Day: February 3, 2022

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Afreximbank’s Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA) invests in Ecow-Gas to promote LNG distribution in West Africa

KIGALI, Rwanda, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), a development impact-oriented subsidiary of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has announced that it has invested into Ecow-Gas B.V. (Ecowgas), a Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) distribution infrastructure platform in the West Africa region.

Due to limited power supply from the grid, the industrial sector in Africa suffers severe energy shortages with attendant high production costs, inefficient operations and reduced global competitiveness, amongst others. Off-grid solutions are required to address these challenges and put Africa firmly on the path to energy sustainability.

FEDA’s investment in Ecow-Gas will support the creation, in partnership with a leading international oil company, of the infrastructure to provide access to cheaper and cleaner fuels for underserved industrial customers across the region using LNG. This will also promote efforts to minimize CO2 emission by replacing environment-polluting fuels currently in use.

Professor Benedict Oramah, President and Chariman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, noted that “FEDA’s investment in Ecow-Gas is a testament to its mission of providing development equity capital to sectors critical to the growth and development of intra-African trade, export development and industrialisation. Through this investment, FEDA is seeking to unlock access to affordable and cleaner energy for industrialization purposes and to significantly impact intra-regional trade, especially in the West Africa region.”

Emmanuel Assiak, Acting Chief Executive Officer, FEDA, added: “We are delighted to partner with experienced operators and investors on this mission-critical opportunity to unlock the provision of cheaper and cleaner fuel in West Africa. The combined complementary skills and capabilities within the Ecow-Gas platform stakeholders will help enable the Company to execute its growth plans. We believe that EcowGas will help to significantly remove the energy supply and cost bottlenecks that negatively impact the competitiveness of the region as a manufacturing destination.”

Kwaku Boakye-Adjei, CEO of H Investments and Ecow-Gas, commented: “We are excited to commence this project as we see LNG as not only a fuel for large scale Independent Power Producers in the region but for mid to small scale industries as well to transition from Heavy Fuel Oil, Diesel and other distillates and ultimately, to renewables. LNG powered microgeneration can help to alleviate issues such as intermittency which act as a barrier to wide scale adoption of renewables in West Africa.”

FEDA pursues a multi-sector investment strategy along the intra-African trade, value-added export development and manufacturing value chains which includes financial services, technology, consumer and retail goods, manufacturing, transport & logistics, agribusiness, as well as ancillary trade enabling infrastructure such as industrial parks, in Afreximbank’s member states.

About Afreximbank

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. Afreximbank deploys innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. At the end of 2020, the Bank’s total assets and guarantees stood at US$21.5 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$3.4 billion. Afreximbank disbursed more than US$42 billion between 2016 and 2020. The Bank has ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A-), Moody’s (Baa1) and Fitch (BBB-). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.

For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com.
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Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1739740/FEDA_Logo.jpg

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La Fondation ARC s’alarme de la faible attractivité de la recherche en France

PARIS, 3 février 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Terre d’accueil historique des chercheurs les plus prestigieux venus du monde entier, la France est aujourd’hui challengée sur la scène scientifique internationale. Afin de mettre en lumière ses lignes de force en matière de recherche biomédicale, la Fondation ARC a réalisé, en partenariat avec OpinionWay, un sondage mené auprès des chercheurs sur l’attractivité de la France dans le domaine de la recherche en cancérologie. Confirmant sans surprise certains points de faiblesse tels que le manque de moyens financiers et le poids de l’administratif, l’enquête révèle également les atouts de l’Hexagone, tels que l’excellence des formations et la qualité de vie. Des résultats qui encouragent la Fondation ARC dans une démarche volontariste pour attirer et accueillir encore plus de chercheurs de haut niveau.

LES CHERCHEURS PLÉBISCITENT LA FRANCE POUR SON CADRE DE VIE

Si 7 chercheurs sur 10 justifient leur installation dans l’Hexagone par des raisons personnelles et familiales, 1/3 d’entre eux mentionnent le cadre de vie comme facteur décisif de leur choix, suivi par la sécurité de l’emploi (25 %). Le cadre de vie est d’ailleurs considéré par 67 % du panel comme le principal atout de la France. Avant même les spécificités liées à la recherche, ce sont ainsi les conditions d’accueil et la qualité de vie qui séduisent en premier lieu ces scientifiques. In fine, 73 % d’entre eux veulent rester en France dans les cinq prochaines années. OpinionWay Rapport Fondation ARC France terre d accueil des chercheurs 2022

LA FRANCE, UN TERREAU UNIVERSITAIRE FAVORABLE POUR PRODUIRE DES CHERCHEURS D’EXCELLENCE

La qualité de la formation, reconnue par 46 % des chercheurs interrogés, représente un atout incontestable pour armer les chercheurs face à la complexité de la recherche. En creusant cette notion « d’excellence de la formation à la française », 51 % des chercheurs interrogés pointent avant tout l’apprentissage du sens critique, sous-tendu par leur vision à 360° des questionnements, sens critique qui est fondamental pour bousculer les dogmes scientifiques et oser innover. La rigueur et la capacité à explorer l’inconnu sont également mentionnées par respectivement 41 % et 24 % des chercheurs.

