Enlit Africa 2026 Puts Nuclear Delivery at the Centre of Energy Transition

• Enlit Africa 2026 to spotlight Africa’s nuclear execution pathway, from Koeberg life extension to new build readiness
• As countries and utilities balance energy security, affordability and decarbonisation goals, nuclear is increasingly being evaluated through the lens of implementation: life extension, supply chain capability, regulatory readiness, skills and grid integration

Enlit Africa has announced dedicated nuclear-focused content within its 2026 conference programme, positioning nuclear not as a theoretical debate but as an execution topic centred on addressing delivery constraints, readiness and real-world decision-making. The event takes place on 19–21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa.

As countries and utilities balance energy security, affordability and decarbonisation goals, nuclear is increasingly being evaluated through the lens of implementation: life extension, supply chain capability, regulatory readiness, skills and grid integration. Enlit Africa’s nuclear programme coverage is designed to bring together utilities, regulators, policymakers, technology providers and financing stakeholders to engage on these practical enablers.

Nuclear programme coverage will include:

• Koeberg life extension as an execution case study: lessons on planning, delivery and operational readiness for life extension programmes
• New build readiness and procurement realities: a focus on the governance, sequencing and decision frameworks required to move from intention to delivery
• Grid integration and system planning: discussions on how nuclear fits within wider system reliability, transmission planning and long-term capacity strategies
• Supply chain, localisation and skills: what it takes to build durable delivery capability beyond individual projects

“The conversation is shifting from whether nuclear is part of the mix to what it would take to deliver it responsibly and successfully,” said Claire Volkwyn, Head of Content, Power, Energy and Water, VUKA Group. “We are structuring this content around execution: readiness, regulation, supply chain, skills and system integration.”

Enlit Africa, created by VUKA Group, forms part of a broader delivery-focused agenda spanning power and water infrastructure. The full programme is available online.

Download the full programme: https://apo-opa.co/4tTRDYB

Register: https://apo-opa.co/4nggi77
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About Enlit Africa:

Enlit Africa convenes stakeholders across the power sector value chain to address the commercial and operational realities of delivery, bringing together leaders across finance, utilities, government, industry and technology to accelerate bankable investment, system readiness and measurable outcomes. https://apo-opa.co/4de7o5q

About VUKA Group:

VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa’s energy, mining, mobility, green economy, and retail sectors through events, content, and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. www.WeAreVUKA.com

SOURCE
VUKA Group

ESI Africa Explores How AI Is Powering Infrastructure Amid Energy and Water Challenges

Private and public professionals deserve a clear view of where Africa’s power, water and infrastructure sectors are heading next, and the latest issue of ESI Africa (www.ESI-Africa.com) is where to start. It’s not a magazine to skim past, but to read thoroughly and return to.

At the heart of the magazine is a Cover Story on how AI powers the brain of infrastructure, unpacking the reality of this unfolding virtual intelligence. The piece addresses how Africa can balance digital acceleration with physical constraints and the risks emerging alongside the opportunities.

ESI Africa’s editor-in-chief, Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, explains the risks: “On a daily basis, a typical 100MW hyperscale data centre needed to power AI can consume 6,500 homes' water needs. And note that 55% of new data centres exceed 200MW. This makes the threat very real for everyone.”

It’s a sharp, thought-provoking anchor for the entire magazine.

From there, the articles widen the magazine’s lens across the continent in the Across the Map chapter. Readers will find deep dives into Ethiopia’s evolving energy mix, the continent’s ongoing struggle to meet SDG7 targets, Kenya’s renewable energy aspirations and the structural reforms reshaping electricity markets.

There’s also a grounded look at how commercial and industrial (C&I) players in South Africa are adapting to persistent power constraints—practical, real-world responses to a problem that continues to define the operating environment.

For those focused on unlocking capital, the Investment Mechanics section cuts through the noise. Infrastructure ambition is easy to talk about; financing it is far harder.

This issue of ESI Africa explores the three pillars needed to turn plans into bankable projects, the growing role of credit guarantees, and why local credit rating capacity could be a game-changer. Case studies, such as financing energy access in Uganda’s informal urban settlements, bring a necessary realism to the conversation.

Innovation is a constant theme, but the magazine treats it with a healthy dose of pragmatism. In Innovation in Action, the spotlight is on solutions that are already delivering impact.

From interoperability standards that protect grid investments to silicone coatings that reduce pollution-related outages, these are not abstract ideas—they are technologies and strategies being deployed now. Particularly compelling is the argument that governance, not just hardware, is the real intelligence behind “smart” grids.

Energy remains the backbone of the conversation, and Engines of Energy dives into the systems that will define the continent’s future mix. Whether it’s pumped storage hydropower stabilising grids, geothermal emerging from the niche to the mainstream, or the careful steps toward introducing nuclear, the section captures both the complexity and the inevitability of the transition.

“It’s a reminder that Africa’s energy story is not about a single solution, but a carefully balanced portfolio,” says Pombo-van Zyl.

Water, often underrepresented in infrastructure discussions, takes a well-deserved lead in The Water Agenda. The articles go beyond access and scarcity to explore user experience, financing resilience and the economics of reuse. There’s a definitive thread running through these pages that water is central to the energy sector.

And then there’s the practical side. This edition includes a comprehensive Show Guide to Enlit Africa 2026. From session overviews and exhibitor insights to navigation tips, it’s designed to help readers maximise their time and engagement at one of the sector’s most important gatherings.

Rounding it all off is the Elites Chapter, offering a glimpse into the people and projects shaping the industry’s direction. It’s both a reflection and a forward look—where leadership has been and where it’s heading.

What makes this issue stand out is its balance. It doesn’t lean too heavily into optimism or critique but rather presents a grounded, intelligent view of Africa’s narrative—full of opportunity, but constrained by real-world challenges.

Those who work in power, water, infrastructure finance or policy—or if decisions depend on understanding where these sectors intersect—this is essential reading.

Download the latest issue of ESI Africa and get a clearer picture of the forces shaping the continent’s infrastructure future.

ESI Africa is the proud Host Media Partner of Enlit Africa: 19 – 21 May at the CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa: www.Enlit-Africa.com
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

About ESI Africa:

ESI Africa – Africa’s trusted power, energy, water and utility multimedia platform – is positioned as an impartial industry mouthpiece, delivering the latest technical developments and analysis in both print and digital formats since 1996.

