Category: Africa

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Media briefing by Presidential Spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, at the Union Buildings, Pretoria

Source: President of South Africa –

President Ramaphosa to respond to questions for oral reply in the National Council of Provinces

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 respond to questions for oral replay in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in Parliament, Cape Town, on various national developments.

Questions for Oral Reply is one of the mechanisms Parliament uses to hold the Executive to account.

The session will cover amongst other issues mechanisms to monitor the state of service delivery and quality of services that are offered by all government levels, progress in reviving local industries and strengthening the manufacturing sector and an update on South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ)case against the state of Israel.
 

President Ramaphosa to address the Public Protector SA – 30th Anniversary International Conference

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 14 October 2025 deliver the keynote address during a dinner of the Public Protector South Africa 30-year Anniversary International Conference to be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Western Cape Province.

The Conference will take place from 13-15 October 2025 under the theme: “30 Years of strengthening constitutional democracy-a transformative journey.

One of the primary aims of the International Conference will be to affirm the strength, resolve and resilience of South Africa’s Constitutional democracy.

Over the past thirty years, the PPSA institution has grown in leaps and bounds, and encountered a litany of challenges. It has, however, through sheer institutional resilience and resolve, recalibrated itself and has managed to maintain its key strategic role in South Africa’s democratic ecosystem and continues to play an important role in enforcing the democratic values of good governance, the rule of law and quality of life.

This Conference will bring together governance and accountability institutions from the BRICS group of nations, The Commonwealth, International Ombudsman Institute (IOI), Africa Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA), the European Union and the G20.
 

7th Social Justice Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Friday, 17 October 2025 deliver the keynote address at the 7th Social Justice Summit, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The host is Stellenbosch University’s Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), in collaboration with the United Nations, the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), among other partners.

The Summit will bring together policymakers, legislators, civil society, traditional leaders, academics and the Judiciary, to engage in high-level dialogue.

It is hosted under the theme: “Social Justice, Food Security and Peace: Pathways to Equality, Solidarity, Sustainability and Climate Resilience.”

The Summit aligns with the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) priorities, including mobilising finance for development, promoting social protection levels and addressing global public goods (GPGs) to enhance resilience.

The Summit will also continue to propel forward the conversation on accountability for constitutional governance, which includes the advancement of equal enjoyment of all rights and freedoms. That is essentially advancing social justice through transformative governance and civil society action, incorporating the role of business and development partners.

Three-nation visit to Southeast Asia: 22 – 28 October 2025

President Cyril Ramaphosa will undertake a three-nation visit to Southeast Asia from 22 to 28 October 2025, reflecting South Africa’s commitment to deepening strategic ties with this dynamic region. The visit will include a State Visit to Indonesia (22–23 October), a State Visit to Vietnam (23–24 October), and a Working Visit to Malaysia (25–28 October), where President Ramaphosa will also participate as Guest of the Chair at the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit. 

These engagements underscore the growing importance of Southeast Asia in South Africa’s efforts to diversify and expand its export markets, and to strengthen inter-regional cooperation. The President’s participation in the ASEAN Summits follows South Africa’s recognition as a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN in 2023, marking a significant milestone in advancing South-South cooperation and fostering inclusive, sustainable development through enhanced political, economic, and multilateral collaboration.

This visit to South East Asia, including several that precedes it and a few still to follow this year, are part of an ongoing intensification of opening new trade opportunities and expanding existing trade markets  for South African goods and produce. Over and above a laser focus on trade, President Ramaphosa has been seeking more opportunities for skills development exchanges that will benefit the youth of South Africa. In all the visits, in engagements with Heads of State as well as with captains of industry, the President has sustained a consistent theme of seeking out more and more skills development opportunities for young people.
 

Maumela house video

The Presidency would like to address falsehoods that have been spread through a video showing the President with Dj Tbo Touch outside Morgan Maumela’s house.  

The video shows 4 gentlemen, namely; Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, who at the time the video was recorded on the 29th of September 2023, was the Special Advisor to the President, you see President Ramaphosa in the middle with famous radio Dj, Tbo Touch and Bishop Noel Jones. 

It is well known that President Ramaphosa loves to walk whenever he finds time, that is how he keeps himself fit. On this day, he had invited Mr. Sibiya on a walk, which it’s something he does regularly to invite his staff, even ministers for walks. 

They passed a house which is now well known as Maumela’s house. As they were passing this house, they were stopped by Tbo Touch, who was in the company of his mentor and friend, Bishop Noel Jones. They took pictures and recorded a video. During the walk, the President had stopped and spoke to several people along the way, including taking pictures with those people.

Indeed, where you see them is in front of Maumela’s house, but they were not visiting the house or coming out of the house. It so happened that Tbo Touch stopped his car to greet the President as he was walking past what is now well known as Maumela’s house. The President did not even know whose house it was. 

The President regularly takes walks and drives past the house because this is the street that is not too far from his house in Hyde Park. It’s a street that he would use when driving to and from Sandton. I also do use the same street quite often when going to the President’s house coming from Sandton direction or when departing the house heading to a northernly direction.

