The role of financial institutions in increasing the pace and scale of Africa’s Renewable Energy Transition

The role of financial institutions in increasing the pace and scale of Africa’s Renewable Energy Transition

By James Agin – Executive – Corporate and Investment Banking Absa Bank Kenya The urgent need to combat climate change has thrust renewable energy into the global spotlight. As governments, businesses, and individuals grapple with the challenges of reducing carbon emissions, the role of financial institutions in supporting and propelling the renewable energy transition is becoming increasingly prominent. The financial services sector, with its financial power, extensive networks, and ability to drive systemic change, has…

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The future of trade finance in sub-Saharan Africa amidst hard currency challenges

The future of trade finance in sub-Saharan Africa amidst hard currency challenges

PORT LOUIS (Capital Markets in Africa) – International Trade is conducted in the currencies of major economic powers, largely the US dollar, European Union Euro, Japanese Yen, Chinese Yuan, and UK Pound Sterling. Thus, these currencies clearly have a major impact on how trade is conducted across borders globally, including on the African continent. By the same token, it is important to note that a foreign currency shortage occurs when the demand for the currency…

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Investors eye UK interest rate decision and lower China growth forecasts

Investors eye UK interest rate decision and lower China growth forecasts

Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets, Hargreaves Lansdown: Investors are lacking Monday motivation today as caution returns amid worries about global growth, ahead of the Bank of England decision on interest rates and testimony from the world’s most influential central banker, the Fed’s Jerome Powell. European indices have opened lower with the FTSE 100 on the backfoot as investors mull what’s ahead for the path of interest rates, given the stubbornness of inflation, while…

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African Development Bank fund approves grant for solar electricity

African Development Bank fund approves grant for solar electricity

ABIDJAN (Capital Markets in Africa) — The African Development Bank’s (www.AfDB.org) Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) (https://apo-opa.info/43CHYIN) has approved a grant of $485,000 for a solar electricity project in Namibia that will power some 50,000 households in the capital city. The “Informal Settlement Renewable Electrification and Upgrading Program” will directly benefit around 200,000 people in Windhoek, where around 20% of the population does not have electricity. The Urban and Municipal Development Fund helps governments…

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USAID Commits $3 million to African Water Facility

USAID Commits $3 million to African Water Facility

;AGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (https://www.GlobalWaters.org/) has committed $3 million to the African Water Facility (AWF) (https://apo-opa.info/3JiWiOu). The funding will support the preparation of water and sanitation investment projects in Africa, through the provision of grants and technical assistance to African countries and regional economic communities. The African Water Facility, an initiative of the African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW), is hosted by the African Development…

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Emerging Markets: A changed asset class – More quality, less risk?

Emerging Markets: A changed asset class – More quality, less risk?

There is a great deal of confusion today about what really constitutes the asset class known as ‘emerging markets’ (“EMs”), and with good reason. The official grouping from index providers such as MSCI contain a hotchpotch of countries across the globe with often very little in common. There is also confusion about the characteristics of the asset class: everyone assumes it is risky, but is it? Is it cyclical, is it correlated to commodities, is…

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Nigeria: Fuel Subsidy Removal Short-term pain, long-term gain

Nigeria: Fuel Subsidy Removal Short-term pain, long-term gain

LAGOS (Capital Markets in Africa) – President Tinubu has finally done the inevitable: ending the payment of fuel subsidies in Nigeria. Several administrations have tried unsuccessfully in the past to end the subsidy regime. This has been primarily due to strong opposition to reform and the lack of a political will to bite the bullet. Subsidy is the transfer of money from the government to an entity, leading to a decline in the price of…

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