The brand’s various routes to market are expertly primed to build a bridge between readers and solution providers as ESI Africa sifts through the daily noise and delivers the tale of Africa’s energy, power, utility and water transformation to the African and global market. https://apo-opa.co/3QRpqTK

About VUKA Group:

VUKA Group connects people and organisations across Africa's energy, mining, mobility, green economy, and retail sectors through events, content, and strategic networking. Venture partners to The Global Trust Project and leaders of NPO Go Green Africa. www.WeAreVUKA.com

SOURCE
VUKA Group

African Energy Chamber Signs Landmark MoU with Venezuela to Boost Hydrocarbon Collaboration

The African Energy Chamber (AEC) (https://EnergyChamber.org) signed a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last week in Caracas with the Ministry of People’s Power for Hydrocarbons of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA). The agreement establishes a structured framework for long-term collaboration across the full hydrocarbon value chain.

The agreement, signed at the culmination of a high-level working visit, sets in motion clear implementation mechanisms, including a Joint Working Group to define project pipelines, work plans and progress metrics. The MoU articulates coordinated outreach, joint studies and investment-ready frameworks while committing to structured capacity-building initiatives.

“This visit was about moving from conversation to coordination. The MoU we signed in Caracas is not a symbolic agreement – it is a working framework that aligns Africa and Venezuela around concrete investment, trade and training priorities. What we built this week is the foundation for sustained collaboration,” said NJ Ayuk, AEC Executive Chairman.

Structured Hydrocarbon Partnership

The MoU followed productive engagements between the AEC delegation and Venezuela’s petroleum leadership, where officials charted a 12-month action plan to accelerate hydrocarbon rehabilitation, gas development and cross-continental capital flows. Meetings included Venezuela’s Deputy Minister of Hydrocarbon Geopolitics, Deputy Minister of Gas, and PDVSA executives – all conveying a strategic intent to revitalize Venezuela’s oil and gas sector with targeted investor participation and clear regulatory models.

The plan identifies priority areas such as mature field workovers in the Faja del Orinoco, refinery modernization at Paraguaná and El Palito, gas commercialization and mechanisms to facilitate African operator entry via Production Participation Contracts and joint venture structures. Importantly, discussions extended into trade finance and structured LPG and bitumen flows to African markets, opening immediate avenues for South-South commercial energy supply chains.

Practical Trade and Reciprocal Investment

A focal point of the visit was advancing practical trade and investment cooperation between Africa and Venezuela, anchored in mutual economic and energy imperatives. Discussions over the course of the week emphasized that both regions face similar challenges – energy poverty, infrastructure bottlenecks and the need for industrial value addition. Rather than transactional engagements, the aim was to build longer-term institutional alignment that supports bilateral trade flows, joint ventures and shared technical platforms.

Venezuela’s enormous hydrocarbon endowment – including roughly 300 billion barrels of oil reserves and significant gas resources – presents a complementary opportunity for African energy firms with deepwater, heavy crude and gas expertise. African companies were encouraged to explore upstream and downstream opportunities, with the AEC positioned as a facilitator of entry points and partnership structures.

Training Pathways

Beyond commercial deals, the visit foregrounded human capital development and training cooperation as a strategic pillar of the emerging partnership. Meetings with institutions including the Universidad Venezolana de los Hidrocarburos laid the groundwork for structured technical and executive training programs targeting African professionals. These initiatives aim to deepen operational know-how, bolster regulatory competence and reinforce local content objectives across African markets.

This emphasis on skill exchange reflects a deeper recognition: sustainable energy development requires not only capital and infrastructure but also robust institutional capacities. The AEC committed to frameworks supporting long-term training exchanges that will benefit petroleum engineers, geoscientists and industry leaders from both regions.

From Caracas to Cape Town

All of these outcomes from the Caracas visit resonate directly with the broader themes of African Energy Week (AEW) – the annual platform where ministers, national oil companies, investors and service providers align on policy, investment and industrial strategies. AEW’s agenda centers on catalyzing deals and fostering partnerships – priorities the Venezuela engagement advances through structured cooperation, shared investment roadmaps and deepened South-South trade corridors.

By anchoring this partnership in measurable commitments and multi-layered cooperation, the AEC’s Venezuela mission reinforces Africa’s expanding footprint in global energy diplomacy – one that looks beyond traditional North-South paradigms toward a more multipolar, mutually beneficial energy future.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

SOURCE
African Energy Chamber

From 1,600 Applications to 8 Finalists: Afreximbank Launches First-Ever Accelerator Cohort to Empower African Startups

• Eight visionary startups selected to advance Africa’s intra-continental trade and industrialisation goals
• Finalists are eligible subject to selection criteria to receive up to US$250,000 in equity investment, expert mentorship, and exclusive market access. 

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) is excited to announce the selection of the top 8 finalists of the first cohort for its pioneering Afreximbank Accelerator Program. This dynamic three-month initiative, that kicks off in March 2026 is designed to empower Africa’s most promising startups that are driving innovation in intra-African trade.

The finalists were carefully selected from a highly competitive pool of over 1,600 applications, showcasing the continent’s most promising entrepreneurial talent. The rigorous process included detailed business assessments, interviews, and pitch sessions, overseen by a panel of Afreximbank trade specialists alongside leading external experts from the venture capital and innovation ecosystem.

The selected finalists embody Afreximbank’s mission to drive measurable progress in intra-African and global African trade. Representing innovations in sectors such as agriculture, e-commerce, market access, financial technology solutions, supply chain enhancement and manufacturing, these startups are poised to address critical trade challenges affecting both continental and diaspora markets, while also advancing intra-African trade and industrialisation.

The geographic diversity of applications, from across Africa, the diaspora, and CARICOM demonstrates the programme’s broad reach and stands as a testament to Afreximbank’s commitment to integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By prioritising solutions from Seed to Series A - maturity and applying a robust three-stage evaluation that combines expert insight, practical business assessment, and strategic innovation criteria, the programme aims not only to accelerate start-ups growth but also to foster a sustainable ecosystem for trade-led development across Africa.

Afreximbank Accelerator Program will provide finalists with a comprehensive package of support including:

• Equity Investment: Equity financing- subject to selection criteria-of up to $250,000 through Afreximbank’s impact equity investment arm, Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), enabling rapid scale-up and operational growth.
• Mentorship: Access to seasoned experts, as well as industry leaders to refine business strategies and accelerate market entry. These include leading investors, trade specialists, and industry thought leaders committed to fostering Africa’s economic integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
• Market Access: Connection to Afreximbank’s pan-African trade ecosystem, including trade facilitation programmes, regulatory pathways as well as exclusive opportunities to leverage Afreximbank’s extensive network of government stakeholders, private sector players, and multilateral partners to secure partnerships and funding.