We have also heard a claim that the President visits Maumela’s house every week. It’s a complete lie that the President visits Maumela’s house or anybody every week. With his extremely busy schedule, there are 4 categories of people that can say they see the President every week. His family, his security detail, his Union Buildings staff, in particular, Private Office staff and ANC officials that he meets every Monday. 

There are two homes that are visited by the President whenever he finds a gap, but not every week. His sister, who resides in Soweto, and the home of his long-time comrade and mine workers union friend, Mr. James Motlatsi. There’s no other household that can claim to be visited by the President every week. It is practically impossible with his work schedule. 

President Ramaphosa maintains that he has no personal relationship with Maumela. He is not related to him except that he was once married to Maumela’s aunt. 

We note the ongoing desperate media attempts to link the President to this gentleman.

As the President’s Office, we have gone further to obtain confirmation from Dj Tbo Touch that the video and picture was his original post. He was coming from the airport going to the Saxon Hotel with Bishop Noel Jones. At the time, what we now know as Maumela’s house was under construction. The President had no knowledge of whose house it was. Therefore, we reject the suggestion that the President may have been visiting Maumela’s house as being very far from the truth.

Just before the President was appointed Deputy President, he gathered his immediate family and relatives and sternly instructed all of them to either exit or stop any business that they did or intended to do with the Government or State institutions. Maumela was not part of that family gathering. He couldn’t have been part of the meeting because he is not part of the President’s immediate family. It is for this reason that we’re going to consistently reject the narrative that seeks to link his existence and whatever else he is involved in to the President.

It was President Ramaphosa that signed the proclamation that has lifted the lid on the extent of the corruption and criminality in and around the Tembisa Hospital. In this regard, the President calls on all law enforcement agencies to accelerate their criminal investigations into the Tembisa Hospital matter in order to expedite the arrest of all those involved without fear or favour and regardless of who they are or purported to be related to.

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President – media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria

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Multi-planting season to promote KZN sustainable agriculture

Source: Government of South Africa

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has reaffirmed the province’s focus on self-sufficiency, rural revitalisation, and long-term food security.

Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli unveiled the 2025 Provincial Multi-Planting Season, a flagship provincial initiative aimed at promoting sustainable agriculture, strengthening food security, and revitalising rural economies.

The Multi-Planting Season was launched on Friday at eNhlanhleni Mission in Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality, under the Harry Gwala District, setting the tone for a productive agricultural season ahead.

The programme, led by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, also underscores the province’s commitment to empowering local farmers and communities to produce more food, reduce hunger, and contribute to KwaZulu-Natal’s economic resilience.

Delivering his keynote address at the event, Ntuli noted the recent studies, which revealed that 15% of people in KwaZulu-Natal still experience food shortages, especially in rural areas.

These challenges have been worsened by recurring natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, and the lingering socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Premier emphasised that the Provincial Government’s Multi-Planting Season Programme was a key response to these challenges, designed to boost local food production, improve livelihoods, and stimulate agricultural productivity across districts.

“Agriculture must be seen as a weapon to defeat hunger and grow our economy. We must work together to ensure that every piece of arable land is used productively to feed our people and strengthen our communities,” the Premier said.

He urged young people to see agriculture as a viable career path and a driver of socio-economic transformation.

The Premier also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting smallholder farmers through access to inputs, training, and infrastructure, as part of a broader effort to build a resilient and inclusive agricultural economy.

He emphasised that the success of the Multi-Planting Season relies on strong partnerships between government, farmers, private sector stakeholders, and communities.

“This collaborative approach is vital to ensuring that food production efforts translate into sustainable growth and improved quality of life in rural areas,” he said.

Ntuli was accompanied by MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembeni KaMadlopha Mthethwa, Harry Gwala District Speaker, Sibongiseni Mdunge, Deputy Mayor of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Local Municipality, Kholeka Hadebe, and senior government officials. – SAnews.gov.za

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R230bn EU investment package will support growth

Source: Government of South Africa

The European Union’s €11.5 billion (R230 billion) investment package into South Africa is a springboard that will support the country on its march towards inclusive and sustainable growth.

This according to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who addressed the nation through the weekly newsletter.

The package was announced last week by the EU at the Global Gateway Forum at held in Brussels, Belgium.

READ | President Ramaphosa welcomes €11.5 billion EU investment in South Africa

“This innovative partnership focuses on priorities that South Africa has set for itself as it strives to improve the lives of its people. These priorities include investment, the clean energy transition, skills and technology, connectivity and developing strategic industries. Importantly, the partnership will contribute to the work being done to create jobs.

“The investment package covers areas such as critical minerals, e-battery development, green hydrogen, renewable energy and vaccines. This will lead to the creation of a number of jobs, skills development and transfer of technology.

“As we said in Brussels, these investments will support our effort to build the economy of the future in the South Africa of the present. They will help to accelerate South Africa’s ambitious transition to a low-carbon economy that is just and inclusive,” President Ramaphosa said.

