Author: The Exchange

• The Board has proposed a final dividend of $0.012 per share, bringing the total payout for the year to $0.023 per share—amounting to $74 million.
• Lender’s balance sheet closed the year at $15.13 billion (KSh1.96 trillion), powered by a strong deposit growth and stable loan portfolio.
• Operating costs grew by 11.8% to $717 million (KSh92.9 billion), driven by staff costs, and tech investments.

KCB Group profit after tax for the full year 2024 grew by 64.8 per cent to $477 million (KSh61.8 billion), attributable to strong expansion across all its businesses subsidiaries in the East African market.

This performance was an increase from the $289.5 million (KSh37.5 billion) which the bank that has presence in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Sudan reported during a similar period in 2023.

“The strong performance illustrates our resolve over the past 3 years to build an …

• Global leaders, government officials, policymakers, top investors, business executives set to meet in Abu Dhabi April 7 to 9 for AIM Congress 2025.
• Key forums will be: Ministerial Roundtable on Investment, Ministerial Roundtable on Investment in Tourism, Heads of Stock Exchange Markets’ Roundtable, Heads of Central Banks’ Roundtable, and Chambers’ Talks.
• Congress will also host the “Global Women’s Leadership Roundtable: Global Women’s Leadership in the Modern World”.

 The 14th edition of AIM Congress, set to take place from April 7 to 9, 2025, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, will feature high-level roundtable discussions tackling the most pressing global investment challenges.

AIM Congress 2025 held under the theme “Mapping the Future of Global Investment: The New Wave of a Globalized Investment Landscape – Towards a New Balanced World Structure”, these discussions aim to generate strategic recommendations that will reshape the global investment landscape.

AIM Congress 2025 will provide an …

• African countries undermine their economic growth by prioritising trade with Europe and the United States over regional markets.
• How do we ensure that African countries trade among themselves? asks Dr. Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations.
• “We [Botswana] have high-quality beef in Botswana and the North West province, we export it to the European Union, yet Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo buy their beef from Brazil. Does that make sense? It doesn’t,” says Dr. Butale.

Despite its vast resources and production capacity, regional trade in Africa remains low with many economies relying heavily on overseas markets. This state of affairs has prompted Botswana to raise the alarm about low levels of intra-African trade.

“It’s disheartening that Africa is still unable to realise trade among its countries,” said Dr Phenyo Butale, Botswana’s Minister of International Relations, delivering a lecture in honour of the late South African Deputy …

• Dubai International Furniture Accessories & Components and Semi-Finished Products Show (DIFAC) returns for its 7th edition alongside the WoodShow.
• Currently the showcase space is fully booked, reflecting strong industry demand.
• Delegates to explore the latest woodworking machinery, finishing tools, wood products, and advanced automation and robotics technologies that enhance efficiency and quality in the industry.

The 21st edition of WoodShow Global in Dubai is poised to offer players in the industry across the Middle East and North Africa’s a feel of the future, with exhibitors, top-tier companies and industry professionals readying displays of the latest offers in the wood and woodworking machinery industry.

This year, the 21st edition of the event will take place from April 14 to 16, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, welcoming over 15,000 visitors from around the world. This premier exhibition serves as a vital hub for knowledge exchange, showcasing the latest innovations, trends, …

• IPS 2025 will showcase the latest technologies and smart solutions, reflecting Dubai’s commitment to building sustainable cities.
• Bringing together industry leaders, innovators, developers, investors, and financial institutions, the event serves as a catalyst for real estate growth, facilitating high-value deals, strategic partnerships, and business expansion.
• Event also facilitates the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and insights on smart building technology and sustainable designs.

The Dubai Land Department has officially announced the 21st edition of the International Property Show (IPS) 2025, set to take place from April 14-16, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre. As the world’s premier real estate platform, IPS 2025 aims at reaffirming Dubai’s commitment to fostering a dynamic and investor-friendly property market.