Over the course of the program, finalists will engage in virtual learning modules, hands-on workshops, and in-person sessions hosted across regional hubs such as Abuja, Nairobi and Afreximbank’s headquarters in Cairo. This immersive experience will culminate in a high-profile ‘Demo Day’, where startups will showcase their innovative solutions to an influential audience of global investors, policymakers, and industry champions.

Mr. Haytham Elmaayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank at Afreximbank commented:

The Afreximbank Accelerator Programme reflects our belief in the power of innovation to transform intra-African trade and also underscores the important role that Global Africa’s innovation plays in realising the promise of the AfCFTA. This inaugural cohort represents the future of African enterprise, and we are proud to invest in them from vision to scale to nurture solutions needed to unlock trade across Africa, the diaspora, and the Caribbean.

The Afreximbank Accelerator Program exemplifies the Bank’s commitment to fostering homegrown solutions that address critical trade challenges and unlock Africa’s economic potential under the AfCFTA framework.

To view the full list of the top 8 finalists and program details, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/3ZPTXSQ

About Afreximbank:

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa's trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank's total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody's (Baa2), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), and Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, "the Group"). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.Afreximbank.com

SOURCE
Afreximbank

Reliance Industries is Partnering Tech Mahindra and Nokia to Offer 4G and 5G Network Support in Ghana

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), led by Mukesh Ambani, is expanding its telecom playbook beyond India. The company plans to offer 4G and 5G network support in Ghana, the second-most populous country in West Africa.

Reliance is partnering with Anand Mahindra's Tech Mahindra and Finnish multinational telecommunications company Nokia for this venture.

Ghana is poised to roll out 5G services within the next six months, bridging the digital divide and transforming lives and businesses through high-speed mobile data. The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, expressed inspiration from India's digital infrastructure and low-cost mobile data model. Ghana aims to replicate this success by rapidly expanding 5G services across the country.

Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC) , which has the Ghanaian government, Ascend Digital, and K-Net as stakeholders, will be involved in this initiative. NGIC is the first neutral 5G shared infrastructure provider in Africa. It has been awarded Ghana's first 5G license and aims to build and operate a nationwide 4G/5G network.

NGIC plans to invest around Rs 1661 crore over three years to scale up its 4G and 5G networks in Africa. This investment will help mobile operators optimize costs by sharing infrastructure resources.

NGIC'S CEO, Harkirit Singh, announced plans to launch its wholesale 4G/5G Network as a Service within the next six months. The company aims to deliver affordable mobile broadband services to all Ghanaians and eventually expand to other parts of Africa.

Radisys, a subsidiary of RIL, will offer NGIC its own 5G software stack. Jio Platforms Ltd’s 5G stack uses Open radio access network technology and gear for delivering 5G-based fixed wireless access (FWA) services in African markets, starting with Ghana.

Anand Mahindra promoted Tech Mahindra is tasked with developing a Cloud-Native Core Network, leveraging platforms from leading original equipment manufacturers (OEMS). This core network will be a critical component in delivering high-speed data access to Ghana people.

Nokia, a global leader in telecom technology, brings its expertise in mobile broadband technology to the table. Nokia will contribute to supporting the establishment of an open-access network model designed to spur innovation and create economic opportunities in Ghana.

Radisys, a global leader in open telecom solutions, was acquired by RIL, in June 2018, to bolster its offerings in the telecom sector, particularly in areas like 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). The acquisition was at a price of US$1.72 per share in cash, which amounted to a total deal size of approximately $74 million.

Headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, with an engineering team based out of Bengaluru, India, Radisys has been instrumental in providing disruptive open-centric software, hardware, and service capabilities that enable the migration to next-generation network topologies.

This collaboration of RIL, through its subsidiary Radisys, with Tech Mahindra and Nokia aims to enhance telecom capabilities and digital experiences in Ghana and potentially other African countries.

Mukesh Ambani, Asia's richest man and the head of Reliance Industries Ltd., has set his sights on Africa with an ambitious telecom venture with the goal of winning mobile broadband customers in a high-growth market of Africa, and Radisys plays a crucial role in this.

NPCI To Deploy India’s UPI Stack in Namibia, Partners Bank of Namibia

NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL), the international arm of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), has partnered with the Bank of Namibia (BoN). This collaboration is aimed at developing an instant payment system in Namibia, similar to India's Unified Payment Interface (UPI). The agreement is a significant step towards enhancing Namibia's financial infrastructure and promoting inclusive economic growth.

The partnership will leverage the technology and experience gained from India's UPI to improve accessibility, affordability, and interoperability within Namibia's financial ecosystem. It's also expected to bolster real-time Person-to-Person (P2P) and Merchant payment transactions (P2M) in Namibia, a country in Southwest Africa. 

This strategic move is aligned with the Bank of Namibia's goals to modernize the financial sector, ensure a secure and efficient National Payment System, and achieve full interoperability of payment instruments by 2025. It's particularly focused on enhancing financial access for underserved populations and supporting the growth of digital Entrepreneurship.

The robust security features of the UPI platform are anticipated to instill confidence among users and stakeholders, ensuring scalability for future technological advancements and market demands. This initiative is expected to connect individuals, businesses, and government entities across Namibia, facilitating more efficient economic interactions.

Mr. Johannes !Gawaxab, Hon'ble Governor of the Bank of Namibia, said, “Our objective is to enhance accessibility and affordability for underserved populations, achieve full interoperability of payment instruments by 2025, modernize the financial sector, and ensure a secure and efficient National Payment System. This endeavour, aligned with the Bank's Strategic Plan and NPS Vision and Strategy 2025, deliberately employs a central bank-led approach to minimize infrastructure costs for financial institutions, thereby ensuring the sustainability and affordability of instant payment solutions for end users. This system aims to connect individuals, businesses, and government entities across Namibia, including the payment of social grants, enabling more efficient economic interactions and supporting the growth of digital entrepreneurship.”

Speaking on partnership, Mr. Ritesh Shukla, CEO, NPCI International said, “We are proud to join hands with Bank of Namibia to enable the deployment of UPI-like real-time payments system in Namibia for the Digital Public Good of its citizens. We are excited about this partnership, which will enable Namibian citizens to transact instantly leveraging technology and experiences from India's UPI. By enabling this technology, the country will gain sovereignty in the digital payments landscape and stand to benefit from enhanced payment interoperability and improved financial access for underserved populations. This will also ensure scalability and adaptability to embrace future technological advancements and market demands, thereby propelling economic prosperity in the region.”

Several countries are adopting India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) technology which include Bhutan, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Switzerland (Europe), Oman, and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

These partnerships reflect the growing global interest in UPI's efficient and secure payment system, which has revolutionized digital payments in India and is now finding momentum in international markets.

