Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) (www.GDIZ-Benin.com) is proud to announce the first export of ‘Made in Benin’ ready-to-wear clothing for the prestigious American brand, U.S. POLO ASSN.. A world-renowned brand, U.S. POLO ASSN. offers a wide range of clothing, accessories, travel goods, watches and shoes, available in over 130 countries.

This first shipment represents a significant step forward in the integration of GDIZ into the global supply chains of the ready-to-wear sector. The collaboration, which is expected to generate volumes of more than one million pieces over the next few years, is being carried out in partnership with INCOM S.P.A., which holds the licence for U.S. Polo Assn. on the European market. All garments shipped from GDIZ are destined for the European market via INCOM S.P.A.

Aimed at the Italian market, this first shipment includes a range of high-quality garments designed to U.S. POLO’s exacting standards, including:

Hooded sweatshirts ;
Polos;
T-shirts.

This partnership with U.S. POLO ASSN. follows several other shipments already made for international brands such as the American brand The Children’s Place (TCP) and the French brand KIABI. The confidence shown by these international brands has strengthened GDIZ’s position as a key player in textile production in Africa.

Mr Létondji Beheton, Managing Director of the Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie (SIPI-Benin), expressed his enthusiasm at this important milestone: ‘This first export of “Made in Benin” clothing for U.S. Polo Assn. is not only a source of pride for GDIZ, but also for Benin as a whole. It is a testament to our growing capacity to produce high-quality textiles that meet international standards. We are delighted to see Benin take a significant step forward in the global ready-to-wear industry, highlighting our commitment to excellence and sustainable development’.

Francesco Gozzini, Production Director of INCOM Italy, underlined the importance of this partnership: ‘We are honoured to be working with Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) on this significant export of garments for the U.S. Polo Assn brand. This partnership is a testament to the quality and dedication present in Benin’s textile industry, which fits perfectly with our commitment to offer excellence in every product we offer to the European market. The craftsmanship and attention to detail in these garments reflect the high standards we maintain at INCOM. We look forward to continuing this fruitful collaboration and expanding our offering with ‘Made in Benin’ garments’.

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

Press contact:
SIPI-BENIN S.A
Irmine Gnidehou
Head of Communications
gdiz-media@arisenet.com
www.GDIZ-Benin.com

Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie – Bénin (SIPI-Bénin):
Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) est un PPP entre ARISE IIP et la République du Bénin
201, Immeuble Résidence Océane – Ilot : 612 – Quartier : Patte d’oie – Parcelle : ZA – 04 BP 612
+229 21 30 12 13        
www.GDIZ.com       
gdiz-benin@arisenet.com
Cotonou N° RCCM RB/COT/20 B 27527   
N° IFU 3202011687343  
Capital social : 1.000.000.000 XOF

About U.S. Polo Assn.:
U.S. Polo Assn. is a globally recognised brand, offering a wide range of apparel, accessories, travel goods, watches and footwear, available in department stores, multi-brand shops, and more than 1,100 single-brand shops in more than 130 countries. The brand is closely associated with the United States Polo Association (USPA), which has represented the sport of polo in the United States since 1890.

About Incom SPA:
Founded in 1951 in Montecatini Terme, Italy, Incom SPA is a renowned company specialising in the design, production and distribution of leading clothing brands worldwide. Incom holds licences for brands such as U.S. Polo Assn. and is also known for its own brands, including Chinook and Float.

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

GDIZ is a dynamic 1,640-hectare Industrial Zone (phase 1: 400 ha) developed by ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP), whose infrastructure includes several Industrial Zones in Africa, notably in Gabon (Zone Economique Spéciale du Gabon) and Togo (Plateforme Industrielle d’Adétikope) and in other countries on the African continent.

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com) declared Botswana First Lady as Ambassador of “More than a Mother” to build healthcare capacity, break infertility stigma, stop GBV and support girl education; Merck Foundation Chairperson&CEO met Botswana President and The First Lady to acknowledge their Alumni and Award winners; Merck Foundation marking strong milestone of Transforming Patient Care Landscape and Supporting Girl Education in partnership with Botswana First Lady.

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany officially launched their programs in Botswana in partnership with H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana, who is also the Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, in esteemed presence of The President of the Republic of Botswana, H.E. Dr. MOKGWEETSI ERIC KEABETSWE MASISI and Chairman of Merck Foundation Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp. During the launch program, Merck Foundation’s Educating Linda program was also launched to support girl education in Botswana. 

