Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) (www.GDIZ-Benin.com) is proud to announce its inaugural export of “Made in Benin” garments to Europe. This first consignment, destined for the prestigious French brand KIABI, comprises 80,000 meticulously crafted children’s leggings. KIABI, renowned for its chain of stores offering clothing and accessories for women, men, children, and babies, with nearly 563 retail outlets across France, Spain, Italy, Africa, the Middle East, and Overseas Departments and Regions (DROM). This order marks the beginning of a successful collaboration between SIPI-Bénin and KIABI, with an order alignment of 2 million clothing pieces for 2024 and 4 million for 2025.

After two years of discussions and negotiations, this first export of 80,000 “Made in Benin” children’s leggings meticulously crafted within the Zone represents a significant milestone in the development of the textile industry in Benin. This initiative demonstrates Benin’s capacity to meet international market requirements and uphold high standards of quality. KIABI now joins prestigious brands such as The Children’s Place (TCP) and US POLO ASSN, with whom clothing delivery contracts have already been signed, thereby reinforcing GDIZ’s position as a pivotal hub for textile production in Africa.

Mr. Létondji BEHETON, Managing Director of SIPI-Bénin S.A, stated: “This first export of children’s leggings to KIABI is a source of immense pride for us and serves as tangible proof of our commitment to promoting the Beninese textile industry on the international stage. It marks the beginning of a long series of exports for the French brand KIABI. By the end of 2024, we will produce 2 million pieces of clothing for KIABI, demonstrating our ability to meet international standards while maintaining high quality. Currently, KIABI is increasingly focusing on collaboration with Africa for its garment production and plans to expand its retail presence on the continent. With its dynamism and quality workforce, Benin is ideally positioned to seize the new market opportunities offered by KIABI.”

Mr. Penagos JUAN, CEO of KIABI Sourcing, added: “We are delighted to collaborate with the Investment and Promotion Company for Industry in Benin (SIPI-Bénin S.A), responsible for the development, promotion, and management of GDIZ.

This initiative perfectly aligns with KIABI’s strategy of bringing our production sites closer to our points of sale. In Africa, we have several stores, and now, thanks to the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), we are producing KIABI garments locally. Our goal is to produce thirty million pieces in Africa, and ARISE proves to be the ideal partner to achieve this objective by integrating sustainability and using 100% Made in Africa cotton. We are at the beginning of this exciting journey, and we are proud to undertake it with ARISE and the Republic of Benin.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ).

Contact presse:
SIPI-BENIN S.A
Irmine Gnidehou
Communication Manager
gdiz-media@arisenet.com
www.GDIZ-Benin.com

Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie – Bénin (SIPI-Bénin S.A.) :
Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) est un PPP entre ARISE IIP et la République du Bénin
TANGBO DJEVIE  ZE BENIN – ROUTE INTER ETATS 2 (RNIE2)
+229 53 04 67 22 / 67 77 94 94   
www.GDIZ-Benin.com   
gdiz-benin@arisenet.com
Cotonou N° RCCM RB/COT/20 B 27527 
N° IFU 3202011687343 
Capital social : 1.000.000.000 XOF

About KIABI: 
KIABI is a renowned French fashion brand specializing in clothing and accessories for the entire family. Founded in 1978, KIABI has distinguished itself through its commitment to accessible and quality fashion. With an international network of over 563 retail stores and a strong online presence, KIABI continues to expand and innovate, firmly advocating for ethical and responsible production practices.

About GDIZ:
Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), developed by Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie – BENIN (SIPI-BENIN S.A.), is a joint-venture between Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP) and the Republic of Benin.

GDIZ is a dynamic industrial zone of 1,640 hectares (phase 1: 400 ha) developed by ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP) which counts among its infrastructures several industrial zones in Africa, in particular in Gabon (Gabon Special Economic Zone) and Togo (Industrial Platform of Adétikope) and other countries of the African continent.

Shafiq, a motorbike rider for over ten years, almost lost his life to the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) just over a year ago. He used to go deep into villages to pick up and drop off passengers.

Since recovering from Ebola virus disease, his life has changed as he can no longer ride long distances. He feels tired most of the time, a common symptom that has been reported by many Ebola virus disease survivors.

“Even though I look strong, I don’t always feel that way. I can’t ride for long hours like I used to,” he said.

For Shafiq, the disease began with a fever and general body weakness. Following a Ministry of Health call to the public, inviting people that are not feeling well to get tested, he and his friends went to the health centre. It was there that he tested positive for the Ebola virus disease.

During his illness, he reported a few symptoms including feeling body pains, profound weakness in the limbs, inability to eat, and a kind of limbo where he couldn’t tell what day it was or how much time had passed. Thanks to the aggressive treatment and care, he was able to notice a change in his state of health.

When he recovered and was discharged, people were terrified of him. “Everyone in the community was scared of me. They all ran away as if they had seen a lion,’ Shafiq narrates sadly.

