France, Germany Launch Sh7.2 Billion Plan to Digitalise TVET Institutions
France and Germany, through the French Development Agency and Germany's KfW Development Bank, have launched a Sh7.2 billion (€46.85 million) programme to digitalise Kenya’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions. The initiative follows a recent Kenya‑EU partnership agreement and aims to embed virtual reality, augmented reality and generative AI skills into curricula. High‑level officials, including Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Education and France’s Minister for Francophonie, highlighted the fund’s role in supporting the country’s Bottom‑Up Economic Transformation Agenda. The programme will be showcased at the upcoming Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
India Must Shift From Growth at Scale to Productivity for Viksit Bharat 2047: KPMG Report
KPMG’s new report urges India to move from a scale‑driven growth model to one focused on productivity as it targets a Viksit Bharat by 2047. It outlines ten priority areas, including deepening manufacturing, upskilling a youthful workforce, modernising MSMEs, and...
Makoko’s Five-Point Pact: Peace Today, the Implementation Test Tomorrow
After weeks of protests triggered by the Lagos State Government’s demolition of parts of Makoko’s stilt settlement, a five‑point agreement was signed to halt further construction, establish a community compensation committee, define regeneration boundaries, design a resident‑focused Water City project,...
Barbados to Host IDB Invest Sustainability Week 2026, Focused on Mobilizing Private Investment
IDB Invest announced that Sustainability Week 2026 will be held May 26‑28 in Bridgetown, marking the first time the event takes place in the Caribbean. The three‑day forum will convene investors, companies and project sponsors to showcase investment‑ready opportunities in resilience, infrastructure,...
New Rules for M&A Financing, Loans Against Shares
The Reserve Bank of India issued final guidelines allowing banks to fund acquisitions only when the acquirer already controls the target and seeks to increase its stake from 26% to 90%. Borrowers must have at least ₹500 crore net worth, three...
Trade Pacts Will Open New Markets & Won't Hurt Farmers, Assures Chirag Paswan
India’s decade‑long reform agenda, highlighted by UPI, GST and digital payment schemes, is now bearing fruit, according to Food Processing Minister Chirag Paswan. New free‑trade agreements, especially the pending pact with the United States, are expected to unlock fresh export...
The Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway: Still Growing 8 Years Later
Eight years after its 2018 launch, the Addis Ababa‑Djibouti Railway has become a fully Ethiopian‑Djiboutian‑run, electrified corridor linking land‑locked Ethiopia to the Port of Djibouti. Management shifted from China Railway Construction Corporation to the two governments in May 2024, and Djibouti’s top...
Football Has a Real Fossil Fuel Problem – and It’s Not Sustainable
Football’s rapid expansion—more teams, matches, and tournaments—has turned the sport into a major carbon emitter, with its footprint now comparable to Austria’s national emissions. The 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams, dramatically increasing global travel for players, fans, and...
Infosys ADRs Surge 4%, Wipro's Rise over 2% Despite Weak Wall Street Trade
Infosys ADRs rebounded on Friday, jumping 4% to a intraday high of $14.77, while Wipro ADRs rose 2.2% to $2.33 despite a weakening Nasdaq and soft domestic IT trading. The broader U.S. market slipped, with the Nasdaq down 0.9% and...
Deep Dive: Managers Bullish on China but Await 'Clearer Signals' From Government
Fund managers are increasingly bullish on China as equity markets rebound, but they remain cautious until the government provides clearer policy direction. The recent rally has revived interest in a market once deemed “uninvestable,” prompting a reassessment of exposure levels....
IDB Invest Finances the Development of Zona Franca La Lima in Costa Rica to Boost Investment
IDB Invest has signed a revolving financing agreement of up to $5 million with Costa Rica’s Zona Franca La Lima (ZFLL) to fund land acquisition, R&D spaces and multi‑tenant facilities. The loan, initially 18 months and renewable, aims to attract high‑value‑added sectors...
19 MENA Startups Graduate From the Second Exel by Merak Accelerator Cohort
Nineteen MENA game studios have graduated from the second cohort of Exel by Merak, an $80 million gaming accelerator launched by Merak Capital. Each studio receives $300,000 in seed funding plus mentorship and global network access. Cohort 2 has already produced $1.2 million...
Ruto Goes All in on Privatisation Ahead of Kenya Pipeline IPO
Kenya is launching the largest privatisation in decades with the IPO of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC), seeking to raise 106.3 bn shillings by selling 65% of the monopoly to private investors. The offer, priced at 9 shillings per share, values KPC...
