Egypt’s Premier Mostafa Madbouly announced Monday October 9 the government decision to suspend from next Saturday duties and customs on essential goods as part of the efforts to curb inflation, especially in food prices. Speaking at a press conference, Madbouly indicated that the government also agreed to reduce the prices of seven basic commodities by 15 to 25 percent. These commodities include beans, dairy products, white cheese, mixed oil, pasta, sugar, lentils, poultry products, eggs, and rice, ‘Ahram Online’ reported. “The initiative will reflect positively on the availability of essential goods and the stability of the markets,” he noted. Ahmed Samir, Minister of Trade and Industry also present at the press conference indicated that North African country seeks to facilitate procedures for releasing imported goods from ports as quickly as possible.

Regional peaceIn a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Morocco “condemns attacks against civilians wherever they may be”. In Tunis, left-wing activists began gathering as soon as Hamas announced the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October. Ever since it welcomed Palestinians driven out of Lebanon by the Israeli army in 1982, Tunisia has shown unwavering support for them. President Kais Saied also emphasised “the right of the Palestinians to establish the capital of their independent state in Al-Quds”. Pro-Iranian Houthi militias in Yemen echoed this, declaring their support for Hamas’s “heroic jihadist operation” which it said revealed Israel’s “weakness, fragility and impotence”.

The latest report by IMARC Group, titled “North Africa Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market: Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity, and Forecast 2023-2028,“ offers a comprehensive analysis of the industry, which comprises insights into the market. The North Africa fruits and vegetables processing market size reached US$ 73.7 Billion in 2022. North Africa Fruits and Vegetables Processing Market Overview:Fruits and vegetables processing is a specialized method employed to clean, sort, and transform fresh fruits and vegetables into products ready for consumption or further manufacturing. Request a Sample Report: https://www.imarcgroup.com/north-africa-fruits-vegetables-processing-market/requestsampleMarket Trends:The North Africa fruits and vegetables processing market is witnessing substantial growth, attributed to the region’s agricultural strengths and evolving consumer preferences. The abundance of agricultural produce, coupled with government initiatives to bolster the food processing industry, is a significant driver.

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CanariaBio Inc. and Hikma MENA FZE, part of Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (Hikma), today announced the signing of distribution and license agreement for oregovomab in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. "We are thrilled to partner with Hikma, a company with a strong presence in the MENA region and a proven track record of successful collaborations," said Michael Na, CEO of CanariaBio. Oregovomab is being tested in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel for patients with advanced ovarian cancer in the phase 3 FLORA-5 trial. About HikmaHikma MENA FZE, a key subsidiary of the global pharmaceutical leader Hikma, is a prominent provider of branded generic and in-licensed medicines in the MENA region. About CanariaBioCanariaBio Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development and commercialization of innovative cancer biotherapeutics.

ABO Wind has successfully concluded the sale of project rights for a photovoltaic project in South Africa, marking the third photovoltaic facility in a 300-megawatt cluster. Notably, ABO Wind had already sold the remaining 200 megawatts within the cluster in 2022. The ABO Wind team diligently obtained the required permits and consents, positioning the project for construction. ABO Wind’s South African business model centers on the large-scale wind, solar, battery storage, hybrid projects, and potential green hydrogen production sites. ABO Wind strives to incorporate utility-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) into its photovoltaic and wind energy projects whenever feasible, paving the way for hybrid projects.

With careful, considered and collaborative planning, and a comprehensive green hydrogen strategy, countries can create an enabling environment for the case-by-case development of green hydrogen projects. This is according to AUDA-NEPAD’s support studies for green hydrogen, a part of a series of specific support studies for The African Continental Power Systems Masterplan. The report focuses on the findings of the green hydrogen power specific support study which was developed with support from the European Union Technical Assistance Facility (EU-TAF) for Sustainable Energy. Industry Insights HYDROGEN Volume 1-2023Addressing barriers to green hydrogen developmentNonetheless, green hydrogen has its own set of challenges and opportunities. For example, green hydrogen is not cost-competitive, with notably high end-user costs.

The IEA’s Medium-Term Gas Report 2023 forecasts Africa’s annual gas consumption to increase by an annual average of 3% during 2022-2026. “The use of domestic natural gas production makes sense for African consumer countries, offering the considerable advantage of lower energy costs compared with fuel imports. The IEA points out that despite holding over 9% of the world’s proven reserves and a vast potential for green energy, Africa remains the most energy-poor continent. Africa accounted for nearly 40% of new natural gas discoveries globally in the past decade, mainly in Mozambique, Mauritania, Senegal and Tanzania. Challenges facing Africa’s natural gas potentialHowever, socio-political instability and security issues make Africa a high-risk environment for the gas industry.

