African markets and business updates

Venezuela will host its largest-ever international energy investment summit on 26–29 October 2026 in Caracas, bringing together U.S., Venezuelan and international oil companies, investors, financiers and technical service providers to advance near-term investment opportunities across the country’s reopening energy sector. Officially supported by the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and national oil company PDVSA…

When Peter Njeri was growing up, he walked miles with his siblings in search of food. When they got home, he remembers his mother crying and choking from the fire she had made to cook. Now a student at Kenyatta University, Njeri has founded MegaGas, a startup company that converts waste into clean cooking gas. He explains: "It is very important for us to look at the problems in the community. And for us to think: how can I solve this using the local people and local resources?…

Africa's cultural influence has never been greater, but much of the wealth it generates still flows elsewhere. At the Africa Soft Power Summit in Nairobi, policymakers, business leaders and entrepreneurs examined how the continent can turn its creative capital into economic power, jobs and inclusive growth.

Preparations are well underway for the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference, taking place in Lagos, Nigeria, on June 24–25, 2026, with dozens of Canadian companies already anticipated to participate. The Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), recently concluded a visit to Nigeria, from May 21 to 22, 2026, where he highlighted the 6th Canada–Africa Business Conference ( ), taking place later this month in Lagos. This flagship conference…

The Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), the equity investment arm of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( www.Afreximbank.com ), has announced the appointment of Mr. Emmanuel Assiak as its Chief Executive Officer, effective 15 December 2025. The appointment comes at a pivotal stage in FEDA’s growth, as it continues to scale its investment activities to support Africa’s export development and industrialization agenda, especially amid severe capital flight.…

Ecobank Group ( www.Ecobank.com ) has launched the world’s first ICMA commercial bank-issued Nature Bond on the London Stock Exchange, creating a new route for international and African capital to protect Africa’s biodiversity. Moody’s awarded the transaction its highest possible sustainability quality score, SQS1 Excellent. The bond will support African farmers, sustainable agriculture businesses and water systems, protecting some of the planet’s most important ecosystems.…

On Wednesday 27 May a flight carrying nearly 300 Ghanaians landed in Accra (pictured). Rather than a joyful homecoming, the overriding feeling for many was relief. The men, women and children had left South Africa quickly following a fresh wave of anti-migrant protests. Ghana's High Commissioner in South Africa, Benjamin Quashie, summed up the predicament of his compatriots, some of whom were undocumented: "The Ghanaian government listened to the plight of its citizens in South Africa…

Carbon project developers see a major opportunity from a new scheme which requires global airlines to offset their emissions.

ThinkMarkets ( www.ThinkMarkets.com ) today launches ChelseaAI, a product that connects a live ThinkTrader account directly to an AI assistant. Ask your AI to check your positions, place a trade, analyze current market conditions, or move a stop-loss. It does it. No separate login. No switching apps. ChelseaAI works through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard that lets AI assistants connect securely to external services. It works with any MCP-supported assistant. ThinkMarkets recommends Claude…

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) ( www.Afreximbank.com ) held a high-level roadshow in Nassau, The Bahamas, on 29 May, aimed at deepening engagement with key stakeholders and businesses across the government, the private sector, and financial institutions across the country. Organised as part of the Bank’s broad strategy to strengthen trade, investment, and economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean…