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New entrepreneurship initiative to boost job creation in Libya

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The Deraya

The Deraya initiative is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential know-how to turn innovative ideas into successful startups

TRIPOLI, Libya, May 30, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The new “Deraya1 – دِرَايَــة Entrepreneurship Initiative” for young entrepreneurs seeks to build a dynamic ecosystem of innovative entrepreneurs and startups in Libya.

Young entrepreneurs in Libya face many challenges, including accessing markets and financial resources, and navigating regulations and administrative procedures. The Deraya initiative is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the essential know-how to turn innovative ideas into successful startups. The initiative was jointly developed by the Ministry of Local Government (MoLG), and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with  the European Union (EU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

Targeting youth and vulnerable groups, Deraya is open to innovative and aspiring entrepreneurs aged between 18 and 35. Through interactive webinars, the initiative’s participants will be given an opportunity to engage with experienced entrepreneurs, subject matter experts, and role models from Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia and learn from their success stories, wealth of knowledge, and expertise. The initiative will also entail startup weekends in Tripoli, Benghazi, Sebha, and Derna, culminating with a pitch competition where the winning startups will receive financial support, financed by EU and AfDB, to further develop, grow, and take their business ideas to the next level. As a critical step towards sustainability, entrepreneurs will be linked to the municipal business incubators being set up with MoLG with UNDP’s technical support.

Commenting on the launch of the programme, Dr. Bader Al-Deen Al-Tomi, Minister of Local Government, said: “The Deraya initiative plays a pivotal role in the Ministry of Local Government’s strategy to develop entrepreneurship and micro-enterprises at the local level, empower municipalities economically, and provide job opportunities in line with Law 59and Resolution 15003. We are delighted to work towards these goals in cooperation with our international partners, EU, AfDB and UNDP.”

EU Ambassador Mr. José Sabadell added: “Libya’s economic prosperity will be driven by young entrepreneurs with innovative, forward-looking ideas. They will be the key to a more diversified Libyan economy, a strong private sector and new jobs. Together with our Libyan and international partners, the European Union therefore seeks to offer strong and concrete support to young Libyan entrepreneurs, to realise their business ideas.”

Mr Mohamed El Azizi, Regional Director for North Africa at the African Development Bank, further commented: “Private sector development is key to boosting economic diversification and job creation in Libya. Supporting the trajectory of young Libyan men and women to develop and grow their start-ups has enormous socio-economic potential and will contribute to job creation. It is also important to ensure an adequate business enabling environment and institutional support. The EEYES project, financed by the AfDB through the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multidonor Trust Fund, and implemented by UNDP, supports these components.”  

UNDP Resident Representative, Mr. Marc-André Franche, said: “Libya has a new generation of young people, women and men, , with promising capacity and big ambitions. The country has the potential to be one of the biggest entrepreneurial ecosystems in North Africa, and through the Deraya programme, UNDP seek to help inspire and provide young entrepreneurs with the necessary resources and assets to realise growth and innovation.”

The Deraya programme is part of UNDP’s Local Peacebuilding and Resilience efforts in partnership with MoLG, aimed at creating socio-economic opportunities for youth and vulnerable groups to promote sustainable growth in Libya, including the establishment of the first Municipality-led business incubator (https://apo-opa.info/3C2SOf1) and the TEC+ Accelerator programme (https://apo-opa.info/3oANCMa).

The Deraya initiative, co-funded by AfDB and EU, is designed and implemented in collaboration with a consortium consisting of Flat6Labs (https://www.Flat6Labs.com/), Tatweer Research (https://TatweerResearch.org/) and MAZAM (https://apo-opa.info/3WUSWHf), bringing in years of experience and specialized knowledge in helping young entrepreneurs launch successful ventures in both the Middle East & Africa regions.

Libya’s economic prosperity will be driven by young entrepreneurs with innovative, forward-looking ideas

Further information and how to apply can be found on the website: Deraya.ly.

Background:
UNDP supports Libya’s transition towards peace, economic recovery, and sustainable development to help the country get on a more robust development path by supporting local authorities to restore essential services delivery and livelihood opportunities and promote peaceful co-existence. Job creation for youth is at the heart of UNDP’s local Peacebuilding efforts. This initiative is part of UNDP’s “Environment towards youth entrepreneurship support and positive migration governance project (EEYES)” programme financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Strengthening Local Capacity for Resilience and Recovery Project funded by the North of Africa Window of the European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Stability which contributes to addressing the root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa (EUTF – NOA). The Deraya initiative is implemented in partnership with Flat6Labs, Tatweer and Mazam.


[1] Deraya is an Arabic word meaning knowledge and awareness.

