May 17, 2023

Tizeti to tackle broadband underdevelopment in Cote d’Ívoire with Microsoft

ABIDJAN, Cote d’Ívoire, May 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tizeti, a leading internet service provider in West Africa, announced an expanded collaboration with Microsoft to address the issue of broadband underdevelopment in Cote d’Ívoire and bring internet access to almost 5 million people.

The partnership aims to provide affordable and reliable high-speed internet access to underserved communities and people in the country, addressing the significant broadband gap that has hindered economic development and social progress in the region and empowering more Ivorians to participate in the digital economy.

Cote d’Ívoire is believed to have less than 40% internet penetration, with fixed internet around 2%. The fixed internet and broadband sectors remain underdeveloped in Cote dÍvoire, due to a legacy of poor international connectivity, which resulted in high wholesale prices, limited bandwidth, and a lack of access for alternative operators to international infrastructure. Operators such as MainOne, and Africa Coast to Europe have subsea infrastructure, with 2Africa expected to land in 2023. While the submarine cable vertical is more competitive, Cote d’Ívoire has limited last-mile providers who pull the internet capacity and distribute it to homes, offices, schools, hospitals, and other public institutions.

Tizeti will roll out high-speed internet infrastructure with Microsoft’s Airband Initiative, leveraging Tizeti’s low-cost wireless technologies. This will help make it easier and cheaper for people to access the internet and connect to the digital economy. These shared efforts are part of the Microsoft Airband Initiative’s commitment to bring internet access to 100 million Africans by the end of 2025, which aligns with Tizeti’s goal of connecting more people to the internet in a cost-efficient way.

“We are thrilled to partner with Microsoft to bring reliable and affordable high-speed internet access to underserved communities in Cote d’Ívoire,” said Kendall Ananyi, Chief Executive Officer of Tizeti. “Our mission at Tizeti is to bring affordable and reliable internet to more Africans outside the digital envelope, and this partnership is a significant step forward in achieving that goal. This work with Microsoft continues our joint efforts to deliver world-class internet connectivity to the people of Africa, starting with Nigeria and now Cote d’Ívoire.”

Microsoft’s Airband Initiative is focused on advancing digital equity—access to affordable internet, affordable devices, and digital skills—as a platform for empowerment and digital transformation across the world.

“Through our expanded partnership with Tizeti, we are committed to providing high-speed internet access to five million people in Cote d’Ivoire by the end of 2025,” said Vickie Robinson, General Manager of Microsoft’s Airband Initiative. “Partners such as Tizeti are vital to the Airband ecosystem, which relies on local expertise along with public and private organizations of every size to tailor regional solutions. The expansion to Cote d’Ivoire will help build sustainable infrastructure that strengthens local development and reduces barriers to connectivity.”

For many countries in Africa, there is still a huge digital divide. This boundary between connected and unconnected translates into clear consequences for employment, education, family and social life, and access to information. Collaborations such as this play a significant role in addressing the digital infrastructure deficits in emerging economies, leveraging innovative technology and capabilities, to improve development outcomes for millions of people.

About Tizeti

Tizeti is a fast-growing Wireless Internet service provider in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire delivering high-speed unlimited Wi-Fi Internet access to residential and business customers using wide-area Wi-Fi.

Contact: Temitope Osunrinde (press@tizeti.com)

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8840227

May 17, 2023

Sweegen’s Rebaudioside M receives full authorization for use in the United Kingdom

Bestevia Reb M expands sugar reduction solutions in the U.K.and is now available to food and beverage producers.

Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., May 17, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global sweetness and flavor innovator, Sweegen has announced that its Bestevia® Rebaudioside M (Reb M) has been fully authorized for use in the United Kingdom (U.K.) This regulatory approval marks a significant milestone for Sweegen, as it becomes the first and only company to receive authorization for any steviol glycosides produced using alternative technologies in the U.K.

