African markets and business updates

Building a business is often about recognising opportunities at the right time and having the capacity to act on them.

The global payments industry is at a critical turning point. As international trade expands and African businesses increasingly operate across borders, carrying out seamless digital payment transactions have become essential to economic growth. Yet, cross-border payments remain burdened by high transaction costs, fragmented payment systems, foreign exchange challenges, regulatory complexities, and settlement delays. These inefficiencies […]

The meeting comes amid warnings that implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework remains insufficient, with fewer than half of national targets assessed by countries considered to be on track.

Mala Lingappa has marked ten years at APO Group ( www.APO-opa.com ), the pan-African communications consultancy integrating advisory, execution, and proprietary news distribution. She joined in 2016 as its first media monitoring specialist. Today, APO Group guarantees visibility in all 54 African markets, and Mala has helped make that visibility measurable. "When I started, I wasn't expecting to stay for a decade," says Mala. "The chance to work in an international environment and learn from people with diverse backgrounds drew me in. The experience has been incredibly rewarding." Performance only counts when it can be proven.…

Family Homes Funds Limited (FHFL), in partnership with the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF), has commenced construction of a 257-unit affordable housing estate for police officers and their families in Masaka, Nasarawa State. The groundbreaking ceremony marks the start of the development. The project forms part of FHFL’s ongoing efforts to address Nigeria’s housing deficit […]

Growtech West Africa, the international agribusiness platform, has announced a collaboration with the National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) ahead of the inaugural exhibition in Lagos, as stakeholders seek to strengthen access to technology, investment, and expertise that can support productivity and food security across Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The collaboration connects Growtech’s international network of agricultural […]

Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) has been named Africa’s Best Exchange at the Euromoney Markets Awards 2026, recognising its contribution to market infrastructure, digital innovation and capital formation. Presented at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, on Thursday, 15 October 2026, the award recognises achievements in market development during 2025 and comes amid robust […]

For lenders, they must determine whether a borrower earns enough to repay, whether that income can be verified, what other financial obligations the borrower has, and how likely they are to meet the repayment schedule. As a result, people can participate in the formal financial system and still struggle to obtain affordable credit. This is Follow the Money , our weekly series that unpacks the earnings, business, and scaling strategies of African fintechs, financial institutions, companies, and governments. A new edition drops every Monday.…

South Africa’s mining industry is at a precipice. As mines pursue greater depths, they face ageing infrastructure, skills shortages and mounting pressure to improve safety. Sustainability and productivity are forcing companies to rethink how they operate. In this environment, artificial intelligence (AI) is already influencing how decisions are made, how risks are managed and how …

CMA CGM has announced new Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) for container shipments from China, South America and Morocco. The charges will take effect on different dates between October 22 and November 15, 2026. They vary by trade route, container size and cargo type. Surcharges on shipments from China CMA CGM will introduce a surcharge of […] CMA CGM has announced new Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) for container shipments from China, South America and Morocco. The charges will take effect on different dates between October 22 and November 15, 2026. They vary by trade route, container size and cargo type.…