It has been a month since the six-month Expo 2020 Dubai drew to a close, but some thoughts linger, some concepts stay and some flavors remain.



In the diverse melting pot that is Dubai, home to as many as 200 nationalities, Africa had its moment under the Arabian sun, in a two-floor facility opposite the central Al Wasl Dome that anchored Expo 2020 Dubai.



By the landmark waterfalls at the expo site, this 22,000sqft facility threw its doors open to a composite and immersive African gastronomic experience led by world-renowned African chefs.



This creative confluence, Alkebulan, an African dining hall, was a magnet through the expo – apparently a million clients and customers passed through the sprawling outlet with its colorful contemporary outdoor terraces and indoor spaces.



And Chef Alexander Smalls, a restaurateur and award-winning author based in New York, is the man who brought the bespoke chef-led concepts of Alkebulan under one roof.



When we meet Smalls at the venue, he is wearing bright yellow-rimmed spectacles and a big smile.



He had dreamed up the concept many years ago, and can’t conceal his excitement at seeing it as a reality with the help of the team at Expo 2020 Dubai.



“We have created a whole environment that contains the food of Africa and speaks to the African diaspora. I have put together a collection of extraordinary chefs who have reimagined African cuisine for the new age and it’s the first African dining hall in the world and it has been received so well,” enthuses Smalls.



The success of this outlet will lead to more in New York and London, he says, and set off a global expansion for&nbsp;Alkebulan.



“It speaks to the wealth of African cuisine and its people. We are having a revolution,” he adds.



A lot of the work was conducted during the pandemic, through video calling and a team on the ground who were Smalls’ eyes and ears.



“We created nine food concepts and two bars. I created all the concepts myself, but then for the authenticity, I needed to bring in culinary practitioners from around the world who were doing what I was, and bring special talent to make it a unique concept.”



But with 54 countries on the African continent, how difficult was it recreating all of those culinary experiences?



“It was extremely challenging,” admits Smalls. “At one point, I stopped thinking about 54 countries and started thinking about essentially the topical conversations around African food. The net had to be cast broadly, but they all have their particular footprint. The idea was to mirror the landscapes we are in… It was the&nbsp;perfect time to bring back the authenticity of Africa. It has given us an opportunity to enlighten and inspire and have people’s mindsets change about the African experience.”



Amongst the guest chefs presenting their offerings: TV personality Kiran Jethwa, Chef Coco, Mame Sow, Glory Kabe and Pierre Thiam.



Thiam, also a cook book author, chips in.



Originally from Senegal and having lived in the US for three decades where he has two restaurants in New York and a food company directly connected with farming communities across West Africa “through products relevant in times of climate change”, he calls himself a restaurateur, chef and social entrepreneur.



“Dubai has been incredible,” Thiam begins. “What Chef Alexander has realized here is telling the story in a more complete way and that to me is part of my mission being West African. Just the name, Alkebulan, takes us to the time before colonization. That’s that we are doing. We are more than just serving food – we are serving the whole, we are telling our own story.”



He says he studied West African cuisine and specialized in “the food of our memory” realizing that African cuisine was quite absent.



“This is the most successful of all venues at the Expo. This is telling the truth to the Dubai population,” says Thiam, who cites his roasted beans pickle carrot salad as being one of the most popular dishes at the event.



Also on the table, modern African street food, and such varieties as oxtail fried rice, Afro dim sum, barbecue goat ribs, buttermilk fried chicken, rotisserie duck and devil quail.



Chef Sow, one of the female guest chefs at Alkebulan and also originally from Senegal and living in New York, had African sweets on the table: “We are mostly wanting to showcase and represent Africa with the desserts and flatbreads we do. People don’t generally think about Africa when they think desserts. We have a lot of amazing ingredients we are showcasing through the desserts we have at Shoebox.”



This is Sow’s first trip to Dubai, as a sous chef and the owner of Shoebox Bakery in New York, adds that the female chefs working with her are “beyond amazing”.



And what will now happen to the dining hall that took center stage at Expo 2020?



“This outlet will remain and the transition [of the expo site] from amusement park to a bustling residential retail business community will take form and we will come back after the summer,” promises Smalls.

An outlet within Alkebulan selling African cuisine to the world; image by Renuka Methil

Chefs Speak: Africa On A Plate Meets The Melting Pot Of Dubai

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="429" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-820x429.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-416719" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-820x429.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-300x157.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-160x84.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image-768x402.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/CNBC-image.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



Market intermediaries, such as stock exchanges, central depository systems, and settlement systems, as well as anybody else allowed to conduct business under the Capital Markets Act of 2000, are subject to CMA oversight, licensing, and monitoring in Kenya.



As such, there are numerous benefits for traders in Kenya who choose to sign up with a Forex broker that is regulated by the CMA says Louis Schoeman from <a href="https://forexbrokers.ke/">Forex Brokers Kenya</a>.



To this end, the CMA ensures that every broker has operational customer service help. Therefore, if any issues emerge, the Kenyan consumer will be able to get help as fast as possible and through a reliable regulatory mechanism.



Accordingly, the CMA ensures that registered forex brokers do not engage in malpractices or fraudulent conduct that could harm their reputations in order to protect the interests of their traders.



Added to this, Kenyan forex traders can benefit from decreased fees and spreads as a result of the requirements set forth by this regulator. It is the duty of regulated forex brokers to ensure that Kenyan investors may reap the benefits of their currency market investments.



Only a handful of Forex brokers have received CMA licensing to date, and in this article we explore the 4 best options which also provide Kenyan traders with competitive trading conditions and a wealth of trading tools at their disposal.



<a href="https://one.exness.link/boarding/sign-up/a/v1hp2646" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Open a Free Trading Account Now</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-1-exinity-east-africa">1. Exinity East Africa</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-overview">Overview</h3>



Forex, CFDs, and stock investments are all provided by Exinity East Africa, which forms part of major brokerage firm, Exinity Limited.



Exinity Limited has been in the online trading business for more than two decades and now serves clients from more than 150 countries across the world.



Exinity, Alpari, and FXTM all fall under the umbrella of the Exinity Group, which also owns the payment provider AcruPay. To date, the company has grown from a single MetaTrader broker in Limassol, Cyprus, to holding major offices around the world.



Forex, CFD, and stock trading products are available to nearly two million customers through this network. The broker is licensed by the FSRA in the United Arab Emirates, the FSC in Mauritius, and the CMA in Kenya to conduct business.



Users of Exinity can choose from a variety of capital and speculative market options. These range from long-term investors to swing traders, arbitrageurs, and scalpers, and everything in between.



Customers of Exinity have access to a variety of trading platforms and account options. The firm&#8217;s own mobile app, which is supported on both Apple (iOS) and Android (APK) devices, available for account holders around the world, and features an integrated analyst sentiment indicator and market research tools.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros Full MetaTrader suite available Negative balance protection provided Multi-regulated</td><td>Cons Cryptos not available </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>CMA, FSRA, FCA</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>$20</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>0.5 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>$2 per lot for Forex</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:200</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. Scope Markets</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h3>



The feature-rich MT5 platform for desktop, web, and mobile devices is offered by Scope Markets, a regulated trading broker, to provide online Forex and CFD trading to Kenyan clients.



Retail and institutional traders in Kenya can use Scope Markets&#8217; online trading services, which include FX and CFD trading.



These clients can choose from a variety of trading options that the broker offers and that are all compliant, adaptable, economical, and focused on them.



As such, clients have access to a wide range of global markets, including stocks, indices, currency, commodities, and CFDs.



The management team at Scope Markets has been in the financial industry for over two decades and has developed numerous long-term relationships. Fast execution, minimal slippage, and tight spreads are among the features that benefit their clients in Kenya and around the world.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros MetaTrader 5 available Excellent educational resources Well-regulated</td><td>Cons Demo account not currently available </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>CMA, CySEC, FSCA</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>$500</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>0.9 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>Variable</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>$35 per withdrawal</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:30 retail/1:100 professional</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>







You might like: <a href="https://forexbroker.ng/forex-brokers/best-forex-trading-apps/">Best Trading Apps in Nigeria</a>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. FXPesa</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h3>



Founded in 2019, FXPesa is a relatively young forex and CFD broker. The company has headquarters in Nairobi, as well as a number of branch offices across the country.



