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Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) has announced today the appointments of Sandeep Walia as Chief Operating Officer, Middle East and Jerome Briet as Chief Development Officer for Europe, Middle East &#038; Africa.

Walia will step into the role on July 1, 2021, following the retirement of current COO, Guido De Wilde, announced last month. Briet will take on the role from Carlton Ervin, who was recently appointed as Marriott’s Global Development Officer, International.
Walia, will be responsible for Marriott International’s 146 operating hotels across the Middle East, as well as Egypt and Turkey, representing 21 hotel brands across ten countries, while Briet will be responsible for driving Marriott’s growth trajectory and market position across EMEA, while supporting the company’s global-wide development vision.
In his new position, Walia will work to drive the company’s recovery across the Middle East and grow its presence across the region, while supporting the company’s vision to become EMEA’s favourite travel company.
Satya Anand, President EMEA, Marriott International, said, “It gives me great pleasure to announce that Sandeep has taken up this new role. With a career spanning several operational and leadership roles across multiple regions around the world, Sandeep brings extensive hospitality experience, strong relationships with the region’s ownership community, and comprehensive knowledge of hospitality.”
Prior to this role, Walia was Area Vice President for the United Arab Emirates and played a critical role in support the company’s hotels, guests and associates during the COVID-19 pandemic. Walia started in hospitality in 1996 before joining Marriott in 2005 as EAM Food &#038; Beverage at The Ritz-Carlton, Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt before taking up his first General Manager role at The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow. During his tenure in Egypt, he travelled to several hotels in Asia, Europe and the Middle East as a pre-opening hotel trainer for The Ritz-Carlton, driving brand awareness and service culture. In 2012, Sandeep was appointed as Area Vice President Europe for The Ritz-Carlton, Bulgari and EDITION hotels. In 2017, he took on the role of Area Vice President for Luxury Brands in Western Europe, overseeing 32 operational hotels before moving to UAE in April 2019 as the Area Vice President, Luxury Hotels.
Sandeep completed his studies in hospitality at the Indian Institute of Hotel Management and the Oberoi School of Hotel Management. A lifelong student, he obtained his Executive MBA from Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management in 2017.
As Chief Development Officer, EMEA, Briet will work to identify new opportunities for the business, owners and franchisees, and be responsible for shaping the strategic growth plan and leadership of the EMEA development team.
“I am delighted that Jerome has stepped into the role to lead Marriott’s development strategy across EMEA,” continued Anand. “With his extensive knowledge of hotel development and acquisitions, and his remarkable track record of growth for Marriott International, I know Jerome will drive great success for the company in the region.”
Prior to this role, Briet was Chief Development Officer, Middle East and Africa, and brings a wealth of experience and achievements from the region. Since joining Marriott in 2012, he has overseen tremendous growth in the Middle East and Africa, including some of the most renowned properties in the UAE such as Bulgari Resort &#038; Residences Dubai, Marriott Hotel &#038; Resort Palm Jumeirah, and The Ritz-Carlton properties in Ras Al Khaimah (Al Wadi Desert and Al Hamra Beach Resort).
Briet has more than 15 years of hospitality experience, starting as a night auditor for Marriott Vacation Club in 2003. He then left Marriott, to work at Jones Lang LaSalle, a global commercial real estate services company. Following this, he took up a role with Millennium &#038; Copthorne, where he oversaw Development &#038; Acquisitions for the Middle East, Africa and India. He rejoined Marriott in 2012 as Senior Director of Development Middle East and Africa, working his way up through different leadership positions within the Development team.
Briet completed his Bachelor’s degree in International Management at INSEEC University and received his MBA in International Hospitality and Real Estate Management from the ESSEC Business School in Paris.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Marriott International, Inc..
About Marriott International: Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of more than 7,600 properties under 30 leading brands spanning 133 countries and territories. Marriott operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy™, its highly-awarded travel program. For more information, please visit our website at www.Marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.MarriottNewsCenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook (https://bit.ly/3gpheFO) and @MarriottIntl on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3gtxCoP) and Instagram (https://bit.ly/3dwWyKg).
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Marriott International appoints Sandeep Walia as Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East and Jerome Briet as Chief Development Officer for Europe, Middle East & Africa

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Daily: Laboratory test: 7,312 Severe cases: 1,028 New recovered: 610 New deaths: 42 New cases: 1,792

Total: Laboratory test: 2,501,570 Active cases: 59,341 Total recovered: 179,315 Total deaths: 3,370 Total cases: 242,028
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Ethiopia. Media files

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid has received the March NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente in recognition of his dedicated efforts to address housing insecurity in Greater Philadelphia, the NBA (www.NBA.com) today announced. Each month the award recognizes a player who best reflects the passion that the league and NBA players share for giving back to their communities.

While Embiid has long been focused on addressing disparities in his local community and impacting the lives of youth and families, the COVID-19 pandemic emphasized the stark inequities present. This March, after being named a 2021 NBA All-Star starter for the fourth consecutive year, Embiid continued his efforts to combat homelessness in Philadelphia with a $100,000 contribution to three Philadelphia-based organizations: Youth Services Inc., Project HOME and Sunday Breakfast Mission. The donation provided 15,000 meals to those in need, 4,000 essential clothing items, medical treatment for 1,000 housing insecure individuals, access to a six-week summer camp for 50 young people experiencing homelessness and shelter for more than 300 teens facing housing insecurity. Embiid extended his support of local community members by assisting five families that had been greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, providing each with gifts and clothing, groceries and housing rent relief for the next year. 
Much of Embiid’s community efforts over the last year have focused on COVID-19 relief.  At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Embiid joined 76ers Managing Partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer to donate $1.3 million to Penn Medicine to develop antibody testing of frontline healthcare workers.  As part of his continued support for healthcare workers, he pledged $500,000 through the #FirstRespondersFirst campaign, an initiative of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global and the CAA Foundation, to provide PPE to frontline workers.
“I am humbled to be recognized as the recipient of the NBA Cares Community Assist Award,” said Embiid.  “It has always been incredibly important for me to use the platform I have been given to create positive change.  Housing insecurity and homelessness affect so many in our communities, and we need to come together, now more than ever, to support one another.  I am proud to support organizations like Covenant House Pennsylvania that are working every day to provide essential resources and services.”
Embiid was presented with the award during a special virtual ceremony with league, Kaiser Permanente and 76ers officials on Friday, and will also be recognized during the team’s home game tonight against the Golden State Warriors (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.)  In addition, Kaiser Permanente and the NBA will donate $10,000 on Embiid’s behalf to Covenant House Pennsylvania.
The NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente recognizes an NBA player each month who best reflects the passion that the league and its players share for giving back to their communities.  It honors the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece.  At the end of the 2020-21 regular season, the Season-long NBA Cares Community Assist Award winner will be announced.  To learn more, please visit www.CommunityAssist.nba.com/. 
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).
Media Contacts: Catriona Quinn cquinn@nba.com
Kelsey Boyd kboyd@nba.com
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Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid receives march NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente

