1. Today, key leaders of the European Commission attended the 7th African Union-EU Summit in Luanda, Angola. The EU plans to exceed its €150 billion investment target for 138 flagship "Global Gateway" projects in Africa by 2027.
2. Africa's health problems have highlighted the need for digitalization. Currently, the average life expectancy in Africa is only 64 years, compared to the global average of 72 years. It is projected that by 2030, the number of mobile phones in Africa will exceed 1.36 billion, with penetration increasing from the current 51% to 88%, indicating a huge growth potential for the digital health market.
3. Gabon held a working meeting to review guidelines for e-visas, national digital identities, and e-payments. Airtel Money, Moov Money, Clikpay Money, and MaDigiPaie participated in the discussions.
4. Five police officers in Zimbabwe were arrested for extortion.
5. The Yobe State Command of the Nigerian Civil Defence Force was accused of stealing railway supplies and robbing local residents' cattle and sheep.
6. The EU signed a €116 million investment deal this month for the Lobito Corridor redevelopment project, a model for the EU's "global gateway" strategy. However, whenever the EU is eager to enter a region, it finds that China has already made its move, with Africa becoming China's main mineral supplier.
7. Walmart has begun its expansion into Africa, opening its first store in Johannesburg, South Africa, last weekend and launching a 60-minute delivery service. Walmart's international sales grew by 11% in the third quarter, with e-commerce sales growing by 26%. Currently, its main overseas markets are Canada, Mexico, and India.
8. Alibaba's Cainiao Network has expanded its parcel delivery to eight African countries, including Morocco, Ghana, and Nigeria. In the first ten months of this year, China's exports to Africa grew by 26.1% to $180 billion, half the value of exports to the United States during the same period.
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