A subsidiary of EGM Securities Limited, FXPesa is regulated by the Kenyan Capital Markets Authority (CMA). The parent firm, which is regulated by the CMA and is well-known in the industry, is deemed trustworthy by Kenyans.



In addition to currency pairs, indexes and commodities, FXPesa also offers shares and other financial products. As a result, it&#8217;s a good option for novice currency traders because it offers access to more currencies than many of its rivals.



Traders can also benefit from lower spreads by upgrading to a premium account.



FXPesa has both a web platform and a desktop trading tool for PC, called FXPesa Trader, which may be used to trade currencies.



There&#8217;s no software to download or set up while using the web-based platform. You&#8217;ll have full access to all FX and CFD markets after you log in with your account information. The interface is straightforward and easy to use, and it comes equipped with all the necessary resources.



The MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform is also accessible in addition to the proprietary platform. Automated trading, trading signals, complex charts, and research and analysis tools are all included in MT4&#8217;s feature set, making it a good choice for both newbies and more experienced traders.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros MetaTrader 4 available Proprietary trading platform available Good selection of trading assets</td><td>Cons Not the tightest spreads in the industry </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>CMA</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>$5</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>1.4 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>1% on e-wallets</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:400</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>30% deposit bonus</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>







<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Pepperstone</h2>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Overview</h3>



After launching in 2010, <a href="https://forexsuggest.com/pepperstone-review/">Pepperstone</a> Group has become one of the leading online brokerages in the industry, with the ability to trade in a wide range of markets, including forex, equities, indices, metals and even cryptocurrencies.



Traders in Kenya of a variety of skill levels can benefit from a wide range of trading options, including desktop, mobile, and web-based platforms, an extensive product catalogue, and a variety of account kinds.



Pros and Cons



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Pros No minimum deposit Low trading fees for forex No added costs for withdrawals or deposits </td><td>Cons Limited number of instruments No additional research tools </td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Features



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter"><table><tbody><tr><td>Feature</td><td>Information</td></tr><tr><td>Regulation</td><td>FCA, ASIC</td></tr><tr><td>Minimum deposit from</td><td>AUD200</td></tr><tr><td>Average spread from</td><td>0.4 pips</td></tr><tr><td>Commissions from</td><td>$3.76 commission per lot per trade</td></tr><tr><td>Deposit/Withdrawal Fee</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Maximum Leverage</td><td>1:500</td></tr><tr><td>Bonuses</td><td>None</td></tr><tr><td>Customer Support</td><td>24/5</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

CNBC-image

4 Best CMA-Regulated Forex Brokers in Kenya

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-416361" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Visa-Innovation-SSA-1-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>L-R &nbsp;Corine Mbiaketcha, Vice President and General Manager, East Africa; DR. Patrick Njoroge, Governor, Central Bank of Kenya; Andrew Torre, Regional President, CEMEA, Visa; Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, Visa and Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Partnerships &amp; Solutions, CEMEA Visa, at the launch of Visa’s Innovation Studio for Sub-Saharan Africa in Nairobi on Wednesday.</figcaption></figure>



Over the last decade, Visa has had &nbsp;a strong focus in collaborating with key players across the payments landscape to enable access to digital payments. Visa has also continued to partner with leading players in Sub-Saharan Africa including fintechs, neo banks and wallets to enable new payment experiences across the region.



Throughout the challenges of the last two years, the importance of the right innovations at the right time has never been clearer. Today’s opening of Visa’s Innovation Studio in Nairobi, Kenya, marks the continuation of Visa’s effort to empower fintechs, clients and partners develop the right innovations for them now and in the coming decades.



The Innovation Studio will &nbsp;also help Visa to accelerate the co-creation process and fast track the market readiness of innovation payment solutions.&nbsp; Businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa have been leading the way in introducing new methods of paying, and being paid, by harnessing innovative technologies. Ideas to expand the growth of popular functions such as Tap to Phone and Pay on Delivery will be explored at the Innovation Studio alongside the ongoing development of cutting-edge smarter payment solutions that leverage the blockchain, IoT, VR and biometrics.



Visa started with only a couple of innovation centres. One of the first was in San Francisco. Now, there are six innovation centres around the Visa network and it really shows the power of this model. Each centre has highly specialized teams of designers, developers, product managers and technical experts who are building the future of payments with our partners.



”Sub-Saharan Africa is home to a thriving community of start-ups, incubators and accelerators. The Innovation Studio in Nairobi is a realization of our vision to be an engine of commerce and to provide individuals, businesses and economies access to the financial services they need to thrive,” says Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President and Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa.



The Centre opened its doors on the 6th of April 2022 and has already welcomed clients and partners with a unique human-centric design based around the principles of shared knowledge to help Visa’s network of businesses overcome some of the biggest challenges while uncovering new commercial avenues of opportunity.



To commemorate this historic millstone, Kenya’s Central Bank Governor attend the opening event and shared his excitement over the new SSA Innovation Studio. He spoke about his passion for innovation and the role of co-creation in developing solutions to suit the development of nations across Sub-Saharan Africa. The Governor also signed a plaque to commemorate the official opening of the innovation studio. For more information about SSA Innovation Studio, please connect with <a href="mailto:oetyang@visa.com">Olivia Etyang</a>, Head of Innovation Studio, SSA.

Visa-Innovation-SSA-1

Visa’s Innovation Studio in Nairobi set to Incubate the Next Generation of Commerce Experiences in Africa

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-416220" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002-135x90.jpg 135w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



<p id="h-29-march-2022-team-south-africa-celebrated-their-overall-success-by-hosting-the-last-national-day-at-the-world-expo-2020-dubai-the-south-africa-national-day-allowed-team-sa-a-final-opportunity-to-showcase-to-the-world-what-the-country-has-to-offer">29 March 2022: Team South Africa celebrated their overall success by hosting the last National Day at the World Expo 2020 Dubai. The South Africa National Day allowed Team SA a final opportunity to showcase to the world what the country has to offer.



<p id="h-29-march-2022-team-south-africa-celebrated-their-overall-success-by-hosting-the-last-national-day-at-the-world-expo-2020-dubai-the-south-africa-national-day-allowed-team-sa-a-final-opportunity-to-showcase-to-the-world-what-the-country-has-to-offer">Expo 2020, which started in October 2021, saw almost 200 countries come together to display their offerings, while scouting networking opportunities, drawing investments, and solidifying relationships and future partnerships. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), together with MultiChoice as the official broadcast partner, set out to introduce the diverse economic value that South Africa has to offer.



The six-month participation was closed out with a national ceremony hosted by the Honourable President Cyril Ramaphosa, followed by a high-level panel discussion on the successes of Team SA’s participation – most notably the MultiChoice Accelerator Programme.



In partnership with the dtic, social enterprise agency, C3 (Companies Creating Change), and financial advisory firm, Galelo Africa, the MultiChoice Accelerator Programme initially identified 20 promising South African start-ups for participation in a business incubator. Six finalist companies then had the opportunity to participate in an intense virtual bootcamp and pitch to venture capitalists in the UAE.



“Through Team SA’s participation at Expo 2020, we have built lasting relationships, partnerships and networks by taking South Africa to the world. The most tangible success can be seen through our Accelerator Programme where our finalists have gone on to secure more than USD10 million in investment from the UAE,” said Imtiaz Patel, MultiChoice Non-Executive Chairman.



Speaking at the Accelerator Programme Roundtable, President Cyril Ramaphosa, addressed the entrepreneurs saying: “You are truly trailblazers, and are flying our flag high here at Dubai Expo 2020. What is most energising about this programme is that you are showing the world that South Africa has a vibrant start-up culture, as well as advanced innovation ecosystems.



“Innovation in science and tech is key to our country’s industrialisation, especially in the post-COVID-19 recovery period,” the President added.



Team South Africa participated in the Expo under the theme Think South Africa, Think Opportunity.



SIDE BAR:



Africa’s no 1 video entertainment company MultiChoice, was the official broadcast partner of Team South Africa, at the Expo 2020, Dubai. Through the partnership, the company played its part in bringing the South African story of resilience and constant innovation, to the global audience at the Expo from October 2021, until the end of March 2022.



The World Expo 2020 is an excellent platform on which to showcase the country’s drive of being open for business and an investment destination of choice in various areas.  Anchored on the theme, Think South Africa, Think Opportunity, Team South Africa, led by the National Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic), accompanied by various government stakeholders, representatives of agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, finance, technology, business, arts and entertainment sectors, have over the past next six months, amongst other themes, highlighted its creative and cultural strengths and opportunities.

MultiChoice-Accelerator-Image-002

MultiChoice Accelerator Programme Celebrated at World Expo 2020, Dubai

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="429" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/article-image-1-820x429.png" alt="" class="wp-image-415816" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/article-image-1-820x429.png 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/article-image-1-300x157.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/article-image-1-160x84.png 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/article-image-1-768x402.png 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/article-image-1.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



With banks providing loans as far back as in Babylon in 1800 BC, and ‘modern’ banking coming about in the 1470s, banks have not been the fastest innovators.



However, the past 10 years has seen more advanced products and more adoption of disruptive technology than in the previous 100 years, where traditional bricks and mortar, large branch network, limited product financial institutions have given way to mobile, agile, multi-currency, e-banking, global, internet driven service providers.



And it is not only the service delivery method that has changed so dramatically, but the pace of change, sparked by the inclusive nature and tech-savvy social media generation demanding faster, more diverse, secure services.



The demand for data, information and financial services, and the technology to support vast data consumption now, has only been made possible by the advent of high-speed networks, smart phones and technology companies, translating those needs, enabling anyone, anywhere to trade international equities, bonds and derivatives, arrange a mortgage, make deposits, trade crypto currency, electronically sign and send vital documents, at the click of a button.



Whilst the past 20 years may be the era of Internet Banking, 2020 onwards has launched the decade of crypto.



As of January 2022, there were approximately 10,000 cryptocurrencies&nbsp;in existence, many created for specific purposes with solid use cases, and others as speculative investment tools with spectacular volatility, few investors and even less volume.



Always a case of buyer beware, some earlier coin offerings experienced bad press through hacking, loss of consumer confidence, no activity, price collapse and where the mere mention of blockchain sent the investment community into a frenzy.



And how times have changed, with much more consumer demand, as, like bond and equity offerings, new coins are coming to market via initial exchange and security token offerings following extended due diligence by the trading platform.



Much has been written about crypto coin volatility, with a prime example being Bitcoin with value over USD 67,000 in November 2021 and currently trading around USD 36,000. &nbsp;However, in the past, the equities markets have also produced spectacular returns and losses, albeit across different timelines and remain considered a safer haven than crypto markets



Whilst the 1929 wall street crash witnessed significant falls such as RCA common stock from $505 to $26 and DuPont from $217 to $80), black swan events have also elevated stock markets. For example, Alcoa experienced 12 month returns of 217%, and risk averse long term portfolio holders have borne fruit with Monster, with shares at 2$ in 2005, hitting $140 in 2015, and the darling of the equities market Amazon, with canny investors buying at USD 2 in the 1990s, where today they trade at USD3,500. Whilst equities still represent a more stable investment platform, crypto has captured a new imagination with a new demographic.



With an almost baffling choice of cryptocurrencies, the key issue will be the ability to seamlessly cash out of low volatility, low value stock and move in and out of fiat currency in deciding which type of coin best suits a long-term strategy.



So, with a requirement for a more stable, digital crypto instrument, the latest area of investor interest and some may say hype, is asset tokenisation. Blockchain technology remains the vital component, the mechanism and enabler to underpin crypto transactions.



Asset tokenization is where digital tokens are used to fractionalize ownership of assets. Physical items are reflected on the blockchain which manages ownership rights – and anything from property to university degrees and from gold to stocks can be tokenised, with over 500M USD already tokenized in real estate.



These tokens are created during a so-called STO (Security Token Offering), in which the real estate is essentially split up into digital, tradable assets stored on a blockchain.



The idea of fractional real estate ownership is nothing new. Since 1960, REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) were introduced in the United States and by pooling investors’ capital, the real estate market suddenly became much more accessible and makes it possible to invest in the underlying asset without having to buy or manage the entire property.



Fast forward to 2022 and a the advent of tokenisation, where real estate is fractionized into small pieces, namely called tokens. &nbsp;



What are the benefits? Global increases in property prices, expensive bank rates, less monetization opportunities, languishing assets earning low interest, high costs of ownership with less people able to afford current and future prices all of these can be managed, by fractionising and tokenization.



And as digital tokens on a blockchain can be securely and efficiently transferred without a middleman, trading&nbsp;of these asset-backed tokens suddenly becomes much easier and cheaper, leading to increased liquidity.



It’s easy to see why investors of all sizes are enthusiastic about this development. With a much lower market entry point with less initial investment, the global real estate market is valued at around $280 trillion, making it one of the largest, most illiquid, and non-transparent markets on earth. And post pandemic, in an era of rising costs, there are many distressed assets where such an investment approach may provide an economic lifeline to owners, and competitive opportunities for smaller investors.



One can almost imagine the scenario where an investor might be able to purchase two tokens in a block or apartments in Chennai, ten tokens of a factory in Malaysia, and three tokens of a flat in Hong Kong- all payable in coins, through a single platform.



Recognising this opportunity, Euro Exim Bank are investigating the tokenization of such assets and looking at offering several unique coins, asset backed by investment grade instruments in an easy to trade blockchain-based token.



Whilst the industry is always on the lookout for the next best thing, we believe the tokenisation projects will position the bank as a crypto provider of choice, with provenance, security, assurance, and value.



In addition to our strategy on coins and tokens, our journey towards full digitisation of documents and digitalisation of processes across the extensive trade ecosystem continues apace.



Our lofty ambitions and aspirations are to be the premier provider of trade and crypto currency services through coins and tokens, contributing to better customer experience with fast cross border payments, low transaction fees, efficient settlement, and management of platforms, will facilitate access to distributed financial services for the unbanked, ultimately enabling digital financial inclusion.



By Dr. Graham Bright, Head – Compliance and Operations, Euro Exim Bank

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What next for crypto and Asset tokenization?

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Addis, 3rd February, 2022: Dashen Bank (<a href="http://www.dashenbanksc.com">www.dashenbanksc.com</a>) the largest private bank in one of the world’s fastest growing economies – Ethiopia &#8211; today announced it has extended its strategic partnership with CR2 (<a href="http://www.CR2.com">www.CR2.com</a>) as they accelerate their Branch Transformation programme, a key pillar of their overall digital transformation taking place at the bank.



This latest strategic initiative responds to the changing nature of the branch, migrating traditional teller services to digital points of access such as mobile, online and in-branch selfservice terminals including the ATM and kiosk. Transitioning to a digital branch enables tellers and relationship managers to assist customers digitally in-branch or remotely via the self-service channels and allows customers avail of the services unassisted from the digital points of access. Services include account opening, card applications, cheque deposits, inward and outward remittances and instant loans.



Branch Transformation marks the second major initiative that Dashen Bank has embarked upon with CR2. Following the rollout of CR2’s Digital Banking and Payments Platform; BankWorld, in 2018, the platform has provided an omnichannel banking experience for both Dashen digital banking customers and the 3.5 million of Ethiopians who use Dashen’s ‘Amole’ Digital Wallet on a daily basis that is unique in the Ethiopian market today.



Asfaw Alemu, Chief Executive Officer of Dashen Bank commented:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">Apart from creating better digital customer experiences, our partnership with CR2 will drive further growth of our overall market share, enabling us to reach new customers and reduce our cost to serve. We expect to see growth across all lines of business including retail, corporate and Islamic banking segments as well as increasing access to foreign currency through inward remittances and improving our overall cost to income ratio.</blockquote>



Chief Executive of CR2, Fintan Byrne added:



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">We are very pleased to further solidify our partnership with Dashen Bank. Branch Transformation is a critical strategic project for any bank to undertake, but it offers significant benefits when successfully executed. Digitising and streamlining processes that were traditionally served in-branch will greatly increase the Bank’s digital customer base and significantly improve overall cost efficiencies at the bank.</blockquote>

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Dashen Bank	Accelerates Digital Transformation

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="258" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1-820x258.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-413451" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1-820x258.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1-300x94.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1-160x50.jpg 160w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1-768x241.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1-1536x483.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Insights-Resources-and-energy-1910x600-1.jpg 1910w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



In 2019, the International Energy Agency (IEA) released a <a href="mailto:https://www.iea.org/reports/africa-energy-outlook-2019">report</a> highlighting that one in two people born between then and 2040 would be on the African continent which would overtake both China and India as the most populous region in the world. This growth presents both a challenge and opportunity as stakeholders review the role of the resources and energy sector in driving sustainable and responsible growth.