He explained that the package is aimed at mobilising finance to “invest in local processing and refining of minerals that are critical to the energy transition”, including investments in green hydrogen and the acceleration of large-scale solar and wind power projects, while boosting energy efficiency.

“As a country, we have always insisted that our energy transition must be just and inclusive, and that we must take deliberate measures to protect workers, communities and businesses that would be affected.

“That is why part of the investment package is dedicated to re-skill, train and provide entrepreneurship opportunities. It will also be used to expand access to clean water, waste management and energy efficient public services,” the President said.

Furthermore, the package will also support developing South Africa’s rail, road and ports infrastructure, logistics and digital connectivity

“These investments will also support the local manufacturing of pharmaceuticals through partnerships with regulatory authorities, as well as innovative research projects, training and capacity building on biotechnology and pharmaceutical infrastructure.

“As a country, we have made immense progress in overcoming our energy supply constraints through the improved performance by Eskom and a massive investment in renewable energy generation. We are improving efficiencies at our ports and opening our freight rail lines to private operators. We are undertaking a massive investment in infrastructure and streamlining regulations to improve the environment for investors.

“The progress we are making with our reforms is recognised and it’s making our country an investment destination. We are seen as the gateway into the African continent,” the President said.

He noted that the investment takes place at a time of a “more volatile global environment”.

“There is a significant realignment of trade and investment between countries. In addition, rapid advances in technology and the escalating climate crisis are contributing to greater uncertainty.

“That is why South Africa is forging ahead with the work of building a resilient and sustainable economy that address the needs of the present while positioning itself for the needs and challenges of the future,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

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Ethiopia and Italy Launch €1.7 Million Project to Boost Post-Conflict Resilience and Heritage Conservation in Tigray’s Wukro-Gheralta Belt

Source: APO


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The Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) have signed a landmark agreement launching a two-year initiative titled “Supporting Community Resilience through Community-Based Tourism and Heritage Conservation in the Wukro-Gheralta Belt, Tigray, Ethiopia.”.

The agreement was signed by H.E. Semereta Sewasew, State Minister at the Ministry of Finance, and H.E. Agostino Palese, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia. The €1.7 million project marks a renewed phase of cooperation between the two nations, aiming to promote sustainable livelihoods, peacebuilding, and cultural preservation in post-conflict areas.

H.E. Semereta Sewasew highlighted that the initiative carries both symbolic and strategic value, representing another milestone in the long-standing friendship between Ethiopia and the Italian Republic, rooted in shared history and sustained by mutual cooperation. She expressed gratitude for the Government of Italy’s solidarity, noting that by investing in heritage and people, “this initiative will help restore hope, create jobs, and preserve our cultural identity for future generations,”. She emphasized that the project reflects a shared conviction that cultural heritage, when integrated into local economies, serves as a powerful driver of resilience, identity, and inclusive growth. Furthermore, she added that tourism, when rooted in communities, is about empowerment, ensuring that local people become both custodians and beneficiaries of the heritage they preserve.

The project aligns directly with the post-conflict recovery agenda of the Pretoria Peace Agreement and Ethiopia’s Ten-Year Development Plan (2021–2030), which recognizes sustainable tourism as a key engine of local development and cultural diplomacy.

H.E. Agostino Palese, Ambassador of Italy to Ethiopia, reaffirmed Italy’s long-standing partnership and commitment, stating that the project reflects a shared belief that “culture and tourism can be powerful engines of peace, resilience, and prosperity,”. The Ambassador noted that this agreement constitutes a step towards guaranteeing development in the tourist sector, complementing efforts in other areas such as the health sector.

The two-year initiative is set to revitalize the Wukro–Gheralta Belt, an area home to extraordinary cultural treasures that has faced adversity in recent years. The project focuses on the restoration of historical sites and the development of inclusive, community-based tourism enterprises.

The signing ceremony concludes Ambassador Agostino Palese’s final term as Italy’s ambassador to Ethiopia, with Ethiopia recognizing his dedication, friendship, and valuable contributions to bilateral relations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Finance, Ethiopia.

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Burundi : Commémoration du 64ème anniversaire de l’assassinat du prince Rwagasore

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Le Président de la République du Burundi Son Excellence Evariste Ndayishimiye, en compagnie d’autres hauts dignitaires du pays, a rehaussé de sa présence les cérémonies du 13 octobre où les Burundais commémorent le 64e anniversaire de l’assassinat du Prince Louis Rwagasore, Héros de l’indépendance du Burundi.

Le Président Ndayishimiye a d’abord procédé au dépôt des gerbes de fleurs sur la tombe de l’Illustre disparu au mausolée sis à Vugizo, en commune Mukaza de la province Bujumbura.

