Category: English

Source: APO

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande is part of a government delegation to Switzerland.

Together with other Ministers, he is accompanying His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa on a two-day State Visit at the invitation of Her Excellency President Karin Keller-Sutter of the Swiss Confederation.

The purpose of the visit is to strengthen political, economic, and social ties between Switzerland and South Africa, and to advance mutually beneficial cooperation in support of inclusive growth and development in the areas of trade and investment, skills development, and science and innovation.

Minister Nzimande, alongside President Ramaphosa and Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela, also took time to meet with South African students studying in Switzerland.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, Republic of South Africa.

Source: APO

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The ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), UN Women and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), in collaboration with the ECOWAS Support Project for Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, funded by the European Union and Germany and implemented by GIZ, jointly organised a regional seminar from the 13th  to 17th of October 2025 in Abuja, Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the theme: “Strengthening the role of young women in political parties and parliaments in West Africa and the Sahel”.

The seminar brought together members of the Network of Young Women Leaders in West Africa (ROAJELF) and experts in gender and elections for a three-day training course focusing on political participation, leadership development, electoral frameworks, communication strategies and digital advocacy.

This training was followed by a two-day meeting dedicated to the 5th General Assembly of ROAJELF, marked by the renewal of the network’s governing bodies.

During the visit, participants exchanged views with members of the ECOWAS Women Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA). Through mentoring circles and inspiring dialogues, the young women benefited from the experience of seasoned parliamentarians and gained a better understanding of the realities of political leadership.

During the visit, participants also presented the Declaration of the West African Network of Young Women Leaders (ROAJELF), calling for concrete actions to increase women’s representation and leadership at all levels of governance in the region.

For its part, ECOFEPA reaffirmed its commitment to supporting young women in the ROAJELF network through sustainable mentoring, thereby promoting intergenerational collaboration and creating a pool of competent and confident women ready to take on political and public responsibilities.

Created in 2009 with the support of the ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC), the West African Network of Young Women Leaders (ROAJELF) provides a permanent framework for consultation and action for young women leaders in West Africa.

The network works on key issues such as reproductive health, education for development, peace and security, regional economic integration and migration.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

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HE Minister of State for International Cooperation Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad, met today with HE Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to the State of Qatar, Lily Adhieu Martin Manyiel.

Discussion during the meeting, focussed on cooperation relations between the two countries and ways to support and develop them, in additipon to the situation of displaced persons from Sudan.

HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation emphasized the importance of adhering to the protection of civilians and ensuring the provision of essential services to them, especially in light of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in conflict-affected areas. She stressed the need to strengthen international and regional efforts to coordinate the humanitarian response and support the most vulnerable groups.

Her Excellency also reiterated the State of Qatar’s unwavering support for the Sudanese people and its continued support for all initiatives aimed at achieving peace and alleviating the suffering of civilians in Sudan and neighboring countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

Source: APO

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The President of the Republic of Seychelles in his capacity of Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) Dr. Patrick Herminie, conducted his first official visit to the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF) Headquarters at Bel Eau on Thursday morning. The President was joined on this visit by the Vice President, Mr. Sebastien Pillay.

The visit marked a significant milestone in the new administration’s engagement with the nation’s defence establishment. During the course of the visit, the Commander-in-Chief received a comprehensive presentation from senior military officials outlining the mandate, roles, and functions of the Seychelles Defence Forces.

In his welcoming address, the Chief of Defence Forces, Major General Michael Rosette, extended his congratulations to President Herminie on his election and expressed the profound honour and privilege of receiving the Commander-in-Chief for this inaugural visit. Major General Rosette emphasized that the official engagement would provide the President with valuable insights into the SDF’s operational structure and its alignment with national strategic priorities.

Following the formal presentation, the presidential delegation proceeded to engage with additional military officers across various commands. In recognition of the historic occasion, both President Herminie and Vice President Pillay were presented with commemorative tokens.

In his concluding remarks, President Herminie expressed his sincere appreciation for the critical role performed by the Seychelles Defence Forces in safeguarding national security and defending the constitution. He extended his best wishes to all personnel in the execution of their duties, recognizing their role, efforts and sacrifices.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of State House Seychelles.

Source: APO

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The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, through the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs (DHSA), convened two high-level engagements in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, from 20 to 24 October 2025, to advance collective action to protect children across West Africa. The sessions brought together Directors responsible for child protection from ECOWAS Member States, United Nations agencies, and civil society, to reinforce regional cooperation and accelerate implementation of child protection commitments.

The first engagement reviewed progress in implementing the ECOWAS Strategic Framework, adopted in 2017. The second engagement, held with the Regional Working Group for Child Protection (Groupe Régional de Protection de l’Enfant – GRPE), resulted in the validation of the Joint ECOWAS-GRPE Operational Plan for 2026 to guide coordinated child protection programming across the region.

Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Olatunde Olayemi reaffirmed that child protection remains a strategic and political priority for ECOWAS. He highlighted the ECOWAS Child Policy (2019-2030), the Regional Action Plans on Child Labour and Trafficking, and the rollout of the ECOWAS Child Rights Information Management System (ECRIMS) as instruments to strengthen data-driven policy and accountability.

Representatives of Member States and partner organizations, including UNICEF, ENDA Jeunesse Action, IOM, Plan International, SSI-WA, Terre des Hommes, and SOS Children’s Villages, commended ECOWAS for sustaining a regional platform for coordination and joint action, while noting persistent risks such as insecurity, displacement, harmful practices, and economic pressures affecting children.

Member States and partners agreed on priority actions, including increased national budget allocation, harmonized reporting through ECRIMS, strengthened child participation and inclusion, domestication of regional child protection instruments, enhanced cross-border cooperation, and coordinated implementation of the Joint ECOWAS-GRPE Operational Plan (2026).

The engagements concluded with a call for sustained political will, resource mobilization, and strengthened collaboration among governments, civil society, and international partners to ensure every child in West Africa grows up safe, protected, and able to thrive.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Source: APO

• More than 100 speakers from countries including, Australia, China, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, The Netherlands, the UAE and the US to share thought leadership and strategic takeaway across four leadership summits
• Renowned leaders from Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure and Department of Economy & Tourism, Aldar Projects, KAFD, Deyaar, BEEAH Real Estate, LEAD Real Estate Developer, Retal Urban Development and Elisium City at Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit and LiveableCitiesX Summit
• Leaders from Department of Municipalities and Transport, Dubai Municipality, NEOM and Expo City Dubai, among speakers at Big 5 FutureTech Summit and GeoWorld Summit

Urbanization and construction across the MEASA region continue to accelerate, with more than $9 trillion in active projects and a growing emphasis on sustainability, smart cities and resilient infrastructure (Source: Ventures Onsite). Reflecting this momentum, Big 5 Global (www.Big5Global.com) returns for its 46^th edition to bring together government leaders, industry experts, policymakers and innovators through four leadership summits, including Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, LiveableCitiesX Summit, Big 5 FutureTech Summit and GeoWorld Summit.

Running from 24–27 November 2025 at Dubai World Trade Centre, the summits will convene over 1,200 delegates and over 100 speakers, including government officials, developers and global experts, to share insights on leadership, urban transformation, artificial intelligence and the future of data-driven development across the MEASA region.

At the heart of this dialogue is Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, held under the theme Leading change. Building legacies. The summit convenes ministers, CEOs, financiers and construction leaders to discuss how to drive resilience, ROI and growth amid global uncertainty. The summit will be headlined by prominent industry experts and leaders, including His Excellency Sihle Zikalala, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure South Africa representatives; Lufuno Ratsiku, President, SACPCMP; and Dr Pali Lehohla, Data Strategist / Speaker / Thought Leader, Pan-African Institute of Evidence. Sessions will explore strategies for value creation, public-private partnerships and governance frameworks tailored to Africa’s built environment. Sessions will explore boardroom-level strategies for value creation, public-private partnerships and governance frameworks that secure sustainable growth for the built environment.

“The United Arab Emirates stands at the forefront of sustainable global leadership across all sectors, including the ecosystem of the built environment,” said His Excellency Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy & Infrastructure, who will be delivering the keynote address at the summit. “At this year’s Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit, I look forward to highlighting the significance of public and private sector collaboration to drive innovation, excellence, trust, agility and investment across the energy, water, infrastructure, housing, and transportation sectors.”

The discussion on leadership and legacy extends to city-level planning through the LiveableCitiesX Summit, themed Global cities. Shared futures. The sessions bring together planners, investors and sustainability experts to exchange models for policy, funding and innovation that shape future-ready, human-centric cities. His Excellency Dr Saif Al Nasri, Acting Undersecretary, Department of Municipalities & Transportation, will headline an executive dialogue moderated by Vladislav Boutenko, Managing Director and Senior Partner at BCG’s Global Center for Future Cities on Abu Dhabi’s liveability vision. Some of the other prominent speakers include Nada Taryam, CEO, BEEAH; Mansour Abdulnour Al Rais, Director of the Executive Planning Department, Dubai Municipality; and Engr Nasser bin Salem Al Wadai, General Manager for Projects / GM for King Abdullah International Gardens Project, Riyadh Region Municipality.