While Africa has many challenges and is regularly positioned as playing second-fiddle to the likes of China and India who have dominated the BRICs narrative for the last decade, we cannot ignore some of the themes playing out:&nbsp;



<ul><li>Africa is emerging as a global force in oil and gas markets and its growth in oil and energy demand is forecast to outstrip China in the coming years. </li><li>As African populations become more mobile, car fleets are expected to double. The so-called “motorisation rate” estimates that the African continent only has 42 cars per 1000 individuals, compared to the global average of 182 in developed markets. Many of these have poor fuel efficiency designs and this increase in demand will drive adoption of cleaner technology. </li><li>Africa is expected to be the third largest natural gas market in the world and the emergence of the “Hydrogen Economy” and innovative players like JSE-listed Renergen are likely to drive this energy shift materially. </li><li>The Angolan Sovereign Wealth Fund is expected to benefit from its investment in a UK-based rare earths processing facility supplied by an Angolan deposit &#8211;&nbsp; one of only three major producers outside of China – and this is expected to be driven by electric vehicles and clean energy trends bringing much needed revenue into Angola. </li><li>More than 70% of the worlds Cobalt reserves are mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which has been described as the “Saudi Arabia of the electric vehicle age”. </li><li>Zimbabwe and the DRC are home to two of the ten largest lithium deposits in the world and with the global lithium <a href="mailto:https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/lithium-ion-battery-market-49714593.html">battery market</a> expected to grow from $41bn in 2020 to $116bn in 2030, this represents an opportunity for these countries to attract foreign investment.</li></ul>



<ul><li>Major commodity trading houses are ramping up their investments in Africa to incorporate niche commodities including lithium, biofuels and other renewable energy spin-offs and this theme is leading to improved price discovery and interest in the African energy market as it transitions from fossil fuels to clean energy over time.</li></ul>



These are just a handful of the exciting themes playing out now, but the natural question comes in: Will Africa simply be an extractive market where foreign investors reap the benefits, but the local communities lose out?



Based on our extensive analysis of the continent, we believe the answer to this question is a resounding “no”. Local content regulations and beneficiation should be the focus for many governments to ensure inclusive economic growth for the continent.



While the mining and resources sectors are significant in terms of opportunity size, it now accounts for the minority of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) coming into the continent. Long-term investors are bulking up investment in the likes of telecommunications and downstream support services as well as other critical infrastructure such as water, energy and transport. The number of LNG and planned LNG projects in Mozambique, Nigeria, Ghana, Egypt, Mauritania and Senegal are evidence that Africa is preparing for the energy transition. <a href="mailto:https://www.ey.com/en_gl/tax/why-africa-is-becoming-a-bigger-player-in-the-global-economy">Research</a> out of consulting firm EY captures this trend at a practical level where they showed that extractive activities accounted for more than half of FDI each year between 2005 and 2011. But between 2011 and 2018, this trend had fallen every year, leading Rod Wolfenden – EY Africa Markets Leader – commented as follows:



“The big building blocks are now in place. Africans are the beneficiaries, but so are the next wave of investors, who will have an easier time developing their projects.”



These building blocks are translating into big, exciting projects that will ultimately have a transformative impact on the African continent and its energy mix. The UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Accords are adding further impetus to these investments.&nbsp;



Morocco has built the world’s largest concentrated solar energy farm which is estimated to have a reduction of CO2 emissions in Morocco by as much as 800&nbsp;000t per year.



The second largest project is in Egypt where a $4bn investment is expected to prevent two million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.



Nigeria has set itself an ambitious goal of transitioning its energy mix to 30% renewables by 2030, while South Africa is regarded as a trailblazer in the renewable and clean energy spaces.



Africa is taking its place in the global resource market and we as Africa’s leading Pan-African banking group believe that our combination of industry insights and financial solutions position us to be the banker of choice for entrepreneurs who want to add to the building blocks of the future.

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Where does Africa fit into the global resource mix?

Eiffel Corp, in Partnership with Instructure, is a key sponsor in the CNBC Africa virtual summit with the theme ‘Redefining the future of education’. Myles Thies, director of digital learning services, will be sharing thoughts on technology changing the face of education. To understand the future, we also have to assess the education sector’s current reality, especially within the context of the Covid-19 Pandemic, and its direct impact on technology and education.



Africa is no stranger to disruptions in face-to-face teaching and learning. From protests like #feesmustfall, to natural disasters, and pandemics. The severity of the Covid-19 Pandemic’s impact, however, has taken all by surprise. Forcing institutions and schools to think fast and adjust at record speeds, this pandemic has shifted the delivery of education from face-to-face to virtual. This reactive state was dubbed ‘Emergency Remote Teaching.’



The consequence of this global state of education has been a dramatic shift from instructors teaching in class or in blended learning scenarios, to a mostly distance or online education. The rapid shift was, unfortunately, not as seamless as many would have hoped and many, including digital education professionals were challenged by the prolonged experience. In many cases, educators did not adopt or applied technology for instruction in the form it was meant to be utilised. Instead ERT resulted in a faux-technology based learning environment rather than real, contextualised, connected and applicable learning through technology. Students have not adjusted easily either, facing obstacles such as lack of digital literacy, not benefitting from the online availability due to the lack of usable devices or data, as well as the critical personal and learning community connection that comes from the in contact experience. Many students are citing loneliness and the disappearance of close personal connections as a major challenges to their academic study



This begs the question, how far is the digital divide between students and lack of access? We need to acknowledge that there was a pre-existing divergence between those institutions and educators using technology in a pedagogically sound and learning theory-based manner and those that are simply replicating contact-based teaching though it. This certainly has been exacerbated through the pandemic. In practical terms, technology tools like Learning Management Systems are being used as a repository for content, and not the virtual learning environment it was meant for.&nbsp; This follows a lack of planning and course design and the fostering of vibrant and inclusive online student and course communities that support learning goals.



In response, we have seen numerous solutions pop up on the educational technology sphere. While many offer some immediate reprieve from the challenges of virtual learning environments, many of these solutions are not sustainable, appropriate for their environment or contextually relevant and therefore cannot keep up with the developing needs of both students and educators in the long term. Misaligned or under-supported solutions may also not take into account the future goals and objectives of an institution, do not encourage scalability and they don’t meet the needs of all stakeholders in the learning spectrum whether at school, university or in the workplace. This is evident in the need for many to supplement their Learning Management Platforms with tools such as Zoom, WhatsApp or Social Media channels.



<figure class="wp-block-image alignwide size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EiffelCorpAndInstructure_Forbes-Africa-Article-820x547.png" alt="" class="wp-image-410605" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EiffelCorpAndInstructure_Forbes-Africa-Article-820x547.png 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EiffelCorpAndInstructure_Forbes-Africa-Article-300x200.png 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EiffelCorpAndInstructure_Forbes-Africa-Article-120x80.png 120w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EiffelCorpAndInstructure_Forbes-Africa-Article-768x512.png 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/EiffelCorpAndInstructure_Forbes-Africa-Article.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



It is therefore evident that the shift to online platforms has been messy and not as seamless as many imagined it would be. While it certainly is an achievement, solutions implemented with the mindset of emergency remote teaching, or ‘physically distanced learning’ have resulted in a missed opportunity all is not lost. Many lessons have been learned in this trying period and they will no doubt inform the decision of the future and what institutions believe is right for their learners. With the correct support, training and full use of the LMS and all its functionalities Eiffel Corp believes that education in the hands of capable and experienced educators technology can be revolutionary.