World's First Malaria-Vaccine Program for Children Started in Africa

According to the UNICEF data, nearly every minute, a child under 5 dies of malaria. Many of these deaths are preventable and treatable. In 2022, there were 249 million malaria cases globally that led to 608,000 deaths in total. Of these deaths, 76 per cent were children under 5 years of age.

In Africa, there are about 250 million cases of the parasitic disease each year, including 600,000 deaths, mostly in young children.

Cameroon, a Central African nation that experiences 2.7 million cases of the disease each year, will begin rolling out the world's first routine childhood-malaria immunizations using a vaccine called RTS,S, or Mosquirix. The vaccine targets sporozoites, the transmissible forms of the malaria parasite, and neutralizes them before they can enter the liver and multiply in their thousands.

Cameroon hopes to vaccinate about 250,000 children this year and next year.

The vaccine was approved by the World Health Organisation two years ago.

The WHO have acknowledged the vaccine's limits but says it will still dramatically reduce severe infections and hospitalisations.

The vaccine is only about 30% effective, requires four doses and protection begins to fade after several months.

Professor Sir Brian Greenwood from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has played a pivotal role in malaria vaccination trials and research since the inception of RTS,S.

It is said that Sir Greenwood had once resigned himself to the possibility that a successful malaria vaccine might not become available in his lifetime. Now, at 86 years old, the resulted vaccine of his decades long research will be used for world's first routine childhood-malaria immunizations.

"It's been a long journey, with many ups and downs," says Sir Greenwood. "The first attempts to develop a malaria vaccine through studies in birds were done over 100 years ago."

RTS,S is, to date, the only malaria vaccine to be recommended and prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO).

This pediatric vaccine acts against Plasmodium falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite globally, and the most prevalent in Africa. The vaccine reduces the number of times a child gets malaria, including severe, life-threatening malaria, and it reduces child deaths.

Top Image – Youtube.com/GHTC

IITs Goes Global, 1st IIT Outside India in East Africa

India's premier technology Institute, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), is now going global. The Foreign Ministry has announced today that the first campus of IIT outside India will be opened in Zanzibar, East African country Tanzania.

For the same, Foreign Minister S. Jayashankar, who is currently on a tour of Tanzania, and Zanzibar President Hussain Ali Mwynayi on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) .

The MoU for setting up a campus of IIT Madras in Zanzibar was signed between the Ministry of Education, Government of India, IIT Madras and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training Zanzibar, Tanzania on July 5 2023, according to an official statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

This pioneering partnership will pave the way for the establishment of an IIT Madras Campus in Tanzania, opening up exciting avenues for knowledge exchange and empowering students in both nations.#IITsGoGlobal

— Ministry of Education (@EduMinOfIndia) July 6, 2023

The MEA has also cited the National Education Policy of the year 2020 in its statement wherein Govt encourages high-performing Indian universities to start their campuses in other countries.

Witnessed the signing of the agreement on setting up of @iitmadras Zanzibar campus.

Appreciate President @DrHmwinyi gracing the occasion, as also the presence of his Ministers.

This historic step reflects India’s commitment to the Global South. pic.twitter.com/X3vdnICnSE

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 5, 2023

With a batch of 50 undergraduate students and 20 master's students, IIT is opening its first-ever overseas campus in Tanzania's Zanzibar in October 2023. The new IIT campus will be set up under the name "IIT Madras at Zanzibar". Zanzibar will be one of three campuses outside of India, with the others located in Abu Dhabi and Kuala Lumpur.

The Programs will commence from October 2023. IIT Madras will manage Student selection, pedagogy and conferring of Degrees.

The Collaboration is to boost diplomatic relations between India and Tanzania. 

Indian Startup Proxgy Emerges Champion At African Continent’s Largest Tech & Start-Up Event, Gitex Africa 2023

Recognised for its Cutting-Edge Solutions during the event held in Morocco

Receives cash award of USD 50,000.

Proxgy, the innovative and leading technology startup from India, has won the coveted SuperNova Championship at Gitex Africa 2023, the largest tech and startup event in the African Continent. Gitex Africa 2023 witnessed the participation of over 700 startups from across the world.

Proxgy, the Everywhere-as-a-Service aggregation platform outperformed global competition to secure the top position and received a cash award of USD 50,000. Proxgy's remarkable achievement and innovative solutions caught the attention of the esteemed judging panel, which included renowned industry experts and influencers.

Pulkit Ahuja, Founder & CEO, Proxgy said "We are extremely excited and grateful to have won the SuperNova Championship. We are the first Indian company to ever win this competition and this is a testament to our entire team's hard work, dedication, and innovative mindset. Such recognitions motivate us to keep pushing boundaries and revolutionizing the tech industry for the blue-collar workers”.

The finals of the SuperNova Challenge took place on the 10X stage in Marrakech, with a judging panel comprising accomplished industry experts from across the globe, including Dorothy S. McAuliffe, Special Representative of the Office of Global Partnerships, US Department of State, USA; Yuan-Ting Meng, Investor & Africa Tech Columnist, DigiTimes, Taiwan; Alicia Levine, Chief Operating Officer, Chipper Cash, UK; Jonathan Coury, US Attorney & Investor, Ghani Consulting, USA; Petra Wolkenstein, General Partner Africa Fund, Startup Wise Guys, Austria; and Sheel Mohnot, Co-Founder and GP, Better Tomorrow Ventures, USA.

Proxgy’s innovative products include ‘Lockator’- Smart locks for industrial containers, trucks, and equipment, ‘Sleefe’ - Slide to convert any Cap into a Smart Cap, and ‘SmartHat’ - Smartest Safety Helmet - all designed to enhance worker safety, communication and collaboration. These solutions come equipped with features such as real-time tracking, environment processing, 360-degree live video communication, gas leakage detector, and more.

Proxgy was one of highest funded companies in Shark Tank India (2022) bagging an investment of Rs 1 crore from former BharatPe MD Ashneer Grover and Lenskart founder Peyush Bansal in a pre-seed round. The company currently has six proprietary products and has received over 25 patents in India for its various solutions solving everyday problems for blue-collar workers.

Proxgy is currently in the process of closing its seed round at a $16 million valuation.

Gitex Africa 2023 brought together 900 exhibiting tech companies and startups, 30+ government delegations, 250+ global investors, 250 international speakers, and tens of thousands of tech executives from over 100 countries. The event was a significant platform for showcasing Africa's achievements and opportunities, as well as strategically integrating the continent into the global tech ecosystem.

About Gitex:

Gitex Africa 2023 is the largest tech and startup show on the African continent and the second largest in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia, following Gitex Global in Dubai. The event attracts entrepreneurs, investors, and industry experts from around the world to explore opportunities and forge valuable connections. With its focus on digital transformation, Gitex Africa 2023 holds immense importance for Africa's tech and startup community.

