logo
Tunisia-based council pins Africa development hopes on Kuwaiti investments

Tunisia-based council pins Africa development hopes on Kuwaiti investments

Zawya08-05-2025

TUNIS: A joint Tunisian and African business council on Wednesday heaped praise on Kuwaiti investments in Africa, saying such financial aid has helped keep economic development and growth across the continent on an upward trajectory.
Kuwait has contributed immensely towards development projects in Africa, through the works of funds and financial institutions that have dabbled into vital sectors running the gamut from energy and education to infrastructure, the council's secretary general Nadia Yaich told KUNA on the sidelines of an African trade and investment forum in the Tunisian capital.
The world's second largest continent has emerged as an attractive destination to Kuwaiti investors, given the "promising" opportunities that exist across a vast array of fields ranging from agriculture and healthcare to food security, the official underlined, citing Africa's conducive environment as the a primary factor behind the flow of foreign investments.
On Kuwaiti and other Gulf Arab investments, she said it mostly centers on the sectors of real estate and tourism, in addition to digital financial services, with the latter having seen the most exponential growth in the African continent, added the official.
She went on to acknowledge Kuwaiti contributions towards economic development and growth in a number of African nations, saying that the Tunisian-African business council aims to propel Kuwait's relations with the African continent to greater levels, while the body's vast knowledge can help open the door for would-be investors.
Gulf Arab investments in Africa, chief among them those from Kuwait, have now become one of the largest contributors towards development across Africa, subsequently allowing the continent to forge "long-term and strategic" partnerships with investors to help usher in economic prosperity, said the official.
All KUNA right are reserved © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Saudi banks' assets surged to $1.4trln in April 2025
Saudi banks' assets surged to $1.4trln in April 2025

Zawya

timean hour ago

  • Zawya

Saudi banks' assets surged to $1.4trln in April 2025

Saudi Arabia's commercial banking sector continued to demonstrate strong growth, with aggregate assets rising by 7.4% in April 2025 compared to a year earlier. Total assets of lenders stood at SAR 5.3 trillion ($ 1.4 trillion) during the month, marking a robust increase from SAR 4.9 trillion in the same period in 2024, according to the latest figures from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA). Rising claims on the private sector and the government were the main drivers for the growth, highlighting the banking sector's expanding role in supporting economic activity. Over the past several years, the banking sector's assets expanded consistently, rising from SAR 4.03 trillion in 2020 to SAR 5.17 trillion at the end of 2024, recording a growth exceeding 28%. Claims on the private sector totalled around SAR 3 trillion during the first three months of the year, making it the largest contributor to asset growth. Claims on the government also grew substantially, reaching SAR 612 billion in the same period. (Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)

Statement by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on recent Fitch Ratings Report
Statement by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on recent Fitch Ratings Report

Zawya

time2 hours ago

  • Zawya

Statement by African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on recent Fitch Ratings Report

Afreximbank ( operates under very high standards of financial transparency. The Bank's financial reporting strictly adheres to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), including IFRS 9. This standard governs the classification and staging of loan performance, including the treatment of non-performing loans, amongst other matters. The Bank's application of IFRS 9 is comprehensively detailed in its 2024 Financial Statements and further clarified in the external auditors' report. As cited in the ratings report, dated 4 June 2025, ' Fitch's definition of NPLs differs from the Bank's approach, which makes use of forward-looking information '. It is important to note that Fitch acknowledges Afreximbank's financial resilience, highlighting that ' the bank operates with a high level of collateral and credit risk mitigants and has already taken relatively large provisions on some sovereign exposures, which would reduce any potential further negative financial impact for the bank'. Fitch also acknowledges the Bank's strong capitalization including its ' strong equity to assets and guarantees ratio' and 'excellent internal capital generation'. Concentration risk is also reported as 'low' and its liquidity assessment of 'a' reflects the Bank's ' strong quality of treasury assets '. The Bank believes that these factors reinforce the overall soundness of the Bank's risk management framework. Fitch's 'negative outlook' decision, which it says reflects ' the risk that the debt owed to Afreximbank by some of its sovereign borrowers may be restructured ', is hinged on the erroneous view, in some quarters, that the treaty establishing Afreximbank, executed by its 53 participating African states, can be violated by the Bank without consequences. For clarity, the Bank establishment agreement is a treaty entered into by, and among, all participating states and between the participating states and the Bank. Accordingly, Afreximbank would like to reaffirm that it is not participating in debt restructuring negotiations related to any of its member countries. To do so would be inconsistent with the Bank establishment treaty. The treatment of its loans and other activities is governed by the treaty and not by classifications created outside its framework. Afreximbank's financial resilience, robust governance and unwavering commitment to excellence, and to Africa, are critical to the delivery of its mandate. The Bank remains committed to supporting its member countries in navigating their economic challenges while promoting trade-led growth, economic development and general macroeconomic stability. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson
Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson

Zawya

time4 hours ago

  • Zawya

Egypt poised to lead regional 5G expansion, eyes additional spectrum, SME inclusion: Ericsson

Egypt is making significant progress towards a nationwide 5G rollout, but must accelerate spectrum allocation and foster adoption among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to fully realise the technology's potential, according to Iwan Stella, Vice President and Head of Commercial Management & Strategy at Ericsson for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In an interview with Daily News Egypt, Stella welcomed Egypt's recent 5G licensing and network trials as 'important steps,' noting that modernisation initiatives and shared infrastructure are establishing a strong foundation. However, he emphasised the urgent need for more mid- and low-band spectrum to ensure reliable indoor coverage and scalable fixed wireless access (FWA) to meet both urban and industrial demand. 'Operators will only be able to deliver the low-latency connections required by Egypt's expanding industrial sector once sufficient spectrum is made available,' he said, stressing the importance of aligning with Egypt Vision 2030 through a phased rollout that balances cost efficiency with measurable milestones. While Egypt's digital infrastructure—including backhaul fibre networks and upgraded power systems—is largely 5G-ready, Stella noted that clear timelines for additional spectrum, particularly in contiguous mid-band ranges, will be critical for operators to complete network planning and accelerate deployment. He pointed to 'try-and-buy' initiatives and software-as-a-service (SaaS) models as practical methods to encourage 5G adoption among SMEs. 'Tiered service offerings—from basic connectivity for micro-enterprises to assured low-latency connections for advanced manufacturers—allow smaller businesses to scale services according to their needs,' Stella explained. Ericsson views Egypt's strong digital maturity and regulatory momentum as key differentiators in the region. Its strategy includes dual-band deployment—low-band for broad national coverage and mid-band for high-demand areas—combined with AI-powered network optimisation managed from Ericsson's Cairo-based Analytics Hub. To ensure a sustainable rollout, Stella called for transparent spectrum planning, robust cybersecurity frameworks, and incentives to encourage the adoption of energy-efficient network technologies—aligning both commercial goals and environmental responsibilities. With Egypt gaining international recognition for its broadband advancements, Stella urged policymakers to support the migration of legacy 2G, 3G, and 4G users to 5G-enabled devices. 'The quicker people and industries adopt 5G terminals—including FWA—the faster the return on investment. Once users experience high-performing 5G, they won't want to go back.' Despite cost sensitivity among SMEs, Stella believes innovations such as network slicing and edge services offer a practical bridge to private 5G capabilities without requiring heavy upfront investment. 'Egypt has all the ingredients to become a regional hub for 5G innovation,' he said. 'Ambitious infrastructure projects, a tech-savvy workforce, and a stable, secure spectrum policy can attract international R&D, cloud providers, and IoT manufacturers.' © 2024 Daily News Egypt. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (

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