Tech

IFC partners SEACOM to boost digital connectivity in seven African countries

Published

1 year ago

June 24, 2023

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has entered into a strategic partnership with South Africa’s digital infrastructure and IT services company, SEACOM, to grow its broadband cable network and cloud-based product offering in seven countries in Africa.

Under the partnership, IFC which provides financing of private-enterprise investment in developing countries around the world through both loans and direct investments, will be providing a $207 million long-term loan package to SEACOM to boost broadband access in Africa and increase the availability of IT services for small and medium-sized businesses.

Richard Schumacher, Group Chief Financial Officer at SEACOM, who announced the partnership in a statement on Friday, said the funding included $70 million from IFC’s own financing, $42.24 million co-financing mobilized from institutional investors through IFC’s Managed Co-Lending Portfolio Program (MCPP), and $94.76 million equivalent mobilized from Nedbank Limited and Mauritius Commercial Bank.

“Pursuing our expansion ambition in Africa will allow our company to leverage the opportunities created by the increasing demand for digital services.

“It is also a demonstration of a long-term partnership with the IFC. It will further provide access to affordable, good-quality internet is central to economic and social development.”

In the same vein, Sarvesh Suri, IFC’s Regional Director for Infrastructure and Natural Resources in Africa, said the “partnership with SEACOM will support the company in expanding much-needed digital infrastructure and cloud-based services to meaningfully connect more people and businesses on the continent.

“IFC anticipates that the investment will increase access to quality IT services for African businesses, enabling SEACOM to support the digital transformation of 24,000 enterprises in the region by 2027, including in low-income countries, by increasing access to the internet, and cloud and cybersecurity services.

“IFC’s digital strategy in Africa is aimed at enabling ubiquitous, reliable, and affordable connectivity. This includes investing in the growth of independent tower operators, data centers and broadband, and support to mobile operators primarily in fragile states and low-Income International Development Association countries (LIC-IDA),” he said.

Related Topics:Africa Featured IFC.Internet Connection Partnership SEACOM

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Tech

Kenya’s ticketing startup BuuPass partners Flexpay for flexible travel payments

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenyan digital ticketing startup, BuuPass, has entered into a partnership with goal-based savings platform, Flexpay, to offer customers flexible payment plans ahead of holiday travels as well as simplify travel planning and ease the financial burden of holiday travel for Kenyans.

Co-founder and CEO at Buupass, Sonia Kabra, who unveiled the package at a press conference, said the collaboration between the two platforms will allow travellers to save for their journeys in manageable, interest-free installments over four to 12 weeks.

“Travelers can select their travel dates, book tickets, and pay a small deposit upfront, with the remaining balance spread across weekly or monthly payments,” she said.

“This approach offers a stress-free way for families and large groups to secure their tickets early, helping them avoid last-minute price hikes as fares are locked in.

“By partnering with Flexpay, we’re giving travelers the flexibility to budget for their trips in advance. This initiative aligns with our mission to make travel accessible to everyone, providing a solution that meets customers where they are financially,” said Kabra.

Also speaking at the event, Richard Machomba, CEO and founder of Flexpay, said:

“Flexpay’s mission is to empower individuals by providing accessible financial solutions that make it easier for them to achieve their financial goals.

“By partnering with BuuPass, we’re making travel more accessible and stress-free for Kenyans, especially during the holiday season when expenses can be overwhelming,” Machomba added.

Founded in 2016 by Kabra and Wyclife Omondi, BuuPass is a B2B2C mobility marketplace that enables users to search, compare, and book travel tickets via web, app, or USSD, while its SaaS platform helps bus operators manage their operations, inventory, and sales.

FlexPay, on the other hand, is an online and offline payment gateway that allows merchants to offer interest-free targeted savings to their customers in Africa.

Tech

DR Congo sues tech giant Apple over illegal mineral exploitation

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has filed a criminal case against the European subsidiaries of tech giant, Apple, accusing them of illegal mineral exploitation and allegedly using “blood minerals” in its supply chain.

In the suit filed on Tuesday, the DRC alleges that Apple has bought contraband supplies from the country’s conflict-ladden east and Rwanda, zones in which it allege the materials are mined illegally and then integrated into global supply chains before ending up in tech devices.

The DRC suit specifically mentioned Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech giant of using conflict minerals in its supply chain.

The DRC is a major source of tin, tantalum, and tungsten which are used in electronic devices, with some mines controlled by armed groups responsible for human rights violations.

International lawyers representing the African country’s government have accused Apple’s local subsidiaries of taking these minerals from conflict areas and laundering them through international supply chains, with one lawyer telling journalists that Belgium had a moral duty to act given its history of exploiting the country’s resources under colonial rule.

However, in its response, Apple claims it conducts supplier audits and does not directly source primary minerals.

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/1262670-dr-congo-sues-apple-over-alleged-illegal-mineral-exploitation