African markets and business updates

Pan-African banking giant commits to supporting SMEs, women entrepreneurs and regional value chains through a new partnership designed to accelerate implementation of the AfCFTA.

As the global community celebrates World Product Day, a profound shift is taking place across Africa’s enterprise landscape. The Product Leadership Accelerator (PLA), www.AfricaPLA.com , an initiative of the Innovate Africa Foundation, is officially setting a new gold standard for how value is created and scaled, in Africa, by transforming African enterprises from traditional service providers into high-velocity, “product-led” engines of growth.…

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) ( www.AfricanEnergyChamber.org ) has reinforced its strategic partnership with the Republic of Congo following a high-level meeting between Executive Chairman NJ Ayuk and newly appointed Minister of Hydrocarbons Stev Simplice Onanga in Brazzaville this week, setting the stage for a renewed push to accelerate investment, strengthen local capacity and expand the country’s LNG footprint. Held shortly after Minister Onanga’s appointment…

PayPal ( www.PayPal.com ) today announced it is making PayPal USD (PYUSD) available in 70 markets worldwide in the PayPal account. This dollar-backed stablecoin enables users to send funds globally, with faster settlement and lower cost than traditional payment methods. As global commerce becomes increasingly digital, individuals and businesses are looking for faster and more seamless ways to transact across borders. Stablecoins like PYUSD help power an inclusive, fast, lower-cost, global commerce system.…

African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( www.Afreximbank.com ) has extended a USD 15 million SME Finance Facility to Ecobank Zimbabwe Limited under its Export SME Development Programme (ESDP).The facility will provide working capital and capital expenditure financing to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) operating within export value chains across key sectors of the Zimbabwean economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.…

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) ( www.AfricaCDC.org ) has welcomed a US$2.5 million pledge from the Government of South Africa to support the ongoing Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda through the Africa CDC Africa Epidemics Fund . This important contribution followed the recent communication by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf…

Three Gabonese institutions launched a 200 million CFA-franc guarantee fund to improve credit access for small businesses and entrepreneurs Eligible borrowers can access loans of up to 10 million CFA francs at a reduced 6% interest rate with flexible repayment terms The initiative aims to support economic diversification, financial inclusion and entrepreneurship outside Gabon’s oil and forestry sectors Three Gabonese institutions have signed a partnership agreement to establish a 200 million CFA-franc ($353…

Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim - an industry veteran and former Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) - has joined the 2026 edition of the African Energy Week (AEW) Conference and Exhibition as a speaker. His participation comes amid a broader continental drive to accelerate upstream projects and strengthen downstream energy systems, opening the door for discussions surrounding energy financing and African-led project development. Dr.…

Marilyn Teta Logan, Director General of the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority (LPRA), has been selected as a member of the fifth cohort of Amujae Leaders by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development. Logan joins a distinguished group of African women leaders shaping governance, business and public policy across the continent. Her inclusion represents not only a significant personal achievement, but also international recognition of the governance reforms…

Agility ( ), a multi-business operator and long-term investor in global and regional businesses, announced that the Agility Logistics Park (ALP) ( ) in Tema, Ghana has received EDGE Advanced certification for its energy- and resource-efficient green buildings. This brings the total number of EDGE Advanced-certified warehouses across the ALP network to 17, with certified facilities now present in every country where Agility Logistics Parks operates.…