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Zawya
11-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings 2025 to focus on harnessing Africa's capital for continent's development
The African Development Bank Group's ( 2025 Annual Meetings next month will take a deep dive into how Africa can better harness its wealth of capital and address current issues such as heavy debt burdens, climate change and rising tariffs in a complex geopolitical landscape, the institution's Secretary General and Chief Economist said on Wednesday. Prof. Vincent Nmehielle, Secretary General of the African Development Bank Group and Prof. Kevin Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance addressed journalists at the traditional press briefing which takes place ahead of the institution's annual meetings. The hybrid meeting took place at the Bank's headquarters in Abidjan and online, with the participation of over 100 representatives of news organisations worldwide. Nmehielle, speaking in his capacity as Secretary to the respective Boards of Governors of the Bank and the African Development Fund as well as the Boards of Directors, said the meetings would take place from the 26th to the 30th of May 2025, at the Sofitel Abidjan Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The Secretary General ran through the objectives and the agenda of the annual meetings and noted that a key session would be the election of the next president of the Bank, following the end of the 10-year term of current president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina. The new president would be selected out of five candidates from five African countries, by the Bank Group's 81 governors through a double majority—50 plus one percent of the vote of all the 81 shareholders and 50 plus 1 percent of the regional member countries. The new president would be sworn in on 1st September, Nmehielle said. Harnessing Africa's capital for its development needs Speaking on the theme of this year's annual meetings: 'Making the Most of Africa's Capital to Foster Its Development,' Urama said the focus was clear—harnessing better what Africa has already to drive development in Africa, through its rich fiscal, human capital, natural and business capital. Discussion with heads of state, ministers, civil society, experts and the bank's development partners during the four major knowledge events, as well as a presidential dialogue, would ensure a thorough dissection of the theme of this year's meetings and concrete proposals to address the how of what needs to be done, Urama said. The African Development Bank's 2025 African Economic Outlook report to be released during the annual meetings would address the changing global economic landscape, debt burdens and resource mobilisation to assist African countries to build effective institutions, he added. Journalists asked questions on topics ranging from ongoing trade tariffs imposed by the United States, the loss of USAID financing and procedural questions on the election of a new president for the African Development Bank. Urama noted that a point raised about trade wars aligned well with the overall theme of this year's conference—making Africa's capital work better for Africa's development—and that discussions would look at business capital, including issues around tariffs. 'The impact of trade tariffs on economies are well known, but also it depends on how countries respond to the domestic policies of those with whom they trade,' Urama said, adding that this subject would be dealt with in the report as he extended an invitation to journalists to attend. Nmehielle said dwindling aid and higher tariffs should encourage Africans to look inward for their solutions. 'Africa's capital should work for Africa, tell our leaders that they have to look inward and let our capital work for Africa,' he told the journalists. Media partners can help tell Africa's development story Both leaders urged journalists to tell the continent's development story in a clear and unbiased manner with a focus on facts and not just the negatives. 'Narratives matter and you are the best people to create positive narratives… Africa has enough… let's not bemoan the decline in aid… let's focus our narrative on what Africa can do,' Urama said. 'You as journalists are a part and parcel of making our institution's work. The whole essence of your work is also about accountability,' Nmehielle said urging journalists to call out institutions for not working. 'You can help exposing inefficient institutions … it's the responsibility of everyone,' Nmehielle said. African Development Bank president Adesina has been highly critical of the 'Africa premium' that countries pay when accessing capital markets, despite data showing that Africa's default rates are lower than those of other regions. He has made repeated calls for an end to this risk perception, which he said leads to higher borrowing costs for African nations. During the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank Group, its Boards of Governors, as the highest decision-making and oversight organs of the Bank and the Fund, review the annual report on the finances, operations and other activities of the Bank and the Fund during the preceding financial year. Watch the recording of the press conference here ( for anything you missed. More information about the 2025 Annual Meetings is available here Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB). Contact: Amba Mpoke-Bigg Communication and External Relations Dept email: media@ About the African Development Bank Group: The African Development Bank Group is Africa's premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information:
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
How South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana are hit by Donald Trump's tariffs
