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Transforming the world’s agri-food systems, the way we produce, process, distribute and consume food has been identified as one of the key avenues to achieving many targets of the 2030 Agenda. This means better production, better nutrition, and a better environment, for a better life.

The 2021-2025 FAO strategy for private sector engagement reflects a new forward-looking vision for strengthening strategic engagement with the private sector towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It recognizes that mobilizing the capacities and resources of the private sector is essential for achieving the SDGs, particularly SDG2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
For the NENA region, this is probably nowhere more evident than in the agri-food systems, where the private sector plays such an important role along the whole food chain. Today, the region’s food and agriculture sectors are poised to meet some of the world’s biggest challenges in our common pursuit of SDG 2; from providing a growing population with affordable, accessible, and nutritious food, to reducing hunger and malnutrition, combating growing obesity, dealing with the already stark impacts of climate change, addressing water scarcity and other environmental concerns, and tackling emerging threats from pests and diseases.
The private sector plays a central role in addressing these challenges; offering innovative tools, resources, knowledge and technologies that are critical to achieve SDG 2 through agri-food systems transformation; adopting more inclusive and resilient practices in their businesses; and investing in more efficient and sustainable technologies.
Governments, civil society, development partners, research and the private sector have much to gain in engaging in the kind of collaborative partnership that is needed to achieve the SDGs.
In this light, The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations is proposing to initiate a dialogue with the private sector in the NENA region in order to build a common vision about challenges faced by the region’s agri-food systems and to identify opportunities for private sector engagement and action around the SDGs and SDG 2 in particular.
The upcoming FAO-private sector dialogue will seek to develop a conversation with three main categories of private sector operators:
 	Micro-, small and medium-sized agri-food enterprises (MSMEs), including start-ups, who can play a critical role in achieving food security and eradicating rural poverty, with special emphasis on digital agriculture and youth-and women-led businesses; 	Large firms, including large national and multinational companies and State owned enterprises operating in the agri-food sector, including production, processing, distribution and retail; 	Financial institutions, including commercial banks and private investors, impact investors and other private investment institutions who have the potential to play a critical role in mobilizing private investment to achieve the SDGs. 
The event is organized by the Regional Office for the Near East and North Africa &#8211; FAO with the support of the Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH).
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Development Bank Group Business Forum (THIQAH).

Transforming Agri-Food Systems to the Sustainable Development Goals

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Nils Politt (Bora-Hansgrohe) won stage 12 of the Tour de France, being the strongest out of a 13-rider breakaway that also included Sergio Henao from Team Qhubeka NextHash (www.TeamQhubeka.com).

Stage 12 of the Tour de France got off to a rapid start as crosswinds in the opening kilometres created a few splits in the peloton. With all the GC riders right up at the front though, the echelon action soon calmed down which allowed 13 riders to jump off the front and quickly build a lead.
Sergio Henao from Team Qhubeka NextHash was part of the move and he and his breakaway companions pushed the gap out to over 15-minutes during the rolling 159km stage to Nimes. The difficulty for the Colombian climber was the stage had no significant climbs and he was joined by the World Champion, Julien Alaphilippe, and 11 other rouleur-type riders.
The rolling course suited them perfectly and when Politt attacked the group with 40km to go, it was clear he was on a very good day. The German got away with three others before going solo in the final 10km, to take a good win.
Henao came home with the chasers, crossing the line in a credible 10th place. The peloton rolled in 15-minutes down on the stage winner, with Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) retaining the overall lead in the race.
Sergio Henao
I was speaking a bit with Carlos yesterday and we were saying that today was actually a good day considering my condition; so I took that into account and positioned myself well if the breakaway did go.
It was very high speed for the first hour or so and there we some nerves in the group, as we wanted to avoid any danger.
I concentrated on staying together with the guys that were super strong in the flats and I had good legs today. I&#39;m very happy overall to finish among the front riders on the day and look forward to the further opportunities to come in the race.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka NextHash.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 470 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka NextHash: Team Qhubeka NextHash is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka NextHash (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.

Sergio Henao takes 10th from Le Tour stage 12 breakaway

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A recently published African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) scoping study on implementing NDCs in Africa recommends that development financial institutions and other investors focus on high-impact, high-growth potential start-ups that can drive climate-related innovation.

The study, NDC implementation in Africa through green investments by private sector &#8211; A Scoping Study, was produced in partnership with the Fund for African Private Sector Assistance and launched during a virtual African Development Bank webinar held on 1 July 2021.
Government and development institutions must engage the private sector in efforts to develop the green economy and meet Africa’s commitments under the Nationally Determined Contributions of the Paris Agreement of Climate Change.
According to the study, Climate action offers profitable opportunities for the private sector but will also help protect those investments from climate impacts. Governments should be encouraged to see the private sector as a critical partner for climate action and create the enabling policy and regulatory environments that enable private sector innovation.
“The African Development Bank has pledged to mobilize $25 billion towards climate action on the continent by 2025. The NDCs developed by African countries as part of the Paris Agreement will require an estimated $3 trillion of investment by 2030, of which at least 75% is expected to come from the private sector, which has a crucial role to play,” said Al Hamndou Dorsouma, the Bank’s Acting Director of Climate Change and Green Growth.
The study identifies opportunities and entry points for private sector participation in NDC implementation in Africa with a focus on five pilot countries, for which studies were also produced. These are Egypt (https://bit.ly/2UzRlug), Morocco (https://bit.ly/3hqORal), Mozambique (https://bit.ly/3jVexxF), Nigeria (https://bit.ly/3xqWiny) and South Africa (https://bit.ly/3xnEbyS).
According to the main Africa-wide study, only five African countries have carefully considered the role of the private sector in their NDCs: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Morocco, Niger and South Africa. Private- sector participation in African NDCs needs to be strengthened, said Dorsouma.
The African Development Bank has a number of initiatives to support the achievement of national NDCS. Last year, it launched the Private Sector Investment Initiative for African NDCs. The initiative aims to build the capacity of African businesses to mainstream climate change into their business operations and identify opportunities that advance NDC goals.  The Bank provides knowledge products and climate change tools to support this.
Under the initiative, the Bank has trained SMEs and financial institutions from six countries on strategies to identify climate risks and opportunities in their businesses and estimate the impact of their business activities on greenhouse gas emissions.
Click here (https://bit.ly/2TGQOqp) to read the reports.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: o.terry@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: j.mp/AfDB_Media.

