Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

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Institute for the Management of State Assets and Holdings (IGAPE) Launches Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Angola’s Largest Telecommunications Company

Source: APO – Report:

The Institute for the Management of State Assets and Holdings (IGAPE) (https://IGAPE.MinFin.Gov.ao), acting as the selling shareholder, launched the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of a 15% stake in UNITEL, marking one of the largest capital market transactions ever undertaken in Angola.

The transaction comprises the sale of 7,500,000 ordinary registered book-entry shares, representing 15% of UNITEL’s share capital, each with a nominal value of AOA 5,000.00. Upon completion of the offering, all 50,000,000 shares, representing the company’s entire issued share capital, are expected to be admitted to trading on the Angola Debt and Securities Exchange (BODIVA).

The final offer price will be determined within a price range of AOA 36,036.00 to AOA 40,040.00 per share. The price will be set following the bookbuilding process, based on investor demand during the subscription period.

The IPO comprises two tranches. The Employee Offering reserves 1,000,000 shares, representing 2% of UNITEL’s share capital, for preferential subscription by eligible employees. The General Public Offering comprises 6,500,000 shares, representing 13% of the company’s share capital, together with any shares remaining unsubscribed under the Employee Offering.

The subscription period opens at 2:00 p.m. on 6 July and closes at 3:00 p.m. on 24 July 2026, allowing retail, corporate and institutional investors to participate in what is expected to be a landmark transaction for Angola’s capital market.

Investors may submit subscription orders through the participating financial intermediaries: BFA Capital Markets, Áurea SDVM, Distribuidora Valor SDVM, Eaglestone SDVM, Standard Invest SDVM and Hemera Capital Partners Securities. Orders may also be placed through Banco Caixa Geral Angola and Banco de Fomento Angola via their branch networks, digital platforms, websites, telephone banking services and email.

With more than 21 million customers and operations across all 18 provinces of Angola, UNITEL has been the country’s leading telecommunications operator for the past 25 years. The IPO provides Angolan citizens and investors with the opportunity to become shareholders in one of the country’s most established companies and to participate in its future growth while supporting the continued development of Angola’s capital market.

– on behalf of Institute for the Management of State Assets and Holdings (IGAPE).

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North West invites entries for youth and women entrepreneur awards

Source: Government of South Africa

North West invites entries for youth and women entrepreneur awards

The North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) has called on eligible farmers and agricultural enterprises to enter the 2026 Youth and Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

The annual awards form part of the department’s ongoing commitment to recognising the contribution of women and young people in agriculture, while promoting and advancing their participation in the agricultural sector as a way to strengthen food security, job creation, and driving economic growth.

North West MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Madoda Sambatha, said the awards serve as an important platform to acknowledge excellence in agriculture, while encouraging young farmers and women entrepreneurs to remain committed to the sector despite the challenges they may face.

“The competition is open to youth- and women-owned agricultural enterprises operating in the North West province and meeting the required eligibility criteria. Participation in the youth category is limited to individuals between the ages of 18 and 35. Enterprises must be at least 80% owned, managed, and operated by youth or women,” Sambatha said.

The submissions for applications close on Friday, 28 August 2026, and winners will be announced during an awards ceremony to be held in Heritage Month (September).

Awards will be presented in the following categories:

•    Best Youth/Woman Subsistence Farmer
•    Best Youth/Woman Smallholder Farmer
•    Best Youth/Woman Commercial Farmer
•    Best Youth/Woman Exporter
•    Best Youth/Woman Person with Disability
•    Best Youth/Woman Agro-Processor
•    Best Youth/Woman Worker
•    Overall Youth/Woman Winner

“Interested applicants are encouraged to contact their district coordinators to obtain application forms. Further enquiries may be directed to the Provincial Project Coordinator, Poiho Ramotlatsi, on 071 367 5236,” the department said.

Applicants may also visit their nearest district or local agriculture office for assistance with application forms.