Les cérémonies ont continué par une célébration eucharistique en sa mémoire à la Cathédrale Regina Mundi. Et sur base des textes liturgiques du jour (Romains1,1-7 et Luc 11, 29-32), le Vicaire Général de l’Archidiocèse de Bujumbura Anatole RUGERINYANGE a appelé chaque chrétien à vivre l’identité chrétienne, à croître dans la foi, à être partisan de l’unité et du respect de la personne humaine.

Il a apprécié positivement l’engagement du Président Ndayishimiye à œuvrer dans la continuité du Prince Louis Rwagasore, surtout en matière du respect des droits de l’homme et de son développement.

Distribué par APO Group pour Présidence de la République du Burundi.

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Le Bénin remporte le trophée d’Or à l’Exposition Universelle Osaka 2025

Source: Africa Press Organisation – French


Une consécration internationale pour un pavillon qui a su conjuguer culture, diplomatie, art de vivre et innovation

À l’approche de la clôture de l’Exposition Universelle Osaka 2025, le Pavillon du Bénin a été distingué par le Trophée d’Or dans la catégorie “Exhibition and Design”, décerné par le Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) et le Comité d’organisation japonais. Cette distinction prestigieuse vient couronner six (06) mois d’un engagement exceptionnel et d’un rayonnement sans précédent, porté par la créativité, la rigueur et la vision du Bénin depuis l’ouverture officielle de l’Expo, le 13 avril dernier.

Une reconnaissance mondiale du savoir-faire béninois

Dès les premiers jours, le Pavillon du Bénin s’est imposé comme l’un des plus remarquables de cette Exposition Universelle, attirant un public nombreux, conquis par la scénographie immersive, la richesse artistique et la profondeur symbolique du concept « Benin Horizons : A Journey of Culture and Opportunities ». À travers ses espaces, le Bénin a su raconter une histoire : celle d’un pays aux racines profondes et à l’avenir assumé, où la tradition et la modernité dialoguent avec élégance. Des milliers de visiteurs venus d’Asie, d’Europe, d’Afrique et d’Amérique ont découvert la diversité de son patrimoine, la puissance de son art contemporain, la beauté de ses paysages et la singularité de sa diplomatie culturelle. Ce Trophée d’Or obtenu dans la catégorie “Exhibition and Design” vient récompenser la qualité esthétique, narrative et émotionnelle de l’expérience proposée par le Pavillon. De la Journée nationale du 29 août à la semaine de dégustation de l’ananas ‘’Pain de Sucre‘’, en passant par l’exposition “Les Amazones de l’Art” au Women’s Pavilion – Cartier, chaque moment a incarné le soft power béninois : un art d’être, un art de dire et un art de vivre.

Un pavillon symbole d’excellence et d’unité nationale

L’obtention de ce Trophée d’Or est bien plus qu’une distinction thématique: c’est une victoire collective. Elle honore le travail accompli par l’ensemble des équipes béninoises mobilisées depuis plusieurs années, concepteurs, artistes, scénographes, artisans, techniciens et communicants. Sous la coordination du Commissariat général du Pavillon du Bénin, cette oeuvre commune a su fédérer les talents et incarner la cohérence d’une nation qui s’affirme comme une voix forte du continent africain sur la scène mondiale.

RÉACTIONS :

M. Yannis ADEBIAYE, Commissaire général du Pavillon du Bénin : « Recevoir le Trophée d’Or de l’Exposition Universelle d’Osaka dans la catégorie Exhibition and Design est une immense fierté pour le Bénin. C’est la reconnaissance d’un travail collectif, d’une vision partagée et d’un engagement sans faille. Depuis le premier jour, notre pavillon a été pensé comme un espace d’émotion, de rencontre et de fierté. Aujourd’hui, cette distinction consacre notre ambition : montrer au monde que le Bénin est un Monde de Splendeurs. »

Mme Carole BORNA, Directrice du Pavillon du Bénin : « Nous n’avons pas seulement voulu exposer de beaux objets ou des artefacts témoignant de la richesse de notre patrimoine. À travers cette présence, nous avons voulu raconter une histoire : celle d’un Bénin fier de ses racines, ancré dans ses traditions, mais résolument tourné vers le futur et ouvert au monde. »

Le Bénin, un Monde de Splendeurs reconnu à l’international

Ce Trophée d’or dans la catégorie “Exhibition and Design” vient consacrer le rôle central du Bénin dans la diplomatie culturelle africaine contemporaine. À Osaka, le pays a su imposer son élégance, sa créativité et son hospitalité comme des atouts de rayonnement mondial. Le Pavillon béninois a proposé une expérience complète :

› Culturelle, par la mise en avant d’artistes et d’artisans qui traduisent la vitalité de la création béninoise ;

› Patrimoniale, à travers un récit ancré dans l’histoire, les traditions et les savoirs du pays ;

› Économique, en valorisant les filières d’excellence et les opportunités de développement durable issues des secteurs porteurs du pays ;

› Innovante, par l’usage de nouvelles technologies et d’expériences immersives pour raconter le Bénin autrement ;

› Diplomatique, par la qualité des échanges et des partenariats tissés avec les institutions japonaises et internationales ;

› Et enfin, un véritable art de vivre, exprimé dans chaque détail, chaque mise en scène, chaque rencontre, reflétant la douceur et la fierté béninoises.