South Africa's men's rugby team, known as the Springboks, are a step closer to an unprecedented fourth Rugby World Cup title after reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 edition where they will face hosts France. The Springboks will have a mountain to climb to reach the final to defend their title as they face one of the top rugby nations in the world. Bolstered by home-ground advantage, Les Bleus will be looking to finally claim the crown after finishing as runners-up at the Rugby World Cup finals in 1987, 1999, and 2011. The sides last met in the semi-final of the 1995 Rugby World with hosts South Africa fending off a French onslaught before they went on to win their first of three titles. The French have won six of their 12 matches on home soil including last year’s 30-26 victory in Marselle.

To be held on 16 October on the Marketing Mania Stage (XMD), Hall 4, from 4pm to 6pm, Flat6Labs’ Expand North Star 2023 Demo Day will feature seven startups from the VC firm’s most recent Cycle 5 cohort of its seed-funding and mentorship program, Ignite. The seven startups presenting pitches at the Expand North Star 2023 Demo Day have already raised seed funding anywhere between US$500,000 and US$1.5 million, and this platform will give them the opportunity to gain further follow-on funding. “The MENA VC ecosystem surpassed US$3 billion in 2022”, said Trixie LohMirmand at Expand North Star. “And as it outgrows colocation at GITEX, Expand North Star is the best venue in the world right now to connect investors to the latest rising stars. In parallel to the Demo Day, Flat6Labs will also be featuring StartMashreq startups.

The average market share of African Airlines per cargo origin was 30.6 percent year-to-date for August 2023, according to Abderahmane Berthé, Secretary General, African Airlines Association (AFRAA). "East Africa comes first with 37 percent followed by North Africa with 30 percent. The highest cargo traffic growth is in North Africa with 20 percent year-to-date." For the southern African region, Cape Town and Harare were the top two airports in terms of cargo traffic growth, Berthé added. The issue of blocked funds in many countries is challenging for African airlines, Berthe said.

LeapFrog invests in healthcare, financial services and climate solutions businesses in high-growth global markets. LeapFrog companies now reach 392 million people in 30 countries. IFC’s investment in the fund will be made along with an additional US$50 million, which will allow IFC to selectively invest alongside the fund in Leapfrog portfolio companies. This is its third engagement with the fund manager, following an investment of US$20 million in LeapFrog’s first fund and US$45 million in its third fund. In addition, IFC will work with LeapFrog to improve gender diversity at the fund manager level and the companies the fund will invest in.

MARRAKECH, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Morocco's airlines RAM will launch a tender by the end of the year to purchase 200 airplanes to be delivered within 10 years to meet rising demand from tourists ahead of the 2030 World Cup, RAM chief executive officer Abdelhamid Addou said on Monday. RAM seeks to buy mostly medium haul planes, but would also purchase long and short-haul ones to bolster its competitiveness in a growing African market, Addou told Reuters. The tender is part of RAM's plan to quadruple its fleet from 50 aircrafts within a decade, prior to Morocco co-hosting the 2030 World Cup together with Spain and Portugal. RAM has also said its expansion is conducive to Morocco’s aims to attract 17.5 million tourists by 2026, up from 11 million last year. "The market is there, the potential, the future, the world Cup and the tourism strategy are all there,” said Addou.

Activity is heating back up in the tropics, with National Hurricane Center forecasters watching for potential development of a low-pressure system in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and another off Africa. Forecasters with the National Hurricane Center said Tuesday that a tropical depression is likely to form in the next day or so from the tropical wave off Africa as it moves west-northwest. Meanwhile, odds are low — at 30% — for the disturbance in the southwestern Gulf to develop. Regardless of any tropical development, the system is expected to bring gale-force winds over portions of the northern Gulf of Mexico midweek, followed by potentially heavy rain along the Gulf Coast later in the week, forecasters said Tuesday. Hurricane season officially runs through Nov. 30.

ShareEmerging victorious from nearly 1,500 competitors, Cameroonian fintech Koree clinched the top prize at the Ecobank Fintech Challenge. Wolf Technologies from the Democratic Republic of Congo came in second with $10,000, while Kenya’s Flexpay rounded out the top three with $5,000. The finalist lineup for the Ecobank Fintech Challenge consisted of Flexpay Technologies from Kenya, IPOXcap AI and Kastelo, both from South Africa, Koree from Cameroon, Kori Tech from Senegal, SmartTeller Technologies from Nigeria, Rubyx from Belgium, and Wolf Technologies from DRC. Ecobank, a major African banking institution operating in 35 countries across the continent, has hosted its fintech challenge for the past six years. All eight finalists will join the Ecobank Fintech Fellowship, an alumni network that includes past winners like Piggyvest, Touch and Pay, Moni, and Nala.

Both have recently said they plan to give Africa additional seats on their executive boards. The conference theme was clear Monday during the gathering in Marrakech, although definitive details had yet to be discussed. “We're here, Africa,” IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on a panel with African entrepreneurs. The challenges are particularly pronounced in Africa, where many countries spend more on debt than health care and education combined. Africa is also among the places most vulnerable to the effects of climate change, with critics calling on the World Bank and IMF to increasingly factor climate resiliency into its decision-making.