Africa

  • The market for sustainable cooling systems in developing economies is set to hit $600 billion by 2050. Research shows that sustainable cooling systems can cut cooling-related emissions by almost 50%.
  • They can also help lower electricity bills, reduce equipment costs, and power sector investments by $8 trillion by 2050.
  • Unlocking finance, in particular private finance, is essential to support the transition to sustainable cooling across developing economies.

Economies in Africa are projected to experience the fastest growth in cooling systems, a new survey by the International Finance Corporation and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-led Cool Coalition shows.

Globally, Africa is poised to see her cooling systems industry expand by a factor of seven closely followed by countries in South Asia which will see this market segment quadruple.

“The sustainable cooling market represents at least a 600-billion-dollar opportunity for the private sector, …

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  • Guinea has announced a single-use plastic ban, signalling the growing momentum of the African plastic ban movement.
  • Guinea prohibits the production, import, sale, and use of single-use plastics, including plastic bags and oxo-degradable plastics.
  • The country now joins trailblazers Rwanda, Kenya and Somalia, who banned single-use plastics in their jurisdictions.

Africa is experiencing a vital environmental wave with the increasing rollout of tough measures on single-use plastics. With trailblazers Rwanda and Kenya having banned single-use plastics, Guinea has joined the elite club, announcing a sweeping ban on single-use plastic products and packaging.

Early this year, Somalia joined this movement, banning the use of single-use plastics beyond June 30, 2024. Authorities in the Horn of Africa country urged individuals and businesses to explore using environmentally friendly alternatives to meet their packaging needs.

This move by the West African country signals a historic moment for the continent's push to counter the…

  • Innovation is the route to business, company, industry and national success story.
  • To realize this success, however, governments must create policies that encourage and support innovation at scale.
  • For Africa, the jury is still out on the role of governments in driving innovation.

From the developed to emerging to the underdeveloped economies, one thing that policymakers agree is that innovation drives industrial and therefore national progress. It creates opportunity for individuals and investors, grows businesses, and powers a nation’s development agenda. For these reasons, policymakers are advised to place emphasis on innovation.

Matt Banholzer, an economics researcher and author of How innovation can accelerate industry momentum report explains that while macroeconomics concept of development correctly looks at the economy as a whole, policymakers must not be naïve to think policies of the ‘whole’ will foster development of the individual and vice vasa.

The researcher is of the view that policymakers, …

  • Data by the World Bank reveals that at least a quarter of the African population has internet access, a nearly fifty-fold increase in internet usage since 2000. 
  • The rapid spread of the internet across the African continent has been lauded as a key driver of prosperity and a sign of the continent’s technological coming of age. 

Over the past few years, the wealth management industry has seen a significant amount of diversification, from traditionally having products geared towards institutional investors and high net worth individuals to offering more accessible products to low and middle-income earners. 

While WealthTech is not a new concept in Africa, there is room for market players to leverage consumer demand for wealth management products that are more digitally accessible and easy to use. 

WealthTech or wealth management technology is the combining of technology such as AI, big data, SaaS, with financial assets, such as savings, investments,

The programme will facilitate access to the Royal Academy’s global network of experienced, high-profile and business experts, in addition to access to the alumni network upon completion of the programme.

Moreover, 2022 is the programme’s second consecutive year to render a digital experience, with rigorous support provided through person-to-person and group discussions.

Four finalists will pitch their revised and improved innovations and business plans to the judges in the presence of a live audience.…

The recent leaked Pandora papers have shown how African leaders have directed their investments towards other countries and kept the investments a secret to avoid taxation and hide their wealth.

Leaders exposed by the papers include Presidents Denis Sassou-Nguesso of DRC, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, and Patrick Achi of Cote d’Ivoire, among 46 other politicians.

The papers showed that Sassou owned a company that controlled diamond mines. Seven members of the Kenyatta family were linked to at least seven offshore companies and foundations. Through Union Banque Privée (UBP), the Kenyatta's set up three foundations to avoid inheritance tax and hide their extensive wealth.

The foundations were suspended after failing to pay annual taxes, law firm Algocal says.…

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In 2004, Mittal Steel was founded following the merger of Ispat International and LNM Holdings, and the simultaneous acquisition of International Steel Group, becoming came the world’s leading steel producer.

Shortly after, in 2006, Mittal Steel launched an ambitious bid to merge with Arcelor, creating ArcelorMittal.

Lakshmi Mittal has done very well, and it leaves little doubt in the mind that he has enjoyed a very gratifying career replete with success in business if his personal bank account is anything to go by together with numerous recognitions of his work in philanthropy and his contribution to the steel industry.…

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The most extensive data centre operators worldwide are racing to buy and build capacity in Africa.

A data centre is an extensive network of computer servers commonly used by organizations for remote processing, storage, or distribution of large data compilations.

Modor Intelligence expects that the data centre services markets, valued at US$48.90 billion in 2020, will rise to over US$105.6 billion by 2026.…

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Africa is home to at least 47 foreign military outposts, with the US controlling the largest number. Djibouti is the only country in the world to host both American and Chinese outposts.

A recent survey by Afrobarometer across 34 countries indicated that 63 per cent of the population see China’s influence in Africa as positive, whilst 60 per cent made similar comments about the US. Are there benefits to be extracted from this searing rivalry?

Africa’s Agenda 2063 on the ‘Africa we want’ set by the African Union, advocates under its first aspiration, a ‘Prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development’ and ‘A Strong, United, Resilient and Influential Global Player and Partner’ under aspiration 7.…

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