The summit and sideline activities of the Korea-Africa Summit taking place in Seoul in June, were the main points of discussion between South Korea’s Ambassador-designate to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Jung KANG and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Mr. Sylvestre Radegonde on Monday 25th March 2024, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.

The two diplomats also discussed Fisheries, Aquaculture and Blue Economy and agreed to push forward with an MOU on cooperation in these areas.

Enhancing cooperation in the fields of Tourism, Education and particularly Maritime Security and assistance with patrolling Seychelles’ waters due to the resurgence of piracy, was also taken up by the two sides.

Ambassador-designate KANG, will be presenting his credentials to President Wavel Ramkalawan, as the 13th Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Seychelles.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism – Foreign Affairs Department, Republic of Seychelles.

Solutions for swift agrifood systems transformation are at the centre of discussions at the Senior Officers Meeting of the 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33) that opened today. The conference is one of the major regional platforms focused on agriculture, food security and rural development in Africa and is convened by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Office for Africa, with this session being hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco.

The assembly of Ministers of Agriculture and other related portfolios, technical specialists and development partners will assess the current food security context in Africa and agree the path forward towards agrifood systems transformation. Shaping the conversation is the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 which supports the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life – known as the Four Betters, leaving no one behind.

More than 200 delegates joined the opening session on Zoom, and more are expected to join Zoom or watch the live webcast over the next three days.

“This conference provides an opportunity for our country to reaffirm its commitment to the agricultural and rural development of the African continent and acknowledges the significant contribution of FAO in this development,” said H.E. Mohammed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests of the Kingdom of Morocco.

FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel emphasized in his opening remarks the urgency and opportunity for transforming Africa’s agrifood systems amid significant challenges.

“Let us seize the moment to drive change and transformation, ensuring our deliberations lead to actionable recommendations that have a tangible impact on the lives and livelihoods of the people we serve,” he said.

The Senior Officers Meeting runs until 28 March. It serves as a precursor to the ARC33 Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for April 18-20, 2024, in Rabat, Morocco.

Advancing sustainable agrifood solutions in Africa

The Regional Conference is FAO’s highest governing body in Africa.  The conference represents a pivotal moment to address the pressing challenges and opportunities in the region’s food and agriculture landscape.

The agenda for the opening day of the Senior Officers Meeting covers a presentation on the regional food security outlook in Africa that underscores the importance of technological advancements, trade policies, and regional collaborations in fostering a resilient food future for Africa; the status and way forward for the FAO country offices network with a view to strengthening capacity to deliver better; enhancing agrifood systems’ resilience amid climatic and economic uncertainties; and financing and investments to end hunger.

The following days will look at FAO’s achievements in the region, the revival of indigenous African foods, and opportunities to mitigate food loss and waste, with discussions focusing on leveraging science, innovation, digital tools, and strategic partnerships.

The Senior Officers Meeting aims to pave the way for impactful decisions and collaborative actions to be endorsed by African governments during the Ministerial Meeting, reinforcing political will towards agrifood systems transformation for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life in Africa, leaving no one behind.

More than 50 government ministers from African Member Nations will take part in person in the ministerial segment in Morocco, as well as representatives from observer countries, the African Union, donor organizations, civil society and the private sector.

Highlights of the Ministerial Meeting include opening remarks by the FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and high-level representatives of the government of the Kingdom of Morocco.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FAO Regional Office for Africa.

Spark+ Africa Fund Partner Peter George will speak on opportunities in financing clean cooking solutions in sub-Saharan Africa at the upcoming Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2024 forum.

The $64-million impact investment fund finances companies that provide next-generation, scalable and distributed cooking energy solutions utilizing a range of fuel types, such as biomass, biogas, ethanol, electricity and LPG. With around 940 million people in sub-Saharan Africa without access to clean cooking fuels and technologies, the fund aims to address this critical need and transform clean cooking into a commercial, private sector-led industry. Spark+ Africa Fund is also expected to discuss the role of carbon credits in making the business models it finances both viable and more affordable for consumers.

Organized by Energy Capital&Power, IAE 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/49krKXM) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 14-15, 2024 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Support for the fund has come from the African Development Bank, European Commission, Denmark’s Investment Fund for Developing Countries and the Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries, along with a range of private capital partners. Uniting DFIs, multilateral banks, private equity firms, pension funds and other financial partners, IAE 2024 serves to catalyze new financing tools, business models and technologies to bridge Africa’s energy investment gap and meet its long-term electrification and clean cooking access targets.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Jean-Michel Jacoulot, CEO of oil and gas company Trident Energy, will speak at the 2024 edition of the African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy conference – taking place November 4-8 in Cape Town. Jacoulot is expected to address the challenges and opportunities for sustainable hydrocarbon development in Africa.

Committed to enhancing value in mid-life oil and gas assets, Trident Energy is spearheading a new age of sustainable hydrocarbon production. The company boasts several high-profile assets in Equatorial Guinea, integrating innovative technology with a forward-looking investment approach while serving as a blueprint for other oil and gas firms in Africa.

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

In November 2023, following the arrival of a semi-submersible drilling rig in Luba, offshore Equatorial Guinea, Trident Energy started its second drilling program in the country. The rig is set to perform drilling operations for three deepwater wells in the Ceiba&Okuma fields in Block G as well as one exploration well in Block S. What’s more, the company is in the final stages of preparing the tie back of the wells to existing production, storage and transportation facilities.

In his role as CEO, Jacoulot oversees strategic decision-making, the organization of the group, as well as its Merger&Acquisition activity. With over 25 years’ experience in Senior Management roles in the oil and gas industry, Jacoulot brings a level of expertise to AEW 2024 discussions and represents an instrumental player in Africa’s oil and gas sector.

With a focus on sustainability, Jacoulot leads Trident Energy towards realizing its goals of maximizing oil and gas resources while spearheading several local content and ESG initiatives including a $1.1 million per year investment to support projects across the health, education and infrastructure sectors and regular contributions towards the National Institute for Technology.

Currently, Trident Energy has stakes in 11 producing assets in Equatorial Guinea, including Block G and Block S, W and EG-21. The company’s assets produce approximately 50,000 barrels of oil per day, contributing towards national output and economic growth. At its core, Trident Energy is committed to redeveloping mid-life assets and works towards maximizing resources for long-term and sustainable economic growth in West Africa.

“I’m encouraged by the efforts of Trident Energy, which is finding ways to bolster production in mature fields and continue to bring private capital, experience and know-how to the continent. Trident Energy is introducing a new era of operational efficiency and production improvements in Equatorial Guinea, serving as an active, visible member of communities where it operates and their participation at AEW 2024 will be imperative for energy investment in West Africa’s mid-life fields,” stated NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber.

Further insight into Trident Energy’s oil and gas activities in Equatorial Guinea will be shared during AEW 2024, where Jacoulot is expected to participate in a variety of panel discussions, networking functions and investor meetings. For more information about how you can get involved, visit www.AECWeek.com.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.