(Posted 27th July 2023)
CCA IN THE NEWS
Most Influential People in US-Africa Relations
Forward
The Biden Adminisatration attempts to restore America’s influence in Africa represent a historic shift in policy. With rivals looming large,the US has declared it is ‘ all in on Africa’s future’,sending its top diplomats and billions in support packages to regain lost ground…Read More>>
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Pfizer Uses Serverless Architecture on AWS to Scale Processing of Digital Biomarkers
Infoq
Pfizer upgraded the serverless architecture for processing digital biomarker data at scale to make it more flexible and configurable. They created a framework that uses a file processing pipeline built with AWS Step Functions and other serverless services, as well as a custom Python package for data ingestion and processing...Read More>>
Flutterwave sponsors STEAM Fun Fest, to continue support for education, innovation
Premium Times Nigeria
Flutterwave,Africa’s leading payments technology company, is proud to have sponsored the STEAM Fun Fest 2023, a premier event focused on promoting science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) education among young children.This year, the event discussed the theme ‘Equipping Future Workforce with STEAM Skills’ and was held at the Landmark Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos hosting over 3,000 attendees, comprising parents and children alike...Read More>>
Semafor
African trade ministers are urging the United States to overhaul the sweeping trade deal that has opened the US market to African products and renew it this year rather than waiting until the duty-free pact expires in 2025.Renewing the African Growth and Opportunity Act AGOA immediately would remove uncertainty about the future of the pact and allow for suppliers and partners to better plan and maintain investments in African economies, ministers said during this week’s U.S.-Africa Business Summit in Botswana…Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
All Africa
Tanzania Sugar Board (TSB) has said the move by Kagera Sugar to acquire Tongaat Hullet’s Sugar assets is a significant milestone as it seeks to expand its wings beyond boarders.TSB Director General Prof Kenneth Bengesi made the comment on Monday when reacting to the news over the local sugar producer’s decision to acquire Tongaat Hulett sugar assets.Speaking to ‘Daily News’ Prof Bengesi said the board was delighted by the Bukoba based sugar producing company to acquire the assets of the South Africa-based sugar firm.”We are proud that, Kagera Sugar, one of our local sugar producers, has extended its wings beyond the country’s borders to grab new opportunities,” he said… Read More>>Zutshwa Salt Project In Expansion Process
Daily News
Zutshwa Salt project, operated by the Qhaa Qhing Conservation Trust, is in the process of expansion which would result in production increasing threefold and possible export of salt.This was explained by the manager of Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) in Hukuntsi, Mr Golebaone Molefe, during a tour of the project by President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi on Thursday.Dr Masisi, who was in Zutshwa to launch the National Mindset Change campaign, encouraged management of Zutshwa Salt to develop strategies that would grow their business and make it sustainable… Read More>>
Digitalizing Agriculture In
Ventures Africa
In Nioro, Senegal, Mamadou Drame, a father of four children, now looks down at a screen instead of up at the skies to understand the weather and know what to plant. Historical rain cycles have become increasingly unreliable because of climate change, upsetting patterns of planting and harvesting. Thankfully, digital innovations have stepped in assisting him to boost his rice, maize, millet and vegetable production. These tools are also helping in finding buyers and receiving payments on his phone. In November 2016, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) launched the Agricultural Services and Digital Inclusion inAfrica(ASDIA) project, with Flexible Voluntary Contribution funding…Read More>>
Solana Energy And South32 Collaborate To Provide Solar Solutions For Social Impact In KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Solar Quarter
Solana Energy is delighted to announce a successful partnership with South32, resulting in the completion of six solar installations across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), offering much-needed relief to various social impact organizations. These solar installations, strategically located in different areas, will provide clean and sustainable energy to support these organizations in their mission to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the communities they serve.The six solar installations are situated at various centers, including The Amangwe Village Training Centre, the Sekusile Zulu Creche, Nawe Zifunze Training Centre, SA National Cancer Association (SANCA), NSRI Sea Rescue, and the Khayalethu Child & Care Centre…Read More>>
Exploring Renewable Energy Sources in Guinea
EV Wind
Guinea, a West African nation endowed with abundant natural resources, has long been reliant on imported fossil fuels to meet its energy needs. However, the country is now at a critical juncture in its journey towards energy independence. With a growing population and increasing demand for electricity, Guinea is exploring renewable energy sources as a means to achieve sustainable growth and development.The Guinean government has recognized the importance of diversifying its energy mix and has set ambitious targets for renewable energy production. In its National Renewable Energy Action Plan, Guinea aims to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to 30% by 2030…Read More>>
