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SriLankan Airlines CEO says ‘it’s the best time to visit island of serendipity’

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SriLankan Airlines

SriLankan Airlines Chief Executive Officer Richard Nuttall said that it is the best time to visit Sri Lanka.  

“There has never been a better time to visit (the country) as  the hotels have low occupancy and the Sri Lankan currency is devalued. The government, SriLankan Airlines and all participants in the tourism industry are aligned and doing everything possible to support the return of tourism in the coming months,” he said, in an exclusive interview with the Times of Oman.
He also welcomed the government’s plans to privatise the airline. “I believe that it will offer greater opportunities for the organisation in terms of a much-needed capital infusion and the streamlining of decision-making,” he said.
Excerpts from the interview:

Q: I have heard that SriLankan Airlines made a profit this year. Is this true? How come this was possible?
A: SriLankan Airlines was profitable for the last four months of the year ending March 2021. We were also operationally profitable for the first six months of the current financial year starting April. However, given the high interest rates in Sri Lanka and the extra costs of operating for two months without jet fuel in our home base, we could not quite cover financing costs. These results are based on unaudited management accounts which are USD based. We went to great lengths to contain costs by restructuring aircraft leases, supplier contracts and other operating expenses during the pandemic. Consequently, we now have a relatively efficient cost base. Further, as traffic has restarted since the pandemic, we have been very agile in adjusting the network based on passenger demand and by distributing any spare capacity based on route profitability.

Q: What new routes are you planning?
A: 
Our priority right now is to restore capacity to match pre-COVID-19 levels in markets where we have a competitive edge. In the last year or so, we have restarted Paris and Frankfurt, and we launched Incheon and Sydney. We are always on the lookout for new market opportunities as the demand for commercial air travel steadily grows. However, our current priority is to increase frequencies on our current network which includes a number of countries where traffic levels are still recovering after COVID-19.

Q: Any plans to increase flights from Muscat? What is the load factor on this route?
A: 
We will most likely maintain the same flight frequency to Muscat through the winter of 2022 and into 2023. SriLankan’s passenger load factor on the Muscat route is just over 70 per cent this financial year, and we will not hesitate to increase capacity if the demand for the route increases.

Q: How are you handling the fuel shortage situation?
A: 
We faced some challenges as jet fuel was largely unavailable in Sri Lanka during July and August. However, the airline’s operational departments and suppliers came together and we were able to maintain most of our network by fuel tankering and tech stops to pick up fuel. Thus, maintaining Sri Lanka’s air links during the summer peak was an extraordinary achievement. Unfortunately, this came at a considerable cost at a time when we need funds to maintain and grow our fleet to meet the needs of the Sri Lankan economy. The good news is that the situation has eased since then, and the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation has assured us a steady supply of jet fuel. We are now able to operate our long-haul flights without any technical stops for refuelling.

Q: What are your thoughts on privatisation of SriLankan Airlines?
A: 
We welcome the Government’s plans to privatise the airline and believe that it will offer greater opportunities for the organisation in terms of a much-needed capital infusion and the streamlining of decision-making.

Q: How did the economic crisis hit SriLankan Airlines this year? And how is it planning to come out of it?
A: 
Sri Lanka is undergoing a severe financial crisis at the moment, but its impact on SriLankan Airlines has been minimal since the airline generates a vast majority of its sales in foreign currency from overseas territories. As the national airline, SriLankan is duty-bound to support Sri Lanka in this hour of need and we help by facilitating tourism and exports.

Q: Is the island of serendipity ready to welcome tourists despite what is happening inside Sri Lanka?
A: 
We believe that the country’s situation was overplayed in foreign media. There was a period for a few weeks when fuel shortages created uncertainty for travel, but otherwise the country has been completely safe for tourism. Now, whilst hotels still have low occupancy and the Sri Lankan currency has devalued, there has never been a better time to visit it. The Government, SriLankan Airlines and all participants in the Tourism industry are aligned and doing everything possible to support the return of tourism in the coming months.

Q: Did the airline restore all its pre- COVID routes?
A: 
We have resumed flights to almost all the destinations that we flew to pre-pandemic, and will be able to restore our capacity to 90 per cent of our pre-COVID-19 capacity levels in the next financial year.

Q: Flights to Indian cities are very important for Muscat-based passengers. Any plans to increase connectivity with Indian cities?
A: 
India is a key market for us with regard to inbound tourism to Sri Lanka and transit traffic via Colombo. We are planning to increase capacity to India as a priority in line with the growth in demand. Current demand is well below pre-pandemic levels, but we expect this to rebound in the coming months, with a considerable growth in the number of flights.

Q: Are you going ahead with new fleet procurement?
A: 
SriLankan Airlines needs to replace some of the older aircraft in its fleet that have imminent lease expirations. We are currently in discussions with our main stakeholder, the Government of Sri Lanka, which understands the need to agree on plans in this regard.

