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Webb Fontaine Unveils Sourcemind Academy in Guinea

CONAKRY, Guinea, June 28, 2024/ — Webb Fontaine (www.WebbFontaine.com), a leading provider of solutions for trade facilitation, is pleased to announce the launch of Sourcemind Academy in Guinea.

This innovative educational venture, backed by Webb Fontaine, is set to transform the tech education landscape by offering high-level training, cutting-edge pedagogical design and experienced professional trainers to future software engineers and technology enthusiasts.

The launch of Sourcemind Academy in Guinea marks a significant milestone in Webb Fontaine’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility, and to promoting educational development in emerging markets.

This project comes against the backdrop of the end of Webb Fontaine’s concession with the Guinean state, requiring a crucial transfer of skills and technologies to ensure the continuity and development of the Single Window of Foreign Trade of Guinea, launched in September 2019.

Ara Shamirzayan, CTO of Webb Fontaine Group said, “We are thrilled to bring Sourcemind Academy to Guinea.

“We believe in nurturing the next generation of software engineers by providing them with access to quality education and training. We also believe that education is the key to unlocking potential and driving economic growth and development, and we are committed to making this a reality in Guinea.”

Mamoudou DIANÉ, Managing Director of Webb Fontaine Guinea, added, “We are extremely proud to collaborate with Sourcemind Academy to train the next generation of software engineers in Guinea.

“This initiative is crucial for ensuring the continuity and efficiency of The Single Window of Foreign Trade of Guinea after the end of our concession. By investing in the development of local skills, we are not only contributing to the modernization of foreign trade in Guinea but also creating economic opportunities for the young talents in our country.”

Sourcemind Academy has made significant strides in promoting tech talent through five successful pathway programs across Armenia and Benin. Building on this success, the academy is expanding its reach to Guinea, aiming to empower local students, young graduates with the expertise and capabilities necessary for a thriving career in the technology sector.

Building on this success, the academy is expanding its scope to Guinea, aiming to equip local students and professionals with the skills and capabilities needed for a thriving career in the technology sector.

To date, the Sourcemind Academy’s impact includes 1,082 applicants, 108 students, 58 alumni and 11 people hired by Webb Fontaine.

The academy’s curriculum is designed to cover a wide range of topics, including software development, data structures and algorithms, front-end development and more. By equipping students with these in-demand skills, the academy aims to contribute to the growth of the local tech ecosystem and create job opportunities for the youth in Guinea.

During the first four months of the pathway program, students will learn the foundations of software engineering and gain practical experience through a hands-on and highly interactive instructive-led curriculum.

Upon completion of the foundation stage, participants can broaden their knowledge by specializing in java back-end engineering. Students will also be exposed to agile software development and essential soft skills, both of which are crucial for success in the IT industry.

This pathway program is accessible to anyone curious about how things work. Ideal students include university graduates who wish to follow a career in the IT industry, open-minded enthusiasts with the determination to succeed, and those looking to make a career change to software engineering.

About Webb Fontaine Guinea

Webb Fontaine Guinea is a company dedicated to facilitating trade transactions and simplifying import and export procedures for declarants and economic operators playing a central role in the economic development of the Republic of Guinea, thanks to our cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.

The Single Window of Foreign Trade of Guinea

Launched in September 2019, The Single Window of Foreign Trade of Guinea is an integrated platform set up by the Guinean state for a 5-year concession granted to the Webb Fontaine Group.

This platform enables all players involved in foreign trade in Guinea to carry out their transactions anywhere in the world, offering a single gateway to international trade. GUCEG is an interactive portal designed to facilitate import and export operations in the Republic of Guinea.

Electronic tracking of goods in transit

Last July, Webb Fontaine signed a contract with the Guinean Customs to implement an electronic tracking system for goods in transit. This new project demonstrates our ongoing commitment to improving the transparency and efficiency of customs operations in Guinea.

The electronic tracking system enables goods in transit to be monitored in real time, reducing the risk of fraud and ensuring more secure and efficient management of trade flows.

What we do (Our Services)

Facilitate, simplify and dematerialize import and export operations:

The GUCEG platform covers a wide range of services, from pre-clearance to customs clearance, and soon logistics for port, airport, air and rail traffic.

Public access services:

– Access to legal texts and regulations relating to import and export transactions.

– Customs duties and taxes simulator.