About Proxgy:

Proxgy (Everywhere as a Service Private Limited), offers a range of innovative IoT solutions that cater to the needs of blue-collar workers operating in various industries. Proxgy’s ecosystem includes oil & gas, mining, manufacturing, factories, worker safety, insurance, worker compensation management, body cams, insurance claims, inspections, policing, remote assistance, warehousing, logistics, and transportation. Headquartered in Gurugram, India & established in 2020, Proxgy envisions enabling users to experience life and interact with the world in ways previously unimagined. For further details please visit www.proxgy.com

Inflection Point Ventures Participated in $2.1 Mn Pre-seed Funding Round of Badili, An African Re-Comm Startup

• Badili marks IPV’s maiden investment in Africa
• Badili's Agent network called the "Hustler" network, are non-mobile related retail shops that help the company buy and sell hyper-locally.
• 290 million phones were sold in Africa in 2020. Additionally, ~100 million used phones were sold in the same year.
• Funds raised will be utilized for physical expansion, working capital, marketing, and operations.
• IPV has so far invested over Rs. 550 Cr across 170+ deals

African ReComm startup Badili that buys and sells used smartphones has raised a pre-seed round of $2.1 Mn from V&R Africa, Venture Catalysts, Inflection Point Ventures, Grenfell holdings, Uncovered Fund Japan, SOSV, and a dozen other family offices, from Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and India. The round has been led by IPV marking Badili as its maiden investment in the African continent.

Rishabh Lawania, Founder & CEO, Badili Africa

The funds raised will be used for the physical expansion of the company across a few markets in Africa as well as for the working capital, marketing, operations and repairing labs & admin.

Launched in March 2022 by serial entrepreneurs Rishabh Lawania and Keshu Dubey, Badili has expanded in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Badili buys pre-owned phones and sells refurbished smartphones that are tagged "as good as new, for half the price" and come with a 12-month warranty.

Earlier in March this year, Artha India Ventures, an early-stage start-ups investor, participated in Kenya-based B2B2C mobility marketplace BuuPass's $1.30 million pre-seed round, which was led by Founders Factory Africa. 

The global refurbished smartphone industry is forecast to grow at an annual growth rate of 10.23% between 2022 and 2027. The overall used phone market in Sub-Saharan Africa alone was over 90 million phones in 2020, as per the internal research done by Badili.

Ankur Mittal, Co-Founder & COO, Inflection Point Ventures says, “Refurbished smartphone market is globally a big market, especially in emerging markets like India and Africa where the population is younger and aspirational. In terms of consumption patterns and growth of the startup ecosystem, Africa is going through the curve that India went through as tech innovation entered our lives and work decades ago. That's what makes African startups a right fit from our investment thesis POV.”

Rishabh Lawania, Founder & CEO of Badili, says, “At Badili, we’re building Africa’s first ReCommerce company. We work on the concept that one’s trash can be another one’s resource. The used devices acquired go through an extensive repair & refurbishing process and are finally sold to our network of mobile retailers.

There are a large number of devices that are ready to be sold or exchanged every year. The upgrade or replacement cycle for an average smartphone user in Africa has come down to 15-18 months, and that's where Badili comes in. Recommerce around the world has grown at a fast pace with companies like Back Market, Cashify, Aihuishou, and Amazon Renew, amongst others.

“We work a lot on the hardware side as well — i.e., refurbishing the devices so that we can make them equal to or better than the original devices in many cases. We look as deep as onto the motherboard level for repairs while making, selling, distribution, and everything else scalable for such devices. We ensure all the processes in the factory are according to the latest standards. Because of being so focused on building the processes and on the quality, we have been able to change the way people consume electronics,” adds Rishabh.

The refurbished gadget segment is still a very touch-and-feel market where there is still a trust deficit. Badili will be building its O2O footprint over the next four to six quarters across Eastern and Western African regions. Badili is on a mission to create a parallel economy for consumer electronics across Africa that is standardized, sustainable, and affordable when it comes to price. It wants to make the process of buying a refurbished smartphone as common/ seamless as buying a used car.

About Badili

Badili is an African re-commerce platform that buys and sells used smartphones. Badili operates an eponymous platform — online, physical stores and its "hustler" network — for users to sell and buy used smartphones. The company runs trade-in services for OEMs and retailers to help them sell new phones and help customer fund their new phones. Badili already has trade-in & buyback partnerships in Kenya with all major OEMs and Telcos, including Samsung & Apple.

About Inflection Point Ventures & Physis Capital

Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) is an angel investing platform with over 7300+ CXOs, HNIs, and Professionals who invest in startups. The firm supports new-age entrepreneurs by providing them with monetary and experiential capital and connecting them with a diverse group of investors. IPV has announced the launch of a $50 million CAT 2 AIF Physis Capital to invest in pre-Series A to Series B growth-stage start-ups.

GoMedii Takes A Big Leap on Medical Tourism As the Demand for Quality Indian Healthcare Services Picks Up in Africa and Bangladesh

The full-stack platform brings a host of services right from discovery to post-operation treatments all under one roof in line with government’s “Heal in India” initiatives

Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia have emerged as biggest African markets for India’s affordable health care services

Keeping in line with the government’s ‘Heal in India’ initiative, GoMedii, a fast-growing health-tech platform, aims to act as a digital enabler for quality and affordable health care for overseas patients, who come to India for medical tourism.

Started by Abhishek Chandel and Rohit Singh in 2018, GoMedii is a full stack digital platform that aims to leverage technology to provide healthcare to overseas patients, who are now preferring India for quality medical treatment that is 50-80% less vis-à-vis other developed economies.

With the government pushing forward for a national strategy and roadmap for medical and wellness tourism, GoMedii has emerged as a leading Medical Value Travel Facilitator (MVTF) that provides overseas patients a host of services right from discovery of the treatment to post-operation services. Working closely with the government, GoMedii aims to organise the highly fragment medical tourism industry by bringing all services under one roof.

Rohit Singh, Co-founder, GoMedii, said that the brand has been playing an active role as an MVTF in Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the SAARC regions that are the primary markets for medical tourism in India, with Bangladesh and Africa contributing a lion’s share of traffic.

“Government initiative of ‘Heal in India’ will strengthen Medical Tourism and would help the healthcare industry take a big leap. The need of the hour is a robust public-private partnership with MVTFs playing the role of a key stakeholder and drive the business by generating leads in different source countries,” said Rohit.

Rohit pointed out that Africa remains a largely untapped market offering great potential.

