RS South Africa (https://Africa.RSdelivers.com/), a trading brand of RS Group plc (LSE: RS1), a global provider of product and service solutions, is showcasing the significant updates to its Africa Export Solutions website that came into effect last year.

The updates have enhanced customer convenience by enabling purchases in various currencies, explains Sales Director Erick Wessels. “Essentially our ecommerce platform now allows clients to transact in a range of popular currencies.” This can be done easily by means of a simple dropdown menu.

“We initially only had U.S. dollars as it was the main forex reserve currency in Southern Africa,” explains Wessels. However, customer feedback from various key corporates indicated a preference to be able to transact in different currencies such as euros and pounds.

“We then decided to introduce this added functionality online as our offline SAP system has historically allowed customers to trade in any currencies. It meant it was not difficult to integrate and certainly did not require any major overhaul of our website, which is highly user-friendly and simple to navigate,” adds Wessels.

Many British businesses set up operations in lucrative African markets like Kenya and remit to their home office in the UK in pounds, so it made sense for RS to facilitate that process and assist such customers specifically.

“It was mainly a question of enhancing our customer experience and responding to feedback, especially in the face of a dynamic and ever-shifting online trading environment, where responsiveness, user-friendliness and flexibility are key,” highlights Wessels.

This, in turn, also allows such companies to trade with each other in the currency of their respective head offices, especially in Germany and France, where many of RS’s major suppliers are headquartered. “By differentiating our currency base on our ecommerce platform, we are able to accommodate these customers directly and thereby grow our market share and customer loyalty throughout the region,” says Wessels.

The Institute of Export&International Trade, comparing RS Export Solutions with an average exporter, has established that it can cut costs by 20% and increase processing efficiencies by 15%. “This reiterates that we are experts at export,” adds Wessels.

RS has the expertise to ensure the prompt delivery of trusted brands across the globe. Using direct export or via its third-party distributor network, RS can meet diverse customer requirements with a complete end-to-end solution or support with advice and paperwork, transforming processing times and guaranteeing compliancy.

Find out more about RS Africa Solutions (https://apo-opa.co/4bNUzN3) here.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of RS South Africa.

Former NBA (www.NBA.com) Player Muggsy Bogues Attends Launch Event in Luanda; Program to Reach 10,000 Youth Participants This Year Through; Jr. NBA Clinics and STEM Programs.

ExxonMobil and NBA Africa today announced the launch of a new Jr. NBA league in Luanda, Angola operated by PanAfricare, a non-profit organization that seeks to improve the health, education and productivity of African communities. The new league, which features 40 boys’ and girls’ teams for youth ages 16 and under, tipped off its inaugural season on Friday, May 17, at Escola Nº 2055 Quedas de Kalandula with former NBA player Muggsy Bogues in attendance. 

The league, which will reach more than 10,000 youth participants this year through basketball clinics, competitions and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) sessions and culminate with the playoffs and finals in September, will also feature all-girls basketball clinics as part of the NBA’s Her Time to Play initiative, which provides opportunities for girls and women to play basketball and pursue careers in coaching and athletic leadership.   

“ExxonMobil is very proud to work with NBA Africa to leverage the sport of basketball and develop the youth in Angola,” said ExxonMobil Angola Lead Country Manager Katrina Fisher. “Together we will not only grow the game, but will also support personal development of our youth. Just as in STEM fields, where experimentation and collaboration are key, sports teach young individuals the value of perseverance and working together towards a common goal.”

“Launching a new Jr. NBA league in Angola, where there is a strong tradition and affinity for basketball, will provide more opportunities for Angolan youth to learn and play the game,” said NBA Africa Head of Basketball Operations Franck Traore. “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ExxonMobil and using the game to teach important life skills that have application on the court and in life.”

“The youth are pivotal to Africa’s growth and hold the potential to lead and solve an array of socioeconomic challenges limiting sustainable development in their communities,” said PanAfricare Director of Programs Rachel Ochako. “We are honored to be collaborating with ExxonMobil and NBA Africa to provide a platform for the youth to strengthen their leadership skills and use the game of basketball to further develop their interest in and knowledge of STEM.”

The launch of the Jr. NBA League in Angola follows ExxonMobil and NBA Africa’s launch of a Jr. NBA league in Maputo, Mozambique last month.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

Contacts:
Katia Mariano
ExxonMobil Angola Communications
katia.mariano@exxonmobil.com
+244 922 613 814

Vanusa Manuel
ExxonMobil Angola Communications
vanusa.f.manuel@exxonmobil.com
+244 922 613 814

Chumani Bambani
NBA Africa Communications
cbambani@nba.com
+27 65 548 1031

Elsa Mbumba
PanAfricare Communications
elsaeduarda8@hotmail.com
+244 928 575 611

About ExxonMobil:
ExxonMobil, one of the largest publicly traded international oil and gas companies, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. 

The ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation engages in a range of philanthropic initiatives in areas where the company operates around the world, with a strategic focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

ExxonMobil in Angola also has 18 percent participating interest in Block 17 and 15 percent participating interest in Block 32. Since 2020, ExxonMobil affiliates operate Blocks 30, 44 and 45 in the Namib Basin offshore Angola with 60 percent participating interest in the three blocks.

About NBA Africa:
NBA Africa is an affiliate of the National Basketball Association (NBA), a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball. NBA Africa conducts the league’s business in Africa, including the Basketball Africa League (BAL), and has opened subsidiary offices in Cairo, Egypt; Dakar, Senegal; Lagos, Nigeria; and Nairobi, Kenya. The NBA has a long history in Africa and opened its African headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2010. The league’s efforts on the continent have focused on increasing access to basketball and the NBA through youth and elite development, social responsibility, media distribution, corporate partnerships, NBA Africa Games, NBA Stores, the BAL, and more. 

