The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in line with its ambition to become a leading sports hub under Saudi Vision 2030, will gather the most influential leaders of the football industry for the third edition of World Football Summit Asia (Asia.WorldFootballSummit.com); Approximately 1,400 decision-makers joined WFS Asia 2023, the first-ever industry event of its kind in Saudi Arabia, with expectations for this edition to build upon the initial success and make the 2024 edition one of the biggest events in WFS history; SMC, a leading Saudi media powerhouse with a proven track record in the market will join WFS as an Exclusive Commercial Partner, guaranteeing a highly successful event for the country; The participation of the Saudi Ministry of Sport, SAFF, or the Saudi Pro League guarantees the representation of the Saudi Arabian football ecosystem, along with leading brands such as Aramco, KAFD, Al Nassr, or Al-Hilal.

World Football Summit (WFS), the premier global platform for the football industry, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with SMC, a leading force in Saudi Arabia’s media and sports sector. This strategic alliance marks a pivotal moment in the region’s sports evolution, aligning seamlessly with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 to establish the Kingdom as a world-class sports destination.

Event Highlights:

Date: December 2-3, 2024

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Scale: Expected attendance surpassing 2,000 industry leaders, making it one of the largest WFS events to date

Global Representation: Over 300 clubs, leagues, and federations from 80+ countries

Media Coverage: More than 70 international media outlets to cover the event

Thought Leadership: Insights from 150 top experts in football, sports, and entertainment

Awards Ceremony: The prestigious World Football Summit Awards to be hosted in Asia for the first time

As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its journey to becoming a leading sports hub, WFS Asia 2024 is set to be the most significant global football industry event in the Kingdom and the GCC region. This edition builds on the success of WFS Asia 2023, which saw approximately 1,400 decision-makers gather in Saudi Arabia for the first-ever event of its kind in the country. The 2024 edition promises to set new records, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position on the global sports stage.

The participation of key entities such as the Saudi Ministry of Sport, the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF), and the Saudi Pro League ensures comprehensive representation of the Saudi football ecosystem, alongside major brands like Aramco, KAFD, Al Nassr, and Al-Hilal.

Strategic Partnership for Success

SMC, with its extensive market expertise and proven track record, joins WFS as an Exclusive Commercial Partner, ensuring the event’s resounding success in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration is crucial, especially as Saudi Arabia bids for the 2034 FIFA World Cup, showcasing the Kingdom’s capability to host world-class events and its dedication to developing a vibrant sports industry.

Khalid AlKhudair, CEO of SMC, highlighted the importance of this partnership that reflects on SMC’s sports and entertainment future vision. He remarked: “Our collaboration with World Football Summit aligns with SMC’s vision of becoming a leading company in the sports and entertainment sector in the Kingdom.”

AlKhudair also noted that the summit provides a unique opportunity to showcase the progress made in the Kingdom’s sports sector.

SMC partners with Bein Media Group and the Saudi Broadcasting Authority, among others. Their portfolio of services includes advertising and broadcasting, sports facilities management and investment, sponsorship, and digital advertising, positioning them as an ideal partner to deliver the maximum coverage of WFS Asia.

“We are proud to partner with SMC in hosting the Asian edition of WFS in Riyadh. Given Saudi Arabia’s aspiration to establish itself as a leading force in global sports, and the success of our first edition, it made perfect sense for World Football Summit to bring back our event to the Kingdom, connecting key regional football stakeholders with their international counterparts.”

Jan Alessie, Co-Founder and Director of World Football Summit

A Synergy of Strengths: The Althari Group (TAG) Bridging Geographies

This partnership, which was catalyzed by WFS’ Strategic Partner, The Althari Group (TAG), brings together the complementary strengths of both organizations. The Althari Group (TAG) is a global strategic advisory firm, activating transformative engagement, cultivates resilient partnerships, and pioneering impactful investments within the dynamic landscape of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The WFS is proud to partner with TAG, jointly amplifying the Saudi sports renaissance and cementing the Kingdom’s status as a global sports hub.

Jan Alessie praised TAG for their contributions to see the partnership become a reality: “We are incredibly grateful to TAG, our strategic partner in Saudi Arabia, for their pivotal role in securing this partnership. TAG has been instrumental in leading our strategy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their deep understanding of the region and unwavering support have been pivotal in helping us navigate this dynamic market. Sultan Althari, Founding Partner at TAG, has been instrumental from the very beginning. The depth of his expertise and breadth of his network within the sports world were key in helping us identify SMC as the perfect partner. TAG’s involvement is not only helping us achieve our ambitious goals for this event but is also crucial in building the WFS brand in Saudi Arabia.  With TAG’s strategic guidance, we are confident that this will be our most successful WFS event to date.”

