Source: Government of Qatar
Doha, October 09, 2025
HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani received a written message from HE President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, concerning bilateral relations and ways to support and develop them.
The message was received by HE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, during his meeting Thursday with HE Ambassador of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the State Safraaz Ahmad Shadood.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – French
ConocoPhillips a reçu le prix du projet RSE de l’année lors de l’African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 : Invest in African Energy, en reconnaissance de son soutien de longue date au projet d’éradication du paludisme sur l’île de Bioko (BIMEP), une initiative de santé publique transformatrice qui a eu un impact mesurable et durable en Guinée équatoriale.
Depuis plus de deux décennies, ConocoPhillips joue un rôle central dans le BIMEP, en partenariat avec le gouvernement de Guinée équatoriale, Marathon Oil, Medical Care Development International et d’autres parties prenantes pour lutter contre le paludisme sur l’île de Bioko. Depuis son lancement en 2003, le projet a permis de réduire considérablement la transmission du paludisme, de sauver des vies, de renforcer les systèmes de santé locaux et d’établir une norme d’excellence pour les programmes communautaires d’élimination des maladies basés sur les données en Afrique.
D’ici 2025, le BIMEP aura réduit la transmission du paludisme sur l’île de Bioko d’environ 78 % par rapport aux niveaux antérieurs à l’intervention. Deux espèces majeures de vecteurs du paludisme, Anopheles funestus et Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, ont été éliminées de l’île, tandis que la mortalité toutes causes confondues et les taux d’anémie sévère chez les enfants âgés de 2 à 14 ans ont considérablement diminué.
Le succès du BIMEP souligne le rôle essentiel que le secteur de l’énergie peut jouer dans le développement socio-économique au-delà de l’extraction des ressources. Grâce à leur forte présence locale, à leurs horizons d’investissement à long terme et à leurs capacités techniques, les entreprises énergétiques sont particulièrement bien placées pour mettre en œuvre des initiatives RSE à fort impact qui s’alignent sur les objectifs de développement nationaux. Le travail de ConocoPhillips en Guinée équatoriale démontre comment le secteur peut contribuer de manière significative à la santé publique, à l’éducation et aux infrastructures, jetant ainsi les bases de communautés plus inclusives et plus résilientes.
« Ce prix récompense non seulement un engagement en faveur de la responsabilité sociale des entreprises, mais aussi un investissement profond et durable dans la santé et le bien-être des communautés », déclare NJ Ayuk, président exécutif de la Chambre africaine de l’énergie. « Le soutien de ConocoPhillips au BIMEP prouve que les entreprises énergétiques peuvent être des partenaires puissants pour faire progresser la santé publique et le développement à long terme sur le continent. »
Distribué par APO Group pour African Energy Chamber.
Source: APO
ConocoPhillips has been awarded CSR Project of the Year at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, in recognition of its long-standing support for the Bioko Island Malaria Elimination Project (BIMEP) – a transformative public health initiative that has delivered measurable, lasting impact in Equatorial Guinea.
For over two decades, ConocoPhillips has played a pivotal role in BIMEP, partnering with the government of Equatorial Guinea, Marathon Oil, the Medical Care Development International and other stakeholders to combat malaria on Bioko Island. Since its launch in 2003, the project has achieved a dramatic reduction in malaria transmission, saving lives, strengthening local health systems and establishing a gold standard for data-driven, community-based disease elimination programs in Africa.
By 2025, BIMEP has reduced malaria transmission on Bioko Island by about 78%, compared to pre‑intervention levels. Two major malaria vector species – Anopheles funestus and Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto – have been eliminated from the island, while all-cause mortality and severe anemia rates among children aged 2–14 have significantly declined.
The success of BIMEP underscores the vital role the energy sector can play in driving socioeconomic development beyond resource extraction. With deep local footprints, long-term investment horizons and technical capacity, energy companies are uniquely positioned to implement high-impact CSR initiatives that align with national development goals. ConocoPhillips’ work in Equatorial Guinea demonstrates how the sector can contribute meaningfully to public health, education and infrastructure, laying the groundwork for more inclusive and resilient communities.
“This award honors not only a commitment to corporate social responsibility, but a deep, sustained investment in the health and well-being of communities,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “ConocoPhillips’ support for BIMEP proves that energy companies can be powerful partners in advancing public health and long-term development on the continent.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.
