Category: APO-OPA

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 442nd meeting, held on 17 June 2014, received a briefing on the situation in the East of the Democratic Republic…

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 442nd meeting, held on 17 June 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in Guinea-Bissau

Council,

1. Takes note of the report of the Chairperson of the Commission on the situation in Guinea-Bissau [PSC/PR/2. (CDXLII)] and the statements made by the representative of the Republic of Ghana, the current Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);

2. Recalls its previous communiqués and press statements on the situation in Guinea-Bissau, particularly communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCXVIII) adopted at its 318th meeting, held on 17 April 2012, communiqué PSC/MIN/COMM/1. (CCCXIX), adopted at its 319th meeting, held on 24 April 2012, press statement PSC/PR/BR.2 (CCCXL), adopted at its 340th meeting, held on 2 November 2012, as well as communiqués PSC/PR/COMM (CCCLXI), PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXII) and PSC/PR/COMM(CCCLXXII), adopted at its 351st, 361st and 372nd meetings, held respectively on 16 January, 22 March and 26 April 2013;

3. Reiterates its deep appreciation to ECOWAS for the crucial role it played in support of the process of ending the crisis in Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, Council pays tribute to Presidents Alassane Dramane Ouattara, Goodluck Jonathan and John Dramani Mahama, as well as to the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo, for their personal involvement in the efforts to successfully implement the transition process;

4. Also expresses its appreciation to the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP), the European Union (EU), the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the United Nations and the concerned bilateral partners for their sustained support to the process of ending the crisis. Council congratulates the Commission and the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission on their active contribution to the successful completion of the transition;

5. Welcomes the positive developments in the situation in Guinea-Bissau, in particular the successful holding, on 13 April and 18 May 2014, of the two rounds of the presidential election, as well as the organization of the legislative elections;

6. Notes with satisfaction that the electoral process was recognized to have been inclusive, free and fair and credible by the various election observation missions, including that of the AU, led by former President Joachim Chissano of Mozambique. In this regard, Council expresses its appreciation to the people, as well as to all the political institutions and actors of Guinea-Bissau, for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the elections and for the completion of the transition process. Council also commends former President Joachim Chissano for the critical role he played during the elections, in particular in the aftermath of the second round of the presidential election;

7. Takes note of the proclamation by the National Electoral Commission (CNE) of Guinea-Bissau, on 19 May 2014, of the final results of the 2nd round of the presidential election, congratulates Mr. Jose Mario Vaz on his election as the new President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and expresses its appreciation to Mr. Nunu Gomes Nabian for having recognized the victory of his opponent;

8. Decides, in the light of the completion of the transition process and the restoration of the constitutional order, and in conformity with the relevant AU instruments, particularly the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, to lift the suspension measure against the participation of Guinea-Bissau in the activities of the AU, as contained in paragraph 6 of its communiqué PSC/PR/COMM(CCCXVIII), and invites Guinea-Bissau to immediately resume its participation in the activities of the AU. Council also appeals to other concerned members of the international community to lift any sanction imposed on Guinea-Bissau;

9. Encourages the new President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau and all the Bissau-Guinean stakeholders to work closely together, within the framework of the democratic institutions of the country, to consolidate the important achievements made. In this regard, Council stresses the urgency of sustained action to address the many challenges facing Guinea-Bissau, especially the promotion of national reconciliation and good governance, including the management of the natural resources of the country, observance of human rights, the fight against impunity and drug trafficking, security sector reform and socio-economic development;

10. Urges the armed forces to break definitively with the past practices of interference in the management of the country, and stresses the duty of loyalty, which is incumbent upon them, to the civilian authorities democratically-elected and their subordination to the political authorities;

11. Appeals urgently to the international community to continue and enhance its support to Guinea-Bissau, including through the early resumption of development cooperation and assistance to Guinea-Bissau. In this regard, Council urges the Member States in a position to do so and the international bilateral and multilateral partners to seize the opportunity of the Donors’ Round Table, scheduled for the end of 2014, to provide to Guinea-Bissau the necessary financial and economic support;