The department said all applications will undergo a verification process in line with the competition rules, with shortlisted projects to be assessed through site visits before the final nominees are confirmed. – SAnews.gov.za

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Qatar Strongly Condemns Repeated Iranian Attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait

Source: Government of Qatar

Doha | July 09, 2026

The State of Qatar strongly condemns the repeated Iranian attacks on the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Kuwait, considering them a blatant violation of the sovereignty of these countries and a flagrant breach of international law.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses the need to spare the region the repercussions of these unjustified attacks, to continue the path of dialogue and diplomacy, to de-escalate tensions, and to build upon the gains achieved within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding, thereby contributing to the consolidation of security and stability at the regional and international levels.

The Ministry reiterates the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the State of Kuwait, and its support for all measures they take to preserve their sovereignty and security.

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International Firearm Destruction Day: SAPS destroys over 11 000 firearms

Source: Government of South Africa

International Firearm Destruction Day: SAPS destroys over 11 000 firearms

Police Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo on Thursday led the destruction of 11 859 firearms and firearm parts as the South African Police Service (SAPS) marked International Firearm Destruction Day, a United Nations campaign observed annually on 9 July.

The destruction process included 9 596 handguns, 1 102 rifles, 798 shotguns, 33 combination firearms and 330 firearm parts, bringing the total number of firearms destroyed by SAPS over the past seven years to 317 811.

The Deputy Minister Boshielo was joined by the Divisional Commissioner for Visible Policing and Operations, Lieutenant General Maropeng Mamotheti, the Sedibeng District Commissioner, Major General Nkhensani Mukhwevho, the Acting Component Head for Firearm, Liquor and Second-Hand Goods, Brigadier Nonhlanhla Sikhakhane and the Section Head for Firearm Compliance and Enforcement, Brigadier (Dr) Simon Bopape.

The majority of the destroyed firearms were confiscated during various policing operations, including Operation Shanela. 

Of those destroyed, 157 firearms were linked to finalised cases involving crimes committed against women and children, while three firearms were linked to cash-in-transit robberies. Other firearms were voluntarily surrendered or handed in during firearm amnesty periods.

The provincial breakdown of firearms destroyed is as follows:
– Gauteng: 3 863
– KwaZulu-Natal: 2 047
– Western Cape: 2 037
– Eastern Cape: 1 500
– Free State: 800
– Mpumalanga: 500
– Northern Cape: 419
– Limpopo: 371
– North West: 322

In addition to these firearms, SAPS also destroyed 4 089 blank guns, airguns and homemade firearms as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate both conventional and improvised weapons from circulation. 

Although often regarded as less lethal, these weapons can be modified to fire live ammunition and are frequently used in the commission of crime.

Boshielo said the destruction of firearms forfeited to the State ensures they can never re-enter circulation and reflects government’s unwavering commitment to reducing violent crime.

“It is pleasing to note that we are also destroying firearms today that were used in incidents of gender-based violence. Firearms are destroying our families and our communities. Today’s destruction demonstrates government’s commitment to detecting and permanently removing illegal firearms and ammunition from our country,” she said. 

The SAPS continues to seize no fewer than 100 illegal firearms every week through tracing operations, stop-and-searches and targeted crime-combating initiatives.  During last week’s nationwide Shanela II operations alone, police confiscated 121 unlicensed firearms and 2 584 rounds of ammunition.

All firearms destroyed were audited and subjected to ballistic testing to determine whether they had been used in the commission of other crimes, including firearms surrendered during amnesty periods. – SAnews.gov.za

 

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South African youth encouraged to become job creators

Source: Government of South Africa

South African youth encouraged to become job creators

Fifty years after the class of 1976 relied strictly on courage and dreams to confront the apartheid regime, government is challenging today’s youth to adopt a new generational mission to leverage State-backed digital platforms and funding networks to achieve financial liberation.

Speaking during a Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) webinar on government opportunities for youth, Deputy Government Spokesperson William Baloyi emphasised that while the fundamental resilience of South African youth remains unchanged, the tools available to them have evolved dramatically.

