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New Umbrella Company Nawiri Group Brings Together Some of the Safari Industry’s Pioneering Brands for Positive Impact at Scale

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Nawiri Group

Nawiri Group share overlapping investors and support services but will continue to operate as distinct brands in their own target markets

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 26, 2022/APO Group/ — 

Today the strategic investors and partners behind pioneering brands in the safari industry announced the formation of a new umbrella company, called Nawiri Group (www.NawiriGroup.com). The group’s aim is to consolidate their investments in responsible travel and connected impact initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nawiri Group holds majority interests in Asilia Africa (https://bit.ly/3wvft12), Go2Africa (https://bit.ly/3CARkdl) and technology developer Bazaruto (https://bit.ly/3coxhUP). Jointly employing over 1,000 employees across 4 African countries, the travel organizations within Nawiri Group share overlapping investors and support services but will continue to operate as distinct brands in their own target markets. Nawiri Group works closely with a range of long-term focused non-profit partners and expert organizations in East Africa, including among others Ahueni (https://bit.ly/3AN8hzT), Basecamp Explorer Foundation (https://bit.ly/3RfjRcF), Carbon Tanzania (https://bit.ly/3KsxqDh), Honeyguide Foundation (https://bit.ly/3wrhueI), Kamitei Foundation (https://bit.ly/3wuX3xF), Kenya Wildlife Trust (https://bit.ly/3wvg56W), Maa Trust (https://bit.ly/3CvoFX0) and Six Rivers Africa.

The formation of Nawiri Group follows earlier steps by these investors and companies during the COVID crisis to take a more integrated, partnership-based approach towards business and creating positive impact. This includes itinerary booking technology and processes, service models and close coordination with expert partners on an integrated long-term, positive impact agenda. In essence, the group aims to bring together responsible tourism, local communities and conservation initiatives in a mutually supportive way.

Nawiri Group has an established presence and long-term commitments in some of Africa’s most vital natural ecosystems

Nawiri Group has an established presence and long-term commitments in some of Africa’s most vital natural ecosystems. This includes the Serengeti/Mara ecosystem and the greater Ruaha/Rungwa ecosystem, among others. These ecosystems hold some of the greatest biodiversity left on the planet, meaning they are globally valuable, but are also under serious threat. Our partner communities in these wilderness areas are directly dependent on these natural ecosystems for their livelihoods and are therefore especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Recognizing this urgency, the long-term goal of Nawiri Group, its investors and partners, is simple yet ambitious: to create a thriving and sustainable future for these vital ecosystems and the local communities who depend on them.

Jane Karuku, Chair of the Board of Nawiri Group comments: ‘’This is a historic moment for truly providing impact at scale. This combination of investment, vision and experience will guarantee genuine, sustainable impact’’.

Jane Karuku is joined by Helen Gichohi (PhD), as a non-executive director and Chair of the group’s impact and sustainability supervision committee. ‘’I joined Nawiri Group because this organization is committed to driving a holistic development model, understanding that nothing exists in isolation and that to succeed we need to invest in natural ecosystems, communities, and technology.‘’

Key long-term investors in Nawiri Group, in addition to the co-Founders, include the institutional investors Norfund and LGT, as well as private impact investors Christian Sinding (CEO of EQT) and Reynir Indahl (CEO of Summa Equity). Christian Sinding said: “We are proud and excited to be part of the formation of Nawiri Group. Together with our fellow impact investors, I have seen how important active collaboration is to address key challenges experienced in these natural wilderness areas. The opening of the Wildlife Tourism College (WTC) of Maasai Mara in the Pardamat Conservation Area this month is the latest example of how responsible tourism operators, local communities and NGOs successfully work together on a future in which natural ecosystems and the people living in these areas both thrive.”  

‘Nawiri’ is Kiswahili for ‘to flourish, thrive’.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nawiri Group.

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Ministers among hundreds of energy-sector leaders to attend AOW event

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Sinclair

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

AOW: Investing in African Energy (https://AOWEnergy.com) – Africa’s leading oil, gas and energy event – has confirmed attendance for more than 80 ministers and senior officials, representing African governments, energy departments and regulators at next month’s event.

These influential stakeholders will be among the more than 1 600 senior delegates and industry leaders who will be attending the event to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape Africa’s energy future.

The event kicks off with an invitation-only ministerial symposium focused on the theme of “Fostering innovation, attracting investment, and promoting sustainable growth in the oil, gas, and energy sectors.”

Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention

Among the officials and government ministers attending will be energy leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mozambique, DRC, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Eswatini, Uganda, CAR, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Gabon, Malawi, Morocco, Zanzibar, Liberia, Senegal, Congo Brazzaville and Sierra Leone.

In addition, the event will feature high-level delegations from numerous national oil companies, as well as multilateral bodies including the African Union, (AU), African Energy Commission (AFREC), African Petroleum Producers’ Organization (APPO) and the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP).

AOW will see these energy leaders networking with C-suite executives and decision-makers from more than 760 top energy companies at daily networking events, to discuss insights, forge new relationships, and negotiate major energy deals.

“We are so excited to see the calibre of delegates at this year’s AOW event,” says Chief Executive Officer of Sankofa Events, Paul Sinclair. “Given the recent major oil-and-gas discoveries across Africa, the energy transition and major geopolitical events, it is clear that the energy sector needs positive intervention. The high-powered attendance proves AOW is a key platform to enable this intervention.”

Key themes to be discussed at this year’s AOW will be sustainable upstream development; expanding gas value chains; renewables and new energies; adoption of best-in-class technologies; and access to finance.

AOW: Investing in African Energy will culminate in a special anniversary party at Groot Constantia Vineyard to celebrate 30 years of the AOW event.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of AOW: Investing in African Energy.

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Afreximbank approves US$20.8 million for Starlink Global’s cashew factory project in Lagos

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The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs

CAIRO, Egypt, October 4, 2024/APO Group/ — 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has approved a US$20.8 million financing facility for Nigeria-based Starlink Global & Ideal Limited to enable the company construct and operate a 30,000-metric tonne per annum cashew processing factory in Lagos.

We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria

According to the facility agreement signed in on July 22, 2024, Afreximbank will provide the funds in two tranches with the first tranche of US$7.48M going toward capital expenditure for the construction of the factory and the second, totalling US$13.25M to be deployed as working capital for the operations of the factory.

The facility is expected to promote value addition which will guarantee increased earnings to the company while also fostering the creation of about 400 new jobs once the factory becomes operational. It is also expected to support about 40 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Commenting on the transaction, Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra Africa Trade and Export Development, Afreximbank, said that by supporting Starlink Global to establish a modern processing facility, Afreximbank is making it possible for Africa to add value to its agro-commodities, thereby facilitating exports and subsequent inflow of much-needed foreign exchange into the continent.

“We are delighted at this partnership which promises to deliver significant impact on employment in Nigeria. It will contribute to value creation and to the development of the local community while also improving the lots of smallholder farmers and small business suppliers that will work with Starlink across the value chain,” Mrs. Awani added.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Sonangol to Lead Decarbonized Oil & Gas (O&G) Development, Says Angolan National Oil Company (NOC) Head

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Participating in an on-stage interview at Angola Oil & Gas 2024, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins emphasized that oil and gas remains a core focus for the national oil company

LUANDA, Angola, October 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Angola’s national oil company Sonangol reiterated its commitment to driving sustainable hydrocarbon development during the Angola Oil & Gas (AOG) conference this week. Speaking during an “In-Conversation with” session, Sonangol CEO Sebastião Gaspar Martins stated that the company will not abandon oil and gas, but rather advance decarbonized oil and gas development.

We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas

By investing in upstream oil and gas production while prioritizing low-carbon projects, Sonangol aims to boost national crude output, while diversifying and decarbonizing the industry. The NOC is focusing efforts on non-associated gas development, as well as alternative energy sources such as solar.

“We are looking at opportunities in the gas sector and have identified the right partner to develop non-associated gas. Gas produced from Angola LNG will be used for the production of fertilizer and we are evaluating the utilization of gas in the south of the country, linking gas with steel industries. We also have a blue carbon project, linked to the reduction of carbon through the plantation of mangroves. We have one area in Luanda and have identified four additional areas for this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

Sonangol has undergone transformation in recent years: following the creation of the National Oil, Gas & Biofuels Agency (ANPG) in 2019, Sonangol transferred its role as national concessionaire and regulator. This transformation has aimed to make Sonangol more competitive and strengthen its capacity as an upstream operator. Concurrently, the government is partially privatizing the NOC, with privatization set to be complete in 2026. This process will enhance financial capacity, allowing Sonangol to drive new upstream projects forward.

“The transformation of Sonangol started several years ago, when we passed the regulatory, concessionaire role to the ANPG. At the time, we transferred almost 600 employees to the ANPG. After that, Sonangol underwent a restructuring program where we created five core business units from 36 different entities – starting with exploration and production. We want to go public, but we want to do it properly. So, we are currently going through all the processes to do this,” stated Gaspar Martins.

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

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