“We have been helping institutions realise the potential of technology in education since our inception and it’s something we continue to invest in and perfect. Our best of breed technology and services span the entire student lifecycle. While we offer a range of class leading and custom edtech solutions, we enable organisations working with them to apply the technology and services that are optimal for their unique learning, administration, communication and wellness needs. Our remit covers everything from initial consulting and deployment to support as the institution adopts learning technology in everyday learning and administration activities, remote examinations and even cashless payments. We further support institutions as they then scale, adapt and evolve these technologies in the future,” explained Myles Thies, Director of digital learning services at Eiffel Corp.



“Our extensive local and international knowledge gives us the insight needed to ensure that the tools EdTech have to offer are used to their fullest potential within the African context. We partner with leading companies like Instructure, to bring world class solutions like Canvas LMS to Africa and we walk the journey with institutions to ensure the necessary skills, wellness needs and sustainability are also addressed rather than simply implementing a Learning Management System,” said Thies.



Join Thies has he unpacks the latest technologies transforming the face of education at the virtual summit. The summit kicks off at 10h00 (CAT) on 29 July 2021. Register in advance (free of charge) on Hopin<a href="https://hopin.com/events/future-of-education-summit-2021"> here</a>



Sponsors include Vodacom Business, UCT GSB, The University of Johannesburg, Vuma, Transnational Academic Group, Lancaster University: Ghana, as well as Curtin University: Dubai.

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Technology-based learning during Covid-19: A revolution in education or missed opportunity?

Whilst listening to a recent presentation by Absa’s equity analyst Samantha Naicker entitled “Navigating the Maze” on South African Food Producers, I stumbled on a theory dubbed “The Lipstick Effect”.  Defined by Wikipedia, it is when facing an economic crisis, consumers will be more willing to buy less costly luxury goods but will continue to spend money on small indulgences.   Thus, when the consumer’s trust in the economy is dwindling, they will buy goods that have less impact on their available funds but still make them feel good about themselves and life in general.



However, despite lockdown levels easing, the COVID-19 crisis did not lead to the traditional “Lipstick Effect” witnessed in past eras. The theory of spending more on less costly luxury items that will make you feel better about yourself, seemingly failed – well, when it comes to lipstick at least.&nbsp;



Circumstances greater than the crisis resulted in a different behavior from consumers than anticipated.&nbsp; They opted for spending money on home improvements and home entertainment, rather than luxury feel better goods such as make-up and perfume. The home environment became the primary focus of spending and “necessary” for survival. Based on Absa Card Spending Data the trend continues, whilst return to “normal” pre-COVID world of work, travel and social interaction, remains elusively out of reach.



This got me thinking further about the drivers of consumer behavior and how the pandemic also accelerated online and omni-channel retail beyond expectations. If we look at our data, it is clear that while e-commerce was starting to gather some traction, the lockdown was the catalyst for a step-change in adoption. While foot traffic in malls is starting to pick up, there’s a clear increase in the number of people whose behaviors have shifted to online. It now has become a habit consumers have adopted.



Considering all of the aforementioned, it is noticeable that consumers are effectively the ultimate drivers of trends and change.&nbsp; Given the fact that the South African economy (and many economies globally) faces a number of big, structural challenges, for which we require such change, it is becoming clear that we will need to start thinking differently about how we influence behavioral changes to drive consumer adoption of necessary trends, technologies and industries for much-needed future growth.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-buy-local-initiative">“Buy Local” initiative</h2>



One of the long-standing criticisms of the South African government specifically is that it has failed to identify strategic sectors and industries to support and capacitate. We often tried to be all things to all people and failed to identify sectors that we can excel in or those that are important in the local economy in terms of job creation or export revenue potential.



Over the last few years, there has been a focus on establishing sectoral Master Plans with a combination of tax and financial incentives to attract foreign investors with some notable successes like the automotive sector. We have recognized the need to move from an Import economy back to self-producing and export driven economy in order to create jobs and thrive.&nbsp;



As an example, the increased focus on the textile sector and related Master Plan, has the potential to bring manufacturing back to South Africa, and furthermore also adds support to small scale farmers and fabric producers, artists and creatives.&nbsp; However, we keep coming back to the question: “How do we incentivise South African’s to support their local talent and buy local produce?”



A number of the retailers run initiatives – often in conjunction with the likes of Discovery – where you get rebates on buying healthy food and gear. Could the same principle be applied to buying locally manufactured products and how would the consumer respond to this?



From Absa’s consumer merchant spending analytics, it is clear that the clothing industry took extra strain during Covid, putting even more pressure on the already struggling textile industry. The below graph illustrate spending growth across various categories:



Could initiatives be considered that actively drives a “buying local” trend, by putting money back into the consumer’s pockets when it is so desperately needed? Perhaps, through reduced tax (VAT) or discounts passed via corporate tax, for buying locally made produce?&nbsp; This is the sort of thinking we need to adopt to create the positive change we so much require in this economy.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-reducing-physical-cash-as-a-payment-mechanism">Reducing physical cash as a payment mechanism</h2>



Cash comes with Risk and Risk comes with additional costs. Ideally we would like to significantly reduce cash in our payment systems, but in an economy like South Africa, cash is still a major part of the day-to-day payment system.&nbsp; COVID-19 has raised further concerns around the risks associated of handling cash and even the passing of card terminals between consumers and merchants.



James Scott, Head Digital and Platform services at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking agrees that cash is king and very relevant in Africa when he states: “It is no longer about a gap in the technology to displace cash, it is all about shifting consumer and merchant behaviour towards enabling digital payments. Regulatory shifts in South Africa will see the introduction of a low cost payment rail, this has the potential to really open up innovation, financially include more of the population and reduce the friction and risk inherit in cash. An exciting space to watch.”



So the question then is how do we influence a change in consumer behavior to demand payment from sources by means other than cash?&nbsp; Again, we have to consider incentivising consumers with discounts for paying digitally or other.&nbsp; There is no doubt a saving to be done away with between security and cash deposit fees, which potentially could be passed on to the consumers.



In theory at least, the idea is great and has the potential of running stores more efficiently by reducing security risks and probably lower other cash related costs such as insurance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-netflix-the-stick-or-the-carrot">Netflix: The stick or the carrot</h2>



Before I end, I would be remiss not to discuss the stick versus carrot approach and what it brings out in consumers. For those who are old enough to remember, you used to have to pay a license to have a bicycle and own a dog as revenue categories for government. These were eventually canned and interestingly, both the leisure and pet care sectors have exploded as major retail categories.



Over the last decade the SABC has bemoaned the lack of compliance around TV licenses as consumers have shifted away from cable to online streaming options. The response from government and the regulators is to attempt to use the stick of applying “TV” licenses for the viewing of the likes of Netflix.&nbsp; In my humble opinion, sticks rarely work in driving a new trends being adopted or behavior we would like to see – quite the opposite.&nbsp;



I don’t have all the answers but I think that the events of 2020 have shown that if we can find ways to positively influence and drive change in consumer behaviors, we potentially have the ability to re-imagine our local economy.



By: Isana Cordier

ABSA_Insights_Consumer Goods and Services_CBNC_Thumbnail Image_1910x600 …

Drivers of Consumer Trends

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="547" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-820x547.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-408331" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-820x547.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-120x80.jpg 120w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Aida-5-scaled.jpg 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /><figcaption>Aida Diarra, Senior Vice President &amp; Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at Visa</figcaption></figure>



The last decade has seen enormous growth in digital technology, including payments. Innovation and technological advances are bringing exciting opportunities for financial inclusion to the fore. Technology is now a tool to leapfrog over old processes, systems, and protocols for the benefit of everyday consumers. This leap forward has been accelerated by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced us to shift our behaviours and adopt more technology to assist with our day-to-day lives in all aspects, including our finances.



As a result, the payments segment has grown rapidly in Sub Saharan Africa, mainly due to the high demand for financial inclusion. Today Visa, the world leader in digital payments, has become the connective tissue to enable new payment and commerce experiences by co-creating with all players in the payments sector – including fintechs, neobanks and wallets – to enable new payment experiences across the region. We have always been an enabler of invention and have constantly innovated to meet market needs over the years — from credit, debit and prepaid to mobile and IoT – to enable new payment experiences across the region. Our business and technology strategies have enabled us to become a leader in electronic payments over the last six decades. Despite this great success, an estimated $17 trillion of cash and checks are still in use globally, and nearly 2 billion adults lack access to formal financial services, providing huge opportunities for Visa and the greater industry to rally around standards (e.g., QR, eCom/mCom) and capabilities that will broaden access to electronic payments.