Une vitrine du savoir-être béninois

Soutenue par le Ministère du Tourisme, de la Culture et des Arts, le Ministère de l’Économie et des Finances et le Ministère des Affaires Étrangères, et placée sous le pilotage de Bénin Tourisme, l’agence nationale en charge de la promotion de la Destination Bénin, la participation du Bénin à l’Exposition universelle d’Osaka a été imaginée comme une immersion totale dans la richesse du pays : un voyage à travers les arts, les traditions et la modernité. Cet appui institutionnel a donné sens, cohérence et ambition à la présence béninoise, traduisant la volonté du gouvernement de faire de la culture et du tourisme un levier d’attractivité, de développement et de rayonnement international. Le Pavillon du Bénin s’est ainsi imposé comme un lieu de découverte, d’apprentissage et d’émerveillement, où chaque visiteur est reparti avec une émotion, une image ou une saveur d’une destination  internationale singulière.

Distribué par APO Group pour Gouvernement de la République du Bénin.

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Expand North Star by GITEX GLOBAL helps to scale startups from 180 countries

Source: APO – Report:

Reflecting Expand North Star’s (https://ExpandNorthStar.com/) international significance as the world’s largest startup and investor event, part of GITEX GLOBAL, the show’s 10th anniversary edition has attracted over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries, including Brazil as a Country Partner, and all-new participation from Ecuador and Chile. With global venture capital investment totalling US$368 billion in 2024 [1], the show’s role in helping to scale the worldwide digital ecosystem has become increasingly important.

Expand North Star’s four-day programme, running from 12-15 October, was created to elevate funding, scaling, and deal-flow levels to new heights – catalysing new partnerships and driving inclusive digital growth across emerging AI economies. 

Building Bridges to Brazil, and Beyond

As the show’s first ever official Country Partner, Brazil is well represented, with over 50 of the country’s most dynamic startups exhibiting at Expand North Star 2025. Tatiana Riera, Chief Operating Officer at the Dubai Office of ApexBrasil, Brazil’s national trade and investment promotion agency, highlighted the UAE’s crucial role in fostering innovation and building international partnerships in her opening remarks at Expand North Star on 12 October.

She said: “Today, Brazil is home to one of the world’s biggest ecosystems for startups, venture capital and private equity, with more than 20,000 in the country. ApexBrasil is at Expand North Star to build bridges between Brazil and all over the world – especially here in Dubai. Dubai Chamber is one of our greatest partners, which is why the event is so important for us. It’s not just about showcasing startups, but also about co-creating the future between Brazil and UAE, and between Brazil and the rest of the world – that’s our agenda at Expand North Star.”

New Exhibitors, New Markets

Since the inaugural edition in 2016, Expand North Star has continued to expand its global footprint and reputation, drawing founders, investors, entrepreneurs, business execs, and strategic public-private partners from across the globe, including all-new countries.

One of these first-time exhibitors is Ecuador. Speaking at Expand North Star, Mr Felipe Ribadeneira – Ecuadorian Ambassador to the UAE, said it was important for Ecuador to be present at GITEX. “We’re proud to showcase more than 22 Ecuadorian companies, including 20 startups, offering solutions from AI-driven banking to advanced medical technologies,” he said.

“Dubai and the UAE are investing boldly to become a global hub for data and artificial intelligence, and we see tremendous opportunity to build with that momentum. In February, at the World Government Summit, we expect to sign a significant memorandum to establish a technology logistics corridor – another step toward a deeper, truly win-win partnership between Ecuador and the UAE.”

Chile is also making its Expand North Star debut, with 12 innovative service companies, spanning such diverse sectors such as mining, education, finance, construction and entertainment. In addition, the Chile-Dubai Innovation Summit, hosted at the Chilean Pavilion, will help Chile expand its presence in the UAE and other Middle Eastern countries, supporting the diversification of Chile’s exports.

Expanding Capital Markets

In addition to opening access to new markets, the show acts as a magnet for leading global venture capitalists and private equity investors – all looking to discover the next unicorn. The 1,200 investors attending GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star have more than US$1.1 trillion in assets under management (AUM) – an astonishing reflection of the shows’ economic impact and worldwide influence.

Dr. Jorg Goschin, the CEO of KFW Capital, praised the UAE’s innovation focus, citing it as a natural partner to those looking to scale opportunities from European Markets. Speaking at a panel discussion during the show, ‘Driving Venture Capital Growth and Innovation with Sovereign Wealth Funds’, Dr. Goschin said: “Our goal is not only to fund European and German funds and late-stage companies, but to make the venture market more accessible – more transparency, more secondary market options, and less bureaucracy. When investors can see performance and have clear exit pathways, they invest. Here in the UAE, with its appetite for technology and global capital, we see real potential to accelerate co-investment into high-quality European innovation.”

