The final closing is announced two years after the first closing to fund SMEs in frontier markets over the coming 10 years.  Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO), announced Friday (April 29), the final closing, at €36 million (about US$38 million) of its SDG Frontier Fund.   With the investment vehicle, BIO will indirectly invest in a dozen...

In Cameroon, 8 percent of GDP contribution in the agricultural sector is compromised every year because of the challenges facing the sector, according to the World Bank. This situation has a direct impact on the living conditions of close to two million residents. Therefore, local authorities are trying to address the issues with the support of international partners.   The World Bank...

Liquid Intelligent Technologies aims to become the leading internet service provider in Africa. It sees DRC as a strategic market to fulfill that ambition.  Pan-African Internet service provider Liquid Intelligent Technologies is expanding its network in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Last Thursday (April 28), the firm announced it would connect Limete, Gombe, and Ngaliema to its...

Within three days, Swvl made two strategic acquisitions to expand into Europe and the US. With Zeelo, the Egyptian firm will be present in 21 countries worldwide.  The Egyptian mass transit group Swvl, announced Thursday (April 28), the acquisition of British smart bus platform Zeelo, for an undisclosed amount.  The deal allows Swvl to enter three new strategic markets: the United...

In 2017, Nigeria raised US$300 million with its diaspora bonds, which offers the government alternative funding means.  Nigeria is currently considering the issuance of new disposal bonds, Bloomberg reports citing Patience Oniha, Director-General of the country’s Debt Management Office (DMO).  The exact amount the country intends to raise via that mechanism is not revealed yet but...

Ghana’s ambition to implement a national roaming regime is gradually getting into its active phase. A few days ago, AirtelTigo and Glo made a similar announcement. Two operators have joined the bandwagon.  MTN and Vodafone Ghana announced, Wednesday (April 27), a national roaming agreement. The telecom operators will begin this strategic partnership with a pilot phase in the Volta Region...

In 2021, mobile money adoption was confirmed with new records set in terms of transaction volumes and numbers. The performance was facilitated by the development of new uses and the acceleration of digital transformation.  The volume of mobile money transactions in Africa grew by about 40% year on year to exceed US$701 billion in 2021, according to recent data published by the GSM...

On 23 April 2022, Côte d’Ivoire Terminal took delivery of six fleet gantries for the second container terminal currently under construction at the Port of Abidjan. Transported on a semi-submersible vessel specially designed to carry gantries, this delivery is part of an overall order of 13 fleet gantries. This 30-metre-high handling equipment will be used for the loading, unloading and...

The African telecom market is changing. Covid-19 caused a shift in consumer demands. For experts, operators that can not keep up with the shifting demands may completely disappear.  In the long run, African telecom markets will be dominated by just two to three major players, according to MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita (photo). Speaking during the recent “Think Big” webinar organized...

In early April, Business Partners announced a partnership with an "international partner” to support green SMEs. The disclosed agreement confirms its announcement in a market where green buildings present a US$7 billion investment opportunity between 2016 and 2030, according to the IFC.  The International Finance Corporation (IFC) announced, Tuesday (April 26), a ZAR600 million (about...