CAIRO, Egypt, May 20, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) has extended a USD 15 million SME Finance Facility to Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited under its Export SME Development Programme (ESDP).The facility will provide working capital and capital expenditure financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating within export value chains across key sectors of the Zimbabwean economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

 

The funding represents the latest development in a partnership between the two institutions that dates to 2018 and reflects a shared commitment to expanding SME access to finance, deepening export value chains, and driving inclusive economic growth in Zimbabwe.

Under the facility, enterprises that form the productive backbone of Zimbabwe’s economy, yet remain chronically underserved by conventional lending, will have access to financing. The programme is specifically targeted at SMEs operating across export value chains in key sectors, including agribusiness, manufacturing, logistics, technology, healthcare, and the creative economy, among others.

Commenting on the signing, Ms. Oluranti Doherty, Managing Director for Export Development at Afreximbank, said, “In Zimbabwe and across the continent, Afreximbank remains firmly committed to supporting SMEs as engines of export growth, economic resilience, and long-term development. This facility with exemplifies the kind of high-additionality, high-impact intervention that the ESDP was designed to deliver, addressing market failures that commercial finance alone cannot resolve, and building the productive capacity of enterprises that are central to Africa’s trade transformation. It therefore goes beyond providing credit; it is a structured commitment to building the capacity of enterprises that can drive Zimbabwe’s participation in intra-African trade and regional value chains. Through the ESDP, we are ensuring that each beneficiary SME is not only funded but equipped, connected, and positioned to grow sustainably.”

The facility is structured to channel Afreximbank’s development finance through Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited as a licensed financial intermediary, combining the Bank’s trade finance expertise with Ecobank’s extensive local footprint and client relationships. Some 43.75 percent of proceeds will support intra-African trade activities, while 18 percent will be directed towards manufacturing, reflecting Afreximbank’s focus on industrialisation and regional trade integration.

As part of its non-financial interventions under the ESDP, Afreximbank will also provide capacity-building support to SME sub-borrowers, covering operations and financial management, loan management, export readiness, marketing, and digitalisation. The integrated support is designed to enhance SME sustainability, strengthen credit quality, and enable stronger participation in export value chains.

For Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, the facility significantly enhances its capacity to serve a segment of the market it recognises as vital to the country’s economic prospects. By channelling Afreximbank’s development finance through its existing SME product suite and advisory infrastructure, Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited will offer beneficiary enterprises not only financing but integrated financial and business advisory solutions, a combination that meaningfully raises the likelihood of SME success and export market penetration.

In his remarks, Moses Kurenjekwa, Managing Director of Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited, noted: “Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited is proud to partner with Afreximbank on this facility, which speaks directly to our commitment to unlocking the potential of Zimbabwe’s SME sector. Small businesses are the engine of our economy, and access to appropriate, export-linked financing is what enables them to grow, create jobs, and compete regionally. This collaboration brings together Afreximbank’s development finance mandate and our on-the-ground reach to deliver a solution that is both impactful and scalable. We look forward to walking this journey with Zimbabwe’s SMEs as they integrate into regional and continental trade value chains.”

Afreximbank Export SME Development Programme is a comprehensive ecosystem intervention that combines capital, capacity, and connectivity. By working through trusted partners like Ecobank Zimbabwe, the programme ensures that its resources reach the enterprises that need them most and that those businesses are equipped not just to access financing, but to use it to build genuinely competitive, export-capable businesses.

Positioned at the intersection of Southern Africa’s key trade corridors, links the North-South Corridor connecting Dar es Salaam to Durban and the Beira Corridor between landlocked economies to Indian Ocean ports, the facility comes at a pivotal moment for the country’s economy, with GDP growth forecast at 6 percent for 2025, driven by improved agricultural output and strong gold prices. SMEs account for more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s GDP and more than 70 percent of national employment, yet access to long-tenor, export-linked financing has remained a persistent constraint on their growth and competitiveness.