C’est au niveau des financements, en revanche, que la France apparaît moins attractive.

Pour 9 chercheurs sur 10, un soutien plus important des projets serait la principale action à mettre en place pour les inciter à rester dans l’Hexagone, suivi d’un meilleur accompagnement dans l’organisation du travail. En comparaison avec les autres pays, 8 scientifiques sur 10 jugent également les démarches administratives plus contraignantes, tandis que 64 % déplorent le manque d’audace des projets de recherche.

LOGO: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1739744/Fondation_ARC_Logo.jpg
PDF:https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1739749/OpinionWay_Rapport_Fondation_ARC_France_terre_d_accueil_des_chercheurs_2022.pdf

Contact: Frédéric Henry FHCOM Mobile
frederic.henry@fhcom.net

 

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YahClick, a Leading Global Satellite Services Operator, Selects Clear Blue Technologies’ Smart Off-Grid Solar Power Systems for Africa

With a total contract value of $650,000, initial orders totaling $425,000 were shipped in Q4 2021

ONLY FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND AFRICA

NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE ADX NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UAE

TORONTO, Feb. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Clear Blue Technologies International Inc. (“Clear Blue” and the “Company”) (TSXV: CBLU), today announces that YahClick, the leading satellite broadband service provider, has selected Clear Blue as its preferred Smart Off-Grid, solar power system provider for large deployments of its telecommunication customer sites across Africa. Initial orders worth $425,000 in revenue, from two YahClick customers, across 44 sites commenced shipping in Q4 2021. Follow-on shipments for these and other YahClick customers are expected throughout 2022, beginning in Q1.

As a global Tier 1 satellite service provider, YahClick continues to strengthen its presence as a market leader in bringing connectivity across Africa. Initial installations under this partnership will begin in early 2022 for sites in Nigeria and Zambia, with an estimated target of close to 1,000 sites to be installed over the next 12 to 24 months. “Our partnership with Clear Blue delivers clean off-grid power to enable our proven, high speed, reliable, and affordable broadband connectivity for Africa’s leading network providers of choice,” said Farhad Khan, CEO of YahClick.

Initial system sales are expected to generate gross margins in line with the Company’s historical average. These orders were not included in Clear Blue’s Q3 bookings of $2.9 million but are expected to be included in Q4 2021 results. The initial orders across 44 sites totaling $425,000 in revenue are expected to have an estimated $225,000 of additional ongoing revenue, representing a total estimated 5-year lifetime contract value of $650,000.

Miriam Tuerk, Cofounder & CEO of Clear Blue, noted, “YahClick is a leader in broadband and satellite services across Africa. We are thrilled to be their partner as they roll out their customer networks across Africa. And this is only the beginning of Clear Blue’s role in bringing wireless power management solutions to unserved and underserved populations.”

With well over a billion people unconnected in Africa, the economic need to provide telecommunication services to underserved populations remains a key driver across the continent. Mordor Intelligence indicates that to meet the growing telecom demand for services globally, over US$4.47 billion in spending on powering telecom tower rollouts will occur in 2022, growing to US$5.25 billion in 2025, a 3.25% CAGR.

About YahClick

YahClick (powered by Hughes) provides commercial Ka-band satellite broadband solutions to unserved and underserved communities across the Middle East, Africa, Central and Southwest Asia. YahClick aims to unlock the socio-economic potential of the communities it serves by bringing the benefits of digital inclusion through its cost-effective and high-performance broadband solutions. Delivered through the High Throughput Satellites (HTS), the service uses the efficiencies provided by the reusable ka-band satellite frequency and is powered by multi-spot beam technology to make satellite broadband affordable and dependable in areas where there is limited to no terrestrial infrastructure.

YahClick is a joint venture between the UAE-based Al Yah Satellite Communications Company PJSC, which is a public company listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, and Hughes Network Systems, a subsidiary of EchoStar Corporation.

