Author Archives: Africa Business

Global Point Of Sale shipment increases paint a positive retail picture

According to the October 2022 Nilson Report, global Point Of Sale (POS) terminal shipments worldwide reached 136 million in 2021, up 4.3% over 2020. Newland Payment Technology Terminals rose to third place behind Worldline/Ingenico and Pax, with 11.235 million shipments to give the brand a 8.26% share of the global POS market. Closer to home, […]

Breaking the ceiling: Women in business are leading the way to economic freedom

By Catherine Wijnberg, CEO of Fetola  Too often the subject of women entrepreneurs has an underlying condescending tone of reaching down to help them succeed. If we look at the data, the facts and the evidence we see a different story. This story tells us that when the playing field is levelled – especially through […]

Stellantis invests in Africar Group to create Auto24, an African used vehicle startup

Auto24, a subsidiary of Africar Group, has launched its activities in Ivory Coast. Africar Group is a class leading and multi country digital automotive marketplace across Sub-Saharan Africa. Stellantis investment aims at accelerating its used vehicle (UV) business on the buoyant African UV market. Auto24 is a faster and safer way to buy and sell […]

A life less ordinary: Professor Barry Dwolatzky launches exhilarating memoir Coded History: My Life of New Beginnings

Coded History guarantees that everything you thought you knew about Emeritus Professor Barry Dwolatzky is gladly reconsidered. Nothing about this book is what you would imagine possible in the life of Wits University’s unassuming and much-loved professor. Coded History: My Life of New Beginnings launched yesterday, 2 November 2022. This self-penned memoir by Wits University’s Emeritus […]

Entrepreneurs pertinent to the growth of the MICE industry

Much like entrepreneurs, exhibitions are economic enablers.  There is no doubt that entrepreneurship, collectively, is an essential driver of societal health, wealth creation, and a formidable engine of economic growth. In fact, according to the latest  Global Entrepreneurship Monitor South Africa report; the nascent entrepreneurial rate increased from 7,3% in 2019 to 10,5% in 2021, […]

Strong recovery and acceleration for global hospitality brand, Club Med

While still affected by the Covid-19 crisis, trends in business volume for pioneers of all-inclusive holidays, Club Med, has evolved differently in various geographical areas.  In the 1st half of 2022 (H1 22) Club Med saw its business volume increase by more than 300% compared to the 1st half of 2021 (H1 21) when ski […]

New technology launched to help protect authenticity and ownership of luxury goods using sustainable blockchain power

Sotheby’s sells valuable jewellery verified by the new tech from UK start-up Database of Native Assets (DNA) DNA guarantees provenance boosting confidence for buyers and sellers and tackles the blight of counterfeiting head on A plug & play solution that facilitates brand transition to Web 3.0 A blockchain technology with the potential for mass adoption […]

Zebra Mobile Computer to Support Digitalisation of Operations in Africa

Zebra Technologies Corporation has introduced the TC15 mobile computer in Africa to help businesses in logistics, retail and field industries with a durable connectivity solution. The launch of the TC15 addresses the increasing need for a rugged, durable mobile computer for delivery drivers, transport and logistics staff, retail workers and small and medium-size enterprise (SME) […]

Staying safe on TikTok: how to avoid being scammed or hacked

It’s the world’s number one social media platform, which also means it’s the biggest target for scammers, hackers and shady characters.  Carey van Vlaanderen, CEO of ESET South Africa shares a few tips and insights on what to avoid to stay safe. Launched in 2016, TikTok has 6.44 million active users currently in South Africa above the […]

Retailers, banks & fintech players unpack SA’s ambitious fintech future

OPEN FINTECH FUTURE: Jean Olivier of Shoprite, John Singlam of Investec and Anand Naidoo of HelloPaisa shared their fintech journeys in discussion with financial journalist Refilwe Moloto at the dt (Direct Transact) Open the Future gathering in Joburg. Several local innovators came together to discuss the future of fintech for brands, retailers and banks in […]

Stellenbosch Network in search of smart township solutions for Kayamandi

Recent years have seen Stellenbosch emerge as one of the fastest-growing regions in South Africa. Spurred on by a thriving innovation ecosystem and growth in value-adding sectors, the town has witnessed sustained economic growth, declines in unemployment, and a rise in human development and service delivery. By 2020, the town’s reputation was cemented when it […]