“The major performing markets that we see with huge potential to boost the medical tourism sector in India are the African countries like Nigeria, Congo, Ethiopia and more, hence, making the African continent a prime performing market for GoMedii,” said Rohit.

Abhishek Chandel, Co-Founder, said that empowering patients and their families with the right information remains the key and now GoMedii boasts a network of 100 plus hospitals providing quality and affordable treatment.

"We come first in the patient treatment value chain right from the hospital discovery phase and be with the patient in entire treatment journey through an ecosystem of 100+ Hospitals, 500+Doctors, partners, interpreters and pre-post treatment care,” said Abhishek.

GoMedii aims to bank on India’s quality and affordable healthcare as well as budget friendly allied services that make treatment costs 50-80% less vis-a-vis other popular medical tourism destinations like Turkey and Malaysia.

"Besides the significant cost factors, the high number of reputed workforce of the best doctors in the country, state-of-art hospitals, lesser waiting time for appointment, affordable tertiary services, and other medical infrastructure, make India most preferred destination for international patients. We plan to expand our reach across our prime performing markets in the world by empowering the patients and their families with the right transparent knowledge through a well-established partner’s-network,” said Abhishek.

With an aim to give a structure to the fragmented medical tourism industry in India, Rohit said that GoMedii is focusing on three key things – provide technology-driven healthcare solutions; empower patients with reliable information; formalize and give a structure to the medical tourism sector.

Patient data on GoMedii suggests that most of the African patients are coming to India for transplant surgeries, IVF treatment, knee replacements, and oncology treatment. Over the years, patients from Gulf countries have also preferred Indian health care with most of the traffic coming from UAE, Oman, Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Most of the patients from Gulf countries come to India for orthopaedics, cardiac, bariatric surgery, and cosmetic treatments.

Patients from Cambodia, Myanmar, Maldives, and Uzbekistan have started preferring India over Malaysia for cosmetic surgery, dental treatment, organ related treatments, and orthopaedic surgery.

GoMedii is a healthcare technology platform focused at In-Patient care that helps through the entire treatment journey from hospital & doctor discovery, treatment planning to pre-treatment & in-treatment at hospitals until the post treatment care. GoMedii is a facilitation engine which comes 1st in the patient treatment value chain and collaborates with all stakeholders of the ecosystem. We help patients at each step of the journey in getting treatment at established & accredited hospitals. We Are Technology Powered Healthcare Platform & Facilitation Engine Easing Out Patient Treatment journey.

IAN Partners with India Africa Entrepreneurship Forum for the 2nd India-Africa Entrepreneurship Summit

• The partnership will focus on building an India-Africa investment corridor which would enable startups in India and Africa to exchange resources, knowledge, and capital to grow
• India and Africa are partnering to strengthen their early-age startups by providing knowledge, funding, and market opportunities, thereby increasing trade and development between the two economies.

Indian Angel Network (IAN), India’s single largest platform for seed and early-stage investing, is a Summit & Venture Partner for the 2nd India-Africa Entrepreneurship Summit scheduled in Nairobi, Kenya on 1st and 2nd July, 2022.

India Africa Entrepreneurship Forum (IAEF), a first-of-its-kind, not-for-profit entity, that seeks to connect the entrepreneurial ecosystems of India and Africa is organizing the second edition of the summit in partnership with a consortium of investors. It aims to build bridges between Indian and African entrepreneurs, exploring opportunities and promoting entrepreneurial collaboration. The prominent investors from India and Africa come together to discuss and build an India-Africa investment corridor and tap opportunities.

India is home to over a hundred unicorns, and the second-largest startup ecosystem in the world with more than 65,000 startups recognized by DPIIT. On the other front, the African startup ecosystem is rapidly growing and has recently caught the attention of tech entrepreneurs and global venture capital funds-shifting their focus from “aiding” to “investing” in the continent; creating and sustaining several economic opportunities in the process.

"A high level of entrepreneurial energy and spirit is driving the Indian startup ecosystem and the collaboration between Indian-African entrepreneurship can increase the reach and impact of innovation and business growth. The partnership will only help businesses to scale and grow by leveraging the markets and investors of both India and Africa. We are delighted to bring investors & successful entrepreneurs to Nairobi," Ms. Padmaja Ruparel, co-founder, IAN & Founding Partner, IAN Fund said.

As one of the partners for the event, IAN is supporting IAEF in enabling several cross-border transactions between entrepreneurs, investors, and the government. The platform is envisioned as a go-to platform for entrepreneurs and investors actively involved in the startup space. It exists to harness the creative potential of entrepreneurs and the power of collaboration. IAEF will promote mutual learning and resources to enable startups to succeed amidst adversity and immature market conditions.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Baljinder Sharma, one of the founders of the event said, “It is a little known fact that many Indian entrepreneurs have partnered with African entrepreneurs to co-found successful Africa specific ventures. More recently, angel investors in India have shown interest in investing in Africa, even as angel investors from Africa have invested in India for instance. We are at an early phase of this new strategic partnership between India and Africa that is poised for rapid growth and lots need to be done to create awareness alone. I am pleased that entrepreneurs and Angel groups have taken up this important mission.”

IAN had previously partnered with India Africa Entrepreneurship Forum (IAEF) for its first Event in Sept 2019, which was a runaway success, with participants from 23 countries in Africa. And for the second edition, the IAEF is inviting eminent entrepreneurs and investors to discuss the opportunities and challenges of investing in Africa. The potential Indian investors may see this Summit as an excellent opportunity to create joint ventures and partnerships. Similarly, the Global Investors in the African Entrepreneurial ecosystem are also optimistic about their investment in a rapidly evolving Indian ecosystem. For more information, please visit www.africa-india.org

Indian Angel Network is India’s first and world’s largest business angel network with close to 500 members across the world, comprising the who’s who of successful entrepreneurs and dynamic CEOs. With investors from 12 countries, IAN’s presence spans 7 locations, which includes cities in India and the UK. The network is sector agnostic and has funded start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries growing global footprint companies. With an excellent track record, IAN has been giving excellent cash exits year-on-year to its investor members, for the last 12 years. Some of its marquee investee companies include Druva, Spinny, Box8, Uniphore, WOW Momos, Consure, Fareye, NOCCARC, Propelld, Skit.ai amongst many others.

IAN Fund, an INR 375 crore VC fund is a uniquely differentiated seed/early stage Fund that aims to transform India’s entrepreneurial landscape. The fund invests in innovative companies in sectors including healthcare and medical devices, VR, AI, software as a service, marketplaces, fin-tech, big data, artificial intelligence, agritech, and hardware. With this, IAN has created the single largest platform for seed and early-stage investing, enabling entrepreneurs to raise from INR 0.25 to 50 crores.