For more information, visit: www.YahClick.com

About Clear Blue Technologies International

Clear Blue Technologies International, the Smart Off-Grid™ company, was founded on a vision of delivering clean, managed, “wireless power” to meet the global need for reliable, low-cost, solar and hybrid power for lighting, telecom, security, Internet of Things devices, and other mission-critical systems. Today, Clear Blue has thousands of systems under management across 37 countries, including the U.S. and Canada. (TSXV: CBLU) (FRA: 0YA) (OTCQB: CBUTF)

For more information, contact:

Miriam Tuerk, Co-Founder and CEO
+1 416 433 3952
investors@clearbluetechnologies.com
www.clearbluetechnologies.com/en/investors

Nikhil Thadani, Sophic Capital
+1 437 836 9669
Nik@SophicCapital.com

Legal Disclaimer

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains certain “forward-looking information” and/or “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only Clear Blue’s beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Clear Blue’s control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “will continue”, “will occur” or “will be achieved”. The forward-looking information contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the future phases of the project or future value of this project for any mentioned parties.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, Clear Blue is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Clear Blue to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements.

An investment in securities of Clear Blue is speculative and subject to several risks including, without limitation, the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Clear Blue’s listing application dated July 12, 2018. Although Clear Blue has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.

In connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, Clear Blue has made certain assumptions. Although Clear Blue believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to Clear Blue or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

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CGTN: China stands ready to present a streamlined, safe, splendid Winter Olympics

BEIJING, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Beijing Winter Olympics will raise the curtain on Friday, with thousands of athletes from across the globe joining the mega sports event in the Chinese capital city.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the Games at the National Stadium in Beijing with world leaders from dozens of countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and heads of international organizations, such as United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

“The world is turning its eyes to China, and China is ready,” Xi said while addressing the opening ceremony of the 139th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) via video link on Thursday.

The Chinese president told IOC President Thomas Bach and other IOC members that China will do its best to deliver to the world a streamlined, safe and splendid Games and act on the Olympic motto “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”

Xi also thanked the committee for its long-term contribution to China’s sports as a whole and its support and guidance in bidding and preparing for the Games.

From ‘One World, One Dream’ to ‘Together for a Shared Future’

“From ‘One World, One Dream’ in 2008 to ‘Together for a Shared Future’ in 2022,” Xi said China has been actively participating in the Olympic Games and consistently promoting the Olympic Spirit.

Beijing is the first city in the world to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

Fourteen years ago, with the motto of “One World, One Dream,” Beijing 2008 Olympic Games showed the world how an open China embraced the world and how a diverse world greeted China.

Xi said in the address that the world is experiencing great changes that have not been seen in a century: the COVID-19 pandemic, a new period of turbulence and transformation and multiple challenges to humanity.

For the first time in over 100 years, the Olympic motto was updated last year, adding one of the most resonant words since the pandemic – “together.”

Bach, in his New Year’s message published on the IOC website, said Beijing 2022 will be a chance to “live our new Olympic motto” to become stronger by standing together in solidarity.

By using “Together for a Shared Future” as a slogan, China is conveying a message of solidarity, urging humanity to stay united in the face of global challenges, including the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

Mobilizing 300 million people

China is committed to pursuing the Olympic ideal with concrete actions, Xi said in his address at the IOC session.

The Chinese president’s primary goal of holding the Games to inspire 300 million people to participate in winter sports has already been fulfilled.

Xi said by preparing for and organizing the Winter Games, China has boosted its regional development, ecological establishment and quality of life, in addition to opening up a broader space for the development of winter sports around the globe.

Over 346 million Chinese people have participated in winter sports activities since Beijing’s successful Winter Olympics bid in 2015, with a participation rate of 24.56 percent, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows.

By early 2021, the country boasted 654 standard ice rinks, a surge of 317 percent from 2015, and the number of ski resorts has risen from 568 in 2015 to 803 now.

A research report on China’s ice and snow industry in 2021 showed that the scale of the Chinese industry increased from $42 billion in 2015 to $93 billion in 2020.

According to China’s development plan for ice and snow sports from 2016 to 2025, the total scale of the industry will reach 1 trillion yuan ($157.2 billion) by 2025.

China’s efforts would “open a new era for winter sports globally,” Bach said.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-02-03/Xi-addresses-139th-IOC-session-opening-ceremony-via-video-17lmXTxdZza/index.html

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NjX8qm6YEo

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CGTN: Putin believes Beijing to host Winter Olympics of highest standards

BEIJING, Feb. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — For Chinese, this Spring Festival is an occasion of “double happiness,” with the hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympics. Adding to the festive mood is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s scheduled visit and attendance to the opening ceremony of the grand sporting event.