Global Partnerships for Growth

Dubai World Trade Centre, the organiser of GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, signed exciting partnerships with international entities during the show’s first day at Dubai Harbour. The agreements cover a range of countries and include partnerships with Presight, 28 Digital, ApexBrasil, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The partnerships serve to further cement Dubai World Trade Centre’s standing as an inclusive global platform from which 8,000+ founders have scaled their businesses over the years.

GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star reflect Dubai government’s ambition to foster innovation and attract global talent, while generating 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and creating at least 10 unicorns – companies with valuations exceeding US$1 billion – by 2031.

For more information, please visit: https://ExpandNorthStar.com/.

[1] Source: https://apo-opa.co/4q9LI06

– on behalf of Expand North Star.

Link to Press Kit Here (https://apo-opa.co/43bEDSD)

Media Contact:
Tayce Marchesi
PR Manager
DWTC
tayce.marchesi@dwtc.com
+971 58 552 3994

Mai Bakry
Sr. PR Manager
Seven Media
maibakry@sevenmedia.ae
gitex@sevenmedia.ae
+971 55 611 3550

#ExpandNorthStar #GITEX GLOBAL
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About Expand North Star: 
Expand North Star is the startup showcase part of the world’s largest technology and AI event, GITEX GLOBAL. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star 2025 runs from 12-15 October 2025 at Dubai Harbour, positioned as the world’s largest startup and investor connector event. The show convenes over 2,000 startups, more than 40 unicorns, and 1,200 investors with a combined US$1.1 trillion in assets under management (AUM), with the highest percentage of growth and late-stage startups participating in any tech show. In parallel, GITEX GLOBAL celebrates its 45th edition this year, running from 13-17 October 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre, featuring over 6,800 exhibitors, and tech participation from 180 countries. In 2026, GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star reunite in a new home at the Dubai Exhibition Centre – Expo City Dubai, with a new format that begins on 7 December with the GITEX Scale Summit, followed by an immersive Exhibition from 8-11 December. Recognised as the world’s largest technology and AI event brand, GITEX now spans 14 cities across multiple continents. More information: https://ExpandNorthStar.com/

 

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Expand North Star 2025 by GITEX GLOBAL opens today, celebrating ten years of startup innovation with its biggest edition yet

Source: APO – Report:

  • The world’s largest startup and investor connector event runs from 12-15 October at Dubai Harbour – welcoming over 2,000 startups and 1,200 investors from 180 countries  
  • Thousands attend opening day as new partnerships, prototypes, and unicorns spanning AI, climate tech, deep tech, digital health, and fintech unveiled  

Expand North Star by GITEX GLOBAL (https://ExpandNorthStar.com) is officially underway in the UAE as the world’s largest startup and investor connector event launched its landmark 10th anniversary in thrilling fashion on Sunday alongside thousands of local and international visitors. 

Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star 2025 runs at Dubai Harbour from 12-15 October – convening leading founders, investors, entrepreneurs, business executives, and strategic public-private partners from across the globe. Its four-day programme is poised to elevate funding, scaling, and deal-flow levels – catalysing new partnerships and driving inclusive digital growth across emerging AI economies.   

The UAE: Charting a Course to Global Startup Supremacy  

Since debuting in 2016, Expand North Star has become an epicentre of collaboration and investment – providing an inclusive global platform from which 8,000+ founders have scaled their businesses over the years. Building on this success, the 2025 edition connects over 2,000 of the world’s most disruptive startups with 1,200 international investors managing US$1.1 trillion in assets.  

With the highest percentage of growth and late-stage startups anywhere, the event showcases the most disruptive solutions and projects spanning AI, climate tech, deep tech, digital health, and fintech. This follows the recently announced ‘The Emirates: The Startup Capital of the World’, a new initiative aimed at positioning the UAE as the world’s leading startup hub.  

Reflecting the government’s ambition to foster innovation and attract global talent, the initiative aims to generate 30,000 new jobs by 2030 and create at least 10 unicorns – companies with valuations exceeding US$1 billion – by 2031.  

Discussing the UAE’s AI strategy and vision during a keynote address, His Excellency Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, stated: “We don’t think like other countries; we think in multidecade intervals. We started investing in AI in 2008 – very early days. Abu Dhabi was investing in chips, in global countries, in companies that were focused on AI. Nobody expected that we could be a key player in the domain of AI. Against all odds, we are proving that we can. This is going to incentivise everyone – East and West.  

H.E. Al Olama added: “It’s important for us to not only succeed, but for everyone who comes to the UAE to help us understand what we can do better. We do not claim to know it all – we claim to be the best students and the best listeners. One thing we promise is that if people come to us with advice, we are going to take it seriously and ensure that it’s implemented in the coming years.” 

