In alignment with the company’s steadfast commitment to advancing education and empowerment, Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is excited to announce the arrival of the Canon Academy Video Roadshow in Africa; The roadshow spanning multiple countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, Algeria and many more, will offer an immersive experience to filmmaking enthusiasts unlike any other. 

The Canon Academy Video Roadshow kicked off in Nigeria on March 18, 2024. This immersive event offers participants a hands-on experience with Canon’s cutting-edge equipment and techniques, alongside valuable insights from industry professionals. By bringing this experience to Africa, Canon aims to empower aspiring filmmakers and content creators with the tools, knowledge, and inspiration needed to realize their creations.  

“We are thrilled to bring the Canon Academy Video Roadshow to Africa, starting with Nigeria,” says Amine Djouahra, B2C Business Unit Director, Canon Central and North Africa. “This roadshow is a vibrant hub of learning and collaboration, where filmmaking enthusiasts and creators can come together to learn, grow, and explore the endless possibilities of visual storytelling.  

“As the demand for high-quality video content continues to soar, Canon remains dedicated to empowering creators to bring their visions to life. Through initiatives like the Canon Academy Video Roadshow, we are committed to fostering a new generation of filmmakers and content creators, equipping them with the skills and confidence to succeed in today’s ever-evolving digital landscape.”  

In 2022, Canon launched the Canon Academy Video, an interactive online film school available in English and French to provide comprehensive education on the stages of production and equipment used in filmmaking. The platform offers courses to cinematographers, filmmakers, and videographers of all skill levels, which are delivered through an e-learning platform and face-to-face. Upon completion of the programme, participants have the opportunity to undergo assessments and receive Canon Certification, validating their proficiency in the field of filmmaking.  

Click here to know more: English: https://apo-opa.co/3xajyuV 

French: https://apo-opa.co/3VzPbbw

In recent years, Africa has witnessed a remarkable surge in content creation, largely driven by the widespread adoption of digital technology and the proliferation of social media platforms. The rising trend of producing video content on social media platforms reflects the growing appetite among users and viewers for visually engaging storytelling. This surge underscores the relevance of Canon Academy Video for content creators seeking to thrive in this dynamic landscape.   

Since its inception, Canon Academy Video has provided self-taught filmmakers with a comprehensive platform to enhance their skills through prerecorded sessions and courses. To date, Canon has received an overwhelming response with over 14,000 registrations from aspiring filmmakers eager to explore the world of videography and moving imagery.  

With the success of the Canon Academy Video, participants have highlighted a desire for a more hands-on experience.  In response, Canon is launching the Canon Academy Video Roadshow, which will bridge the gap between online learning and real-world application.  

The roadshow commenced on 18 – 19 March 2024 at Pan Atlantic University (PAU), where 60 students specializing in film, video, and moving imagery, received training in the distinction between Canon’s DSLR and Mirrorless (ML) camera lineups for video production. The event also featured professional demonstrations including a focus on music video production and independent filmmaking techniques.  

The roadshow continued with PRO Masterclass sessions which occurred from 20 – 22 March 2024, catering to semi-professionals, institutions, and businesses seeking advanced training in multicam setups. Attendees received comprehensive training sessions focused on Canon Cinema EOS, XA/XF, and PTZ camera lineups.  

Led by industry experts, the workshops offer participants professional advice and hands-on demonstrations, providing insights gleaned from real-life scenarios with specific camera models. Additionally, key features of the highlighted models will be explored, accompanied by expert tips and tricks to optimize their usage.  

Moreover, participants will have the opportunity to screen their videos created using Canon equipment. As a highlight of the workshop, an award will be presented to the best student, recognising exceptional talent and innovation. With plans to expand The Canon Academy Video Roadshow to other countries across Africa, Canon is committed to empowering filmmakers at every stage of their journey.  

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) (www.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: www.Canon-CNA.com

Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, has announced the successful close of its largest ever debt facility, a US$1.16 billion syndicated loan, attracting new lenders from the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

This landmark transaction, commemorated at an event in Dubai last night, is a significant milestone in AFC’s unwavering commitment to develop critical infrastructure projects across the continent by enhancing its financial flexibility and diversifying its investor base.

Testament to AFC’s appeal in global capital markets and the Corporation’s pivotal role in fostering economic growth and industrialisation in Africa, leading international financial institutions including First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, Mashreqbank PSC, MUFG Bank and Standard Chartered collectively acted as Global Coordinators, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (London Branch) acting as China Coordinator. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank PJSC, Emirates NBD Bank PJSC, Mizuho and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation acted as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners.  Additionally, Bank of China and Société Générale S.A acted as Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers.

Initially launched at US$1 billion, the three-year syndicated loan was upsized after being oversubscribed by 49%, underscoring global investor confidence in AFC’s track record, creditworthiness, and its ability to navigate the current economic landscape marked by evolving global complexities. Proceeds from the loan will be deployed to advance AFC’s mission to consistently deliver fast and sustainable solutions to close Africa’s infrastructure gap and unleash the continent’s potential, leading to prosperity for all Africans.