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Tests conducted: 10,337,066 Positive cases identified: 1,566,769 Total recoveries: 1,490,143 Total deaths: 53,736 New cases: 1,089
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa, Department of Health. Media files

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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Malawi has registered seven new COVID-19 cases, 25 new recoveries and no new deaths. All new cases are locally transmitted: five from Lilongwe and two from MchinjiDistricts. No news deaths were registered.

Cumulatively, Malawi has recorded 33,941 cases including 1,138 deaths (Case Fatality Rate is at 3.35%). Of these cases, 2,133 are imported infections and 31,808 are locally transmitted. Cumulatively, 31,764 cases have now recovered (recovery rate of 93.6%) and 134 were lost to follow-up. This brings the total number of active cases to 905. There were four new admissions in the treatment units while no cases were discharged. A total of 15 active cases are hospitalised: seven in Blantyre, six in Lilongwe, and one each in Mzimba North and Kasungu Districts. On testing, 471 COVID-19 tests were conducted. Of these, 89 tests were through SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Diagnostic test while the rest were through RT-PCR. The positive cases out of the total translates to a positivity rate of 1.5% while a weekly positivity rate (seven days moving average) is at 3.6%. Cumulatively, 227,166 tests have been conducted in the country so far. On COVID-19 vaccination, cumulatively 257,754 doses have been administered in the country with 551 being administered.

We need to adjust our way of living in order to break the chain of transmission the virus in our communities. One of the ways that the virus may spread very fast is through public transport especially when the preventive measures are not adhered to. I should point it out that the more people interact, the closer is the distance (less than one meter), and the longer the interaction lasts, the higher the risk of spreading COVID-19. The higher the level of community transmission in an area, the higher the risk of catching COVID-19 virus.

In order to minimize the risk of transmission, it is important that everyone using public transport should adhere to the following preventive measures of COVID-19; &#8211; Mandatory proper wearing of face masks by everyone on board. The masks should fully cover the nose and the mouth. Those without masks should not be allowed to board the public transport &#8211; Strictly adhering to the seating capacity in conformity to the guidance issued by the Ministry of transport &#8211; Avoid touching the mouth and nose with has that have not been washed &#8211; Frequent handwashing with soap and water or use of hand sanitizers &#8211; The public transport crew to ensure frequent decontamination of most touched surfaces after each trip &#8211; Ensure adequate ventilation – use of air conditioners is discouraged

No one is safe until everyone else is safe. Get Vaccinated. Protect yourself. Protect your loved ones. Protect everyone. Call toll free 929.

Hon. Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, MP MINISTER OF HEALTH CO-CHAIRPERSON – PRESIDENTIAL TASKFORCE  
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health and Population, Republic of Malawi. Media files

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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In October 2019, the IGN FI (www.IGNFI.com) &#8211; BRLi consortium was awarded the regional contract to assess hazards, vulnerabilities and risks in the Member States of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). This is the international organisation for the economic, social and cultural development of the following Member States: Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Sao Tomé and Principe.

