By Libby George, Alexis Akwagyiram
(Reuters) – Visa Inc (V.N) will buy a significant minority stake in Nigerian payments platform Interswitch, creating “an instant acceptance network across Africa” that will help drive expansion, both companies said in a statement on Tuesday.
Interswitch and Visa did not provide financial details but a source confirmed media reports that Visa would buy a 20% stake for $200 million.
Continue reading “Nigerian ‘unicorn’ Interswitch sells stake to Visa”
By Fabiola Cineas
American Airlines, the world’s largest carrier, will finally fly to Africa. Its first-ever route to the continent will launch on June 4, 2020 and fly to Casablanca, Morocco from the Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). The flight is PHL’s first scheduled service to Africa and makes American the only U.S. carrier with a direct flight to Casablanca.
Continue reading “You’ll Soon Finally Be Able to Fly Directly From Philly to Africa”
By Abdi Latif Dahir
Amid the rolling hills on the outskirts of Rwanda’s capital Kigali, the Carnegie Mellon University Africa’s new campus is a prominent feature on the lush landscape. The 6,000 square meters property is located within the Kigali Innovation City, a public-private partnership aimed at positioning Rwanda as a globally competitive and knowledge-based economy.
Since it’s establishment in 2011, CMU Africa has grown from a small graduate program attracting local applicants to becoming the only American research university with a full-time faculty and operations in Africa.
By PK Semler
Aliaune “Akon” Thiam and Stanley Enow –the Senegalese-American and Cameroonian hip-hop stars – are joining forces to promote major African energy projects such as a 350 MW hydroelectric power plant in the strategically vital West-Central African nation of Cameroon.
Continue reading “Hip-hop stars Akon and Enow join forces to promote power projects in Africa”
By Olumide Oyekunle
Corporate Council on Africa, in conjunction with the government of Mozambique, will host the 12th US-Africa Business Summit this year in Maputo with at least 12 African presidents expected to grace the event. The event will take place from June 18 to 21.
Organizers hope to bring more than 1,000 American and African private sector executives, international investors, senior government officials, and multilateral stakeholders.
By Susie Tommaney
People come into our lives for a reason. Sometimes they’re just agents of change, reminding us of dormant potential; others keep us focused on our path and goals; some will guide and teach; and then there are those difference-makers who share our mission and remain in our hearts and lives forever.
Continue reading “Houston-based Artist Designs Sustainable Furniture With Rare African Woods”
Kenya’s flag carrier airline Kenya Airways said Friday it has reached an agreement with American airline Delta Air Lines to activate its codeshare with Delta in the United States and Canada.
Kenya Airways chief executive officer Sebastian Mikosz said the partnership will enable both the business and leisure travelers to enjoy greater connectivity and efficiency in 11 U.S. cities and four Canadian cities.
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Tunisian private equity firm AfricInvest that has $1.5 billion in assets under its management, is partnering with San Francisco-based Cathay Innovation, a global VC fund created by French PE firm Cathay Capital, to launch Cathay AfricInvest Innovation Fund, the two organization announced in a joint statement earlier this week.
The fund, with a projected size of about $170 million (€150 million) which could make it one of the largest VC funds in Africa, will invest in technology startups all across Africa.
A U.S.-based attorney says eight Kenyan families of people who died in an Ethiopian Airlines crash last month will sue Boeing, the manufacturer of the plane, and the airline for compensation.
Continue reading “Kenyan families of Ethiopian Airline crash to sue Boeing”
Global streaming giant Netflix has appointed Kenyan award-winning TV producer and Spielworks Media chief executive Dorothy Ghettuba as its manager for International Originals.
The move comes after global streaming giant Netflix announced last year that it would commission original shows from Africa by 2019.
This could increase demand for the platform among viewers from the region and eventually reduce the cost of access.
“Telling our African stories. Onwards and Upwards,” said Ms Ghettuba in an Instagram post announcing her appointment.
Continue reading “Netflix appoints Kenyan as manager International Originals”