Ahead of Putin’s visit, China Media Group (CMG) President and Editor-in-Chief Shen Haixiong interviewed the Russian president, welcoming him to Beijing and asking him about sports and ties with China.

It’s not the first time for Putin to accept Shen’s interview. Four years ago, they sat down for an exclusive interview at the Kremlin in Moscow, marking the first interview the Russian president had ever given to the Chinese media at the Kremlin.

Putin’s expectation for Beijing 2022

“I firmly believe that the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing will be held to the highest standards. I wish a successful performance and luck to all athletes, participants in the Olympics, and bright unforgettable moments and joy to the guests,” Putin said in expressing warm wishes and high expectations for the upcoming sporting gala during the recent interview.

Putin told Shen that he believes those excellent preparations made by organizers for the Olympics will help the Olympic athletes show their sporting character and demonstrate their skills and ability to achieve their goals in a fair and uncompromising competition.

He also said that Russia has been and remains committed to the traditional Olympic values. “Russia opposes the attempts to politicize sport or use it as a tool of coercion, unfair competition, and discrimination.”

Nearly 3,000 athletes from approximately 90 countries and regions will compete at the Beijing 2022, which features more events and will produce more gold medals than any previous Winter Games.

Chinese-Russian sports exchanges

As for the interaction between Russia and China in sports and physical education, Putin said it occupies an important place in bilateral humanitarian cooperation.

Apart from cooperation in junior hockey, Putin cited Russian and Chinese cooperation in physical education and sports in 2022-2023, which was announced by two leaders in December 2021, saying it will be a significant and memorable event for the two countries.

According to Putin, the program includes about 500 various popular and youth sports events, as well as educational, sports science and staff training activities.

Developing bilateral ties on equal, non-ideological basis

Shen noted that China and Russia viewed each other as friendly nations from the start, then advanced to a constructive partnership, strategic partnership, comprehensive partnership, and strategic interaction. In June 2019, relations were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Last June, the two sides also agreed to extend their Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation for another five years.

Relations between Russia and China are developing on an equal, non-ideological basis, Putin stressed, adding that the “partnership is sustainable, intrinsically valuable, not affected by the political climate, and not aimed against anyone.”

China remains firmly top of the list of Russia’s trade partners, the president said, citing preliminary data that bilateral trade reached a historical high, totaling $140 billion last year amid the pandemic.

The meetings of the two leaders played a key role in enhancing bilateral cooperation, Putin said.

Nearly three years after Putin’s last visit to China, the upcoming trip will witness the 38th meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Russian president since 2013.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-02-03/Putin-believes-Beijing-to-host-Winter-Olympics-of-highest-standards-17lnQsbhtCM/index.html

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Agriculture : exploitation des marrais , un moyen sûr pour augmenter la production du riz

Le Secrétaire Permanent au Ministère de l’environnement, de l’agriculture et de l’élevage Emmanuel Ndorimana en compagnie de certains directeurs généraux de ce ministère a effectué mercredi 02 février 2022, une descente sur terrain en commune Mabanda de la province Makamba au barrage Mugombwa qui irrigue les Marais Gasaka-Rudida, Mugonera et Nyagatwenzi.

Le Secrétaire Permanent Emmanuel Ndorimana arrivé sur les lieux, a constaté que le barrage ne fonctionne pas et est détruit à cause des inondations suite au bassin versant de la rivière qui n’est pas protégé

Il a fait savoir que le ministère en collaboration avec l’administration vont se mettre ensemble pour voir ce qu’il faut faire dans les meilleures délais pour que ce barrage soit réhabilité et continue à servir aux riziculteurs de ce marrais de plus de 600 hectare.

Comme l’a dit Emmanuelle Ndorimana, le secrétaire Permanent au ministère en charge de l’agriculture, le gouvernement du Burundi s’est fixé l’engagement d’augmenter la production pour que chaque bouche ait à manger et chaque poche ait de l’argent. Pour y arriver, il faut des changements que ça soit au niveau de l’administration, des agriculteurs mais aussi surtout au niveau du ministère en charge de l’agriculture.

C’est pour cette raison que le ministère s’est fixé l’engagement de renforcer l’encadrement des agriculteurs pour augmenter la production du riz et du maïs, a t il indiqué.

Pour le moment, le ministère est en train de suivre tous les marrais dans tout le pays où on peut cultiver le riz. Le Secrétaire permanent Emmanuel Ndorimana a indiqué que le ministère de l’environnement, de l’agriculture et de l’élevage est à l’œuvre pour cultiver tous les marrais se trouvant dans le pays

Source: Radio Television Burundi

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