ACCRA, Ghana, May 20, 2026/APO Group/ –Agility (https://Agility.com), a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses, announced that the Agility Logistics Park (ALP) (https://AgilityLogisticsParks.com) in Tema, Ghana has received EDGE Advanced certification for its energy- and resource-efficient green buildings. This brings the total number of EDGE Advanced-certified warehouses across the ALP network to 17, with certified facilities now present in every country where Agility Logistics Parks operates.

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) is the global standard for energy-efficient buildings, a certification system overseen by the International Finance Corp. (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank Group. Advanced EDGE certification requires a building to deliver a minimum reduction of 40% energy use, water use and embodied carbon in materials when benchmarked against standard local buildings.

ALP Ghana, a 160,000 SQM warehouse park, is located in the Tema Free Zone, adjacent to Tema port and the Ghana country capital Accra. The park provides international standard warehouse space to multinationals and local businesses. All five warehouses within the Ghana ALP have been certified as EDGE Advanced.

ALP’s EDGE Advanced warehouses in Accra provide average energy savings of 68%; water savings of 38% and utilize construction materials containing 63% less embodied carbon in materials, when compared with others in the market.

Charles Gassoub, Vice President – Agility Africa, said: “Achieving the EDGE Certificate demonstrates our commitment to developing energy- and resource-efficient facilities in line with global sustainability standards. This brings direct benefits to our customers, including reduced utility costs, improved operational efficiency, and alignment with their own ESG and sustainability objectives.”

Nathalie Kouassi Akon, IFC’s Ghana Division Director, also remarked on the achievement, stating “The EDGE Advanced certification of Agility Logistics Park in Tema demonstrates the strong momentum for green buildings in Ghana and the critical role the private sector plays in driving this transition. By significantly reducing energy and resource use, projects like this not only lower operating costs for businesses but also contribute to Ghana’s smart development goals and long-term economic resilience. IFC is proud to support partners like Agility in setting new standards for sustainable, high-quality industrial infrastructure in the region.

Agility Logistics Parks are secure, connected, 24/7 complexes with international-standard, high-quality warehouses, designed with advanced engineering and sustainability features.  In addition to the 160,000 SQM park in Ghana, Agility Logistics Parks has a 470,000 SQM park in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire; a 320,000 SQM facility in Maputo, Mozambique; a 270,000 SQM park in Lagos, Nigeria (under development); as well as the 270,000 SQM Yanmu East logistics park in Cairo, Egypt, part of a joint venture with Hassan Allam Utilities.

Agility Africa CEO Geoffrey White said: “Having each of our warehouse parks in Africa certified as EDGE Advanced is an integral part of our strategy to develop a network of secure and efficient warehouse parks across the Continent. The growing portfolio of Agility warehouse parks delivers an essential part of the fundamental infrastructure required for growth by both global and local businesses.

Providing international standard ready-built warehouses for companies to lease for storage, distribution, e-commerce, packaging, processing and light manufacturing makes it easier for businesses to expand or enter new markets, reducing their capital requirements and time it takes to market. Agility warehouse parks make African markets more bankable, attractive and competitive.”

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 19, 2026/APO Group/ —By Alioune Ciss, Chief Executive Officer, Webb Fontaine (https://WebbFontaine.com).

When global trade flows normally, Port Community Systems (PCS) are often viewed as efficiency tools. They digitize paperwork, connect stakeholders, reduce delays, and improve visibility across port ecosystems. However, the true impact and strategic importance of PCS become most apparent when a crisis hits.

Whether caused by geopolitical conflict, canal restrictions, rerouted shipping lanes, cyber risk, labor disruption, or sudden regulatory shifts, modern supply chain shocks remind us that ports without strong digital coordination struggle to adapt, whereas ports with robust PCS infrastructure are better positioned to keep cargo moving. In today’s environment, PCS has become a critical infrastructure.

Disruption is not an exception anymore

Global maritime trade has entered a more volatile era where disruption is structural. Let’s review the recent events to understand the scale of impact:

• Around 2,000 ships were reportedly stranded during the recent Strait of Hormuz (https://apo-opa.co/4dii0lb) crisis.
• The Red Sea crisis (https://apo-opa.co/4dz5gFA) led to more than 190 attacks on vessels by late 2024, forcing widespread rerouting and increasing transit times by up to two weeks.
• The Suez-linked corridor (https://apo-opa.co/4dz5gFA), which carries roughly 10–12% of global maritime trade, experienced sharp volume declines during the disruption.
• Supply chains across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe faced cascading effects, including congestion, cost increases, and schedule instability.