Financed by the European Union within the framework of the ACP-EU programme to strengthen resilience to natural hazards in ECCAS, and managed by the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), this project involved organising a regional workshop held by videoconference on 29 and 30 March 2021. The workshop marks the end of the project. 
Held over two half-days, the regional workshop to approve the Cartography of Natural Risks in ECCAS Member States took place on 29 and 30 March 2021 by videoconference, in view of the COVID-19 health situation.
Dr Honoré Tabuna, Commissioner for the Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development, spoke on behalf of His Excellency Ambassador Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, President of the Commission of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). In his opening address, he highlighted how demographic pressure, unplanned urbanisation, loss of biodiversity, climate change and degradation of soil and ecosystems were having a heavy impact on the daily lives of the 182 million people living in the 11 Member States of central Africa. Since 1970, sub-Saharan Africa has experienced over 2,000 disasters, just under half of them in the last decade. The most frequent disasters in sub-Saharan Africa include floods, droughts, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, volcanic eruptions, coastal erosion and epidemics.
Introducing the first day, team leader Gilles Martin outlined the project’s aims and challenges. Experts from IGN FI and BRLi then presented the methodologies used in their respective areas of expertise to assess hazards, vulnerabilities and risks. These included creating hydrological and hydraulic models, assessing geotechnical hazards, using climate data and studying coastal flooding and coastal erosion risks.
The second day consisted in presenting and approving the various project deliverables, including the ECCAS Risk Atlas produced as part of the project. This atlas outlines risks at two different levels: firstly, it presents the major hazard types and their geographical distribution in ECCAS (river flooding risks, geotechnical risks, climate risks and risks specific to coastal areas); secondly, it includes a focus on the main cities in the area and their specific risks.
Camille Pinet, project manager at IGN FI, says: ‘We have ensured that the results are as clear as possible and can be used by all types of user, from experts and technicians to decision-makers, including the general public.’ 
In addition to the atlas, all of the data collected and produced as part of the project has been organised into a database and made available to ECCAS, so that it can be used in the future by the experts responsible for continuing the work.
Marie-Christine Germain, project director at BRLi, says: ‘this unique knowledge base will enable all Member States to improve their knowledge of risk in accordance with the specific features of each region and therefore to create regional or national strategies in the areas with the highest risk exposure. In particularly sensitive areas, detailed specific actions can be developed to reduce risk, injury to persons and damage to property’. 
As Semingar Ngaryamngaye, Regional Coordinator in Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change Adaptation (DRM/CCA), points out, this project is not an end in itself. The study is a step along the way and is not sufficient for the creation of Risk Prevention Plans (RPPs). The atlas is therefore the initial basis for a structure summarising the knowledge needed for risk prevention, which must be based upstream on education and must form an integral part of the sustainable management of areas prone to significant socioeconomic and environmental change.
At the end of the workshop, the participants confirmed that it had been interesting and drew attention to the importance of training and knowledge transfer to national teams so that the data can be used and regularly updated.
The workshop gave participants the chance to comment on the content of the atlas and provide additional regional or local information.
This additional information, submitted at the workshop and during the days just before and after it, constitutes a valuable contribution to the project’s deliverables and will be included in the project before the final version is published.
Once it has been approved, the atlas will be delivered to ECCAS in digital format and in hard copy.
In total there were over 40 participants in the discussions (DRR [disaster risk reduction] focal points in the Member States, representatives and experts, and authorities and institutions responsible for disaster risk management).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of IGN FI.
Press contact: IGN FI Aude Areste Lamendour alamendour@ignfi.fr
About ECCAS: The Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) (www.ceeac-ECCSAS.org) mobilises all of its resources and energy to make Central Africa a region of peace, prosperity and solidarity based on a unified economic and political space within which each citizen can move freely, thereby ensuring sustainable and balanced development.
The ECCAS Commission, for its part, covers all of the activities of public institutions, private companies, civil society and the populations of the region in an integrative dynamic perspective based on five pillars: peace and security; common market; environment and natural resources; land use planning and infrastructure; gender and human development.
Created in October 1983, ECCAS acquired the status of Commission in December 2019 in order to implement its activities with greater efficiency in the face of the region’s challenges and thus meet the hopes of a very young population that sees the success of its future in regional integration.
About IGN FI: Part of the GEOFIT Group for its international projects and the technical operator for the export of IGN France, IGN FI is a major global player in geomatics. IGN FI uses its expertise in geodesy, metrology, cartography/national spatial data infrastructure, databases, geographic information systems, portals, etc. in many sectors. These include land planning, land administration, natural resource management, agriculture, risk management and defence. 100% active in export, it specialises in setting up geomatic projects. It has run a large number of projects in Africa. 
About BRLi: BRL Ingénierie (www.BRLI.brl.fr/en) is a subsidiary of the BRL Group, founded in 1955, which manages, under concession, a large hydraulic network for the Occitania Region comprising canals, dams, pumping stations and treatment plants and providing nearly 1 million people with water.
BRLi is a consultancy firm specialising in areas relating to water, the environment and land use planning. It operates in France and over 80 other countries on behalf of local communities and authorities and major international donors. It deploys its multidisciplinary expertise in projects seeking to meet the considerable challenges of climate change adaptation, food security, demographic change and the ecological transition.
About the ACP-EU programme: In 2015, the European Union and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States established an intra-ACP cooperation programme entitled Building Disaster Resilience to Natural Hazards in Sub-Saharan African Regions, Countries and Communities. The programme consists of five Result Areas, which are implemented by several partners and together make up a complete cycle of disaster risk management and capacity building measures.
Result Area 2, known more simply as ‘R2’, is one of two Result Areas managed by the World Bank/GFDRR (the other being Result Area 5) (www.GFDRR.org/en/result-area-2). The specific objective of Result 2 is to strengthen and accelerate the effective implementation of a comprehensive African disaster risk reduction (DRR) and disaster risk management (DRM) framework at regional level.
Media files

Natural risks cartography project in ECCAS member states : the final validation workshop took place on 29 and 30 March 2021

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The country recorded 366 positive Covid-19 cases on Sunday from a sample size of 3,664 tested. This brought the total number of confirmed cases to 151,653 from 1,603,332 cumulative tests conducted so far. Kenya’s positivity rate is at 10.0%.

From the cases, 354 are Kenyans while 12 are foreigners. 215 are males and 151 are females. The youngest is a three-month-old baby while the oldest is aged 86 years.

In terms of County distribution; Nairobi 177, Uasin Gishu 24, Kiambu 23, Kilifi 20, Nakuru 19, Kitui 19, Mombasa 12, Machakos 11, Busia 9, Murang’a 8, Kajiado 8, Kericho 6, Homa Bay 6, Isiolo 4, Bungoma 2, Trans Nzoia 2, Elgeyo Marakwet 2, Nyandarua 2, Kisii 2, Meru 1, Migori 1, Nandi 1, Narok 1, Nyamira 1, Nyeri 1, Siaya 1, Vihiga 1, Embu 1 and Kakamega 1.

18 deaths were also reported with one having occurred in 24 hours, 2 on diverse dates within the last one month, while 15 are late deaths conducted from facility record audits. This now pushes cumulative fatalities to 2,481.

280 patients recovered from the disease on Sunday, 207 from Home Based &#038; Isolation Care &#038; 73 from various health facilities. Total recoveries now stand at 101,642. Cumulative discharges from Home Based Care &#038; Isolation are 73,805 while 27,837 are from various health facilities.

A total of 1,620 patients are admitted in various health facilities across the country &#038; 5,832 patients are on Home Based Isolation &#038; Care.  254 patients are in the ICU, 56 of whom are on ventilatory support &#038; 155 on supplemental oxygen. 43 patients are on observation.

Another 218 patients are separately on supplementary oxygen with 204 of them in general wards and 14 in High Dependency Units (HDU).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Kenya.

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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Total cases: 23,888 (+22) Recovered: 22,241 (+159) | 93.1% Active cases: 1,322 In critical condition: 6 Tests: 1,256,919 (+3,172) Test positivity rate: 0.6% Vaccinated: 349,702 Deaths: 325 (+3) | 1.3%
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Health, Republic of Rwanda. Media files

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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26 new cases of COVID-19 in Nigeria;

Ebonyi-10 Lagos-9 FCT-2 Kano-2 Osun-2 Oyo-1

164,233 confirmed 154,332 discharged 2,061 deaths
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Media files

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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Africa Oil &#038; Power (www.AfricaOilAndPower.com) announces that it is evolving into Energy Capital &#038; Power (ECP), repositioning itself with a broader investment and energy outlook; the transformation will reflect a renewed focus on all segments of the energy value chain – fueled by the energy transition narrative­ and supported by expanded service offerings; the launch of ECP as an investment platform reflects the global nature of the company, covering the entire energy spectrum.

Africa Oil &#038; Power (AOP) is excited to announce that it is evolving into Energy Capital &#038; Power (ECP) to reflect the company’s growth into an integrated investment partner to the global energy sector.

The changing international investment environment, coupled with the global energy transition, is at the heart of the company’s transformation ­– recognizing a shift in the way business will be done in the future. The new brand reinforces the company’s position as the premier investment platform to the African energy industry and beyond, and serves as an opportunity to extend its reach across the entire energy value chain.