– List of manifests and other services for complete visibility of the import and export process.

Private access services :

– Import and export declaration of intent management.

– On-line payment of DDI/DDE and customs duties and taxes.

– Pharmaceutical license management.

Electronic tracking of goods in transit:

The new electronic goods tracking system enables you to:

– Track goods in transit in real time.

– Reduce the risk of fraud and tax evasion.

– Guarantee more secure and transparent management of trade flows.

At Webb Fontaine Guinea, we are committed to modernizing and optimizing foreign trade in the Republic of Guinea, leveraging our expertise and advanced technologies to deliver reliable and efficient solutions to our users.

Our mission is to facilitate trade and support the country’s economic development through continuous innovation and high-quality services.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Webb Fontaine

June 29, 2024
BRICS countries back grain exchange idea, Russia says

The BRICS group of countries have supported an initiative to set up a grain exchange, Russian Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut said on Friday.

The exchange would allow buyers to purchase directly from producers and has been backed by Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of a BRICS summit to be held in Russia in October.

“We will work together with our colleagues on creation and development of this platform and the development of the possibility of settlements in national currencies of the BRICS countries,” Lut said after a meeting of BRICS agriculture ministers held in Moscow.

BRICS nations’ food exports

The BRICS grouping, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and new members – Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia and Iran, accounts for more than 30 per cent of global agricultural land, according to Russian export centre Agroexport.

It also accounts for more than 40 per cent of global cereal and meat production, nearly 40 per cent of dairy products and more than 50 per cent of total fish and seafood production.

“Last year, the association accounted for more than a third of Russia’s exports of agro-industrial products – that’s $15bn,” Lut said regarding BRICS countries.

SOURCE

GULF BUSINESS

June 29, 2024
African Development Bank expands urban support program to six new cities
TUNIS, Tunisia, June 26, 2024/ — The African Development Bank’s (www.AfDB.org) Urban and Municipal Development Fund (UMDF) (https://apo-opa.co/4exYmAh) has expanded its African Cities Program to cover six new cities across the continent. The expansion, approved by the Fund’s 13^th Oversight Committee, will help bolster urban development and address critical challenges faced by rapidly growing African cities.

The newly included cities are:
- Kolwezi, the Democratic Republic of Congo: mining town grappling with rapid urban growth and environmental issues.
- Grand Nokoué, Benin: an economic hub with over two million inhabitants.
- Buffalo City, South Africa: a coastal city prioritizing climate resilience.
- Joal, Senegal: A medium-sized city focusing on integrating environmental and social issues into economic development.
- Juba, South Sudan: Prioritizing essential services for a growing, vulnerable population;
- Nouakchott, Mauritania: Planning to combine projects on climate resilience, urban mobility, and sustainable energy.
The Bank launched the UMDF in 2019 in response to growing demand from countries and cities for urban development support. It receives contributions from the Nordic Development Fund and the governments of Denmark, Spain, and Switzerland, as well as the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency.

The Fund provides financial and technical assistance to national and local governments for improving governance, planning, and to prepare investments in sustainable urban development for more climate resilient, resilient, liveable and productive cities, underpinning national socio-economic development and poverty reduction.

UMDF will provide funding for each of the six cities over several months, including a detailed analysis of the strengths and vulnerabilities, especially regarding economic, social, climate, and gender issues. The goal is to identify transformative infrastructure projects that can attract public and private sector investments.

The committee also reviewed the Fund’s progress and approved its 2024 work program, allocating over $4.7 million to identify and develop urban infrastructure projects and bring them to maturity.

Mike Salawou, Director of the African Development Bank’s Infrastructure and Urban Development Department, committed to strengthening the Fund’s operational effectiveness and capacity to mobilize more funding and partnerships for greater impact.

“The question of urban development is at the heart of the Bank’s new ten-year strategy for 2024-2033, of which the Urban and Municipal Development Fund is a strategic implementation mechanism,” he emphasized. The Bank ten-year strategy 2024-2025 (https://apo-opa.co/3L73NIF) includes data and research from publications (https://apo-opa.co/3XEbJbS) financed by the Fund and its partners.

