This update has been provided by Kalilou Dama, representing the International Business Innovation Association
POLICY
AFRICA- UNWTO: 19-21 April, high-level tourism representatives from African countries, including 18 tourism ministers, met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to discuss the challenges of the sector
AFRICA UNION: April 3, the AUC Chairperson chaired a roundtable discussion on the theme: related to Commodity Prices in Africa jointly organized with the ACBF.
AFRICA –UK: Africa decision makers including Western Africa power Ministers confirmed to attend the 18th annual Africa Energy Forum (AEF) taking place in London this year from 22-24 June.
AFRICA- UK: on April 5th, UK Export Finance (UKEF) has announced that it has joined African Trade Insurance- ATI, the pan-African export credit agency (ECA).
AFRICA- USA: April 12 -13, the USAID West Africa Trade and Investment Hub trained coordinators from seven West African countries to assist businesses with the processes and documentation required for exporting to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
COTE DIVOIRE: IFAD granted the Ministry of Employment with 10 billion CFA for enhance Agribusiness among young people
MALI: on April 4th, Government (through the Ministry of Employment) launched a youth entrepreneurship project under PROCEJ funded by the Word Bank
MALI: Ministry of Agriculture organized two thinking days, April 6th- 7th, for finding best strategies to save lands and enhance urban Agribusiness
MALI: on April 13, Government adopted a Microfinance development policy
TOGO: April 7th- 9th, Government and Farmers met at Kara and engaged to foster Agribusiness through a PPP strategy
INDUSTRY
West Africa countries concern
AFRICA: On April 14th the Mastercard Foundation announced 10.6 Millions Dollars grant for 5 enterprises in Africa
CAPO VERDE: Atlantic Music Expo festival on Mid April in Praia
COTE DIVOIRE: At the Dubai investment Meeting held on April 11, CEPICI has been elected as the second best investment promotion Agency in western and central Africa
GHANA: April 5th, launch of Business is GREAT
GUINEA BISSAU: the Western Africa wood Business Forum held in Bissau from March 29th – 31st MALI: March 31st, launch of a new Agribusiness Program for women Entrepreneurs IPAFE>funded by two Malian private sector companies (Kledu group, SAER - Mali creances)
MALI: on March 31st, Banque de l Habitat du Mali gathered with Banque Malienne de Solidarite
MALI: WAEMU zone Young entrepreneurs exhibition (SAJE- UEMOA) on late April
MAURITANIA: AAAID is investing 33.7 millions Dollars in Nouadhibou (AN-ZF) to develop fisheries
NIGERIA: April 13rd. Vantage Capital Africa’s provided $20 million to Landmark Africa ,
NIGERIA: the Commodity Trading and Risk Management Seminar on April 19-20, 2016
SENEGAl: Air Senegal SA has been lauch as new company to replace Senegal Airlines on April 15th
TOGO : the African Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) is being held in Lomé on 21-22 June.
TOGO: Women Business incubator (IVONOP) opened on mid April
Others countries in Africa
CAMEROON: The project “Fair-trade Future Produce for Vulnerable Regions” launched
EGYPT: (April 16-17) StartUp Weekend event, co-sponsored by the U.S. government and the BUE),
EGYPT: April 18, UN Women, in cooperation with the USAID, launched a program to advance safe, secure, and women-friendly workplaces in the agribusiness sector in Egypt.
ETHIOPIA: On April 8th, Ethiopian Ailines celebrated its 70th years in Air transport industry
MADAGASCAR: annual Art expo on mid April
MOROCCO: a MeLia Hotel International is being opened in Taghazout Bay
MOROCCO: Agribusiness Faire in Meknes, 27th April
NAMIBIA: (april 18), “Brandulance” has projected the capabilities of the Namibian advertising industry to a global audience.
SOUTH AFRICA : On April 7th, Imani announced the recruitment of 60 Lawyers for offering tailored, world-class legal services across African continent and across all industries on demand basis
SOUTH AFRICA: South Africa Gets Investment Awards at the Annual Investor Meeting in Dubai
SOUTH SUDAN: USAID will invest $3.18 million to strengthen efforts to rebuild the coffee industry
ZAMBIA: April 8th, Farm mechanisation event at the AGCO Future Farm in Lusaka
ZAMBIA: QG Africa Hotel LP, a Mauritius-based fund has acquired 100% interest in the InterContinental Hotel Lusaka from Kingdom Hotel Investments