The Digital Lab, a Libyan initiative fostering innovation and digital transformation, has officially launched its highly anticipated innovations map (https://LDIL.gia.gov.ly) platform. This user-friendly online tool will serve as a comprehensive resource, connecting innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and investors across the country. The launch ceremony was held at the headquarters of the General Information Authority in Tripoli.

“The launch of the Digital Lab’s Innovations Map represents a positive step forward in realizing our national digital transformation strategy,” stated Abdelbaset Albaor, chairman of the General Information Authority.” This platform is a testament to the collaborative efforts between the General Information Authority, Libyan institutions, and our international partners. It showcases the great initiatives taking place, laying the groundwork for a thriving and innovative digital ecosystem to take root in Libya.”

About the Digital Lab

The Libyan Digital Lab is a collaborative think tank hub established under the supervision of the General Information Authority with the support of the E-nable (https://E-nable.ly) project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France. This initiative aims to boost creativity and innovation and accelerate Libya’s digital transformation journey.

The Digital Lab team comprises representatives from various key government institutions in Libya responsible for digitization, technology, and innovation. Through a series of workshops and training sessions provided by the E-nable (https://E-nable.ly) project, the team has benefitted from the technical expertise of international digital specialists and experts. Notably, a study tour to Paris (https://apo-opa.co/3x97Fp3) offered valuable insights into the French approach to digital strategy and the practical applications of digital tools used by French institutions.

“Digital technologies can act as a catalyst, supporting key policy objectives, including supporting economic resilience, boosting SMEs’ competitiveness, facilitating the green transition and developing new digital skills.” Said Marton Benedek, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Libya. “The Digital Lab, created by E-nable, is a tangible outcome aimed at enhancing innovation capacities and investing in strategic value chains, networks and digital ecosystems. The EU will continue supporting the Libyan institutions to keep pace with the digital transformation and adapting the governance systems to our digitalized world.”

Empowering Innovation Through Collaboration

The Digital Lab’s dedication to cultivating a vibrant innovation ecosystem in Libya has culminated in the launch of its innovations map (https://LDIL.gia.gov.ly). This centralized platform maps innovation activities across Libya, capturing everything from private sector initiatives like the on-demand delivery apps to governmental e-services that streamline business registration or public procurement operations.

The platform offers several key benefits:

Enhance visibility: Showcase Libya’s innovation potential and ongoing projects to a wider audience.
Facilitate collaboration: Enable innovators to connect with potential collaborators and partners across the government, public, and private sectors.
Boost knowledge sharing: Serve as a platform for sharing best practices, successful solutions and case studies, and valuable digital resources.

“We at Expertise France are delighted to witness the launch of the Innovations Map, the result of the Digital Lab’s dedication to supporting digital innovation in Libya,” expressed Julien Schmitt, Country Representative and Programs Director at Expertise France in Libya. “The Innovations Map is a valuable tool that will not only enhance Libya’s visibility in the digital world but also fuel the development of a more inclusive and collaborative innovation landscape in Libya.”

The Innovations Map (https://LDIL.gia.gov.ly), which is the first significant outcome achieved by the Digital Lab, is envisioned as a continuously evolving platform encompassing digital innovations and initiatives from all Libyan regions. This is because users themselves can contribute their innovations to the map. The platform is expected to be a positive tool for driving Libya’s digital transition, unlocking new opportunities, and elevating Libya’s position as a hub for innovation.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Expertise France.

Contact:
Sarah Belamin
Communication Officer – Expertise France Economical program in Libya
sarah.belamin@expertisefrance.fr
+218946660453

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About E-NABLE:
E-NABLE is a three-year project funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France. It aims to improve the capacities of key economic institutions for a sustainable, diversified, and digital economy to institutionalize the private sector’s economic growth with the support of both private and public sector organizations.

London-listed Kenmare Resources plc, operator of the Moma titanium minerals mine in northern Mozambique, has secured a funding package to refinance a maturing revolving credit facility and a five-year term loan facility.

RMB, acting as the Initial Mandated Lead Arranger (IMLA) on the deal as well as one of the lending banks, worked with Kenmare to structure a new five-year US$200m RCF. The tailored facility allows Kenmare to meet their strategic objectives in the most efficient way possible, giving them the financial flexibility they need to position the company for future growth in this bespoke commodity sector.

Kenmare has a strong track record of successfully executing several growth and business improvement projects, having invested more than US$1.4bn into the Moma mine since inception. Their focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) has resulted in more than 90% of the electricity they consume being derived from low-cost hydroelectric power, and in 2022, Kenmare was awarded the ESG Producer of the Year at the Mines&Money Outstanding Achievement Awards.

Having worked with Kenmare since 2019, RMB has developed a sound understanding of the company’s strategic priorities at both a corporate and project level, leading to a differentiated funding solution that allows the company to continue focussing on some of their core objectives. These include the ability to operate both sustainably and responsibly, ensuring a strong balance sheet while allocating capital efficiently and delivering value to shareholders, and maintaining long-life, low-cost production via the move of one of their processing plants to a new orebody that will underpin production sustainably for decades.