12. Requests the Commission to take all necessary steps to mobilize, from within the continent, adequate support for Guinea-Bissau, including through the inclusion of this country on the list of States to benefit from the African Solidarity Initiative and continued facilitation of coordination among the relevant international organizations, particularly through regular joint assessment missions as a follow-up to those undertaken in December 2012 and July 2013;

13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), at its 442nd meeting held on 17 June 2014, adopted the following decision on the situation in the Arab Republic of Egypt:

Council,

1. Takes note of the final report of the AU High-Level Panel for Egypt [PSC/PR/3.(CDXLII)], established by the Chairperson of the Commission on 8 July 2013, on the implementation of its mandate, as well as of the presentation made by the Commissioner for Peace and Security;

2. Recalls communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXXIV), adopted at its 384th meeting held on 5 July 2013, and press statements PSC/MIN/BR.2(CCCLXXXVII), PSC/PR/BR.2(CCCLXXXIX), PSC/PR/BR.(CCCXC) and PSC/PR/BR.(CCCXCV) adopted at its 387th, 389th, 390th and 395th meetings held on 29 July, 14 August, 16 August and 13 September 2013, respectively, as well as communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM.3(CDXVI) adopted at its 416th meeting held on 29 January 2014 and press statement PSC/PR/BR.(CDXXIX) adopted at its 429th meeting held on 16 April 2014. In this regard, Council reaffirms the correctness of its decision characterizing the events of 3 July 2013 in Egypt as falling under the definition of unconstitutional changes of Government as stipulated in the relevant AU instruments;

3. Recalls the provisions contained in Article 7 (2, 3 & 4) of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council and the obligation of all AU Member States to comply with the decisions taken by Council in the discharge of its mandate;

4. Commends the members of the High-Level Panel, namely former Presidents Alpha Oumar Konaré of Mali and Festus Mogae of Botswana, as well as former Prime Minister Dileita Mohamed Dileita of Djibouti, for the commitment and dedication with which they discharged the mandate entrusted upon them;

5. Expresses its appreciation to the Egyptian stakeholders, as well as to the concerned African and international actors, for the cooperation extended to the High-Level Panel in the discharge of its mandate;

6. Notes the steps taken in the implementation of the Roadmap announced by the Egyptian interim authorities on 3 July 2013, including the holding of presidential elections on 25, 26 and 27 May 2014, as well as the preliminary statement issued by the AU Elections Observer Mission;

7. Welcomes the observations made by the Panel, as contained in paragraphs 63 to 82 of its report, and endorses its recommendations, as outlined in paragraphs 83 of the report, in particular with respect to:

(i) the lifting of Egypt’s suspension, considering (a) the progress made in the formal restoration of constitutional order, (b) the fact that the suspension of the country for close to a year has sent a strong message to the Egyptian stakeholders regarding AU’s attachment to its principles and instruments, and (c) the need for the AU to remain engaged with Egypt and to accompany the efforts of the Egyptian authorities for the full implementation of the Roadmap,

(ii) the need to promote national reconciliation and a political process that is representative of all sections of the Egyptian society, so long as they are committed to a peaceful political dialogue and to broaden the political space,

(iii) the creation of conditions conducive to the holding of transparent, credible and inclusive parliamentary elections, as well as the signing and ratification by Egypt of all AU relevant instruments, notably the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, and the implementation of the provisions contained therein,

(iv) respect for human rights, including the early trial, with due process, of all detainees and the release of those against whom there are no charges,

(v) the elaboration of guidelines to determine the compatibility of popular uprisings with AU’s norms on unconstitutional changes of Government,

(vi) engagement with partners, for them to extend consistent support to AU’s efforts towards the implementation of AU’s norms on unconstitutional changes of Governments and the promotion of democracy, human rights and good governance, in line with the strategic partnerships between the concerned international actors and the AU,

(vii) continued engagement of the AU with the Egyptian authorities and other stakeholders, to effectively contribute to the follow-up and implementation of the recommendations made by the Panel, and the submission of regular reports to Council by the Commission, and

(viii) the imperative for all Member States to fully accept and comply with the decisions of Council, in line with the relevant provisions of the AU Constitutive Act and those of the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council;

