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Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership Powers Innovative Climate Action

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Climate Finance

The Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership aims to facilitate public-private partnerships to scale-up climate finance and has been made possible by the country’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement with the International Monetary Fund

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023/APO Group/ — 

The Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership, which was launched at the Paris Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, will further power innovative climate action thanks to additional contributions from the Government of Rwanda. The partnership is supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the European Union and Team Europe, the European Investment Bank (EIB) (EIB.org), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), German Cooperation via KfW Development Bank, and the Italian Cooperation system with the support of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP); and it complements existing partnerships, including the Rwandan-German Climate and Development Partnership and ongoing initiatives with the World Bank. The formal announcement was made on the sidelines of the COP28 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, UAE. 

The Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership aims to facilitate public-private partnerships to scale-up climate finance and has been made possible by the country’s Resilience and Sustainability Facility (RSF) arrangement (https://apo-opa.co/4a1TvoD) with the International Monetary Fund. It is expected that the IMF will disburse an additional USD 48.5 million in budget support following the approval of Rwanda’s second review of the RSF arrangement by the IMF Executive Board in mid-December. To further demonstrate commitment to its RSF-supported climate agenda, the Government of Rwanda also announced two additional reform measures supported by the RSF, related to: (i) enhanced risk analysis of State-Owned Enterprises and Public-Private Partnerships that are vulnerable to climate change, and (ii) adopting a green taxonomy adapted to Rwanda’s NDC climate action plan.

The following partnership milestones were also shared at the COP28 side event today: The Government of Rwanda, through the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, will contribute USD 40 million to support Ireme Invest, the country’s private sector green investment facility.

The EIB and the Development Bank of Rwanda have signed a EUR 20 million loan and a technical assistance agreement to support Rwanda’s green transition through Ireme Invest

  • The EIB and the Development Bank of Rwanda have signed a EUR 20 million loan and a technical assistance agreement to support Rwanda’s green transition through Ireme Invest. The loan is the first tranche of an expected EUR 100 million financing package announced at the Paris Summit. The technical assistance will be provided under the EIB Greening Financial Systems programme, supporting the NDC Partnership and backed by the International Climate Initiative Fund and German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. At COP28 the EIB is also outlining a new EUR 100 million agricultural climate finance partnership with Bank of Kigali to support smallholders and agri-business across Rwanda impacted by climate change.
  • AFD and Rwanda Development Bank have signed a EUR 20 million credit facility and a EUR 1 million technical assistance grant to scale up Ireme Invest. The first investments under the facility have already been undertaken in several sectors: green buildings and renewable energy. AFD has also signed a budget support of EUR 50 million and EUR 3 million technical assistance grant, announced at the Paris Summit, to advance green public financial management in Rwanda. AFD signed a memorandum of understanding with Bank of Kigali, whereby they agree to strengthen their cooperation in the area of climate finance and working on a climate line of credit of EUR 20 million with a technical assistance grant of EUR 1 million.
  • The Danish International Development Agency and the Rwanda Green Fund have signed a grant agreement of USD 5.27 million to support the Project Preparation Facility of Ireme Invest, which is powered by the Rwanda Green Fund.
  • CDP, Italy’s Financial Institution for International Development Cooperation, is advancing its partnership with the Government of Rwanda to provide financial support to green transition in the country, in the context of an overall strategy to scale up financial flows towards sustainable development and to counter climate change in Africa.

The Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership is a key pillar of Rwanda’s efforts to fund its ambitious NDC Climate Action Plan, and complements a number of existing public and private sector focused initiatives to enable Rwanda to respond to climate change:

  • Programmatic approach for Rwanda’s NDC investments: Three programmatic investment plans on: (i) Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA), (ii) Sustainable Urbanization, with lead support of German Technical Cooperation (GIZ), and (iii) Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM), with the support from the World Bank, are currently under preparation. Additionally, the IFC will support the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Green Fund, to develop long-term investment plans for climate smart agriculture and sustainable urbanization, specifically focusing on increasing the role of the private sector in greening Rwanda’s economy.
  • Green Taxonomy: The Government of Rwanda announced the first phase of its green taxonomy to help catalyze private financing to green projects. Once finalized, the taxonomy will provide clear signals on which projects and activities are aligned with Rwanda’s climate goals. It will help direct private financial flows to the financing of those activities. The initiative is supported by Germany through GIZ, and it is strongly interlinked with Ireme Invest and the Boosting Green Finance, Investment and Trade (GreenFIT) partnership with the World Bank.
  • Rwanda’s NDC Facility, known as Intego, has developed a rich and promising pipeline of public climate adaptation and mitigation projects since its launch at COP27. The facility was capitalized by Germany through KfW with seed funding of EUR 46 million as part of the EUR 222 million Rwandan-German Climate and Development Partnership. The first call for proposals shows that financing needs and availability of project concepts go far beyond the seed funding and the Government of Rwanda is inviting development partners to join the initiative. Intego shall become a best practice example on how to facilitate access to public finance and to pool funding from various sources for climate projects.
  • Boosting Green Finance, Investment and Trade (GreenFIT): The World Bank has also partnered with the Government of Rwanda in the design of a new development policy operation (DPO) that encompasses a set of reforms to increase private sector participation in the Rwandan economy and improve resource mobilisation for climate resilience, with a value of USD 250 million over two years. Germany through KfW Development Bank has joined this effort and contributed not only to the provision of hands-on Technical Assistance for the design and implementation of the DPO’s actions, and is considering a financial contribution to the overall funding of the operation for the second year of the DPO.
  • The EU, as part of the Global Gateway initiative, is also providing budget support for an overall amount of EUR 59 million in grants, including EUR 6.5 million technical assistance, in support of Rwanda’s NDC targets with a specific focus on adaptation in agriculture, in addition to backing the EUR 20 million EIB financing to the Rwanda Development Bank and the Bank of Kigali EIB loan.
  • Finally, the Development Bank of Rwanda recently closed a RWF 30 billion (USD 24.8 million) sustainability-linked bond issuance, which was partially credit-enhanced via a World Bank lending operation, representing the first such issuance by a national development bank in the world.

The Rwanda Climate Finance Partnership, Rwandan-German Climate and Development Partnership, and ongoing initiatives with the World Bank and other partners, such as the United Kingdom, Denmark, and Sweden, demonstrate the power of collaboration to reshape the global climate finance architecture, including by moving beyond small-scale projects to significant long-term investments that leverage existing mechanisms to facilitate public-private partnerships and attract private sector investments.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of European Investment Bank (EIB).

Events

The 6th Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum Successfully Held in Zhongshan, Guangdong

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Sun Yat-sen Forum

ZHONGSHAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – As 2026 marks the 160th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the 6th Cross-Strait Sun Yat-sen Forum was held in Zhongshan, Guangdong Province—the hometown of the great pioneer—from June 27 to 29 under the theme “Carrying Forward Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Spirit of Endeavor and Working Together for the Great Rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation”. This year’s forum was the largest in its history, attracting the broadest participation from Taiwan compatriots and the highest proportion of young participants to date. Around 2,000 representatives from across the Chinese mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao attended the event. Centered on cultural heritage and driven by economic and trade cooperation, the forum established a multi-level platform for cross-strait exchanges and collaboration while fostering broader consensus on integrated cross-strait development.

Distinguished guests from both sides of the Taiwan Strait attended the opening ceremony and noted in their remarks that Dr. Sun Yat-sen is a revered national pioneer shared by compatriots on both sides of the Strait. His vision of rejuvenating China remains a common spiritual legacy, and people across the Strait should carry forward his ideals and work hand in hand toward national rejuvenation. During the opening ceremony, Zhongshan Municipal People’s Government and the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland signed the Strategic Framework Agreement on Deepening Zhongshan-Taiwan Economic and Trade Cooperation to Promote Integrated Development, laying a solid institutional foundation for long-term industrial cooperation across the Strait.

