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Master Trainer National Meeting on Sustainable Coffee Practices Organized by The ITFC

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Master Trainer

The Workshop enabled the Training of Extension Officers in Sustainable Coffee Practices in Indonesia

TAKENGON, Indonesia, September 13, 2022/APO Group/ — 

The Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia (SCOPI), in collaboration with The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) (www.ITFC-idb.org), has held a Master Trainer (MT) National Meeting. This hybrid activity is the completion of Training of Trainers events held on 4-5 September 2022.

The extension officer for sustainable coffee or called the Master Trainer (MT) is the main program of SCOPI since 2015 to disseminate the National Curriculum for Sustainable Coffee Practices. The MT National Meeting in 2022 is the implementation of the SCOPI-ITFC cooperation program that is expected to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between SCOPI MTs and with stakeholders regarding the latest opportunities and challenges in the coffee sector. Furthermore, this activity is also intended as a preparation for future MT competency upgrade programs.

The MT National Meeting was opened with remarks from Mr. Richard Atmadja, Chairman of the SCOPI Executive Board. He said that the need for a competent MT is one of the answers to increasing productivity for the Arabica coffee sector. Thus, increasing farmers’ income in the upstream sector and increasing opportunities for developing Arabica coffee exports with a higher value can be achieved. Through a long-term program with ITFC, SCOPI seeks to raise highly competent extension workers through the Master Trainer Upgrade Program.

While the Governor of Aceh – Achmad Marzuki, in his speech, represented by Ir. Iskandar Syukri as Expert Staff of the Aceh Governor for Specialty of Aceh, Human Resources and Cooperation Relations, said “Tanah Gayo coffee had received the spotlight in both national and international markets. Gayo Arabica coffee production reaches 4% of all premium Arabica coffee production throughout Indonesia. Gayo Arabica coffee is the result of natural resource management by farmers belonging to the people. For this reason, special attention is needed, supported by the multi-stakeholder collaboration to promote sustainable coffee practices in Aceh.

Gayo Arabica coffee production reaches 4% of all premium Arabica coffee production throughout Indonesia

Aceh Tengah is one of the centers of the world’s best Arabica coffee processing industry, with 70% of production exported to international markets. However, unpredictable weather conditions are thought to cause a decline in coffee production in Central Aceh. Through the MT National Meeting, it is hoped that there will be an increase in the competence of the extension officers so that coffee farmers in Central Aceh and at the national level can apply GAP and GHP to manage coffee plants in a better and more sustainable way.” – Drs. Shabela Abubakar, in his speech represented by Mr. Harun Manzola as the Assistant for Economics and Development of the Aceh Tengah.

In line with the others, M. Nazeem Noordali as COO of ITFC commented: ITFC focuses on making trade work for everyone in Indonesia by collaborating with leading local entities such as SCOPI to build capacity & facilitate knowledge transfer. We look forward to continuing its successful collaboration program with SCOPI in order to foster sustainable trade by increasing the quantity and quality of Indonesian coffee production.”

In the forum discussion, the MTs explained how the condition of the coffee sector in each MT work area and the opportunities that could be utilized in the future. The discussion continued with presentations by Mr. Bagus Prassetya as Program Manager of SCOPI and Mr. Arief Wicaksono as LSPP of the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the plan for the MT capacity-building program through national certification in the field of sustainable coffee. To be more focused, the activity continued with the discussion of the follow-up plan of the competency improvement program by each MT in its working area.

The last session of the discussion was filled with an explanation from Mr. Nuzul Qudri from World Coffee Research (WCR) regarding integrated efforts in adaptation and mitigation efforts to climate change that threatens the sustainability of coffee cultivation around the world.

The MT National Meeting activity was closed with a field visit to BPP Bebesen as a demo plot location for the SCOPI-ITFC cooperation program.