Source: APO
The highly anticipated C&I Energy + Storage Summit 2025 (https://Energy-StorageSummit.com/) will return to The Maslow Hotel, Sandton, Johannesburg on 4–5 November 2025, bringing together leading energy experts, financiers, regulators and corporate leaders. Among the standout features of this year’s programme are the exclusive Masterclasses, designed to equip delegates with practical tools, strategies and insights to thrive in South Africa’s rapidly transforming energy market.
These hands-on masterclasses complement the Summit’s broader agenda of keynotes, project showcases and panel debates, equipping delegates with actionable strategies to shape their organisations’ energy future.
Day 1: Financing and flexibility
Download the Summit programme (https://apo-opa.co/3W0gmeu)
Day 2: Energy efficiency, storage & carbon markets
Be part of the C&I Energy + Storage Summit in Johannesburg
Book your pass or apply as a hosted buyer (https://apo-opa.co/3VXxMID) to be part of South Africa’s premier platform for C&I energy innovation, finance and storage solutions: https://apo-opa.co/4h6QCqy.
Practical insights
C&I Energy + Storage Summit and Jaltech invite you to an upcoming webinar where Jonty Sacks from Jaltech, a leading solar funder, and Theo Potgieter from AFGRI, a leading agricultural services company, will unpack the simplest and most effective way to approach solar funding, as well as a deep dive into how the agricultural market is quickly adopting solar.
Webinar title: Solar funding for dummies – Approaches and speedy options
Date: Tuesday, 28 October 2025
Time: 12:00 – 13:00 SAST
Register here: https://apo-opa.co/4n0apcH
This session is tailored for solar installers/developers, commercial and industrial energy users, and landlords who want to:
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.
About VUKA Group:
VUKA Group connects people and organisations to information and each other, across Africa’s energy, mining, infrastructure, mobility, green economy and technology sectors through innovative events, content, and strategic networking. By integrating industry introductions, curated events, and digital engagement, the group empowers businesses to navigate complex markets, forge valuable connections, and drive sustainable success.
Venture partners to The Global Trust Project, Founders of WomenIN empowerment platform and leaders of NPO, Go Green Africa. The VUKA Group’s diverse portfolio acts to contribute to its purpose of ‘Connecting Africa to the World’s Best, to Influence Sustainable Progress’
Discover more at https://WeAreVUKA.com/
Source: APO
LemFi (https://LemFi.com), the leading AI-powered international payments platform dedicated to building financial products and services for immigrant communities, today announced the launch of Send Now, Pay Later (SNPL), a credit-powered remittance product that allows its UK customers to use their LemFi credit line to send money home to their families when they need it most.
For the millions of immigrants in the UK who send nearly £10 billion back home annually (https://apo-opa.co/4ohJsCl), there is often a timing mismatch between unexpected expenses and local earning cycles. This can force them to delay pivotal transfers home or turn to unregulated, expensive credit solutions. Since traditional remittance providers typically require immediate payment, Send Now, Pay Later aims to address this critical pain point and provide vital service to customers who are new to the country and have a limited UK credit history.
Powering SNPL is LemFi’s Ensemble AI model, which combines multiple data sources to inform credit decisions, including national credit bureaus, open banking data, and the company’s own remittance data, to help determine credit limits and repayment structures. This intelligent system also automatically adjusts depending on the individual customer’s journey and available data points, determining the required data points based on the customer’s circumstances and then offering risk-adjusted credit based on the available data.
Ridwan Olalere, co-founder and CEO of LemFi, said: “The rise of Buy Now, Pay Later means people across the world can buy products and stagger the payments depending on their cash flow. But this has never been possible before with remittance, despite it being such a core part of the immigrant financial experience. With Send Now, Pay Later, we’re integrating credit directly into the remittance experience, ensuring financial support is never delayed by cash flow timing. It’s also a testament to our commitment to building a full-stack, AI-enabled financial ecosystem that understands and serves the unique challenges faced by global citizens.”