African Development Bank scoping study identifies opportunities for private sector participation in Africa’s climate agenda

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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved two grants worth $83.6 million to boost cross-border trade in electricity between Ethiopia and Djibouti and to deepen integration in the Horn of Africa sub-region.

The funds comprise a $69.65 million grant to Ethiopia and a second grant of $13.93 million to Djibouti, both sourced from the African Development Fund, the African Development Bank’s concessional financing window.

The Ethiopia–Djibouti Second Power Interconnection project will entail the construction of nearly 300 km of interconnector line, 170 km of transmission lines, and new construction or renovation of substations in the two countries.

“The first interconnection line is reaching its power transfer capacity limit due to several developments in both countries, such as the industrial development in the eastern part of Ethiopia, the railway line from Djibouti to Ethiopia (powered by electricity), and the port expansion in Djibouti. The two countries have thus decided to develop the second power interconnection line to maintain energy security and reliability for Djibouti,” said Mr. Batchi Baldeh, the Bank’s Director of Power Systems Development.

Project completion is expected to increase Ethiopia’s power export revenue while also boosting Djibouti’s access to reliable and affordable clean electricity, lowering costs to below $0.10 per kWh. Other expected impacts in Djibouti include a more conducive environment for businesses and job creation for youth, as well as lower greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2004 the Bank financed the first power interconnection project between the two countries. This second  project is expected to build on benefits achieved  over the last ten years, including a 65% increase in customer connections in Djibouti and a sharp reduction in the use of thermal generation plants from 100% to around 16%. Ethiopia has earned $275 million in revenue from power exports over the same period.

The project is aligned with the Bank’s East African Regional Integration Strategy Paper, which seeks to promote regional infrastructure for economic transformation.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: o.terry@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 34 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: j.mp/AFDB_Media

African Development Fund extends $83.6 million in grants to boost Ethiopia-Djibouti electricity trade

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
Deal approved by worldwide antitrust authorities and completed between the parties; Acquisition supports Hapag-Lloyd’s (www.Hapag-Lloyd.com) strategy to grow in Africa.

Today, Hapag-Lloyd successfully closed the acquisition of the Dutch container shipping company Nile Dutch Investments B.V. (NileDutch). After signing a sales and purchase agreement in March, Hapag-Lloyd has now formally acquired all shares of the company after all responsible antitrust authorities had approved the transaction.

“We are very excited about closing the deal and look forward to working with our new colleagues to unlock the enormous potential that Africa has to offer”, explains Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd. “With the people from NileDutch joining our company, Hapag-Lloyd is noticeably increasing the number of employees on the ground in Africa. We are happy and excited to welcome NileDutch’s roughly 320 employees to the Hapag-Lloyd family.”

Depending on market conditions, Hapag-Lloyd and NileDutch are aiming to integrate major parts of their businesses already in the later part of 2021 to be able to offer the full benefits of the combined network to their customers as soon as possible.

With 40 years of experience in the market, NileDutch is one of the leading shipping companies along the West African coast. Headquartered in Rotterdam, NileDutch is present in 85 locations across the world and has 16 offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Singapore, China, Angola, Congo and Cameroon. The company also brings with it 7 liner services, around 35,000 TEU of transport capacity, and a container fleet with a capacity of around 80,000 TEU.

The integration will be moving at a swift pace and full commercial integration is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Hapag-Lloyd.
Press contacts: Nils.Haupt@hlag.com +49 40 3001 &#8211; 2263
Follow Hapag-Llyod on Social Media: Facebook: http://bit.ly/2RTVN5L Instagram: http://bit.ly/2Rmb2Em LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/3w6CSU8 Twitter: http://bit.ly/3eNIqgt YouTube: http://bit.ly/3eJnabp
About Hapag-Lloyd: With a fleet of 241 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 1.7 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. The Company has around 13,300 employees and 395 offices in 131 countries. Hapag-Lloyd has a container capacity of approximately 2.8 million TEU – including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 121 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between more than 600 ports on all the continents. Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading operators in the Transatlantic, Middle East, Latin America and Intra-America trades.
Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions, estimates, projections or plans that are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties and contingencies. Actual results can differ materially from those anticipated in the Company’s forward-looking statements.

CORRECTION: Hapag-Lloyd acquires Africa carrier NileDutch

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For many Nigerians in the lower and middle classes, owning a home remains a life-long dream due to the enormous cash needed to either buy or build a house. However, providing succour and turning this dream into reality seems to be on the way as Tent Group Limited is giving even much more than desired to Nigerians and those in Diaspora can ever imagine.