[2] https://apo-opa.info/45tZAYC

[3] https://apo-opa.info/3IKsGt7

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Flat6Labs.

Events

Shanghai – New York: to Become a Benchmark for China-U.S. Subnational Cooperation

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New York

SHANGHAI, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 7 July 2026 – On June 30, 2026, New York time, the launch ceremony and New York Forum for OUR WATER Season 3 were successfully held at Bloomberg Headquarters in New York. This event, themed “Rivers of Opportunities”, focused on the shared certainties of Shanghai and NYC, anchoring growth through open cooperation and reshaping the future through innovation and resilience.

Co-hosted by Bloomberg L.P., the Forum was attended by Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder of Bloomberg L.P. and Bloomberg Philanthropies; Tang Zhiwen, Minister, Embassy of the People’s Republic in the United States of America; Ma Xiaoxiao, Deputy Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in New York; Chen Yiqun, Director-General of Information Office of Shanghai Municipality, and Hu Minghua, President of Shanghai United Media Group and over 200 guests from the political, business, finance and cultural sectors of China and the United States. The forum is dedicated to exploring the openness and similarities between Shanghai and New York to identify a shared framework of certainties among global hub cities.

The two cities share distinct advantages in sectors such as finance and trade, while also facing common challenges in urban renewal, low-carbon development, and digital transformation. Candid and open dialogue is essential for mutual learning, and it will also inject stability into China-U.S. relations.

On the topic of how global capital understands the Chinese market, a panel titled “Investing in China, Winning the Future” featured Chinese and international guests discussing how the appeal of Chinese assets is shifting from traditional growth narratives to AI, high-end manufacturing, financial opening-up, and institutional market development. As a hub for financial opening-up, an asset allocation center, and a cluster for innovative enterprises, Shanghai has become a crucial gateway linking international capital with opportunities in China.

Consumption is one of the most dynamic topics between China and the U.S. At the second panel of “Opportunies in emerging Consumer Markets”, moderated by Bloomberg Television host David Westin, panelists observed that the consumer vitality of Shanghai and New York stems not only from market size but also from their ongoing ability to create experiences, understand people, and activate urban spaces.

Besides the forum, the New York series of events for OUR WATER Season 3 also includes: West Meets East·Shanghai & New York 2026 – A Polaroid 20×24 Special Exhibition; Chinese Opera: A Century of Dreams – An Exhibition of Art Design and Technology; An Exhibition themed Shanghai’s “One River, One Creek” and Jing’an CAZ China-U.S. Business Leaders Dialogue in New York.

These events shape a tangible and immersive waterfront narrative, allowing Shanghai and New York—two super metropolises that have thrived on water—to resonate in harmony through dialogue. As Minister Tang Zhiwen stated in his address, Shanghai and New York, are expected to become benchmarks for subnational cooperation between China and the United States, and to make new contributions to fostering a “constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.”

 

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Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory on Issyk-Kul Launched in Kyrgyzstan

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Tamchy

By 2035, Tamchy aims to attract around 4,000 resident companies and create over 10,000 jobs. The expected contribution of Tamchy to the country’s economy between 2026 and 2035 is estimated at $20 bn

TAMCHY, Kyrgyzstan, July 4, 2026/APO Group/ –The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, has inaugurated the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT) (www.TamchySFIT.com), a new international jurisdiction on the shores of alpine Lake Issyk-Kul. The first residents of Tamchy, who joined during the launch ceremony, were companies from South Korea, the UAE, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Kazakhstan. Twenty companies from across the globe are in the process of establishing residency at Tamchy SFIT.

 

The ceremony culminated with President Japarov symbolically activating a geotag-shaped switch, thus putting Tamchy SFIT, quite literally, on the global financial map.

Changes in the global economy are driving demand for new centers of business activity where international standards are supported by true freedom of innovation and long-term investment. Tamchy SFIT is our national project and our response to the needs of international businesses. We are building a financial center from scratch — with an independent court, a modern regulator, and rules that won’t change with shifting trends.I have no doubt that Tamchy SFIT will open a new chapter in the history of Kyrgyzstan,” said President Japarov.

Operating on the principles of English common law, Tamchy SFIT has its own financial regulator, an International Dispute Resolution Centre, and a single-window digital registrar. A special tax regime guarantees a 0% rate of tax on profits, dividends, capital gains, and VAT for 49 years and allows 100% foreign ownership and unrestricted profit repatriation.

 

Covering an area of about 6,000 ha, Tamchy SFIT can already boast a fully operational business center, while hotels and residential buildings are under construction. Issyk-Kul International Airport is within walking distance.