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President of “More Than a Mother” Campaign expressed, “I am very happy for successful official launch of our programs with my dear sister, H.E. Mrs. NEO JANE MASISI, The First Lady of Botswana and Ambassador of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”, the programs that we started in 2018.

It makes me proud to share that together with The First Lady of Botswana and their Ministry of Education, we are contributing to the future of brilliant but underprivileged young girls in Botswana, as a part of our ‘Educating Linda’ program. We are supporting the education of 40 deserving schoolgirls. 20 girls have been supported through the scholarship till they graduate, and 20 bicycles have been provided to the girls to encourage them to continue going to school, as they sometimes dropout due to long distance commute.”        

During the visit, Merck Foundation CEO also discussed in detail about their Educating Linda programs and emphasized the importance of girl education in Botswana and the rest of Africa, during her high-level meeting with Hon’ble Nnaniki W.T. Makwinja, Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development of Botswana.

Merck Foundation Chairman and CEO along with The First Lady of Botswana also visited schools in the country to encourage young girls in education.

“I firmly believe that educating girls empowers their countries, making them more powerful, stronger, and prosperous. Unfortunately, many bright girls drop out of school due to the lack of basic necessities such as fees, uniforms, or transportation”, added Senator Kelej. 

Merck Foundation’s “Educating Linda” is a pan-African program that is tailored for each country to contribute to the future of young African girls who are brilliant but underprivileged. The spirit of the project is to provide an opportunity to such girls to pursue their dreams and reach their potential through access to education.

Till today, Merck Foundation has supported girl education through their “Educating Linda” program by providing 625 scholarships and thousands of school items to schoolgirls in many African countries including Botswana, Burundi, Malawi, Ghana, The Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and more. Merck Foundation has also benefitted 1000’s of girls through their awareness campaign which includes releasing many inspiring children’s storybooks, animation films and songs to support girl education.

“Girl Education today for Women Empowerment tomorrow”, emphasized Senator Rasha.

Merck Foundation has also provided 20 Sewing Machines to the women groups who suffer GBV (Gender Based Violence) across Botswana to be able to generate monthly income through the home micro project to generate income. This helps to improve their livelihoods, and for their family and community at large, who suffer discrimination or domestic violence due to the social stigma, with the aim to become independent as productive members in society.

Merck Foundation has also transformed the patientcare landscape of Botswana by providing 46 scholarships of One-Year Online PG Diploma and Two-Year Master Degree for local doctors in many underserved and critical medical specialties in Botswana such as Diabetes, Endocrinology, Embryology, Fertility, Sexual and Reproductive care, Oncology, Acute Medicine, Dermatology, Obesity and Weight Management, Respiratory Care and Internal Medicine. This is a huge milestone and revolution in patient care across Botswana.

During the program launch, Merck Foundation Chairman, and Merck Foundation CEO together with The First Lady of Botswana also met and acknowledged the Merck Foundation Alumni and the Winners of the Merck Foundation Awards from Botswana.

Together with Botswana First Lady, Merck Foundation also conducted their “Health Meda Training” to emphasize on the important role that media plays to influence society to create a cultural shift with the aim to address wide range of social and health issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, and many more. During the training program, the Call for Application for 8 important Merck Foundation Awards in partnership with The First Lady of Botswana were announced for Media, Musicians, Fashion Designers, Filmmakers, students, and new potential talents in these fields.

Moreover, 3 episodes out of the 15 episodes of Merck Foundation “Our Africa” TV program, which is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation, highlight the importance of supporting girl education. The TV program has been broadcasted on BTV in Botswana and other National TV Stations of many other African countries like Kenya, Ghana, Liberia, Burundi and more.

Watch the Episodes of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program on Supporting Girl Education:

Episode 2: https://apo-opa.co/47mhQVa

Episode 11: https://apo-opa.co/3B1cliC

Episode 14: https://apo-opa.co/4d7Sonv

Merck Foundation has also launched many songs about Supporting Girl Education like:

“Girl Can” by two famous singers, Irene and Cwezi from Liberia and Ghana respectively: https://apo-opa.co/4d3msRe; “Like Them” by Ugandan Singer, https://apo-opa.co/3XEzUGS; “Take me to School” Zambian singer, Wezi https://apo-opa.co/4cXJzN3; “Tu Podes Sim” Portuguese song, which means “Yes, You Can” in English by Blaze and Tamyris Moiane from Mozambique: https://apo-opa.co/4dYVpbh  and “Brighter day” song by Sean K and Cwesi Oteng from Namibia and Ghana respectively: https://apo-opa.co/3XCDr8I

