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Much awaited game changer for the African business community simplifies lengthy procedures, bolsters the economy, and encourages regional integration

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1 year ago

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economy

Enhancing Trade Efficiency with Single Window Solutions

CAIRO, Egypt, November 13, 2023/APO Group/ — 

Overview

Trade in Africa has become a popular talking point; with infrastructural, innovation and technical challenges dogging the process, impacting economic growth, thwarting intra-country business, and slowing the development of regional economic corridors.

It has become clear that a sustainable trade environment is needed to boost trade, which is currently low in comparison to international trade.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) came into force in May 2019 and promises to be transformative for the continent, fostering and supporting intra-continental trade through providing broader and deeper economic integration across the continent and attracting investment, boosting trade, providing better jobs, reducing poverty, and increasing shared prosperity in Africa.

Measures need to be introduced to ease trade facilitation in a harmonious and efficient manner that provides long-term economic growth and positive social welfare.

Demystifying Single Windows – a game changer that will speed up the trade process

Whilst intra-Africa trade has enjoyed the spotlight in the past few years, equally, much has been said about Single Window Solutions as a means of easing the trading process. But what exactly does this mean?

The United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT) Recommendation Number 33 addresses it by “recommending to Governments and Traders the establishment of a “Single Window”, whereby trade-related information and/or documents need only be submitted once at a single-entry point to fulfil all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.” Additionally, it is defined as “a facility that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related regulatory requirements.” This digital platform is a paperless framework that will enhance business processes that facilitates trade in a sustainable manner. Called a “Single Window” because it centralizes all information and procedures related to import, export, and transit of goods in a country, it has been proven to cut customs clearance times and improve trade and transparency.

It is thus way more than a technical product, rather it is a process that will revolutionize the facilitation, tracking, tracing, and securing of all the trade operations through a declarative framework.

For public authorities and Government agencies, Single Window Solutions are becoming crucial to foster intra-African trade and improve transparency and ethical corporate governance

Leveraging expertise for seamless integration for the business community “on the go”

Single Window will create a New Trade Community around a Unique Pay Slip concept mobilizing and securing public revenues. It is an ease of trade with full integration of trade processes and logistics and thus will support the creation of economic corridors and regional trade integration.

With its global footprint and nearly 200-year legacy of testing, inspection and certification, French giant Bureau Veritas, an expert in Single Windows concessions, has become well versed with the framework, working with Governments to increase efficiency. A business to business to society company, Bureau Veritas supports customers across the continent to comply with international standards and best practice business processes, regulatory compliance measures, Verification of Conformities (VoC), risks assessments and providing trust between Government authorities and partners; whilst operating as a trusted, independent Third Party. A recent project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has made major impact on the trade community, with the World Bank declaring the company’s National Single Window a state-of-the-art illustration of a successful project.

Stéphane Gaudechon, Vice-President Market Leader Government Services for Bureau Veritas commented: “We assist companies to comply with regulatory standards in support of import and export trade within and outside of Africa. Our solid technical infrastructure and professional expertise provides a secure foundation for the Single Window digital platform, which centralizes all information and procedures relating to import, export, and transit of goods in a country, thus facilitating intra Africa trade.”

The Single Windows concept is transferable to various typologies from Maritime Single to Port Community system, Trade Single Window and National Single Window applications. The framework is adaptable to suit the needs of clients and is a groundbreaking process, totally changing the way of facilitating trade for the business community.

According to Stéphane Gaudechon, Single Window is rolled out through an interconnected process, “The system is deployed in a country at the border post depending on the specific area that is covered. Our business processes are relevant for all types of Single Windows – from pre-customs to cargo, dealing with interoperability customs, customs’ post-operations all the way to the final customer. We have robust expertise and experience in all domains – from operations to governance and change management – areas of excellence required to roll out the framework effectively and efficiently. Single Windows requires a regional approach as the framework is geared towards facilitating trade amongst various areas. Since it is a concept, no certification as such is required and does not belong to any TIC body per se.”