Reb M, a high-purity steviol glycoside derived from the stevia plant, is renowned for its clean and sugar-like taste profile. It offers a natural, zero-calorie sweetness solution, making it an ideal choice for food and beverage manufacturers seeking to reduce sugar content and provide healthier options to consumers. Sweegen’s nature-based sweeteners, including its Reb M, offer a scalable and cost-effective alternative to traditional sugar.

Brands in the U.K. have eagerly anticipated the authorization of Sweegen’s Bestevia Reb M during the initial formulation phase and tastings. They are actively collaborating with Sweegen’s food and beverage applications experts based at its EMEA U.K. Innovation Studio in Reading, England, to integrate this highly sought-after stevia ingredient, along with Sweegen’s outstanding taste modulation and unique sweeteners, into their formulations.

Damian Bellusci, Vice President of Sales EMEA/APAC at Sweegen, expressed his excitement about the authorization, stating, “We are extremely proud to be the pioneers in securing full authorization for Bestevia Reb M in the U.K. This milestone reaffirms Sweegen’s commitment to providing innovative, nature-based, and sustainable sweetening solutions to the industry. Reb M offers food and beverage manufacturers an exceptional tool to meet consumer demands for healthier products without compromising taste.”

The decision to authorize the bioconversion manufacturing method for steviol glycosides, including Reb M, was made by the Minister for Primary Care and Public Health in relation to England, the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales, and the Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport in relation to Scotland. The authorization is per Article 10(1) of retained Regulation 1333/2008, fulfilling the requirements.

The authorized manufacturing method allows for using steviol glycosides, including Reb M, in the Great Britain (GB) market. The Regulations provide updated terms of authorization for using this method in GB, with the terms being similar to those in the European Union (EU) and Northern Ireland. For the latest information, referring to the relevant EU Regulations on the EUR-Lex website is recommended.

Casey McCormick, Vice President of Global Innovation at Sweegen, emphasized the significance of Reb M in driving product innovation. “The approval of Bestevia Reb M in the UK represents a very positive step forward for brands looking to improve the nutrition profile of their products. The clean, sweet taste of our Bestevia Reb M enables new approaches to reduce and eliminate sugar in a way that exceeds consumers’ expectations and supports public health objectives to reduce sugar consumption.”

Hadi Omrani, Vice President of Technical and Regulatory Affairs at Sweegen, highlighted the rigorous safety and compliance standards behind Bestevia Reb M’s authorization. Omrani stated, “At Sweegen, we prioritize safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. Obtaining full authorization for Bestevia Reb M in the U.K. required thorough scientific evaluations and stringent assessments to ensure its safety for consumption. This achievement reflects our commitment to delivering superior products that meet the highest industry standards.”

Sweegen is dedicated to revolutionizing the sweetener market with innovative solutions that promote healthier choices without compromising taste. The full authorization of Bestevia Reb M in the U.K. reinforces Sweegen’s leadership in the nature-based sweetener space and positions the company as a trusted partner for food and beverage manufacturers worldwide.

Sweegen recently attained FEMA GRAS status for sweet proteins brazzein and thaumatin II, complementing steviol glycosides in food and beverage production. With the addition of brazzein and thaumatin II, Sweegen continues to expand its portfolio of safe and effective taste-modulating flavors that can help food and beverage manufacturers meet the demand for healthier and delicious products to align with consumers’ holistic approaches to wellness. Brazzein is the star ingredient in Sweegen’s newly launched Sweetensify flavors for taste modulation, an ideal flavors tool for brands seeking to create sugar-like tastes in food and beverages.

About Sweegen

Sweegen provides sweet-taste solutions for food and beverage manufacturers around the world.
We are on a mission to reduce sugar and artificial sweeteners in the global diet. Partnering with customers, we create delicious zero-sugar products that consumers love. With the best modern sweeteners in our portfolio, such as Bestevia® Rebs B, D, E, I, M, and N, and sweet proteins brazzein and thaumatin, along with our deep knowledge of flavor modulators and texturants, Sweegen delivers market-leading solutions that customers want, and consumers prefer. Well. Into the Future.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1996. Sweegen’s actual results may differ from the estimates, assumptions, and other illustrative material contained herein, and consequently, a reader should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, illustrative information regarding Sweegen’s bottom-up assumed market potential, assumed hit rate, and the resulting revenue based on these model inputs. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results.