Moreover, Merck Foundation has launched storybooks addressing the importance of Girl Education like: “Educating Linda”,” Jackline’s Rescue”, and “Ride into the Future”. You can read them here: https://apo-opa.co/47lGzce. Furthermore, Merck Foundation also launched Animation Film, Ride into the Future, an adaptation of children’s storybook “Ride into the Future” that emphasizes on the importance of girl’s education: https://apo-opa.co/4d3Dr6f

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

More images: https://apo-opa.co/3XCDsJO

Contact details:
Mehak Handa
Community Awareness Program Manager
+91 9310087613/ +91 9319606669
mehak.handa@external.merckgroup.com

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard:
Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/3XHVx9u
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YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3B8PKAC
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Threads: https://apo-opa.co/4d4JYxn
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/3XeyTDS
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/47uFuz2
Website: www.Merck-Foundation.com

About Merck Foundation:
Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality&equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare and scientific research capacity and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit: Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com); Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3XHVx9u), X (https://apo-opa.co/4dWU7xb), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/4dYsfJg), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3B8PKAC), Thread (https://apo-opa.co/4d4JYxn) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/3XeyTDS).

The Stevie® Awards, organizer of the world’s premier business awards programs, has issued a call for entries for the 2025 (sixth annual) Middle East&North Africa Stevie® Awards (http://MENA.StevieAwards.com), sponsored by the RAK Chamber of Commerce&Industry (https://apo-opa.co/4dXltDD). Entry kits and complete details on the competition are available at http://MENA.StevieAwards.com.

The Middle East&North Africa Stevie Awards are the region’s only awards program to recognize innovation in the workplace in all its forms. The awards are open to all organizations within 18 nations in the MENA region: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

All individuals and organizations – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small – may submit any number of nominations to any number of the categories.

There are no entry fees in this awards program. Organizations may submit as many nominations as they would like, without cost. Instead, Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners will pay a “winners fee” for each successful nomination.

Nominations may be submitted online through two entry deadlines. Winning nominations submitted through the first deadline, October 2, will have reduced winners’ fees. November 6 is the second and final entry deadline.

Winners of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards in the competition will be announced on January 16, 2025, and celebrated during a gala event at the Waldorf Astoria in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, on February 22.

New for the 2025 competition, the Sustainability Categories (http://apo-opa.co/3ZmNMqI) recognize the recent achievements of individuals, teams, and entire organizations to plan, approach, and achieve organizational, industry, or national sustainability goals.

Other new categories include Most Innovative Finance Executive of the Year, Most Innovative Operations Manager of the Year, Most Innovative Product Manager of the Year, Most Innovative Sales Executive of the Year, Most Innovative Sustainability Leader of the Year,  Most Innovative Technology Leader of the Year (added to the Individual Professional Awards (http://apo-opa.co/3ZmeKia) Categories), Award for Innovation in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), Award for Innovation in Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR), Award for Innovation in Education Technology (EdTech), and Most Innovative Technology Team of the Year.

Nominations citing innovative achievements will be accepted and judged in both Arabic and English, in more than 100 categories across the following category groups:

Apps (http://apo-opa.co/3Zkm0uU)&Websites (http://apo-opa.co/3B12sS2)
Achievements (http://apo-opa.co/4egG5Xa)
Annual Reports&Other Publications (http://apo-opa.co/4dXMLJV)
Company/Organization (http://apo-opa.co/3ZDL7sT)
Corporate Communications&Public Relations (http://apo-opa.co/4ejyHtU)
Customer Service (http://apo-opa.co/3ZhwyL5)
Human Resources (http://apo-opa.co/3z5HT6y)
Individual Professionals (http://apo-opa.co/3ZmeKia)
Live&Virtual Events (http://apo-opa.co/4eikuxE)
Management (http://apo-opa.co/3ZlZeD0)
Marketing (http://apo-opa.co/3ZniRdE)
New Products & Services (http://apo-opa.co/4el6SBw)
Social Media (http://apo-opa.co/3ZgZoLP)
Sustainability (http://apo-opa.co/3ZmNMqI)
Technology (http://apo-opa.co/3z5HTn4)
Videos (http://apo-opa.co/3Tp8nqC)
Thought Leadership (http://apo-opa.co/3z3ZeNf)

