Connect with us
Anglostratits

Business

Yango partners with Yabx and COFINA to launch In-App Digital Lending Services in Cote d’Ivoire

Published

on

Yango

The launch of the “Driver Cash Advance” service strengthens driver engagement and enhances financial accessibility for Yango’s community, contributing to an improved experience for all users

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast, December 10, 2024/APO Group/ — 

In a significant partnership, Yango in Côte d’Ivoire, part of Yango Group, a global technology company that creates daily services, has teamed up with COFINA, a leading mesofinance institution in the country and Yabx (https://Yabx.co/), an embedded finance platform that builds credit profiles for thin/no file customers to introduce a Driver Cash Advance service. This is a digital loan product that will improve access to credit for many individuals and businesses. Beneficiaries will have instant access to up to XOF 300,000 (USD 500) cash advances and flexible repayment options of over two to eight weeks. This partnership is currently exclusive to Yango’s partners’ drivers, with plans to expand to consumers (riders), food delivery agents and merchants.

Speaking about the partnership’s impact, Mr. Kadotien Soro, the Country Manager of Yango in Côte d’Ivoire, underscored the importance of enabling entrepreneurs and supporting partners’ drivers to access financial assistance to grow their businesses.

‘’We are excited to partner with COFINA and Yabx to support our community. By providing this lending service to our partners’ drivers and users, we empower them to fulfill their dreams and achieve the desired results by investing in their businesses. This is a great opportunity and I entreat all beneficiaries to take advantage of it and be diligent with the utilization of these funds in order to grow’’ he said.

Yango operates in over 30 countries globally including various African countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, RD Congo, Angola, Mozambique, Cameroon, Senegal and Namibia. With an exponentially growing user base and an industry CAGR of 5.96%- the scale of providing financial inclusion to previously underserved segments will only get wider.

Yango, one of Côte d’Ivoire’s most trusted platforms, handles millions of rides and deliveries each month through its partners. The launch of the “Driver Cash Advance” service strengthens driver engagement and enhances financial accessibility for Yango’s community, contributing to an improved experience for all users. With its broad user base of drivers and riders growing as fast as 25+% year over year, Yango offers drivers a seamless way to manage their cash-flow and handle daily expenses more efficiently.

We believe embedded lending has the potential to transform access to credit in underserved regions and contribute to a more sustainable gig economy across Africa

Yabx, a cutting-edge Lending-as-a-Service (LaaS) platform, uses AI and machine learning algorithms to analyze digital footprints and create detailed financial identities for borrowers without prior access to formal credit. By employing non-traditional methods of credit scoring and building an end-to-end loan journey on the Yango app;  Yabx enables drivers to receive cash advances in real time.  Yabx has successfully developed and implemented a diverse range of financial solutions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These offerings include term loans, overdrafts, microloans, handset financing, and more, tailored to drive financial inclusion and empower underserved communities.

Puneet Chopra, Chief Growth Officer at Yabx, commented, “This partnership with Yango represents a key milestone in our mission to deliver financial services tailored to emerging markets. By embedding lending directly within the Yango platform, we are removing barriers to financial access, offering users quick and convenient access to capital. We believe embedded lending has the potential to transform access to credit in underserved regions and contribute to a more sustainable gig economy across Africa.”

The COFINA Group, a leader in mesofinance in West and Central Africa, is dedicated to promoting financial inclusion by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as entrepreneurs in their development. As a partner in this innovative project, COFINA Côte d’Ivoire plays a key role in providing the necessary financing, ensuring Yango drivers have quick and simplified access to credit. With its experience and continental reach, COFINA reaffirms its commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening platform economies and contributing to inclusive economic growth in Côte d’Ivoire and beyond.

“At COFINA, we firmly believe in the power of financial inclusion and digitalization to drive innovation and support players in the digital economy. This partnership with Yango and Yabx represents a significant step forward in offering financing solutions tailored to the needs of Yango drivers. We are proud to play a role in this initiative, which paves the way for a more inclusive and resilient digital economy in Côte d’Ivoire” emphasized Mr. Amed Sié TOURE, Managing Director of COFINA Côte d’Ivoire.

