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100 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Taraba-64 Lagos-21 FCT-4 Rivers-3 Akwa Ibom-2 Kaduna-2 Oyo-2 Bauchi-1 Nasarawa-1
164,588 confirmed 154,578 discharged 2,061 deaths
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).
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Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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Thirty three patients have been diagnosed positive for COVID-19 in tests carried out today at Quarantine Centers in the Central, Northern Red Sea, and Southern Red Sea Regions.

Out of these, eleven patients are from Quarantine Centers in Asmara, Central Region. Eleven other patients are from Quarantine Centers in Massawa, Northern Red Sea Region. The last batch of eleven patients are from Quarantine Centers in Assab (6), and Oidi (5), Southern Red sea Region.
On the other hand, seventeen patients who have been receiving medical treatment in hospitals in the Northern Red Sea (13), and Anseba (4), Regions have recovered fully and have been discharged from these facilities.
The total number of recovered patients has accordingly risen to 3406 while the number of deaths stands at ten.
The total number of confirmed cases in the country to-date has increased to 3597.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
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Coronavirus – Eritrea: Announcement from the Ministry of Health (22 April 2021)

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Newly confirmed cases: 218 Recoveries: 97 Active cases: 1409 Deaths: 7
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Social Services, Namibia.

Coronavirus – Namibia: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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New cases: 14 Cumulative confirmed cases: 33,989 Active cases: 846 Total recovered: 31,864(12 new) Currently admitted in treatment units: 12 (2 new) New discharges from treatment units: 1 Total tests conducted: 228,966 (567 new) Total deaths: 1,145 (3 new) Total vaccinated to date: 267,293 (3,362 new)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi.
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Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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Sounding a note of optimism at the European Union-Africa Green Investment Forum on Friday, African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina reminded global audiences of the continent’s vast opportunities for green growth.

“Africa is a huge market offering incredible opportunities. The recovery pathway offers enormous opportunities. Recovery must be green and build climate resilience. Recovery must boost green investments,” Adesina said in a keynote address.
The hybrid forum was convened by Portugal and the European Investment Bank to mobilize private and public capital towards the green transition in Africa. The high-level event brought together leading government and business figures, international and development financial institutions, civil society and academia.
Adesina identified energy, agriculture and infrastructure as key areas of investment potential for a post-Covid-19 recovery in Africa. With abundant solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy resources, Africa’s energy transition alone presents a $100 billion per year investment opportunity, he said. Agriculture potentially offers massive investments in climate-smart crops to build more resilient food systems. And climate-resilient infrastructure offers investment potential of between $130 billion and $170 billion, Adesina said in a video address.
Speakers emphasized the need to build back greener collectively. Several congratulated the United States, after President Joe Biden on Thursday committed to cut carbon emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by the year 2030.
“We need to bring everyone on board,” African Union Commissioner Josefa Sako said. She called for a just transition that recognized the historical responsibility of the developed world for climate change. She warned that measures taken should not push vulnerable populations into greater poverty.
European Investment Bank President Werner Hoyer said the partnerships forged in addressing the Covid-19 crisis must now be applied to climate change. “Africa may be the continent that is most vulnerable to the immediate effects of climate change but it is responsible for some of the lowest greenhouse gas emissions per head. This is also the continent where mistakes made elsewhere can be avoided. Africa can invest in innovative technologies and make the right choices for a sustainable and inclusive future.”
In a recorded message during the opening session, António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, said the gathering was an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and boost investment in Africa for the benefit of all.
“I see agendas converging around financing a green transition and greater resilience. African countries are rapidly scaling up renewables, particularly solar and wind power,” Guterres said.
While climate change is a huge challenge for Africa, Adesina urged investors to seize on the opportunities it presents, which would be worth $3 trillion by 2030.
The African Development Bank is in the vanguard of investment in climate adaptation, he said, but over 70% of the financing needed will need to come from the private sector to complement public investments.
“The private sector, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, is critical in mitigating climate change and implementing adaptation methods. This calls for innovative approaches to attract and steer financial flows toward low carbon and climate resilient development,” Adesina said.
A greener Africa must also focus on the circular economy, in which waste can be recycled and turned into wealth. For example, a new plastic recycling plant in Ghana has already created 2,300 green jobs, while converting food waste into organic fertilisers will increase the circularity of the food systems, Adesina said.
Commending the European Commission’s External Investment Plan, Adesina said the Bank looked forward to building a strong partnership with the Commission to deliver more in the context of the new EU strategy with Africa.
“Africa is already green. Africa just needs to get greener. What is needed now is more euros to back Africa’s green growth. Think about the tremendous green investment opportunities available today and many more that will emerge into the future. Think differently, think Africa,” he said.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact: Amba Mpoke-Bigg Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank email: a.mpoke-bigg@afdb.org

Africa’s recovery pathway offers enormous opportunities, African Development Bank head says at EU-Africa Green Investment Forum

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Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games held an operational test event for rugby sevens on Thursday, with 95 days to go before the first match of the tournament on 26 July.