During a session titled ‘Scaling a digital future: How will emerging tech redraw the startup map of the next decade’, Hatem Dowidar, Global CEO of e&, said: “As the landscape evolves and technology and customer needs change, we may also see pivots and potential changes in companies’ investment criteria. There’s also 5G standalone – or 5.5G – this is something certain to enable a lot of new businesses, including startups. We also have to make sure that we are governing AI in the proper way to ensure data integrity and privacy. For example, within our ecosystem, we have implemented a full AI governance system that ensures data anonymity and customer privacy.” 

The Presight AI-Startup Accelerator: A Springboard to Real Business and Global Reach  

Among the UAE’s most celebrated enterprises participating is Presight, a G42 company and the region’s largest big data analytics company. One year on from the 2024 edition – where the Presight AI-Startup Accelerator was launched to nurture and accelerate early-stage ventures – the programme’s first cohorts with market-ready prototypes were unveiled.  

The Presight AI-Startup Accelerator is the UAE’s first dedicated AI acceleration programme and the first created by a publicly-listed Middle Eastern technology company, leveraging Presight’s technical expertise, enterprise partnerships, and customer ecosystem to provide startups with direct commercial pathways and access to world-class infrastructure and mentorship opportunities.  

Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight, revealed: “There are many accelerator programmes around the world, but what’s different about ours is that we are creating a global platform. The UAE and Abu Dhabi has become the AI capital – and this is where technology and innovation meets. With G42’s ecosystem and the UAE’s reach, we offer our cohorts not only compute and expertise – but real business. And since then, they have met ambassadors, enterprises, and key stakeholders from the public and private sectors.” 

The showcase underscored Presight’s growing influence in propelling the UAE’s AI innovation landscape, featuring 10 high-potential startups from around the world developing AI solutions with real-world impact.  

Pramotedham’s participation coincided with Presight signing a partnership with the UAE Cybersecurity Council – one of many collaborations signed on a momentous opening day.  

Prior to the signing, Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, elaborated on the influence of entrepreneurs in supporting the national security mandate, stating: “Cybersecurity is firmly rooted in the DNA of everything that we do. Amidst so many technological aspects – be it AI today, quantum tomorrow, or something else in the future – safety and security will always be one of the main pillars to elevate and enhance next-generation startups and ensure people utilise technologies in the best ways possible. As a nation, our digital transformation focuses on the human-centric factor – and we see so many great entrepreneurs and aspirational thinkers supporting our national security and critical infrastructure.”  

Brazil: An Innovation Powerhouse Building Bridges with the World  

With representation from 180 countries, 2025 is a record-breaking year for international participation at Expand North Star – where ApexBrasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, is the first-ever Country Partner. Across two pavilions, 55 startups and innovation hubs – specialising in AI, fintech, and more – are showcasing how Brazil is driving innovation and creating tech solutions for global challenges.  

Convening Pioneering Unicorns and Visionary International Investors 

Expand North Star 2025 presents its largest-ever unicorn showcase with 40+ companies. Among those receiving significant attention were PsiQuantum (USA), a US$68 billion unicorn architecting the first fault-tolerant quantum system, and talabat (Kuwait), the MENA region’s leading on-demand online ordering and delivery platform valued at US$8.5 billion. 

Others included Andalusia Labs (UAE), a global leader in digital asset risk infrastructure and one of the fastest unicorns in history – a billion-dollar company within 11 months of launching – and Carousell (Singapore), one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing e-commerce platforms.  

From Europe and North America to Asia and the Middle East, Expand North Star also hosts the world’s most prominent multinational banking, venture capital, and investment institutions searching for the next era-defining ventures shaping the future of technology and innovation. 

These include JP Morgan (USA), Daiwa Capital Management (Japan), Eurazeo (France), Octopus Energy Generation (UK), Qatar National Bank (Qatar), Raiffeisenbank (Austria), Samsung Ventures (Japan), and SBI Ventures (Germany). 

Expand North Star 2025 continues on Tuesday.  

For more information, please visit: https://ExpandNorthStar.com. 

– on behalf of Expand North Star.

Media Contact: 
Tayce Marchesi 
PR Manager, DWTC
tayce.marchesi@dwtc.com  
+971 58 552 3994 

Mai Bakry
Sr. PR Manager, Seven Media
maibakry@sevenmedia.ae
gitex@sevenmedia.ae
+971 55 611 3550 

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About Expand North Star:
Expand North Star is the startup showcase part of the world’s largest technology and AI event, GITEX GLOBAL. Organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), and hosted by the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, Expand North Star 2025 runs from 12-15 October 2025 at Dubai Harbour, positioned as the world’s largest startup and investor connector event. The show convenes over 2,000 startups, more than 40 unicorns, and 1,200 investors with a combined US$1.1 trillion in assets under management (AUM), with the highest percentage of growth and late-stage startups participating in any tech show. In parallel, GITEX GLOBAL celebrates its 45th edition this year, running from 13-17 October 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre, featuring over 6,800 exhibitors, and tech participation from 180 countries. In 2026, GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star reunite in a new home at the Dubai Exhibition Centre – Expo City Dubai, with a new format that begins on 7 December with the GITEX Scale Summit, followed by an immersive Exhibition from 8-11 December. Recognised as the world’s largest technology and AI event brand, GITEX now spans 14 cities across multiple continents. More information: https://ExpandNorthStar.com

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Egypt: President El-Sisi Meets Italy’s Prime Minister Meloni on Sidelines of Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit

Source: APO – Report:

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Today, President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi received Prime Minister of the Italian Republic, Giorgia Meloni, in Sharm El-Sheikh, on the sidelines of the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit for Peace. The meeting was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration, and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr. Badr Abdel- Atty and Director of the General Intelligence Service, Major General Hassan Rashad.