How Send Now, Pay Later Works
To access SNPL, LemFi customers are onboarded to LemFi Credit, which gives users access to credit lines ranging from £300 to £1,000, depending on their credit profile and assessment, which is enabled by leveraging open banking technology to evaluate eligibility. This makes it accessible even to recent immigrants who often lack extensive UK credit histories and are excluded from traditional finance services. In addition, LemFi’s platform can recognise international credit histories and employs alternative credit assessment methods that look beyond traditional UK financial records. This allows users to start with smaller credit limits and build their UK credit profile over time while accessing essential financial services.
This is done through the company’s AI-driven decisioning engine that analyses a wide spectrum of data points, including open banking insights, bureau files, remittance history and patterns within LemFi, as well as international credit footprints. By training models across these diverse datasets, LemFi can predict affordability and repayment likelihood with greater accuracy than traditional scoring approaches while reducing bias that often excludes immigrants from mainstream credit, helping to solve the issue of “credit invisibility” through the application of artificial intelligence.
Once onboarded, customers can access their credit limit to send money to any of the 30+ LemFi-supported destination countries. When choosing the SNPL option, LemFi immediately processes the transfer to the recipient while creating a deferred payment obligation for the sender.
Bridging the Credit Divide
Currently, immigrants face significant and widespread issues when it comes to trying to access credit and banking services more broadly. Approximately five million individuals in the UK are considered “credit invisible”, with immigrants from emerging countries disproportionately affected. Research indicates (https://apo-opa.co/3VT1bUt) that nine in 10 immigrants report that accessing credit has become more difficult in recent years, while 13% of migrants are excluded from banking services compared to just 3% of the general UK population. This exclusion creates a cascade of financial challenges that extend beyond simple access to credit.
LemFi’s approach to credit assessment specifically addresses these challenges. As well, SNPL will tackle friction points around timing and bank transfers. Its real-time / same-day transfers reduce the time taken by traditional banks by a third and provide a means for its users to support their community despite their cash flow.
Global Expansion and Market Opportunities
Following the UK launch, LemFi plans to expand the SNPL service to its other markets in the United States, Canada, and Europe. It currently supports over 2 million customers, enabling them to send money to over 30 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America.
Since its founding, LemFi has supported over 2 million customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe. In January 2025, LemFi secured $53 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to over $86M. Investors include Highland Europe, LeftLane Capital, Endeavor Capital, and Y-Combinator.
For more information, visit https://LemFi.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of LemFi.
Source: Government of South Africa
Minister Manamela calls for calm amid Fort Hare unrest
The Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela has implored all students and stakeholders to refrain from violence, intimidation and damage to property, following the escalating unrest at the University of Fort Hare, on Wednesday evening.
In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Minister said that he has been in contact with the MEC for Community Safety, to ensure that law enforcement acts proportionately, and that criminal elements do not exploit the situation.
“I implore all students and stakeholders to refrain from violence, intimidation, and damage to property. Let us protect the University of Fort Hare’s proud legacy through dialogue, discipline, and collective responsibility.
Minister Manamela said the escalating unrest at the University of Fort Hare is deeply concerning.
Last night, he had a discussion with student representatives and implored on them to de-escalate the situation at the university and ensure that all protest action is peaceful and provide leadership that protects both lives and university property.
The Minister said he also conveyed a message to the University Council through the Chair and requested a detailed de-escalation plan, including taking the necessary measures to protect lives and campus infrastructure.
“A Ministerial and Departmental team, led by Professor Ahmed Bawa, is already on the ground engaging management, student leaders, unions, and the Institutional Forums to help stabilise the situation and facilitate dialogue.
“We remain concerned about the destruction of property and acts of violence and condemn in the strongest terms actions that rob future generations of learning opportunities and divert scarce resources from improving the quality of education in our country,” the Minister said.
He also welcomed the initiative of the Premier of the Eastern Cape, Oscar Mabuyane, to deploy a group of respected community and church leaders, including Reverand Finca, Hartland, Mbethe, Nopece, Ntlali, Nyobole, and Vika, to complement these efforts and help calm tensions. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Source: Government of South Africa
Public Works on the right track, annual report shows
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) says its annual performance report shows an improvement in its fiscal resources, and that it has delivered meaningful services its clients and the public.
DPWI Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala and Director-General Sifiso Mdakane presented the report on operational and financial performance by the department on Wednesday before members of the Public Works and Infrastructure Portfolio Committee.
