CLG CEO Zion Adeoye has been confirmed to speak at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum in Paris next week, addressing how investors can navigate the evolving legal and regulatory frameworks currently shaping Africa’s energy sector. 

As a leading Pan-African legal and business advisory group, CLG has extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, advising clients through large-scale transactions, complex regulatory landscapes and contractual negotiations across the continent. Notably, the firm recently announced its rebranding from Centurion Law Group to CLG, reflecting its transition into a modern and dynamic legal, business and tax partner of choice. The rebrand features expanded service offerings and responds to growing industry demand for strengthened leadership within Africa’s rapidly changing legal and regulatory environment.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 is an exclusive forum designed to foster collaboration between European investors and African energy markets. Taking place May 14-15, 2024, in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors, and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com.

Last January, CLG successfully advised exploration and production group Oranto Petroleum in the renewal of its oil exploration license in Uganda, extending for two additional years and covering the Ngassa Deep and Ngassa Shallow exploration areas. In Nigeria, the firm recently advised Africa + Rain Cage Ltd., a subsidiary of global cleantech firm Rain Cage Carbon, on the world’s first renewable energy contract created from Advanced Carbon. The agreement aims to decarbonize Nigeria’s Sapele Power Plant and deliver 1,000 MW of renewable electricity.

The firm operates in several African markets including South Africa, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Mauritius, Ghana, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Mozambique. CLG also operates in Germany and recently secured a listing on the Open Market of the Düsseldorf Stock Exchange under Calvert International AG. 

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

With Africa losing US$4 billion annually to cybercrime, the aggressors of the digital realm are gaining the upper hand. GITEX AFRICA 2024 (www.GITEXAfrica.com), the continent’s largest tech and startup exhibition, taking place from 29-31 May in Marrakech, Morocco, provides a platform for leaders and executives of Africa’s tech ecosystem to share insights on cybersecurity’s crucial role in Africa’s digital economy.

Cybersecurity Threats Accompany Digital Transformation

As Ghana’s digital economy continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with an ever-increasing reliance on digital infrastructure, so too does the inevitable exposure to cybersecurity and data protection threats. Acknowledging the paramount importance of cybersecurity and its role in protecting sensitive information, preserving trust, and contributing to the resilience of digital infrastructure, Ghana is proactively and strategically working to enhance its cyber resilience.

This strategic insight has resulted in the Global Cybersecurity Index ranking Ghana third amongst countries on the continent in terms of its commitment to cybersecurity.

Topics under discussion at the GITEX Africa Cybersecurity Forum include the role of high data costs in security vulnerability, Africa’s shortage of cybersecurity professionals, and the impact of poor security measures. Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, Director General of Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority, will share his insights on how Ghana is tackling these challenges.

A Proactive Approach to Safeguarding Digital Infrastructure

As early as 2015, the Ghanaian government developed the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy, reflecting the maturity of the country’s approach. In the following years, recognizing the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding the country’s 24 million internet users (https://apo-opa.co/3JSm8sr#prId=302858), Ghana has implemented a number of key steps, including enacting the Cybersecurity Act 2020, which provides for the protection of critical information infrastructure, the prosecution of cybercrimes, and the protection of children online. This Act is a significant step towards creating a safer cyber environment in Ghana, and has resulted in the establishment of the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) (https://apo-opa.co/4buq3r9#prId=302858), which regulates and promotes cybersecurity in the country.

Building capacity and creating public awareness, ongoing research and development, and international cooperation are key elements of Ghana’s cybersecurity strategy. This includes developing a skilled workforce of cybersecurity professionals, and educating the public about the importance of cybersecurity and how they can mitigate it. This takes the form of workshops, seminars, and media campaigns. Universities and research institutions in Ghana are also focusing on cybersecurity research to foster innovation and develop solutions to cyber threats. In addition, collaborations with other countries, international organizations, and private sector entities all contribute to the country’s cyber resilience.

As Ghana continues to strengthen its cybersecurity framework, its potential as a destination for partners and investors looking for a reliable and safe digital landscape grows, positioning the country as a hub for technological advancement in Africa.

Powering Ghana’s digital future

The tens of thousands of attendees from 130-plus countries to GITEX Africa can look forward to hearing more insights on Ghana’s advancements in digital health from Darlington Akogo, Co-founder and CEO of minoHealth AI Labs, who is among more than 20 leading tech speakers from Ghana.

The nation’s giant strides in AI diffusion and tech-driven urban development will also come to the fore when Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, Mayor of Accra Metropolitan Assembly takes the stage at the GITEX Africa Digital Summit.

Rocky Dawuni, Musician, Singer-song Writer, and UN Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment for Africa, is another headline Ghanaian speaker, while the country’s vibrant start-up scene will be ably represented by some of the country’s premier award-winning start-ups, including Trotro Tractor, Winner of the KIC Agritech Challenge.

More information is available at www.GITEXAfrica.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of GITEX Africa.