“The generation of 1976 had a mission, and the mission was to fight the unjust system of education. Today’s youth, I think, also have to have a generational mission. 

“Today’s youth have platforms, opportunities, and other avenues that the government has provided. Today’s youth… have vehicles that they can use, but they should carry with them that courage and those dreams,” he said.

Those vehicles available to youth include, among others:

  • The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention.
  • The National Youth Development Agency.
  • The sayouth.mobi site.
  • The National Youth Service.
  • The National Youth Empowerment Fund.

“Government remains committed to expanding access to skills development, employment opportunities, entrepreneurship support and funding so that more young people can participate meaningfully in the economy.

“Our policy and our priority, still remains as government, to ensure that the young people are not only encouraged to seek opportunities, but are actively connected to practical pathways that lead to earning.

“We want the youth not only to be job seekers, but to be job creators,” Baloyi stated.

Furthermore, the young people were reminded to remain vigilant against modern digital threats.

While platforms like the zero-rated sayouth.mobi offer free access to verified job and training networks, social media has also given rise to human-trafficking and job scam lures that have trapped desperate citizens abroad.

“They promise them good jobs… They have been led to get into the jobs, only to find that those are not the real jobs. Make sure that you are alive to misinformation and disinformation. No young person should be left behind,” Baloyi said.

South Africa recently observed Youth Month in June. It culminates in National Youth Day on June 16, which commemorates the historic 1976 Soweto Uprising against apartheid education policies  – SAnews.gov.za

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Madlanga Commission granted reporting deadline extension

Source: Government of South Africa

Madlanga Commission granted reporting deadline extension

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the reporting deadline of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference, and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, known as the Madlanga Commission.

The Commission will now submit its final report on Monday, 16 November 2026, instead of the end of August.

“The extension granted by the President sets an evidence deadline of Friday, 2 October 2026, and a reporting deadline of Monday, 16 November 2026, to enable the Commission to close off topics it has opened up in the course of hearings to date.

“The extension allows the Commission to hear evidence on all of the matters listed in its terms of reference. Without an extension, the Commission will have to leave large parts of its work unfinished,” the Presidency explained in a statement.

The Commission was established to investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025 relating to criminality, political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system.

Two interim reports have already been submitted to President Ramaphosa.

“President Ramaphosa once again expresses his deepest appreciation for the work conducted by Commission as well as for the manner in which law enforcement agencies are following up testimony emerging from Commission hearings,” the statement read. – SAnews.gov.za

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Chikunga calls for stronger BRICS alliance to unlock women’s economic power

Source: Government of South Africa

Chikunga calls for stronger BRICS alliance to unlock women’s economic power

Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga has called for a stronger BRICS partnership to accelerate women’s economic empowerment, saying the bloc has the potential to become a global force for women-led development.

Addressing the BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Women’s Affairs virtually on Wednesday, Chikunga said women’s empowerment must be treated as a core driver of economic growth, innovation and sustainable development, rather than a narrow social policy issue.

“Our shared task is to ensure that women’s empowerment is not treated as a narrow social policy issue, but as a central developmental imperative,” she said.

The BRICS grouping — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and newer members Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  — represents major emerging markets and developing countries, with a growing share of global economic output. 

Across these countries, women are increasingly driving entrepreneurship, innovation, agriculture, digital services and community development, yet many still face barriers to finance, leadership opportunities, technology access and equal participation in the economy.

Chikunga said closer cooperation among BRICS nations is essential to eliminate these barriers, expand women’s participation in leadership and decision-making, and improve access to finance, entrepreneurship, education and digital opportunities.

“Through the leadership of India [BRICS 2026 chair], we believe this platform will help us advance joint initiatives on women-led development – recognising women as leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and drivers of sustainable change across our economies,” she said.