With a vision geared towards easing housing challenges, Tent Group provides classy houses that convincingly match the taste of high net worth individuals, the middle and low-income class Nigerians.
&#8220;Search no more. Tent Group Limited is here to give you even much more than you can ever imagine,&#39;&#39; said the chairman and chief executive officer of Tent Group, Charles Nwakamma Chukwuemeka.
He said the company has come in full force with passion and excellence to do something different by setting higher standards and delivering smart homes.
On what the firm is bringing to the market, Chukwuemeka said the genre of smart homes it offers includes energy-efficient and gas-efficient apartments.
The CEO said the energy-efficient and gas-efficient are thermal homes built to avert heat.
He said, &#8220;The experience in parking into a smart home is like having a home with virtually everything inside. They are almost like walking in with your clothes, and every other thing is available for you.
&#8220;We are flexible, considering the fact that prospective clients in the real estate market come with a variety of needs, tastes, and expectations. The company has analysed these trends and also proffered solutions to satisfy our valued clients.
&#8220;To satisfy clients’ desires and specifications, Tent Group is focused on offering all building types that match prospects&#39; unique tastes and expectations, from four-bedroom semi-detached duplexes to four-bedroom terraces, five-bedroom detached duplexes, and six-bedroom detached duplexes as well as one, two and three-bedroom flats.&#8221;
He said the company also has semi-detached duplexes, which according to him, is part of the unique offers Tent Group is bringing to the market.
He noted that the company also offers mortgage protection for off-takers.
&#8220;This protection remains unprecedented in the real estate industry and is not accessible by other real estate companies. It is one of its kind feature in the market, to protect our customers.
“We brought this in to protect our clients and off-takers from shocks and uncertainties which may arise from job losses, accidents, sicknesses that may render them incapable of paying for the building.
&#8220;In such cases, the insurance companies will come in and complete the payment of the building for him under this offer. That is one of the things we are providing free of charge. We pay the premium on behalf of the off-takers,” Chukwuemeka said.
For Nigerians in Diaspora, as well as Nigeria who wish to key into the exquisite offers, he said the firm has a platform where prospective homeowners will register, give building type and specification while the firm conceptualises the building to meet the need of the homeowner.
&#8220;We developed a robust thought-out process from conceptualization to initiating projects to meet the needs of Nigerians in Diaspora, understanding the types of housing concepts in demand in the UK, US and others.
“We have a platform where you register. You tell us the type of house you want. We would design it from the conceptualization of the building to meet your need, and we would build it for you. You would be able to monitor the building from day one to the end of the project because when we initiate the project, we also plan it for you, execute.
&#8220;These are the processes we have put in place. It gives Nigerians in Diaspora a lot of confidence. You know that some of them have confidants like uncles, aunties, brothers, and sisters to whom they sent money in the past, however, do not deliver such homes.
&#8220;We have also made it comfortable and convenient for them because they are not paying 100 per cent of the project cost. So, from the time they pay as low as 10 per cent or 20 per cent of the cost, we start building for them.&#8221;
For Nigerians in Diaspora who are willing to come back to Nigeria, he said the firm also offers rent-to-own apartments.
&#8220;We can also build for our client using our funds, then you rent and pay. When you rent this apartment, you are paying for your house. So we know it will take you five years or 10 years as the case may be, to finish paying for the building. These are some of the packages that we have provided, especially for Nigerians and Nigerians in the Diaspora.”
He said the firm clients cut across every sector, especially the corporate world, the NGOs, and the cooperatives.
&#8220;Either you are in the high-end, the mid-market, and the low-end class of the market the company has a unique offer for you,&#8221; he said.
On ensuring the apartment gets the best finishing in line with globally accepted practices, he said that &#8220;discerning individuals who worry so much about finishes and details in their homes of choice sure need to touch base with and talk to Tent Group.&#8221;
He further stated that the finishing on its clients&#39; homes is always excellent, adding that they do not compromise on quality.
He said the estimate of the housing deficit in Nigeria is well above 17 million, and the firm is challenged to fill this gap, a reason for entering into the real estate industry.
Chukwuemeka decried that real estate firms most time wait for five to 10 years to get a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from the government which according to him is hampering the growth in the sector.
He said, &#8220;You know that if your documents are not certified, they are not bankable anywhere in the world, even locally.
&#8220;We keep battling with Right of Occupancy and Letter of Intent with the governments. So, if the government wants us to help in building a lot of homes as quickly as possible, the Land Use Act needs to be urgently reviewed by making sure that the C of O is quickly obtained by firms with relative ease. That will help in bringing in a lot of funds and speed up activities in the real estate sector.&#8221;
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Pleasures Magazine.

How Tent Group is Redefining Luxury Living and Creating Iconic Communities

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Deal approved by worldwide antitrust authorities and completed between the parties; Acquisition supports Hapag-Lloyd’s (www.Hapag-Lloyd.com) strategy to grow in Africa.

Today, Hapag-Lloyd successfully closed the acquisition of the Dutch container shipping company Nile Dutch Investments B.V. (NileDutch). After signing a sales and purchase agreement in March, Hapag-Lloyd has now formally acquired all shares of the company after all responsible antitrust authorities had approved the transaction.
 “We are very excited about closing the deal and look forward to working with our new colleagues to unlock the enormous potential that Africa has to offer”, explains Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd. “With the people from NileDutch joining our company, Hapag-Lloyd is noticeably increasing the number of employees on the ground in Africa. We are happy and excited to welcome NileDutch’s roughly 350 employees to the Hapag-Lloyd family.”  
Depending on market conditions, Hapag-Lloyd and NileDutch are aiming to integrate major parts of their businesses already in the later part of 2021 to be able to offer the full benefits of the combined network to their customers as soon as possible.
With 40 years of experience in the market, NileDutch is one of the leading shipping companies along the West African coast. Headquartered in Rotterdam, NileDutch is present in 85 locations across the world and has 16 offices in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Singapore, China, Angola, Congo and Cameroon. The company also brings with it 10 liner services, around 35,000 TEU of transport capacity, and a container fleet with a capacity of around 80,000 TEU.
The integration will be moving at a swift pace and full commercial integration is expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Hapag-Lloyd.
Press contacts: Nils.Haupt@hlag.com +49 40 3001 – 2263
Follow Hapag-Llyod on Social Media: Facebook: bit.ly/2RTVN5L Instagram: bit.ly/2Rmb2Em LinkedIn: bit.ly/3w6CSU8 Twitter: bit.ly/3eNIqgt YouTube: bit.ly/3eJnabp
About Hapag-Lloyd: With a fleet of 241 modern container ships and a total transport capacity of 1.7 million TEU, Hapag-Lloyd is one of the world’s leading liner shipping companies. The Company has around 13,300 employees and 395 offices in 131 countries. Hapag-Lloyd has a container capacity of approximately 2.8 million TEU – including one of the largest and most modern fleets of reefer containers. A total of 121 liner services worldwide ensure fast and reliable connections between more than 600 ports on all the continents. Hapag-Lloyd is one of the leading operators in the Transatlantic, Middle East, Latin America and Intra-America trades.
Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions, estimates, projections or plans that are inherently subject to significant risks, uncertainties and contingencies. Actual results can differ materially from those anticipated in the Company’s forward-looking statements.

Hapag-Lloyd acquires Africa carrier NileDutch

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
During the second day of the Rugby Africa Cup Pool A (www.RugbyAfrique.com), which took place on Wednesday July 7th 2021, Namibia beat Madagascar (52-10) at the stadium of the Excellence Alassane Ouattara’s High School in Grand Bassam. This was an enhanced victory which revived Namibia, after their loss against Côte d&#39;Ivoire.

From the start of play, the determined Namibians imposed their rhythm of play to dominate the Malagasy in the first half. Riaan Van Zyl, Johan Tromp and Helarius Kisting gave Namibia some breathing room with an advantage over score (25-00). It is fair to note that in the first half, the Namibians scored three tries including two conversions and two successful penalties.

The second half was clearly like the first, with a clear domination from the Namibians. Pieter Jean Van and his teammates widened the gap further with four more tries.

