Category: English

Source: APO – Report:

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com), Africa’s leading multilateral financial institution, today marked a historic milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Egypt’s New Capital, which will also be the home of the Bank’s new global headquarters.

Situated in the Diplomatic District of the New Capital, approximately 45 kilometres east of Cairo, the Afreximbank African Trade Centre will be located in a modern, strategically planned environment that brings together government ministries, foreign embassies, and international organisations. It will be the first facility of its kind in the North Africa region.

Speaking at the ceremony, Egypt’s Prime Minister, His Excellency, Dr Mostafa Madbouly, said: “The establishment of the Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Egypt’s New Capital reflects Egypt’s important role in driving continental economic integration and trade facilitation.

“As the host country of Afreximbank’s global headquarter, Egypt is proud to deepen this collaboration through a landmark facility that will serve as a hub for trade intelligence, capacity building, innovation, and continental connectivity.”

Afreximbank’s President and Chairman of its Board of Directors, Dr George Elombi, expressed appreciation to the Government of Egypt for its steadfast support since the Bank’s establishment in 1993. He noted that Egypt has hosted the Bank’s global headquarters for more than three decades, contributing significantly to the Afreximbank’s strong growth, and that Egypt, represented by its Central Bank, is also the largest sovereign shareholder of Afreximbank.

Dr Elombi said: “This Afreximbank African Trade Centre in the New Capital is meant not simply to accommodate the expansion of the Bank, but provide a concrete solution designed to address the lack of trade and investment information among African businesses; a challenge that has confounded the growth of intra-African trade and investment for nearly seven decades.”

Describing the relationship between Afreximbank and the Government of Egypt as ‘truly symbiotic’, Dr Elombi said the Bank has disbursed US$41 billion into the Egyptian economy to date, supporting increased investment in strategic sectors including energy, telecommunications, construction and manufacturing, while strengthening Egypt-Africa trade and investment.

“We have helped Egyptian entities capitalise on growing investment opportunities across Africa, helping them secure and execute projects in several countries.”

The Afreximbank African Trade Centre in the New Capital, Cairo, will position Egypt as a major trade hub, housing technology and SME incubation centres as well as a digital African trade gateway offering trade information, customer due diligence, payments, and other digital services.

The AATC in Cairo is part of Afreximbank’s broader vision to develop a network of African Trade Centres in strategic commercial hubs across Africa and the Caribbean. These centres will provide trade information, market intelligence, financing, networking and collaboration opportunities, and essential support facilities to accelerate trade, strengthen economic cooperation, and drive intra-African growth.

Occupying a 48,888-square-metre site, the state-of-the-art Afreximbank development will feature two basement levels and six floors, with a total gross built-up area of 156,147 square metres.

Once completed, the AATC in Cairo will offer 57,298 square metres of office space to accommodate Afreximbank’s rapidly expanding workforce. Additional office space will be made available for African and international agencies involved in trade, finance, and investment, as well as for some foreign African diplomatic missions.

The complex will host a full suite of modern trade-supporting facilities, including a trade information centre, a world-class library and knowledge hub, an innovation and SME incubation centre to support entrepreneurship, a business centre, a 110-room aparthotel, a 750-seater modern conference centre, an exhibition centre, retail and dinning outlets, shops, extensive back-of-house and support facilities and a 1,200-bay parking structure.

The architectural design integrates three interconnected blocks arranged around a landscaped internal street, creating the social and spatial heart of the complex. Green courtyards, shaded walkways, and collaborative spaces will encourage seamless interaction between work, learning, and leisure reflecting Afreximbank’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and staff wellbeing.

Designed to achieve Gold-level LEED certification or higher, the complex will feature smart energy-efficient systems, solar power integration, water-saving technologies, and climate-responsive design with comfortable shaded outdoor spaces.

This makes the new Afreximbank headquarters one of Africa’s most advanced and environmentally conscious institutional developments.

