Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: APO

As South Africa’s current G20 presidency reinforces the country’s & continent’s geo-political importance, Counder (www.Counder.com), the global network connecting visionary leaders, is announcing key themes focused on Africa for its flagship Counder Conference 2026, chosen to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from January 27-29 2026.

With global macro-trends like AI-driven innovation, renewable energies, biotech and digital assets to play a big role at the future-forward Conference, African themes will play an important role too – as of the chosen event location and rising importance of the continent globally.

The time and place of the event reflects a key moment for South Africa’s and the continent’s international positioning. While the G20 presidency reinforces the country’s growing global significance, Counder Conference 2026 will look to sustain this momentum through private sector engagement, bringing together 500 carefully selected global leaders to continue high-level international dialogue based in the country.

Africa-Focused Trends & Topics

Counder Conference 2026 is designed around exchange, connection and collaboration. The format emphasises expert-guided roundtables, strategic breakouts, and a proprietary matchmaking system designed to facilitate meaningful connections between participants, including family office principals, institutional investors, venture capital partners, and industry leaders from across the globe.

The Conference will focus on tomorrow’s most important opportunities — with selected ones being focused on the continent. Rather than those being explored with theory experts, industry veterans from the regions are there to exchange with fellow attendees. The themes and confirmed leaders include:

• South Africa: At a Crossroads — Examining the country’s position as a gateway to continental markets and its evolving business environment.

Attending from South Africa are Counder Members like Louis Norval, property developer and benefactor of the arts; Michael Jordaan, technology pioneer and investor; Joshin Raghubar, philanthropist and venture developer and Basetsana Kumalo, family office investor and media personality.

• Nigeria: Bold and Untapped — Exploring Africa’s largest economy and its fintech, energy, and manufacturing potential.

Attending from Nigeria are Counder Members like Kola Aina, venture capital investor and art collector.

• Egypt: Past Meets Future — Investigating opportunities in North Africa’s economic hub and its strategic positioning.

Attending from Egypt are Counder Members like Sherine Kabesh, payments entrepreneur.

• The Continent’s Century — Broad discussions on Africa’s demographic dividend and emerging market dynamics.

Leaders from the continent attending represent important growth markets, like Kenya, for example represented by James Mwangi, climate investor. Additionally, pan-African investors in hospitality, like James Bailes; energy, like Reyburn Hendricks; fintech, like Johan Bosini and many others will give the international attendees a perfect sense for what it takes to succeed on the continent into the future.

Previous Counder gatherings have facilitated tangible business outcomes including strategic partnerships, co-investment opportunities, and cross-border deals.

Global Leaders Confirmed to Attend

Individuals attending include a wide variety of top decision-makers and thought leaders based across international regions — from Anuradha Das Mathur, economist from India to Oliver Merkel, serial entrepreneur from Germany, to Sudeep Ramnani, sports & technology investor based in the UAE, to Andrew Stewart, venture capitalist from the USA.

They will all be welcomed by amazing local stakeholders and in amazing locations, given that Counder has partnered with some of Cape Town’s most amazing venues and organisations, including Norval Foundation in Tokai and The German Residence by the German Government in Bishopscourt. In addition, excursions will be used to experience more of the city’s scenery – recently voted best in the world.

Representing 25 backers of the global Counder-network, CEO Michel Weiss and Chairman Leonard Stiegeler are looking forward to bringing the world to Cape Town in January 2026.

“South Africa’s G20 presidency showcases the country’s excellence in convening world-class global conversations,” said Michel Weiss. “While government leaders are to shape policy frameworks here, we are convinced Cape Town should host the world’s most influential private sector leaders as well.”

Leonard Stiegeler added: “Africa, with its fast-growing population, technology-forward societies and resource-rich environment, is a key stakeholder of the future. It is only natural to host a future-forward conference on this continent. South Africa, as one gateway to the continent for international investors, is a great place to do so.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Counder Network GmbH.

About Counder:
Counder is a global network that connects visionary leaders to collaborate on tomorrow’s most important opportunities. Through its four pillars — Conference, Calendar, Connect, and Context — Counder creates a trusted environment for high-calibre leaders to explore, connect and drive meaningful collaboration across industries and continents. Counder represents 30+ nationalities and facilitates over 5,000 trusted connections annually through its invite-only network.

For partnership opportunities and flagship conference information, visit: https://apo-opa.co/45RbWwi

Source: APO

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His Majesty King Mohammed VI has sent a congratulatory message to the President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, on the occasion of his country’s National Day.

In this message, His Majesty the King expresses His warm congratulations to Lula da Silva, along with His best wishes for further progress and prosperity for the Brazilian people.

The Sovereign seizes this opportunity to reaffirm His strong determination to continue working closely with the Brazilian President to strengthen and further develop the distinguished relations between Morocco and Brazil, in order to enhance their cooperation in various fields and meet the aspirations of the two friendly peoples.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.

Source: APO

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Prime Minister Dr. Moustafa Madbouly and Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineer Karim Badawi.

The Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy, said the Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources reviewed the latest developments in the mining sector, as well as mechanisms for attracting and stimulating foreign investments in this vital sector. He also presented the outcomes of his participation in the International Mining and Resources Conference held in Australia this month.

The Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources also reviewed the main pillars of the Ministry’s strategy during the current phase. This includes the status of discoveries, agreements, and the status of implementing ongoing related projects, in addition to the volume of crude oil and natural gas production during the period from July 2024 to August 2025. The presentation also addressed proposed methods for enhancing local production of petroleum and gas resources, as well as the development of infrastructure implemented to ensure the availability of necessary gas quantities to meet local market needs.

The spokesman added that the minister also reviewed the progress in implementing the strategy to transform Egypt into a regional energy hub. This is in addition to presenting the pillars of the Integrated and Sustainable Energy Strategy up to the year 2040. The minister discussed efforts to attract more international companies to invest in the petroleum and gas sectors, pointing to the positive developments in the activities of these companies in Egypt during the current period. This reflects growing confidence in Egypt’s investment climate and the promising opportunities and substantial potential the country holds in the oil and gas sectors.

President El-Sisi stressed the importance of providing further incentives and facilitations for investors to help boost investment in the petroleum sector and increase production to meet growing consumption and development needs.

The meeting also addressed the status of settling dues owed to foreign companies operating in Egypt. President El-Sisi emphasized the necessity of paying the dues of these companies and fully honoring all commitments to them, as this enhances the state’s credibility and reinforces trust in the investment climate.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President El-Sisi gave directives to continue the development of newly discovered wells and listing them on the production map, while intensifying exploration and search activities to further enhance Egypt’s position as a regional energy hub.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

Source: APO – Report:

Edson dos Santos, CEO of Etu Energias, shared that the company has closed nearly $1 billion in Merger & Acquisition (M&A) transactions in the last three years, reflecting the company’s drive to expand its portfolio in Angola. Speaking in an on-stage interview during the Angola Oil & Gas 2025 Conference and Exhibition, dos Santos underscored that, with the right partners, the company continues to pursue new M&A deals.

“Over the last three years, we have done close to $1 billion worth in M&A transactions. With the right partners, you can expect more M&A coming up for Etu Energias,” he shared.

With a goal to increase oil production to 80,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2030, Etu Energias is spearheading an ambitious exploration and production strategy in Angola, leveraging its position as the country’s largest private oil producer to unlock greater value from the country’s resources. Etu Energias’ ongoing projects include eight exploration projects, 10 development projects and seven redevelopment projects.

“We want to produce 80,000 bpd in the next five years and all the company’s activities are [geared towards] achieving this goal,” dos Santos said.

Offshore, the company kickstarted drilling activities at Block 2/05 in July 2025. The work program features three development wells, one exploration well and five technical interventions across existing wells. The company plans to complete exploration studies for the block in 2025, with drilling planned for 2025/2026. Onshore, Etu Energias continues to spearhead seismic research, with a view to advance exploration and unlock new development projects.

To support these activities, Etu Energias also plans to make an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2026. The listing aims to tap into new capital pools to support exploration and production projects. Dos Santos reaffirmed during the fireside chat that the company is on track to make an IPO. 

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

Source: APO – Report:

Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Petroleum and Gas Diamantino Azevedo announced that the country’s next licensing round will be opened by Q4, 2025, offering acreage in the Kwanza and Benguela basins. Speaking during a Ministerial Fireside Chat sponsored by Vitol at the Angola Oil & Gas Conference and Exhibition 2025, Minister Azevedo affirmed that the round falls part of efforts to sustain oil production above one million barrels per day (bpd) in 2026 and beyond.

The upcoming licensing round represents the final bid round under the country’s multi-year licensing strategy – launched in 2019 with a goal to award 50 Angolan concessions. Offering blocks in proven hydrocarbon basins, the round is expected to fuel exploration as the country strives to address production decline.

“We have a goal to achieve one million bpd in the next year. Even though we have a lot of activities and developments in certain areas, we are a country with matured wells in our fields. Our solution is to look for new deposits. Offshore and onshore, we have seen a growth in exploration across new blocks. The multi-year strategy ends this year, with one more bid round expected. The 2025 licensing round will be launched by the last quarter of this year,” stated Minister Azevedo.

The upcoming licensing round coincides with an ambitious strategy undertaken by the government to attract investment in both active and emerging basins. Complementing the licensing strategy is Angola’s permanent offer regime and marginal field prospects, both of which entice investment in undeveloped or smaller-scale assets.

According to Minister Azevedo, “We have legislation for the marginal fields. Another program that is going well is the internal basins. We still have a flexible strategy, where investors can [seize blocks].”

These reforms have not only attracted new investment in the sector but supported reinvestments by active players. According to Minister Azevedo, “When we decided to create legislative change, we invited the private sector to be part of this. This demonstrates our cooperative spirit, so that we can create win-win mechanisms. The process of reform is not finished; we continue to work on improving the legislation, implementation and regulation.”

Beyond international partnerships, Angola strives to enhance local participation in the oil and gas sector. Minister Azevedo highlighted the role of local players in the industry, underscoring the need to position Angolan entrepreneurs and businesses at the forefront of sectoral growth.

“We want to see more Angolans participating in the industry. We also want to see national Angolan companies to be more active in our economic growth. We want to bring legislation that supports this.” 

– on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.