The Malagasy consoled themselves with a converted try and a penalty which all took place in the second half. Also seeing Namibia also grab an offensive bonus point.

The Malagasy will have another chance to give it a go on Sunday 11th July against Côte d&#39;Ivoire, which will also be the final day for the Rugby Africa Cup Pool A.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rugby Africa.
Media Contact: Rugby@APO-opa.com

Namibia largely defeated Madagascar in Rugby Africa Cup

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Senegal made it two wins out of two to finish top of Pool B with a 20-5 victory over Zambia in the ongoing Rugby Africa Cup played at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on Wednesday 7 July 2021.

The result saw Senegal qualify for the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup which will also act as the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifying competition for Africa.
The game started on a frantic note, each team probing furiously, and it was Zambia who were rewarded first for their efforts with a try after Melvin Banda’s elusive running found big Philip Kamanga who barged over for the game’s opening try.
Fullback Laston Mukosa missed the ensuing conversion. Those were however as many points Zambia could manage the entire game as Senegal thwarted every attack they mounted.
Senegal’s Ndiaye Mamadou would then put on a dominant performance, shaking off a nervy start that saw him miss an early penalty in front of the posts to score 15 of Senegal’s 20 points. Ndiaye slotted in two penalties, two conversions, and a try. Ndiaye would also play a part in Sakho Oumsane’s try.
Speaking after the game, Senegal’s captain Samba Mohamed showered a lot of praise on his charges. “It was tough for us especially due to the little time we had to recover but we went out there and had more of the ball than Zambia and we are happy for the win.”
“We knew playing Zambia was going to be difficult especially with the recovery time we had. But we knew what was important was winning the group and we fought hard for that,” says Samba.
On his part, losing captain Ali Bhika lauded his team’s strong showing in the second half. “Credit to Senegal, they played well in this game but in the second half we came out a bit stronger, we managed to hold them, and they did not score any points,” says Bhika.
“We would like to build on that momentum, speed it a little bit and hopefully it can work against Kenya,” adds Bhika.
Zambia stand-in coach Mathews Kabeya observed that they lost the game in the first half but was also pleased with the strong second-half performance his side displayed. “Senegal won the game in the first half, credit to them, but in the second half we picked up the momentum.&#8221;
Zambia has a chance to redeem themselves when they take on Kenya Simbas in the last match of the Rugby Africa Cup on Sunday 11 July at the Nyayo National Stadium. Kabeya is confident that they will match Kenya in every aspect.
“It is a do or die match against Kenya, we have played them very many times so I believe we will be able to match them at the end of the day,” concluded Kabeya.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).
Media contact: Rugby@apo-opa.com

The ongoing Rugby Africa Cup sees Senegal finishing top of Pool B

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Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) inked a partnership with Mondia Pay (www.Mondia.com) – a leading digital payment provider, that is set to provide Ooredoo Algeria and Orange Tunisia users with safe and convenient payment options. Huawei device users can now pay for their monthly services, latest games, and favourite applications seamlessly on HUAWEI AppGallery using Direct Carrier Billing services (DCB).

With over 2.1 billion global monthly transactions, Mondia Pay aims to provide users in North Africa with secure, convenient, and contactless payment options. This integration is a result of a strategic partnership that was formalised in September 2020 and has since witnessed an increase of DCB coverage and IAP (In-App Purchase) kit capabilities for global developers.
 “We are extremely proud of our continued partnership with Huawei Mobile Services, and to bring Mondia Pay’s fully integrated digital payment technology to serve the Africa region. We remain committed to delivering innovative digitalisation and payments solutions that enable the natural progression towards cashless societies throughout the rest of Africa”, said Simon Rahmann, CEO Mondia Pay.
Adam Xiao, Managing Director of Huawei Mobile Services in the Middle East and Africa, Huawei Consumer Business Group, said, “We are pleased to partner with Mondia Pay to provide HUAWEI AppGallery users in Algeria and Tunisia with seamless, safe, and secure payment options. This partnership further cements our commitment to enable technology around the world and to provide Huawei users in Algeria and Tunisia with convenient access to services by Huawei Mobile Services.”
The service went live with multiple DCB services providers such as Ufone Pakistan, Vodafone Egypt, and Etisalat UAE.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Mondia Pay.
Media contact: OwnAlchemy strategic communications Michael Rubenstein Tel:  + 27 82 903 7797 michael@ownalchemy.com
Or
Nicolas le Roux CMO Mondia Tel: +971 50 557 5041 nicolas.leroux@mondia.com
For more information, please contact: Suzanne Kanianthra, Golin Taief Saleh, Golin HmsTeam@golin.ae
About Huawei Consumer BG: Huawei&#39;s products and services are available in more than 170 countries and are used by a third of the world&#39;s population. Fourteen R&#038;D centres have been set up in the United States, Germany, Sweden, Russia, India and China. Huawei Consumer BG is one of Huawei&#39;s three business units and built on over 32 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world.
For more information please visit: http://consumer.Huawei.com
About Mondia: Mondia is a leading mobile commerce company, dedicated to connecting, digitalising and monetising mobile consumers. Mondia provides access to over 1.5bn consumers through more than 84 mobile operators across 60 countries. As a global leader, Mondia has deep insight into where the markets are headed and has the expertise to leverage best-in-breed technologies to solve business challenges while enabling the ultimate end user experience.
In addition to creating personalised digital experiences through its content-agnostic platform, Mondia’s advertising agency is geared to drive and manage user acquisition throughout the full customer lifecycle journey. Continuously driven by innovation, Mondia Labs, Mondia’s innovation hub, is driving entry into new sectors like health and creating disruptive products such as Monsooq.
With offices in 19 locations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Mondia is committed to digitalise the globe through its distinctive technology, strategic partnerships and extensive network and global coverage.
Mondia services are also available in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Pakistan through mondia.cell.
About Mondia Pay: Mondia provides access to over 1.5bn consumers through more than 84 mobile operators in over 60 countries around the globe via Mondia Pay’s carrier billing platform.
Mondia Pay is Mondia’s digital payment entity and processes well over 2.1 billion transactions monthly. Mondia Pay offers unparalleled reach for the world’s most recognized brands and merchants, while ensuring that global direct carrier billing and digital payment solutions are made simpler and easier. Mondia Pay connects premium merchants such as Deezer, PubG, OSN, Huawei, LaLiga and hundreds of smaller merchants to new audiences across the many markets they operate in. Mondia Pay provides a state-of-the-art, own-built next-generation platform which allows for a single API integration at speed. Mondia Pay also facilitates the seamless acquisition and end-to-end lifecycle management of subscribers.
For more information please visit: www.Mondia.com

Huawei partners with Mondia Pay to enable digital payment options for users in Algeria and Tunisia

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Webb Fontaine (www.WebbFontaine.com), one of the leading providers of Customs and trade solutions to governments worldwide, will gather a panel of industry mavens to talk about ‘Technology and Trade in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities’ in a webinar series on July 12 at 1200 CET. The panel discussion will explore revolutionary thinking and innovative insights on International trade in Africa, the impact of African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement and the collaborative role of African nations in achieving economic integration as a continent.