The Minister said the meeting’s focus areas — governance and leadership, financial and digital inclusion, entrepreneurship and skills, climate action, food security and nutrition — are deeply interconnected and critical to achieving meaningful gender equality.

The BRICS Ministerial Meeting on Women’s Affairs was established during South Africa’s BRICS chairship in 2023 to create a dedicated platform for Member States to coordinate efforts on women’s rights, economic empowerment and inclusive development. Since its establishment, the forum has become an important mechanism for sharing policy experiences and identifying practical ways to increase women’s participation in the economy.

Expanding inclusion

Highlighting South Africa’s own efforts, Chikunga said government is finalising a Women’s Economic Assembly framework aimed at increasing women’s representation in procurement structures, state-owned enterprise boards and decision-making bodies across both the public and private sectors.

She said the initiative is grounded in Section 9 of the Constitution and seeks to move women beyond consultative participation to meaningful representation and influence.

On financial inclusion, Chikunga said South Africa is advancing a Cooperative Banking Institution Initiative designed to help close the estimated US$1.7 trillion global financing gap faced by women entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to build a women-owned and women-controlled banking architecture that addresses challenges such as limited collateral, gender bias in lending and financial products that do not adequately serve women.

Chikunga also highlighted the role of social protection programmes, including the Child Support Grant, which reaches more than 13 million children, as well as the Older Persons Grant, Disability Grant and Social Relief of Distress Grant, which provide critical support to millions of women, who are the primary caregivers in many households.

Chikunga said the implementation of the Public Procurement Act, which sets aside 7% of public procurement opportunities for businesses owned by women, youth and persons with disabilities, is among the most ambitious empowerment interventions on the African continent.

“Women across BRICS countries are not only affected by developmental challenges, but are also key to solving them,” she said.

On climate change and food security, the Minister said Cabinet has adopted the Climate Change and Disability Impact Report and is integrating gender-responsive measures into climate adaptation, disaster response and food security programmes.

“The women of South Africa carry the burden of climate-driven food insecurity — and they must therefore be at the centre of the solution,” she said.

She added that women farmers, small-scale food producers and women working in the informal food economy are being placed at the centre of South Africa’s response to climate-related challenges.

“South Africa stands ready to work with India and all BRICS member states to convert these commitments into measurable progress in the lives of women across our economies,” Chikunga said. – SAnews.gov.za

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Bank of Central African States (BEAC) Joins Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), Connecting Payments Between Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) and the Rest of Africa

Source: APO – Report:

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The Bank of Central African States (BEAC) has officially joined the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), marking a significant step in strengthening Africa’s cross-border payment infrastructure and opening a new chapter for financial integration in Central Africa while driving greater intra-African trade.

As one of only two regional central banks on the continent, BEAC serves the six member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC)—Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and Chad. Its participation provides PAPSS with a strategic entry point into Francophone Africa and significantly expands the reach of the network across the continent.

With BEAC joining the network, PAPSS now connects 28 African countries, bringing together more than 190 commercial banks and fintechs, supported by 16 switches. Through its extended network partners, PAPSS participants are also able to send money to more than 250 additional financial institutions.

The participation of BEAC significantly strengthens PAPSS’s connectivity with the CEMAC region, a market of more than 72 million people and a strategic gateway linking West, East and Southern Africa. Alongside the pilot phase planned with the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), scheduled to commence later this year, PAPSS continue to deploy the payment infrastructure capable of connecting all regions of Africa through a single African network.

H.E. Yvon Sana Bangui, Governor of BEAC and Chair of the AACB, said: “By joining PAPSS, BEAC is creating the conditions for faster, more affordable and more efficient cross-border payments between the CEMAC countries and Africa. We encourage commercial banks and financial institutions across our member states to embrace this opportunity and prepare for participation in the platform. The success of African trade integration will depend not only on policy and infrastructure, but also on the active involvement of the financial sector. PAPSS provides a practical solution to support that vision.”