Source: Times of Oman

Events

GBA Science Forum 2026 Held Across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao: Driving Collaborative Innovation to Build a Global Sci-Tech Hub

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Science Forum 2026

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 3 November 2026 – Co-hosted across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao from October 31 to November 2, the 2026 Greater Bay Area (GBA) Science Forum took place with a strong focus on future industries and cutting-edge technologies. Jointly guided by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), this year’s event highlights national strategic leadership to accelerate the implementation of key policies and technological breakthroughs in the region.

 




  

The forum features an opening ceremony, a main forum, 15 specialized sub-forums, and 10 signature events. While the opening ceremony and main forum were held on November 1 in Nansha, Guangzhou, parallel sessions are rolling out across Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Huizhou, Dongguan, and Yangjiang, demonstrating a deeply integrated and synergistic approach to the event across multiple cities.

The opening ceremony witnessed the release of new support measures for the GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center, jointly introduced by relevant state ministries and central authorities. A key highlight is the commitment to fortifying the region’s original innovation capacity by supporting the development of a world-class cluster of major sci-tech infrastructures in the GBA. Furthermore, two national key R&D projects under the 15th Five-Year Plan, spearheaded by Guangdong Province, were officially launched: the “Advanced Biotherapeutic Technologies Project” and the “GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center Project.”

The ceremony also featured the signing of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Collaborative Innovation Joint Funding Program, as well as major sci-tech cooperation agreements between CAS and Guangdong Province, marking another solid step in translating national strategic visions into concrete actions.

Since its inception in December 2021, the GBA Science Forum has been successfully held for five editions. It has evolved into a premier high-level exchange platform and a vital showcase for the matchmaking and achievements of the GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center.

This year’s forum brought together four Nobel laureates, alongside distinguished academicians from home and abroad, young scientists, and leading tech entrepreneurs.

Together, they shared their latest research findings and visionary insights on critical topics, including cutting-edge scientific breakthroughs, future technological trends, and the deep integration of scientific and industrial innovation.

In recent years, the GBA International Sci-Tech Innovation Center has demonstrated robust innovation momentum and cultivated a thriving developmental environment. This vitality was globally recognized in September 2026, when the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) published its Global Innovation Index 2026 Top 100 Science and Technology Clusters, with the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou” cluster securing the number one spot globally once again.

  




 

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Afreximbank Announces Speakers for Africa’s Largest Compliance Forum

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Afreximbank

Bankers, compliance specialists and fintech leaders from more than 40 countries will explore how regulatory cooperation and technology can align compliance approaches, reduce barriers and advance intra-African and global trade

CAIRO, Egypt, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com) has announced speakers for its 2026 Compliance Forum, Africa’s largest compliance-focused gathering. Discussions will address regulatory fragmentation and barriers across Africa, improve access to correspondent banking services, and explore how technology can strengthen compliance and facilitate cross-border trade

 




  

Organised in partnership with the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC), the Forum will take place from 16 to 18 November 2026 at the Gaborone International Convention Centre in Botswana. Discussions will focus on strengthening regulatory cooperation, improving access to financial services and using technology to support effective compliance across African markets.

Confirmed speakers include Governor Lesego Caster Moseki, Bank of Botswana, Dr. Patrick Ndzana Olomo, Ag. Director, Economic Development, Integration and Trade, and Head of Economic Policy and Sustainable Development, African Union Commission (AUC), Luis Koberg, Founder and CEO of Klearium Group; Shane Ridel, CEO of Elucidate, Sophie Barre, Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Wave Mobile Money Group; Mr Mooketsi Ramanteba, Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority (NBFIRA), Nellie Nuyoni, Head of Private Sector, CBZ Holdings, Moira Mapundu, Head of Compliance, NMB Bank Limited and Boitumelo William of Continental Reinsurance. Compliance specialists from Dow Jones and Standard Chartered will also participate.

Mr Keletsositse Olebile, Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre, said: “Strong and predictable compliance systems build investor confidence, protect institutions, and create the conditions in which trade and enterprise can flourish.”

Under the theme “Better Compliance – Better Trade: Leveraging Compliance to Promote African Regulations that Advance Intra-African Economic and Trade Integration,” the Forum will examine how African markets can make their regulatory systems work more effectively together while preserving national sovereignty.

Idrissa Diop, Compliance Director at Afreximbank, said: “Our banks across Africa operate across very different legal systems, supervisory approaches and levels of digital maturity. Africa does not need uniformity at any cost. It needs interoperability that reduces friction while preserving regulatory sovereignty.

