To cement trade ties, boost investment flows and encourage tourism between Tanzania and China, Standard Bank and the Industrial Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) have launched the I Go Tanzania loyalty program in partnership with Tanzania Tourism Board.

This initiative, part of ICBC’s I Go Global rewards scheme for its card holders in China, was unveiled in Tanzania on 6th August 2019. It will capitalize on the growing appetite among Chinese travelers to visit Tanzania by offering a range of discounts and special offers from merchants across the travel, hospitality and lifestyle sectors, says Standard Bank’s group head of card and emerging payments across Africa in personal and business banking, Lincoln Mali.

“ICBC is the biggest bank in the world, with approximately 139 million credit cards and as many debit card customers,” says Mali, explaining the rationale behind the new loyalty program, which was designed by Standard Bank in partnership …

• The need to tackle youth unemployment in Kenya has intensified over the years.
• Technical vocational training (TVET) is one of the most significant tools in combating poverty and bridging skills gaps.
• Despite the vast opportunities and possibilities, vocational training still faces significant challenges.

In a rapidly changing global job market, the importance of vocational training has never been more evident. Vocational training prepares individuals with practical skills and knowledge for securing meaningful employment.  The need to tackle youth unemployment in Kenya has intensified over the years.

The significance of vocational training lies in its ability to address the global skills gap, where employers often struggle to find candidates with the practical abilities required for specific jobs. It empowers individuals to secure stable employment and is critical in economic development and reducing unemployment.

The importance of technical and vocational education in the broader concept of global development cannot be overstated. The …

• Sustainable Trade in Tanzania seeks to integrate the strengths of private sectors and civil society organisations to promote green growth.
• The plan seeks to grow trade practices that are both inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
• The project seeks to improve trade resilience to climate change by advocating for sustainable trade practices.

The Foundation for Civil Society (FCS) and TradeMark Africa have sealed a grant agreement to launch a $ 900,000 Private Sector and CSOs project to drive sustainable Sustainable Trade in Tanzania and inclusive business practices, addressing the significant systemic challenges in Tanzania’s trade sector.

Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Ireland, and Norway, the TZS2.3 billion ($900,000), the project seeks to integrate the strengths of private sectors and civil society organisations to promote green economic growth.

Many women in Tanzania remain in the informal trading sector, facing barriers such as limited access to finance and inadequate training …

• Half of OPEC Member Countries are African and this includes the continent’s most populous country, Nigeria, and the largest by area, Algeria.
• OPEC also counts Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Libya as Member Countries.
• Additionally, two African countries are part of the historic ‘Declaration of Cooperation,’ between OPEC and non-OPEC producing countries, namely Sudan and South Sudan.

Since assuming the office of OPEC Secretary General almost two years ago, I have had the privilege of visiting every African OPEC Member Country, as well as several other African countries. Every visit has reaffirmed my firm conviction that the future is bright for Africa and that the oil industry can play a constructive role in that future. Our Organization stands ready to offer any support it can to help this great continent realize its awesome potential.

OPEC takes great pride in its strong and enduring African connections, heritage and identity. Half of …

• Al Shezawi, President of AIM Global Foundation, asks entrepreneurs to seize promising investment opportunities between the Gulf countries and African nations.
• Al Shezwi who is also President AIM Congress says these collaborations will be through enhancing joint work and establishing economic partnerships.
• Also discussed in Bahrain was best practices and experiences from Africa and the Arab region on how to stimulate and unleash entrepreneurship, joint investments, and trade.

The AIM Global Foundation has called for enhanced trade partnership between the Gulf nations and Africa during the fifth edition of the 2024 World Entrepreneurs Investment Forum in Bahrain.

This call comes at a time when the AIM Global Foundation is increasingly engaging the world’s entrepreneurs, urging enhanced international cooperation by formulating and developing effective promotion strategies and opening new horizons for viable investments.

Overall, the AIM Global Foundation seeks to anticipate the future, support sustainable investment partnerships and initiatives, and create …

• South Sudan is recognised for its vast mineral resources, including a burgeoning gold industry.
• Over 50 alluvial sites near the Luri River, about 40 km southwest of Juba, have reported gold concentrations.
• Other alluvial gold concentrations have been found near the Kinyeti River, Nimule, and northeast Karpeto.

