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US-Africa Municipal and Sub-Sovereign Investors Forum: Paving the Way for Sustainable African Development

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3 years ago

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investment

Discussions revolved around unity, responsible investment, and leveraging Africa’s demographic dividend to accelerate economic growth

NEW YORK, United States of America, October 2, 2023/APO Group/ — 

In the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, UCLG Africa (http://www.UCLGA.org), the umbrella organization representing the voice of African subnational and local governments on the African continent, organized the very first US-Africa Municipal and Sub-Sovereign Investors Forum at the Wall Street Hotel in New York City. The Forum brought together around 100 participants representing the African Union institutions; the USA cooperation agencies; Black Caucus USA State legislators; Africa and USA Mayors and Leaders of subnational and local governments; Africa and USA Development Finance institutions; Africa and USA business community.  

The proceedings of the Forum were structured around three sequences: the official opening session; the session on market practices, collaboration and investment opportunities in Africa; and the session on investors response to the call to invest in Africa.

The opening session was moderated by Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, Secretary General, UCLG Africa.

At the official opening ceremony of the Forum, Hon Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, delivered an inspiring address, highlighting the timely significance of the Forum and the opportunity it offers to have a new look at the huge potential of Africa in terms of investment and business opportunities, particularly in her cities. He underscored the good momentum for organizing this Forum in New York City, USA, since African American Mayors are managing the bulk of major cities in the country, representing 1/3 of the USA GDP. The mayors of these cities shall therefore be at the forefront in mobilizing their business community, including the SMEs, to explore the possibility to develop their business through investment projects in Africa.  

Mayor Adams insisted that the Forum should be seen as a starting point for a new conversation on investment in African cities and was happy that UCLG Africa announced the holding of a second edition of the Forum to be held in the framework of the 10th edition of the Africities Summit scheduled in December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, at which he would be happy to participate.

The opening session was also marked by the statements by the following speakers: Hon Laura Hall, President, National Black Caucus of State Legislators; Hon Shawyn Patterson-Howard, Mayor Mt Vernon, NY, President of African American mayors Association; Madam Nardos Bekele-Thomas – CEO, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD; Dr Julius Garvey, Board-Certified award-winning surgeon, medical professor and investor. Son to Marcus Garvey; Mohan Vivekanandan, Group Executive, Client Coverage, Development Bank of Southern Africa; Solomon Quaynor, Vice President, Private Sector, Infrastructure and Industrialization, African Development Bank.

Throughout the opening session, the speakers highlighted the need for strategic investments to unlock Africa’s untapped development potential. Discussions revolved around unity, responsible investment, and leveraging Africa’s demographic dividend to accelerate economic growth. Place-based investments were advocated for more impact on the people where they live.  Commitment to delivering on development promises and building hope through sustainable investments were recurrent themes.

The second session on market practice exchange, collaboration and Investment opportunities in Africa was moderated by Ambassador Seyni Nafo, Coordinator, Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI).

Throughout the opening session, the speakers highlighted the need for strategic investments to unlock Africa’s untapped development potential

The session was introduced by a powerful statement by Hon. Rohey Malick Lowe, the Mayor of the City of Banjul in the Gambia, and also the President of the Network of Women Local elected officials of Africa (REFELA from its French acronym). Hon. Lowe put the spotlight on the necessity to invest on women economic empowerment and on opening up opportunities for the youth, through vocational education and investment in the digital transformation.

The discussion was organized around presentations by Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Investment Promotion Centre; Yves Millardet, Chairman of the Executive Board, Agence France Locale; Valerie White, Social Impact Investment and Equity Executive; Clayton Banks, Co-Founder & CEO of Silicon Harlem; Johanna LeBlanc – Partner, Adomi Advisory Group, PLLC; Dr. Edward Kofi Osei, chairman, national homeownership, Ghana.

Key messages included the importance to adopt a disruptive narrative on the perception of risk in doing business in Africa; to prioritize investing in technology, infrastructure, data collection and processing for a smart management of cities; to focus on women and youth empowerment; and to not hesitate to support ATIA, the special purpose vehicle aiming to facilitate access of African cities and territories to investment and the capital market.

The third session on investors’ response to the call for expression of interest to investing in Africa was moderated by Ms. Zienzi Dillon, CEO, Carmel Global Capital and former Head, Public Sector, Corporate and Investment Banking, Barclays Bank, South Africa.