The set of skills that each organization brings to the table in this partnership includes the following:

World Football Summit:

A proven track record as the premier networking platform in football

A global community of 120,000+ sports industry executives

Eight years of experience in organizing high-impact industry events

A leading content engine that drives thought leadership in football

SMC:

Strong partnerships with top-tier organizations such as SAFF, Saudia Airlines, Serie A, Bein and SBA.

A commitment to attracting global attention to Saudi Arabia’s sports industry

Expertise in sports facilities management, sponsorship, and digital advertising

Looking Back, Moving Forward

Last year’s summit in Jeddah was a historic moment for Saudi Arabia and WFS, enabling the event to establish its annual presence as the premier industry event. It was also a significant milestone for Saudi Arabia’s national strategy, enhancing the Kingdom’s global sports presence and capturing the nation’s growing enthusiasm for football.

Speakers during the groundbreaking WFS Asia 2023 reflected this spirit, as they included:

Adwa Al Arifi, Assistant Minister of Sports Affairs for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Peace Nobel Laureate

Lamia Bahaian, Vice President at SAFF

Hammad Albalawi, Head of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation FIFA World Cup 2034 bid unit

Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John, General Secretary at the Asian Football Confederation.

Clarence Seedorf, Football Legend and Serie A ambassador

Carlo Nohra, Chief Operating Officer Saudi Pro League

Ralf Reichert, CEO eSports World Cup

The continued presence of WFS underscores Saudi Arabia’s dedication to fostering a rich sporting culture and its capacity to host major international events.

For more information and registration details, please visit Asia.WorldFootballSummit.com. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Football Summit.

Contact:
Jaime Domínguez
press@worldfootballsummit.com

About World Football Summit:
World Football Summit is the premier platform connecting the football industry worldwide. Since its inception in 2016, WFS has successfully attracted over 25,000 attendees across 19 events and has built a global community of 100,000+ sports industry executives throughout its platforms.

About Saudi Media Company:
Saudi Media Company, part of Engineer Holding Group, is a leading media and sports management company in Saudi Arabia. SMC offers a comprehensive range of services including advertising, broadcasting, sports facilities management, sponsorship, content integration, and digital advertising.

Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany released the Thirteenth Episode of their first-ever TV program – ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ on their social media handles.

‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ is a pan African TV program that is conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted by Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various domains with the aim to raise awareness and create a culture shift across Africa.

The TV program is currently broadcasting on KTN Home in Kenya, every Saturday at 5 pm and repeated every Thursday at 6:30 am.

It has also been broadcasted on prime TV stations of many countries like BTV (Botswana) Mashariki TV (Burundi), GHOne &TV3 (Ghana), QTV (The Gambia), LNTV (Liberia), Mibawa Limited (Malawi), Defi Media (Mauritius), AYV TV (Sierra Leone), NTV (Uganda), ZNBC TV (Zambia) and it immediately captured the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across Africa. “Our Africa” TV Program will soon be broadcast on GTV in Ghana, NBC in Namibia, and ZTN in Zimbabwe. “Our Africa” TV Program is also currently on social media handles of Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3yWFpas), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3YZJeWZ), X (https://apo-opa.co/3yWFsDa) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3Xq4vaU) and Merck Foundation (Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/3XnnEu6), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3yWFvyQ), X (https://apo-opa.co/3XpRtdR) and YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3Xn0apa).

Watch the Promo of ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ here: https://apo-opa.co/3XotWtx

The theme for the Thirteenth Episode is Stopping Child Marriage.

Watch the Thirteenth Episode promo here: https://apo-opa.co/3XqWnHv

Watch the Thirteenth Episode here: https://apo-opa.co/3Z3aJyQ

The Thirteenth episode features Ms. Nancy, a TV Presenter&Style Coach from Ghana and very talented designers Gaone Mangogola from Botswana, and Stephany – Lee Schmidt from Namibia, who is also a Merck Foundation Fashion Award Winner. The young designers showcased their designs that displayed strong messages to Stop Child Marriage.

The episode also featured the Merck Foundation song ‘Girls can’ by popular singers – Cwesi Oteng, a popular singer from Ghana and Irene Logan from Liberia. The song supports Girl education and empowers them to ‘do anything’ and ‘be anything’ by making informed choices and saying ‘no’ to gender discrimination and violence.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation expressed, “I am very happy to receive such great feedback and response from the viewers of ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ TV program and our social media followers. The thirteenth episode focuses on the issue of ‘Stopping Child Marriage’. Girls, not Brides! While Child marriage is a global issue, Africa has one of the highest rates of child marriages in the world. Specifically, sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates where every 4 in 10 girls are married before the age of 18”.