Artha India Ventures Expands Its Presence to Africa; Invests in Kenya-based Re-Commerce Startup Badili

• Eyes investing in 8-10 African startups by 2023
• This is Artha India Ventures (AIV)'s 11th international investment that covers Israel, the USA and now Africa
• Rajesh Sawhney, Ritesh Malik, SOSV, Uncovered Fund and Grenfell Holdings also participated in the round

Artha India Ventures (AIV), the well-established family office of Ashok Kumar Damani, today announced a pre-seed investment in Badili, Africa's first online buy-back platform for smartphones, based in Kenya. This marks AIV's 1st investment in Africa and brings its international investments to 11 across Israel, the USA and now Africa, and the overall total (national and international) investments to 75.

AIV aims to spread its investment portfolio across 7-8 countries across the African continent and will invest in 25 more startups by 2024, with a cumulative fund allocation of over $20 million in Africa through direct, GP, LP and syndicated investments. AIV will invest in seed to series A rounds across fintech & lending, media infrastructure and consumer-tech sectors, depending on the proposition at hand.

Badili has raised the first tranche of $850,000 from the total target of a $3.35 million pre-seed round. Notable angels and institutional investors such as Rajesh Sawhney, Ritesh Malik, SOSV, Uncovered Fund and Grenfell Holdings participated in the tranche. 

Badili will utilise the funds for acquiring inventory, tech enhancement, and establishing its offline presence through brick-and-mortar stores across 7 cities in the East African country, Kenya. The consumer to business (C2B) startup is the first in Africa that purchases and sells used smartphones directly from/to the consumers and is supported by strategic partnerships in China, South Korea and India.

As a 1st of its kind, Badili has a serviceable market of 130 million+ second-hand smartphone users in Africa. In the absence of established e-commerce players like Amazon in Africa, Badili has introduced standardisation processes in an otherwise unorganised segment - usually dominated by local players. Coupled with a 119% mobile penetration in 2020 implying a ~10% YoY growth, the startup is eyeing a user base of 60 million by 2023 and is set to expand its services across 7 African countries, including Nigeria, which is the biggest smartphone market in the region.

Anirudh Damani, Managing Partner, Artha Venture Fund

Anirudh A Damani, Director, Artha India Ventures, said, "We are thrilled with our first investment in Africa as it is among the frontrunners of emerging markets after India. We have received a tremendous response from the African startup ecosystem and look forward to investing in 4 to 5 Africa-focused startups every year. Moreover, we are not limited to seed rounds and have expanded our investment strategy to include pre-series A and series A rounds for this important continent.

Badili had to be our maiden investment in the country as we resonate with Rishabh's pragmatic vision and frugal innovation. He is a seasoned entrepreneur with a solid track record from his previous startups. As the 1st player to purchase, refurbish and sell smartphones in Kenya, Badili has a clear first-mover advantage in the region. We are elated to have them on board."

Rishabh Lawania, Founder & CEO, Badili, commented, "With over 20% of smartphone users in Kenya opting for second-hand smartphone devices, we have identified a clear demand in the segment. So much so that we have partnered with various suppliers across countries, leading with India, that can enable us to meet the initial demand.

We have also established Badili as the leading choice for OEM players, and brands like Samsung and Apple have made us their official buy-back partners in Africa.

We wanted to partner with an investor that shared our vision, understood the re-commerce market, and who would help us grow. With AIV's investment legacy across continents, they were bound to be our preferred choice."

On the ecological front, as India is one of the highest e-waste generating nations in the world, of which 12% can be attributed to smartphones, the Badili team are doing their bit to offset the concerns. Hence, with India's strategic supply chain alliance, Badili aims to limit the adverse impact of used phones currently making their way to landfills. Riding strong on the first-mover advantage and on account of such alliances, Badili aims to transact 100 million phones annually by 2026.

About Badili

Based in Kenya, Badili is a re-commerce startup for old mobile phones. It operates through its website, mobile app, and a network of over 210 dealers. The company buys phones from a user, refurbishes, and sells them to the consumers looking for a cheaper alternative to a new phone with equivalent features. The company also plans to provide repair services and expand rapidly throughout Africa by expanding its dealer network and launching its own brick and mortar stores. Badili has a strategic supply chain alliance with India and its growth will only power the circular economy and lead to sustainable growth.

About Artha India Ventures

Artha India Ventures (AIV) is the alternative investment arm of Ashok Kumar Damani's family office. Founded in 2012, with 3.1x DPI, 7.3x MOIC and 21 exits, AIV currently has an impressive portfolio of over 75 companies spread across India, the USA, Israel and Africa. Helmed by Ashok Kumar Damani, a serial entrepreneur and a seasoned stockbroker, AIV generates liquidity through its operating assets, such as high-yielding renewable energy projects and GP investments in institutional funds. The generated cash is then invested in startup opportunities across the globe.

AIV has a sector-agnostic investment outlook and has a stake in segments such as edtech, content platforms, e-commerce, auto and healthtech amongst others. OYO Rooms, Tala, Baby Chakra, Rapido and Coutloot are some of the many names that have been part of AIV's portfolio. The whopping 150x and 165x returns from OYO Rooms and Exotel, respectively, and the potential 102x from Purplle, are testament to the team's ability to pick business winners. AIV is maintaining its growth trajectory and is set to make 100 investments by 2023.

Esri and AfroChampions Launch Partnership to Promote GIS in Africa

Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, today announced a joint initiative with AfroChampions, a Pan-African nonprofit that aims to promote policies that foster private-public collaboration for Africa's economic transformation. The goal of the initiative is to engage leaders in business, governments, the African Union, and other regional economic communities through dialogue and potential partnership building in applying geospatial technology and solutions.

This new partnership with AfroChampions seeks to contribute to sustainable economic development in Africa and promote the benefits of a shared geospatial infrastructure throughout the continent. As a majority of Africans still live in rural areas, geographic information system (GIS) technology can create new opportunities for growth, especially in critical fields such as health and telemedicine, land management, agriculture, and mobility.

The powerful mapping and data analytics that GIS provides forms a foundation for some of the most successful economic strategies that nations pursue today. This initiative will offer African governments and other organizations streamlined access to Esri's world-leading GIS technology and expertise, in addition to a broad network of regional partners.

"Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related crises, African leaders must fast-track the African Continental Free Trade Area [AfCFTA], which is our own recovery plan," said Dr. Edem Adzogenu, executive director of AfroChampions. "However, we need technologies, such as geospatial solutions, to operationalize the AfCFTA."

