logo
AfDB Says Zimbabwe Seeks $2.6 Billion in Bridge Finance to Overhaul Debt

AfDB Says Zimbabwe Seeks $2.6 Billion in Bridge Finance to Overhaul Debt

Bloomberg23-04-2025

The African Development Bank said Zimbabwe has proposed seeking $2.6 billion in bridge finance to help it clear arrears owed to international financial institutions as it attempts to break a debt impasse dating back to 1999.
The southern African nation owes about 60% of its $21 billion debt pile to external creditors including the World Bank, Paris Club, European Investment Bank and the AfDB. The debt has kept Zimbabwe locked out of global capital markets since it first defaulted on payments a quarter of a century ago.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Myanmar Recovery Dented by Devastating Quake, World Bank Says
Myanmar Recovery Dented by Devastating Quake, World Bank Says

Bloomberg

timean hour ago

  • Bloomberg

Myanmar Recovery Dented by Devastating Quake, World Bank Says

Myanmar's economy is headed for its worst performance since the pandemic as the strife-torn country reels from the impact of a devastating earthquake in March that's estimated to have caused $11 billion in damage, according to the World Bank. The 7.7 magnitude earthquake on March 28 affected more than 17 million people and wrecked widespread damages to residential buildings, public infrastructure and heritage sites in areas accounting for about one-third of Myanmar's gross domestic product. The impact of the quake still continues to disrupt lives and livelihood, 'exacerbating the already very difficult conditions in the affected areas,' the bank said in a report Thursday.

MindHYVE.ai and DV8 Infosystems Sign MoU with KICTANet to Co-Develop Kenya's National AI Policy
MindHYVE.ai and DV8 Infosystems Sign MoU with KICTANet to Co-Develop Kenya's National AI Policy

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

MindHYVE.ai and DV8 Infosystems Sign MoU with KICTANet to Co-Develop Kenya's National AI Policy

NAIROBI, Republic of Kenya and NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- in partnership with DV8 Infosystems and KICTANet, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support the strategic co-development of the Republic of Kenya's National Artificial Intelligence Policy. This collaboration formalizes a shared commitment to ethical, sovereign, and forward-compatible AI governance. It reflects Kenya's growing stature as a leader in responsible AI development and showcases the region's capacity to shape global AI policy architecture. Partnership Overview The MoU establishes a structured alliance between three institutions: - A Newport Beach–based provider of advanced artificial intelligence technologies, including large-scale reasoning models, domain-specific AI agents, and swarm-intelligent orchestration systems. is internationally recognized as the pioneer of agentic AGI, a paradigm that fuses decentralized intelligence, ethical alignment, and cognitive adaptability at national and enterprise scale. DV8 Infosystems - The official orchestration and systems integration partner of DV8 designs and deploys agentic AGI infrastructures through its suite of Ops AI systems orchestrated by swarm intelligence and tailored for government transformation, regulatory alignment, and real-world integration of multi-agent intelligence systems. KICTANet - Kenya's most respected Think Tank on ICT policy and regulation whose mission is to promote an enabling digital ecosystem that is open, inclusive, secure, and rights-based, through multi-stakeholder approaches. KICTANet provides mechanisms and a framework for continuing cooperation and collaboration in the field of ICT among industry, technical community, academia, media, civil society, development partners, and government. Purpose and Strategic ObjectivesUnder the MoU KICTANet, in partnership with DV8 Infosystems will among others, jointly refine and enhance Kenya's National AI Strategy 2025-2030; contribute technical, ethical, and regulatory design elements rooted in best practice and African contextual realities; embed participatory engagement mechanisms to ensure the inclusion of underrepresented voices; and deliver a comprehensive, publication-ready policy framework to the Government of Kenya. The review will be inclusive and multistakeholder and will take into account ethical and regulatory considerations in line with Kenya's constitutional, economic, and cultural priorities. A Joint Policy Task Team may be constituted to oversee the process, coordinate stakeholder input, and interface with relevant government authorities. Statement from "What we're building is not a document. It's a national protocol for intelligence itself," said Bill Faruki, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of "Kenya is not merely responding to global AI trends—it is positioning to set them. This partnership reflects a shift in the balance of influence in global tech policy. We are honored to help architect cognitive infrastructure that is sovereign by design and exponential by nature." Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Grace Githaiga, Chief Executive Officer of KICTANet stated that."KICTANet views this MoU as a pivotal moment in our national journey toward responsible AI. We are pleased to align with technical partners that recognize the societal weight of this policy work and the urgency of getting it right." Continental and Global RelevanceThis collaboration signals a new chapter in Kenya's digital transformation narrative. By developing a sovereign AI governance model, Kenya positions itself as a thought leader in the global transition toward ethical, inclusive, and locally grounded artificial intelligence. About is a provider of advanced artificial intelligence technologies, including large reasoning models, domain-specific agents, and agentic orchestration frameworks. Headquartered in Newport Beach, California, is the recognized pioneer of agentic AGI, merging swarm intelligence, contextual adaptability, and scalable governance design to support institutions, governments, and ecosystems in deploying sovereign-grade AI systems. Website: | Email: hello@ | Contact: +1 (949) 200-8668 About DV8 InfosystemsDV8 Infosystems is an agentic AI systems orchestrator and integration partner to The company specializes in the delivery of orchestrated, real-world multi-agent systems for national transformation, regulatory automation, and enterprise-level implementation of cognitive architectures across industries and governments. About KICTANetKICTANet is a multi-stakeholder Think Tank for ICT policy and regulation. The Think Tank is a catalyst for reform in the Information and Communication Technology sector. KICTANet's mission is to promote an enabling digital ecosystem that is open, inclusive, secure, and rights-based, through multi-stakeholder approaches. Website: | Email: info@ | Contact: +254 751 000 001Media ContactMarc OrtizEmail : David Indeje,Email: dindeje@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Inc. Sign in to access your portfolio