Kenmare continues to be the largest employer in the Nampula province and has contributed more than US$200m in taxes and royalties. Through the Kenmare Moma Development Association (KMAD), they have also implemented development programmes in the mine’s host communities, investing US$16m to date.

“RMB’s commitment to expanding the resources sector in Africa, combined with our extensive knowledge and experience in Mozambique, played a crucial role in successfully securing this deal.  This transaction highlights our capability to orchestrate syndicated deals across the African continent, with a specific focus on the mining sector. It represents the culmination of thorough diligence and unwavering dedication to understanding our clients’ unique requirements.” says Andre Lubbe, Resources Sector Focus Lead at RMB.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rand Merchant Bank.

The Technical Committee of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group (www.AfDB.org) met on 18 March 2024 in Abidjan and approved the new work programme for 2024. The committee, responsible for monitoring the work of the AfDB’s Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF), allocated a total of US$4.5 million to support projects in 14 African municipalities and local authorities.

The first part of the programme, totalling some $500,000, will be centred on improving the quality of urban governance. The Fund will launch a capacity-building and consulting programme to improve municipal finances and solvency in six large pilot cities in Africa – Nairobi, Dakar, Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Kigali and Lagos. The aim is to maintain the support programme for municipalities and help them identify and access new sources of public and private finance.

The second part of the programme will target urban planning and will receive funding of $900,000. The money will be spent to extend the African Cities Programme to six new cities in addition to 13 already benefiting. This programme involves the design of effective urban action plans and identifying priority investment projects worthy of support from donors including the African Development Bank.

Finally, the Fund will release $2.8 million for the third part of the programme aimed at accelerating the upgrade of urban infrastructure across various fronts. The money will finance preliminary studies for projects (feasibility studies in some cases and detailed technical studies in others). Water-related projects will also play a key role in view of the urgent need to improve resilience of cities and their ability to adapt to climate change. Such projects include sewerage and water drainage in Maroua (Cameroon), sewerage networks in Accra (Ghana), drinking water treatment in the Cairo region (Egypt), coastal works in Nouakchott (Mauritania) and climate-resilient infrastructure planning in Cape Town (South Africa).

The Fund’s support programme for project preparation will also extend to public transport, financing studies to develop the bus network in Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and railway services in Lagos (Nigeria).

“These projects have been selected because of their potential impact, their ability to change the daily lives of millions of African citizens living in urban areas, but also because of their inclusive dimension and the benefits they bring for combating and adapting to climate change,” said Mike Salawou, Director of the Infrastructure and Urban Development Department at the AfDB. Mr Salawou also chairs the Technical Committee.

Launched in 2019, the Urban and Municipal Development Fund acts as facilitator and accelerator of infrastructure projects, promoting a comprehensive approach that fosters synergies between sectors, building capacity of local stakeholders and encouraging dialogue with public and private donors.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Alexis Adélé
Communications and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 37 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

In February this year the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation announced new financing in support of the Lobito Corridor – a transnational 1,300-km railway line linking Angola’s Port of Lobito with southern DRC and north-western Zambia. The U.S. and its partners – which include the European Commission, African Development Bank and Africa Finance Corporation – have already mobilized nearly $1 billion for the project, representing the largest single US and EU investment on the African continent in recent years.

The Lobito Corridor has been uniquely able to galvanize broad international support, primarily due to its alignment with the energy transition and economic ties to US and European markets. As a result, the project serves as a finance and development model for other large-scale African infrastructure projects seeking foreign investment and participation. The upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) forum in Paris will unpack this model, as it aims to connect Africa’s project pipeline with global investor interest. For Africa, infrastructure deals represent some of the most strategic transactions, able to trigger a “domino effect” on local job creation and the establishment of value-added industries.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/49krKXM) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. 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. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

One of the unique selling points of the Lobito Corridor is its built-in demand from global markets. African infrastructure projects often encounter difficulty in reaching financial close, in part due to a lack of secure offtake agreements, guarantees and feasibility studies that help projects overcome associated risks. Both the US and EU have signed MOUs in support of the rail corridor – with a view to sourcing critical minerals to supply their own EV battery supply chains – as well as confirmed a joint commitment to supporting pre-feasibility studies for an extension of the corridor from eastern Angola to Zambia. Multinational commodity trader Trafigura and Canada’s Ivanhoe Mines have also signed deals to export their copper production to the DRC utilizing the Lobito rail route.

The Lobito Corridor also successfully leverages the strength of public-private partnerships (PPPs). In addition to mobilizing financing and distributing risk among multiple parties, PPPs garner formal government support, while capitalizing on free-market expertise required to develop the project from a technical standpoint. A consortium composed of Trafigura, Portugal’s Mota-Engil and Belgium’s Vecturis SA have been awarded the contract to manage railway services and support the logistics of the project. It is also a credit to the respective governments of Angola, DRC and Zambia for having the sufficient trade and regulatory frameworks to accommodate complex, cross-border and inter-governmental agreements. The establishment of a comprehensive framework, along with the provision of legal protections for investors, serve to minimize risk and drive projects forward.

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