Turning challenges into opportunities for growth and development

Whilst countries have different interconnectivity, infrastructural, and technology maturation levels within and with one another, the lack of interconnectivity between the regions, sectors, people, teams, and skills can provide challenges. This, however, poses the opportunity for growth and development of a new business community with many different stakeholders working together, who may not traditionally be accustomed to discussing and aligning on business and trade solutions to create a common good.

It is anticipated that the Single Window Solution will ultimately become a “must have” trade vehicle for countries. Recently, the International Maritime Organization FAL 44th Session of the Facilitation Committee has declared it a mandatory requirement for countries with coastlines who partner with the IMO and are competitive in the international trade arena, to implement a Maritime Single Window solution. “The system, with its Unique Payment digital platform provides a harmonized information integration in a single point of entry to plug and play, simplifying and automating trade processes and thereby creating a New Trade Community within the Maritime sector. It can reduce a 40-day document clearance process to one day maximum,” enthuses Stéphane Gaudechon.

The benefits speak for themselves: for Governments, a more effective and efficient deployment of resources, improved trader compliance, correct revenue yield, enhanced security, increased integrity, and transparency. For traders: cutting costs through reducing delays and faster clearance and release, a predictable application and explanation of rules, a more effective and efficient deployment of resources and increased security and transparency. As a “green process” it is paperless and accelerates operations, yielding improved results and more sustainable parameters in the long term. Stemming from digitalization, it has become known as a “One stop shop” as it secures the entire trade process on a centralized digital platform in a secure manner. Providing clearing permits, being interconnected with customs before and after the transaction, transparent yet providing all the requisite information for trade and Government. This cutting-edge innovation is where Bureau Veritas is a leader in the field.

For public authorities and Government agencies, Single Window Solutions are becoming crucial to foster intra-African trade and improve transparency and ethical corporate governance. Collaborating with the appropriate professional experts to roll out the frameworks will encourage trust, desrisking, upholding of ethics, facilitation of supply chain values and sustainable practices. This in turn will spark much-needed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on the Continent. Various authoritative bodies, including the United Nations have declared Single Windows an imperative solution to boost and secure intra-African trade. It has become an increasing practice on the continent and is successfully making a difference to more Government bodies, authoritative bodies, and companies. The World Bank has recently endorsed Single Window Solutions managed by Bureau Veritas. The company is in the unique position to deploy all the elements required for the successful implementation of Single Windows Solutions in Africa – professional expertise, innovative technology, sustainable green practices, change management and business process skills, a trusting and ethical framework that will help shape the future of trade on the Continent.

Adopting the Single Window Solution is a journey involving change management and an appetite for “on the go” speedy business processes that save time and money. It needs to be viewed from a long-term perspective with stakeholders committed to working together synergistically in a mutually beneficial manner. It promises to improve regional integration, infrastructural development, and open economic corridors, necessitating smooth co-ordination between countries. Single Window lies at the heart of trade facilitation as it drives Traders to new channels with simplified procedures. On a continent that is ripe for trade and excited to enhance economic prosperity, Single Window provides a new paradigm, reaching beyond processes by streamlining new rules and parameters.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Bureau Veritas.

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APO Group joins forces with AFRICA24 Group, Africa’s leading TV and digital media company

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2 hours ago

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April 28, 2025

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All text, images, video and audio content distributed by APO Group will be published on AFRICA24 Group’s website in English and French

PARIS, France, April 28, 2025/APO Group/ –APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, today announced a content agreement with Africa’s leading TV and digital media company (www.Africa24TV.com). The partnership means that all text, images, video and audio content distributed by APO Group will be published on AFRICA24’s website in English and French.

Watch the video: https://apo-opa.co/42w8uFD

Launched in 2009 by its founder Constant Nemale, a reference in the media and communications industry, the AFRICA24 Group is the world leader in news and television on Africa, with a global daily audience of more than 80 million households on the continent and in the global African diaspora.