“At Africa Oil &#038; Power, our mission has always been to tell Africa’s energy narrative – that will not change. Yet with the events of the past year causing disruptions of seismic proportion to industries around the globe, the narrative itself has,” says Kelly-Ann Mealia, Chairperson of AOP. “We are excited to reposition the company within a broader energy and investment landscape and to reflect shifting priorities in environmental sustainability, inclusiveness and energy diversification. Our vision for the future of Africa is clear and our commitment to the continent is stronger than ever; we invite the African and global energy community to join us in redefining the future of our industry.”  

Since its inception in 2015, AOP has served as a champion for energy investment and capacity building across the continent, driven by a vision of Africa&#39;s natural resources as the foundation for its future. Through a line-up of networking events, investment reports, multimedia campaigns and conferences, AOP has united industry leaders, visionaries, investors and decision-makers to develop untapped growth potential within Africa’s frontier markets.  

ECP will continue to serve as the continent’s leading investment promotion platform while targeting sustainable development across all segments of the energy value chain, including solar and wind, hydroelectricity, hydrogen, power infrastructure, hydrocarbons exploration and production, refining and petrochemicals, gas-to-power and nuclear.

The brand refresh encompasses new service offerings, including strategic communications, custom publishing or events and bespoke creative and marketing solutions for both public and private sector clients. Expanded products and services complement the company’s robust 2021-2022 event calendar, which will see in-person and virtual conferences organized in South Sudan, the U.S., Senegal, Mozambique, South Africa, DRC, Angola and Nigeria.

“The evolution of our brand unites three key products under one company. Namely content creation, custom design solutions and widespread distribution, promotion and exposure,”  Giovanni Trevison, Creative Director, AOP highlights. “We have always had a strong design legacy and integrating these products together was a natural progression. ECP will not only prioritize local content in its products and services, but will adapt to the changing business landscape by offering both in-person and virtual conferences.”

Following the company’s entry into both African and non-African markets, the new brand will also place a renewed emphasis on identifying and positioning foreign players as strategic partners to the continent, as well as facilitating global and intra-African investment across sectors.

“We will continue to partner with governments, industry associations and leading media to tell the story of the African energy industry to a global audience. We thank our partners in government, ministries and clients who have continued to choose our platform to showcase and promote their projects. With a strong focus on transformation and moving forward, we will advance and highlight the transition of the African energy industry and cement our place as the investment platform for Africa and beyond,” states James Chester, Africa Oil &#038; Power Senior Director.

Energy Capital &#038; Power, formerly Africa Oil &#038; Power, invites investors to participate in South Sudan Oil &#038; Power 29-30 June 2021 and the U.S.-Africa Energy Summit on 12 July 2021 in Washington D.C. and October 4-5 2021 in Houston, as the company widens its horizons and builds on existing commitments to African growth. To find out more, please visit www.EnergyCapitalPower.com.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil &#038; Power Conference. Media files

Africa Oil & Power Transforms into Energy Capital & Power

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As of 18th April 2021, we report 74 new cases out of 4,999 tests (1% positivity), 163 recoveries &#038; 1 new death (MHSRIP); 610 new doses were administered.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI). Media files

Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

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As countries rebuild their economies following COVID-19, Africa needs to step up productive and infrastructural integration, participants heard at a regional presentation of the African Regional Integration Index (ARII) (https://bit.ly/3dsKMjV) held virtually last week.

The index,  a joint publication of the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) and the African Union Commission, provides up-to-date data on the status of regional integration in Africa and assesses the level of integration for every regional economic community and its member countries.

The Index report underlines the need for a renewed commitment to regional integration within Africa, speakers said. They noted that the beginning of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area in January 2021, amid the Covid-19 pandemic and its disruptive impact on movement and economies, had thrown this into sharper focus.

Alhaji Rashid Kibowa, Director of Trade at the East African Community Secretariat, said the Index report has great potential to address the three major challenges currently facing the continent:  the Covid-19 pandemic, implementation of the AfCFTA, and poverty reduction.
“There is a need for more dialogue on the ARII and methodology issues to expand the scope of coverage of the assessed integration areas. The fundamental issues behind the ARII ought to be whether integration exists for Africa and whether it is effective in terms of achieving poverty reduction and socio-economic transformation for the continent,” said Kibowa.

The report, released in May of last year, found that overall scores for countries in Southern and Eastern Africa show huge room for improvements, especially as to integration within the continent.

The Index indicates that overall, the level of integration on the continent is low, with an average score of 0.327. It notes that Africa is poorly integrated on the productive and infrastructural dimensions, which are key aspects forming the foundations upon which the other dimensions of regional integration depend to function

“The latest edition of the African Regional Integration Index is not only timely but handy to help any African country identify its main strengths and weaknesses with its regional integration performance,” said Stephen Karingi, the Director of the Regional Integration and Trade Division of the East African Community.

Jean-Guy Afrika, the African Development Bank’s Acting Director for the Regional Integration Coordination Office, said the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the continent, especially the low levels of intra-African trade and the proliferation of non-tariff barriers.
“The continent will only grow economically if we allow the free flow of goods and services across our borders, allow free movement of people, and scale up regional value chains. As a matter of urgency, we bring down tariff and non-tariff barriers, encourage cross-border trade, and open the African skies,” Afrika added.
The Index was presented to the tripartite region of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the East African Community, and the Southern African Development Community on 15 April, with a renewed call for strengthened supply chains and connectivity.
The index, along with its dedicated user-friendly platforms, (https://www.integrate-africa.org/ and https://arii.uneca.org/) provides a wealth of data on regional integration in Africa which can be used to further analyze and guide policy development.
In the coming months, the index will be presented to the Arab Maghreb Union and the Economic Community of Central African States.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Media Contacts: Economic Commission for Africa Senait Afework Bekele Email: afeworks@un.org; eca-atpc@un.org
Sophia Denekew Email: denekews.uneca@un.org
African Development Bank Emeka Anuforo Email:e.anuforo@afdb.org
African Union Commission Doreen Apollos Email: ApollosD@africa-union.org EconomicAffairs@africa-union.org

Covid-19 pandemic impetus for greater regional integration, African countries told at presentation of regional integration index report

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Today, alongside the development announcement of the EOS R3 (https://bit.ly/3uTm81Y), a high-speed, high-responsive professional mirrorless camera designed to give sports and news photographers the advantage capturing fast action, Canon Europe (www.Canon-europe.com) announces three new RF lenses.

The RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM (https://bit.ly/3x9ZCDN) and RF 600mm F4L IS USM (https://bit.ly/3aoec0J) join its extensive range of optically excellent, and industry leading, RF lenses built for Canon’s EOS R System – a System designed to future proof and give unparalleled capabilities for the photographers of today and tomorrow. Ideal for professional wildlife and sports photographers, these super telephoto lenses are the first in the RF line-up to feature a double power drive method, enabling cameras to focus faster than ever before, helping professionals keep track of action – even when shooting at 30fps.
Also launching today is the RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM (https://bit.ly/3ecsZwO) &#8211; the world’s first AF macro lens with 1.4x magnification [1]. This lens is a kitbag essential for all photographers, from enthusiasts to professionals, looking to advance their creative skills with the powerful benefits EOS R System cameras and lenses bring.
RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm F4L IS USM – super telephoto lenses with incredible focusing speeds
The RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm F4L IS USM are based, respectively, on the ground-breaking EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM and EF 600mm f/4L III USM – two much-loved super telephoto lenses for professional sports and wildlife photographers. While the optics and mechanics of the lenses are largely the same as the EF versions, the capabilities of these super telephoto lenses are next level, as they take full advantage of Canon’s revolutionary EOS R System and RF Mount.
Amine Djouahra, B2C Sales and Marketing Director at Canon Central and North Africa said, “Professionals using the lenses will enjoy incredible focal lengths – even more so when used with the 1.4x and 2x RF extenders – ultra-high optical performance, speedy focusing, reduced weight, and improved balance when using with a Canon EOS R System camera.”
The RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM and RF 600mm F4L IS USM boast the stand-out features of Canon’s RF lenses, such as 1/8th stop aperture control for video, and enhanced optical IS, a feature enabled by the RF Mount communication system, providing 5.5 stops [2]. In addition to this, the lenses support a double power drive method for faster AF with future bodies. As a result, professionals can shoot far away, fast moving action which would be over in a matter of milliseconds. Both lenses also feature three manual-focus speeds, for precise control and full-time manual focus – allowing adjustments to be made without switching modes. What’s more, professionals can store two focus pre-sets for quick recall – saving time when they need to react fast and enabling them to pull focus when shooting video. The focus ring can also be used as a control ring with some EOS R series bodies.
Thanks to the use of Fluorite and Super UD glass plus ASC and Super Spectra coatings, even at its maximum f/2.8 aperture, the RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM offers exceptional sharpness right across the frame. The RF 600mm F4L IS USM shares this same benefit of minimised distortion and flare – even at the lens’ f/4 max aperture – ensuring professional images are of the highest quality edge-to-edge. Operating confidently in low-light conditions, the RF 600mm F4L IS USM, thanks to its large f/4 aperture, and the RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM with its f/2.8 aperture, both support 5.5-stops of image stabilisation – reducing camera shake, even in dimly lit conditions, making them perfect for professionals to achieve the winning shot, whatever the conditions.
Built to inspire confidence, both lenses are lightweight and can withstand the rigors of professional use. Whether photographers are on a rainy touchline or a dusty safari, the lenses stand up to the test with their legendary L-series build quality and heat-reflecting white finish.
RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM – a picture perfect macro and portrait lens
The RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM is a truly versatile lens, and a kitbag ‘must have’ for professionals, semi-professionals and enthusiasts alike shooting macro, still life and portrait photography. Its higher-than-average magnification ratio 1.4:1 – made possible by the lens’ floating system and short back focusing – allows photographers to capture exceptional close-up detail. The flattering focal length of 100mm at f/2.8 aperture is perfect for those looking to take striking portraiture.
In addition to its incredible magnification, a standout feature, and an improvement from its EF version – the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM – is a new variable and adjustable Spherical Aberration Control ring. Photographers can vary the look of the background and foreground bokeh, while allowing them to create a soft-focus effect on the subject. It’s f/2.8 maximum aperture with 9-blades gives shallow depth of field and beautiful bokeh. Boasting the professional grade image quality seen throughout Canon’s RF lens line-up, the RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM’s advanced lens design ensures sharp, high-contrast images edge-to-edge.
The RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM also features up to 5-stops Optical Image Stabilization and 8-stops Combined IS (using CIPA standards) when used with the EOS R5 and EOS R6, significantly reducing camera shake while hand-held. Dual Nano USM AF provides smooth, accurate and high-speed auto focus that is virtually silent, while focus breathing is also suppressed – making it ideal for shooting movies and in post-production when Focus Stacking.
For more information on today’s launches – the RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM, RF 600mm F4L IS USM and RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM and the EOS R3 visit here &#8211; https://bit.ly/3uTm81Y.
[1] For an interchangeable autofocus lens, for full frame mirrorless cameras. Canon survey as of April 13, 2021
[2] Based on CIPA Standards
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).
Key Features:
RF 400mm F2.8L IS USM &#038; RF 600mm F4L IS USM
 	•  Large maximum aperture f/4 and f/2.8 respectively for the lens’ focal length, delivering excellent low light performance and image quality 	•  Image Stabilizer providing up to 5.5 stop (based on CIPA standards) 	•  Lightweight and easy to hand hold for long periods 	•  9-blade circular aperture capable of moving in 1/8th steps for smoother transitions of apertures changing during video recording 	•  Ring USM drive, high-speed CPU and optimised AF algorithms to provide a quiet and fast auto focusing 
RF 100mm F2.8L MACRO IS USM
 	•  Worlds first AF macro lens with an incredible 1.4x magnification (1.4:1) capability  	•  A variable Spherical Aberration Control ring can be used to adjust the subject softness and look of the Bokeh 	•  F2.8 maximum aperture gives a shallow depth of field 	•  9-blade circular aperture creates beautiful out of focus highlights (bokeh) 	•  Up to 5-stops optical IS (CIPA standard, using an EOS R) and up to 8-stops Combined IS using EOS R5 / EOS R6, with their in-body image stabiliser system 	•  Dual nano USM motors for smooth and fast AF 
Media enquiries, please contact: Canon Central and North Africa Mai Youssef e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com
APO Group &#8211; PR Agency Rania ElRafie e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com
About Canon Central and North Africa: Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2015 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region &#8211; by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.
Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.
Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://bit.ly/3twdt5g) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.
For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com
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Canon reveals three new RF lenses -including a ‘world first’ – offering photographers next-level capabilities

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.
In Senegal, 8 out of 10 workers are paid in cash. Most are temporary workers and excluded from health insurance. A survey revealed that 77% of temporary workers would be willing to receive their wages digitally if this gave them access to health insurance. These are some of the major findings of the publication (https://bit.ly/3anLM71) that the Senegalese government has launched today, with support from the Better Than Cash Alliance (United Nations) (www.BetterThanCash.org), the World Bank and the National Agency of Statistics and Demography of Senegal. Combining digital payments with health insurance benefits offers an excellent opportunity for social inclusion, formalization, and financial innovation.

