Author: James Wambua

AIM Investment Awards highlight the transformative impact of FDI. They also recognize the critical role of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) play in driving economic growth, fostering international cooperation, and advancing innovation. The competition spans multiple categories, ensuring that outstanding achievements are celebrated across different regions of the world. AIM Investment Awards 2025, a flagship initiative of AIM Congress, will open for nominations on 7 January 2025. Since its inception in 2013, these prestigious awards have become a global benchmark for excellence, celebrating the outstanding efforts of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) in attracting transformative Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) projects. The awards…

Development of the Misurata Free Zone, road to Chad and Niger, and support for the Sahel-Saharan Bank for Investment and Trade are some of the key projects targeted in new era of cooperation. The partnership is poised to facilitate the development of vital infrastructure, bolster trade, and support Libya’s efforts in economic diversification and reconstruction. With a GDP of $50.49Bn in 2023, Libya is ranked as Africa’s 12th largest economy. However, less than 10% of its trade occurs with other African nations. Libya has formally acceded to the Afreximbank Establishment Agreement, becoming the 53rd member nation of the pan-African financial…

Research by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) shows that demand for critical minerals will drive the quest to decarbonize economies and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Africa could be the go to industrialization destination by adding value to the critical minerals on the continent. Africa’s commitment to trade-led economic integration should be leveraged to support the development of minerals-based regional and continental value chains and economic diversification. Africa—rich in critical minerals—will accelerate intra-continental trade and harness its natural resources for sustainable development by rolling out effective trade policies, to benefit from the global rush for green energy transition.…

Winners from Africa in the AIM Congress 2025 Regional Pitch Competition will  showcase their businesses to a panel of investors, industry leaders, and global decision-makers in April next year. The regional competitions seek tech startups in the Seed and Series A stages that have a great potential to scale. AIM Congress will be promoting a total of $200,000 in investments across the event, reinforcing its dedication to fostering global entrepreneurship. Startup owners running brightest and most innovative technology enterprises from Africa have a chance to join a regional pitch competition that would see them win vital investment and the support…

Initiative targets 7,500 artisanal gold miners and will be spread in over five years at a cost of $24 million. In Zimbabwe, about 96% of artisanal gold mine sites use mercury, with miners working without protective gear. Mercury used in gold extraction goes a long way in polluting air, water and soil, thereby worsening food chains. Thousands of workers in artisanal gold mines in Zimbabwe are set to benefit from a $23.7 million initiative that seeks to significantly reduce the use of toxic mercury element in the mineral’s extraction across the country. The government-backed project aims to align the country…

Drought-hit Zambia will get immediate access to about $184 million from the IMF. Lender says authorities in the southern African country remain committed to maintaining macroeconomic stability and restoring fiscal and debt sustainability. Worsening impact of drought is, however, set to see Zambia’s economy decline to 1.2% growth this year. Zambia has secured about $184 million from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to provide budget support to the southern African country that is reeling from adverse effects of drought, which now threatens to see the economy grow by marginal 1.2 per cent this year. The funding brings Zambia’s total disbursement…

The alliance aims to act as a pipeline for businesses in Europe and Africa to leverage investment opportunities across the two regions. Deal modelled to capitalize on Africa’s untapped potential and Europe’s advanced entrepreneurial and tech ability to drive investments. The two parties have identified demography, decarbonization, digitization, and derisking as reasons for Europe’s growing interest in Africa. Financial services giant ODDO BHF from Germany has taken a step forward in fostering cross-continental economic collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with regional lender Equity Group. This alliance, which was formalized during the German-Africa Business Summit in Nairobi, aims…

Ban places Air Tanzania among 129 airlines barred from EU skies due to non-compliance with international safety standards. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) identified safety deficiencies as the basis for the ban. These concerns also prevented Air Tanzania from securing a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization, a critical certification required for non-EU airlines to operate within the zone. Air Tanzania has suffered a huge setback following its inclusion in the European Union’s Air Safety List, effectively banning it from operating flights to and within EU member states. This decision, announced after a review by EU aviation safety experts…

AfDB’s “green shares” plan is poised to unlock financing for high-impact wind and solar power plants in Djibouti and Egypt and energy storage systems in Cabo Verde. AFC expected to leverage green equity to mobilise debt funding from capital markets for on-lending to sub-projects in economies. Financing is poised to create at least 1,600 full-time work opportunities by 2031. The AfDB has set aside a $30 million equity investment in Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) aimed at implementing innovative “green shares”, an initiative that is structured to raise more resources for climate action projects in African economies. According to the Pan-African…

Agreement is critical in promoting infrastructure and economic development projects in 10 member states common to both institutions. ATIDI and ASF plan to enhance the region’s attractiveness to investors by mitigating risks often associated with doing business in Africa. The partnership has the potential to provide tailored financial solutions for Africa’s unique challenges. A new agreement between the African Trade & Investment Development Insurance (ATIDI) and African Solidarity Fund (ASF) is poised to reshape Africa’s investment trajectory. This partnership seeks to bolster economic development across the continent by mitigating risks associated with investment and trade. Signed during the Africa Investment…