A series of cultural exchange activities also took place throughout the forum. Participants enjoyed an evening tour of the century-old Sunwen West Road Arcade Pedestrian Street, immersing themselves in Zhongshan’s rich historical heritage and the vibrant cultural and tourism scene of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. They also visited the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, where they studied revolutionary historical archives, bowed before Dr. Sun’s bronze statue to pay homage, and gained a deeper appreciation of his enduring ideals of “All Under Heaven Belong to the People” and “Revitalize China”. Many participants remarked that these activities provided an excellent platform for sustained exchanges among young people across the Strait and that their shared cultural roots and common heritage form a solid foundation for advancing cross-strait spiritual integration.

To further strengthen cross-strait economic cooperation and advance industrial integration between Shenzhen and Zhongshan, the forum also featured the “Taiwan Businesses Gather in Zhongshan, Industries Glow in the Greater Bay Area” 2026 Guangdong-Taiwan Economic and Trade Exchange Conference and Investment Promotion Event Celebrating the Second Anniversary of the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link. A total of 19 industrial projects were signed during the event. The first group comprised seven Taiwan-invested projects spanning semiconductor supporting industries, electronic components, smart home products, high-end fitness equipment, and medical devices. The second and third groups included 12 Shenzhen-Zhongshan collaborative projects covering new energy vehicle components, industrial robotics, memory chip packaging, advanced specialty materials, and integrated cultural, tourism, and commercial developments.

During the investment promotion event, Taiwan business representatives spoke highly of Zhongshan’s business environment. Zhang Congyuan, Chairman of Huali Industrial Group, which has operated in Zhongshan for more than two decades, praised the city’s enterprise service philosophy of “staying out of businesses’ way when everything runs smoothly while providing prompt support whenever needed”. He noted that this business-friendly environment has helped the company grow into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of athletic footwear.

Guo Wenhai, secretary of the CPC Zhongshan Municipal Committee, extended a sincere invitation to Taiwan businesses and entrepreneurs to invest and establish operations in Zhongshan. He emphasized that the city offers not only strong industrial infrastructure but also high-quality government services. Zhongshan will continue to provide proactive, efficient, and dedicated support for businesses while continuously improving both its hard and soft investment environment. Leveraging the opportunities created by the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, the city aims to create broader prospects for cooperation and shared growth for enterprises from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Participants and Taiwan business representatives agreed that, taking the 160th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s birth as an important milestone, this year’s forum created new channels for both cultural exchanges and industrial cooperation across the Strait. Looking ahead, Zhongshan will continue to organize regular initiatives, including entrepreneurship support programs for young people from Taiwan, youth exchange activities, and Guangdong-Taiwan industrial matchmaking events. By carrying forward Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s spirit, embracing the opportunities of the Greater Bay Area, and strengthening both economic cooperation and people-to-people ties, the city will continue to contribute to a new chapter of integrated cross-strait development.

 

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Business

Toblerone Presents ” The Ultimate Gift “: The Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski

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Swarovski

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 July 2026 – An iconic Swiss chocolate brand meets one of the world’s most celebrated names in crystal artistry to bring ‘Never Square’ to life. Creating something unexpected, something beautiful, and something that gives back: Toblerone today announces The Ultimate Gift.

The centrepiece is the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski: an exceptionally rare series of hand-made crystal replicas of the original Toblerone chocolate bar – the gift many associate with travel. Familiar in form. Remarkable in execution. Individually numbered, certified, and utterly one-of-a-kind.

The Ultimate Gift: A Global Auction for Good

From 1st July to 31st July 2026, travellers passing through some of the world’s most iconic airports (Athens, Delhi, Doha, Dubai, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York JFK, Singapore and Zurich) will encounter a mesmerising pop-up experience celebrating both brands and, above all, will have the chance to bid in person on the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski.

Each auction is linked to the airport’s own established charity partner – organisations already embedded in their local communities and chosen by the airports themselves. 100% of winning bids will be donated to the designated charity at each location.