According to the Global Innovation Index, regional divides still persist and when you look at Sub Saharan Africa we are characterized by high performers like South Africa and Mauritius who rank in the top 60, while most of our region ranks below 100.



Visa’s approach to innovation in the 21st century is anchored in a belief that paying with Visa in the digital world should be just as simple as when you pay with Visa in the physical world. It should also be just as secure, rewarding, and convenient.



With commerce becoming increasingly digital, there is greater impetus for Visa to innovate to keep our system secure for everyone. Every Visa payment, for example, is secured by our sophisticated anti-fraud detection systems that apply the latest in machine learning and artificial intelligence. We pioneered the use of sophisticated machine learning systems to reduce fraud on our network over a decade ago, and in the years since, we have evolved our predictive analytics to incorporate new data sources and new AI technologies. In a fraction of a second, Visa analyses up to 500 pieces of data to protect accountholders and merchants by catching fraud before it happens.



The restrictions on movement and increased wariness of handling physical cash caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, helped lift Sub-Saharan mobile money transaction volumes 23% to $490 billion last year, greater than the GDP of Nigeria, the region’s biggest economy. Leap frog markets like Kenya have one of the highest mobile-money penetration rates in the world (mobile money is 54x bigger than card payments).



What further compels our innovation strategy is a very large opportunity to accelerate the adoption of digital payments globally. Over the last several years, Visa has fundamentally evolved both our platforms and how we work with partners and clients to encourage a broadening of the commerce ecosystem. Our focus has remained the same: to provide our clients and partners with access to our network, products, tools and expertise to enable their growth and success. In addition, our collaborations with a broad range of partners to co-create market-ready payment solutions have been a key driver in the enhancement of financial inclusion across Sub-Saharan Africa.



Some of our latest partnerships are leveraging the power of mobile as an access point to financial inclusion, including a partnership to develop products that will expand access to digital payments at scale for over 30 million mobile money customers .We are also driving access for small businesses through the launches of tap to phone and an exciting pilot that will serve as a solution to help small business owners digitize their business, covering payments, point of sale and access to credit, via a mobile device.



To foster real inclusion we need tangible, customer-centric solutions that, with our innovation and design centre capabilities, our partners have a chance to engage with key trends and the latest Visa technologies through a number of design processes to identify where the gaps and opportunities are.



We are always looking to partner with companies at the leading edge of enhancing financial inclusion. As we continue to evolve as a company and a brand, technology will continue to be our great enabler, helping us achieve our vision of being the best way to pay and be paid, for everyone, everywhere.

Aida (5)

Innovation, partnership, and co-creation key to driving digital payment growth in Sub-Saharan Africa

14 June 2021 &#8211;&nbsp; Johannesburg, South Africa: Today marks the official launch of Access Bank South Africa Limited, and another step in engraving Access Bank Plc into the continent’s history.



Noting the enthusiasm of all parties leading up to this day, Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe says the SADC region represents the strongest economy on the African continent.



<figure class="wp-block-pullquote"><blockquote>“This means Access Bank SA is firmly seated in one of the principal geographical areas apart from Nigeria, in terms of the size of the economy, and unlocks the gateway to the entire Southern African region.”<cite>Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe</cite></blockquote></figure>



Wigwe highlighted Access Bank’s solid presence in Zambia too, saying the opening of the South African subsidiary cements the Bank’s commitment to sub Saharan Africa as a portal for exceptional banking opportunities across the continent.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="532" height="800" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-532x800.jpg" alt="native" class="wp-image-406869" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-532x800.jpg 532w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-53x80.jpg 53w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Herbert-Wigwe-Group-CEO-Access-Bank-Plc-scaled.jpg 1363w" sizes="(max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px" /><figcaption>Access Bank CEO Herbert Wigwe</figcaption></figure>



Building on the organisation’s vision of delivering a robust banking operation that connects key African markets, Bennie van Rooy, CEO of Access Bank SA, lauded today as “an exciting event for the South African banking industry”, and the provision of sustainable support to existing customers while appealing to new clients with a business presence across Africa.



“As part of the robust Access Bank family, the South African operations look forward to contributing meaningfully to the achievements and ambitions of the Group. In offering a full suite of financial service products to a market we understand in depth, Access Bank SA is delighted to grow the family footprint.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-opportunities-and-the-power-of-choice">Opportunities and the power of choice</h2>



Wigwe says the Group continues to focus on building relationships, as a partner in both businesses and in communities it serves. “It’s vital that our banking solutions give clients the advantage they need to grow sustainably, with access to smart solutions that help them reach greater goals.”



With its transactional account and online banking, commercial and asset finance, offshore investments and Forex requirements or deposit solutions, Access Bank puts the power of choice in clients’ hands.



“Partnerships with all our clients mean power for them to achieve their aspirations, while Access Bank’s growth brings greater advantages in the financial sector. Like Bennie, I am excited to be on this path with the knowledge and experience of the continent that we share,” said Wigwe.



“We look forward to the opportunities that present themselves with opening doors for individuals and businesses, and growing possibilities as we go.”



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="532" height="800" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-532x800.jpg" alt="native" class="wp-image-406870" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-532x800.jpg 532w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-200x300.jpg 200w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-53x80.jpg 53w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-768x1154.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-1022x1536.jpg 1022w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Bennie-van-Rooy-CEO-Access-Bank-SA-3-scaled.jpg 1363w" sizes="(max-width: 532px) 100vw, 532px" /><figcaption>Bennie van Rooy, CEO of Access Bank SA</figcaption></figure>

Access-Bank-Grobank-deal

Signed, sealed, delivered: Access Bank’s South African division open for business

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="258" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Absa-Access_CNBC-Header-Banner-_1910x600-130-kb-820x258.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-403175" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Absa-Access_CNBC-Header-Banner-_1910x600-130-kb-820x258.jpg 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Absa-Access_CNBC-Header-Banner-_1910x600-130-kb-300x94.jpg 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Absa-Access_CNBC-Header-Banner-_1910x600-130-kb-768x241.jpg 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Absa-Access_CNBC-Header-Banner-_1910x600-130-kb-1536x483.jpg 1536w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Absa-Access_CNBC-Header-Banner-_1910x600-130-kb.jpg 1910w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



Technological breakthroughs in the banking industry have shaped how we bank today, advancing an industry that is reliant on innovation to meet the needs of its clients. These advancements are a part of our everyday life and challenge banks to create innovative solutions that make their clients’ run their business easier and it is imperative that the industry adopts the latest trends in technology, security, design and data. &nbsp;



As a Transactional Banking business, Absa’s ambition is to provide its clients with a Pan-African platform that will enable them to effortlessly oversee their payments, collections, information products, trade finance, FX and international banking as well as liquidity management through a single platform.



For this reason, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) has over the past three years been investing in building out the Absa Access platform. Absa Access is a Pan-African, single sign-on platform that gives clients standardised, secure, and near real-time access to their business portfolios and the banking services. This enables them to make informed decisions to drive the growth of their businesses, managing their finances with the speed and intelligence that the platform provides.



“This platform will offer our Corporate clients with an integrated solution to complete their domestic and cross border payments including verified payments &#8211; including Tax and Custom Payments. This ensures greater visibility of their cash flow needs in all their markets, says Yasmin&nbsp;Masithela, Managing Executive for Transactional Banking at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking



A game-changing platform launched as part of Absa CIB’s digital journey, Absa Access is testament to Absa’s decision to become a digitally-led organisation.&nbsp;



“Absa&nbsp;Access&nbsp;provides a framework which enables clients in the way that makes the most sense for them be it online, host, mobile or API’s or a combination thereof across all geographies.&nbsp;The convenience and risk mitigation options of this framework are enormous as well as allowing us to have a multi-tenant approach which allows us to significantly increase the rate of change to this environment as the market changes around us,” says Masithela. &nbsp;



James Scott, Head of Absa Digital and Platform Services, says there has been a big shift in the way that businesses are looking for solutions from their banking partners. “It is imperative that the industry adopts the latest trends in digital, data, security, experience and design. The shift from traditional products to platforms will be a big trend unfolding on the continent in years to come.”