The AFRICA24 Group is the only media conglomerate focused on Africa, with 4 high-audience television & digital channels available on leading operators:

– AFRICA24 TV: (French), world leader in Francophone African news

– AFRICA24 English: the reference for news in English

– AFRICA24 Sport: leader in African sports news and competitions

– AFRICA24 infinity: leader in creative industries, culture, music and art

The AFRICA24 Group is regularly ranked in the Top 5 of television channels most watched by African policy makers, business executives and leaders – providing leadership alongside channels such as CNN, BBC World News and Al Jazeera.

Available worldwide on all the major operators: Canal+, Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Bell, etc. AFRICA24 has been the most watched French-speaking African channel for over 15 years without interruption.

The AFRICA24 Group has innovated on the digital front with the launch of the myafrica24 application, the first and only HD streaming platform on Africa available on all digital media (smartphone, tablet, computer, SmartTV).

A leader in digital, the AFRICA24 Group has a substantial online audience with 1 million subscribers on Facebook, 1 million subscribers on X (Twitter), and 802,000 on YouTube. The AFRICA24 Group has the largest online catalogue on Africa with its replay offer accessible on the www.Africa24TV.com website, which has become a key vector, accounting for hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors.

APO Group is the undisputed leader in high-quality news and certified content from organisations operating in Africa

For several years now, Africa’s leading institutions have chosen the AFRICA24 Group as their partner of reference:

  • African Union: In 2019, the continent’s leading institution signs an MOU that will make AFRICA24 Group the one and only official media partner of the prestigious African Union. The two organisations have joined forces to produce and broadcast content aimed at promoting Africa’s image and its development narrative. The AFRICA24 group launched in 2022, with huge success the weekly magazine ‘African Union Journal’ the first and only exclusive weekly television programme providing news, features, interviews and analysis and on the activities of the African Union organisation and its member states.
  • AfCFTA: In 2024, the AFRICA24 Group was chosen by AfCFTA, the African Union body responsible for promoting the Free Trade Area, to promote African economic integration through high-impact initiatives. The AFRICA24 Group thus becomes the one and only flagship media chosen to promote a single common market of 1.5 million inhabitants and Africa’s economic prosperity.

The AFRICA24 Group is also the official media partner of many leading institutions and companies such as Afreximbank, UBA, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations for Africa (UNECA), the World Bank, the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation mondiale de la Francophonie (OIF), the Attijariwafa Bank Group, the OCP Group, etc.

The partnership with APO Group gives AFRICA24 Group access to authoritative content from all over Africa, from more than 300 multinational companies operating in Africa, as well as major international institutions, sports organisations and African governments, which will be published on www.Africa24TV.com.

APO Group is thus completing a cycle of partnerships with leading African and international media that enable it to constantly improve the reach of its press release distribution service.

These partnerships are mutually beneficial. Through a significant increase in the impact and visibility of content for APO Group’s clients, but also through access for media such as those of AFRICA24 Group to a qualitative flow of information from the largest organisations operating in Africa.

Content distributed by APO Group is automatically published on more than 320 African news sites and on international platforms such as Bloomberg Terminal, Thomson Reuters Eikon, Lexis Nexis and Factiva.

AFRICA24 Group and APO Group share a common vision of Africa.

APO Group worked closely with the African Union, providing pro bono support to the African Union Commission through a full range of strategic communications services for the duration of the Dubai World Expo.

“APO Group is the undisputed leader in high-quality news and certified content from organisations operating in Africa,’ said Constant Nemale, founder and chairman of AFRICA24 Group. ‘We are delighted to be able to strengthen our online presence by publishing some of the most important and relevant information about Africa.”