Afreximbank has appointed Hassan Allam Construction, one of Egypt’s leading engineering and construction companies, as the main contractor under a US$249.5 million contract. Architectural design and project supervision are being led by renowned engineering firm EHAF Consulting Engineers.

This project will generate significant employment throughout the construction phase and in ongoing operations. It will stimulate opportunities for local contractors, suppliers, SMEs, and a wide range of service providers.

Scheduled for completion in early 2029, the AATC in Cairo’s groundbreaking follows the AATC- Barbados (https://apo-opa.co/48XmNFi) groundbreaking in March 2025 and the official opening of the AATC in Abuja (https://apo-opa.co/459NMw3) in April 2025. Construction is already underway for similar projects in Harare and Kampala.

The Afreximbank African Trade Centre network will include hubs in Abuja (Nigeria), Harare (Zimbabwe), Kampala (Uganda), Cairo (Egypt), Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire), Yaoundé (Cameroon), Bridgetown (Barbados), Kigali (Rwanda) and Tunis (Tunisia).

Together, these Centres will connect buyers, sellers, suppliers, service providers, enterprises, governments, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, development organisations, and the wider African and global trade and investment community.

– 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

Source: APO

On Friday, 28 November 2025, ConstructAfrica (https://ConstructAfrica.com/) successfully convened its inaugural Ambassador Town Hall Meeting, bringing together a distinguished group of leaders from across Africa’s construction, infrastructure, finance, legal, education, technology, and policy sectors. This historic gathering marks the formal introduction of the ConstructAfrica Ambassadors Programme, an initiative designed by the ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board (CIAB) to champion excellence, collaboration, and thought leadership across the continent’s built-environment ecosystem.

The Town Hall set the foundation for a new pan-African community of experts committed to strengthening Africa’s construction sector, one of the continent’s most important engines of economic and social development.

A Milestone for Africa’s Construction Future

The inaugural Town Hall highlighted both the significance of Africa’s construction and infrastructure landscape and the urgent need for coordinated leadership. The sector (one of the fastest-growing globally) contributes up to 11% of GDP in key African markets, attracts trillions of dollars in pipeline investments, and serves as a catalyst for job creation, industrialisation, regional integration, and improved quality of life across the continent.

Against this backdrop, the Ambassadors Programme aims to mobilise 100 influential leaders by 2026 to help shape a more sustainable, investable, and globally competitive construction industry for Africa.

In introducing the ConstructAfrica Ambassadors Programme, Dr Nelson Ogunshakin OBE, Chair of ConstructAfrica Industry Advisory Board (CIAB), said, “We are delighted to have secured the commitment of highly qualified and enthusiastic corporate executives across the African continent to form the first cohort of the Ambassadors. The Ambassadors Programme brings together a carefully selected group of exceptional professionals and visionaries committed to advancing Africa’s infrastructure transformation. The initiative will serve as a global think tank and collaborative network, elevating Africa’s voice in development discourse and strengthening the flow of insights, innovations, and best practices across the sector. On behalf of the CIAB, I would like to welcome onboard our new ambassadors and look forward to collaborating with each member towards the successful delivery of future programme – strengthening the African construction sector.”

Demonstrating ConstructAfrica’s Commitment to Excellence

The launch of the Town Hall and Ambassadors Programme signals ConstructAfrica’s deepening commitment to supporting Africa’s construction ecosystem with reliable market intelligence, strategic dialogue, and platforms for knowledge exchange.

Sharing his reflections on the significance of the programme, Dr. Segun Faniran, Founder and Publisher of ConstructAfrica, said: “The ConstructAfrica Ambassadors Programme brings together distinguished thought leaders from diverse fields across key sectors relevant to the African construction landscape. Through this initiative, we are building a powerful network of visionaries committed to advancing industry standards, fostering collaboration, and shaping the future of infrastructure development in Africa. The programme reflects ConstructAfrica’s commitment to market intelligence, thought leadership, and sustainable growth, laying the foundation for a more connected and resilient continent.”