“The global loan market’s overwhelming interest in Africa’s growth story is evident in the large pool of lenders that supported this syndication, making it AFC’s largest ever,” said AFC’s President&CEO, Samaila Zubairu. ‘’This is a significant endorsement of our commitment to ensure that infrastructure projects support local processing and value capture, thereby providing the much needed impetus to African industrialisation, enhanced export earnings and job creation.’’

AFC’s position as the pre-eminent partner of choice between African and global stakeholders and investors for mutually beneficial outcomes reflects the Corporation’s relentless dedication to shaping a brighter and prosperous tomorrow for Africa and Africans.

Financial institutions including Société Générale, Bank Muscat and Intesa Sanpolo Bank Luxembourg S.A. joined the syndicate as first-time lenders, showcasing AFC’s ability to build a global coalition of investors confident in the Corporation’s strong fundamentals as one of the highest investment-grade institutions in Africa.

On the back of its A3 credit rating by Moody’s, AFC has made significant strides in diversifying its funding sources in recent years. In 2023, the Corporation orchestrated a US$625 million syndicated loan, its second largest, with lenders predominantly from the Middle East and Asia. AFC also secured a US$350 million long-term line of credit from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and a EUR50 million loan facility agreement with the Italian development finance institution, Cassa Depositi e Prestiti SpA (CDP). Both agreements were signed on the sidelines of COP28 in Dubai. Additionally, the Corporation received a US$400 million from the Exim Bank of China.

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 pragmatic 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

The financing will support the Bank’s interventions in food security and climate smart agriculture; The two also signed an MoU to enhance cooperation between Italian and African companies.

Cassa Depositi e Prestiti S.p.A (CDP) Italy, the official Italian financial institution for international development cooperation and Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) have signed a new financing facility worth €100 million to support the Bank’s interventions in food security and climate-smart agriculture in Africa.

The financing adds to an initial commitment from CDP of €100 million, lifting the total financing from CDP to €200 million. The two financial institutions also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to foster synergies between Italian and African companies.

The partnership was announced during the inauguration of CDP’s new office in Cairo, the first operational headquarter of the Italian institution in Africa. Haytham ElMaayergi, Executive Vice President of Afreximbank, and Dario Scannapieco, Chief Executive Officer of CDP signed the agreement.

The new financing from CDP will be used to provide support, either directly to eligible African enterprises, or indirectly through local financial intermediaries. Some of the projects that will be financed will include those related to local production and import of essential soft commodities such as cereals and fertilisers.

Commenting on the event, Mr. ElMaayergi said that the facility would support Afreximbank’s drive to increase food production in its member countries and would also help Africa to achieve food security through private sector intervention. Additionally, it will support the development of alternative food channels, including increasing investments in climate-smart agriculture, to increase food yield and provide resilience to businesses in the food and agriculture space.

He added that “the MOU will promote collaboration between Italian and African enterprises and will bring Africa and Italy closer with the aim of promoting intra and extra-African trade. The collaboration, he said, includes co-financing of eligible transactions with sovereigns, corporates and financial institutions in Afreximbank’s member countries, and the organisation, participation and promotion of matchmaking events with African stakeholders and local business communities in Italy, or any of Afreximbank’s member countries.

On his part, Mr. Scannapieco said: “Food security and the resilience of agricultural supply chains are key issues for the development of the African continent, as also highlighted by the initiatives undertaken by the Italian government with the Mattei Plan. Through collaboration with Afreximbank, CDP will be able to guarantee resources to local SMEs operating in these sectors, while at the same time favouring the creation of opportunities for Italian companies. This commitment will further be reinforced through the opening of our new office in Cairo, which confirms the centrality of Africa in CDP strategy.” 

This new facility will enable Afreximbank to provide timely and necessary support to its member countries through businesses in the food security space and bolster management of supply chain crisis, particularly around soft commodities. This will in turn contribute to the stabilisation of food security and the diversification of supply sources in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com
Tel: +20 2 24564100 /1/2/3
Mobile: +201030121123

About Afreximbank:
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank is setting up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries to effectively participate in the AfCFTA. At the end of September 2023, Afreximbank’s total assets and guarantees stood at over US$33.4 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$5.8 billion. The Bank disbursed more than US$104 billion between 2016 and 2023. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure, (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Noralyn Jubaira Baja met with Ambassador Andre Groenewald, Director of the Diplomatic Training and Research Development Institute of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO-DTRDI).

The main objective of the meeting was to discuss and exchange views on how to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on diplomatic training and research which was signed between DIRCO-DTRDI and the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of the Philippines on 23 February 2023.

The meeting ended on a positive note, with both sides agreeing to explore cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as middle power diplomacy, blue economy, and artificial intelligence under the framework of the MOU.

First Secretary and Consul Maurice A. Tiempo accompanied Ambassador Baja during the meeting.

Ambassador Groenewald previously served as South Africa’s top envoy to Ukraine, Armenia, Georgia and Moldova from 2019 to 2023. As a career diplomat, he has served at various offices in DIRCO. This is not his first time to be assigned at DTRDI and he has played a key role in strengthening DIRCO’s training arm to capacitate diplomats not only from South Africa, but also from other African countries.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of the Philippines.