It is hoped that the Fund will act as a catalyst in boosting access of African municipalities to public and private finance, a priority defined by the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, at the Africa Investment Forum (www.AfricaInvestmentForum.com) 2023 Market Days in Morocco.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org
June 26, 2024
Afreximbank signs two deals totaling US$80 million for Zimbabwe’s CBZ Bank

NASSAU, The Bahamas, June 25, 2024/ — In two deals signed at the recently concluded Afreximbank Annual Meetings, African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) is providing a US$60 million line of credit and a US$20 million Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme (AFTRAF) facility to CBZ Bank Limited, Zimbabwe’s largest bank.

The line of credit facility will strengthen financial intermediaries’ capacity to support SMEs through financing product and capacity building, indirectly support export-oriented Zimbabwean businesses and enable them to generate much-needed foreign exchange, thus easing the pressure on foreign currency in the country.

The AFTRAF facility will enable CBZ Bank to issue letters of credit confirmed by Afreximbank at a time when such instruments are not readily available due to a shortage of confirming banks.

Highlighting the impact of the deals for Zimbabwe, Haytham El Maayergi, Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, Afreximbank, said: “The US$60 million Line of Credit facility will be used by CBZ Bank to provide financing to local corporates and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – helping to bridge the financing gap facing them at a time when most international banks are limiting their exposure to Zimbabwean banks.

“The US$20 million facility, which is under the Afreximbank Trade Facilitation Programme, provides a wide variety of products where the Afreximbank takes on the direct risk of CBZ, as the issuing bank.

The programme will increase intra- and extra-African trade for Zimbabwe, through the importation of critical goods, such as fuel, pharmaceuticals and fertiliser, and support exports and imports of vital goods and services to Africa. It will also enable CBZ to increase its trade activities and to expand its correspondent banking relationships.”

CBZ Group’s strategic plan is to deploy affordable mobile banking solutions and increase its product offerings, create opportunities for direct and indirect employment by financing the importation of raw materials for key industries, and drive financial inclusion in Zimbabwe.

Sub-borrowers who are SMEs benefitting from the credit line will also be eligible for non-financial support as provided under the capacity-building pillar of the bank’s Export SME Development Programme.

At the deal signing ceremony, Mrs. Smangele Mandidi, Acting Managing Director of CBZ Bank, said: “As a Bank, our core focus remains on sourcing much needed lines of credit to support the productive sectors of our economy and this will also go a long way in easing the liquidity challenges.

We have received USD80 million funding from Afreximbank which will be extended to support export growth through trade finance as well as capital expenditure financing.”

The facility is in accordance with Afreximbank’s mandate of supporting exports of value-added commodities and manufactures of a Member State. Through the facility, there is also strategic fit as the structured nature of the facility supports Afreximbank’s trade finance leadership — one the Bank’s strategic pillars.

The facility is consistent with the Bank’s strategy of financing exports which in turn contributes to the foreign exchange earning capacity of a country and increases productivity.

Hosted by the government of the Bahamas, AAM2024, which was combined with the third AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF2024), was held from 12 June to 15 June.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Manager, Communications and Events (Media Relations)
Email: press@afreximbank.com

June 26, 2024
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) invests in Africa’s largest copper complex, driving mineral beneficiation on the continent

KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, June 26, 2024/ — Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), the continent’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, is pleased to announce the closing of a US$150 million senior loan with Kamoa Copper to support the expansion of the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Complex in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The loan by AFC, who acted both as lender and arranger, aligns with the Corporation’s commitment to support the local beneficiation of Africa’s abundant mineral resources to unlock the continent’s economic prosperity.

Kamoa-Kakula is a world-class, high-grade, low carbon-intensive, underground copper deposit situated on the western edge of the prolific Central African Copperbelt. It started production in July 2021 and is currently undergoing its third phase of expansion which consists of a 33% increase in copper production capacity, to over 600,000 tonnes per annum (tpa), and the construction of Africa’s largest copper smelter with a capacity of 500,000 tpa of 99% pure copper anodes.

The expansion also includes restarting 178 megawatts (MW) of renewable hydroelectric generation capacity by refurbishing turbine #5 at the Inga II dam. Phase 3 is expected to be completed by the end of 2024, making Kamoa-Kakula Africa’s largest copper producer, as well as the third largest globally.

Kamoa-Kakula is operated as a joint venture between Ivanhoe Mines, Zijin Mining and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The operation has consistently demonstrated exceptional operational performance and delivered expansions on-budget and ahead of schedule.