“The report reflects a year of strong stewardship and leadership since the start of the 7th Administration under the leadership of Minister Dean Macpherson and Deputy Minister Zikalala.
“The report also shows an improvement in the fiscal resources and meaningful service delivery to the clients of the department and the public.
“The report highlights notable achievements, and a clear path towards meeting of the key priorities of ‘Turning South Africa into a Construction Site‘, using public assets for public good, and creating more work opportunities through the Expanded Public Works Programme,” the department said.
The annual report is a key tool of accountability by the department to Parliament and the citizens of the country on its performance. – SAnews.gov.za
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Source: Government of South Africa
Export diversification to take centre stage at export symposium
Recent developments in the global trade, which include tariff hikes, have underscored the urgent need for South Africa to diversify its markets.
This also includes deepened value addition and expanded participation of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), and historically disadvantaged enterprises in global and regional value chains.
Against this backdrop, the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) will host a three-day Export Symposium and Expo at the Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, from 14-16 October 2025.
The Export Symposium and Expo seek to address these challenges and position South Africa for sustainable export-led growth.
It will bring together key stakeholders, including government officials, private sector representatives, export-focused businesses, and international trade experts, to explore strategies for growing and diversifying exports.
Increasing trade with Africa, utilising international trade agreements, expanding value-added trade in goods and services, and addressing key challenges, such as access to finance and market identification will be high on the agenda.
One hundred exhibitors from various sectors, including the aerospace and defence, agro processing, manufacturing, medical and pharma, rail services and crafts, automotive and components, boat building, chemicals, clothing and textiles, footwear and leather, film, furniture and decor, are expected to showcase their products and services at the event.
The Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Zuko Godlimpi, said they anticipate the businesspeople to generate business leads, secure distribution deals, and exports sales from the expected buyers from various regions.
“We are committed to the promotion of value-added trade with both traditional and emerging markets and fostering collaboration between government, business, and labour to sustain export-led growth,” said Godlimpi.
“With this symposium, we want to provide a platform for dialogue on strategies to enhance South Africa’s export competitiveness, export capacity and market reach,” he said.
Godlimpi said with combined minds from government officials, organised business, and international trade experts, actionable strategies for improving access to finance for exporters, will be developed.
The event will also highlight South African exporters in key sectors through an exhibition, business-to-business engagements between the South African companies and international buyers to unlock export opportunities.
Export opportunities under regional groupings such as BRICS+ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, and United Arab Emirates), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf will be explored to increase market access.
Trade agreements such as African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) will also be explored to discover export opportunities.
The European Union, Southern African Development Community-Economic Partnership Agreement (SADC EU EPA) and the European Free Trade Association, Southern African Customs Union (EFTA SACU) will also be discussed to explore export markets. – SAnews.gov.za
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Source: Africa Press Organisation – French
LemFi (https://LemFi.com), leader des paiements internationaux alimentés par l’IA et spécialiste des services financiers pour les communautés immigrées, annonce aujourd’hui le lancement de « Transfert instantané, règlement différé » (SNPL), une solution de transfert basée sur le crédit. Ce service permet aux clients du Royaume-Uni d’utiliser leur ligne de crédit LemFi pour envoyer de l’argent à leurs proches immédiatement, même lorsque leurs liquidités sont limitées.
Chaque année, les immigrés au Royaume-Uni envoient près de 10 milliards £ vers leur pays d’origine. Or, un décalage fréquent entre imprévus financiers et cycles de revenus locaux les contraint parfois à retarder des transferts essentiels ou à recourir à des solutions de crédit coûteuses et non régulées. Là où les prestataires classiques exigent un paiement immédiat, LemFi apporte une réponse concrète avec « Transférez maintenant, réglez plus tard », conçu spécialement pour ceux qui disposent d’un historique de crédit limité au Royaume-Uni.
Une innovation portée par l’intelligence artificielle
Ce nouveau service repose sur Ensemble AI, le modèle propriétaire de LemFi qui combine plusieurs sources de données (bureaux de crédit, open banking, historique de transferts LemFi). Objectif : définir des plafonds de crédit et des conditions de remboursement adaptées, ajustées automatiquement en fonction du parcours et de la situation de chaque client.