Digital payments stimulate domestic production and consumption. If 50% of temporary workers in  Senegal received payments digitally, 45 billion CFA francs would be added to GDP per year (around $80 million USD). Paying workers digitally, speeds up the financial inclusion for the population, boosts business competitiveness and increases financial system liquidity. To tap into this potential, the SME Development Agency (ADEPME) plans to bolster its SME support fund with $20 million USD (around 11 billion CFA francs) from the World Bank. This will be used to strengthen SME digitization initiatives and support digital payment projects for workers.
High-level leadership speaks out in support of digital payments for workers
Senegalese President Macky Sall and H.M. Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, who serves as UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), have launched an appeal to fellow leaders, the private sector and civil society, inviting them to: &#8220;use this report to ensure digital payments are at the center of a sustainable and fair economic recovery. We look forward to jointly providing leadership on this agenda to achieve an inclusive and digitally enabled recovery,&#8221; the two leaders added.
To set an example, the President of Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, also decreed, in late 2020, the digitization of payments for workers in the administration of Burkina Faso. When the COVID crisis emerged, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) took decisions (https://bit.ly/3mZVAcr) aimed at reducing the circulation of cash in the 8 countries. These actions have had tangible impacts which are beginning to change the lives of workers and companies.
Digitizing payments and advancing universal health care coverage
While receiving a salary is often linked to health care contributions, globally at least 61% of workers operate in the informal sector (https://bit.ly/3sxhSUd) without adequate coverage, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). Indeed, in some countries, there is not always a legal obligation for employers to contribute to any kind of coverage for their informal/self-employed workers, which affects women more than men.
To meet this challenge of inclusion, the National Agency for Universal Health Coverage in Senegal has launched an ambitious digital payments platform (https://bit.ly/3n0Rv83). It has partnered with fintechs and private companies to link access to universal health coverage and digital payments &#8211; specifically targeting women. Flagship national enterprises such as the agricultural giant SODAGRI or SMEs such as QUALIOCEAN and Kossam SDE are setting an example by providing temporary workers with universal health coverage. More than 200,000 workers will now have access to quality, government-subsidized health care.
While 81% of national companies have fewer than 20 employees, on average hundreds or even thousands of temporary workers are employed in their supply chains. Employees are generally banked, but 93% of employees on temporary contracts are paid in cash. The latter are systematically excluded from the formal health system.
The successful transition towards digital payments
Three obstacles have limited the growth of payment digitization in Africa: the size of the informal sector, sometimes up to 90% of the economy; the historically low financial inclusion rate; and most importantly, 21% of African workers receive a wage keeping them below the poverty line.
This has all changed dramatically. Financial inclusion has surged since 2010 (https://bit.ly/3gmU0Aq) with the arrival of electronic money issuers and fintech.
The country&#39;s largest employer, Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise, has successfully digitized payment for around 8,000 workers via a partnership with local fintech. &#8220;We wanted to digitize payments without using the banking system, which isn’t suited to some populations,&#8221; noted Claude Fizaine, the company’s Secretary General, in an interview with an African media outlet (https://bit.ly/3x8hvmn). “For employers, the benefits of digitizing payments include avoiding the constraints of managing large amounts of cash, and all the risks that distribution can involve. It also makes it possible to offer employees tools tailored to their financial and family situations, which can only have a positive impact on their personal and professional lives,&#8221; he added.
WAEMU&#39;s innovations should continue to inspire the rest of Africa. Since 2012, it has been the continent&#39;s engine for economic growth and stability (https://bit.ly/3x23abr). The examples of Senegal and its neighbours reinforce the ILO&#39;s global agenda (https://bit.ly/2Qe24IW) that could well make digital payments for workers a new global standard for promoting decent work.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Better Than Cash Alliance.
Media Contact: Better Than Cash Alliance Angela Corbalan angela.corbalan@uncdf.org
World Bank Mademba Ndiaye mademba@worldbank.org
ANSD Awa DIOP awa.diop@ansd.sn
Note to editors: This study was carried out to support the Senegalese state&#39;s payment digitization actions. It is the result of close collaboration between the United Nations-based Better Than Cash Alliance, the World Bank, and the National Agency of Statistics and Demography of Senegal (ANSD).
Data were collected from 300 companies of all sizes, operating in 19 economic sectors and 14 regions.
In addition to the main report, 3 complementary case studies offer specific information on experiences with digitizing workers&#39; wages in Senegal, namely:
 	•  Digital payroll reduces cash management costs: the Regional Express Train case (https://bit.ly/3sp4aCQ) 	•  Towards the modernisation and professionalisation of farmers: The Laiterie du Berger case (https://bit.ly/3uZkhZs) 	•  Employee well-being, a pillar of local ecosystem stability: The Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise case (https://bit.ly/3ehz3Uu) 
This report presents a representative and concrete analysis of the lessons learned from the digitization of worker payments to promote economic recovery.