The third session received communications by Ms. Agnes Dasewicz, Chief Operating Officer, International Development Finance Corporation (DFC); Mr. Mohammed Abbadi, Senior Investment Manager, Local Development Finance Practice, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF); Mr. Rene Awamberg, Directeur and Global Head and Client Relations, Afreximbank; Ms. Donna Sims Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, Kah Capital Management and former US National Association of Securities Professionals; Ms. Isabelle Lessedjina, Senior Vice President, TCX Fund; Mr. Craig Cogut, Pegasus Capital Advisors; Mr. David Ziyambi, Partner, Finance Department and Africa Practice, Latam & Watkins.

The response of the above investors was globally positive as all of them appreciated African cities as a new horizon for investment and business opportunities. A proposal was made to identify two or three cities in Africa in collaboration between the US Mayors and UCLG Africa to serve as a pilot to test the way to mobilize investors and partners to invest in African cities, including with the support of DFC. All of them supported the setting up of ATIA as an innovative mechanism that can assist in attracting funding for investment in African cities and subnational and local governments.  

Four points were retained as way forward:

  1. Institutionalize the US-Africa Municipal and Subnational Investors, the next edition of the Forum to be organized in December 2025 in Cairo, Egypt, in the framework of the 10th edition of the Africities Summit
  2. Sign the MoUs between UCLG Africa with the African American Mayors Association on the one hand, and with the National Black Caucus for State Legislators
  3. Mobilize US and Africa partners to participate in the establishment and operation of ATIA through financial and non-financial support
  4. Scale up the capacity building program targeting two objectives: (1) set up an observatory on local finance to have the needed financial data to back access to the capital market; (2) define a training program targeting African CFOs and professionals aiming at preparing African cities and subnational governments to transact on the capital market.

In concluding the proceedings of the Forum, the CEO of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD expressed greetings to the delegates that spoke with their heart and insisted on the fact that it is time to move from commitments to action on the ground: “Let’s commit to work the talk and do it for ourselves”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa).

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Business

Carbon, water and grid investment move to the centre of Africa’s business resilience agenda

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14 hours ago

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September 24, 2026

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A new series of VUKA Group webinars will bring industry experts together to examine these challenges and the practical decisions organisations need to make

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 24, 2026/APO Group/ –Commercial and industrial businesses, utilities and investors across Africa are being forced to confront three increasingly connected challenges: credible decarbonisation, water security and the infrastructure required to support reliable power systems.

A new series of VUKA Group webinars will bring industry experts together to examine these challenges and the practical decisions organisations need to make.

 




 
Commercial and industrial compliance in the spotlight

On 29 September 2026 at 13:00 SAST, Carbon, compliance and credible energy claims: What C&I customers must get right will explore how commercial and industrial energy users can align renewable energy procurement with carbon accounting standards and evolving reporting obligations.

The discussion will examine the evidence required to substantiate renewable electricity claims, the role of Renewable Energy Certificates in Scope 2 reporting, the implications of mechanisms such as the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism and how organisations can reduce greenwashing risk while strengthening emissions reporting.

Speakers include Sanelisiwe Mdlalose, Hulamin; Hendrick Raedani, City of Ekurhuleni; and Duane Newman, EY.

Register for the carbon compliance webinar: https://apo-opa.co/4AtqRKf

These issues will continue at the C&I Energy + Storage Summit Johannesburg, 28–29 October 2026 at The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, where energy procurement, carbon taxes, renewable integration, storage, market reform and industrial resilience form part of the programme.

Find out more about the Summit: https://apo-opa.co/4xMkZsR

Strategy for African water resilience

Water resilience takes centre stage on 30 September 2026 at 14:00 SAST with From water risk to water resilience: How South Africa’s water-intensive industries are securing their future.

The webinar will examine how businesses are responding to ageing infrastructure, supply uncertainty, rising costs and sustainability pressures by improving efficiency, diversifying water sources and investing in reuse, recycling and smarter water management.

The webinar line-up includes Benoit Le Roy, South African Water Chamber NPC; Nsuku Chankira, Thungela; Molatelo Motau, Heineken Beverages; Marilyn Maduka, Credew Limited; and Philindile Mahlangu from Magalies Water as moderator.