Masithela believes that the payment industry on the continent will represent a big opportunity for the CIB cluster, driven by the displacement of cash, increased digitisation and the potentially shifting regulatory landscape. The opportunity to deliver solutions and form partnerships to capture the growth will be essential and with competition from fintechs, telcos and the traditional players it’s going to be an interesting time for the continent.



The increase in the number of Fintechs, innovative solutions from Acquirers and other technology companies as well as digital solutions from Telcos operators will all provide new&nbsp;opportunities on the continent.&nbsp;



The biggest opportunity remains the displacement of physical cash which still accounts for more than 70% of transactions and remains a costly method of doing payments. According to a study by Mastercard, the cost of cash processing &nbsp;in South Africa is R23billion and estimated to be R45billion in Nigeria according to analysis from the Research Gate reviewing the importance of the Cashless Policy in Nigeria, says Masithela.



Data out of the African Development Bank estimates the Trade Finance Gap in Africa to be $91bn, with the focus on Intra Africa Trade and improving credit risk management solutions on the continent, the ability to offer innovative finance solutions on the continent will offer new opportunities for growing the bank’s market share in trade.



New digital solutions &#8211; such as concluding trade transactions using blockchain &#8211; will increase the data integration between the flow of goods and the financial transaction flow, which will improve the risk profile of trade transactions and be the catalyst for narrowing the Trade Finance Gap. &nbsp;



Masithela concludes: “We have invested in both technology and people in this space and are transforming towards a more modern world which is more aligned to customers and responsive to market changes.”

(141kb)Absa Access CNBC Header Banner _1910x600

Innovation is key to unlocking Africa’s banking potential

Johannesburg, 14 April 2021 – Professional Provident Society (PPS), the financial services company focused solely on providing financial solutions for graduate professionals, produced a resilient 2020 performance. This was amid a year in which COVID-19 impacted lives and livelihoods. Despite this, PPS stood focused on delivering its core purpose of paying valid claims and protecting its members’ financial health.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="820" height="258" src="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1910x600-banner_Imbi-1-820x258.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-402370" srcset="https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1910x600-banner_Imbi-1-820x258.gif 820w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1910x600-banner_Imbi-1-300x94.gif 300w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1910x600-banner_Imbi-1-768x241.gif 768w, https://cms.cnbcafrica.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/1910x600-banner_Imbi-1-1536x483.gif 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 820px) 100vw, 820px" /></figure>



PPS’s strategy of delivering value to members, its strong balance sheet, coupled with growth of the business, contributed to its solid performance in this tumultuous period.



“We entered 2020 with solid capital reserves and with good momentum. This meant that we could act swiftly to put relief measures in place, pay claims reliably, secure our adviser network and maintain our full staff complement throughout the lockdown. The unique situation presented by the pandemic also served as a catalyst to accelerate the process of expanding and implementing our digitalisation strategy,” says Izak Smit, PPS Group CEO.



“Our resilience as a business, strong organisational values, the performance-driven culture of our people and our trusted relationship with financial advisers added to the sustainability of PPS through this difficult year,” he adds.



PPS is unique in the South African financial services industry, differentiated by its ethos of mutuality.



“This has proved its value as we mark 80 years since PPS was founded by a group of hard-working dentists who chose a methodology which is nowadays not so common in financial institutions. Mutuality permeates every aspect of our business, from the way we are structured to how new innovations are designed. The past year has again confirmed the purpose of our existence: to protect our members and their families so that they can focus on their professions and the lives they want to live.



“Our performance is significant against the backdrop of spending nine months of our 2020 financial year operating under lockdown. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of mutuality in providing financial security and long-term benefits to our members.



“In 2020, the Group paid R4.84 billion in benefit pay-outs and valid claims to members. This is 29% up from R3.74 billion in 2019. Focusing on life claims in particular, this amounted to R3.12 billion in 2020, up 45% on the R2.16 billion in 2019. Of this, PPS paid more than 4 200 COVID-19-related claims to the value of R389.8 million between March and December 2020. As expected, medical professionals were most affected by the pandemic and accounted for 74% of these claims.”



Commenting on the performance, Smit says: “PPS has been able to provide a reliable financial safety net for its members. Because there were no outside shareholder interests to protect – we do not have such stakeholders – we looked for opportunities to assist members adjusting claim and premium protocols specific to the pandemic, while ensuring fairness between different cohorts of members. Despite this, due to our strong balance sheet and inherent profitability of the risk pool and the businesses, PPS was still able to allocate R2.2 billion in 2020 in total profit to our members with qualifying products.”



Smit adds that the Group’s life insurance gross earned premiums was R5.12 billion and were 7% up on the R4.77 billion in 2019. While many members’ finances were strained, and they remained cautious about spending, their awareness of the need to protect themselves and their families against unforeseen shocks increased. This, and assistance with premiums where members were struggling, helped to keep lapses low. Despite the challenges of 2020, all the subsidiaries showed incremental growth. PPS Investments had a strong year. Gross new investment flows to PPS Investments of R7.5 billion were 22% up on the prior year.



Among the innovations introduced in 2020 to address the evolving needs of professionals is the enhanced PPS Profit-Share Cross-Holdings Booster. This makes loyal members’ Profit-Share work even harder for them in the long term, rewarding them based on the combination of products from PPS Investments, PPS Short-Term Insurance and Profmed medical aid that they hold over and above their PPS Life Risk Products.



Looking ahead, Smit says that it is impossible to make firm predictions for 2021 as the pandemic continues to evolve, and the long-term impact thereof is not yet known. A certainty is that the effects of COVID-19 will continue to be a market disruptor and a creator of opportunities. “We are bracing ourselves for further waves, but an aspect that works in our favour is that many professionals in the frontline in fighting the pandemic, particularly those in the health professions, were the first to be vaccinated. We are confident that the professionals for which PPS was founded will continue to show the significant role that they play in ensuring the health and well-being of South Africa’s citizens and economy.



“I want to extend PPS’s special thanks to our members for their boundless service to the community. South Africa is indebted to them. Thank you for your continued support and trust,” concludes Smit.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-about-pps">About PPS</h2>



PPS boasts in excess of 150 000 members who enjoy access to a comprehensive suite of financial and healthcare products that are specifically tailored to meet the needs of graduate professionals.



PPS is the largest South African company of its kind, exclusively for graduate professionals, that still embraces an ethos of mutuality, which means that it exists solely for the benefit of its members. Thus, PPS members with qualifying products from PPS Insurance, PPS Investments, PPS Short-Term Insurance and Profmed share in the profits of PPS Insurance, PPS Investments, PPS Short-Term Insurance and PPS Healthcare Administrators via annual allocations to the unique PPS Profit-Share Account.



PPS membership provides access to the following tried, tested and trusted products and services: PPS Life Insurance, PPS Short-Term Insurance, PPS Financial Advisory, PPS Investments and Profmed Medical Scheme. Visit www.pps.co.za for more information. PPS is a Licensed Insurer and Financial Services Provider.

1910×600-banner_Imbi (1)

PPS RESILIENCE PRODUCES SOUND PERFORMANCE IN UNPRECEDENTED YEAR

Mastercard and MTN today announced a strategic partnership to enable millions of consumers in 16 countries across Africa to make global e-commerce payments safely and securely.



Through a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to MTN MoMo (Mobile Money) wallets, consumers and merchants can engage with brands and businesses abroad through digital commerce, extending their reach to an international marketplace and unlocking a host of opportunities.



Across Sub-Saharan Africa, mobile devices are the primary channel used to connect to the internet. According to GSMA, by 2025, it is estimated that there will be 300 million more people using their devices to access internet services. In light of this significant growth, mobile financial services have become the dominant form of digital payments, with twice as many mobile money accounts as bank accounts in the region. As a result,&nbsp; consumers increasingly expect to have access to a broader range of digital financial services.



However, consumers and merchants are mostly restricted to a local base of online and offline businesses, therefore curtailing customers’ ability to engage in global commerce. Through this strategic partnership, MTN customers with a Mastercard virtual payment solution linked to their MoMo wallets can make payments to global online merchants through a seamless and secure digital payment experience on websites and mobile applications. The service is available regardless of whether or not the customer has a bank account.