As a pan-African hub for data, insights, and thought leadership, ConstructAfrica remains dedicated to empowering investors, developers, policymakers, and practitioners to make informed decisions that lead to sustainable, impactful infrastructure delivery.

The Town Hall concluded with expressions of gratitude to the inaugural cohort of Ambassadors – leaders whose expertise and passion reflect ConstructAfrica’s vision of building a stronger, more connected, and more resilient Africa.

LIST OF THE AMBASSADORS

S/N	Name	Role	Area of Expertise	Country
1	Jumoke Ogundare	Chief Executive Officer, Lagos Lagoon Highways Limited	Developer & Investor	Nigeria
2	Hakeem Ogunniran	Chair, Eximia Realty	Housing Development	Nigeria
3	Grace Bema	Managing Director, BCHOD Consulting Engineers	Design Engineering	Zimbabwe
4	Rob Morson	Partner, Pinsent Masons	Legal / Solicitors	South Africa
5	Tunde Fagbemi	Chair, Dukia Gold	Aviation & Mining	Nigeria
6	Eddie Andrews	Deputy Mayor of Cape Town	Government	South Africa
7	Colette Yende	Chief Procurement Officer, Transnet Engineering	Procurement	South Africa
8	Bruce Mutaurwa	Chief Executive Officer, Rapidus Engineering	Civil Engineering	South Africa
9	Nkgatho Tlale	Deputy Vice Chancellor, Tshwane University of Technology	Engineering / Academic Leadership	South Africa
10	Mqhele Dlodlo	Vice Chancellor, NUST, Zimbabwe	Engineering / Academic Leadership	Zimbabwe
11	Vibhuti Jain	MD, Regional Head of Africa, DFC	Infrastructure Finance	South Africa
12	Denamo Addisie	Professor, Addis Ababa University	Construction Project Management	Ethiopia
13	Sophonias Deneke	Director, Amigos Institute	Construction Technology	Ethiopia
14	Wubishet Jekale Menegsha	Director, Jekale CM Consultancy	Construction	Ethiopia
15	Shiferaw Alemu	Program Director, Ethiopian Aviation	Infrastructure Development	Ethiopia
16	Refilwe S. Buthelezi	President, Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO)	Engineering Leadership	South Africa
17	Kazawedi Papias	Managing Director, TASK Africa	Engineering Leadership	Tanzania
18	James Afolalu	Program Manager (Data), Cognizant	Infrastructure Asset Management; IT	Nigeria
19	Alfie Chimedza	Director, Programme Advisory, Gleeds	Infrastructure Advisory	Zimbabwe
20	Yusuf Abdi	Construction Engineer, Cullen, Grummitt & Roe	Construction Engineering	Somalia
21	Bwalya Lumbwe	Construction Dispute Expert, Incipio, Zambia	Construction Law; FIDIC	Zambia
22	Derrick Nkera	Director, Turner & Townsend, Rwanda	Cost Management; Construction Consulting; East Africa	Rwanda
23	Lanre Lawale	Group Leader, Technical Specialist Services – India, Middle East and Africa, Arup	Façade Engineering	Nigeria
24	Wale Okubadejo	Managing Partner, OAC Architects	Architecture	Nigeria
25	Igbuan Okaisobor	Chief Executive Officer, Construction Kaiser	Construction Business	Nigeria
26	Claire Barclay	Partner, Pinsent Masons	Construction Law; Infrastructure Project Planning; Finance Structuring; Risk Management	South Africa
27	Theophilus Shittu	UNESCO Chair in Earthen Architecture, Building Cultures, and Sustainable Development	Sustainable Architecture; Urbanism; Architectural Technology; Construction Technology; Construction Management	Nigeria
28	Ronald Mbiu	Consultant Quantity Surveyor & Construction Project Manager, Endelevu Designs, Kenya	Sustainable Design & Construction Services	Kenya
29	Charles Malek	Global Director, Structural & Bridge Engineering, Dar Al Handasah (DAR)	Bridge Engineering; Building Structures; 3D Printing	(based in Lebanon)
30	Hussein Mohammed	Professor of Civil Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria	Engineering Materials; Operational & Performance Evaluation of Engineering Structures	Nigeria
31	Aramide Adeyoye	Chief Executive Officer, ABM Infrastructure Advisory	Infrastructure Planning; Engineering Procurement & Construction	Nigeria
32	Katelula Kaswaga	Bridge Engineer, Yoosh	Bridge Engineering	Tanzania
33	Vishal Haripersad	Managing Director, Knight Piésold Southern Africa	Engineering (Mining & Infrastructure)	South Africa
34	Rizwan Qadri	Managing Director, Riz Consulting Services Limited	Infrastructure & Consulting	Tanzania
35	Brighton Mapfumo	Project Manager, Seychelles Infrastructure Agency	Project Management & Quantity Surveying	Seychelles
36	Charles Gavamukulya	Managing Director (Contracts and Commercial Lead), CG Engineering Consults	Construction Law & Dispute Resolution	Uganda
37	Concepter Ouma	Quantity Surveyor	Quantity Surveying	Kenya
38	John Beecroft	Chief Executive Officer, Tetramanor	Finance; Contracting	Nigeria
39	Effie Mpakati-Gama	Vice-Chancellow, University of Hebron, Malawi; Consultant, Sustainable Construction, Malawi	Sustainability; Green Construction	Malawi
40	Marzia Traverso	Professor of Sustainability in Civil Engineering; Co-founder, Circular SRL	Sustainability; Green Construction	(based in Germany)
41	Kahilu Kajimo-Shakantu	Department Head, Quantity Survey & Construction Management, University of the Free State	Construction	South Africa
42	Abimbola Windapo	Deputy Dean, University of Cape Town	Construction	South Africa / Nigeria
43	Olusegun Ijalana	Senior Architect / Project Manager, Seychelles Infrastructure Agency	Architecture	Nigeria / Seychelles
44	Marde van Wyk	Private Markets Principal Consultant, 27four	Finance	South Africa
45	Elton Zingwevu	Chief Executive Officer, Excellentia Training Solutions	Insurance	South Africa
46	Femi Edun	Director, Frontier Capital Ltd	Project Structuring	Nigeria
47	Halima Kyari	Director, Access Bank PLC	Risk Management	Nigeria