Mr. Mike Ogbalu III, CEO of PAPSS, commented: “BEAC’s participation in PAPSS represents a significant milestone in advancing Africa’s financial integration.  We commend His Excellency Governor Yvon Sana Bangui for his leadership and unwavering commitment. We also congratulate the entire BEAC team on this achievement. This development opens new trade and payment corridors between Central Africa and the rest of the continent, enabling faster, more affordable and more efficient cross-border payments that will support trade and economic activity.”

Developed by Afreximbank in partnership with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, PAPSS enables instant cross-border payments in local African currencies, allowing funds to move across African markets within seconds without relying on third-party currencies or external intermediaries.

For banks and fintechs, PAPSS creates opportunities to extend services beyond national borders. For businesses, it means faster transactions, lower costs and improved access to regional markets. For individuals, it provides a more efficient and affordable way to send and receive money across Africa. More broadly, it strengthens Africa’s financial sovereignty by enabling payments to be processed and settled on the continent.

PAPSS will work closely with BEAC through the end of 2026 to operationalize this membership, integrate financial institutions across the CEMAC region into the system, and facilitate the rollout of PAPSS services to businesses and individuals.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

For more information, please contact:
Papa Samba Thiongane
Head Marketing & Communications, PAPSS
Email: communications@papss.com

About PAPSS:
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) is the brainchild of Afreximbank, Africa’s pre-eminent trade finance institution, whose mission includes stimulating the expansion, diversification, and development of African trade. PAPSS enables the efficient flow of money securely across African borders, minimizing risk and contributing to financial integration across the regions. Currently, PAPSS can facilitate payments across 28 African countries and connects more than 190 commercial banks and fintechs as direct and indirect participants, supported by 16 payment switches, and an extended network reaching over 250 additional financial institutions.

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La Banque des États de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC) rejoint le Système de Paiement et de Règlement Panafricain (PAPSS) en vue de faciliter les paiements entre la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC) et le reste de l’Afrique

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


La Banque des États de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC) a officiellement rejoint le Système de paiement et de règlement panafricain (PAPSS), franchissant une étape importante dans le renforcement des infrastructures de paiement transfrontalier de l’Afrique, ouvrant ainsi un nouveau chapitre pour l’intégration financière en Afrique centrale et le renforcement du commerce intra-africain.

La BEAC, l’une des deux seules banques centrales régionales du continent, dessert les six pays membres de la Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l’Afrique Centrale (CEMAC), à savoir le Cameroun, la République Centrafricaine, la République du Congo, le Gabon, la Guinée équatoriale, et le Tchad. Sa participation fournit au PAPSS un point d’entrée stratégique en Afrique francophone et élargit considérablement la portée du réseau à travers le continent.

Avec l’intégration de la BEAC au réseau, le PAPSS connecte désormais 28 pays africains, 16 commutateurs de paiement, réunissant plus de 190 banques commerciales et fintechs. De plus, grâce à ses partenaires, PAPSS permet également à ses utilisateurs de transférer de l’argent vers plus de 250 institutions financières supplémentaires.

La participation de la BEAC renforce considérablement la connectivité du PAPSS avec la CEMAC, une zone qui compte plus de 72 millions habitants, un véritable carrefour entre l’ouest, l’est et le sud de l’Afrique. En parallèle de la phase pilote prévue avec la Banque Centrale des États de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO), dont le lancement devrait avoir lieu au courant de cette année, le PAPSS poursuit le déploiement de l’infrastructure de paiement capable de relier toutes les régions d’Afrique au sein d’un réseau africain unique.

S.E. Yvon Sana Bangui, Gouverneur de la BEAC, Président de l’ABCA (Association des Banques Centrales Africaines), a déclaré : « En rejoignant le PAPSS, la BEAC crée les conditions nécessaires à des paiements transfrontaliers plus rapides, plus abordables et plus efficaces entre les pays de la CEMAC et le reste de l’Afrique. Nous encourageons les banques commerciales et les institutions financières de nos États membres à saisir cette opportunité et à se tenir prêts pour participer à la plateforme. Le succès de l’intégration commerciale africaine dépendra non seulement des politiques et des infrastructures, mais aussi de la participation active du secteur financier. Le PAPSS fournit une solution pratique pour soutenir cette vision ».

