Ah, South Africa. The land of sunshine, braais, and… a whole lot of betting! You might be surprised (or not, if you’ve seen the ever-growing number of betting shops lately) that the industry here is experiencing a serious boom. Think of it like this: imagine chilling with your mates, watching a game on the tv. You know things are gonna get heated, and not just because of the boerewors. A little friendly wager adds spice to the whole thing. That’s the beauty of betting here – it’s about the fun, the banter, and maybe, just maybe, walking away with enough for another round of drinks (cheers to responsible gambling, though!). But what exactly is hot in the world of wagers? Get ready, because we’re about to delve into the exciting trends shaping South African betting.

Tech Savvy with a Local Touch:

South Africa’s tech-savvy population is using innovation to their …

• Uganda signed a deal with China under which the China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC) would assist its endeavours to tap into one of the few Nuclear energy sources in Africa.
• The first nuclear project, Buyende Nuclear Power Plant, will be located in Buyende, approximately 150 km(93 miles) north of Kampala.
• Uganda has an estimated 52000 square kilometres of uranium deposits around Buganda, Toro, Ankle and Bunyoro.

Africa takes the next step in its evolution as Uganda announced its plans to generate at least 1000 MegaWatts(MW) from its nuclear power plant by 2031. This lines up with its efforts to identify alternative energy solutions that guarantee faster and more efficient electricity production. Uganda will become one of the few countries to produce nuclear energy in Africa, further boosting its economic growth exponentially.

Uganda first discovered its uranium deposits in 2004, and since then, nuclear power became a valid option for the country. …

• Crucial mining sector and infrastructural projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive an initial investment of €50 million euros from the European Union 
• This is in line with EU’s Essential Raw Minerals Act, which aims to secure crucial raw resources like lithium, cobalt, manganese, and rare earths required for electric vehicles and wind turbines
• DRC’s economy is growing, with 6.1% GDP growth expected in 2022 and 6.7% expected this year, according to the most recent IMF data

The crucial mining sector and infrastructural projects in the Democratic Republic of the Congo will receive an initial investment of €50 million euros from the European Union.

The investment was revealed at the inaugural Kinshasa Economic Forum, which included representatives from France, the EU, and the DRC.

French President Emmanuel Macron was in attendance together with the European Commissioners for the Internal Market and International Partnerships, Thierry Breton and Jutta …

• Norfund has partnered with Ethos Mezzanine Partners 3 to invest in Balaji Group, a Kenyan textile manufacturer
• Norfund said it has partnered with Ethos Mezzanine Partners 3, a closed-ended specialist credit fund to invest US$25 million into Balaji, which is one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading textile companies
• The two partners said they have executed a USD 25 million mezzanine debt investment in the Balaji Group, with both contributing US$12.5 million each

The government of Norway, through the Norwegian development finance institution Norfund, has signed a new partner to invest in Balaji Group, a Kenyan-based textile manufacturer.

On February 24, 2023, Norfund said it has partnered with Ethos Mezzanine Partners 3, a closed-ended specialist credit fund to invest US$25 million into Balaji, which is one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading textile companies.

Job creation in Kenya

The investment is also expected to aid the creation of 6,000 new direct jobs and another …

• Limited internet access is inhibiting the uptake of agricultural innovations across Africa.
• While Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa’s economy, farmers in rural areas are yet to benefit from the innovative solutions designed to increase productivity within the sector.
• Innovative solutions are the key to boosting employment and increasing youth participation in the agricultural sector.

Limited internet access is inhibiting the uptake of agricultural innovations across Africa. This is according to Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, Uganda’s Minister for Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.

Speaking at the sidelines of the two-day Africa-Korea Agtech Innovation Summit held in Nairobi, Hon. Tumwebaze, said, “While Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa’s economy, farmers in rural areas are yet to benefit from the innovative solutions designed to increase productivity within the sector.”

The Uganda Minister emphasized the role of Governments’ investment in internet penetration across Africa’s rural areas. This will aid in adoption of …

• Burkina Faso’s largest microfinance institution ACEP Burkina has received $2 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC).  
• The loan facility will allow ACEP to ramp up access to longer-term finance for agri-sector MSMEs, smallholder farmers, and businesses in rural food chains in Burkina Faso.
• The financing will also help improve ACEP Burkina’s liquidity and support the company’s expansion of its mobile banking and access to credit services for rural MSMEs.

Burkina Faso’s largest microfinance institution ACEP Burkina has received $ 2 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) aimed at improving access to finance for farmers and micro, small and medium sized enterprises. 

The loan facility will allow ACEP to ramp up access to longer-term finance for agri-sector MSMEs, smallholder farmers, and businesses in rural food chains in Burkina Faso, including women-owned businesses, contributing to increased agricultural production.

The financing will also help improve ACEP Burkina’s liquidity and support the …