The event was held at Tokyo Stadium, which will host all six days of action during the Games and was the site of the opening match of the hugely successful Rugby World Cup 2019.
Organisers from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and the Japanese Rugby Football Union tested a variety of operational measures around exhibition matches featuring players from Japan’s men’s and women’s national sevens teams, albeit with no fans in attendance.
Match-day operations were simulated as they will be during the Olympics, complete with match officials, ground staff, the teams being announced on the stadium speakers and music being played after every try.
The event also provided organisers with another chance to test out COVID-19 countermeasures, including players wearing masks during the warm-up, all areas being frequently disinfected and the use of a small vehicle to return stray balls to the field of play.  
The Japanese players on show are currently within their own training bubble and were kept separate from media and officials during the event. 
The operational testing went off without a hitch, and Tokyo 2020 Deputy Executive Director Yasuo Mori was pleased with the outcome: “This is the first occasion where we have worked as one team at this rugby event. We have been able to share information and coordinate accordingly. This has been the biggest learning from this event.”
Rugby sevens is a key priority for World Rugby and its Olympic debut at the Rio 2016 Games had an unmistakable effect on the sport, attracting an estimated 30 million new fans globally.
The sport is one of the most hotly anticipated events of the Tokyo Games, following the outstanding success of Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan and the performance of the Japan men’s sevens team at Rio, where they beat the likes of New Zealand and France on the way to a fourth-placed finish.
“We are massively excited about being back in Japan,” said World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin.
“It is a great opportunity for us. We know that a successful rugby sevens program in the Olympics is a great showcase for our sport, a great driver for future fans and players and is an inspirational pathway.”
“We know Japan will be great hosts, no matter what the circumstances.”
To ensure teams are as best prepared as possible for the Olympic Games, World Rugby is investing US$4 million into qualified unions’ sevens programmes and high-performance preparation events as the teams prepare for Tokyo.
The final two women’s and one men’s team will seal their place in Tokyo during the Repechage – the final Olympic qualification event – in Monaco on 19-20 June.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Rugby.
Media Contact: Rugby@APO-opa.com
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Rugby sevens Olympic test event held at Tokyo Stadium

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Daily: Laboratory test: 7,041 Severe cases: 999 New recovered: 1,175 New deaths: 22 New cases: 1,505

Total: Laboratory test: 2,528,645 Active cases: 59,384 Total recovered: 185,107 Total deaths: 3,496 Total cases: 247,989
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia.
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Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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The Boards of Directors of the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) Group on Friday approved a proposal for the clearance of about $413 million in arrears on loans owed by Sudan to the institution, marking a major milestone in the country’s re-engagement with international financial institutions and the global economy.

The proposal enables the Bank to proceed with clearing Sudan’s arrears with the African Development Bank Group, with the support of the United Kingdom and Sweden. The U.K will provide bridge financing to clear Sudan’s arrears to the African Development Fund, while Sweden has committed to providing grant financing of about $4.2 million to meet Sudan’s burden-share for the operation.
Upon full clearance of the arrears to the Bank group, sanctions on Sudan will be lifted and a Policy-Based Operation (PBO) will be provided to the country as part of the Bank’s full re-engagement, to complement on-going Bank operations.
Clearing of arrears with international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, is one of the preconditions for Sudan under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative.
Raubil Durowoju, the African Development Bank Group’s Country Manager for Sudan said that the arrears clearance would allow the African Development Bank to fully re-engage with Sudan, opening up new financing opportunities for projects and programs that add further support to ongoing Bank operations.
“With the expected additional financing flows following the arrears clearance, the Bank is looking forward to a new era of fruitful cooperation with Sudan to realize its peoples’ aspiration for prosperity and sustainable development,” Durowoju said.
The arrears clearance will also provide the fiscal space for Sudan to embark on a road to sustainable socio-economic development and will complement its efforts to advance its development agenda, which includes consolidating peace, accelerating poverty reduction and generating much-needed financing for transformative and inclusive growth.
The Bank Group’s current portfolio in Sudan comprises 18 operations for a total commitment of about $0.5 billion, covering operations in the agriculture, water and sanitation, social and energy sectors, as well as support for multi-sector capacity building activities and the private sector.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Amba Mpoke-Bigg Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: a.mpoke-bigg@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 37 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: www.AfDB.org.