NBA games and programming are available in all 54 African countries, and the NBA has hosted three sold-out exhibition games on the continent since 2015.  The BAL, a partnership between the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and NBA Africa, is a professional league featuring 12 club teams from across Africa that tipped off its fourth season in March 2024. Fans can follow @NBA_Africa and @theBAL on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

About PanAfricare:
PanAfricare is the future of Africa: development in Africa led by Africans. PanAfricare is a non-profit organization, with its headquarters in Senegal, committed to the fundamental principles of delivering on the promise made by Africare 50 years ago of improving life in Africa. Our core areas of expertise are Health, Agriculture/Food Security and Capacity Strengthening. In 2023, PanAfricare invested over $5 million in diverse projects, benefitting over one million Africans across seven different countries: Angola, Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe. PanAfricare strongly believes in youth empowerment for sustainable development in Africa. In the last two years, PanAfricare has engaged youth in diverse ways, among them using sports to build their roles in leadership in health initiatives in their communities, including behavior change communication and building capacity of youth groups in entrepreneurship increase household incomes.

Etu Energias – Angola’s largest private oil producer – has joined the Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) conference and exhibition as a silver sponsor. The company’s return to the event signals a strong commitment to Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola – the theme of this year’s event.

Etu Energias – formerly Somoil – has set a target to produce 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) by 2025 and 100,000 bpd by 2030, with investments in exploration and partnerships with other Angolan operators representing a key strategy to achieve this goal. Active across the entire oil and gas value chain, Etu Energias’ goal to increase production aligns with the company’s vision to contribute to the development of the Angolan economy. During the AOG 2024 conference this October, the company will unpack this strategy while engaging with global project developers and investors.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; national oil company Sonangol; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the African Energy Chamber; and the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute, the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

As an integrated company, Etu Energias’ projects range from upstream exploration and downstream distribution to renewable energy development and consulting services. Upstream, the company secured a strategic investment of $60 million in November 2023 as part of a $190 million debt facility to support asset acquisition in Angola. With the finance, Etu Energias acquired a 20% stake in the deepwater Block 14 and a 10% stake in the deepwater Block 14K – situated offshore. The transaction doubled Etu Energias’ production capacity from 9,000 bpd to 19,000 bpd.

Currently, Etu Energias is operator of Blocks FS-FST, 2/05, CON-1 and CON-4. The company also has interests in Blocks 3/05, 3.05A, 4/05, 17/06, CON-6, 14 and 14K. By 2030, Etu Energias aims to consolidate its position as an operator in onshore, shallow and mature fields; participate in golden blocks through partnerships; develop a medium-sized network of fueling stations; and reestablish onshore storage and export for production at FST, Block 2/05, Block 3/05 and new blocks acquired in the onshore Congo basin.

Downstream, Etu Energias launched a lubricant line in March 2024 in collaboration with petroleum producer Gilde Technology. A joint venture (JV) was established to spearhead the development of a lubricant facility in Angola’s capital city Luanda, which will have a capacity of 1,000 tons per month. Set to begin construction in 2025, the JV aims to capture 25% of the market share by 2029.

Etu Energias sponsorship at AOG 2024 reflects a commitment to meeting these goals while bolstering production growth in Angola even further. During the 2023 edition of the conference, the company signed a Technical Services Agreement with oilfield services company SLB for the development of Block 2/5. This year’s conference will see similar deals signed as major operators such as Etu Energias commit to the development of the Angolan oil and gas industry.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Canon Central and North Africa  (https://www.Canon-CNA.com), a global leader in imaging solutions, is proud to announce its partnership with GITEX Africa 2024, the largest technology and startup event in Africa, happening from 29 – 31 May in Marrakech, Morocco. Marking the inaugural presence at GITEX Africa, Canon will unveil its “World Unseen” campaign through an exclusive photography exhibition. This exhibition invites visitors – blind, partially sighted, and sighted – to experience photography in a unique, innovative, and immersive way, like never before.

The “World Unseen” exhibition is not merely a showcase; it’s a transformative pathway, offering multi-sensory experiences that connect individuals, including those with visual impairments, with powerful images and stories through elevated prints, audio descriptions, soundscapes, and braille, fostering inclusivity and deeper appreciation for diverse perspectives.

Designed with the experience of blind and partially sighted people in mind, the exhibition will feature a series of photographs taken by world-renowned photographers including multi-award-winning South African photojournalist Brent Stirton, renowned Brazilian Photojournalist Sebastião Salgado, Nigerian photojournalist Yagazie Emezi, sports photographer Samo Vidic, fashion photographer Heidi Rondak and Pulitzer winning photojournalist Muhammed Muheisen.  

Canon is also thrilled to showcase its entire ecosystem of B2C&B2B products and solutions, reaffirming its commitment to being closer to customers and providing hands-on experiences.

Elevating the experience to new heights, Canon will demonstrate the latest imaging solutions and state-of-the-art printing solutions in distinct experiential zones, each aimed at immersing customers in a dynamic and interactive environment that goes beyond traditional product showcases.  Through these zones and interactive workstation walk-throughs, customers will have the unique opportunity to touch, feel and experience our products firsthand helping them gain valuable insights into the capabilities of products and solutions from Canon professionals.

Visit us from May 29th to 31st at the Canon booth located at Stand No. 1B-30 and World Unseen booth, located in Hall 17D-10, at GITEX Africa which is happening in the vibrant city of Marrakech, Morocco.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (https://apo-opa.co/3SvVhrS) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: https://apo-opa.co/3V7b1Cs