Travel Takes the Lead
Visa’s latest Spending Momentum Index shows travel as the fastest‑growing consumer category in Asia‑Pacific, expanding about 2.5 times faster than overall spend in 2025. Cross‑border card use surged as tourists adopted digital wallets, while affluent consumers generated roughly three‑quarters of...
The Pivot: Unlocking the Central African Republic’s Substantial Resource Frontier
A&S Resources announced strategic contracts to develop a 20 billion‑tonne high‑grade iron ore deposit in the Central African Republic, valued at up to $2.5 trillion in‑situ. The resource, located in the Bangui Anomaly, has been validated by an independent technical report, confirming...
Africa's GDP Race Tightens as Economic Interdependence Deepens
Africa’s five largest economies are now separated by razor‑thin margins, with South Africa’s $401.6 bn GDP barely outpacing Egypt’s $399.5 bn. Nigeria remains third at $334.3 bn but its ranking is highly sensitive to exchange‑rate swings. Algeria and Morocco round out the top...
How Russia Turns Gamers Into Fighters
Russia is actively weaponising video games to recruit foreign fighters and conduct cognitive warfare. Recent Bloomberg reporting details how Russian recruiters used milsim games like Arma 3 and Discord to lure two South African men, who later fought and died in...
US Aims to Process Critical Minerals in Brazil
The United States is actively negotiating with Brazil to develop processing capacity for heavy rare earths, leveraging financing from the Development Finance Corporation. Recent DFC investments have backed the Serra Verde and Aclara rare‑earth projects, which together aim to boost...
James Zimmerman on How the US and China Can Make 2026 a ‘Year of Vision’
James Zimmerman has resumed his role as chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, bringing nearly three decades of on‑the‑ground experience. He argues that the anticipated Trump‑Xi meetings in 2026 present a rare chance to pivot bilateral relations...
Maynilad, Apex Mining Added to MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index
Maynilad Water Services and Apex Mining have been added to the MSCI Philippines Small Cap Index following the February 2026 index review. Maynilad debuted on the Philippine Stock Exchange last November after raising P34.3 billion, the second‑largest IPO in PSE history....
IIAs 2026 | Sensirion’s Expansion in Debrecen, Hungary
Swiss sensor specialist Sensirion expanded its Debrecen, Hungary facility, earning the top award for Europe’s most impactful small operational project. The plant, originally opened in 2021, added capacity through a 2023‑24 expansion and is projected to create 200 jobs by...
IIAs 2026 | Expansion of Natixis’s Centre of Excellence in Porto, Portugal
Natixis’s Centre of Expertise in Porto has surged to more than 2,500 employees, quadrupling its original target. The hub earned second place in fDi Intelligence’s Investment Impact Awards for operational mid‑sized projects, praised for sustainability and inclusive hiring. The expansion...
IIAs 2026 | SK’s Expansion in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland
South Korean conglomerate SK Group’s battery separator plant in Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland, was named the second‑most impactful operational mega project in Europe for 2026. The €4.4 bn investment has created more than 1,200 jobs and strengthens Europe’s battery supply chain amid rising...
IIAs 2026 | CATL’s Gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary
Chinese battery giant CATL is investing €7.34 bn to build a gigafactory in Debrecen, Hungary, the country’s largest greenfield project. The company has already assembled over 120,000 battery modules in a rented facility and aims to start lithium‑ion cell production in...
IIAs 2026 | Harro Höfliger’s Expansion in Debrecen, Hungary
Harro Höfliger, a German machinery maker, is expanding its Debrecen plant with a €15 million investment, creating 100 jobs. The project follows the 2024 acquisition of Manz’s Hungarian operations and was ranked the second most impactful small‑scale FDI in the 2026 Investment...
IIAs 2026 | Copeland’s Site Expansion in Cookstown, Northern Ireland
US‑based climate‑tech firm Copeland announced a £19 million expansion of its Cookstown, Northern Ireland factory, adding a new production line for heat‑pump compressors. The investment, the most impactful small‑sized project in Europe according to the 2026 Investment Impact Awards, is projected...
IIAs 2026 | Smart Solar Technologies’ Solar Module Factory in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
Smart Solar Technologies, a Turkish cleantech firm, announced a €122 million investment to build a solar cell and module factory in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The plant will target 1,500 MW of wafer, cell and module output and is expected to generate more than...
Could a BRICS Currency Work?
The article probes the feasibility of a shared BRICS currency aimed at challenging the US dollar’s global dominance. While mainstream economists have long dismissed the concept, the bloc is actively seeking new settlement rails to lessen dollar dependence. Structural hurdles—including...
Aito Partners with Abu Dhabi Motors to Enter the UAE
Chinese premium EV brand Aito has signed a cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi Motors to launch its high‑end models in the United Arab Emirates. The partnership gives ADM responsibility for sales, delivery, after‑sales service and brand‑experience centers, while Aito brings...