Sudan: African Development Bank Group approves proposal to clear $413 million arrears

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Kenya on Thursday recorded 904 Covid-19 positive cases from a sample of 5,673 bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 154,392. From the cases, 885 were Kenyans while 19 were foreigners. 519 were males with 385 females.

The youngest was a two-month-old infant while the oldest was aged 97. The positivity rate stood at 15.9 percent.
The cumulative tests so far conducted in the country are 1,624,663.
In terms of County distribution; Nairobi county recorded 288 cases, Mombasa 88, Meru 54, Nakuru 32, Kakamega 31, Busia 31, Uasin Gishu 29, Nyamira 29, Kericho 27, Kisumu 23, Nyandarua 23, Muranga 22, Kitui 17, Tharaka Nithi 16, Baringo, Kiambu, Kirinyaga and Nandi 14 cases each, Laikipia 13, Vihiga 12, Taita Taveta 11, Machakos 10, Kisii 10, Marsabit, Bomet, Kilifi, Embu and Siaya had  9 cases each, Trans Nzoia 7, Bungoma 5, Kajiado 5, Samburu 4, Mandera 4, West Pokot 3, Kwale 3, Homa Bay 2, Isiolo 2, Nyeri 1 and Lamu 1.
88 patients recovered from the disease on Thursday, 76 from various health facilities across the country while 12 are from Home Based &#038; Isolation Care. Total recoveries now stand at 105,367; 76,979 from Home Based Care &#038; Isolation while 28,388 are from various health facilities.
20 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours with 7 having occurred on diverse dates within the last one month, while 13 were late deaths reported after conducting facility record audits. This now pushes cumulative fatalities to 2,560.
A total of 1,507 patients are currently admitted in various health facilities countrywide, while 6,834 patients are on Home Based Isolation &#038; Care.  226 patients are in the ICU, 52 of whom are on ventilatory support and 144 on supplemental oxygen. 30 patients are on observation. Another 183 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 171 of them in general wards while 12 are in High Dependency Units (HDU).
By the close of the day Thursday, a total of 778,254 persons had been vaccinated against COVID-19 disease countrywide.  Of this 446,329 are aged 58 years and above, 148,358 are Health workers, 119,161 are Teachers while 64,406 are Security Officers.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the oldest of the cycling monuments, is set to take place this Sunday in the Ardennes region of Belgium. Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) will line-up at the UCI World Tour classic with an experienced group of climbers.

Liege-Bastogne-Liege dates to 1892, with this year seeing the 107th running of the event. Covering a distance of 259km, the route includes a number of cycling famous climbs, like Cote de La Redoute and Cote de la Roche-aux-Faucons among others, making this a monument of cycling for the climbing specialists.
While the first 160km of the race is by no means flat, the majority of the notable climbs do come in the final 100km of the race, making La Doyenne (The old lady), one of the most arduous single day bike races in the world.
Team Qhubeka ASSOS will be counting on its experienced quartet of climbers, Domenico Pozzovivo, Sergio Henao, Fabio Aru and Simon Clarke, who will be supported by Sander Armee, Robert Power and Sean Bennett, to deliver a top result for the team on Sunday.
A special thanks goes to Shiplake College for providing a brilliant supporters video (https://bit.ly/3sJKzxn), announcing our Liege-Bastogne-Liege line-up.
Aart Vierhouten &#8211; Sport Director
&#8220;Liege-Bastogne-Liege is the oldest, and if the sun shines, one of the most beautiful classics in the world. It is also one of the hardest. Taking on a climb such as Col de La Redoute with already 220km in the legs requires a unique kind of strength to be successful&#8221;.
&#8220;Sergio and Domenico have both previously achieved top 10 results here and Simon also has a lot of experience at this race. So, we have the quality of depth and experience together with some younger guys, and the excitement of Fabio Aru who will be racing his first &#8220;La Doyenne&#8221;. This gives us a good balance to take on the race with positive ambitions.&#8221;
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Team Qhubeka ASSOS.
Media Contact: Jean Smyth (Head of Communications) Email: jean@ryder.co.za Mobile: +27 63 4701 1710 or +31 625 739 033
About Team Qhubeka ASSOS: Team Qhubeka ASSOS 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 ASSOS (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.
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Strong climber line-up for Team Qhubeka ASSOS at Liege-Bastogne-Liege

