ADDIS-ABABA, Ethiopia, July 14, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s heads of government, policymakers, leading industrialists, and global partners will gather in Addis Ababa on 23 and 24 November 2026 for the Africa Trade Development Forum 2026. Co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration of the Federal Democratic Republic Ethiopia and TradeMark Africa (TMA) (www.TradeMarkAfrica.com), the biennial summit arrives at a turning point for the continent’s economic integration and shifting global trade dynamics.

 

While much global trade conversation has focused recently on tariffs, the primary barrier to African trade lies in the technical, regulatory, financial, and logistical challenges of being able to export, often referred to as Non-Tariff Barriers.

These Non-Tariff Barriers – such as the measures and processes that allow African companies to show international offtakers that they are meeting critical safety and sanitary standards – currently add an estimated 15% to 30% to regional trade costs. UNECA suggests that eliminating these barriers alone could surge intra-African trade by 52%.”Compliance costs are often higher than the tariffs themselves including actual import duties,” notes UNCTAD, citing that technical measures now regulate two-thirds of global trade.

The 2026 Forum will focus on priority, collective actions to harmonise standards, looking at what is needed to reduce compliance costs, accelerate quality certification, and ensure diminishing rejections of African goods by the world’s most lucrative markets.

Commenting on the forum, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, TMA Board Chair and former Prime Minister of Ethiopia said: “The next phase of Africa’s trade growth will depend on African firms showing that their products are as good as those of anywhere in the world. Businesses are up for the challenge – what we need to do, is to help assess and certify their goods, in a way that does not create a burden. ATDF 2026 offers an important opportunity to focus on these issues with clarity, seriousness and a shared sense of purpose.”

H.E. Kassahun Gofe (PhD), Minister of Trade and Regional Integration of the federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia said: “Ethiopia is honoured to host the Africa Trade Development Forum 2026 at a time when the continent is placing renewed focus on the quality of its trade systems and the competitiveness of its markets. Standards and quality infrastructure are central to industrial growth, market confidence and the ability of African producers to compete within the continent and beyond. We look forward to welcoming leaders and institutions to Addis Ababa for a practical and forward-looking discussion on the reforms needed to strengthen trade in measurable terms.”

David Beer, Chief Executive Officer of TMA, added: “Africa’s trade ambitions will be realised by building the systems that allow African firms to compete better with the rest of the world, by showing their goods comply with the highest standards. Quality systems underpin that, as they build the trust that markets demand. ATDF 2026 will see leaders focus on how to help businesses make that happen.”

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, July 14, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s mining sector is entering a new investment cycle as producers accelerate exploration, develop new mines and expand mineral processing capacity to meet rising global demand for strategic minerals. Across the continent, billions of dollars are being deployed into projects designed to increase production, strengthen value addition and position African countries as more competitive players in global mineral supply chains.

 

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 — The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will bring together the companies leading these investments to discuss the projects, partnerships and financing shaping Africa’s next generation of mining development. Taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, the event will feature producers advancing major projects across Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and South Africa.

Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2026 — The Most Influential Mining Conference in Africa – will bring together the companies leading these investments to discuss the projects, partnerships and financing shaping Africa’s next generation of mining development. Taking place in Cape Town from October 14–16, the event will feature producers advancing major projects across Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and South Africa.

Among the companies leading this momentum is KoBold Metals, which broke ground on its $2 billion Mingomba Copper Project in Zambia in May 2026 – one of the country’s largest new mining developments. Expected to produce 300,000 tons of copper annually once operational in the early 2030s, the project supports Zambia’s ambition of increasing national copper production to three million tons per year by 2031. Beyond mine development, the company is deploying artificial intelligence and advanced geological modelling to accelerate mineral discovery across the DRC and Burundi. At AMW 2026, Mfikeyi Makayi, CEO of KoBold Metals, will discuss how technology-driven exploration is reshaping mineral discovery and accelerating Africa’s next generation of mining projects.

