diplomacy&development

Verdant Capital acted as WIOCC Group and OADC’s strategic and financial advisor on the joint venture transaction with TEXAF.   A landmark joint venture agreement (“JVA”) between Africa’s leading data centre operator, Open Access Data Centres (“OADC”), a WIOCC Group company, and TEXAF, one of the DRC’s oldest business groups, was signed this past July. The JVA crystallizes the two parties’ intention to usher in the next evolution of the DRC’s digital ecosystem by launching the country’s first open access, carrier-neutral data centre. The joint venture will be operated through their co-owned subsidiary, Open Access Data Entres-TEXAF Digital (DRC). The JV brings together OADC’s pan-African data centre operating expertise, coupled with the WIOCC Group’s continent-wide hyperscale connectivity infrastructure and capabilities, with TEXAF’s deep knowledge and experience investing and operating businesses in the DRC for almost a century. The new data centre is a key piece in the new epoch o...

Verdant Capital a agi en qualité de conseiller stratégique et financier auprès du groupe WIOCC et d’OADC dans le cadre de l’opération de coentreprise avec TEXAF. Un accord de coentreprise entre le principal exploitant de centre de données en Afrique, Open Access Data Centres (« OADC »), une société du groupe WIOCC, et TEXAF, un des plus anciens groupes commerciaux de la RDC, a été signé en juillet dernier. L’accord de coentreprise incarne l’intention des deux parties d’amorcer la prochaine évolution de l’écosystème numérique de la RDC en lançant le premier centre de données du pays à accès ouvert et neutre vis-à-vis des opérateurs. La coentreprise sera exploitée par l’entremise de sa filiale en copropriété, Open Access Data Entres-TEXAF Digital (DRC). La coentreprise combine l’expertise panafricaine d’OADC en matière d’exploitation de centres de données, les infrastructures et capacités de connectivité hyperscale du groupe WIOCC, et les connaissances et l’expérience approfondies de TEX...

Jane Sun, CEO, Trip.com Group To go far, go together Through collaboration, we unlock value. The value of a win-win creates strong commitment towards maximising each party's opportunities and success. Far beyond a legal contract, the best partnerships strengthen common goals through shared desires and a mission. At Trip.com Group, we firmly believe that to go far, we must go together. This philosophy forms the cornerstone of our journey as we strive “To pursue the perfect trip for a better world”.  Standing strong with our partners "Customers first; Partners second; Ourselves third". This has been our mantra and has guided our actions during the pandemic. In times of uncertainty, leaders need to lead and inspire with confidence. Our partners would recall that Trip.com Group took immediate action from the onset of the pandemic through various initiatives, including supporting our partners with 10 billion RMB in loans, 5 billion RMB for advance payments, and 2 billion RMB ...

    Chairman and CEO of the Merck Foundation and African First Ladies inaugurate their 10th edition of the Africa Asia Luminary 2023 exhibition in India ▪ Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej and African First Ladies of Botswana, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Malawi, Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, to inaugurate 10th Edition of Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023. ▪ More than 10,000 participants including healthcare providers, policymakers, researchers, academia and media representatives from 70 English, French, Spanish and Portuguese speaking countries attended the Luminary through hybrid model to benefit from five parallel scientific and social sessions to advance healthcare capacity and awareness in 42 critical and underserved medical specialties. ▪ Celebrating 6th Anniversary of Merck Foundation and marking 11-year journey of their development...

  Chairman et CEO de la Fondation Merck et Les Premières Dames Africaines inaugurent leur 10ème édition du salon Africa Asia Luminary 2023 en Inde     ▪ Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Sénatrice Dr. Rasha Kelej et Les Premières Dames Africaines du Botswana, du Burundi, du Cap-Vert, de la République Centrafricaine, de Gambie, du Ghana, du Libéria, du Malawi, de la République Démocratique de São Tomé et Príncipe, du Zimbabwe, République Démocratique du Congo, pour inaugurer la 10ème édition de Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary 2023. ▪ Plus de 10 000 participants, dont des prestataires de soins de santé, des décideurs politiques, des chercheurs, des universitaires et des représentants des médias de 70 pays Anglophones, Français, Espagnols et Lusophones, ont assisté au Luminaire à travers un modèle hybride pour bénéficier de cinq sessions scientifiques et sociales parallèles pour renforcer les capacités et la sensibilisation aux soins de santé dans 42 spécial...

The objective of the retreat was to develop an ECOWAS Inter-Sectoral Strategic Plan for the promotion and protection of child rights in the sub-region towards enhancing their safety and well-being. The ECOWAS Commission through the Directorate of Humanitarian and Social Affairs has organized a high-level retreat on advancing child rights in West Africa from October 10-13, 2023, in Lagos, Nigeria.  The objective of the retreat was to develop an ECOWAS Inter-Sectoral Strategic Plan for the promotion and protection of child rights in the sub-region towards enhancing their safety and well-being. At the opening session, the Director for Humanitarian and Social Affairs, ECOWAS Commission, Dr Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe, who was represented by Mr Daniel A. Amankwaah, Principal Project Officer Drug Control, stated that the retreat marks a significant milestone in the region’s commitment to child rights, as exemplified by the revised ECOWAS Child Policy, adopted by Heads of States in 2019; and the E...