“We have addressed this very important issue through Merck Foundation’s ‘Fashion and Art with Purpose’ community. I have always emphasized that fashion and art should have a purpose beyond entertainment and looking good and can contribute greatly towards raising awareness and sensitizing communities about social and health issues. ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation’ TV program is our attempt to utilize these important mediums to break the silence and create a culture shift by addressing pressing social and health issues in Africa”, added Dr. Rasha Kelej.

The thirteenth episode of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” addresses the important issue of “Stopping Child Marriage”. The past episodes of the show have addressed the Importance of early detection&prevention of Diabetes, Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, promoting a Healthy Lifestyle, Ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Coronavirus Health Awareness, Sustainability&up-cycled fashion, Women empowerment and Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The TV program has been receiving great feedback from viewers across the three countries and social media followers across Africa and beyond.

Watch, share&subscribe to the “Girls Can” song here: https://apo-opa.co/3Xnn1kn

Senator, Dr. Rasha emphasized, “It is important to understand that providing education to girls can play a significant role in stopping child marriage. Girls who complete primary and secondary education tend to marry later. Therefore, through our ‘Educating Linda’ program, we have been contributing to the future of 100’s of girls in partnership with the First Ladies of Africa, by providing them scholarships and grants to cover school fees, uniforms, and other essentials including notebooks, pens, and mathematical instruments, etc., from many African countries such as Burundi, Central African Republic, DRC, The Gambia, Guinea Conakry, Liberia Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and more”.

Merck Foundation has also released an inspiring children’s storybook ‘Jackline’s Rescue’ to focus on the importance of Girls’ Education and ill effects of child marriage. You can read Jackline’s Rescue Storybook here: https://apo-opa.co/3yPgAgH

Additionally, Merck Foundation is adapting their storybooks to create interesting animation films with the purpose of reaching out to the communities to raise awareness on the important supporting girl education and ending child marriage. Watch Ride into the Future Animation Film here: https://apo-opa.co/3Xs7DDy

Read Ride Into The Future here: https://apo-opa.co/3XoQ3A6

“I am very excited to bring to you all the upcoming episodes of ‘OUR AFRICA by Merck Foundation’ TV program. So, stay tuned and be ready to Get informed, Get healthy, and Get entertained!”, concluded Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej.

You can watch all the past episodes by referring to the below links:

Watch Episode 1 here: https://apo-opa.co/3Z4HZG4

Watch Episode 2 here: https://apo-opa.co/3yXfUpw

Watch Episode 3 here: https://apo-opa.co/3XpoBCg

Watch Episode 4 here: https://apo-opa.co/3XlX5Wn

Watch Episode 5 here: https://apo-opa.co/3yXfZcO  

Watch Episode 6 here: https://apo-opa.co/3XmBLjA

Watch Episode 7 here: https://apo-opa.co/3XmBM78

Watch Episode 8 here: https://apo-opa.co/3XofP7H  

Watch Episode 9 here: https://apo-opa.co/3Xq4FPy

Watch Episode 10 here: https://apo-opa.co/3XnnjHZ

Watch Episode 11 here: https://apo-opa.co/3z0G76E

Watch Episode 12 here: https://apo-opa.co/3Z3aJyQ

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Merck Foundation.

More images: https://apo-opa.co/4g8G89o

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/3XnnEu6
YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3Xn0apa
Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/3yWFvyQ
X: https://apo-opa.co/3XpRtdR
Flickr: https://apo-opa.co/4e61q5I
Threads: https://apo-opa.co/3XogfuN
Download Merck Foundation App: https://apo-opa.co/4cOIzLl

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/3XnnEu6), X (https://apo-opa.co/3XpRtdR), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/3yWFvyQ), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/3Xn0apa), Thread (https://apo-opa.co/3XogfuN) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4e61q5I).

Verdant (www.Verdant-Cap.com) has raised ZAR 40 million for Us Plus Limited (“UsPlus”) as a senior unsecured note through UsPlus’ JSE-listed social bond. The investment comes from an Africa-focused fund headquartered in Europe and was matched by an equal investment through local funding on the JSE making ZAR 80 million in total through the bond issuance.  Furthermore, in parallel UsPlus drew down ZAR 60 million for a bilateral facility previously arranged by Verdant, making a total of ZAR 140 million of new funding this quarter (approx. USD 7 million).  This substantial funding injection increases the total capital raised for the business by Verdant to USD 22 million in just over 2 years. It underscores market confidence in UsPlus’ mission to drive economic growth and social impact in South Africa.