Ridwan Olalere, cofondateur et CEO de LemFi, explique :
« Le modèle “Buy Now, Pay Later” a permis aux consommateurs d’acheter et de payer en plusieurs fois selon leur trésorerie.
Pourtant, rien de tel n’existait pour les transferts, alors qu’ils sont essentiels dans l’expérience financière des immigrés. Avec Transférez maintenant, réglez plus tard, nous intégrons directement le crédit au cœur de l’expérience de transfert. Les familles peuvent ainsi être soutenues sans attendre, indépendamment des contraintes de trésorerie. C’est une nouvelle preuve de notre engagement à bâtir un écosystème financier complet, intelligent et adapté aux réalités des citoyens du monde. »
Comment ça marche ?
Pour accéder à ce service, les clients s’inscrivent à LemFi Credit, qui ouvre une ligne de crédit comprise entre 300 £ et 1 000 £, selon leur profil. Grâce à l’open banking et à des méthodes alternatives d’évaluation, même les nouveaux arrivants sans historique de crédit britannique peuvent y accéder. La plateforme de LemFi prend en compte les empreintes de crédit
internationales et permet ainsi aux utilisateurs de commencer avec des plafonds modestes, tout en construisant leur profil de crédit local.
L’IA de LemFi analyse un large éventail de données (open banking, fichiers de crédit, historiques de transferts, empreintes internationales) pour prédire la capacité de remboursement avec une précision supérieure aux méthodes traditionnelles. Cette approche réduit aussi les biais qui excluent souvent les immigrés du crédit classique.
Une fois approuvé, le client peut envoyer de l’argent vers plus de 30 pays. Le bénéficiaire reçoit immédiatement le transfert, tandis que l’expéditeur dispose d’un règlement différé.
Réduire la fracture du crédit
Près de 5 millions de personnes au Royaume-Uni sont considérées comme « invisibles au crédit », dont une grande part d’immigrés. Des études montrent que 9 sur 10 estiment que l’accès au crédit s’est durci ces dernières années, et 13 %sont exclus des services bancaires (contre 3 % pour la population générale).
En ciblant ces défis, LemFi veut combler une fracture réelle. Les transferts instantanés réduisent aussi d’un tiers les délais habituels des banques, apportant aux utilisateurs un moyen fiable de soutenir leurs proches, même en cas de trésorerie serrée.
Expansion mondiale
Après le Royaume-Uni, LemFi prévoit d’étendre ce service aux États-Unis, au Canada et en Europe.
La société compte déjà plus de 2 millions de clients envoyant de l’argent vers plus de 30 pays d’Asie, d’Afrique, d’Europe et d’Amérique latine.
En janvier 2025, LemFi a levé 53 millions $ en Série B, portant son financement total à plus de 86 millions $, auprès notamment de Highland Europe, LeftLane Capital, Endeavor Capital et Y-Combinator.
Plus d’informations sur https://LemFi.com.
Distribué par APO Group pour LemFi.
Source: APO
Aksaya Estates Limited has signed an agreement with Marriott International (http://www.Marriott.com) to bring Courtyard by Marriott to the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi. Slated to open in 2027, the Courtyard by Marriott Nairobi Airport will enhance the hospitality offerings at Kenya’s key international gateway, providing guests with an elevated experience to optimise work, relax and make the most of their stay.
The Courtyard by Marriott Nairobi Airport, which has commenced construction, will feature approximately 180 well-appointed rooms and suites, all thoughtfully designed with an emphasis on flexibility and a smart layout tailored to the needs of modern leisure and business. The hotel will include two restaurants and bars, an expansive landscaped courtyard featuring a fire pit, a rooftop fitness centre and 18 metre swimming pool, as well as versatile indoor and outdoor event space.
The property has secured Preliminary EDGE Advanced Certification, IFC’s sustainable building certification.
The property will be the second Marriott-branded hotel owned and operated by Aksaya Estates in Kenya, following the successful operation of the Sankara Nairobi, Autograph Collection in Westlands, Nairobi.
Marriott International encompasses a portfolio of over 9,600 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 143 countries and territories. Courtyard by Marriott participates in Marriott Bonvoy, Marriott International’s global travel programme.
Aksaya Estates Limited is real estate investment firm that invests, with a long-term perspective, in commercial real estate.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Marriott International, Inc..