Airtel Rwanda launches its own 4G LTE network
New Times
Airtel Rwanda on Saturday, July 22, announced the roll-out of its much-anticipated 4G LTE internet services for individuals, homes, and businesses.This comes after Airtel acquired its own 4G license, enabling it to deliver an enhanced digital experience to its customers on the new Airtel 4G Network.According to Emmanuel Hamez, Airtel Rwanda’s Managing Director, the telecom’s 4G network went live on Friday, July 21.“I am excited to announce that World Class 4G tariff plans will come at the same price as customers are currently paying for 3G!” he said...Read More>>How Nigeria’s $428 Million ICT Project Is Addressing Rural Financial Inclusion
Premium Times
In rural communities across Nigeria, the Nigeria National Information and Communication Technology Infrastructure Backbone (NICTIB) Project drives financial inclusion due to increased broadband penetration but continued inter-bank transfer failure remains a challenge.Until last year, Maureen Pam, a trader, always had to endure trekking to Ganawuri, a district in Plateau’s Riyom area, at the close of Friday market day at Vwang Market in Vom, Jos South.She was always fear-stricken, caused by her previous experiences with armed robbers on the route, who stole the money she made from her sales that day…Read More>>
Tech Crunch
This time, the firm went deeper into Africa’s health supply chain segment, broadening the scope of its research and making some tweaks. For one, it searched for startups across 54 countries (compared to four from last year) and included companies with verticalized health supply chain offerings.Tracking nearly 350 innovators across 27 countries, Salient Advisory’s 2023 report establishes that public health supply chains across the continent are embattled and overburned, leaving most Africans with little choice but to source products from private health innovators… Read More>>Findings in AMR Surveillance Data Across Africa To Shape Health Policy Reform
African Union
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the African Society for Laboratory Medicine ( ASLM) with the support of the UK Aid Fleming Fund, have published 14 new individual African Union (AU) Member States reports providing a detailed study representation of the AMR situation across the continent. The reports were published as part of the Mapping antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antimicrobial use (AMU) Partnership (MAAP) consortium’s efforts.The fourteen (14) Member States in the first phase of MAAP at the end of 2022, include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Eswatini, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe….Read More>>
Rwandan digital health access startup Kasha raises $21m Series B to expand across Africa
Disrupt Africa
Launched in 2016, Kasha is a digital retail and last mile distribution platform for pharmaceuticals and fast moving consumer goods serving consumers, resellers, pharmacies, hospitals and clinics with genuine quality affordable products. Kasha also serves enterprises as a channel partner by leveraging its sales and last mile distribution network, data analytics and e-health services to enable pharmaceutical manufacturers and global health organisations to increase access to quality health products through marketing, consumer insights and end-to-end distribution visibility to the last mile. The company has optimised for women as its target customer segment with the understanding that women are the most influential segment for health products and household goods, and yet still very much underserved…Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Construction of Kenya’s first SME warehouse and logistic park started today at Tatu City in Kiambu County.The project is a partnership between Tatu City Limited, Chandaria Properties, M&T Construction, and Steel Structures.”On behalf of The Link investors, we are thrilled to turn soil on Tatu City’s warehousing and logistics park designed to meet the needs of SMEs in Kiambu County and beyond,” said David Karimi, Deputy Country Head of Rendeavour, the owner and developer of Tatu City.Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) Chairman Fredrick Muteti underscored the importance of warehousing facilities as powerful economic enablers…Read More>>
Kigali to Get 100 Public Buses By End 2023 – Minister Nsabimana
New Times
The City of Kigali is expected to receive 100 buses by the end of December 2023, out of the 305 buses pledged by the Government to alleviate the fleet shortage, Infrastructure Minister Ernest Nsabimana has revealed.During a session with the Senate on July 25, Nsabimana provided updates on strategies to tackle road accidents and assured the senators that the government is committed to rapidly addressing the bus shortage issue.The procurement progress was in response to senators’ inquiries about the buses announced during the 18th National Dialogue (Umushyikirano) on February 27…Read More>>
FINANCE
African Business
The Central Bank of Nigeria and the Central Bank of Egypt have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with two of the largest economies in Africa agreeing to set up a “Nigeria-Egypt Fintech Bridge.”While the full scope of the collaboration is yet to be detailed, the partnership between the two central banks is expected to encompass joint regulatory projects, coordinated licensing and legal frameworks, information and data exchange, fintech cross-referrals, and talent development.According to Aishah Ahmed, deputy governor for financial system stability at the Nigerian Central Bank, the move is particularly geared towards improving financial inclusion…Read More>>
