Latest news with #sub-SaharanAfrican
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Ivory Coast issues debut Samurai bond in diversification push
Ivory Coast has raised 50-billion Japanese yen (R5.99bn) in an ESG-certified sovereign Samurai bond, it said late on Thursday, the first such issuance by a sub-Saharan African nation. Samurai bonds are debt denominated in the Japanese currency. The West African nation has been diversifying its funding sources, including issuing its first regional currency denominated international bond in March, partly to avoid volatility in the dollar-denominated global capital markets. "After successively establishing a track record on the dollar and euro capital markets, and opening up the CFA franc Eurobond market, Ivory Coast has now entered the yen bond market, the third largest capital market in the world," said the ministry of finance in a statement. The 10-year issue, which was guaranteed by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), came with a 2.3% coupon, the ministry said, and will be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The attainment of an ESG label by the issue, which shows the bond has met Environmental, Social and Governance standards, helped to boost investor appetite, the ministry said. "This makes Ivory Coast the only sub-Saharan African sovereign currently outstanding in the Samurai market," consultancy Oxford Economics said in a note. South Africa has previously issued Samurai bonds. Emerging market debt sales are on track for another record year, with a number of governments pivoting away from the dollar to other currencies — chiefly the euro, but also the yuan and Swiss franc in a bid to access new markets and cut costs via lower interest rates.
Morocco World
5 days ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Dakhla, Nice Strengthen Cooperation Ties in Landmark Meeting
Marrakech – A French delegation from Nice met with Dakhla officials on Thursday to explore cooperation opportunities, marking a truly groundbreaking leap forward in the rapidly evolving Morocco-France territorial dynamics. The delegation, led by Olivier Bettati, Special Advisor to Nice's Mayor, held talks with Erragheb Hormatallah, President of Dakhla's Communal Council. Their discussions centered on strengthening cooperation in areas of mutual interest, with plans for a twinning agreement between the two cities. During the meeting, the French delegation learned about Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region's promising potential and ongoing development projects. 'I'm impressed by the sustained pace of project implementation,' Bettati told the press, underlining King Mohammed VI's vision for economic development and Morocco's central role in strengthening relations with sub-Saharan African countries. The Nice officials conducted field visits to major infrastructure projects, including the Dakhla Atlantic Port construction site and the seawater desalination station. Bettati noted that the planned twinning agreement aims to 'consolidate a mutually beneficial partnership.' Hormatallah explained that the French delegation received a presentation on key development projects launched by the King, along with the commune's action plan and completed projects in economic, social, cultural, and sports sectors. This cooperation catapults the already surging diplomatic momentum between Rabat and Paris to unprecedented heights. These partnerships build upon France's recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara – a position that has now crystallized and solidified as it approaches its first anniversary, having been officially announced in July 2024, followed by the 'enhanced exceptional partnership' agreement between French President Emmanuel Macron and the Moroccan monarch in October 2024. In April, the Occitanie Region signed a first-of-its-kind declaration of intent with Dakhla-Oued Ed-Dahab, establishing collaboration in key sectors including aeronautics, green hydrogen, offshore wind energy, sustainable mobility, and tourism. 'Occitanie and Morocco share a unique history, woven through deep cultural, human, and economic ties,' said Carole Delga, President of the Occitanie Regional Council, during the April signing ceremony. Montpellier has also joined this wave of cooperation. Mayor Michael Delafosse visited Dakhla in the same month to explore business opportunities and discuss an upcoming cooperation agreement focusing on water sports, cultural exchanges, and sustainable economic projects. Launched in late 2021, the Dakhla Atlantic Port, now 38% complete and scheduled for completion in 2028, represents a cornerstone of Morocco's development strategy for the region. With a budget of €1.2 billion, this deep-water port will serve as a gateway for King Mohammed VI's 'Atlantic Initiative.' Announced in November 2023, the Atlantic Initiative aims to provide landlocked Sahel countries – Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad – access to the Atlantic Ocean through terrestrial logistics corridors. This strategic project comes as geopolitical shifts reshape the Sahel region. Between 2020 and 2023, military regimes took power in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, turning away from Western allies and forming the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). For Rabat, the initiative serves multiple strategic interests: expanding its influence in Africa, developing its southern provinces in Western Sahara, and strengthening its position vis-à-vis regional competitors. Tags: DakhlaMorocco France RelationsNice
Maroc
5 days ago
- Business
- Maroc
Morocco's Dakhla & France's Nice to Boost Cooperation
A French delegation from the city of Nice held talks, on Thursday in Dakhla, with the president of Dakhla's communal council, Erragheb Hormatallah, to explore avenues for strengthening cooperation between the two cities across sectors of mutual interest. On this occasion, the French delegation, led by Olivier Bettati, Special Adviser to the Mayor of Nice, reviewed Dakhla's economic potential and development momentum, including major infrastructure projects underway in the Dakhla-Oued Eddahab region. Speaking to the press following the meeting, Bettati said that he was "impressed by the pace of progress on various development projects," and underscored the Enlightened Vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in advancing economic development and boosting ties with sub-Saharan African countries. The delegation was briefed on key projects including the Dakhla Atlantic Port, which Bettati described as a symbol of the city's forward-looking trajectory. He emphasized improvements in access to education and healthcare driven by expanding infrastructure. Bettati said a planned twinning agreement between Nice and Dakhla aims to establish a long-term, mutually beneficial partnership. Meanwhile, Hormatallah said the meeting offered an opportunity to discuss future areas of collaboration, including the formalization of the sister-city agreement. He also noted that the delegation received a presentation on major development initiatives launched under the King's leadership, as well as the local council's action plan and completed projects across economic, social, cultural and sports sectors. During the visit, the French delegation also held meetings with local officials and conducted site visits to the Dakhla Atlantic Port construction site and the seawater desalination plant. MAP: 18 July 2025
Eyewitness News
16-07-2025
- Health
- Eyewitness News
SAHPRA says all cancer medication used in SA meets relevant health standards
JOHANNESBURG - The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) said all cancer medication used in the country meets the relevant health standards. This follows the release of a report into the Lancet Global Health investigational study that found that substandard anti-cancer medications are being sold and marketed in some sub-Saharan African countries. After the report, SAHPRA started internal processes to verify whether any of the South African-registered medicines might have been affected or implicated. Spokesperson Yuven Gounden said the authority has found that none of the medicines marketed or sold in Africa are affected by the findings. "SAHPRA is satisfied that the marketed and registered cancer medicines meet the appropriate specifications. Therefore, no substandard cancer medicines were detected."