“APO Group is always committed to offering its customers direct access to the heart of Africa and beyond,’ said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), founder and chairman of APO Group. ‘The AFRICA24 Group has the most dominant African television channels in their segment. The AFRICA24 Group enjoys the confidence of Africa’s political decision-makers and business leaders, as well as Africa’s international partners. We share the same vision of changing the narrative about Africa and bringing positive African news to new audiences around the world.”

This is a joint press release by APO Group and AFRICA24 media group.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APO Group

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Salesforce Ignites the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Revolution at GITEX Africa 2025 with Game-Changing Agentforce

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April 28, 2025

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The event marks a pivotal moment for businesses across the continent to experience firsthand how AI agents are transforming operations, customer engagement, and competitive advantage

CASABLANCA, Morocco, April 28, 2025/APO Group/ –Salesforce (www.Salesforce.com), a global leader in AI-powered CRM solutions, participates at GITEX Africa 2025 to demonstrate how its groundbreaking Agentforce platform is empowering African enterprises to harness the full potential of autonomous AI. The event marks a pivotal moment for businesses across the continent to experience firsthand how AI agents are transforming operations, customer engagement, and competitive advantage.

Since its September 2024 debut, Agentforce has achieved remarkable adoption as Salesforce’s fastest-growing solution, with more than 5,000 organizations worldwide already deploying autonomous AI agents. This rapid uptake reflects the platform’s ability to move beyond traditional automation to what industry experts recognize as the third wave of AI – intelligent agents that don’t just assist but actually execute complete business processes with human-like reasoning.

“At Salesforce, we believe that enhancing the customer experience is an essential driver of success. With Agentforce, we are transforming how African businesses interact with their customers, utilizing intelligent agents that understand and anticipate customer needs, leading to deeper connections and trust”, said Omar Oualif, Regional Vice President at Salesforce.

Visitors to the Salesforce booth will witness live demonstrations of Agentforce 2dx, the platform’s latest evolution that introduces proactive AI capabilities. These next-generation agents can anticipate business needs, trigger actions based on real-time data changes, and operate autonomously across any business process. The showcase will also feature the newly launched AgentExchange marketplace, where attendees can explore hundreds of prebuilt agent templates and industry-specific solutions designed to accelerate deployment.

The timing of this demonstration couldn’t be more significant for African businesses. With a report from Futurum Research showing Agentforce delivers ROI five times faster than DIY AI implementations while reducing costs by 20%, the platform provides a compelling solution for organizations looking to capitalize on the $6 trillion digital labor opportunity.

A thriving ecosystem in Africa

At Salesforce, we believe that enhancing the customer experience is an essential driver of success

The GITEX Africa Salesforce showcase will also feature local partners who are leading the charge in this exciting new landscape and play a significant role in the development of a thriving ecosystem that will extend Salesforce solutions to African customers. Partners participating in the Salesforce booth are:

BaybridgeDigital, a leading Agentic AI powerhouse, emphasizes their commitment to driving growth through Salesforce’s innovative platform. ” With more than 300 projects experience, we connect brands, technology, data, and people to empower African enterprises to scale faster and innovate like never before,” said a representative from BaybridgeDigital.

NBS Consulting, a Salesforce Partner, is showcasing how AI and data can revolutionize customer experiences. “We are excited to share inspiring success stories and demonstrate immersive technologies that personalize and optimize customer interactions,” noted a spokesperson from NBS Consulting.

Gear9, returning for its third consecutive GITEX, highlights its commitment to showcasing Moroccan technological excellence. “Our real-world implementations on the Salesforce platform underscore the transformative power of AI, data, and CRM solutions. This year, we aim to further strengthen our vision of innovation,” stated Mounir Bouchiha, CEO of Gear9.

ASSA Associates, specializing in CRM solutions for Telecom, Banking/Insurance and Distribution, is ready to demonstrate the efficacy of Salesforce Industries Solutions at GITEX Africa 2025. “We are eager to show how our expertise can support businesses in navigating digital transformation challenges,” said the company representative.