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Official Game Ball is Part of Wilson’s Latest Construction Technology and Features Unique Graphics Specifically-Designed for the BAL; Inaugural BAL Season Will Take Place May 16-30 in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) (www.theBAL.com) and Wilson Sporting Goods Co. (Wilson) (www.Wilson.com) today unveiled the Official Game Ball (https://bit.ly/3evca0h) that will be used for the BAL’s historic inaugural season, which will tip off Sunday, May 16 at the Kigali Arena in Kigali, Rwanda. Twelve teams from across Africa will compete in the new professional league. The first BAL Finals will be held Sunday, May 30.
The official BAL game ball was specially designed for the BAL and features the league’s primary logo and social media handle (@theBAL).  The secondary league logo, a continent icon featuring “Inspire, Empower, Elevate,” are also displayed on the ball.  Made of 100 percent composite leather, the official game ball integrates the Evo NXT construction, Wilson’s latest technology featuring an enhanced grip and a soft, moisture-minimalizing feel.
“We are excited to partner with a global leader like Wilson and unveil the Official Game Ball of the Basketball Africa League ahead of our inaugural season,” said BAL President Amadou Gallo Fall.  “Wilson’s rich history in basketball combined with its current product innovations will help us build the BAL into one of the top professional basketball leagues in the world.”
“Our passion and commitment to the players and the sport of basketball runs deep,” said Wilson General Manager of Team Sports Kevin Murphy.  “We are excited to be a part of the BAL’s inaugural season and look forward to a great partnership aimed at growing the game and providing athletes and coaches with innovative solutions to elevate their performance.”
Champions from the national leagues in Angola, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia earned their participation in the inaugural season.  The remaining six teams, which come from Algeria, Cameroon, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique and Rwanda, secured their participation through BAL qualifying tournaments conducted by FIBA Regional Office Africa across the continent in late 2019.
The BAL groups and additional details about the league will be announced in the coming weeks.
Download High-Resolution Official BAL Game Ball Photos (https://bit.ly/3sNy2ZE) (Credit: Wilson Sporting Goods)
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Media contacts : Yvon Edoumou BAL +221 77 637 3401 yedoumou@thebal.com
Sarah Houseknecht Wilson +1(716)904-0665 sarah.houseknecht@wilson.com
About Wilson Sporting Goods Co.: Chicago, USA-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a subsidiary of Amer Sports Corporation, is the world&#39;s leading manufacturer of high-performance sports equipment, apparel and accessories. Wilson’s footprint in basketball spans all levels of play globally, from the Wilson Evolution, the number one iconic Game Basketball in the U.S., to key partnerships including the official Game Basketball of the National Collegiate Athletic Association® (NCAA), the global Game Basketball of FIBA 3&#215;3, the official Game Basketball of the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia and the official Game Basketball of the Basketball Champions League (BCL) in Europe. The Company brings more than a century of innovation in basketball to every level of play. It uses player insights to develop products that push equipment innovation into new territories and empower athletes at every level to perform at their best.
About the BAL: The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the NBA, is a new professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa.  The BAL builds on the foundation of club competitions FIBA has organized in Africa and marks the NBA’s first collaboration to operate a league outside North America.  Fans can follow the BAL @theBAL on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook and register their interest in receiving more information at www.theBAL.com.
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Basketball Africa League Unveils Official Game Ball Ahead of Historic Inaugural Season

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Total daily tests: 1,017 New confirmed cases: 3 Cumulative confirmed cases: 18,426 Active cases: 33 Recoveries: 17,722 (1 new) Currently admitted: 6 New deaths: 0 Total deaths: 671 Total vaccinated to date: 33,279
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
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Coronavirus – Eswatini: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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Total cases: 24,262 (+150) Recovered: 22,649 (+70) | 93.6% Active cases: 1,285 In critical condition: 6 Tests: 1,273,629 (+4,327) Test positivity rate: 3.5% Vaccinated: 349,702 Deaths: 328 (+1) | 1.3%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda.
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Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina on Thursday joined 40 heads of state and government at the Leaders Summit on Climate, where the United States, Japan and Canada announced ambitious climate targets to address the escalating emergency.