Nigeria’s gas demand will continue to grow despite falling production and limited infrastructure, according to a new report

The future of Nigeria’s natural gas industry looks promising, despite current production levels and limited infrastructure, according to a new report from African investment research agency Hawilti. While European markets are currently the main consumers of Nigerian gas, Hawilti’s report highlights the potential for growth in the domestic market. With demand expected to rise, investing […]

Andela’s EPIC Remote Hackathon to Find Solutions for the Future of Work

Applications are now open for elite technologists to enter a global challenge with a prize pot of $10,000. Andela, the global marketplace for remote technical talent, has opened applications for its upcoming EPIC Tournament. In partnership with HackerEarth, the tournament will see elite developers working in teams to prototype solutions that will positively impact the […]

COP27: A unique opportunity to set the stage for Africa’s future in clean energy, according to Wärtsilä report

The climate change conference COP27 offers a unique opportunity to increase energy access and lay the foundations for decarbonisation across Africa, but wealthy nations must deliver on their climate finance pledges to unlock the continent’s potential, according to a new report. ‘Pathways for Africa’s Energy Future,’ a report from the technology group Wärtsilä, provides power system […]

The Africa-Europe Foundation launches its 2022 High-Level Group of Personalities’ annual report assessing the state of play of the commitments of the Africa-Europe partnership

October 28, 2022, Brussels – The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) has launched its annual in-depth assessment of the state of relations between our two neighbouring continents. The Report’s launch comes eight months after February’s long-awaited summit between the African Union and European Union leaders, closely followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine one week later.  The report has […]

New Research Suggests That Mobile Finance Can Help To Boost A Nation’s GDP

In countries where mobile money adoption is successful, GDP per capita growth could reduce poverty by around 2.6%. Successful deployment and adoption of mobile financial services is associated with positive GDP growth in developing markets, according to new research from Vodafone Group, Vodacom Group, Safaricom, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Mobile financial services […]

CURBON, a SA startup, is taking a bold offset and uplift approach to solving climate change

Curbon makes it easy to make a difference, both from a climate action and community empowerment perspective, says Steffen Burrows, CURBON co-founder and director. According to billionaire co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, it is unrealistic to expect to solve climate change by asking people to live greener lifestyles. Telling people to stop eating meat, drive less, and buy smaller […]

Local delivery service experiences 100% growth in demand and adoption

 According to Deloitte’s most recent Digital Commerce Acceleration report, the growth of online shopping in South Africa is on the rise. Accompanying it, is an increasingly discerning online shopper, who chooses their online stores based on a few key features, such as low delivery costs and clear and simple return or refund policies. In fact, companies with […]

The African Energy Chamber releases its 2023 outlook on the state of African energy

The African Energy Chamber has released a report providing insights into the state of African energy in 2023. The report is intended to help global investors and energy companies make informed decisions about investing in Africa. The African Energy Chamber (AEC) – the voice of the African energy sector – is proud to announce the […]

Capital Appreciation Group and LayUp partnership Triumphs at the 11th Annual MTN Business App of the Year Awards

The mobile application for Africa’s first digital lay-by and recurring payments provider, LayUp, has won ‘Best Incubated Solution’ at the 11th annual MTN Business App of the Year Awards, which honours the work of the best of the best coders, tech enthusiasts, students, start-ups and lesser-known app developers in South Africa. The application was developed by the Capital […]

Inaugural Africa Airforce Forum highlights the role of Air Force in bridging regional stability

Day one prioritizes partnerships to build transnational capabilities and address security challenges in the region, particularly low-intensity conflict areas Panelists address the top 5 priorities for fleet modernization and capability building Focus placed on better human resource management for the African air forces Airforce industry leaders from across Africa and global defense experts gathered today […]

Flourish Ventures launches Madica, an Africa-focused pre-seed investment platform

The new investment program is targeting up to 30 underrepresented entrepreneurs across Africa who are working in underserved sectors and geographies. The goal of the program is to provide them with the resources and support they need to grow their businesses and impact their communities. Flourish Ventures, a global venture capital firm investing in mission-driven […]