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of ConstructAfrica.

For inquiries, contact:
hello@constructafrica.com

About ConstructAfrica:
ConstructAfrica is the premier pan-African platform delivering actionable market intelligence, real-time project insights, and thought-leadership across the continent’s construction and infrastructure sectors. Through its editorial content, data products, webinars, events, and advisory engagements, ConstructAfrica supports stakeholders in navigating Africa’s dynamic built-environment landscape.

For more information, visit https://ConstructAfrica.com/

Source: APO

The African Development Bank (www.AfDB.org) has released a report establishing a strategic roadmap for unlocking the economic and social potential of artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa. Developed under the G20 Digital Transformation Working Group, Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation  gives an overview of the potential of A1 to foster development.

Download Report: https://apo-opa.co/4qrgJft

The study, carried out by consulting firm Bazara Tech, finds that inclusive AI deployment could generate up to $1 trillion in additional GDP by 2035- equivalent to nearly one-third of the continent’s current economic output. This potential is underpinned by Africa’s growing digital capacity, favorable demographics, and ongoing sectoral reforms, making it one of the most promising regions for AI-driven growth globally.

According to the report the AI dividend is expected to be concentrated in select high-impact sectors, rather than spread evenly across Africa’s economy. Analysis identified five priority sectors—agriculture (20%), wholesale and retail (14%), manufacturing and Industry 4.0 (9%), finance and inclusion (8%), and health and life sciences (7%)—which together are projected to capture 58% of the total AI gains, or approximately $580 billion by 2035. These sectors combine economic size, readiness to adopt AI, and strong potential to deliver inclusive development outcomes.