Industry, Market, and Other Data
In this press release, we rely on and refer to information and statistics regarding market participants in the sectors in which Sweegen competes and other data. We obtained this information and statistics from our own internal estimates and third-party sources, including reports by market research firms and company filings. We do not expressly refer to these sources. All of this information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and the sources of such information cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of such information. The industry in which Sweegen operates is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of important factors, any of which could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by Sweegen or third parties.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, among other statements, statements regarding the future prospects for Reb M stevia leaf sweetener, brazzein, and thaumatin. These statements are based on current expectations but are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and beyond Sweegen’s control.

Relevant risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements and, therefore, should be carefully considered. Sweegen assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information or future events or developments.

Attachments

Ana Arakelian
Sweegen
+1.949.709.0583
ana.arakelian@sweegen.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8841398

May 17, 2023

Late enrolment in school affects the girl-child academic journey

Madam Felicity Mawuli Adobea, Girl-Child Education Officer, Ningo-Prampram District, has emphasized the need for parents to enrol children, particularly females, in school on time. She said children who start school late may have greater obligations for helping their parents with housework, farm work, or wage employment, which raises the opportunity cost of studying and makes school less appealing to these youngsters. Madam Adobea gave the advice in a lecture on ‘The Need for Girls to Attend School’ at a mentorship session for adolescent girls organised by the Department of Gender of the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. She said enrolling children, especially the girl-child at the appropriate school age could reduce the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and other undesirable behaviour displayed by some students in school. She said available data indicated that the majority of the girls who became pregnant in school were beyond the age of 18 and children aged zero to five years should be in kindergarten, six to 12 years in primary school, 13 to 15 years in junior high school, and 16 to 18 years in senior cycle education. She highlighted early sex, child marriage, poverty, menstruation, onerous home chores, gender-based violence, and a lack of time management as hurdles to girls’ education. ‘The children are present in the community; their parents will not bring them to school; they will be at home. They’ll bring them to class one when they’re 12 years old, so by class six, they’re approximately 18 or 20 and start to develop sexual feelings,’ she explained. She urged the adolescent girls not to engage in sexual activities, especially while they were under their parents’ roofs. The Girl-Child Education Officer stated that education was both formal and informal, but that it was critical that they had formal education to the point that they could function effectively in the informal sector.

Source: Ghana News Agency

May 17, 2023

UNCTAD, Kenya Vision 2030 Deliver Economic Transformation

The National Productive Capacities Gap Assessment (NPCGA) and Holistic Programme for Fostering Productive Capacities and Structural Economic Transformation of Kenya has been launched by the secretariat of Kenya Vision 2030 together with UNCTAD at a Nairobi Hotel. Kenya Vision 2030 Chairman Dr. Sakwa Bunyasi said that the Programme seeks to address and enhance our economic growth. ‘We are embarking on a momentous journey towards a more prosperous and self-sufficient country. The NPCGA provides valuable insights about the key challenges and binding constraints that exist in our productive capacities, which the UNCTAD’s holistic programme seeks to address to enhance our economic growth and development,’ said Mr. Bunyasi. He explained that the launch is about building an economy that is all-inclusive, resilient, and sustainable. It is about creating opportunities for all Kenyans to thrive and prosper. Besides, it seeks to position Kenya as a leader in the region and the world. ‘The Vision of the programme comprises of Social, Political and economic, which are anchored on the enablers. These pillars and the enablers are critical in achieving the overarching goal of Vision 2030, which aims at making Kenya a globally competitive and prosperous nation,’ said Mr. Bunyasi. UNCTAD Director, Division for Africa and Special Programmes Mr. Paul Akiwumi said, ‘There is an urgent need for the country to adopt both macroeconomic and microeconomic reform measures to unlock Kenya’s growth potential. It is essential that these focus on building domestic, economy-wide productive capacities. Failing to do so will make Kenya continuously vulnerable to external shocks, preventing progress in structural transformation, which risks locking the country in the lower-middle income trap for several years to come.’ Akiwumi said that unemployment has been a constant threat in the country, coupled with wide-spread poverty and inequality. Today, two-thirds of the population live on less than US$ 3.20 per day. And the distribution of wealth has affected the welfare of the population, contributing to social instability. ‘The private sector is challenged with high energy costs, gaps in core and supportive infrastructure and high interest rates on loans. This decreases companies’ margins and challenges the ability of businesses to grow, adopt new technologies and compete in regional and global markets. Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly vulnerable to these challenges,’ he said.