Several African nations are among the countries hit by sweeping tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on the US' global trading has announced a minimum of 10% tariff on all imports to the US and additional "reciprocal tariffs" for dozens of African countries, including 30% for South African countries hit with extra tariffs include 50% for Lesotho, 47% for Madagascar, 40% for Mauritius and 37% for Botswana. Nigerian exports were hit too - at 14%. Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Senegal and Liberia were among those countries which will have to pay the baseline tariff of 10%. Trump said the reciprocal tariffs were "for countries that treat us badly". During Wednesday's announcement at the White House, the Republican president said that the US had been taken advantage of by "cheaters" and had been "pillaged" by foreigners."Our taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen any more," Trump said."It's our declaration of economic independence," he added while holding up a chart showing a list of countries that charge higher tariffs on US goods, impose "non-tariff" barriers to US trade or have otherwise acted in ways US officials feel undermine American economic Africa is included in the long list of countries dubbed the "worst offenders", which also involve China, Japan and the European Union - that now face higher US rates - payback for unfair trade policies, Trump to the list, South Africa charges 60% on US imports - although this is not just tariffs - and in turn, Trump said his country would implement a "discounted" 30% tariff on South Africa - one of Africa's biggest and most developed economies."They have got some bad things going on in South Africa. You know, we are paying them billions of dollars, and we cut the funding because a lot of bad things are happening in South Africa," he said, before going on to name other a statement, the South African presidency condemned the new tariffs as "punitive", saying they could "serve as a barrier to trade and shared prosperity".Madagascar, the African hit hardest by the new tariffs, charges US imports 93%, according to Trump's chart. Nigeria levies US imports 27%, Botswana 74%, Angola 63% and Namibia 42%. The White House released a list of roughly 100 countries and the tariff rates that the US would impose on what Trump dubbed "liberation day" for the American addition, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on all foreign-made automobiles, a move likely to drive up vehicle stocks in African countries which rely heavily on imports from Japan, Germany and US is expected to start charging the 10% tariffs on 5 April, with the higher duties for certain nations starting on 9 countries like South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya have long had open trade agreements with the US, and the new tariffs could significantly affect existing economic tariffs come as many African countries are already grappling with the effects of US foreign aid cuts, which provided health and humanitarian assistance to vulnerable countries. Trump announced the aid freeze on his first day in office in January as part of a review into the US government Africa relations have deteriorated sharply since Trump returned to power. Trump and his ally, South-Africa born Elon Musk, have singled out South Africa, in particular criticising it over its land reform policies that they say discriminate against white farmers. Economists say the new tariffs mark a clear departure from the more open trade policies that have previously defined US-Africa relations. You may also be interested in: Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
CBS News
22-03-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Texas measles outbreak expected to last for months; vaccinations up from last year
As measles cases in West Texas are still on the rise two months after the outbreak began, local public health officials say they expect the virus to keep spreading for at least several more months and that the official case number is likely an undercount. But there's a silver lining, officials say: More people have received a measles, mumps and rubella vaccination this year in Texas and New Mexico, which also has an outbreak, compared to last year — even if it's not as high as they would like. And pharmacies across the U.S., especially in Texas, are seeing more demand for MMR shots. As of Friday, the outbreak in Texas was up to 309 cases and one measles-related death, while New Mexico's case count was up to 42 and also one measles-related death. Forty-two people have been hospitalized across the two states. Texas' outbreak, which has largely spread in under-vaccinated Mennonite communities, could last a year based on studies of how measles previously spread in Amish communities in the U.S. Those studies showed outbreaks lasted six to seven months, said Katherine Wells, director of the public health department in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock's hospitals have treated most of the outbreak's patients and the public health department is closely assisting with the response. "It being so rural, now multistate, it's just going to take a lot more boots on the ground, a lot more work, to get things under control," Wells said during a media briefing this week. "It's not an isolated population." The outbreak includes 14 Texas counties, two New Mexico counties and four probable cases in Oklahoma , where health officials said the first two were "associated" with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks. Measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases. The way it spreads makes it especially hard to contain and outbreaks can have multiple peaks, said Justin Lessler, an epidemiologist at the University of North Carolina's Gillings School of Global Public Health. Many people spread the measles virus unknowingly for days before the telltale rash appears. The virus also can hang in the air for up to two hours after a sick person has left a room. "Within this community, it'd be perfectly reasonable to think probably another couple months before things die out," Lessler said. "But if it gets into another community, you just potentially start that clock over again." If the outbreak goes on until next January, it would end the United States' status of having eliminated measles, which is defined as 12 months without local virus transmission, said Dr. William Moss, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University and executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center. "We're only three months in. I think if we had a strong response where the messaging was clear that measles vaccination is the way to stop this outbreak, I