The webinar, aimed at both private and public sector professionals, with its overarching theme of trade and technology in Africa, will further explore the implications of geopolitical developments, establishment of free trade zones and its cumulative impact on the continent’s trade policies. With the global COVID-19 pandemic being a major economy disruptor, the discussion will also touch upon the consequences of such turbulences in the African supply chain.
The expert panel includes promising industry leaders from diverse backgrounds such as Agnes Katsonga Phiri, Executive Director of Corporate Services at Malawi Revenue Authority; Fridah Kimani, a Trade Facilitation Specialist at Kenya Revenue Authority and more. Together, they will analyze the performance of African trade, the role of different policies and agreements in the socio-economic development of the continent along with the key factors determining a successful strategy for the overall business and trade landscape in Africa.
The webinar will also serve as a platform for the experts to debate upon the pros and cons of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) agreement, its influence on the economic integration of the continent along with the time-frame and challenges associated with its implementation. The panelists will also be assessing various factors that contribute to the current scenario of exports in Africa and its prospective growth.
Looking forward to the webinar, Alioune Ciss &#8211; Chief Executive Officer, Webb Fontaine – remarks “Trade and Technology go hand-in-hand, as technology advances it fluctuates the entire landscape of trade right from the supply-chains to global commerce systems. As COVID-19 pandemic is accelerating change and innovation like never before, this is the right moment to discuss and tap into the key issues, challenges, opportunities and future projections related to the trade and technology spectrum in Africa. At Webb Fontaine, we always strive to be one step ahead of the global trends thus this webinar is an endeavor to bring industry connoisseurs together in a conversation that can spark some ground-breaking thoughts and actions.”
The Technology and Trade in Africa webinar will be broadcast at 2:00PM Dubai Time via Zoom from the link here (https://bit.ly/3wpJZXp) and will last one hour.
These thought-provoking webinars form part of what is intended to be a larger ThinkTank series aimed at delivering impactful insights thereby allowing stakeholders and consumers to engage in knowledge-sharing as well as in delivering concrete business strategies.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Webb Fontaine.
About Webb Fontaine: Webb Fontaine is an AI company re-shaping the future of Trade. Trusted by governments globally, Webb Fontaine provides industry wide solutions to accelerate trade development and modernization. The company uses unique technology including Artificial Intelligence to enable countries to emerge as leaders in the future of trade.
Knowledge transfer is at the core of Webb Fontaine; comprising a team of experts who work across the world, empowering local communities and governments.
As an industry leader with the largest R&#038;D centres in the industry, Webb Fontaine is constantly developing international trade practices connecting countries, borders and people.

Talking Technology and Trade: Challenges and Opportunities in Africa

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Countries seeking emergence can rely on strategic resources to drive growth; On the eve of a post-Covid recovery, African countries with these resources are getting ready for a promotional campaign; The Office des Mines et des Industries Stratégiques (OMNIS) (www.OMNIS.mg) of Madagascar is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year; For its interim General Director, it is time to revive the sector.

Like many developing countries, Madagascar is a country rich in naturel resources including strategic ores and hydrocarbons. However, these resources remain under-explored.
In terms of hydrocarbons, Madagascar has five sedimentary basins with high potential and extend over an area of 820,000km². Heavy oil represents, so far, one of the greatest successes of oil exploration. Following the various works carried out, a declaration of discovery and an announcement of the commerciality of the deposit on the Tsimiroro block were made in 2014. We should remember that Tsimiroro has a certified reserve of around 1.7 billion barrels. One should not forget as well the discovery of very high quality of dry gas in Mahaboboka, Sakaraha in 2011. A promising discovery of the southern region electrification in advanced stages.
As far as the mining sector is concerned, the Malagasy basement contains quality of ores classified as radioactive and strategic such as rare earth elements or Ilmenite present in Fort-dauphin, which represents 10% of the world market. Madagascar has also uranium deposits spread over 3 regions including Antsirabe, Fort Dauphin, Folakara and Makay. And finally, the Sakoa coal deposit and the quartz deposit, etc.
Since its creation in 1976, the « Office des Mines Nationales et des Industries Stratégiques » (OMNIS) has been the regulatory entity for the national upstream oil and mining sectors. Its missions are to implement the national policy for upstream petroleum, to develop basic geological data and to act as a mining promoting office. The office is currently placed under the supervision of the Ministry of Mines and Strategic Resources and represents the State in the search for partnerships, negotiations and the conclusion of contracts with oil and mining companies operating in Madagascar.
This year, OMNIS is celebrating its forty-five years of existence. Although this celebration is affected by the global health situation, the Office has planned to organize various events to give the general public a better understanding of its missions and activities. In view of this celebration includes the preparation of open days on July 8, 9, 10. To do this, OMNIS decide to organize the event in a digital format through the creation of a dedicated platform. Events such as information sessions, conferences and debates are planned during these three days and will be broadcasted on this platform. However, it will be possible for a limited number of participants to attend these events on site at the City Hall of Antananarivo. The speakers will be actors of the upstream oil and mining sectors, economists, journalists, civil society, teachers &#8211; researchers &#8230; and will address issues around economic benefits, opportunities, environment, etc. all around the exploration of strategic resources in Madagascar.
&#8220;Committed to a better future&#8221;. As this slogan indicates, OMNIS wants to be one of the biggest contributors of the national economy development and is constantly working to make the upstream oil and mining sectors a lever for the emergence of the country.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of OMNIS.
For more images: https://bit.ly/3hnocew
Media Contact: RASOLOMANANA Satry Niavina +261 33 50 432 49 communication@omnis.mg satryniavina@omnis.mg 21, Làlana Razanakombana Ambohijatovo Antananarivo 101 – Madagascar www.OMNIS.mg

Development Webinars: Focus on Upstream Oil and Strategic Mineral Ores

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Buoyed by significant government investment in the 2021-22 national budget, combined with attractive incentives for private developers, the affordable housing sector in Kenya is well set to provide attractive opportunities to investors. This is according to Vivian Ombwayo, Director of Research and Valuation at Broll Kenya (www.Broll.co.ke).