Globally, South Sudan is recognised for its vast mineral resources, including a burgeoning gold industry. This industry represents promising opportunities for collaboration with established gold producers, enabling the country to leverage its expertise for enhanced exploration, extraction, and value addition.

For the first time in its eight-year history, the South Sudan Oil and Power Conference and Expo has been extended to four days to include a concurrent mining forum. This forum aims to explore and promote South Sudan’s untapped mining potential.

It invites international investors and private companies to participate and engage directly with South Sudan’s Ministry of Mining, offering a unique opportunity …

• Estimates show that family planning in Kenya prevented 2.4 million pregnancies in 2023.
• The 2023 report shows significant achievements in family planning across the globe, even in the face of stagnant funding.
• The contraceptives were procured by UNFPA with more than KES57 Million (£348,000) funding from the UK.

Efforts to make family planning more accessible to women in Kenya received a boost with the handover of 450,000 doses of Subcutaneous Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA-SC), a self-injectable contraceptive that simplifies and enhances the accessibility of family planning.

The contraceptives were procured by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with more than $378,151 (KES57 Million) funding from the UK Government, and will be distributed by the Ministry of Health to health facilities across the country.

DMPA-SC is a user-friendly injectable contraceptive that can be administered by trained individuals, including community health workers and women themselves, thereby expanding access to family planning …

• In Africa, a staggering 1.2 billion people lack access to clean cooking facilities.
• Lack of clean cooking facilities is one of the main causes of deforestation in Africa.
• AfDB funding is a major step along the road to saving the lives of 600,000 mainly women and children each year.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has pledged $2 billion over the next decade towards clean cooking initiatives in Africa, marking a huge stride in the effort to save the lives of 600,000 people, predominantly women and children, each year. This commitment aims to address the health hazards associated with traditional cooking methods that rely on charcoal, wood, and biomass, which contribute to severe respiratory illnesses and environmental degradation.

At a summit on Clean Cooking in Africa, held in Paris, AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina announced that the Bank would allocate 20 per cent of its energy project financing to promoting …

• Across Africa, gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is perpetuated by sex discrimination embedded in both legal systems and customary laws.
• Discriminatory family laws have profound impacts, increasing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence for women and girls.
• Laws in Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania still allow child marriage.

Discrimination against women and girls remains widespread in family laws across Africa, according to new research by Equality Now. An analysis of 20 African countries reveals that gender inequality in marriage, divorce, custody, and property rights is perpetuated by sex discrimination embedded in both legal systems and customary laws. Despite some significant legal reforms, progress has been slow, inconsistent, and hindered by setbacks, lack of political will, and weak implementation.

The report, “Gender Inequality in Family Laws in Africa: An Overview of Key Trends in Select Countries,” highlights how overlapping and …

• Kenyan home buyers are looking for cheaper houses despite an overall drop in real estate property prices
• In addition, there was a slight activity increase in the high-market section, to account for 17 per cent in quarter four from 15.2 per cent in the third quarter.
• These variations underscore the segmented nature of the housing market, influenced by both region and house type.

Kenyan home buyers sought cheaper houses despite an overall drop in real estate property prices throughout last the year, according to a new report.

The latest Kenya Bankers Association (KBA) Housing Price Index shows that the low market segment (Affordable Housing) recorded high demand in the last quarter, accounting for 62.3 per cent.

The shift to the low end was a steep rise compared to 48 per cent recorded in the previous quarter.

Price reduction came amidst challenges like high inflation and a weak shilling, which reduced …

• With Yeeo—a web app—individuals have the privilege of saving their time and cost of printing cards, which often end up being dumped and ensure their money is invested elsewhere.
• Yeeo’s business strategy brings together environmental conservation and this vision to help enterprises save billions spent on card printing.
• Dubai-based Yeeo has already secured intellectual property rights in 179 countries around the world.

As I navigated through the bustling crowd of delegates from around the world at the Startups Showcase during the AIM Congress 2024, I felt a gentle tug on my jacket. It was Abdullah AlShetiwi, a determined look in his eyes and a welcoming smile on his face.

As I reached out to offer my business card to Abdullah, he intercepted with a gesture, saving me the customary exchange. Instead, he swiftly pulled out his phone, suggesting we swap contacts via a QR Code. With a quick scan …