West Africa launches new payments digitization agenda

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By NJ Ayuk, Chairman of the African Energy Chamber (www.EnergyChamber.org)

If someone were to put me on the spot and ask me to name an environmentalist group, I’d probably blurt out the first thing that comes to mind, Greenpeace. There are obvious reasons for this: Greenpeace has been around for more than 50 years, and it has done a masterful job of bringing environmental concerns to the world’s attention and keeping them there. The group has a strong track record when it comes to advocacy and awareness, and it has a global reach. It’s truly one of the most visible non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the world.
And that’s why I see it as significant that Greenpeace’s African division has come out swinging for a major new oil pipeline slated for construction in Uganda and Tanzania. Let me explain what I mean.
What’s at Stake
On April 14, Greenpeace issued a statement expressing dismay about the signing of a new agreement on the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), a midstream project involving Uganda, Tanzania, the French major Total, and China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC).
The agreement serves to remove one of the final obstacles to the building of the pipeline, which will transport crude oil from fields in western Uganda, near Lake Albert, to a port on the Tanzanian coast. As such, it also clears the way for Total and CNOOC to set a concrete schedule for development of the upstream assets that will fill the line — and for investors to start pumping more than $5 billion into East Africa.
Greenpeace believes that Uganda and Tanzania ought to turn down this foreign direct investment (FDI). They explained their position by pointing out that EACOP poses environmental risks &#8211; which is hardly surprising, given their record on all seven continents. But they also argued that there were hard economic and political reasons to ditch the pipeline. Specifically, Greenpeace asserted that the building of the pipeline would have the following negative effects:
 	It would stymie the development of renewable energy and the creation of so-called green jobs. 	It would benefit large multi-national corporations and not local communities. 	It would involve Uganda and Tanzania in “neo-colonial projects.” 
These are strong words to use, and they deserve a strong — and serious — response from Africans.
I have one: Greenpeace and Western Anti African energy groups, you’re wrong.
Oil vs. Renewables: “Both-And,” Not “Either-Or”
First, you’re wrong to predict that renewables will be crowded out if an oil pipeline is built. That’s not true.
EACOP is an export-oriented project, in that it’s designed to pump 216,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil, or about 83% of peak output from Uganda’s Kingfisher and Tilenga fields, to the Tanzanian coast so that it can be loaded onto tankers and sold on the world market. In other words, most of Uganda’s oil won’t be going to refineries so that it can be processed into fuel for local power plants.
As a result, EACOP won’t help Uganda or Tanzania overcome their domestic energy deficits, which are considerable. These two countries will still need more electricity to support industrialization initiatives and improve citizens’ quality of life after the pipeline is built. They’ll still need power plants — and they should try to meet that need by building solar farms, wind parks, and hydroelectric dams. I happen to think they should also build natural gas-fired thermal power plants (TPPs), which boast lower emissions than facilities that burn petroleum products, but my point is: There’s nothing about building an oil pipeline that takes renewable energy off the table. (In fact, small-scale, locally-oriented renewable facilities may also have the advantage of not being subject to the deficiencies of East Africa’s transmission networks.)
So it’s wrong to describe this as an “either-or” situation, in which a binary choice must be made. It’s a “both-and” situation. Tanzania and Uganda stand to benefit from pursuing both renewables and an oil pipeline. Let’s not stand in their way by framing the matter incorrectly.
Local Impact and Local Content
Second, you’re wrong to conclude that EACOP overlooks the interests of Ugandan and Tanzanian citizens and the communities along the pipeline route.
Yes, Total and other corporations involved stand to benefit from this project. (If they didn’t, they’d never agree to pump billions of dollars into it, and they might have a hard time convincing reputable service providers to sign contracts.) Greenpeace has never invested in any country and has never created a job. Okay they create a few jobs for drivers of the western aid workers in Africa.
But Uganda and Tanzania will benefit, too from Total’s investment. These two countries will earn revenues from oil flows through the pipeline and from oil sales. (Uganda alone may bring in as much as US$2 billion per annum over a period of at least 20 years.) Their governments will collect taxes from the local contractors that see their income rise as a result of their involvement in the project. Their businesses will profit from dealings with Total and CNOOC, which will have to hire local contractors in order to comply with local-content regulations and uphold their own contractual commitments. Their people will reap the rewards of the social welfare and infrastructure development projects these companies plan to carry out. Their societies as a whole will benefit from the construction of new infrastructure facilities such as roads, airports, hotels, and communications networks.
What’s more, ordinary Ugandans and Tanzanians will have a better chance of finding work once Total starts building the pipeline, for this project promises to create jobs — tens of thousands of them, and perhaps more than 100,000 of them overall. Samia Suluhu Hassan, the president of Tanzania, said on April 11 that she expected EACOP to create at least 10,000 jobs.
Mary Goretti Kitutu, the energy minister of Uganda, went into more detail, saying on the same day that she expected around 14,000 men and women to be hired directly by Total and CNOOC. About 57% of these people will be local workers, she added. She also stated that the upstream and midstream projects were likely to create many more jobs indirectly, with contractors to Total and CNOOC hiring around 45,000 people and businesses in other sectors taking on perhaps another 105,000 employees to handle the extra activity arising from oil operations. Facts and truth can be stubborn for those who believe foreign aid, begging and immigration to Europe should be the only way out for African youth.
Of course, these jobs won’t all last forever. Many of them will involve construction or related activities, and these will naturally come to an end once the construction projects are finished. While they exist, though, they will give tens of thousands of Africans the chance to earn larger salaries — and, potentially, gain more experience and obtain more training than they had before and start a sustainable business. As such, they have the potential to improve tens of thousands of lives in Africa — not just by increasing wages, but by creating opportunities for local workers to pick up skills they can still use after the pipeline is finished.
So it’s wrong for Greenpeace and the anti-African energy crowd to say these projects merely pay lip service to local communities. Officials in Uganda and Tanzania have worked hard to ensure that the EACOP project has a far-reaching and positive impact, and they have established new laws and policies to guard their citizens’ interests.
Take Up the NGO’s Burden: Who Are the Real Neo-Colonialists?
Finally, Greenpeace and the western anti-African energy crowd are wrong to describe EACOP as a “neo-colonial” endeavor. Come on this gives Chutzpah a new meaning.
Yes, there are foreign companies involved – Total, based in France, a former colonial power, and CNOOC, a company based in China, a rising power that stands ready to assist less-developed countries, provided that they agree to loan terms that are sometimes predatory. And yes, the largest portion of the EACOP consortium has been assigned to Total, which holds a stake of 72%. (CNOOC, meanwhile, has 8%.) But these foreign companies aren’t working alone. EACOP will also include Uganda National Oil Co. (UNOC), with 15%, and Tanzania Petroleum Development Corp. (TPDC), with 5%.
Take a close look at those numbers Greenpeace. You’ll see that both transit states have an equity stake in the pipeline — and that one of them has a larger stake than Total’s Chinese partner. Let me also point out that even if Total does have the largest stake, it is also serving as operator of the project and will assume most of the risk. As such, it stands to lose much more than UNOC, TPDC, or CNOOC if EACOP fails. That is how free markets works. You can’t love jobs and hate those who create jobs. Let’s face it, we in Africa need more free markets than communism. Free markets are still our best path to prosperity.
Tell me, how exactly is this a “neo-colonial” arrangement? Have Uganda and Tanzania really bowed under pressure from powerful external forces, or have they spent years negotiating a deal with two foreign companies that agreed to their conditions?
And speaking of pressure from powerful external forces, is Greenpeace’s approach truly free of “neo-colonial” elements? I didn’t know Greenpeace was a Pan Africanist NGO. Is the NGO using its position as one of the world’s most well-known environmental groups to ensure that local environmental advocates have a bigger bully pulpit? Is its opposition to EACOP rooted in the dreams and desires of ordinary Ugandans and Tanzanians, or is it trying to impose a solution from outside, on the basis of the global environmental movement’s pre-existing animus towards fossil fuels?
It’s wrong to use a historically and emotionally loaded word like “neo-colonialism” in this instance. It’s wrong to imply that Tanzania and Uganda have been coerced into working with foreign corporations, and it’s wrong to invoke colonialism in the hope of convincing Africans to listen to a different group of people who think they know best. Let Africans decide for themselves!
Balancing Environmental Risks with Other Crucial Considerations
Listen, I don’t fault Greenpeace for the concerns it expresses about environmental risks.
The NGO is not wrong to point out that with pipelines, there will always be the danger of spills, leaks, and damage to surrounding ecosystems and habitats. I hope it continues to advocate fiercely for the African landscapes that Greenpeace mentions, such as the Murchison Falls National Park, which is the largest and oldest nature reserve in Uganda. That advocacy is its mission — and frankly, the business community needs to listen to critics as well as cheerleaders so that it can learn, improve, and give back to host communities. (Government officials must do the same so that they protect their constituents even as they guard revenue streams.)
But Greenpeace is wrong to argue that EACOP is not worth pursuing because it will overshadow renewable energy, because it will ignore the interests of the countries involved, or because it represents some type of neo-colonialism. Instead, it’s overstepping &#8211; and in the process of doing so, it’s wasting time that could be spent looking for ways to balance environmental protection with other crucial considerations, such as job markets, entrepreneurship, energy poverty, and budget revenues.
So let’s not waste any more time. Let’s strive towards that balance.
Let’s start now.
 Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
NJ Ayuk is Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, CEO of pan-African corporate law conglomerate Centurion Law Group, and the author of several books about the oil and gas industry in Africa, including Amazon and Wall Street journal bestselling Billions at Play: The Future of African Energy and Doing Deals.
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Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania (By NJ Ayuk)