Download report: Broll &#8211; Affordable Housing Snapshot Report (https://bit.ly/3jXH4m6)
“The affordable housing sector in Kenya offers developers an opportunity to diversify their portfolios, especially those concentrating mainly on the commercial-user space. It means they are able to diversify into the residential sector, thanks to attractive government incentives,” comments Jess Cleland, COO Outside of SA, Valuations&#038;Intel at Broll. Ombwayo and Cleland presented a research report on the sector at the eighth annual East Africa Property Investment (EAPI) Summit from 5 to 9 July.
The research report was co-sponsored by API Events. Leading Pan-African professional real-estate services provider Broll Property Group (www.Broll.com) is a long-time sponsor of Africa Property Investment (API) Events, the leading event and thought leadership platform in African real estate. With operations in 13 countries across Africa, Broll is at the forefront of shaping the East African property industry by using the EAPI platform to share insights from its experience across the continent.
Ombwayo highlights that the abundant housing opportunities in Kenya also allow complementary users to be included in affordable housing projects, such as retail, office, institutional and also medical. This means that, at the end of the day, despite having to manage their revenue and cost carefully, private developers are able to achieve a healthy return from comprehensive affordable housing projects.
Another factor to be considered is the social impact of affordable housing, stresses Ombwayo. “We have so many developers, such as those in the private equity space, heavily involved with the social benefits that such projects afford local communities. There are no better projects than affordable housing in this regard.”
She elaborates: “It starts off by elevating the living standards of end users, especially with the Covid-19 pandemic given that health is associated with housing. It also increases the country’s employment rate, reduces the crime rate from the community receiving social revenue from such projects and facilitates overall community integration. The associated training and development programmes are also highly beneficial to local communities.”
While there is no formal definition of what constitutes affordable housing in the Kenyan property market, according to the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company Plc (KMRC), the ceiling for a typical three-bedroom unit is four million Kenyan shillings (KES). “However, it is very much dependent on the developers themselves, who often base the definition of affordable housing on not cost alone, but also on the proximity to socioeconomic amenities,” notes Ombwayo.
The demand base of low- to middle-income earners, which accounts for more than half of the economically active urban population, lends a real impetus to the demand for affordable housing. For example, an online affordable housing platform developed by the government, known as Boma Yangu, has clocked up over 320,000 subscribers to date.
“While private developers are finding it very tight to maintain the ceiling of KES 4 million, we are not really seeing any projects offering anything above the standard typology of three-bedroom apartments,” adds Ombwayo. The cost of land within the major urban centres is increasingly pushing developers to the outskirts, where the main attraction is the ready availability of relatively cheaper land.
“The lion’s share is being taken up by government projects at the moment. This is mainly driven by availability of land. Land cost is a very important aspect when it comes to affordable housing, coupled with innovative ways of minimising overall projects costs, such as alternative building technologies. The private sector is yet to catch up, but there has been a lot of traction in recent years, especially as the private sector attempts the tricky balance of cost versus the final price of a unit,” explains Ombwayo.
In conclusion, Ombwayo highlights that her outlook for the sector remains “very promising”. This is largely due to the fact that, as part of the Affordable Housing Initiative contemplated under the Big 4 Agenda, the Kenyan government has set aside KES 13.9 billion for the Affordable Housing Programme.
“The trying times of the pandemic has opened our eyes to the importance of quality housing as it is linked to health and well-being. The affordable housing sector not only offers scope for developers to add to their revenue base, but also to play a significant role in managing the spread of Covid-19,” concludes Ombwayo.
For more information about the EAPI Summit, visit https://EAPISummit.com.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Broll Kenya.
Notes to the Editor: To download hi-res images for this release, please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click the Broll Property Group link to view the company’s press office.
Broll Property Group Contact: Hilton Rose Group Marketing Head Marketing, Brand&#038;Communications Phone: +27 11 441 4061  Web: www.Broll.com Email: hrose@broll.com
Media Contact: Renay Tandy NGAGE Phone: (011) 867-7763 Fax: 086 512 3352 Cell: 082 562 5088 Email: renay@ngage.co.za
About Broll Property Group: Broll Property Group is the largest independently-owned and proudly South African commercial property services company. With operations across 13 countries in Africa and 2,000+ personnel, we offer high-performing solutions built on a culture of innovation, distinguished by service excellence and longstanding client relationships – which is why we are renowned as the ‘progressive property people’.

Affordable housing opportunities in Kenya buoyed by government spend and developer incentives

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Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo Visma) won stage 11 of the Tour de France, being the strongest from a 16-rider break to conquer the famous Mont Ventoux twice.