Over the long term, Esri's solutions will advance projects retained as part of AfroChampions Trillion Dollar Investment Framework, a 360-degree road map officially endorsed by the African Union and in which core enablers of the AfCFTA are transportation and connectivity; the removal of nontariff barriers; low-cost power; and enhanced value and industrialization in a modernized digital economy.

"At a time of economic uncertainty, we consider it part of our company's mission to coordinate and collaborate with partners like AfroChampions for initiatives that promote sustainable global development," said Sohail Elabd, general manager of Esri Middle East and Africa. "With the help of a network of action-oriented business and political leaders spreading across the entire continent, these initiatives can be instrumental in advancing the use of geospatial solutions for the public good around the world, from healthcare coverage to infrastructure support."

This partnership is part of Esri's ongoing commitment to its users and the broader geospatial community across Africa. It is closely aligned with key continental initiatives such as AfCFTA; the African Development Bank Strategy for 2013–2022; the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and the African Union Agenda 2063, which emphasizes the need for global Geospatial Information for Sustainable Development (GI4SD) management.

"Esri's support is timely," continued Adzogenu. "It can help us in many practical ways, like compiling data, identifying best practices that can be replicated from one country to another, defining the right locations for strategic infrastructure projects, or launching cross-border renewable projects."

Africa Geoportal, the continent's existing geospatial community platform built by Esri, will support the AfroChampions' virtual festival Boma of Africa as well as other ongoing community outreach activities.

To learn more about how Esri is partnering with Middle Eastern and African communities to empower them with location-based sustainable solutions to global challenges, visit esri.com/en-us/about/about-esri/mea.

About AfroChampions

The AfroChampions Initiative is a public-private partnership designed to galvanize African resources and institutions to drive Africa's economic integration and transformation. As a consequence, AfroChampions supports the emergence and success of African economic champions, which have a critical role in integrating African markets and accelerating the transformation of the continent and its global competitiveness. AfroChampions is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and works with regional and global partners and governments, with the support of other corporate and institutional partners. 

AfroChampions has defined four pillars of activity, all aimed at supporting Africa's economic integration. These are Policy advocacy: Policy-shaping and advocacy on African integration and inclusive development, with a specific focus on advancing the African Continental Free Trade area, expected to create the largest single market globally in 2021. 

Mobilizing champions for impact: Building networks and partnerships of African private and public sector champions to collaborate on African transformation projects and initiatives.
Facilitating investments: Driving investment in game-changing projects on the continent that accelerate integration and transformation. 

Building future champions: Building and promoting the next generation of African champion institutions, innovators, and leaders.

Learn more at www.afrochampions.com.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations including 90 of the Fortune 100 companies, all 50 state governments, more than half of all counties (large and small), and 87 of the Forbes Top 100 Colleges in the U.S., as well as all 15 Executive Departments of the U.S. Government and dozens of independent agencies. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most advanced solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com.

Copyright © 2020 Esri. All rights reserved. Esri, the Esri globe logo, ArcGIS, The Science of Where, esri.com, and @esri.com are trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of Esri in the United States, the European Community, or certain other jurisdictions. Other companies and products or services mentioned herein may be trademarks, service marks, or registered marks of their respective mark owners.


View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200924005627/en/

Indigram Labs Signs MoU with a leading Agribusiness Incubator in Africa

Indigram Labs Foundation (ILF), a technology business incubator and accelerator has signed MOU with EXCEL HORT CONSULT AGRIBUSINESS INCUBATOR [EHCAI], Uganda during the World Incubation Summit, 2019 held at Doha, Qatar. The conference brought together an exclusive group of international incubators and accelerators, multinational corporations, and government innovation agencies seeking innovative ways to collaborate with each other. 

EHCAI, at Uganda, is an organization that provides Business Incubation Management, Agri-business enterprise development and agro industry value chain development services to local, national, regional and international organizations as well as private sector players. It is a 20 years old business Incubator from Africa. 

ILF is tying up with several international accelerators and incubators across the globe, which includes TBIs in Singapore, Australia, Uganda, Israel, Estonia etc. This is first time they have tied up with a Ugandan Organization considering the strategic advantages both the nations can have from each other.

 “The aim of the partnership is at fostering job and employment creation in Africa and India through business incubation and technology exchange. The collaboration will add value and boost growth and development of incubators and accelerators. Excel Hort Consult Agribusiness Incubator limited will tap into rich knowledge and expertise of Labs Indigram foundation to grow its business and support to start ups in Africa,” said Mr. Alex Ariho, Director General, EHCAI, Uganda.

The collaboration between EHCAI and ILF can be leveraged to facilitate international linkage opportunities for innovations and startups in both countries. The partnership will also serve as a platform for cross learning, sharing knowledge, best practices on innovation, and startup ecosystem development between Uganda and India. It will also allow technology-based universities and institutes to undertake collaborative research and development in areas like Agri-Tech, Agriculture, agri-business etc.

“This is an important collaboration between the two incubators as this will help agri-business focused startups in India and Uganda to do and learn international business,” said Dr. Manisha Acharya, CEO, ILF.

Through this MoU, startups of both countries will get to know about the entrepreneurial university model and practices in different sectors like food technology, agriculture, etc. They can also, collaborate to explore new models of innovation by measuring the market potential in terms of desirability, feasibility, viability, and adaptability of the products. Startup interaction festival can be organized to bring together Ugandan startups and Indian startups to meet for discussion and exchange ideas, vision and business acumen with each other to get familiarize with the business environment, products, and services.

The establishment of collaboration will also, pave a way for the new collaboration opportunities with other reputed international organizations working actively in domains like agricultural technology, food technology, artificial intelligence, blockchain programming, etc.

This partnership can serve as a platform to promote, participate and engage diversified stakeholders like expert mentors, institutes/universities/faculties, investors, media etc. Also, various activities can be organized like international programs, business seminars, workshops, exhibitions, networking events, conferences/conclaves/summit, startup idea-exchange festivals, etc. Both the incubators (EHCAI and ILF) can also jointly participate in various events to meet with investors, learn from worldwide successful entrepreneurs, explore market and technology trends etc.

About Indigram Labs Foundation (ILF):

Indigram Labs Foundation is a technology-based incubator founded in 2015 with a vision to promote creativity and innovation in agriculture, renewable energy and rural healthcare industry. Notably, Indigram Labs is one of India’s leading agribusiness incubators based in New Delhi. ILF aims at fostering and nurturing viable business ideas through the process of consulting, mentoring, leveraging technology tie-ups and access to platforms. ILF has been supported by the Department of Science and Technology since September 2016, via the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board, Govt. of India. Indigram as a group has 18 years of diversified & extensive on-ground experience & presence through its multiple entities & agencies.