(Posted 17th April 2025)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Ethiopian Airlines Sets New Global Standard for Passenger Experience
Travel and Tour World
Ethiopian Airlines has set a new global benchmark in aviation by securing two prestigious awards in 2025, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in passenger experience. The airline was honored with the title of Africa’s best inflight food service and earned global recognition for its revolutionary A350-1000 cabin concept. These dual wins reflect Ethiopian’s unwavering commitment to elevating travel with world-class inflight dining and cutting-edge cabin innovations, enhancing comfort and luxury… Read More>>
Coca-Cola Revives ‘Share a Coke’ Campaign in Kenya
MSN
Coca-Cola has relaunched its global “Share a Coke” campaign in Kenya, bringing back personalized Coke bottles and cans featuring individual names. The campaign, first introduced in 2011, replaces the brand’s logo with popular first names and encourages consumers to connect through shared experiences. The initiative targets a new generation of consumers, particularly Gen Z, who are increasingly drawn to… Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
Negotiating better U.S.-African trade relations in Changing Geopolitical World
Modern Diplomacy
The overarching message is African leaders and business corporate executives, navigating new United States economic policy and trade measures, within the context of shifting geopolitical situation, have to maintain an appreciable approach on ways to strengthen strategic trade partnership between Africa and the United States. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), enacted on 18th May 2000, provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market, due to expire in September 2025. The duty-free access for nearly 40 African countries has boosted development… Read More>>
South Africa appoints special envoy to ease US relations
BBC
South Africa has appointed a special envoy to the US in an effort to ease tensions between the two countries, which have worsened since Donald Trump’s return as president. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Mcebisi Jonas’s selection, adding that he would be “entrusted with [advancing] South Africa’s diplomatic, trade and bilateral priorities”. Jonas, a former deputy finance minister, made headlines… Read More>>
ENERGY
Congress Moves To Block IMF Support For African Oil Fund Restrictions
Forbes
Operating overseas can often elevated levels of risk for U.S. companies, and nowhere is this more a reality than for those in the oil and gas industry. From the EU to South America to Africa, U.S. often companies find themselves ripe targets for special actions from national and regional governments seeking onerous operational and reporting regulations and measures designed to extract a higher share of the proceeds from… Read More>>
Africa needs innovative financing solutions to prevent health systems from collapsing, say experts
Semafor
African health care leaders said innovative financing solutions will be essential to prevent the collapse of health systems on the continent, with the departure of donor aid funding creating a more important role for startups and public-private investments. The abrupt withdrawal of USAID funding earlier this year, following a trend of cutbacks from other Western nations, has left a nearly $12 billion shortfall in financing critical services such as… Read More>>
South Africa: Private healthcare providers will have a role in national health insurance scheme, per Treasury official
Middle East Insurance Review
Private sector healthcare funds will have a role to play in the government-backed National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme because the government cannot finance the system on its own, according to the chief director of health and social development at the Treasury, Mr Mark Blecher… Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Investment will continue despite US aid cuts: infrastructure boss
African Business
The decision by the US and other Western nations to curtail development aid represents a major setback for Africa. Numerous projects that heavily rely on foreign assistance in critical sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure have been halted in the wake of these funding cuts, rendering thousands jobless and impeding the delivery of much-needed… Read More>>
Nigerian infrastructure investor gets catalytic commitment to unlock pension fund investment
Impact Alpha
The Nigeria-based fund manager ARM-Harith, helps infrastructure developers in West Africa with project equity and project development financing. The firm is in the market with a planned $200 million Climate and Transition Infrastructure Fund, or ACT Fund. FSD Africa Investments, a UK government-backed investment firm, invested £10 million ($13.2 million) in with a goal of crowding in Nigerian pension funds. FSDAi hopes… Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Nigeria’s food and agriculture revolution takes off backed by the African Development Bank
AfDB
Nigeria began on Tuesday the journey to significantly transform its food and agriculture sector by launching the construction of the $510 million Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) financed by the African Development Bank and development partners. Thousands of residents of Kaduna State in northern Nigeria braved the scorching sun and a late afternoon downpour, first time to rain in more than six months, to witness the country’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, the President of the African Development Bank Group Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the area Governor Uba Sani lead… Read More>>
USMEF seminar connects U.S. red meat exporters with African businesses
Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) hosted a two-day trade seminar in Accra, Ghana, bringing together some 30 U.S. red meat exporters with 76 buyers from 12 African nations. Importers and exporters held direct meetings and heard presentations from USMEF and USDA leaders as well as representatives of the U.S. cattle industry and successful African meat businesses. They also toured retail stores and cold storage facilities. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom said Africa was targeted because of its critical role in the U.S. industry’s efforts to expand and diversify global markets…. Read More>>
ICT
Egypt explores ICT investment opportunities with Vodacom, Vodafone Egypt, and South African delegation
Daily News Egypt
Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, held a high-level meeting with Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group, Mohamed Kamal Abdallah, CEO and Managing Director of Vodafone Egypt, and a visiting delegation from South Africa, including representatives from the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) and the Government Employees Pension Fund.
The discussions focused on attracting new investments into Egypt’s ICT sector and strengthening cooperation in telecommunications and information technology… Read More>>
Ethiopia to Host the Largest Tech Event in East Africa – Ethiopian Tech Expo (ETEX 2025)
Fox40
The event, scheduled for May 16-18, 2025, at the Addis International Convention Center, will be organized and managed by QNA. His Excellency Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to its digital transformation, stating, “We have made significant strides as a nation since beginning our digital transformation journey. Digital Ethiopia 2025 empowers us to thrive in the digital economy, necessitating support for innovators and the creation of digital enablers.” He encouraged global innovators and investors to attend ETEX 2025 to explore opportunities within Ethiopia’s tech ecosystem… Read More>>
FINANCE
How Should Africa Navigate the New Development and Climate Finance Landscape?
Center for Global Development
A drastic reduction in the US and UK aid budgets and similar signals from other major donors have left the development community reeling. Sub-Saharan African countries will bear the brunt of these cuts, as well as heavy debt burdens, increasing climate-related shocks, and other challenges. Join CGD and Africatalyst for a discussion on responses to this crisis with former and current policymakers, thought leaders, economists, and advocacy partners… Read More>>