D&A Technologies adds to the excitement by participating in GITEX alongside Salesforce. “We are proud to showcase African excellence in AI, CRM integration, and digital innovation. This is a great opportunity to strengthen our strategic partnership with Salesforce and highlight our expertise in leading ambitious transformation projects across the continent,” said a spokesperson from D&A Technologies.

Salesforce’s participation at GITEX Africa underscores its commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation. The company will offer hands-on sessions with its low-code development tools, and present real-world case studies from African enterprises that have successfully deployed autonomous AI agents. Developers can also sign up for a free Salesforce Developer Edition to get started with the Platform. These activities align with Salesforce’s broader vision to empower what it calls “Agentblazers” – the next generation of professionals who will shape how businesses operate in the era of autonomous AI.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Salesforce.

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2.5 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) in Gas Output Feasible for Namibia, Says the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR)

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1 day ago

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April 27, 2025

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NAMCOR projects over 2.5 million tons in annual gas production as Namibia accelerates its gas monetization strategy, infrastructure development and regional energy leadership

WINDHOEK, Namibia, April 26, 2025/APO Group/ –The National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) has revealed that the country could produce more than 2.5 million tons of natural gas per year, based on early-stage assessments of recent discoveries made since 2022.

Speaking during a panel discussion on gas monetization strategies at the Namibia International Energy Conference on April 24, Mtundeni Ndafyaalako, Executive of Upstream Development & Production at national oil company NAMCOR, outlined a dual-pronged approach adopted by the corporation.

The first pillar focuses on leveraging legislative frameworks to enable coordinated infrastructure development, fostering collaboration among operators. The second emphasizes expanding exploration activities to unlock further resources.

“We have launched a gas monetization strategy project to support both government and industry on how best to commercialize gas. From our appraisals, we now have a clearer picture of production potential and various applications,” said Ndafyaalako, noting that the strategy is designed to attract new players and investment by clarifying monetization pathways.

Manfriedt Muundjua, Deputy General Manager at BW Kudu, reinforced the importance of integrating four pillars of local content – training, skills transfer, local procurement and local ownership – into the broader gas development framework.

We have launched a gas monetization strategy project to support both government and industry on how best to commercialize gas

Muundjua shared that BW Kudu is placing Namibian interns in every technical role currently held by international staff, supporting long-term local capacity building. He also emphasized the urgent need for downstream investment and infrastructure development.

“We already have a downstream investment partner lined up to join us once production at Kudu begins,” he said.He added that drilling of additional wells is scheduled to begin in October, supporting NAMCOR’s emphasis on continued exploration to identify new reserves.

Paul Eardley-Taylor, Head of Oil & Gas Coverage for Southern Africa at Standard Bank, highlighted the need for a “shadow infrastructure” – potentially led by public-private partnerships – in southern Namibia to address energy shortages through gas utilization. He suggested that oil revenues should be strategically directed toward financing gas infrastructure and fostering local energy markets.

Eardley-Taylor also pointed to the broader regional opportunity, suggesting that Namibia could assume a role once held by South Africa as the region’s primary energy supplier, particularly as critical mineral projects are willing to pay a premium for stable power supply.

Meanwhile, Ian Thom, Research Director for Upstream at Wood Mackenzie, expressed confidence that Namibia could implement a comprehensive Gas Master Plan within the next nine months. With only 59% of the population currently connected to the electricity grid, Thom underscored the potential of gas to dramatically increase energy access across residential, commercial and industrial sectors.

“Namibia could generate more value by exporting electricity rather than raw gas, given the limited infrastructure for gas exports and the high costs associated with building it,” Thom said.

Looking ahead, the upcoming African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference – set to take place from September 29 to October 3, 2025, in Cape Town – will spotlight Namibia’s gas developments and broader African opportunities The event will feature panel discussions, project showcases, deal signings and high-level networking sessions that connect African energy projects with global investors.

AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber

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