Over 40 international voices from Australia, China, Italy, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, The Netherlands and the US, including Dag Detter, Investment Advisor at Detter & Co; Yves Padrines, CEO of Nemetschek Group; Dr Valerio Soldani, Trade Commissioner at the Italian Trade Commission Office of the Italian Embassy; and His Excellency, Gerard Steeghs, Ambassador, Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands, will enrich the discussion with insights from global city transformation projects. “Unlocking investment in the region’s urban economies starts with how we manage public assets,” said Detter. “By bringing private-sector efficiency and transparency into public wealth management, cities across the region can generate long-term value, attract sustainable investment and accelerate their journey toward resilient, liveable urban futures.”

As urban visions increasingly rely on digital transformation, Big 5 FutureTech Summit, themed Shaping tomorrow. Driving disruption, will move beyond AI narratives to spotlight technologies delivering measurable impact across construction and urban development. The programme will explore how data-driven tools and digital ecosystems are advancing efficiency, cost management and project delivery. Mohammed Shehata, Senior Vice President – Asset Management, Expo City Dubai, will outline how digital integration is reshaping asset management and operations. Eng Marwan AlJanaahi, Senior Structural Engineer – Building Permits Department, Dubai Municipality, will share strategic insights on how technology is shaping regulatory processes and enabling smarter, more resilient buildings. Industry leaders such as Marc Nezet, Group Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Division Officer O&M, Nemetschek SE; Luke Wu, Managing Director,The GEAR by Kajima; and Mohammed Shehata, Senior Vice President Asset Management, Dubai Expo City, will join a session on The ConTech Investment Playbook, examining the convergence of capital and innovation in construction technology.

Rounding out the leadership series, GeoWorld Summit, themed Advancing geo-intelligence. Empowering tomorrow., bridges policy and technology to demonstrate how spatial data can accelerate infrastructure planning, improve mobility systems and strengthen national resilience. Engr Mohamed Al Marri, Executive Board Member and CEO,  Global Alliance for Artificial Intelligence (GAFAI); Engr Maitha Ali Al Nuaimi, Director – GIS Center Department, Dubai Municipality; and Yasmeen Al Hashmi, Director of Asset Management, Abu Dhabi Department of Municipalities and Transport, will join a high-level panel focusing on the role of  geospatial intelligence in supporting data-driven urban planning and decision-making.

Speaking about the leadership summits, Josine Heijmans, Senior Vice President, dmg events said: “Together, the four summits form the foundation of Big 5 Global’s thought leadership programme, aligning global collaboration with actionable strategies for economic resilience, sustainable development, digital growth and supply chain excellence.”

Big 5 Global is supported by key sponsors and partners, including Main Supporting Partner, Ministry of Energy & Infrastructure; Supporting Partners, Dubai Civil Defense, Ministry of Economy & Tourism, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Land Department, Department of Municipalities and Transport, Ras Al Khaimah Municipality and Riyadh Region Municipality; Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit Government Growth Partner, Italian Trade Agency; Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit Net-Zero Sponsor, Arabian Gulf Steel Industries (AGSI); Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit MEP Sector Sponsor, GF; Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit Gold Sponsor, The Würth Group; Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit Bronze Sponsors, Cortag, DSS+, Hill International, The Nemetschek Group and Premier Construction Software; LiveableCitiesX Summit GIS Strategic Partner, Meter Technology; LiveableCitiesX Summit Bronze Sponsors, DLR Group, KEO, Lead Development and R.evolution; Big 5 FutureTech Summit Bronze Sponsors, The Nemetschek Group, Premier, Procore and Closeoutsoft.

Big 5 Global 2025 takes place from 24–27 November at Dubai World Trade Centre.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Big 5 Global.

About Big 5 Global:
With a 45-year legacy, Big 5 Global is the largest and most influential building and construction event in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia and the annual meeting hub for the global construction industry.  Taking place from 24 – 27 November 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Big 5 Global attracts more than 85,000 global attendees from over 165 countries and 2,800 exhibitors to UAE covering the full construction and urban development cycle across dedicated sectors and nine specialized events enabling industry professionals to source worldwide building solutions for every stage of construction: Heavy, Totally Concrete, Marble & Stone World, Urban Design & Landscape, Windows, Doors & Facades, HVACR World, LiveableCitiesX, GeoWorld and Future FM.   

For more information and to register, visit: www.Big5Global.com

Source: APO

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His Excellency Rashid Saeed Al Shamsi, Non-Resident Ambassador of the UAE to the Republic of the Niger, met with His Excellency Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, Prime Minister of the Niger, at the Prime Minister’s headquarters in the capital, Niamey. 

H.E. Al Shamsi conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, to H.E. Prime Minister Zeine, along with their wishes for further progress and prosperity for the Republic of the Niger. 

For his part, H.E. Prime Minister Zeine conveyed his greetings to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with his wishes for further progress and prosperity for the government and people of the UAE.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways of enhancing bilateral relations between the UAE and the Niger, and strengthening cooperation across areas of mutual interest.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Arab Emirates, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.