Newsweek
15-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
China's Global Popularity Rises as US Stumbles
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Views of China and its leader, Xi Jinping, have improved slightly among many people around the world over the past year while the opposite is true for the United States and President Donald Trump, according to survey results provided by the Pew Research Center. Despite the improvement for China, views of it are more unfavorable than favorable in the 16 high-income and nine middle-income countries surveyed. In most countries, people also lacked confidence in Xi to do the right thing on world affairs. People in many of the 25 countries increasingly see China as the world's top economic power, Pew said. Why It Matters The survey of more than 30,000 people in the 25 countries—including France, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Kenya, Nigeria, Turkey, Israel, India and Japan—signals a shift in attitude toward the world's two biggest economies since Trump took office with a focus on his "America First" agenda, including tariffs. China is no less intent on pursuing its security and economic interests but it couches its policies as highlighting what it calls principles of "mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation." Shifting views on the rival powers can have wide-ranging implications in diplomatic, economic and other areas. What To Know The share of people with a favorable view of China has increased since last year in 15 of the 25 countries, Pew said of its findings, conducted between January 8 and April 26. Confidence in Xi to "do the right thing regarding world affairs" has also increased in many of the countries surveyed, it said. "But despite those changes, views of China and Xi remain broadly negative," the center's report said. A median of 36 percent of adults across the 25 countries had a favorable view of China, while 54 percent had an unfavorable view. A median of 25 percent had confidence in Xi, compared with 66 percent who had little or no confidence in him, Pew said. "More people have a positive view of the United States than of China. However, this gap is closing, as views of the U.S. have become more negative while views of China turn more positive," Pew said. China and its president received more positive marks in the nine middle-income countries surveyed than in the 16 high-income ones, Pew said, adding that it also found regional differences. Views on China were among the most negative in the Asia-Pacific. In Japan, only 13 percent of people had a favorable view of China, as did around a quarter or fewer in Australia, India and South Korea. Indonesia was an exception, with about two-thirds having a favorable opinion. The balance of opinion on China in Europe was negative. Only in Greece did a majority have a favorable opinion. In the three sub-Saharan African countries surveyed—Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa—majorities had a favorable view of China. In each of the three Latin American countries surveyed—Argentina, Brazil and Mexico—more people had a positive view of China than a negative one, according to the data. China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Kenya's visiting President William Ruto wave during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 24, 2025. China is seen as an ally in... China's President Xi Jinping (L) and Kenya's visiting President William Ruto wave during a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 24, 2025. China is seen as an ally in three sub-Saharan African countries surveyed by Pew Research Center. More Photo by IORI SAGISAWA/POOL/AFP viaIn a question about allies and threats, China was not seen as the top threat in any of the middle-income countries, while the U.S. was most commonly named a threat in Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and South Africa. South Africans and Indonesians said China was their top ally. In Latin America, the U.S. was the most frequently named ally. The research center said its survey also found a "marked departure" from the results of a 2023 survey, with more people seeing China as the world's leading economic power. A median of 41 percent saw China as the top economy, compared with a 39 percent median who named the United States. China was viewed as the top economy in 12 of the countries, including Germany, Italy and Spain, while the U.S. was seen as the top economy in nine of the countries, including the U.S. itself. "Despite the growing sense that China is the world's top economy, people in nearly all countries surveyed prioritize strong economic ties with the U.S. over China," Pew said. What People Are Saying Pew Research Center: "Though views of China and Xi have improved in most surveyed countries since last year, the opposite is true for the United States and President Donald Trump." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on July 11 after talks in Malaysia with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi: "We're two big, powerful countries, and there are always going to be issues that we disagree on." What Happens Next Trump's tariff policies are likely to be a major factor in how other countries view the United States, especially some of America's closest allies.