8. Decides to lift the suspension of the participation of Egypt in AU’s activities, as contained in paragraph 6 of communique PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCLXXXIV), and invites Egypt to immediately resume its participation in the activities of the AU, on the understanding that this does not constitute a precedent in terms of adherence to the relevant provisions of Decision Assembly/AHG/Dec.269.(XIV) Rev.1 on the prevention of unconstitutional changes of Government and strengthening the capacity of the AU to manage such situations adopted by the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union, held in Addis Ababa, from 31 January to 2 February 2010, and article 25 (4) of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which stipulate that perpetrators of unconstitutional changes of Governments cannot participate in the elections held to restore constitutional order;

9. Further decides that the determination of what constitutes a popular uprising shall be further elaborated by Council at the level of Heads of States and Government, in line with press statement PSC/PR/BR.(CDXXXII) adopted at its 432nd meeting held on 29 April 2014;

10. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The African Union (AU) Commissioner for Peace and Security, Ambassador Smail Chergui, concluded a working visit to the Republic of Burundi on 16 June 2014, during which he discussed the political and security situation in the country with President Pierre Nkurunziza. The Commissioner underlined the need for greater political inclusivity ahead of next year’s elections, and welcomed the responsible manner in which the Burundian authorities continue to address the issues recently raised by the international community.

President Nkurunziza assured the Commissioner that Burundi is peaceful and his Government will do everything it can to preserve the spirit and achievements of the Arusha Agreement. He further stated that he is the President of all Burundians, including all Youth, and will not allow any individual or group to intimidate the population or the state.

Commissioner Chergui thanked President Nkurunziza and noted that Burundi has made significant progress since the signing of the Arusha Agreement which ended Burundi’s civil war more than a decade ago. He underlined the necessity for all Burundians to continue striving together to preserve peace, unity and national cohesion, and assured them of the AU’s full support as they prepare for elections in 2015, including the scheduled deployment to Burundi of an AU Elections Observation Mission.

The Commissioner seized the opportunity to reiterate the AU’s appreciation to the Government and People of Burundi for the brilliant performance of Burundian peacekeepers in Somalia and the Central African Republic (CAR). “Africa owes Burundi and other AMISOM and MISCA Troop and Police Contributing Countries a big debt of gratitude for positively responding to the Pan-African solidarity call to help our Brothers and Sisters in distress in Somalia and the CAR,” he stated.

Upon his return to Addis Ababa, the Commissioner informally briefed the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on his visit to Burundi, during the Council’s 442nd meeting on 17 June 2014.

WASHINGTON, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Madame Bouaré Fily Sissoko, the Economy and Finance Minister of the Republic of Mali, headed a mission of the Malian authorities to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington D.C., from June 16 to 18, 2014. At the end of the mission, Madame Bouaré Fily Sissoko and Mr. Christian Josz IMF Mission Chief for Mali issued the following statement:

“Over recent weeks, staff of the IMF and of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Mali have held discussions on the recent purchase of an aircraft, a contract for the supply of goods other than arms and munitions entered into by the Ministry of Defense and Veterans Affairs, and the issuance of a government guarantee for the amount related to the latter and other contracts.

“The purpose of the discussions was to ensure that public finance management in Mali is being conducted in a manner consistent with the quantitative targets and commitments to good governance of public finances undertaken by the government of Mali in the context of the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement approved by the IMF Board on December 18, 2013 (See Press Release No. 13/524).

“Staff of the IMF and of the Ministry have discussed about certain public financial management weaknesses and identified concrete measures to address them. The measures include an audit of the above mentioned transactions by the Auditor General’s Office and the drafting of guidelines specifying the conditions for implementation of certain budget and procurement rules. The government of Mali has undertaken to implement these measures prior to the next IMF mission to Bamako scheduled to take place in September 2014. Discussions regarding the conclusion of the first review under the ECF arrangement will continue at that point, taking into account the results of the implementation of the above measures.

“Concluding the discussions on the first program review and reaching an agreement on a program of economic and financial policies for 2015 should facilitate a joint examination of the first and second reviews under the ECF Arrangement by the IMF Board before the end of this year.”

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today approved emergency financial assistance under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) in the equivalent of SDR 30.55 million (about US$47.1 million) for Madagascar to enable the authorities meet their urgent balance of payment needs.

The IMF financial assistance is in support of a set of economic and structural policies and measures the authorities plan to implement in order to restore macroeconomic stability, provide a favorable environment in support of inclusive growth and poverty reduction, and to strengthen the capacity of the Malagasy government. The Executive Board’s approval of the RCF disbursement will also enable the authorities to engage in discussions with development partners’ regarding further assistance. The Board’s approval enables the immediate disbursement of the full amount, which is equivalent to 25 percent of Madagascar’s quota in the IMF.

After several years of reasonably strong economic growth, output contracted in 2009 and remained weak over several years, given a high level of political and economic uncertainty that impacted investment decisions. Over this period, Madagascar also experienced dwindling financial support from development partners and enduring fiscal deficits that became progressively more difficult to finance. Supported by large mining projects that are reaching commercial production, recovering rice production, and a less uncertain political environment, growth is projected to increase to 3 percent in 2014.

The RCF provides immediate financial assistance with limited conditionality to low-income countries with an urgent balance of payments need. In this context, the economic policies of a member receiving RCF financing are expected to address the underlying balance of payments difficulties and support policy objectives including macroeconomic stability and poverty reduction. Financing under the RCF carries zero interest (until end 2014), has a grace period of 5.5 years, and a final maturity of 10 years. The Fund reviews the level of interest rates for all concessional facilities every two years.

Following the Executive Board discussion on Madagascar, Mr. Min Zhu, Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, said:

“Madagascar’s re-engagement with the Fund marks the end of a difficult period of economic disruption in which economic activity slowed, investment stagnated and social and governance indicators weakened. Last year’s elections, and subsequent widespread recognition of the new government by the international community, are helping to set the stage for a revival of the economy, but large balance of payments and fiscal gaps need to be filled in order not to jeopardize the economic recovery and to begin to address social needs.

“With support under the Fund’s Rapid Credit Facility, the government intends to implement macroeconomic policies and structural reforms to correct macroeconomic imbalances, shore up growth and begin tackling high rates of poverty. Key challenges for fiscal policy in 2014 include easing disorderly spending compression, increasing outlays on infrastructure and essential government services, and developing a multi-year strategy to clear domestic budgetary arrears. Steps to boost fiscal revenues through improved tax and customs revenue administration and a broadened tax base, phased elimination of general fuel subsidies, and elimination of low-priority expenditures are key to creating room for more productive infrastructure and better targeted social spending. Exchange rate flexibility will be an important element in safeguarding and facilitating a steady rebuilding of foreign exchange reserves.

“Revitalizing structural reforms is a priority for fostering sustained growth and lasting reductions in poverty, with key areas being: public financial management, domestic revenue mobilization, and enhancing financial inclusion and deepening. Governance improvements will require building stronger institutions, enabling a level playing field for the private sector, creating incentives that reinforce proper conduct, and providing adequate resources for the control and audit of public entities.

“The Fund will continue to play a key role in facilitating international efforts in the provision of financial and technical assistance to support the government’s reform strategy.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 19, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — SanDisk (http://www.sandisk.com), the global leaders in flash memory, will showcase some of its latest products at Africa’s first ever DISTREE in Kenya, which kicks off today. Africa represents one of the biggest opportunities for the flash giant to broaden its market presence and expand its product and distributor footprint.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/sandisk-1.png

Photo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/index.php?level=picture&id=1177 (Sreedhar Sreekumar, SanDisk Regional Sales Manager – Mediterranean, Middle East & Africa)

“DISTREE Africa will create a platform in the African IT channel for unrivalled opportunity and we are excited to be part of it,” said Sreedhar Sreekumar, regional sales manager, Middle East & Africa. “Africa represents a priority market for SanDisk, with strong growth potential. We will showcase our solid lineup of high-quality products and are confident that we will continue our success in this market. We want to capitalize on opportunities and we are executing strategies to boost growth, explore new channels, and provide products that offer a real benefit to African customers.”

SanDisk will also use DISTREE as a platform to highlight its ‘Buy Only Original’ campaign, which started a year ago to encourage the purchase of authentic SanDisk products.

“With 400 participants from 25 countries taking part in DISTREE Africa it is important for us to engage these partners. We made positive strides in 2013 in establishing the brand in key countries across the continent and will now focus on growing our presence further,” continued Sreekumar.