The implementation of the MT National Meeting cannot be separated from the support of the Aceh Provincial Government, Central Aceh District Government, Karo District Government, Global Coffee Platform, and PT. Pupuk Iskandar Muda as a subsidiary of Pupuk Indonesia Holding Company through the Ministry of BUMN program, namely PMO Kopi Nusantara. The establishment of PMO Kopi Nusantara is a form of commitment and concern for the Ministry of SOEs to improve the coffee industry in Indonesia through the synergy of stakeholders for developing a good coffee business supply chain ecosystem in Indonesia.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).

Business

Aurionpro expands its multi-country transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB)

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Aurionpro

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers

MUMBAI, India, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –Aurionpro Solutions Limited (www.AurionPro.com) (BSE: 532668 | NSE: AURIONPRO)a global leader in banking technology, announced the expansion and upgrade of its transaction banking engagement with Diamond Trust Bank (DTB), to modernize and enhance the bank’s corporate transaction banking capabilities across multiple countries.

Download Document: https://apo-opa.co/4edHUaC

This multi-country transaction banking upgrade covering Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania aligns with DTB’s intent to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and support growing transaction volumes as it expands its regional corporate banking footprint. DTB continues to focus on building a more agile, ‘digital-first’ banking experience, particularly around payments for its corporate customers across Africa, and is now well positioned to scale these capabilities. As part of its broader transformation agenda, the bank has been steadily investing in platforms that enhance scale, reliability, and service consistency across markets.

Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility

Aurionpro’s upgraded iCashpro platform for DTB delivers a unified digital experience across payments, trade, virtual accounts, and real-time reporting, enhancing straight-through processing, visibility, and control for both the bank and its corporate customers. By enabling DTB to standardize and scale its transaction banking operations across countries, the platform ensures consistent service levels, stronger control, and improved efficiency. It also supports enhanced user experience, advanced security, and the flexibility to introduce new features as DTB expands its regional transaction banking footprint.

Murali Natarajan (https://apo-opa.co/48trPdk), Managing Director & CEO, DTB Kenya   commented: “We are delighted to strengthen and broaden our partnership with Aurionpro Solutions as part of DTB’s ongoing digital transformation journey across multiple markets. Our focus on innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centricity continues to guide our technology investments. This upgrade strengthens our transaction banking capabilities, enabling us to deliver greater value to our customers through robust digital channels and seamlessly integrated experiences.”

Ashish Rai, Group CEO, Aurionpro Solutions, commented: “We are pleased to deepen our multi-country engagement with Diamond Trust Bank and support the next phase of its transaction banking modernization. As DTB continues to scale across markets, platform resilience and consistency become paramount. Through this partnership, we are proud to lead the next era of transformation in transaction banking, helping DTB enhance operational agility, deliver superior experiences to corporate customers, and create long-term value across geographies.”

He added, “Aurionpro’s iCashpro lays a strong digital foundation for transaction & wholesale banks across the globe to grow their corporate and SME client portfolio today, while creating a clear roadmap for next- generation capabilities in AI-driven insights, advanced automation and API-led connectivity for businesses in Kenya and across Africa.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Aurionpro Solutions Ltd.

 

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Minerals Council Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joins African Mining Week (AMW) as South Africa Improves Sectorial Investment Climate

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Energy Capital

Minerals Council CEO to share insights on policy, infrastructure and investment trends shaping South Africa’s mining industry

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 30, 2026/APO Group/ –The upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) conference will feature Mzila Mthenjane, CEO of the Minerals Council of South Africa, as a speaker. Scheduled for October 14 – 16, 2026 in Cape Town, the event will bring together global investors, policymakers and industry leaders, with Mthenjane’s participation highlighting the council’s commitment to engaging international stakeholders and promoting investment across South Africa’s mining sector.

His participation comes at a critical moment as the Minerals Council works closely with government on finalizing the Mineral Resources Development Bill 2025, a policy framework aimed at strengthening the country’s mining investment climate and the sector’s contribution to GDP. According to the council, the revised legislation will support new investment across the value chain as South Africa seeks to mobilize R2 trillion over the next five years to unlock its critical minerals potential.