United States President Joe Biden said the US would aim to cut carbon emissions by 50% to 52% from 2005 levels by 2030. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau upgraded their nations’ targets to more than 40% over the same period.
The United States is hosting the two-day virtual summit. It coincided with Earth Day on Thursday and gave a platform to a diverse range of voices, particularly those from developing countries that have been directly affected by climate-linked disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Biden also announced plans to triple public financing for climate in developing countries by 2024. “Meeting this challenge requires mobilizing financing on an unprecedented scale. The private sector’s already recognized this – they know that climate change is more than a threat. It also presents the largest job opportunities in history,” the US leader said. “But the private sector has more to do and must do. Let’s be clear, even then the private sector cannot meet these challenges alone, governments need to step up and may need to lead.”
During a panel discussion titled “Financing the 10-year Sprint,” Adesina spelled out the challenge that confronts the African continent as the climate crisis worsens and the world races to meet the 2030 deadline for the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Africa contributed the least to rising temperatures but suffered the worst impacts of climate change, in the form of droughts, floods, and plagues like the recent locust invasion in East Africa. Adesina said: “The continent loses $7 billion to $15 billion a year to climate change, and this will rise to $50 billion per year by 2040, according to the IMF. Africa is not at net zero. Africa is at ground zero. We must therefore give Africa a lift to get a chance of adapting to what it did not cause.”
Adesina also highlighted the African Development Bank’s role as a climate change warrior. He said the Bank had committed $25 billion to climate finance over the next four years. Its share of financing devoted to climate rose from 9% in 2016 to 35% in 2019 and will reach 40% in 2021. The African Development Bank is the only multilateral development bank to meet and exceed the 50% parity for climate adaptation and resilience. The Bank devoted 50% of its climate finance to climate adaptation in 2018. In 2020, that rose to a record 63%.
In addition, the African Development Bank recently joined forces with the Global Center on Adaptation (https://bit.ly/3gyQ7Z5) to launch the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program, which aims to mobilize $25 billion for climate adaptation by 2025. Supporters of the initiative include UN Secretary-General António Guterres and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Speakers who preceded the panel included President Félix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who is the current African Union Chairperson, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, Prime Minister Andrew Holness of Jamaica, and Charles Michel, President of the Council of the European Union. Other heads of international financial institutions included International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass.
Tshisekedi, whose country is home to one of the world’s green lungs in the Congo Basin – as well as the global provider of coltan, used to manufacture tantalum capacitators used in mobile phones, personal computers, automobile electronics and much more – said: “It is important that the summit accelerates the mobilization of additional financial resources, and this should be substantial. This also requires simplifying the procedures for accessing financing for the least developed countries, the majority of which are in Africa,” he said.
Speakers also discussed efforts to shift trillions of dollars of private investment to finance the transition to net zero carbon emissions by 2050. This is what world leaders agreed to in the Paris Agreement at the global climate summit in Paris in November 2016. A key part of the discussion on Thursday dwelt on the $100 billion that wealthy nations had agreed to mobilize annually by 2020 to address the climate financing needs of developing countries.
Malpass said the core of the World Bank’s action plan, a summary of which was published on Thursday, was to spend record amounts to obtain optimal results. “This is the path I hope others will follow,” he said.
The IMF’s Georgieva proposed robust carbon pricing and phasing out carbon subsidies. “Our analysis shows that without it, we will not reach our climate carbonization goals. It also shows that a mix of steadily rising carbon prices and green infrastructure investment could increase global GDP by more than 0.7% a year over the next 15 years, and create millions of good-paying new jobs.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contact: Gershwin Wanneburg Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank Email: g.wanneburg@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is Africa&#39;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 37 African countries and with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org.

Leaders Summit on Climate: African Development Bank President says the continent is “ground zero” of the crisis as major economies boost climate targets

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MCB (www.MCB.mu) is facilitating Senegal’s endeavour to improve its national electrification rate through its USD 60 million participation in the syndicated project finance facility of USD 140 million to Karpowership. MCB was not only a co-mandated lead arranger but provided the highest loan commitment. The project finance facility is enabling Karpowership to operate its 235 MW Powership alongside the shores of Dakar since August 2019.