The Power of Water to Transform Africa's Future
Access to safe water remains a critical bottleneck in Sub‑Saharan Africa, with roughly one‑third of the population—and nearly half in rural areas—still lacking basic services. The African Union’s 2026 Year of Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems, backed...
U.S. Warns Peru Is ‘Losing Sovereignty’ Over Chinese-Owned Chancay Port
The U.S. State Department warned that Peru is losing sovereignty over the Chinese‑owned Chancay port after a local judge ruled the facility exempt from state regulator oversight. The $1.3 billion port, built by Cosco Shipping Ports and inaugurated by President Xi...
Best Trade Finance Bank In North America: BNY
BNY was named the Best Trade Finance Bank in North America, reflecting its robust portfolio and eight global trade centers. The bank leverages high credit ratings, competitive pricing, and a suite of digital tools to streamline trade processing, risk mitigation,...
The Great African Mispricing
Africa’s venture landscape is split between a regulated, capital‑efficient North and a fast‑growing but fragmented Sub‑Saharan region. In 2024, North Africa logged 89 equity deals worth $297 m, while Sub‑Saharan hubs like Nigeria and South Africa raised over $500 m each, highlighting...
IDB Group Announces Settlement with ECOSAC Regarding Prohibited Practices
The Inter‑American Development Bank (IDB) Group has imposed a twenty‑four‑month Conditional Non‑Debarment on ECOSAC AGRÍCOLA S.A.C. and its subsidiary after confirming fraudulent financial representations made to an IDB Invest loan between 2022 and 2023. The settlement, reached through the Office of Institutional Integrity,...
Indonesia Turns to Digital Finance to Reach Unbanked Population
Indonesia, home to one of the world’s largest unbanked populations, is accelerating digital finance to boost inclusion. The Financial Services Authority outlined three policy priorities—sector resilience, a contributive ecosystem, and sustainable finance—to guide the effort. PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)...
KOKO Failure Brings Cookstove Carbon Credit Model Into Question
KOKO Networks, a leading Kenyan clean‑cooking firm, entered administration on 1 February after the government refused the regulatory letter of authorisation needed to sell carbon credits on compliance markets. Backed by investors such as Microsoft, Mirova and a World Bank guarantee,...
EM Debt Strength Holds as DM Policy Noise Grows>
VanEck’s Emerging Markets Bond ETF (EMBX) posted a 5.56% 30‑day yield and outperformed both its benchmark and U.S. Treasuries in January 2026, driven by strong local‑currency exposure and carry. The fund’s portfolio now holds 48% hard‑currency sovereigns, with notable additions...
Barrick and Twiga Minerals Launch Helicopter Surveys to Boost Tanzania Gold Exploration
Barrick Gold and Tanzania's state‑owned Twiga Minerals have launched a modern helicopter equipped for airborne geological surveys across Shinyanga Region. The initiative aims to deliver high‑resolution geophysical data while lowering the environmental footprint of exploration. Since the 2019 joint venture,...
Bridging Continents: African Innovation at Web Summit Qatar
Web Summit Qatar has rapidly become the Middle East’s largest tech gathering, drawing a record 30,274 attendees from 127 countries in 2026. The event’s growth provides African startups—from fintech to agritech—direct access to Gulf investors, system integrators, and global partners....
In Southeast Asia, Cybersecurity Is Booming but Funding Is Not
Southeast Asia’s cybersecurity sector saw venture funding plunge to US$24 million in 2025, a 40 percent decline from 2024 and a stark contrast to the US$533.6 million peak in 2021. All three rounds were early‑stage, with no late‑stage deals recorded, reflecting a more...
NYDA Takes Youth Access Fight Into Mining’s Closed Rooms
South Africa’s National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) is inserting itself into Mining Indaba 2026 to confront longstanding barriers that keep young South Africans out of the mining and energy sectors. The agency is lobbying for policy changes, earmarked funding for...
TURKEY REPORTED RECORD TOURISM REVENUE IN 2025
Turkey recorded a historic tourism peak in 2025, welcoming roughly 63.9 million visitors and generating $65.2 billion in revenue. Visitor numbers rose 2.7% year‑over‑year, while tourism earnings climbed 6.8%, surpassing government targets. The market mix featured 52.8 million foreign tourists and 11.1 million Turkish...
What a Year of Trump 2.0 Has Taught Us About the Global Economy
In his second term, President Donald Trump pushed average U.S. import tariffs to about 18%, the highest level since the Great Depression. The higher duties widened the trade deficit and contributed to persistent inflation, prompting the Federal Reserve to cut...