Small business optimism rises on forecasts for higher sales growth: NFIB
Small business optimism rises on forecasts for higher sales growth: NFIB

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Small business optimism rises on forecasts for higher sales growth: NFIB

This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Optimism among small businesses rose in May from a four-month slump on expectations for brighter business conditions and higher sales, the National Federation of Independent Business said Tuesday. The proportion of small business owners planning capital outlays this year increased to 22%, the highest level of 2025, NFIB found in a monthly survey. Respondents identified taxes as their biggest problem, including Trump administration tariffs and the possibility that Congress will fail to pass legislation extending 2017 tax cuts. 'Congress hasn't passed the Big Beautiful Bill yet and [President Donald] Trump is still messing with tariffs — the uncertainty level is rising,' the NFIB said in a statement. 'The economy will continue to stumble along until the major sources of uncertainty are resolved.' Stumble or not, the U.S. economy will likely slow to a 1.4% growth pace this year from 2.8% in 2024, the World Bank forecast Tuesday, citing the burden from Trump's tariffs. 'The outlook for U.S. growth and inflation in 2025 has deteriorated relative to January forecasts,' the World Bank said in a report. 'The rise in trade barriers, heightened uncertainty and the spike in financial market volatility are set to weigh on private consumption, international trade and investment,' the World Bank said. 'As a result, U.S. growth is expected to decelerate sharply in 2025, to 1.4 percent,' the World Bank said. 'Investment spending is projected to be particularly hard-hit following the earlier frontloading of imported investment goods.' The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development on June 3 also noted the drag from import levies when downgrading its forecast for U.S. gross domestic product growth in 2025 to 1.6%. 'Although optimism recovered slightly in May, uncertainty is still high among small business owners,' NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said in a statement. Small business owners last ranked taxes as their No. 1 problem in December 2020, NFIB said. Fourteen percent of respondents said that inflation — a likely result from the highest tariffs since the 1930s — was their single most important problem, according to NFIB. Thirty-eight percent of small businesses reported higher average selling prices in April. Price pressures have gradually fallen. The personal consumption expenditures price index — the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge — rose just 0.1% in April, the Commerce Department reported on May 30. On an annual basis, the PCE slowed to 2.1% through April from 2.3% in March. The Bureau of Labor Statistics on Wednesday is scheduled to release May inflation data. The proportion of small business owners expecting an increase in sales rose 11 points last month compared with April for a net 10% gain, the NFIB said. Improved prospects for sales was the biggest factor pushing up the NFIB's Optimism Index beyond its 51-year average. 'Even with a brighter outlook, owners are staying sharp — reevaluating costs, being strategic with hiring and keeping a close eye on borrowing,' Mark Valentino, head of business banking at Citizens, said in an email. 'Easing fears around tariffs may be helping sentiment, but long-term pressures remain, especially for businesses reliant on global supply chains and seasonal labor,' he said. Recommended Reading Wage gains, inflation undercut Fed forecast for three rate cuts this year Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store