Source: Kenya News Agency

May 17, 2023

Ethiopia Exploring New Export Destinations across Africa

Ethiopia is intensifying efforts to increase its export destinations across the continent as AfCFTA brings new opportunities to realize its ambitions, according to the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.

State Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Teshale Belihu told ENA that the country has intensified its efforts to promote the export trade and expand destinations as the nation’s trade balance has big gaps between import and export.

“Our import spending is much higher than our revenue from export. We are working on plenty of promotion activities under the ongoing reform to increase export destinations.”

Noting that bilateral talks and negotiations towards reaching most of the African countries are underway, he said the government is working with commitment to expand the export destinations of Ethiopia beyond the usual ones, both at the global and continental level.

Stressing that increasing production and productivity with quality is crucial for Ethiopia’s export trade; he said: “production and export trade are inseparable. If you don’t produce, you do not have the goods to export.”

Despite periods of disruption for export trade due to local and international challenges, the export trade is now reviving following the restoration of peace in the northern part of the country, which is key to increase production and productivity, he pointed out.

The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration is undertaking promotions with priority to boost the export destinations, it was indicated.

For the state minister, AfCFTA is one of the opportunities for expanding Ethiopia’s trade destination across the continent. Ethiopia, as a host of the African Union (AU), strongly supports continental integration, including through AfCFTA.

All industries in Ethiopia will considerably benefit from the AfCFTA in terms of exports or imports from the rest of Africa.

Citing that Asia, Europe and America, have been Ethiopia’s main export destinations, Teshale said now AfCFTA brings huge opportunities to expand the country’s export in many fellow African countries.

By eliminating barriers to trade in Africa, the objective of the AfCFTA is to significantly boost intra-Africa trade, particularly trade in value-added production and trade across all sectors of Africa’s economy.

Proponents of the AfCFTA underline th enormous opportunities of the free trade area, among others, increasing economic growth, forex generation, growing flow of FDI and create jobs.

Based on the six month performance report of the concluding fiscal year of the ministry, agriculture remains the major contributor to the country’s foreign trade.

Coffee, in particular, is Ethiopia’s major export commodity. Ethiopia, which is known as the origin of arabica coffee, is recognized worldwide for its rich coffee quality, variety of flavors and aroma.

The strategic geographical location with proximity to Middle East, Europe and Asia, the recent Homegrown policy and strategy have provided opportunities for boosting the country’s FDI in agricultural, manufacture and mineral exports and stimulate Ethiopia’s economy.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

May 17, 2023

Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia Agree to Further Strengthen Bilateral Relations

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia, Demeke Mekonnen had a telephone conversation with Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia

The two sides exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual concern, according to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

They have agreed to further strengthen the bilateral relations between the two countries, including regarding Ethiopians residing in Saudi Arabia.

The conversation also included an exchange of views on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to help the parties in Sudan reach a negotiated settlement.

Demeke commended the Sudanese sides, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the United States of America for their joint efforts in facilitating the signing of the Jeddah Declaration of Commitment.

He also assured the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia of Ethiopia’s commitment to supporting Sudan in reaching a peaceful settlement through a Sudanese-owned process.

Concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Demeke reiterated to the Foreign Minister the need to respect and support the African Union-facilitated trilateral negotiations.

He cautioned that any pronouncement by the League of Arab States on this matter of great importance to Ethiopia and the rest of Africa must not be counterproductive to the trilateral negotiations.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency