News & Events

The African Development Bank (AfDB) supported the Biashara Africa 2024 Business Forum, also known as the AfCFTA Business Forum, held from 9 to 11 October 2024 in Kigali, Rwanda. Organised by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the forum, themed “Dare to Invent the Future of the AfCFTA,” gathered industry leaders, policymakers, and government representatives to promote trade and economic growth in Africa.

A delegation from the AfDB, including Acting Director Ousmane Fall, participated to reinforce the Bank’s commitment to supporting African countries in addressing trade-related challenges. During the opening ceremony, Rwandan President Paul Kagame emphasised the importance of connectivity across the continent.

Fall highlighted the Bank’s efforts in facilitating over 3,000 trade transactions valued at more than $12 billion through its Trade Finance Program, addressing access to trade finance as a critical issue for productivity. The forum included exhibitions and discussions on unlocking Africa’s trade potential, trade finance, and value chains.

Read the original information here: https://afdb.africa-newsroom.com/press/african-development-bank-supports-biashara-africa-2024-business-forum?lang=en

Malaysia ranks 106th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Nature Conservation Index, which evaluates global conservation efforts. With a score of 54.32 out of 100, Malaysia is identified as one of 17 megadiverse countries, boasting approximately 1.75 million species in its forests.

The country’s scores include 55 for land management, 57 for threats to biodiversity, 66 for capacity and governance, and 40 for climate change mitigation. In Southeast Asia, Malaysia holds the third position, behind Thailand (80) and Brunei (103), but ahead of Indonesia (122), Vietnam (142), the Philippines (148), Cambodia (159), Singapore (166), and Myanmar (167).

The report highlights significant threats to Malaysia’s biodiversity, such as land development, pollution, poaching, illegal collection, climate change, and invasive species. It notes that invasive species have particularly impacted the agricultural sector, driven by economic growth and increasing demand for food and commodities.

Read the original information here: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/10/16/malaysia-ranks-106th-on-2024-nature-conservation-index 

Next week, Samoa will host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2024) with 56 countries in attendance. Preparations for this significant event have been underway for four years, involving local businesses stockpiling supplies and villages decorating each participating nation’s colours.

The meeting follows Samoa’s White Sunday holiday, known as Lotu Tamaiti, which celebrates family with singing, dancing, and feasting. On Manono Island, children performed at the Methodist church for this important occasion, which is the second-largest public holiday in Samoa after Christmas.

The town centre of Apia was bustling with shoppers preparing for the holiday, with many seeking new outfits for their children. Local businesses, like Tanoa clothing store, have been busy stocking up and reported a customer surge in the lead-up to Lotu Tamaiti and CHOGM. As the event approaches, each village in Samoa is adopting a Commonwealth country, decorating their streets to welcome the world leaders arriving next week.

Visit here for more: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/530760/samoa-preparing-for-commonwealth-heads-of-government-meeting