At the same time, the global port industry itself is undergoing rapid transformation. According to the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), ports are accelerating digitalization and strengthening resilience capabilities in response to geopolitical and operational uncertainty. This is the new reality: routes shift, volumes spike, and conditions change faster than traditional systems can handle.

Why PCS matters most during a crisis

When vessel schedules collapse, or cargo volumes suddenly spike, physical infrastructure alone is not enough. Cranes, berths, gates and yards also need coordination. That is where PCS becomes the backbone of resilience.

A PCS is not just a digital tool; rather, it’s a shared operational layer. It connects shipping lines, terminals, customs, freight forwarders, transport operators, and authorities through a single data environment, enabling synchronized decision-making across the ecosystem.

Instead of exchanges through emails, phone calls, Excel files, or siloed systems that generate delays and errors, the PCS enables seamless and real-time coordination.

1. Real-time visibility across the ecosystem

When vessels are delayed or rerouted, fragmented communication becomes a liability.

PCS enables real-time visibility across:

• vessel arrivals and berth planning
• cargo status and documentation
• customs readiness and inspections
• gate operations and inland logistics

Instead of fragmented updates, stakeholders operate from a shared, trusted data environment.

In a crisis, the speed of information becomes the speed of recovery.

2. Faster decision-making under pressure

Sudden disruptions create immediate operational stress:

• surges in transshipment volumes
• yard congestion risks
• inspection bottlenecks
• inland transport delays

Without digital coordination, responses are reactive and slow.

With PCS, ports can dynamically allocate resources, adjust workflows, and reprioritize cargo flows using real-time data and coordinated processes.

3. Customs and border continuity

Cargo cannot move if border agencies cannot move.

According to joint guidance from the World Customs Organization (WCO) and International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), interoperability between Customs systems and PCS is essential for coordinated border management, risk control, and secure data exchange (https://apo-opa.co/3PLcs9P).

In crisis conditions, this becomes critical. Governments must introduce new controls, risk filters, or emergency procedures quickly, without disrupting trade flows. PCS enables this  balance.

4. Trust and transparency for the market

Importers, exporters, and carriers can tolerate disruption more than uncertainty. What they need is visibility.

PCS provides transparency across the supply chain, allowing stakeholders to track cargo status, anticipate delays, and plan accordingly. This transparency builds trust and reduces the systemic risk of panic-driven inefficiencies.

Operational resilience is the key

As we all know, the classic PCS discussions focus on key KPIs such as:

• reduced turnaround time
• fewer documents
• lower administrative cost
• faster truck processing

But today, the most important KPI is “readiness”: If a major trade corridor shifts tomorrow, can your port ecosystem adapt in real time?

To answer “Yes” to this question, a future-ready PCS should include:

• real-time event management
• integrated stakeholder communication
• predictive congestion alerts
• interoperability with customs and regulatory systems
• scalable architecture for demand spikes

“For years, ‘efficiency’ was key when it comes to PCS. However, today, the key is ‘resilience’… When shipping lanes shift overnight, policies change, and when uncertainty increases, the strongest ports are the ones that are the most ‘connected’… Therefore, we should treat PCS as a crisis backbone of trade, not an IT efficiency initiative.
[Alioune Ciss, CEO, Webb Fontaine]

The Next Evolution: Intelligent PCS

PCS is now entering a new phase. Next-generation systems are evolving into data-driven platforms that support predictive analytics, AI-enabled decision-making, and proactive risk management (https://apo-opa.co/4eQ93Rg).

In other words, today, ports need systems that help orchestrate responses. Solutions such as Webb Ports (https://apo-opa.co/42F3gqq) from Webb Fontaine reflect this shift. By connecting all port stakeholders through a unified platform, anticipating congestion before it happens, simulating operational scenarios, and optimizing resource allocation dynamically, we enable faster coordination, better visibility and more agile responses when disruptions occur.