, mobility and durability to help them gain in productivity and competitiveness.

In recent years, the business landscape has been rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technology and increasing environmental awareness. Startup businesses in Morocco, but also the wider North African region, have become crucial to the growth of the economy.

According to a recent study conducted by Statista in the North African region, startup businesses are on the rise. Morocco has registered 61,000 new businesses, with 18,000 for Tunisia and 14,000 for Algeria during 2023 alone. This data is encouraging as startups are a key factor in growing economies.

Technology products have become essential tools for businesses, enabling them to streamline operations, enhance productivity, and stay competitive in the market. Additionally, sustainability has emerged as a critical consideration for businesses, as they seek to minimise their environmental impact and align with sustainable practices.

By conducting a survey[1] with Averty Market Research and Intelligence, Epson aimed to understand the specific needs, challenges, and priorities of startup businesses, to better deliver products and solutions that address their evolving requirements, while promoting sustainability.

The study revealed that a large majority of these startups (85%) consider technology to be crucial to the creation and operation of their business. When asked about the importance of sustainability considerations in technology products, an overwhelming 82% of the startups saw energy saving as being important to their business, with two thirds (65%) also classing environmental protection as a key area of concern.

Of course money saving was also important, through procurement savings (68%)and maintenance cost savings (65%) but the most important factor for these startup businesses was saving time (85%). This makes sense considering the effort needed to start a business and the necessity to make every moment count.

Indeed, these results reflect a high degree of maturity on the part of the startups surveyed, who have measured the importance of technology in their development strategy, as well as the benefits of technology acquisition to the success of their business.

Helping other companies and individuals to achieve their goals through the support of technology, Epson innovates products to enable time saving, energy saving, cost saving and the reduction of a business’s carbon footprint.

Epson will be exhibiting a whole range of products and solutions tailored to the needs of startup businesses at GITEX Africa and are proud to be involved in the GITEX Africa Supernova Pitch competition, supporting the winning entries with tailored Epson technology solutions.

EcoTank printers

Epson EcoTank is a cartridge free print solution. Up to 3 years’ worth of ink is included so for businesses conscious of their environmental impact, EcoTanks are a great choice as one ink bottle is equivalent to 79 ink cartridges, saving on plastic waste. From the start you have enough ink to print up to 14,000 pages. That means both money and time are saved as you’re not frequently changing cartridges. The setup is simple, refilling is mess free and it’s reliable too, turning out page after page of quality prints. Epson is the number one ink tank vendor globally selling over 80 million EcoTanks worldwide.

Mobile point of sale printers is ideal for environments where fast, simple and reliable receipt printing is essential

Label printing

Various in-house labeling solutions will be available on the Epson stand at GITEX Africa. By moving labeling in-house, it allows businesses flexibility – being able to produce labels on demand. On top of this it means a reduction in wastage as there is no minimum quantity, as often applies when shipping labels in from a third party. This also reduces a company’s carbon footprint as labels do not need to be shipped or stored.

Mobile POS solutions

Mobile point of sale printers is ideal for environments where fast, simple and reliable receipt printing is essential. They offer the perfect combination of mobility, connectivity, reliability and ease of use. They are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of growing businesses without limiting opportunity based on location, for instance businesses can function from food trucks or even market places.

Fabric printers

Epson offers various Direct to Garment (DTG) solutions, ideal for printing t-shirts, polo shirts, tote bags and other fabric items. This means faster, higher quality printing, with reduced intervention and the ability to flexibly create your own designs.

Compact photo printer

The SureLab SL-D1000 Series of compact photo printers offer duplex capability for flexible commercial production. The series has been developed for photo shops, professional photographers and businesses that need to print high-quality photos and offer customers a wide range of products, including personalised photo books, cards and calendars. Businesses that could benefit include: photography retail, event and photo box, stationery, hotels, cafés, bars and restaurants.

WorkForce Enterprise AM-C4000

Epson’s new Workforce Enterprise AM Series inkjets are about efficient, sustainable, and heat-free printing. Leveraging Epson’s Heat-Free technology, the new Workforce Enterprise AM-Series completes Epson’s business print portfolio. The new range provides print speeds of 40-60ppm, complementing the Epson business inkjet line-up.

With a compact footprint and lightweight design, the products help limit resources used during production and shipping. High yield ink cartridge s also reduces material usage, shipping, storage and end of use management of consumables, as well as reducing downtime for routine maintenance.

Business inkjet printing can save up to 90% in energy consumption compared with laser printers.

[1]Research conducted by Averty Market Research & Intelligence on behalf of Epson Europe. 600 new business owners across Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia were interviewed in May 2023.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

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

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3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

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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

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3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

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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

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3 days ago

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May 22, 2026

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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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