Tamchy SFIT is our national project and our response to the needs of international businesses

 

Great financial centres are built by understanding what international capital and businesses require. Tamchy SFIT offers exactly that — a trusted, flexible, and investor-ready platform for businesses seeking sustainable growth. Benchmarked to international gold standards, grounded in English common law, and positioned at the intersection of five EAEU economies and the Eurasian corridor, it offers a jurisdiction that is neutral, independent, and built to last,” said Ali Ijaz Ahmad, First Deputy Chairman of the Tamchy SFIT Management Council.

 

One of the first executives who decided to set up in Tamchy SFIT was Seo Dong Hyun, CEO of Serim.

 

“Over the past thirty years of investing in the semiconductor industry, high technology, and energy, I have come to appreciate that legal certainty and trust in the regulatory system are the foundation of long-term investment. These are the very principles on which the Tamchy SFIT was established. What is particularly remarkable is that a project of this scale was delivered in just one year—faster than in any other jurisdiction I know. Today, I registered my family holding company here. For me, this is not an investment for years, but for generations,” he said.

 

By 2035, Tamchy aims to attract around 4,000 resident companies and create over 10,000 jobs. The expected contribution of Tamchy to the country’s economy between 2026 and 2035 is estimated at $20 bn.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory (SFIT).

 

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African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) Marks 25 Years of impact at its 2026 Annual General Meeting

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African Trade

The 2026 gathering also marks a significant milestone in ATIDI’s history, celebrating 25 years since the organisation’s establishment and recognising a quarter century of supporting trade, investment and economic transformation across Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 6, 2026/APO Group/ –The African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) (www.ATIDI.Africa) will convene its 26th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 30 June to 3 July 2026, bringing together heads of state, government officials, investors, development finance institutions and private sector leaders from across Africa and beyond.

 

Held under the theme “Empowering Africa: Risk Managed, Growth Unlocked”, the AGM comes at a pivotal moment for the continent as African institutions seek to mobilise greater levels of investment, strengthen economic resilience and accelerate sustainable development.

 

The 2026 gathering also marks a significant milestone in ATIDI’s history, celebrating 25 years since the organisation’s establishment and recognising a quarter century of supporting trade, investment and economic transformation across Africa.

 

Hosted by the Government of Kenya, the event will provide a platform for high-level dialogue on the future of African development finance, bringing together leaders from across the public and private sectors to explore how innovative financing, risk mitigation solutions and stronger African institutions can unlock investment and accelerate growth across the continent.

 

A central feature of the programme will be the Leaders’ Panel, which will examine how Africa can build a more resilient and self-sustaining development finance ecosystem in response to shifting global capital flows, rising debt pressures and growing demand for infrastructure and industrial investment.

 

Bringing together senior political leaders, development finance institutions and trade and investment organisations, the discussion will explore how governments, regional institutions and multilateral partners can work together to mobilise domestic and international capital, reduce the cost of financing and support investment in the sectors that will define Africa’s next phase of development, including energy, manufacturing, SMEs and green infrastructure.

This is a good opportunity to celebrate 25 years of delivering African solutions to African challenges

 

The Opening Ceremony will feature addresses from senior government officials and ATIDI leadership, including Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer of ATIDI. Delegates will also hear from senior representatives of the Government of Kenya, including Cabinet Secretaries responsible for finance, trade and investment.

 

As part of the celebrations marking ATIDI’s 25th anniversary, the programme will recognise the institution’s founding members and reflect on the organisation’s evolution over the past quarter century. Since its establishment, ATIDI has facilitated over USD93 billion in critical economic sectors across Africa.

 

Alongside the policy discussions, the AGM will place a strong emphasis on investment promotion and business development. The Investor Showcase will bring together representatives from government, commercial banks, multilateral development banks and the private sector to highlight investment opportunities and strengthen engagement between investors and African markets.

 

The programme will also include a series of curated Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings designed to connect investors, businesses and public sector stakeholders, helping to facilitate partnerships, unlock opportunities and support long-term economic growth.

 

Professor Kelly Mua Kingsly, Chairman of the Board of Directors, ATIDI, said: “This is a good opportunity to celebrate 25 years of delivering African solutions to African challenges. As the continent seeks to mobilise greater levels of investment and accelerate development, African institutions have an increasingly important role to play. This AGM will bring together leaders from across the continent and beyond to explore how partnerships, innovation and risk mitigation can help unlock the capital needed to support Africa’s future.”

 

Manuel Moses, Chief Executive Officer of ATIDI, said: “African Solutions for Africa reflects our belief that the continent’s development ambitions will be achieved through strong institutions, innovative thinking and effective collaboration. This AGM provides a unique opportunity for policymakers, investors and development partners to come together and discuss practical solutions that can help mobilise investment at scale, strengthen resilience and support sustainable economic transformation across Africa

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Trade and Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI).

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