The Powership is contributing to around 15% of Senegal’s electricity supply. According to Africa Energy Outlook 2019, Senegal’s electrification rate was 69% in 2018, with a 92% rate in urban areas and only 42% in rural areas. As per the Government’s Plan Sénégal Emergent, a national roadmap adopted back in 2014, the state ambitions to increase its electrification rate to 100% by 2025, whilst focusing on lowering electricity generation costs by reducing its dependence on imported liquid fuels and increasing electricity access to rural areas. Providing electricity to places outside the ambit of urban areas is directly in line with Sustainability Development Goal (“SDG”) n° 7 of the United Nation’s charter on Sustainable Development.
The Powership will soon shift from the use of heavy fuel oil to gas. This fuel switch-over will generate material reduction in Senegal’s fuel bill with positive spill-over effect on electricity costs in line with the Plan Sénégal Emergent. Being the first power generation plant fueled by gas, the Powership is laying the foundation stone of Senegal’s plan to diversify its energy mix. Moreover the use of gas will enable Senegal to cut its carbon emission in furtherance of SDG n°13 on Climate Change. Senegal ambitions to shift primarily to natural gas for its power production by 2035, thereby reducing further the national grid’s emissions factor.
The Powership’s fuel transition is being facilitated by a Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (“FSRU”). Following successful sea trials, the FSRU has departed Singapore and is expected in Senegal in the coming weeks. The FSRU is a KARMOL’s enterprise &#8211; KARMOL is a joint venture between Karpowership and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd.
Commenting on the Powership’s syndicated project finance facility and on MCB’s strong involvement in the project, Zaahir Sulliman, Head of Specialised Finance, MCB, said: “We are proud to be contributing towards Senegal’s universal electrification goal and its transition from reliance on heavy fuel oil to LNG for its electricity production. This commitment is in line with Success Beyond Numbers, the Group’s corporate sustainability strategy, which aims at aligning business development, socioeconomic progress and profitability with the notion of sustainability over time”.
Mr. Sulliman also stressed out: “MCB is aware of its responsibility in the face of the climatic emergency and committed by 2022, to stop financing new coal power-plants and discontinue the trade financing of both thermal and metallurgical coal. Financing Karpowership in Senegal is a first step in the right direction and we are looking forward to increase our participation in projects that foster energy production whilst promoting both climatic and environment friendliness in an endeavor to increase living standards”.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB).
About Mauritius Commercial Bank: With its 182-year history, The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) has evolved to an integrated bank and financial services institution, which offers tailored and innovative solutions to a diversified client base, ranging from retail to corporate and institutions. MCB’s rich history, commitment to customer service and excellence, innovative culture and high quality employees have underpinned its solid franchise and long track record of sustainable profitability and financial soundness. MCB has also established a physical presence in 10 countries overseas, via its subsidiaries in Madagascar, Seychelles and Maldives, its representative offices in Johannesburg, Nairobi, Paris and Dubai, as well as its associates, Société Générale Moçambique and Banque Française Commerciale Océan Indien (BFCOI – operating in Réunion Island, Mayotte and Paris).
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The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) provides USD 60m funding to fuel Senegal’s national electrification and LNG-use ambitions

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Constrained global financial conditions caused by Covid-19 have led to massive portfolio outflows from Africa, exceeding $5 billion in the first quarter of 2020, a new continent-wide survey on trade finance has shown. About $3.1 billion left the South African market alone, the report found.