In addition, its sustainable approach makes it a standout example of responsible mining on the African continent. 91% of its full-time employees are Congolese and over $600 million has been paid in taxes and royalties to the DRC since the start of operations.

In 2023, Kamoa-Kakula was directly responsible for 4% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and it is also one of the world’s lowest greenhouse gas emitters per tonne of copper produced, according to independent consultants Skarn Associates of London, England, and WSP Group of Montreal, Canada.

“This is a key milestone in our mission to develop infrastructure ecosystems that help integrate economies and drive economic transformation in Africa,” said Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of AFC. “Copper is one of the critical minerals for the global energy transition and this mine expansion will not only solidify Africa’s position in the global copper market but contribute to the continent’s path to net zero while creating employment opportunities and generating significant revenue for the DRC.”

AFC’s involvement in the Kamoa-Kakula project highlights the Corporation’s critical role in catalysing infrastructure development that drives industrialisation and enhances the continent’s global competitiveness.

In late 2023, Kamoa-Kakula became the first industrial user of the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor, a rail line that stretches from the DRC Copperbelt to the Atlantic port of Lobito, in Angola.

AFC acted as financial adviser to the Trafigura, Mota-Engil and Vecturis consortium, which was granted a 30-year concession for railway services and logistics. The use of the Lobito Atlantic Railway Corridor is expected to significantly reduce the logistics costs and carbon emissions intensity of exporting mineral products from the DRC’s Copperbelt.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

Media Enquiries:
Yewande Thorpe
Communications
Africa Finance Corporation
Mobile : +234 1 279 9654
Email : yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

June 26, 2024
Bringing Finance to African Energy Projects: AEC to Host Energy Players in Europe’s Financial Capital

Global investment in upstream oil and gas is set to reach $570 billion in 2024, showing a 7% rise compared to 2023 expenditure. Of this, 33% is expected to be directed towards frontier fields, presenting a strategic opportunity for undeveloped oil and gas markets in Africa.

With lack of investment representing one of the biggest challenges to project development across the continent, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) will host a networking reception on July 11 in London – Europe’s financial capital.

Taking place at the Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane from 17:00 to 21:00, the reception bridges the gap between European financiers and African energy projects, promoting synergies, deals and future collaborations.

Despite holding some of the largest untapped oil and gas resources worldwide, Africa is faced with an energy crisis, with 600 million people currently living without access to electricity and 900 million people without access to clean cooking solutions.

The African Development Bank estimates that to address this crisis, the continent requires between $40 billion and $70 billion in annual investment.

Presently, Africa receives on average $35 billion in global financing for fossil fuels and clean energy projects, with merely 5% of global energy investment directed towards the continent.This showcases a clear investment gap and a strategic opportunity for European funders and project developers.

With over 125 billion barrels of proven crude oil, 620 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and abundant opportunities in solar, wind and geothermal, Africa continues to attract investment from some of the world’s biggest players.

The continent’s greenfield upstream spending, for example, is projected to reach $37 billion by 2025 and $50 billion by 2050, with companies eager to unlock the full potential of undeveloped oil and gas. Specifically, a strong slate of London-based oil and gas firms are driving a wave of project developments across the continent.

These include energy major bp, who is developing Senegal and Mauritania’s inaugural LNG project – the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) facility – and Mozambique’s Coral Sul FLNG project. GTA is on track for first production in 2024 while bp delivered first gas from Coral Sul in 2022, marking the first LNG cargo for the country.

Additionally, energy major Shell is making strides towards opening up the Orange Basin in Namibia. The company’s Graff-1 discovery in 2022 was play-opening and Shell has made an additional five discoveries since then. The company is investing 25% of its deepwater exploration budget in the country this year.

Additionally, independent hydrocarbon producer Perenco inaugurated the $50 million Batanga LPG plant in 2023 and is developing the $1 billion Cap Lopez LNG terminal in Gabon.

The company is also investing in shallow-water and marginal assets across the continent, acquiring Eni’s core assets in the Republic of the Congo in June 2023 for $300 million.

Oil and gas company Tullow Oil anticipated commercial oil production in Kenya in 2028 while transitional energy company Chariot oil and gas recently signed a gas commercialization agreement with Vivo Energy in Morocco.

These developments – all led by London-based companies – represent just some of the many underway across the continent.

The AEC Reception builds on these deals to promote new investment in African energy. Taking place in London – both Europe’s financial capital and its biggest stock market – the reception is all about connecting companies to opportunities.

The total value of companies listed on the London Stock Market reached $2.18 trillion in June 2024, highlighting a commercial and strategic opportunity for the reception and African energy projects.

The AEC London Reception takes place ahead of the continent’s largest energy event, the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference, scheduled for November 4-8 in Cape Town.

Under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030, the event unites global investors and technology providers with African energy projects, with discussions tailored around unlocking high returns and generating mutually beneficial opportunities.

Participants at the AEC’s London Reception have the chance to gain exclusive insight into AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 while engaging with a suite of African stakeholders

This year’s AEW: Invest in African Energy will host the African Energy Finance Summit – a platform that galvanizes financial support for African energy projects, while promoting deal-signing and partnerships.

Hosted in partnership with multilateral financial institution the African Export-Import Bank and global market intelligence firm S&P Global Commodity Insights, the summit brings capital to Africa with the aim of making energy poverty history by 2030.

Don’t miss the chance to be at the forefront of Africa’s energy transformation. Register for the AEC’s London Reception at https://energychamber.org/london-roadshow/ or contact register@aecweek.com.

“We are proud to offer the State of African Energy Outlook for download.The report emphasizes the pivotal role of knowledge and foresight in navigating the complex and dynamic energy landscape and equips stakeholders with the insights they need to make informed decisions in the year ahead.

As we venture into 2024 we are oon the brink of making substantial strides in overcoming energy poverty throughout Africa and moving towards a more sustainable energy future”-NJ Ayuk,Executive Chairman of the AEC.

SOURCE

AFRICA ENERGY CHAMBERS

June 26, 2024
Canon enters recycling system business with innovative technology, promoting circular economy with high-speed, accurate plastic sorting equipment capable of measuring even black plastic waste

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 26, 2024/ — Canon Inc. (https://en.Canon-CNA.com/) announced today that it will launch new plastic sorting equipment with innovative material identification technology.

The equipment applies Raman spectroscopy technology to moving objects with a tracking mechanism to collectively detect the material types of plastic fragments with high accuracy, even when black plastic pieces are mixed with other colors, which has been conventionally challenging.

Today, the company will begin widely accepting orders from the market for the “TR Series” which includes the “TR-S1510.”

Currently, roughly 20%[1] of plastic waste generated in our daily lives is recycled as material for new products (material recycling), while the remainder is used as fuel or incinerated.

Recycled plastics have to maintain a certain degree of purity, which is why materials made of plastic waste, such as ABS[2] and polypropylene (PP), must be accurately identified.

However, black plastics, often used in home electronics or automobile upholstery, do not transmit or reflect visible light, making it difficult to identify their materials using conventional near-infrared spectroscopy[3]. Additionally, in order to accelerate plastic recycling, higher accuracy and productivity are required for sorting operations.

The new product employs a proprietary tracking Raman spectroscopic method to rapidly sort all plastic pieces regardless of their colours, including black, with high precision, thereby helping to improve the productivity of recycling plants. With the launch of this product, Canon marks its entry into the recycling system market in an aim to build a circular economy by maximizing material recycling.

The new product’s high-precision, high-speed sorting of plastic including black pieces is thanks to its unique DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, June 26, 2024/ — Canon Inc. (https://en.Canon-CNA.com/) announced today that it will launch new plastic sorting equipment with innovative material identification technology.

The equipment applies Raman spectroscopy technology to moving objects with a tracking mechanism to collectively detect the material types of plastic fragments with high accuracy, even when black plastic pieces are mixed with other colors, which has been conventionally challenging. Today, the company will begin widely accepting orders from the market for the “TR Series” which includes the “TR-S1510.”

Currently, roughly 20%[1] of plastic waste generated in our daily lives is recycled as material for new products (material recycling), while the remainder is used as fuel or incinerated. Recycled plastics have to maintain a certain degree of purity, which is why materials made of plastic waste, such as ABS[2] and polypropylene (PP), must be accurately identified. However, black plastics, often used in home electronics or automobile upholstery, do not transmit or reflect visible light, making it difficult to identify their materials using conventional near-infrared spectroscopy[3]. Additionally, in order to accelerate plastic recycling, higher accuracy and productivity are required for sorting operations. The new product employs a proprietary tracking Raman spectroscopic method to rapidly sort all plastic pieces regardless of their colours, including black, with high precision, thereby helping to improve the productivity of recycling plants. With the launch of this product, Canon marks its entry into the recycling system market in an aim to build a circular economy by maximizing material recycling.