The solution will enable consumers to explore and shop at well-known global e-commerce brands and pay quickly and securely for leisure shopping, travel, accommodation, entertainment, streaming services and more. It will also allow small business owners to purchase from suppliers abroad and pay with the virtual payment solution.



“We are very excited about this partnership with Mastercard, which is another step in realizing our ambition to build Africa’s largest fintech platform, accelerating economic and social development through digital innovation to the benefit of citizens across the continent and beyond,” said MTN Group Chief Digital and Fintech Officer Serigne Dioum.



“This noteworthy partnership is another step to enable our customers to participate in the global economy. We are resolute that accelerated financial inclusion is a potent enabler of socio-economic development that empowers the most vulnerable in society,” he concluded.



Amnah Ajmal, Executive Vice President for Market Development, Mastercard Middle East and Africa,&nbsp;said: “This significant milestone will enable millions of MTN customers to benefit from global digital commerce and drive digital and financial inclusion across Africa through easy and secure access to financial services.



“At Mastercard, our innovation strategy is based on partnerships and collaboration. This agreement with MTN shows that we can deliver innovative digital solutions that have a far-reaching impact and realize the true potential of inclusive growth across the continent. Partnering with MTN allows us to accelerate our global pledge to connect 1 billion people to the digital economy by 2025, bringing us closer to a world beyond cash.”



MTN and Mastercard first launched the digital payment solution in 2018 for MoMo customers. MTN, the largest mobile network operator, is the most admired African brand and the most valuable telecoms brand in Africa.&nbsp;



The company will extend the virtual payment solution offering throughout its Fintech footprint. The expansion of this payment solution will play a significant role in driving the growth of digital inclusion and e-commerce thus increasing MTN MoMo customer inclusion into the global economy.



Initially designed to facilitate the transfer of cash between mobile users, MTN’s MoMo offering is now much broader &#8211; including loans, insurance, remittances and payments.

In this photo illustration the Mastercard logo is displayed

Mastercard and MTN empower millions to make payments on global platforms, advancing digital financial inclusion

Content provided by CompareForexBrokers



Prior to understanding why market volatility might be here to stay for the foreseeable future, the concept must be defined and understood on a basic level. When it comes to the forex trading market, volatility is the measurement of the frequency and extent of the positive and negative changes and swings in a particular currency’s value.



For example, if the Australian Dollar deviated from its average quite frequently and the deviations were substantial, it would be known to be a highly volatile currency. On the contrary if the Japanese Yen’s deviations from average were quite minimal and very rare – the currency would be known to have low volatility.



Volatility in the Forex market might not be all so bad, the more volatile the currency, the easier for traders to make big gains as price moves are likely to be larger. However, at the same time, such volatility can hold <a href="https://capital.com/volatility-risk-definition">trading risk</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Difference between Volatility and Risk</h2>



Many forex traders make the mistake and join the concepts of volatility and risk at the hip. When in reality, they are different, and understand that much can take a trader a long way to being successful in the currency market game.



Market volatility, currency fluctuations, price gains and losses are all elements of Forex Trading that traders cannot control. However, risk is within a traders control. An individual can choose how much to invest, how much risk to expose themselves to and whether they are able to manage risk in general.



It is accurate that trading volatile currencies carries a large amount of risk, but traders need to be aware that it is ultimately up to them how much of their investment portfolio is made up of volatile currencies, and as a consequence the amount of risk they deal with.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dealing with Volatility</h2>



When it comes to responding to volatility, many will say there is no one size fits all methodology. One of the more important mindsets to adopt is the ability to mould the volatility to your trading strategy and your current ‘life stage of investing.’



Those in their twilight years, will most likely be risk averse, and would prefer to trade with currencies that offer lower volatility, as opposed to those who are younger and a hungrier for a bit more ‘bang for buck.’



As COVID-19 continues to bring uncertainty on a global scale, many countries are struggling to keep up with the health requirements and the dire economic outlook. This uncertainty brings the understanding that market volatility is here to stay as covered by <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/14/investing/dow-stocks-worst-week-2008/index.html">CNN</a>.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Historical Volatility v Implied Volatility</h2>



One of the ways to understand volatility in a more wholistic manner, is by understanding the difference between historical volatility and implied volatility.



Implied volatility is when a trader is able to look at options presented to them and ascertain what the implications of those options are. This does not employ historical charts or information, and is majorly based on the ability of the option provided to succeed in the future market.



Historical volatility measures and determines the price fluctuations of a currency over time, and ascertains where a currency is tracking based on its past performance.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Summary</h2>



During these tumultuous times, its evident that market volatility is prevalent and will be an important facet of the trading markets in the <a href="https://www.refinitiv.com/perspectives/future-of-investing-trading/the-covid-19-crisis-brings-volatility-back-to-the-fx-market/">short term</a>. It is up to the trader to ascertain how much risk they are able to manage and have the foresight to use fluctuations to their advantage as opposed to conceding major losses on investments.



Disclaimer: Currency trading is a leveraged product which means that with an eligible FX broker you can amplify your deposit up to 500 times. This leverage means there is a real possibility of losing your money so it’s important to understand the risks involved and consider options such a practice account. For more information view the South African section of <a href="https://www.compareforexbrokers.com/best-forex-broker/south-africa/">CompareForexBrokers</a>.

101416618-rand

Is Market Volatility Here For The Foreseeable Future?

Coke The Secret Formula 4: How this initiative is empowering S.Africans & keeping the earth clean

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This content was supplied by the IATF



A city that’s synonymous with innovation and creativity, Kigali, Rwanda plays host to this year’s Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) – the only pan-African B2B cross-sector trade fair. Focusing on the newly launched African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the week-long event promotes trade and investment across 55 countries. Major African traders, political stakeholders, buyers, investors, entrepreneurs and product manufacturers will join forces from 1 to 7 September 2020 to drive growth through unrivalled business opportunities.



<iframe loading="lazy" width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gVJvJcf88sc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture"></iframe>



 Location, location



Situated in the heart of Rwanda, Kigali is buzzing with possibility and African charm. Home to countless creative startups and tech hubs and supported by a promising investment climate, the dynamic and progressive capital is the perfect setting for the key event boosting trade in Africa – the IATF 2020.



Innovation aside, ‘the land of a thousand hills’ also boasts picturesque views with rolling green hills and valleys. Stretching into Rwanda’s countryside, Kigali offers visitors plenty of outdoor escapes with over 430 000 hectares of forests and four national parks. Those seeking adventure can climb Mount Kigali — the highest of Kigali’s hills — to experience panoramic views of the city.



And for those who enjoy immersing themselves in the culture of a brand-new city, Kigali celebrates creativity and passion through thriving art, trade, coffee and restaurant scenes. Visitors are spoilt for choice when it comes to interesting art galleries, including the humble Niyo Art Gallery – a Rwandan home that has been transformed into a colourful museum for local works. A percentage of profits go to the Niyo Cultural Centre, which shelters and educates street children. For local goods and tasty food, the Kigali Culture Village provides a dedicated space for local artisans and food vendors. From charming fair-trade coffee shops to creative fusion restaurants, visitors can also treat their taste buds to real Rwandan java and delightful dishes.



Rapid development in the city has seen the creation of several new shopping malls, collaborative office buildings and entrepreneurship hubs like Norrsken Kigali – started by Sweden’s Norrsken Foundation to drive technology developments across the region. An acclaimed convention centre has also been constructed – IATF 2020 will host over 5 000 participants, 10 000 visitors and buyers, and 1 100 exhibitors at the state-of-the-art Intare Convention Arena. 



Travel options



Kigali International Airport (KGL) is in Kanombe, a few kilometres outside of the city centre. Well connected to other major airports in Africa and cities across the world, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Dubai, Istanbul, London and Tel Aviv, IATF attendees can fly into Rwanda with ease. National carrier RwandAir is recognised as one of the safest and fastest-growing airlines on the African continent.



Road travel into Rwanda is another viable option, especially for those wanting to take in the natural beauty of the country. Sharing land borders with Burundi, the DRC, Tanzania and Uganda, attendees can opt for independent taxis or privately-run buses spanning the entire country.



Interested in learning more or registering for the event? Explore the IATF experience at <a href="https://www.intrafricantradefair.com/en">www.intrafricantradefair.com/en</a>.

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