Launched on 15 April 2021, the African Trade Finance Survey Report (https://bit.ly/3v9JTD2) examines how trade finance has evolved during the Covid-19 pandemic and highlights the role it can play in overcoming the social and economic fallout of the disease. The survey was conducted by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), jointly with the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank-hosted Making Finance Work for Africa (https://bit.ly/3dIFcu1) Partnership.
At the launch, Professor Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, said a growing number of international banks were becoming even more reluctant to take on payment risks in countries where economic conditions were deteriorating.
“These massive capital outflows strained African banks, many of which recorded sharp drops in their net foreign assets. This further exacerbated liquidity constraints and undermined the capacity of banks to finance African trade,” he said.
The survey covers the first four months of 2020, including April, when global trade recorded its largest contraction on record. It aims to inform the design of interventions to address market challenges and effectively engage African financial institutions, trade finance intermediaries, regulatory authorities, and national authorities to accelerate efforts to bridge the region’s trade finance gap.
The report made numerous recommendations, including greater engagement between central banks and the industry, a push for increased digitalization and uptake of new technologies, and better data.
Despite the many challenges that came along with Covid-19, some opportunities also arose, the report noted. In fact, a few African countries’ economies showed strong resilience and expansion during the pandemic primarily due to their ability to be agile and to digitalize swiftly over the period.
To mitigate the significant outflows and mobilize for recovery, Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary at the UN Economic Commission for Africa, urged African leaders, especially Central Bank Governors and Finance Ministers and development partners, to further support institutions such as Afreximbank through capital increases and deploy more resources towards Africa’s recovery.  
Mervat Soltan, Chairperson and Managing Director at the Export Development Bank of Egypt, said the Bank had seen a significant increase in its digital services during the pandemic downturn. “Digitalization, which sustained business and trade growth during the pandemic, offers a great opportunity to help reduce costs and increase the use of trade finance facilities, and should become an integral part of the strategy to boost African trade post-Covid-19,” she added.
One way to boost African trade is through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa estimates can improve intra-Africa trade by over 50%. Bola Adesola, Senior Vice Chairman for Africa at Standard Chartered, said the AfCFTA can provide an ideal platform to help drive new businesses on the continent, which will help accelerate trade.
For a replay of the report launch and to access the report and presentation, visit this website.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contact: Kwasi Kpodo Communication and External Relations Department African Development Bank email: w.kpodo@afdb.org
Technical contact: Tonie Mai King-Andrews Senior Communications Officer Making Finance Work for Africa

African trade finance sees $5 bn in portfolio outflows in Q1 2020 due to Covid-19, but opportunities exist – report

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 European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (www.EBRD.com), the OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) (www.OPECFund.org), the African Development Bank (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org), the Green Climate Fund (GCF) (www.GreenClimate.fund) and Arab Bank today signed a US$ 114 million financing package with ACWA Power for the construction of the largest private solar plant in Egypt.