Mike Ogbalu III, Directeur général du PAPSS, a déclaré : « La participation de la BEAC au PAPSS représente une étape importante dans la promotion de l’intégration financière de l’Afrique. Nous félicitons son Excellence, le Gouverneur Yvon Sana Bangui pour son leadership et son engagement, ainsi que toute l’équipe de la BEAC. Cette adhésion ouvre de nouveaux corridors commerciaux et de paiement entre l’Afrique centrale et le reste du continent, permettant des paiements transfrontaliers plus rapides, plus abordables et plus efficaces qui soutiendront le commerce et l’activité économique ».

Conçu par Afreximbank en partenariat avec l’Union africaine et le Secrétariat de la ZLECAf, le PAPSS permet des paiements transfrontaliers instantanés en monnaies africaines, permettant aux fonds de circuler sur les marchés africains en quelques secondes sans dépendre de devises tierces ou d’intermédiaires externes.

Pour les banques et les fintechs, le PAPSS offre la possibilité d’étendre les services au-delà des frontières nationales. Pour les entreprises, cela se traduit par des transactions plus rapides, des coûts réduits et un meilleur accès aux marchés régionaux. Pour les particuliers, il s’agit d’un moyen plus efficace et plus abordable d’envoyer et de recevoir de l’argent à travers l’Afrique. Plus généralement, ce système renforce la souveraineté financière de l’Afrique en permettant le traitement et le règlement des paiements sur le continent.

Le PAPSS travaillera en étroite collaboration avec la BEAC d’ici la fin de l’année 2026 pour l’opérationnalisation de cette adhésion afin d’intégrer les établissements financiers de toute la région de la CEMAC au système et de faciliter le déploiement des services du PAPSS auprès des entreprises et des particuliers.

Distribué par APO Group pour Afreximbank.

Pour de plus amples informations, veuillez contacter :
Papa Samba Thiongane
Head Marketing & Communications, PAPSS
Courriel : communications@papss.com

À propos du PAPSS :
Le Système de paiement et de règlement panafricain (PAPSS) est une initiative d’Afreximbank, la principale institution de financement du commerce en Afrique, dont la mission est de stimuler l’expansion, la diversification et le développement du commerce africain. Le PAPSS permet des transferts de fonds efficaces et sécurisés à travers les frontières africaines, minimisant les risques et contribuant à l’intégration financière régionale. À l’heure actuelle, le PAPSS permet d’effectuer des paiements dans 28 pays africains et relie plus de 190 banques commerciales et entreprises de technologie financière en tant que participants directs et indirects, grâce à 16 réseaux de paiement et à un réseau étendu couvrant plus de 250 institutions financières supplémentaires.

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Banco dos Estados da África Central (BEAC) junta-se ao Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamentos e Liquidação (PAPSS), ligando os pagamentos entre os mercados da Comunidade Económica e Monetária da África Central (CEMAC) e o resto de África

Source: Africa Press Organisation – Portuguese –

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O Banco dos Estados da África Central (BEAC) aderiu oficialmente ao Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamentos e Liquidação (PAPSS), marcando um passo significativo no reforço da infra-estrutura de pagamentos transfronteiriços de África e abrindo um novo capítulo para a integração financeira na África Central e na África francófona.

Sendo um dos únicos dois bancos centrais regionais do continente, o BEAC serve os seis Estados-Membros da Comunidade Económica e Monetária da África Central (CEMAC) – Camarões, República Centro-Africana, Chade, República do Congo, Guiné Equatorial e Gabão. A sua participação proporciona ao PAPSS um ponto de entrada estratégico na África francófona e alarga significativamente o alcance da rede em todo o continente.