Stage 11 of the Tour de France was a tough test of 199km which also included two ascents of the famous Mont Ventoux, before descending to the finish in Malaucene. It was a fast start to the stage as nearly every team was hoping to get into the breakaway today.
After just over 50km of racing, finally the peloton allowed some riders to go up the road, and lead group of 16 riders had formed before the first of the two Ventoux climbs.
For Team Qhubeka NextHash it was always going to be a day of survival, a task which was unfortunately a step too far for Victor Campenaerts.
At the head of the race though, it was van Aert that proved to be a class above the rest. He was one of 7 remaining breakaway riders that reached the foot of the Ventoux for the final time, with a lead of 4&#39;30&#8243; over the yellow jersey group.
As the climb began, the Belgian simply rode away from everyone else and maintained his lead over the yellow jersey chase group too. He soloed to the line to take a brilliant stage win.
Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) once again held onto his overall race lead. Team Qhubeka NextHash&#39;s remaining 6 riders all finished the stage within the time limit.
Victor Campenaerts
Today was a special day, it’s a special mountain anyway, and for me it’s the first mountain that I ever did on a bike, long before I was a bike rider, when I was 14 in 2006 I did it with my dad; and today on Mont Ventoux at the Tour de France my dad was waiting there to shout for me.
I’ve been having a difficult Tour and have been very tired, and I got in difficulties early on in the stage and some riders around me were abandoning but I wanted to continue to at least do Ventoux once to ensure I saw my dad. It was a nice moment to see him there at the top and then it was quite clear that he time cut was not realistic so we had an opportunity to stop and spend a moment together.
I started out this year at the Classics and then the Giro, followed by the Tour de France and racing in a very different way. I used to focus on the time trials which has it’s own peculiarities but this year I really tried to change the way of riding and not focusing on time trials anymore.
We race in the team in the spirit of Ubuntu – I am because we are – as one team. We’ve had some nice results, particularly highlighted at the Giro with three victories in five days and we tried to see where my limits are and that’s why we’ve had such a busy racing schedule. I always give it my all in every race that I start but I’ve suffered during this Tour and today I was just not able to stay in touch and so my race ends.
I want to wish all of my teammates the very best for the rest of the race and I’ll be behind them with every pedal stroke until Paris.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka NextHash.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 470 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka NextHash: Team Qhubeka NextHash is a purpose-led, high-performance team, fighting to win on the world&#39;s biggest stage, to inspire hope and create opportunity. Founded in 2007, Team Qhubeka NextHash (formerly NTT Pro Cycling) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a UCI WorldTour license, in 2016.
We achieved our first major win in 2013 when Gerald Ciolek won Milan-San Remo, one of the five Monuments of cycling. We have competed in six Tour de France’s and notched up 7 stage wins, with Mark Cavendish wearing the coveted Yellow Jersey at the 2016 Tour de France.
We are a multicultural, diverse team with bases in South Africa, the Netherlands and Italy. There are 19 nationalities represented across our World Tour and continental feeder team rosters. Our focus on developing African cycling has resulted in more than 55 riders from the African continent be given the opportunity to race on the world stage, since the team&#39;s inception.
We race to help people to move forward with bicycles through our relationship with Qhubeka Charity. Through our work with Qhubeka, we have contributed to the distribution of over 30 000 bicycles in communities in South Africa.
About Qhubeka: Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go. 
All images attached to the press release can be used with the respective image credit in combination to this release.

Campenaerts’ Tour de France comes to an end on Ventoux

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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has approved a loan of $50 million to Nigeria’s First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to channel to local enterprises and women-empowered businesses in the agribusiness, manufacturing, healthcare and renewable energy sectors.

Thirty percent of the funds, which are intended to mitigate effects of the challenging Covid-19 environment, are earmarked for underserved women-empowered businesses.
In addition, the Bank will provide  a technical assistance grant of $200,000 through its Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative supported by the Women Entrepreneurship Finance Initiative. The grant will complement the loan by enabling First City Monument Bank to provide non-financial services, including training, and to strengthen its monitoring and reporting functions.
“The African Development Bank is pleased to support FCMB’s strategy to become a dominant player in addressing the funding needs of women-empowered and local enterprises,” said Stefan Nalletamby, the African Development Bank’s Director of Financial Sector Development. “This project will extend valuable resources to critical but underserved segments during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, with its adverse macroeconomic impacts.”
Small- and medium-sized firms account for up to 80% of employment in most African countries and women-empowered businesses typically face a considerable financing gap. The Nigerian economy has been hard hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, and falling crude oil prices have had a ripple effect on the wider economy.
FCMB is a Nigerian commercial bank with around 5 million customers. It had total assets of around $5 billion as at the end of 2020.
The project aligns with the objectives of AFAWA, which aims to improve gender inclusivity by improving access to finance for women entrepreneurs. The project also advances the Bank’s Ten-Year Strategy and is consistent with three of its High-5 strategic priorities:  Industrialize Africa, Feed Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. It also aligns with the Nigeria Country Strategy Paper 2020-2024.
The African Development Bank is an implementing partner of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, a groundbreaking partnership housed in the World Bank Group that aims to unlock financing for women-led businesses in developing countries.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Olufemi Terry Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: o.terry@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: j.mp/AfDB_Media.

Nigeria: African Development Bank bolsters women-empowered businesses with $50 million loan to FCMB bank

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
According to reports by the BBC, about 8 million Africans live abroad. That number is projected to reach 15 Million by 2025. For most African’s living abroad, sending money back home to your family can be very expensive. In the UK, the average cost to send cash abroad is 9.5%, so for example, if you were sending £120 from the UK to Africa, it would cost roughly £11.40 in fees.

Although the cost has come down in recent years, it is still too high and is more than double the 3% cost target set by the United Nations. Pipit Global is delighted to announce that in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana, consumers can now avail of transactions through the pipit platform at lower rates than ever before. This is in partnership with Cellulant, a Pan-African Fintech company that powers a digital payments platform for businesses and their consumers.

“Going live in these countries is a big step forward for intra-African remittances. 70% of African’s who migrate stay on the continent of Africa where the cost of sending money home across African borders is much higher than the fees for sending cash home from the EU &#8211; and can reach 20% in some corridors. Pipit, along with Cellulant, can now solve this problem by making it cheaper and safer for migrants to send cash to their families at home.” said Ollie Walsh, CEO of Pipit.

‘’We believe that for Africans to thrive, we need to purposefully create bridges that lessen the geographical, wealth and social gaps and link communities and their resources with others. Cellulant using technology to build new types of networks that connect those who have goods and services with those who need them. We are happy to extend our digital payments platform- Tingg, and support Pipit’s work in connecting the African Diaspora with low-cost payment solutions that allow them to support their families in the continent,” said David Waithaka, Cellulant’s Chief Business Officer for Enterprise.

The partnership between Cellulant and Pipit means that Africans in the UK and EU from any of the listed African countries can conveniently send cash home, top-up an eWallet, send money to a bank account and pay bills for their families. They can also pay for an eCommerce order and have the goods delivered in Africa.

&#8220;Every consumer in Africa should be able to access their money easily and pay for goods and services in a way that is convenient for them. Digital payments make this possible, and through this partnership, we are ensuring that consumers across Africa and in the Diaspora can seamlessly access services they need and make their lives easier,’’ added David.

In the UK, migrant workers from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mali, Senegal, and Ghana can access the Pipit platform through the PayPoint network of more than 28,000 cash acceptance points across the UK; and 35,000 points across the Western EU countries.

The partnership also brings lower-cost remittance within the African continent with the addition of 620,000 cash collection points in Nigeria, doubling the Pipit global footprint to 1.1 million collection points.