DISTREE Africa will be held at Kenya’s Safari Park Hotel from 19-21 June.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of SanDisk Corporation.

Media Contact:

Kim Narrandes

The Content Factory

+971 (4) 447 2501

kim@tcf-me.com

About SanDisk

SanDisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) (http://www.sandisk.com) is a global leader in flash memory storage solutions, from research and development, product design and manufacturing to branding and distribution for OEM and retail channels. Since 1988, SanDisk’s innovations in flash memory and storage system technologies have provided customers with new and transformational digital experiences. SanDisk’s diverse product portfolio includes flash memory cards and embedded solutions used in smart phones, tablets, digital cameras, camcorders, digital media players and other consumer electronic devices, as well as USB flash drives and solid-state drives (SSD) for the computing market. SanDisk’s products are used by consumers and enterprise customers around the world.

SanDisk is a Silicon Valley-based S&P 500 and Fortune 500 company, with more than half its sales outside the United States. For more information, visit http://www.sandisk.com.

© 2012 SanDisk Corporation. All rights reserved. SanDisk and the SanDisk logo are trademarks of SanDisk Corporation, registered in the United States and other countries. Other brand names mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including expectations for the market for products incorporating Diskeeper’s caching software solutions and our SSD products, the expected benefits and competitive advantages of the new products, and the expected impact on SanDisk’s SSD solutions, that are based on our current expectations and involve numerous risks and uncertainties that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate. Risks that may cause these forward-looking statements to be inaccurate include among others: the market demand for our SSD products, including products incorporating Diskeeper’s solutions, may grow more slowly than our expectations or competitive products may have better features, may be easier to operate or may be available at a lower cost, which could enable these products to achieve better customer acceptance than our products, including those incorporating Diskeeper’s solutions, our products and those incorporating Diskeeper’s solutions may not perform as expected, and the other risks detailed from time-to-time in under the caption “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q and our annual report on Form 10-K. We do not intend to update the information contained in this press release.

OTTAWA, Canada, June 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ten-day, four-country trade mission to boost Canada’s trade and investment ties in Burkina Faso, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania

The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, today travelled to Burkina Faso for his first visit as part of a trade mission to Africa—his third since being appointed trade minister—to strengthen Canada’s economic ties with the continent.

Minister Fast will be in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, from June 18 to 19; in Antananarivo, Madagascar, from June 20 to 21; in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa, from June 22 to 25; and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from June 25 to 27, 2014.

Joining the trade mission to South Africa and Tanzania are 26 delegates from 19 organizations. The mission will focus on the extractives (mining, oil and gas) and energy (power, renewables) sectors.

Minister Fast also welcomed the recent formation of the Canada Africa Power Alliance (CAPA). CAPA will be represented at the Africa Energy Summit in Istanbul this week. CAPA aims to help African countries meet their growing power needs while increasing the presence of Canadian companies in the African power sector.

Quick Facts

• Burkina Faso, Madagascar, South Africa and Tanzania are all priority markets under Canada’s Global Markets Action Plan.

• Canada is the largest foreign investor in Burkina Faso and recently concluded the Canada-Burkina Faso Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (FIPA).Canada concluded, signed or brought into force FIPAs with 10 countries in 2013—a record for a single year. Seven of these were with African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zambia.

• In Africa, Canada has FIPAs in force with Benin, Egypt and Tanzania and is currently engaged in FIPA negotiations with Ghana, Kenya and Tunisia. Canada currently has 27 FIPAs in force around the world.

• South Africa is Canada’s largest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa, with two-way merchandise trade totalling $1.2 billion in 2013. Also in 2013, Canada’s merchandise exports to Burkina Faso were worth $50.7 million; to Madagascar, $22 million; to South Africa, $468 million; and to Tanzania, $76.1 million.

• Minister Fast previously led trade missions in Africa to Libya, Nigeria and Ghana.

Quotes

“Strengthening trade and investment ties and opening new markets to boost our exports in Africa and around the world are part of our government’s ambitious pro-trade plan to create jobs and opportunities for hardworking Canadians as well as businesses. Through sector-focused trade missions and with the support of our Trade Commissioner Service, Export Development Canada and the Canadian Commercial Corporation, we are helping Canadian companies, especially SMEs, explore new opportunities, diversify their markets and compete and win on the global stage.”

– Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade

GENEVA, Switzerland, June 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A car bomb exploded in Mogadishu at around 7.30 this morning inside the compound of Keysaney Hospital, a facility run by the Somali Red Crescent Society with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). One person was killed and seven others were injured in the blast.

The victim, a medical student, was not a Somali Red Crescent staff member. Of the seven people injured, two are Red Crescent nurses, the five others – including one woman who sustained severe injuries – patients’ relatives. All are currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

According to the Somali Red Crescent, the explosion took place in the area where hospital staff park their cars. “The bomb exploded in a car belonging to one of our staff,” said Somali Red Crescent Vice-President Yusuf Hassan Mohamed. “It exploded when the engine was switched on by one of his friends, who was killed on the spot.”

“We do not know the motives behind this incident or whether the target was an individual or the hospital itself,” said Patrick Vial, head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia. The Somali Red Crescent and the ICRC are calling with renewed urgency for health-care facilities and personnel, and their patients, to be treated with special restraint. People providing or receiving health care should be protected at all times and not be the object of attacks.

Keysaney Hospital, a 65-bed emergency facility in Mogadishu, has provided surgical and other medical care for more than 20 years, treating an average of 3,000 patients each year. It admits all persons in need of treatment, regardless of their origin, clan affiliation or political views. This is the first time the hospital, where the red crescent emblem is prominently displayed, has been hit directly except by random shelling during the conflict.

PARIS, France, June 18, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) (http://www.ingenico.com), global leader in seamless payment, and the GIM-UEMOA celebrate ten years of partnership. This historic collaboration sparked the development of electronic payment systems across the West African region.

Logo: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/ingenico.jpg

With the support of the GIM-UEMOA, Ingenico Group has played an active role in the rise of electronic payment systems and the development of banking services in West Africa, thanks to a strong network of partners in the countries of the UEMOA (West African Economic and Monetary Union), and a number of projects aimed at promoting banking services and the use of payment methods.

For many years, Ingenico has been organising meetings between bankers and merchants in most of the countries in the region in order to raise awareness about the importance of electronic payment systems for socio-economic development, the security aspect relating to transactions and the possibility of paying money into bank accounts in real time.

The very first transaction effected by the GIM was made via an Ingenico POS device with the Versus Bank in Ivory Coast. Today around 1,200 POS solutions are deployed across the UEMOA region.

This long-standing partnership is now being validated by Ingenico Group’s participation as a Diamond Partner in the 4th regional event for electronic payment systems (Salon Monétique Régional) June 19-20 in Dakar. At this event, Ingenico Group will take part as a moderator in the panel “mPOS and contactless payment as a catalyst for the development of retail payment systems” and will present its range of innovative solutions, including Branchless Banking, Mobile Money and money transfer, in a bid to promote financial inclusion in West Africa.

Ingenico Africa, which was recently established in Casablanca, Morocco, is taking advantage of this event to congratulate the GIM-UEMOA for all it has done for the promotion and accessibility of electronic payment systems in the sub-region.

Distributed by APO (African Press Organization) on behalf of Ingenico Group.

Contacts

Ingenico Group

Rachid Oulad Akdim

EMEA Managing Director of Ingenico Africa & Cuba & Pakistan

rachid.ouladakdim@ingenico.com

Tel.: + 33 6 21 18 30 95

Ingenico Group

Pierre Delaunay

EMEA Marketing Director

pierre.delaunay@ingenico.com

Tel.: +33 1 58 01 87 31

About Ingenico Group

Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING) (http://www.ingenico.com) is the global leader in seamless payment, providing smart, trusted and secure solutions to empower commerce across all channels, in-store, online and mobile. With the world’s largest payment acceptance network, we deliver secure payment solutions with a local, national and international scope. We are the trusted world-class partner for financial institutions and retailers, from small merchants to several of the world’s best known global brands. Our solutions enable merchants to simplify payment and deliver their brand promise. Learn more at http://www.ingenico.com https://twitter.com/ingenico