The policy reforms come amid shifting production trends in the sector. In 2025, South Africa recorded declines in gold and platinum group metals output of 1.9% and 4.1%, respectively. The new regulatory framework is expected to strengthen public-private partnerships and stimulate investment, enabling South Africa to increase production and capitalize on strong global commodity prices. Increased private sector investments is crucial with South Africa seeking targeting to unlock an estimated R40 trillion in untapped iron ore potential as well as maintain its position as the world’s leading producer of chrome and manganese.

At AMW 2026, Mthenjane is expected to outline these trends, providing insights into how the council is contributing to addressing challenges disrupting the sector. Infrastructure and energy costs remain key concerns for industry players. To support the energy-intensive sector, South Africa approved a 35% reduction in electricity tariffs for major ferrochrome producers, helping stabilize an industry that has faced significant cost pressures after electricity prices surged by roughly 900% since 2008.

Logistics constraints are also a priority area for reform. South Africa’s economy is losing an estimated R1 billion per day due to inefficiencies across rail and port infrastructure. As a result, the government is considering measures supported by the Minerals Council to increase private sector participation in logistics. Planned reforms include rail modernization initiatives targeting 250 million tons of freight capacity by 2029, alongside port upgrades and private operator participation aimed at strengthening mineral exports and improving supply chain efficiency.

Beyond infrastructure and policy reforms, the Minerals Council is advocating for stronger exploration investment to support long-term industry growth.

At AMW, Mthenjane is expected to highlight these developments and outline the steps required to reinforce South Africa’s position in the global minerals supply chain. His insights will offer investors and stakeholders a timely perspective on opportunities within the country’s mining sector.

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

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Seychelles Targets Energy Investment Push as Minister Jérémie Joins African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 as a Speaker

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African Energy Chamber

Seychelles energy minister will speak at AEW 2026, positioning her to highlight reforms, renewable projects and investment opportunities as the island nation advances its transition toward a diversified energy system

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, April 29, 2026/APO Group/ –Marie-May Jérémie, Minister of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources for Seychelles will participate as a speaker at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026, taking place from October 12–16 in Cape Town. Her participation underscores the country’s growing role in shaping Africa’s small-island energy transition agenda.

Minister Jérémie’s presence at AEW 2026 comes at a critical time as Seychelles accelerates efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. The event provides a platform to attract investment, strengthen policy alignment and showcase bankable projects, positioning the country as a viable destination for private-sector participation in island energy systems.

Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments

In May last year, international finance institution the World Bank approved the Renewable Energy Acceleration Program, a seven-year initiative aimed at modernizing the grid and increasing renewable energy penetration to 15% by 2030. The program focuses on unlocking private capital while strengthening transmission infrastructure to accommodate variable renewable energy sources.

Project development is gaining traction in the country, particularly in innovative technologies suited to Seychelles’ land constraints. The 5.8 MW Seysun Lagoon floating solar PV project, developed by independent renewable power producer Qair, is under construction and expected online in 2026.

Alongside renewables, Seychelles continues to pursue upstream opportunities to diversify its economy. The government approved new exploration entrants in 2025 and extended exiting petroleum agreements, while securing an infrastructure partnership with China. Multilateral estimates suggest over $800 million in investment will be required over the next 25 years.

Regulatory reform is central to this transition, with Seychelles introducing an independent power producer framework to open the market to private developers. Standardized power purchase agreements, grid access reforms and strengthened public-private partnership structures are being implemented to improve transparency, reduce risk and accelerate project bankability across solar, storage and emerging wind opportunities.

“Minister Jérémie’s participation highlights the strategic importance of island nations in Africa’s broader energy transition,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Seychelles is demonstrating how policy reform and innovation can unlock investment in constrained environments. Her insights will be critical to advancing dialogue on resilient, low-carbon energy systems across the continent.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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