The development of the Kom Ombo solar plant will add 200 MW of energy capacity, increasing the share of renewable energy in Egypt’s energy mix and further promoting private-sector participation in the Egyptian power sector.
The package comprises loans of up to US$ 36 million from the EBRD, US$ 18 million from the OPEC Fund, US$ 17.8 million from the AfDB, US$ 23.8 million from the GCF and US$ 18 million from Arab Bank. This is in addition to equity bridge loans of up to US$ 14 million from EBRD and US$ 33.5 million from Arab Petroleum Investments Corporation (APICORP).
The new Kom Ombo plant will be located less than 20 km from Africa’s biggest solar park, the 1.8 GW Benban complex. Once operational, the new utility-scale plant will serve 130,000 households.
ACWA Power (www.ACWAPower.com), a Saudi Arabian developer, investor and operator of power generation and desalinated-water plants, submitted the lowest tariff in what was the first solar photovoltaic (PV) tender in Egypt. The provision of solar energy through a public tendering process aims to achieve a competitive tariff and promote the growth of solar energy as an affordable alternative to conventional energy sources.
Private-sector participation in the Kom Ombo project is the result of successful policy dialogue with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy and the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), as well as a US$ 3.6 million technical assistance programme, co-funded by the EBRD and the GCF, to support the EETC in administering competitive renewable energy tenders. In addition, the project has also benefitted from broader energy-sector reforms supported by the AfDB in recent years to scale up the involvement of the private sector.
EBRD President Odile Renaud Basso said: “We are very happy to team up again with ACWA Power in Egypt, after our successful partnership in Benban, to promote renewable energy in Egypt. Increasing the production of clean energy is an important step to reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change. This is in line with the EBRD’s strategy to become a majority green bank by 2025. This project also marks the EBRD’s first co-financing project with the AfDB and the OPEC Fund in Egypt and we look forward to future joint investment opportunities for our institutions across Africa.”
OPEC Fund Director-General Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: &#8220;We are pleased to contribute to Egypt’s efforts and strategy to expand its generation capacity in the renewable energy space. We have been at the forefront of advocating for access to affordable clean energy for many years. Kom Ombo will be our third project with ACWA Power and it exemplifies great cooperation between government, development finance and private-sector actors.”  
The African Development Bank’s Vice President in charge of Power, Energy, Climate Change and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki said: &#8220;The Kom Ombo solar project is a truly remarkable transaction. It not only clearly demonstrates the indisputable competitiveness of solar PV vis-à-vis conventional sources of generation, but it also directly contributes towards the realization of Egypt&#39;s ambitious renewable energy targets, in addition to being an excellent example of what stakeholders driven by a shared objective can achieve”.
Paddy Padmanathan, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACWA Power, said: “ACWA Power is privileged and proud to lead the realisation of the Kom Ombo PV project. The financing package signed today brings us closer to not only the people and the government of Egypt, but also to our finance partners, the EBRD, AfDB, the OPEC Fund, the GCF and Arab Bank and APICORP, reflecting our shared objective of supporting the energy transition to address the threat of climate change. Kom Ombo PV is the fourth project in ACWA Power’s Egyptian portfolio and the conclusion of this financing demonstrates the confidence in the Egyptian government’s ambitious renewable energy plans, being implemented through private-sector participation.”
Yannick Glemarec, Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, said: “The GCF is proud to support implementation of Egypt’s ambitious renewable energy financing framework. US$ 154.7 million in GCF resources, including US$ 23.8 million for the Kom Ombo plant, catalyses over US$ 850 million in co-financing and unleashes the first wave of private renewable energy projects in Egypt. The GCF looks forward to continuing to support the government of Egypt in delivering on its ambitious climate targets through innovative partnerships with the private sector.”
Nemeh Sabbagh, CEO of Arab Bank, said: “We are proud to capitalize on our long experience in this sector and partner again with EBRD to provide debt financing and related banking services to another renewable energy project in Egypt for our client ACWA Power. Green financing is one of our strategic focus areas and Egypt is a core market for Arab Bank Group, where we have been operating since 1944”.  
The Kom Ombo plant will contribute to the Egyptian government’s target to generate 42 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewable energy sources by 2035 while delivering one of the lowest generation tariffs on the continent.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media contacts: African Development Bank: Fahd Belbachir Tel: +212 661 71 58 47 Email: f.belbachir@afdb.org
ACWA Power: Mohamed Yousef Ibrahim Manager – Marketing &#038; Public Relations Tel: +966(0)556607402 Email: mibrahim@acwapower.com
EBRD: Nibal Zgheib Tel: +44 7841 504 995 Email: nibal.zgheib@ebrd.com Twitter: @nibalzgheib
OPEC Fund for International Development: Basak Pamir Tel: +43151564174 Email: B.Pamir@opecfund.org
About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the AfDB, the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries, with an external office in Japan, it contributes to the economic development and social progress of its 54 regional member states.
About ACWA Power: ACWA Power is a developer, investor and operator of power generation and desalinated water production plants. Registered and established in 2004 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ACWA Power employs about 3,500 people and is currently present in 13 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and south-east Asia. ACWA Power’s portfolio includes 62 assets with an investment value of US$ 65 billion, producing 42 GW of power and 5.8 million m3/day of desalinated water, delivered on a bulk basis to address the needs of state utilities and industries on long-term, offtake contracts under utility services outsourcing and PPP models.
ACWA Power’s mission is to reliably deliver electricity and desalinated water at a low cost, thereby making an effective contribution to the sustainable, social and economic development of communities and countries. ACWA Power is committed to the values of safety, people and performance in operating its business in all regions.
About the EBRD: The EBRD is a multilateral bank that promotes the development of the private sector and entrepreneurial initiative in 38 economies on three continents. The Bank is owned by 69 countries, as well as the European Union and the European Investment Bank. EBRD investments are aimed at making its investee economies competitive, inclusive, well-governed, green, resilient and integrated.
About the OPEC Fund: The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is the only globally mandated development institution that provides financing from member countries to non-member countries exclusively.  The organization works in cooperation with developing country partners and the international development community to stimulate economic growth and social progress in low- and middle-income countries around the world. The OPEC Fund was established by the member countries of OPEC in 1976 with a distinct purpose: to drive development, strengthen communities and empower people.  Our work is people-centered, focusing on financing projects that meet essential needs, such as food, energy, infrastructure, employment (particularly relating to MSMEs), clean water and sanitation, healthcare and education. To date, the OPEC Fund has committed more than US$22 billion to development projects in over 125 countries with an estimated total project cost of US$187 billion. Our vision is a world where sustainable development is a reality for all.

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Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (22 April 2021)

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The Mauritius Commercial Bank Ltd (MCB) provides USD 60m funding to fuel Senegal’s national electrification and LNG-use ambitions

African trade finance sees $5 bn in portfolio outflows in Q1 2020 due to Covid-19, but opportunities exist – report

Egypt’s largest solar plant, Kom Ombo, receives US$ 114 million financing package

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