The new product’s high-precision, high-speed sorting of plastic including black pieces is thanks to its unique combination of Raman spectroscopy with a tracking mechanism. Raman spectroscopy is a detection method that utilizes laser light to illuminate plastic pieces to obtain molecular information of the substance, thereby enabling the material detection. This method is technically applicable to black plastic. However, due to the limited amount of reflection by the black plastic pieces, the measurement time is too long relative to the speed and throughput required to effectively sort all the pieces regardless of their colours at recycling plants. Therefore, the practical application of Raman spectroscopy to sorting black plastic has so far proven difficult. By combining Raman spectroscopy with Canon’s measurement and control equipment, the company has developed a tracking Raman spectroscopy technology which scans[4] laser light toward the pieces, thus ensuring there is enough measurement time required for each piece of plastic according to its colour and achieving high speed and high accuracy overall. With this new system, the materials of black plastic pieces which were challenging to identify using the conventional near-infrared method can now be identified in a practical manner even when mixed with other colours, thereby helping to improve the productivity of recycling plants and, as the result, maximizing material recycling.

This new product maintains a conveyor speed of 1.5 meters per second and can sort up to 1 ton of plastic per hour. It can even be customized according to a customer’s throughput and installation space by changing the module which tracks and measures the plastic pieces or the combination of conveyor belts.

[1] According to “Plastic Products, Plastic Waste and Resource Recovery” published by the Plastic Waste Management Institute

[2] Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. A type of plastic that is highly resistant to heat and impact.

[3] A method of measurement in which an object is illuminated with near-infrared light. Based on such factors as reflection and penetration of light, the object’s light absorption is measured and the type of resin the object comprises can be determined

[4] By continuously moving the position of the laser, the target object is continuously illuminated by the laser, allowing for light to be reflected

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

Raman spectroscopy is a detection method that utilizes laser light to illuminate plastic pieces to obtain molecular information of the substance, thereby enabling the material detection.

This method is technically applicable to black plastic. However, due to the limited amount of reflection by the black plastic pieces, the measurement time is too long relative to the speed and throughput required to effectively sort all the pieces regardless of their colours at recycling plants.

Therefore, the practical application of Raman spectroscopy to sorting black plastic has so far proven difficult. By combining Raman spectroscopy with Canon’s measurement and control equipment, the company has developed a tracking Raman spectroscopy technology which scans[4] laser light toward the pieces, thus ensuring there is enough measurement time required for each piece of plastic according to its colour and achieving high speed and high accuracy overall.

With this new system, the materials of black plastic pieces which were challenging to identify using the conventional near-infrared method can now be identified in a practical manner even when mixed with other colours, thereby helping to improve the productivity of recycling plants and, as the result, maximizing material recycling.

This new product maintains a conveyor speed of 1.5 meters per second and can sort up to 1 ton of plastic per hour. It can even be customized according to a customer’s throughput and installation space by changing the module which tracks and measures the plastic pieces or the combination of conveyor belts.

[1] According to “Plastic Products, Plastic Waste and Resource Recovery” published by the Plastic Waste Management Institute

[2] Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. A type of plastic that is highly resistant to heat and impact.

[3] A method of measurement in which an object is illuminated with near-infrared light. Based on such factors as reflection and penetration of light, the object’s light absorption is measured and the type of resin the object comprises can be determined

[4] By continuously moving the position of the laser, the target object is continuously illuminated by the laser, allowing for light to be reflected

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

June 26, 2024
14th Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention:

Science every day identifies more hazardous constituents in waste. Recycling operations are also changing as new ways are found to recover valuable content from waste.

These changes raise new questions for parties to the one of the oldest multilateral environmental agreements, the Basel Convention, as to how the waste trade can be better monitored and regulated.

The Fourteenth Meeting of the Basel Convention’s Open-ended Working Group (OEWG-14) is the only occasion for all parties to meet face-to-face before the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties, COP 17, takes place in April 2025.

As such, there is a packed agenda for the four-day meeting as delegates aim to finalize text on several key issues, which will be forwarded to COP 17. While work will continue during the intersessional period, OEWG-14 provides parties with the chance to hammer out workable approaches to improving implementation of one of the world’s longest standing environmental agreements.