Today, thanks to multiple community awareness and sensitization campaigns against stigma carried out by the Ebola Survivors Programme, Shafiq has happily been reintegrated back into his community. 

The survivor programme was implemented by the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Uganda and other partners, with funding from the European Union Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO).

 Apart from supporting survivors during community reintegration, the programme supports with viral persistence monitoring. The Ebola virus can continue living in certain parts of the body, even after recovery from the disease. In particular, it can persist in breast milk, eyes, brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and semen. This means that without a condom, a male survivor can infect his sexual partner.

“My girlfriend and I were informed that I had been cured of Ebola, but I will have to undergo medical and psychosocial follow-up to avoid any resurgence and to promote my re-integration back into the community,” explained Shafiq.

Shafiq is one of the survivors for whom the virus has persisted for more than 16 months in his semen. He was advised to use condoms even though he had never used them before. However, he didn’t need much convincing because he was educated on the risk of transmission.

“After I was discharged from the hospital, we were informed by the health worker of the need to use condoms for safer sex until my semen test was confirmed negative”, added Shafiq.

What’s more, Shafiq’s semen has to be tested every month, a situation that can be stressful, but health professionals advise and reassure him to minimize his anxiety.

“Viral persistence monitoring in semen involves, monthly semen sample testing from all eligible male survivors (i.e., male survivors aged 16 years and above) until they receive two consecutive negative results. During this period, safer sex counselling and practices including the use of condoms is advised,” explained Dr. Rony Bahatungire, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Clinical Services at Uganda’s Ministry of Health.

“Monitoring viral persistence is an essential part of the Ebola survivor programme, as a single male survivor can lead to a new outbreak,” Dr. Bahatungire added.

Chris Opesen, an anthropologist at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Uganda, explains that there are several barriers, including religious and cultural ones, to men offering semen samples for testing during viral persistence monitoring. It has also been difficult for partners to accept the use of condoms.

“Through effective communication, counselling, and listening to the obstacles faced by health workers and survivors, the programme has played a key role in overcoming these obstacles,” explained Opesen.

Shafiq, like many other survivors, follows the health workers’ advice diligently. He regularly goes for the monthly semen testing and consistently uses condoms. He doesn’t want to risk anyone else getting sick as he genuinely cares about his health and the health of others.

 *Name changed to protect identity.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – Uganda.

Canadian oil and gas company Reconnaissance Energy Africa (ReconAfrica) and the National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (NAMCOR) have spud the Naingopo exploration well in the Damara Fold Belt on Petroleum Exploration License (PEL) 73 onshore Namibia. ReconAfrica expects to take 90 days to drill the well at a total depth of approximately 3,800 meters and expects to strike various reservoir intervals containing oil and natural gas.

As the voice of the African energy sector, the African Energy Chamber (AEC) commends ReconAfrica and NAMCOR on this high impact, multi-well exploration venture, which is crucial to unlocking new discoveries and driving the development of Namibia’s onshore oil and gas resources. The prospect of the well containing 163 million barrels of oil or 843 billion cubic feet of natural gas is a game-changer for Namibia – in addition to the series of world-class discoveries made by Shell, TotalEnergies and Galp in the offshore Orange Basin. Such a find would not only open up the underexplored Kavango Basin, but also attract a flurry of upstream investment and cement Namibia’s reputation as a major onshore exploration hotspot.

ReconAfrica Senior Vice President of Exploration Chris Sembritzky highlighted the significance of this project, stating: “The Naingopo exploration well is the first well to test the Damara Fold Belt play. In the event of success, the well would unlock significant oil and natural gas potential from our additional three prospects and 20 leads that have been mapped and defined.”

In addition to the Naingopo well, ReconAfrica plans to drill a second well on the Damara Fold Belt – Prospect P – targeting nearly 278 million barrels of oil or 1.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and expected to spud in Q4 2024. Last April, ReconAfrica identified a new fold belt province – the Damara Fold Belt – within PEL 73 in the Kavango Basin. Since then, the company has equipped its operations teams and prepared all necessary processes to kick start drilling. ReconAfrica has worked efficiently to execute the necessary steps that have led to the timely initiation of drilling operations, marking a promising advancement for drilling activities onshore Namibia.

Additionally, ReconAfrica continues to progress its farm-out joint venture process, which is expected to conclude soon. The company has prioritized negotiating terms to facilitate its multi-well exploration drilling program across the Damara Fold Belt and Rift Basin plays in the coming 12-24 months. This farm-out joint venture serves as a strategic move to accelerate the company’s exploration activities in Namibia, fostering collaboration to enhance operational efficiency and maximize resource potential.

ReconAfrica’s activities in the onshore Kavango Basin serve as a complement to offshore exploration efforts and could unlock a new chapter in Namibia’s oil and gas history. By harnessing the full scope of its hydrocarbon resources, Namibia stands to initiate regional oil and gas development, stimulate sector-led growth and attract an influx of foreign direct investment – creating jobs, generating export revenues and establishing diversified, downstream industries in the process.

ReconEnergy stands out as a shining example of a company that prioritizes sustainability and social responsibility in its oil drilling operations. By adopting environmentally conscious practices and engaging with local communities, ReconEnergy demonstrates that it’s possible to extract natural resources without compromising the well-being of the planet and its people.

“Leveraging Namibia’s prospective oil and gas resources is essential to attaining regional energy security and driving diversified economic growth. This partnership between ReconAfrica and NAMCOR illustrates how international exploration companies can work together with national oil companies to achieve a common goal – the responsible development of Namibia’s energy resources that opens up new plays and attracts further upstream investment. We are confident that there will be a tremendous discovery that will open other onshore plays in Namibia,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Angola’s National Oil, Gas&Biofuels Agency will launch a limited tender in Q1 2025, offering 10 blocks in the Kwanza and Benguela Basins – including 5 marginal fields ­– marking a first for the country. Amid efforts to entice investment in blocks opportunities, the ANPG is inviting companies to participate in the upcoming licensing round. Negotiations are already open and companies are invited to contact the ANPG ahead of the official licensing launch.

To support investment, the African Energy Chamber (AEC), ANPG and EnerGeo Alliance hosted a webinar to discuss exploration opportunities in Angola. The webinar comes ahead of international conferences taking place in Cape Town – African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy and Angola­ – Angola Oil&Gas ­– and drew insight into mature and frontier prospects in Angola.

As sub-Saharan Africa’s second biggest oil producer, Angola offers a wealth of opportunities for E&P players. While production averaged 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd) between 2009 and 2015, national output saw a sharp decline from 2016 onwards owing to field maturation. The government has been working hard to address these declines, introducing regular block opportunities through tenders and permanent offer programs.

“We have been implementing a series of reforms. We approved a strategy in 2019 to license more than 50 blocks by 2025. So far, we have executed four licensing rounds and awarded more than 30 new concessions. We have another one planned for 2025 where we are projecting to put up another ten blocks offshore,” stated Alcides Andrade, ANPG Board Member.

Industry reforms have seen companies that have been operating in the country since the 1900s continue to invest. These include energy majors TotalEnergies, Chevron, bp and Eni – now operating as Azule Energy. Reforms have also been directed towards incremental production efforts to maximize output at existing fields.

According to Andrade, “The plan is to do everything we can to keep production above one million bpd. We are currently producing about 1.1 million bpd and have a diverse range of opportunities for different size companies as well as opportunities in onshore blocks, shallow waters and deepwater opportunities.”

Angola’s 2025 limited tender will feature Block 40, Block 25, Block 39 and Block 26 in the Benguela Basin as well as Block 22, Block 35, Block 37, Block 38 and Block 36 in the Kwanza Basin. Additionally, the country has four onshore blocks available; 11 blocks on permanent offer; and five marginal fields ready for exploration. The marginal fields are situated in producing blocks with proven systems and can be awarded individually. Companies that demonstrate interest will receive an invitation letter once the 2025 tender launches.

In addition to block opportunities, the ANPG is committed to strengthening sub-surface data across both mature and frontier fields. At present, Angola’s basins offer a library rich with 2D and 3D seismic data, however, more data is required to support exploration efforts. Ross Compton, Director: Global Policy, Energeo Alliance, stated that “The exploration industry is making energy possible for the world. Africa needs energy for industrialization, the movement of goods and people and climate resilience. We believe that through collaboration both within Africa and Angola is very bright and EnerGeo Alliance is ready to partner…”

Verner Ayukegba, Vice President, AEC, emphasized the wealth of opportunities that are available across Angola’s oil and gas industry, underscoring that investing in Angola has never been more attractive.

“Let’s capitalize on these opportunities that are readily available. We look forward to welcoming to Angola Oil&Gas (AOG), where these opportunities and many others will be on display. Book your tickets to meet ANPG in Angola from October 2-3,” he said.

The webinar comes ahead of the AOG 2024 Conference&Exhibition, the country’s premier event for the oil and gas industry.

Returning for its fifth edition from October 2-3 in Luanda, AOG 2024 takes place under the theme Driving Exploration and Development Towards Increased Production in Angola and connects investors to project opportunities in Angola. For more information, visit www.AngolaOilandGas.com.

The webinar also serves as a precursor to the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy conference, taking place from November 4-8 in Cape Town. Representing the biggest energy event on the continent, the conference takes place under a mandate to make energy poverty history by 2030 and promotes investment in oil and gas in Africa. Companies interested in Angola’s oil and gas opportunities will gain insight into available acreage and partnership prospects at this year’s event. A dedicated Invest in Angola Energies session functions as a platform to connect companies while delving into exploration, production and infrastructure projects. For more information, visit www.AECWeek.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.