Register for the water resilience webinar: https://apo-opa.co/4z0aJyx

The conversation continues at Water Security Africa Johannesburg, co-located with the C&I Energy + Storage Summit, where industrial water independence, infrastructure finance, digital water systems, reuse and business continuity will be explored across two days.

Read more here: https://apo-opa.co/4yfjlBj

Towards Africa’s scalable energy transition

Looking to the infrastructure enabling Africa’s energy transition, Scaling transmission infrastructure: Innovative financing models for emerging markets takes place on 14 October 2026 at 14:00 SAST, moderated by Tshegofatso Neeuwfan, Global Energy Alliance.

Using the Mozambique Temane Transmission Project and insights from Belgian transmission system operator Elia, the webinar will explore bankable project structures, risk allocation and investor engagement that can help move major transmission projects from planning to delivery.

Register for the transmission infrastructure webinar: https://apo-opa.co/4ycMnkS

Transmission investment, project delivery and financing will remain central to Enlit Africa, 11–13 May 2027 at the CTICC in Cape Town, bringing Africa’s power, energy and water sectors together around supply security, investment and infrastructure development.

Join the Enlit Africa 2027 programme waiting list: www.Enlit-Africa.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

 




 

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Events

Dongfeng Motor’s 10th Science and Technology Innovation Week and 1st User Lifestyle Festival Kick Off in Wuhan

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15 hours ago

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September 24, 2026

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Dongfeng

Over the course of ten editions spanning a decade, Dongfeng Motor’s Science and Technology Innovation Week has further strengthened the connection between technology and users

WUHAN, China, September 24, 2026/APO Group/ –On September 14, Dongfeng Motor’s (​http://www.Dongfeng-Global.com/) 10th Science and Technology Innovation Week and 1st User Lifestyle Festival kicked off in Wuhan. With the theme “ Wind from the East, Creating a Smart Life,” the event showcased the innovative achievements of a Chinese automaker in intelligent and green mobility, as well as its global expansion.

 




 
 

At the opening ceremony, Dongfeng Motor unveiled the “Sky-Clean Zero-Carbon” Plan, the Embodied Intelligent Vehicle All-Domain Protection Plan, and the “Sky Horizon Voyage” Plan. Among them, the “Sky-Clean Zero-Carbon” Plan leverages the “1331” framework to build an integrated vehicle-energy ecosystem, aiming to achieve more than 1 million tonnes of coordinated carbon reduction annually and promote the transformation of automobiles into mobile energy assets; the Embodied Intelligent Vehicle All-Domain Protection Plan adopts a “1+6+4” technology system to establish a new paradigm for all-domain vehicle safety in the era of embodied intelligence; the “Sky Horizon Voyage” Plan establishes a “125” global business strategy, with plans to invest RMB 50 billion and launch more than 50 vehicle models, while striving to achieve overseas sales of 1.5 million vehicles by 2030.

 

Over the course of ten editions spanning a decade, Dongfeng Motor’s Science and Technology Innovation Week has further strengthened the connection between technology and users. At Dongfeng Motor’s 1st User Lifestyle Festival, more than 240 owner representatives from its various brands gathered in Wuhan. Dongfeng also launched the “Dongfeng Youxin” service brand for its broad user base, establishing a full-lifecycle user service system.

On the same day, the 72nd International Commercial Vehicle and Parts Exhibition opened in Hannover, Germany. Three Dongfeng hydrogen-powered vehicles and a 400-kilowatt fuel cell making its global debut are on display at Booth C20 in Hall H12.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

 

 




 

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Global Mayors Dialogue in Wuhan focuses on urban innovation and cooperation

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22 hours ago

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September 24, 2026

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The Global Mayors Dialogue

WUHAN, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 23 September 2026 – The Global Mayors Dialogue · Wuhan and the 2026 Wuhan International Friendship Cities Cooperation Conference, held from Sept. 18 to 21, brought together 80 international guests from 24 cities across 22 countries, according to organizers.

At the event, mayors and city representatives from six international sister cities of Wuhan called for closer cooperation in technology, industry, education and culture.

Representatives from Manchester in Britain, Kemi in Finland, Cape Town in South Africa, Yangon in Myanmar, Rzeszów in Poland and Turkistan in Kazakhstan took part in discussions on urban innovation, industrial cooperation and cultural exchange.
 