Bringing together industry leaders, innovators, developers, investors, and financial institutions, the event serves as a catalyst for real estate growth, facilitating high-value deals, strategic partnerships, and business expansion. With a strong focus on investment opportunities, …

• Stryk Global Diplomacy picked to spearhead talks on oil and gas between Africa and U.S. President Donald Trump.
• The deal aims at ensuring that Africa’s energy interests are well represented in U.S. legislative and policy discussions.
• “Africans need energy to fix energy poverty issues and spur economic growth,” said Stryk Global Diplomacy.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) —a lobby that represents the African energy sector–has enlisted the services of a global consulting firm, Stryk Global Diplomacy (SGD), to spearhead talks on oil and gas between the continent and U.S. President Donald Trump administration.

In an update on Tuesday, the African Energy Chamber said the move aims at ensuring that Africa’s energy interests are effectively represented in U.S. legislative and policy discussions.

“Stryk is a super Lobbyist. He understands Africa and he gets results. He is adaptive and forward-thinking. He achieves results by building consensus. I am confident he is going …

• TradeTech Forum is poised to attract about 400 trade leaders and experts with a mission to explore how new techonologies are impacting international trade.
• Panelists at the 2025 edition of TradeTech Forum are expected to delve into ways in which emerging technologies are impacting and shifting the norms of international trade.
• They will also share their experience on how tech is impacting sustainability and fostering inclusivity across businesses.

The second edition of the TradeTech Forum, a key engagement that attracts captains of industry from around the world to share insights on how technology is transforming trade is set for April 8^th, at the AIM Congress 2025.

In an update on Tuesday, TradeTech Forum is poised to attract about 400 trade leaders and experts with a mission to explore how new technologies are impacting international trade.

“Technology can revolutionize global supply chains at every stage, creating opportunities to …

• Amsons Group has started integrating its new acquisition, Bamburi Cement of Kenya into its industry portfolio in the region. Amsons says it will invest $400M in Bamburi in the next three years.
• With Bamburi Cement’s integration, Amsons Group’s total cement manufacturing capacity has now grown to 13,000MT/day.
• Tanzania-based conglomerate says it will enhance the high operating and commercial standards set by Holcim Ltd and Lafarge.

Tanzania-based conglomerate Amsons Group has announced that it has started integrating its new acquisition, Bamburi Cement of Kenya into its corporate fold in the region.

The family-owned company said the integration through its Kenyan subsidiary and investment vehicle, Amsons Industries (K) Ltd, follows the recent closure of a transaction in which Amsons Group placed a $183 million bid and acquired over 95 per cent of the issued equity shares in Bamburi late last year.

Amsons Group Managing Director Mr Edha Nahdi said the integration will …

• Across the African continent, the tourism industry fuels the creation of jobs, providing decent work opportunities for millions of people.
• The industry also drives the development of critical infrastructural, fosters entrepreneurship, and enhances cultural exchange.
• Kenya is at the forefront of steering innovation in tourism, fostering homegrown solutions that will help shape the future of this vital industry in Africa.

Tourism in Africa is often associated with breathtaking safaris, luxury safari lodges, and pristine coastal beaches. However, its impact stretches far beyond leisure and hospitality offering targeting overseas tourists, serving as a powerful engine for economic growth and social transformation.

Across the continent, tourism fuels the creation of decent jobs, especially for the youth; drives the development of critical infrastructure such as roads and technology investments, fosters entrepreneurship across value chains, and enhances cultural exchange among communities globally.

Countries such as Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda provide compelling case …

• The UK has ramped up pressure on Rwanda over the DRC conflict by suspending aid, limiting trade, and reviewing military cooperation, signaling a major shift in diplomatic relations.
• In response, Rwanda has condemned the measures as biased and insists on security guarantees while reaffirming its commitment to an African-led mediation process.
• As tensions rise, the UK’s firm stance could either push Rwanda towards peace talks or deepen regional instability.

The United Kingdom has escalated diplomatic pressure on Rwanda in response to the intensifying conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a decisive move, the UK government announced a series of punitive measures targeting Kigali, including suspending financial aid, limiting trade promotion, and reviewing military cooperation with the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF).

This move signals a significant shift in UK-Rwanda relations, tightening the noose on President Paul Kagame’s administration amid growing international scrutiny.

On Wednesday, the UK Foreign, …