“We have set out the key actions in this report, identifying the areas where initial implementation should be focused,” said Nicholas Williams, Manager of the ICT Operations Division at the Bank. “The Bank is ready to release investment to support these actions. We expect the private sector and the government to utilize this investment to ensure we achieve the identified productivity gains and create quality jobs”.

The report asserts that realising the potential of AI depends on five interlinked enablers: data, compute, skills, trust, and capital. Reliable and interoperable data forms the foundation for AI insights, while scalable compute infrastructure ensures solutions can be deployed efficiently across the continent. It notes that a skilled workforce is essential to develop, implement, and maintain AI systems, and trust—built through governance, and regulatory frameworks—underpins adoption. The report also notes that the enablers, together with adequate capital investment  to de-risk innovation and accelerate deployment,  would “foster a cycle of AI-driven growth.”

The report also outlines a three-phase roadmap toward Africa’s AI readiness: ignition (2025-27), consolidation (2028-31) and scale (2032-35). 

“Achieving early milestones by 2026 will set Africa’s AI flywheel in motion,” said Ousmane Fall, Director of Industrial and Trade Development at the Bank. “Africa’s challenge is no longer what to do — it is doing it on time.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Contact:
Amba Mpoke-Bigg 
Communication and External Relations Department
email: media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

Source: APO – Report:

At COP30, held in Belém, Brazil (10-21 November), the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) introduced a new, more interactive way to showcase its climate solutions by hosting informal, coffee-style dialogues that allowed participants to engage directly with Bank experts.

The discussions focused on accelerating sustainable and resilient development as Africa faces the threat of climate change.

Al-Hamndou Dorsouma, the Bank Group’s Climate and Green Growth Division Manager, opened the discussions. He explained that African countries, despite contributing less than four percent of global emissions, are experiencing rising temperatures, extreme weather events and increasing vulnerability.

The Bank Group was also represented by Davinah Milenge, Chief Programme Coordinator for Climate Change and Green Growth, who outlined Bank Group special initiatives, including relating to the circular economy in Africa.

Gareth Phillips, Manager for Climate and Environmental Finance described the Bank’s green finance initiatives with a particular focus on the African Green Banks Initiative.

Meanwhile, James Kinyangi, Coordinator of the ClimDev Special Fund and the Climate Action Window, captivated audiences with a presentation on these two financing windows.

Also, Arona Soumaré, the Bank’s Chief Regional Specialist on Climate Change for West Africa, led a dialogue on the institution’s climate activities in the region, which is considered a global climate change hot spots. Soumare addressed, in particular, the Bank’s commitment to creating synergies between the Rio Conventions on climate, biodiversity, and desertification.

The Bank representatives fielded several questions and comments. Reilo Idagiza Sirali and Lydia Wanjo, two Kenyan visitors, praised the “original idea” behind this session. “It was as if we had met over coffee to discuss serious issues about the future of the planet,” said Wanjo.

“It was very interesting – I learned a lot about the just energy transition, nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and the Bank’s measures on the circular economy,” said Maria Micah Maua, a member of the Kenyan youth delegation to COP30.

“At the African Development Bank, our role is to help unlock this potential through integrated and transformative action,” said Dorsouma.

He noted that under the leadership of President Sidi Ould Tah, the Bank Group has just adopted a new strategic direction centred on ‘Four Cardinal Points, which are improving access to capital to unlock Africa’s financial potential and increase investment; reforming and strengthening financial systems to build resilience and increase the continent’s influence; harnessing Africa’s demographic transformation through innovation, skills and job creation, particularly for the green transition; and building climate-resilient infrastructure and value chains to ensure long-term sustainable growth.

Doursouma said, “the initiatives we are discussing today – the circular economy, climate information services and green finance – contribute directly to these priority areas and illustrate how the Bank integrates innovation, information and investment to drive large-scale climate action.”

– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).