Our banks across Africa operate across very different legal systems, supervisory approaches and levels of digital maturity

“We invite regulators, compliance specialists, banks, fintechs, trade institutions and technology providers from across the continent to come to Gaborone ready to turn shared principles into practical cooperation, because better compliance can and should deliver better trade for Africa.”

The opening session, “Is Better Compliance Leading to Better Trade?”, will assess how regulatory cooperation can facilitate cross-border business. Other sessions will cover anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism, sanctions, cybersecurity, consumer protection and the use of artificial intelligence in compliance.

Access to correspondent banking services will be a key focus. Luis Koberg, Founder and CEO of Klearium Group, said: “Many African banks continue to face barriers to accessing correspondent banking services. The reasons given often overlook a fundamental challenge: limited visibility across the payment chain. Improved transparency gives our industry the ability to accurately assess and manage risk, on a case-by-case basis with confidence.”

Delegates will also examine how fintech and risk-based onboarding can extend access to affordable financial services while meeting compliance requirements.

Sophie Barre, Global Head of Risk and Compliance at Wave Mobile Money Group, said: “Fintechs are rewriting the rules of financial inclusion and efficiency. By combining world-class technology with intelligent, risk-based onboarding, they can deliver affordable, simple and reliable services within a compliant ecosystem.”

The Compliance Forum will also feature an exhibition of AI-enabled anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing compliance systems. These demonstrations will let delegates engage with emerging technologies that can strengthen risk detection, monitoring, and reporting.

This Forum comes as artificial intelligence, automation, cybersecurity, third-party risk and diverging regulatory requirements place new demands on financial institutions. These developments reinforce the need for compliance approaches that reflect Africa’s regulatory, economic and institutional realities while drawing on global good practices.

ACF2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to redefine compliance strategies for a changing financial environment and develop practical approaches that protect institutions while enabling more efficient movement of capital, goods and services across African borders.

For programme details and registration, visit ACF2026 (https://apo-opa.co/4iVtopG)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

 




 

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Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Leadership Roundtable Brings Gas Producer Coordination to Paris

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Etu Energias

As African gas producers navigate rising domestic demand, global LNG competition and a renewed push for investment, the GECF Leadership Roundtable at the Invest in African Energy 2027 Forum will examine how greater coordination can support project development, market access and long-term gas monetization

PARIS, France, November 3, 2026/APO Group/ –Africa’s gas industry is entering a period in which cooperation between producing countries could become increasingly important. Demand is rising, LNG markets are being reshaped by geopolitical disruptions and new supply, while major gas developments across the continent continue to compete for capital.

 




  

Against this backdrop, the GECF Leadership Roundtable at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum 2027 in Paris will bring the perspectives of gas-producing countries into a discussion focused on the commercial and strategic priorities shaping the sector.

The session comes as Africa continues to expand its role in global LNG markets. The GECF forecasts LNG exports from the continent to reach about 110 billion cubic meters (bcm), or 80 million tons per annum (mtpa), by 2030, rising to 215 bcm, or 160 mtpa, by 2050. The outlook spans producers including Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Mauritania, Senegal and Nigeria, while GECF projections point to growing LNG trade with Asia and within African markets.

Recent developments have reinforced the strategic value of that supply base. Tanzania’s long-delayed $42 billion LNG project has gained renewed attention as disruptions to Middle Eastern gas supplies have increased the value of diversified LNG sources, while ExxonMobil is advancing preparations for Mozambique’s Rovuma LNG project after years of delay.

For African producers, however, expanding exports is only one part of the equation. Domestic gas demand is rising at the same time that governments are seeking to use gas to improve electricity supply, support industrial development and create new revenue streams. That creates a need to balance export projects with domestic offtake, pipeline infrastructure, gas processing and gas-to-power development.

Coordination between producing countries can help address some of these challenges. Sharing experience on fiscal frameworks, project development, infrastructure and market access can help governments compete for investment while strengthening the case for regional gas infrastructure and cross-border trade.

The global market is also becoming more competitive. Reuters reported this month that gas and LNG infrastructure investment is expanding across multiple regions, with Asia accounting for the largest share of planned LNG import capacity. At the same time, disruptions to Middle Eastern supply have reinforced concerns around security of supply and increased the strategic importance of alternative producers. That creates an opening for African gas producers, but converting that opportunity into projects will require capital, infrastructure and credible long-term markets.

The GECF Leadership Roundtable at IAE 2027, taking place in Paris from May 11-13, will provide a senior-level setting to examine those issues alongside the investors and project developers needed to advance them. The wider forum is designed to connect African energy markets with global capital, with a focus on projects spanning gas, LNG, infrastructure and power.

For African gas producers, the question is how effectively its resources can be developed, connected to markets and converted into reliable energy and industrial growth. The Paris roundtable will put producer coordination at the center of that investment conversation.

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

 

 




 

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