German investment firm GreenTec Capital Partners announced it has acquired stakes in WidEnergy Africa Ltd, a women-led Zambian company that distributes solar-powered equipment (lamps, phone chargers…) This operation is GreenTec’s 7th investment in Africa and the 2nd this year. The company targets African companies with growing potential and strong social and environmental impact. Solar...

Over the first three months this year, the Ivorian government injected up to XOF544.6 billion in its pro-poor and welfare program. This was reported June 19 by spokesman Sidi Tiémoko Touré following a council of ministers. This amount is higher 4.73% compared to the XOF520 billion spent the same period last year. It is also up 12.98% compared to the XOF482 billion forecasted for the...

Nigeria’s bike-hailing company Max.ng raised up to $7 million to finance its expansion in 10 cities in West Africa. The company also plans to strengthen staff and develop a tricycle transport and delivery service in the coming years. According to co-founder Adetayo Bamiduro, the company is building a technological infrastructure to make mobility safe, affordable and accessible to 1...

The Sierra Leonean government opens bids this week seeking $2 billion for the construction of a bridge linking the capital Freetown to Lungi airport. The information was reported by Reuters which quotes President Julius Maada Bio (photo). Once completed, the 7-km facility will ease access to the country’s only airport which is so far only accessible by boat or helicopter. The Lungi...

Alioune N’Diaye (photo), who manages the branch of Orange group for Middle-East and Africa, announces the company is planning an investment in the Malian digital sector by the end of the year. This was during a press briefing last June 19 at the end of a visit to Bamako. During his stay, the executive discussed with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Minister of the Digital...

The share of public procurement awarded to SMEs in Côte d’Ivoire grew from 24.8% at end March 2018 to 43.6% at end March 2019. This makes an increase of 18.8 points. According to the government, the good result is linked to “the introduction of loosened procedures and eased bidding conditions to improve SMEs' access to public procurement.” The average time limit for awarding public...

Côte d’Ivoire last year recorded a positive trade balance as in 2017; a good news featured this week in a government statement.Over the year, the surplus reached $758 million with $11.2 billion worth of exports against $10.5 billion worth of imports. Yet, figures hide a more than 74.2% decline in the trade surplus since during the previous year, surplus was $2.9 billion...

EgyptAir has just received a new Boeing model, the 787-9 Dreamliner. The plane is the third of a 6-plane order with the US manufacturer and it arrived at Cairo airport last June 15.It is capable of travelling between 14,800 and 15,700 km non-stop, with 20% lower fuel consumption than similar models produced by other manufacturers. It can accommodate between 210 and 330 passengers, depending on...

Angotic 2019, the ICT fair which was held in Luanda (Angola) from 18 to 20 June, was an opportunity to recall that interregional and international collaboration is essential to turn digital into a major lever for growth and development in Africa, provided that it is underpinned by digital identification. For nations to become digital, the first step is to provide every citizen, institution,...

Egypt’s bus booking firm Swvl raises $42 million from a consortium made of local and institutional investors to finance its expansion across the continent. Investors include venture-capital firms such as Dubai-based BECO Capital, Sweden-based Vostok New Ventures Ltd, and US Endeavor Catalyst. “The plan is to be in at least two or three more African cities by the end of the year. Lagos,...