(Posted 18th January 2024)
CCA MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Vodafone and Microsoft sign 10-year strategic partnership to bring generative AI, digital services and the cloud to more than 300 million businesses and consumers
Microsoft
Vodafone and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced a new, far-reaching 10-year strategic partnership that leverages their respective strengths in offering scaled digital platforms to more than 300 million businesses, public sector organizations, and consumers across Europe and Africa… Read More>>
Africa Finance Corporation., ITFC to provide Egypt with $250M for procurement of essential commodities
Egypt Today
Egypt is set to receive $250 million in a Sharia-compliant trade loan facility from the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), in partnership with the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), to support purchases of certain essential commodities… Read More>>
U.S.-AFRICA RELATIONS
President Biden Announces Presidential Delegation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi
The White House
President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. today announced the designation of a Presidential Delegation to attend the Inauguration of His Excellency Félix Tshisekedi on January 20, 2024, in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo… Read More>>
Delegation to the Africa Cup of Nations to Strengthen People-to-People Ties
U.S. Department of State
The President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement in the United States (PAC-ADE), under the leadership of the U.S. Department of State and in collaboration with the Global Engagement Center (GEC) and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), announced today that a delegation of Sports Envoys and U.S. officials will travel to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on January 11 for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, Africa’s largest sporting event… Read More>>
ENERGY
Africa’s Biggest Oil Refinery Begins Production in Nigeria With the Aim of Reducing Need for Imports
U.S. News & World Report
Africa’s biggest oil refinery has begun production in Nigeria, the company has said, ending a years long wait for a plant that analysts said Monday could boost refining capacity in a region heavily reliant on imported petroleum products… Read More>>
Shell to Sell Nigerian Onshore Assets Consortium: African Energy Chamber Calls for Fast-Tracked Approval
Africa.com
British multinational oil and gas company Shell has decided to sell The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) – which owns onshore oil assets in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region – to a consortium comprising mostly local energy players ND Western, Aradel Holdings Plc, First E&P, the Waltersmith Group, Petroleum Development Company Limited and Petrolin. The transaction is measured at $1.3 billion, with further payments of up to $1.1 billion set to be made. The sale will come into effect following the relevant approval from government… Read More>>
HEALTH
African Development Bank to support HealthTech Hub Africa’s blueprint to fast-track health tech innovations across Africa
African Development Bank Group
The African Development Bank Group has entered into an agreement with the HealthTech Hub Africa to support the development of a pan-African blueprint to fast-track health tech innovations across the continent… Read More>>
Zambia reels from a cholera outbreak with more than 400 dead and 10,000 cases. All schools shut.
ABC News
Zambia is reeling from a major cholera outbreak that has killed more than 400 people and infected more than 10,000, leading authorities to order schools across the country to remain shut after the end-of-year holidays… Read More>>
INFRASTRUCTURE
Côte d’Ivoire: Fourth Abidjan bridge and other African Development Bank- funded transport infrastructure now open to traffic
African Development Bank Group
On Wednesday 10 January, the Ivorian Prime Minister, Robert Beugré Mambé, opened Abidjan’s fourth bridge, the “Y4” bypass, and the urban highways of Civil Prison and Dabou respectively, all built with funding from the African Development Bank Group – to traffic… Read More>>
Critical infrastructure failure: the biggest business risk in South Africa, this year
Engineering News
Critical infrastructure blackouts have emerged as the number one risk for businesses in South Africa for the second consecutive year, highlighting the severe impact of power outages and the failure of essential infrastructure such as ports, railways, roads and more on the economy and businesses, insurance and risk multinational Allianz says… Read More>>
AGRIBUSINESS
Agriculture Funding In Africa Is Ripe For Innovation
Africa.com
How does the bank which funds the largest number of agriculture sector transactions in South Africa, utilise its skills and knowledge to improve food security and become a force for good across the African continent… Read More>>
African Countries Need Intensive Agriculture To Bridge Yield Gaps – CGIAR
Voice of Nigeria
The Group of International Agricultural Research Centres (CGIAR) says African countries need intensive agriculture in order to bridge yield gaps, tackle hunger and attain food sufficiency. CGIAR is a global partnership among 15 International Agricultural Research Centres that engage in research on food security with focus on reducing rural poverty, improving human health and nutrition… Read More>>
ICT
Futurism in Africa: Creating New Realities With The Power of Technology
Hackernoon
The significant impact of technology on society, culture, and economy is undeniable. It has now become common to discuss technology together with innovation, as well as becoming a growing consideration for the government, the law, social initiatives, and families to contend with… Read More>>
Debt Financing in Africa’s Tech Landscape: Cleantech And Fintech Startups Lead the Shift
Forbes Africa
According to Briter Bridges’ latest report, titled Debt Financing in Africa’s Innovation Ecosystem, there has been a surge in debt financing, especially in the cleantech and fintech sectors, indicating a shift in funding trends. In the past decade, digital, technology-enabled, and green companies across the continent have secured over $2 billion in disclosed debt funding from 140 funders through more than 200 deals, making up approximately 10% of the total funding during this period… Read More>>
FINANCE
Afcon 2023: From civil war in Ivory Coast to $1bn spend on hosting tournament
BBC Sport
Ivory Coast’s hosting of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will further accelerate the country’s impressive rebound since its civil war ended in 2011, the Ivorian government hopes… Read More>>
