CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 11, 2026/APO Group/ –As Africa accelerates efforts to balance energy security, industrial growth and decarbonization, African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 will convene a powerful cohort of global associations whose work is increasingly defining the trajectory of the continent’s energy systems. The participation of Nikki Martin, President & CEO of EnerGeo Alliance; Anibor Kragha, Executive Secretary of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA); and Carol Koech, Vice President for Africa at the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), signals a shift toward deeper coordination across the full energy value chain – from subsurface data and upstream investment to downstream infrastructure and universal energy access.

 

EnerGeo Alliance, under Martin’s leadership, has been advancing the role of geoscience and data-driven exploration in de-risking investments across frontier markets. Its recent strategic engagements, including partnerships supporting renewed exploration activity in countries such as Libya, reflect a broader push to bring technical rigor and investor confidence back into African upstream sectors. By strengthening the link between subsurface intelligence and policy decisions, EnerGeo is helping governments position their resources more competitively in a capital-constrained global market.

 

Complementing this upstream focus, ARDA has been at the forefront of reinforcing Africa’s downstream resilience. At its 2026 annual conference, the association underscored energy security as a top priority, with refiners across the continent moving to shield themselves from global market volatility and supply disruptions. This comes as Africa continues to expand refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, a shift that is critical not only for economic sovereignty but also for stabilizing domestic energy markets. ARDA’s work increasingly intersects with broader industrialization goals, positioning refining and distribution networks as key enablers of growth.

 

Bridging these traditional energy systems with the continent’s long-term transition ambitions is GEAPP, where Koech leads the organization’s Africa strategy. The alliance has rapidly emerged as a central force in mobilizing blended finance for large-scale electrification and renewable deployment. In 2026, GEAPP and its partners surpassed $100 million in commitments to support Mission 300 – an initiative aimed at connecting 300 million Africans to electricity by 2030 – while simultaneously working to unlock far greater flows of public and private capital. Through technical assistance, project development and market-shaping interventions, GEAPP is helping translate high-level ambition into bankable projects across nearly two dozen countries.

 

“African Energy Week has always been about bringing together the right partners at the right time,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “The participation of organizations like EnerGeo Alliance, ARDA and GEAPP reflects the increasing alignment we are seeing across the global energy landscape. These are institutions that are not only shaping policy and investment, but actively delivering solutions on the ground – and their engagement at AEW 2026 will be instrumental in advancing Africa’s energy ambitions.”

 

As AEW continues to evolve into a platform for integrated energy dialogue, the inclusion of these global associations reinforces its role as a convening point for the partnerships that will define Africa’s next phase of growth. Their participation reflects the growing recognition that Africa’s energy future cannot be addressed through fragmented approaches, but through coordinated action across sectors, institutions and geographies.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 11, 2026/APO Group/ –Enlit Africa 2026 will put commercial and industrial delivery front and center on Wednesday 20 May with a dedicated line-up across the Power Hub, Water Hub and Renewable Energy & Storage Hub. The day is built for decision-makers who must keep operations running, secure reliable supply, manage risk and move projects from concept to implementation.

 

Taking place 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Enlit Africa, created by VUKA Group, convenes utilities, municipalities, large energy users, financiers, developers and technology providers to focus on what shifts outcomes in African infrastructure.

On 20 May, the programme is anchored by the keynote, “How a coordinated energy/water plan could change African resilience” (09:30–11:45), positioning water and energy as interlinked operational risks that can no longer be managed in silos. From there, the day breaks into practical tracks tailored for large users and the solution partners that support them.

In the Renewable Energy & Storage Hub, sessions focus on the realities of C&I adoption and delivery at scale, including “Project implementation for multi-megawatt C&I projects” (11:45–13:00) and “Clean energy adoption in the C&I market” (14:30–15:45), before turning to fleet electrification and operations with “Mobility: Management of electric vehicle fleets for C&I” (16:00–17:30).

In the Water Hub, the agenda targets the technologies and operating models that matter most to industrial continuity and compliance. Sessions include “Next-generation water treatment technologies” (11:45–13:00), “Advanced water treatment & smart water systems” (14:30–15:45) and “Accelerating water technology deployment for C&I operations” (16:30–17:30).

Together, the three stages create a single day of high-signal, implementation-led content for C&I leaders, utilities, municipalities and suppliers focused on operational performance, investment readiness and delivery discipline.

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB) affiliates (www.IsDB.org) – namely the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) – in cooperation with the Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH), organized the “IsDB Group Private Sector Roadshow” in Baku, Azerbaijan, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Export and Investment Promotion Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AZPROMO).

 

The high-profile event which took place on Thursday, 7^th May 2026, at Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Economy, came as part of ongoing preparations for the upcoming IsDB Group Annual Meetings and Private Sector Forum (PSF 2026), scheduled to take place from 16 to 19 June 2026, under the high patronage of His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

 

Bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, the Forum showcased IsDB Group services, activities, and initiatives across its 57 member countries, with particular emphasis on Azerbaijan. It highlighted the Group’s ongoing support for private sector development and its efforts to stimulate promising investment and trade opportunities in the Azerbaijani market.

 

The event also served as a unique opportunity inviting the audience to participate actively in IsDB Group Annual Meetings and the Private Sector Forum (PSF 2026). The program included panel discussions and specialized workshops on ways to enhance economic partnerships and the role of IsDB Group’s institutions in supporting the needs of member countries. The spectra of services, solutions and financial tools were also presented, including lines and modes of Islamic financing, trade finance and trade development solutions, corporate private sector financing, as well as risk mitigation solutions plus investment insurance and export credit insurance services.

 

Keynote speakers, in their speeches, underlined strong commitment to deepening engagement with the private sector and fostering meaningful partnerships that drive sustainable economic growth in light of the upcoming IsDB Group Annual Meetings in Baku, all to showcase integrated solutions especially in Islamic finance, trade, investment, and risk mitigation while working closely and collectively with private sector partners to unlock new opportunities, support innovation, and empower businesses contributing to inclusive and resilient development across IsDB Group member countries.