The integration of data-driven lending models and AI technology in the financial sector allows for the rapid expansion of financial services without adding significant risk. This innovation not only enables drivers to access formal loans for the first time but also introduces them to a simplified, streamlined user journey aligned with the driver’s immediate needs. Through this process, individuals and little businesses, constituting the ‘missing middle’ of African ecosystems who are not the core customers of microfinance institutions or traditional banks, can be recognized as credible borrowers with legitimate credit scores.

This service is designed to enhance the financial stability of drivers, allowing them to focus on their work without financial strain. Yabx, Yango, and COFINA are proud to be leading the way in providing inclusive financial solutions and supporting the growth of a sustainable gig economy across Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Yabx.

Business

Liberia to Preview Next Oil & Gas Licensing Round Strategy at Houston Investor Day

Published

on

The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority will host operators, investors and partners in Houston on August 19 to preview future licensing opportunities and showcase the exploration potential of its offshore basins

HOUSTON, United States of America, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –The Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA) will present its strategy for the country’s next offshore licensing round at Liberia Investor Day Houston on August 19, bringing together international exploration companies, investors, service providers and energy leaders to discuss the next phase of Liberia’s upstream development.

Hosted in partnership with Energy Capital & Power, the event will provide a platform for the LPRA, led by Director General Hon. Marilyn T. Logan, to outline Liberia’s regulatory framework, investment priorities and plans to attract new participation across the country’s offshore sector. Discussions will focus on upcoming licensing opportunities, exploration prospects and the subsurface data supporting future investment decisions.

Liberia’s offshore sector is entering a new phase of exploration activity, with renewed international participation and a growing pipeline of opportunities. Following the award and ratification of eight Production Sharing Contracts in 2025, Liberia has re-established itself as a frontier exploration destination, with international operators advancing work programs designed to further evaluate the country’s petroleum potential. TotalEnergies is progressing exploration activities that include offshore geochemical surveys, 3D seismic acquisition and seabed mapping, while Oranto Petroleum has also signed contracts to explore Liberia’s offshore.

At the Liberia Investor Day Houston, the LPRA will provide industry stakeholders with insight into the priorities shaping the next licensing round, including the anticipated process, qualification requirements, available acreage and access to technical data. The engagement will give prospective investors a clearer view of Liberia’s exploration landscape and the opportunities emerging across its offshore basins.

The event will also facilitate direct dialogue between LPRA and the global upstream community, connecting companies with policymakers and industry stakeholders involved in shaping Liberia’s next chapter of petroleum development.

As exploration companies continue to seek new frontier opportunities, Liberia Investor Day Houston will highlight the role of regulatory certainty, data availability and strategic partnerships in unlocking long-term investment across Liberia’s offshore sector.

Registration is now open for attendees. Companies interested in Liberia’s emerging offshore opportunities are invited to join LPRA, investors and upstream leaders in Houston for insights into the country’s licensing strategy and exploration outlook. For more information contact info@energycapitalpower.com.

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

 

Continue Reading

Business

Beyond Stabroek: Guyana’s Offshore Basin Attracts New Wave of Exploration Investment

Published

on

Etu Energias

As ExxonMobil advances appraisal activity in Stabroek and new operators target frontier acreage, Guyana is attracting global capital and building a diversified offshore portfolio designed to sustain long-term growth

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, August 7, 2026/APO Group/ –Guyana’s transformation into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers is entering a new phase, with a growing network of IOCs expanding exploration activity across the country’s offshore basin. Beyond the landmark discoveries that first put Guyana on the global energy map, new drilling campaigns and licensing partnerships are creating a broader exploration ecosystem designed to support long-term production growth.

At the center of this momentum is ExxonMobil’s continued exploration and appraisal activity in the prolific Stabroek Block. The company has submitted a proposal for a 35-well exploration and appraisal drilling campaign, expected to run from 2028 through 2033, pending regulatory approval. The program would build on more than 30 commercial discoveries already made in the block, with drilling activity focused on evaluating new prospects and appraising existing discoveries to support future development opportunities.