 
Manchester: a new start after 40 years of friendship

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Wuhan and Manchester.

Shaukat Ali, lord mayor of Manchester, said the city was ready to deepen cooperation with Wuhan in education, culture, youth affairs, innovation and industry.

“Manchester is committed to promoting urban transformation through open cooperation, sharing opportunities, and fostering common development with international sister cities like Wuhan,” he said.

Ali said Manchester had developed from a post-industrial city into an innovation-oriented economy, with a focus on advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, life sciences and green technologies.

He said the two cities could share experience in urban transformation, innovation districts, university-industry cooperation and low-carbon development, while encouraging links among universities, businesses and research institutions.

He also highlighted existing educational and cultural links, including cooperation between Hubei University and Manchester Metropolitan University and exchanges between the Royal Northern College of Music and Wuhan Conservatory of Music.

Kemi: balancing growth with environmental protection

Mikko Koivulehto, chairman of the City Council of Kemi, said the Finnish city sought to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

“We believe that protecting nature and building a prosperous city can go hand in hand,” he said.

Kemi, a port city in Finnish Lapland, has developed industries based on renewable raw materials, clean energy and the bioeconomy. The city is also seeking to expand tourism and improve livability.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the friendly exchange relationship between Wuhan and Kemi. The two cities have cooperated in areas including trade, the circular economy, tourism and youth exchanges.

Cape Town: technology and jobs key to urban transformation

Lungelo Mbandazayo, city manager of Cape Town, said technological innovation, talent development, infrastructure and green renewal were key to Wuhan’s transformation.

Cape Town, a UNESCO City of Design, is seeking to expand its technology and digital sectors while promoting green technology and an inclusive economy.

Mbandazayo said youth unemployment remained a major challenge for Cape Town and that technological development needed to create jobs.

After visiting Wuhan companies and technology facilities, he said Cape Town hoped to deepen exchanges with Wuhan in technology and talent.

Yangon: seeking practical cooperation with Wuhan

Yangon Mayor Myo Myint Aung said the city was looking to Wuhan for experience in smart-city development, digital governance, intelligent transport and urban resilience.

Wuhan and Yangon signed a letter of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation during the event.

Yangon is developing a long-term plan to accommodate population growth and expand its urban, industrial and transport infrastructure.

During a visit to Wuhan on Sept. 19, Myo toured the Optics Valley “Photon” suspended monorail, HGTECH and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory.

“We came to Wuhan not just to observe, but to learn and cooperate,” he said, adding that Yangon hoped to develop smart manufacturing and strengthen cooperation in information technology.

Rzeszów: opportunities in aerospace and technology

Rzeszów Mayor Konrad Fijołek said the Polish city hoped to cooperate with Wuhan in aerospace, sensor technology, biodiversity and climate action.

Rzeszów is home to the “Aviation Valley,” a major aerospace cluster in Central Europe.

“Exploring cooperation with Wuhan is the reason I came here,” Fijołek said.

After visiting HGTECH and a Xiaomi smart home appliance factory, he said Wuhan’s automated manufacturing and technologies in sensors and satellite systems had impressed him.

He said cities could help connect universities, businesses and research institutions and promote international cooperation.

Turkistan: five areas for cooperation

Turkestan Mayor Azimbek Pazylbekuly said his city hoped to expand cooperation with Wuhan in tourism and culture, education and science, investment and entrepreneurship, digitalization and innovation, and transport and logistics.

Wuhan and Turkistan signed a memorandum of intent on friendly exchanges and cooperation during the event.

Turkistan, an ancient Silk Road city and a UNESCO World Heritage site, has been developing industries including food processing, textiles, furniture and construction materials.

Pazylbekuly said cooperation between governments, businesses, universities and research institutions could help turn the two cities’ exchanges into concrete projects.

The conference also included friendship-city anniversary celebrations and a signing ceremony for 10 cooperation projects. A digital list of cooperation opportunities and an initiative on international friendship-city cooperation were released.

During their stay, the visiting mayors toured Wuhan’s technology, manufacturing and ecological facilities, including the Optics Valley suspended monorail, a Yangtze finless porpoise conservation center, Xiaomi, HGTECH and Dongfeng Motor facilities.
  




 

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