Spokesman for the Presidency, Ambassador Mohammed El-Shennawy, said President El-Sisi lauded progress in the outstanding relations between Egypt and Italy, stressing the vital need to further strengthen bilateral ties across various fields. Those include the political, commercial, and economic spheres, in addition to boosting joint cooperation in the sectors of energy, agriculture, construction, tourism, and other areas of mutual interest. President El-Sisi and Prime Minister Meloni also discussed ways to forge closer commercial ties and facilitate engagement between the business communities and private sectors in Egypt and Italy. The Italian Prime Minister welcomed the growing collaboration between the two countries across different fields, emphasizing the need to build upon the current positive progress in bilateral relations.

The meeting also covered a number of regional issues. The Italian Prime Minister expressed her appreciation for Egypt’s pivotal role in facilitating the agreement to end the war in Gaza. She underscored Italy’s full support for all efforts aimed at achieving stability in the region. The President also affirmed the significance of the ceasefire agreement, stating that it culminates the persistent efforts exerted by Egypt, in cooperation with Qatar and the United States of America, over the past two years to end the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip. He confirmed the agreement’s importance in ending the state of war, increasing the delivery of humanitarian and relief aid, securing the release of hostages and prisoners, preparing the groundwork for the rapid reconstruction of the Strip, and providing the political horizon necessary to establish an independent Palestinian State, in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.

During the talks, the Italian Prime Minister reiterated her country’s support for Egypt within the framework of the European Union. The two sides looked forward to the success of the Egyptian-European meeting scheduled to be held in Brussels on October 22, 2025.

– on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

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Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) wins European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Excellence in Practice Silver Award

Source: APO – Report:

The Afreximbank Academy (AFRACAD) has received the Silver Award in the Professional Development category at the 2025 European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) Excellence in Practice (EiP) Awards, which celebrate impactful and high-quality learning and development (L&D) partnerships in the executive, professional, talent, and organizational development areas.

Presented in Stockholm, Sweden, early this month, the award recognises AFRACAD’s Certificate of Trade Finance in Africa (COTFIA) programme — a pioneering initiative that has advanced trade finance capabilities and fostered professional excellence across the African continent for nearly a decade, implemented by Afreximbank in partnership with FCI and the Onsi Sawiris School of Business of the American University in Cairo (AUC).

COTFIA programme was launched in 2016, initially known as the Certificate of Finance in International Trade (COFIT), under the auspices of Afreximbank’s Factoring Working Group (FWG), chaired by Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President of the Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank. Developed in partnership with FCI, the University of Malta, and Quarterback, the initiative aims to build Africa’s trade finance and factoring expertise in line with the Bank’s strategic vision of strengthening Africa’s trade ecosystem.

Commenting on the award, Stephen Tio Kauma, Group Managing Director, Human Resources at Afreximbank noted: “We are deeply grateful for this award which highlights Afreximbank’s continuing impact on the professional development of trade experts across the continent. Participating in the EFMD Conference was far more than an opportunity to present our case or receive recognition — it was a platform to amplify the vision, mission, and strategic mandates of Afreximbank and AFRACAD before an international audience.”

Dr. Anan Shendy, from Afreximbank’s AFRACAD represented the Bank at the conference, delivering a formal presentation of the Bank’s award-winning case study titled, “Transcending Borders: A Pan-African Partnership to Support Trade Professionals.” The presentation was delivered before a distinguished audience and judging panel at the Stockholm School of Economics and was done jointly with representatives from the American University in Cairo (AUC) and FCI.

In 2021, AFRACAD partnered with the Onsi Sawiris School of Business at the AUC, to strengthen the programme’s academic rigour and regional relevance. Since then, AFRACAD has taken on the crucial mandate of managing and continuously enhancing COTFIA, effectively institutionalising and scaling Afreximbank’s capacity-building efforts.

The programme has so far trained more than 150 professionals from across the continent, equipping them with the technical, regulatory, and practical competencies required to strengthen Africa’s trade finance landscape and unlock new opportunities for intra-African and global trade.

With more than 950 member institutions across over 90 countries, EFMD is the world’s largest international network for management development. Over the past 18 years, the Excellence in Practice (EiP) Awards have become a global benchmark for excellence in executive educations showcasing the most effective collaborations between organizations and learning institutions and positioning recipients among the world’s leading innovators in learning and development.

– on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

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About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

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