However, the auction is open to everyone globally. No need to be travelling to take part. Bidding is available online (terms and conditions apply), click here to visit the auction site and here for more information on the charities.

The Story Behind the Crystal Bar

Toblerone was born in Switzerland in 1908. Its triangular shape has made it one of the most recognised silhouettes in the world. For generations of travellers, it has been the gift you bring home: a small but indulgent, reliable piece of Switzerland.

To bring the Toblerone Crystal Bar to life, Toblerone turned to Swarovski. Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, the company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality crystals and created stones as well as finished products such as jewelry.

The two share more than Alpine geography. They share a belief that quality is not a detail but it is the point. That the things worth making are worth making properly. And that some of the most enduring objects in the world are the ones that manage to be both beautiful and, somehow, completely unpretentious about it.

The result is the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski: Toblerone’s unmistakable triangular form, unapologetically rich on the inside, reimagined as a luxury artefact through Swarovski’s crystal craftsmanship.

Iain Livingston, President Toblerone & World Travel Retail, says: “Toblerone has always been more than a chocolate bar. It’s a ritual, a symbol of travel, and one of the world’s most recognised gifts. Creating the Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski feels like a natural expression of who we are: a brand that takes quality seriously but never takes itself too seriously. The Ultimate Gift is exactly that and will raise funds to support brilliant causes that help make the world a better place.”

The Craft Behind the Crystal

Each Toblerone Crystal Bar crafted by Swarovski is exclusively designed and developed using Swarovski’s rich savoir-faire:
Modelled on the original Toblerone chocolate bar & manufactured in Austria
Each weighs 851g and measures 305mm in length
546 individually cut facets per bar
140 hours of development and 65 hours of production – 100% handmade
Crafted with high-precision cutting technology, characterised by unmatched brilliance

The Ultimate Gift Box: Available to All

For those who prefer to take something home immediately, Toblerone is also launching a limited-edition Ultimate Gift Box adorned with Swarovski crystals, available exclusively in World Travel Retail throughout the campaign period across airports globally.

Inside: a Milk Toblerone bar.

Crystals on the outside. Unapologetically rich on the inside. The answer, as ever, to the question every traveller eventually asks themselves at the airport: “Where is my Toblerone?”

 

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Business

Kora highlights the growing importance of payment infrastructure as stablecoin adoption accelerates

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Kora

The conversation is shifting from what is possible to what can be implemented securely, compliantly and efficiently

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, July 1, 2026/APO Group/ –As stablecoins continue to gain traction across the financial services industry, businesses are increasingly focused on the infrastructure required to support their adoption at scale. The conversation is shifting from what is possible to what can be implemented securely, compliantly and efficiently.

 

This was a key theme at Money20/20 Europe 2026, where global fintech leaders gathered to discuss the future of payments. Across the event, discussions centred on artificial intelligence, regulation and reducing fragmentation across global payment systems.

Industry leaders focus on practical implementation 

As businesses explore new payment rails, the need for reliable infrastructure that connects local and global markets becomes even more important

Sessions such as the live Agentic AI demonstrations and the Policy20 regulatory roundtables highlighted the industry’s growing focus on execution rather than experimentation. Stablecoins featured prominently in conversations around faster settlements, lower costs and more efficient cross-border payments.

“Kora is well-positioned for where the industry is heading,” said Tofunmi, Head, Global Partnerships at Kora. “As businesses explore new payment rails, the need for reliable infrastructure that connects local and global markets becomes even more important.”

Connecting Africa to the future of payments 

Money20/20 Europe reinforced the importance of payment infrastructure in enabling the next generation of financial services. Throughout the event, Kora was recognised as a trusted African payment infrastructure provider, with discussions focused on the company’s expansion efforts and growing settlement capabilities.

As demand for faster and more connected payment experiences grows, Kora continues to build the infrastructure that enables businesses to collect, send and settle payments across Africa and globally.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kora.

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