Com a adesão do BEAC à rede, o PAPSS liga agora 28 países africanos, reunindo mais de 190 bancos comerciais e empresas de tecnologia financeira, apoiados por 16 pontos de comutação. Através dos seus parceiros de rede alargados, os participantes do PAPSS podem igualmente enviar dinheiro para mais de 170 instituições financeiras adicionais.

A participação do BEAC reforça significativamente a expansão do PAPSS na África francófona. Em conjunto com a fase-piloto planeada com o Banco Central dos Estados da África Ocidental (BCEAO), cujo início está previsto para o final deste ano, o PAPSS está a lançar as bases para uma infra-estrutura de pagamentos capaz de ligar todas as regiões de África através de uma única rede africana.

S. Ex.ª Yvon Sana Bangui, Governador do BEAC, afirmou: “Ao aderir ao PAPSS, o BEAC está a criar as condições para pagamentos transfronteiriços mais rápidos, mais acessíveis e mais eficientes entre os países da CEMAC e África. Incentivamos os bancos comerciais e as instituições financeiras de todos os nossos Estados-Membros a aproveitarem esta oportunidade e a prepararem-se para participar na plataforma. O sucesso da integração comercial africana dependerá não só das políticas e das infra-estruturas, mas também do envolvimento activo do sector financeiro. O PAPSS oferece uma solução prática para apoiar essa visão.”

O Sr. Mike Ogbalu III, Director Executivo do PAPSS, comentou: “A participação do BEAC no PAPSS representa um marco significativo no avanço da integração financeira de África.  Felicitamos Sua Excelência, o Governador Yvon Sana Bangui, e toda a equipa do BEAC pela sua liderança e empenho. Este desenvolvimento abre novos corredores comerciais e de pagamentos entre a África Central e o resto do continente, permitindo pagamentos transfronteiriços mais rápidos, mais acessíveis e mais eficientes, que irão apoiar o comércio e a actividade económica.”

Desenvolvido pelo Afreximbank em parceria com a União Africana e o Secretariado da ZCLCA, o PAPSS permite pagamentos transfronteiriços instantâneos em moedas locais africanas, permitindo que os fundos circulem pelos mercados africanos em segundos, sem depender de moedas de terceiros ou de intermediários externos.

Para os bancos e as empresas de tecnologia financeira (fintechs), o PAPSS cria oportunidades para alargar os serviços para além das fronteiras nacionais. Para as empresas, significa transacções mais rápidas, custos mais baixos e melhor acesso aos mercados regionais. Para os particulares, proporciona uma forma mais eficiente e acessível de enviar e receber dinheiro em toda África. De forma mais ampla, reforça a soberania financeira de África, permitindo que os pagamentos sejam processados e liquidados no continente.

O PAPSS trabalhará em estreita colaboração com o BEAC e as instituições financeiras de toda a região da CEMAC para integrar as instituições financeiras e facilitar a implementação dos serviços do PAPSS junto de empresas e particulares nas próximas semanas.

Distribuído pelo Grupo APO para Afreximbank.

Para mais informações, queira, por favor, contactar:
Papa Samba Thiongane
Chefe de Marketing e Comunicações do PAPSS
Correio Electrónico: communications@papss.com

Sobre o PAPSS:
O Sistema Pan-Africano de Pagamentos e Liquidações (PAPSS) é uma criação do Afreximbank, a principal instituição de financiamento comercial em África, cuja missão inclui estimular a expansão, a diversificação e o desenvolvimento do comércio africano. O PAPSS permite o fluxo eficiente e seguro de dinheiro através das fronteiras africanas, minimizando os riscos e contribuindo para a integração financeira entre regiões. Actualmente, o PAPSS permite efectuar pagamentos em 28 países africanos e liga mais de 190 bancos comerciais e empresas de tecnologia financeira, na qualidade de participantes directos e indirectos, com o apoio de 16 plataformas de processamento de pagamentos e uma rede alargada que abrange mais de 170 instituições financeiras adicionais.