In opening statements, the African Group, Asia Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) emphasized the continuing need for strengthening technical assistance and capacity building and supporting regional work and cooperation among neighboring countries.

Both GRULAC and the European Union (EU) stressed the importance of improving the prior informed consent (PIC) procedure, considered the keystone of the Basel Convention.

On the draft renewed strategic framework, delegates in plenary called for more work to be done on the overall vision, guiding principles, objectives, goals, and indicators.

One contentious issue is the time frame of the strategic framework—whether it should be a 10-year framework or a shorter one to align with the 2030 timeline of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). OEWG-14 established a contact group to continue these discussions, co-chaired by Keima Gardiner (Trinidad and Tobago) and Ole Thomas Thommesen (Norway).

The contact group on the Strategic Framework will also address questions around how the PIC procedure can be improved, including questions around electronic notification, and countries’ different understandings of what constitutes transboundary movement.

On technical guidelines, delegates in plenary discussed several different waste streams. On e-waste, the OEWG adopted a decision inviting Parties and others to pilot-test the technical guidelines adopted by COP 16, and to report on their results to an expert working group that will update the guidelines in view of countries’ experiences, for COP 17’s consideration.

On two draft technical guidelines for waste batteries—one on lead-acid batteries and the second on other types of batteries—several delegates called for further work on the former regarding health and safety aspects, and one asked for greater detail on the technologies for recycling all components of such batteries, including their plastic casing.

On revised technical guidelines on wastes consisting of, containing, or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (“POPs wastes”), some developing countries felt that countries had limited capacity to detect POPs content at their borders and therefore the lowest possible POPs content values should be adopted, whereas another believed that countries’ management efforts would suffer if overly stringent limits were set.

Delegates agreed to refer work on the general technical guidelines on POPs, four technical guidelines on specific POPs wastes, and on a draft format for the collection of information on low POPs content values, to a contact group on Technical Matters co-chaired by Katie Olley (United Kingdom) and Nawaf Bilasi (Saudi Arabia).

A contact group on Legal Matters, co-chaired by Perine Kasonde (Zambia) and Jason Dunn (Australia), will discuss proposed amendments to the Convention annexes on issues regarding waste categories to be controlled (Annex I), criteria for identifying hazardous characteristics (Annex III) and disposal operations (Annex IV).

Some of the outstanding issues, in this regard, include concerns to maintain internal consistency of the Annex provisions, and at what point of the life cycle of materials their hazardous content should be determined.

The two contact groups on Technical Matters and Legal Matters began their deliberations in the late afternoon and continued late into the evening.

SOURCE

EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN

June 26, 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the future of work – the opportunity for Africa

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, June 24, 2024/ — Africa has a unique opportunity to influence what the future of work looks like in these early days as large language learning models (LLMs) are evolving, and the environment for applications is still new.

This is according to the AI and the Future of Work in Africa whitepaper produced by Microsoft (www.Microsoft.com) and a collective of industry experts from across the continent.

Nearly one billion people in Africa are currently under the age of 35 with the continent projected to be home to almost half of the world’s youth population by the turn of the century, in effect making up half of the potential global workforce of the future.

Currently, up to 12 million young Africans enter the labour market annually, but according to a report from the International Labour Organisation, more than 20% are neither in employment, education nor training.

“We see a significant role for generative AI to not only transform work environments, but also foster opportunities for the youth to create jobs, innovate and help drive economic growth and stability across the continent,” says Ravi Bhat, Chief Technology and Solutions Officer at Microsoft Africa.

According to the whitepaper, many expect generative AI to drastically change knowledge worker jobs, especially in terms of the type of work done, the skills required, and the outputs produced. McKinsey research (http://apo-opa.co/3VBE9Rl) shows that generative AI (GenAI) could enable labour productivity growth of up to 0.6% annually through 2040, depending on the rate of technology adoption and the redeployment of worker time into other activities.

“Generative AI has significant potential to advance human capabilities,” says Jacki O’Neill, Director at Microsoft Research Africa. “As more people across Africa get access to GenAI tools through their internet-enabled devices and more affordable data, the barriers to access are being reduced and opportunities for skilling can increase.”

“But it is not only information workers that stand to benefit from GenAI.”