The African Energy Chamber proudly announces the launch of the 2024 edition of the continent’s premier event for the energy sector: African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy, taking place November 4-8 in Cape Town. At a time when the African energy industry is faced with a variety of challenges, the African Energy Week (AEW) conference serves as a platform for engagement, collaboration and investment. Since the event’s inception, AEW has facilitated deals, fostered dialogue while laid the foundation for long-term and sustainable developments to kick off. As such, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( http://www.EnergyChamber.org )– organizers of the AEW conference – proudly announces the launch of AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy. Maintaining a commitment to a secure and sustainable energy future in Africa, AEW returns to Cape Town from November 4-8 under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030. AEW 2024: Invest in African Energy takes place at the Cape Town International C...

The Population and Development conference seeks to track progress of commitments made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Director Ms. Lydia Zigomo has called for greater investment for the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda ahead of the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South Cooperation in Population and Development. Ms. Zigomo is in Zimbabwe ahead of this important conference that will take place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe from 9-10 October 2023. The Population and Development conference seeks to track progress of commitments made at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) held in Cairo in 1994. At this ICPD conference held almost 30 years ago, representatives from 179 governments and other stakeholders adopted a landmark and far-sighted plan to advance human well-being by placing the rights of individuals...

The primary aim of this program is to enhance the capacity of media professionals and propose effective approaches to address environmental issues. The African Catholic Union of the Press (UCAP), and its Uganda Chapter, in collaboration with the Uganda Episcopal Conference is organizing a Refresher Program on the theme "Contribution of Journalists and Media Practitioners Toward an Integral Ecology According to the Encyclical 'Laudato Si' of Pope Francis", from November 5 to 11, 2023, at the Ulrika Guest House, in Kampala, Uganda. The African Catholic Union of the Press (UCAP), with members across the continent is an esteemed media practitioner’s continental organization headquartered in Lomé (Togo). One of UCAP's primary objectives is to contribute to the personal and spiritual growth of media professionals, including communicators and journalists. It serves as a meeting point and coordination center for apostolic and professional activities in evangelism and huma...

Le séminaire se déroulera à Ulrika Guest House à Kisubi, district de Wakiso et a pour objectif principal de renforcer les capacités des professionnels des médias. L'Union catholique africaine de la presse (UCAP) et sa section ougandaise, en collaboration avec la Conférence épiscopale ougandaise, organise un Refresher Program sur le thème « Contribution des journalistes et praticiens des médias pour une écologie intégrale selon l’encyclique “Laudato Si” du pape François », du 5 au 11 novembre 2023, à Kampala, en Ouganda. L’Union catholique africaine de la presse (UCAP) qui compte des membres sur tout le continent est une organisation continentale estimée de professionnels des médias dont le siège est à Lomé (Togo). L'un des principaux objectifs de l'UCAP est de contribuer à la croissance personnelle et spirituelle des professionnels des médias, notamment des journalistes et des communicateurs. Il sert de point de rencontre et de centre de coordination pour les activités apos...

The initial arrangement was approved for a total amount of SDR 28.4 million (about US$ 37.9 million) on January 30, 2023. IMF staff and the Guinea Bissau authorities have reached a staff-level agreement that could support the third review of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) supported program, subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board. Upon completion of the review, Guinea Bissau will have access to an additional SDR [6.16] million (about US$ [8.1] million); Program performance has been mixed, reflecting a difficult economic and socio-political environment. Nonetheless, progress on the structural reforms continued to be strong; The new government is firmly committed to implementing the policies underpinning IMF-supported program. In this context, the authorities are seeking an augmentation of access under the ECF program amid the significant deterioration of Guinea-Bissau's terms of trade and a tightening of regional financing conditions. A team from the International Monetar...

Discussions revolved around unity, responsible investment, and leveraging Africa's demographic dividend to accelerate economic growth. In the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, UCLG Africa ( http://www.UCLGA.org ), the umbrella organization representing the voice of African subnational and local governments on the African continent, organized the very first US-Africa Municipal and Sub-Sovereign Investors Forum at the Wall Street Hotel in New York City. The Forum brought together around 100 participants representing the African Union institutions; the USA cooperation agencies; Black Caucus USA State legislators; Africa and USA Mayors and Leaders of subnational and local governments; Africa and USA Development Finance institutions; Africa and USA business community.   The proceedings of the Forum were structured around three sequences: the official opening session; the session on market practices, collaboration and investment opportunities in Africa; and the session...