Winners of the 2024 edition with multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards include Abu Dhabi Sports Council, UAE; Acceligize, UAE; AXS – TECOM Group, UAE; Beyaz Kağıt San. ve Tic. A.Ş., Turkey; Big Data Minds MENA, Jordan; DHL Express, multiple locations across the region; Dhafra Region Municipality, UAE; General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, UAE; Glimpse, UAE; KAFALAH, Saudi Arabia; Megamind IT Solutions, Saudi Arabia; Miral Destinations, UAE; Ooredoo Group, multiple locations across the region; Petromin Express, Saudi Arabia; Qatar Vision Production Company; QNB Finansbank, Turkey;  RAK Ceramics, UAE; RAK Police, UAE; Royal Commission for Jubail&Yanbu, Saudi Arabia; Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia; SOCAR Türkiye; STC, Saudi Arabia; The Captain Agency, Turkey; Ministry of Justice, UAE; The Others Brand Experience Agency, Turkey; Vaki Bank, Turkey; Visiontech Systems International LLC, UAE, and ZIGMA8 | 360º CREATIVE COMMUNICATIONS, Iran, among others.

The 2025 competition will be judged by more than 100 professionals around the world. Those who wish to apply to participate on one of the juries may do so at https://apo-opa.co/4ekKecw. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Middle East&North Africa Stevie Awards.

Contact:
May Hassan
May@StevieAwards.com

About the Stevie® Awards:
Stevie Awards are conferred in nine programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, the Middle East&North Africa Stevie Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales&Customer Service, and the Stevie Awards for Technology Excellence. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 12,000 nominations each year from organizations in more than 70 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at https://www.StevieAwards.com/.

Junior is a young student at a technical college in Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, getting set to resume studies at the University of Bangui. From childhood, he has restlessly pursued interesting and ambitious ideas. A recent one: building a humanoid robot called “Mama Africa”, to raise awareness about African culture and the fight against global warming. He worked on it outside class hours, assembling the robot entirely from recycled materials.

To function optimally, Mama Africa requires a high-speed internet connection. Prior to 2023, this quality of connection could not be guaranteed in the Central African Republic. The situation began to change that year, when a 900-kilometre-long network of fibre-optic cables landed in the country as an extension from neighbouring Cameroon and Congo.

Funded by the African Development Bank and the European Union to the tune of €33 million, the new cable, is now rapidly ushering the CAR into a new and unprecedented digital age.

Junior can readily attest to the difference. “Previously, when it rained, the internet speed was low. Now, thanks to fibre optics, we have a stable and fast connection, even during harsh weather. What’s more, we can put Mama Africa online, so everyone can interact with her, wherever they happen to be,” he says.

“This project opens up the country in a new, digital way,” says Mamady Souare, the African Development Bank’s Country Manager for the Central African Republic. “We contributed by interlinking the country with its neighbours at the same time as establishing a digital centre. All that was missing was for the Central African Republic to complete the digital loop within the sub-region. We are laying the foundations for proper digital development in the country.”

Among other things, the new cable has enabled the launch of a digital training centre at the University of Bangui. The centre offers a range of virtual and in-person training courses, access to computers, 3D printers and personalised workshops to teach young people how to harness the potential of fibre optics and bring their projects to life.

“This centre gives students a unique opportunity to connect to the internet at a lower cost,” says Arc-ange Geoffroy Ouele-Nza-Bana Zacko, head of logistics and asset management at the Central African Agency for Digital Development, and a lecturer at the University of Bangui. “Fibre optics represent a real blessing for us.

“Today, the new bandwidth available to the population facilitates access to many services that were previously inaccessible, such as audio and, most importantly, video streaming,” adds Samatar Omar Elmi, Project Manager at the African Development Bank. “This opens up a new range of possibilities for a large number of young people wishing to undertake and innovate in the Central African Republic.”

“Previously, when it rained, the speed was low,” Junior recalls, visibly enthused by the topic. “Now, thanks to fibre optics, we have a stable and fast connection, even during harsh weather. What’s more, we can put Mama Africa online, so everyone can interact with her, wherever they happen to be.”

“In the initial phase that launched in 2023, the speed offered to the population has increased threefold, from 3 Gbps to 10 Gbps,” says Arc-ange. And this is just the beginning: the plan for the new cable envisions an expansion in coverage and speed, further opening up the Central African Republic to the world, and propelling it towards a future defined by boundless innovation.

Given the country’s geostrategic position at the confluence of the continent’s eastern and western shores, the wider impact of the new internet connection cannot be understated. Arc-ange sums up the impact: “We now have young people capable of developing apps and carrying out projects that we would never have imagined in our day.”

Link to album: https://apo-opa.co/4e037BK

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).