“We are building a global network of payment partners who recognise that for a growing segment of our society, cash is the main means of managing their finances. Together we are building the technology to allow them to use their cash in the digital marketplace in increasingly secure and cost-effective ways. We expect to keep growing as more customers trust the platform and enjoy the lower costs of sending money back home,” continues Ollie Walsh.

The COVID pandemic has accelerated the demand for digital financial products, and partnerships between financial technology companies such as Cellulant and Pipit bridge the gap between continents and make it easier for customers to access financial services with ease.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Cellulant.
About Pipit Global: Pipit is a secure and private online payment platform which helps customers send cash digitally. It allows migrants living and working around the world to pay bills and transfer money overseas at a fraction of the cost and time taken by more traditional international payment providers who currently dominate the market. Described as a “social impact company”, Pipit Global has a clear and genuine mission statement when it comes to what they aim to achieve with this payment system.  Pipit Global is a for-profit social impact Scale-Up business in the FinTech/Payments space with offices in UK, Ireland, Ghana, Mumbai, and Vancouver.
For further information contact: Clare Tracy. clare.tracy@pipit.global W: www.Pipit.Global.
About Cellulant: Cellulant is a leading Pan-African financial technology company providing a one-stop digital payments platform. Cellulant uses technology to connect people and their resources, making it easier to do business across Africa.
Cellulant provides a single digital payments platform &#8211; named Tingg- addressing the complex payments needs of businesses. Tingg makes it easy to collect and make payments across multiple payment methods in different currencies, with the best customer experience for any business looking to digitise their payments. 
Today, Cellulant has an office presence in 18 African countries with a payments platform connecting thousands of businesses with 154 payment options across 35 countries. The platform powers payments for 220M consumers on a single inclusive network allowing for interoperability across Africa.
For further information contact: Andrew Lala; media@cellulant.io  W: www.Cellulant.io.

Pipit Global Partners with Cellulant to Power Low-Cost Remittances in Africa

Content provided by APO Group. CNBC Africa provides content from APO Group as a service to its readers and does not edit the articles it publishes. CNBC Africa is not responsible for the content provided by APO Group.
The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (www.ICD-PS.org), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDBG), and the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework of cooperation between the two parties for the furtherance of their respective mandates in several  areas of financing and investments.

The MoU was signed by Mr. Ayman Amin Sejiny, CEO of ICD and Eng. Mohamed Zaki El Sewedy, Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Industries.
Under the MoU both parties will co-operate in exploring the possibility of supporting the introduction of ICD’s programs to FEI member enterprises in Egypt. The areas of cooperation include encouraging local and cross border investments, introduction of ICD’s programs related to SMEs, women and young entrepreneurs, disseminating information about ICD’s activities in Egypt and/or any other Islamic countries to share experiences and facilitating Egyptian enterprises with different support mechanisms delivered by ICD to penetrate new markets from IsDB members, whether at the level of investment and/or financing.
Other areas of cooperation include exchanging information on opportunities available in Egypt for investors from ICD member, countries, as well as opportunities available for Egyptian investors and manufacturers in other Islamic countries. 
Mr. Sejiny said: “Egypt is a key strategic member country for ICD and we hope, via this partnership, we will increase our presence in Egypt. This MoU will greatly enhance the development of an alternative investment market in Egypt and facilitate economic development resulting in a robust private sector. As such, this partnership perfectly suits the long-term goals of the ICD, and we are happy to be working with FEI toward the achievement of this worthy cause&#8221;
Mr. El Sewedy commented: “We are delighted to bring our support to ICD. This MoU will help Egypt, as a key member country of the ICD, to address its industrial challenges. In addition, it will be a step towards strengthening and deepening our further collaboration in context of development of the economy of Egypt and enabling big industrial corporation access to finance”
Additionally, both parties recognize the growth potential and investment opportunities in ICD member countries and intend to cooperate and work closely together in raising  awareness of the Egyptian enterprises under FEI member chambers about the different programs under ICD and other investment opportunities or transactions of mutual interest to both parties.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).
About Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI): FEI is Egypt’s largest employers’ organization, established in 1933, with 19 industrial chambers as members, representing over 102,000 industrial enterprises, accounting for more than 7 million workers and 20% of the national economy. FEI has been carrying out its responsibilities in defending and supporting Egyptian industries. Firmly believing in industry as a pillar of sustainable development in the country, and as a tool to alleviate poverty and attain prosperity
FEI provides facilitating access to essential knowledge, information, advice and consultations services. Promoting economic development via advancing the usage of clean&#038;innovative technologies, supporting entrepreneurship and initiatives for marginalized sectors, forging&#038;strengthening cooperation and alliances with international organizations&#038;institutions. Extending training&#038;capacity building opportunities. Supporting business development needs
About Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD): The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) is a multilateral development financial institution and is member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. ICD was established in November 1999 to support the economic development of its member countries through the provision of finance for private sector projects, promoting competition and entrepreneurship, providing advisory services to the governments and private companies, and encouraging cross border investments. ICD is Rated A2’ by Moody’s, ‘A-’ by S&#038;P and, A+ by Fitch. ICD establishes and strengthens cooperation and partnership relationships with an aim to establish joint or collective financing. ICD also applies financial technology (Fintech) to make financing more efficient and comprehensive. For more information, visit: www.ICD-PS.org

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) sign a collaboration MoU to develop and strengthen the Egyptian private sector

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Campenaerts’ Tour de France comes to an end on Ventoux

Nigeria: African Development Bank bolsters women-empowered businesses with $50 million loan to FCMB bank

Pipit Global Partners with Cellulant to Power Low-Cost Remittances in Africa

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) sign a collaboration MoU to develop and strengthen the Egyptian private sector

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How Tent Group is Redefining Luxury Living and Creating Iconic Communities

Hapag-Lloyd acquires Africa carrier NileDutch

Namibia largely defeated Madagascar in Rugby Africa Cup

The ongoing Rugby Africa Cup sees Senegal finishing top of Pool B

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Development Webinars: Focus on Upstream Oil and Strategic Mineral Ores

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Campenaerts’ Tour de France comes to an end on Ventoux

Nigeria: African Development Bank bolsters women-empowered businesses with $50 million loan to FCMB bank

Pipit Global Partners with Cellulant to Power Low-Cost Remittances in Africa

Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI) sign a collaboration MoU to develop and strengthen the Egyptian private sector

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Advertise With Us

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