UsPlus, known for its innovative financial solutions tailored for SMEs, is dedicated to enhancing competitiveness and access to finance for small and medium enterprises. This strategic partnership reinforces UsPlus’ commitment to fostering sustainable development and economic inclusion in South Africa.

The fresh capital will empower UsPlus to expand its support, particularly to black-owned, women-owned, and youth-owned MSMEs, particularly in underserved provinces. By focusing on sectors such as food security, waste management, and manufacturing, UsPlus aims to create lasting positive changes in local communities by contributing to employment creation, food security and sustainable production.

This collaboration highlights the vital role of social bonds in mobilising capital for impactful projects, and it reinforces UsPlus’ position as a catalyst for financial inclusion and economic empowerment in South Africa. The commitment from this latest funding partner and the continued support from local funders are a testament to the crucial work being done by UsPlus to promote sustainable growth and support the nation’s SME sector.

This is the fourth investment into UsPlus arranged by Verdant from international development finance institutions and impact investors.

The transaction further solidifies Verdant as a leading advisor and manager for inclusive financial institutions in Africa.

Terms for the transaction were not disclosed.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Verdant Capital.

Media enquiries:
Orient Mahonisi
orient.mahonisi@verdant-cap.com

About Verdant IMAP:
Verdant IMAP is a leading investment bank operating on a pan-African focus, specialising in M&A and in private capital markets.  Verdant IMAP is the IMAP partner firm for its region.  IMAP with partner firms in nearly 50 countries, with over 600 M&A professionals, completing over 200 M&A transactions per year, reinforces Verdant IMAP’s capability to deliver innovative financial solutions to clients across Africa and around the World. www.Verdant-Cap.com

Source: US Plus Limited, Verdant

Targeting $10 billion in oil and gas investments in the next 12-18 months, Nigeria has implemented a slate of reforms aimed at creating a more favorable investment climate and improved governance within the sector. At the upcoming African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy 2024 conference and exhibition (www.AECWeek.com), an Invest in Nigeria Energies roundtable will outline the ample opportunities for investors and project developers to grow the energy value chain of Africa’s largest crude oil producer, highlighting the latest policy directives, consolidated fiscal incentives and gas utilization investment allowances.

The session places Nigerian policymakers in conversation with industry regulators and associations, exploring the latest policies, regulations and investment opportunities currently shaping the market. The discussion will be led by Heineken Lokpobiri, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil); Abdulrazaq Isa, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Producers Group of Nigeria; and Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. The discussion will feature representatives from IOCS including ExxonMobil and Chevron.

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.

Nigeria’s Federal Government introduced several policies earlier this year – in addition to the ongoing implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act – to reinvigorate the country’s energy sector and retain its position as a regional powerhouse. New measures aim to deliver a competitive Internal Rate of Return for oil and gas projects and attract over $10 billion in new investments within the next 12-18 months. For new exploration, this includes streamlining contracting procedures by raising approval thresholds for PSCs and JOAs to not less than $10 million, simplifying processes and extending the duration of third-party contracts from three to five years. This serves to reduce project contracting cycles, leading to faster oil and gas production and supporting Nigeria’s long-term oil production target of 4 million barrels per day.

Nigeria is also targeting new investments in gas monetization, refining and infrastructure expansion, with a view to boosting gas supplies, raising power access and supporting industrialization. Gas-focused reforms include tax credits for non-associated gas projects and a 25% tax dedication for qualifying plant and equipment used in gas utilization projects, which have directly triggered new investments. In June 2024, TotalEnergies and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation reached a $550 million FID for the development of the Ubeta gas field. Gas from the field will be supplied to the Nigeria LNG liquefaction plant, with first production anticipated for 2027, and supports the country’s transition toward low-cost and low-emission projects.

In the downstream industry, Nigeria has been in the process of deregulating the sector, improving fuel availability and affordability, eliminating government subsidies and improving efficiencies. The long-awaited Dangote Refinery began operations in late-2023, transforming Nigeria into a net exporter of refined petroleum products to Europe, Asia and Africa. With a capacity of 650,000 barrels per day, the refinery is Africa’s largest and its operational success is crucial for stabilizing domestic fuel prices, reducing import dependency and increasing foreign exchange earnings. Looking ahead, Nigeria’s policy reforms are translating to new investment opportunities in developing domestic refining capacity, petrochemical complexes and distribution infrastructure, as well as natural gas processing and storage facilities as part of the country’s gas monetization drive.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.