Also contributing to Zambia’s expanding copper pipeline is Makor Resources, which is advancing exploration at the Muli and Kangili copper projects. As producers seek to replenish future supply through new discoveries, Brooke Bibeault, CEO of Makor Resources, will outline the company’s $30 million investment strategy and its contribution to strengthening Zambia’s position as Africa’s second-largest copper producer.

Elsewhere on the continent, Buenassa is supporting the DRC’s push to capture greater value from its mineral resources through domestic processing. Eddy Kioni, CEO of Buenassa, will showcase the company’s integrated mining and mineral processing strategy, including the development of a multi-metal processing facility in Lualaba Province. Currently in its feasibility stage, the refinery project will produce 30,000 tons of LME-grade copper cathode and 5,000 tons of cobalt contained (cobalt metal with optionality for sulphate) per annum, during phase 1. Later stages of the project will expand capacity to up to 120,000 tons of copper and 20,000 tons of cobalt contained (cobalt metal with optionality for sulphate) in subsequent phases.

In Ghana, Typhoon Greenfield Development is focused on strengthening the artisanal and small-scale mining sector. Kwaku Afrifa Nsiah-Asare, CEO of Typhoon Greenfield Development, will discuss best practices for formalizing artisanal mining, attracting private investment and increasing production in one of Africa’s leading gold-producing nations.

Meanwhile, Sean Meadon, Senior Geologist at South African producer Gold Ore, will highlight the company’s Turnbridge underground and New Kleinfontein opencast projects, which aim to support the revitalization of South Africa’s gold sector. With first production targeted in 2026, the projects align with broader efforts to expand domestic output and capitalize on sustained strong gold prices.

By bringing together producers, governments, investors and technology providers, AMW 2026 will explore the partnerships, financing and innovation required to translate Africa’s abundant mineral resources into long-term economic growth and industrial development.

NAIROBI, Kenya , July 14, 2026/APO Group/ –FINCA (www.FINCA.org) and Jackfruit Finance are expanding their education finance collaboration across East Africa following a successful pilot in Uganda that validated demand for tailored financing among underserved schools. The partnership has now launched in Tanzania while entering its next phase in Uganda under a commercial framework designed to prove the long-term sustainability of the operating model before broader expansion.

 

The collaboration builds on the successful initial pilot in Uganda, through which 42 schools, collectively serving approximately 10,000 children, accessed 184.5 million Ugandan shillings ($49,700 USD) in financing to strengthen operations, retain teachers, and improve school facilities. The pilot demonstrated strong demand for specialized education finance among schools with limited access to formal credit. To date, approximately 91% of the disbursed principal has been repaid.

The partnership was developed through FINCA’s Poverty Eradication Lab, which works with specialized partners to design and test financial solutions that address needs beyond traditional microcredit. By combining FINCA’s expertise in product development and human-centered design, lending infrastructure, and local regulatory presence with Jackfruit’s deep relationships in the education sector, the collaboration created a unique financing model tailored to the realities of low-fee private schools. Schools begin with working capital loans to support operations and teacher retention, with the opportunity to graduate to larger infrastructure loans that help expand classrooms, improve facilities, and increase student capacity.

“Access to capital remains one of the greatest obstacles for schools serving low-income populations across Africa,” said Jackfruit Finance CEO Robert Alhadeff. “By pairing Jackfruit’s education financing platform with FINCA’s reach and product innovation, we’re creating a model that gives schools the stability and resources they need to grow and deliver stronger learning outcomes.”

FINCA Uganda and Jackfruit have now moved to a revenue-sharing model designed to strengthen the program’s commercial sustainability as it enters its next phase of growth. Planned targets include reaching a total of 100 schools in Uganda, graduating eligible schools from working capital to infrastructure loans based on repayment history and assessed need, and launching a pilot targeting up to 70 schools in Tanzania.

“Innovation isn’t about creating more products; it’s about finding solutions that genuinely improve people’s lives and can be replicated at scale,” said Seth Spiro, Vice President and Chief Product Officer, FINCA. “Our partnership with Jackfruit has shown that education finance can strengthen schools, benefit students, and create a sustainable model that can reach many more communities.”