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Team Qhubeka ASSOS (www.TeamQhubeka.com) has named its line-up for the five-stage Tour of the Alps which features a return to racing for Nicholas Dlamini, as one of two South Africans to feature in the team.

Dlamini, who recently placed third at the South African road race championships, returns to European racing following earlier appearances in the season at Grote prijs Jean-Pierre Monsere, Le Samyn and Tour de la Provence.
Dlamini’s ‘s joined by Reinardt Janse van Rensburg and Lasse Norman Hansen, who will play crucial support roles throughout.
Domenico Pozzovivo and Kilian Frankiny will carry the main load of the climbing duties during the week where they’ll be calling on the support of youngsters Karel Vacek and Connor Brown in what’s set to be an exciting race.
The highly anticipated race gets underway with a first stage of just over 140km from Brixen to Innsbruck.
We’d like to thank Nigel Malkin (https://bit.ly/32qJnnR) for announcing our team for the race, and for his incredible support of the Qhubeka Charity.
Tour of the Alps line-up [squad numbers]:
 	Nicholas Dlamini [17] 	Lasse Norman Hansen [44] 	Kilian Frankiny [19] 	Reinardt Janse van Rensburg [77] 	Domenico Pozzovivo [03] 	Karel Vacek [00] 	Connor Brown [06] 
Alex Sans Vega – Sports Director
As you can see from the start list its a climbing race with a lot of good climbers &#8211; GC riders &#8211; coming to the race, so it’s going to feature a very high level of climbers. For us, our roster is not packed with climbers, only really Pozzo and Kilian, so the main target of the race is for a final preparation for them as we look towards the Giro.
Saying that, of course, if any opportunities come along then obviously we will go for it and for the rest of the guys will be to support Pozzo. On day one we will need to see as it could maybe finish in a bunch sprint and if that’s the case, and if we have some sort control, then we will try and sprint with Reinie.
The rest will be up to the climbers but it’s going to be a good race for the youngsters like Connor and Karel to find their legs in a high-quality climbing race and good experience for the future.
So without many climbers we need to be creative, visible, and look at breakaway opportunities on most days which won’t be easy but we will try to manage it as best as possible to be there, every day.
Nic Dlamini
It’s going to be an interesting race for me as I having been out of racing for some time but I think I just need to get a few stages in to see where I am at; after that then look to build the confidence from there.
We’ve got a good, young team here so it should a solid couple of days and see what we can get out of the race. It will be nice to put ourselves in the front, like all other races and race together as a team.
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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Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Covid-19 pandemic impetus for greater regional integration, African countries told at presentation of regional integration index report

Canon reveals three new RF lenses -including a ‘world first’ – offering photographers next-level capabilities

West Africa launches new payments digitization agenda

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania (By NJ Ayuk)

Dlamini returns for Tour of the Alps

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Marriott International appoints Sandeep Walia as Chief Operating Officer for the Middle East and Jerome Briet as Chief Development Officer for Europe, Middle East & Africa

Coronavirus – Ethiopia: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid receives march NBA Cares Community Assist Award presented by Kaiser Permanente

Coronavirus – South Africa: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Coronavirus – Malawi: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Natural risks cartography project in ECCAS member states : the final validation workshop took place on 29 and 30 March 2021

Natural risks cartography project in ECCAS member states : the final validation workshop took place on 29 and 30 March 2021

Coronavirus – Kenya: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Coronavirus – Rwanda: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Coronavirus – Nigeria: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Africa Oil & Power Transforms into Energy Capital & Power

Coronavirus – Zambia: COVID-19 update (18 April 2021)

Covid-19 pandemic impetus for greater regional integration, African countries told at presentation of regional integration index report

Canon reveals three new RF lenses -including a ‘world first’ – offering photographers next-level capabilities

West Africa launches new payments digitization agenda

Greenpeace and Western Anti Africa Energy Groups Take the Wrong Approach to East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) in Uganda and Tanzania (By NJ Ayuk)

Dlamini returns for Tour of the Alps

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