The promise of GenAI to transform industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and services must be balanced by equipping the youth with the skills needed for an AI-disrupted labour market to ensure that they are not left behind in this technological shift.

It is therefore important to build skills across the spectrum, from how to deploy and use GenAI tools effectively at work, to how to build appropriate and innovative applications and technologies on top of these models, to the post-graduate skills of research and innovation in machine learning, natural language processing, human-computer interaction, cybersecurity, and systems to name a few.

“Investing in this range of skills gives Africans the best opportunity to create dignified, appropriate jobs, to adapt AI sensitively to indigenous knowledge, to create new value chains, and better AI systems which might reflect for example human-centred and community values. Such systems would add value globally and could counter typical tech-centric models of automation and deskilling,” adds O’Neill.

With culturally and linguistically sensitive design, GenAI can become more tailored to individual workers, learning from interactions and becoming a personalised tool that respects privacy and enhances each worker’s unique skills. It can serve as a guide to foster inclusivity and showcase the diverse skills and abilities of African workers.

GenAI can also be appropriated as a community-focused tool that supports collaborative work and communal development.

The technology can assist in decision-making, risk assessment, and data analysis, empowering entrepreneurs in their ventures. For the informal sector, tailored GenAI tools will elevate the capabilities of entrepreneurs, providing customised assistance for their unique needs.

According to the whitepaper, ensuring a beneficial outcome with GenAI involves proactive governance, inclusive design, investment in education, and a commitment to regulatory and ethical standards. This is a collective responsibility, requiring engagement from policymakers, technologists, and citizens alike.

“Technology alone cannot solve the challenges that our youthful continent faces. We need to create policies and practices to ensure that GenAI, and AI in general, is deployed responsibly with AI-related labour being valued and dignified. It requires the macro-economic, labour, and regulatory markets to adapt and be capable of supporting positive change,” adds Bhat.

The AI revolution in Africa is no longer just a possibility; it is already underway, and Microsoft is committed to working alongside individuals, governments, partners and stakeholders across the continent to prepare for a future where AI is intricately woven into the fabric of work and society in Africa.

To learn more, visit AI and the future of work in Africa (http://apo-opa.co/4cBTfxd) to download the whitepaper.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Microsoft.

June 24, 2024
CityBlue Hotels and National Museums of Kenya Announce Strategic Partnership

The National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and CityBlue Hotels (CityBlue) are proud to announce a new partnership to co-promote tourism and culture in Kenya.

This alliance marks an exciting opportunity for sponsorship, co-branding, co-marketing and other forms of collaboration.

NMK was established by an Act of Parliament, the Museums and Heritage Act 2006, as a multi-disciplinary institution whose role is to collect, preserve, study, document and present Kenya’s past and present cultural and natural heritage.

This is for the purposes of enhancing knowledge, appreciation, respect and sustainable utilization of these resources for the benefit of Kenya and the world, for now and posterity.

CityBlue Hotels, Africa’s fastest-growing local hotel chain, operates in Kenya (Mombasa, Nairobi and Lamu with new properties opening soon), Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Ghana. CityBlue also has a collaboration arrangement with more than twenty hotels in South Africa and Mozambique.

Professor Mary Gikungu, Director General of the NMK, stated that, “This arrangement is a step for NMK to engage with the private sector with a group that is established, growing, dynamic and cares, like we do, for the welfare of mankind and the conservation of the biological diversity of the East African region and that of the entire planet. The story of NMK and our cultural heritage will be enhanced by this collaboration”.

Accompanied by,renowned palaeontologist,Dr.Fredrick Kyalo Manthi,the Director of Antiquities,Sites and Monuments and a Senior Research Scientist at the National Museums of Kenya,who was elected into the United States National Academy of Sciences in 2024,becoming the second Kenyan to join the US National Academy of Sciences and Isaiah Nyaega,Legal Officer at NMK.

Jameel Verjee,Founder & CEO of CityBlue Hotels,explained at the Africa Hotel Investment Forum 2024 that “NMK manages many Reginal Museums,Sites and Monuments of national and international importance priceless collections of Kenya’s living cultural heritage and natural heritage.As an institution that must respond to the growing needs of the society,NMK is striving to contribute in a unique way yo the task of national development and we cannot wait to be a partner of NMK on this journey.”

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June 24, 2024