Author: James Wambua

• Angola’s oil and gas sector has been placed at the forefront of African energy investment.
• Angola has regulatory reforms, infrastructure development, and exploration strategies in place.
• Natural gas will play a crucial role in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions. Angola has 13.5 trillion cubic of natural gas.

Over the past 30 years, massive Angolan oil and gas reserves have steadily positioned the southern African country as a top destination for investors. Strong returns on investment from Angolan oil and gas are now attracting even more global market players. The country’s oil-rich acreage is paying great dividends.

Angolan oil and gas current production

The nation is currently ranked as the top oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa. Angola boasts of having confirmed reserves of 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and nine billion barrels of oil. The majority of these reserves are found in offshore fields, especially in the …

• At least four Moscow schools will teach Swahili and Amharic for children starting September 2023 as part of the new special program.
• Historically, Russia was one of the countries where the African elite went to earn degrees. Calls for Russia and Africa to resume educational exchanges intensify.
• Experts  also call for cooperation in agriculture, energy and investments between Russia and Africa.

Next time you land in Moscow, do not be surprised to if you come across common Swahili greetings such as “Jambo” (Hello), “Habari” (How are you?), and “Asante” (Thank you) as you transact across Russia.

Swahili is a language spoken by millions of people in East Africa, particularly in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is also the official language of the East African Community. Swahili ranks among the top 10 widely spoken language with about 200 million people using it.

According to …

• The cloud business unit of China’s tech giant Tencent is seeing a huge opportunity for growth in the Middle East region.
• At the moment, Gulf states are committing capital and policy support behind the vision of 4IR-driven economies.
• Tencent Cloud is offering a cloud-based platform for developing and distributing lightweight applications—mini-apps framework—within a digital ecosystem.

With the ambitious development of smart cities and other tech-based industries across the Middle East, the cloud business unit of China’s tech giant Tencent is seeing a huge opportunity for growth in the region.

Whether it is fintech applications based on the blockchain, vertical farms that use less water to grow food, or the manufacture of high-end electric and self-driving vehicles, Gulf states are committing capital and policy support behind the vision of 4IR-driven economies.

UAE has launched a digital economy

The UAE itself is at the forefront of the adoption of technology. With a …

• Unicorns can play a huge role in promoting urban connectivity and creating jobs.
• The Arab-China conclave served as a platform to discuss the global economic outlook and sustainable development.
• Conclave is an opportunity to forge new connections, and open up fresh investment opportunities.

The 12th edition of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) hosted Top 50 Unicorns from China. The forum brought together investors, startups, and innovators from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China.

It marked an opening ceremony for ‘Arab China Unicorn Investment Conclave’ by HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade. It also saw the esteemed presence of Dr. Wissam Fattouh, Secretary General Union of Arab Banks and Mariam Gao, General Secretary of Arab China Unicorn Investment Conclave.

HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said the “conclave gathers startups and unicorn companies that represent the future of …

• By enhancing intra-African trade, AfCFTA estimates that the continent with gain $195 billion by 2045.
• These gains are projected to be mainly realised in industry, services, agrifood, and energy sectors.
• By collaborating under AfCFTA, countries can greatly boost regional supply chains for the global electric vehicles market.

African countries need to embrace a set of reforms critical in driving Africa’s free trade plan, AfCFTA. The call comes even as more African leaders sign the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

AfCFTA has the potential to transform regional trade and thereby lift billions of livelihoods in Africa out of poverty. To realise these benefits however African leaders need to go beyond blueprints.

“It is not for lack of blueprints that Africa has not structurally transformed,” United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Secretary-General Antonio Pedro said.

Mr Pedro was speaking at the Africa Regional Forum by UNECA on …

• DR Congo’s top government officials woo UAE investors at the Annual Investment Meeting 2023 in Abu Dhabi.
• From mining to agriculture to energy DR Congo is the global centre of billion-dollar focus sectors.
• In February 2022, logistics giant DP World started the construction of Banana Port, near Kinshasa.

DR Congo is inviting investors from the United Arab Emirates to bet big on the country’s vast investment opportunities. From mining to agriculture and fishing, to health, DR Congo is the global centre of billion-dollar focus sectors. DRC is the second-largest country in Africa with vast deposits of natural resources.

Speaking at the ongoing Annual Investment Meeting 2023 in Abu Dhabi, top government officials from DR Congo said the country’s ongoing legal and tax reforms are making the country ready for business.

The Annual Investment Meeting has attracted participants from 170 countries for its 12th edition in Abu Dhabi city, UAE.

At …

• The primary objective of this partnership is to bolster the UAE’s sustainable capabilities and capacity.
• The company also signed a MoU with Asian Development & Investment Bank (ADIB) to launch their new Green Tech Fund.
• Mensha Ventures and the Asian Development & Investment Bank (ADIB) signed an MoU to launch their new Green Tech Fund.

UAE’s Mensha Ventures has entered into an agreement with partners from China to jointly invest $1 billion in green energy.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the sidelines of Annual Investment Meeting 2023 in Abu Dhabi.

The partnership that brings together the Asia Development and Investment Bank, Hoover Investment Group and Shenzhen Sinomaster Investment Group (SMT).

By investing $1 billion in UAEs green capabilities, the initiative is billed to accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy.

The primary objective of the partnership is to bolster UAE’s sustainable capabilities in developing green energy infrastructure projects.…

• Policymakers and business leaders hold panel discussions.
• Leaders share experiences and expertise focusing on the current economic conditions.
• UAE capital city Abu Dhabi has solidified its position as a global hub for business growth.

Top government officials and business leaders from 170 countries are meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the Annual Investment Meeting 2023. The three-day forum, which is a premier platform for international investors, opened on Tuesday, May 8th.

The 2023 edition is bringing together top corporate leaders, government executives, decision-makers, and policymakers to explore untapped business opportunities globally.

The forum, which is under the theme “Investment Paradigm Shift: Future Investment Opportunities to Foster Sustainable Economic Growth, Diversity, and Prosperity,” is being held in Abu Dhabi city for the first time.

The first day was largely on several sessions of keynote speeches and panel discussions bringing together top policymakers and business leaders.

Leaders shared their experiences and …

• Uganda is scouting for investors at the Annual Investment Meeting in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• The East African country wants investors to explore its agro-processing, tourism and extractive industries.
• Latest data shows that Uganda exported $2 billion worth of goods to the UAE in 2021.

Uganda is setting up industrial hubs across the country to attract investors in key sectors vital for powering growth. The country is fast-tracking infrastructure in the target areas which are under the country’s Free Zones Authority.

At the moment, Uganda has identified agro-processing, tourism, extractive as well as apparel industries as key cogs in unlocking her export potential.

These sectors will be critical in creating new job opportunities for roughly over 100,000 youth who are joining the labour market from school every year.

Uganda’s Vision 2040 seeks to tap into trade, tourism, investments and exports to drive development and social economic transformation.

“We are a …