Exploration activity is also extending into Guyana’s frontier acreage, with ExxonMobil advancing drilling operations at the deepwater Canje Block. The company has deployed the Noble Stena Carron drillship for exploration activity, highlighting continued industry interest in evaluating Guyana’s underexplored offshore potential beyond the established Stabroek Block.

Guyana’s strong exploration outlook comes as the country’s economy continues to benefit from rapid oil sector expansion, with hydrocarbons expected to remain a key driver of exports, government revenues and economic growth. As production scales up, attracting additional investment across exploration, services and infrastructure will be critical to supporting the next phase of development.

That momentum is being reinforced through partnerships established under Guyana’s 2023 offshore licensing round. A consortium comprising TotalEnergies, QatarEnergy and Petronas is advancing exploration activities in Block S4 under a five-year production sharing agreement signed with the government in late 2025. The award represents one of the first major outcomes of the licensing round and demonstrates continued international confidence in Guyana’s offshore resource potential.

Beyond the largest operators, a diverse group of companies is also expanding activity across Guyana’s offshore basin. Eco Atlantic is advancing exploration at the Orinduik Block; CGX Energy and Frontera Energy are progressing work in the Corentyne Block; Occidental is evaluating opportunities in the Roraima Block; while Ratio Guyana and Cataleya Energy hold interests in the Kaieteur Block. Together, these partnerships are broadening Guyana’s exploration landscape, increasing competition for acreage and creating opportunities for future discoveries.

As Guyana transitions from an emerging producer to a global energy hub, the next challenge will be converting exploration success into sustainable investment, local value creation and regional growth. These opportunities will be explored at Caribbean Energy Week 2027, held under the theme “Unlocking the Caribbean Energy Corridor: Oil, Gas, LNG & Investment for a New Global Hub.” Bringing together governments, IOCs, investors and technology providers, the event will examine how Guyana’s expanding partnerships can accelerate offshore development, strengthen regional energy cooperation and attract the capital needed to support the Caribbean’s evolving energy landscape.

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

Continue Reading

Business

Energy Capital & Power Establishes London Entity, Expanding Global Platform for Energy and Mining Events

Published

on

Energy

The move strengthens ECP’s presence in the UK and Europe, and its ability to connect African and South American markets with global investors

LONDON, United Kingdom, August 6, 2026/APO Group/ –International events company Energy Capital & Power (ECP) (www.EnergyCapitalPower.com) has officially established its UK entity in London, marking a milestone in the company’s growth strategy and reinforcing its ability to deliver world-class energy and mining events and campaigns in the UK and Europe.

By establishing a presence in a key hub like London – the pre-eminent energy and mining finance center – ECP actively shapes the global energy conversation. The expansion positions ECP to better serve clients, partners and investors seeking to develop business opportunities between Africa, Europe, the Americas and energy markets worldwide.

Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital

The milestone comes as ECP strengthens its reach through a series of investment platforms that connect global capital to energy and mining projects. These include the Venezuela Energy Week London Showcase on July 30 – with over 300 delegates registered – and the annual Invest in African Energy Forum, held in Paris as the premier event connecting global investors to Africa’s energy transformation.

ECP hosts high level summits and investor conferences in leading energy and minerals producing countries in Africa and South America, including: Venezuela Energy Week; Angola Oil & Gas; MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power; African Mining Week; Libya Energy & Economic Summit; Congo Energy & Investment Forum; South Sudan Oil & Power; and Caribbean Energy Week. The company has hosted investor forums and supported licensing round roadshows in Houston, London and Paris since 2016.

“Opening our UK company brings ECP closer to key investors in the global energy finance capital,” states CEO James Chester. “Having a permanent presence in London further cements our footprint in Europe, enabling us to fulfil our mission to bring minerals and energy investment to diverse global markets.”

With teams located across Africa, Europe and the Americas, ECP has long-facilitated strategic engagement, market intelligence and industry convening, uniting investors with leading energy and mining projects.

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

Continue Reading

Trending