Media Contact: 
Tayce Marchesi – PR Executive 
Tel.: + 971 58 552 3994 
Tayce.Marchesi@dwtc.com 

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Website: www.GITEXAfrica.com

About KAOUN International:
KAOUN International is the independent events company and wholly owned subsidiary of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) established to organize and manage events internationally. Derived from the Arabic word ‘universe’, KAOUN International’s mission is to ‘Create Limitless Connections’ for the industries and markets in which it operates. Created to leverage the 40-year legacy of DWTC’s events management business and drive future MICE sector opportunity in the MENASA region. KAOUN International delivers game-changing live experiences that build robust business connections, create opportunity, and stimulate economic growth, building on DWTC’s extensive portfolio of business and consumer events spanning multiple sectors, including technology, food and hospitality, sustainability, broadcast and satellite, automotive, talent development and leisure marine.

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricAFC.org), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, in partnership with Italy’s national development finance institution Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A (CDP) yesterday announced a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that sets out to elevate Italian-African business collaboration, contributing to sustainable growth and prosperity on a global scale.

AFC and CDP signed their commitment yesterday at the Italy-Africa Business Dialogue Forum in Rome. The strategic alliance endeavours to bolster African infrastructure, harness natural resources, and propel industrial development through shared expertise and enhanced financial cooperation, while fostering the internationalisation of Italian businesses and expanding their global footprint.

The two institutions will work together to identify and engage in future partnerships and co-financing opportunities in development and infrastructure projects with governments, companies and financial entities. The institutions will create a shared platform to foster dialogue between Italian and African companies in AFC’s member countries.

Samaila Zubairu, President&Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said: “This strategic MoU with CDP marks a pivotal step in expanding our impact throughout Africa by utilising our extensive connections to international capital and expertise. By combining our resources and networks, we are poised to expand our record of transformative projects to catalyse sustainable development and economic advancement across the region.”

Paolo Lombardo, International Development Cooperation Director at CDP, said: “This agreement is key for both institutions and crucial to foster synergies in the broader global development arena.  Partnering with AFC, with its unique track record of transformational infrastructure, enhances support for companies and investors striving for Africa-focused growth and economic integration.”

Building on a robust partnership that started with a significant EUR 100 million loan agreement in 2022 to fuel renewable energy and climate-resilient projects and continued with a EUR 50 million loan announced at COP28 for further sustainable development projects, this MOU reinforces these financial engagements and expands the scope of cooperation through new initiatives that promise to enhance Africa’s economic and environmental landscape.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

About AFC:
AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for private sector-led infrastructure investment across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 43 member countries and has invested US$13 billion across Africa since inception. www.AfricAFC.org

About CDP: 
CDP is the Italian National Promotional Institution and the Financial Institution for International Development Cooperation entrusted by the Italian State to foster the sustainable development of Italy and of developing countries and emerging markets. CDP supports economic growth, social inclusiveness and ecological transition by investing in innovation, business competitiveness, infrastructures and local development, having allowed in 2023 the activation of investments worth a total of 20,1 billion euros (1.4% of Italy’s GDP), of which 83% dedicate to sustainable project, also thanks to the attraction of resources from third-party investors and co-financiers.

ICD (http://www.ICD-ps.org) and Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan signed an Expression of Intent for the USD 10 million Line of Financing Facility aimed at supporting eligible private sector projects in Uzbekistan; This agreement initiates a partnership between ICD and JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan, reflecting ICD’s strategic commitment to bolstering private sector growth within its member nations.

At the 3rd Tashkent Investment Forum, the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan, formalized an expression of intent to partner to collaborate in empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and fostering economic growth in Uzbekistan.

Through this partnership, ICD will provide JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan with a Line of Financing (LoF) facility, to fund private sector projects as an agent of ICD. This initiative is poised to significantly boost the SME landscape in Uzbekistan by equipping entrepreneurs with the necessary resources to initiate and grow projects that meaningfully contribute to the national economy.

Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan, now a strategic partner for ICD, stands out as a prominent commercial bank with foreign capital. The new LoF facility not only marks the commencement of collaboration between the two entities, but also underscores ICD’s dedication to advancing the private sector within its member countries, further solidifying its role in spurring economic development across the Islamic world.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

For further details, please contact:
Nabil El-Alami
Communications&Corporate Marketing Division head 
Nalami@isdb.org

About JSC Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan:
The Uzbek-Turkish Bank – Ziraat Bank has been actively working in the country for 20 years, and the Republic of Uzbekistan has long been successfully cooperating with business circles of various countries of the world demonstrating itself as the country with a rapidly developing modern commercial industry. 

The Bank belongs to a universal category of banks that are active in the corporate segment. This refers to lending to companies, and above all, joint Uzbek-Turkish companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, private entrepreneurship, conducting and executing export-import operations.

The Bank with its 6 branches and banking services offices across the country, it has been providing the financial services to all entrepreneurs and individuals in Uzbekistan. For more information on Ziraat Bank Uzbekistan visit: https://www.ZiraatBank.Uz/en.

About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD):
ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group. ICD’s mandate is to support economic development and promote the growth of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments in accordance with Shariah principles. Additionally, ICD offers advisory services to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion, and modernization of private enterprises.  ICD is rated ‘A2’ by Moody’s, ‘A+’ by Fitch, and ‘A-’ by S&P.