would be surprised if it went for 12 months or more," said Moss, who has worked on measles for 25 years, mostly in Africa. "But we're not seeing that type of response, at least from the federal government." U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. instead has sown doubt about the measles vaccine, which has been safely used for more than 60 years and is 97% effective after two doses. In an interview with Fox News last week, Kennedy said MMR shots cause "deaths every year," although he later added that vaccinations should be encouraged. Still, there are signs the outbreak has had an effect on vaccinations, especially locally. Between Feb. 1 and March 18 last year, New Mexico Department of Health registered 6,500 measles vaccines. During that timeframe this year, more than 11,600 measles vaccines were administered in New Mexico — about half given to adults and half to children. Southeast New Mexico, where the outbreak is located, represents a large portion of the count, with 2,369 doses administered. In Texas, at least 173,000 measles doses were given from Jan. 1 to March 16, compared to at least 158,000 over the same timeframe last year, according to the state health department. That includes more than 340 doses in given by public health in the West Texas outbreak area as of March 11. Texans must opt-in to the state's immunization registry, so most people's vaccinations are not captured in the Texas Department of State Health Services numbers, department spokeswoman Lara Anton said. "We don't know if more people are opting in or if this is a true reflection of an increase in vaccinations," Anton wrote in an email. "It may be both." Pharmacy chains Walgreens and CVS told The Associated Press that they're seeing higher demand for MMR vaccines across the U.S., especially in the outbreak areas. Texas health officials say they'd like to see more uptake in the communities at the epicenter of the outbreak, especially in Gaines County — where the childhood vaccination rate against measles is 82%. That's far below the 95% level needed to prevent community spread, and likely lower in the small religious schools and homeschooling groups where the early cases were identified. Prasad Ganji is a pharmacist in Seminole, the biggest town in Gaines County. He said he ordered a 10-dose box of the MMR vaccine as cases started to spread. He can give vaccines to people older than 14. But he still has doses left. "The uptake for vaccines been definitely been a struggle," Wells said of Gaines County, "I want to be honest with that." ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Web Release
12-03-2025
- Business
- Web Release
Swiss-Belhotel International Accelerates Digital Transformation with a Tech-Driven Ecosystem
Swiss-Belhotel International (SBI) is set to redefine its digital landscape in 2025, marking it as the 'Year of Technological Enhancement.' With a focus on optimising direct bookings and enhancing guest engagement, the group is making significant investments in the latest digital solutions, including an advanced booking engine, a new brand website, introducing Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, enhanced digital marketing tools, and the launch of a dedicated mobile app for its loyalty program. As part of its broader strategic focus, Swiss-Belhotel International's technological transformation aligns with its robust expansion plans, including a series of upcoming acquisitions. These initiatives will strengthen SBI's position as a future-ready hospitality brand, enhancing both revenue and operational efficiency while delivering an improved guest experience worldwide Gavin M. Faull, Chairman and President of Swiss-Belhotel International, stated, 'The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, with technology at the core of this transformation. At Swiss-Belhotel International, we are making significant investments in digital innovation to enhance efficiency, elevate guest engagement, and optimise direct revenue streams. These advancements will empower our hotels, improve operational performance, and reinforce our commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences. Furthermore, this digital transformation will not only strengthen our direct booking channels but also support our ambitious expansion plans.' A key element of SBI's digital evolution is the introduction of a next-generation booking engine, designed to enhance user experience, boost conversion rates, and optimise revenue from direct bookings. The new system integrates advanced promotional tools, personalised booking boosters, and cross-selling capabilities across SBI properties. Additionally, it will drive incremental F&B revenue by offering seamless dining and room service integration. The upcoming brand website will provide a streamlined, content-rich interface with improved navigation and real-time engagement tools, ensuring guests have a superior booking experience. Complementing this is the introduction of an advanced CRM system, which will enable targeted guest communication, upselling opportunities, and personalized interactions via WhatsApp. The system will also support automated post-stay surveys, improving online reputation and guest satisfaction. The SBI Loyalty Program mobile app will further enhance guest interaction, offering direct booking capabilities, exclusive partner promotions, online check-in, and in-app communication. This digital innovation will not only increase guest retention but also provide a convenient and personalised travel experience. Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President – Operations & Development, EMEAI; Senior Vice President – Group Human Resources & Talent Development at Swiss-Belhotel International, commented, 'The Middle East and Africa are among the fastest-growing markets for Swiss-Belhotel International. With our expanding portfolio, digital transformation is critical to delivering seamless experiences for our guests while optimising revenue for our properties. Our new technological tools will empower hotels with enhanced marketing capabilities, a stronger direct booking strategy, and improved loyalty engagement.' The post Swiss-Belhotel International Accelerates Digital Transformation with a Tech-Driven Ecosystem appeared first on Web Release.
